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Just over a year ago, Ezri Namvar was forced into involuntary bankruptcy and accused by investors of creating a Ponzi scheme that lost as much as $500 million that had been loaned to him — most of it by Los Angeles' Iranian Jews. Many of his former investors once knew Namvar as a friend and trusted adviser, but they now say their lives have been turned upside down by their losses. Adding to their pain is the fact that, although the accusations surrounding Namvar have earned him the community's ire, he is not the only object of their anger. Two other investment fraud scandals involving two other local Iranian Americans have since piled onto the local community's difficulties.
None of the three men has been charged with criminal wrongdoing at this time, but their effect on the community remains profound. Once a tightknit group that could finish a deal with a handshake, the Iranian Jewish community is now experiencing a shattered sense of trust and is rethinking its old-school ways of doing business.
Namvar, who is in his 50s and lives in Brentwood, worked as a banker, moneylender and real estate investor in the Iranian Jewish community for nearly two decades, and evidence of his generosity can be found on synagogue plaques thanking him and his family. Namvar earned the trust of many Iranian Jews, which led them to invest in his company, Namco Capital Group Inc. (Namco). His status also was founded on his family's longstanding business reputation in Iran and the fact that he was known to provide higher rates of return to local Iranian Jews than most banks at the time. Namvar and his family were also well respected in the community for their substantial charitable contributions to various Jewish educational groups in Southern California and Israel.
Lawsuits filed against him allege that in the past 18 months, Namvar stopped paying dividends to his Iranian Jewish investors and in some cases could not return any of the funds lent to him. Subsequent lawsuits allege that through his businesses he spent money on risky real estate investments that went sour.
Separately, another investment scandal hit the Iranian Jewish community in early January of this year, when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against John Farahi, 52, a popular Iranian Jewish radio talk show host who also served as an investment adviser and stockbroker for local Iranian Jews. The suit alleges that Farahi and his Beverly Hills firm, NewPoint Financial Services Inc., defrauded Iranian American investors of millions of dollars and that Farahi, his company, his wife, Gissou Rastegar Farahi, and the firm's controller, Elaheh Amouei, misled investors by telling them their funds were being invested in unsecured corporate bonds, FDIC-insured certificates of deposit, government bonds, and corporate bonds issued by companies backed by funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).
The third figure, Joseph Boodaie, also is a Beverly Hills Iranian Jewish businessman who lent money and offered community members higher rates of return on their savings than most banks. Boodaie earned the community's trust as a bookkeeper, and he is said to have used his familiarity with clients' assets to sell them investments in real estate deeds of trust. Last year, nearly a dozen different lawsuits were filed by various L.A.-area Iranian Jews and other businesses alleging that Boodaie had defrauded them of a combined total of close to $100 million, according to one local attorney.
Attorneys for Namvar, Farahi and Boodaie did not return calls requesting comment for this article.
The losses related to these three cases have badly shaken Southern California's tightknit Iranian Jewish community, to the point that some friends and family members now find themselves at odds, and the life savings of many seniors in the community — much of it money brought out of Iran with great difficulty — have now disappeared.
"Unfortunately in our community, money has become a source for people to attain a reputation and respect for themselves — and many in our community are willing to go to great lengths [to] destroy others in order to obtain money and this social status," said Fred Fouladi, an Iranian Jewish community activist.
As in the much larger Bernard Madoff scandal, a good deal of this comes down to social aspirations and greed. The complaint against Farahi alleges that investors' money was transferred into personal accounts controlled by Farahi and his wife to build their mansion in Beverly Hills, as well as into risky stock market options that resulted in more than $18 million in losses for investors.
The SEC's suit also claims that, since 2003, Farahi used his radio program, "The Economy Today," featured on the Studio City-based Farsi-language Radio Iran KIRN 670 AM, to target members of L.A.'s Iranian American community, recommending they make appointments at his firm.
"They lured victims with false promises of investment safety while secretly enriching themselves and diverting investor funds for their personal use," Rosalind R. Tyson, director of the SEC's Los Angeles Regional office, said in a statement.
In conjunction with the suit, the SEC obtained an order temporarily freezing the Farahis' and NewPoint's assets until the government investigates the case further.
Numerous Iranian Americans claiming to be victims of the Farahis' alleged investment fraud declined to comment on the case, citing privacy concerns, but court-filed declarations from NewPoint's Iranian American investors shed light on the alleged scheme.
According to one declaration, Edmond Tahmasian, a 35-year-old Iranian American resident of Glendale, invested more than $100,000 over eight years with NewPoint, in what he was told at first by Farahi were low-risk certificates of deposit. In his statement, Tahmasian says that Farahi later informed him that his funds were invested in unsecured corporate bonds. He also states in his declaration that while his initial $30,000 investment was returned to him by NewPoint, he was never given the balance of the funds he invested and was unaware that Farahi had invested his money in high-risk stock options.
Representatives from the SEC's Los Angeles offices declined to comment on the case because it involves pending litigation. KIRN General Manager John Paley did not return calls for comment, but Hossein Hedjazi, the station's former program director, defended Farahi, whom he calls a friend.
"I was a program director at that station for seven years. I monitored every program, and during that time I never heard him [Farahi] encourage people to come to his office, nor did he advertise for his firm on the air or solicit business for himself," Hedjazi said. "He was unpaid for his work at the radio and placed a lot [of] his own personal time doing the community a real service by providing listeners with the most accurate information about the economy in the U.S."
Hedjazi, who said he has known Farahi for nine years, said the former radio host was well respected by listeners for the knowledge he shared, and that he regularly helped impoverished Iranian Americans in the city.
Both Farahi and his wife moved in high-end social circles within the local Iranian Jewish community and were involved in organizing fundraising events at the West Hollywood-based Temple Beth El, which is owned and operated by the Iranian American Jewish Federation (IAJF). Farahi's wife, a former IAJF board member, also helped organize high-profile fundraising events in the community for Hilary Clinton's 2008 presidential bid.
Michael Nazarian, president of the IAJF, and Kamran Broukhim, the organization's chairman, did not return calls for comment on Farahi's case. Iranian Jewish community leaders and creditors have kept quiet about all three men, in keeping with a long-standing community taboo against publicly discussing potentially embarrassing incidents. Others have not openly voiced their opinions, perhaps for fear of losing friendships or social status as well as wanting to avoid the sense of shame the community sometimes imposes on victims of financial fraud.
Nevertheless, a small number of people in the community have spoken out. During the past year, for example, local Iranian Jewish groups with social ties to Namvar, including the Beverly Hills-based Nessah Synagogue, have faced increasing criticism, and tempers have flared among creditors in the community who lost money invested with Namvar or his company.
An anonymous letter written in Farsi circulated within the community in late 2009, accusing the Nessah congregation's leadership of remaining silent about the plight of Namvar's creditors, while keeping Namvar in his place on the synagogue's board of trustees.
Members of Nessah's leadership declined to comment on any of the investment fraud scandals in the community, but the synagogue's board of directors offered a joint statement to The Journal acknowledging the lawsuits against Namvar and responding to calls for Namvar to be removed from their board.
"The Nessah organization is extremely concerned about and has much sympathy for those members of the community who have been hurt by these unfortunate circumstances," the letter from Nessah says. "The organization's bylaws provide specific guidelines relating to the removal of sitting directors. Nessah has conducted the requisite due diligence with regard to this matter, and has concluded that its bylaws do not permit the removal of Mr. Namvar from the board at this time."
The statement also says that Nessah has general elections coming up, in which congregants will select future board members for the organization.
Critics respond that doing nothing suggests a lack of moral courage.
