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Amy Lou Adams was born August 20, 1974 in Vicenza, Veneto, Italy. She has been nominated for five Academy Awards, five Golden Globes (winning one), six Screen Actors Guild Awards, four BAFTA Awards, and nine BFCA Awards (winning four).
Adams began her performing career on stage in dinner theaters, before making her screen debut in the 1999 black comedy film Drop Dead Gorgeous. After a series of television guest appearances and roles in B movies, she was cast in the role of Brenda Strong in 2002's Catch Me If You Can. Later her breakthrough role was in the 2005 independent film Junebug, playing Ashley Johnsten, for which she received critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Adams subsequently starred in Disney's 2007 film Enchanted, a critical and commercial success, and received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance as Giselle. Adams received her second Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations the following year for her role as a young nun in Doubt.
In 2009, Adams portrayed Amelia Earhart in the highly successful adventure film Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, and starred as writer Julie Powell in the comedy-drama film Julie & Julia. She received two more Golden Globes, BAFTA, and Academy Award nominations for her roles in the 2010 sports drama The Fighter and the 2012 psychological drama The Master. Adams achieved further success in 2013 for portraying Lois Lane in the Superman movie Man of Steel and a con artist in American Hustle; the latter earned her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy and her fifth Academy Award nomination, this time for Best Actress.
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I've got an amazing package today. <3 I got so many new bottles lately and I really don't know where to start. I'm also dealing with lack of inspiration. My nails are naked for 2 days now and I'm still not fully decided what to wear next. xD But I'm so happy to have all these beauties around me. :)
I did a swap with Lynsey this winter but we stay in touch and decided to do another one, yay. Swaps are super fun, I always feel like a kid while opening the package, but because I ran out of bubble wrap I had to open them carefully today, even more exciting. :)
Here's what I got all the way from Canada. :)
Sparrow me the Drama
Planks a Lot
Silver Shatter
Nicole by OPI
I'm a Belieber
I've Bieber Fever
China Glaze
Ruby Pumps
Pom Pom
Secret Peri-wink-le
Gum Drop
Cotton Candy
Bubble Gum
Finger Paints
Rose Patina
Artistic Azure
Basket Case
Deborah Lippmann
Angel Eyes
Milani Jewel FX
Beachy Keen
Milani Gold is such an amazing glitter. <3 You might noticed that I already have it, but if I want to do all my nails with this beauty, I'd run out so quickly, that's why I's even more happy when I saw she found me a back up. Got my Pirates, scented Revlon polishes, those 4in1 polishes from Claire's which got mixed during the transition but still, they look super fun, that's why I wanted them and my first Finger Paints - I actually didn't expect I'll like them so much, first impression is really really good though. And I just need to mention Ruby Pumps. <3 This baby is even prettier in RL as on pictures, you know I don't like red so much but this one is just amazing and must have for all nail junkies. :) Well they're all just so beautiful. <3
Hershey's Cookies'n'Creme Eggs. <3 Last time she sent me Hershey's Kisses in same flavor and I fell in love with them. I love cookies but I always loved more the creme inside. These are just perfect - lots of creme with pieces of cookie. ^_^ I really don't know what I'll do when I eat them all. <\3 I got another Body Lotion from Bath & BodyWorks - smeels divine. :L I also got a huge Laura Secord Crunchy Peanut Butter Egg but my mom ate it before I even took pictures. :$
Thank you so much Lynsey for another super awesome package. :k I really hope you'll like goodies I picked for you when you get them as much as I am loving these. <3
Pretty new babies, right? :i
Nighty night,
Ivana :k

subset: commoncrawl


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[UPDATE]: Welcome Instapundit readers.
So, Andrew Breitbart's new website Big Government wanted to start off with a splash – and they've certainly done so, thanks to the post Chaos to Glory. In it, James O'Keefe went with an associate to ACORN's Baltimore office, with the story that the associate is a prostitute who needs to set up her income – and the income of a baker's dozen of underage El Salvadoran illegal immigrant prostitutes – to fund O'Keefe's political campaigns. ACORN of course immediately informs them that they are depraved abusive monsters, throws them out, and calls the cops…
Yeah, right. What actually happens is that they get a crash course in Tax Fraud and How To Set Up A Brothel 101: links are to videos, in case the above doesn't load (their servers must be getting hammered, for some reason). Transcript here: you will find that your jaw steadily drops more and more as this goes on. They didn't blink at the prostitute bit (just reclassified it as entertainer, and walked through useful deductions): they didn't blink at the underaged El Salvadoran prostitutes thing (just worked out how many could be claimed as dependents without things getting flagged); and they didn't blink on the request for advice on avoiding a former pimp (they just gave some, which didn't include "Call the cops" and "Stop being a prostitute").
After a certain point, you will ask yourself if this can possibly be for real. Breitbart did, himself. This, in fact, pushes the very limit of the Too Good to Be True envelope – but the videos are simply too good to miss. Plus, ACORN's screams of outrage are diagnostic: they're essentially claiming that when asked, other offices didn't give out tax advice on running illegal underage brothels.
So there.
After all of that, the news (via Instapundit) that a ring of eleven ACORN operatives in Miami-Dade have been busted for here election fraud is somehow… reassuring*.
Moe Lane
*Although I must admit, ACORN has a great scam there. Use a set of rules that encourages election fraud, let low-level operatives commit election fraud, pick random individuals to report in areas where they can afford it, then take credit. Brilliant. Not as brilliant as figuring out tax dodges for illegal underage brothels, but brilliant.
Crossposted to RedState.


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Yup, more EV stuff today. This car [Cache mirror]is just so impressive that I think it's definitely worthy. The car is a Birkin S-3 reproduction kit. Instead of the 4 cylinder, he put in a 3 phase 100HP, yes, 100HP electric motor. That's pretty kickin. The *really* interesting twist is the battery pack. Multiple hybrid car battery cells (think prius NiMH) were salvaged to provide the juice. It runs around on tires designed for the EV1.
25 thoughts on "Electric 7 EV"
The Lotus Seven-style car is really perfect for a ev
Is 100hp more than the original lotus 7 engine? At any rate the power:weight ratio must be insane.
Not only that, but hes running the motor directly to the wheels, and electric motors have CRAZY torque all through the RPM range. That thing must take off like a bat out of hell.
Wow. Just wow.
Only problem I see though is this…It needs to be green and yellow, with the registration plate "kar 120c"!
wow we already crash the site
Pretty sweet add Some big Wheel covers, chrome, and a flame paint job and you have an electric hotrod
Google Cache:
flame paint job? How about a lightning-style paint job? :D
wow, we alredy blew thier server…..
is it just me or does the coral cache not have all of the images? it says 400-Bad Request on most of them…
this is a cool idea- and i really like how the interior turned out (from the few pictures that i was able to see of it)
Does anyone here know how to get a hold of some LRR (low rolling resistance) tires? I would like to get some for my turbo-diesel beetle, but I'm not sure if they sell them at regular tire places, or if you have to buy them specially.
Check out http://www.tdiclub.com. The forums there will be a better place to ask about those questions. I love my TDI wagon, 52mpg chipped. -
This is truely amazing… certainly not a job for the home hobbyist, but very, very impressive nevertheless. and I'm with #9- the acceleration must be something to behold.
Just frickin wow. -
I drive an electric vehicle most days. For a 8 tonne lump they certainly get up and boogie real fast. :-)
My VW TDI is way cool too. Performance AND economy.
I'd be throwing an motor speed controller with an analogue input on the accelerator or a vfd/plc combo to control everything on the car.
The original 7 had 49 and 70BHP depending on the model of the original year of production. although most replicas have 150BHP Plus, up to 600BHP from the turbo Hayabusa powered cars!
>>>It needs to be green and yellow, with the registration plate "kar 120c"!
lawl, i looked back at my comment and realized that i didn't really relate it to the post at all…
it should have included a reference to the LRR's from the EV1
He stole my idea! After reading the EVUK electric vehicle site I was all set on building an electric Se7en.. after I graduate that is. Still, I don't think anyone's built an electric Fisher Fury yet.. now that I want to see.
The site still appears unhappy (no images, just the home page HTML) and the coral cache gives error 400s, any other ideas or do we just have to wait for the traffic to die down a little?
#14- there are plenty of home hobbyists converting ice cars to electric, if anything this should be easier because you don't have to work with the car's old transmission and so on. Google electric car conversion to see just how many people already do it.
I'm certainly appreciating all the ev stuff on hackaday- please keep it up, we need to persuade more people that electric cars aren't hopelessly impractical milk floats any more! -
Check out the movie "Who killed the Electric Car" (2006), a little off topic, yes… but I haven't seen it advertised
For all the EV enthusiasts who want to know a little more about the car (the information on the site is pretty sparse), I found a brief post by the maker here: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/ev/2515/
He mentions his charger and his source for the batteries (scrappers, even in january 2002) and tires- if anyone can find contact details, I'd love to ask him for some tech specs (the rather wooly "re-engineered to produce four times the original capacity and power" statement could do with elaboration). -
hate to burst your bubble, but the acceleration would not be as "bat-out0of-hell"-ish as you may think. sure electric motors have crazy torque, but thats only because the power output remains the same. power and torque are related, power=(torque x RPM) /some constant, therefore the torque would be around infinity at zero RPM, but the power is not, and the POWER defines the acceleration.
I'm not sure if the horsepower figures listed here are the ICE (internal combustion engine) equivalent, but because electric motors are measured at continuous power and ICE are measured at peak power, you can get a rough conversion buy multiplying the rating on the electric motor by 8 or 10. eg, a 20 HP electric motor is approx equivalent to a 160-200 HP ICE.
I used to have a Lotus Seven. it had about 120hp, and it really flyed. so an EV with 100hp must fly also
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Practically every recipe for beef stew calls for "stew beef." I've seen it in the store. I've used it without much success in stew. But really, what the heck is it? After a bit of research, I found it's typically chuck or round. Chuck is around the shoulder and round is around the rear of the cow. These cuts require lots of time in order to break down and become tender–and I have no problem with that. My issue comes from the fact that I've never had a beef stew where these meats actually tasted fall-apart tender and yummy. So what's the solution? SHORT RIBS! Cheap and just as easy to use in stew as the above 'unmentionables'. I am not a crock pot fan, so I used a heavy bottomed, enameled cast iron pot. Use whichever you find easier–but if you do use a crock pot, you will have to saute the meat and veggies in a separate pan and then add them to the crock pot.
- 3 lbs. short ribs (boneless will work if that's all you can find, but bones add nutrition & awesome flavor!)
- 3 T butter
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 4 oz. mushrooms, roughly chopped
- handful of sage, rosemary and thyme, chopped
- 1 qt. chicken stock
- 2 cups roasted marinara sauce (I keep some in the freezer at all times) or tomato sauce
- 1/4 c apple cider vinegar
- s&p
Get your oven to 250ºF. In a heavy bottomed, oven safe pot, melt the butter on high heat. Sear your short ribs until you see a nice brown crust on them. Remove and put them on a plate to hang out. Add the celery, onion, carrots, garlic and mushrooms. Saute until they've softened. Add the tomato sauce, chicken stock, vinegar and herbs. Place the short ribs back into the pot. Press a sheet of parchment paper onto the surface of the stew and place into the oven. Cook for about 4 hours or until the short ribs pull apart easily with a fork.
Once the short ribs are tender, remove the pot from the oven CAREFULLY. Remove the short ribs and bones. Once the meat has cooled, use your fingers to pull apart the meat–believe me, it's much, much easier than using a fork. Add the meat back to the pot and serve.


