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Crude oil surged above $76 a barrel, the biggest gain in two weeks, after BP Plc said it will shut Alaska's Prudhoe Bay field, where 8 percent of U.S. oil is produced.
The closure of the largest oil field in the U.S. because of pipeline corrosion and a rupture will cut supplies to West Coast refineries during the country's peak gasoline demand. At the same time, Nigerian militants are crimping African crude output as conflict in the Middle East and disagreement about Iran's nuclear program contribute to fear of further supply reductions.
``What BP is telling you is a greater problem with the whole of the Alaskan oil infrastructure,'' said Mark Tinker, head of strategy at Execution Ltd. in London.
Crude oil for September delivery rose as much as $1.91, or 2.6 percent, to $76.67 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract traded at $76.21 at 12:55 p.m. in London. Brent crude oil for September settlement gained $1.13, or 1.5 percent, to $77.30 on the ICE Futures exchange in London.
``The discovery of this leak and the unexpected results'' of pipeline tests ``have called into question the condition of the oil transit lines at Prudhoe Bay,'' BP America Chairman and President Bob Malone said today.
Some 400,000 barrels a day of production is being shut, BP's spokesman Ronnie Chappell said. A pipeline that leaked four to five barrels of oil was closed at 6:30 a.m. Alaskan time Sunday, BP said. The London-based company operates Prudhoe Bay for partners including Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil Corp.
How Long?
``We haven't been told how long it's going to be down for. It's a big field, so it will take days to shut down,'' said Ivor Pether, who helps manage about $15 billion at Royal London Asset Management. ``They absolutely have to'' shut it, he said.
The Prudhoe Bay closure has cut the world's ``effective'' spare oil supply capacity by 20 percent to about 1.6 million barrels a day, Jonathan Wright, an analyst at Citigroup, wrote today in an e-mailed report.
``There is plenty of crude on water,'' said Tovin Honeysett, a trader with BNP Paribas in London, referring to oil already in tankers. ``The question is, how they will get it around to the West Coast.?''
Oil has risen 25 percent in New York this year on concern that faltering supply to the U.S., the world's largest energy consumer, won't keep up with rising demand. Militant attacks have slashed output in Nigeria, Africa's largest producer, by about one-third. Production from Mexico's Cantarell field, one of the world's largest, will fall 8 percent this year.
Deaths in Nigeria
Gunmen killed five Nigerian oil workers contracted to a Royal Dutch Shell Plc venture and injured three others on Aug. 3, Shell said Aug. 5. The men worked for Survicom Services Nigeria Ltd.
Three Filipinos working for a unit of Michael Baker Corp. were abducted last week, said the unit's Nigeria general manager, Richmond Leeb. The same week, a German working for Bilfinger Berger AG went missing in the country, the construction company said.
A Nigerian group calling itself the Movement of the Niger Delta People claimed responsibility for the German oil worker kidnapping, the Vanguard newspaper said. The group said they abducted the man after oil service companies failed to live up to commitments to local communities, the newspaper reported.
Oil rose to a record $78.40 on July 14 on concern that conflict in the Middle East, home to one-third of global supply, may spread. The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran- supported Islamic militia group, intensified today. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United Nations may vote as soon as today on a resolution about the conflict.
Middle East Spread
``The key concern for the whole region is what would happen if it's spread to the rest of the region, and clearly that will be a very different scenario,'' said Steve Brice, head of Middle East research at Standard Chartered Plc. ``For the moment it looks like a low probability.''
Hezbollah triggered the conflict by kidnapping two Israeli soldiers July 12. Ninety-five Israeli soldiers and civilians have been killed since the start of the war, the army and police said. In Lebanon, fighting has caused about 700 deaths and injured more than 2,700 people, according to Lebanese police.
Speculation that supplies from Iran may be disrupted if the UN imposes sanctions to halt the Islamic republic's nuclear research has also pushed prices higher this year.
Iran ``will not agree to suspension'' of its uranium enrichment program, Ali Larijani, Iran's nuclear negotiator, said at a press conference in Tehran yesterday. The UN ``resolution will have no effect on Iran's determination. Iran will continue its nuclear activity.''
UN Deadline
The UN Security Council last month gave Iran until Aug. 31 to accept a European Union-proposed package of incentives to end uranium enrichment work. Iran faces economic sanctions if it rejects the plan.
``With Iran producing around 4.5 percent of the world supply, the key concern is if they are going to interrupt that,'' Brice said. ``It's not in Iran's interests'' to cut oil exports because that would cut world oil demand in the longer term.
Oil may rise to $250 a barrel if Iran disrupts crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, Michael Davies, an analyst at Sucden (U.K.) Ltd. in London, wrote today in an e- mail, citing a Standard & Poor's report. Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates send tankers through the strait.
Almost a quarter of the world's oil flows through Hormuz, the opening to the Persian Gulf.
As the global infrastructure continues to age, reliability issues as evidenced here will increasingly plague the industry, right at the worst time possible.Contributor Aaron Wissner writes:
This is a serious supply disruption. One wonders how long this supply will be off-line. It sounds like there are serious issues with the pipelines.Contributor Marc writes:
Interesting recognition of Cantarell's rapid decline - 8% this year is the figure cited. And yet another reference to supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, this one coming with a $250 per barrel speculative price tag. I have to ask myself, are we being "prepped" for a big price spike?Bill Tamblyn writes:
As I see it this [Prudoe Bay closure] raises the odds, at least a bit, that the monthy peaks we saw last December, and the 12-month-average peaks we saw this March and February, were THE peaks for Oil Production and Oil Supply as defined by the EIA.Bill has produced two graphs showing these curves: Closing Prudhoe Bay (The Oil Drum) Links and excerpts of news coverage. Much discussion. Prudhoe Bay Open Thread and News Dump 2 (The Oil Drum). Alaska joins axis of evil (unreliable oil suppliers) by Jerome a Paris. (Also at Daily Kos) -BA
[1] http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20602099&sid=apFoTUxFP45I&refer=energy
[2] http://www.energybulletin.net/image/uploads/World%20Oil%20Production%20through%20May%202006.gif
[3] http://www.energybulletin.net/image/uploads/World%20Oil%20Supply%20through%20May%202006.gif
[4] http://www.theoildrum.com/story/2006/8/7/0444/09798
[5] http://www.theoildrum.com/story/2006/8/7/15453/68430
[6] http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2006/8/7/65955/55408
[7] http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/8/7/63425/25850


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Noon New Year's Eve Bash at Children's Museum of South CarolinaLocation: Children's Museum of South Carolina
Noon New Year's Eve Bash at Children's Museum of South Carolina is a safe and fun way for kids to ring in the New Year! There will be a kids' toast and a balloon drop at noon! Ring it in early with the little ones! Entry is $5 per person.Next Date:

subset: commoncrawl


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After Shooting, New Pressure on Thriving Gun Industry
America's thriving gun industry, which has been riding high on a surge in sales, is under increasing pressure in the wake of Friday's elementary school massacre.
Responding to a national wave of revulsion over the 27 murders in Newtown, Conn., retail chain Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. on Tuesday suspended sales of semiautomatic rifles at its 480 stores, while Wal-Mart Stores Inc. WMT -0.34% deleted from its website a listing for one such rifle.
Private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP said Tuesday it would try to sell Freedom Group Inc., the manufacturer of the Bushmaster rifle that police say Adam Lanza used in last week's shootings.
"We have to get control of this," said Larry Stone, a member of Dick's board, in an interview Tuesday. Mr. Stone said he fully supported the decision to remove the semiautomatic guns from Dick's shelves. "I hope other people follow suit," he said.
Shares of gun makers and some retailers have been affected. Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. , whose stock had nearly doubled this year, fell 10% on Tuesday to $7.79. Shares of Sturm, Ruger RGR 1.68% & Co. fell 7.8% to $40.60. Cabela's Inc., a big gun retailer, fell 6% for a second consecutive day; Dick's stock rose 2%.
Related Video
On Tuesday, President Barack Obama spoke about gun control with Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.), a strong supporter of gun rights who has said he is willing to toughen the nation's weapon laws in the wake of the shooting spree.
The White House had said Mr. Obama would seek stricter gun-control measures, including limits on high-capacity magazines, and would support efforts to prevent people from buying guns through unlicensed dealers without a background check.
The National Rifle Association, breaking days of silence, issued a statement Tuesday saying it is "shocked, saddened and heartbroken" by the Newtown shooting. "The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again," it said.
The gun makers and small gun retailers have in the past relied primarily on the NRA to lobby against gun restrictions.
In recent years, U.S. gun manufacturers have enjoyed fast-growing sales amid an easing of various state and federal restrictions. Making guns can be very profitable, with some leading manufacturers recording operating profit margins of 20% recently, according to Rommel Dionisio, an analyst at Wedbush Securities in New York. Large retailers have been expanding their gun offerings both in-store and online.
"Obviously, public sentiment is swinging" on gun controls, though that doesn't necessarily mean President Obama can win support from a Republican-led House of Representatives on legislation banning assault guns, said Mr. Dionisio.
In the near term, the threat of tighter controls could spur sales as people rush to buy some types of guns before they can be banned. Fear of crime and greater acceptance of concealed weapons may continue to boost sales of pistols, the hottest gun-sales category, Mr. Dionisio said.
Gun sales have soared in the past year, partly because of concern that the re-election of President Obama would mean tougher controls.
In November, the Federal Bureau of Investigation recorded about two million background checks on prospective gun buyers, the highest monthly total ever. That was up from 1.5 million last November and 888,000 in November 2002. These National Instant Criminal Background checks are a rough proxy for gun demand but don't all correspond to sales.
The market for hunting rifles isn't growing, said Mr. Dionisio, but demand has been strong for assault weapons since a federal ban on them ended in 2004. The pistol market has been growing rapidly. Federal government data show that about 2.5 million pistols were made in the U.S. in 2011, quadruple the level of 2001. Production of rifles was 2.3 million in 2011, up 77% from a decade before.
The gun industry had been talking up its growth prospects. At an investor conference in March, P. James Debney, chief executive of Smith & Wesson, another big gun maker, pointed to "a much higher level of social acceptance of firearms than ever before."
Sentiment changed swiftly after the Newtown massacre. Executives at Cerberus sensed they would face fallout over their ownership of Freedom Group. Stephen A. Feinberg, Cerberus's co-founder and chief executive, is an avid hunter. His father lives in Newtown.
Mr. Feinberg and his colleagues decided that attempting to sell Freedom Group was best because the firm didn't want to feel compelled to resist stricter gun control measures to protect business goals. On Tuesday morning, the firm released a statement saying its role was to make investments rather than be "drawn into the national debate" on gun control.
It isn't clear how a sale of Freedom Group now would affect Cerberus, or whether the firm could find a ready buyer. For the third quarter, Freedom Group's sales rose 20% from a year earlier to $237.9 million. Freedom Group, based in Madison, N.C., makes brands including Remington, Bushmaster, Marlin and H&R. Freedom has described itself as the largest U.S. maker of firearms. It didn't respond to a request for comment.
Sales at gun manufacturer Sturm, Ruger in the third quarter were up 47% from a year earlier, to $118.2 million. For the nine months ended Sept. 29, it reported net income of $50.8 million, up 72% from the year-earlier period. A spokesman for Sturm, Ruger didn't return calls seeking comment.
Smith & Wesson, based in Springfield, Mass., said sales in the second quarter ended Oct. 31 jumped 48% from a year earlier to a record $136.6 million. Net income was $21.2 million, compared with a year-earlier loss of $1.6 million. A Smith & Wesson spokeswoman said company officials weren't available for comment.
For years, gun enthusiasts and hunters bought their weapons mostly at specialty gun stores. More recently, publicly traded chain stores have dominated the sale of guns and ammunition.
Wal-Mart Stores, which has sold guns nearly since its inception in 1962, is the nation's largest seller of guns and ammunition. The company does not break out data on its firearm sales. Wal-Mart accounted for 15% of Freedom Group's sales in 2011, according to that gun maker's annual report.
In the last year, Wal-Mart has begun carrying semiautomatic rifles, including the Bushmaster M4A3. Wal-Mart removed a listing for that gun from its website on Monday. "We remain dedicated to the safe and responsible sale of firearms in areas of the country where they are sold," a Wal-Mart spokesman said.
Along with suspending the sales of semiautomatic rifles Tuesday, Dick's also removed all guns from sale and display in the store nearest to Newtown—nine miles away in Danbury.
"We are extremely saddened by the unspeakable tragedy that occurred last week in Newtown," the company said in a statement on its website. The company, based in Coraopolis, Pa., didn't return calls for comment.
Last year, one-fifth of the revenue at Cabela's, a national chain based in Sydney, Nebraska, came from sales of firearms and ammunition. It sells both semiautomatic assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, according to its website, where the magazines are listed under the heading, "Trick out your AR at Cabela's." The company didn't return calls for comment.
—Vanessa O'Connell, Mike Spector, David Benoit and Devlin Barrett contributed to this article.
Write to James R. Hagerty at firstname.lastname@example.com and Ann Zimmerman at firstname.lastname@example.com


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The purpose of the Commission is to provide a forum for communication between the several organizations interested in hockey and the function of the arena within the Rogers community; and to provide an official advisory to the Rogers City Council relating to the interests and concerns of these organizations.
The Commission will assist with coordinating fundraising activities and sales of advertising within the arena.
The Commission will also assist in establishing and coordinating volunteers for concession work, tournaments and other special events.
Arena Commission meetings are held at the Rogers Activity Center unless otherwise noted on the agenda meetings are held bi-monthly on the second Monday of the month at 6:00pm. The public is welcome to attend.


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OK, sorry Hasbro. I'm not a GI Joe collector, but I am a historic war movie fan: like Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, etc.
So I can't make my own realistic looking diorama of the Vietnam War? Wanna bet?
With the new 12" Imperial NAVY Officer, the 3 Death Star Troopers / Imperial ARMY Officers I bought, and some Endor Rebel Soldiers, I could have quite a fight going on!
I could smear some camouflage paint, or pretend like they used mud out of necessity in some off-camera, great fight to survive during the Battle of Endor...
NO STORMTROOPERS! NO EWOKS! and No crazy Corellian General out of uniform!
And I got it - a segment of the Battle of Endor that did probably happen, but which could look to the unscrutinizing eye like I also made a very stunning set up of Viet Nam without collecting GI Joes!
So if they make a few 12" Endor Soldier types, or at least one I could pretend has "gone Rambo," I'd be set!!!
Who wants a 12" Endor Rebel Soldier????


