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Today, we join the international community in recognizing World Tuberculosis (TB) Day. Addressing TB is a major part of the work of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), as TB is the most common opportunistic infection and the leading cause of death among people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that of the 9.4 million cases of TB worldwide, 1.1 million of these individuals were also infected with HIV. Nearly 80 percent of TB/HIV co-infections are found in the Africa region, and PEPFAR has invested heavily in hard-hit countries.
With support from PEPFAR, countries have made extensive strides in expanding the number of TB patients also tested for HIV, and enrolling HIV-infected TB patients into HIV care and treatment. In FY 2009, PEPFAR provided direct support to care for more than 308,700 TB/HIV co-infected people in PEPFAR countries, mostly in Africa. Moreover, with support through PEPFAR, 53 percent of TB patients in Africa knew their HIV status, and an estimated 140,000 TB/HIV patients were on antiretroviral treatment.
Other recent developments give me optimism about our international partnerships to address TB/HIV in the future. First, I am pleased to announce that PEPFAR will provide $20 million in special one-time funding to develop and initiate an innovative, integrated TB/HIV care package in targeted countries with a significant burden of TB/HIV co-infection. Overall, PEPFAR will provide $160 million in resources to combat TB/HIV, funds that complement broader PEPFAR investments to benefit co-infected populations.
In addition to reaching and identifying people infected with TB, we are also heavily involved in expanding access to HIV care and antiretroviral treatment for all eligible HIV-positive patients, including people co-infected with TB. Through our prevention work, PEPFAR is protecting patients, staff of healthcare facilities and communities through improved infection control and increasing the use of isoniazid preventive therapy, which helps prevent TB infection in people living with HIV. Meanwhile, we are increasing laboratory capacity and supporting new diagnostic technologies that will assist us in identifying, treating, and preventing TB and HIV.
I am optimistic about WHO's recently endorsed rapid test for tuberculosis. The Xpert MTB/RIF test will improve the way TB is diagnosed and is superior to older, much slower TB tests. With the Xpert MTB/RIF rapid diagnostic test, we will be able to quickly and reliably detect TB and identify drug resistance to rifampicin, start appropriate treatment, and ultimately reduce TB transmission. Cost-effectiveness data are promising and this technology could be an example of a smart investment that will help us become more effective in our mission to save lives. PEPFAR is committed to working with other partners to support the scale-up, appropriate use and evaluation of this new technology. To this end, $2 million in central resources will be made available, pending Congressional approval, to support implementation evaluation, coordination with WHO, and scale-up of this new technology, building upon existing PEPFAR-supported laboratory platforms.
Recognizing the global burden of TB, tackling TB is also a key component of President Obama's Global Health Initiative (GHI), which seeks to improve coordination and collaboration among our U.S.-supported global health efforts. Going forward, we anticipate intensifying collaborations with Ministries of Health and other partners to address TB, HIV and other health challenges. On this World TB Day, we reflect on the promising accomplishments to date, and we join in Secretary Clinton's call on the global community to re-commit ourselves to addressing the challenges of TB.


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The playoffs as a development tool
Ryan Pike
May 10 2012 07:49AM
Around this time of year there's a fairly large contingent of my friends and family who ask me the same thing - I often bring up the success of Flames prospects in their respective league playoffs (as the big club isn't involved anymore) - and am met with a blank stare, followed by "why do their playoffs matter?"'
Through the Wringer
Playoffs are undoubtedly important for teams, immeasurably so for the highest levels of pro sports. However, when younger players are developing in junior, college or the minor leagues, there's a question of how much playoff hockey – particularly long playoff runs – allow a young player to develop. In some senses, they're a huge opportunity for a guy to show off his skills or to develop in new situations. When I spoke with him during this winter's Hockey Canada selection camp, Flames prospect Max Reinhart pointed to his experience at last year's Memorial Cup as a reason he didn't feel tremendously nervous. Experiences in clutch situations, even in losing, breeds confidence in young players so they canf ace similar situations in the future.
That said, playoff success can be both fickle and very arbitrary. A middling player can look like a world-beater on a stacked team - one of my personal reservations about getting overly excited about Edmonton Oil Kings players as draft prospects – and a bounce here or there can be the difference between playoff success and failure. Putting too much stock in something so brief and prone to dumb luck can be a bit misleading. Last season, then-Abbotsford head coach Jim Playfair was hesitant to endorse Leland Irving as an NHL-caliber goaltender, saying he needed to win a playoff round. Having seen Irving's play at the NHL level this past season, it seems rather odd that he would be required to clear such an arbitrary hurdle.
There seem to be a few pros and cons regarding long playoffs. Players on long runs get in lots of games and get to play in a lot of different situations. That said, they have a short summer and that can hinder their ability to heal nagging injuries or drastically change their work-outs. For example, Greg Nemisz went to the Memorial Cup in back-to-back years and then turned pro with Calgary. As a result, he had roughly four-to-six weeks of down-time before being thrust back into the hockey routine. I won't say that's the source of the difficulties he's faced as a pro, but more time to learn, decompress and recover from the season could do him wonders.
The Negatives
Then again, long summers can have downsides. For example, look at Ryan Howse. Howse's long summers arguably contributed to some of his bad conditioning habits, which led to Abbotsford coach Troy Ward sending him home earlier this season for the better part of a month. Oddly, Howse's linemate Roman Horak had the same long summers at his disposal and seemed to make the most of them.
Ultimately, though, it appears based on the last five years of Flames drafting that players that get a chance to play in a lot of playoff games tend to develop more rapidly than those who don't. Mikael Backlund, T.J. Brodie, Lance Bouma and Greg Nemisz all went to the conference finals (or further) in junior, with Backlund following up a Memorial Cup appearance with two rounds of AHL playoffs in his first pro year. That said, forward Ryley Grantham went on the same long Memorial Cup run as Backlund and hasn't turned out to be anything on the pro level, so a lot of the difference in outcomes between players seems to be due to idiotsyncratic factors.
There's nothing quite as useful for a young hockey player's development than playing a lot of hockey. That said, the biggest benefits not only are honing their abilities to battle and win, but also building into them a capacity to endure high-pressure situations, lose and then re-group.
A great deal of Max Reinhart's development has arguably been due to a Memorial Cup loss, and several other up-and-coming Flame prospects have managed to win (and lose) at the highest levels of their leagues. In that sense, it's probably not all that surprising that Calgary's best prospects have gone on long playoff runs while some of their less exciting youngsters haven't - often times, good players create opportunities for themselves to showcase their talents and further their own development.
The more interesting recent development is the Flames organization bringing in AHL veterans to Abbotsford for the express purpose of icing a more competitive team, a tacit acknowledgment that keeping the Heat in the playoff pressure cooker will enhance the development of its players in the long-run.
More time playing competitive hockey= more development. That's pretty self-evident.
That said, I don't buy the idea that a few weeks of playoff hockey is gonna make a long term difference in someone's career.
May 10 2012, 09:04AM
I can see that take Arik, given pro hockey players play tens of thousands of hours of hockey over their lives.
That said, a lot of decision makers obviously believe that playoff experience is important in developing kids. It would be interesting to do a systematic study of it to see if there is anything there.
This article brings up yet another misstep by Flames management and something that I was hoping would be addressed in this piece when I clicked the link.
Don't ya think TJ Brodie and Lance Bouma would have benefited from a little time in these playoffs with the Heat? And, the Heat benefited from their presence?
What a terrible decision. Seems like it was all part of the elaborate PR angle that they took all season long.
Look at Jake Gardiner. 75 NHL GP and now gets valuable time in the competitive AHL playoffs... and gets 2 points in the series-clincher.
May 10 2012, 09:15AM
I think this has to do with the elaborate rules surrounding AHL/NHL recalls after the deadline and perhaps the number of "veterans" an AHL team can dress.
I know Calgary had to use a paper transaction at the deadline in order to make Roman Horak available to the Heat for the post-season. That also burned one of the Flames limited recalls at the time.
As such, it's my suspicion the club was prevented from getting some kids back to the farm because, as you say, there's no reason otherwise why they wouldn't be there.
I would be surprised to find out thata higher number of playoff hockey games has a meaningful long-term impact on player development. I suspect any study is going to have major autocorrelation issues in that the better players when they are young are going to be more able to drive team performance, resulting in increasing numbers of playoff games. But it wasn't the playoff games that made them good, it was their ability that led to more playoff games.
That being said, I can certainly see the value in getting guys who are post-draft year into AHL playoff games as a stepping stone to possibly making a jump to NHL the next year. Think of it this way, it is basically an early 7-26 game call up for a guy who would probably have played AHL anyways, but for the NHL-CHL deal on returning drafted players. In that sense, I think playoff hockey is a useful development tool, in that guys like Reinhart are going to get some AHL games in that good give them a boost in getting NHL ready skills for the next season, rather than having to put in 20 games at the start of the next AHL season.
May 10 2012, 01:26PM
@ mslepp
I believe they are both hurt. Brodie hasn't recovered from his injury yet and Bouma is not 100%. Hence they were not in the Heat lineup. Although, what Kent suggested could have played a role as well.
May 11 2012, 05:49AM
High pressure games where players will use any dirty trick in the book to get an opponent off his game or net a greasy goal to keep their playoffs alive, I think, offer insight into winning that goes deeper than the basics of regular season play. It seems that studying an opposing team as intently as they must do in a playoff series has to have some benefits as well. There's some kind of unprovable-through-statistics, "big picture", team-first mentality that I always imagine is learned only through post seasons and nasty series battles. Of course these types of intangibles are probably best left alone by any kind of hockey management; except to say that success leads to confidence, which sometimes leads to more success.
May 11 2012, 09:20AM
Good thing Ward played Irving, then.

