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This is the impression I get after reading in the nation building, constructive ST that the new CEO of Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) abruptly cancelled the Night Safari's Halloween Horrors event, despite the WRS having spent close to $1m on organising this popular annual event. This means that close to $1m will have to be written-off, as there will be no revenues from this popular event.
It's not as though the WRS (owned 80% by Temasek and 20% by the S'pore Tourism Board) is rolling in money. I understand that this is one flea-ridden animal that cannot be sold because it is in constant need of financial injections. So she must have consulted and gotten her board of directors' approval, before taking a million dollar hit.
So the board too must think that $1m is "peanuts". Not their money leh. It is our money. We own Temask and the tourim board.
But let's to fair to the CEO. Maybe she had a revelation from her god that god would provide, and that she convinced her board that her god was stronger than the devil. But what if she goofed? She has form in goofing.
The last thing newly elected president, Dr Tony Tan, needed after a bruising election campaign was for for his comments on the need to have more famiy bonding activities to be linked to the CEO's cancellation of a popular event. "He kill-joy or something worse?", I could hear the bloggers thinking. after her attempt at linkage. He was not amused and she had to apologise for her most unfair attempt to link his comments to her action.
Finally, does the devil have friends?
She is getting a terrible press from the ST. Are there devil-worshippers among the reporters and editors of the ST? Remember they have form when it comes to attacking Christians, the devil's arch-enemies. A few years ago, DPM Wong Kum Seng pointed out that the ST's coverage of the AWARE fight was biased against the Christian members who opposed the old guard who they accused of promoting anal sex and homosexuality in schools. Note that the government withdrew AWARE's status as a provider of sex education services to schools after the allegations were made.


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12 Days of Slay advent calender
Delivery between 2 – 3 days. UAE delivery only.
Delivery is FREE for orders of AED 200 and over. For orders under AED 200, a delivery fee of AED 15 will applied and added to your total payable during checkout.
Orders which are placed on a public holiday (UAE) or on a weekend (Friday and Saturday) will be processed the following working day (Sunday – Thursday). Due to this, these orders may be delivered within 3 – 4 days, however our team will strive to deliver your order as soon as possible.
*The below timescales are approximate.
|Order Placed
|Order Delivery (following days)
|Monday / Tuesday
|Tuesday / Wednesday
|Wednesday / Thursday
|Thursday / Saturday
|Sunday / Monday / Tuesday
|Sunday / Monday /Tuesday
|Sunday / Monday / Tuesday
|Public Holiday
|Subject to day order is received
Please note that delivery timescales are subject to stock availability and customer availability to receive orders. Please ensure you include the phone number you are able to be contacted on during checkout/delivery information so that we can contact you to arrange a suitable delivery day/time for you to receive your order.
We accept the following payment options; Cash on Delivery and Debit/Credit Card (through Checkout).

subset: commoncrawl


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Is OmniChannel a strong growing trend or just a fad reaching its peak?
To deliver the optimal brand experience, retailers must align their complex list of current backend fulfillment system (e.g. ERP, OMS, PIMS, etc.) with their existing (e.g. store and call centers, etc.) and newly formed sales channels that include: mobile and internet. Optimally, one platform should be utilized to connect both fulfillment and demand channels so that there is less complexity and more simplification and standardization which is required for delivering a coherent and seamless customer experience-as well as better staff utilization.
In the SEEBURGER webcast link below, you can learn how some retailers are leveraging SEEBURGER's Bimodal and Hybrid Integration Platform designed for delivering cost effective and faster competitive OmniChannel brand experiences to the market place.
The webcast will illuminate critical areas to provide insights into:
- What is OmniChannel?
- Who does it impact?
- Is it an imperative? If so, what to do about it?
- What is SEEBURGER's Bimodal Hybrid Integration Platform
- Where does it fit?
- How can it deliver the value retailer's seek?
Please click the link below to view the webcast or contact you nearest SEEBURGER representative.


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Toyota Highlander Lease Questions
Car man,
What is mf and residual on 2013 highlander limited and se for 36 months, 12k miles per year.
Thank you.0
Toyota leases vary greatly by region.. Where do you live?
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator0
Dallas/Fort Worth Texas
It's funny because one dealer offered me 0 down and $400/mo for a base model, but I already know there is a local deal (maybe national deal) of $1999 down and $279/mo. I was only interested in a test drive at the moment.0
I don't have the information for Texas, I'm sorry.
Toyota lease prices are hard to calculate, because they don't residualize all of their options. Each unit has it's own residual, that you have to get from the dealer.
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator0
pkim5 Posts: 6Hi, I just got a Blizzard Pearl 2013 Highlander SE AWD in NJ for $355 monthly w/ $0 down and taxes included but title, DMV, acquisition fees, etc. due at signing that totaled $1,600. 36 months/12k yearly.
Does that sound like a good deal?0
ml8853 Posts: 1Hello
I've been a long time lurker and want to get some numbers on a lease for a 2013 highlander Plus. The msrp is 33559 and the selling price is 30681 with a total OTD price of 37250 (amount owed on my trade in is rolled in and tax tags etc. It's blizzard pearl with only mats as the options installed. I am in Jacksonville Florida. I would like numbers on a 15k lease. Let me know of you need more info.
I am in Texas. A local dealer just offered my this deal on a lease. I have never leased a vehicle before. Wanted to get someone' s opinion.
Dealer price: $30,869
Residual: $17802
Factor: .00001
Miles: 36K
Term: 36 Months.
Here is What I am paying:
Down: $2000.00 including the first month payment. I will be paying 35 more payments.
TTL: $ Dealer is paying the TTL. (Which he is claiming to be $2300.00)
Payment: $315.00 (35 Payment)
This is basic model with no leather. Only thing it has extra is running boards.
ken117 Posts: 249The dealer is not paying TTL. It is built in to the capitalized cost or part of the down payment. Check the numbers.0
If I add the numbers. Here is what I get.
35 payment of 315 35*315= $11025
Down Payment: $2000
Total I am paying in 36 month: $13025+$17802 (Residual)= $30827.
This is almost the selling price of the vehicle. Someone has to pay taxes on this transaction. Looks like its not me. Correct me if I am wrong please.
Hi Car Man,
We are interested in leasing either an SE 4WD or a Limited 4WD Highlander. Can you please provide the money factors and residuals for a 36-month lease with 12,000 miles. (Do they offer leases with 10,000 miles?) We are in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Thanks!0
zbownas Posts: 3I've really gotten myself in a mess. I leased a 2012 Acura TSX Sportwagon last fall (end of November), coming out of a '05 Gx460. I was bound and determined to save money on gas. Unfortunately, I'm not happy with my choice. It's a nice car, it's just not the car for me. Now, I realize I am negative in my Acura, I believe our current payoff would be about $8-9k over KBB trade. So, it will come down to how much I want out of this car and if I feel it's worth the cost to me.
Looking at a local Toyota dealer (central Florida), I'm seeing an
FWD Limited
Dealer/Internet price $32,050
Can anyone help me out on what I might be looking at with a 36 mo/15k lease, maybe $1500 down?0
I'm sorry... we don't have any reliable numbers for Toyota..
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator0
Thanks for the response (and similar ones for other cars). Why doesn't Toyota release its lease numbers? Can you provide even dated information or for other trim levels? I'd like some way of comparing what a dealership offered me vs what a monthly would be based on a cap cost I "want" to pay. Any suggestions or do I really just have to negotiate solely on the monthly price?
Toyota has about 10 regions, many with different numbers, plus at least two "distributors" that have their own financing programs...
On top of all of that, they have caps on what options they will residualize... so, a 57% residual might only be an effective 53% residual.... Even the dealers can't calculate residuals.. Each unit has it's own residual dollar amount..
So, it's a mess... Many years ago, when our family's choice was between the Accord or Camry, I just gave up on leasing a Toyota... It's not straightforward..
That's not to say you can't do it.... ;-)
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator0
I'm new to leasing. 2013 highlander SE, 1st months payment and TTL, lease payment of $320. MF .00001 and residual of 22600. I don't know the purchase price yet. I know I need to know that. Something seems too good. What's the catch?0
It's actually not that great of a deal. With a residual of $22,600 and a money factor of .00001 (howd you get that, btw? the money factor for awesome credit is .0006), your cap cost is $34,100, assuming a 36-month lease. What's the MSRP? Is there navigation in your SE? Is it AWD? It's also not clear whether your numbers include the $650 acquisition fee or ~$200 processing fee.
Go to Truecar and build your exact car (making sure to take off any incentives that are for purchasers only) and see what 'cap cost' other people are paying is. My guess is it's several hundred dollars cheaper.
Good luck!0
I'm going to have all the numbers sent to me. Because I had not received the sales/cap cost I worked it backwards and it came out to 32800 with $800 due at signing for 1st months payment and acquistion. TTL is extra. I was given that MF directly from the dealer. Again, I need to see a copy of the lease agreement to figure out the exact cost. No nav and it is AWD. Thanks for the info. I will check the website.0
Car Person (whose to say they are male or female?) - had a couple of questions for you. I am interested in leasing an SE w 4WD and V6. No other options. Located in NJ. Can you tell me Money Factor and Residual for a 3/36 as well as a 4/48?
Also - on Honda leases, you can extend the lease 2 times up to a total of 12 months beyond the contractual lease which makes for great flexibility. Can this be done for a Toyota (Assuming it is leased through Toyota Financial). Also, with a Honda, you get up to $1500 of wear and tear allowances and no turn in costs. Does Toyota do this?
Lastly, am also considering getting a CPO Highlander - but - when I look at the CarFax reports on them, they show no maintenance records and for the Honda's they do. Any idea as to why? One thing critical when getting a 4WD or All Wheel drive vehicle is to know that transmission/ differential fluids and trans case fluids have all been changed at proper intervals. I would expect transmission to last well beyond the 100k CPO warranty and without proper fluid changes, that won't happen.
Thanks and sorry to ramble.0
Answers to some of your questions:
1. Car_man is an actual user here.
2. No idea but you can call TFS and ask.
3. 1500 damage -- No that is a Honda lease feature.
4. Carfax is only as good as any service or accidents that were REPORTED. If they dont get reported, they are not on the carfax. I would say the maintenance record thing you are talking about is a coincidence relative to the actual vehicles you looked at.
5. Read previous posts to guess the MF and residual. Its October now so the numbers will be coming soon, but dont expect anything specific for Toyota as has been already explained here numerous times, Toyota sets individual vehicle residuals. But read previous posts, there are plenty of sales reports given so you will get a good idea of what to expect to pay.0
On 2013 Highlanders, there are special money factors ranging from .00001 to .00045, depending on region and lease program. I don't have any information on residuals, but Toyota residuals are notoriously difficult to calculate, anyway, as they don't allow certain factory options to be residualized, and put a cap total on MSRP for residual purposes. Even the dealer can't calculate it, they just look for the residual amount on each unit's invoice...
Sorry that I don't have more information for you..
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator0
Thanks to both you and the previous poster for your responses. Sounds like Toyota is controlling the flow of information on purpose.0
I think I know your response but I will give it a try anyhow. If I wanted the SE model with 4 wheel drive, no other options and a 3/36 lease, can you give me MF and residual or is the situation still the same that this vehicle has factory options would would not allow you to get a clear picture as to the residual.
Sorry... but, I have no new information...
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator0
I hope you are west coast based otherwise you are burning the oil.
Thanks anyhow,0
jw12 Posts: 2Dealer gave me a resi of 23,374 for 15K miles & 24180 on 12K miles for 3yr lease.
Money factor is .001120
Have an offer for Toyota Highlander. Is this a good offer?
2013 Highlander Limited FWD
36 months
12k miles per year
$0 down
$479 incld CA taxes per month
Money factor: 0.00045
Car price: $39124
residual: $220110
Have an offer for Toyota Highlander. Is this a good offer?
2013 Highlander Limited FWD
36 months
12k miles per year
$0 down
$479 incld CA taxes per month
Money factor: 0.00045
Car price: $39124
residual: $220110
Looks pretty good to me.
I just recently leased a 2013 Highlander Limited AWD, payment including 8.625 tax is 473.... 36 months, 12000 miles. First payment and registration fees up front.
I think better is possible, but this seems to be a pretty good deal.0
Kirstie_H Posts: 11,077
Please visit our 2014 Toyota Highlander Lease Questions discussion.
Need help navigating? kirstie_h[email protected] - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews0