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Sioux Falls Police Involved in Standoff with Armed Robbery Suspect [PHOTOS]
Sioux Falls Police were involved in a standoff with an armed suspect on Saturday in the 1100 block of East 3rd Street.
At about 1:00 p.m. police were called to the IU General Store on a report of a man with a gun. When officers arrived the found the suspect inside the store with a hand gun. The suspect refused to comply with the officer's commands to drop the weapon and surrender. Police Emergency Response Teams were then called to the scene.
According to Seargent Aaron Nyberg police were able to evacuate the store and parking lot without incident.
After a brief standoff, the suspect was eventually taken into custody.
The suspect, Martine Luiz Moreno, 21, was taken to the Minnehaha County Jail and charged with 1st degree robbery, four counts of aggravated assault, and interference with emergency communications.
The store owner suffered unknown injuries and was take to a local hospital for medical attention. An officer also sustained a knee injury during the incident. Both are expected to recover from their injuries.


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Scientists have found the first evidence to show that even seemingly normal-looking clones may harbor serious abnormalities affecting gene expression that may not manifest themselves as outward characteristics. The findings, reported in the July 6 issue of Science by researchers at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and University of Hawaii, confirm the previous suspicion that reproductive cloning is not only inefficient, but may actually be unsafe.
In the study, scientists from Rudolf Jaenisch's laboratory and Ryuzo Yanagimachi's laboratory sought to examine the mechanisms underlying poor survival and gross overgrowth in cloned animals. They made mouse clones from embryonic stem (ES) cells and monitored the activity of imprinted genes—developmental genes that are controlled by special tags that do not affect the base sequence itself. They looked to see if these tags were faithfully reproduced in cloned mice and in the donor cells used to make the clones. This would tell them if the problems with cloning resulted from aberrations in donor cells or as a result of the cloning procedure itself.
Scientists found to their surprise that much of the problem lay in the make up of the donor ES cells, which they found to be extremely unstable in culture. As they divide in culture, these cells lose the tags that tell an imprinted gene to be either turned on or off during development. The researchers found that even clones made from sister stem cells had differences in their gene expression. Despite this instability, many embryos survived to adulthood, suggesting that mammalian development is surprisingly tolerant to aberrant gene regulation. "This suggests that even apparently normal clones may have subtle aberrations of gene expression that are not easily detected in the cloned animal," says Jaenisch.
The cloning procedure involves removing the nucleus, or the genetic command center, of an egg and replacing it with the nucleus from an adult cell or an ES cell. Ideally, the egg resets the developmental clock of the nucleus back to a state compatible with early embryonic growth and gives rise to a new organism that is genetically identical to the donor cell. Researchers had thought that using the nucleus from ES cell might require less reprogramming than using the nucleus from an adult cell, such as a mammary cell, which has already committed to a certain function.
ES cells are unique in that they can give rise to an entire organism without using the nuclear transfer procedure. The researchers found that animals developed from mouse embryonic stem cells by this technique exhibited irregular gene expression just as animals derived from nuclear transfer using embryonic stem cells confirming that these abnormalities likely existed in the cells before the cloning procedure was performed.
"While embryonic stem cells may be easier to developmentally reprogram than adult cells, they may have a different set of problems arising from errors occurring during culturing that cannot be fixed by cloning," says David Humpherys, a senior graduate student in the Jaenisch lab.
This may mean researchers will need to find ways to better preserve gene regulatory tags during cell culture techniques. Researchers also still need to test whether animals cloned from adult cells will show similar defects.
"However, despite their instability, it is important to remember that embryonic stem cells when combined with normal cells—as in making chimeras or when used in transplantation—may function fine. In other words, ES cells might work fine when used as cell therapy, but when they are used to make whole animals would likely produce organisms that are abnormal," says Jaenisch.
"While these new results are a concern for reproductive cloning, misexpression of imprinted genes likely has little significance for therapeutic cloning. Imprinted genes have defined roles in fetal development, but may serve no crucial role in the differentiated cells of the adult," says Humpherys.
Story Source:
Materials provided by Whitehead Institute For Biomedical Research. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
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REVIEW: This House by James Graham at Chichester's Minerva Theatre
But This House rudely reminds everyone of a certain age - and informs those who are younger - that brutal divides in the House of Commons are as old as democracy itself.
This play revisits the roller-coaster parliamentary session of 1974-79 - charting the industrial and social unrest of Britain and the consequential rise of the Honourable Member for Finchley, aka Margaret Thatcher.
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Hide AdLabour held power but by such a fine thread its time was spent in endless negotiation with the 'odds and sods' - smaller political groups - to hang on to the keys of 10 Downing Street.
Inevitably in such a febrile atmosphere, the glue in the machine was the whips' office - a dark and uncompromising arena where deals where made and favours called in, in the shadows of the archives room or the clock tower.
And this glimpse of parliamentary light is shed from that source.
The chain cigarette smoking, the coarse language, the long nights and the winner-take-all agenda are captured perfectly - as whips from Labour and Tories do battle.
A real-life House of Cards?
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Hide AdNot quite. No murders here although a touch of fraud and a large helping of self-preservation.
There is humanity too. Difficult to discern at first in the dim light of the darkened corridors but increasingly strong and pure and ultimately redeeming of parliament itself.
The set, recreating the Commons' chamber in the Minerva, is a spectacular piece of investment - as is the cast, so strong in number and experience that you forget at times this is a recreation.
Nathaniel Parker is every bit the Tory toff. And then surprises too. Kevin Doyle develops his working class persona from Downton Abbey
to rise to top job among Labour whips. At a personal cost.
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Hide AdA live band capturing the mood of the 70s punkish music is a wild card in this almost house of cards.
The strong language may offend a few; the lighting of so many cigarettes may have artistic justification but is an unnecessary distraction. Some of the racist chatter of the 70s has been expunged and so should this.
As much a chapter of political history as a dramatic entertainment, This House reminds us that there's nothing new in politics - nor in human nature.
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WASHINGTON — More than 8,000 money-saving ideas have cascaded into the Pentagon from across the Air Force this month.
Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry Spencer launched the Airmen Powered by Innovation Challenge May 1, challenging uniformed and civilian Airmen to find places to save money across the service, no matter how big or small.
"If there are things we can do better, if there are things we can stop doing, or if there are ideas (Airmen) have on how we can better manage our money… we want to hear it," Spencer said.
When Airmen click "submit," on one of two websites, their ideas fall directly into the hands of Spencer's team of action officers here, who dedicate their time to receiving ideas and tasking them out for consideration.
"Chaotic, at best, is what it's like working in here, because all these ideas are flowing through considerably. It takes me personally, on average, about 10-15 minutes to process each idea," Master Sgt. Joel Meyer said.
Meyer, a security forces Airman by trade, said this is a unique opportunity for today's Airmen.
"It's an opportunity for Airmen in the field to provide an idea straight to the top, and not have that filter of that staff sergeant on their flight, or master sergeant, or (operations) officer," Meyer said. "They don't have to go through any of that … they can get (their idea) right to General Spencer."
Airmen who may be holding back due to reservations about confidentiality should think again.
"The people who are responsible for filtering that (submission) and looking into it deeper — they have no idea who it is. So don't be apprehensive. Submit it," Meyer said.
Uniformed and civilian Airmen can submit their ideas on how to squeeze the most out of every Air Force dollar via the Air Force portal, or EveryDollar.DoDLive.Mil; the opportunity is live until June 1.