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Wow...absoluteely amazing!
The stonework is so perfect it looks fake!
Mighy Incas & Their Descendents the Super Porters
Trip Start Dec 21, 2009
43Trip End Jul 17, 2010
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The Inca civilisation, culture and buildings are so rich that a few paltry blog entries certainly can't do it justice. All I can do is scratch the surface and hope that it's enough to get you wanting to come to Peru so you can experience it for yourselves. There are only 500 passes issued every day to trek the Inca Trail and 300 of those passes are given to the porters. So if you're planning on doing the trek, you've got to get in early
We've seen the postcards and heard so much about Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail from our travel buddies that it seems like we were always destined to make it there someday. To marvel at the history, skill and sheer hard work that the Incas put into their buildings and roads was something that we have been looking forward to for a long, long time. We were also wanted to test our bodies to see what the walking and altitude would do to us. As we've written in our previous blogs, we've done some trekking on this trip and spent some time leading up to the Inca Trail at altitude so we felt quite prepared for that the trail would throw at us.
Legend has it that two people who were the founders of the Inca civilisation were sent to the earth from the sun and moon respectively and they landed on the Island of the Sun and Island of the Moon on Lake Titicaca. They met up, and started searching the earth for a good spot to start their empire. They didn't have to walk too far because one of them probed their golden staff into the ground at Cusco, the staff sunk in and that was the sign to them that this would be the centre of the Inca world. If the earth swallowed my solid gold staff, I'm sure I'd find an excuse to hang around and try to get it back
The Incas were a smallish group and they didn't really kick off as a powerhouse vicilisation until 1438. The Chancas were bunch to the north of the Incas and one day they chose to invade their southern neighbours. They won that battle, good for them. The then leader (Inca Wirachoca) was in the middle of turning tail and running when his son, Pachacuteq decided that cowardice didn't have to be hereditary. He led the Incas to a Rocky style comeback and they drove the Chancas away and won their lands back. Pachacuteq wasn't even directly in line for the throne, but good luck to you trying to take power off him after the victory. Score one for courage.
I like this story a lot because Pachacutec then launched the Inca expansion. In history books, he's compared to Alexander the Great and Charlemagne as one of the great conquering statesmen. Under his rule many great monuments were built. He built Sacsaywaman, Pisac, Ollantaytambo and rebuilt the city of Cusco. He was also responsible for Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail. While he was a great warrior-king he was also responsible for the basic rules of government, administration and agriculture. The fact that all the construction and monuments are still standing is testament to how great this guy was. They just didn't cut corners. Everyone's heard of the Incas, but has anyone heard of the Chancas? Nope. Sorry. On the day the Chancas planned to invade the Incas, they should have stayed in bed instead.
Fast forward nearly 500 years later and a lot has happened
So that's a little history about the Incas and how Machu Picchu was found. Onto some of the ruins.
On our first day, we wouldn't actually be doing any trekking. It was a day spent touring the ruins around Cusco before heading through the Sacred Valley to stay the night at Ollantaytambo. The first ruins we went to was on a hill just outside of Cusco called Sacsaywaman
We drove through the Urubamba Valley which is an extremely fertile valley used by the Incas for agriculture. It's still responsible for a lot of food production. With Peru being so mountainous, a lot of the agriculture here was and still is built on terraces making it easier to water and maintain the richness of the soil. This is something that they've been doing for centuries. We saw a few more ruins each with very impressive stone work, architecture and design. The engineering and thought that went into each of these structures was immense, dealing with everything from roads (to and from the structure), provision of water, food storage as well as keeping warm and cool at different times of the year
Up early the next day and we were all amped to be heading off. We meet our porters in a field which is basically our guides telling us their names, then us telling them our names followed by awkward smiles. I mean how do you say, "Thanks for the work you're about to do in the next 4 days, carrying absolutely everything over some crazy terrain at high altitude" in fluent Quechua? You don't really. So we smile, shake hands and smile some more.
Everyone who does the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu comments about the porters so by now, some of you already know how awesome these guys are. For those of you who don't know, I'll give you an idea of what they do on the trail. For those of you who already know, it's important that you never forget how what supermen these guys are.
Most of the porters are Inca descendents. They speak some Spanish but ostly they speak Quechua. If the Incas fought and had the same fitness as these guys, then they would have been a hell of an army
Each porter carries about 20kgs on their backs in makeshift packs and ropes. A lot of the stuff can't really fit into a backpack so they just sling a piece of plastic or material around it, wrap that around their chest and they're off. When I say that they carry things that don't really fit into a backpack, I'm talking about chairs, gas bottles, foldable tables, tents, pots, pans and kettles. Then distributed amongst the big stuff is the smaller stuff like metal cutlery all of the food that we would be eating for our trip, sleeping mats, our clothes, belongings and so much more. Our camp would consist of a kitchen tent, a dining tent, then as many two man tents as needed for us and our guides. After breakfast every day, we would head off on our trek and they would quickly pack the whole camp up, strap it to their backs and head off in the same direction that we were heading. With one exception. They would positively run by us because they had to beat us to the lunchtime camp so they could set everything up that was needed for us gringos to eat. Even if it was just a lunch stop, they would set up the kitchen tent and dining tents, set up the tables, cutlery and chairs then cook lunch and wait for us to come in to camp. If we were walking after lunch, we would set off while they packed up and raced ahead of us to the next site where they would set up all of the above and our sleeping tents for the night
The quality of the food was also great. Meals consisted of 3 courses (soup, main and dessert) as well as snacks like popcorn for afternoon tea or a snack pack for a mid morning snack on the trail. They would even prepare hot water bowls for us to rinse ourselves off before dinner and again in the morning to freshen up. We had a chef and an assistant chef who were always in the kitchen making yummy things for us to eat. The cooking staff weren't exempt from porter duties either
Through it all, the porters were a tight knit bunch with all of them helping wherever they could. Whether they were fetching water, washing up, cutting vegetables or setting up the dining tents, everyone pitched in and helped out. When they finished their dinner (they always ate after us), they would crowd into the dining tent to tell jokes, play cards and eventually sleep.
I know I've gone on a little about the porters and the wonderful job they do but I can't help singing their praises. Without them, the Inca Trail would be much harder and much slower for us. With a support crew like that, you can't help but do your best trekking and do it with a smile on your face. After months of setting up our own tents and cooking in some crazy conditions on the Dragoman truck, having porters to do all of this for us seemed opulent by comparison.
This has been a long blog entry and you probably need to get to sleep, get back to work or get back to sleeping at work (the guilt on your face gave it away). Join us on our next blog when we write a little more about the trek itself and we continue to be amazed at the ingenuity and hard work of Inca civilisation.
Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures
Yeah, looking at the pictures, it seems like something from a movie set. The joinery is so tight that you couldn't even stuck a razor blade in between the stones.


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UM Seal Guidelines and History
History of the Official Seal of the University of Missouri
The seal, adopted by the Board of Curators on March 31, 1903, was designed by Dr. John S. Ankeney, then an art teacher in the College of Arts and Science.
Here briefly is an explanation of various parts of the seal:
The open book at the top of the crest contains the Latin words Salus Populi, the university's motto. It means "The Welfare of the People."
The other three symbols on the seal are a crescent, a grizzly bear and the arms of the United States of America. All were adopted from the Great Seal of the State of Missouri.
The crescent denotes newsness of the then new state; the bear represents the rugged, positive character of the inhabitants of Missouri; and the arms of the U.S.A. symbolize the patriotic love of country possessed by Missourians.
The circular band on the outside border contains the Latin words Sigill Universitatis Missourien, meaning "Seal of the University of Missouri." The Roman numerals denote 1839, the year the university was established.
Downloading the UM Seal
To request permission to use the seal, contact University Relations at 573-884-1409.
Campus Logos and Guidelines
- University of Missouri-Columbia
- University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Missouri University of Science and Technology
- University of Missouri-St. Louis
- University of Missouri Extension
UM Seal Guidelines
The distinctive and historic official seal of the University of Missouri is the only symbol of the UM System. The seal embraces all elements of the UM System and is broadly recognized, displayed, reproduced and respected by the university's constituencies.
Under guidelines adopted by the University of Missouri Board of Curators July 18, 1996, the official seal of the university should be used by administrative offices of the university.
Campus offices are authorized to use either the university seal or the approved campus logo for official business, as directed by the appropriate chancellor.
Rules for Using the University Seal
- University of Missouri System administrative offices will use the university seal. Whenever possible, campuses should use the campus symbol approved by the chancellor.
- Use of the seal is restricted to publications, letterhead, business cards and licensed uses, as described in these guidelines. The seal is not to be used on official documents, such as certificates or diplomas issued by a body other than the board of curators. This is because in addition to being the university symbol, the seal is the curators' legal mark, and only the curators are authorized to place its imprint on official documents.
- The seal may not be adapted in any way. This rules out changing the seal's colors, reversing type on the seal, and using the seal in combination with other graphic elements. If the seal is used, it is to be used by itself. The seal may be printed in another color for instance, gold for design purposes on printed materials other than stationery or business cards. The seal may also be used as a reverse image, or as a combination of the negative and the positive image on material other than stationery or business cards.
- The seal is the property of the University of Missouri. The seal may only be used as specified in these guidelines and may not be used as a means of private or personal identification.
- The seal may be used on webpages only by offices, organizations or units within the UM System including the campuses, health care and Extension. In most instances, the logo authorized by the appropriate campus will be used.
Licensed Uses of the Seal
The seal is university property and under the law enjoys protection from use by unauthorized groups.
In 1983, the university developed a licensing and trademark program to oversee and regulate the use of its name and identifying marks. The university benefits financially from licensing its identifying marks and in addition ensures that its symbols are used correctly on products of superior quality.
Persons or organizations wishing to license use of the seal, or persons who have questions about an unauthorized use of the seal, may contact the Licensing and Trademark Office, 319 Jesse Hall, UM-Columbia (573) 882-7254.
Stationery Guidelines
- Only the black on white version of the official seal as shown on the examples below is to be used on stationery and business cards.
- One basic letterhead design is used for either 7 1/4" x 10 1/2" monarch or 8 1/2" x 11" stationery.
- University Printing Services is the only supplier of university stationery.
- Stationery orders will be printed in one color, black on white.
- Letterhead paper stock for all units will be white No. 1 sulfite bond.
- No personalized letterhead will be printed.
- Campus publications offices may reduce the symbol to fit bi-fold and half-size letterheads and accompanying envelopes.
- Format may depart from the above guidelines for note pads that are: (a) smaller than 7" x 9" (b) padded, and (c) for internal use only.
Business Cards
- Stock for business cards is white thinplate Bristol. Size is 3 1/2" x 2".
- The business card is a convenient communications device indicating that the carrier is associated in some manner with the University of Missouri. It is not a miniature billboard for an individual or for organizations.
- No extraneous symbols or slogans are allowed on the card. The person's title should be limited to the most appropriate, indicating his or her relationship to the university. The telephone number should be limited to the person's office number unless a compelling reason dictates an additional listing.
Reviewed 2015-05-12.
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This post was originally published on June 21, 2006. It has been updated three times since then.
First they were good for you. Then they were bad. Then they were good again. Trying to keep up with the 'experts' is a dizzying game sometimes! Still, when my mother expressed concern over my consuming an egg a day I decided to find out what the most recent consensus is.
Up until 2006, when this post was first written, the general consensus appeared to be that egg consumption should not surpass 3 to 4 times a week.
From a no longer available post on Yahoo!Health:
Q: Should a person avoid eating eggs entirely?
A: Health experts advise limiting cholesterol intake to 300 milligrams or less daily. One large whole egg yolk contains about 215 milligrams of cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends limiting egg yolk consumption to three to four times weekly and focusing on the total diet instead of just one food. The cholesterol in eggs is found in the yolk portion, so you can use as many egg whites as you want. Eggs contain B vitamins, iron and other minerals and are a good source of high-quality protein.
Still, even then there was some wiggle room. The American Heart Association's clarification on recommended egg consumption guidelines [1] states that an egg a day can be accomplished within the context of an overall low-cholesterol diet.
"In order to fit an egg a day into a healthy diet, an individual needs to be conscious of dietary cholesterol from other sources, including baked goods. Individuals need to make choices in the context of their total diet, which should be low in saturated fats, and abundant in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry and fish"
This latter finding seems to be in keeping with a 2010 British study which also found that an egg a day may actually be good for you.
A paper to be published soon in the British Nutrition Foundation's Nutrition Bulletin has found that cholesterol in eggs has only a small and clinically insignificant effect on blood cholesterol. While people with high blood cholesterol are at increased risk of heart disease, only a third of the cholesterol in the body is attributed to diet.
Other factors linked to high cholesterol levels are smoking, being overweight and lack of exercise, and the main culprit from food is saturated fat, not cholesterol found in eggs.
Read the entire article here [2]
So for all the visitors who reach this site by searching for "how many eggs should you eat?", there you have it! Eggs can be a regular part of a well-balanced diet and lifestyle plan. Enjoy an omelette on me! 🙂
The below Julia Child video revolutionized my own omelette-making and I'm sure you'll pick up a trick or two as well 🙂
Did you know that omelettes come in many varieties, including dessert? The Omelette Book [3](mentioned in the above French Chef episode) is another must-have for any egg aficionado!