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Excellent Customer Experience Starts With an Integrated WCM
There are hundreds of WCM options available but not all equip you to meet the varied needs of today's customers and their unique buying journeys. Liferay DXP is a modern WCM platform that provides the flexible architecture necessary to integrate your systems and deliver digital experiences across the many channels that make up today's customer experiences. Ovum, an independent global analyst and consultancy firm based in the UK, calls Liferay DXP more advantageous than other WCM systems because it can create engaging experiences that span the entire customer journey.
Download the complimentary swot analysis and learn:
- About Liferay's full-featured WCM system with out-of-the-box integration
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The Alleged Domestic Violence Call
It is important for SM/leather/fetish persons to have an understanding of the relationship between the SM community and law enforcement and of the numerous legal issues that can effect us ? specifically the law enforcement response to an alleged domestic violence call. Once this is accomplished, we can constructively interact with law enforcement if the need arises. This presentation will focus on two aspects of this relationship ? constructively dealing with officers and avoiding legal trouble. This workshop does not go in depth about the "cycle of abuse" or "real/actual" domestic violence, rather it is about consensual SM being misinterpreted as domestic violence by law enforcement. The discussion is designed to include the following sub?topics:
- Our attitudes towards law enforcement
- The attitudes of law enforcement toward the SM community and SM activities
- Reasons for law enforcement to take action against a SM activities
- Effective interaction with law enforcement
- Society's domestic violence concern
- The alleged domestic call
- Things SM persons should do
The law is a complex and ever?evolving system and has a long way to go before it takes all alternative lifestyles into consideration. In the meantime, we need to be as familiar with the law and of law enforcement as we can be. Utilizing our knowledge, people skills, and common sense, we can hopefully avoid becoming victimized by the society we live in.
PDF Coming Soon


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One-Piece and Power Window Kits From Bob's F-100 Parts
Are you ever checking out a classic truck, knowing that it appears cleaner and smoother than the rest, but you can't quite put your finger on what the modifications are? A seemingly uncluttered vehicle almost always draws the eye closer, and more times than not, a major contributing factor is that the wing windows have been eliminated. In recent years, one-piece window kits have become available for many of the most popular early pickups, and even some of the not-so-popular models. A company at the forefront of this advancement is Bob's F-100 Parts in Riverside, California. In addition to having one of the largest inventories of F-1 and F-100 parts we've seen, Bob's offers hundreds of new parts and upgrades for your ol' Ford–including one-piece power window kits for years ranging from '48-66.
Recently, we stopped by Bob's F-100 Parts to see some of the units in action, and we were cheerfully greeted by Bob and given a guided tour of the showroom, shop, and parts rooms–not to mention the stockpile of old Fords in the back forty.
The back room of the shop was devoted to us that day, as Bob had effectively set up a one-piece power window workshop. A scrap door of each body-style Effie was cleaned and primered and featured a large cutaway to easily show the work involved that is common to all kits, as well as the nuances of each. The years '48-52, '53-55, '56, '57-60, and '61-66 were all represented, and some are definitely more involved than others. A one-piece power window kit from Bob's F-100 Parts comes complete in a box with a pre-bent channel, felts, glass, a motor, electrical plugs, and all the necessary hardware for the job. Bob also showed us how to install a standard switch kit, as well as a kit from Hotronics he offers as an upgrade. Follow along as Bob gives us a run-through of each of the doors. Bob also reminded us that they can build one-piece or power windows for just about any flat glass window in existence, so if you have any questions, don't hesitate to log on or give 'em a call.


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Mozilla, the developer of the popular Firefox web browser, will open its first San Francisco office this summer, bolstering the city's growing renown as a technology hub.
Mayor Edwin Lee will announce this afternoon that the Mountain View nonprofit has signed a 15,000-square-foot lease at 2 Harrison St. in the South of Market district, providing space for up to 125 staff members and volunteers.
"San Francisco offers Mozilla the ideal location for bringing together their global software development community to collaborate and innovate on big ideas," Mayor Lee said in a statement provided to the Chronicle. "Mozilla joins San Francisco's robust and growing tech industry, and I am thrilled to welcome Mozilla to San Francisco."
The space at Hills Plaza, where Google Inc. already occupies several floors, will specifically be designed to accommodate volunteers and encourage collaboration, said Melissa Shapiro, a Mozilla spokeswoman.
The office will also serve as a location for industry events, where the regional software and creative communities can exchange ideas and work together on projects, the company said.
"We recognize and value the entrepreneurial spirit, unique technical skills, and boundless energy found within San Francisco," Mozilla Chief Executive Gary Kovacs said in a statement. "We look forward to extending our world class, collaborative work environment into San Francisco."
San Francisco has long been home to industries that support the storied technology sector of Silicon Valley, like investment banks, public relations firms and ad shops. But through the dot.com and Web 2.0 eras, the city has built its own critical mass of important companies. That includes homegrown businesses like Twitter, Zynga and Yelp, as well as substantial satellite offices for major players like Google and Microsoft.
As the Chronicle previously reported, the number of tech workers in San Francisco is fast approaching the halcyon days of the dot.com boom.
The city boasted an estimated 32,180 tech jobs last year, compared to 34,116 in 2000, according to an analysis of state employment data by real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle. In 2004, the number of tech jobs had dropped to 18,210.