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During the summers of my childhood, the highlight of many hot afternoons was sipping homemade lemonade, root beer or tea. What fun we had under the oak trees at Aunt Belle's, slurping beverages chilled with ice that had been crushed by beating ice cubes wrapped in a towel with an old hammer!
These days, what with the plethora of bottled, canned and ready-to-mix drinks on the market, half the fun – gathering ingredients and making the concoctions – is gone. With the summer stretching before me, nieces and nephews, some of them with their own young children, are already calling me to set aside some time to spend in my tree-shaded yard with plastic swimming pools. So I'm gathering some old-time drink recipes.
Too, I've decided that late afternoons on these long summer days are perfect for inviting the neighbors over for a cocktail hour now and then. Mama and Papa often had impromptu get-togethers years ago on their cool, lush patio, and I thought that was so civilized and pleasurable.
You might want to do the same! Don't forget to include some munchies.
Let's begin with the nonalcoholic beverages.
Tea Punch
6 individual-size tea bags
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup grenadine
1 quart chilled ginger ale
Mint sprigs (optional)
Combine the tea bags with 2 cups of boiling water, and steep. Discard the bags. Add the sugar, and stir to dissolve. Add the fruit juices and grenadine. Chill for several hours. When ready to serve, add the chilled ginger ale. Serve over ice, and garnish with a sprig of mint. Serves 8 to 10.
Grape Ices
3 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 12-ounce can frozen grape juice
concentrate, undiluted
Combine the water and sugar in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the remaining ingredients, stirring until the grape concentrate is completely melted. Pour the mixture into freeze trays or a plastic bowl. Freeze until firm, stirring several times during the freezing process.
To serve, scrape the ice with a large spoon and serve in small bowls. Serves 6 to 8.
And now on to adult beverages!
Blue Lagoon
2 ounces light rum
1/2 ounce triple sec
Splash of blue Curaçao
1 1/4 cups crushed ice
Blend all of the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Serve in a tall glass. Serves 1.
Surf Sider
1 1/2 ounces white rum
1 ounce blue Curaçao
1 1/2 ounces pineapple juice
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 ounce simple syrup
1 1/4 cups crushed ice
Blend all of the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Pour into a tall glass to serve. Serves 1.
Green Cooler
1 6-ounce can frozen limeade concentrate
1 can vodka, measured in the limeade can
3 cups crushed ice
Combine all of the ingredients in the blender, and blend for about 15 seconds. Serve in cocktail glasses. Serves 4.
Munchies can be as easy as chips and dips, crackers and cheese or finger sandwiches.
Avocado Dip
2 avocados, peeled and mashed
2 Italian plum tomatoes, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon finely chopped green onions
1 tablespoon sour cream
1 teaspoon (more or less to taste) chopped
pickled jalapeños
Salt and finely ground black pepper to taste
1/8 teaspoon hot sauce
Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl, and mix well. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use. Best when used within 24 hours. Serves 2 to 4.
This curry dip is great to serve with boiled and peeled shrimp.
Curry Dip
1 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon curry powder (try the Madras
curry powder if you can find it)
1 teaspoon horseradish
1 teaspoon tarragon vinegar
1 tablespoon minced onions
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Combine all of the ingredients in a small mixing bowl, and whisk to blend well. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to three days. Makes about 1 cup.
During the summer, I love homemade pimento cheese to serve on crackers.
My Pimento Cheese
1/2 pound mild cheddar cheese, grated
1 2-ounce jar diced pimento with its liquid
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl, and mix well. Cover, and chill until ready to serve. Makes about 2 cups.
In my book, there's nothing better than chicken salad sandwiches.
Chicken salad is ideal for making finger sandwiches, plopping on the top of thick slices of Creole tomatoes or stuffing into half an avocado. This one is a classic.
Classic Chicken Salad
1 fryer chicken, about 3 pounds
1 large carrot, coarsely chopped
1 rib celery, coarsely chopped
1 medium-size yellow onion, peeled
and quartered
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1 teaspoon salt
2 sprigs fresh parsley
1 cup mayonnaise
3 hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons chopped fresh
parsley leaves
2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Put the fryer in a large, deep pot, and cover with water. Add the carrot, celery, onion, bay leaves, peppercorns, salt and parsley sprigs. Bring to a boil; then reduce the heat, and simmer, partially covered, until the meat begins to fall off the bones, about 1 1/2 hours.
Remove the fryer from the pot, and strain the broth. (The broth can be cooled and stored in containers in the freezer to use for soups.) Let the chicken cool, and then pick the meat off the bones. Coarsely chop or shred the chicken.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the chicken with the mayonnaise, eggs, lemon juice, mustard, celery, parsley and sweet relish. Season with salt and pepper. Toss to mix well. If you like it a little moist, add a few tablespoons of the reserved chicken broth. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. Serves about 6.


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Not content with helping cure cancers and winning Jeopardy, Watson wants to get inside our heads and our homes, whispering instructions into our wireless headsets and helping us do our laundry.
That's the message from IBM's global head of Watson IoT, Harriet Green, in a keynote speech here at IFA in Berlin.
IBM will work with appliance maker Whirlpool, TV and camera company Panasonic, wireless headphone designer Bragi and Withings owner Nokia to add Watson's cognitive computing capabilities to their products, the company said.
Those cognitive capabilities could help devices talk with one another, or with us.
For example, a washing machine could tell a dryer what program to use for the clothes it has just washed, or tell its owner when to order more detergent. Computer vision techniques could help security cameras distinguish between friends and strangers or identify suspicious activity. And natural language processing and text-to-speech capabilities could let wireless headphones translate for us or read us instruction manuals when our hands are full.
Watson is already active in the field of healthcare, identifying treatment options for cancer patients, but Nokia is looking into how it could add new capabilities to the company's Withings health monitoring devices to help keep tabs on the elderly or sick.
The joint project is called "Aging in place," said Cedric Hutchings, founder of Withings and now vice president of digital health at Nokia, which bought his company. It will demonstrate how connected healthcare technologies can help monitor patients' health in the home, he said.


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Looking for Floor Sanding Clapham? Do you need a floor sanding company for your old Victorian Pine floorboards or Oak Hardwood floors? Perhaps your floor is a Jatoba, Maple or Walnut wood floor? Fin Wood are the wood flooring specialists. We will provide the right solution, compatible to your wooden floor and your property. Floor Sanding Clapham can be one of them.
Floor Sanding is an intricate set of processes that require care, attention to detail and patience. Our floor sanding methods are drawn from our vast and extensive experience.
Repairs and replacement of damaged timber; sanding away old paint and sealant; staining the bare wood. Why not choose a lighter or darker colour to match your decor, such as the modern pale grey or scandi look?
We then provide a new finish of hard wax, natural oil or lacquer.
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Our aim is to meet and surpass your expectations. For this reason we cannot be content until you are. This is proven through the wonderful words written by our customers which you may see here. For the latest testimonials please visit our profile on:


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BIS Pure Nails slider nail sticker ultra thin B01-B17, CLASSIC
Suitable for use on any background! Professional quality, super thin. Size 5 x 7 cm
How to use:
1. Prepare the nail, depending on the type of manicure and cover the nail with nail polish, UV/LED gel polish or gel
2. Do not remove the sticky layer! This facilitates a better grip of the slider with the surface of the nail
3. For 3D sliders apply a thin layer of UV/LED gel polish and gel
4. Do not polymerize!
5. Cut necessary element of the slider and put it down in warm water for 5-15 seconds
6. Blot excess water. Then shifting layer from a paper base, apply it on the nail
7. Gently correct the slider on the nail, excess can be removed using nail file
8. Apply 2 layers of Top Coat, dry or polymerize in the UV/LED lamp
9. Remove the sticky layer! Done!


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Skin Analysis & Drugstore Skincare – Advertorial
Sunday 17 April 2016
Over the past couple of years my knowledge of beauty and skincare has expanded further than I ever thought it would. My skin was relatively clear as a teenager, and as such I didn't pay too much attention to skincare. I used an eclectic combination of whichever basic drugstore skincare was currently on offer and went on my life. Sure I had the occasional break out here and there, but it was never anything serious - never anything that didn't pass in a few days. My elder brother on the other hand, did have acne as a teenager, and low and behold the genes finally caught up with me in my twenties.
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In 2012, virtuoso violinist Margaret Humphrey and award-winning composer and harpsichordist Asako Hirabayashi partnered to form Cerulean Fire. Their vision is to raise audience awareness and appreciation of concerts with historical instruments but do so with a contemporary spin. They remove boundaries between classical and nonclassical music by performing both new and old music in creative juxtaposition and often collaborate with jazz, Latin, Japanese and other ethnic musicians and dancers.
On Sunday, June 10, at 4 pm, Cerulean Fire, with Sogetsu Ikebana Group and Japan American Society of Minnesota, bring to Park Square Theatre an extraordinary visual and musical experience, Musical and Floral Metamorphosis: Premiere of Concerto for Four Harpsichords and Strings. Throughout the entire piece, nine instruments are treated as soloists, not just some as accompaniment to others. The guest conductor will be Nobuyoshi Yasuda (affectionately known as "Nobu"), an accomplished violinist, music professor and conductor of the Chippewa Valley Symphony and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Symphony Orchestra.
"Concerto for Four Harpsichords and Strings will indeed be played on four harpsichords and string instruments," explained Asako, its composer. "To premiere it at Park Square Theatre is a unique opportunity for the entire community since only three concertos for four harpsichords have ever been written in Western classical music history. And presenting such a show involving four harpsichords is extremely difficult and rare due to the nature of the instrument. Finding four harpsichords is hard but so is their maintenance as they are sensitive to temperature and humidity. During rehearsals and the performance, we will need to keep a thousand strings tuned!"
Since the age of seven, Asako played piano–switching to harpsichord as an adult–and wrote music because "I always wanted to be a pianist who plays my own compositions." In high school, she realized that her hands were too small and hindered effective competition with male pianists so she chose Composition as her major in college and graduate school in Japan. However, her desire to perform never left, and she took up the harpsichord when it was introduced to her in Japan when her teacher, Eiji Hashimoto, gave a recital and performed Scarlatti.
"I was very impressed," Asako recalled. "The music of Scarlatti really made sense on harpsichord, not on piano. His music is Spanish and imitates the sounds of flamenco guitar, and he uses crushing percussion-like dissonance in his keyboard sonatas. It is only effective on harpsichord, not on today's grand piano. So I was very fascinated by the sound effect. Also, the keys of the harpsichord are much smaller for my small hands to reach.
Additionally, in ensemble during the Renaissance and Baroque period, the right hand part was not always written. Only the bass part may be written so the keyboardist had to improvise with the right hand. A harpsichordist must be able to improvise. As a composer, I had the advantage of being able to readily do that.
Besides, I love doing what nobody else does. The harpsichord and harpsichordists were extremely rare in Japan at the time, and I wanted to play something that not many people were playing."
A stunning visual highlight on performance day will be the ikebana exhibit in the theatre's foyer that complements the event. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement that is, as Asako describes, "more than simply putting flowers in a container." Dating back to the 7th century, ikebana is a highly disciplined art that brings nature and humanity together.
"Ikebana allows the heart of the arranger to touch the heart of the viewer, bringing peace and tranquility," Asako elaborated. "Ikebana master and my friend Yoshie Babcock has taught it for over 30 years in the Twin Cities and Chicago. In 1996, the late headmaster of Sogetsu appointed her as chairperson of the Sogetsu Minneapolis-St. Paul Study Group, and she has received special awards for promoting ikebana outside of Japan and Japanese art and culture in Minnesota."
This collaboration between Park Square Theatre and Cerulean Fire will bring together multiple arts communities to create a broad diverse audience. Nothing like Musical and Floral Metamorphosis: Concerto for Four Harpsichords and Strings has been done in the Twin Cities before, and it's happening in one performance only. Don't miss out on this special opportunity!
Tickets and information here.
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TaikoArts Midwest presents Taiko Tuesday with a free concert by Enso Daiko
Tuesday, May 22, 7 pm – Proscenium Stage
Reserve free seats here