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There seems to be a laggy with my game. Character movement and attack animations and enemy movement animation starts to slow down in the game.
This issue started when I decided to load an image with a width of 3392 pixels and draw that image to the game. I am using this image as a background for my game.
My game screen width is 660.
The laggy issue stops when I decided to use a different image with a width of 768 pixels.
Why is this happening exactly? Memory issue? Image issue?
Do larger image use more memory than smaller image?
It is certainly an interesting issue.


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Universal Fit
PlayaZ N1
If the Playaz N1 were designed with reasonable amount of bass and they could be the steal of the century. In reality I can recommend them for EQ-friendly folks only - stay away if your source does not have a good, user customizable EQ.
Griffin Technology 4039-EJAM EarJam Earbud Sound Enhancing Covers
Griffin Earjam Earbud Amplifiers for iPod snap on to your Ipod earbuds to enhance the sound and comfort of your iPod. Deliver massive bass and improved sound. Enhance the comfort and fit of your iPod earbuds. Raises your earbud volume by up to 10 decibels. Griffin EarJams let you keep on using your iPod earbuds while giving you the quality that comes from in-ear style headphones. You won...


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Apply Online - Admissions
We're so happy you've decided to apply for admission into the JBU Degree Completion Program! Here are some things to keep in mind as you complete your online application:
- You'll need to create a new account in order to apply online, which requires an active email address and password. Remember your password in case you need to complete the application at a later time.
- On the first page, "Create a New Application," choose "Degree Completion Application." (The Traditional Undergraduate application is for students attending classes on the main campus in Siloam Springs.)
- Under the "Employment History" section, you must detail at least two years of work experience if you're applying for the early childhood education or organizational management programs. If you have been in your current position less than two years, you must add another job in order to fulfill the two cumulative years requirement. Your application will not be processed until that information is submitted.
- Once your application is completed and you've submitted it, you will hear from your admissions counselor to detail outstanding requirements.
- If you do not submit your application, it will remain open for 90 days so that you can return to complete and submit it.
- If you have questions at any point during the application process, please call 800-528-4723 during regular business hours, or (479) 459-9860 anytime, for assistance.
- In order to be admitted, you must also submit official transcripts from all universities previously attended (even if you did not receive credit). To be considered official, transcripts must be mailed directly from each institution to JBU. Transcripts mailed to you, even if they're in a sealed envelope, are not official for admission purposes.
- In accordance with Arkansas state law, all students born after January 1, 1957 are required to submit proof of immunization against measles and rubella prior to beginning classes.
Note: all cohorts are filled in chronological order by date of admission, not by date of application. Therefore, you should complete your admission file as soon as possible to guarantee a seat on your chosen start date.
Start your online application.
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The California State Assessments are annual tests used to measure a student's mastery of the state's grade-level academic standards. The tests are also used to evaluate schools and determine each school's accountability status.
Students in grades 3 through 8 are assessed in English language arts and math, in grades 4 and 8 in science, and in grades 5 and 8 in social studies.
Students receive a score of level 1 through level 4. The goal is for 90% of students to score at or above level 3, the level of proficiency.


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I picked Masterpiece Starscream up from Rosemead WM this morning, last one in stock.
The packaging, somehow I missed just opening the top flap and disassembled a lot of uselessness before realizing it wasn't that difficult. D'oh! The pose is a little stiff thanks to the trays, twisties, and clearbands, but it's not that difficult to free him. Robot mode looks good, real G1 cred in these colors but the sculpt and detailing is Masterpiece all the way. The issues that looked like they were on the Takara version are here as well - long face, kibble, long torso - but he's got a lot of positives going on to outweigh that. I was expecting the hips to be a little more movable and hands a little more useful (and less fragile-feeling) but otherwise articulation is slick - the big hip kibble does get in the way a bit tho'. The stand is nice in bot mode, and I'm glad they threw his name on there, the Japanese release looks empty without it. The stand in bot mode accommodates his alt-mode missiles, and in vehicle mode accommodates the null-ray cannons instead (if you don't leave them on, of course); underneath there's storage for the clear stand arm and the clip for the Megatron accessory from 20th Prime (no storage for lil Dr. Arkeville tho', but you can leave him in the pilot chair which folds away in bot mode).
Transformation has a lot of steps but doesn't feel as convoluted as 20th Prime's crazy torso. The instructions leave out a few little elements like clips in the way and move-that-piece-first, but generally do a good job going robot to alt, no alt-to-robot at all though, luckily it's not too hard to reverse them. I don't really get what the flip-up crotchpiece is though, that makes no sense - I guess it's supposed to be flipped down in bot mode, but they didn't. The instructions also completely neglect the panels over the engines flipping up, not much detail underneath but still...
Alt mode is very nice, thought I haven't gotten the center part to completely align, it still looks quite slick and the G1 colors make him pop. It's great to have a Starscream without undercarriage trash finally. The opening airbrake is a cool feature, as is the front landing gear - the rear landing gear is alright, I'm glad it seals up, but it's pretty basic and not that reliable. Starscream's crown is painted as an emblem under the cockpit, very nifty.
Both modes are fairly solid. Paint weathering isn't as crazy as the initial pics had it, some of the parts are a little clean but most are just right. The base color is essentially white instead of gray, but it works. The big Decepticon logos on the wings are cool, but in bot mode they're upside-down. Overall, a cool customer, and you can't leave him unplayed-with.