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The Midwest Haunters Convention bus tour will be June 5 & 6, 2013. We�re still finalizing details, but we�re working with the following haunts on what is shaping up to be a fantastic trip. Wow, check out the list that includes some of the top rated haunts in the Midwest:
Indiana Fields of Fears, Lafayette, In
Fear Itself, Mishawaka, In
Screampark, Niles, Mi
Phobia House, Kalamazoo, Mi
The Haunt, Grand Rapids, Mi
Terrorfied Forest & Manor, Pinckney, Mi
Terror Town, Toledo, Oh
Scare Fair, Lima, Oh
We have one more haunt we�re trying to squeeze in on Wednesday; keep watching for more updates and make plans now for this memorable haunt bus tour. This is a great way to see what other haunts are doing to entertain their guests!
Ask Santa now for your magic ticket on one of our four buses for this extraordinary trip.


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NORTH COVENTRY - The Chester County Detectives and the North Coventry Police continued Friday investigating the murder of Kevin Allen, 17, of Norristown.
'The investigation is going all out,' Thomas P. Hogan, Chester Country district attorney, said Friday.
An autopsy on Allen's body was preformed Wednesday night, but the cause of death is not being released, Hogan said.
Allen was found dead at his father's burning apartment on Tuesday Feb.12, at Hanover Garden Apartments in the 200 block of East Schuylkill Road after a neighbor called the fire department.
The victim was a junior at Norristown Area High School.
'It does not appear to be a random act,' Chester County District Attorney Thomas P. Hogan said Wednesday afternoon during a press conference in West Chester. 'At this point, preliminarily, I would say that it is one person, acting alone.'
There was blood on the walls near the staircase leading to the second-story apartment and soot covered the inside of the glass Tuesday. There were also char marks on the outside of the building.
Allen's body was removed from the apartment after midnight and was taken to the Chester County Coroner's Office.
Allen's father was not home in the apartment of which he is the sole occupant, Hogan said.
His parents are not listed as suspects and they are cooperating with authorities.
The district attorney's office is not releasing any more information about possible suspects or persons of interest. In the press conference, Hogan said the killer made mistakes and the investigators have many leads to go on.
Hogan said that police walked the entire area surrounding the apartment complex, including Mount Zion Cemetery across the street to see if they could find anything.
The district attorney said it was a routine measure.
Kevin Allen was recalled by friends as a smiling person who loved music. Damian Fisicaro told a reporter that he and his younger brother, Jesse Fisicaro, have known the victim since he was seven-years-old while he was staying with his father in Spring City.
'He was always smiling and laughing and he absolutely loved music; it was his drug and he was really photogenic,' said Damian Fisicaro.


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People We Love: Jordan Howard
Jordan Howard was a student at an environmental charter high school, but she wasn't enthusiastic about environmental issues. Then a Green Ambassadors class got her inspired "to educate people on the solutions."
Howard and the prom committee planned a green senior prom for her school, which took place at a LEED certified mansion. They used paper lanterns instead of balloons, served organic food, and encouraged students to rent dresses and get their hair done at eco-salons.
Her next step was to help start the teen educational campaign Rise Against Plastics; followed by Green My Parents, a program that helps kids get parents to go green. Howard is a winner of the U.S. Green Building Council's Young Leader Award, and now speaks to organizations across the nation.
- The Environmental Charter High School is making an impact on students, the community, and the planet.


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Our "busuu.com story contest" is now over. A lot of people sent us funny stories, posted nice entries about language learning on their blog or even uploaded amazing videos about busuu.com on YouTube!
It was impressive to see a lot of people from our language learning community participating in this contest. Just to name a few, there was jamalmashayekhi from Iran who carried out a funny survey on his blog about marriages around the world by interviewing his friends from busuu.com. Or Nikasik from Latvia, who, during her holidays, met by coincidence a guy learning Spanish on busuu.com, who is now a good friend of hers!
We also liked the entries of luisnivicente or sergio-c2 from Spain, who both wrote great reviews about our website on their blogs (luisnivicente 's blog, sergio-c2's blog).
As you can imagine, it was not easy at all to select three winners – but finally we had to take a decision and we are proud to announce the winners:
The best entry of our contest is yatusabes777 from Ecuador thanks to both his amazing video and his blog entry.
The second best entry came from blogor from Mexico for his very nice blog entry about busuu.com.
The third winner is Brad_Tyler from France, who posted a very interesting article on his blog.
We are happy to give all of them a free SIX month Premium Membership!
Thanks to all the other busuu.com members who have sent us nice entries or stories. It´s really very rewarding to see such a dedication to our website by our wonderful community!
Enjoy language learning with busuu.com!


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Budgets continue to be a major issue for most libraries. Lack of funding for programs, books, and staff has caused many libraries to make major cuts. As librarians, we know that the worse the economic times, the more people need the resources we offer. How do we bridge the funding gap?
There are two crowdsource movements online that are changing the way people raise money for, well, everything. Indiegogo and Kickstarter are websites where you can raise money for anything from a new business idea to funding for a homeless shelter. If it costs money, there are people online asking for it and there are plenty of people giving them money.
There have been a few high profile successes recently:
Just last week, Matthew Inman of The Oatmeal fame, launched the Let's Build a Goddamn Tesla Museum campaign at Indiegogo. As I write this, the goal for the Tesla fundraiser was $850,000 and the actual amount raised is currently $921,483. Inman is the same guy who famously raised $220,024.00 for charity after being embroiled in a huge online argument with a lawyer, the lawyer's wife, and a website that was stealing Inman's content. In both instances, Inman's stated goals were met in a matter of days for the Tesla fundraiser and in a matter of hours for the charity campaign.
Musicians are starting to break from the need to have big labels by raising money on kickstarter. Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra raised over a million dollars to fund their new album, and tour, a travel visual art display, and a beautiful art book. You read that right. A million dollars. Neil Gaiman, writer extraordinaire and Palmer's husband, collaborated on the book/art side of the project.
One of my favorite indie musicians, Marc Gunn, used IgnitionDeck, a crowdfunding WordPress plugin, to fund his next album. Compared to the examples above, his $4,000 might seem small, but the success of the campaign means he will keep making great celtic music for his fans and he can continue to do what he loves.
Santa Cruz Public Library ran a kickstarter campaign to raise money for an art installation of black and white photos that were taken at the library. They needed $5,000 for the materials and labor. Sixty-five people gave SCPL $5,150 to fund their community art project. The Heritage Public Library and the Montreal Children's Library were the only two other libraries I could find on kickstarter or indiegogo. Both still need money to reach their goal.
Even with financial times being tough, people still want to give money to others. I think kickstarter and indiegogo have been successful because people like giving on a micro level. They appreciate knowing that their money is going to something local, a cause they deeply care about, or to a person whose story matters to them.
Libraries have stories that matter to people. We are part of the community. We are local. People care about their library. There are funding needs in libraries, big and small, that could be funded by a well publicized crowdfunding campaign. You'll never know the answer, unless you ask.