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Exploring science communication
Posted by Jack Leeming | Categories: #ScientistOnTheMove, Academia, Blog, Career paths, Careers articles, Communication, Competition, Europe, In the News, Research
There's a few reasons why scientists may be discouraged from science communication. Here, I'm hoping to break down some of those barriers, and introduce channels and platforms where scientists can practise. First, here are some of the reasons stopping more scientists from practising science communication, as well as my rebuttals. Read more


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Joe Flacco might be the all-time poster boy for good timing in free agency.
The walk year of Flacco's contract coincided with a season in which he emerged as a star, silenced his critics and netted a Lombardi Trophy for the Baltimore Ravens.
The result of that rise was a six-year contract worth $120.6 million. A staggering $52 million was fully guaranteed.
Did the massive nature of Flacco's contract lead -- at least in part -- to the exodus of Ravens such as Anquan Boldin, Ed Reed, Paul Kruger and Dannell Ellerbe? The ensuing criticism both was predictable and unfair.
Flacco's agent, Joe Linta, explained that the Ravens have no one to blame but themselves for any salary-cap issues. According to Linta, Flacco walked away from a five-year extension that would have averaged $16 million a year last summer. Why? The Ravens were unwilling to add $1 million more to the final year of that deal, according to Linta.
"One million dollars six years from now, in the base salary non-guaranteed money, and they walked away," Linta recently told USA Today's Jim Corbett. "It cost them $35 million. So I have no sympathy. None.
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"I've never in my life seen a dumber move. I guess people can say, 'Well, Joe was dumb, too.' It could have been (dumb), God forbid, if he got hurt. But $1 million to (owner) Steve Bisciotti six years from now? That's like 100 bucks for you or me today."
Linta might be coming off as gloating a bit, but he's also defending his client. Flacco has taken plenty of heat for his contract. Linta's point is that the Ravens' lack of foresight, not Flacco, put them in that position.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.


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Mountain Hardwear Exposure II Parka
The Exposure II Parka has been discontinued. If you're looking for something new, check out the best waterproof jackets for 2024.
I got this jacket for xmas this year and have used it up on the hill a few times as well as here in the rainy NW. The Conduit on the MH works great. The seams appear to be keeping out all moisture which is good. The interior has some good storage i.e. zipper pocket for valuables and elasticized pocket big enough for a water bottle. I never carried a water bottle due to fear of broken ribs if I fell on it but I suppose you could. The snow skirt is second to none. It keeps the jacket from riding up too high (rubber on the contacting surface) and does a great job at keeping the snow from getting in.
Now for the not so good. I am 5'8" 210, not a small guy. As you can imagine I need an XL if I want to layer very much. The fit is great but the sleeves are about 3-4 inches too long. With arms out-stretched the sleeves just about touch my fingertips. The cinch cord that is around the mid-section is just below the pockets. If there is any extra room in the jacket because you sized up for layering, it looks like you are stacked up top and not in a good way.
With the exception of these items I just mentioned this is a great jacket. I wouldn't trade it for another. It is heavier than other comparable shells but hat is because of the uber-durable material MH uses. This jacket was one of the first designs the company came out with and it shows. The functionality and durability far outweighs the slight negatives.
Fabric: Conduit
Fill: none
Price Paid: $160
If Mountain Hardwear's goal was to make an inexpensive jacket for all conditions, they succeeded. I have taken mine all over Europe, eastern US, perfect for all seasons. It keeps me warm when it's cold and doesn't make me sweat when it's not so cold. Perfect for wet conditions, it always keeps me bone dry. It has every cinch cord, pocket, and vent you could ever want. In terms of function, I can't find a single complaint.
I also like how there's plenty of room to stuff any kind of fleece or soft shell you have under it. Another big bonus is the durability. The fabric has a nice heavy-duty feel and I never feel like I have to worry about scuffing it up.
However, to every pro, there is a con. The room, and burly construction give it a really bulky fit, and it's much heavier than most hard shells of it's type. You ain't making any fashion statements with it either.
What can I say though, it's cheap, it will last for years and keep you warm and dry. If you're only planning on buying one jacket and you want it to last a long time, this is the one to get. Hands down.
Fabric: Conduit
Price Paid: 200 euros
This is a fantastic shell. I bought it before going on a ski trip to Vail in in the middle of a record snowfall winter, and it performed wonderfully over my Mountain Hardwear Compression PL.
Very solid construction, I have complete confidence that in rough conditions this shell would hold up well and not rip easily.
Extremely effective powder skirt with rubber to keep it from riding up. I was skiing in waist deep powder (and falling/rolling in it too) and not once did I get powder up inside my jacket.
Very well designed hood has small brim which is useful for keeping rain from hitting your face. The hood is adjustable, comfortable, and turns with your head.
Sleeves have articulated elbows for natural movement, and have ample length. The cuffs open up wide to easily get them over your gloves, and then have velcro straps to tighten them back down.
Good variety of pockets.
I'm a skinny guy, and the chest is a bit loose when I'm not wearing many layers, but that's to be expected.
Sometimes it's difficult to get the main zipper started since there's the zipper that lets you open the bottom up a bit.
Great waterproofing and an overall good shell, but after less than six months one of the chest zippers ripped. Not something you expect when you pay $280 for a shell.
REI took it back and gave me store credit, but by then the shell was out of stock. So, you either pay more for the Arc'teryx shell or buy a store brand. Disappointed in the quality overall.
- Waterproofing
- Poor materials
Poor workmanship. Expected more for the price.
Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $285
This jacket is great. I got it mainly as a ski jacket, but it proves to be good for just about anything. I'll take it winter hiking or backpacking, and it works fine. It's just a bit heavy, but it was not designed as a backpacking jacket. It is also great just around town.
As a skier, i put my equipment through harsh treatment. Through countless tree branches, ice and ski edges, I have yet to find a tear anywhere.
The pit zips are great to cool you off, and the powder skirt works great. The fleece-lined chin guard keeps my face nice and warm (yes face, not just chin).
If it's cold and wet outside, this is the first thing I go for.
Fabric: Nylon Dobby Weave w/ 2 layer conduit laminate
Fill: Mesh lining
Price Paid: $210
I paid $89 for this thing on sale at EMS. It is as close to bulletproof as I've ever seen. Great piece of gear.
Price Paid: $89
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General Motors announced a new recall of 512,000 Camaros, saying a flaw can switch the popular sports car off while it's being driven.
GM said that the problem is similar but not identical to the flawed ignition switch in 2.6 million Chevrolet Cobalts that has been tied to at least 13 deaths. In that recall, the ignition switch itself was faulty and needed to be replaced. In the case of the Camaro, the design of the ignition key and the attached fob makes it susceptible to being bumped out of the "run" position, similar to what happened with the recalled Cobalts.
But GM said the ignition switch does not need to be replaced in the Camaro. Instead it is issuing a new key and fob which aren't attached to each other.
Related: 1 in 10 U.S. cars and trucks have been recalled
GM (GM) said the problem with the Camaro has been traced to at least three accidents and four minor injuries, but no deaths or serious injuries.
GM said that it is acting much faster in response to reports of problems than it did with the Cobalts, which the automaker waited 10 years to recall.
"Discovering and acting on this issue quickly is an example of the new norm for product safety at GM," said Jeff Boyer, vice president of GM Global Safety.
GM is under fire over the 10-year delay in the Cobalt recall. It had to pay the maximum $35 million fine to federal safety regulators and faces criminal probes as well as Congressional investigations over that recall. The automaker has also said it will set up a fund to compensate those crash victims.
The Camaro recall covers the models years from 2010 through the current 2014 model. The company said it applies to 465,000 Camaros in the United States, while the rest are in Mexico, Canada or overseas.
Related: GM's botched recall due to 'a pattern of incompetence and neglect.'
GM also announced three other minor recalls in which there were no accidents or injuries reported, including about 30,000 Saab convertibles due to a problem with the seat belt retractor. Saab, which GM jettisoned as part of its 2009 bankruptcy, is one of the few GM brands that the automaker had not recalled before now.
GM is also recalling 25,000 Chevy Sonics, and 15,000 Buick LaCrosses.
All told, Friday's recall brings GM's recall total for the year to 14.4 million U.S. cars and trucks, and 16.5 million worldwide.