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Family: Rajidae, Skates view all from this family
Dimensions Up to 3'1" (94 cm).
Habitat Estuaries, tidal flats & salt marshes, Ocean or bay shallows.
Range New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Florida, Texas.
Clearnose Skate Raja eglanteria
eNature Quicklinks
WildlifeGuides: Nature in North America
LocalNature: Your neck of the woods
©2007 eNature.com


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Business Office
Bethel University offers an online suite of services for viewing and payment on your student account. Scan through the payment options below to find the method that best suits you.
Students can view their account
and/or pay online through Blink: Student Services tab > My Bethel
Account channel > click "Make a Payment". This will direct you to the Touchnet/Bill-Pay site. Click "Make a Payment" or "View Account Activity" and follow the prompts.
If a student wants to give electronic access to a spouse or another person to view their account and/or pay online, the student will need to authorize him/her as an authorized user. Learn more about authorized users.


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What next in Afghanistan?
Germany remains one of Afghanistan's most important partners. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission will be finished at the end of 2014. Germany will remain involved after that date - predominatly in civilian reconstruction. moreWhat next in Afghanistan?
'Rumours about Germany': Public awareness campaign in Afghanistan
The Federal Foreign Office has launched a poster campaign in Afghanistan to counter rumours peddled by human traffickers. The campaign is aimed at those considering fleeing to Germany. more#RumoursAboutGermany: Public awareness campaign in Afghanistan
The International Contact Group on Afghanistan meets at the Federal Foreign Office
Delegates from more than 60 countries and international organisations met with Afghan representatives to discuss the international community's future involvement. moreThe International Contact Group on Afghanistan meets at the Federal Foreign Office
Progress report on Afghanistan
On 19 November 2014, the Progress Report on Afghanistan was published, this time including an assessment of the engagement in Afghanistan since 2001. moreProgress report on Afghanistan
Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
Ambassador Sabine Sparwasser coordinates Germany's diplomatic engagement with the region. moreSpecial Representative of the Federal Government for Afghanistan and Pakistan
Afghanistan: archive
- Federal Foreign Office condemns attack in Kabul
- Federal Foreign Office condemns attack in Afghanistan
- Federal Foreign Office condemns attack in Kandahar
- Federal Foreign Office condemns attacks in Kabul
- German diplomat appointed as NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan


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As an Iranian religious foundation raises the bounty on his head, British author Salman Rushdie called the film that has sparked protest in the Middle East "disgraceful."
Stories from
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- Family of Sandy Hook Victim Commends Florida Atlantic University for Firing Professor Who Questioned Massacre
- Kylie Jenner's Lip Kit Is Ruining Lives (According to the Internet, Anyway)
"I think clearly the video was a flashpoint," Rushdie told TODAY's Matt Lauer Monday of the U.S.-made film that mocks the Prophet Muhammad. "From what I can see it was an outrageous, disgraceful little malevolent thing, but by now I think that the reaction we're seeing is really the release of a much larger outrage. We sort of live in an age of outrage, and people seem to be defining themselves by their outrage and seem to feel that it justifies itself."Iran boosts price on author Rushdie's head to $3.3M
Rushdie, an Indian-born British novelist who has nothing to do with the film, was condemned to death in 1989 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran's late leader, over his novel "The Satanic Verses," saying its depiction of the Prophet Muhammad was blasphemous.Video: Salman Rushdie: Friends helped me survive fatwa (on this page)
Khomeini's fatwa — or religious edict — was condemned in the West as incitement to murder and an assault on freedom of speech, but a wealthy Iranian religious organization has offered a large reward to anyone carrying it out and decided to increase the bounty amid the furor over the online film.Story: Salman Rushdie opens up about his life under a fatwa
"I am adding another $500,000 to the reward for killing Salman Rushdie, and anyone who carries out this sentence will receive the whole amount immediately," said Hassan Sanei, the foundation's head, in a statement carried by the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA).
The reward offered by the state-linked foundation now stands at $3.3 million, ISNA reported.
Rushdie had harsh words for the controversial film.
"I think he's done something malicious and that's a very different thing from writing a serious novel," he said. "He's clearly set out to provoke, and he's obviously unleashed a much bigger reaction that he hoped for. One of the problems with defending free speech is you often have to defend people that you find to be outrageous and unpleasant and disgusting."
More TODAY News
Rushdie came on TODAY to talk about his new book, "Joseph Anton," which tells the writer's story about living under the threat of murder.
"One of the reasons why in the book I use this metaphor of the Hitchcock movie 'The Birds' is to say that really what happened to me was the first bird, and now we're in the middle of the storm," Rushdie said.
"Surely if the sentence of the Imam (Khomeini) had been carried out, the later insults in the form of caricatures, articles and the making of movies would not have occurred," said Sanei, who is also the foundation's representative to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khomeini's successor as Iran's supreme leader.
Rushdie believes the film is part of a larger industry that exists to inflame the public.
"There is an outrage industry,'' he said. "There are people who look for things to provoke their audiences with, and it is to a large extent manufactured. The fact that you can unleash these violent mobs like this is obviously completely unacceptable."
In his new book, Rushdie recalls what it was like to be in the middle of the maelstrom after being marked for death upon the release of "The Satanic Verses.''
"It was a time of incredible stress,'' he said. "A lot of people who knew me then and afterwards said that 10 years later I looked younger than I had at the time, and it's because of that burden. It wasn't just about me. I was worried about my family, I was worried about my publishers, my translators, booksellers — there was a lot to worry about.''
At the time of the controversy 23 years ago, there were reports Rushdie was living a James Bond-type life, but he said the reality was much different.
"That was for me one of the strangest things, that people should attempt to so dramatically distort what was going on,'' he said. "I think sometimes it did look glamorous. You arrive in places in a bulletproof Jaguar and a policeman leaps out and opens the door. People think, 'Who the hell is he, what does he think he is?' Actually, from my side of it, it felt like jail.''
Rushdie had no sympathy for the filmmaker now embroiled in a violent backlash.
"He did it on purpose," the author told TODAY. "He set out to create a response and he got it in spades."
Scott Stump, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
© 2013 MSNBC Interactive


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Gallery Talk
Saints Alive! Animated Icons in Medieval Europe
Speaker: Alison Perchuk, Assistant Professor of Art History, California State University, Channel Islands
Monday, October 7, 10 AM
These days most of us encounter medieval icons only in museums, where they hang flat on the walls like any other paintings. But as depictions of divine persons and events intended for religious settings, icons originally had much richer lives. This talk explores the "animation" of icons in medieval Europe, from the people depicted, to their dynamic presentation in churches and processions, to icons that literally came to life, weeping, bleeding, speaking, and moving.
Dr Perchuk teaches ancient and medieval art at the California State University, Channel Islands. A specialist on the art of medieval Italy, she speaks nationally and internationally about manuscripts, painting, and architecture.
Free admission.


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Manufacturer: WHF Manufacturer: iConcept 2 Results
Sakar Noise Isolation Isolating Reduction Canceling/Cancelling Sealing 3.5mm Plug Stereo Earbuds/Earphones/Headphone for iPod/MP3
Once you switch to noise-isolating ear-bud comfort headphones, you'll never switch back! Theres nothing like standing in a noisy crowded subway, oblivious to the amateur trumpet player 10 feet away, because youre listening to your own personal musical symphony in a soundproof block of space. The silicone sleeves provide a huge upgrade in comfort over traditional in-ear headphones, while...
High quality universal stereo earphone. Connection: 3.5mm plug. Cord length: approx. 1.2 meters. This stereo earphone offers good feeling with vogue and pleasure. Delivers great stereo sound and super comfortable ear-fitting. With answer button and microphone.


