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So there are going to be a lot of people who will throw everyone and everything else under the bus.
I've got an eight-year-old girl. Every day I tell her that she's smart and strong and brave and beautiful, and that I love her, and that I'm proud of her. We've told her how they use computers to make models look different than in real life. (The Fotoshop by Adobé ad is great)
Yet for all the work we do to tell her how incredible and awesome she is, there's a constant barrage of ads screaming that she's ugly and dumb and girls are wimpy.
... so who is winning?
You say what you do and you say what ads do but no conclusion unless we have to take the last phrase of your comment as you feel that's what she thinks.
I feel your pain but apparently parents have been worried for millennia about external influences on their children. If ads is the worst you've got then that's perhaps not too bad. You might like to compare your worries with parents in say the Syrian city of Homs.
Wait until she's around 12-15. You'll really have worries then as she becomes rapidly more sophisticated and "teen"
Best of luck (OK - enjoy every moment, even when you are shitting yourself with worry)
Yet for all the work we do to tell her how incredible and awesome she is, there's a constant barrage of ads screaming that she's ugly and dumb and girls are wimpy.
Seems you must have an entirely different source of advertising than I see.
The tendency over the last 10 years is to portray men and boys as idiots who can't figure out which end of a hammer to pound with, and are utterly helpless in taking care of themselves, while the 75 pound girl can throw two them over her shoulder and carry them up two flights of stairs.
All these ads these days seem to be written by and for women. The same is true of most tv shows.
Sounds to me like she'll be fine. If she's getting the kind of validation from you that you say she is, she won't look for it elsewhere. If you're really that worried about it, though, why not just get rid of the TV?
Freedom of speech is limited in all kinds of ways. False advertising for example. Or making health claims. Controls on what you can and can't do in ads aren't new.
Cigarette advertising is a good precedent - it's illegal on TV, radio and billboards in the US, and in may other media in other places. If a behaviour has been shown to be a serious public health hazard, and is encouraged by certain forms of media, that media has been banned in the past.
Freedom of speech is limited in all kinds of ways.
You are, unfortunately, correct. That's no excuse for imposing more limits, however.
False advertising for example. Or making health claims. Controls on what you can and can't do in ads aren't new.
Laws against false advertising are really just taking laws against fraud and moving them to a prior step in the process. If I sell you quartz crystals by convincing you that they cure cancer, that's fraud, and is rightfully illegal. Airing commercials that say "buy our quartz crystals, they cure cancer" is pretty clearly an extension of the sales process. If I just say "quartz crystals cure cancer", without trying to sell yo
Yes, but is marketing speech harmless? Marketing is done to influence people's behavior. It's successful and makes marketing firms lots of money. Certainly these marketing firms will take credit for selling 12% more jeans this quarter or whatever. But what about the negative consequences that result from this marketing? Will they take credit for that? Should they? Can we at least say that these marketing firms are morally culpable when they influence people in a negative way?
Yet most of us are fat. Anybody else see a contradiction?
No, not really.
Although scientists whose area of expertise is in this area would have to show real data either confirming my gut feeling or disproving it (and I'll then blame the fish I had earlier)., I would guess that...
When you're young and you're exposed to the imagery of 'ideals' you might try to actually reach those ideals. However, if you fail - and most of us do; even if you do make it to the ideal, a month later you may have bounced right back up and then some - that may make you sad at best and downright depressed at worst.
The sadness/depression is, in turn, fought using - among other - comfort foods (It's no coincidence that a lot of people think that eating a bucket of ice cream is a great way to do away with the blues).
But eating comfort foods is rarely health and in fact is likely to lead you to further weight gain.. which depresses you more, etc.
At some point, though, you stop really caring. You've realized that you are overweight, and that while you have fleeting moments of wanting to do something about it, there's no real pressure to do so any more as you are now one of the millions of overweight adults who are accepted just fine by society as long as you don't go overboard in obesity (at which point you might become the subject of internet ridicule for a day, after which life goes on).