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Tech Update
Clean and Green Metal-Spinning Machines
Programmers, operators and maintenance personnel can access most functions of the machines while the machinery doors are closed. For example, a drawer allows for easy removal of metal chips when the spinning machine also is used for auxiliary applications such as machining. The opening distance of the automatic doors is adjustable to minimize cycle times, and robotic loading and unloading is easily interfaced.
Other features include a six-tool change station, pressure-control system, replay system, and auxiliary trimming and beading units.
Global Metal Spinning Solutions, Inc., Denn USA Metal Forming: 719/282-9061; www.globalmetalspinning.com
See also: Global Metal Spinning Solutions, Inc.
Related Enterprise Zones: Other Processes
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A new national study has found modest declines in obesity among 2- to 4-year-olds from poor families, a dip that researchers say may indicate that the obesity epidemic has passed its peak among this group.
The study, by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drew on the height and weight measurements of 27 million children who were part of the federal Women, Infants and Children program, which provides food subsidies to low-income mothers and their children up to the age of 5.
The study was based on data from 30 states and the District of Columbia and covered the years from 1998 to 2010. The share of children who were obese declined to 14.9 percent in 2010, down from 15.2 percent in 2003, after rising between 1998 and 2003. Extreme obesity also declined, dropping to 2.07 percent in 2010 from 2.22 percent in 2003. The study was published Tuesday in The Journal of the American Medical Association.
The report defined a 3-year-old boy of average height, almost 3 feet 2 inches tall, as being obese when he weighed 37 pounds or more. The same boy was categorized as being extremely obese when he weighed 44 pounds or more.
"The declines we're presenting here are pretty modest, but it is a change in direction," said Heidi M. Blanck, one of the study's authors and the acting director of the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity at the disease centers. "We were going up before. And this data shows we're going down. For us, that's pretty exciting."Continue reading the main story
The findings were another sign that one of the nation's seemingly intractable health problems may be reversing course, at least among children. Single interventions like school exercise programs have not worked, and public health experts now say that only a broad set of policy measures has a chance of success.
Over the past year, several major cities, including Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia, have reported obesity declines among some parts of their student populations.
The new study was one of the first to document a national decline in obesity among young children from low-income families. Researchers say that is particularly meaningful in a population that is disproportionately at risk. Twenty percent of poor children are obese, compared with about 12 percent of children from more affluent families, according to the centers.
It is unclear what drove the decline, but Dr. Blanck offered hypotheses. Breast-feeding, which often leads to healthier weight gain for young children, has increased since 2000. The percentage of 6-month-olds still being breast-fed increased to 47.7 percent among children born in 2009, up from 34.2 percent among children born in 2000.
Breast-feeding of infants from low-income families has risen over the years. In 1980, only 28 percent of infants from those families had ever been breast-fed, compared with 66 percent in 2011.
Dr. Blanck also pointed to changes in the environment, like those documented in a report about food marketing practices released by the Federal Trade Commission on Friday.
The agency found that the amount of money spent on food marketing to children declined by nearly 20 percent from 2006 to 2009, with the biggest drop in television advertising. The total spent on food advertising to youths in 2009 was $1.79 billion, the report said.
The report, based on data from 48 major food and beverage marketers, also found that cereals marketed to children ages 2 to 11 had about a gram less sugar per serving in 2009 than in 2006 and slightly more whole grain.
Marketing to children of the most sugary cereals — those with 13 grams or more sugar per serving — was virtually eliminated between 2006 and 2009, according to the report.
But drinks marketed to children still averaged more than 20 grams of added sugar per serving, the report found. Most of the improvements in beverages in the time period were in those sold in schools, the report said.
Dr. Blanck said she was hopeful that several national programs begun in the past few years would help extend the early declines. One initiative, Let's Move! Child Care, initiated by Michelle Obama's office, helps child care centers serve healthier food and include physical activity throughout day.
Changes in the foods that are subsidized in the Women, Infants and Children program, like less financing for fruit juice and more for fruits and vegetables, may also help, she said.Continue reading the main story


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Galvanized rigid steel and aluminum are the traditional materials for electrical conduit, but since their introduction in the 1960s, plastic and competitive pipe have been rapidly gaining market share. In fact, according to 2008 industry research by Cleveland-based Freedonia Group, U.S. demand for plastic and competitive pipe will reach 11.1 billion ft in 2013. Plastic pipe will grow at the fastest pace, states the report, "Plastic & Competitive Pipe to 2013," with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) remaining the dominant resin (click here to see Fig. 1), followed by high-density polyethylene or HDPE (Resistance to Change below), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and reinforced thermoset. About 50% of total PVC use in the United States and Canada can be ascribed to demand for plastic pipe.
Almost two-thirds of global demand for PVC comes from the building and construction industry, notes Rapra Technology's market report, "PVC World Markets and Prospects," authored by Professor Geoff Pritchard, technical consultant, Hackwell Group, Tunbridge Wells, England. This is mostly for rigid nonmetallic conduit (RNC) — flexible PVC only accounts for 30% of all PVC sold worldwide. The construction industry sectors with the largest demand for rigid PVC pipe, tubing, and fittings include potable water and wastewater, agricultural irrigation and drainage, and electrical and tel/data conduit and ducting (click here to see Fig. 2).
Notes from underground
In electrical installations, the properties of PVC pipe make it an excellent replacement for metal pipe in underground installations in concrete and anywhere else (excluding areas of extreme temperatures) there may be corrosive or wet conditions for which the material is specifically approved by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). "It's best for burial applications," says Greg Winchester, program manager in the Technical Services Department of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Rosslyn, Va. "With plastic conduit, you don't have any kind of corrosion issues so you can put it underground. You don't have to worry about the water seepage rusting things out. To me, that is what separates the plastic from the metal conduit."
According to Art. 352 of the NEC (see 2008 NEC Outlaws Some Nonmetallic Materials below), PVC conduit can be concealed within walls, floors, or ceilings; directly buried; or embedded in concrete in buildings of any height. "Rigid PVC conduit … provides many of the advantages of rigid metal conduit, while allowing installation in areas that are wet or corrosive," says Mike Holt, NEC expert, proprietor of MikeHolt.com, and Code consultant to EC&M. "This type of conduit is commonly used as an underground raceway because of its low cost, ease of installation, and resistance to corrosion and decay."
For instance, at Fort Irwin, Calif., Bergelectric Corp., Los Angeles, replaced rigid steel pipe with PVC pipe embedded in concrete, eliminating any exposed conduit and reducing future maintenance.
"It's an industry standard for underground," says Douglas Vice, foreman at Butterfield Electric, Woodland, Calif., who is currently working on a project that contains a whopping 55% PVC conduit (typical projects contain only 15% PVC). Because of the amount of utilities involved, the firm has installed approximately 4 mi of 4-in. PVC for a 2,400kV power primary, as well as around 2 mi of PVC piping for telecommunications, and a single duct for fiber optics, all of which will be contained in a concrete vault. Within the building, 126 call locations — each with a receptacle — will be connected with ¾-in. PVC enclosed within concrete. "We're saving a lot of money and a lot of time just by using PVC," Vice explains. "We use it for pretty much anything underground that has to travel any kind of distance or anything that's concealed or in concrete. You're not going to want to leave it out exposed to the sun."
Indecent exposure
Despite proponents' claims of resistance to direct sunlight, heat, and all weather conditions, some electrical contractors argue that PVC pipe contracts when exposed to the sun or extreme temperatures. In addition, in extreme cold, PVC conduit can become brittle and is more susceptible to physical damage. "It gets brittle and comes apart," says Vice.
Therefore, some contractors prefer not to use PVC for applications in commercial cold storage areas and outside in certain climates. "I've seen PVC conduit and plastic fixtures used in these environments, and they just don't withstand the extreme colds," says Steven Glorieux, CPMM, facilities manager for the University of Virginia Health Services Foundation, Charlottesville, Va., "They're easy to break. You try to open up a fixture or get into a PVC junction box, and it ends up snapping on you. So you end up having to either find another cover or replace the whole thing. Sometimes you just walk away and get back to it later."
Article 352 of the Code identifies PVC Schedule 80 conduit for use in exposed areas subject to physical damage and also identifies PVC conduit Schedule 40 for use in exposed areas not subject to physical damage where the raceway is identified for the application. Yet, some electrical installers resist those applications. "You need to install to the Code and how the Code is written," says Glorieux. "But even Schedule 80 isn't all that strong and is open to abuse. Rigid metal conduit and regular electrical metallic tubing (EMT) will withstand a lot more physical abuse than PVC. The thought that metal conduit is always there as your last defense for ground faults is nice as well."
Although John Schmuck, electrical reliability engineer for Lyondellbasell Industries, Corpus Christi, Texas, is not an electrical contractor, his professional background has made him aware of the hazards associated with improperly exposed PVC conduit. "Here in South Texas, PVC that is exposed to the sun gets brittle, and it is not uncommon to see broken PVC," he says. "I see it most often on stub-ups for signs or lighting where it is subject to being hit by lawn mowers or vehicles. The broken conduit exposes the conductors and presents an electrocution hazard, so I don't believe it is a suitable material for this service."
Schmuck has witnessed similar situations in boat docks as well. "I've seen situations at the City Marina where they try to combat corrosion from the saltwater with PVC, but it gets brittle and breaks, and then it starts falling down and the conduit can get broken. I just feel like they should use a metal conduit to stub-up above-grade, because it gives you a much stronger, more substantial, longer lasting installation."
In place of PVC, Schmuck recommends aluminum conduit. "Of course, it's substantially more expensive. I understand the reason people use PVC — it's cheap. I just feel like hazards are being created by using PVC in those places."
Fast and cheap
The perception of plastic pipe is that it saves money on materials. "PVC is so much more affordable," says Vice. But recent reports, highlighted in "The Economics of Phasing Out PVC," published by the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University, Somerville, Mass., say this isn't necessarily true.
According to the reports, life-cycle costs often favor alternatives. A strict comparison of purchase prices, or even installed costs, of PVC and alternatives may give a misleading impression that PVC is more affordable. "Some of the alternatives have higher initial purchase prices than PVC products, but are actually less expensive over the useful life of the product," reads the study.
Cost may not be the only determining factor in pipe selection. Material preference and installation methods also play a large part. Consumers select products that contain PVC even when lower cost substitutes are available, according to the Washington, D.C.-based building materials watchdog group Healthy Building Network's "PVC-Free Pipe Purchasers' Report." For instance, contractors who have never used HDPE may be resistant to working with an unfamiliar material. Yet, trenchless installations could dramatically reduce both cost and environmental impact of some underground pipe projects.
PVC is cheaper simply because it's easier to put together, maintains Glorieux. However, he warns that the number of contractors who do not have a clue how to install it properly should be enough for it to carry a warning label. "There is definitely a use for it, but we all need to be better educated on how to install it and where to best use it," he says.
Vice agrees. "It's fast, and it's cheap," he says. "With metal, you have either a set screw mechanical-type connector or a compression-type mechanical connector. Either way, somebody's breaking out tools, setting it all together, and setting it all in place."
Vice also notes that the equipment costs more if you have it directly buried in concrete.
Article 352 of the NEC provides some guidelines for installation. Section 352.28 advises that the cut ends of PVC conduit must be trimmed (inside and out) to remove burrs and rough edges. "Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the raceway, fittings, and glue," advises Holt. "Some glue requires the raceway surface to be cleaned with a solvent before application. After applying glue to both surfaces, a quarter turn of the fitting is required." Holt adds, trimming PVC conduit is easy; most of the burrs rub off with fingers, and a knife will smooth the rough edges.
Time and a place
Nevertheless, PVC installation can be complicated, particularly with support and joints to allow for expansion. "First, a lot of people don't know all the ins and outs and what you're supposed to be doing with it, such as putting the expansion joints in," complains Glorieux, who, in his experience with electrical maintenance, has had to fix unattractive and improperly installed PVC conduit. "There can be a problem with it simply because someone didn't get all the straps in perfect alignment. You need to allow the conduit to slide, and then, on top of that, they now have different types of the straps that are made for that sliding purpose as well."
According to Glorieux, without proper expansion joints, the PVC starts to create a wave. "It just looks really ugly, so for aesthetic reasons I have to remove the PVC and put EMT up when applicable," he explains. "I've never had an instance where the wires have pulled apart, but when they start expanding, that is a possibility. I'm sure there must be pressures put on the wiring. You're supposed to leave a little extra wire, but not everybody always does."
In his work with wastewater plants, Glorieux has experienced the benefits of using PVC when he's pulled out corroded rigid metal conduit and replaced it with PVC. "The metal just couldn't withstand the amount of the gases that are given off," he explains. "They corrode the metal, so having the PVC in there just took care of the problem. So I see a lot of advantages of using it in those highly corrosive areas."
Sidebar: Resistance to Change
Due to health and environmental concerns over the manufacturing, fire rating, and disposal of PVC, some government institutions, health care organizations, and design firms are opting to use PVC-free alternatives, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), according to Washington, D.C.-based building materials watchdog group Healthy Building Network's "PVC-Free Pipe Purchasers' Report." Although PVC pipe maintains its top position for market share within the worldwide nonmetallic conduit arena, the report continues, HDPE has experienced the most growth in the conduit sector over the last 10 years. Still, by 2006, sales of PE pipe reached only about 1-billion lb annually, compared to 6.5-billion lb of PVC pipe, according to "The Economics of Phasing Out PVC," published by the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University, Somerville, Mass.
Familiarity with PVC seems to be the greatest obstacle hindering the widespread use of HDPE. Although HDPE has a longer history of use in pipe than PVC, its initial markets were limited to industrial settings, such as chemical companies and mining, while PVC made major inroads in municipal design, according to a recent report from Quebec-based Environment Canada, the Canadian government's conservation department. "As a result, municipal design engineers and contractors are more familiar working with PVC pipe, and seldom specify or design HDPE systems," reads the report.
Sidebar: 2008 NEC Outlaws Some Nonmetallic Materials
In the 2008 National Electrical Code (NEC) revision cycle, Art. 352, formerly titled "Rigid Nonmetallic Conduit" (RNC), was changed to address only rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) conduit, while high-density polyethylene (HDPE) remained in Art. 353, and the fiberglass type, also known as reinforced thermosetting resin conduit (RTRC), was awarded its own article, Art. 355. These changes marked a significant milepost in the Code in that other types of nonmetallic conduit are no longer deemed Code compliant, according to New York-based McGraw-Hill's "National Electrical Code 2008 Handbook." Materials effectively banned from use by the 2008 NEC (through application of Section 110.8) include styrene, fiber, tile, asbestos cement, soapstone, and others that once were used for underground applications.
Traditionally, RTRC was permitted only for underground applications. Recent advances in its fire resistance now allow it to be installed in above-grade installations where concealed in walls, floors, and ceilings and also in exposed areas, if specified for the application. The new article governing its use, Art. 355, is similar to Art. 352 with two exceptions: no mention of foam-core product and its own thermal expansion table, because it has a 45% lower coefficient of thermal expansion than PVC.