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AR Blue Clean Blue Clean 1450 PSI Hand Carry Pressure Washer
Get power and efficiency in this Blue Clean 1450 PSI Hand Carry Pressure Washer (AR116) from AR North America. Impressively durable, it has a total stop system that shuts off the motor when the tirgger is released to prolong motor life. Equipped with a universal electric motor, it also comes with a detergent injector kit.
- Fitted with Triplex pump with axial pistons controlled by wobble plate
- Total stop system: motor shuts off when trigger is released to prolong motor life
- Universal electric motor
- Water filter
- Quick connect garden hose
- Adjustable spray head with pencil and fan jet settings
- Comes with detergent injector kit
In The Box
- One (1) Blue Clean 1450 PSI Hand Carry Pressure Washer
- One (1) gun
- One (1) lance with adjustable spray nozzle
- One (1) 20' high pressure hose
- One (1) foam dispenser


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The Way I See It!
I am an Ultra-Conservative, Alpha-Male, True Authentic Leader, Type "C" Personality, who is very active in my community; whether it is donating time, clothes or money for Project Concern or going to Common Council meetings and voicing my opinions. As a blogger, I intend to provide a different viewpoint "The way I see it!" on various world, national and local issues with a few helpful tips & tidbits sprinkled in.
Let's Talk About Hiding Something in Plain Sight
So if you travel to the Cudahy Economic Development site you will see this:
Initially hired as a half time employee serving the economic development needs of the City of Cudahy in October 2011, Brian Biernat became a full time employee directing and managing the combination of the departments of building inpsection, zoning administration and economic development for Cudahy over the first six months of 2012. The integration of these three closely related municipal functions has allowed for the elimination of one director-level position and the reduction of $15,000 in salary from the previous economic development director position for a total savings to the taxpayer of approximately $80,000. More importantly, the services provided are more efficiently and reliably delivered to our constituency. Additional moves to increase the new department's efficiency are planned for 2013.
You will also see this flowchart:
So I ask the question, when did this pass the Common Council? I have not been able to find it, but I could have missed it.
There is one other thing/way to consider.
It is that you have to remember that all the dirty work is done at the committee level, and not as items at the Common Council level. The council approves the minutes of a committee meetings, and sometimes by approving the minutes, agrees to the committees action. And then whamo, it is the way it is!
Thus, an Alderman can really stretch the truth and say that he or she did not directly vote on something since all they did is approve someone else's actions in the form of harmless minutes right? Their hands are clean! They did nothing wrong and have a clear conscience! They don't have to be held accountable to the voters for actions someone else did!
Through the consent agenda, thus, the minutes of all meetings are approved in one big swoop, and that is why, unless someone objects and moves them out of consent agenda, the meetings are over in 5 to 10 minutes.
I am NOT expecting government to be perfect, it just appears Cudahy is dysfunctional and at time careless, lazy, and inept.
That is how things have been done over the last 3 years, and even through most of McCue's term. I say that is circumventing the process and being less than honest! All of this done in open session in the light of day with the public in the dark!
Let's also talk about what Mr. Biernat was supposed to spend his time doing!
Remember I point out that Mr. Biernat's focus is turning towards development and he even had someone update the development he working on. We will soon see him at the Common Council meetings.
So what was Cudahy Economic Development Director Brian Biernat main job duties (in order) are supposed to be:
1. Economic Development
2. Zoning
3. Inspection Supervisor.
And with number three, other than to be their boss, he was supposed to take up little to none of his time.
Zoning, a bit of his time, depending on what was coming in economic development.
That is why you saw the position combination when Butch retired, and Inspection was put under Brian. Even if he was spending 70% of his time on economic development, you can see what we are getting for it.
The BIGGER question of the day is….drumroll please!!!!
If Mayor Day and Mr. Biernat know that development is lacking in Cudahy then why are they NOT doing much to fix it?
Well folks, if you have been reading my blog for the last year you know the answer!
It is to sell the Part Time Mayor / Full Time Administrator to the Common Council and to the voters. See Mayor Day is hoping to get re-elected and he will admit that he just doesn't have the skillset to get development in and that is why we need a professional City Administrator.
Folks, that is a copout, a lie, and he has been on purpose and by design manipulating all of this for that goal, the Part Time Mayor / Full Time Administrator. He is hoping to play you all as pawns in it.
I stood and talked with a fellow alderperson candidate the other day and they told me with Mayor Day he just doesn't have the skillset to do development. I told them I blogged about that last year that he would be using that as his go to!
Horse plop!!!
As I said, the feelers are out if former Mayor McCue would come back for the Full Time Administrator job here in Cudahy. Yes, yes I know his wife's family is from where he is, but the good ole boys want to make it up to him that he took one for the team and Ryan McCue would love to come back to Cudahy.
Plan B is - I was even told Mr. Biernat's redesigned department was done so he could look better to go after the Full Time Administrator job.
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Wildlife and/or wild life can be experienced on cruises to this region, which encompasses such destinations as Costa Rica, the Amazon, Brazil, Argentina, coastal Chile, and Peru. Land tours offered by the cruise lines provide access to such "bucket list" places as Machu Picchu and Iguazu Falls.
- The cruising season is generally North America's winter (which is summer in South America), though some cruises, such as itineraries to Ecuador's remote Galapagos to see the turtles and blue-footed boobies are year-round.
- Some sailings head way south to the Falklands and South Georgia for viewing of elephant seals and Emperor penguins, and some smaller ships even go as far as Antarctica.
- Cruises depart from such ports as Valparaiso, Chile and Ushuaia, Argentina.
- Some lines head to Costa Rica and even further into Central or South America as part of longer itineraries that also explore the Caribbean.
In addition to wildlife, attractions in this region include indigenous culture, rainforests, rugged coastline and mountain peaks and even the occasional desert.
While many South America itineraries are often more than a week and attract older passengers, cruises to places such as Costa Rica, the Galapagos and Antarctica draw younger passengers, and even families interested in wildlife. A sense of adventure helps, and smaller ships in this region are most suited to those who are fit and seeking to explore by kayak, Zodiac, and/or snorkeling.
Cruise in Central and South America if you...
Like to get up close and personal with wildlife. Are titillated by the tango and rumba.
Don't go if you...
Can't stand tropical heat. Get seasick (especially as you head way down south the seas can get rough).
--Fran Golden is the Experience Cruise expert blogger and a contributing editor of Porthole Magazine. She is the co-author of Frommer's Alaska Cruises and Ports of Call.
Ports in this region:
- Buenos Aires
- Lima
- Rio de Janeiro
- Valparaiso
- Ushuaia


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Anybody buying these cards ?
I picked up 2 boxes, scoring 4 autographs (one of which was Liv Tyler, yay ! ) and 2 costume cards.
I'm trying to finish off a 3rd set so in the unlikely event that anyone has some to trade, let me know.
It's a very cool set encompassing the entire Rings Trilogy. Fantastic chrome look.


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By Bill Minor
Send Forest Thigpen $500 and he'll anoint you a "patriot." Send $25,000 and he'll call you a "visionary." Dough Thigpen raises is for what's called the Mississippi Center for Public Policy. He calls it a Think Tank, but in reality it's the most influential lobby at the Capitol.
The reason: Thigpen has the ear of the state's top officials who all happen to be Republicans. Some knowledgeable observers say Thigpen is operating a shadow government. Certainly Gov. Phil Bryant, the state's top official, is doing his bidding.
To believe only what Thigpen claims in his mailings, he is just a conservative advocating good government. In reality, however, Thigpen right now is shaping state governmental policy on the two most critical issues facing the current Legislature: 1. Whether to expand Medicaid under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, a move that would bring medical coverage to some 300,000 low-income, mostly working-poor Mississippians; and 2. Whether a new system of privately-run, taxpayer funded, "charter" schools is installed.
His primary target at the Capitol is to kill any state move to expand Medicaid coverage.
A little background on Thigpen: Originally from Cleveland, his father "Bud" was a Democratic lawmaker and sidekick of notoriously heavy-handed House Speaker Buddie Newman. Forest Thigpen served for 10 years on Thad Cochran's Washington staff before coming down to launch the Mississippi Center for Public Policy as purportedly an "independent, non-profit public policy organization." His literature says "individuals, corporations and foundations" financially support the outfit he created.
Haley Barbour became Thigpen's first sugar daddy eight years ago when he mailed several endorsement cover-letters in 9×12 manila envelopes that looked very much like official state correspondence. Phil Bryant followed suit. Recently State Auditor Stacy Pickering got into the act, praising Thigpen's influence "for good."
Recently Thigpen stacked a Mississippi legislative hearing on Medicaid expansion with alleged health care "experts" who testified against expansion. One principal witness was a Florida woman connected to the American Legislative Exchange Council, better known as ALEC, the front group which the billionaire Koch brothers use as a conduit to enact right wing bills (among them Voter ID, charter schools and blocking so-called Obamacare) in Republican-controlled states.
In Mississippi, Thigpen is registered as a lobbyist with the secretary of state and while not reporting contributions to MCPP, he has reported expenditures. Of particular interest is a report he bought airplane tickets and hotel expenses for more that 50 legislators (plus presiding officers in both chambers) he took to Orlando last October to visit several Florida charter schools.
Rep. Credell Calhoun of Jackson, one of the few Democrats on the trip, said he was not persuaded to support the charter school idea.
Calhoun said however the trip did convince him that Thigpen was getting backing from ALEC, the Koch brothers' front group. "The corporations seem to be taking over our government, from the state level all the way to Washington," the outspoken Calhoun declared.
Syndicated columnist BILL MINOR has covered Mississippi politics since 1947. Contact him through Ed Inman at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Bradley Burston is a Haaretz columnist and Senior Editor of Haaretz.com which publishes his blog, "A Special Place in Hell."
During the first Palestinian uprising, Burston served as Gaza correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, and was the paper's military correspondent in the 1991 Gulf War.
In the mid-1990s he covered Israeli-Arab peace talks for Reuters. In 2006, he received the Eliav-Sartawi Award for Mideast Journalism, presented at the United Nations.
A native of Los Angeles, Burston moved to Israel after graduation from Berkeley. He was part of a group which established Kibbutz Gezer, between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Burston served in the IDF as a combat medic, later studying medicine in Be'er Sheva for two years before turning to journalism. He is married and has two daughters.


