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It had been 15 long years since Alex Stencel had visited his hometown of Bayonne.
However, Stencel came back to his old stomping grounds last week to receive his induction into the Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame, returning from where he now makes his home in California.
"Honestly, when I watch 'The Sopranos' on television, I start to get homesick," Stencel told an audience of better than 500 people at the 19th Annual Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame ceremony last week at the Casino-in-the-Park in Jersey City. "I really don't get a chance to come back home often, so this really was a treat."
Stencel, a legendary two-sport athlete at Bayonne High School who went on to play football at Arizona State University, was one of three sports greats with Bayonne ties who gained induction, the largest single night of honorees ever for Bayonne.
Also gaining induction were long-time Bayonne residents Paul Conway and Connie Gallagher.
Stencel enjoyed incredible success in a multitude of sports, especially football and track and field, in both high school and college, carving out one of the most versatile careers in Hudson County athletic history.
Stencel was a standout two-sport athlete at Bayonne High School (1967-71), participating in football and track for the Bees. He was a defensive end, tight end, and punter and earned All-Hudson County and All-Group IV honors his senior year.
After graduating from Bayonne, Stencel went to Arizona State.
After graduating from Bayonne, Stencel went to Arizona State (1971-76), where he concentrated on football and played for the legendary coach Frank Kush. Stencel played varsity football for three years at Arizona State as a strong safety and was part of the 1975 Sun Devil team that went undefeated (12-0) and earned the mythical No. 1 ranking in the nation from The Sporting News. During his tenure at ASU, Stencel was part of three Sun Devil teams that won Fiesta Bowl titles.
"But playing for Frank Kush wasn't easy," Stencel said. "He took the fun out of football."
Stencel had a tryout with the Denver Broncos after graduation from Arizona State, but left the tryout after suffering an injury and never returned.
After graduating from Arizona State, Stencel worked in the insurance industry for a while, but then moved to California and got a job working in the film industry as a wet maintenance technician, working for studios like MGM and Disney.
Married to his wife, Karen, the Stencels have two sons and reside in southern California. Alex and Karen Stencel used to compete in marathons together, with Alex completing 11 different marathons, including Las Vegas, San Diego and Washington, D.C.
"I figured that anyone could run a marathon," Stencel said. "If Karen could do it, then I could. After I finished the first one, I said, 'What am I, nuts?' It was the hardest thing I've ever done."
A story
Stencel recalled a story that his former shot put coach and fellow Hudson County Hall of Famer, the late Wes Joyner, once told him.
"Wes never got paid for what he did, but he was there working with me every day," Stencel recalled. "After a good workout, Wes would then treat me to about a dozen White Castles. He would always tell me that his hero was Al Blozis. When I asked him who Al Blozis was, he told me to look it up."
Stencel went to the library and found out that Blozis, a Jersey City native, was a standout state champion in the shot put at Dickinson High School and later Georgetown University, earning All-America status at Georgetown. Blozis also went to serve the United States in World War II and went into battle in Anzio and never returned. His body was never recovered.
"Wes always told me that I had to thank Al Blozis for what he did for our country some 70 years ago," Stencel said. "Wes said always thank 'Big Al.' Well, this one is for Big Al. I thank him for this moment."
Stencel was then shocked to realize that Blozis was a charter member of the same Hall of Fame that he now gained entrance into. Stencel also didn't know that Blozis was a pro football standout with the New York Giants, who retired his number after he died.
"I didn't know that," Stencel said. "That's a great honor to be associated with him."
Conway was a fine coach, first in basketball and later in life, as the tennis coach at Holy Family Academy.
In 1962, Conway became the head coach and at age 25, he guided St. Michael's of Union City to the 1965 NJSIAA Parochial B state championship, the lone state basketball championship in the school's rich and storied tradition.
When Conway's daughter, Megan, was attending Holy Family Academy and playing tennis there, the former coach resigned and there was talk that the sport could have been disbanded. So Conway stepped forward to coach the team. He remained at HFA for 18 memorable seasons.
As tennis coach at HFA, Conway guided the Falcons to an amazing 261 wins against just 46 losses in those 18 years. During one stretch, the Falcons won an amazing 74 consecutive matches against HCIAA foes (1991 through 1995). During that time, HFA won seven HCIAA titles and five county tournament crowns.
Conway retired from coaching in 1995. He has remained in Bayonne with his wife of 45 years, Elaine, two children, Michael and Megan and four grandchildren.
"I share this award with all the players I've ever coached," Conway said.
Gallagher was a fine athlete at Bayonne High School (1969-73), where he played varsity soccer and baseball. As a soccer goalkeeper for the Bees, Gallagher was an All-Hudson County selection and was Third Team All-State, leading Bayonne to the HCIAA championship in 1973, earning the team's Most Valuable Player honor. He set the school record for career shutouts with 19.
Gallagher also played baseball at Bayonne for fellow Hudson Hall of Famer Tom Bujnowski. He helped the Bees win the HCIAA and Group IV state championships on the same team with fellow Hudson Hall of Famer Tom Baxter. Gallagher earned All-Hudson County honors in 1973.
Gallagher was also a basketball player for the Bayonne Jewish Community Center's national championship team, coached by another Hudson Hall of Famer Bill Broderick.
After graduating from Bayonne High, Gallagher went on to play both soccer and baseball at St. Peter's College (1973-77). At SPC, Gallagher was the captain of the soccer team coached by fellow Hudson Hall of Famer Mike Granelli for two years. He set a school record for shutouts with 24 and was the Peacocks' MVP in 1977.
"I'm extremely grateful to the great coaches I had who gave me guidance over the years," Gallagher said. "I tried to pattern myself after these great leaders."
After graduating from college, Gallagher turned his attention to coaching soccer. He started his coaching career at St. Peter's Prep (1978-1982) and guided the Marauders to the HCIAA championship in 1978. From there, Gallagher went to coach at his alma mater for two stints (1983 through 1988 and then 1993 through 2000). During that time, Gallagher's teams won 144 games and captured four HCIAA championships. All totaled, Gallagher won 198 games in 19 years as a head coach.
A member of both the Bayonne High School and St. Peter's College Halls of Fame, Gallagher has been a teacher in the Bayonne school system for more than 30 years. Gallagher and his wife, Karyn, maintain their home in Bayonne.
"My true Hall of Famer is my wife, Karyn," Gallagher said. "I have to thank her for her participation over the years. She's been my unsung hero throughout my career."
It was truly a night to remember for Bayonne sports.
Jim Hague can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: The Bank of Ocean City donated $500, including $400 raised through a casual day held in October as part of breast cancer awareness month, to the Worcester County chapter of Women Supporting Women. The casual day was held at all Bank of Ocean City branches, with each employee donating $5 for the casual day and the bank matching their donation. Above, Rota Knott, second from left, chapter coordinator, accepts the donation from Bank of Ocean City employees Mary Webb, Marigold Morris and Kathy Drew. Submitted Photos

subset: commoncrawl


text: We use high-grade aluminum made to military standards. All LAPCO barrels are precision crafted. The bore size and barrel wall thinness are concentric and consistent. This eliminates the visible wavy lines that plague lower quality barrels. Next, Big Shots go through our 3 step micro-honing process. This creates the mirror inside finish that our competitors wish they could achieve. Bead blasted outside, for a micro-rough, non-reflective surface, and a deep penetration anodizing finish.


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A Grab-bag of Gratefulness
We have many reasons to be thankful this time of year. Of course Jeff is still aglow from the Cardinals winning the World Series and I still get a heart flutter when I think back to the final out between the Tigers and Yankees. Add in Verlander's Cy Young and MVP awards and how could I not be a grateful person?
But more than that, we are thankful for all of our readers who make writing this blog so much fun. And of course, we'd like to show you how grateful we are by sharing our gift from the Pass the Crown contest. If you haven't already sent a picture to [email protected] showing why you're RSBS's biggest fan, there's still time to do so.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us and please try to stay out of mom's way unless you know what you're doing.