subset: commoncrawl


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Department of Primatology
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
phone: +49 (341) 3550 - 200
fax: +49 (341) 3550 - 299
Consumption, dispersal and germination of seeds: the role of bonobos in the ecosystem of the Congo basin
by David Beaune
Bonobos are the largest primate in the Congo basin south of the Congo River and one of the largest consumers of fruit. Unlike many other primate species, bonobos tend to ingest the seeds of fruit and previous studies have shown that large amounts of seeds that have passed the digestive tract are intact. Therefore, bonobos are likely to have an important impact on seed dispersal and may serve an important function in the ecosystem of the lowland forest of the Congo basin. While the nutritional properties of the fruit consumed by bonobos have been studied, nothing is known about the trade offs that plants may derive from the dispersal by large frugivores. This study collects quantitative data on the ingestion and excretion of seeds by bonobos. Specifically, the following questions are addressed:
- What is the extend of seed ingestion by consumers and what proportion of seeds is excreted without physical damage?
- Does seed ingestion affect post-dispersal survival and germination?
- What is the dispersal pattern of ingested seeds?
The data obtained in this study will facilitate assessments of the ecological importance of bonobos in the ecosystem on plant community diversity and the abundance and dispersal of important food trees.


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Sen. Linda Newell, a Democrat, is running for a second term in state Senate District 26. She's held the seat since edging out Republican Lauri Clapp in 2008, and the red team very much wants it back. This time, she faces Republican Dave Kerber.
Newell grew up in Orange County, Calif., daughter of a clinical psychologist and a high school teacher. She has a bachelor's degree from University of California, Irvine. She is also a certified senior professional in human resources and registered organization development professional. She has been a member of the National Business Executives and the Women's Professional Network. She has two grown daughters.
SD-26 includes all or part of Littleton, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills Village, Englewood, Sheridan, Columbine Valley, Bow Mar, a small part of Aurora and other areas.
Colorado Community Media asked the following questions of the candidates in Senate District 26. Below are Newell's answers. (Editor's note: Kerber opted not to answer the questions.)
What makes you the best candidate for this office?
Four years ago, I made a commitment to listen to my constituents and work with people of all parties for the common good of all Coloradans. I've kept that promise and have represented a "purple" district in a purple way. In doing so, 97 percent of my bills had bipartisan support, and I've been recognized as one of the most effective legislators at the Capitol.
I work hard, smart and I get things done. That's why Republicans, Democrats and independents support me. They see that I get people from both sides of the aisle working together. That's my proven track record.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the district and what would you do to meet that challenge?
Continued economic recovery. We've been able to keep ahead slightly of other states by reducing red tape, improving the regulatory scheme and collaborating with groups like business, education, transportation and nonprofits. As an example, I'm proud of sponsoring the Film Production Jobs bill this year to bring back the film industry and tourism jobs we've lost over the last decade.
But there's still more to do. I will continue to partner with the governor and business and education communities to look out for job opportunities, as I have each year, and help get people back to self-sufficiency.
What should be done to improve Colorado's K-12 educational system?
We're lucky in Senate District 26 to have the best school districts in Colorado!
Important next steps for education are comprehensive fiscal reform and review of statewide mandates that no longer work for the system, which, in turn, no longer work for the student.
As with my Fair School Discipline bill, I collaborated with all parties to make sure we're finding solutions that make sense at the district, school and student level. Colorado has taken huge steps to reform our education system, and I will continue to work with stakeholders to find evidence-based solutions that lead to student success.


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Hey, Splotters! Been a while since my last post. . . didja miss me?
If any of you read my review of Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid, you know I loved it. I thought it was hilarious. I've been keeping up with the series since then, and it hasn't missed a beat so far. When my copy of #4 in the series – Dog Days - arrived in the mail, I was excited (and a little nervous) wondering how long can Mr. Kinney keep his hot streak going?
Here's how I test how funny a book is: I take it onto the subway (or any public place where it would be weird to start laughing by yourself – people give you the evil eye like you wouldn't believe). If I'm reading a book, and it can make me laugh despite knowing that everyone in the subway car is going to think I'm weird, then I know it's funny. Dog Days passed that test about 30 seconds after I sat down. (I then had to endure 30 minutes of glares. Oh well.) It follows the same format as before: Greg Heffley, a ridiculously un-self-aware 8th-grader, narrates his life through a series of written and illustrated journal entries. This time, he covers his summer vacation, which he calls a "three-month guilt trip" because he likes to stay inside all day and play video games while everyone else is running around outside. (Hey, sounds like a perfectly good summer to me. . .) His parents aren't huge fans of the idea, to no one's surprise, and shenanigans ensue as Greg blunders and cringes through three months of enforced fun. It starts with Greg and his buddy Rowley running up a huge tab at the country club and gets better from there.
I'm going to follow my policy of not ruining any of the jokes for you, but some of the highlights include: Fregley; Li'l Cutie; "Hello, You're Dead;" Champions Swim Meet; "Get a load a this!" Dog Days has my wholehearted recommendation. If you liked any of the previous entries in the series, you'll love it. If you've never read any of those entries, you'll love it. Heck, you'll love it no matter what! Just. . . don't read it on a subway.
Have you read Dog Days? How do you think it stacks up to the other Wimpy Kid books? Let me know in the comments!
— Jack, STACKS Writer
BONUS WRITING PROMPT: In the book Frindle, Nick invents a new word for pen, and starts calling it a "frindle." What everyday item would you rename, and what would you call it? Leave your answer in the Comments.