"This fiasco with Namvar and [his company] Namco is not just about what has happened to a large number of our community members, and it's not just about his involuntary bankruptcy alone," said George Haroonian, a longtime local Iranian Jewish activist whose family members lost their savings invested in Namco. "It's really about our community's leadership not being able to positively respond to this problem."
Last year, Haroonian wrote a public letter calling for Nessah to suspend Namvar's position on the synagogue's board until the bankruptcy and lawsuits had been decided. In a recent interview, he said that in Iran such cases of financial difficulties between Jews were handled outside of the courtroom, often more effectively.
"In Iran when these things happened, the community's leadership, key businessmen and elders would get together all parties involved and help out those who had suffered the economic loss," Haroonian said. "Today, unfortunately, we don't have that here. I think there is a lot to be said [about] the lack of moral courage in our community — and just donating to certain causes has sadly become the same as real community service for us."
The current problems of deceptions in business dealings were rare in Iran prior to the 1979 revolution, elders in the Jewish community say. This is because people who attempted to pass bad checks or failed to repay large debts were put in prison by the government until their families could raise the funds to repay their creditors.
Meanwhile, Namvar's bankruptcy case has slowly moved forward, as the court-appointed trustees investigate the Iranian Jewish businessman's assets and liabilities.
A preliminary report released last summer by the trustees showed that Namco owes more than $500 million to more than 170 secured and unsecured creditors. The report also states that Namco is owed more than $600 million from loans it made to 16 members of Namvar's family, various limited liability corporations owned by Namvar and to more than 60 individuals and entities. In addition, the report indicates that Namvar gave himself a loan of more than $32 million, and he also gave $50 million to each of his four children.
A. David Youssefyeh, a local Iranian Jewish attorney who since December 2008 has been advising nearly 20 Iranian Jewish creditors with claims against Namvar, said he is unsure whether all of Namvar's creditors will be able to recover all of their invested funds.
"My assessment for the creditors is not too positive, because a year has been wasted with trying to figure out what his assets are, instead of Mr. Namvar cooperating with the trustees who can quickly help the creditors get repaid — this shows bad faith by him," Youssefyeh said. "Everything that has happened in the last year has confirmed for me that what we were trying to do at the beginning of this was our only option. Unfortunately, nothing has changed for these people; none of them [has] been paid yet, and due to Mr. Namvar's lack of cooperation, I don't see any change for them in the near future."
Youssefyeh also said the trustees in the case will complete their final assessment of Namvar and Namco's assets and liabilities by the end of this month, and some of the creditors will likely receive some portion of their funds in one or two years.
Namvar's creditors include investors in Namco, those who lent money to Namco and received a personal guarantee from Namvar, lenders to Namco who received a lien on property owned by Namvar or one his entities, and those who gave profits from certain real estate transactions to Namvar.
Many of Namvar's Iranian Jewish creditors are low- to middle-income couples, individuals or retired seniors who invested their small savings with Namvar and his company, hoping to receive higher interest rates than what most banks were offering at the time. Their investments ranged anywhere from $10,000 to $300,000, and most said they had lost all hope of regaining their funds.
"My father is 87 years old. He speaks very little English, cannot work and lost about $200,000 in equity he pulled out of his home to invest with Namvar — and now the bank is foreclosing on his home because Namvar cannot give him back his money," said one 42-year-old Iranian Jewish woman who lives on the Westside and asked that her name be withheld for fear of being ostracized by the community.
She was unemployed for the past year, but now works part time as an executive assistant. She said her father is depressed, now lives with her in her one-bedroom apartment, and his creditors have been harassing them both.
When interviewed a year ago, a substantial number of Namvar's creditors said they believed they would be repaid by the Iranian Jewish businessman because of his family's longstanding reputation in the community, but today many of them have changed their minds.
Representatives of a handful of Southern California's nonprofit Iranian Jewish organizations that offer relief to those in need said they have been overwhelmed by calls from Iranian Jewish victims of the various alleged investment fraud scandals. With their budgets already hard-hit by the economic downturn, the organizations have been unable to help everyone.
"I recently received an anonymous phone call from an Iranian Jewish widow with three kids here in Los Angeles, who invested $20,000 of her life's savings with one of these Iranian Jewish businessmen and lost everything," said Manijeh Youabian, who heads the social voluntary efforts of the SIAMAK organization, an L.A.-based Iranian Jewish nonprofit that helps people in need. "She cried and asked for a $10,000 loan from us, because she did not have anything to cover her expenses, feed her children or pay the rent."
Aside from the shame of being looked down upon by other community members, Youabian said many Iranian Jews wouldn't publicly admit to their dire circumstances because they still believe they will eventually be paid back, or fear being further ostracized.
"Many of them will say nothing because they have children of marrying age and don't want to hurt their children's chances of getting married in the community," Youabian said. "Others are afraid they'll never see their money again if they speak out, and some are even afraid that the people who defrauded them will besmirch their names in the community in retaliation for their speaking out."
Still, some community members put part of the blame on the individual investors.
"There are also some victims from our community who should blame themselves for just being greedy, and they should not have pulled out all the equity from their only homes just to make a few percentage [points] more in income," activist Fouladi said.
Fouladi, 77 and a Westside resident, recently filed suit against Joseph Boodaie to recover his life savings, an amount close to $400,000, which he invested in Boodaie's company.
Fouladi declined to comment on his own case, as litigation is still pending, but he said he has been forced to work as an employee at a downtown Los Angeles bank to earn a living, instead of being able to enjoy his retirement. Fouladi recounted a time when, nearly 11 years ago, he faced financial troubles with his own creditors.
"About 11 years ago, I had run into financial problems with the bad economy that destroyed my business and left [me with] a debt of more than $1 million," Fouladi said. "Instead of leaving my creditors without anything, I sold my only home here in the U.S. and repaid to the last penny every single one of my creditors — even the ones overseas in Asia."
Fouladi's suit may be the least of Boodaie's problems, as creditors from within and outside the Iranian Jewish community come forward with suits accusing Boodaie of fraudulent business dealings. Last May, the Texas-based Comerica Bank filed suit against Boodaie and his two wholly owned businesses, Mensch Enterprises LLC and All Century Inc., for fraud and failing to repay a nearly $5 million loan. The suit also states that while Boodaie had at the time a personal net worth of more than $300 million, he allegedly knew but failed to disclose that the properties he offered as collateral to Comerica in exchange for loans did not belong to him or to his businesses. Likewise, the suit alleges that Boodaie failed to disclose that the properties he offered as collateral to Comerica had higher liens against them and that other creditors had priority security interests on these properties.
Even after all that has occurred and all the fallout and talk, many cash-strapped Iranian Jews told The Journal they still believe their community members are genuinely honest and hard working.
Perhaps this persistent faith comes from a deeper sense of commitment to maintaining harmony within this particular culture. After the lawsuits finally are settled and the financial chaos resolved for the hundreds of local Iranian Jews involved, there is fear that longer-term damage could persist, and that the community's once stellar reputation in the business world has been forever scarred.
For ongoing coverage on this and other aspects of the L.A. Iranian Jewish community, as well as a video interview, visit Karmel Melamed's Iranian American Jews blog: jewishjournal.com/iranianamericanjews.
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Rowe Hooded Fur Jacket
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Additional Information
European silver fox joins with luxurious sheared goat fur and a crocodile print for a truly signature, haute-couture look.
- Long sleeves. Hooded.
- Allover fur texture. Fox-fur hood. Front pockets.
- Crocodile texture at sleeves, zipper and hem.
- Zipper front closure.
- 100% Real Fox Fur. Goat Fur. Rayon, Nylon, Spandex.
- To maintain the beauty of your garment, please follow the care instructions on the attached label.
- Imported.
- Measures approximately 26.5" from shoulder to hem.