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World leaders must consider the environment if they want to ensure people enjoy a sustainable and dignified life. That was the message IUCN Director General Julia Marton-Lefèvre gave in her keynote address to the High-Level Ministerial segment of the 17th session of the United Nations Commission of Sustainable Development (CSD), held in New York from May 4 to 15.
Ms Marton-Levefevre said that as the world's governments and peoples reeled from the impact of crises on a scale never before witnessed, it was clear that the negative effects of unsustainable lifestyles and practices were being felt in Africa more strongly than anywhere else.
She said the entire international community would fail to attain the Millennium Development Goals and be unable to tackle tough environmental challanges, if it continued to negleft the African continent. Turning around that trend required not only scaling up investments in agriculture, markets and infrastructure, it also required a much more concerted effort to integrate Africa into world trade and significant increases in development aid to Africa.
"Looking ahead to the Commission's next thematic cycle, delegations need to pay particular attention this year to sustainable consumption and production and the impact, thereof, on Africa," Ms Marton-Lefèvre said. She urged delegations to keep environmental issues in the forefront of their thoughts and actions, even as the fallout from the global financial crisis continued to grab headlines.
Ignoring the pressures on the environment and natural resources caused by current behaviour would be a "serious mistake", she said, noting that, among other things, ongoing population increase combined with social and economic inequalities was amplyfying the stress on ecosystems and the services they provided. "In short, we are running out of time to reverse a serious of dangerous trends. We must now recognize that we have overdrawn our account of natural assets," she added.
She urged delegations and their respective governments to scale up their investments in nature by, among other ways, supporting the environment's ability to continue to provide clean air and water, food, clothing, medicines and inspiration.
Such investment required understanding that the environment was not a separate sector, but rather a crucial element to address many of today's challanges. Investing in nature also meant taking advantage of the interdependence of the environment, economy and society. Moreover, through ecosystem-based and landscape approaches, it was an effective way to decrease people's vulnerability to drought, desrtification and food insecurity.
"Without investment in nature, your objectives for managing today's sustainable development challanges of food security and poverty reduction are doomed to failure," she told the high-level ministerial segment..
She went on to highlight the proposal for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD), which IUCN believes is one of the best examples of what could be achieved by investing in nature. Stopping deforestation could curb the current global carbon emissions from 10 to 20 per cent.
An additional 117 gigatons of carbon emissions could be captured by restoring 850 million hectares of degraded forests worldwide. She added that the additional capture would also improve local livelihoods simply by using agro-corestry and other techniques.
"Why we would pass up an opportunity to make such a difference, using available technology and capacity, is beyond imagination," she said.
This year's CSD thematic focus covered agriculture, Africa, drought, desertification, rural development and land use. In line with this, IUCN organized several learning opportunities for delegates at the meeting, including one on the role of biofuels in terms of rural sustainable development and one on drylands.
IUCN President Ashok Khosla and Aroha Te Pareake Mead, the Chair of IUCN's Commission on Environment, Economic and Social Policy, participated in the event.
IUCN participated in the panel during the opening session of the CSD Partnerships Fair and contributed to the Working Session on the future of partnerships in the partnerships session, looking at lessons learned and best practices since Johannesburg.
To read Julia Marton-Lefèvre's full speech, please click here.