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These Tifosi Golf sunglasses feature three lenses designed to improve your game. The Golf/Tennis (GT) lens is color neutral, great for full sun, and high-contrast so you can quickly spot your ball in flight. The Extreme Contrast (EC) lens fiilters blue light and was designed specificallly as a green-reader. Its unique properties help you pick up subtle breaks on the green as you plan your next putt. AC Red is a great contrast lens for overcast conditions.
The frame is made of Grilamid TR-90, a homopolyamide nylon characterized by an extremely high alternative bending strength, low density, and high resistance to chemical and UV damage.
Hydrophilic Adjustable Temples are designed to increase grip when in contact with sweat. Hydrophilic rubber resists aging and UV breakdown. Adjustable temples allow for a customizable fit and increased wearing comfort.
Reflective lens coating reduces glare and decreasees eye fatigue while still allowing the wearer to distinguish terrain breaks. Hydrophilic Adjustable Nose Pieces are designed to increase grip when in contact with sweat Hydrophilic rubber resists aging and UV breakdown.
Polycarbonate Decentered Lenses feature high impact resistance: flex instead of shattering upon impact. Optical clarity: decentering eliminates optical distortion and magnification. 100% UVA/UVB protection with all lenses. Ventilated Lenses decrease fogging and help cool the wearer.
Shipping Restrictions:Can't ship to .See more info here.
Due to the nature of this item, it may be restricted from shipment to the territories listed under Shipping Restrictions. It may require a permit or may be prohibited from ownership in these areas. Contact your local law enforcement/government officials to find out more. If you add it to the shopping cart and check out with it, it may be removed from your order by our customer service team (your credit card will not be charged for the item).
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Whether you have just a few holes to patch or you need to start over, your options for starting new turf are seeding or sodding. But which is right for you?
When establishing a new lawn, a common question asked is, "Should I seed or sod?" The answer to this question is different for everyone depending on the area in question, as well as how much time and money you want to invest into the project.
The most significant difference between seeding and sodding is the time it takes to develop a mature turf stand. Sodding is quicker; it's simply transplanting mature turf. Seeding establishes turf from an earlier stage. The following outline lists some of the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Click here for Seed and Sod Application Rates.
• More grass types and varieties to choose from
• Less expensive than sodding
• Deeper root system
• There is no thatch layer present which may harbor unwanted diseases or insect pests
• Initial establishment takes longer
• Time of seeding is limited mainly to late summer and early fall
• Moisture is critical for the young seedlings
• Invasion of weeds into bare soil
• The area is inaccessible until seed is fully established
• Instant gratification
• relatively weed-free in the beginning
• Can be laid any time during the growing season
• Sodded lawns control soil erosion on slopes and eliminate problems with mud while the grass is becoming established.
• Instant accessibility to the area
• Expensive
• Less selection or control over types of grasses (shade or drought tolerance)
• Labor intensive
Milorganite: Organic Nitrogen Fertilizer for Better Lawns and Gardens, Naturally


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Flames Camp News and Notes, January 17 2013
Ryan Pike
January 17 2013 01:53PM
The fifth day of Flames camp has come and gone, and the highlight of the day was a scrimmage, as well as players being put on waivers.
Flames netminder Miikka Kiprusoff was absent from the nets on Thursday, as the Flames coaching staff opted to give their #1 goalie a rest.
A report from Czech website iSport.cz (via Roger Millions' Twitter) indicates that Jiri Hudler's going to try to make it back for Sunday's season-opening game. Yes, he's burying his father and then flying half-way around the world to suit up. If it happens, Hudler is a tremendous character guy.
The Flames placed defenseman Brett Carson, forward Paul Byron and goaltenders Henrik Karlsson AND Leland Irving on waivers, presumably for the purposes of sending some (or all) of them to the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL.
Much like yesterday, Bob Hartley's staff ran an up-tempo practice that primarily focused on special teams work.
The session began with some odd-man rushes and break-outs for a warm-up, and then it was straight into power-play work. Once again, the club had the same ten men wearing black and manning the power-play: Curtis Glencross, Mike Cammalleri, Jarome Iginla, Sven Baertschi, Mikael Backlund, Lee Stempniak, Alex Tanguay, Dennis Wideman, Mark Giordano and Jay Bouwmeester.
After that, the Flames broke into lines and practices line-rushes and quick transition drills. The lines looked roughly like this once again:
- Glencross – Tanguay – Iginla
- Baertschi – Backlund – Cammalleri
- Horak – Stajan – Stempniak
- Comeau – Jones – Jackman
- Begin/Byron – Street – Winchester
- Giordano – Bouwmeester
- Butler – Wideman
- Smith – Sarich
- Brodie – Carson
- Breen – McCarthy
- Irving
- Karlsson
There was one pretty cool drill. Basically, they started with a one-on-one break-in on a forecheck. Then, the offensive side gained a man, as if he was coming in off a line change. Then the defense gained a man, and they went like this until it was essentially 5-on-2 for the offensive side. It seemed to be meant to replicate a quick line-change and condition players to be looking for the pass when coming in on a rush from off the bench.
Once again, the scrimmage focused on special teams, with the referees sending men off at random increments to give each side chances at practicing 5-on-4s and 5-on-3s.
The line-ups broke down like this.
Team Black:
Glencross / Cammalleri / Iginla / Wideman / Tanguay
Comeau / Jones / Jackman / Smith / Breen
Winchester / Byron / Begin / Carson / McCarthy
Team Red:
Baertschi / Backlund / Stempniak / Giordano / Bouwmeester
Horak / Stajan / Street / Brodie / Butler / Sarich
Moir / Yaworski (locals joining to even out the sides)
Team Black won 4-0, off goals by Blair Jones, Jarome Iginla, Mike Cammalleri and Tim Jackman. Leland Irving stood on his head, making a series of saves through screens and off scrambles in front of his net. He was every bit as good today as he was shaky in the days prior.
Outside of Irving, players that stood out included Jones (with nice defending on a 5-on-3), Mikael Backlund and Dennis Wideman. Steve Begin and Brad Winchester seemed to lack a bit of jump in their step, and were noticably slower on the ice than their teammates.
In a very nice touch, the Flames entire camp roster (sans the injured and absent) went out to centre ice at the end of the scrimmage and saluted the fans. Sven Baertschi and other players signed autographs for about 10 minutes following the conclusion of the scrimmage.
At the time of this writing, cuts were expected to be made sometime later today. We'll have more information as it becomes available.
Completely off topic I'm just working on my hockey pool and am torn:
Should I choose Ovechkin, N. Backstrom or M. Richards?
It's just straight up points. History would say Ovechkin but he seems like a shadow of who he once was and Washington is looking to play a more defensive system. Backstrom is injured a lot so high risk. Richards should put up points although a Sutter defence team. Kopitar is injured for a long time it sounds so the points have to come from somewhere. Skinner is an option as well.
Just curious to hear everyone's thoughts...
Does it bother anyone else that the entire time it seems that Brodie has been getting minutes behind Sarich or at least looks to be behind Sarich on the depth chart?
I would hope Brodie is going to be playing with Sarich once the season begins. That sounds like a good enough third pairing
January 17 2013, 09:21PM
@Brent G.
I totally agree Brent. I don't think the rebuild has to take long at all if done smartly.
January 17 2013, 09:27PM
@Brent G.
I'd go Ovechkin.
I would hope Brodie is going to be playing with Sarich once the season begins. That sounds like a good enough third pairing
I'd rather Smith, before his injury last year he was playing great, and I think a young line of mobile guys like Brodie and Smith is better for the Flames instead of old and slow sarich.
January 17 2013, 09:37PM
@Brent G.
Mike Richards shouldn't even be in the discussion with the two caps if it's points only. Ovechkin is probably the safest bet of the three, although it's still possible that Backstrom gets more points than he does this season.
January 17 2013, 09:48PM
@Brent G.
Backstrom all the way.
January 17 2013, 11:49PM
Mike Richards shouldn't even be in the discussion with the two caps if it's points only. Ovechkin is probably the safest bet of the three, although it's still possible that Backstrom gets more points than he does this season.
Yeah, Richards isn't in the same league as Ovechkin when it comes to scoring, even with AO's recent struggles.
Awaiting Friday Jan 18 report and great job Ryan...saw you Thursday at Dome but you were rushing by!!!