subset: commoncrawl


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Here is a photo of the 8th grade graduating class of 1933 from St. Hyacinth's school. Alice and Aloysius (Ollie) Przybylski are twins, my first cousins. Thanks to John Plenzler for sharing this photo. Click photo for larger, high-res copy and to read the attached identification of class members.
September 27, 2011
St. Hyacinth's 1933 8th Grade GraduationPosted by Donna Mierzejewski-McManus under Przybylski, St. Hyacinth | Tags: Przybylski, St. Hyacinth |
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"This is without doubt the blackest day in the history of Brussels Airport. "
Dassault Falcon 10/100
In the late 1960s–long before speedsters such as the Hawker Beechcraft Premier I, SyberJet SJ30 and Cessna Citation X were a glimmer in some engineer's eye–Dassault gave the world a flying bullet: the Falcon 10. Then, from 1983 to 1989, it produced the Model 100, a slightly heavier version with first-generation electronic display avionics, an extra cabin window and an external baggage compartment.
Certified in 1973, the 10 is basically a 70 percent scale model of the Falcon 20. It incorporates highly swept wings, big fanjet engines (newly introduced by Garrett at the time and now part of Honeywell's engine line) and airliner-style features such as full hydraulic flight controls, sophisticated (for its day) computers and a rugged build quality usually reserved for fighter jets. The 10 is faster than the 20 and leaves Learjets and Beechjets far behind in the contrails. Top speed is 492 nautical miles per hour–easily 10 to 20 percent faster than anything else in the Falcon 10's class. Climb-out is at a rocket-like 4,600 feet per minute and maximum altitude is 45,000 feet. Yet, because of its leading-edge wing slats, which deploy to increase wing area and lift at low speeds, and flaps that extend to 52 degrees, the 10 can land on runways as short as 3,300 feet and launch from only slightly longer ones with full fuel, seats (two pilots, six passengers) and baggage–and then fly at least 1,560 nautical miles.
John and Martha King bought their Falcon 10 in 2001. The Kings, based in San Diego, founded one of the most successful flight-training schools in the world, King Schools, and are the only husband-and-wife team to hold every pilot rating offered by the FAA. They routinely use their 10 for cross-country trips. "Any pilot who has flown the Falcon 10 will tell you that it is their favorite airplane," said John King. "It is fast and performs well and it is hard to fly the airplane without giggling." However, he cautioned, "All of the complexity built into the airplane makes it harder to maintain and more expensive to operate."
The Kings' mechanic, Oded Moore of San Diego's Jet Air, agreed. "You are getting one of the fastest aircraft out there, but it is the equivalent of buying a classic Ferrari: It is old and expensive. A lot of the parts have to come from Dassault. You don't have the [parts] options that you do from Cessna or Hawker Beechcraft."
That means when something breaks, the airplane can sit. And according to King and Moore, what breaks the most on the 10/100 are the hydraulic actuators that power everything from the flaps and slats to the brakes. There's no safety concern–the 10 has a fully redundant and independent backup hydraulic system–but it is annoying. "You'll watch an actuator start to drip and eventually the rate gets severe enough that you have to replace it," noted King. Then they have to be shipped out to the one or two places in the country that fix them while your mechanic scrounges for a rebuilt or "on exchange" unit.
Conversely, getting support for the airplane's Honeywell TFE731-2-1C engines (on the 100s, 3,230 pounds of thrust each) is no problem and many owners have their engines enrolled in Honeywell's MSP hourly maintenance program.
Likewise, Rockwell Collins supports the Collins avionics. Most 10/100 operators had their avionics refreshed long ago. The Kings added a center multifunction display for moving maps, an RVSM altimeter and electronic flight information system displays at pilot and copilot stations.
However, most owners are loath to add much to their 10/100s now, given their recent low hull values, said Mark Wilkens, director of avionics sales at Elliott Aviation in Moline, Ill., a provider of Falcon Jet service and modifications. A used 10 fetches $280,000 to $575,000, while a used 100 commands on average between $675,000 and $900,000, according to aircraft valuation service Vref. Elliott offered several avionics upgrades within the last decade for the 10/100, including modern-looking Universal flat-panel displays, flight-management systems and wide area augmentation systems to enable precision GPS approaches under instrument flight rules. However, at an average price of $500,000 for the full smash, there are few takers today. "Since 2009, the airplane took a pretty big hit in its value," Wilkens said. "The engines are the biggest value of the airplane now."
Prospective buyers face another financial consideration: The maintenance inspections for this airplane, particularly the 12-year "C-Check" and landing-gear inspection, are horribly expensive. Wilkens said a C-Check can run $175,000 and gear inspection and rebuild another $300,000. If you want to get the airplane repainted during this inspection–theoretically not a bad idea–and corrosion is found, it can become a lengthy ordeal. "A few of those airplanes get hung up in C-Check and can stay there for a long time," Wilkens cautioned. Because of that, he suggested using only paint shops that can also do detailed airframe repair.
Still, there are a few improvements, such as a soft-goods cabin refurbishment, that could make sense for this airplane. The inside of the 10/100's cabin is tight: 12.9 feet long, 4.8 feet tall, and 5 feet wide. At 251 cubic feet, the volume is about the same as that of today's entry-level jets. A typical layout features a cabinet opposite the entry door housing beverage storage and a slide-out potty drawer (intended for emergency use only) followed by two to four small single seats and a three-place rear bench seat. Behind and above the bench seat is a zippered fabric divider and cabinet door to the luggage shelf that sits atop the fuselage fuel tank. The shelf is about a foot tall, five feet wide and four feet deep and can hold 500 pounds. A second, external luggage compartment is an aftermarket option on the 10 and standard on the 100. Combined, both compartments yield about 48 cubic feet of space.
While small by today's standards, the 10/100 cabin offers one big advantage, according to John King: You can't overload it. "You would have to put lead bars in the airplane to get it over [maximum takeoff weight]," King joked. On his 10, maximum weight means both pilots, full fuel and 1,500 pounds of payload or six 200-pound passengers and 300 pounds of luggage. The slightly heavier 100 has a full-fuel payload of 1,243 pounds–still generous for an aircraft in this class.
There are ways to make that cramped cabin look larger and more appealing, according to Joe Daugherty, Elliott's director of paint and interior sales. Daugherty mentioned aftermarket headliners that yield marginally more headroom and creative use of color, fabric and lighting. This type of soft-goods cabin refurb runs $80,000 to $120,000, depending on material selection.
Hourly direct operating costs for these airplanes, as you would expect, are highest in class.
"We close our eyes and try not to look at it," John King said with a laugh, adding that he still flies his airplane 200 hours a year.
"Years ago, these were considered the Corvettes of the sky," said Daugherty. In a sense, they still are.
Years ago, aircraft engineers were not always stifled by cost accountants.
At least, not right away. By the time production ended in 1989, Dassault had built 189 Falcon 10s and 37 Falcon 100s.
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Your Letters
What our readers had to say
I am very disappointed with your Falcon 10/100 article [Used Jet Review, December 2012/January 2013]. After reading it, if I were an uneducated buyer, I would never consider buying this airplane. That is just not good for aviation. Obama bashes general aviation enough. We don't need to help him do it.
As an aircraft dealer for 33 years, I've learned to never bad-mouth any airplane. We don't know of any airplane that doesn't have things we would like to change. But we don't dwell only on the less-desirable points.
We have never seen more buy for the money than the Falcon 10/100, especially at today's prices. You will see just how great this airplane is if you consider its low acquisition costs; the fact that it is nearly 20 percent faster than most comparable jets, thereby taking many less airframe and engine hours to make the same trips; and its ability to take off and land on short runways.
Many statements in the article weren't correct. We sold all our Falcon 10/100s at much higher prices than what was shown in the article. Also, to say landing gear costs $300,000 to overhaul is archaic; we can buy all three landing gear for under $50,000. And we can get a C check for less than $125,000. Plus, saying that the Falcons have the highest variable cost per hour in their class is not true; run the numbers on the Citation 650.
Bill R. Woods
President, Western Wings Corp.
Roseburg, Oregon
The editors reply: Our goal is neither to bash airplanes nor to gloss over negatives. In our view, Mark Huber presented a fair and balanced review of the Falcon 10/100 and, in fact, made many of the same points that are in Mr. Woods's third paragraph above.
Mark Huber replies: Regarding sale prices, we obtain our data from the objective pricing service Vref, which regularly surveys many brokers. Obviously, a particular airplane's price reflects many factors, including, hours, condition and equipment. Regarding landing gear, we quoted prices from an experienced Falcon maintenance provider, Elliott Aviation. The price of a C check varies widely due to this model's age and can be more or less than $175,000, according to Elliott. As for hourly costs, the Citation 650 and Falcon 10/100 really aren't comparable. The Cessna is larger and has nearly 40 percent more cabin volume.
Are the operating costs of the Falcon 10 and Falcon 100 similar (close to identical)?
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Tax Collections
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Only four (4) sales are allowed at any given address during the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30).
Licenses must be kept on site at the sale locations and available for inspection at all times during these sales.Information required to receive a Garage and Attic Sale Privilege License:
There is a service fee of 2.35% or minimum of $1.95 for credit card and debit card payments. There is no service fee for an eCheck payment.
In Person
Business Tax Collections Office
700 N. Tryon Street - Hal Marshall Services Center, 1st FloorCharlotte, NC 28202 Service hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Cash, money order, or credit cardsorMecklenburg County Tax Collector's Office
700 E. Stonewall Street - Robert L. "Bob" Walton Plaza, 1st Floor
Charlotte, NC 28202 Service hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through FridayCash or money order only
Information required to receive a neighborhood
Garage and Attic Sale Privilege License:
please contact CharMeck 311 by dialing
311 from within Mecklenburg County or contact CharMeck 311 by dialing 704-336-7600 from outside of Mecklenburg County
or email us at