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Not looking for answers in the Qur'an is one of the first errors made in a society of ignorance. The majority of these people see clearly that the situation in which they find themselves is a dead end. They recognize that the lifestyle they have adopted and the character they have assumed have not led them anywhere; that these things have been unsatisfying and even disappointing. In response, they experiment with other alternatives provided by the society of ignorance, but find that these too bring them nothing. Because, one ignorant pattern of behavior is basically no different than another. People, places and conditions may change, but the false expectations and anxiety remain the same; the "intellectual" and the "socialite" are both focused on this world.
However, this earthly life is too brief to be worth becoming overly attached to. There is nothing to be gained from this world; when a person dies, everything he had will be taken from him. For this reason, every kind of undue devotion to this world gives rise only to anxiety.
A human being can find happiness only when he turns to Allah. A person can be saved from his troubles only by being Allah's friend and leading the kind of life He wills.
In the Qur'an, Allah reveals this important secret:
Those who believe and whose hearts find peace in the remembrance of Allah. Only in the remembrance of Allah can the heart find peace. (Surat ar-Ra'd, 28)
One who had become the friend of Allah strictly obeys the Book sent down by our Lord to guide him. From that point on, his personality and lifestyle are determined only by the Qur'an. Therefore, by the will of Allah, the Qur'an can lead human beings from darkness to light:
Alif Lam Ra. This is a Book We have sent down to you so that you can bring humanity from the darkness to the light, by the permission of their Lord, to the Path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy. (Surah Ibrahim, 1)
For this reason, there is no anxiety, discontent, worry or confusion in the personality derived from the teachings of the Qur'an. Instead, there is beauty, balance and faultless manners. Allah has promised such believers that He will offer them the finest reward for the good they do.
So that Allah can reward them for the best of what they did and give them more from His unbounded favor. Allah provides for anyone He wills without reckoning. (Surat an-Nur, 38)2012-01-21 14:19:00


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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Andrew Luck was lying face down on the New England Patriots' sideline, having just whiffed on a tackle attempt as the Pats' Alfonzo Dennard went 87 yards for a touchdown after picking off Luck's pass.
Members of the Patriots' extra-point team stepped around Luck on their way to lining up for the sixth such kick of the day in their 59-24 beatdown of the rookie No. 1 pick and the upstart Indianapolis Colts.
Finally, Luck picked himself up, trudged back to his own sideline, angrily ripped off his chin strap and slammed his helmet into the ground.
BOX SCORE: Patriots 59, Colts 24
It was the worst moment of one of the worst days of Luck's young career.
But it could've been worse.
"It was a lot better than the first day Peyton Manning came up here," interim head coach Bruce Arians said, referring to Manning's three-interception performance in his first road game against the Patriots. "I was here that day."
Luck threw three interceptions of his own Sunday, and they were bad ones. He also fumbled in the third quarter, leading to the Patriots' fifth touchdown.
"I think they were the right reads. Just some high balls, a ball behind a guy," Luck said, the last part of that statement a reference to his throw behind Reggie Wayne that Dennard picked off. "(The Patriots) are good enough. They don't need those gifts, per se. But to their credit, they created those and we didn't. Such is the game."
BIG BLOW: Rob Gronkowski breaks forearm, out 4-6 weeks
Such is the game that there will be days like this, four-turnover performances with a legend playing near-perfect football on the other sideline.
While the rest of the Colts' offense stayed on the bench while the Pats were on offense, Luck stood and watched Tom Brady deliver passes into tight windows to Rob Gronkowski and hit Wes Welker and Julian Edelman in stride, allowing them to pick up plenty of yardage after the catch.
AFC CONTENDERS: Broncos defense steps up to beat Chargers
Brady (331 yards and three touchdowns) was pretty animated himself, though, in a celebratory way. After completing a pass to Gronkowski in the fourth quarter with the Colts' Antoine Bethea all over him, Brady looked in Bethea's direction and slammed his own helmet with both hands. He was some kind of fired up.
The Patriots were less fired up, however, after the game, when they learned Gronkowski suffered a broken left forearm and will miss at least four to six weeks.
Though Brady would never admit it, he surely relished the challenge of showing up the next hot, young quarterback in his house.
One day, Luck will be able to welcome such a challenge. But that's of little consolation to Luck and the Colts at this point because there's still work to be done.
"It's fundamentals. I mean, you can't throw an out (route) late," Arians said. "We talked about it and he was mad at himself. That's the beauty of him. He'll come off the field and tell you exactly what he's thinking and we don't hide anything between each other."
SURVIVING: Schaub, Johnson key Texans' OT rally by Jaguars
By that, Arians meant he was right there to talk to Luck as the youngster slammed his helmet down. It was a much different reaction than Luck had after his first pick-six of the day. That one came on a floater that went over Wayne's head and into the hands of new Pats cornerback Aqib Talib.
Luck had to alter his throwing motion to avoid a rusher to his right. That caused the ball to float.
"Just a plain bad throw," Luck said.
PICK A SIDE: The NFL's most polarizing players
After that one, he was giving fist bumps on the sideline, patting other players' shoulder pads and clapping as he entered the huddle for his first snap after the bad throw. And credit Luck for his moxie because he completed four of his next five passes and then put the next two on the hands of his targets, only to see them dropped. The one incompletion that wasn't dropped was a ball he threw away, which was a terrific result because he made a great move to spin away from pressure and avoid a sack.
Luck's body language and confidence led to that kind of in-game rebound. Over the years, he'll learn to act that way more than he'll be face-first on the grass for 10 seconds or throwing down his helmet.
DISAPPOINTED TO DEATH? Local obituary blames Chiefs for fan's death
And that little in-game rebound after the first interception is part of the reason why Luck's teammates believe he'll come back strong after this game.
"Hopefully like a professional," Wayne said. "Hopefully, he'll be ready to play again sooner rather than later and bounce back. We all hope so."
The feelings behind the emotion Luck showed on the sideline after Dennard's interception were a good sign to Arians, as well as a few veterans.
"It lets you know he's a competitor. It's encouraging to see that," linebacker Robert Mathis said. "He wants to win, and you can take that and build on that. I have no problems with it. It's a lesson learned."
A lesson he must learn -- to handle those down moments and continue to battle back from them, even if his emotions did please some of his teammates.
"Just disappointment in myself," Luck said, "Letting the team down on a good drive that could've made a game out of it."
He added of the need to bounce back before Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills, a team trying to erase the two-game deficit between them and Indy, "As a quarterback, you do assume a leadership position, but I don't think it'll be an issue at all. I don't think anybody on the team is going to press to make sure anybody else is focused and locked in. With great veteran leadership, I think we'll be focused."


