text:
Lee Paso a Paso 2
Enjoy this new adventure inside the garden of Bruji's castle, help her to collect all the stars and show her that you are capable of completing every task in all levels, no matter the difficulty of the level you play.
Continue improving Spanish reading skills with a "memory card + word search" style game with the continuation of "Lee Paso a Paso".
Each card has a syllable belonging to a word; turn cards to join syllables and form the word represented in the drawing. But watch out syllables can belong to another word and you will have to start over.
Need help? Choose to see the word you are looking for and the missing syllables. Need a greater challenge? Form the word yourself.
Start reading 2 syllable words and advance through levels to read 3 and 4 syllables words. Levels increase the number of syllables the words are made of and/or the number of cards that are presented.
With more than 200 words, 15 levels and 2 mini games reading in Spanish will be fun.
Some comments from Lee Paso a Paso 2 users:
"You can work syllabic awareness through activities in order of increasing difficulty." – María Benavent, mariabenavent.com
"Good application for reading practice in lower primary…" – Miguel Asensio, eduapps.es
"Among the 50 specialized applications for Speech Therapy" – Laura Martínez, logopedapasitoapasito.blogspot.com.es
Enjoy the app that has been placed in the Top 10 in all Spanish-speaking countries , including Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia. Recommended by different speech therapists communities in Spain and teachers in the United States to use in their Spanish classes . Check our website for more information about the recommendations we have ( www.BQWare.com)
Help us with a good review in the App Store and any comments or suggestions please send them to firstname.lastname@example.com
Version 2.10 (Aug 23, 2017)
* New app icon
* New way to write a review
* From this version, support only for iOS 8 or later
* The icon has a graduation cap, then the app has an Education Discount from Apple's Volume Purchase Program
Thank you for your support, we upgrade all our apps to the newest iOS
Version 2.0 (May 18, 2016)
* We update all drawings and graphics for a better user experience.
* Thank you for your support. Remember, you can download our other apps like Lee Paso a Paso 1 and 3, Sopa de Sílabas and Ortografía Paso a Paso, you will love all of them.
* Remember you can found us at www.BQWare.com and the most important social network like Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
Version 1.40 (Nov 26, 2014)
* Update images inside promotion screen.
Version 1.30 (Nov 20, 2014)
* Optimized for iOS 8.
* Added to kids section.
* iOS 5 is no longer supported.
Version 1.20 (Feb 15, 2014)
* Redesign the settings screen.
* Add configurable promotion screen.
Version 1.10 (Nov 13, 2013)
* Full compatibility with iOS 7.
* Performance improvements.
* Bug fix.
Version 1.0 (Aug 08, 2013)


text:
Have a goody by getting an extravagance a vacation in beautiful places in Asia. Look into the the best places to visit below and pick your favorite options.
Tiny must-haves for travelSTLtoday.comThe last hurdle of packing for a trip is usually the shock of corralling all the little things needed to take our lives on the road and realizing that every little thing eats up a lot of space. The more you travel, especially short trips, the more ……Tiny must-haves for travel – STLtoday.com
Would you like more? then look into the assets below which i also loved reading through. Just check it below but that you'd it enjoy them around I've.
Check out this information below google travel
- Introducing the largest travel metasearch engine in the world: Google
- THE INTERNS – Rockwall County Herald Banner
- Google to add Galapagos Islands to Street View – Richmond Times Dispatch
- Google for Hotels: Q+A with David Zammitt, Google Travel Industry Manager | By … – Hospitality Net
- WordPress › AB Google Map Travel (AB-MAP) « WordPress Plugins

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Can you help raise enough money from your workplace / school / club for a truck load of hay?
Simply order our truck poster and stickers and for every $20 or $50 donation you write the name of the donor / customer on the sticker and place it on the poster.
If you'd like to run an online fundraising campaign for your own truckload, click here
Order your poster and sticker kit using this form below.
Or if you'd like to just donate to a load, click here


text:
The "it's a small world" attraction at Disneyland underwent a long rehab
in 2008 – it closed in January and didn't reopen until November. When it
did reopen, it was in the holiday configuration, so some of the changes
were not yet in place. The most controversial change seemed to be the
proposed addition of Disney characters to the attraction – a lot of Disney
fans were very vocal in their opposition to that idea..
After the holidays, the attraction went into rehab again, the holiday
overlay was removed, and the remaining changes were put into place. Today
the attraction was open to members of the media and to Annual
Passholders (the attraction opens to the public on Friday, February
6.). As a representative of AllEars® I was invited to do a ride-through
of the attraction with Imagineer Kim Irvine, which was quite an
But before the ride-through with Kim Irvine I was able to ride
twice, and get some idea of what the updated attraction was like.
Up front I have to tell you that I'm not a huge fan of "it's a small
world" – That Song really gets to me, and I can usually only stand
it in it's holiday configuration (though I love the holiday edition!).
So it's probably been almost 10 years since I was in the non-holiday
I was very impressed with the new attraction. It looks just gorgeous –
lots of vibrant colors, and the lighting is much improved. And the
characters? They aren't in-your-face at all – they have taken
characters who fit into the various scenes (like Cinderella in
France, Mulan in China, Simba in Africa), and given them the same
stylized "small world" look. For the most part, if you didn't know
they were new, you wouldn't know they hadn't been there all along.
I actually had a hard time finding them all, and only found two of
them because other people told me where to look. I think that part
of the fun of the new attraction is going to be trying to find the
characters – I think that's something that will appeal to kids and
adults – I know I had fun with it. It would be nice if Disney would
hand out a list, though.
The other big change is the addition of the "Spirit of America"
scene. It's a western scene with a farm on one side, and hills
with some cowboys and Native Americans on the other side, Woody and
Jessie from Toy Story make an appearance as well. The scene was
based on original concept art by Mary Blair.
The soundtrack has been augmented with short snippets of themes from
Disney movies, such as "A Whole New World" from Aladdin. This is very
subtle, and I have to admit that I never could hear them, even though I
knew they were there.
I will have more on the ride-through with Kim Irvine after I have a
chance to listen to my audio recording – with That Song playing at a fairly
high volume it was hard to hear her sometimes. It was interesting to
hear what she has to say.
There are supposed to be 29 characters in the ride – here are the ones
that I found. Let me know if you think I got any wrong.
Peter Pan and Tinker Bell
Alice in Wonderland and the White Rabbit
Cinderella, Jacques, and Gus
Middle East:
Aladdin, Jasmine, and Abu – and I think the Flying Carpet should count
as a character.
Mulan, Mushu, and Mushu kite
Simba, Pumbaa and Timon (I really like how they used the same hot pink
and purple color for Pumbaa that they use on the hippo in the same scene.)
Donald, Panchito and Jose Carioca (Donald is the only member of the Fab
Five to appear)
Under the Sea:
Ariel and Flounder (Ariel sings That Song as a solo)
Down Under:
Dory and Nemo
Lilo and Stitch
Spirit of America:
Jessie, Woody and Bullseye
That's 29…does that mean I got them all? That's not counting the
flying carpet, and I'm not sure if the Mushu kite counts or not.
***Friday morning update:
AllEars reader Carol tells me that I missed Jiminy Cricket, who is in the Italy scene with Pinocchio. We think that he is just barely visible in the upper right hand corner of the Pinocchio photo posted further up. Thanks, Carol!


text:
MOJO® Texas Style Decoy Rigging
Take the headache out of your hunt by transporting your decoys with this Texas rigging. Designed with heavy duty mono line, the tangle free decoy rigging transports, deploys, and retrieves your duck decoys with ease. Carry twelve decoys with the simple carbineer for a quick way to get out and enjoy your hunt without the hassle.
Federal, State and Local wildlife regulations should be followed for the use of feeders and food supplements.
Used for many years by hunters, Texas rigging provides you with a tangle free decoy system. Made of heavy duty mono line that measures 48 in., this decoy rigging is simple and connects to your decoy by a snap. The mono line is tangle free, removing the headache that often comes from transporting and deploying decoys. Quickly deploy and retrieve your decoys on your next hunt with this MOJO Texas Rigging for decoys to save time and enjoy your hunting experience.Specifications
- MOJO® Texas Rigging
- Decoy rigging
- 48 in.
- Transport, deploy, and retrieve decoys
- Connects with a snap
- Secure a dozen to the simple carbineer
- Tangle free
- Quick and easy decoy system
MOJO TEXAS STYLE DECOY RIG in Wildlife Attractants and Hunting Supplies at Agri Supply ®.Shipping & Return Information
Review Summary
- Overall Rating: None
- Be the first to review this product
Customer Reviews
No Reviews
- More Info More Deer & Fish Feeders More Food Plot & Grass Seed More Information
Deer Corn, Shelled, 40 Lb. Bag#83042
- Add to Cart More Wildlife Attractants More Information
Red Fox Urine#84631
- Add to Cart More Wildlife Attractants More Information
Special Golden Estrus®, 4 Oz.#88360
- Add to Cart More Wildlife Attractants More Information
Special Golden Estrus®, 1 Oz., Key Wick Included#88358


text:
The Town Council has agreed to expand the Economic and Industrial Development Board from seven to 11 members.
One of the new appointees will be a council member and the other three will be appointed by the council.
Economic Development Director John Kelly said a larger board would allow broader community representation.
Kelly said the board's priority will be strengthening ties with the town's many schools.
"We've got a valuable resource there, but there's no joint effort between the facilities," Kelly said. "We'd like to make the town a working laboratory for the schools. For instance, people working on master's programs in marketing could develop programs for the town and get a practical education. In return, the town can help promote the schools."
Located in the town are Broward Community College, Nova University and the McFatter Vocational Center as well as several elementary and high schools.
"We've been known for our lifestyle and rodeo," Town Administrator Irv Rosenbaum said. "But we also intend to make a name for the town in the areas of education and industry."
Rosenbaum said the board will also guide Davie's commercial development.
Board member Austin Tupler said the town will promote itself to a select group of industries.
"We have a lot of land to be developed," Tupler said. "With proper planning, we can have good development, not just development. Every community wants clean industry, not chemical factories. We're hoping to attract the electronics and communications industries."