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This animation, inspired by a Pablo Neruda poem, utilizes a layering technique to create a dance of depth and movement. Images of jail and flight propel a ballerina on a journey towards freedom.
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Just what we need
To the editor:
On Feb. 12 we have an opportunity to elect a new representative to the Minnesota House in District 19A. We need someone who will be able to work with a polarized legislature. Clark Johnson is that kind of candidate. He is a moderate Democrat who is committed to solving the problems the state Legislature faces. Clark understands that rural Minnesota and small business are the backbone of our district's economy.
I have known Clark for 25 years. He is one of the most practical, hard-working people I know. He has the optimism and common sense to get the job done. With so many legislators holding extreme positions, Clark Johnson is just what we need to create a more effective Legislature.
Chuck Hendrycks


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Cut to perfectly complement the proportions of the Ludlow suit, this shirt features a tailored fit and is finished with polished accents, like gusset details and genuine mother-of-pearl buttons. The cotton fabric is woven by Thomas Mason, one of Europe's oldest (est. 1796) and most respected mills, which means that this shirt will be one of the best hanging in your closet.
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Perfect for middle school students
By Deb
from Gainesville FL
About Me Education Oriented
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Comments about Learning Resources Reading Rods® Overhead Prefix & Suffix Tiles:
My middle school students compete for the greatest number of words. The small group reviews words for accuracy. Using manipulatives has proven to be motivating for them.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Re: First Person or Third Person?
Re: First Person or Third Person?[ Edited ]
I like both, but I guess I prefer third person. Also, I usually get 3rd person games for console, because I prefer to play them with a controller (or just use PS3 controller on PC) and first person games for PC because keyboard + mouse > controller.
Re: First Person or Third Person?
Jiggy Says...3rd person lol
Never ask questions you don't wanna know da answers to!!~~
You don't have 2 love me,You don't even have 2 like me, But you WILL Respect me!!~~
Loved by few, Hated by many, Respected by All!!~~
The Fear of Death, is far greater then Death itself,
The Fear of the Unknown is the greatest fear of them all!!
The Undertaker!!~~
Re: First Person or Third Person?
JohnKarnes wrote:
Third person! I get the feeling im playing as a gun in first person.
I used to think I'm playing as the actual person in first person. I've never thought of it like that.
Re: First Person or Third Person?
IT depends very very deeply on the way its gonna play. What I mean? For me a Third Person should be when you will have tons of powers, customes, different physical apperance, Gonna do a lot of things that will be fun or visually good to see etc etc. When its a straight forward game in FPS like COD or Bioshock, BF, Borderlands etc etc I really like it that way in FPS.
Its my opinion but love them both.
LifeStyle Ambassador Program.
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Make the Jump to LiteSpeed
When a potential customer asks us if we use Litespeed we're proud to say yes, knowing that in todays industry customers actively seek out a Litespeed host.
LSWS Means Less Crowded Servers
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In our experience, we have seen page loading cut in half by using LiteSpeed over a traditional Apache installation. This makes customer sites faster and also helps to reduce the server load.
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text:
FS2Crew Editions Included:
Special bonus product included: FSCheckride (FSX and FS9) => See review below
Additional specifications:Download-Version(FSX / FS2004): Version 1.00, Manual as a .pdf-file (English)
Avsim GOLD Star Award, Avsim.com 2008 (FSCheckride)
Conclusion by Avsim.com (FSCheckride):"Its an awesome program which adds another new dimension to the flight simulator world, in my opinion. It goes far beyond the flight simulator world, it's even applicable for use in real aviation. The only thing is whether the local aviation authorities agree with it, but on the other hand, many exams can be made for in-house use, or just for self study. While the official exams are used whenever a legal exam must be made. The program is so simple in design that it doesnt require any additional knowledge to understand it. It gives the user who wants to create his/her own exams, a lot of flexibility by adding related pictures, charts, diagrams, tables, voice support and even video movies. All of this can be easily added to a question to make it more powerful and interesting, while at the same time, its much more interesting for the user to read. This improves the didactical learning effect, thus the more enthusiastic the person will be. Theres also a down side or if you wish a dark side. The only thing I hope is that there will be more and more free exams or questionnaires available on the CAT III Software website. Currently (as of Sunday 13th of January) there are only two exams available. One is the FAA Instrument Test Edition, which comes standard with the program and one double set of questionnaires for use with the Wilco Publishing Airbus Volume 2, but this is not enough to survive. Many more tests, exams or questionnaires are needed to make this program a success. A success not only in the real world, but also in the Flight Simulator world or by VAs, where training managers want to improve the flight simmer aviation knowledge level.
Click here to read the complete review
System requirements:Microsoft Flight Simulator X or 2004Add-on aircraft see list above (Sold Separately) Download-Size: 1.4 GB
How to purchase and install Download-Versions?:


text:
Your vote counts, wherever you are! If you forgot to register and/or request a ballot, there's still time to cast your vote, but you'll have to act fast. Register and/or request a ballot today using the federal post card application at www.FVAP.gov. Select the electronic ballot delivery option, include your email address (and fax number) and send it to local election officials in your state. Almost every state lets you send it by email or fax. Once your application is processed, they will send you your ballot via fax or email, depending on your state's rules. Vote as soon as you receive the blank ballot. Registration deadlines vary and some are as early as October 7, so check your state's requirements and deadlines carefully.
From late-September through mid-October, U.S. embassies and consulates around the globe are hosting voting events to help overseas citizens participate in the 2012 presidential elections. These events are a great opportunity for voters to drop off their voted ballots for return to the United States. It may seem early, but it often takes three weeks or more for voted ballots to reach election officials via international mail or diplomatic pouch. To make sure their votes are received and counted, it's important for U.S. citizens abroad to vote and return their ballots as early as possible.
Balloons, bunting, and ballot boxes welcome voters to these events, where consular officers and staff, with help from local U.S. civic and political groups, assist U.S. citizens to register to vote, request absentee ballots, and mail their completed ballots to their local voting precincts in the United States. Voters range from 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by election day casting ballots for the first time, to 80-plus-year-olds who need help with voting forms, to U.S. citizens who never resided in the United States asking how and in which state to register to vote. Sixteen hundred recently showed up to register and vote at an event in Madrid. From Bujumbura to Dubai to Mumbai and beyond, at events large and small, we've helped dozens or hundreds of our fellow citizens to register and vote in this year's election. Contact your local U.S. embassy/consulate to find out about events in your area and instructions for returning your ballot.
If you haven't received your ballot and you're running out of time to meet your state's ballot receipt deadline, go to www.FVAP.gov to complete a federal write-in absentee ballot. Fill it out and drop it off in a sealed, addressed envelope at your local U.S. embassy/consulate, or use international mail if it's fast and reliable from where you are located. If you later receive your regular absentee ballot, vote and return it immediately. Local election officials only count one ballot per voter, and will use the regular ballot if it's received by your state's ballot receipt deadline.
Voters in some states can use the federal write-in absentee ballot as a combined voter registration form, absentee ballot request, and absentee ballot. Some states will let you email or fax your signed, voted ballot back to local election officials. Check instructions for your state at www.FVAP.gov, and contact your local U.S. embassy/consulate for additional guidance and instructions.


text:
LINGUIST List 22.3858
Tue Oct 04 2011
Diss: Lang Acq/Phonetics: Tsiartsioni: 'The Acquisition of Speech ...'
Editor for this issue: Xiyan Wang <xiyan
To post to LINGUIST, use our convenient web form at
The Acquisition of Speech Rhythm and Stop Voicing by Greek Learners of English: A pedagogical and linguistic approach
Message 1: The Acquisition of Speech Rhythm and Stop Voicing by Greek Learners of English: A pedagogical and linguistic approach
ELENI TSIARTSIONI <eltsiartsioni
The Acquisition of Speech Rhythm and Stop Voicing by Greek Learners of English: A pedagogical and linguistic approach
E-mail this message to a friend
Institution: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Program: PhD in Linguistics
Dissertation Status: Completed
Degree Date: 2011
Author: Eleni Tsiartsioni
Dissertation Title: The Acquisition of Speech Rhythm and Stop Voicing by Greek
Learners of English: A pedagogical and linguistic approach
Linguistic Field(s): Applied Linguistics
Language Acquisition
Subject Language(s): English (eng)
Greek, Modern (ell)
Dissertation Director(s):
Katerina Nicolaidis
Christos Nakas
Marina Mattheoudakis
Dissertation Abstract:
L2 phonological acquisition constitutes a challenging area of research, as
previous studies have reported that mastery of the L2 phonological system is a
rare occurrence among L2 learners. Constraints in pronunciation accuracy
appear to be related to a number of parameters, for example, to interference
from speakers' L1, universal tendencies of language, learners' age of onset of
language learning, the quality and quantity of exposure to L2, as well to social
and psychological factors. A central question is whether L2 pronunciation can be
taught and to what extent pronunciation teaching intervention can be effective.
The aim of the present study is to investigate the production of L2 speech rhythm
and selected features of the stop voicing system among Greek learners of
English before and after pronunciation teaching intervention that occurs in a
foreign formal language context of acquisition. For the purposes of the present
study two groups of speakers were examined, an experimental group who
received a pronunciation teaching intervention and a control group, who followed
the regular classes at school without special pronunciation teaching intervention.
Each group comprised students of three different ages (10-, 13- and 16-years
old) in order to investigate the potential role of learners' age in relation to L2
phonological acquisition. Data on L1 Greek and English were also obtained. The
pronunciation teaching included 51 pronunciation mini-lessons embedded in the
regular English language course, following the methodology of Celce-Murcia,
Brinton and Goodwin (1996), who proposed five stages of pronunciation teaching
that range from controlled to free activities. Rhythm was quantified with the use
of the PVI measure (Low, Grabe and Nolan 2000, Grabe and Low 2002), which
examines the vocalic and intervocalic duration variability in a long stretch of
speech. The acquisition of the durational correlates of voicing was measured
with the use of waveform and spectrographic analysis of features in word initial
and final stops. Individual variability was also explored through the
implementation of the 'native-likeness criterion' (Birdsong 2007, Flege, Munro
and Skelton 1992).
The results indicated that, generally before teaching, speakers resorted to L1
interference or to universal tendencies of language. After teaching a change was
reported for speakers of the experimental, but not of the control groups. Great
inter- and intra-speaker variability was reported, especially after instruction.
Generally, improvement was found for the experimental groups, however,
systematic target-like production was difficult to achieve. Also no clear global
effect of learners' age was reported. A detailed analysis of the possible
constraints in pronunciation accuracy, as well as the pedagogical implications of
the findings are presented. The results are evaluated in relation to theoretical
frameworks of L2 phonological acquisition.
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text:
Dunbar man sent to jail
By NIKKI YOUNK
Staff Writer
FLORENCE, Wis. – A Dunbar, Wis. man has been sentenced to jail time for a felony drug charge in Florence County.
James D. Fish, 36, will serve 63 days in jail and two years of probation.
Fish pleaded no contest in Florence County Court to one felony count of possession of marijuana-second and subsequent offense.
An additional misdemeanor count of bail jumping was dismissed.
According to the criminal complaint in the case, a deputy from the Florence County Sheriff's Department found marijuana in Fish's vehicle during a traffic stop on County Road B in Aurora, Wis. on Nov. 21.
Nikki Younk's e-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Today, wild condors are on life support because of lead in their blood.But the drugs strip away nutrients as well as lead, weakening the birds so they can't be released for a month or more. A study by the University of California, Santa Cruz found that 48 percent of condors tested and treated between 1997 to 2010 had potentially lethal blood-lead levels.
The National Rifle Association defines any restriction on lead ammunition as a plot to disarm America.comprehend the dangers of lead bullets. They've at least banned them for military use, effective in 2014.
The dangers posed to people and wildlife by lead hunting projectiles is hardly breaking news.shotgun pellets with which waterfowl hunters were festooning the nation's marshes.