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The first treadmill for home use designed to improve your run.
At Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the Home Decoration and Furniture Exhibition in Milan, Italy (Hall 16 – Booth C36) Technogym presents MYRUN TECHNOGYM, Technogym's new iconic product for home training.
It is a revolutionary treadmill, designed by runners for runners; a product created to offer the best training experience, personalised programmes and running technique feedback.
MYRUN TECHNOGYM can be integrated perfectly in any environment, thanks to its minimal, stylish design combining top performance with a compact footprint and high-tech, top quality, sturdy materials, the fruit of Technogym's R&D in sports applications.
MYRUN TECHNOGYM is the first digital solution for running to integrate a treadmill, a dedicated app and a tablet.
MYRUN TECHNOGYM improves your run
RUNNING RATE (Patent Pending) is the innovative algorithm studied and developed by the Technogym Research Centre to improve running quality and efficiency by supplying interactive feedback to the users about their stride, cadence and oscillation. Thanks to this visual feedback system, every user will become faster and more efficient, adopting the running cadence most suited to his or her speed, finding the most effective and safest stride and minimising oscillation and body mass centre movements.
More rhythm to your stride with MYRUN TECHNOGYM
Your running rhythm will turn into music. The RUNNING MUSIC function will select from your tablet the music tracks best suited to your running pace. When you take off your headphones and wish to enjoy some peace and quiet, MYRUN TECHNOGYM offers outstandingly smooth, low-noise operation even at its top speed of 20 km/h.
MYRUN TECHNOGYM's adaptive running surface adapts to your running style
MyRun is the treadmill with the widest usable running surface with respect to the equipment's overall footprint. This innovative running surface adapts to the user's characteristics, offering just the right mix of cushioning and responsiveness, according to every user's running or walking style: softer response for beginners, harder setup for high-performing runners.
Exercises, goals and personalised programmes
With MYRUN TECHNOGYM you can plan exercises, training sessions or personalised programmes. The dedicated app includes specific programmes to improve your running technique, interval training programmes to increase your speed and endurance, and Constant Pulse Rate (CPR) routines. Additionally, users can create fully personalised training routines according to their condition, goals and available time.
Technical specifications
MYRUN TECHNOGYM is a home fitness product, the result of 30 years of experience acquired by Technogym in the field of sports and athletic preparation; with its top speed of 20 km/h and 12% maximum gradient, it features the same specifications as professional models. Its product design and packaging make installation a quick, easy experience. To use your treadmill, just download the special MYRUN TECHNOGYM app to your tablet, place your tablet on your treadmill console, and immediately start improving your run.
Technogym also presents its Personal Line with Unity, combining design and technology, andWellness Ball active sitting, the 'healthy seat'.
Personal Line, the result of the partnership between Technogym and the designer Antonio Citterio, is the ideal solution to work out when in hotels, at the office and in wellness centres. The line includes the RUN treadmill, RECLINE, the exercise bike with ergonomic backrest, CROSS, the elliptical trainer for smooth, no-impact movements, and KINESIS, the designer training station to improve muscular toning, flexibility and balance. UNITY, the new multimedia console by Technogym, integrates with PERSONAL LINE to combine design and technology.
By logging on to UNITY, users can connect PERSONAL line equipment to their tablets to enjoy a personalised experience with a special training programme integrating personal data and contents and favourite apps, websites and TV channels.
Wellness Ball Active Sitting is the exercise ball that has revolutionised the concept of sitting at home and at the office. Designed to help users fight sedentary lifestyles and be constantly on the move, even when sitting at home or at their desks, it ensures a correct sitting position, improving muscular flexibility and core and lower limb muscle toning.


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Land plot for sale in Dragalevtsi on First Street
- Ref.ID K8928
- For sale
- Plot, regulated
- Dragalevtsi, Sofia
- With view
- Perfect location
- Ready investment project
- Good shape
About Region
Dragalevtsi is one of the most prestigious and expensive quarters in Sofia.
Location and history
Its proximity to the city center and the Vitosha Mountain, the excellent panorama and communications make it exceptionally attractive to the business elite and the people with high social status. It originated centuries ago and through the years it has transformed into an expensive summer house area and exurbian quarter of the capital.
Dragalevtzi is located in the vicinity of the mountain, between Simeonovo and Boyana quarters, close to the Sofia Ring Road.
The quarter consists mainly of luxury houses, villas with spacious yards, single-family houses and small family hotels. The construction tendencies in the district are directed to the construction of gated housing complexes. Some are already built and others are under construction. The prices in Dragalevtsi are one of the highest in the capital. The free terrains are on the decrease.
education, health care, economy and leisure time
There is one state school in the district – V. Levski'at 1 Bella Donna Str., and one English Language private school - Sveti Georgi. The health service is located at 5-7 Khan Krum Str. and there are many private kindergartens, one of which is Wonder World at 2 Matochina Str. The quarter has a municipality and a post office located at Ivan Alexander Square.
The proximity to Vitosha and one of the most popular monasteries in the region - the Dragalevtsi Monastery make the district a preferred destination during the weekend. There are many good restaurants in the region, as well as several hotels (one of which is a five-star). The Sveta Bogoroditza Monastery, built during the 13th century is nearby.
The quarter has a two-seat rope way, which connects the quarter with the ski-runs of Vitosha.
The main transport point of the quarter to the center is Cherni Vrah Blvd. Buses 98 and 64 pass from here as well as route taxis 40, 25, 41.
Antonio Banov


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The Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus – Coloured Coin (2013)
Out of stock
Notify me when item is back in stock.
Out of stock
Notify me when item is back in stock.
The eastern prickly pear is a low-spreading cactus with large, round pads that are covered with long, sharp spines and tiny, hard-to-see barbs. Its name is inspired by its green, pear-shaped fruit that turn red as they ripen in autumn. From June to August, the eastern prickly pear is also covered with large, yellow and orangey-red flowers that are so attractive people take the cactus home to plant in their own gardens. This practice, plus habitat loss are the greatest threats to this endangered plant.
A beautiful gift! Order yours today!
Special features
• Your coin comes with a unique beautiful custom box that allows you to view the full coloured image of the flower as nature intended it to be.
• The first coin in our exciting new series features a gorgeous close up of a Canadian cactus; the rare and endangered eastern prickly pear—in colour. The image fills the entire face of your coin in full colour!
• The ideal gift for your friends who are gardeners, botanists as well as nature and flower enthusiasts eager to celebrate Canada's floral treasures.
Your coin was designed by Canadian artist Claudio D'Angelo who created a stunning close-up of the eastern prickly pear's summer bloom—with colour expertly added to the design to showcase the beauty of this yellow and orangey-red flower in remarkable detail. Your coin is the first issue in an exciting new series that brings a magnified perspective to an all-time favourite theme—flowers. By their very nature, flowers are best celebrated with colour, and this coin has been selectively coloured in painstaking detail to showcase the beauty of the yellow and orangey-red flowers that bloom on the eastern prickly pear; a surprising cactus indigenous to Canada that grows on the nation's southernmost point—Point Pelee in Ontario.
Your coin is encapsulated and presented in Royal Canadian Mint branded environmentally friendly custom paper box.
Order yours today!
No: 127921
Mintage: 17500
Material: Cupronickel
Finish: Specimen
Weight: 0.5
Diameter: 35mm
Edge: Plain
Certificate: Serialized
Face Value: 25 Cents