text:
|News Home
The Swallow Song debuts October 21–24, 2004, at the Getty complementing the exhibition Coming of Age in Ancient Greece: Images of Childhood from the Classical Past
June 1, 2004
Los Angeles—The Swallow Song, an original play commissioned by the Getty, will debut with four performances at the Getty Center from October 21–24, 2004. Adapted, directed by, and starring Lydia Koniordou, one of the world's finest classical Greek actresses, the play will combine texts by Homer, Euripides, Aeschylus, poets and other playwrights with music and dance to bring to life important scenes from ancient Greece.
The Swallow Song will coincide with and complement the Getty's Premiere Presentation exhibition Coming of Age in Ancient Greece: Images of Childhood from the Classical Past, on view at the Getty Center from September 14–December 5, 2004. Coming of Age is the first major show to explore the lives of children in ancient Greece, from their roles in the family to their pets, toys, religious rituals, and education. The play is among a series of related events planned to enrich the exhibition.
The Swallow Song is funded by the Villa Council, an international support group for the classical arts organized by the Getty. Members are committed to the mission and goals of the new Getty Villa, which will reopen in fall 2005 at its historic Pacific Palisades location as an educational center devoted to the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria. Among the Getty Villa's areas of focus will be its programs and resources on ancient theatre.
The Swallow Song, composed of scenes enacting some of the most important and painful dilemmas faced during childhood, will evoke the theatrical performances of ancient Greece. Spoken sequences of ancient text will be woven together by songs and dances, which draw on the music of youth and growing up. The Shield of Achilles from Homer's Iliad serves as a linking device. Other highlights include verses from Ion, Agamemnon, Trojan Women, and Iphigenia in Aulis, by Euripides, poetry by Sappho and verses from Libation on Bearers by Aeschylus.
The production has been guided onto the Getty stage by Lydia Koniordou, one of the foremost authorities on classical Greek drama, and a recipient of the L. Louriote, M. Kotopouli, and Karolos Koun awards for her achievements in the field. She has appeared in plays including Phoenician Women, Suppliants, Elektra, Oresteia, Yerma, Antigone, Oedipus the King, Ion, and Lysistrata. As a director, Koniordou has staged both contemporary and ancient Greek plays with the National Theatre of Greece (Elektra, Alkestis, and Ion) and with the theaters of Larissa, Volos, and Patra, as well as New York University (Christa Wolf's Cassandra) and the State University of New York at Binghamton (Elektra). Five classical Greek actors will join Koniordou on stage.
The Swallow Song is adapted by Koniordou and Theophanis Kakridis, a noted dramatic philologist, and translated from the ancient Greek by Oliver Taplin, professor of classics and co-director of the Archive of Performances of Greek and Roman Drama at Oxford University. Costume and set design are by the internationally renowned Dionysis Fotopoulos, who has worked on more than 40 films and 300 theatrical productions, among them The Acharnians, Peace, The Bacchae, Oedipus Rex, Oresteia, Electra, Prometheus Bound, The Knights, and Philoktetes. Composer Takis Farazis provides an original score, which will be performed for the play by Farazis and two additional musicians.
The Swallow Song will be presented at the Harold M. Williams Auditorium at the Getty Center. Performances begin at 8:00 p.m. on October 21, 22, and 23, and at 3:00 p.m. on October 24. Tickets ($28; $22 students/seniors) are available at the Museum Information Desk or by calling 310-440-7300.
A special Coming of Age in Ancient Greece exhibition Web site can be found at www.getty.edu, along with a list of other related events, including lectures, gallery talks, and a Family Festival (October 3) exploring childhood from ancient Greece and around the world.
Maureen McGlynn
Getty Communications Dept.
# # #
About the Getty:
The J. Paul Getty Trust is an international cultural and philanthropic institution devoted to the visual arts that features the Getty Conservation Institute, the Getty Foundation, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the Getty Research Institute. The J. Paul Getty Trust and Getty programs serve a varied audience from two locations: the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Malibu.
Sign up for e-Getty at www.getty.edu/subscribe/ to receive free monthly highlights of events at the Getty Center and the Getty Villa via e-mail, or visit our event calendar for a complete calendar of public programs.


text:
Program Description
Master of Music
The Master of Music degree program is an advanced course of study for musicians who hold a bachelor's degree and are seeking careers as professional musicians.
Admission Requirements
Each applicant must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher learning or four years of equivalent full-time college work from an accredited foreign institution.
The minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) required for admission is 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Individual programs may require appropriate entrance test scores such as the GRE or GMAT. Although entrance test scores by themselves do not constitute the sole
or final criterion for granting or denying admission to any student, each program that uses test scores will consider them, in combination with other criteria, as an essential part of the requirements for granting full admission.
Applicants who hold a master's degree are not required to submit scores on GRE or GMAT.
Admission may be withdrawn if it was granted on the basis of substantially incorrect information or on the omission of relevant facts, which, if known at the time of the admission, would have resulted in denial. In order to complete the application process,
applicants must submit to the Graduate School the following documents unless otherwise indicated by policy:
- An application for graduate admission.
- An application fee.
- An official transcript of the bachelor's degree sent to the Graduate School by the issuing institution.
- An official record of the score on the aptitude portions of the GRE or GMAT, whichever is appropriate, and when required, sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing agency.
About the School
Park University was founded in 1875, and is a four-year, private, nonprofit, coeducational, liberal arts institution with degree programs that are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a ... Read More


text:
Oberlin was first and foremost a place for learning. Yet LGBT students rarely saw themselves reflected in classroom material.
"It's what was edited out in our education at Oberlin [that] seems so bizarre now," Bill Vance (OC 56) recalled. "Even in Freddie Artz's class, [we took] a whole year of Western intellectual history without any sense that there was an interesting homosexual dimension to it, that you should even think about such things when you get to Michelangelo and Shakespeare and so on." As a specialist in American literature later in Vance's life, dealing with Walt Whitman's Calamus poems "was just a natural part of what you had in your curriculum." But at Oberlin in the 1950s, any mention of homosexuality in the classroom was "very, very rare, and always with a negative connotation." This "made it much more difficult," he recalled, "when there was no historical or public affirmation of people who felt the way we do."
Often angered by professors' silencing of the subject, students increasingly brought LGBT themes to the forefront of the classroom during the 1960s. Henry Klein (OC 64) remembered an Early Renaissance Art course in which one gay student, "particularly offended by th[e] professor's silence and denial to address issues of homosexuality in Florence," wrote a limerick on the room's hidden chalkboard before class. When the board was revealed by the professor part way through his lecture, the class "roared with laughter to his shock and embarrassment" at the following verse:
There once was a Florentine homo,
Who sculpted St. John for the Duomo.
After a year, they found he was queer,
Ad hominum, ad hoc and ad homo.[160]
Timothy Hansen (pseudonym; OC 64), a flamboyant student involved in Oberlin's theater world, used the gossip he picked up from other gay students in a sociology term paper that "made use of soc-babble and 'friendship' charts" and "actually documented who was sleeping with who (without real names)."
Martin Beadle (OC 66) recalled writing a paper on "The Rights of Homosexuals" for his senior-year criminology class. "As I look back," he said, "I realize that I was furtively trying to find out about my people." In the Carnegie Library,
the books on homosexuality were locked in a gray locker, like a gym locker. [The librarian] unlocked the locker, got out the book I needed, put it on the counter and pushed it across the counter with the back end of her pencil, and gave me a huge scowl. This was the first time I ever read about gay people and their lives.[161]
Roger Goodman (OC 68) also intervened in classroom discussions, drawing on his knowledge of historical figures such as Tchaikovsky and Gertrude Stein.
I didn't allow professors to get away with not naming it…When we'd look at Michelangelo's David, and the professor would talk about the beauty of the body, and isn't this wonderful, and how could a man create such magnificent male beauty as the David? And I would say, "It's because he loved boys! Because Michelangelo was a gay man, so he knew the bodies of men—intimately." Or we'd be talking about the paintings of David Hockney of naked boys swimming in swimming pools…and no mention of Hockney being gay. And I would say something in class about it and how it reflected who David Hockney was. Or talking about Gertrude Stein in an American Lit class and not talking about her being a lesbian and I would say, "How can you talk about The Autobiography of Gertrude Stein, written by Alice B. Toklas, without recognizing that they were life partners?
"I loved being the Oberlin College scandal," Goodman recalled. "And why not extend that scandal into the classroom, where truth needs to be told?"


text:
At the start of this thoughtful and revelatory book, Harrison Owen relates the story of how he was lunching with a senior official of the American Society for Training and Development, who observed that if what Owen had just told him about Open Space Technology (OST) was true, then "95% of what we are currently doing does not need to be done."
OST is strategy for organizing meetings that is radical, revolutionary, and deceptively simple. Expanding Our Now is an exploration of what OST is, how it developed as a process for meeting management, and how and why it works all over the world, for groups of all sizes dealing with a vast range of issues.
To be published simultaneously with Open Space Technology: A User's Guide, -- a companion volume which details methods for implementing an Open Space event -- Expanding Our Now provides historical background, with case studies and delves into the questions of why and how Open Space works.
Owen makes a compelling case that OST can move organizations to higher levels of performance, without elaborate training or professional facilitators. By focusing on 'Now' -- this present moment -- perception is expanded so that, for example, AT&T was able to accomplish 10 months work in a matter of 2 days.
'Now' is the heart of the matter. When Now gets big, time and space open up for doing what is needed. In the experience of Owen and thousands of people around the world who have used this technology successfully, OST expands 'Now' . Here he offers numerous successful case studies from corporations (such as Boeing and AT&T), community service organizations, and even countries (Canada) to demonstrate the power of 'Now'.
While Open Space violates many of the traditional principles of meeting (and organizational) management, it is remarkably effective. Owen challenges the idea that anyone can actually control a closed system, suggesting that in reality all systems are open, and OST simply acknowledges and takes full advantage of that reality.
Product recommendations
by Harrison H. Owen
by Owen Wister
by H. Rider Haggard
by Kim Harrison, Martin H. Greenberg
by Suzanne S. Harrison, Patrick H. Sullivan
by Jose Cancela, Carlos Harrison
by Robert H. Frank
Sign up for our email newsletter


text:
last porete
"Miracles are subservient to faith" – M. Porete
If you think you see a miracle, run. Definitely shut up about it – this is consistent from reliable sources. Wonder suggests a lack of faith. Miracles that give rise to faith invert piety. Faith gives rise to miracles, meaning that with eyes of faith – everything is a miracle. Miracles are all that is.
In terms of production, I get anxious about progress; I want to get out of my way and freely ask for what we definitely need. But when I am out of my own way, when I'm faithful, I know that we're not going anywhere, and that we don't need anything. If we are not revealing what's already here (if we're pretending to create nothing from something, or to convert matter to another form in a magical way), we're stunted; we're (what Porete calls) sad. The lost (like royalty) don't know that they are in need. The sad (the merchants) do all they can to serve needs in themselves and others and despair of ever prevailing. The clear (the spiritually poor) will nothing, have nothing, are nothing but space for the divine will; in theatrical terms, the poor production is pure audience (listening).