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© ® The Nobel Foundation IPCC honoured with the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize
IPCC Phone: +41-22-730-8208/84 e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Chapter 1 provides a concise overview of sustainable development as a context for climate change mitigation policy. As argued there, the concept of sustainable development defies objective interpretation or operational implementation. However, it is precisely the diversity of interpretations that makes up the biggest advantage of the concept: it is sufficiently rich and flexible to refract the full diversity of human interests, values and aspirations (Raskin et al., 1998). So nearly everyone can agree that sustainable development is a good thing, and consensus has become possible over broad policy areas in which previously people could not agree. Or, in the words of ORiordan (1993), sustainable development may be a chimera. It may mark all kinds of contradictions. It may be ambiguously interpreted by all manners of people for all manners of reasons. But as an ideal it is nowadays as persistent a political concept as are democracy, justice and liberty.
Now, sustainability is perceived as an irreducible, holistic concept in which economic, social, and environmental issues are interdependent dimensions that must be approached in a unified framework. However, the interpretation and valuation of these dimensions give rise to a diversity of approaches. Different disciplines have their own conceptual framework, which translates into different variables, different pathways, and different normative judgements. Economists stress the goal to maximize the net welfare of economic activities, while maintaining or increasing the stock of economic, ecological, and sociocultural assets over time. The social approach tends to highlight questions of inequality and poverty reduction, and environmentalists the questions of natural resource management and ecosystems resilience (Rotmans, 1997). Apart from the weight placed on each of the critical dimensions, the important conclusion from this ongoing debate is that achieving sustainable economic development, conserving environmental resources, and alleviating poverty and economic injustice are compatible and mutually reinforcing goals in many circumstances.
While the overall literature on sustainable development is very large, the literature that focuses on concrete policies to make operational the concept of sustainable development is, however, much smaller. This asymmetric coverage of the guidance and the operational principles for managing a sustainable development path constitutes a non-negligible barrier to an effective decision-making process, since policymakers lack concise and relevant information that would allow them to assess alternative development choices.
Table of contents
IPCC Homepage


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In most cases, the hardest part about fixing a BMW 535i is trying to locate the BMW 535i parts you need to do the job. Ordering BMW 535i parts through an automobile dealership can sometimes result in long waits and excessive costs. But, by using an online parts locator service like UNeedAPart.com, you can be instantly matched up with the parts suppliers who have the BMW 535i parts you need right in stock. And with the 7,000-plus parts suppliers within our network, you've never had a better opportunity for locating your parts. New or used, UNeedAPart.com can locate exactly the BMW 535i parts necessary for getting your 535i rolling again.
Are you a repair shop owner looking to maximize your parts availability as well as your profit margin? Are you an auto enthusiast who loves performing your own repairs? Or maybe you own a body shop business? It doesn't matter! UNeedAPart.com can help you locate the BMW 535i parts you need to do your job right. BMW 535i engine can now be easily located through the powerful network supplied through UNeedAPart.com. Enjoy ease-of-use, convenience and a huge selection by taking advantage of the parts locator services offered by UNeedAPart.com.
Finding the right BMW 535i parts is easy! To get started, simply use the Parts Request boxes at the top and/or side of the page. You will instantly be matched with auto parts dealers that meet your search criteria. UNeedAPart.com helps you find the new or used auto body parts you need in no time!


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We are excited to announce that Disney MaxPass will launch July 19 at the Disneyland Resort! Disney MaxPass will help guests to maximize their experience at the Disneyland Resort by providing unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads from the day, and by enabling the convenience of mobile Disney FASTPASS booking and redemption times while in the theme parks through the Disneyland App. If guests are not already registered for a Disney account, registration is fast and simple. Download the app and follow the prompts to register for an account.
Disney MaxPass will be offered for an introductory price of $10 a day. Guests may purchase Disney MaxPass when they purchase their ticket, or as an add-on through the Disneyland App once they enter either theme park. Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders also will have the option of purchasing Disney MaxPass for the life of their current passport for $75. Signature Plus passholders will receive Disney MaxPass at no additional cost, as part of their annual passport entitlement.
Since we announced Disney MaxPass in January, we have added two additional Disney FASTPASS locations at Toy Story Mania and Matterhorn Bobsleds, bringing the total number of attractions to 16. Guests will continue to have the option of Disney FASTPASS service at no additional cost by obtaining a Disney FASTPASS return time with their park admission ticket at attraction Disney FASTPASS kiosks.
The introduction of Disney MaxPass is part of our ongoing commitment to providing guests with opportunities to customize their experiences and make it even easier than ever to create unforgettable memories. Watch for another Disney Parks Blog post soon for an example of how Disneyland Resort guests can start enjoying Disney MaxPass on July 19.
Guests are strongly advised to check the day's FASTPASS ticket availability and other Park details before purchasing Disney MaxPass or using a Park ticket with Disney MaxPass as FASTPASS tickets for your preferred attractions may not be available at the time of purchase or use. FASTPASS tickets are limited and availability is not guaranteed. FASTPASS tickets may be obtained only while you are in the Parks and may not be available for entertainment through Disney MaxPass. An experience that does not have Disney FASTPASS availability at a kiosk will not be available using Disney MaxPass. The Disney MaxPass benefit will expire at the end of the day or when the Passport it is associated with expires, as applicable. Disney MaxPass is nonrefundable, nontransferable, may not be redeemed for cash and is subject to other restrictions. Price, terms, entitlements, attractions and entertainment are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Passholders who purchase the Disney MaxPass benefit may not use the value of any separate ticket media toward the purchase price of Disney MaxPass.
Disney PhotoPass service is subject to the PhotoPass terms found in https://disneyland.disney.go.com/photopass-terms-conditions/. Online registration required. Disney PhotoPass Photos captured during the day your Disney MaxPass is used or during the validity dates of your Passport, as applicable, must be linked to your Disney account and may be downloaded pursuant to the expiration policy at https://disneyland.disney.go.com/photopass-expiration-policy/. Not responsible for missing, lost or damaged photos. Downloads are restricted to personal use by Disney account holder only and may not be used for a commercial purpose. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.
Message, data and roaming rates may apply for the Disneyland app. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you're under 18, get your parents' permission first.


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Canon EOS 650D – Touchscreen DSLR Camera
via Highsnobiety
Today Canon has announced its new EOS 650D camera (known as the Rebel T4i in North America). The 18 megapixel DSLR comes with a touchscreen for the first time, which is one of many great updates to the popular Canon DSLR range. Furthermore the new 650D comes packed with a sensor-based hybrid AF system for improved focus in movie and live view modes, as well as the all-cross-type 9-point AF sensor, which allows to shoot at 5fps. For HD recording new stereo mics have also been added to the camera.
Look out for a release end of June 2012, with the body priced at 849 USD – $949 adds the 18-55mm IS lens or $1199 with the co-announced 18-135mm STM IS lens.
Take a detailed look at the new camera after the jump.
The post Canon EOS 650D – Touchscreen DSLR Camera appeared first on 8&9 Clothing Co..


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News Corp. chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch will remain in control of the separate entertainment and publishing companies following the News Corp. split.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- News Corp. confirmed Thursday that it is planning to split into two publicly traded companies, with one company for its television and film assets and the other including its publishing entities.
News Corp. said that its board "authorized management to explore this separation" after a meeting on Wednesday.
The split would separate the 20th Century Fox film studio, Fox broadcast network and Fox News Channel from newspapers and book publishing.
News Corp.'s (NWS) publishing unit owns newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The Times of London and The New York Post. Its book publishing assets include HarperCollins.
Once the split is completed, Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch will serve as chairman of both companies, according to News Corp. Murdoch will also serve as CEO of the media and entertainment company and Chase Carey will serve as its president and chief operating officer. Carey is currently the COO of News Corp.
The company did not announce who will be CEO of the publishing company, which would be less than one-third the size of the media/entertainment company.
In its most recent quarterly earnings report, News Corp. said that revenues from its cable network programming, filmed entertainment, television and direct broadcast satellite TV added up to $6.2 billion, compared to $2 billion from publishing.
In a call with analysts, Murdoch dismissed "naysayers" who would interpret the announcement as cause for concern about the long-term prospects for publishing.
'We expect the publishing company to enter the world as a standalone entity with a very strong balance sheet," Murdoch said.
He added that the publishing company will focus even more on growing its digital business.
Murdoch said the split will take about 12 months to go through, assuming that it is approved by the board and shareholders.
When asked to identify the potential hurdles that the company faces in completing the split, Murdoch replied, "Lawyers - there's a short answer - and governments."
Media magnate Murdoch has been hounded in recent months by criminal investigations into his company over hacking into people's phones and improper collusion with British police. The scandal prompted News Corp. to shut down its venerable U.K. tabloid News of the World last year.
A report last month from a British Parliament committee said that Murdoch was not a "fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company."
Shares of News Corp. were flat on Thursday. The stock is up 11% since News Corp. confirmed reports Tuesday that it was considering a split.
Thanks in part to the break-up news, News Corp. has outperformed the shares of most of its other media rivals this year. Its stock has done better than CBS (CBS, Fortune 500), Viacom (VIAB, Fortune 500) and CNNMoney parent Time Warner (TWX, Fortune 500). However, shares are slightly lagging the year-to-date returns of Walt Disney (DIS, Fortune 500).


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The City of Indianola City Council members are all reachable by email and phone. The contact information can be found on the City Council page of the website at the link provided below.
Show All Answers
The City of Indianola offers many options for our residents to pay their utility bills. All methods are free of charge to our customers. Customers can make payments by cash, credit, debit, or check at the IMU Customer Service Center located at 210 West 2nd Avenue. You can also sign up to have payments automatically deducted from your checking or savings account by filling out a short form at the IMU Customer Service Center. A drop box is also conveniently located in the IMU Customer Service Center parking lot. Customers can also pay by phone by calling 515-961-9444 or online by visiting the link provided below. Both options allow payment by credit, debit, checking or savings.
Pay Online by visiting Indianola Municipal Utilities at www.indianola.com
Indianola residents' recycling schedule is based on their location. Recycling is picked up by Waste Management on one of four days, every other week. To view and determine your recycling pick-up day or the schedule, please click on the link provided.
Most residents living within the city limits (and limited areas outside the city limits) have electric, recycling, sanitary sewer, water, and stormwater services through Indianola Municipal Utilities and City of Indianola. Application for utility service must be filed in person at the IMU Customer Service Center, 210 West 2nd Avenue. For more information please visit the link below.