In fact, once you reach that point, you realize that the superskinny are far more often pointed out in a negative way than the overweight (think Angelina Jolie).
As such, if these distorted 'ideals' can be kept away from kids, then perhaps that would effect change. However, I don't think legislation is the answer. How would you actually legislate this anyway? The change has to come from within the fashion/magazine industry itself.
However, as some in that industry have already suggested that Kate Upton (google, judge for yourself) is too 'curvy' (read: fat) for magazine covers, I doubt that change is coming anytime soon.
Not really.
Advertising is designed to exploit various characteristics of our brain that cause us to make unconscious decisions because of the advertising.
It's not like the average person can moderate the amount of advertising that rapes their eyeballs and subconcious every day.
Nonsense. Don't watch TV. Don't listen to the radio. Use Adblock Plus. I'm assuming your eyes gloss pass magazine ads automatically.
Seems pretty moderated to me.
My wife is anorexic. She's stable, and she's become a successful practicing MD. Understanding the problem doesn't cure it.
She grew up in a home with two half-sisters under a frequently single mother who went through many marriages. Her (now also anorexic) mother has career success, ridiculously low self esteem, and she married at least two physically abusive men. The worst of them was a churchgoing man who physically abused all his daughters/stepdaughters and repeatedly raped his own daughter (thankfully my wife did not endure that). He hid it from his wife/my mother-in-law and everyone else (except the girls) for several years. When my mother-in-law finally understood it was happening, she divorced him as soon as she felt she could without physical abuse as a repercussion. I don't think that was right away. And because of fear, he was never reported or punished. I don't think he even quit attending church.
My wife had no control of her life in her childhood. She could control her appearance. She became anorexic to give fulfill her need for a sense of control in her life.
Banning the ads would help reduce the draw of that manifestation of the need for control. But the root problem is very commonly associated with domestic abuse and/or unhealthy childhoods like the one my wife grew up in.
The purpose of government is not to cure every evil in society.
Commercial speech is protected by the First Amendment, and the proposed regulation would almost certainly be struck down.
What exactly what would be the text of this proposed regulation?
"Whoever publishes an image of a woman having a body mass index below 0.66 shall be fined $X.XX."
Please, someone in favor of this crap draft up a law that is not vague, over-broad, and just plain laughably ridiculous.
Fat models, skinny controllers, dumb views...
Oh, wait, are we not talking about code all of a sudden? Okay, in that case, dumb, skinny models, and no fat chicks.
In fact, forget I was here.
The problem is not that these body images are harmful, but that girls are trained to think that their appearance is their most important attribute.
This is not improving, this shallow culture is being promoted to men and boys as well, perhaps in order to stave off charges of sexism, but more likely it's just a realisation within these cosmetic and fashion industries that they are missing out on a potential market.
The problem is not that these body images are harmful, but that girls are trained to think that their appearance is their most important attribute.
It's probably true, but it's also men's fault, because most of them are only attracted by women's appearance.
The real problem is that we tend to focus only on external attributes, because it's easy to change them if you have money.
It reminds me of somebody who said that 50 years ago, people tended to focus on attitudes (internal behaviour), and now, people tend to focus on easy ways to influence people (external behaviour).
External improvement has a much better return on investment than internal improvement
Why is this article here?
Does it include neato new technology?
Does it review some new CPU or video card?
Does it discuss a new or old computer game?
Does it include high-energy physics or cosmology?
Does it include something about programming languages?
Does it include cryptography or security breaches?
Does it include anything at all about computers?
Hell, does it talk about Bitcoin?
Might as well just post scans from the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue that's out right now.
While I'm trivially opposed to legislation like this, I will point out that imagery doesn't really change what men want in a woman- that's coded deep or something- but it DOES change what WOMEN try to look like to compete with each other. Most men don't prefer the super skinny models. It's fashion designers who force that on us, and I think it's fair to point out that most men don't follow such fashion. I think everyone knows that a glamour model can be super hot, and a fashion model is... not. And of course, glamour models, while still often at a level of thinness that would be unachievable for all women, have genuinely feminine shapes to them, and are not some concentration camp throw-away.