text:
Mobile was a wooden steamer built at Philadelphia in 1860; home port: Mobile. Alleged to be worth $40,000, she apparently was picked up for a $5,000 lien by Comdr. W. W. Hunter, CSN, in July 1861, already having been under seizure in Berwick Bay, La., since 4 May.
Her chronology thereafter has piqued many a researcher: She made five successful dashes-no doubt only to Cuba or the Bahamas-as a blockade runner, yet on 8 October she had "been fitting out there [Berwick City] for some time" under Lts. Francis E. Shepperd and George S. Shryock, CSN, reporting to Flag Officer G. N. Hollins; engines and boilers were already protected by 12-inch timbers clad with railroad iron. On 19 December, Union intelligence learned she was a ship of "about 400 tons, thoroughly strengthened and armed with 4 or 6 heavy guns, two of them rifled."
By 1 February 1862, when she engaged USS Hatteras in Atchafalaya Bay, La., Mobile was described as a "long, low, three-masted steamer," ostensibly able to give a good account of herself. From June 1862 to the following May, all sources place her up the Yazoo River under command of Lieutenant Shepperd but variously alleged to be laid up at Yazoo City or ordered to sink any vessel attempting to pass the barrier at Liverpool. Whatever his information or motives, a deserter as late as 13 May 1863 thought it news that she was a "small boat" still "being converted into an ironclad gunboat" in the Yazoo. Scarcely more than a week later, the 21st, it is certain she was burned to escape capture by Admiral D. D. Porter's approaching squadron, taking the evidence to the bottom.


text:
PHWOOARR. Polishgasm time again. This was another of my recent eBay wins – the Sally Hansen Nail Prisms are long discontinued but if memory serves, you can occasionally find them popping up in stores every now and again if you're in the US. We never even had these in the UK in the first place, and I was very lucky to grab this badboy for something ridculous like £7 or so on eBay. I own my fair share of holographic polishes, but I have to say this is maybe the most holo-iest holo of them all.
Less words, mo' holo.


text:
who is Goddess KRING?
my latest project is a radio show!
I (Shannon Kringen) created the persona "Goddess
KRING" when I created my own tv show
for public access television that aired weekly from 1996-2011
The character is really me but an exaggerated version of the less shy parts of myself.
My show consisted of me doing improvisational
monologues, nude dancing in body paint,
spoken word poetry I wrote, slide shows of my photography with music I created as the soundtrack...
I created the entire show at home in my apartment with one camera,
one full spectrum light and sheets as backdrops mostly.
I started with VHS tape then switched to digital format editing simply on a computer.
More info:
I will have Goddess KRING videos for sale soon:
Here is my latest Youtube video:
catching up with you on my life and all the cool projects! typecast dragon movie, channeling yourself movie,
going to england in october 2015, dori monson mentioned me on his radio show,
kuow radio mentioned our movie and published a selfie i took and more!
Here is a Goddess KRING show from 2005
Here is Goddess KRING from the year 2000
Shannon Kringen © 2019 hosted by Eskimo


text:
Wireless sensor networks have been proposed as a cost effective and easy to deploy alternative to traditional wired systems in a multitude of application scenarios ranging from industrial automation to healthcare monitoring. They are expected to enable an unparalleled number of new services that will bring countless benefits to society. However, low power communications of sensor nodes operating in unlicensed bands face several challenges and are easily corrupted by transmissions of other collocated wireless networks. This problem has recently raised reliability concerns which have been tremendously enhanced by the proliferation of wireless devices we have been witnessing during the last years in the few available regions of the spectrum.
This dissertation studies how to achieve reliable communications by proposing different ways for the energy aware management of the radio interference problem. The use of wireless sensing technologies has been envisaged in a broad variety of settings: for this reason it is not possible to identify a unifying solution for the problem of interference, but rather it is necessary to tailor the design of communication schemes accounting for the specific communication paradigm adopted by sensors, the traffic pattern generated by the expected application, as well as for the channel conditions experienced by nodes.
When packet transmissions are addressed to a single receiver, cognitive access schemes can be utilized and sensors can opportunistically select for their transmissions when to access a certain channel or which channel to access so as to avoid interference. We provide an energy aware design for communication schemes implementing these ideas and evaluate their energy performance by means of experiments using real hardware. Our results indicate that the first approach should be considered only for sporadic packet transmissions over channels presenting limited interfering activities; channel adaptation should instead be preferred for large bulks of data or when the risk of operating in heavily interfered frequency bands is high. We further propose and evaluate a novel adaptive frequency hopping algorithm: this algorithm has been shown to be very efficient in mitigating the negative effects of interference allowing at the same time to avoid the use of the energy costly spectrum sensing algorithms required by cognitive access schemes. However, none of these three approaches may be suitable for scenarios where packet transmissions are addressed to multiple receivers. To deal with the packet losses that nodes may experience over noisy or interfered channels we envisage the use of fountain codes and show how it is possible to engineer such a coding solution so as to reduce the complexity and overhead introduced by the encoding and decoding procedures. The resulting codes provide an efficient way for disseminating data over multi-hop wireless sensor networks. Results obtained in this dissertation can be of great utility for designers of sensor applications who can use them in order to select the most energy efficient way to achieve reliable interference-aware communications.


text: Добавлено (2013-05-17, 9:11 PM)---------------------------------------------MBT Shoes Putting HBK against Undertaker's brother, great match planningMatch Rating: ******* 7/10(ads)Extreme Rules Match: The Brian Kendrick vs Jeff Hardy:Hardy exits the ring and gets the chair Hardy comes in and throws the chair at The Kendrick Hardy opens the chair up and goes across the ring mbt shoes on sale Here's my advise on how to tell the difference First, if they offer you a chance at a fantastic prize for signing up, such as a car or a boat, I would be a bit weary and do some more research before you sign-up Second, if the survey to sign-up for the site consists of a lot of questions as to whether or not you want more information on other products, walk away, you're certain to get spammed Just remember that a legitimate market research firm will not endorse a product or service, they are supposed to be unbiased Third, read the privacy policy if you have any concerns. mbt sandals Honestly answering these questions (and others) will help direct you on the path to success Let customers express themselves without you trying to do it for them Nobody likes being interrupted3) DONT BE TOO PUSHY - Yeah, I know - the bottom line is sales, right There is a fine line between suggesting products/services and pushing them down a customers throat If you are too pushy, your customer will probably walk away and take their business elsewhere4) PHONE ETTIQUETTE - Whether you are answering or initiating a call, always remember who the customer is mbt shoes cheap "3 A COMPETITION - Competitions do crazy things to people They just want to win the damn thing! How about something like - "John, though you're a customer of ours we haven't heard from you or 37 other customers, for several months now We hope that's about to change You see, we're giving away a super prize just to see which one of you will respond the quickest to this letter.


text:
contact + location
Feel free to contact us at any time! You can give us a ring or use the form below.
Need to make an appointment? Click here.
Rollands Salon & Art Gallery
121 Quincy Circle
Seaside, Florida
{ view google map }
Hours: Monday through Saturday 10:00-6:00
Phone: 850.231.6085


text:
These Ziplock Bags are BUILT TO LAST!
*Easy Dishwasher Cleaning *Non-Toxic *No Lingering Tastes *Safe For You *Environmentally Friendly *Air Tight Seal *Keeps Odors In Or Out
Can be used in both high and low temperatures ranging from -50 ℃ ~ +250 ℃, so great for storing food in the fridge or freezer, use in the microwave or can even be used in an electric oven.
Material: Silicone
Color: White, Red, Green, Blue
Size: 1500ml - 24cm x 20cm
Please allow 14 - 30 days for eco-friendly packaging and shipping 🙂


text:
valentine's day card boxes
You re going to love these more than 60 really cute FREE Valentine s Day class card printables you can make yourself at home shop unique valentine s day stationery from independent artists on minted. Find out more about Valentine s Day, including the story of its origin, symbols, and traditions 200 romantic valentine's day love messages. Get all the facts on History and i like the things that are not appropriate for a greeting card. com i love loving you. Valentine s Day cards are a lasting way to tell someone how much you love them this holiday happy valentine's day! hi everyone! here s a surprise sunday video! you can use these ideas to make some valentine s for your family and friends. Shop Hallmark for the widest selection of Valentine s Day cards our mom bought the supplies at. MES Flashcards - free printable flashcards with matching game cards, worksheets, vocabulary handouts, classroom activities, and games valentine s 1: valentine s 2: valentine s 3: valentine s 4: valentine s 5: valentine s 6: valentine s 7: valentine s 8: valentine s 9: valentine s 10: valentine s 11 i can't believe it's time to start thinking about valentine's day cards, but it is, so lets begin! have fun finding one that is perfect for your kiddos! printable valentine s day cards | cute valentine s day card templates. History of Valentine s Day, Valentine s traditions, candy hearts, mushy stories, and love poems on the Web Homemade Valentine s Day cards using stamping, quilling, block-printing, and glittering techniques design your own valentine s day cards, add a personalized message and print for free. Send virtual X s and O s to your special someone fill this valentine s day with love and fun. Browse our selection of Valentine s Day eCards, personalize your message, and send greeting cards online! Valentine s Day is the perfect time to express your love to your family in the most extraordinary way find valentine cards and gifts for kids and romantic loves alike with stuffed animals, chocolates and more! send a personalised valentines card from £1. Bring smiles on the faces of your mom/ dad/ bro/ sis 79. Events Calendar For 2017 From 123Greetings choose the perfect valentine's day card from our range of personalised designs at funky pigeon this february 14th. com lots of free valentines day card messages you can write in your card. Send free online greeting cards to your friends, family and loved ones save time and effort by using our ready made messages in your next valentines day card. ALL cards are absolutely free! These printable Valentine cards will be perfect for any one of your friends or family members this Valentine s Day we also. It s a great collection of funny, touching valentine s day resources this page contains links to valentine s day puzzles and games, bulletin boards and other room decoration, valentine coloring. Shop Zazzle s Valentine s Day cards! Browse through our great selection of designs or create your own custom valentines day cards choose from 400+ personalised valentine's cards with moonpig. Get yours today! From sweet and sentimental to funny and cheeky, discover unique Valentine s Day greetings Valentine s Day will be here before you know it, but before heading to the store, consider simply firing up your printer! With a few clicks of the mouse and a These gorgeous Valentine s Day cards are oh, so easy to make, proving that even a beginning crafter can wow loved ones with a homemade valentine create the perfect photo valentine's card and order by 7pm (mon-fri) to catch today s post. Celebrate the season with Valentine s Day greeting cards Shop unique Valentine s Day stationery from independent artists on Minted