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New Car/Review
1999 Mercury Cougar
by Carey Russ
Mercury Full Line factory footage (7:17) 28.8, 56k, or 200kThe past year has been one of major transformation for Lincoln Mercury. First, a name change from "Lincoln-Mercury Division" (of Ford Motor Company) to "Lincoln Mercury" - no hyphen, no "Division". And then the move from Detroit to Southern California. As company officials say, "it's not about changing our state of residence, it's about changing our state of mind." Nothing shows this better than the new Cougar coupe.
The name may be familiar, but the car is completely new. Not since the first Cougar back in the late 1960s has a Cougar been designed and built to appeal to younger buyers. The past twenty years or so of Cougar production have been cars seemingly stuck in the 1970s. No longer - the new Cougar is aimed squarely at the "Generation X" youth market, and is the first car from any American part of the Ford empire to emphasize "New Edge" styling. It is based on the same platform as the Mercury Mystique and Ford Contour sedans, with nearly the same wheelbase for plenty of room. It shares the good-handling independent suspension and energetic 2.0-liter, 125- horsepower "Zetec" four-cylinder and 2.5-liter, 170-bhp "Duratec" V6 engines of the sedans.
Unlike any Mercury since the original Cougar, the new Cougar gets seriously noticed. During my week with one, its "New Edge" styling attracted plenty of attention, particularly from young people - who quite possibly never looked at a Mercury with any interest before. I found the Cougar to have the same great road manners as the Contours and Mystiques I've driven over the past few years, and almost as much interior and trunk space. There is plenty of substance underneath the 1999 Cougar's flashy skin.
APPEARANCE: Although the Cougar's basic rounded, fastback shape is pretty much "generic small sports coupe", its treatment of details makes all the difference. "New Edge" is Ford's term for a blandness- fighting combination of curves and lines, and the new Cougar is an excellent example. Its front is especially striking, with heavily- sculpted, slanting eye-like projector-beam headlights and a massive integrated bumper with a small "nose" opening above and "mouth" below giving a very definite feline face. Crisp lines break up curving surfaces on the hood and sides, with a prominent character line going from the underside of the headlight in front to the top of the taillight in back particularly emphasizing the wedge-shaped profile. The undercut rear panel is a successful blend of curved forms and linear highlights, with large triangular taillights.
COMFORT: Although less radical, the Cougar's inside is just as sporty as its outside. With contoured-fit sports seats, a thick, leather-wrapped tilt-adjustable steering wheel, and well-placed, short-throw gearshift lever, it's designed for serious driving. The main instruments are easily read, and auxiliary controls are conveniently located and easy to use. The rotary climate system controls and large buttons on the AM/FM/cassette/remote CD changer stereo are especially convenient. Instrument panel warning lights are repeated in an aircraft-style overhead console. Despite its small size, the Cougar has a surprising amount of interior space. Two adults can sit in the rear bucket seats. The passenger-side front seat can be easily moved forward for rear-seat access, and brought back to its original position and seatback setting. Convenient storage spaces around the cockpit and a sedan-sized trunk under the rear hatch show that the Cougar's striking form has not overshadowed function. It's a sports coupe for the real world.
SAFETY: The 1999 Mercury Cougar has dual second-generation airbags, and optional side airbags.
ROADABILITY: The Cougar's suspension is a little firmer than that of the Mystique, so it has less body roll in corners and a slightly firmer, sportier ride. The steering effort is just right, and the ever-rarer uncrowded twisty back road is a joy to drive. Sports coupes are supposed to be fun, and the Cougar definitely is. It is also quiet inside, with commendably low noise levels even with the sunroof open. The four-wheel antilock vented disc brakes on my test car worked very well.
PERFORMANCE: My test car had the 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter "Duratec" twincam, 24-valve V6. Its strong, punchy midrange power, allied with the well-spaced ratios and smooth shifting of the 5-speed manual gearbox, makes Mercury's little cat quick and thoroughly entertaining. The engine has a wonderful, musical exhaust note, which should please the enthusiasts and make enthusiasts out of formerly unenthusiastic drivers. A 4-speed automatic is offered with the V6. Four-cylinder Cougars are available only with a 5-speed manual transmission.
CONCLUSIONS: There is new life at the sign of the cat. The 1999 Mercury Cougar wraps performance, comfort, practicality, and power in a high-style skin.
SPECIFICATIONS 1999 Mercury Cougar Base Price $ 18,095 Price As Tested $ 21,505 Engine Type dual overhead cam, 24-valve V6 Engine Size 2.5 liters / 152 cu. in. Horsepower 170 @ 6250 rpm Torque (lb-ft) 165 @ 4250 rpm Transmission 5-speed manual Wheelbase / Length 106.4 in. / 185.0 in. Curb Weight 2900 lbs. Pounds Per Horsepower 17 Fuel Capacity 15.5 gal. Fuel Requirement unleaded regular, 87 octane Tires P215/50VR16 Firestone Firehawk GTA Brakes, front/rear vented disc / vented disc, antilock optional Suspension, front/rear independent strut / independent multilink strut Drivetrain front engine, front-wheel drive PERFORMANCE EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon city / highway / observed 19 / 28 / 22 0 to 60 mph 7.7 sec 1/4 mile (E.T.) 16.0 sec Coefficient of Drag (cd) 0.32 OPTIONS AND CHARGES V6 Convenience Group - includes: rear washer & wiper, remote keyless entry, auxiliary warning system, illuminated entry and mirrors $ 720 Antilock braking system $ 500 Traction control $ 235 Power tilt & slide sunroof $ 615 Power driver's seat $ 235 CA / NY / MA etc. emissions $ 170 16-inch polished aluminum wheels $ 185 trunk-mounted CD changer $ 350 Destination & delivery charge $ 400


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• glom •
Pronunciation: glahm • Hear it!
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: 1. (Transitive) To grab, snatch, take, or seize something not belonging to you, as to glom some cash. 2. (Intransitive) Used in the same sense with the preposition onto, for instance to glom onto some cash. 3. To stare at, to ogle, to fix your attention on or attach yourself to someone or something.
Notes: Today's Good Word is a normal English word, completely assimilated into English, though, as we will see, its origins are not purely Germanic. The noun and adjective for this word are glomming, also the present participle. The past tense and past participle are glommed. Don't forget to double the M whenever you add any ending save -s: gloms.
In Play: This term means first and foremost the acquisition of an object by questionable means: "Where did you glom the tickets for tonight's concert?" This word can also mean to ogle and, recently, to attach yourself to someone: "Ivan Odor glommed onto Anne Chovee as soon as she stepped into the room and monopolized her until the end of the party."
Word History: This word was a lexical gift from the US underworld. It was an element of underworld slang that entered the language spelled glahm, pretty much as it is pronounced today (see Pronunciation). It apparently was glommed from Scottish, which has a word glaum meaning "to snatch". The Scots came by it from Gaelic glam "to grab voraciously, to devour". At this point the trail grows very cold. The sense of "stare" or "ogle" developed metaphorically from the sense of grabbing onto something with our eyes. (I just glommed onto Patricia Castellanos's suggestion of today's Good Word, which she submitted in 2010. She was then in Montevideo, Uruguay. I don't know where she is now, let alone whether she will forgive me for the delay. I recently purchased a new computer that automatically brought over my files from the old one. It found more than 5000 e-mails I thought I'd lost.)
P.S. - Register for the Daily Good Word E-Mail! - You can get our daily Good Word sent directly to you via e-mail in either HTML or Text format. Go to our Registration Page to sign up today!


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topseos.com, The independent authority on Search vendors, has released the September 2020 rankings of the best search engine optimization companies.
NAPLES, FL, September 01, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- topseos.com, the independent authority on Search vendors, has announced the September 2020 rankings of the best search engine optimization firms. New rankings are published each month on the topseos.com website highlighting top digital marketing firms which have an offer outstanding organic search marketing services to help businesses receive more traffic through Search results. While there are thousands of competing firms and companies offering SEO services, the topseos.com rankings aim to showcase SEO companies that can consistently produce exceptional results for their customers.
The rankings of the best SEO companies for September 2020 include:
1) DMA | Digital Marketing Agency
2) marketingagency.io
3) WebMarketingAgency.com
4) Terakeet LLC
5) ZipLocal
6) Thrive Web Designs
7) Top Floor Marketing
8) Web 1 SEO
9) HawkSEM
10) SmartSites
topseos.com independent research team conducts ongoing monthly research within the SEO marketing space to ensure outstanding Search Engine Optimization companies are being recognized and highlighted. An in-depth evaluation process is used to benchmark and compare the top performing SEO agencies in areas that have been found to be critical to the success of SEO campaigns. Researchers consider five areas of evaluation criteria to achieve these results, with the criteria including on page optimization, off page optimization, needs analysis, keyword analysis, and reporting methods. SEO companies are additionally evaluated based on reported customer experiences and reviews that are submitted by their clientele on the topseos.com website.
To view the complete rankings of the best SEO companies, visit:
About topseos.com
topseos.com is an online provider of independent reviews and ratings. The ratings of the best search engine marketing companies are released monthly to assist businesses in connecting with search engine optimization companies which feature a history of effective solutions. Thousands of search engine marketing companies are put to the test while only the absolute best companies are highlighted in the ratings.
# # #