Anyway, I don't dispute the findings of the researchers, merely the morality of attacking speech.
Absolutely everything you said is complete nonsense...
Skinny is fashionable now for the same reason being heavy was hundreds of years ago.
No. Fat was an indicator of weath... like a luxury/sports car. It was never actually considered attractive.
Fat is the opposite of attractive now because it's unhealthy. You don't pick an obese woman to marry these days because you don't want to find her dead at 45.
That's not why at all. Attractiveness is tied to ideal body ratios, and other biological indicators of f
Why not take a step back and say, "Why do these women want to be like these models?". They want the popularity and ego satisfaction that goes along with looking like those models. The fact that their self-worth is based on the opinions of other anonymous people is the problem. It's their parents' job to redirect them to base their self-worth on more objective criteria. In other words the researchers have cause and effect backwards. These women already have low self-worth and think looking like anorexic models will make them better because people with low self-worth always think being popular makes them better. The fact that it's anorexic models is arbitrary. In other places and times it was Rubenesque models. It's a moral problem and as usual people want to find a short-cut to dealing with moral struggle by imposing censorship. Censorship doesn't solve the problem. It just forces the issue to manifest in another way.This research is worthless. Actual it's even worse than that. It's positively harmful.
P.S. You also see the inverse, being anti-popular (i.e. pick your "counter-culture" movement of choice) is seen as giving self-worth. It's all the same. The point is to make being popularity irrelevant to self-worth.
Keira Knightley is the actress from the Pirates of the Caribean with rather small breasts. For another role, there exists a rather famous comparison picture in which her breasts are photoshopped to be a couple of sizes bigger. It was done against her will, she agreed to some touching up but not to go from A to C.
Is she pretty? Your tastes might differ but a lot of people would say yes...
So... does this stop all the girls out there from worrying their tits are to small? Hell no. For that matter, most super models got modest chest sizes. Does that stop girls from worrying? No. So WHAT image from the media is telling girls that they need to have big tits? Not a famous movie star, not super models.
Yet the claim stands that thin fashion models influence how girls view their body but not the breast part? No, it is a load of bull.
Some people feel insecure about their image, they then find anything out there to justify themselves in feeling bad about it. For a rather extreme and dangerous example, how many black people claim they are kept down by discrimination when the most powerful man on the planet right now is black? Somehow the fact Obama got elected president of the US does not factor into the claim of racism.
Mind you, things are never black and white, there is racism and the media and society put a lot of expectations on how people should be. This isn't just looks, many a person keeps looking for the magical love where violins suddenly start playing. I have met people who really thought that when they became adults, there lifes would be like that in Friends and other sitcoms, sitting around all day drinking coffee with the occasional visit to work if it suited them. Reality? You want to be able to afford even a single coffee, you work so hard that all you want to do in the evening is sleep.
Does this matter? I don't know if the term loverboy is universally known but these are men who seduce young girls with money and a flash lifestype and then get them into prostitution. The girls affected really believe the movie lifestype. "He always got money" and "He always was ready to have a good time" never makes them question how the two combine. It doesn't matter in sitcoms so why should it in real life that a guy with no job has plenty of girls and all the free time in the world and a lot of spare cash?
People who aren't to smart use the media to justify their insecurities, neuroses and world views, and ignore the bits of media that don't match. Porn girls have big tits so big tits are the norm and all the porn with small tits, every single super model don't exist. In comedy, fat ugly women often have attractive wives... of course the BBC series Miranda doesn't count where a very tall and none to skinny rather plain woman has not one but TWO hunky guys interested in her. And gosh, she NEVER goes after men who are overweight or plain looking or, horror of horror, to short.
Media isn't realistic. Or rather it is but we tend to look only at the bits that offend us. Porn is young girls ignoring all the granny and MILF porn. Super stars have big tits except for the ones who don't.