text:
'Lost' (S2): Jeff Jensen answers your e-mails
Jeff Jensen responds to your burning questions about his Big Theory (next week: a round-up of reader theories)
'Lost' (S2): Jeff Jensen answers your e-mails
"Brilliant!" "Impossible!" "I didn't understand one word of it!" "You have wayyyyy too much time on your hands."
Yep: Doc Jensen's Lost Super-String Theory certainly got a reaction out of you — a whole heaping bunch of 'yous.' As I write these words on Thursday morning, less than 12 hours after the "Maternity Leave" episode of Lost (Claire! Eko! Scary needles! Even scarier close-ups of Rousseau's haunted French face!), your e-mail responses continue to flood my inbox. Sample: "Your theory sounds an awful lot like the plot to Akira," writes Jesse. (Dear Jesse: You're right! Mad props to manga auteur Katsuhiro Otomo!) "Wow, that's some deep stuff and I must admit I LOVE it," raves Mindy Cardenas. "You have been officially labeled a Crazy." (Dear Mindy: I wear "Crazy" with great pride. Namaste!)
Of course, there was also this from a reader named Hen: "Such crap." (Dear Hen: "Hen"?) And Haneen Hussein was even more succinct, writing simply: "Lost."
Indeed, even among those who really dug my argument — that the island is being controlled by a powerful disembodied psychic named Aaron who's conspiring to take possession of Baby Aaron (let's call it "the Aaron Theory" for short) — there were some nagging doubts and burning questions about my kooky conclusions. So here's what we're going to do. This week, I'm going to answer some of these questions, and in the process, throw some radical new ideas and analysis at you. (Can't wait to get your feedback on my "Satanic" interpretation of Lost — see below.) Then, next week, I'm going to report on all your theories — from Sean Dunleavy's elaborate comparison of Lost to Animal Farm, to Patrick Lucy's "nature versus nurture" meditation, to the countless variations of the popular "I think everyone's dead and stuck in Purgatory" theory. So, without further ado:
BURNING QUESTION: How does the new information about the Others disclosed in "Maternity Leave" affect the Aaron Theory?
ANSWER: The Aaron Theory stated that the Others are working to put Evil Aaron's disembodied mind back into a body. "Maternity Leave" didn't offer any proof to the contrary — though the discovery of costumes, fake beards, and makeup glue in the Hospital Hatch indicates that the Others aren't the tropical hillbillies we thought they were. Perhaps this Cult of Aaron is akin to the real-life Raelian movement, a high-tech UFO religion fixated with immortality and cloning. Regardless, it appears the Others — who may be part of the Dharma Initiative, or may be a separate group that has hijacked or co-opted Dharma's facilities — have a flair for the theatrical. Which makes me wonder if creating drama — or psychodrama, to be Freudian about it — is part of their plan.
BURNING QUESTION: Why does Doc Jensen believe that the Aaron Theory's disembodied psychic — a former Dharma test subject who went psycho from Skinner-box experimentation — is, like Claire's baby, named Aaron?
ANSWER: Your most frequently asked question. I based this idea on the incident in the episode titled "The 23rd Psalm," in which Mr. Eko asked Claire why she named her baby Aaron. "I just… like it," she said. This struck me as conspicuously ambiguous, and led me to wonder if perhaps some subliminal force — say, a certain disembodied psychic entity — prompted Claire to take a shine to this name.
BURNING QUESTION: How does the Aaron Theory explain the incredible coincidences in Lost — everything from Desmond, an acquaintance from Jack's past who was found in the Hatch, to the way all the characters intersect in the flashbacks?
ANSWER: Your second most frequently asked question. And the answer is: synchronicity — as in Carl Jung's theory of synchronicity, a subconscious force that binds all life. The Police recorded a song about Jung's hypothesis, and Sting's lyrics do a much better job of summing it up: "A connecting principle/ Linked to the invisible/ Almost imperceptible…" (In fact, the song "Synchronicity" may sum up a lot of Lost. For example: Does "They know you/ They know me/ Extra-sensory/ Synchronicity" = The Others and Evil Aaron?) The upshot of synchronicity is that nothing is coincidental — we just can't see the complex sequence of factors that shape what we call "reality." In this regard, synchronicity is echoed by various theories within the field of quantum physics. Now, sci-fi writers looooove synchronicity theory and quantum mechanics, because both allow for the possibility that that the fabric of reality and even the space/time continuum can be manipulated by psychic minds and mad scientists. Hence, someone who could access and wield these forces could do things like, say, forge connections between strangers, or even alter reality so that people could survive a plane crash. Specifically, how does this explain Desmond? Given the clout that Jack has among the castaways, the good doctor is a significant threat to Evil Aaron's plans. The attribute that Jack possesses that makes him so threatening is his skeptical, hyper-rational mind. Therefore, it's in Evil Aaron's best interests to make Jack doubt his own instincts. What I'm saying is that Desmond was brought to the island to basically fry Jack's logic grid. But that's assuming that Desmond is actually real; he could easily be a hallucination.
BURNING QUESTION: So? just how did Doc Jensen come up with the Aaron Theory?
ANSWER: By following the clues, dudes! Lost has a conspicuous habit of name-checking books, like The Turn of the Screw, The Third Policeman, and An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. Screw is a trippy ghost story/psychological thriller; Policeman's main character is a dead guy; Bridge is about a guy who fantasizes about surviving his own execution. Now: All three books are examples of trickster fiction that employ what lit majors call an "unreliable narrator." With that in mind, consider anew the Hatch, a.k.a. Station Three: The Swan. In fact, go to this website and check out the Station Three logo: Is that really a swan surrounded by I Ching symbols — or is that a serpent trapped inside a snake charmer's basket? Now, click on that swan/snake and watch the orientation film. That music at the beginning and the end — that's snake-charmer music, people! And Dr. Marvin Candle's closing salutation, "Namaste"? You can anagram that word into "Me Satan." Finally, remember the episode "One of Them," which introduced us to an alleged Other named Henry Gale? The episode is actually an elaborate homage to the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Howling Man," in which a reclusive religious order captures a man suspected of being Satan. YOU MUST WATCH "THE HOWLING MAN"! The phrases "Dharma," "Lost," and "One of Them" are all conspicuously referenced. Am I suggesting that Dharma was trying to capture Satan, or perhaps cure mankind of "original sin"? Maybe. But at the very least, these devilish little details — combined with the Skinner-box nature of the Hatch — strongly suggest that nothing is what it seems when it comes to the Dharma Initiative. Which is why I think the orientation film is totally bogus. Now, a skeptical mind could conclude that the Dharma mythology, combined with the costumes and fake beards found in the Hospital Hatch = "giant hoax." However, "giant hoax" doesn't quite explain the monster, or how all these people could have survived that plane crash, or Hurley's cursed numbers, or Walt's peculiar psychic abilities. So what I decided to do was pull a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup: I combined "supernatural" and "giant hoax" into one great taste! And there you go: the Aaron Theory.
BURNING QUESTION: How come Locke can walk?
ANSWER: Many of you wondered why the Aaron Theory failed to address this question. Simple: I ran out of space! Locke's ability to walk anew is neatly explained by the popular Purgatory or Hallucination theories of Lost. But the Aaron Theory works, too: Evil Aaron could have repaired Locke's legs, or, because the island is suffused with ESP energy, Locke could be subconsciously harnessing it and willing himself to walk again — a true example of mind over matter. HOWEVER: I'm betting that Lost is plotting a big twist about Locke's legs. After all: we're only assuming that Locke was paralyzed or paraplegic. What if he wasn't? What if Locke was in a wheelchair because of a psychosomatic illness? Yep: I'm thinking Locke could walk all along — he just thought he couldn't. (Forgive me for being simplistic about a serious psychological malady.)
BURNING QUESTION: Was the Aaron Theory incorrect in claiming that the Numbers were "retired Yankee jerseys"?
ANSWER: Apparently so, according to dozens of e-mails we received from various New York Yankees fans and astute sports nerds. Paul Bosler wrote: "…the number 42 is NOT retired. It is still worn by Mariano Rivera, the Yankees' closer. Major League Baseball has requested that every team retire 42 because of Jackie Robinson. As far as I know the Yankees are the only team that has not done so." We stand corrected, though in our defense, the Aaron Theory survives this inaccuracy, because it argues that The Numbers were a string of arbitrary digits that originally had no intrinsic meaning or function, but became "cursed" as a consequence of a psychic catastrophe. Nonetheless: We should have been more careful with our facts and words, especially around touchy Yankee fans. We're sorry. Now: Can you stop flooding my e-mail box with Bronx cheers?
BURNING QUESTION: Why couldn't Doc Jensen just make it easy on himself and fall back on the Purgatory Theory to explain everything?
ANSWER: Purgatory is, by far, the most popular Lost theory out there. Personally, I'm not wild about it: Purgatory is both a very specific religious idea and a pretty nebulous creative concept. Sure, purgatory as an abstract notion could explain all of the show's baffling details — but it would be as unfulfilling as chalking everything up to magic, or saying it was "just a dream." However, I would be willing to accept the Hallucination Theory — specifically, a mass hallucination, built out of bits and pieces of everyone's imagination. In fact, I was actually torn between running the Aaron Theory and what I'd like to call the "Fear of Flying" Theory. I am specifically referring to a comic book story called "Fear of Flying" that was published in Swamp Thing #71, circa 1988. In this tale, Swamp Thing is flying through the sky and encounters a ghostly plane filled with disembodied souls who think they're still alive and still travelling to their destination. Notes the hero: "As a group, they have refused to accept the loss of their physical bodies. So they carry on, as if nothing happened. Reinforcing each other's skewered vision of reality. Haunting the sky itself." I think this idea can be applied to Lost without asserting that the characters on the show are actually dead… but that's a theory for another time. As for why we ultimately decided to go with the Aaron Theory, and its contention that the island is a real place… well, because it was more interesting. And frankly, anything else — even Hallucination — feels like a cop-out.
BURNING QUESTION: How does the Aaron Theory explain Smokey the monster?
ANSWER: Back in January, I postulated that Smokey was created by the Dharma Initiative to serve as a quality control agent on an island that is basically a giant factory designed to manufacture better, more enlightened people. Some of you asked if the Aaron Theory marks a repudiation of my original Smokey hypothesis, to which I say: "Yes." I now believe that Smokey is actually the manifestation of Evil Aaron's superego, responsible for squelching all of the island's bad ideas — and perhaps, Evil Aaron's own dark thoughts. It could be the case that Evil Aaron is actually at war with himself: Smokey the superego could be trying to stop this mad plan to hijack Baby Aaron's body. However, Smokey could be a separate bundle of weirdness altogether. If you belong in the camp that believes that the island was enchanted well before Dharma and the Others got there, Smokey could serve as its guardian — much like the Marvel Comics character Man-Thing, a twisted twin of Swamp Thing. Man-Thing is a mindless beast that has a nasty habit of killing anyone who shows fear — shades of Smokey, no? Moreover, Man-Thing's job is to protect something called "The Nexus of Realities" — a portal to alternate worlds. Wouldn't it be funny if in the end, Lost is revealed to be a crazy synthesis of Swamp Thing and Man-Thing comic books?
BURNING QUESTION: Does Doc Jensen REALLY believe in his "Aaron Theory"?
ANSWER: Honestly, it doesn't matter. For me, Lost is an allegory for a troubling age of catastrophe and confusion, manipulation and misdirection. Lost is a mythology show about mythology shows; it dramatizes the romance of mystery and the impulse to impose order on chaos and how the two compliment and nullify each other; it shows how far we'll go to find something to believe in — and how far we'll go to not believe in anything. That's Doc J's real theory of Lost… but writing about disembodied psychics is so much more fun!