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Name A Star in the only authorised Register
The perfect gift: Personalized PDF certificate + 4 piece gift kit
ALL stars visible to naked eye in United States
Receive the gift in under 48 hours
97% of customers are extremely
satisfied with Star Register
Don't be fooled, you can see we have legitimately named your stars in our searchable database.
A perfect gift including an elegant gift pack including a certificate of registration, Star Map, Photo Book and the Celestia software detailing of the most beautiful images of Space.
Only Constellation Stars make it even more personal.
Why not match the special occasion to an astrological date or a loved one's horoscope!
You will receive the gift pack within 48 hours or if you choose, we can send the items direct to the giftee!
What you'll get
Name a visible constellation star and receive a personalized PDF certificate which comes alongside a five piece gift kit. Your star is searchable in the Official Register of Stars.
Personalised Certificate
Detailed Star Map
Space Photobook
Star Factsheet
Supernova(extra bright)
Celestia software
Lunarland gift voucher
Milkyway galaxy star
Two side-by-star Stars
Name a visible star with our basic star kit. Alongside naming a visable star, you'll recieve our 3-piece gift kit including your personalized certificate and star chart.
Supernovas the brightest stars in the universe that truely standout. Along with this extra bright star, you will receive all the documents found in our Deluxe Kit + some extra goodies.
Name two stars situated side-by-side. This is the perfect way to show a connection in life between two people. You will receive everything found in our Deluxe Star Kit + two unique certificates with their personal dedication message.
Gift for all occasions
Dedicated star webpage
for every star
After you've named their star, our team document the name against a real astronomically verified star. To prove it, along side the digital certification we send you a unique webpage which includes the star name and date (not the personal message).
One of the fastest
growing gift ideas.
A novel and easy way to give a gift to friends and family. Either email them the gift or share direct on their Facebook page!
The 5 Piece
Gift Pack
Each of our packs comes with a 5 Piece Gift Kit making the perfect piece to gift to a loved one or friend.
The Register
of Stars
StarRegister.com is a legitimate way to purchase and name a star in the Star Register. You're in safe hands with us, just ask our customers to date.
Search the
Star Register
Using our search tool, you can search the official Register of named stars.
what our
have to
Lloyd Daniels
I researched into what company to purchase from for a while.The fact that you officially name the star vs. most others who just 'register' the name plus the pack content led me to choose you guys, thanks :)
Lynn Jefferson
This looks great this looks on my wall. It such a surprise to receive on my 30th birthday compared to the flowers and chocolates. The item itself was beautifully presented with a gift pack I just loved, thank you so much.
Jonathan Bell
First time round ordering and very happy, I will definitely do again. I would highly recommend the Super Nova pack consider how clearly I can see it without a telescope.
Ben Harvey
Well worth buying. I brought 4 of them for my kids this year and they were delighted, the gift looked great when they received it and I'm considering buying another one for my dad!
Rosie Doyle
Really quick and professional service and super high quality product. Will be making another order.
Jimmy Hart
I was looking for something to surpirse my best friend for her 10th wedding anniversary. I thought of flowers but decided they are over done! So delighted I went for this.
Mae Hopkins
Really happy. Such a unique gift and not too expensive and super easy to order.
Andre Holt
I was kept up to date on my order but delivery was fast anyway. Just hope the wife like it :)
Melody Warren
This a perfect gift for a friend to remember their lovely baby born too early. XoX
Carrie Underwood
Excellent service, really quick delivery, delighted with my gift choice.
Clint Briggs
Thank you so much - I gifted this to someone that's 'into' astronomy and was a little worried that it wouldn't 'measure up'- my friend was very impressed by this star :) and can actually see it without a telescope which is actually amazing.
Joseph Klein
We are giving this as a gift for Christmas...We were so overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness that I decided to write a review.... The best of receiving this gift kit that is it will last forever. All we need to do is look up to into the night sky and remember it's smile.
Login to your account
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really name a star?
Yes, you can! Each order is unique to the Star Register and is recorded in the Official Register of Stars. We are one of the few legitimate Registries using advanced mapping software to assign your order.
What happens when I place my order?
Place your order on our order page and one of our experienced employees will handle everything else for you, this includes:
What's the difference between your different products?
We currently offer four products: (1) Deluxe (2) Supernova (3) Twin and (4) Milkyway Supernova. Each of this has it's own benefits and they can be compared on our homepage comparison chart.
How does the star chart work?
You can use the coordinates listed on your star chart to locate the star in the night sky or by searching our Official Register of Stars which shows you a real photo of the star in the night sky.
Can I choose the constellation myself?
Yes, this is possible on the order form.
I can't open my order?
As our orders are digitally delivered, you can either open the kit in your browser or through Adobe Reader.
Is my order unique?
Yes. Every star coordinate is only allocated once, to a unique registration.
Where is my gift pack?
If you haven't received the digital star pack by email within 24 hours please contact firstname.lastname@example.com
How long is the delivery time?
We deliver by PDF within 24 hours via email. If you have not received your certificate within that time, please email firstname.lastname@example.com
Is the star visible?
Yes, the easiest way to find the star is through the Official Register of Stars. By entering the name it is easy to view the star in the night sky. However, it is also possible to find the location of the star using a telescope.
I can't manage to place an order (technical problem)!
Please send an email to email@example.com
Can I have the details of my certificate changed?
Once we send the gift kit pack we aren't able to change it.
Return Policy
Thank you for shopping at Star Register
We do not issue refunds for digital products once the order is confirmed and the product is sent on.
We recommend contacting us for assistance if you experience any issues receiving or
downloading our products.
If you have any questions about our Returns and Refunds Policy, please contact us at email@example.com
Privacy Policy
What personal information do we collect?
When ordering or registering on our site, as appropriate, you may be asked to enter your name, email address, credit card information or other details to help you with your experience.
When do we collect information?
We collect information from you when you place an order or enter information on our site.
How do we use your information?
We may use the information we collect from you when you register, make a purchase, sign up for our newsletter, respond to a survey or marketing communication, surf the website, or use certain other site features in the following ways:
How do we protect visitor information?
We do not use vulnerability scanning and/or scanning to PCI standards. Your personal information is contained behind secured networks and is only accessible by a limited number of persons
who have special access rights to such systems, and are required to keep the information confidential. In addition, all sensitive/credit information you supply is encrypted via Secure
Socket Layer (SSL) technology.
We implement a variety of security measures when a user places an order enters, submits, or accesses their information to maintain the safety of your
personal information.
All transactions are processed through a gateway provider and are not stored or processed on our servers.
Do we use 'Cookies'?
Yes. Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your computer's hard drive through your Web browser (if you allow) that enables the site's or service
provider's systems to recognize your browser and capture and remember certain information. For instance, we use cookies to help us remember and process the items in your shopping cart.
They are also used to help us understand your preferences based on previous or current site activity, which enables us to provide you with improved services. We also use cookies to help us
compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that we can offer better site experiences and tools in the future.
We use cookies to:
You can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies. You do this through your browser (like Internet Explorer)
settings. Each browser is a little different, so look at your browser's Help menu to learn the correct way to modify your cookies.
If you disable cookies off, some features will be
disabled It won't affect the users experience that make your site experience more efficient and some of our services will not function properly.
However, you can still place orders.
Third party disclosure
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information unless we provide you with advance notice. This does not include website hosting
partners and other parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or servicing you, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. We may
also release your information when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others' rights, property, or safety.
non-personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.
Third party links
We do not include or offer third party products or services on our website.
Google's advertising requirements can be summed up by Google's Advertising Principles. They are put in place to provide a positive experience for users. More info on this.
We have not enabled Google AdSense on our site but we may do so in the future.
COPPA (Children Online Privacy Protection Act)
When it comes to the collection of personal information from children under 13, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) puts parents in control. The Federal Trade Commission,
the nation's consumer protection agency, enforces the COPPA Rule, which spells out what operators of websites and online services must do to protect children's privacy and safety
We do not specifically market to children under 13.
Fair Information Practices
The Fair Information Practices Principles form the backbone of privacy law in the United States and the concepts they include have played a significant role in the development of data
protection laws around the globe. Understanding the Fair Information Practice Principles and how they should be implemented is critical to comply with the various privacy laws that protect
personal information.
In order to be in line with Fair Information Practices we will take the following responsive action, should a data breach occur: We will notify the users via
email within 7 business days.
We also agree to the individual redress principle, which requires that individuals have a right to pursue legally enforceable rights against data
collectors and processors who fail to adhere to the law. This principle requires not only that individuals have enforceable rights against data users, but also that individuals have
recourse to courts or a government agency to investigate and/or prosecute non-compliance by data processors.
Contacting us
If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy you may contact us using the information below.


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2014-2015 Student Charter
The Student Charter comprises the rights and obligations of Wageningen University students. These rights and obligations are based on Wageningen University regulations, but also on legislation that applies to students at all Dutch universities.
2014-2015 Student Charter
The Executive Board is responsible for the charter and takes care of it's yearly update, if necessary. Possible urgent changes will be made known to students via Resource and My Portal. The Student Charter is published on the website of Wageningen University, in both Dutch and English.
Rights may be derived directly from the charter, with the exception of the passages which, despite our best efforts, are in conflict with legislation.
The charter consists of two parts: a programme specific part and an institutional part. The programme specific part, dealing with the structure and courses of each programme, may be found in the Study Handbook. The institutional part of the charter consists of the regulations mentioned on this page.
The 2014-2015 Student Charter is decided upon by the Executive Board after approval of the Student Council, obtained on July 2nd, 2014.
Education and research
Education Framework bachelor and master programmes | All programmes are based on the education framework of the university. |
Education and Examination Regulations Wageningen University 2014-2015 | Rules for education and examinations in the bachelors and masters programmes Wageningen University. Programme specific information about education and examinations may be found in the Study Handbook. |
Rules and Regulations of the Examining Boards of Wageningen University | Rules and regulations for examinations in the bachelors and and masters programmes Wageningen University; role and responsiblities examining boards. |
Code of Conduct Foreign Languages | Guidelines regarding the use of foreign languages in Wageningen University education. |
Code of Conduct Scientific Practice | Rules which everyone involved in Wageningen University research (students and staff), is bound by. |
Guidelines for working in Multicultural Settings | Wageningen UR guidelines about how people should interact in an international, multicultural organisation. |
Regulations for Education and Examinations BTO | Rules for education and examinations in the bachelor programme Tourims (Joint Degree). Programme specific information about education and examinations BTO may be found in the Study Handbook. |
Regulations and guidelines Examining Board BTO | Rules and guidelines for examinations in the bachelor programme Tourism (Joint degree), role and responsiblities examining board. |
Rules and Regulations of the Examing Board MWT
Rules and Regulations of the Examining Board of the Joint Degree Master programme Msc Water Technology 2014-2015.
Student facilities and study supervision
Student Facilities | Description of the student facilities, different from education facilities. |
Study Supervision and Student Counselling | Description of the study supervision and student counselling facilities. |
Studying with a Functional Limitation | Description of the support for students with a functional limitation. |
Financial regulations
Regulation WU contribution to student's expenses | Regulation about what expenses of students are for the account of the university and what expenses are for the account of students themselves. |
Profiling Fund | Fund combining a number of financial support regulations: 1) Student Financial Support Regulation (FOS), 2) WU study financing for students in Social Sciences master programmes, 3) Study Grants for non-EER students, 4) Social Emergency Fund. |
Regulation Vaccination and Travel Funding | Regulation for the funding of vaccination and travel costst retaled to minors, internships and theses abroad. |
Rights, obligations and legal protection students
Regulations for Enrolment | Rights and obligations of Wageningen University students, enrolled 'as a student' or 'as an extraneus'. |
Regulations for enrolment (non-regular) | Rights and obligations of Wageningen University students, enrolled different from 'as a student' or 'as an extraneus'. |
Legal protection students | Regulations and procedures on legal protection. Important in case a student does not agree with or feels his interests are damaged by a decision. Here you can find more information about how to appeal or object to a decision, including paragraphs about privacy, working conditions and the use of WUR network, ombuds function (WU and national), confidential advisor, copright and disciplinary measures. Students can appeal or object to a decision at 'De Faciliteit': firstname.lastname@example.com |
Protection of Personal Data regulations | Regulations in which the university explains how personal data are protected. |
Network regulations | Code of behaviour for the use of Wageningen UR network facilities. |
Regulations for Camera Surveillance | Regulations concerning the use of surveillance cameras at Wageningen UR. |