If we start to censor the media to be realistic... then what about those of us who are naturally skinny? Who are just plain good looking? Should they be subjected to a media showing that only ugly people can be happy?
Silly? It isn't the fat chicks or plain looking ones who tend to suffer from insecurity, it is the pretty girls. After all, the fat chick might not get a lot of boys after her but the one who does is probably really interested in her, the person. Where as the pretty girl only gets the guys after her who see her as a trophy and the ordinary guys do not approach her. Being pretty is no guarantee for happiness. See the lives of many a movie actress ending in misery.
There are a lot of things wrong with ads but the biggest is that so many people take them to serious and lack the capacity to look further then their own insecurity at the real world. Believe on pretty people ca
In less than a century, computers will be making substantial progress on ... the overriding problem of war and peace. -- James Slagle


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FFA chapter competes at Area 2 FFA contest
The Sweetwater FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter competed at the Area 2 FFA contest this past Saturday, Nov. 17 at Howard College.The sole competitor advancing to state is Kyle Lambert, who placed second in Job Interview. He will compete at the state contest on Nov. 29, in Huntsville at Sam Houston State University.Other teams placing at the area event were the Senior Quiz team, earning fifth place. The team is made up of Sean Morrow, Mackensey Hayes, Cody Chapman and Leah Warren.Two teams placed sixth--the Senior Chapter Conducting team consisting of Sean Morrow, Mackensey Hayes, Kyle Lambert, Blake Young, Larissa Locklar, Camyron Jones and Stephen May; and the Senior Skills team, which included Caroline Brennan, Blake Young, Stephen May and Jay Lomas.According to Sweetwater High School Ag advisor Cory Rains, each contest had 14 teams competing, all of which had advanced to the area meet from their own districts.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hello,I'm Barry.
It's glad that you notice this.
I'm a certificated Mandarin teacher of TCSOL and EDI.
TCSOL ( Teaching ChinesetoSpeakers of Other Language)
EDI (Teaching Chinese as aForeign Language)
I could help you to improve skill of Mandarin through interesting way.
Don't hesitate to email me for details.
My email: email@example.com
Have a wonderful day!


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Featureteaser by Polly Higgins
In April 2010, I proposed to the United Nations a law of Ecocide. My proposal has at its heart a fundamental intrinsic value the sacredness of all life. Currently, our world is driven by laws that put profit first.... http://www.realitysandwich.com/sacred_law_0
PUTTING CORPORATE PROFITS BEFORE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PLANET AND HUMANITY #EU Farmers locked in Big food production vs. pollution trade-off @EurActiv http://www.euractiv.com/specialreport-agriculture/farmers-locked-food-production-v-news-516196#comment-8775


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Since the new iPod Shuffle was released today with iTunes 8.1 listed as a requirement you can expect to see iTunes 8.1 seeded in your software updates very soon. According to the iTunes What's New page iTunes 8.1 comes packed with the following new features:
- Speed boots for library loading, iTunes Store browsing, device syncing.
- Genius feature will include movies.
- Default audio import settings changed to 256kbps AAC
There are also some additional features suggested by the iTunes A to Z page.
- Parental controls that disable iTunes Store access while allowing iTunes U access.
- Autofill says "new." The changes aren't listed but there is speculation this feature is being updated to work with all iPods
As always please refrain from updating until it is clear whether or not the new iTunes will interfere with Jailbreaking.
[via macrumors]


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43 U.S. Code § 1466 - Administration of oaths, affirmations, etc., by employees of Division of Investigations; force and effect
Special agents and such other employees of the Division of Investigations, Department of the Interior of the United States, as are designated by the Secretary of the Interior for that purpose, are authorized and empowered to administer to or take from any person an oath, affirmation, affidavit, or deposition whenever necessary in the performance of their official duties. Any such oath, affirmation, affidavit, or deposition administered or taken by or before a special agent or such other employee of the Division of Investigations, Department of the Interior, designated by the Secretary of the Interior, when certified under his hand, shall have like force and effect as if administered or taken before an officer having a seal.