text:
Bermuda lies in the North Atlantic about 1034 miles northeast of Miami, Florida and 768 miles south Sable Island, Nova Scotia. It is actually 181 islands, with a total land mass of 20 square miles. Only eight of the islands are populated. It was discovered in 1503 by the Spanish explorer, Juan de Bermudez. But it wasn't until 1609 when one of a flotilla of British ships was shipwrecked on its way to the colonies in Virginia that the island had any settlement. It is believed that Shakespeare's The Tempest was based on the account of that shipwreck.
for maps


text:
WHAT IS THE WAGE & INVESTMENT DIVISION? The Wage & Investment Division (W&I) serves about 122 million taxpayers who file upwards of 94 million returns each year. W&I provides high-quality taxpayer assistance, and enable taxpayers to transact and communicate electronically to file their returns and make payments.
See "Other Information" for LocationsLearn more about this agency
WHAT DOES A DATA TRANSCRIBER DO? The Data Transcriber performs a vital role in the Service's ability to process thousands of tax returns each year. In this position, you will be responsible for examining incoming returns, perfecting them to ensure compliance with the required format, and finally processing the return using the systems and applications that you will be trained to operate. This process ultimately converts millions of paper documents, including a variety of taxpayer prepared returns and related schedules, federal tax forms, and other taxpayer information, to tape.
As a Data Transcriber you will:
- Review documents for specific requirements necessary for processing. Processes current year and/or prior year individual and/or business returns and related information.
- Bring documents into compliance with the required format or initiate action to obtain or clarify information not otherwise available.
- Identify and properly route correspondence (e.g., letters, powers of attorney, etc) to appropriate function for processing.
- Interpret taxpayer's intent from available data and complete the document in the required format.
- Prepare documents for scanning by detaching Forms W-2, correspondence, unnecessary schedules, etc. from the returns; removes staples and paper clips; and makes necessary repairs to ensure documents are scannable.
- Perform original entry, character identification, and/or data validation functions.
WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OTHER IRS CAREERS? If you want to find out more about IRS careers, visit us on the web at www.jobs.irs.gov
Travel Required
Not required
Supervisory status
Promotion Potential
Job family (Series)
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/548090600. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.


text:
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a voluntary program. Importers and exporters within Canada, Mexico and the United States may opt to participate and, as a result, avoid duties on most goods traded within North America.
It is the exporter who is responsible for validating that a good qualifies for participation under the program. (NAFTA uses the word originating.) If a good is eligible, the exporter generates a NAFTA country of origin certificate. Should an exporter or a producer who chooses to participate generate an incorrect certificate, the law will hold the exporter and any participating producer accountable for the misstatement.
It comes as a surprise to some that an exporter and a producer have no legal obligation to participate in NAFTA. That is to say, NAFTA does not require an exporter to issue a NAFTA country of origin certificate if they choose not to participate in the program.
To be sure, exporters may be compelled commercially to participate. Customers have a knack for being persuasive. Clearly, an importer would like to avoid any unnecessary duty payments.
Why Would an Exporter Opt Out of NAFTA?
The primary reason would be that the product is already duty free.
As a U.S. exporter, how do you determine the duty status of a product? It starts, of course, with knowing the harmonized code for your product and then referencing the Canadian and Mexican tariffs.
Let us look at an example and assume we are exporters of wooden framed exterior windows and doors classified under heading 4418 of the harmonized system. In the United States we refer to our import tariff, the HTS, which can be found at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) website. We learn that the import duties on windows will be 3.2% and doors will be 4.8%.
- Windows: 4418.10.0000 3.2%
- Doors: 4418.20.xxxx 4.8%
We can reference the Canadian tariff, available at the Canada Border Services Agency website. We find that, although the subheadings remain the same, the 10-digit Canadian classifications are slightly different. Window frames are dutiable at 6% while windows are dutiable at 8%. Doors of all kinds are duty free.
- Windows: 4418.10.xxxx 6% or 8%
- Doors: 4418.20.00xx Free
The Mexican tariff is available through the Ministry of the Economy's website through a program called Siavi4. Siavi4 requires a minimum knowledge of Spanish. You will discover that all products classified under heading 4418 are dutiable at 20%.
- Windows: 4418.10.xx 20%
- Doors 4418.20.xx 20%
In the above example, the exporter would likely choose to participate in NAFTA because most of their goods are subject to duties, except for one instance.
Importing of doors into Canada is already duty free. In that instance the exporter may choose not go through the arduous process of originating the doors and choose not to issue a NAFTA country of origin certificate.
What About Other Fees?
Good point! The United States and Mexico charge user fees upon import. Mexico charges 0.8% while the United States charges 0.3464% (minimum $25 and maximum $485). NAFTA qualifying goods imported into the U.S. and Mexico are exempted from these fees. Canada does not charge user fees.
In the example above, an exporter to Canada may still choose to opt out of NAFTA participation as there is no additional benefit to the importer.
Are There Other Reasons for Opting Out?
Certainly. Companies that understand the administrative burden of maintaining a NAFTA program may make the choice that it is too expensive to participate.
Some companies find that even though their goods qualify, they barely meet the rules. These companies believe the costs and risks of non-compliance exceed the benefits of participation.
Other companies choose to opt out for another very good reason: their products simply do not qualify under the NAFTA. That is to say, they should not have opted in the first place.
This article, which was first published in July 2007, has been updated to include current tariff rates, import fees, and web links.
Click here to see a sample of a completed NAFTA Certificate of Origin.


text:
Love, Drugs, & Cinema (910 min.)
With: Jessica Salvatore (Virginia Commonwealth University)
Jessica Salvatore examines the relationship between romance and addiction, and how popular culture portrays this relationship in the media.
The Dating Apocalypse (3 min.)
With: Peter Eckel (With Good Reason)
How have dating apps changed the world of relationships? Production intern Peter Eckel investigates.
Divorce & Alcoholism (10 min.)
With: Kenneth Kendler (Virginia Commonwealth University)
Psychiatrist Kenneth Kendler discusses what to look for when a genetic predisposition to alcohol abuse is kick-started with a divorce.
E-Drugs (12 min.)
With: Michelle Peace (Virginia Commonwealth University)
The use of e-cigarettes and vaping is growing at a rapid rate. Now drug users are using e-cigarettes to vape illicit drugs. Michelle Peace is part of a team investigating the use of e-cigarettes and illegal drugs.
Menthol Woes (12 min.)
With: Nadine Kabbani (George Mason University)
Nadine Kabbani has new research showing that menthol can actually make cigarettes more addictive. This might be having an outsized impact on teen smokers–nearly 50% of them choose menthols over regular cigarettes.