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- About Us
- Purchasing
- Utilities Business Office
- Hotel/Motel Tax
- Property Taxes
- HB 3693 Data
- Check Registers
The City of Corpus Christi procures a wide variety of supplies and equipment through cooperative purchasing programs made available under the Texas Local Government Code. Vendors are encouraged to contact the following list of agencies for information on being placed on their respective bidders list.
General Services Commission
P.O. Box 13528, Capitol Station, Austin, Texas 78711-3528
The Comptrollers Office is the Centralized procurement agency for the State of Texas. Requirements contracts are made available to Cooperative members for items such as copiers, pharmaceuticals, traffic control devices, in addition to; certifications for HUBs (Historically Underutilized Businesses).
Houston Galveston Area Council (HGAC)
3555 Timmons Lane, Suite 500
H-GAC's chief mission is to serve local governments today while helping them plan for tomorrow. To fulfill that mission, H-GAC works to:
Texas Local Government Purchasing Cooperative
BuyBoard Support Line: (800) 695-2919
Welcome to the Texas Local Government Cooperative! Our goal is to simplify out members' needs by providing them with the best possible pricing and access to services and supplies via the BuyBoard. When purchasing through the Cooperative, you comply with Texas competitive bid statutes. High volume purchasing enables our vendors to negotiate even better pricing from their suppliers, which translates directly into increased savings to you.
City of Corpus Christi - Engineering Services
Engineering Services is responsible for all City construction contracts, including the preparation of bid/contract documents, development of plans and specifications, advertising, bid opening, construction administration and payments


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Villagestay & Trekking in Solomon Islands is a holiday package designed for individual or group of people who have enthusiasm and passionate about adventures in a beautiful country such as Solomon Islands with diversity in people, culture and t
Go hiking & trekking on your vacation. Enjoy the outdoors, get some fresh air and view the beautiful scenery on our Solomon Islands hiking trips. Our trekking tours are a great way to see the natural landscape. Guided hiking trips are a fun activity for people of all ages and abilities. Experienced guides will help you identify the native plants and animals in the area on our Solomon Islands hiking tours. Our trekking trips are great for backpacking adventures. Hike through the forest with a small group on our guided treks and meet people who share the same interest in activities. Browse our Solomon Islands hiking and trekking and plan your adventure today!


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Which quarterback under the age of 25 would you choose to start your franchise with? Heath Evans reveals his pick and explains why the decision is an easy one.
Interesting Take on Who Heath Evans feels is the top QBs under the age of 25.
SpoilerCompares Ryan Tannehill to Aron Rogers


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Majors: Political Science and Spanish
Year of Graduation: 2001
Current Job Title: Director of Public Innovators at Root Cause, Boston, MA
Please give a brief description of your current position.
I'm the Director of Public Innovators at Root Cause, a Boston-based nonprofit consulting firm and think tank on social innovation, where I lead a national initiative to help governments identify and support transformative solutions to social problems. We're currently advising the Louisiana Lt. Governor's office and have just published a policy recommendations paper with The Aspen Institute in DC. It's a really fun job.
What path did you follow to arrive at your current job?
I joined the Peace Corps right out of college and served as a municipal development volunteer in Honduras. I worked with the local government to modernize its tax and accounting departments and with community leaders to open a nonprofit, self-sustaining Internet center. During those two years, I grew increasingly frustrated by what I viewed as the wastefulness of many international aid organizations. Every so often we would be visited by a program manager from a central office and informed of a new project. Despite the large sums of money poured in, most of these initiatives failed because they had little or no input from the local community. The waste of resources drove me crazy.
From this experience grew a deep interest in community-based solutions and self-sustaining models that offer greater independence from often-unpredictable donors, along with a desire to learn more about the interaction between private and public efforts at social problem solving. Back in the U.S., I launched a statewide policy and advocacy program for Latino immigrants at Centro Legal and helped to pass a voting rights bill through the state legislature. Seeking additional skills and training, I attended Harvard's Kennedy School of Government where I earned a Master's in Public Policy, concentrating in nonprofit management, international political economy, and global migration.
What advice/suggestions would you have for students who might be interested in your career?Policy and nonprofit organizations highly value practical experience, so get involved in the issues you care about by volunteering, doing an internship, conducting field research, etc. International experience is always beneficial because it exposes us to so many different ways of thinking, which helps expand the realm of possibilities as we think about solving problems in any country. It's also become increasingly important to get exposure to all three sectors (business, nonprofit, government); each sector plays a role in addressing these problems so it's crucial to understand how they each think and function.
What skills are important in your field?
Communication is always important: clear and succinct writing, persuasive public speaking, and relationship-building individual conversations. It's also crucial to be able to take a step back to analyze and synthesize the larger picture - identify the opportunities that come with a challenge and connect the dots to identify where your own interests line up with the interests of others (corporations, government, individuals, etc) in order to build successful partnerships. An area that many people don't think about in nonprofit and policy work is the quantitative skill set. Having a basic grasp of economics helps you to better understand the social problem. Being comfortable with statistics will help you wade through all the studies to identify the good research from the bad, and build a strong case for the importance of your own work.
What activities/experiences were helpful at CSB/SJU (and elsewhere) in preparation for this career?
My college political science classes hugely impacted my chosen career path and helped me to better understand the policy issues I cared about, as well as the political structures that impact them. Competing in collegiate cross country and track taught me discipline and perseverance, no matter how tiring or difficult the terrain. (I still mentally put my chin down and get ready to grind through the pain when facing a particularly intense deadline!) Studying abroad helped me better understand international affairs and different cultures, and my involvement in campus ministry's social justice activities taught me project management skills and helped me to recognize the issues I was most passionate about.


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|Great Lakes Steelhead & Salmon Amazing "Inland ocean" fisheries
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another pic...
Here is another local fall Nookie......
Fall Salmon 02 - Local Fishery Speyday's
Although with football and other obligations I could not make it up north or around the GL as much as I would of liked too, I did do some messing around on the local fishery with the spey rod this fall.
While the majority of the time I used indicator nymphing methods with the spey rod, I did do a little sink tip fishing and had some great expirences with taking fish on bright speys out of aggression. One day I had a pod of jacks all attack my marabou spey chartruese/blue combo and got to watch them as they all fought over the pattern. I was usually on the water by 5am to take advantage of the opportunities.
Well, here is my largest Nookie of the 02' season, taken with my 12'6" 7wt Spey rod on a chartruese egg and 6lb Maxima tippet.
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I got my Omnisky modem this week. Very cool.
They said I needed Windows to install it. I just installed the 1.3MB .prc file I found and it worked. Now my Palm Vx has wireless TCP/IP from virtuall anywhere in the country (except for, of course, my house, where cell access sucks).
I used Top Gun ssh to get to my home box where I then went out to EFNet. IRC from anywhere. OK, maybe this isn't such a good thing. But it is quite cool.


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Latest Headlines
NFL'13 Cherry Picks W8: Super Swag
Posted on 23 Oct 2013 by Steven Keys.
Super Swag Speaks Rozelle Vince Lombardi (1913-70): the name is weighty. So much written, spoken of this man who came to define NFL's decade of the 60s. His bespectacled face and gap-toothed grin inspired, terrified and could drive big, burly men to tears. Through perseverance he overcame prejudice (Catholic-Italian) and then quickly turned a history laden but befuddled Packers' franchise...


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Last night (Wed. August 13), Samuel L. Jackson was a guest on The Best D@mn Sports Show Period, and he was asked if acting was a physical job. He mentioned that he just came back from Australia :happy: and had to learn 90 moves for a scene where he battles a villain by moving backwards about 400 yards. That's a lot of semi-spoiler material!
So watch all kinds of TV stations for your SW info!


text: Made the rounds today and didn't turn up much. Target had more Cars. WM had more CW 501st Troopers & IJ figs from Last Crusade. TRU had the new Homestead BP (couldn't do it for $50) and a few SL. The only thing I got today was the Yellow ARC Trooper.


