text: Shinya Yamanaka from Kyoto University was named the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering how mature, adult cells can be reprogrammed into immature stem cells. Shizuo Kambayashi/Associated Press hide caption toggle caption Shizuo Kambayashi/Associated Press Shots - Health News Nobel Winners Made Stem Cells From Skin And Gut October 8, 2012 John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka discovered that every cell in our body — from skin and heart to brain and lung — can reinvent itself and become any other cell type. These stem cells have vast potential for drug development, for many diseases, like Alzheimer's, muscular dystrophy and diabetes. Nobel Winners Unlocked Cells' Unlimited Potential Listen · 4:26 4:26 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/162496684/162493707" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">


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Customs regulations in norway – shipping gift to norway 9game
Our customers often ask us questions about the laws for shipping a parcel or gift to Norway. Some other customers have told us horror stories about their experiences with shipping gifts from overseas into Norway. While many people blame Customs in Norway for the delivery failures, problems and delays with International shipments into Norway are often associated with other issues.
First, it is unfortunate but true that there are thieves who work for the local postal service. Some customers reported that the contents of their gift packages were opened and partially removed, so the recipient only received half of the contents. In other cases, the gift was missing all together and only the wrapping paper or carton was delivered, or the box has gone completely missing. This normally happens for the packages that have no tracking at all. So if you do decide to ship yourself: please make sure to purchase at least a basic postal tracking option.
Second, the postal service in Norway regularly loses small packages. Once again, having the parcel tracked and insured will help to prevent a complete disappearance of the package. The best way to save your cargo is to send a big box weighing 1 kg (2 lbs) or more. In many countries such parcels are processed separately under the official postal stamp.
Third, concerning Customs in Norway, their primary goal is to prevent drugs, weapons, explosive materials, and illegal products from entering Norway. The list of products that are considered illegal would be pointless to include here considering that it's subject to change anytime, which would make this list outdated. In order to expedite the Customs process as much as possible, the paperwork must be properly completed and filed at the time of shipping. Customs has a right to open parcels and inspect them in detail. As you can imagine, this may compromise the appearance of the gift and damage gift wrap.
Customs does not normally open every parcel; these checks are rather random; however, their frequency increases when the declared gift value is over $100 USD. It is also more likely that your parcel will be opened when it has an unusual appearance: a "secret"-looking package (with a thick layer of poly-foam or multiple, visible layers of tape); a big box with noticeably small contents; gift contents that are shaking or knocking; or parcels with contents which can be interpreted as a powder are likely to catch the eye of a curious Customs agent.
Finally, when sending a gift containing a gourmet items you are limited to sending non-perishable items. So items such as cheeses and fruits are out of the question. Additionally, items such as cakes or chocolates are also tough to send as they are likely to melt in a hot weather or shipping depots in Norway that are not always air conditioned. Also, fragile items containing glass or other delicate packaging must be wrapped inconspicuously, but then again, one takes the risk, when wrapping heavily, that the gift will be unwrapped by Customs and damaged further.
Is there a better way? Depending on the gift type you are looking to send, you can use a gift delivery company such as GiftBasketsOverseas.com – check our online catalog for delivery to Norway or send us a custom gift request by email and we'll be happy to provide you with a custom quote for the gift desired.
The non-taxable amount varies greatly from country to country and is subject to change any time (ironic but true, this can happen even after you ship the gift to the recipient). It's quite disappointing to hear stories of gift recipients having to file comprehensive paperwork and being inconvenienced to file it with the Customs Office in Norway. It's even more embarrassing to the sender to learn about the VIP recipient having to pay taxes to Customs. Some recipients are forced to do so since they are afraid to disappoint the sender and feel obliged to collect the gift regardless of the time, hassle, and money it takes.
Between filing the paperwork, perfecting the packaging, cross-border delivery, Customs clearance, and local delivery within Norway it may take anywhere between 3 weeks to 4 months (or more!) to get a parcel delivered to your recipient. So if you are flexible and the gift does not have to arrive on an exact date: this may not be of concern.
There is a common expectation about imported items in Norway being overpriced on the local market. This is true about imported alcohol, some brands of chocolates, and electronics; these items may cost two times as much or more than in your country. However, the gift sender must also consider the costs of International shipping, packaging, insurance, and Customs taxes/duties in some cases coupled with risks described above.
In summary, it may cost 15-25% more to use a gift delivery service however the gift is guaranteed to be delivered to your recipient in 1-3 business days; there will be real humans handling your specific gift as opposed to faceless Customs agents and International Postal Services on both sides of the border.

subset: commoncrawl


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Chicago Video Surveillance Gets Smarter
Such things go unnoticed in big cities every day. But that could change in Chicago with a new video surveillance system that would recognize such anomalies and alert authorities to take a closer look.
On Thursday, the city and IBM Corp. are announcing the initial phase of what officials say could be the most advanced video security network in any U.S. city. The City of Broad Shoulders is getting eyes in the back of its head.
"Chicago is really light years ahead of any metropolitan area in the U.S. now," said Sam Docknevich, who heads video-surveillance consulting for IBM.
Chicago already has thousands of security cameras in use by businesses and police - including some equipped with devices that recognize the sound of a gunshot, turn the cameras toward the source and place a 911 call. But the new system would let cameras analyze images in real time 24 hours a day.
"You're talking about creating (something) that knows no fatigue, no boredom and is absolutely focused," said Kevin Smith, spokesman for the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
For example, the system could be programmed to alert the city's emergency center whenever a camera spots a vehicle matching the description of one being sought by authorities.
The system could be programmed to recognize license plates. It could alert emergency officials if the same car or truck circles the Sears Tower three times or if nobody picks up a backpack in Grant Park for, say, 30 seconds.
IBM says this approach might be more effective than relying on a bleary-eyed employee to monitor video screens. "Studies have shown people fall asleep," Docknevich said.
It is unclear when the system will be fully operational. Existing cameras could be equipped with the new software, but additional cameras probably will be added as well, Smith said.
"The complexity of the software is going to define how quickly we are able to do this," he said.
Chicago's announcement comes as it is vying to bring the 2016 games to town. A purportedly security-enhancing surveillance system is something city officials could trumpet to International Olympic Committee.
"The eventual goal is to have elaborate video surveillance well in advance of the 2016 Olympics," said Bo Larsson, CEO of Firetide Inc., the company providing the wireless connectivity for the project.
Neither Smith nor IBM would reveal the cost of the network, but Smith said much of it would be paid by the Department of Homeland Security. The cost of previous surveillance efforts has run into the millions of dollars. Just adding devices that allow surveillance cameras to turn toward the sound of gunfire was as much as $10,000 per unit.
Some critics question whether such systems are effective and whether they could lead to an unwarranted invasion of privacy.
Jonathan Schachter, a public policy lecturer at Northwestern University, said there are no studies that show cameras reduce crime. And the idea that placing cameras near "strategic assets" would prevent a terrorist attack is "absurd," he said.
Ed Yohnka, spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, said he was concerned that more cameras and more sophisticated technology would lead to abuses of authority.
"It is incumbent on the city to ensure that there are practices and procedures in place to sort of watch the watchers," he said.


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Consumer confidence, housing data bolster U.S. growth outlook
June 24, 2014 1:03 PM ET
By By Lucia Mutikani
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence jumped to its highest level in nearly 6-1/2 years in June and sales of new homes surged in May, the latest signs that the economy has regained momentum.
Growth is accelerating after crumbling in the first quarter, but Tuesday's robust reports likely exaggerate the strength. Nevertheless, they added to data on employment, factory and services sector activity in suggesting a sharp growth rebound.
"This is convincing evidence that the economy continues to expand," said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ in New York. "It takes a lot of confidence to buy the biggest of big ticket items consumers ever face, buying a new home."
The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index rose to 85.2, the highest reading since January 2008, from 82.2 in May as households grew more optimistic about the labor market.
The reading, however, was at odds with another survey published last week, which showed consumer sentiment ticking down in early June. Still, economists said it was in line with other data showing an improvement in job market conditions.
In another report, the Commerce Department said new home sales vaulted 18.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 504,000 units, the highest level since May 2008.
The increase in sales was the biggest since January 1992. However, new homes sales data are notoriously volatile because they are drawn from a small sample, and last month's jump likely overstates the pace of improvement.
New home sales increased in all four regions. They hit a six-year high in the Midwest and were the highest since June 2008 in the South.
"May should be taken with a grain of salt, but the result was encouraging, particularly since it was led by a jump in the West, which has been the biggest problem area for housing market activity this year," said Ted Wieseman, an economist at Morgan Stanley in New York.
The economy contracted at a 1.0 percent annual pace in the first three months of the year and growth estimates for the second quarter range as high as 3.8 percent.
Economists had forecast new home sales rising to a pace of only 440,000 units last month. Compared to May of last year, sales were up 16.9 percent, indicating some momentum in the new homes market.
Homebuilder shares rose on the data. The SPDR S&P Homebuilder ETF advanced more than 1 percent, led by a 2.6 percent gain for D.R. Horton Inc. . Lennar Corp. rose 2.8 percent and PulteGroup Inc. was up 1.6 percent.
The dollar firmed against a basket of currencies. Prices for U.S. Treasury debt edged up.
Higher mortgage rates and a surge in prices amid a dearth of properties available for sale have weighed on the housing market since the middle of 2013.
But as mortgage rates level off and house price appreciation slows, signs of life are emerging.
A report on Monday showed sales of previously owned homes, the largest segment of the housing market, recorded their largest increase in more than 3-1/2 years in May.
A third report on Tuesday showed the S&P/Case-Shiller composite index of house prices in 20 metropolitan areas rose just 0.2 percent in April, with the year-on-year increase slowing to 10.8 percent.
It was the smallest 12-month gain since March of last year and followed a 12.4 percent year-on-year jump in March.
Link to the full story: http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=OBR&date=20140624&id=17725879
(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Paul Simao)
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Click For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp


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JX3P Multisamples Vol 3
JX3P Multisamples Vol 3
0.00 3.00
Multisamples of custom patches made on a Roland JX3P. Some effects pedals are occasionally used. 24 bit / 96kHz .WAV format. Each patch has multiple wave files that can be used in sampler instruments to recreate the sound of the keyboard. Each file should have pitch information that many sampler instruments can interpret as root pitch. 6 patches total of pads, leads and bass sounds.


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Bridgestone Tire stands by their "Passion for Excellence" with their vision; " Our passion for the very best in technology, quality, and service is at the heart of our commitment to you wherever you are in the world." Bridgestone's mission is to "inspire and move you."
The Potenza RE 960AS Pole Position is a premium sports car tire. This tire is a great example of Bridgestone quality with a fantastic racy looking appearance. This all-season performance tire has an Arc Shape Leading Edge that enhances the way the tire performs in snow and dry road conditions. The Potenza RE 960AS is a great tire for wet surfaces with a Hydro Evacuation System that reduces flow resistance of water along the groove walls. Duel-Layer Tread is incorporated in the design to increase wear for wet tire performance, by exposing High-Grip rubber as the tire wears.
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Bridgestone offers a unique SUV and Light Truck tire called the Dueler A/T REVO 2. This Light/Medium truck tire has duel layer tread that minimizes the effects of wear for superior performance on wet surfaces, by exposing high grip rubber as the tire tread wears. For off-road capabilities, Dura-Tech, a high durability compound minimizes chipping and tearing of the tread. Semi-Stealth Blocks were integrated into the design for higher tread stiffness for improved handling and water evacuation. The Dueler A/T REVO 2 tire features an open shoulder tread design that evacuates water and improves traction and handling. TO ensure quality, the Bridgestone Tire Company offers a Platinum Pact Limited Warrantee on the Dueler A/T REVO 2.


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By the side of the Langollen Canal this is a very traditional canalside pub. It's sprawling and multi-roomed, with outside space both on the canalside and in the garden. Good choice of real ale, and OK if unexceptional pub food. Nice place to sit and watch boats go by. Access is by boat, towpath, or footbridge- the car park is the other side of the canal, off the A49.
There's a couple of disadvantages: it gets very busy, and for some reason, they don't take cards- cash/cheque only :-/.


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The Apache Holster Trousers are a good, all-round, functional work trouser. They have been triple stitched in key areas and have a low rise comfort waist design. With Cordura® holster and knee pad pockets, they also have a Cordura® reinforced hem and reflective piping. Other features include: a side cargo pocket, large phone pocket, tunnel belt loop and YKK zip.
Available in 3 leg lengths 29, 31 and 33 inch for optimal comfort, waist sizes 30 to 42 inch.
Availability: In stock
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Nice work! Enjoy the show!
Link Copied!
Mayweather, Pacquiao set for historic brawl
Opening Sequence
Pompeo: U.S. wants 'diplomatic resolution' on Iran
Iran has a plan for Gulf security - Rouhani
Trump pressured Ukraine pres to probe Biden: reports
Joe Kennedy launches primary campaign for Senate
Shocking violence on the streets of Hong Kong
Like oceans rising: green protests sweep the globe
Chinese Apple fans wish for 5G
Cities summon caped crusader on Batman's 80th
Closing Sequence


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Billions lost in VAT Gap - study19 September 2013
by eub2 -- last modified 19 September 2013
An estimated EUR 193 billion in VAT revenues (1.5% of GDP) was lost due to non-compliance or non-collection in 2011, according to a new study on the VAT Gap in Member States. The study was funded by Commission as part of its work to reform the VAT system in Europe, as well as its wider campaign to clamp down on tax evasion. The study sets out detailed data on the gap between the amount of VAT due and the amount actually collected in 26 Member States between2000-2011. The main factors contributing to the VAT Gap are also presented, along with an overview of the effect of the economic crisis on VAT revenues.
What is VAT?
VAT is a consumption tax, charged on most goods and services traded for use or consumption in the EU. It is levied on the "value added" to the product at each stage of production and distribution. The "value added" means the difference between the cost of inputs into the product / service and the price at which it is sold to the consumer. VAT is charged when VAT-registered (taxable) businesses sell to other businesses (B-2-B) or to the final consumer (B-2-C). VAT is intended to be "neutral" in that businesses are able to reclaim any VAT that they pay on goods or services. Ultimately, the final consumer should be the only one who is actually taxed. Businesses are given a VAT identification number and have to show the VAT charged to customers on the invoices.
The VAT system in the EU is governed by a common legal framework - the VAT Directive. In the EU, there is a minimum standard VAT rate of 15%, above which Member States are free to set their own national VAT rates. Member States decide how to spend the revenue they receive from VAT receipts, except for a small percentage of this total (around 0.3%) which is paid towards the EU budget.
VAT is one of the main sources of government revenue for all Member States, accounting for around 21% of total general government revenues, or 7.5 per cent of GDP.
What is the VAT Gap?
The VAT Gap is defined as the difference between the expected VAT receipts if all the VAT which is due is collected and the actual VAT collected by Member States. It is calculated, in this study, on the basis of national consumption figures in government accounts. The calculations also take on board the specificities of each national tax system i.e. the various reduced rates, exemptions etc when assessing the expected/theoretical VAT receipts.
It is important to stress that the VAT Gap does not only relate to fraud and evasion, but also to legal tax avoidance, bankruptcies, financial insolvencies, miscalculations and the performance of tax administrations. For example, in the UK, 1/3 of the VAT Gap in 2009-10 was due to legal tax avoidance.
Why did the Commission sponsor this study?
Prior to this study, the most recent estimates for the VAT Gap dated back to 2006. The aim of this study is to quantify the VAT Gap for the period 2007-11, and to better understand the recent trends in the EU in the field of VAT collection. This can then help to shape and target policy measures to improve VAT compliance, and the figures can serve as a yardstick against which progress in this field can be assessed.
The study also allowed the scope to be extended to include Bulgaria and Romania, who were not members of the EU when the previous study was carried out. Croatia is not included in today's study, however, as it was not yet an EU member when the data was being collected. Cyprus is not covered by today's study either, due to revisions to its national accounts that are currently underway.
What are the main findings of the VAT Gap study?
The VAT Gap across all 26 Member States in 2011 accounted for €193 billion, or 1.5% of GDP. This amounts to 18% of the theoretical VAT (i.e. all expected revenue).
Italy (€36 bn), France (€32bn), Germany (€26.9bn) and the UK (€19bn) contributed over half of the total VAT Gap in quantitative terms, mainly because these are the largest EU economies. In terms of ratio to their own GDP, Romania (€10bn), Greece (€9.7 bn), Lithuania (€4.4bn) and Latvia (€0.9bn) were the countries with the largest VAT Gap in 2011
The study shows a marked upward trend in the VAT Gap in many Member States since 2008, as a result of the economic crisis. This was especially the case in Spain, Greece, Latvia, Ireland, Portugal and Slovakia. On average across the EU, the VAT Gap increased by 5 percentage points once the economic crisis hit.
What has been the effect of the economic crisis on the VAT Gap?
The data show that up to 2008, there had been a moderate declining trend in the level of the VAT Gap, particularly in a number of post-accession countries.
However, from 2008, the VAT Gap in many (but not all) countries increased with recession and the financial crisis from 2008. Spain, Greece, Latvia, Ireland, Portugal and Slovakia saw the highest increases in their gaps.
On the other hand, Sweden, Poland, Malta, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic were able to improve VAT collection levels during this period, and reduce their VAT Gap.
Taking into account the various components of the VAT Gap, there are several factors which can explain the increase in VAT GAP in times of crisis. On the one hand, sharp increases in VAT rates to redress public finances, particularly when coupled with poor enforcement, may have deterred compliance to some extent. On the other hand, the increase in insolvencies and bankruptcies, and a drop in imports (which often represent the easiest VAT collection to enforce) would also have contributed to the increase in the VAT Gap.
What is the Policy Gap, which is also discussed in the study?
The VAT Gap is related to non-compliance under national tax rules. The Policy Gap, on the other hand, looks at the difference between the revenues that Member States could get if they applied uniform taxation to all consumption, and compares it to the revenues they actually get due to the various tax expenditures in their systems (e.g. reduced rates and exemptions).
The study shows considerable dispersion in the Policy Gap across Member States, ranging from the lowest in Romania (14%) to the highest for Spain and Poland (48%).
The Policy Gap is also a significant figure to take into account when considering how Member States could use their VAT systems to better effect for fiscal consolidation. In fact, the average Policy Gap (36%) is approximately twice as high as the average VAT Gap (17%) across the EU. This shows that the most important loss of VAT revenue is not due, in fact, to non-compliance (VAT Gap) but due to policy choices which have resulted in multiple rates and exemptions in national tax systems.
This confirms the Commission's consistent position that Member States should broaden their tax bases and minimise exemptions and reductions in order to improve the efficiency of their tax systems. This would not only result in substantial new revenue, but it would also create simpler tax systems for businesses to work within, thereby facilitating greater compliance.
What do findings suggest are amongst the most important contributors to the VAT Gap?
The VAT Gap study suggests that non-compliance varies substantially amongst Member States, and also over time and depending on the economic climate. Understanding these patterns is a step towards improving VAT compliance amongst all Member States, which in turn will lead to economic and fiscal benefits.
Econometric estimates of the determinants of the VAT Gap show that VAT compliance tends to fall when tax rates are increased and when national tax systems compromise multiple rates and exemptions (i.e. are more administratively complicated). This is the case at least in countries with weaker tax enforcement. In addition, VAT compliance appears to fall during recessions for the reasons already outlined above.
Overall, what can be concluded from today's study and other econometric analysis is that tackling the VAT Gap effectively requires a well-considered mix of both policy adjustments (e.g. broadening the tax base) and enforcement actions (e.g. stronger deterrents against evasion, improved audits and controls etc).
What is being done at EU level to reduce the level of non-compliance in VAT?
In December 2011, the Commission launched an ambitious reform of the EU VAT system.
Among the core objectives of this Strategy were to make the VAT system more robust and fraud-proof, and to simplify VAT so as both to facilitate greater compliance and ease the lives of businesses across the EU.
Since this Strategy was launched, important progress has been made towards these objectives.
In terms of better fighting VAT fraud, an important proposal which has already been adopted is the Quick Reaction Mechanism (see IP/12/1508), which will allow Member States to swiftly and effectively respond to new cases of massive fraud. Since 2010, Eurofisc has also been functioning as a very effective network to enable Member States to exchange information and intelligence on VAT fraud. The Fiscalis programme and the Copmmission also support Member States in the exchange of best practices in various forums, and encourages national authorities to engage in joint audits where this could add value. In 2014, the Commission will present a report on Member States' implementation of all anti-fraud measures related to VAT, and on that basis it will point to where further action is needed in this area.
In terms of simplifying the VAT system, already at the beginning of 2013 important new legislation entered into force to encourage e-invoicing and ease administrative burdens for small businesses. On 1 January 2015, a one-stop-shop will come into effect for businesses supplying e-services or telecom services, to ease compliance for those operators. And in the coming weeks, the Commission will also propose a standard VAT declaration form which will greatly simplify the process of VAT returns for cross-border businesses in the EU.
In addition to action at EU level, national authorities also need to take all necessary measures to improve compliance and strengthening enforcement on VAT fraud. This has been strongly and consistently relayed to Member States through the country specific recommendations for better economic governance. While each national situation requires its own particular approach, measures such as simplifying the tax system and broadening the tax base, and clamping down harder on those that evade VAT, can make a considerable difference in terms of VAT revenues.
On 28 November 2013, the Brussels Tax Forum will bring together high level tax experts from across the EU to focus specifically on how VAT can be made more efficient. This will be an opportunity to discuss the possibilities for improvements, to exchange ideas and share best practices.