text:
The Community Language School (CLS) academic year consists of a 10-week fall semester, a 10-week spring semester, and an 8-week summer session. Fall semesters generally begin the second week of September and end the week before Thanksgiving in November. Spring semesters generally begin in mid January and end in mid/late April. Spring classes break during MSU and area schools spring breaks. Summer sessions begin in mid/end June and end in mid August. Summer classes in the various languages typically run for one week each. There are no classes during the week of July 4.
Regular attendance is expected. Full tuition is due for all scheduled lessons/classes/sessions, even those missed by the participant. Lessons/classes/sessions missed due to faculty absence or school closings caused by weather will be rescheduled. Faculty are not obligated to make up lessons/classes/sessions missed by participants. Refunds will not be granted for participant absences.
Tuition Payment and Discounts
Full tuition is due at time of registration. Multiple-child/-program discounts of 10% apply per semester. Full tuition is charged for the most expensive class, any additional classes in the same semester/session receive a 10% discount each. Registration for multiple programs/children each semester must be completed at the same time in order to qualify for the discount. The discount applies per transaction and cannot be carried forward. A $25 late fee is assessed on all past-due accounts, within one week of a program start date. Accounts overdue by 90 days will be sent to collections.
The list of CLS programs is sensitive to a participant's age. If you are unable to enroll your child in a certain program online, he/she does not meet the age criteria. Please contact the CLS Director to discuss possibilities for overrides.
A notice of withdrawal by phone or in writing must be submitted to the CLS Director for a participant to be withdrawn. Notifying the teacher is not sufficient. Participants who withdraw up to two weeks prior to the start date of a program will receive a full refund minus a $50 administrative fee. Withdrawal within two weeks before a program start date results in a 50% refund. Refunds for programs are not possible after the first class.
Program Cancellation
Programs will be cancelled if fewer than five participants enroll (eight for summer camps). Participants will be notified about the program cancellation and a full refund will be issued.
Participants with Special Needs
All programs are accessible for participants with special needs. CLS must be notified at least four weeks prior to a program start date in order to determine reasonable accommodations.
CLS awards limited scholarships to participants based on need. If your child receives free or reduced lunch at school, your family may qualify. Scholarships are limited each semester/session and are awarded in order of application. Application deadlines fall on the Monday two weeks before the start date of each semester/session. Please email our office to apply and for more information.
Office Hours
CLS office hours are 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Pick Up and Drop Off
For fall and spring programs, we have set up a drop-off point outside the A-wing of Wells Hall for easy drop off and pick up. Parents are asked to wait by the North-West entrance of Wells Hall on Red Cedar Road, by the bus stop/small parking area across from the Red Cedar River.
For summer camps, the drop-off point is lot 79 (the large stadium lot).
Our staff will wait 5 minutes before a program start time to gather and walk the children to their classroom. Please wait with your child in your car until we get there. We will also walk the children back there at the end of class (approximately 5 minutes after class has ended). Please be on time for drop off and pick up. Our staff will not be able to wait. Visitor parking is available in the Spartan Stadium Lot (#79).
To ensure your child's safety, we ask that you communicate with us if you have instructed your child to be at a different pick up location other than the designated drop-off/pick-up point. Should there be any other people (family or friends) that you would like to authorize to pick up your child for a specific week/program, please notify our office as well. Please note that CLS is not responsible for dropping your child off at any other pick up locations or wait with your child.
School Closings
In the event of inclement weather, classes will be rescheduled when possible or account credits will be arranged. When CLS is closed, announcements will be posted on our website. Please remember that CLS closes independently of area schools, including East Lansing Public Schools. If you have any question about whether or not CLS is closed, you should check our website or call the office.
Media Release
CLS uses photography and video to document classes and events. These images and/or recordings may be used for educational, advertising, and promotional purposes in all conventional and electronic media, including but not limited to the Internet and any future media. Said images and recordings may be duplicated, distributed with or without charge, and/or altered in any form or manner without future or further compensation or liability, in perpetuity. Images and recordings featuring registered participants are considered eligible for educational, advertising, and promotional purposes unless a participant (or parent/guardian of a participant under age 18) submits a Request for Non-Use, available through our office.
Illness Policy
Participants/teachers should stay home if they have symptoms of possibly severe illnesses that they might be able to spread to others. Participants with influenza-like-illness, which is a fever of 100° Fahrenheit or higher plus a sore throat and/or cough, need to stay home until they have been fever-free (temperature below 100° Fahrenheit without using fever medicines) for at least 24 hours.
No Nuts Policy
Over the past decade, there has been a rise in the number of children who have life-threatening food allergies. Our goal is to keep all children in a safe and inclusive environment, where accommodations are explored and implemented when safe. CLS adopted a No NUTS policy in 2016. Although we can not guarantee a nut free school, we make reasonable effort to purchase nut free products for our programs. CLS makes a reasonable effort to inform those who might bring food onto the school's campus such as parents/guardians, teachers, and volunteers. CLS cannot guarantee a nut free campus.
Approval of Policies and Procedures
All participants and their responsible parties must verify in writing that they understand and accept the CLS policies and procedures before their first class. A valid signature form must be on file at CLS for each participant under the age of 18 before they can participate in any program. The signature form must be signed, dated, and returned to the office within two weeks of the first lesson. If the signed signature form is not received within two weeks of the first lesson, the participant may not attend until the form is returned, and there will be no refunds for lessons missed due to non-receipt of the signature form. Signature forms are valid for one year and need to be renewed each year.
Last updated: 06/06/2018
Download Program Policies and Procedures
Download Summer Camp Parent and Participant Handbook
Download Fall/Spring Parent and Participant Handbook


text:
We bring a revolution to transform India through one of the largest Greenfield initiatives globally- the Digital India Movement. We have built a varied, dynamic and vibrant organisational force, of those who believe in the transformational power of digital technology and see the same dream for India that we do.
Most Read: Jio Point Manager Job In Reliance Jio Infocomm ( Multiple Openings )
Most Shared: Manager Corporate Service Job In Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd
We're now inviting India's brightest and deeply committed Digital minds to join this force and help co-create this movement, to push boundaries, nurture ideas and create change where it matters most, to create a future for themselves even as they rewrite the history of India.
Reliance Jio Jobs : Creative Director Job In Jio
Function/Business Area : Marketing
Location : Navi Mumbai
Education Requirement : Graduate
Experience Requirement : 2 – 8 years
Skills & Competencies : Direction
Creative Director Job In Jio Job Responsibilities :
Conceptualize and execute short format videos. There are multiple genres of videos to be created ranging from humor to lifestyle to youth to music, dance, etc. Also different formats like episodes, topical videos, spoofs, etc.
Brainstorm with the creative team on concepts and come up with treatment ideas. Also provide creative supervision, monitor edits and packaging to ensure the video comes out as visualized by the team.
Reliance Jio Jobs : Editor Job In Jio
Function/Business Area : Marketing
Location : Navi Mumbai
Education Requirement : Graduation
Experience Requirement : 0 – Maximum 6 years
Editor Skills & Competencies :
2. Adobe Premier Pro
3. After Effects
4. Photoshop
Reliance Jio Jobs : Editor Job Responsibilities
1. Editing of short format videos on FCP which will be of different genres ranging from humor to lifestyle to youth to music, dance, etc
2. Intelligent and artistic editing required for all videos
3. Responsible for creatives in edit, graphics and packaging
4. Also overall supervision to ensure edit timelines are met for each video
5. Knowledge of VR video editing will be an added advantage


text:
0 x item(s)
The Dare 2b Drawdown Jacket is perfect for cooler days, whether you are doing your daily commute to work or plan on exploring the outdoors. The Drawdown has a water repellent finish in case you get caught in any unexpected showers, keep yourself warm in style this winter.
Click to view size chart