text:
Skip to Content
Finance Lab Brings Wall Street to CSUN
Read More
Alumnus Drives $25 Million Initiative
Find out more
The Department offers a B.S. in Finance, with Options in Financial Analysis, Financial Planning and Insurance. Finance majors receive among the highest average starting salaries of business graduates.
Department of Finance, Financial Planning, and InsuranceJuniper Hall 3125 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8379Phone: (818) 677-2459Fax: (818) 677-6079
Monica HusseinOffice: JH 3125Phone: (818) 677-2459Email: email@example.com
Amy FelicianoOffice: JH 3125Phone: (818) 677-2459Email:
Office Hours
Faculty Fall 2016
Upcoming Events
Firm tour to AIG and Zurich Insurance
FIN 303 -- Winter Session 2017
Bloomberg Open Lab Session Fall 2016
FIN 303 Tutoring Fall 2016
Fall 2016 final exam schedule
Starting Fall 2016, there will only be one major, BS Finance (email from the Chair). Please visit The Major for more information and FAQ.
Department Committee List
Finance, Financial Planning, and Insurance
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Phone: (818) 677-1200
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Safety Conditions
We are aware that exchanging personal information is a great concern for Internet users, the reason why we'll only request information about your credit card if you wish to make a reservation.
The security offered by the application is through the SSL (Secure Socket Layer) technology, based on encrypting the communications exchanged between your PC and our server, so that these cannot be intercepted.
Privacy Policy
TAP will collect all possible information concerning its clients, with the aim of offering a personalized service and allow an easy navigation, assuring the best possible customer relation, and for that purpose, will follow the principles of data protection.
Our customer's personal data will not be made available to a third party, and will only be used, with the authorization of the client, in marketing campaigns or newsletters.
Should the client wish not to receive more marketing information, he/she will notify TAP accordingly.
Your navigation on this site will be monitored for statistical purposes.
Use of Cookies
Cookies are small information files placed in your PC, thus allowing Web Sites to remember your past choices, dates and paths on the site.
These files are also used to prevent that you have to repeat your personal data and password every time you use TAP Services.
The user is entitled to configure his browser to inform him every time a cookie is received, or even to deactivate its acceptance. However, TAP alerts that this will prevent the use of some of our services.


text:
Check out Nate Ruess of Fun. as the voice of Humpty Dumpty in the new Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) "Book It" commercial above! Other voices include My Morning Jacket's Jim James, Coldplay's Chris Martin and Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein.
News - all
|April 23, 2012
|April 21, 2012
It is Record Store Day Today! You can pick up this Limited Edition 10" vinyl from Fun. today in-stores or in The Fueled By Ramen Webstore.
Click HERE to find a record store close to you to pick up the vinyl in stores.
Click HERE to order one of the 200 available in The Fueled By Ramen Webstore. You can also pick up the special edition of the 'I <3 Fun.' T-Shirt in the webstore starting today!
|April 20, 2012
|April 20, 2012
Recently, The Swellers decided that it was time to part ways with Fueled By Ramen. We've had a good run with them and have a lot of appreciation and respect for everyone at the label. While we wish the staff and their bands the best of luck, we've come to the conclusion that being part of a major label just isn't the right fit for us right now. We're ready to continue developing who we are as a band, and excited to give our fans the very best of us in whole new ways. We're excited for this to be a bit of a return to form, while also being a whole new beginning.
On May 29th, we're releasing a 7" of two songs recorded from the Good For Me sessions that weren't on the album, but are some of our favorite songs we've ever written.
|April 20, 2012
For our Fueled By Ramen Contest today you can win the Paramore Travel Mug along with a mystery t-shirt from Paramore as well.
HOW TO ENTER: To win this Paramore prize package just comment on the photo HERE and tell us what the funniest tumblr, blog or website you have come across is.
|April 20, 2012
Click HERE to see photos of how the Fun. 2012 Spring Tour poster was made and HERE to see the final product which is available now from the band on tour.
art by Two Rabbits Studios
|April 20, 2012
Today only in The Fueled By Ramen Webstore pick up the Panic! At The Disco 'Octo Boy' T-Shirt for $5. Click HERE to order now!
|April 19, 2012
Vote for Fun. to make it onto the PopCrush Top 20 syndicated radio show!
Click HERE to vote for Fun. 'Some Nights'
|April 19, 2012
Travie McCoy of Gym Class Heroes performed in a Beastie Boys Tribute at the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony with Kid Rock and The Roots. The performance will air May 5th on HBO. Be sure to tune in! Read more about the ceremony HERE.
The Beastie Boys had no intention of performing without Adam Yauch, so the Roots were joined by Kid Rock and Travie McCoy of Gym Class Heroes for an incredible medley of Beastie classics, including "Sabotage" and "So What'cha Want." Rock, Black Thought and McCoy all wore matching green Adidas track suits, and they did a great job of channeling the energy and spirit of the groundbreaking trio. -RollingStone.com
|April 19, 2012
Click HERE to read an interview that Andrew Dost of Fun. did with AbsolutePunk.net.
"We've been playing music for our whole lives. We've been playing music professionally for 10 years, at least. Once you do it for so long and grind it out for so long, you know who you are. You know what your identity is and you know what you want out of life and the music industry."


text:
Unisex Scrub Pant - Reversible - Charcoal - Various Sizes
by Medline | Item #: 597396 | Model #: 600NCCXS-CM |
We're sorry, this item is not available in your selected Club. Check another Club
About this itemThese reversible scrub pants are generously sized and made of soft, blended fabric. Available in X-small, small, medium, large and X-large. Choose your size from the drop-down box.
These reversible scrub pants are generously sized and made of soft, 50% polyester/50% cotton blended fabric. They come with color-coded drawstring waist ties for easy size identification. They also feature a back pocket inside and outside of the pant for convenience and deluxe four-panel construction (double needle inseam and outseam).
Assembled Country
Component Country


text:
Kristina Harter, Communications Intern, Phone: (719) 228-6800, Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
USAV Facebook - @USA_Volleyball - @USAV Beach
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 22, 2013) – The U.S. women's beach team of Kelly Schumacher and Summer Ross upset Russia's No. 1 seed to go 1-1 on the first day of pool play at the FIVB Moscow Grand Slam on Thursday in Russia.
In the first match of the day, Schumacher and Ross, seeded No. 32 in the main draw, upset Russia's No. 1 Evgenia Ukolova and Ekaterina Khomyakova, 21-17, 14-21, 19-17.
The Americans bounced back from a second-set hiccup to battle for the victory in set three. Schumacher and Ross warded off a couple of Russian match points to claim victory.
"We just never gave up, served tough," Schumacher said in an FIVB press release. "In the second set we started letting up on our serve a little bit. We tried to focus on that in the third and it helped us out.
"It was a tough match though. They are a really good team. This is my first FIVB event so I really don't know what to measure it to yet. But we just tried to come out hard and play as well as we could and it paid off."
Ross and Schumacher came up short in their second match to Austria's Barbra Hansel and Katharina Schutzenhofer, seeded No. 16, in a three-set dual (18-21, 21-19, 15-8).
Ross and Schumacher earned their spot in the main draw in the qualification round on Wednesday defeating Chile's Maria Francisca Rivas Zapata and Camila Pazdirek Peteri , 21-11, 21-11. The pair matches up against Switzerland's No. 17 seed, Isabelle Forrer and Anouk Verge-Depre, in the second day of pool play on Friday.
To view an FIVB video interview of Ross and Schumacher click here.
Complete information about the FIVB World Tour is available on the FIVB web site.