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geraldjr53 on Family Tree Circles
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Looking for clark,simpson,and tame Kentucky and Indiana
Trying to researh my Grandfathers family on my Fathers side. His names was Fayette Clark born in Lexington Ky Nov 1895. His parents were William Clark of Kentucky and Nancy A Simpson of Indiana.Nancy is shown in the 1900 census kentucky and 1910 indiana being married to a Samuel Tame. I can find no documented tie with William.Samuel died in Lawrence co. Indiana in 1916. Nancy was last shown in the 1920 Fairfax Virginia census living with her son Fayette.
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OAKLAND — For the second time in as many weeks, an Oakland man's felony conviction has been overturned after new evidence discovered by the Northern California Innocence Project proved he was innocent.
Johnny Williams, 38, who served 14 years in prison before being paroled in January, had his conviction for sex crimes against a minor overturned Friday after new DNA testing proved he did not sexually assault a 9-year-old girl in 1998.
Williams' conviction was overturned after law students and attorneys working for Santa Clara University Law School's Northern California Innocence Project and its sister organization, the California DNA Project, discovered a previously undetected DNA sample on a T-shirt the girl was wearing at the time of the assault.
A test of that sample found it did not match Williams' DNA profile, and as a result his conviction was overturned by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Larry Goodman.
Goodman's ruling Friday came two weeks after Ronald Ross, 51, was released from prison after serving almost seven years of a life term for an attempted murder conviction that was later found to be based on false testimony and sloppy police work.
Ross' case was also handled by the Innocence Project, which found that his trial was littered with questionable facts fostered by lying witnesses and an Oakland police detective's faulty investigation.
But unlike the case against Ross, the case against Williams does not have easily identifiable errors or participants who could be faulted, representatives from the DNA project said.
"This was not a case of misconduct or mistakes; nobody did anything wrong," said Cathy Dreyfuss, director of the DNA Project.
Williams was found guilty in 2000 of committing two counts of forcible lewd conduct against a child under the age of 14 and one count of attempted rape in connection to two sexual assaults over two days against a 9-year-old Oakland girl as she walked to school.
At the time of the assault, investigators from the Oakland Police Department and the Alameda County District Attorney's Office could not find any DNA samples on the girl's clothing. However, the girl wrongly identified Williams as the man who attacked her.
The girl's identification of Williams was made after her mother suggested that Williams could be the attacker because the girl said the man who assaulted her said his name was Johnny. The girl's mother suggested Williams might be the culprit because he was the only Johnny she knew in the neighborhood.
At the time of his trial, a prosecutor relied only on the girl's identification in arguing for a conviction against Williams. The prosecutor never presented the T-shirt as evidence.
Williams defense attorney, Patrick Hetrick, however, did present the T-shirt and argued that a lack of DNA proved that his client was innocent and that the girl's entire story was a fabrication.
After his conviction, Williams wrote a letter to the Innocence Project seeking assistance, and in 2000, the project began an investigation through its sister organization, the California DNA Project.
Funded with federal grant money, the California DNA Project investigates suspect convictions in which DNA could prove a defendant's innocence.
With the cooperation of the District Attorney's Office, the DNA Project did a closer analysis of a T-shirt the girl was wearing and found the microscopic DNA sample that eventually cleared Williams of the crime.
The sample was also run though national, state and local databases of DNA profiles, and no matches were found.
With the new evidence, the District Attorney's Office agreed to drop charges against Williams, and Goodman agreed to overturn the conviction.
Williams, who was already free on parole, was released from parole on Friday and is now working on having his name removed from the state's sexual predators list. Williams no longer lives in Oakland.
"This little girl, just as me, too, we are both victims of this very serious crime, and we both need the person who committed this crime to be brought and placed in prison," Williams said. "If I could, I would help the Oakland Police Department find this person."


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SEIU Under Investigation over Prop 4
'Dues Skim' took $35 million from Medicaid recipients
The Detroit News reported that the State Bureau of Elections began a formal investigation of the Service Employees International Union regarding its financing of a ballot proposal last year.
Proposal 4, which would have locked into the state constitution the skimming of millions of dollars each year from the caretakers of disabled people, was defeated by 14 percentage points.
Chad Livengood in The News reported:
The complaint focuses on a group called Citizens for Affordable Quality Home Care and an East Lansing company called Home Care First Inc. Citizens for Affordable Quality Home Care sponsored the ballot proposal. In campaign finance reports, the group claimed almost all of its donations came from Home Care First.
The Freedom Fund alleges Home Care First was set up in March 2012 to pour $9.3 million into the ballot campaign and initially hide the SEIU's involvement.
After months of putting money into a campaign committee, records show, Home Care First formed its own ballot committee a week before the Nov. 6 election and reported all of its money came from SEIU.
Michigan Capitol Confidential's Jack Spencer filed 70 stories documenting the dues skim from the beginning, including articles on the groups the SEIU set up to continue the money flow.
When the scheme finally ended, Spencer summarized what happened: "In an effort to increase dues paying members, the SEIU targeted the Medicaid checks of Michigan's home-based caregivers. A forced unionization, in 2005, was used to force the caregivers into the SEIU. Key elements of the scheme included a dummy employer, a stealth by-mail election, and avoiding any media attention."
This started with the help of officials employed in the administration of former Gov. Jennifer Granholm, and continued with the help of Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw. Over the lifetime of the scheme, the SEIU took nearly $35 million from people taking care of the sick and elderly in Michigan.