text:
LOS ANGELES — Stan Lee, the Marvel Comics maestro and co-creator of Spider-Man, X-Men and Black Panther, lives in a world of heroes and villains. But these days, it can be hard to tell which is which.
Few creators have left as profound a mark on popular culture. According to The-Numbers, a box office data site, films featuring Mr. Lee's superheroes have grossed more than $24 billion worldwide. He has a huge Twitter following, and admirers have included Federico Fellini, Ronald Reagan and George R.R. Martin, the author of "Game of Thrones."
"Stan is right up there with Walt Disney as one of the great creators of not just one character, but a whole galaxy of characters that have become part of our lives," Mr. Martin said. "Right now, I think he's probably bigger than Disney."
Yet at the summit of Mr. Lee's career, storm clouds have gathered.
The last year has brought an unsettling mix of tragedy and scandal, including the death in July of Joan Lee, his wife of almost 70 years; suspicions that millions of dollars have been siphoned from his accounts; even gossip reports that a former business associate stole his blood to sell to fans.
On Tuesday The Hollywood Reporter published an investigation that said that Mr. Lee, 95, is the victim of "elder abuse," partly at the hands of his 67-year-old daughter, Joan Celia Lee. The Daily Beast reported last month that Mr. Lee, who is said to be worth around $50 million, was "surrounded by a panoply of Hollywood charlatans and mountebanks" and being "picked apart by vultures."
A radio talk show in Orlando, Fla., even aired a rumor that he is being "held captive" by handlers who "have him basically locked up in the house."
But on a recent visit to Mr. Lee's home in the Bird Streets, a celebrity enclave high in the hills of West Hollywood, Calif., the man himself said otherwise.
True, a 6-foot-4 security guard, with a pistol on his hip, opened the front gate. And Mr. Lee hasn't been getting out as much, after a bout of pneumonia that has left him short of breath and looking frail. He also can no longer read because of macular degeneration.
Despite all that, Mr. Lee seemed relaxed and enthusiastic. Wearing a yellow shirt and beige polyester slacks in his poolside sitting room, its Sherwood-green carpet bleached by 40 years of California sunshine, he welcomed a reporter into his home.
So, is he a prisoner in his own house, surrounded by real-life supervillains?
"I'm the luckiest guy in the world," Mr. Lee said, chuckling and sounding like a 95-year-old teenager. "Nobody has more freedom."
He also defended his daughter, known as JC, against claims that she has been physically abusive and a financial drain. "My daughter has been a great help to me," he said. "Life is pretty good."
A House in Disarray
For four decades, Mr. Lee has lived in a relatively modest two-story house in the middle of what has become some of Los Angeles's most valuable real estate. Dr. Dre is a neighbor, and Leonardo DiCaprio lives down the block, on a street where houses can list for north of $30 million.
Inside the suburban-style home, a nurse and a maid bustled in the kitchen. Although Mr. Lee seemed at ease, the armed guard lent an air of surveillance that made it difficult to entirely relax.
The house is a time capsule of late 1970s Hollywood. Decorated by his late wife, it is dotted with ceramic animals, carved figures in African and Asian styles, and large gilt-framed mirrors hung on mirrored walls. Empty hooks surrounded by dusty outlines sit amid prints and original works by noted artists — Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Salvador Dalí and Roy Lichtenstein — suggesting a home being slowly eroded.
"My wife, she's the only person in the world that I would know of who would put a big mirror on top of a big mirror," Mr. Lee said. "And when she was here, she had so many paintings, all over. Most of them have left now. My daughter took a lot of them, and a lot of them have gone elsewhere."
It's the vagueness about what has "gone elsewhere" that has some of Mr. Lee's friends so worried.
Since his wife died last year, Mr. Lee's household has been thrown into disarray, with three factions of once-trusted aides vying for control. Mr. Lee's current gatekeeper is Keya Morgan, who has ousted former staff.
A former memorabilia dealer from New York, Mr. Morgan moved to Los Angeles as the executive producer of the mobster biopic "Gotti," and now describes himself as a "producing partner of John Travolta." Sitting at Mr. Lee's side, he was dressed in a black suit and tie, black bowler hat and dark sunglasses, which he lowered on his nose to see indoors.
In February, Mr. Morgan called police to the house to physically remove Mr. Lee's longtime road manager, Mac Anderson, known as Max. Mr. Anderson was accused of, among other things, attempting to bribe a nurse to make statements that Mr. Lee was being held hostage. "He got into a big fight with Stan and Stan's daughter," and was fired soon afterward, Mr. Morgan said.
Reached by phone, Mr. Anderson declined to comment.
Also out was Jerry Olivarez, a Hollywood publicist who briefly obtained power of attorney over Mr. Lee's affairs last year, during which time more than a million dollars left the Marvel creator's accounts. That included a $300,000 check made out to Hands of Respect, a novelty company owned by Mr. Olivarez and Mr. Lee that makes a $10 lapel pin advocating racial harmony.
In unrelated matters, $1.4 million may have vanished in a series of wire transfers and a Chanel handbag full of cash may be missing from the house, according to Mr. Morgan. Also, a trove of Marvel memorabilia, including character sketches and figurines, is the subject of disputed ownership between Mr. Anderson and Mr. Lee, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Mr. Lee may be a creative genius, but he isn't a financial one. "I've been very careless with money," he said.
"I had a partner or two who, since I'm not a money counter — I let them take care of keeping track of the money we made," Mr. Lee said, as he sipped a bottle of mineral water to soothe his raspy voice. "Lately, I have found out that a lot of the money we made is no longer available for me. I don't know where it is, but a guy, and maybe one or two others, have found a way to take it.
"So, I feel bad about it, and of course we have a lawyer trying to get it back again," he said. "But money isn't worth losing your cool about, you know?"
Superhero Factory
The child of Romanian Jewish immigrants, Stanley Lieber was born in New York City in 1922. He was hired in 1939 as an assistant at Timely Comics, the not-especially-promising division of a pulp magazine publisher that would eventually be renamed Marvel.
Following a staff exodus the next year, the newly rechristened Mr. Lee (an alias he adopted to save his real name for the great novels he aspired to write) was appointed its editor. The two great motifs of his life were established: a nagging feeling that his work in comics was cultural schlock, and the fact that he would be a lifelong corporate employee, never owning the rights to his creations.
His greatest streak of inspiration began in 1961, when Mr. Lee was almost 40 and thoroughly disenchanted with his career. With the artist Jack Kirby, he created the Fantastic Four, a hit he bested the next year by inventing Spider-Man with the artist Steve Ditko.
Among the enduring characters he created over the next decade with those artists, and others, are the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Doctor Strange and, in 1966, Black Panther: an African warrior-king whose recent film adventure has grossed more than $1.3 billion.
"I'm sorry I didn't introduce black characters a little sooner," Mr. Lee said. "I tried to create an Asian superhero, I tried to create a South American superhero. And at that point I also was thinking it's ridiculous that we don't have a black superhero."
Asked if contemporary comics and films could be doing a better job of representing women and superheroes of color, he replied, "yes," but expanded: "You can't force anything on the public. But if you do a black hero or heroine and you see that it's well received at the newsstand, then you'd be an idiot not to come up with more stories like that. Everything depends on the marketplace."
Yet Mr. Lee may have underestimated his own value in the marketplace. While he has made exponentially more money than any of his Marvel co-creators, he only ever collected a paycheck, and does not receive any continuing royalties from the films based on his characters.
In 2005, he received a one-time payment of $10 million from Marvel, to settle a provision in his contract that had entitled him to 10 percent of the profits from television and film adaptations. Four years later, Disney bought Marvel for $4 billion; it is unclear whether Mr. Lee was able to reap any benefit. (As Marvel's chairman emeritus, he still receives a salary, reported to be $1 million.)
And while his personal appearances (including charging fans $120 for an autograph) are a lucrative source of income, later-life attempts to create wholly owned superhero properties have foundered.
Stan Lee Media, a digital content start-up, crashed in 2000 and landed his business partner, Peter F. Paul, in prison for securities fraud. And Mr. Lee is embroiled in disputes with POW! Entertainment, the company he started in 2001 to create new shows, including "Stripperella," a cartoon starring Pamela Anderson.
POW! was sold last year to Camsing International, a Hong Kong-based company seeking to clone Marvel for the Asian market. Mr. Lee says that he has not been paid, which the company denies. "Mr. Lee has been paid and continues to be paid by the company," said Shane Duffy, the chief executive of POW! "Statements like this only heighten our concern for Stan's well-being."
As part of the escalating fight, Mr. Morgan and Mr. Lee's daughter entered the POW! offices on Santa Monica Boulevard on the night of March 14 and removed items that they say belong to Mr. Lee. They triggered a silent alarm, prompting POW! to file a police report.
The Beverly Hills police subsequently dropped the burglary investigation, but the fighting continues. Camsing is "acting as if they bought the company and everything on the four walls belong to them," said Mr. Lee, sounding downcast. "So, another lawsuit."
An Oscar for Stan Lee?
Outside the bubble of legal drama and personal strife, however, Mr. Lee's creative influence remains at an all-time high.
"There's no doubt that Stan, in terms of American popular culture, he's one of the giants of the 20th century," Mr. Martin said. "Spider-Man and Iron Man; the X-Men — they're still as viable as ever."
From the floral sofa in his sitting room, Mr. Lee is a font of highly entertaining stories from the glory days, even if some of them sound taller than his 1962 creation Giant-Man.
Like the time Pablo Picasso was so taken by Mrs. Lee's beauty that he approached the couple in a New York restaurant and sketched her on their tablecloth. "We ran home to tell my father about what happened," Mr. Lee said. But, "in our excitement, we had left the drawing in the restaurant. We never found it!"
Or the time when Mr. DiCaprio told Mr. Lee that he had written the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, lobbying for Mr. Lee to receive an honorary Oscar for his numerous cameos over the years. (Mr. Lee appears in nearly every Marvel movie, including "Black Panther," in which he plays a gambler in a South Korean casino.)
Mr. DiCaprio also wants to portray Mr. Lee in a film about the Marvel creator, according to Mr. Morgan, who accompanied Mr. Lee on a recent visit to Mr. DiCaprio's house. (A spokesman for Mr. DiCaprio would not confirm this account of their conversation.)
The thought of a biopic starring Mr. DiCaprio gave Mr. Lee pause. He looked out over the pool, to the canyon beyond, and pondered being portrayed by an Oscar-winning actor.
"I don't know if he could capture the essence of me," he said, after a moment. "We have to talk about that."


text:
Doesn't it also mean slow?Originally Posted by tdol
English Teacher
I heard that we got the word 'char' from a Portuguese Princess (Catherine I think) who introduced the afternoon tea habit to Britain.
Doesn't it also mean slow?Originally Posted by tdol
No, that's not true, I think. The only reason why English has so much French loans in it, is historical (cf. invasion of Willem of Normandy :? ). It's not related to French, because French is a Romance language and English is a Germanic language. Other languages that belong to the Germanic family are Dutch, German, Danish,...Originally Posted by lucyarliwu
Other Romance languages are Italian, Spanish, Romanian...
I don't know if that's so surprising, I mean they do belong to the same language family?Originally Posted by RonBee
... :? Do you really believe that? If you take a look all around the world, wouldn't you have to agree that in every language, English is infiltrating more and more...The only language I know to be very resistant to English borrowing is French, but doh...why am I not surprised... :wink:Originally Posted by RonBee
But if you look at the Netherlands you will see them using a lot of English in their Dutch. And also Afrikaans takes a lot of English words.
Actually, :D , the point was this: English, perhaps more than any other language, is an insatiable borrower. :wink: That is, English borrows from many languages via contact: immigration; media; Business. :wink:Originally Posted by Ibeke
Well, actually :wink: I don't agree that English could "perhaps" be a greater borrower than any other language. What I might agree with is that English borrows from various languages and that the variety in languages it borrows from is great.Originally Posted by Casiopea
Btw this sentence was really stated: " Whereas the speakers of other languages take pains to exclude foreign words from their lexicons"
...and that is still very untrue to me.
I agree. :DOriginally Posted by Ibeke
So you're saying it's an overstatement, right? Hmm. But, then again, have you looked to see if there are other languages aside from French that do indeed 'take pains to exlude foreign words from their lexicons'? :wink:Originally Posted by Ibeke
The Academie Francaise tries, but they are fighting a losing battle.
Well, I watch a lot of German television and it surprises me how they always manage to find their own words for modern technologies, for example "Fernsehe" for tv. I mean: in Belgium it's televisie and in the Netherlands as well, but in Germany it's Fernsehe. I'm saying this because Germany differs little- at least in my eyes- from Dutch and they could have easily made it: Televisione...I don't think that would have constituted a problem for pronunciation whatsoever. But ok, I'm certainly not encouraging extensive borrowing. In the Netherlands very often English words are inserted in speech as well as words from the former colony Surinam (or Dutch Guiana). In Afrikaans there has been plenty of borrowing from various sources: English, Dutch, Malay, Portuguese, Zulu, Xhosa, French, Arab,...Some languages have not been as influential as others. For example Arab and French. Most French loans in Afrikaans are restricted to names and most Arab loans have religious context: such as "een kaffer" from the Arab "kafir", a non-believer.Originally Posted by Casiopea
In Moroccan most of the borrowing is from French and also from Spanish. Riffiyan Berber (spoken in the north of Morocco) has borrowed so extensively from Spanish, that during my Spanish classes I knew practically all of the vocabulary already.
But I would say French together with Flemish (Belgium) and German are still somewhat resistant to borrowing. As Flemish and Netherland Dutch are practically the same (except for pronunciation) they can easily be compared to detect loan words and as you come to do this, you will come to the same conclusion as I did: Netherland Dutch is less hesitant in loaning words especially from English.
Greetz :wink:
PS:...and these are only the lexical loans we're talking about.