text:
by Anton Shilov
A new filing by Sony Computer Entertainment with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) implies that the company is preparing a new CECH-40 model of PlayStation 3 game console. Some believe that the novelty may be an ultra slim version of the gaming device, other think that Sony plans to change a number of significant components, but leave the console generally similar.
Apparently, Sony is preparing to introduce PlayStation 3 model CECH-4001x, according to the AK8CBEH19C1 filing with FCC. Sony's model numbers for PS3 always begin from CECH-**, where ** are model prefixes that point to the generation of the console as well as onto it core specs like chip revisions and their manufacturing technology, mainboard versions, etc. The remaining digits and letters point to other region the device is intended for as well as the hard drive capacity. The first-generation PS3 consoles carried CECH*-like model numbers, whereas the second-generation PS3s (slim) are marked according to the new nomenclature: CECH-20, CECH-21, CECH-25 or CECH-30. All-in-all, the CECH-4001x model number clearly points to a brand-new generation of Sony PlayStation 3 game system intended for selling in 01 region, or the U.S. and Canada.
Since Sony does not pre-announce its game consoles it is unclear what the model CECH-40 will look like. Meanwhile, Eurogamer web-site points to a rumour which claims that Sony Computer Entertainment plans to unleash an ultra-slim version of the PS3 at Gamescon trade-show in Germany next month.
Since it has been three years since Sony unveiled its second-gen PS3 slim, it is about time to release a new version of the console that will be smaller, slimmer, cheaper to manufacture and that will be sold for many years to come after the PlayStation 4 "Orbis" emerges late in 2013. The same scenario was used by Sony with the PlayStation 2 back in 2004, when it launched the PlayStation 2 slimline that is still available.
SCE did not comment on the news-story.


text:
Congratulations, Mary. And Thank you. I will be keeping the memoir prompts but they will be on Tuesdays with my "Remember When" posts. Other then that, I don't know. Stay tuned:
Seven Memoir Prompts:
How has a friend impacted your life in a small way?
Describe a restaurant you often went to as a child/teen.
Write about snow days.
How did you get to and from grade school and/or high school?
Describe something you consider beautiful.
Tell about overnight guests.
What is your favorite holiday movie?


text:
Paradise Herbs, Cha' de Bugre, Brazilian Slimming & Energy Herb, 180 Veggie Caps (Discontinued Item)
Shipping Weight:?0.3 lbsShipping WeightThe Shipping Weight includes the product, protective packaging material and the actual shipping box. In addition, the Shipping Weight may be adjusted for the Dimensional Weight (e.g. length, width & height) of a package. It is important to note that certain types of products (e.g. glass containers, liquids, fragile, refrigerated or ice packed) will often require protective packaging material. As such, these products will reflect a higher Shipping Weight compared to the unprotected product.
- Product Code: PAR-77784
- UPC Code: 601944777845
- Package Quantity: 180 Veggie Caps
- Dimensions: 2.4 x 2.4 x 4.5 in, 0.25 lbs
- 100% Pure
- 4:1 Concentrated Potency
- Dietary Supplement
- Enhancing Nautre's Minerals Since 1994
- True Full Spectrum
- Naturally Extracted
- No Added Fillers/Flows
- No Toxic Solvents
- No Harsh Chemicals
- No Fractionizing Gases
Paradise Cha de Bugre is a potent 4:1 concentration. Its true full spectrum extraction ensures all active and synergistic constituents are retained in the balanced ratio nature intended without the use of toxic solvents, harsh chemicals or fractionizing gases.
Cha de Bugre is found in the forest of Brazil where it has traditionally been used for supporting weight loss, appetite control and tonifying the body to help reduce fatty deposits and cellulite. It is also known to be a heart tonic and said to help stimulate circulation.
Suggested Use
1-3 vegetarian capsules daily or as directed by a qualified healthcare professional.
Other Ingredients
Capsule (vegetable material)
100% vegetarian. No fillers, binders or common allergens.
Naturally grown or ethically wild crafted without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or preservatives.
Keep in a cool, dry place, out of the reach of children. This product is not intended to be used by pregnant or nursing women.
|Supplement Facts
|Serving Size: 1 Vegetarian Capsule
|Amount Per Vegetarian Capsule
|% Daily Value
|Cha de Bugre leaf extract 4:1
(Cordia salicifolia cham)
|400 mg
|*Daily Value not established.
Energy Booster
Verified Purchase
Energy Booster
I have asthma which can really sap the energy out of me. This herb not only helps with the energy but seems to aid my breathing as well. I don't feel "racy" at all but rather have a "feeling of well-being" while taking this product.
I have'nt noticed a difference
Verified Purchase
I have'nt noticed a difference
I did'nt notice any change in my energy,nor did I feel like I've lost any weight.I've been taking this product for about a month and I don't think it is effective for me.
The effect of this is to be carefully studied.
Posted by Reviewer3285295 on Sep 01, 2011
This is similar in its side effect to certain Chinese slimming herb. You may feel depressed and the energy level goes low. I have adapted from using half capsule per day. As I am not affected by this effect now, I am using one capsule per day. With other efforts, my slimming starts with this mystery herb.
really awesome
Posted by Reviewer2686179 on Jul 15, 2011
i totally love these. .. . when i stuck to the directions i really felt a change in my energy and a bit in my cravings for munchies.. ..and seen a difference on the scale... will mos def order another bottle
good product
Posted by Reviewer2989465 on May 29, 2011
great higher levels of energy
I have'nt noticed a difference
I did'nt notice any change in my energy,nor did I feel like I've lost any weight.I've been taking this product for about a month and I don't think it is effective for me.
Paradise Herbs, Cha' de Bugre, Brazilian Slimming & Energy Herb, 180 Veggie Caps (PAR-77784)
Posted by Reviewer2463413 on Feb 23, 2011
Me happy