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|Biosequences .. Software .. Molbio soft .. Network News .. FTP
NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH TRAINEESHIPS IN ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY: CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON The National Science Foundation has awarded Graduate Research Traineeships in Conservation of Biodiversity to the Department of Biology at the University of Massachusetts Boston as part of our Doctoral Program in Environmental Biology. We invite applications from individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents with undergraduate or masters degrees in Biology, Environmental Sciences, Geography, Conservation and related areas. Individuals with disabilities, women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply. The traineeship program is an integrative approach to population genetics, population dynamics and community ecology that is designed to create an awareness of scale and causal links between levels of organization, and to provide students with the theoretical and analytical skills to critically evaluate these phenomena. In addition to their dissertation research, students will take a required core curriculum in theoretical and applied ecology, statistics and environmental policy. As an important part of their training, students will do a rotation among the research labs of our faculty to acquire first-hand experience in measuring and analyzing biological diversity at levels of organization outside their dissertation topic. At the end of the program, we expect students to have a strong conceptual appreciation of the mechanisms responsible for the evolution and maintenance of biodiversity, and to have acquired the quantitative ability to assess and manage biodiversity from genes to ecosystems. There are nineteen participating ecologists, geneticists and environmental physiologists with funded research programs in spatiotemporal patterns of biodiversity in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, population dynamics, metapopulations and community structure, biogeochemical cycles, population genetics, breeding systems and fertility, germ plasm resources in wild, captive and domesticated species and systematics. Participating investigators are: Kamaljit S. Bawa, UMass Boston, Tropical Rainforest Ecology Solange Brault, UMass Boston, Population Dynamics of Marine Mammals Kenneth L. Campbell, UMass Boston, Endocrinology -- Ecological impacts on hormonal and reproductive function (multiple species); Human (Reproductive) Ecology -- Biological determinants of observed variations in fertility among populations John P. Ebersole, UMass Boston, Ecology of Coral Reef Fishes and Temperate Hermit Crabs Ron J. Etter, UMass Boston, Marine Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Deep-Sea Ecology Donna M. Fernandes, Franklin Park Zoo, Behavior and Reproduction of Animals in Captivity Eugene D. Gallagher, UMass Boston, Marine Benthic Ecology William G. Hagar, UMass Boston, Photobiology and Effects of Acidification on Freshwater Biota Jeremy J. Hatch, UMass Boston, Behavior and Ecology of Seabirds Richard V. Kesseli, UMass Boston, Molecular Population Genetics, Evolution of Breeding Systems and Plant-Pathogen Interactions Kenneth C. Kleene, UMass Boston, Molecular Biology of Spermatogenesis in Mammals Scott D. Kraus, New England Aquarium, Biology and Conservation of Marine Mammals Michael A. Rex, UMass Boston, Deep-Sea Ecology Michael P. Shiaris, UMass Boston, Marine Microbial Ecology Eric G. Strauss, Boston College, Behavioral Ecology of Shorebirds and Conservation of Endangered Species Robert D. Stevenson, UMass Boston, Physiological Ecology, Conservation Biology of Butterflies Tracy A. Villareal, UMass Boston, Ecology of Phytoplankton H. Garrison Wilkes, UMass Boston, Genetics and Evolution Under Domestication of Plants, Germplasm Resources Zong-Guo Xia, UMass Boston, Remote Sensing, Spatial Information Systems, GIS For more information and application forms, please contact: Dr. Richard V. Kesseli Graduate Program Director Department of Biology University of Massachusetts Boston 100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125 617-287-6641 phone / 617-287-6650 fax bio_grad at umbsky.cc.umb.edu Application Process: No special application is required. Please submit the standard application for our Ph.D. program in Environmental Biology,specifying interest in the Graduate Traineeship Program in Conservation of Biodiversity to: Graduate Admissions and Records Office University of Massachusetts Boston 100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125-3393 Application Deadline is 1 February 1997


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Poyet: Blues are title contenders
Gus Poyet is convinced Jose Mourinho's return has made Chelsea genuine Barclays Premier League title contenders once again.
The former Blues midfielder will lead the Black Cats into battle with Mourinho's men at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday evening desperately looking for a fourth successive home victory in all competitions to help ease their relegation fears.
However, while that might prove a blow to the second-placed London club's hopes of reeling in leaders Arsenal - the Gunners are currently four points better off - the 46-year-old is confident they will be involved in the mix come the end of the season.
Asked if Chelsea, who came from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 on Sunday, could go all the way as a result of Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge, Poyet replied: "Yes, no doubt about it.
"They are different, they are stronger. The reaction at the weekend at half-time was all about the mentality of the team more than even the play or the technique or the ability.
"It was mental. It was a completely different team in the second half. I am sure there was a unique half-time team-talk in the dressing room or wherever it happened. It was a complete turn-around.
"I know him (Mourinho) and I admire him a lot. He's a different-class person and manager. I know him in football ways and as a person and I am looking forward to seeing him before the game.
"Then the game is the game and I hope everything goes all right and there are not any problems in the game between the benches.
"I had the opportunity to watch him training a few times at Chelsea and it was very impressive."
Sunderland, of course, are currently scrapping at the opposite end of the table, where they remain five points from safety despite a significant upturn in results since the Uruguayan's arrival in October.
Newcastle and Manchester City have both left Wearside pointless with the Saints also bowing out of the Capital One Cup, and while an extension of that run may sound a tall order, that is exactly what Poyet is targeting.
He said: "We know they are one of the best teams in the country and that we need to be very, very good.
"We are going to have to compete, defend well. I don't know how many chances we are going to create because they are one of the teams which defends the best in England, so there are plenty of things we need to be good at.
"But we all believe it is possible, especially after beating Manchester City at home. That shows you there is a way and hopefully we can repeat something like that."
And Mourinho believes Sunderland should be higher up the table.
"I was analysing their match against Newcastle at home and Man City at home, these were the matches I focused on," the Portuguese said.
"I think they are better than the points they have, the quality of their players is not comparable with some teams in that part of the table but I think they are in a moment where one point doesn't make a big difference.
"They need three points, they need two or three victories to get out of the dangerous area. I don't think they can play in a defensive way, that is why they have a positive approach because they need to win matches.
"I think Gustavo's style is to try and play good football, I think we have two very difficult matches."
Mourinho confirmed striker Samuel Eto'o could feature at Sunderland following a groin injury but the Blues will be without David Luiz and Oscar.
The Portuguese also expects Ashley Cole to start one of the next two games after the England international lost his left-back berth to Cesar Azpilicueta.
Source: PA


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The LamsonSharp Rosewood Forged Cutlery Series features a one-piece, forged, full tang blade made of hardened and tempered high-carbon stainless steel from Soligen, Germany. The Oiled Rosewood hadles are naturally hard and heavy, making them extremely durable, they are triple riveted with brass rivets for perfect balance and weight. The taper-ground blades are polished, hand-edged and honed. All forged knives from LamsonSharp are shipped in their own KnifeSafe, to protect the knives and the people who use them. This knife will be Sharp for Life, with the unique free factory knife sharpening program. All LamsonSharp products are proudly made in the USA and carry a lifetime warranty.
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President Barack Obama vowed that investigators will get to the bottom of a shooting incident Wednesday at Fort Hood, Texas, seeking to reassure the nation whose sense of security once again has been shaken by mass violence.
In a hastily arranged statement, Obama said he and his team were following the situation closely but that details about what happened at the sprawling Army post were still fluid. He said the shooting brought back painful memories of 2009, when 13 were killed at the same post in the deadliest attack on a domestic military installation in history.
Offering thoughts and prayers to the entire Texas community, Obama pledged to do everything possible to ensure Fort Hood had everything it needed to weather a difficult situation and its aftermath. Standing in front of a black curtain, with an American flag nearby, Obama reflected on the sacrifices that troops stationed at Fort Hood have made -- including during multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Obama's comments came as U.S. officials said one person was dead and 14 wounded at the Army base. Fort Hood's Directorate of Emergency Services had an initial report that the shooter was dead, but that the report was unconfirmed.
Obama's full statement can be read below:
"I just got off the phone with the vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff to get the latest on the shooting at Fort Hood. Obviously, we're all following it closely. The situation is fluid right now, but my national security team in close contact not just with Defense Department but with the FBI. They are working with folks on ground to determine exactly what happened and ensure that everyone is secure. Want to assure all of us we are going to get to bottom of what happened.
Any shooting is troubling. Obviously, this reopens the pain of what happened at Fort Hood five years ago. We know these families. We know the service to their country and the sacrifices that they make. Obviously, our thoughts and prayers are with the entire community, and we are going to do everything we can to make sure the community of Fort Hood has what it needs to deal with a tough situation but also any potential aftermath.
We're heartbroken that something like this might have happened again. And, I don't want to comment on facts until we know exactly what happened. But for now, I would hope that everyone across the country keeps the families of Fort Hood in our thoughts and in our prayers.
The folks there have sacrificed so much on behalf of our freedom. Many of the people there have been through multiple tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. They served with valor; they served with distinction. And when they're at their home base, they need to feel safe. We don't yet know what happened tonight but obviously that sense of safety has been broken once again. We need to find out exactly what happened."
The president spoke without notes or prepared remarks in the same room of a steakhouse where he had just met with about 25 donors at a previously scheduled fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee. White House officials quickly pushed tables to the side of the room to make room for Obama to speak to the nation.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, speaking to reporters while in Honolulu to host a conference of Southeast Asian defense leaders, called the shootings a "terrible tragedy." Asked about security improvements in the wake of other shootings at U.S. military bases, Hagel said, "Obviously when we have these kinds of tragedies on our bases, something's not working."
Obama traveled earlier Wednesday to Michigan for an economic event before heading to Chicago. He planned to return to the White House on Wednesday evening.