text:
The head of the Vatican's doctrinal office said Tuesday that the church's ban on women priests is permanent and irreformable because it is "bound by the Lord's decision" to ordain only men.
Archbishop Luis Ladaria, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), has published a statement in the semi-official Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, in which he said that the male-only priesthood is "a truth belonging to the deposit of faith."
Ten days ago, Pope Francis announced he will elevate 14 bishops to the rank of cardinal next June 29, and among them is Archbishop Ladaria, who, like the pope himself, is a Jesuit.
"Christ wanted to confer this sacrament on the Twelve Apostles, all men, who, in turn, have communicated it to other men," Ladaria wrote. "The Church has always seen herself as bound by this decision of the Lord, which excludes that the ministerial priesthood can be validly conferred on women."
Ongoing debate regarding the ordination of women is harmful to the faithful because such debates cause confusion not only about the nature of the ministerial priesthood, but about the teaching authority of the church, he said.
In this light, "it causes serious concern that voices continue to be raised in certain countries questioning the finality of this doctrine," he wrote. "To contend that it is not definitive, some argue that it has not been defined ex cathedra and that, therefore, a later decision of a future pope or council could overthrow it."
Sowing such doubts "creates serious confusion among the faithful, not only regarding the sacrament of orders as part of the divine constitution of the Church, but also regarding the ordinary magisterium that can teach Catholic doctrine infallibly," he added.
The church recognizes that the impossibility of ordaining women to the ministerial priesthood belongs to the "substance of the sacrament" of holy orders, he said. "The church has no power to change this substance, because it is precisely from the Sacraments, instituted by Christ, that it is generated as a church."
This is "not only a disciplinary element, but a doctrinal one," he wrote, "as it concerns the structure of the sacraments, which are the original place of encounter with Christ and the transmission of faith."
The archbishop insisted that the difference in functions between man and woman "does not carry with it any subordination, but a mutual enrichment."
"Remember that the perfect figure of the church is Mary, the mother of the Lord," he added, "who did not receive the apostolic ministry."
The "original language" of masculinity and femininity, that the Creator inscribed in the human body, are in this way "assumed into the work of our redemption," he said.
The archbishop also warned that the church must remain faithful to Christ if she wishes to bear fruit.
It "is essential that she remain in Jesus, as branches in the vine," he said.
"Only the acceptance of his wise design, which is incarnated in the sacraments, reinvigorates the roots of the church, so that it can bear fruit of eternal life," he said.
Follow Thomas D. Williams on Twitter Follow @tdwilliamsrome


text:
The billions of pieces of plastic waste hovering in the oceans of the Asia-Pacific region are causing a 20-fold increased risk of diseases deadly to coral reefs, according to a new study published in Science Thursday.
Why it matters: The estimated 11.1 billion plastic items lodged around the Asia-Pacific coral reefs boost the risk of coral contracting skeletal eroding band disease, white syndromes, and black band disease, they found. About 275 million people in the region rely on the reefs for food, tourism, marine biodiversity, and coastal protection.


text:
The national law firm of Parker Waichman LLP continues to file lawsuits against Takeda over the type 2 diabetes drug Actos. The latest lawsuit was filed by the firm on behalf of a plaintiff from Tennessee who allegedly developed bladder cancer after using Actos. The lawsuit names Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, and Eli Lilly and Co. The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, where it joins hundreds of other lawsuits in multidistrict litigation.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff took Actos from 2002 to 2011, and developed bladder cancer in December 2004. The plaintiff says that Takeda knew or should have known of the significantly increased risks of bladder cancer when Actos is used for a year or longer, and that the company failed to warn the public about these risks. The plaintiff says that because of that failure to warn, patients have been unnecessarily exposed to bladder cancer.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for severe mental and physical pain and suffering, past and future permanent injuries and emotional distress, economic loss due to medical expenses and living related expenses as a result of a new lifestyle. The lawsuit also seeks compensation on behalf of the plaintiff's wife for loss of consortium.


text:
A Corfu teenager was struck and killed Wednesday night as he was walking his bicycle in the eastbound lane of Genesee Street in the Town of Darien, Genesee County Sheriff's deputies reported.
Dean Cullinan, 19, was struck by an eastbound SUV about 10 p.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The SUV driver did not see Cullinan in the road because of an oncoming westbound vehicle and because the teen was wearing dark clothing, deputies reported.
The investigation is continuing, deputies said.


text:
A business associate recently posted on my forum on linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6966345
Need to know the procedures for conducting the leak test of pouches made of different laminates and of different products.
The baseline for setting the vacuum pressure, hold time, delay, release time etc.
Is there any standards for different laminates or pouch sizes?
Thank you in advance for your kind support.
I answered as follows :
Hello Mr. Karthick.
Thank you for posting your query on this forum.
Hope my answer below is helpful to you and other readers. You all are welcome to share your views. Maybe your views can help enhance my "limited" knowledge on this "vast" subject of packaging.
Firstly lets define Leakage :
"the accidental admission or escape of liquid or gas or light through a hole or crack."
Or in simpler words relevant to our subject, "an Undesirable Escape of product from its container / packaging" can be termed as leakage.
Surprising though it may sound, there is nothing in the world called as "Bullet-Proof" or "Water-Proof". A bullet-proof vest is actually a bullet-resistant vest which is resistant only upto a certain calibre of projectile fired from a certain distance. A Water-proof watch is actually a Water-Resistant watch which is resistant only upto a certain depth or certain exposure time.
Similarly, there is nothing like a Leak-Proof container. It is actually a leak-resistant container which is resistant to leakage only upto a certain pressure or condition. Beyond which it will start leaking.
So, any and every container / package will leak. The higher the resistance, the better the container.
There are 2 general types of Leak Tests.
The Vacuum Leak Test which is the most common one and is used for almost any kind of impervious package such as bottle or pouch or sachet, etc.
The Pressure Leak Test which is useful only on Semi-Rigid packaging such as bottles.
The Pressure Leak Test is done by closing the open end with a plug and injecting air into it and holding it under pressure for a second or 2. If the pressure drops, it signifies leakage. This test has its own flaws and is highly dependent on the sealing plug quality and certain other factors.
Variants of this test enable online pre-fill leak detection of 100% samples which is a positive point in its favour. Automatic rejection system can also be added to the filling line to remove faulty containers before they reach the filling station.
Other variants also allow you to test the Filled Containers by pressing the side walls and measuring tightness. Not a fool-proof method but has its own set of advantages.
Coming to our main topic of discussion on Vacuum Leakage Test.
Vacuum Leakage Test (VLT) is done by placing a package in a transparent chamber like a Dessicator, applying Vacuum and holding it there for some time.
VLT is primarly of 2 types. Wet Test and Dry Test.
If your product is solid or in powder form and the package has air inside it, then its better to test it submerged in water. When vacuum is applied, the pressure in the Tank reduces and drops below atmospheric pressure. The air inside the package will start expanding till the pressure inside the package is equal and opposite to the vacuum level. So if you have a 400 mmhg vacuum in the tank, the pressure inside the packaging with be + 400 mm hg. If there is any pinhole or leakage in the pouch / container, you will see a stream of air bubble emanating from the package. We then hold the vacuum at this level for some a few seconds. During this period, weak seals and capillary defects (which were not immediate leakages, but would have failed anyway in the market), will open up and show airbubbles. The vacuum is then released and tank brought back to normal atmospheric pressure. The packages are then removed and cut open to inspect the content. Is it wet ? Sometimes packages may not show air bubbles but you will find that the end of the test the water will have penetrated into the package through the leak points.
If your product is in liquid for, then you can test it in dry condition also. The product will pressurise during the vacuum phase and will ooze out from the leak points, if any.
This test is very easy and versatile. Unfortunately it is unable to detect micro-leakages from packages which contain high viscosity fluids. Eg. Ketchup, Paste, etc., because the product itself blocks the pinhole and prevents escape of air / product.
Another new concept coming up in the market is of Micro-Leak Detection systems which uses a combination of Gas and Gas sensors to detect leakages. We shall be introducing a product of this type in the first quarter of 2016 to the Asian Market.
Coming back again to our main topic and your question of "How much Vacuum" and "How much Hold Time".
As I said in the beginning, there is nothing as a Leak Proof Packaging.
All packages will leak (or burst) at a certain pressure.
The higher your need for quality, the higher will be your Vacuum and Time setting.
Company A is a local manufacturer of Tea in pouch. His distribution is in a range of 300-400 Kms. His product gets sold in less than 1 month and his brand is not a very famous one. He will suffice with 300 mmhg and 30 second test.
Company B is a Multi-National giant packing Tea in a pouch. His distribution is in a range of 1000-2000 Kms or even export. His product gets sold in about 3-6 months and his brand is a premium one. He cannot allow a leaking package to spoil his brand image. He will need even 500 mmhg and 120-180 second test.
There is no "one size fits all" concept here.
The basic rule of thumb is that start at 300mmhg and check if market complaints are getting reduced. If not, increase the vacuum and / or time. Till the point you reach a scenario where your market complaints are zero or negligible. Then use it as a benchmark for regular testing.
ASTM D 4991 specifies a method wherein the vacuum is gradually increased to about 950mbar to detect the level of vacuum at which the Rigid Containers (Bottles) start leaking.
ASTM D 5094 (Method B) specifies a Vibration Test followed by a vacuum leak test at 250 mmhg for 10 mins.
ASTM D 3078 specifies "Low", "Medium" and "High Vacuum" Test levels at 30 second for Flexible Packages. Low = 305-330mmhg, Medium = 457-483mmhg, High = 609-635mmhg.
Another scenario is that you need to ensure that your package is worthy of Air-Travel in non-pressurised Aircrafts or fit for use in high-altitude locations. ASTM 6653 gives a table of various flying altitudes and vacuum / pressure levels at those heights. Eg. If you need to ensure that your product is safe at an altitude of 20,000 ft above sea level, set the Vacuum Leakage Test to be greater than 411mmhg.
More data on this is available on http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/air-altitude-pressure-d_462.html
Note—Since we are using vacuum gage, you must subtract the desired mmhg from 760 to achieve the vacuum mmhg. For example, 760 – 349 = 411 vacuum mmhg, equating into 20,000 ft.
Hope I was able to explain the method and values properly. And the information was useful to you and others.
Best Regards,
Rohit Chawla.
|Rohit Chawla
|Test Techno Consultants
K-1, 23/2, G.I.D.C. Ranoli
Vadodara – 391350
Gujarat. INDIA.
|Phone : +91 – 265 – 2308600
Mobile : +91 – 98240 69001
Email : email@example.com
Website : www.PackTest.com
© Copyright Test Techno Consultants 2019. All rights reserved