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Jennie Geisler's column on hot toys for the season is a must-read in today's Erie Times-News.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were part of everyday life at our home. All three of my 20-something kids had the figures, pajamas, tent, Halloween costumes and more. We were avid viewers of the TV show too.
Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael were named for Renaissance painters. They loved pizza and their fearless leader Splinter, a rat — this does take place in a sewer, after all. Michelangelo made expressions like "Cowabunga" and "dude" part of every conversation. My oldest flushed all four of the shelled friends down the toilet to send them home one time. Dude, the plumber saved them.
Many of the 20-somethings and moms and dads will also remember the dreaded Furby. My sister gave my daughter, Kelly, a Furby when she was a tween. The critter was promptly buried in the closet and made enough noise to scare us all. Kelly removed the battery and said it was the only time that beast spoke English telling her that she was killing it. I swear it is still hidden in a box somewhere.
The $10 Rubik's cube never goes out of style. You can even buy replacement parts from 1980 creator Hasbro. I never mastered this, and neither did my kids. But it's a puzzle lovers 3-D dream.
Other items Jennie listed were favorites — some more mine than any of the kids. The Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends toys and books were great entertainment. Several versions exist, but the PBS Shining Time Station episodes with narrator George Carlin as the conductor were my favorites. And Ringo Starr, also made an appearance.
I'm always happy to see Legos on the list of popular toys. These aren't just toys — they teach engineering skills, and I know we still have Legos — and permanent indentations in our feet from stepping on them.
Everyone at our house is too old to play with any of this stuff, but I may pull these retro relics out just for fun for the holidays. How about you?
Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.


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Troubleshoot Problems
Use online tools to diagnose and research issues with your software or systems:
Troubleshooting documentation
Direct access to problem resolution documentation and knowledge bases
|View documentation for known problems
|View APARs, technical notes, and other troubleshooting content for known problems and their resolutions. Look under the Product support content section.
|Find out what troubleshooting data to collect before contacting IBM Support
|Learn which logs and diagnostic data to gather before submitting a service request to save time, allowing IBM to resolve your problem faster.
IBM Support Assistant (ISA)
A set of problem determination and troubleshooting offerings which provide a rich set of problem determination tools and functions designed to help you with root cause analysis and expedited problem determination
|IBM Support Assistant Data Collector includes automated data collector utilities
|Collect MustGather information for all of the files that IBM Support needs to resolve your specific problems.
|IBM Support Assistant 5.0 Team Server is a web-based server offering
|Provides a platform for a variety of problem determination tools to help you investigate and solve complex issues. Quickly organize and analyze files to understand memory leaks, configuration errors, deadlock scenarios, and many more types of problems.
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|A collection of server management tools to help deploy, configure, update, and diagnose your IBM System x and BladeCenter environment.
Join the conversation
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Three Volcanoes
Photograph by John Stanmeyer, National Geographic
Mount Semeru, seen with an ash plume, is the highest volcano on the Indonesian island of Java and has been in a constant eruption since 1967. It lies at the southern end of the Tengger caldera, which contains smaller volcanoes Mount Bromo and Mount Batok (both seen in the foreground), and several others.
Lava Flowing Into the Pacific
Photograph by Stephen Alvarez, National Geographic
With a hiss of steam, lava flows into the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii. Similar flows of molten rock have built up the Hawaiian islands over the course of more than 70 million years.
Mount Etna, Italy
Photograph by Carsten Peter, National Geographic
Perched above the lighted city of Catania, Italy, Mount Etna hurls a fountain of fire skyward as rivers of lava spill down its flanks. In spite of its dazzling displays, Mount Etna is a relatively safe volcano with rare, compact eruptions and slow-flowing lava that gives people a chance to escape.
Liquid Lava on Mount Etna
Photograph by Carsten Peter, National Geographic
A few hundred degrees separates this pool of fiery orange magma in Italy's Mount Etna from its hardened, gray crust. At nearly 11,000 feet (3,353 meters), Mount Etna is Europe's highest active volcano.
Volcanic Lightning
Photograph by Peter Vancoillie, Your Shot
A bright bolt of lightning crackles within the ash cloud from the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland in April 2010. Volcanic lightning occurs when roiling ash particles rub against each other and become electrically charged.
Mount St. Helens After Eruption
Photograph by Steven L. Raymer, National Geographic
A wisp of smoke escapes from Mount St. Helens' dramatic eggshell-shaped crater after an eruption. Washington State's volcano is most famous for its catastrophic 1980 eruption that killed 57 people, destroyed homes, bridges, and highways, and triggered an enormous debris avalanche that carved a mile-wide (1.6-kilometer-wide) crater on the mountain.
Ertale Volcano Crater, Ethiopia
Photograph by Carsten Peter, National Geographic
Climbers mount whorls of lava on the caldera of Ethiopia's Ertale Volcano as steam escapes from a lava lake in the volcano's crater, which can reach temperatures of 1,868°F (1,020°C).
Boiling Mud, Ethiopia
Photograph by Carsten Peter, National Geographic
A pool of mud boils near Dallol Volcano, in Ethiopia's remote Danakil Depression. Volcanic explosion craters such as Dallol form during phreatic eruptions—where rising magma comes into contact with water beneath the surface of the Earth, causing a steam explosion.
Cleveland Volcano, Alaska
Photograph courtesy NASA Earth Observatory
Cleveland Volcano releases a plume of ash that rises almost 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) above the North Pacific Ocean in this aerial photograph. Cleveland Volcano, located in the Aleutian Islands southwest of Alaska, failed to produce an eruption and the plume of ash detached from the volcano two hours after it formed.
Pahoehoe Lava, Hawaii
Photograph by Steve and Donna O'Meara, Volcano Watch International/National Geographic
Pahoehoe lava flows on Kilauea volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Unlike aa (pronounced "ah ah") lava, pahoehoe flows relatively slowly, allowing an insulating skin to form that keeps the temperature close to 2,190°F (about 1,200°C). Aa lava, on the other hand, moves faster and doesn't have time to develop a skin, resulting in a cooler flow with a more angular texture.
Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano
Photograph by Carsten Peter, National Geographic
A stream of neon-orange lava cascades down Ol Doinyo Lengai, in Tanzania's Great Rift Valley. Ol Doinyo Lengai, "Mountain of God" in the language of the Maasai, is the only volcano in the world erupting natrocarbonatite lava, an extremely fluid lava that contains almost no silicon.
Fern Growing From Lava, Hawaii
Photograph by Frans Lanting, National Geographic
A whisk fern grows from recently cooled lava in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii. Plants can return rapidly to areas affected by volcanic eruptions. Over time, lava and ash break down to form fertile soils ideal for agriculture.
Two Eruptions
Photograph by James Appleton, Your Shot
A volcanic eruption and the eruption of light from charged particles in the atmosphere—called the Northern Lights—occur at the same time in Iceland. The island nation was created by volcanic activity and today has 35 active volcanoes, which provide the country with plentiful geothermal power.
Ash Cloud
Photograph by Snorri Gunnarsson, My Shot
Geese fly past the ash cloud from the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano that began in April 2010. Ash from the volcano disrupted air traffic in Europe for more than a month.
Stars Over Mount Damavand
Photograph by Siamak Sabet, Your Shot
Stars whirl in the sky in a long-exposure photo of Mount Damavand in Iran. The mountain, which is part of the Elburz mountain range south of the Caspian Sea, is the highest volcano in Asia and the highest peak in the Middle East.
Lake Laach
Photograph by Hannah Baumert, My Shot
Gas bubbles up from the bottom of Laacher See (or Lake Laach) in Germany. A violent prehistoric eruption caused the Earth's crust to collapse and form a crater that filled with water. The lake lies in an area of Western Germany called the Eifel volcanic field.
Arenal Volcano
Photograph by Lawrence Smith, My Shot
The Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica erupts suddenly in February 2010, turning the sky an ominous yellow-brown. The volcano is one of the most active in the world.
Thurston Lava Tube
Photograph by Kevin Hazelton, My Shot
Lights illuminate the Thurston Lava Tube in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Lava tubes serve as underground pipelines, allowing molten rock to flow under and away from volcanoes.
Lava Falls
Photograph by Snorri Gunnarsson, My Shot
Lava flows into a valley in southern Iceland near the Eyjafjallajökull volcano.
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Key resources
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National Inhalants Information Service
This publication aims to assist local communities to address inhalant use. The second edition contains updated advice for use by communities and community workers across Australia. The publication:
This booklet is designed to support staff and people for whom English is a first language. For Indigenous community members who do not speak English as a first language, the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council has produced other resources that may be more useful.
Abstract adapted from National Inhalants Information Service
National Inhalants Information Service
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Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia
PO Box 269
Woden ACT 2606
Ph: (02) 6215 9816
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Gaggiotti, H. (2011) Narrating expatriation and making sense of globalization experience impressions from the fieldwork. In: Bonet, E., Czarniawska, B., McCloskey, D. and Hensen, H., eds. (2011) Rhetoric and Narratives in Management Research. ESADE Press. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/14573
This list was generated on Sun Feb 26 02:56:23 2017 GMT.