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4. Global Wine figures the assembly value and share region wise and their application until 2028.
5. The study for comprehensive landscape and statistics for industrial growth and development
6. To have the systematic footprint of Wine industry and future.
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The Jackson County Sheriff's Office arrested a fugitive on Tuesday who was wanted on armed robbery charges.
James Alvin Pressley, 32, Pendergrass, was arrested in Commerce after being located by an alert off-duty deputy who called for on-duty deputies to make the arrest. Pressley reportedly did resist arrest but was taken into custody after a struggle.
Pressley is being held in the Jackson County Detention Center on the following charges: armed robbery, robbery, aggravated assault, reckless driving, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, riving on the wrong side of the road and stop sign and yield sign violations.
Pressley had been sought for one week after deputies located him and attempted to arrest him on the initial charges of aggravated assault, robbery and robbery and armed robbery in connection with an incident that occurred on Dec. 28 in Arcade.
On Tuesday, Jan. 8, Pressley reportedly attempted to hit a deputy sheriff head-on in his patrol car, causing the deputy to leave the roadway to avoid the collision. A deputy responding to the call for assistance in Pressley's apprehension lost control of his patrol car and crashed. The deputy was transported to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville and was treated and released. Sheriff Janis Mangum met with the deputy an his family after he arrived at the hospital.
"Pressley is a prime example of those carrier criminals who steadily become more and more violent, jeopardizing the public and the law enforcement officers who engage him time after time," Sheriff Mangum said. "I intend to see that the court is well aware of the violence, injury and expense involved in this particular case and will work to assure that it doesn't happen again for a long time.
Fugitive arrested by sheriff's office
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As cable testing standards evolve, installers must keep up with the changes or face extinction.
The demand for faster, more powerful local area networks (LANs) has led to the design of networks that handle more and larger transmissions -- at faster bitrates. As these networks continue to evolve, so do cable standards and the rules governing how cables are tested. Cable installers must keep abreast of these changes to continue building systems that meet new customer demands. Before looking at these changes, however, installers must understand the importance of two factors critical to LAN cable testing:
Transmission rate
. This is the issue most of us think about when dealing with LAN testing and the one we will pay the most attention to in this article. How quickly can we get signals from Point A to Point B? Will the cable, connectors, and associated devices permit this transfer speed, or will they distort the signal? These are critical issues.
Network management
. Can the network handle the traffic levels? Consider a network running at 100 Mb/s, with three nodes (or, computer stations) connected to it, each transmitting 30 Mb/s. This should work fine. But what if you connect another 10 nodes to the same network? Total network traffic can become a serious issue.
. Several industry organizations, including the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the Electronics Industries Alliance (EIA), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) have put specific standards in place that:
Promote consistent cabling design and installation practices.
Encourage conformance to physical and transmission line requirements.
Act as a basis for examining a proposed system expansion and other changes.
Serve as a consistent structure for uniform documentation of cabling installations.
Increase interoperability across mixed-vendor environments.
The evolution of ANSI/TIA/EIA and ISO/IEC standards to encompass higher performance cabling links has also driven an expansion of test requirements to ensure reliable installation compliance at each level. The Table above displays the various test suite components, such as line map, link length, attenuation, impedance, crosstalk, and ELFEXT, and it relates each test to the applicable TIA categories and ISO classes.
Test requirements
Cat. 3 cables are mostly used for telephone and low-speed data applications such as 10BASE-T.
Cat. 4 cables have been omitted from the comparison table because they have essentially disappeared and been replaced by Cat. 5 cables, which have become the cable medium of choice for horizontal cabling to the desktop.
Cat. 5 currently supports 100 Mb/s (fast Ethernet) and 155 Mb/s asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). It is also the goal of the IEEE 802.3ab committee to rate Gigabit Ethernet (GBE) at 1000 Mb/s and make it backward-compatible to standard Cat. 5 cabling. Running GBE over Cat. 5 is still considered problematic, but if it is proven feasible, the largest installed base of cable infrastructure would immediately gain about 10 times the bandwidth capability over existing fast Ethernet.
Cat. 5e is the recommended cable type for copper GBE installations. It is an interim solution that uses the same frequency sweep to 100 MHz as standard Cat. 5 cable. It does, however, provide somewhat better pair-to-pair performance and improved return loss, near-end crosstalk (NEXT), and equal level far-end crosstalk (ELFEXT). From a test parameter standpoint, Cat. 5e and Level II-E accuracy essentially push each measurement category up by 3 dB over existing Cat. 5 requirements.
Cat. 6 cables (or Class E) are intended to offer significant improvements in transmission capabilities with a frequency capability as high as 200 MHz. The adoption of Cat. 6 and Level III is also targeted to harmonize TIA Cat. 6 with ISO Class E cabling. Field test equipment for Cat. 6/Class E will be required to sweep to 250 MHz (to cover any measurements in close proximity to the 200 MHz benchmark) and test to a new Level III accuracy. Level III accuracy will incorporate all of the existing tests used in TSB95 at the Cat. 5e level. However, the movement from 100 MHz to 200 MHz traffic levels (250 MHz for the test suite) requires a significant improvement (by as much as 10 dB) in each of the critical RF parameters that characterize the test device's accuracy. This is spawning a whole new generation of field testers to meet Level III requirements.
It's important to realize there is still no approved Cat. 6 standard for the industry. Companies have been selling Cat. 6 products made to various draft standards for quite some time, but there is no approved standard at this time. You should make your customers aware of it when they request Cat. 6 cabling.
Future cabling standards
. The future definition and adoption of Cat. 7/Class F cabling standards is intended to push effective transmission speeds into the 600 MHz range. Manufacturers must increase the capabilities of unshielded cabling and the RJ-45 connector configuration to achieve this objective. Most industry participants have accepted that the most likely candidate for cabling will consist of individual shielded wire pairs, with an overall shield around all four pairs. Existing cabling such as the PIMF used in some European countries can potentially provide positive ACR values at 600 MHz. However, the high attenuation characteristics result in a relatively weak signal. In addition, the use of shielded cabling and the need for an entirely new connector design are likely to make the installation and certification of Cat. 7/Class F cabling significantly more expensive than other alternatives.
Evolving with the standards
. For installation companies entering the LAN market, a standards-based migration path (that is, installing Cat. 5 systems to gain competency, then moving to Cat. 5e, and then onward) allows them to equip their initial teams with entry-level devices and then add higher-end systems as they grow, without the headaches and expense of wholesale retraining programs.
For the large installer, the availability of several price/performance levels and support for ongoing upgrades enables them to efficiently equip and deploy more installer teams with targeted capabilities, while effectively managing their overall equipment investments. In addition, with cable installers and their customers using equipment from a common family of devices and staying abreast of changing standards, activities such as over-the-phone troubleshooting become much easier, saving both parties significant time and money in the process.
Because the need for higher performance continues to push the evolution of cabling standards and testing/certification requirements, it is imperative that professional installation companies maintain an awareness of the current state of all standards. In this environment of changing standards, professional installers must take advantage of the smooth migration paths offered by front-tier test equipment manufacturers.


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877.723.4267 | Contact | Blog
March 18, 2013,
Posted in News
Posted on March 6, 2013 by huntingmotherearthI have been using Radians products for more years than I am going to admit to in writing. Many years ago I was suffering from an inner ear problem, and I couldn't be around shooting without being in pain. My husband bought me my first set of electronic earmuffs at that time, they were my first Radians. I was so impressed, I was like a little kid running around telling everyone who would listen how thrilled I was with my hearing protection. Many of the shooters I was bragging to, had never had a pair of electronic earmuffs, and couldn't understand how you could hear better, but not blow out your eardrums when shooting, while wearing them. But, they all went out and bought the same earmuffs I had, after using mine for just a little while! They became believers!Now we return to the present, and I am still running around telling everyone how great they are! I still have my original pair, and they still work great, but I have added to that one over the years.The Hunter's Ears model has to be the best all around model I have used. They feature the dual independently controlled microphones which enhance and amplify sound, while they automatically compress the harmful sudden noise from a muzzle blast. Like all of the Radians earmuffs, they can be folded very compactly for protection of the unit and ease of storage. They are comfortable to wear, with lots of adjustment for different sized heads. I tend to forget I even have them on!HE4P00CSThe Prowl Ears model is a behind the ear version that still has the amplification and compression features. These are extremely small and easy to transport and pack. The package includes 2 units and will work both in the woods or on the job. Wearing this model, you can easily wear a hat or head band for warmth.Prowl Ear_PR2601CSMy new favorite pair is the Enhance Ear! The are a very small design that fits comfortably and securely into your ear. Like the other electronic hearing protection that Radians offers, these can do the double duty of sound application and harmful sound compression. These do the job of their bigger brothers, while leaving you the freedom of hats, headband and eye glasses without any conflicting. I wore these the entire time I was hog hunting in Alabama recently. They made hearing the faint hog noises much easier, while of course not doing any damage to my hearing from my shots! Plus no extra weight to carry around with you! These will be going to South Africa with me in a couple of months. I need to watch what I pack because of weight, and these don't weigh enough to make any difference in my luggage, but they will definitely make a difference when we are sighting in our rifles and hunting!Enhance Ear_TA2701CSFor my grandchildren, I am loving the new Women and Youth models! They now offer a Pink Pro-Amp model, which of course is pink. They feature the dual independent microphones which amplifies your normal conversations while keeping the harmful impulse noises to a safe level. The headband is padded with a moisture wicking material. These are designed for the smaller heads that we women tend to have. My granddaughters have been fighting over this pair, so I will probably be adding another into our collection!Pink Pro-Amp_PAP700CSThere are several combination packs that are offered for Women and Youth. There is a T-71P/MP22C that pairs the performance shooting glasses with the slim design passive earmuffs. This combo comes in pink, with the shooting glasses having tasteful accents in pink. These earmuffs have a Noise Reduction Rating (NNR) of 22.There is also the True Jr. Combo kit, which has the silver colored True Jr. Earmuuffs designed specifically for the younger shooter. These are passive, and have a NNR of 21. This kit also includes the youth model shooting glasses, with 3 interchangeable lens colors.My grandchildren shoot often with us, so it is important to have eye and hearing protection that not only fits correctly, but also protects their delicate ears and eyes. These models fit the bill, and also require no batteries! We used to let them use our electronic versions, and we would have to purchase new batteries absolutely every time we used them. The kids would inevitably leave the microphones turned on, even after they were done wearing them. These passive models are perfect for the kids that would forget.Radians manufactures for several different companies, including Remington. They have also came out with a complete line of Michael Waddell's Bone Collector shooting glasses and hearing protection. Fashionable and functional performance!I use my hearing protection for every situation. They go from shooting and hunting to cutting firewood and running other equipment. The next time you are in the market for a new set of hearing protection, look for the Radians name, you will not be disappointed! They have a hearing protection for every application and budget!These products can be purchased at Cabelas, Bass Pro, Gander Mountain, Sears, Amazon and many other retailers. They range in price from $15.99 for the Low Set Ear Muffs to around $100 for the Hunter's Ear model. And the best part…They are Made in the USA!!Source: LadiesinCamo.comPhoto Credit: Diane Hassinger
November 26, 2012,
Posted in News
MEMPHIS, TN—November 20, 2012—A recent survey by the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) reports amazing growth in female participation in hunting and shooting. According to the NSGA survey, "72 percent more women are hunting with firearms today than just five years ago." Hunting with a bow and arrow is up 176 percent (thank you Hunger Games!) and shooting with a handgun is up 33 percent.The survey reports that "3 million women now hunt and over 5 million women enjoy shooting." To support the growing number of female shooters and hunters, Radians is developing a pink safety line for women that includes eye, ear, and hand protection. Some of the products in the women's line include:
When designing the products for women, Radians considers the differences in female anatomy. For example, their eyewear frames for women are 10% smaller than those made for men, providing the perfect size for women. Although the eyewear styles are more feminine, they are fully functional when it comes to meeting and exceeding ANSI Z87.1+ Standards for safety.For more information about Radians quality personal protective products for shooters and hunters, including their ladies and youth lines, call 1-877-RADIANS or visit their website at www.Radians.com or their Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/RadiansPPE.
5305 Distriplex Farms DriveMemphis, TN 38141 Toll Free 877-723-4267 Phone 901-388-7776 Fax 901-266-2558
Safety Professionals, 'We've Got a Problem'
Save Lives & Reduce Injury with FR/AR Workwear
Radians Acquires Neese Industries
Safety Supply Corporation to acquire LFS Glove, a division of LFS, Inc.