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David Patch's grandfather once operated a barbershop on Rings Road in the village of Amlin, between Hilliard and Dublin.
David Patch's grandfather once operated a barbershop on Rings Road in the village of Amlin, between Hilliard and Dublin.
For the past 50 years, mirrors, chairs and other implements from the shop sat in storage.
Now, they are back where they belong thanks to Patch and Tim Woodruff.
Patch and Woodruff, a Hilliard resident and vice president of the Northwest Franklin County Historical Society, set up a vintage barbershop display last month at the Northwest Franklin County Historical Society museum on Norwich Street in Hilliard.
Woodruff spent more than 100 hours restoring a barbershop chair and other items to display at the museum, which is open from 1 to 4 p.m. each Sunday until Labor Day and by appointment by calling 614-876-8550.
Patch, who owns Sage Property Management, said he is pleased the antiques are on display at the historical society.
He donated the chair, mirrors and other barbershop equipment, as well as a 1929 Model A Ford that belonged to his grandfather, Ray Patch. The Hilliard-Ray Patch Family YMCA on Cosgray Road still bears his name.
Patch does not know the precise dates, but Ray Patch operated the Rings Road barbershop in the 1920s and '30s, he said.
He said his grandfather then closed the barbershop and pool hall to open a grocery store in Amlin, and the equipment was stored in the basement of his parents' house.
In the early 1980s, Patch purchased the Amlin property that had been his grandfather's barbershop, but used the unimproved structure for storage, including the implements from the shop.
"It was just sitting there and beginning to deteriorate, and I mentioned it to (Woodruff and historical society President Randy Smith)," Patch said.
He already had donated the restored 1929 Ford to the historical society, but invited Woodruff and Smith to Amlin to view the goods.
An agreement was reached that if Woodruff restored the barbershop equipment, Patch would donate it as a permanent exhibit at the historical society's museum.
Woodruff installed three chairs and the "back bar," an 8-foot mirrored wall with shelves, at the museum.
Many of the display's antique bottles, combs and straight razors are on loan from the National Barber Museum operated by the Canal Winchester Area Historical Society.
"Those fill in some of the things we didn't have and give it an authentic look," Woodruff said.
Woodruff researched the chair he restored and discovered that Koken Barbers manufactured it in 1901.
Woodruff stripped and stained the back bar to restore it, but he mirrors have small imperfections from water damage to their silver backing.
The barbershop also has a children's chair, which is rare, Woodruff said.


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Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2a Manual / User Guide
This is the official Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2a User Guide in English provided from the manufacturer. If you are looking for detailed technical specifications, please see our Specs page.
The XPERIA X2 takes the 3 inch screen from the X1, and upgrades it to a 3.2 inch WVGA TFT display. The handset will be powered by a custom version of Windows Mobile 6.5. Other features include a 3.5 mm audio jack, accelerometer and 8.1MP camera with AF.


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Insurance industry leaders went before Congress on Friday to ask for increased federal support for the costs of destructive global warming.
From their perspective, there is no question whether or not climate change is real.
Here are some quotes posted by Insurance Networking News:
" From our industry's perspective, the footprints of climate change are around us and the trend of increasing damage to property and threat to lives is clear," said Franklin Nutter, president of the Reinsurance Association of America.
Cynthia McHale, the insurance program director at Ceres, issued a more unequivocal statement: " Our climate is changing, human activity is helping to drive the change, and the costs of these extreme weather events are going to keep ballooning unless we break through our political paralysis, and bring down emissions that are warming our planet. If we continue on this path, extreme weather is certain to cause more homes and businesses to be uninsurable in the private insurance market, leaving the costs to taxpayers or individuals."
Last year saw a record 14 natural disasters causing more than $1 billion in damage each.


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It's not often that a person has the opportunity to be served Afternoon Tea on Royal Albert china on a sunny afternoon on a lovely village green – for free. But thanks to an invitation from Royal Albert (and a very thoughtful husband who doesn't mind my dragging him by his gorgeous fifty-shades-of-grey hair all over the country for tea), it happened to me.
There's nothing quite like Afternoon Tea served on beautiful china, and Royal Albert have been dishing up this type of English tea experience for over a hundred years. They started manufacturing china in 1896, and they continue to produce hundreds of beautiful patterns today – their most iconic being "Old Country Roses". This year, 2012, Royal Albert have updated several designs in their floral range to give them a fresh look and one that, I might add, screams out to be mixed-and-matched together. They are enchanting.
To celebrate the launch of the new patterns, Royal Albert tucked an adorable little van full of tea, cakes, and their beautiful new wares, and embarked on a Royal Albert London Tea tour, providing a "pop-up" afternoon tea experience for those of us who enjoy English style afternoon tea. Lucky for me, one of these events was not too far away, so Mr. Tea and I toddled over to Kew Green on a crisp autumn Saturday morning for a late breakfast of tea and cake. (Don't judge me.)
We were one of the first to arrive at Kew on that day, and it was fun to listen to the gasps of disbelief as people (like the family of 5 seated next to us who just happened to be on the green that morning) realised that there was no cost involved in this. Hopefully, it encouraged folks to think more about Afternoon Tea, and about the enjoyment that comes from making your own teatime just a little bit more special by using pretty dishes.
I think it's outstanding that Royal Albert are willing to put all their beautiful china into the hands of the public (well, we did have to give it back). The pieces truly are lovely and the type of thing every tea lover should have in their china cabinet.
Thank you, Royal Albert, for a lovely Afternoon Tea on Kew Green!
Visit the Tea in England Facebook page for additional photos of the tea.
(Thanks to Victoria's Vintage for letting me use her image of the bunting and travel card since I had forgotten to take pictures of those two things!)


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Description of 939 Paul Revere Court, Charleston, SC 29412
Construction is underway on this stunning home by New Leaf Builders in the back of Stiles Point Planation. Call now as still time to pick your selections. The High Wines floor plan is 3441 sq. ft with a brick exterior, 5BD, 4.5BA, downstairs master bedroom, open floor plan, upstairs bonus room, screened porch, 2 car garage & FROG on a 1/3 acre lot. Custom features include: Gourmet Kitchen with Thermador appliance package including refrigerator - farmhouse sink - quartz/granite counters - custom backsplash - high-end hardwoods in the living areas - gas lanterns - 6'' exterior walls - spray foam in attic - 50 year shingles - NEST thermostats - crown moulding & trim features - 42'' gas or wood-burning fireplace - stunning landscape package & more! Click here for more info Welcome to 939 Paul Revere Court...included with the home is a conceptual plan for a pool and fire-pit area which can be priced out or altered for the buyer. At this time, the buyer can make all selections in the home from counters to colors to tile & more.Buyer will receive up to 10 hours of interior design consultation for the selection process along with meeting directly with venders to customize all selections of the home to the buyers tastes and preferences.Energy Efficient features: spray foam in the atttic ~ 6" exterior walls ~ Navien tankless hot water heater ~ NEST thermostats on both floors ~ Thermador e-Star appliances ~ Anderson 400 series windows ~ 50 year architectual shinglesAdditional interior features: 10' first floor ceilings/ 9' second floor ~ 7" baseboard on first floor/ 5" on second floor ~ personalized master closet system ~ interior door profile and hardware options ~ multiple trim packages to choose from ~ pre-wired for ceilings fans and structured wiring panel ~ 42" fireplace, gas logs or woodburing, with custom mantle & surround ~ hardwoods in all the downstairs living areas ~ high-end carpet with 8 lb pad in master bedroom, upstairs and FROGKitchen Features: Thermador appliance package with refrigerator ~ painted or stained cabinets with soft-close and pot/pan pull-outs ~ farmhouse sink ~ LED under cabient lighting ~ Delta faucets ~ backsplash options and more.Master bathroom features: soaker tub, walk-in shower with shower head and raindrop ~ ceramic tile floors ~ granite counters ~ painted cabinets ~ Delta faucets and more.This is a rare opportunity to build in the gorgeous Stiles Point Planataion neighborhood with one of the mose respected builders in Charleston. Call your agent today to learn more about 939 Paul Revere Court.
Property Features of 939 Paul Revere Court, Charleston, SC 29412
Single Family Detached
Stiles Point Plantation
James Island
|Elementary school: Stiles Point
|Middle school: Camp Road
|High school: James Island Charter
|Woodburning fireplace(s)
|Gas log fireplace(s)
|Fireplace in family room
|Central air
|Forced air heat
|Two car garage
|Attached parking
|Brick veneer exterior
|Screened porch
|Lot acreage is: 0.38
|Lawn sprinkler
|Level lot
|Subdivision: Stiles Point Plantation
|Cable television available
|Ceramic tile flooring
|Eat-in kitchen
|Wood floors
|Wall to wall carpeting
|Kitchen island
|Living and dining room combo
|Walk-in closet(s)
|Slab Foundation
|Community tennis court(s)
Rooms & Dimensions
|In-law quarters
|Laundry room