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Ever since Google Drive debuted Tuesday, we've watched journalists, privacy advocates, even security firms, dogpile on Google's policies over what it can do with data you store on its servers. The outrage has subsided somewhat, thanks to the swift work of Google's communications firefighters, but even with clarification, one line in Google's Terms of Service still gnawed away at us.
"Derivative Works"
To recap, one paragraph in Google's company-wide Terms of Use statement was highlighted by many publications to imply that Google retains the right to repurpose any data you upload:"When you upload or otherwise submit content to our Services, you give Google (and those we work with) a worldwide license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes that we make so that your content works better with our Services), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content."
Wow, sounds scary! Google can create "derivative works"-- does that mean it can use my G+ profile picture in an ad? Or publish the rough draft of this story that I saved in my Google Drive?
The Electronic Frontier Foundation's digital rights analyst Rebecca Jeschke, and many other privacy lawyers say "derivitive works" is a standard line giving Google the right to manipulate your data and run its services. Dropbox, Microsoft SkyDrive, and Apple iCloud all use similar legalese.
Like any cloud service provider, Google has to copy your data to its servers to process, and then deliver your requests. Google Translate is an easy example: once you enter words in a Google Translate box, it gets sent to Google's servers (located around the world), copied, processed, and sent to you in Azerbaijani or whatever language you requested. And to do this without violating copyright laws, Google needs licenses to copy your data. Now-archaic copyright law simply dubs this "derivative works."
Google was also quick to point out another line in its ToS to journalists:
"Some of our Services allow you to submit content. You retain ownership of any intellectual property rights that you hold in that content. In short, what belongs to you stays yours."
Unsatisfying Response
But Google (and Jeschke's) explanation is only partially satisfying. Yes, the "derivitive works" line is standard business legalese, and you technically own your own content, but is there anything preventing Google from interpreting these vague lines the way the rest of us have—that it can do anything it wants data you upload to its servers?Unfortunately, there's no clear-cut answer here, says Aaron Brauer-Rieke, a fellow at the Center of Democracy & Technology.
"This is not unusual language when it comes to cloud drive services, but there is some ambiguity here with the wording," he says. "All these licenses do give Google a lot of rights over what it can do with your data."
"The real unknown here is what Google can do with your publicly shared information."
Like your Blogger post, or a Picasa album that you set as "visible to anyone with a link"-- can Google use that in a promotional item?
Technically, yes.
Realistically, will it? Brauer-Rieke doubts Google would ever go that far for fear of jeapordizing the public's trust. After all, trust is the lifeblood of cloud-based service providers.
"I wish users had more certainty, but ultimately Google's goal is to make sure they don't inadvertently get sued for delivering their services."
Google's privacy policy, a separate document, says the company will never bypass your share settings in order to use content for promoting its services. If you choose to share your document with four people, Google will only ever let those four people see it. Files you upload to Google Drive are private by default anyway, but it's definitely worth taking some time out to review your privacy settings for other Google content.
The takeaway here is that you have a responsibility to make your Google (or Skydrive, Dropbox, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) content private, if you don't want Google manipulating it for its own purposes. Don't be lazy.
For more, see PCMag's Hands On With Google Drive.


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Summer 2023 was the Summer of Barbie. Halloween 2023 was the Halloween of Barbie. Get ready for the upcoming holiday season to be the Holidays of Barbie. Or, should we say, the Holidays of Ken? Because a new Ken doll just dropped, and it's going to be an absolute must-have this holiday season, as we all celebrate knowing that we are Kenough, just as we are.
Shop this article: Barbie The Movie — I Am Kenough Tie Dye Logo Pullover Hoodie; Expression Tees I Am Kenough Barbenheimer Mens T-shirt; Moonlight Makers, You Are Kenough, Vanilla Breeze Scented Handmade Candle.
Before this summer, Ken was always just Ken. But now we know that he is Kenough, and he has the hoodie to prove it. The latest doll to drop in Mattel's "Barbie the Movie" collection is modeled in Ryan Gosling's likeness (and we'd buy it based on that fact alone), wearing the "I am Kenough" hoodie that Ken wears in the movie after he learns to love himself as a whole person separate from Barbie.
This is your chance to match your doll — because "I am Kenough" sweatshirts are also the must-have accessory this fall. You and your Ken Doll can have matching Kenergy — no Barbie needed.
Ken Doll Wearing "I Am Kenough" Hoodie — Barbie The Movie
This posable Ken Doll comes in his iconic "I am Kenough" hoodie from "Barbie the Movie." He completes the look with sweatpants and boxing sneakers, plus a lightning headband and a horse charm necklace leftover from his days of running the Barbieland patriarchy. You can preorder this Ken doll now, with a ship date in 2024.
Barbie The Movie — I Am Kenough Tie Dye Logo Pullover Hoodie
This comfortable cotton-and-polyester-blend hoodie will proclaim to the world, just like Ken did, that you are Kenough — in bright tie-dye colors, just like the hoodie from the movie.
Expression Tees I Am Kenough Barbenheimer Mens T-shirt
If a hoodie is too warm for your climate, here's an option for you: a tie-dye T-shirt that proclaims the same message of self-love and acceptance. It is available in multiple colors and patterns.
Moonlight Makers, You Are Kenough, Vanilla Breeze Scented Handmade Candle
Bring your Kenergy into your home for cozy season with a vanilla-scented candle that will remind you every time you light it that you are, indeed, Kenough.
Moonlight Makers, You Are Kenough, Decorative Pillow Case
You are Kenough, even when you spend all day on the couch — and this throw pillow cover will remind you of that every time you sit down. Made of 100% cotton for 16.5-inch throw pillows.
Moonlight Makers, You Are Kenough, Natural Canvas Bag
You are Kenough and you're great at doing stuff — so take this bag and show it off out in the world, where everyone will see your Kenergy wherever you go.
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Christina Marfice writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.


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Even if the memory card that was subjected to write back in PlayMemories Home was inserted into the camera, it does not appear as a thumbnail in the playback screen.
Switch Media Settings to the memory card and set Recording format to that is the same configuration as the file that was written back. If a thumbnail still does not appear in the playback screen, you must repair the image database file on the camera.
From the menu, perform Repair Img. DB F..