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- Home
- Government
- Divisions
- Emergency Management
- Disasters & Hazards
- Disaster Planning
- Pledge To Make a Communications Plan
Pledge To Make a Communications Plan
Sign Up for Emergency Notifications
Sign up for Teton County Emergency Management's email or text message notification system, Nixle.
Making a Plan
After you have learned about different hazards and how to react to them, you need to have a plan. It isn't "good enough" to have a plan verbalized; you should write it down and be sure that every family member has a copy. Your plan should include the following:
- A meeting location, both near your home and outside of your neighborhood, where your family will all go if communications are knocked out.
- An out of town family member or friend that everyone will call to check in with following a disaster if your family is separated. The further away this contact is, the better since it is usually easier to make long distance calls following a disaster. Make sure this contact person knows their role during a disaster ahead of time!
- Make sure all family members know how to send SMS/text messages if their cell phones have the capability. Many times when phone lines get overloaded, an SMS message has a better chance of being delivered than a voice call does. The other advantage is that when you receive an SMS, you don't have to remember or write down the message; it is already stored in your phone for future reference.
- Have multiple methods of receiving emergency information through Teton County's Emergency Alert System (EAS).
- Important information for all family members including copies of birth certificates, social security cards, and information on medical conditions.
- Policy numbers for health, homeowner's/renter's, and vehicle insurance.
- Important phone numbers such as family physician, your pet's veterinarian, insurance agents, etc
- Don't forget your pets! Red Cross shelters cannot accept animals due to health and hygiene issues. You need to plan ahead of time where you will shelter your pet if you must evacuate. Call around to see which hotels nearby are "pet friendly", or check on kennels in the area. Discuss options with your veterinarian, and remember to never leave your pets behind!
- Your plan should also include a map of your home with at least 2 escape routes from every room.
Download a simple two page family disaster plan template (PDF), or view an Excel version of the same template (XLS). It covers the items listed above, and also gives you cards to cut out and give to each family member. You can also go to Ready.gov's "Make A Plan" site to learn more.
Check on plans at school and at work in the event of a disaster. If there aren't any in place, suggest making a simple plan for work that includes emergency contact information for employees, a notification phone tree, maps of your workplace with evacuation routes, and a meeting place near your work location should an evacuation be necessary.


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The latest issue of the JavaSpecialists newsletter (by Dr. Heinz Kabutz) features a lengthy look at possibility of applying the Strategy design pattern to the equals() and hashCode() methods commonly used in Java. In it he concludes that the equals and hashCode methods autogenerated by IntelliJ Idea are better from a performance standpoint.
If your IDE of choice doesn't include the ability to autogenerate the bodies of the above mentioned methods, you might also check out the EqualsBuilder, HashCodeBuilder and ToStringBuilder classes in the Jakarta Commons Lang library.


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In HDFS, reads normally go through the DataNode. Thus, when the client asks the DataNode to read a file, the DataNode reads that file off of the disk and sends the data to the client over a TCP socket. So-called "short-circuit" reads bypass the DataNode, allowing the client to read the file directly. Obviously, this is only possible in cases where the client is co-located with the data. Short-circuit reads provide a substantial performance boost to many applications.
To configure short-circuit local reads, you will need to enable libhadoop.so. See Native Libraries for details on enabling this library.
Short-circuit reads make use of a UNIX domain socket. This is a special path in the filesystem that allows the client and the DataNodes to communicate. You will need to set a path to this socket. The DataNode needs to be able to create this path. On the other hand, it should not be possible for any user except the hdfs user or root to create this path. For this reason, paths under /var/run or /var/lib are often used.
Short-circuit local reads need to be configured on both the DataNode and the client.
Here is an example configuration.
<configuration> <property> <name>dfs.client.read.shortcircuit</name> <value>true</value> </property> <property> <name>dfs.domain.socket.path</name> <value>/var/lib/hadoop-hdfs/dn_socket</value> </property> </configuration>
This configuration parameter turns on short-circuit local reads.
If this configuration parameter is set, short-circuit local reads will skip checksums. This is normally not recommended, but it may be useful for special setups. You might consider using this if you are doing your own checksumming outside of HDFS.
The DFSClient maintains a cache of recently opened file descriptors. This parameter controls the size of that cache. Setting this higher will use more file descriptors, but potentially provide better performance on workloads involving lots of seeks.
This controls the minimum amount of time file descriptors need to sit in the FileInputStreamCache before they can be closed for being inactive for too long.
This control whether we will try to pass normal data traffic over UNIX domain sockets.


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There are two general types of IRAs:
Not everyone is eligible for opening a Roth IRA, and traditional and Roth IRAs both have set annual contribution limits.
2016 | |
Roth IRA Contribution Limit |
$5,500 |
Roth IRA Contribution Limit if 50 or over | $6,500 |
Traditional IRA Contribution Limit | $5,500 |
Traditional IRA Contribution Limit if 50 or over | $6,500 |
The amount you can contribute to a Roth IRA is phased out at certain levels of income. That means your contribution may be reduced — possibly all the way to zero — if your income is too high. The level where the reduction occurs is adjusted each year for inflation and depends on your filing status.
Roth IRA Income Limits (for single filers) | Phase-out starts at $117,000; ineligible at $132,000 |
Roth IRA Income Limits (for married filers) | Phase-out starts at $184,000; ineligible at $194,000 |
Simplified Employee Pension IRA
A Simplified Employee Pension IRA (SEP IRA) is a type of traditional IRA for self-employed individuals or small business owners. Any business owner with one or more employees, as well as anyone with freelance income, can open a SEP IRA. Contributions, which are tax-deductible for the business or individual, go into a traditional IRA held in the employee's name. Employees of the business cannot contribute — the employer does.
Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees
A Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE IRA) is another type of traditional IRA for small businesses and self-employed individuals. Employees can contribute to their SIMPLE IRA and the employer is required to make a contribution on the employee's behalf — either a dollar-for-dollar match of up to 3 percent of salary or a flat 2 percent of pay — regardless of whether the employee contributes to the account.


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Following this article announcing a competition to design the artwork for the new single by excellent Leicester punk-rockers Public Relations Exercise, DiS is pleased to give our readers a sneaky peek at the winning entry.
Designed by Ed Pentelow, the displayed design will grace the cover of 'Catalyst', released on October 22. Says the band's Tiernan Welch:
"We had an overwhelming response to our artwork competition, especially from DrownedinSound.com readers (from as far away as Germany), and we've selected a winner.
"Ed Pentelow's design is above. We'd personally like to thank DiS for aiding in making the competition possible. The single is released on 22nd October in conjunction with a tour and we'll be thanking all the entrants on the inlay to the single."
PRE's forthcoming tour dates can be found at their MySpace page, here. The band play this Saturday's (August 18) free-entry DiScover Club at London's Notting Hill Arts Club, alongside Dan Ormsby (4 Or 5 Magicians), Mandelbrot Set and Yeasayer. Click here for show details.


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The leader of Syria's main opposition group urged President Bashar Assad on Monday to respond to his offer for a dialogue, insisting he is ready to sit down with members of the regime despite sharp criticism from some of his colleagues.
Mouaz al-Khatib, leader of the Western-backed Syrian National Coalition, said he is extending his hand to the regime to "facilitate its peaceful departure." And some anti-regime activists are behind him, threatening even deeper fractures in the already divided movement to oust MR. Assad.
Mr. Al-Khatib's offer, first made last week, marks a departure from the mainstream opposition's narrative insisting that Mr. Assad step down before any talks. It has angered some of his colleagues who accuse him of acting unilaterally.
It is likely to be rejected by Syrian officials who insist Mr. Assad will stay in power at least until his term ends in mid-2014. And even if accepted, he will likely not have broad enough backing among the opposition to make any deal meaningful.
More than 60,000 people have been killed since the uprising against Assad began almost two years ago. The revolt, which began with largely peaceful protests, has turned into civil war now locked in a deadly stalemate with sectarian overtones.
Mr. Al-Khatib's overture reflects the realization among some opposition leaders that a victory is unlikely to be achieved on the battlefield as well as disillusionment with an international community that has largely failed to stem the bloodshed and has balked at military intervention to help topple Mr. Assad.
"The major powers have no vision. ... Only the Syrian people can find a solution to this crisis," he said in an interview with Qatari-based Al-Jazeera television.
"It is possible that al-Khatib has recognized the fact that the world community is incapable of ending the crisis but he and other Syrians can," said Ahmed Souaiaia, a professor at the University of Iowa with joint appointments in International Studies, Religious Studies, and the College of Law.
The initiative came nearly four weeks after Assad outlined his own vision for ending the conflict with a plan that offers elections and a new constitution but ultimately keeps him in power.
Mr. Al-Khatib said last week he is willing to hold talks with the regime in Egypt, Tunisia or Turkey if that would help end the bloodshed. He also made his offer conditional on the regime's release of tens of thousands of detainees and renewal of passports of activists who live abroad.
"Look in the eyes of your children before you sleep maybe will get back some of your humanity and will find a solution together," Mr. al-Khatib said in remarks directed at Mr. Assad.
The Syrian opposition movement has been plagued from the start of the uprising by a lack of unity and cohesion that has hampered not only success on the battlefield but also foreign assistance.
Opposition figures were divided over Mr. al-Khatib's proposal.
"There is difference between negotiating with the regime and negotiating for the regime's departure," said Muhieddine Lathkani, a London-based member of the Syrian National Council opposition group who supports the dialogue offer.
Lathkani added by telephone that Mr. al-Khatib's move "aims to stop the bloodshed." But he cautioned that the rebels will not stop their operations during this time.
Others, including prominent coalition leader Kamal Labwani, said Mr. al-Khatib committed a "grave mistake" by acting alone and suggested he should apologize publicly or step down.
Mr. Al-Khatib, a 52-year-old preacher turned activist, said he was placing the ball in Mr. Assad's court.
"The regime has to take a clear stance and we will extend our hand for the sake of our people and in order to facilitate the peaceful departure of the regime," he said, renewing the offer from last week.
There has been no comment from Syrian officials on Mr. al-Khatib's initiative last week or his latest comments.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, who met Mr. al-Khatib, said in Berlin on Monday that "we have to assist the opposition and the government to sit together" and work through a reform process under international supervision.
Iran is viewed by many in the opposition as a party to the killings in Syria because of its support for Assad.
A senior Iranian official visiting Damascus this week appeared to voice support for Mr. al-Khatib's call for dialogue, without naming him.
"We welcome any initiative that leads to dialogue," said Saeed Jalili, the head of Iran's National Security Council. He said the talks should be held in Damascus.
Amid the discussions of dialogue, activists said Syrian warplanes hit several opposition strongholds in the Damascus outskirts, from where rebels have been threatening the capital, the seat of Assad's power.
The Britain-based activist group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said that rebels captured early Monday the Baath Dam on the Euphrates river in the northeastern province of Raqqa. Months ago, rebels captured the nearby Tishrin dam. They can now control the flow of water to some areas around the country.
Elsewhere in Syria, army troops also battled rebels in oil-rich Deir el-Zour in the east, along Syria's border with Iraq. In the north fighting was concentrated around the battlefield city of Aleppo, particularly along the road that links the city with its airport.
The Observatory said there was heavy fighting near Aleppo international airport as Syrian troops tried to dislodge rebels from Sheik Said area, southeast of the city that is Syria's largest urban center and its main commercial hub.
State-run news agency SANA reported late Monday that rebels targeted a power station in Qaboun on the outskirt of Damascus, causing extensive electricity cuts in the capital and its suburbs. It was the second widespread outage in weeks in the capital.
In Lebanon, a judge issued arrest warrants for a top Syrian intelligence official and his aide for their alleged involvement in a bombing plot in Lebanon last year, judicial officials said. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said Brig. Gen. Ali Mamlouk is accused of being involved with Lebanon's former information minister who allegedly plotted a wave of attacks in Lebanon at the behest of Syria.
Mamlouk, head of Syria's national security council, was indicted in absentia along with the former minister in the summer. The indictment and arrest warrants signal worsening Lebanese-Syrian ties as a result of the Syrian civil war.