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StationeryOnline needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 89 designs submitted by 34 freelance designers.
We are an online company seeking a logo for our new collection of personalised Wedding Stationery (Wedding Invitations, Placecards, thank you cards, acceptance notes)
Sarah Rose
Desired Color Scheme:
We are open to suggestions
Desired Style:
Not sure if we want modern or traditional
Accepted File Formats:
Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai)
We are an online company seeking a logo for our new collection of Wedding Stationery (Wedding Invitations, Placecards, thank you cards, acceptance notes).
The logo will be used mainly on the web, and to a lesser extent in print.
We would like a logo that reflects the personality of our embossed and foiled cards (which are elegant and  timeless) We expect the card designs to appeal to a broad market as they are quite neutral. The cards are easy on the budget and will be sold mainly online.
One concept idea for your logo might be a secret garden type look with roses, vines, stone paths etc (as the photo shoot for the wedding stationery took place in this type of setting). This is just one idea and we'd love to see your creative flair with other possible ideas.
We look forward to seeing your designs.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Looks – Naughty Nauticals Purple, Green, and Blue Oh My!
Ohh, a little overboard in this look. I'm probably heading up to my parents' house, so I'll end up wearing a different look there anyway! (I usually spend all day outside running around with my puppy, so minimal makeup is usually better!)
I used Lark About pigment (LE) on inner lid, Mutiny pigment (LE) on middle of lid, Bell Bottom Blue pigment (LE) on outer lid, Rite of Spring eyeshadow (LE) on inner lid, Juxt eyeshadow on middle of lid, Newly Minted eyeshadow on middle of lid, Freshwater eyeshadow on outer lid and crease, Juxt eyeshadow above crease, Phloof! eyeshadow on brow, Mutiny pigment (LE) on lower lash line, Graphblack technakohl on lower lash line, Blacktrack fluidline on upper lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. I had Other Worldly blush (LE) on cheeks with Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer on cheeks. I wore Fun Fun lipstick (LE) with Comet Blue dazzleglass (LE) and Ms. Fizz dazzleglass (LE).
** These are recommendations for dupes based on permanent colors available — may not necessarily be identical; they are the closest I can think of!
Lark About = Frozen White; Mutiny = Sky Blue (PRO); Bell Bottom Pigment = Naval, Deep Truth; Rite of Spring = Pink Opal; Other Worldly = Raizin; Fun Fun = Pervette; Comet Blue = Turquatic Glitter + gloss; Ms. Fizz = Flashmode (maybe)


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Here's a goody from the archives. A number of you have tried this recipe for Coca-cola Chicken wings that I first posted in March 2011. You wouldn't guess just how delicious it is based on the simple ingredients. In this recipe that's a favorite of home cooks in China, Cola-Cola and soy sauce meld to form a great sweet and savory glaze for the chicken. You get a great caramelized flavor without the work!
I don't know exactly when or how Coca-cola chicken wings became a Chinese dish, but it's a baby compared to everything that originated back when dynasties existed. Heck, many people don't even realize it's a Chinese dish, much less a common one. I have never seen it printed on a restaurant menu or in an English-language Chinese cookbook. It does, however, appear from time to time in Chinese-language cookbooks and on cooking shows, sometimes involving as few as three ingredients.
In China, Coke and other sodas hold a higher prestige than they do in the US. About 5 years ago, when I first visited Beijing, some relatives took me out to a pretty lavish restaurant for my first Peking duck experience. After drink orders were taken, the head waiter returned to the table with a wine cart. With a flourish, he brandished a bottle in his right arm for inspection, which, for course, turned out to be Coke instead Bordeaux.
I have also attended banquets and Chinese New Year dinners where bottles of 7-Up and Pepsi were sitting like centerpieces in the middle of white table cloth-covered tables. And I have gone up and down the wine aisles of Chinese supermarkets, only to find that it was almost impossible to buy just a bottle of wine. You always got a special gift with purchase. Domestic reds and whites were often packaged in cellophane with bottles of...you guessed it...Coke or Sprite. (That is, if they weren't already packaged with imitation Nalgenes, thermoses, rice bowls, or even beach blankets.)
This is all to say that the cult of Coke in China is pretty strong. Which paves the way for Coca-Cola chicken wings to become a popular dish for home cooks. The preparation method is very similar to that of soy-sauce chicken, a common Cantonese dish. (I wouldn't be surprised if this dish was actually created because some person, or some million persons, who figured that adding Coke was a good way to change up their soy-sauce chicken.)
Cantonese soy sauce chicken wings are braised with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, and occasionally cinnamon and star anise. For Coca-Cola chicken wings, we just use soy sauce, rice wine, and Coke in the braising liquid. That's it. What you end up with, after 15 to 20 minutes of braising, is a nice syrupy glaze. It's not overwhelmingly sweet, or overwhelmingly salty. It tastes a tiny bit like Coke, but even that is very subtle. Toward the end, I add some chopped scallions and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the flavor, but really, this minimalist dish is still perfectly fine without aromatics.
Even better than using regular Coke is Mexican Coke, which uses real sugar, if you can find it in your local grocery store or bodega.
Coca-Cola Chicken Wings
Serves 4
- 2 pounds chicken wings, wings and drummettes separated
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 tablespoons dry sherry or Chinese rice wine
- 3/4 cup Coca-Cola (not diet or anything flavored!)
- 2 scallions, chopped
- A few pinches of freshly ground black pepper
- Put the chicken wings in a large bowl and pour half of the soy sauce on top. Turn the wings so they are well-coated and allow them to marinate for 10 to 15 minutes at room temperature.
- Heat a wok or large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken wings until they are golden brown on each side but not cooked through, about 3 minutes each side. Pour in the other half of the soy sauce, the sherry, and the Coke and bring the liquid to a simmer. Simmer the wings uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, until the liquid is reduced to a glaze.
- Season the chicken with black pepper. Transfer the chicken to a plate, garnish with scallions, and serve.


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GOES-P Meteorological Satellite
Image credit: NASA/Honeywell Tech Solutions, C. Meaney
GOES-P, the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite is now scheduled for launch on 3 March 2010 at 4:28 PM Phoenix time (6:28 PM EST) Aboard a Delta IV Rocket. NASA-TV will provide launch coverage beginning at 2:00 PM Phoenix time.
The GOES family of satellites provide the familiar satellite images used by local TV news stations for their weather reports. The GOES Imager consists of a five (5) channel radiometer, which records one visible and four infrared bands simultaneously. This provides weather monitoring of rainfall and snowfall, as well as snowfall accumulation. The GOES program provides weather warnings for flash-floods, hail storms, tornadoes and hurricanes. It also will detect ocean and land temperatures, monitor space weather, relay communications and provide search-and-rescue support.
The environmental information gathered by GEOS is used for climate studies and climate prediction models, as well as the detection of ice, snow and glaciers. Land temperatures, crop conditions and forests can be monitored.
The GOES-P Imagers have improved resolution in the 13 micrometer channel from 8 km to 4 km. The finer spatial resolution allows an improved cloud-top product, height of atmospheric motion vectors and volcanic ash detection (for example, images of the Galeras volcano eruption in Columbia).
Image navigation and registration, power and fuel lifetime capability, monitoring of space weather and solar x-ray imaging, as well as search and rescue and communication services have all improved with the GOES-13 satellites compared to the previous generation.
GOES-P is built by Boeing for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Goddard Space Flight Center, in Greenbelt Maryland, is responsible for technical guidance and project management. NOAA's Office of Satellite Operations (OSO), has the responsibility for the GOES program.
The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies at the Space Science & Engineering Center — University of Wisconsin-Madison — is responsible for four major programs connected with GEOS. More information is available at their blog.
GOES-P Imager
Image credit: NOAA