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... Such a fine line ~
Hey all,
Just an observation here: I am trying to follow an Atkin's induction/Keto diet lifestyle daily. Sometimes I do really well and other
Times, errrr not that great. My Carbs vary from 20 to 60grs a day, depending on how I feel and on the workouts I do. ( I only do cardio, and should do weights, I know )
The thing is, when I eat less in a day, keep the carbs low and calories to around 1,200 ~ my next days daily run
Is usually really good. I feel great, have great breathing (still slow AF), can go on for a while (I usually run 10k a day).
My joints and muscles do not ache.
If I eat a little too much either calorie-wise, i.e. more carbs ~ my next days run is pretty miserable ~ I feel sluggish, my joints
Hurt somehow, I get sore and my breathing is all over the place.
I must be a total newbie or very inexperienced ~ I just cant seem to find what works best for me yet and loose that stupid
10 lbs I have left to lose. I am up and down ~ up and down stuck on between 127 and 130 lbs.
Sorry, I am rambling here ...
What happens when you increase calories slightly but don't increase carbs.
For example:
Day 1 you eat 1200 cals with 50 grams of carbs
Day 2 you eat 1500 cals with 50 grams of carbs.
Do you feel worse on the high cal day even when keep carbs low?
I did strict keto for an entire year, carbs could foul up my body and make me lethargic. However I could increase calories by adding in more fat and it would make me more energetic.
Instead of cheating with carbs have some more fat. I bet you will feel much more energetic and your runs will improve.
Adding in more carbs during weak moments will just keep your body shifting and transitioning to different energy systems. Keep it running on fat by eating fat and keeping carbs low
"No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable."
I am so grateful you replied. You know, I never really did this... keep carbs lower and increase the cals with fat goodness. It is something I will have to play with this week. THank you for the insightful observation!
What kind of WOE are you following, if I may ask?
Also, in your opinion ~ if I run 5 times a week instead of 7 and do more weight training on those 2 or 3 days, do you think it will help me lose the last 10lbs and get more benefits for my cardio work out? I am pretty much down to the last amount of weight loss and it is soooo hard to lose.
Trying to revamp my workouts and not getting burned out. I love running but
think I need to do weight training as well. I cross train with swimming at the moment...
Yea keto thrives on fat, you transitioned your body to burning fat almost exclusively for fuel so you need to keep dietary fat up some especially to support high activity levels.
I've been using RFL and UD2 for the past 4-5 months. During the holiday season I was on a home brew diet but before that when I wasn't trying to get fat I was intermittent fasting. I've actually been IFing for years now and use it in conjunction with lyles programs. It works incredibly well for me when it comes to diet adherence.
Anyways I don't think your going to like what I suggest. I think attempting wieght training with 5 days of running on a deficit is the same or worse than running 7 days a week on the same deficit. You're simply not going to recover well enough. Have you taken a diet break? Let your calories come up to maintenance levels for a couple weeks? That could be all you need to make the final push. When I go on a diet break I lose 5 pounds. I guess it's all the hormone levels returning to normal and letting go of water and such.
Also have you thought about getting a Dexa scan? It might be eye opening to see an objective measure of your body composition. What if you were continually pounding your head into a "metabolic wall" because you were near essential fat and your body was just shutting you down each time you approach it. Could be a health concern.
Anyways I say keep carbs low raise fats some and come up to maintenance for a couple of weeks you might find you lose that last bit and have all the energy you need to run everyday. Are you one of those crazy people I see bundled up during the winter months running on ice? Just curious
"No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable."
You might have hit the nail on the head... maybe i need to just take a diet break for a week or so and after that, get back to Atkins/Keto. I have been on diets (pretty much trying to find what works for me for 15 months now, which lead me to lose 80lbs. I've tried pretty much everything: vegan, vegetarian, IF, fruitarian, raw, paleo, Keto, Atkins... I kind of love to try different things and see what makes my body tick best. Throughout my journey, I developed really debilitating migraines ~ and overtime, I realized they were triggered by the high carbs diets i was on (especially Raw with the sugar crashes) and once I switched to Atkins, they magically went away. It was a relief for sure...
Anyway, I do believe I should really try to get some weight training going... I do think I am kind of a "skinny/fat" person. I am really lean on top but muscular with flubber on my upper legs. I somewhat morphed into a runner's body type, but at my age ~ things aren't bouncing back the way it was when in my 20's I truly believe I am in the mid 20's body fat-wise.
Not sure where I could get a DEXA scan... would be interesting to find out.
As for running in the winter, I am not sure yet! last year, i ran on my treadmill in the colder months, but know knows? I might get myself some ski pants with some YAKTRAX and run outside
Thanks again for your reply. Truly appreciated!
Diet Break!!!
Oh Lordy no diet break for 15 months?! I applaud you're resolve but you should really take a break for pretty much every reason. A nice long one too.. somthing of the order of at least a month or more. You will probably be quite pleased at some of the benefits like increased performance, MAYBE wieght loss but even if you do gain a few during the break it's ok going back to dieting you will strip that off and more. Anyways there's so much to be said and honestly losing 80 lbs while that's an amazing accomplishment and all you should be VERY weary going forward and having this change stick.
A diet break will be like a trial run of how to make this weight lost stick and stay. You will learn a lot about how you will need to manage your new weight. Wierd temptations and mental and emotional ambitions contrary to your goals will spring up from your unconscious. I say that with complete humility.. take it from someone who's fasted on nothing but water for 21 days, been a raw vegan for a year, keto for a year, etc. I have considerable willpower but where your at is a very vulnerable place and diet breaks REALLY help you to change your relationship with your body for the long run. GOd speed!
"No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable."
Thank you so much ~ you have to be one of the nicest person I've stumbled on ANY forum. You have been very kind and helpful. I have lots to think about. I think I might start a break around the 4th of July for 15 days to start and see how it goes... I am a little scared of venturing out into "breakland" per se. But I know I should do it.
Perhaps with this break, I can start working on some weight routine, I think it would do me good.
Have a great afternoon and week ahead
"No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable."
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Your Cutting-Edge
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Below, you'll find extensive information on leading
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Beware Of Disreputable Construction Staffing Companies By Howard Watkin, Sat Dec 17th
Recently I have heard several horror stories about constructionstaffing companies.
From the employers point staffing companies can save valuabletime in recruiting for shut down or fast track projects. It alsoalleviates the problem of added payroll and personnel task. Onthe other hand a less than reputable company may do you moreharm than good. Many of them are poorly qualified to screenemployees. Their screening skills are limited to recognizing afew buzzwords and popular companies. Many of them intentionallydeceive potential employees and misrepresent your intent.
If the employees are disgruntled with the staffing company theymay not give you the best performance or even stay until thecompletion of your project. It could result in a bad reflectionon your company from your clients experience and may even makeit difficult for you to recruit good employees in the future.
For the employee a reputable staffing company can save a lot ofprecious time and resources in the constant quest for rewardingprojects. One thing you must remember is that these companiesrepresent the employer and see you as only a resource. They
arenot your personal agent. Before signing onboard with any of thestaffing companies you should ask a lot of questions and getfirm commitments. A lot of problems come from misunderstandingsand blatant deceit.
Common problems are late or misplaced checks, faultyaccommodations, misunderstanding about project duration, workhours, per-diem travel pay, front money and salary. There arealso numerous reports of unexpected deductions and overchargesfor lodging. Beware of any recruiter who recommends a thirdparty to spruce up your resume. This is always a scam.
Some staffing companies advertise for jobs that do not exist forthe purpose of gathering data. From your resume they find outexactly whom you worked for and how much you were paid. They cannow add your former employer to the list of companies to canvasusing the information gleaned from your resume. They get salesleads, you get zip.
Before going out on a limb with any of these companies be sureto investigate thoroughly. Get recommendations fromacquaintances that have had good experiences with them. Contactthe client to get the real lowdown about the project. A goodcompany will have no secrets in this respect.
Last but not least spread the word about the GOOD THE BAD ANDTHE UGLY
About the author:Howard Watkins is the webmaster and editor of brassmein.com. TheConstruction professional's information source.
We strive to provide only quality articles, so if there
is a specific topic related to construction that you
would like us to cover, please contact us at any time.
And again, thank you to those contributing daily to our
bulldozer kit website.