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The Middle East has oil, but China has rare earth
China's monopoly on 'green' minerals Dec 09, 2009
It doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice
From Pearl River to you Sep 30, 2003
The Middle East has oil, and China has rare earths
China rare earth mining taxing environment Sep 22, 2010
Deng Xiaoping (IPA: ( listen); 22 August 1904 – 19 February 1997) was a Chinese politician, statesman, theorist, and diplomat. As leader of the Communist Party of China, Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy. While Deng never held office as the head of state, head of government or General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (historically the highest position in Communist China), he nonetheless served as the paramount leader of the People's Republic of China from 1978 to 1992.
Born into a peasant background in Guang'an, Sichuan, China, Deng studied and worked in France in the 1920s, where he came under the influence of Marxism. He joined the Communist Party of China in 1923. Upon his return to China he worked as a political commissar in rural regions and was considered a "revolutionary veteran" of the Long March. Following the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Deng worked in Tibet and other southwestern regions to consolidate Communist control. He was also instrumental in China's economic reconstruction following the Great Leap Forward in the early 1960s. His economic policies were at odds with the political ideologies of Chairman Mao Zedong. As a result, he was purged twice during the Cultural Revolution but regained prominence in 1978 by outmaneuvering Mao's chosen successor, Hua Guofeng.
Inheriting a country fraught with social and institutional woes resulting from the Cultural Revolution and other mass political movements of the Mao era, Deng became the core of the "second generation" of Chinese leadership. He is considered "the architect" of a new brand of socialist thinking, having developed Socialism with Chinese characteristics and led Chinese economic reform through a synthesis of theories that became known as the "socialist market economy". Deng opened China to foreign investment, the global market, and limited private competition. He was generally credited with developing China into one of the fastest growing economies in the world for over thirty years and raising the standard of living of hundreds of millions of Chinese.


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I Keep Missing Clues That Men Like Me, Now What Do I Do?
- Communication, Relationship Studies, Relationships
This is a bit ridiculous, probably, but I am wondering how to learn to catch signals or cues men give that they are interested. I've listened to your entire Why He Disappeared and my eyes are completely opened. However, my pattern is not that I chase men away by being needy, it is that I am completely clueless that they are chasing me, and have learned from your book that I am sending the signal that I am not interested because I am not being receptive and appreciative. Argh!
I don't mean to be so obtuse, but my sensory is way off after having been in a very long-term relationship (with the wrong man) who had no subtlety. During our courting phase, he would call me, 5-10 times A DAY and I didn't particular like it, but in hindsight, I realize it was just easy. Live and learn.
However, now I am meeting more confident, better quality men (and I am more confident as well) and I just don't know how to play by the rules of courting where a man offers and I receive — he offers again, and I receive with thanks. (That is one thing your book taught me). By the time I realize that I should have said yes to show interest or smiled back or been open to his advances when I'm interested, I have already scared him (them) off because I'm pretty desensitized to subtleties and I've given no feedback whatsoever, because I am waiting for a huge siren-laden fire truck as a sign of interest. Clearly, that is not happening.
My question is…when I do like a man, and I eventually realize that I have shot down his first, second and often third attempts at approaching me, what do I do? Can I do anything, or is it too late because my job is not to do anything but rather to be receptive? On a larger scale, how the heck do I learn to pick up on simple cues and niceties so I can catch a man's advances the first time so I don't keep getting in this lonely cycle? — Many thanks! Your book is awesome and I am already changing and seeing positive results! –Heather
At the end of 2006, I went on two dates with an incredibly smart, sexy, successful Italian woman. Not only did we have a strong connection after a long conversation at a party, but, well, she reminded me of Sophia Loren. I was smitten.
Alas, while she was interested in me, she ended up breaking things off after a few dates. The reason I'm telling you this story is because the reason she gave:
I didn't seem smitten enough.
That's right. Even though I was obsessed with her in my head, I didn't do enough to show it. In Italy, she explained, men have no filter. They'll grab your ass in the train station, serenade you outside your window, pledge their permanent devotion to you after the first date. It's pure romantic theater and my Italian friend ate it up.
"You Americans," she said, "You don't know how to make women feel special."
But if Yanks are less prone to Lloyd Dobler-esque displays of affection and more likely to send 10 women texts that say, "What's up?" where is the middle ground that we might deem "normal"?
Well, if she meant that the U.S. is generally a stalking-averse culture, she is correct.
Speaking for American men, I tend not to declare my love for someone until we've been dating for 6 months or so and I'm pretty clear I want a future. Guess they have a different timetable in Italia.
But if Yanks are less prone to Lloyd Dobler-esque displays of affection and more likely to send 10 women texts that say, "What's up?" where is the middle ground that we might deem "normal"?
I'm so glad you asked.
Interested guys will approach you wherever you are.
They will ask you questions.
They will try to make you laugh.
They will ask for your number.
If they text you, text them back. That lets them know you're interested.
If they call you, call them back. That lets them know you're interested.
If they ask you on a date, agree to go out. That lets them know you're interested.
If they follow up for a second date, say yes. That lets them know you're interested.
If they don't do any of the above, they're not that interested.
Really, it ain't that complicated.
You've heard of "gay-dar", right? Well, straight men have to have some sort of radar as well. It's the one that lets us know if we have a chance in hell at procuring a date with you. If you're standing in a crowd of girlfriends with a scowl on your face and your arms crossed, we're probably not going to make the approach, you see?
How about you assume all guys are interested, smile at all guys to make them feel good, and see how many of them ask for your number?
It's your job to be approachable. Stand 7-10 feet away from him, turn your body, smile, make eye contact. This is your cue that lets him know it's safe to approach.
If you don't give him these cues, the only guys who will approach are the ones who tone-deaf themselves. You know: the slimy ones who don't even care if you're interested.
However, if you do give them the cues, you're opening up the floodgates for flirting.
Your defense has simply been that you're tone-deaf yourself. I believe you, but I don't believe that it's a particularly valid excuse. You know why? Because you can pretty much count on the fact that if a strange guy comes up to talk to you, he's interested. If he asks you out to lunch, he's interested. If he smiles at you, he's interested. If he breathes near you, he's interested.
In other words, how about you assume all guys are interested, smile at all guys to make them feel good, and see how many of them ask for your number?
It'll be far more effective than waiting for that firetruck's siren to signal his interest.
Oh, and while it should go without saying: once you've rejected his advances three times, it's probably best for both parties to move on. There are many more fish in the sea — for both of you.


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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's office is asking the public to choose an official logo for next month's state visit of US President Barack Obama by voting for one of three proposed designs on Facebook.
Participants have until 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time) on Tuesday to choose their favourite design by clicking "like' on Netanyahu's Facebook page, a statement from the prime minister's office said.
One option is a Star of David made out of smaller red and blue stars on a white background and the caption "President Obama In Israel 2013 UNBREAKABLE ALLIANCE" in English and Hebrew.
Another option has the same wording with a similar image, but this time with red stripes added to the stars in a design which suggests both the US and Israeli flags, while the third goes a step further with a clear representation of the two nation's banners joined as one.
Obama's visit has been dubbed "Operation Unbreakable Alliance." Neither side has confirmed specific dates for the visit, but Israeli media reports and a Palestinian official have said that it will run from March 20-22 and take in talks with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah.
The White House has kept expectations deliberately low, saying Mr Obama has no plans to use the trip to push new proposals to break the more than two-year deadlock in peace talks.
On Sunday, Mr Netanyahu reiterated that his talks with Mr Obama would focus on Iran's nuclear programme, the conflict in Syria and long-stalled stalled peace talks with the Palestinians, saying that Israeli negotiator Isaac Molcho had just returned from discussions on the issue in Washington.
He said that Israeli National Security Advisor Yaakov Amidror would also travel to the US capital in the coming week for further discussions.