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DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Billionaire investor turned philanthropist George Soros has blamed new technology for helping repressive regimes like Russia and China exert greater control.
Speaking Tuesday at a dinner for journalists on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum's annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland, Soros said China and Russia were the greatest threats to open democratic societies today, thanks to the "rapid development of digital technology, especially artificial intelligence."
AI "is particularly good at producing instruments of control that help repressive regimes and endanger open societies," he said.
"COVID-19 also helped legitimize instruments of control because they're really useful in dealing with the virus."
Soros also held forth on Russian President Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine and Chinese leader Xi Jinping's decision to double down on his "zero covid" policy, which he said was a big mistake because it pushed China's economy into "freefall."
Political Cartoons on World Leaders
Political Cartoons
On climate change, Soros said it was on the verge of becoming irreversible and "that could be the end of our civilization."
U.S. climate envoy John Kerry says the U.S. and China are making progress on putting together a group to work toward quickly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Kerry told The Associated Press during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos that the the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases are close to agreeing on the structure of the group and how decisions would be made.
He says "we are going to work on the practicalities of how we move faster" to reduce emissions. Kerry noted that "maybe we can help with technology of some kind to help China move faster. Maybe China could help us better understand some things we could do better."
The agreement was reached during the U.N. climate summit last year in Glasgow, Scotland. For the first time, China agreed to crack down on methane leaks. On Tuesday, Kerry said that reducing coal consumption would also be a central focus for the group.
Kerry says he was hopeful that climate change legislation in Congress was still possible. There's no sign of progress, or even movement.
When asked whether he planned to step down soon, as some have speculated with Congress stalled on climate legislation, Kerry said "nobody is going to be in one job forever" but he wasn't planning to move on.
He says he's working toward the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Egypt in November.
A top adviser to new South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol says North Korea hasn't responded to a proposal to send COVID-19 vaccines to the reclusive country.
Na Kyung Won told reporters that she was meeting with officials from the Red Cross and the international vaccine group Gavi in Davos, Switzerland, about ways to help send coronavirus vaccines and other medicines — but Pyongyang has been silent.
Na told The Associated Press Tuesday at the World Economic Forum meeting that "we worry because North Korea doesn't open, frankly."
Before acknowledging an outbreak of the omicron variant on May 12, North Korea had insisted it was virus-free throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It snubbed millions of vaccines offered by the U.N.-backed COVAX distribution program and has not responded to offers of medicine and other aid from South Korea and the U.S.
Gavi, which runs COVAX with partners, said it hasn't received any requests for COVID-19 vaccines from North Korea, but it has allocated doses for the country.
The World Health Organization has pleaded for more information on the outbreak but not gotten a response.
Leaders from some European nations and the head of NATO agreed that bolstering weapons systems and arming Ukraine is critical as Russia attacks its neighbor.
Speaking on a securing Europe panel Tuesday at the World Economic Forum's meeting in Davos, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren says the European Union can join forces to provide complex systems that Ukraine needs.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo says there needs to be more coordination on deciding what weapons systems the 27-nation bloc needs as a long-term security goal. Ollongren agreed.
North Macedonia President Stevo Pendarovski says joint weapons procurement is important long term but that it's "critically important to help Ukraine now."
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the strongest way to support Ukraine is providing weapons, which allies are doing at unprecedented levels as Ukraine has requested. He reiterated that "we support Ukraine, but NATO will not be part of the conflict."
Opening the session by video link, Andriy Yermak, head of the presidential administration of Ukraine, said, "You don't need to wage this war, just help us to do it."
He proposed an international advisory working group that would offer security guarantees for Ukraine, including providing weapons, funding for rebuilding and defense, maintaining sanctions against Russia and joining the EU as soon as possible.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has accused Russia of deliberately bombarding grain warehouses across Ukraine and using food supplies as a weapon.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has created disruptions of global food supplies, with both countries two of the world's biggest exporters of wheat, barley and sunflower oil. The blockade of Ukrainian ports has been particularly harmful, with the EU saying sea shipments accounted for 90% of grain and oilseed exports before the war.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the head of the EU's executive arm said about 20 million tons of wheat are struck in Ukraine.
Von der Leyen says exports typically amount to 5 million tons of wheat per month, and it's down to 200,000 to 1 million tons. She says "by getting it out, we can provide Ukrainians with much needed revenues, and the World Food Program with supplies it badly needs."
The European Commission has proposed helping Ukraine export its wheat and other grains by rail, road and river to get around the Russian blockade of Black Sea ports. Von der Leyen said that fragile countries and vulnerable populations suffer the most, with bread prices in Lebanon having increased by 70% and food shipments from Odesa prevented from reaching Somalia.
Plus, she says "Russia is now hoarding its own food exports as a form of blackmail — holding back supplies to increase global prices, or trading wheat in exchange for political support. This is using hunger and grain to wield power."
Von der Leyen added that the EU is stepping up its production to ease pressure on the global food market while supporting Africa to become less dependent on imports.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the war in Ukraine is providing proof that doing business with authoritarians in Russia or China poses risks for Western security.
Stoltenberg says "free trade has brought a lot of prosperity and wealth" but that it comes with "a price because some of this trade, some of this economic interaction with authoritarian regimes is undermining our security."
Speaking Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Stoltenberg said the idea that Europe "can buy as much gas from Russia as you want, that's wrong. It's dangerous. It provides Russia with a tool to intimidate and to use against us and that has been clearly demonstrated now."
He warns against any overreliance on commodities or advanced technologies or by allowing foreign control over national infrastructure like 5G networks.
Stoltenberg says, "This is about Russia. But also about China. Another authoritarian regime that does not share our values. And that undermines the rules-based international order."
Polish President Andrzej Duda says he sees no possibility for neighboring Ukraine to accept any peace terms dictated by Russia or to consent to give any of its territory to Russia.
Duda spoke Tuesday during a geopolitical outlook panel at the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. He says "the mere drive to take revenge and regain what's theirs is so powerful that I don't believe that they (Ukrainians) could agree to peace terms that would boil down to the Russians taking again kilometers of Ukrainian land."
He says the Russians have destroyed so much of Ukraine and the Ukrainians have spilled so much blood defending their country that any politician in Ukraine who would suggest bending to Russia's demands "would simply be finished."
Duda says any politician in the West who believes he can persuade Kyiv to accept any of Moscow's terms is "deeply mistaken."
Poland has been supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia through political and defense means, and has accepted more than 3 million refugees fleeing the war.
U.S. climate envoy John Kerry says at the World Economic Forum's annual gathering in Davos that Russia's war in Ukraine shouldn't deter climate goals.
Speaking at a news conference Tuesday about speeding up the road to "net zero," Kerry says "we should not allow a false narrative to be created" that the war "somehow obviates the need to move forward and address the climate crisis."
He says it's possible to both meet the need of increased energy from fossil fuels in the short term, particularly in Europe, and stay on course to reduce emissions over the coming years.
Meanwhile, the head of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change says the next climate change summit in Egypt in November will be a "pivotal moment" for the planet.
Patricia Espinosa Cantellano says negotiations are over and implementation is starting as an investment in "a better future for all."
She says governments now need to assess how they can attract the right investments for energy transition.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says he believes Sweden and Finland will succeed in joining NATO despite Turkey's objections to their membership.
In an address Tuesday to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Sánchez says that "the political will of the allies is to welcome these two countries."
He said Spain will "accelerate all the parliamentary processes" to the two Nordic nations important for NATO and European Union stability.
Turkey has objected over what it sees as Finland's and Sweden's support for groups it considers terrorists and their block on arms sales.
On the Russia-Ukraine war, Sánchez said it was "imperative that we make every effort to restore food productions, trade systems and achieve food security for the most vulnerable."
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently accused Russia of weaponizing food and holding hostage the grain the Ukraine produces for millions of people around the world. U.N. food chief David Beasley has warned that the war has created "an unprecedented crisis" of escalating food prices that are already sparking protests and riots and growing hunger.
Finland's foreign minister said at the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos that a delegation from his country and Sweden will travel to the Turkish capital amid pushback from Turkey on the Nordic nations' application to join NATO.
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said Tuesday during a geopolitical outlook panel that the representatives will head to Turkey on Wednesday for talks.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed the negotiations. Turkey is objecting to Sweden's and Finland's historic bid to join the military alliance, citing their perceived support to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and other groups that Turkey considers to be terrorists. Turkey also points to their arms exports restrictions against it.
Haavisto says he understands Turkey has "security concerns" regarding terrorism and that Finland has "good answers for those because we are also part of the fight against the terrorism. So, we think that this issue can be settled."
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at Davos that NATO will do "what we always do" and "that is to sit down and address concerns when allies express concerns."
He says he's confident that the group will be able to "solve these issues and to agree and then to welcome Finland and Sweden as full-fledged members of our alliance."
Speakers on a migration panel at the World Economic Forum gathering say the European Union's response to the arrival of millions of Ukrainian refugees was a stellar example of solidarity. But it also served as a reminder of the need for an overhaul of the bloc's migration policy.
European Union Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said Tuesday in Davos that "this was Europe at its best."
The exodus of more than 6 million Ukrainian refugees, mainly women and children, prompted the EU to activate an emergency protection system for the first time since its creation in 2001, facilitating access to jobs, housing, education and health care in the EU for Ukrainians.
Negotiations on a new migration and asylum policy in the EU proposed in 2020 have been stalled as member states disagree on whose responsibility it is to take in migrants and asylum-seekers arriving on its shores and land borders irregularly.
Schinas urged EU states to face "reality" and reach a consensus.
Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita says she's proud of her small country's reaction to the refugee crisis. It has seen half-a-million refugees crossing from Ukraine since the war began. She says Moldova has facilitated entry for those with expired passports, allowed them to bring pets and hosting displaced Ukrainians in their homes.
But she warned that more long-term help would be needed for Moldova to cope.
Kremlin critic Bill Browder wants governments to step up efforts to get to riches squirreled away by Russian oligarchs linked to President Vladimir Putin by forcing accountants, lawyers and others who set up murky legal and financial structures to become whistleblowers.
Browder, author of the nonfiction best-seller "Freezing Order: "A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath," says Russia's war in Ukraine has raised the focus on how the oligarchs are custodians of the Russian leader's wealth.
He told The Associated Press on Tuesday at the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos that "oligarchs are not naïve." He says they have lawyers, asset protection specialists and shell companies.
The founder of Heritage Capital, an early investor in post-Soviet Russia, Browder raised the alarm after his Russian tax adviser Sergei Magnitsky died in a Russian prison in 2009.
Browder credited U.S. efforts to put a squeeze on the Kremlin since the war began, by putting a freeze on the assets of Russia's central bank, chasing the oligarchs, halting exports of technology to Russia and supplying weapons to Ukraine.
But when it comes to getting Russian oligarchs' money, Browder says "we're only scratching the surface."
Citing a "quite radical" solution, Browder says "what would solve the problem … is to force the people who set up these structures, the enablers, the lawyers, the accountants, the trustees under law to become whistleblowers for the government."
He says such an amendment to money laundering and sanctions laws should come with fines and imprisonment.
The European Union's top official said the 27-nation bloc should avoid becoming dependent to untrustworthy countries, like it did with fossil fuels from Russia, as it moves toward a greener economy with the need to find crucial raw materials.
Speaking Tuesday at the World Economic Forum's annual gathering in Davos, European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said the "economies of the future" will no longer rely on oil and coal.
She says the green and digital transitions will increase the need for materials like lithium and silicon metal required for batteries, chips, electric vehicles or wind turbines.
The head of the EU's executive arm says "we rely on a handful of producers in the world. So, we must avoid falling into the same trap as with oil and gas."
Von der Leyen said the EU has secured materials partnerships with countries like Canada.
She added that the war in Ukraine has strengthened Europe's determination to quickly get rid of Russian fossil fuels. EU countries have approved an embargo on coal from Russia but has yet to find a deal on sanctions targeting oil.
The head of the European Union's executive arm says Russia's war in Ukraine should end with a "strategic failure" for the invading country as she pledged Tuesday that the bloc will continue to invest massively in support of the war-torn nation.
In addition to the economic sanctions imposed on Russia and the military aid provided to Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the 27-nation EU has proposed over 10 billion euros in macro-financial assistance, the largest package ever offered to a third country.
She said the World Economic Forum's annual gathering that the EU is "mobilizing our full economic power" and "we will, hand in hand, help Ukraine rise from the ashes."
Von der Leyen added that reconstruction efforts also should aim to modernize Ukraine's administration. It will be required if the country wants to join the 27-nation bloc in the future.
She says the reforms should "firmly establish the rule of law and the independence of (Ukraine's) judiciary" and help tackle corruption.
The World Economic Forum's annual gathering is resuming for a second day, with business leaders, government officials, representatives from global institutions and journalists gearing up for more panel talks and networking at the exclusive meeting in the Swiss Alps.
Tuesday's agenda in Davos is packed with sessions on one of the meeting's key themes — climate change. U.S. climate envoy John Kerry is due to make an appearance.
There also will be addresses by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
Meanwhile, outside the conference venue, a Ukrainian activist was planning a street performance to urge foreign energy companies to stop doing business with Russia.
Later, billionaire financier George Soros is hosting a dinner for media — a non-official forum event but a fixture outside the Davos meeting.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Advertisement |
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien OBE (16 April 1939 – 2 March 1999), known professionally as Dusty Springfield, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s. With her distinctive sensual sound, she was an important white soul singer, and at her peak was one of the most successful British female performers, with 18 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 from 1964 to 1970. She is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the U.K. Music Hall of Fame. International polls have named Springfield among the best female rock artists of all time.
Born in North London to an Irish Catholic family that enjoyed music, Springfield learned to sing at home. She joined her first professional group, The Lana Sisters, in 1958, then formed the pop-folk vocal trio The Springfields in 1960 with her brother Dion.
Her solo career began in 1963 with the upbeat pop hit, "I Only Want To Be With You" (1963). Among the hits that followed were "Wishin' and Hopin'" (1964), "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (1964), "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" (1966), and "Son of a Preacher Man" (1968). A fan of American pop music, she was the first public figure to bring little-known soul singers to a wider British audience, when she created and hosted the first British performances of the top-selling Motown artists in 1965. By 1966, she was the best selling female singer in the world, and topped a number of popularity polls, including Melody Maker's Best International Vocalist. She was the first British singer to top the New Musical Express readers' poll for Female Singer. Her image, supported by a peroxide blonde beehive hairstyle, evening gowns, and heavy make-up, made her an icon of the Swinging Sixties.