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45 Easy Potluck Recipes
Oriental Coleslaw [1]
Uncooked ramen noodles, almonds and sunflower kernels add crunch to this salad from a Dubuque, Iowa, reader. It was one of the winners in a Midwest Living® potluck recipe contest.
Hash Brown Casserole [5]
An all-time reader favorite, this creamy hotdish is a guaranteed hit at potlucks. (In fact, you may want to make two pans!)
Sunny Broccoli Salad [9]
A Cleveland reader makes this potluck salad the day ahead and refrigerates the dressing and vegetables separately. When it's time to serve it, she tosses everything together. Bacon, sunflower kernels and raisins make a crunchy and flavorful side dish.
Sunny Broccoli Salad [10]
Chicken and Corn Hash Brown Bake [13]
This comfort food hotdish offers a new twist on the usual hash brown casserole. Try it for everyday meals as well as potlucks!
Greek Orzo Salad [17]
Olives and feta give salty punch to this pasta salad from Surdyk's Liquor and Cheese Shop in Minneapolis.
Greek Orzo Salad [18]
Ricotta and Parmesan Spread [21]
Fresh herbs season this ridiculously simple spread from BelGioioso Cheese in Wisconsin. It keeps well in the fridge and is delicious with cherry tomatoes or other vegetable dippers, as well as crackers or baguette slices.
Stuffed Party Pinwheels [25]
Our recipe actually makes two different kinds of tortilla spirals—one flavored with curry powder, the other with garlic and herbs.
Party Hot Pot Dip [29]
Three kinds of cheese blend with artichoke hearts and spinach for a crowd-pleasing dip. Bake in batches to keep the party well-supplied.
Party Hot Pot Dip [30]
Mexican Biscuit Casserole [33]
This taco-flavored main dish is a potluck favorite from a Fargo, North Dakota, reader. Serve it with tortilla chips so your guests can scoop and eat.
Mexican Biscuit Casserole [34]
Salted Caramel, Chocolate and Peanut Cracker-Stack Bars [37]
These fantastic potluck bars come from Patrice Hurd of Bemidji, Minnesota. She won the grand prize in our 2012 Best of the Midwest® Recipe Contest. Patrice says they're a twist on her grandmother's cracker bars. They cut beautifully and brim with salty-sweet-nutty-chocolately flavor.
Salted Caramel, Chocolate and Peanut Cracker-Stack Bars [38]
Roasted Tomato Pasta with Mozzarella [41]
Red and yellow cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, and plenty of herbs and spices add color and flavor to this bountiful pasta salad. Sprinkle fresh basil on top.
Asian-Style Chicken Salad [45]
Curly noodles, almonds, sesame kernels and rice vinegar blend in this crunchy, tangy salad from a West Des Moines, Iowa, reader.
Light and Layered Taco Dip [49]
Ground turkey, reduced-sodium and light ingredients, and a confetti of crisp, colorful veggies make this potluck staple more nutritious than a typical layered dip—but every bit as tasty.
German Potato Salad [53]
Our Own Dream Cookies [57]
It's not easy satisfying everyone, but this cookie from the Midwest Living® Test Kitchen tries to meet the challenge! It's packed with oatmeal, chocolate, peanut butter and nuts.
Triangle Ranch Scalloped Corn [61]
Diced green chile peppers give this baked and cheesy potluck dish character with some hotness. We like the crunch from the saltine crackers, too. The recipe comes from Triangle Ranch Bed and Breakfast in western South Dakota, where guests enjoy hearty meals prepared by B&B owner Lyndy Ireland.
Triangle Ranch Scalloped Corn [62]
Download our FREE printable collection of 10 favorite casserole recipes [63]
Oven-Barbecued Chicken [69]
Oven-baking the chicken makes this recipe a breeze for any time of the year, and homemade barbecue sauce is always a hit. Serve with rolls and slaw.
Tropical Tomato Salsa [73]
Try this sweet, colorful salsa with chips, fish or chicken, and feel free to switch the mango or melon for other summer fruits.
Broccoli Grape Salad [77]
Juicy grapes and crunchy broccoli blend sweet flavors with savory, salty bacon. The side-dish salad recipe comes from the Triangle Ranch B&B in South Dakota.
Broccoli Grape Salad [78]
Blueberry-Almond Bars [81]
Fruit fillings complement the sweetness of other bar cookie ingredients. Blueberry-Almond Bars was a grand champion award recipe at the Marshall County Fair's annual Blueberry Bake-A-Rama in Plymouth, Indiana. Lori Van Der Weele combined blueberries, butter, white baking pieces and almonds for this winner.
Pizza Pasta Skillet Casserole [85]
A blanket of gooey cheese and the oven-crisped pepperoni make this casserole a guaranteed kid pleaser. Of course, you can switch up the ingredients as easily as the toppings on a pizza. Classics like sweet pepper, black olives and sausage are all fair game—but we'd hold the anchovies!
Mexican Polenta Pie [89]
Great for a potluck or family dinner, this 12-serving casserole combines polenta with ground turkey, spices, black beans, tomatoes and Monterey Jack cheese.
Mexican Polenta Pie [90]
Potluck Pleaser Chili [93]
Beverly Gardner or Franklin, Illinois, lets her Bavarian-Austrian heritage show with added vinegar, sour cream and lots of sugar. Our heat rating: ! (Mild, Not Wild)
Corn and Tomato Pasta Salad [97]
Shredded chicken makes this gorgeous salad hearty enough to serve on its own for dinner.
Very Berry Triple Fruit Pie [101]
More than 4 cups of berries make this pie extra juicy. Be sure to let it cool completely before you slice it. And don't forget the vanilla ice cream! The recipe comes from Covered Bridge Farm in Forest Lake, Minnesota.
Bonanza Bean Dip [105]
Lime- and jalapeño-spiced guacamole adds a kick to layers of refried beans, cheese, tomatoes and onions. Serve seasoned tortilla chips on the side.
Bonanza Bean Dip [106]
24-Hour Tex-Mex Salad [109]
Layered salads, popular in the 1970s and 1980s, are making a comeback. Assemble this easy potluck salad in either individual jars or a clear salad bowl, dressing and all, then refrigerate.
24-Hour Tex-Mex Salad [110]
Classic Potato Salad [113]
This creamy potato salad is full of tender new potatoes, sweet pickles, crisp celery, and chopped hard-cooked eggs.
Classic Potato Salad [114]
Tortilla-Black Bean Casserole [117]
Layer a tomato-bean mixture, cheese and tortillas for a casserole with south-of-the-border flavor. Let each guest top their portion with chopped tomato, shredded lettuce, green onions, olives and/or sour cream.
Creamy Scalloped Potatoes [121]
This easy-to-make layered cheesy potato dish pairs well with pork chops or ham.
Calico Bean Bake [125]
This recipe blurs the line between baked beans and chili. It's great for feeding a crowd.
Calico Bean Bake [126]
Cherry-Apple Slaw [129]
Nuts and fruit add crunch and color to cabbage tossed in a homemade vinaigrette. This beautiful twist on traditional coleslaw is best served right away for maximum crispness, but it will hold for up to 24 hours.
Cherry-Apple Slaw [130]
Broccoli-Cheddar Mashed Potatoes [133]
A classic veggie mix meets potatoes in this recipe, which calls for adding fresh or frozen broccoli florets and cheddar cheese to creamy mashed potatoes.
Spinach Artichoke Dip [137]
Jazz up purchased spinach-artichoke dip with just three extra ingredients.
Spinach Artichoke Dip [138]
Easy baked bean fix-ups [141]
Pop the top on a can, and give summer's easiest barbecue side new personality with these simple baked bean mix-ins. Go saucy: Barbecue sauce. Go sweet: Pineapple tidbits. Go meaty: Diced ham. Go smoky: Smoked paprika.
Creamy Meatball Casserole [144]
This crowd-pleaser takes only 15 minutes of prep time—purchased frozen meatballs and condensed soup make the recipe a snap.
Tequila-Spiked Queso Fundido [148]
Spicy poblano chile pepper and tequila pack a punch. Serve as a party dip with tortilla chips, or create upscale quesadillas with a warmed tortilla and chorizo.
Zesty Three-Bean Salad [152]
Combine kidney beans, garbanzo beans and frozen sweet soybeans (edamame) with red onion, cilantro and lime juice for a fresh twist on three-bean salad.
Zesty Three-Bean Salad [153]
Marbled Cream-Cheese Brownies [156]
Swirl a mixture of cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla into rich brownie batter for this classic twist on a chocolate treat.
Pepper Jack Corn Casserole [160]
This dead-simple and totally delicious casserole is a homey addition to any weekend meal, potluck or even a holiday spread.
Buffalo-Style Chicken Fingers [164]
Add to your potluck buffet with this neat-to-eat chicken breast variation of chicken wings. Dunk them in bottled blue cheese dressing.
Ranger Cookies [168]
Filled with flaked coconut and dried fruit, these cookies can be ready in just over 30 minutes.
Ranger Cookies [169]
Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip [172]
Blend chopped fresh spinach with cream cheese, sour cream, canned artichoke hearts and three kinds of cheeses for this hot-and-hearty dip. Serve with toasted pita chips, thinly sliced French bread or crackers.
Best Salsa [176]
Make this thick and chunky salsa with fresh tomatoes from your garden. Add more jalapeno peppers if you prefer more heat.
Best Salsa [177]
Baked Beans 'n' Bacon [180]
Bacon and brown sugar punch up the salty-sweet flavors in this canned pork and beans fix-up from Triangle Ranch Bed and Breakfast in South Dakota. For a candied top, leave Baked Beans 'n' Bacon uncovered in the oven.
Baked Beans 'n' Bacon [181]
More potluck recipes [184]
For more delicious potluck recipe ideas, click on any link below!
Free printable casserole cookbook and more [191]
Click below to download our free printable collection of 10 casserole recipes or other free printable cookbooks.