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The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I have always wanted to read The Book Thief since 2012 but found it hard to will myself to. I guess I was intimidated and/or got the wrong impression about its genre. The Book Thief doesn't sound far from The Lightning Thief anyway. I made a rash judgment.
Narrated by a sort-of-a grim reaper in a cleverly sarcastic fashion, we plunge into the life of Liesel Meminger.
When Liesel arrived at Himmel Street, she is reluctant and defiant at first but warms up shortly to her adoptive parents (the quirky Hubermanns). Hans Hubermann is a painter/nicotine-addict who served Germany in World War 1. Rosa Hubermann on the other hand, a loud curse-like-a-sailor woman, works as a laundress to the elite side of their town.
Liesel's best friend is Rudy Steiner, a mischievous lemon-haired boy who has always been her partner-in-crime. A Jew arrives to ask for help. The Jew knocks on the Hubermann's door and inquires if Hans is willing to keep his old promise. Meanwhile, our protagonist develops a knack for stealing books.
In this Nazi-era setting, Liesel's life leading up to her adolescence is an amalgamation of fleeting events that leads us to a destined end.
My favorite quote:
Another fantastic Nazi-setting historical fiction! It wouldn't have worked incredibly if we got a different attack to the narration. The book came out as something dark and dramatic but also remained familiar and plausible. I was irrevocably overwhelmed when I finished it.
It was Rudy's character that bothered me the most.
The movie version is out next month - November! Here's to hoping it lives up to the book (even in a remote fraction because come on, people always say the book version is better!)
2 comments:
- Carlyn Brody | January 22, 2014 at 3:49 AM
What bothered you about Rudy's character? I thought he was alright, just the typical best friend character. I hope you do see the movie and it is to your liking.
- Loraine | January 29, 2014 at 2:59 PM
When I said I was "bothered", I meant that I felt something deeper than I should have. I was shaken, to say it simply. Not to be dramatic, I was heartbroken. I really loved that character - Rudy. A mischievous, but most especially decent boy
Then he died before he got his longed-for kiss. *insert waterfall of tears*
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Do you really have to segment that campaign? The limits of targeting.
When theorizing about marketing campaigns there is often a tendency to want to create very detailed segments and perfect messaging that speaks directly to the hopes and desires of various personality types and demographics. It's great in theory. The only problem is that hyper-targeting is very expensive to create and execute with any type of quality and creativity. Say you have 10 targets. This means that you have to create 10 separate creatives and manage all these additional creatives within your campaign. Then, if you are doing real marketing, you have to analyze the performance of the various creatives and campaigns designed for your targets and determine what, if anything, is actually working. I've found that it's smart to think carefully about whether targeting will have a real impact before pulling the trigger on a highly segementated campaign. Sometimes its best to simply do one thing really well.


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The Importance of Omnichannel Banking
Developing strategies to integrate disparate digital and physical channels into a single, seamless experience has to be a priority. By analyzing the activity and preferences of their client base, banks can tailor offerings to address the priorities of each individual customer. Mass, low profit segments can be serviced accordingly as can high margin services and clientele.
Streamlined, integrated systems, a single customer view and an optimal customer experience are all objectives to work towards. Banks that focus on these objectives will get the edge over the competition.
Channel Use Shifts and Increases
It shouldn't come as a surprise that branch transaction volumes are slowly trending downward or that online and especially mobile banking usage are quickly trending up. What is less clear is whether call center usage will decline as more transactions migrate to digital platforms, or will it, in fact, increase as customers use call centers as their digital help desk? Finally, will Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms become banking channels in the future?
According to the channel usage component of the latest U.S. Retail Banking Study from Gallup, three different themes are emerging:
- The branch-ATM-online trifecta still defines the core of day-to-day banking. The core banking needs of most customers are being handled by branches, ATMs and online banking. In fact, nearly half (46%) of customers have used all three of these channels over the past six months. While it may cost a bank more to serve these customers (compared, for example, to those who use mainly digital or phone channels) these core customers keep an average of 4% more of their deposits and investments with their primary bank and generate an estimated $155 more in profit per year to their primary bank than people who don't use all three of these channels. So while it may be commonplace to talk digital-first, banks can't alienate a significant portion of the customer base in the process.
- Mobile banking usage is on the rise, but it is adding to, not replacing, other channels.
Among the largest U.S. banks that Gallup studied in both 2012 and 2013, heavy users (at least once per week) of mobile banking increased by 11 percent (more than in any other channel). Not surprisingly, 57% of Millennials/Gen Y customers have gone mobile for their banking. That percentage falls to 37% for Gen X customers, 16% for baby boomers, and less than 10% for seniors.
Interestingly, this increased mobile usage has not led to a significant reduction in customers' use of other channels. The Gallup research shows that customers that use mobile banking also use other channels more frequently than the average customer. Among mobile banking users:
- 79% have also used a branch in the last six months
- 84% have gone to an ATM
- 95% have used online banking
- 58% have spoken to a call center agent
- 15% have contacted their bank via Twitter
- 19% have contacted their bank via Facebook (compared to only 1% and 2%, respectively, among non-mobile users)
- Social media customers are valuable. Slightly less than 9% of customers contacted their bank via Facebook or Twitter during the six months of the Gallup study, and roughly half of those have done both. These socially engaged customers are both younger (91% are either Gen X or Gen Y) and more affluent. These customers are 12% more likely to be mass affluent ($100K to less than $1M in investible assets) and 18% more likely to be emerging affluent (age 35 or under with incomes over $75K/year.) These customers also are more engaged with their bank and hold much more positive feelings toward their bank than the typical customer.
The Gallup research found that, even among those who visited a branch less than once a month, 80% chose to initiate their account opening in a branch and only 8% started by opening their account online. When customers did open their account online, they were far less satisfied with the account opening experience (nearly 20 percentage points less) than were those who opened their account in a branch.
So, while the industry and more consumers are trying to embrace the omnichannel perspective, the vast majority of new accounts are still initiated in the branch. This is because digital channels don't offer customers the kind of experience they desire for more complex, important interactions like opening an account.
Building a positive omnichannel experience remains a work in progress for most banks and credit unions. Research shows that when done well, an omnichannel experience can strengthen relationships streamline the experience and increase profitability. Unfortunately, most banks, and many customers haven't completely bought in.


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Water Works
I got an e-mail this week that rocked my world.
Here's why:
This is a hand-dug well in the Sendedo Village, located in Tigray, Ethiopia. The village has about 200 people in it, and this well marks the first time they've had access to clean local drinking water. (In the past, the women and children walked up to two hours a day to collect their water, which was often polluted and would make them sick.)
"Ok," you're thinking, "that's nice. But what does it have to do with Cake Wrecks?"
I'll show you:
We did this, guys. You, me, and every single reader who contributed their dollar (or more) to our charity: water campaign during our 2009 Charity Countdown! Right now there's a well on the other side of the world because you guys sacrificed, gave, and refused to believe that your dollar was "just" a dollar.
Wait. Did I say "a" well?
Because I meant four wells.
You heard me: we wreckies completely funded two new wells, and partially funded two others.
And in true Wrecky fashion, they even misspelled our name on the second well:
Woot! Cake Wreeks!
This is the Mai Minshik Village, also located in Tigray, Ethiopia. It has about 225 people living in it.
Oh, and the folks at charity: water included this note:
"You might be wondering why we put a photo of a door in your report. We include it because this village is serious about maintaining their project and keeping it clean. They built a fence and a door on their own accord, to keep animals out and to show ownership of their new water source."
The other two wells are located at the Tigray elementary school and the Tigray high school, and cost more than four times what the hand-dug wells cost - over $15,000 each - because they are drilled and include hand washing stations for the children and separate bathrooms for the girls and boys:
This isn't just about health and dignity, either; it's about helping the girls in particular get an education:
"Girls in developing countries miss up to a week of class each month, or even drop out of school, when they hit puberty because they don't have a private place to use the bathroom or wash at school."
Together we gave over $3,200 towards the Adi Chigar Elementary School project, and over $2,600 toward the Slaw High School project. That means that, all together, we gave a total of $12,874 and helped nearly 1,600 people in this community have clean drinking water for life.
And I should mention that was just one day of our Countdown; charity: water was only one out of fourteen organizations that we featured.
Not bad for a group of snarky malcontents who like cake, eh?
You can hit the links above to see more photos of each project and learn more about each village and their well. You'll also find a list of the individual donors, if you'd like to see which project your dollar went towards.
And, in all seriousness, guys, I can't look at that first plaque without getting a little (ok, a lot) emotional. Thanks for letting me be a part of this with you.
We now return you to our regularly scheduled wreck-fest.
UPDATE: The lovely folks at chartity:water made us a video thank you card! Check it out:
Aww, thanks so much, guys! Hope the cake was yummy. ;)