Section was formerly classified to section 498 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, § 1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174,64 Stat. 1262, set out under section 1451 of this title.
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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Farmers Market in Hershey receives national recognition
Farmers Market in Hershey receives national recognition
The Farmers Market in Hershey has been voted the No. 1 most celebrated market in Pennsylvania, and one of the Top 100 Most Celebrated Farmers Markets in America for 2013.
The honors came from this summer's American Farmland Trust's I Love My Farmers Market Celebration. The program helped to raise national awareness about local farmers markets and putting money directly in the pockets of family farmers. Throughout the celebration, consumers were encouraged to pledge to spend $10 at their local farmers markets. The Farmers Market in Hershey had the highest amount of people pledging in the state for a total of $850.
Not only did the pledges help the Farmers Market in Hershey earn national recognition — it also helped the community. For every $10 spent on local food, as much as $7.80 is re-spent in the local community, supporting local jobs and businesses. Also, the farmer takes home almost $8 to $9 instead of the $1.58 that farmers and ranchers receive when food is purchased through a retail market.
There are still four more Thursdays for the Farmers Market left in the season. Market hours are 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., and vendors offer locally produced fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meats, baked goods and other specialty items such as herbs and spices, flowers, cider and honey.


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BOSTON SETH LAMBETH is 5 years old today, July 25. His parents are Joshua and Ashley Lambeth of Mocksville. Grandparents are Ron and Patricia Lambeth of Lexington and Don and Cathy Tuell of Lake City, FL. Boston's brother is Bane Joseph Lambeth. His mother is the former Ashley Williams.
Choose the plan that's right for you. Digital access or digital and print delivery.


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Erik Murphy led a balanced Florida attack with 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor and pulled down six rebounds, as the fourth-ranked Gators remained unbeaten in conference play with a 78-64 victory over Ole Miss Saturday at Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
Mike Rosario added 14 points for the Gators (18-2, 8-0 SEC), who won their 10th straight following a Dec. 22 loss at Kansas State. Scottie Wilbekin and Patric Young each registered 13 points, while Wilbekin dished out seven helpers and Young pulled down 12 boards.
Marshall Henderson netted a game-high 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting -- including seven 3-pointers -- for the Rebels (17-4, 6-2), who dropped their second straight after a nine-game win streak. Murphy Holloway donated 15 points and seven rebounds in the loss.
Early in the first half, LaDarius White's layup brought the visitors within 18-12. The Gators quickly opened things up with a 17-3 surge capped off by Rosario's trey and Murphy's tough layup, which made it 35-15 with 5:52 left.
Florida started the game shooting 9-of-15 from the field, while 12 of their first 20 points came from inside the paint. Ole Miss, however responded by scoring 10 straight unanswered. Henderson, the SEC's leading scorer, nailed back-to-back 3-pointers in a span of 41 seconds, making it 35-25 with 1:30 left before the break.
Wilbekin provided some much-needed momentum with two seconds left in the first half as he hit a corner jumper and the Gators led 40-27.
Henderson started the second half hot, accounting for five of the team's first six points, but the Rebels still trailed, 45-33.
Young's three-point play, followed by Kenny Boynton's smooth layup jump started a 15-4 surge which saw the Gators take a commanding 60-37 advantage with 12 1/2 minutes remaining.
Ole Miss wasn't done yet and flipped a switch defensively, as they limited the home team to just three points over the next four-plus minutes, getting all the way back within 63-50 on Jarvis Summers' three-point play with 7:12 remaining.
Florida, however, and its veteran players bounced back as Murphy's 3-pointer, Young's short jumper and Wilbekin's crafty inbound play -- which he passed the ball off a Ole Miss defenders body and grabbed the ball back for an easy layup -- strengthened the lead back to 20 points, 70-50 with 5:02 to play.