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Ben Stiller Hollywood Hills Home Pictures
Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor Sell Second House in Their Hollywood Hills Compound
Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor have just sold the second house in their Hollywood Hills estate for $2.6 million.This second, smaller house, is a generous 4,062 square feet, situated on less than a third of an acre.
The entire compound, which included the Spanish-style home, another house, and a guesthouse, was put on the market over two years ago for $12.5 million. Since that time, the larger home was sold to Jason Statham last year for $7.32 million.
The entire compound features a one-bedroom guest house, a lovely pool, outdoor living and dining areas, and a lushly landscaped yard, full of palms, succulents, and full-grown trees.
Let's take a look at the compound, which is truly a gorgeous piece of real estate!


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Frequent Flyer Benefits take-off at High Velocity26/07/2013
Frequent flyers can now enjoy more benefits than ever before, with Velocity Frequent Flyer increasing its hotel portfolio by over 80% and launching a range of industry innovations over the past twelve months.
Over the past year, Velocity has added 28 new hotel brands to the program, meaning members can now earn Points at hotels on almost every continent in the world. This month, some of the world's most recognisable and luxurious hotels have been added including Langham Hospitality Group, Taj Group, Jumeirah Group and Voyages, including Ayers Rock Resort, Longitude 131Ë and Home Valley Station.
It follows a range of other enhancements to the program including using Points for on-the-spot-upgrades in lounges and the ability to earn Points for pets.
Velocity has also started profiling causes that members are passionate about via its communications channels. This gives members the exclusive opportunity to engage directly with the entire frequent flyer community.
Adding to its wide-ranging number of retailers who offer Velocity Points, Velocity today announced a new partnership with Midas, enabling members, for the first time, to be rewarded when they service their car.
Velocity Frequent Flyer Chief Executive Officer Neil Thompson said the latest enhancements were about offering a world-class, truly member-centric program.
"This month marks two years since Velocity Frequent Flyer was officially relaunched and redesigned based on member feedback.
"Since then, we have continued to enhance the program by delivering what our members really want, such as enjoying frequent flyer benefits with the whole family, and being rewarded in every facet of their life.
"Our approach at Velocity is to challenge the status quo and exceed expectations to deliver a truly unique loyalty program for our 3.7 million members, whether by rewarding members for travelling with their pets or by profiling causes they are passionate about.
"We will continue to come up with compelling and creative ways to redefine loyalty and reward our members", Mr Thompson said.
Velocity Frequent Flyer is free to join, visit the website VelocityFrequentFlyer.com.
About Langham
As the wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eagle Holdings, Langham Hospitality Group encompasses a family of distinctive hotels under The Langham, Langham Place, Eaton, and 88 Xintiandi brands that are located on four continents. The Group takes its name from the legendary Langham in London which was widely recognized as Europe's first Grand Hotel. For almost 150 years, this flagship hotel has represented sophisticated and gracious hospitality, a philosophy that reflects elegance in design, innovation in hospitality, genuine service and captivation of the senses across all properties. For reservations, see LanghamHospitalityGroup.com.
Earn 3 Points per $1 within Australia and 1,000 Points per stay outside Australia
Book and travel before 30 September 2013 and earn double Velocity Points.
About Taj Group
Established in 1901, Taj Group is one of Asia's largest and finest group of hotels, comprising 101 hotels in 59 locations across India with an additional 17 international hotels in the Maldives, Malaysia, Australia, UK, USA, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle East. From world-renowned landmarks to modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts to authentic Grand Palaces, each Taj hotel offers an unrivalled fusion of warm Indian hospitality, world-class service and modern luxury. For over a century, The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, the iconic flagship has set a benchmark for fine living with exquisite refinement, inventiveness and warmth. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is part of the Tata Group, India's premier business house.
Earn 3 Points per $1 within Australia and 1,000 Points per stay outside Australia
Book and travel before 31 October 2013 and earn double Velocity Points.
About Jumeirah Group
Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts are regarded as among the most luxurious and innovative in the world and have won numerous international travel and tourism awards. The company was founded in 1997 with the aim to become a hospitality industry leader through establishing a world class portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts. Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts includes Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi; Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray and Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai; Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa in Kuwait; Jumeirah Bilgah Beach Hotel in Baku; Jumeirah Dhevanafushi and Jumeirah Vittaveli in the Maldives; Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel in Shanghai; Jumeirah Frankfurt in Germany; Jumeirah Grand Hotel via Veneto in Rome; Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa in Mallorca, Spain; Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah in Istanbul; as well as Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London. Jumeirah Group also runs the luxury serviced residences brand Jumeirah Living™; the wellness brand Talise; Jumeirah Restaurants; Wild Wadi Waterpark™; The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management; and Sirius™, its global loyalty programme.
Earn 1 Point per $1USD spent.
Book and travel before 20 December 2013 and earn triple Velocity Points.
About Voyages
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, a subsidiary of the Indigenous Land Corporation, manages Ayers Rock Resort, Longitude 131Ë and Home Valley Station. We work together with the Traditional Owners, local Aboriginal communities and the broader community to offer visitors a genuine Aboriginal experience. Voyages seek to offer world class tourism and hospitality experiences while making a difference for Aboriginal communities through training, employment and business development opportunities.
Voyages offers experience-based holidays in spectacular wilderness locations including Ayers Rock Resort and Longitude 131° in the iconic Red Centre and Home Valley Station in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Voyages is focused on providing guests with enriching, memorable experiences, which they would not be able to enjoy anywhere else in Australia.
Earn 3 Points per $1AUD spent
Book by 31 August 2013 for travel until 31 March 2014 and earn triple Velocity Points.