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Philips SHE3590WT/10 In-Ear Headphones (White)
The Philips SHE3590 In-Ear Headphones are offered in distinctive colors to match for all occasions. The ultra small in-ear design conforms to ear shape for best fit, and the earphones come with soft caps for comfort and compact fit. With small efficient speakers for dynamic bass and clear sound, these in-ear headphones are ideal for your listening enjoyment.
Snuggbuds Fusion
Our Fusion model provides a "full range" of sound, with excellent highs, mids, and lows in these speakers. Fusion for SmartPhone comes with a full-control mic for iPhone, fabric, tangle-free cord, and 90-degree gold-plated sport jack. Note: this microphone also works with other SmartPhones that accept direct-connect 3.5mm jacks, but click control function may not with all SmartPhones.


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Setting a date and making a plan to quit smokeless tobacco
Once you've decided to quit, you're ready to pick a quit date. This is a very important step. One study of smokeless tobacco users who were offered nicotine replacement therapy found that even in those who did not plan to quit, picking a Quit Day and then quitting on that day led to much better success staying quit 6 months later compared to those who gradually reduced their use of tobacco.
Pick a day in the next month as your Quit Day. Picking a date too far away gives you time to rationalize and change your mind. But you want to give yourself enough time to prepare and come up with a plan. You might choose a date that has a special meaning, like a birthday or anniversary, or the date of the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout (the third Thursday in November each year). Or you might want to just pick a random date. Circle the date on your calendar. Make a strong, personal commitment to quit on that day.
Plan for your prescriptions
If you are thinking of using a prescription drug, you will need to talk with your doctor about getting it in time for your Quit Day. Talk with your doctor about exactly how to use the medicine and when to start taking it. If you're going to use a prescription drug, put a note on your calendar to remind you when to start taking it.
Cut down on how much you use
One way to cut back before quitting is to cut down on the number of times or the amount you dip or chew each day. By doing this, you slowly reduce the amount of nicotine in your body. Try cutting back to half of your usual amount before you quit. If you usually carry your tin or pouch with you, try leaving it behind. Carry something else to put in your mouth instead.
Cut back on when and where you use
You can also try cutting back on when and where you dip or chew. This gives you a chance to notice when your cravings are the worst. It helps you decide on a game plan if you know what triggers your cravings. Again, once you've decided not to use tobacco at a certain place, leave your pouch or tin at home when you go there. Try your substitutes instead. (See the section called "Some steps to help you prepare for your Quit Day.")
Put off using tobacco when you have a craving
Go as long as you can without giving into a craving. Start by trying for at least 10 minutes, then longer and longer as you near your Quit Day. Pick your 3 worst triggers and stop dipping or chewing at those times. This will be hard at first, but practice will make it easier.
Quitting tobacco is a lot like losing weight. It takes a strong commitment over a long time. Users may wish there were a magic bullet – a pill or method that would make quitting painless and easy. But there's nothing like that. Nicotine substitutes can help reduce withdrawal symptoms, but they work best when used as part of a quitting plan that addresses the physical, mental, and emotional parts of quitting.
Some steps to help you prepare for your Quit Day
- Pick your Quit Day and mark it on your calendar.
- Tell friends, family, and co-workers about your Quit Day, and let them know how they can help.
- Get rid of all the tobacco in your home, car, and workplace the night before your Quit Day.
- Stock up on other things to put in your mouth – for instance, sugarless gum, carrot sticks, beef jerky, cinnamon sticks, and/or sugarless hard candy.
- Decide on a plan. Will you use nicotine replacement therapy or other medicines? Will you go to a class or program? If so, sign up now.
- Consider seeing your doctor or dentist. Have them check your mouth, and discuss your plan for quitting with them.
- Set up a support system. This could be a group program, Nicotine Anonymous, or friends or family members who have quit and are willing to help you.
- Ask family and friends who use tobacco not to use it around you or leave it out where you can see it.
- If you are using varenicline or bupropion, take your dose each day leading up to your Quit Day.
- Make a list of your "triggers" – situations, places, or feelings – that make you more likely to use tobacco. Being aware of these can help you avoid them or at least be ready for them.
- Think back to your other attempts to quit. Try to figure out what worked and what didn't.
Successful quitting is a matter of planning and commitment, not luck. Decide now on your own plan. Some options include joining a tobacco cessation class, calling a cessation support line, going to support meetings, using nicotine replacement or other medicines, online support, and using self-help materials such as books and pamphlets. For the best chance of success, your plan should include 2 or more of these options.
On your Quit Day
- Don't use tobacco of any kind. This means none, not even a pinch!
- Stay busy – try walking, short bursts of exercise, or other activities or hobbies.
- Keep substitutes handy to put in your mouth.
- Drink lots of water and juices.
- Start using nicotine replacement if that's your choice.
- Call a quit support line, go to a quit class, or follow your self-help plan.
- Avoid situations where the urge to dip or chew is strong.
- Avoid people who are using tobacco.
- Avoid alcohol. It can weaken your resolve to quit
- Think about how you can change your routine. Sit in a different chair at home, drive a new route to work, or choose foods and drinks that make tobacco taste bad.
Read the next section to find out more about the kinds of thoughts and temptations that come up when you try to quit, as well as ideas for ways to deal with or avoid them.
Last Medical Review: February 20, 2014 Last Revised: June 23, 2016
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
Guide to Quitting Smokeless Tobacco
- What do I need to know about quitting?
- Why is it so hard to quit smokeless tobacco?
- How does smokeless tobacco affect your health?
- Other reasons to quit smokeless tobacco
- What are the immediate rewards of quitting smokeless tobacco?
- Getting help with the physical part of addiction to smokeless tobacco
- Getting help with the mental part of addiction to smokeless tobacco
- Other ways to quit smokeless tobacco
- A word about success rates for quitting smokeless tobacco
- Steps for long term success
- Making the decision to quit smokeless tobacco
- Setting a date and making a plan to quit smokeless tobacco
- Dealing with smokeless tobacco withdrawal
- Staying tobacco-free
- Special concerns after quitting smokeless tobacco
- To learn more
- References


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Here is my first fans choice figure poll
Tey How
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight)
Depa Billaba
The winning figure wont be made but vote now!
Voting Ends 24/08/2001
Here is my first fans choice figure poll
Tey How
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight)
Depa Billaba
The winning figure wont be made but vote now!
Voting Ends 24/08/2001
As far as I know Hasbro has yet to put a POTF2 resculpt on the poll, especially one who was as well made as Bossk. So with that being the case I vote for CZ-1.
Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split. - Robert E. Howard
whos "Tey How"???
and then she said "Do ya love me?" and I said "NO! but thats a pretty nice ski mask!"
That creepy nemoidian who says "Sir! Dey gan inda ventalation shaft" with those things gouging his/her eyes.
I would vote for a new Jedi Luke.
"Two in the box, ready to go, we be fast, and they be slow!"
Check out my art at The Terrace Room!
I'll take Georges daughter Tyger...err I mean "Tey How"
''You fool, my reach is far greater than the Jedi.Only a Sith can wield the force over such a great distance.'' - Darth Sidious
"It can't rain all the time."
"Quote the Raven, Nevermore."
Bossk and Luke are resculpts so no.
Depa Billoba and Tey How are from Episode 1 so no.
CZ-1 is dah winnah!!!
Who's a sexy kitty? Who is? Yes, you are. You're a SEXY kitty...
PHONE BOOK Written by Bendis. Art by Jim Lee. Total copies sold: 15 billion.
"Comic Collecting. Miss a decade, miss a lot."
I almost forgot to vote myself
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight)
who is CZ-1?
My vote goes to CZ-1 the cross eyed secretary droid. god I hope we get him in 3.75 scale soon!


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Alternative Titles: Republic of Panama, República de Panamá
- Listen: National anthem of PanamaThe instrumental version of the national anthem of Panama.
Panama, country of Central America located on the Isthmus of Panama, the narrow bridge of land that connects North and South America. Embracing the isthmus and more than 1,600 islands off its Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the tropical nation is renowned as the site of the Panama Canal, which cuts through its midsection. It is equally well known for its natural beauty, for its diverse plant and animal life, including hundreds of bird and tree species, and for its vibrant music and culture.
The home of several Native American peoples, such as the Kuna and Chocó, Panama became the first ... (100 of 11,958 words)