text:
Paul McCartney's Urgent Appeal to NASA
Victory Update: Following a year of vigorous campaigning, PETA has learned that government officials have grounded plans for a cruel and ineffective radiation experiment on monkeys. Learn more about this victory for monkeys.
Live and let
die live: So goes Sir Paul McCartney's new hit … against NASA's pricey plan to bankroll the zapping of dozens of squirrel monkeys in cruel radiation experiments.
While his animal rights efforts are legendary, many people may not know that Paul also has a ton of space cred. It's true: He's an enthusiastic supporter of space exploration who has performed for the crew of STS-114 and worked with NASA to beam Beatles music into space.
In his letter to the space agency, Paul writes, "I believe NASA has the ingenuity to investigate the health effects of space travel without confining and experimenting on animals as was done in the old days. It would be terribly disappointing if in our zeal to explore new frontiers and to learn about the fascinating universe where we live we began to regress in our treatment of the animals with whom we share this planet."
Surely the rocker's support of our campaign against NASA's proposed radiation experiments will cause public disapproval of the research to skyrocket. Sir Paul joins other stars and the "ex-s" (as in ex-engineer and experts) who have criticized NASA's misguided plan. Please join them by speaking out too.
Written by Karin Bennett
Commenting is closed.
If no animal testing how do you go from theory to human beings ?
This is very horrific. The torture that so many animals go through to science and experiments. This can not continue we all should stand together and help end this. Animals were a beautiful gift put on this planet. They should be respected protected and loved. WE must continue to speak and act on these issues to end animal abuse of all sorts. It terrifies me what this world is coming to and all the violence. People as a whole need to feel with their heart and bring peace to all and each animal. I will do everything I can to help.
paul is right we need to stop sending our species into space we need to stop all the abuse to the aniamls the only people who abuse animals are cowards and compleatly have no life to begin with and need to fill the void with abuseing aniamls which makes them feel powerfull in there week little life. they really need to get a life and stop this i thought animal abuse was ilegal well what is this the goverment really needs to wake up and relize whats going on in this world and do something about it it is the 21 century isnt it? we really need to stop all of the animal abuse in the world
Space should be for peaceful exploration. Someone please remind NASA! If we want our humanity to reach for the stars then lets do it humanely and not as Borg hungry monsters.
Shame on NASA if it abusesuses any animals. There is no excuse or justification for doing so. That we have power over the animals does not give anyone including NASA to abuse that power. That the animals that NASA are thinking of using are defenceless and vulnerable and of course completely innocent would make any abuse of them all the more shameful. Let's hope for the sake of any life on other planets that humans on this planet don't discover them they have done enough to destroy this planet already and not having learned from their lessons continue to do so. Sandra Busell
La NASA deve capire che questi esperimenti non sono utili a nessuno! Giovanna Italia
We're humans where is our humanity? Stop the abuse!
Ditto all comments. Please stop this needless abuse x
Surely surely after all this time you can work out from previous research what the effect of this experimentation is going to be. These experiments are up there with the Russian ad in which they sent a donkey parasailing. These animals are sentient they suffer.
All the best.
We are responsible for these poor animals we have to be their voice. I'm so disappointed in the behavior of some human beings. NASA what are you thinking? And for Stephen Motson WOW!!! very impressive.
Thank you sir Paul for standing up for defenceless animals. These people that carry out tests on animals are heartless and cruel. We needs you Sir Paul to help the animals and fetch the message to as many as possible.
please write lots of you about this. remember monkeys have ninety eight per cent of our DNA and suffer physically emotionally in their thoughtsyes they do thinkand what a death to impose on them. if you must do it anaesthetize them first
Animal Life deserves same respect as human life.We have no right to kill or torture either one. Animals have every right to roam the earth as God intended! What are you doing to the world? How can you sleep at night knowing that you have caused so much pain to another living thing? Im disgusted in NASA. We need more people in this world like Sir Paul!!!!
I still can not believe that we as a supposed superior being can not find more useful ways of doin experaments. why can we save tax money n use the folks that are imprissiomed for child malestation rape murder see where im goin with this?! it would save money. there wouldnt be any over crouding in prisions and folks that are considerin doin somehing remotly stupid would think twice because they might not want to become test subjects. they find it alright to test on aminals that dont have a voice. how about the ones that arent aloud to have a voice anymore. plus they are HUmAN! better results since we are testing for us! ugh! i get so peeved! this needs to stop! go paul!!


text:
The Spirit of Giving…
Before going home for the holidays, Hawfields Middle School students were pleasantly surprised by receiving a wonderful gift from USAB and Yonex. As teachers Lisa J. Ward and BJ Condron talked to students about the 'spirit of giving' and the holiday season, three boxes wrapped as presents for the Physical Education Department were revealed. Students listened intently and began to anticipate what might be in the boxes. The packages were unwrapped by three school Badminton Club members in front of approximately 75 wide-eyed students. Everyone cheered wildly as boxes were opened containing sixty Yonex rackets and 12 tubes of nylon shuttles. Students couldn't wait to get their hands on the new equipment in order to play one of their favorite games – Helter Skelter Badminton (a version of half-court doubles). The smiles and exuberant expressions were priceless!
The gift of the new equipment began with a request to the United States Badminton Education Foundation (USBEF) for assistance to replace 10+ year old rackets for Physical Education instruction at a middle school in the heart of the Atlantic Coast Conference where BADMINTON IS AS POPULAR AS BASKETBALL. The sport is so popular in the area that a local high school (that these students feed into) has recently painted lines for three courts due to student requests to play badminton!
The president of USBEF, Harry Orr, made USA Badminton aware of the plea for assistance and CEO Dan Cloppas agreed to work out the details with Yonex to provide the equipment.
Thank you YONEX, thank you USA Badminton, and thank you US Badminton Education Foundation for helping put the wheels of giving in motion and get 2013 started with a real bang for over 600 grateful middle school students!


text: Doing some important scientific research for an upcoming story led me back to Johnnie's, a classic hole-in-the-wall bar in San Margherita. This in turn led me back to my love affair with the bar's unmatched burgers. Classic in every sense of the word, they're packed to perfection and cooked just right. It's like eating a juicy beef ode to America!


text:
The Fashion Frugalista
by Kimberly Danger
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Do you love high fashion, but hate paying high prices? Do you have Prada taste but an Old Navy Budget? Then you just might be a fashion frugalista. There's one in every circle: the woman who always manages to look like a million bucks on the skimpiest budget. How does she do it? Here are some secrets every FF knows:
Pair Bargain Finds with Basics
Don't skimp on standards like jeans, black trousers, and good shoes. A crisp white cotton blouse is another great investment. When fit and style is of the utmost importance, a cheap imitation just won't do. Consider these basics the building blocks of your wardrobe and buy the best your budget will allow. Then when you do find cute, trendy clothes at rock bottom prices, you'll already have the pieces to go along with them.
Do Your Research
You can't buy the latest trends if you don't know what they are. Fashion Frugalistas are in touch with what's hot in fashion right now and can spot a hot trend a mile away. Read fashion mags like Vogue, Elle, and Bazaar to get the scoop on what designers are touting this season.
Wait before You Buy
By waiting a few months to pick up the latest fashions, you'll get a bigger bang for your buck. For example, fall clothes typically hit the racks in July and start getting marked down in September. Who needs a sweater in July anyway? If you wait until October or November to buy (when you actually need the item), you can save up to 75%.
Know Where to Shop
Because stores like Target and Old Navy are constantly getting in new merchandise, they need to clear out their older styles on a regular basis. You'll almost always find a great selection of markdowns on their clearance racks. Consignment stores can be a source for high-quality basics like trousers, blouses, and basic sweaters. Avoid anything trendy at consignment stores since they almost exclusively carry goods from seasons past.
Shop Online
Don't forget to check out online stores for great deals. Be wary of shipping costs, which can offset the money you're actually saving. eBay can be a hidden source of clothing bargains as well. Overstock has also added an auction to their site, which shows the potential for another great bargain-hunting resource. Search by your size and favorite brand names.
Update with Accessories
Belts, earrings, necklaces, and scarves are an inexpensive way to breathe new life into your old wardrobe. Look for cute styles at H&M, Target, Lerner NY, and Express.
Kimberly Danger is the author of the book 1000 Best Baby Bargains . She is also the owner/publisher of Mommysavers.com, an online resource for parents interested in saving time and money. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and children.
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