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Binds when used
Use: Teaches you how to summon this companion.
Flutters about and grooms face; generates glowing pink clouds and particles.
» Video
Captured Firefly
Item Level 20
Binds when used
Use: Right Click to summon and dismiss your firefly.
"Still flying..."
Sell Price: 12 50
The [Captured Firefly] item originally included the flavor text, "Still flying…", providing a clever reference to the Joss Whedon television series of the same name.
623 attempts. :)
Got one after 682 kills at around 41,35. It was raining (not sure but I think its always raining?). Parked my 110 Mage overnight and got the drop on my first run at around 8:00am server time. Good luck all on this pet.
i've been farming this pet for years. easy money if you ask me. i just went looking for it today 3 kills lol, 17k in about 3 hrs.................................................
Hai, so I realized I still needed this pet so I thought I'd give it a try. While farming between bg ques I was able to snag this pet with 94 tries! Rarity kept track of it and I was so happy. Goodluck to all the others farming this pet! and Yes it was raining in Zangamarsh when it dropped :)
took about 30 minutes in the rain, about 50-60 kills, then bam, in the bag
You can kill two birds with one stone farming. You need 30 Glowcaps and Exalted with Sporegarr to get the Tiny Sporebat. The Glowcaps are all over the area where you farm for the Fireflies. You could easily get 3 sporebats for yourself and a few to sell by the time you finally get the Firefly to drop. Just farm between to two dots on the map on the previous tab that shows where the Firefly is. --- Update, Sporebat not sellable --- Update 2: took 1186 kills. I was realm hopping to reduce wait time for respawn. Got it. Left group and returned to my realm. Realized bags were full and did not get pet. Crying.
--Update, 800 kills later I got another one.
Got one today from BMAH for 4,8k... it is every single copper worth :)
I finally got it today after 837 attempts! It was raining in Zangermarsh when it dropped. I do not know if that helps the drop rate.
Luck was smiling on me this morning :) Been running through the area maybe once or twice a day with 20 or so Bogflare Needlers killed each time. Managed to snag him on my 297th attempt (since installing Rarity). My only advice to those still farming is to not give up, and take breaks so you don't get burnt out killing all those Needlers nonstop. I really did not expect to get him so soon. Best of luck to all who are still hunting!!
2 days of farming, over 2000 kills and still no luck. :(
Edit: Finally got it on my 3375th attempt. Levelled 4 times from level 66 to level 70.
Got mine on my 13th kill. Wow... such luck :O
Got mine after only 10 kills. Lucky. Around 45, 35.
Been grinding for this for days on end- still no drop. Glad it is a slow period before WoD drops!
Finally got it! The grinding (for this) is finished- now what is next?.....
Well, I'm up to 1810 kills and nothing. I've been farming non-stop for 9 hours. I've logged up 16 hours in the last 2 days. I've seen a couple of people jump in front of me, kill a few and fly off...did they get my Firefly?
So much for the 1500 drop rate! Grrrr.....
Well its now 2713 and 17 hrs and still no fly.
3270 and 22 hrs (3 days) and you guessed it still no pet!
Am I the most unlucky player for this drop I wonder?
3671 and 4 days - I give up!
Just got mine on my lvl 90 lock. I tried before tea for about 20 mins and no luck, logged on after dinner to try my luck and it was raining and it dropped on my first loop.
Just got mine in Zanga Marsh today it just happened to be raining I was on my level 90 mage was my first try and took just 10 minutes.
I had been farming this guy for 3 days straight, over 21 hours and 2375 kills with my level 71 warlock. I was really starting to think that I would have to come back to this one later, but then I switched to my level 90 mage and 7 kills later it DROPPED!
Is there something in the algorithim that takes into account level? Well, I will leave that for the scholars to discuss, while I enjoy my firefly.
Farmed this little guy for about a week. I installed addon KillTrack to count number of times I slaughtered Bogflare Needler (that is the mob that drops this). Count was at 90 but I had killed many more because I only installed the addon yesterday. Rough guess about 700.
Been farming for the last couple weeks off and on, but no luck.
If anyone on Silver Hand has one to sell, please whisper me in game. Thanks! :)
I got one at 3pm server time, it was raining in zanga at the time. Obviously this isnt a weather dependent pet but maybe the rain is just good luck since I've been farming this FOREVER.
He is an S/S breed 5


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Soldiers aren't the only ones struggling with their returns from Iraq and Afghanistan.
So when Air Force Major Cody Barker, who'd served in Afghanistan, and his wife, Carrie, decided to adopt Uzo, they had no idea what they were getting into.
All they knew was that the handsome, 8-year-old German shepherd who had earned his rank—Contract Working Dog Master Corporal—courageously fighting alongside Canadian forces in Afghanistan for five years was retiring and needed a good home.
When Carrie picked the dog up and brought him back to her household—which includes 5-year-old twins Colby and Carlee, the latter of whom is disabled and has her own therapy dog (a yellow Labrador named Sunshine), and her father, John, a Vietnam vet still suffering from PTSD—Uzo was not quite the gentleman she expected.
The new dog was incredibly nervous and on edge, patrolling the halls, sniffing in closets, and climbing on and under furniture. Whenever a helicopter flew over their home in Park City, Utah, he would stare up, wagging his tail furiously.
"He really loved helicopters," Carrie says.
But two months later, when she learned from his former trainer and handler, Nelson Brown, that Uzo had been trained and then deployed to sniff out explosives and attack on command, she began to understand his anxieties and bizarre behavior.
He had never lived in a house, had a family, or even slept in a bed.
Though his combat record remains classified, Uzo was a Special Forces dog, with training similar to that given to Cairo, the now-famous Belgian shepherd able to detect 35 different types of explosives who accompanied the Navy SEALs in their raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan.
During Uzo's years in Afghanistan, Brown, a civilian who is still in country, credits the dog with at least 20 finds of either IEDs or weapons caches, along with more than 200 "dismounted patrols" through Taliban-controlled territory.
Though Uzo's military record is sealed, the dog's biggest coup, said Brown, was inserting by helicopter with his soldier buddies into a Taliban-infested stronghold, where the soldiers used large demolition charges to destroy key enemy infiltration routes. It was the largest Canadian operation of its kind since World War II, the trainer adds, and is now taught at the Royal Military College of Canada.
Like many other returning veterans, it has taken Uzo many months to adjust to civilian life. After striking up a fast friendship with Sunshine, Carlee's therapy dog, Uzo forged what Carrie calls " a spiritual bond" with Colby, her other twin. He slept on Colby's bed and trailed along in his wake, "grieving" when his friend left for school. From there, Uzo also became close to her father, John, accompanying him on visits to a nearby VA hospital for treatment.
"When someone is good to your kids and your family, you are so grateful," says Carrie. "Uzo deserves respect, devotion, and loyalty. He is a spectacular soul."
And he's not the only one.
Sergeant First Class Gabe, a fun-loving, 9-year-old yellow Labrador who was acquired by the Army after being rescued from a Texas puppy pound, spent 13 months in 2007 and 2008 in the deserts of Iraq with his handler Chuck Shuck, searching for weapons and explosives over 170 combat patrols.
Labradors have the ability to smell a substance in an explosive to find it before it detonates, and hundreds of carefully vetted ones have joined the war effort.
"He loves to chase balls," says Shuck. 'That's how he would be rewarded when he sniffed out weapons. I'd give him a ball. He was incredibly brave, he really didn't know what he was getting into. He was totally focused [and] would go out ahead off-leash and sniff out explosives and ammunition."
When their tour was up, the duo return to America. Shuck went on to become a drill sergeant and Gabe was assigned to a new handler.
It was an extremely brief encounter.
He adamantly refused to work with his new boss, either sitting and staring straight ahead or rolling around on the ground. No amount of cajoling or retraining could coax him to budge.
Ultimately, Gabe was allowed to retire and was adopted by Shuck. (When war dogs retire, their handlers have first dibs on adopting their charges, but for some this is not possible and many returning canines are left scrambling to find a good home.)
But the noise, especially machine-gun fire, and fallout from his service have left Gabe with his own form of PTSD—a terror of thunder and lightning, and Shuck keeps a supply of tranquilizers on hand for when the Labrador gets the shakes.
But mostly, Gabe lolls around his home in Columbia, S.C., occasionally rousing himself to chase a squirrel. He sleeps on the sofa or in Shuck's bed, loves pizza and junk food, and has gained about 25 pounds.
When he does go out, though, Gabe has become a star among dogs—appearing regularly on local TV and at schools, and with more than 40,000 fans on Facebook. Recently, he even threw out the first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers game. And next month, he'll stroll the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton in L.A. to receive the 2012 Hero Dog Award at the American Humane Association's Hero Dogs Award banquet.
"He's a big old lab who gives big wet sloppy kisses," says Shuck. "He's my boy and I'm his dad."
For those dogs not lucky enough to reunite with their trainers, there are several organizations that aid civilians in navigating the long and complex adoption process. Debbie Kandoll, of Las Cruces, N.M., established Military Working Dog Adoptions in 2008, after encountering incredible hurdles in her own attempt to adopt a returning service dog to increase awareness of these heroes who need homes, and to help potential owners navigate the process.
She recalls encountering endless red tape, making at least 50 phone calls to various military bases across the county in order to locate, pinpoint, and finally adopt her German shepherd, Narcotics Detection Dog MWD Benny B163.
"It was incredibly frustrating," she says.
Over the years, she has facilitated the transporting, homing, and re-homing of more than 250 dogs. "People need to about know" the service dogs, she says. "They are amazing and have saved many of thousands of lives."
The Marshall Legacy Institute in Arlington, Va., which sends mine-detection dogs to 11 countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan, to help remove the landmines that often outlast the conflicts during which they were laid, and also helps place the dogs they deploy with families on their return.
Recently, they helped place Blek, an 11-year-old black German shepherd who had spent seven years locating mines in and around the fields of Baghdad, with Ken Gardner, a retired Marine major in Alexandria, Va.
Blek, now somewhat arthritic and hard of hearing, is still a patrol dog, says Gardner, who calls his new companion "an incredible pleasure."
An added bonus, quips the former Marine: "I have the most mine-free house in the entire state of Virginia."