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Skip to comments.Tarrant County Party Facility Refuses Gay Couple's Wedding Reception
Posted on 02/24/2013 7:45:28 AM PST by tuffydoodle
A gay Fort Worth couple says a Tarrant County facility is refusing to rent them space to celebrate their upcoming wedding with a reception.
The owner of the All Occasion Party Place told Ben Allen and Justin Hudgins that she would not rent to them because they are gay, they said.
After learning they are gay, she said in an email to them that: "... it is because of God that I will not be a part in your reception and I know he loves you but not what you are doing."
"It almost felt like a sucker-punch to the face," Allen said.
"Initially, I didn't know how to respond, so I called Justin immediately and told him what happened," he said. "I was kind of floored a bit. I thought, in today's day and age, for someone to deny you simply because you date someone of the same sex, it doesn't really make sense to me."
Allen and Hudgins are getting married in Mexico on April 6 and plan to have a party with their friends and family when they return home.
All Occasion Party Place is just outside the Fort Worth city limits, so it doesn't fall under the city's anti-discrimination code, which does offer protection in such situations.
The owner of the facility told NBC 5 she did not want to comment on the matter.
Gee, dating someone of the same sex doesn't make sense to me. But you know what, if that's what you want, fine. If the party facility doesn't want to host your party, fine too. It's called freedom - no one can tell you what to do, and no one can tell the party place what they have to do either.
"All Occasion Party Place is just outside the Fort Worth city limits, so it doesn't fall under the city's anti-discrimination code"
So, why is this "news". It does one service for me though, it alerts me to a place to hold a wedding reception.
We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
"sucker punched" Good grief homosexuals are offended by everything. Just fine another place to have you party, why go to the papers.
You do know why don't you?
Someone said NO to a gay couple..
And that can NOT stand.
(personally, I'd tell um to piss off too..)
They'll get sued. But good for them for standing up for what is right.
My son and his fiancee just chose a catering service to cater their wedding reception. This is a typical small family business. Husband is the chef, wife is the manager, kids work the events along with others whom I'm pretty sure are long time employees. So do we force these family oriented people to endure gay pride PDA and who knows what else going on?
The answer is easy: the goal is to force everyone to accept and kowtow to the Lavender Mafia. "Accept us...or ELSE!" is the de facto motto of the LGBTQRSTUV bullies.
Owner should say...Go pound sand faggot. This is MY place and we play by MY rules!
I was in a popular, left wing, nut job grocery store a few weeks ago when the checkout guy (out and proud gay) stuck his nose in my small paper bag to see what kind of bakery good I was buying. I said "I don't appreciate your sticking your snotty nose in my purchase. I'm going to bag another pastry and go to a different check out person". I complained to the manager. I saw the manager talk with the "guy" who started crying and pointing at me. I dropped everything and said, "I will never shop here again" in a fairly loud tone. It was really satisfying.
> We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
Every business should have this sign posted. I'm sure the gay couple has already consulted an attorney and that Obama as been notified so he can granstand to look like Daddy Gub'mint and scold the "evil God loving" business owners on national TV. Hopefully he doesnt try to introduce legislation to force businesses to cater to gays. If he does I say make it the most unpleasurable experience possible without making it look intentional you know sort of like Obama does things. See you can learn some useful things from 0...
> We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
Every business should have this sign posted. I'm sure the gay couple has already consulted an attorney and that Obama has been notified so he can granstand to look like Daddy Gub'mint and scold the "evil God loving" business owners on national TV. Hopefully he doesnt try to introduce legislation to force businesses to cater to gays. If he does I say make it the most unpleasurable experience possible without making it look intentional you know sort of like Obama does things. See you can learn some useful things from 0...
They want to justify their sin by forcing acceptance.
They will never be accepted, it is inherent in our DNA as revulsion.
Even liberals who claim they are accepting treat homosexuals more like pets than people.
I have many friends who public are accepting, yet privately are the most intolerant towards homosexuals. Hell, they don't even like each other.
I see this as another form of bullying. NBC and the gay couple are bullying this small business because they don't believe as the gays want them to believe.
Oh, please-the little wuss needs to find another venue, and stop whining like the drama queen he obviously is-his lifestyle isn't suited to a nice, normal place, and this is still a free country, so he just needs to shut up.
I've seen the right to refuse service signs in privately owned businesses all my life, either on the door, or on the wall behind the checkout. They are still common out here-in the 4 restaurants we have, because they serve alcohol, and there are rude tourists around in summer-but the general store and an ice house have them as well.
I think every private business should display one-no one has the right to tell you who to sell-or not sell-your product/service to, period.
I expect to see Ben and Justin cuddling in the Presidential "box" at the next sotu (if we still have a union next January).
These godless gay lesbians went out shopping for a lawsuit not for a reception hall. Eric Holder/Obama like sticking it to Texans so the Justice Department might intervene
You're exactly right. The left is nothing but hypocrisy. "Celebrate diversity!" Oh, but if you don't agree with them and don't support their agenda, do they celebrate your differing thoughts and opinions? No! Of course not, they revert to the same tactics they decry in others.
The FACT that the fudge-packing sodomites don't see this as a BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY exposes the real agenda here...
The All Occasion Party Place looks like it's south of Fort Worth between Burleson and Mansfield. I've never been in that particular area but it's got to be out in the country. This same-sex couple must have known they'd get a chilly reception. There are gay venues in Fort Worth and probably even more in Dallas, why not go there?
If a business says, "No shoes, no shirts, no service" it stands to reason they can also say, "NO GAYS!". Good for the All Occasion Party Place.
"shopping for a lawsuit"-it sounds like they went to the wrong store-every mile they went out of the city limits lessened their chances of being satisfied customers...
"A gay Fort Worth couple says a Tarrant County facility is refusing to rent them space to celebrate their upcoming wedding with a reception."
When did Texas start letting queers get married?
They are going to prove that Gay is the new Black and in doing so will achieve for themselves all the rights of minority status.
The excerpt above says they are getting "married" in Mexico.
I don't see how gays can claim to have the same status as the black community. As I heard a genetist say, any trait that could potentially cause an entire species to die out is considered a defect. Being black isn't a defect.
So they don't approve of sodomy? Neither does the Judeo-Christian religion.
They've already bullied to the psychiatric profession into removing homosexuality from the list of mental disorders. Next they plan to make society accept their perversity as normal.
Then they plan to destroy the American family.
It doesn't hurt their cause by having a gay president.
Oh dear me...
...go somewhere else.
How could you hurt his wittle feewings like that, you monster?
Excerpted from the article....."so it (the party facility) doesn't fall under the city's anti-discrimination code which does offer protection in such situations."
Am I to interpret this statement as it being a fact that the city's code FORCES party facilities to rent to gays under penalty of law?
Anyone know the city's provisions on this issue?
Because the left's purpose is not to leave others alone, but to enforce conformity with their views.
So I wonder if some hate group wanted to rent a party facility in Fort Worth, where ever they chose would be forced to let them rent, on account of the city's code against discrimination?
In case you've not noticed, our media is brimming over full with homosexuals. The media therefor is their favorite "Bulling" tool.
There. Fixed it.
Because they wanted a reason to make a stink and sue. They know where they are welcome and where they aren't, so why do they always choose the ones where they aren't?
Nothing like this could have happened when I was a child. I grew up in a beautiful, idyllic small town in the 50s. I had decent, hard-working parents, went to an excellent school that actually taught me, attended church twice a week, and assumed life in this country would be the same forever. It wasn't too bad for my kids, but not like my childhood. My poor grandchildren are growing up in an evil, topsy-turvy world and the future does not look bright. I have lived too long!
see this as another form of bullying. NBC and the gay couple are bullying this small business because they dont believe as the gays want them to believe.
Businesses that don't want queer work should use the old "$250,000.00 nonrefundable cleaning deposit" approach.
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The 75-80,000 passes include upwards of 11,000 VIP passes SOLD. 12% of the tickets issued, 25% of the gross.
i'm not going to believe for a second that there were more people there this year than in 2010. although there did seem to be more people there wknd 2 than wknd 1.
i don't remember if it was advertised, but i definitely heard it said in media, maybe rolling stone, idr
Last edited by nbvcide; 11-27-2012 at 10:23 PM.
Last edited by Bumblebee; 11-27-2012 at 10:46 PM.
what happened to this thread
Yes. but almost ALL of those people HAD paid, just to a scalper for a VOIDED wristband. I would be curious to get from GV the number of 'lost' wristbands during shipping, where a customer told Frontgate they never received the wristband, they get shipped a new one, the old one is voided in the system, then the person sells the voided wristband on Craigslist or at the gate.. almost all the people i saw fence jumping had wristbands, they just didn't work. most of the gate rushers were people whose wristband wouldn't scan. I even saw somebody when they were scanning us to leave, he tried to fake it with his and just keep walking, knowing his wristband wouldn't scan, but he was leaving so what were they going to do?
I just see paying to see these guys perform in their current condition.
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1 cherry
1/2 slice lemon
Shake blended whiskey, juice of lemon, and powdered sugar with ice and strain into a whiskey sour glass. Decorate with the half-slice of lemon, top with the cherry, and serve.
Last edited by JustSteve; 11-29-2012 at 01:31 PM.
Bad news folks, I just got word this isn't going to happen.
"why are you so annoying" TheKlein25
thanks for the update shithead.
March 2 - Deafheaven
March 3 - Against Me!
March 31 - Eric Prydz
April 14-16 - Coachella
April 22-23 - Decibel Metal & Beer Festival
May 4 - The Weeknd
May 20 - Mastodon/EODM/Russian Circles
May 30 - Conan/North
June 9 - Sigur Rós
July 3 - Roger Waters
July 30 - Panorama Festival
August 17-20 - Psycho Las Vegas
September 9 - Green Day
October 6-8 - ACL wknd. 1
After that performance on TV last night, I will certainly skip any future stone shows. I didn't know they were that bad.
Whiskey Sour
2 oz blended whiskey
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp powdered sugar
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1/2 slice lemon
Shake blended whiskey, juice of lemon, and powdered sugar with ice and strain into a whiskey sour glass. Decorate with the half-slice of lemon, top with the cherry, and serve.
they weren't..but old people age a lot in 6-7 years..
it was the first stones performance i've ever seen that lacked energy and jagger's swagger looked completely forced. glad the set was shortest of the night.
Mick looked like pruneface.
Whiskey Sour
2 oz blended whiskey
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp powdered sugar
1 cherry
1/2 slice lemon
Shake blended whiskey, juice of lemon, and powdered sugar with ice and strain into a whiskey sour glass. Decorate with the half-slice of lemon, top with the cherry, and serve.
you're nuts if you think 10 million is 20% of their talent budget...i'd say, on an average year, that is the entire talent budget (if that).
COACHELLA 2013: Will the Rolling Stones top lineup?According to Rolling Stone, The Rolling Stones posted a tour date for Indio, Calif. in April via the band's mobile app and then took it down.
Posted on | December 14, 2012
Press Enterprise - by Vanessa Franko
From Rolling Stone:
"A pair of new dates appeared under the tour section of the bands' mobile app: the first was an April 12th stop in Indio, California, listed as "Coachella 2013." Fans posted a screengrab on Twitter and various fan sites. By 10:30 a.m. EST, the date was taken down."
The 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will have twin editions April 12-14 and April 19-21 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio.
The band has only scheduled a few dates for its 50th anniversary tour, including another night in New Jersey this weekend. They appeared for two songs on the 12-12-12 concert benefit for victims of Sandy.
Keith Richards Rolling Stones
This image released by Starpix shows Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones performing at the 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. Proceeds from the show will be distributed through the Robin Hood Foundation. (AP Photo)
I really thought the Stones were going to play last year after news broke out a while back about contracts with the band and Coachella. Would love to see them live there, too.
So what do you think, readers? Will The Stones headline? Was it a prank? If they are headlining, would you go see them?
Want more Coachella 2013 predictions? I tag all of mine Coachellaology.
Quick catch-up if you're just joining us: I've covered Coachella since 2007 and I posted my first round of predictions, my opening bracket for Coachellaology, if you will, a few weeks ago. The first round of predictions: Mumford and Sons, Deadmau5, Blur and Local Natives. Then, Audio File readers got into the act and second round included the obligatory Daft Punk prediction, plus The Stone Roses, Watch the Throne, Depeche Mode and Eminem. Third round: Nine Inch Nails/How to Destroy Angels, Queens of the Stone Age, Run DMC, Rocket from the Crypt reunion and Passion Pit. Fourth round: Sigur Ros and Pearl Jam, the latter celebrating 20 years since the band's 1993 show at the Empire Polo Club for promoter Goldenvoice that planted the Coachella seed. Then I posted about Nick Cave, Tegan and Sara and Converge. Just the other day, I predicted the Airborne Toxic Event, too.
Last edited by gaypalmsprings; 12-15-2012 at 10:10 AM.