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Evil in Waiting
To start this quest, travel to Valthume and enter the tomb. Inside is a ghost named Valdar. Talk to him to start Evil in Waiting.
- Collect the Vessels (3)
- Perform the Ritual with Valdar
- Defeat Hevnoraak
After talking to Valdar, a door will open behind him. You must find and collect three vessels. These "Vessels" are just bottles like the restore stamina, health, and magicka come in. Enter the tomb and prepare for tons of Draugr. Watch your step for various boobie traps too!
The first vessel is behind a stone door. Activate the handle to the left of the door to open the door to the vessel and a door behind you to the next area.
The second Vessel is a little further inside the tomb. You'll face more Draugr and some Frostbite Spiders. You'll eventually see it on the other side of a gate, or through some windows with soul gems shooting fire at you. Look near the gate for a chain. Pull the chain to open the door and collect the second vessel. Make sure you knock down the soul gems so they don't shoot fire at you while you go past them.
The third vessel isn't too far away. You will face a few enemies - but if you've made it this far, you should be able to handle them. You'll eventually come across an Iron Claw on a pedestal. Be careful when picking it up! It will activate a fire trap that will shoot flames directly at the pedestal. Look on it's palm to see a dragon, an eagle, and a wolf. Move the rings on the door ahead to match the engravings on the paw. Once they match, activate the keyhole and enter the room. Inside is the final vessel and a few enemies. You'll also come across a Word Wall with the Shout Aura Whisper.
Now you need to perform the Ritual with Valdar, the ghost from the entrance of the tomb. Do not back track all the way from where you came. Pull the chain to the right of the word wall and enter through the door. This is a massive shortcut to Valdar. Talk to him to start the ritual. Do as Valdar says to awaken Hevnoraak. Be prepared before you sit on the throne! Hevnoraak is a Dragon Priest that uses shock spells from far off. Keeping your distance can be deadly unless you can dodge his attacks. He will have Hevnoraak's Staff, which creates a wall of lightning that does 50 points of shock damage per second, and the mask Hevnoraak, which makes you immune to disease and poison.
Talk to Valdar again to end the quest.
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|San Francisco, Calif.
|High School:
|Mechanical Engineering
|San Francisco Volleyball Club
2011: Played 54 sets...61 digs...15 aces...tallied six digs versus UMass Dartmouth (9/30), CCNY (9/30), and Bridgewater State (10/22)...recorded four aces against CCNY (9/30).
Off the Court at MIT: Majoring in mechanical engineering.
Why I Chose MIT: When I first visited MIT I loved how nearly every student was active and involved in some out of school project because they enjoyed what they learned. Engineers worked in the state-of-the art laboratories as if they were adult playgrounds. The volleyball girls trained together and then hung out with each other after practices. Studying students played with miracle berries that turned sour fruits sweet and made ice cream with liquid nitrogen. I chose MIT because it is a place where students work hard, pursue their passions, and know how to have fun.
High School: A 2011 graduate of Lick-Wilmerding High School...captain...MVP...first team all-conference...Scholar Athlete of the Year...was the captain and MVP of the badminton...was a captain of the basketball team...also participated in soccer and swimming...Junior Class President...Community Networker Executive...Heads Award for Civic Engagement.
Club: San Francisco Volleyball Club...Junior Olympics qualifier (2007, 2008).


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Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It's free!
Wednesday September 19, 2012 12:16 pm
Apple releases major OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.2 update
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Apple, Corporate News, PC / Laptop, Software
Alongside the release of iOS 6, Apple has just released OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.2. As we reported previously, this is a pretty substantial update. Sure, there will be the typical bug fixes and optimizations, but you will also find the long-awaited Facebook single sign on functionality, bringing sharing to (and notifications from) the social network built right in to OS X. The update also brings the Power Nap feature to Late 2010 MacBook Air notebooks, phone number support to Messages, shared Reminders lists, the ability to add cards to iOS Passbook from your Mac, and plenty more. We've got the full list of 10.8.2 changes here. You can download Mountain Lion from the Mac App Store.
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The Markesan State Bank does not endorse or guarantee the product, information or recommendations provided by the linked site, and is not liable for any failure of products or services advertised on the following site. We do not daily monitor these linked pages for content.
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Welcome to the iPad Mini Giveaway! Oh My Gosh Beck! has teamed up with Shopaholic Mommy, Broward Saves, Military Wives Saving, OC Deal Mama, Racing and Saving Mama, Mom in Management and other blogs to give our awesome readers the chance to win a brand new iPad Mini Wi-fi 16GB ($329 ARV)!
The iPad mini features a beautiful 7.9-inch display, iSight and FaceTime cameras, the A5 chip, ultrafast wireless, and up to 10 hours of battery life. And over 275,000 apps on the App Store made for iPad also work with iPad mini. So it's an iPad in every way, shape, and slightly smaller form.
This giveaway ends on December 31st at 11:59 PM EST. There are also daily entries available so be sure to come back every day to increase your chances of winning. Good luck!


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Brussels, 13 April 2011
Commission proposes unitary patent protection to boost research and innovation
As part of the Single Market Act presented today (see IP/11/469), the European Commission has tabled today a package of two legislative proposals, under enhanced cooperation, that will allow any company or individual to protect their inventions through a single European patent which is valid in 25 Member States. This will radically reduce, by up to 80%, translation and related costs for obtaining patent protection in the EU. The proposed regulations lay down the terms and conditions for obtaining unitary patent protection, its legal effects and the applicable translation arrangements. The draft regulations will now pass to the Council and the European Parliament for consideration. The Commission hopes Spain and Italy, who are not yet among the participants, will join the enhanced cooperation.
"The purpose of unitary patent protection is to make innovation cheaper and easier for businesses and inventors everywhere in Europe," said Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier. "It will mean a big reduction in terms of costs and red tape, and provide a stimulus for European innovation. It will be accessible for all companies in the EU, no matter where they are based. I continue to hope that, in time, all Member States will choose to participate in this enhanced cooperation. It is my deeply held conviction there is no sustainable economic growth without innovation. And no innovation without efficient intellectual property protection".
Current situation for patents in Europe
The current European patent system, in particular in the phase after granting a patent, is very expensive and complex. This is widely recognised as a hindrance to innovation in Europe. The European Patent Office (EPO) – a body of the intergovernmental European Patent Organisation comprised of 38 countries (EU 27 + 11 other European countries) – examines patent applications and is responsible for granting European patents if the relevant conditions are met. However for a granted patent to be effective in a Member State, the inventor has to request validation in each country where patent protection is sought. This process involves considerable translation and administrative costs, reaching approximately €32 000 when patent protection is sought in the EU27, of which €23 000 arises from translation fees alone. In total, obtaining patent protection in 27 Member States, including the procedural costs, could reach € 36 000 today. In comparison, a US patent costs €1 850 on average.
Furthermore, the maintenance of patents requires the payment of annual renewal fees country by country and a transfer of the patent or a licensing agreement to use the patented invention has to be registered the same way.
Unitary patent protection
Under today's proposals, the translation and related costs of patent protection would drop radically. The translation costs for a European patent with unitary effect in 25 Member States would be €680 in the long run, and less than €2 500 during a transitional period.
The Commission proposes that:
The proposals do not affect the procedural costs leading up to the grant of European patents (the so-called pre-grant costs)
The Commission's proposal for a single EU patent had been under discussion for over a decade but there has been stalemate in the Council over language rules. The Commission tried to unblock the file by presenting its 2010 proposal on the EU patent's translation requirements (IP/10/870). But since the Council could not agree unanimously on the applicable translation regime, in December 2010 the Commission tabled a proposal opening the way for enhanced cooperation to be authorised in this area (IP/10/1714). On 10 March 2011, following the consent given by the European Parliament on 15 February, the Competitiveness Council adopted the authorising decision to establish unitary patent protection in the territories of the 25 participating Member States.
Under the EU Treaty and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, enhanced cooperation allows nine or more Member States to move forward on in a particular area as a last resort if no agreement can be reached by the EU as a whole within a reasonable period. Other Member States can opt to join at any stage before or after enhanced cooperation has been launched.
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