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TechRadar Verdict
A relatively powerful mini PC, ideal as a media centre or bedroom machine.
- +
Incredibly small
- +
Decent general PC power
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No operating system
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All installation via USB
Why you can trust TechRadar
The Zotac Zbox nano XS AD11 Plus is quite a mouthful, but the title is almost bigger than the incredibly diminutive PC itself.
When you think of the mini PC you might think of something with the dimensions of a couple of chunky netbooks sat directly on top of each other. With the Zotac Zbox Plus Nano XS though you might have to rethink that.
The 'XS' has to stand for xtra small because this thing is tiny.
To put it into some perspective the Zotac Zbox nano XS AD11 Plus is about half the size of the novelisation of the Lord of the Rings films, it could have been the same size if that Tolkien bloke hadn't embellished on Peter Jackson's story so much...
So yeah, it's small, and inside is a fully-functional PC with an SSD, 2GB RAM and AMD's latest low-power, dual-core APU.
And that means it's actually got fairly decent graphical prowess for something this wee.
Now the Zotac Zbox nano XS AD11 Plus is never going to be any gaming heavyweight, but as a bedroom PC or even a decent little home theatre machine, it's absolutely ideal.
It comes with a remote control and wireless connectivity making it perfect for hiding behind the tele, or as the powerhouse behind your projector.
Vital stats
- AMD E-450 @ 1.65GHz
- AMD Radeon HD 6320
- None supplied
The issue though is that, somewhat inevitably, the Zotac Zbox nano XS AD11 Plus comes sans operating system.
It's more than capable of running with Windows 7, coming with the drivers you need to get it running. With AMD's constant driver updates though you'll mainly just need to get the network drivers installed and go from there.
As we're mentioning networking we can't fail to talk about the beautifully neat wireless card.
It just looks like a wireless antenna attached to a USB stick, and a small USB stick at that. Drop it into a spare port (though there aren't too many after you've plugged in a keyboard and mouse) and install the drivers and WiFi connectivity is your proverbial bitch.
The lack of an installed OS though needn't be a huge problem as there are many very useable forms of Linux out there for free these days with the latest Ubuntu distribution being the most user-friendly Windows-a-like version around.
If you're just looking at the Zbox Nano XS as a media centre though then Zotac thinks it's got you covered on that front.
A link on the Zotac home page will take you to the download pages for OpenELEC which is a distribution designed to work perfectly with the AMD Fusion platform to run HD video content without a problem.
Now the HD playback wasn't a problem but the audio initialisation was. Try as we might we couldn't get the distro working with the AMD hardware in any way to give us proper sound.
Still, with the media centre OpenELEC OS you're spending a lot of money to turn a full PC into a basic media streamer.
We'd much rather go for a fuller Linux distro or just take the hit and go for Windows.
As a normal PC though it does a pretty impressive job, better than most other nettops you'll see in the wild.
As we mentioned earlier it's never going to be a gaming powerhouse, but that said we still saw frame rates in the 20s for DiRT 3 and World in Conflict at 720p. That should give you a pretty good indication of the sort of graphics power this machine has.
You're not going to be playing Skyrim on it, but casual gaming isn't out of the question and it also means that HD playback and internet visuals aren't going to cause the AMD chipset a lot of problems.
We liked
The tiny size of the Zotac Zbox nano XS AD11 Plus is the most impressive thing about it. Being able to pack a fully functional (minus optical drive) PC into such a small package has to be applauded.
It's also relatively powerful thanks to that dual-core AMD E-450 APU beating away at its heart. It makes HD playback an absolute doddle for this machine.
We disliked
The sad fact is that if you want to stick a Windows installation into your Zbox shopping trolley then you're pushing the price perilously close to the £400 mark.
An Ubuntu installation will be free and just as functional, but for the uninitiated it can be a struggle getting drivers fully installed.
The free OS from available from Zotac ought to give you some decent media functionality, but it then turns the Zotac Zbox nano XS AD11 Plus into a very expensive media streamer.
A relatively powerful mini PC, ideal as a media centre or bedroom machine, but lacks the raw performance for anything much more taxing.


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This isn't exactly International Male Sensitivity Week. First we had Missouri Congressman and Dark Ages darling Todd Akin sparking a global firestorm of criticism, and calls from his own Republican Party that he drop his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, by suggesting that "legitimate" female rape victims rarely get pregnant. Akin later apologized and said he meant to say "forcible" rape — but that still betrayed the backwardly narrow definition of rape that Akin and so many other anti–abortion rights conservatives hold.
Now we have Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, who last week granted political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, reminding us just how at home Akin would likely feel in Latin America, even in countries run by leftists like Correa. Talking to reporters on Wednesday in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Correa noted with a disturbingly matter-of-fact air that the sexual assault two women in Sweden accuse Assange of committing against them in 2010 "would not be considered in any case a felony in Latin America."
(MORE: Assange's Special Asylum: Why Ecuador Isn't Nice to Anyone Else)
You can attribute Akin's remarks to his fundamentalist Christianity; you can ascribe Correa's observation to his region's retro machismo. But both cases point up that around the world we still have too limited an appreciation of what rape is. It was only this year, for example, that the U.S. Department of Justice broadened its definition of rape (unchanged since 1927) to include not just instances of violent violation but also those in which the victim is incapacitated, when "physical resistance is not required on the part of the victim to demonstrate lack of consent." That bothers many right-wingers because, they fear, it means more women can claim rape when seeking an abortion. But, at least in the case of Assange, a liberal hero for his release of thousands of classified U.S. diplomatic cables, it also irks many who object to the particular rape accusations made against him.
Assange, who has not been formally charged, is holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden — where he fears he may in turn be extradited to the U.S. to face an espionage trial. Both of Assange's Swedish accusers allege that even though they originally engaged in consensual sex with him, it became nonconsensual rape when he ignored their pleas to stop the intercourse — using his weight to hold them down, according to Swedish investigators — because he refused to wear a condom. In one case, the woman accuses Assange of initiating unprotected sex while she was asleep and unaware.
The WikiLeaks leader has denied the accusations and calls them politically motivated. But if they're proved to be true, they certainly conform to the idea of rape. And that's what makes the cavalier attitudes about the definition of "legitimate" sexual violence so troubling, not just among American pro-life lawmakers but, as Correa reminds us, among lawmakers in developing regions like Latin America (like the pro-Correa national assemblyman Rolando Panchana, who recently warned, à la the Akin crowd, that women will abuse the rape exception if Ecuador allows it). Correa, who critics say is shielding Assange as a way of kicking Washington in the shins, should have thought twice before downplaying what Assange is alleged to have done. Rape is a plague in every part of the world, and in Latin America it's a "serious and pervasive problem," according to the South Africa–based Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI). In a 2010 SVRI report, as much as 47% of females in some corners of the region say they've been sexually assaulted in their lifetime — and they are "most at risk of sexual violence from intimate partners."
(MORE: The Gunboat Diplomacy Trap: How Ecuador Used Assange to School the Brits)
In other words, in those instances of rape, like date rape, that radical pro-lifers and radical machistas don't like to characterize as rape. The SVRI, in fact, lists "legitimization of violence against women by intimate partners" as a main cause of Latin America's high sexual-violence rate – and its low rate of arrests, let along convictions, when rapes are reported. "In most parts of the region," the SVRI concluded, "government responses to sexual violence have been weak."
To be fair, Correa did also say in Guayaquil on Wednesday that "it has never been the intention of the Ecuadorean government or Julian Assange not to respond to" the allegations against him. The main reason Assange is balking at extradition to Sweden, Correa insisted, is the fear of being subsequently hauled to the U.S. But that's highly unlikely since Sweden almost never extradites people to countries where they could face the death penalty, as Assange might in the U.S. As a result, Assange's critics say he really doesn't want to go to Sweden to answer the sexual-assault charges — and that Correa just wants to exploit the case to both burnish his anti-yanqui street cred and deflect attention from his crackdown on the media and free speech in Ecuador.
But what Correa may have done in Guayaquil instead is shine a brighter light on Latin America's questionable approach to rape. If anything, given that Correa made his remark just days after Akin's gaffe, he at least demonstrated a questionable sense of timing.
MORE: Out of Ecuador: Another U.S. Ambassador Bites the WikiDust


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Bi-State Regional Commission conducted a survey of more than 1,700 households in the Quad Cities from September 2013 to January 2014. There were 4,100 people and 3,523 vehicles participating in the survey. This represented over 13,803 trips in the sample. Fifty-eight percent of the households reported crossing the Mississippi River at least once per week.
The survey results will help transportation planners in our metro area better understand how people travel and why. The results will be used by planners and local officials to identify current travel choices and their effect on our transportation system. The data will also help improve regional mobility.
ETC Institute was hired by Bi-State Regional Commission to conduct the survey. The information provided by Quad Citians will be kept confidential and used only for statistical purposes as part of the Long Range Transportation Plan update. This effort has been funded through an Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP) grant of $300,000.
Bi-State's Quad Cities Transportation Policy and Technical Committees oversee Long Range Transportation Plan preparation. These committees are made up of local elected officials and technical staff. In the next three years, they will work with Bi-State staff to prepare a full draft update by early 2016. The update will include transportation goals and collection of existing and proposed transportation system recommendations. Additional public input is planned in spring 2014 and prior to the adoption of the plan in spring 2016. To review the existing 2040 long range transportation plan, go to 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan
2013-14 Quad Cities Household Travel Survey Final Report