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Parks Canada
Home > National Historic Sites > Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
[Animated title sequence: My Parks Pass Canada.]
This year, the Fortress of Louisbourg is marking its 300th anniversary and your class could join the celebrations
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More shots of the Fortress of Louisbourg
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Shots of Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site
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[Text on screen: myparkspass.ca Know the past. Enjoy the present. Protect the future.]
[Partner logos on screen: Parks Canada, Nature Canada, Historica Dominion Institute and Canadian Geographic.]


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2007 According to an anonymous team official, the Blue Jays avoid arbitration by coming to terms with Lyle Overbay (.312, 22, 92). The 29-year old first baseman agrees to a four-year deal worth $24 million to stay in Toronto.


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Rich and I spend a lot of time walking the beach at Sandy Neck near our Cape Cod bed and breakfast. Walking on the beach always reveals something new, especially after a storm. Waves pounding against the sand can wash up all sorts of things: beach glass, driftwood, dislodged lobster buoys, you name it. No matter what the season a long walk on the beach can sooth the soul, clear the mind, or be the source of inspiration. We have had some of our best talks while walking the beach. There is something about being so close to the ocean, sand in your toes and wind in your hair, that sheds some new perspective on problems that need to be resolved or ideas that need impetus.
Often our walks lead us to treasures too good to be left behind. On one a few years back we found an old oar head that resembled the silhouette of a whale. It was so unique that Rich had it made into a sculpture for me for Christmas that year. But mostly we find sea glass, and my new passion: heart rocks.
A friend of mine first introduced me to the phenomenon of finding heart-shaped stones on the beach. Heart rocks, as they are called, come in all manner of sizes and colors. The first heart rock I found had a small crack in its upper lobe. I nicknamed it "Heartbroken". I have found so many heart rocks on the beach that I display them on the window sills of the dining room where we serve breakfast. Our guests are fascinated by them and eagerly hunt for them on their own walks on the beach. Some even bring one back to add to my collection.
By but far the most unusual heart rock in my collection I found right after the blizzard in early February this year. Strolling along the coastline marveling at what Mother Nature had done to the beach landscape and the dunes of Sandy Neck, I spotted a dark grey rock with a bright white heart in the center. No bigger than 2 inches long and an inch and a half wide, this rock lay among dozens of others tossed up by the sea. Small rings of white encircle its perimeter, but a very distinct white heart shape adorns its front. I call it my "Ghost Heart". It was right before Valentine's Day and I wondered what force of nature sculpted such a perfect symbol of love in stone.
It adorns a special corner in my collection now and everytime I look at I smile. I love the beach and I love that we live so close to it.