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
View All Calendars is the default. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community.
If you wish to attend the meeting and are a person with a disability requiring an auxiliary aide, service, or other accommodation to participate in it, please contact the Borough Office (215-368-1691) to discuss how the Borough can best accommodate your needs.
St. John's United Church of Christ


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How was your weekend? It's rough being back at work after a 4 day weekend. It was so nice to stay at home, chill, sleep in, eat and spend time with the boyfriend. Thanksgiving dinner went well...I made way too much food! Everything turned out pretty good. I didn't make a turkey this year so I got to skip out on the hard part, he he. I didn't do Black Friday sales but I did check out the outlets and picked up a Bobbi Brown undereye brightener from the CCO. That's about all I bought! I've been on a budget lately, trying to save up for next year's big collections and the Makeup Show in Miami in February.
This weekend I did makeup for a boudoir shoot. It went really well. The bride to be looked just like Kim Kardashian with her smokey eyes...but better! If you're reading, hi Mina!
Anywho, back to the post...
I finally had the opportunity to try out the popular circle lenses all of my fellow asian beauty bloggers have been raving out. Apparently this kind of contact makes your eye look larger by increasing the size of the iris.I chose Geo Angel Color in Brown. At first, by looking at the lenses I was a little nervous because they looked really dramatic in the case.
But when I wore them, I noticed that it kind of blended in with my eye. Not too shabby.
You can tell the irises are definitely bigger. The contacts give me a doll like feel.
I could totally do Ulzang with these babies! LOL that's a shout out to my Asian Beauty Bloggers from back in the day when we did the Ulzang challenge.
Changing contact colors is a great way to try a new look. It adds a certain mystique to your everyday style.
I received these contacts from http://sglenses.blogspot.com/. The blogger's page is actually an online catalogue. There are many styles to come from. They also carry various prescriptions. Each pair is about $14, and you'll need to pay for shipping.
To order, email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Till next time, Ciao Bellas!
Atlanta Makeup Artist


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Looking for the best mainstream videocard...
While Nvidia remains quite dominant in the high-end segment, a much larger battle has taken place to offer the best mainstream graphics product. Currently the two leading mainstream cards are the Nvidia GeForce 8600 GTS and the ATI Radeon HD 2600XT, both of which are priced well under $200.
Today we will be comparing these two mid-range graphics cards head to head using a 512MB VisionTek Radeon HD 2600XT and a 256MB ASUS GeForce 8600 GTS. While neither product features overclocking out of the box, the Radeon has an obvious advantage in that it sports twice as much video memory. And while this may appear to be unfair, we have found that the average 512MB Radeon HD 2600XT graphics card retails for just $140, while the average price of a GeForce 8600 GTS sporting 256MB of memory is $160.
Read the complete article.
Please post your feedback and comments about this article at:


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Sara Hawley Death Disco Road Trip!!
Sign UpThis is a 5 minute preview of a 2 minute video
Install Web Player Beta to watch the full video in your browser or download it to your PCYou're watching a full 2 minute video using the Veoh Web Player
To download the original quality video, select the Download Options link below- By:
- sara hawley
- Description
- Filmed by the band when we went down to London to play at Alan McGee's club night (he was the guy who signed Oasis, back in the day!!)
- Language:
- English


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Boston, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Republican Scott Brown won a major upset victory in Tuesday's special election for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by liberal Democrat Ted Kennedy.
Brown defeated Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Democratic candidate.
Brown's victory made real the once unthinkable prospect of a Republican filling the seat held by Kennedy, known as the liberal lion, for almost 47 years until his death from brain cancer in August.
Voters across Massachusetts braved winter cold and snow for an election with high stakes -- the domestic agenda of President Obama, including his priority of health care reform.
Brown's victory strips Democrats of the 60-seat Senate supermajority needed to overcome GOP filibusters against future Senate action on a broad range of White House priorities. Senate Democrats needed all 60 votes in their caucus to pass the health care bill, and the loss of one seat imperils generating that support again for a compromise measure worked out with the House.
In a subdued concession speech, Coakley said she expected a tough assessment of her loss and lots of "Wednesday-morning quarterbacking" after losing a seat held by Democrats for more than 50 years.
"I am heartbroken at the result," Coakley said, later adding: "Although I am very disappointed, I always respect the voters' choice."
Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin said last week that certifying Tuesday's election results could take more than two weeks -- potentially enough time to allow congressional Democrats to pass a final health care bill before Brown is seated.
But multiple Democratic sources said this is unlikely. Even if House and Senate Democrats could reach a deal to meld their bills and pass them in the next couple of weeks, there would be a huge outcry from not only Republicans, but also an increasingly distrustful public if they appeared to be rushing it through.
Galvin had predicted as many as 2.2 million of the state's 4.5 million registered voters would vote -- at least double the turnout from December's primary. In one sign of high interest, more than 100,000 absentee ballots were requested ahead of the election, according to Galvin's spokesman, Brian McNiff.
Coakley was initially expected to easily win the race to replace Kennedy, who made health care reform the centerpiece of his Senate career.
Until recently, Brown was underfunded and unknown statewide. In addition, no Republican has won a U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts since 1972, and Democrats control the governorship, both houses of the state legislature, and the state's entire congressional delegation.
However, Brown surged in the weeks preceding Tuesday's vote and led in all the final polls.
Democratic sources told CNN that Coakley called Brown on Tuesday night to concede.
In a sign of the high stakes involved, the Coakley campaign held an afternoon news conference Tuesday to complain that voters in three places received ballots already marked for Brown.
iReport: Send us your thoughts on the special election
McNiff confirmed that the secretary of state's offices received two reports of voters saying they got pre-marked ballots. The suspect ballots were invalidated and the voters received new ballots, McNiff said.
Kevin Conroy, the Coakley campaign manager, said the "disturbing incidents" raised questions about the integrity of the election. In response, the Brown campaign issued a statement criticizing Coakley's team.
"Reports that the Coakley campaign is making reckless accusations regarding the integrity of today's election is a reminder that they are a desperate campaign," Daniel B. Winslow, the counsel for the Brown campaign, said in the statement.
Obama has been both "surprised and frustrated" by the race, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday.
Obama and former President Bill Clinton hit the campaign trail over the past three days in an attempt to save Coakley's campaign, which observers say was hampered by complacency and missteps.
Obama crushed Sen. John McCain in Massachusetts in 2008, beating the GOP presidential nominee by 26 points.
"If you were fired up in the last election, I need you more fired up in this election," Obama urged a crowd at a Coakley campaign rally on Sunday.
Vicki Kennedy, the late senator's widow, called on state Democrats to turn out to save her husband's legacy.
"We need your help. We need your support. We need you to get out there and vote on Tuesday," Kennedy said. "We need you to bring your neighbors. We need you to bring your friends."
Brown, who has trumpeted his 30 years of service in the National Guard, hewed to traditional GOP themes at the end of the campaign. He promised at a rally Sunday that, if elected, he would back tax cuts and be tougher on terrorists than Coakley.
He also repeated a pledge to oppose Obama's health care reform effort.
"Massachusetts wants real reform and not this trillion-dollar Obama health care that is being forced on the American people," he said. "As the 41st [Republican] senator I will make sure that we do it better."
Forty-four percent of Massachusetts voters cited the economy and jobs as their top concern in a recent 7 News/Suffolk University poll. Thirty-eight percent mentioned health care as their top concern.
Voters more concerned with the economy were split almost evenly between the two candidates; voters more worried about health care narrowly supported Coakley.
Brown's surprising strength came in part because some independents and conservatives who have supported Democrats in the past were having second thoughts.
Democrats far outnumber Republicans in Massachusetts, but there are more independents than Democrats and Republicans combined.
Several Democratic sources say multiple Obama advisers have told the party they believed Coakley was going to lose, despite Obama's campaign appearance for Coakley on Sunday.
Facing the possibility of Coakley's defeat, Democrats were trying to figure out if they could pass health care reform without that crucial 60th Senate vote.
The seat is currently held by former Kennedy aide and longtime friend Paul Kirk, who was appointed to the seat on an interim basis.
Two Democratic sources in close contact with the White House told CNN on Monday they've urged the administration, in the event of a Brown victory, to push House Democrats to pass the Senate's health care bill as currently written. Doing so would prevent the plan from having to be taken up by the Senate again.
"I think the Senate bill clearly is better than nothing," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, said Tuesday.
A third option would be for Democrats to revisit the idea of trying to push health care through the Senate with only 51 votes -- a simple majority.
But to do that Democrats would have to use a process known as reconciliation, which presents technical and procedural issues that would delay the process for a long time. A number of Democrats are eager to put the health care debate behind them and move on to economic issues such as job creation as soon as possible this election year.
Senate Democrats could also try again to get moderate GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine to vote for a compromise health reform plan. Multiple Democratic sources, however, have said they believe that is unlikely now.
CNN's Jim Acosta, Dana Bash, Kevin Bohn, Ed Henry, Ed Hornick, John King, Suzanne Malveaux, Shawna Shepherd, Jessica Yellin, Alan Silverleib and Tom Cohen contributed to this report.


text: Adults over 21 years of age, and those over 18 years of age with a valid medical marijuana prescription may grow up to six plants, indoors, at a single residence. The limit of six plants is by residence, regardless of the number of residents. Growing activity must be completely indoors, secured and screened from public view.