The Gators eased to the win from there and Ole Miss never got any closer than 13 points.
Game Notes
Florida improved to 10-0 at home this season ... Kenny Boynton had nine points and 10 assists ... Ole Miss struggled to find consistency and shot a mere 38.2 percent from the floor, only connecting on 21-of-55 shots ... Florida has won 11 of 12 in the series since the start of the 2002-03 season ... The Gators came in winning seven games by an average of 28.3 points ... The 64 points allowed are the most by the Gators since the loss to Kansas State, in which the Wildcats scored 67 points.


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The agreement governs rates of pay and work rules for more than 200 locomotive engineers. More than 70 percent of members returned ballots with better than 70 percent voting in favor.
The new agreement includes general wage increases totaling 18.6 percent, retroactive to August 1, 2010, as well as an improved away-from-home-meal allowance. It also provides a $1,000 bonus/claim settlement payable to all active engineers, and 26 additional days off for extra board engineers along with an increase in the GEB Weekly Guarantee.


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OMG! I am so excited!
Cam (aka James) is going to be in the upcoming horror movie The Unborn. I looked at the actors names on a poster while I was at the movies earlier today and his was there. Now I am definitely seeing it!
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Guest Author - Elizabeth Brennan
Choosing walking footwear is not just a matter of going to the nearest shoe shop and choosing a nice pair. Before you buy you should know your feet so you can better discuss your requirements with the salesperson.
To analyze your feet and self diagnose what type of feet you have see this article
Knowing your feet
Go to a specialist sports shop where they will have trained personnel.
Ask the salesperson to measure your feet on a Branock Device. This will indicate the length, arch length and width of your feet. It is important to measure both feet as most people have one foot larger than the other. Fit on the shoes with the socks you intend wearing. Be prepared to buy shoes that are perhaps a size or size and a half larger than your dress shoes. Make sure there is sufficient toe-room and if the shoe is pinching or tight anywhere reject it as it will cause blisters later. The shoes must fit comfortably from the first moment.
There are many factors which will dictate your choice of footwear
The distance you intend to walk
The speed at which you walk
Your walking style
The surface you are walking on
Your weight
Your stride
Weather and season of the year
Of course we cannot have a pair of shoes for every eventuality so you must decide what type of walking you normally undertake. The most basic requirement is that your shoes or boots are flat and flexible, that the soles are suited to the terrain on which you walk and the type of weather you are walking in.
No matter what type of footwear you choose you should consider four important criteria support, flexibility, cushioning and whether or not the shoes or boots compensate for any foot problems or peculiarities you may have.
All walking shoes conform to three basic types:
Motion Control Shoes. These are the most rigid shoes. They are built on a straight last and are meant to limit pronation the natural roll inwards of the foot when striding. They are heavy and durable. They have dual density mid-soles with denser material on the inside to correct over pronation excessive rolling of the foot to the inside. They will also correct a tendency to over-supinate excessive rolling to the outside of the shoe. Both of these tendencies will cause knee pain, muscle pain and fatigue if not corrected. If you are flat footed or are above average weight choose these shoes.
Stability Shoes are more flexible. They give good support. They are constructed on a semi-curved last and are good for walkers who have a neutral gait that is neither rolling too far inwards or too far outwards when striding. If you have no severe motion control problems, have normal arches, are of neutral gait and average weight, this is the type shoe for you
Cushioned Shoes are the most flexible, light and the least stable. They are constructed on a curved last and the insole material is less dense and softer giving a cushioned effect. They are intended for people of average to below average weight with high arches and neutral gait.
Do not be rushed into making a decision. Walking footwear is expensive and you will expect them to last.
Enjoy your new shoes and your walking!


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Background: Oxygen promotes the deterioration of organic materials such as paper, parchment, and organic-based media including inks and other colorants. This deterioration is often visible as yellowing, embrittlement, and color fading. Anoxic encasement is one option for reducing oxygen exposure and related deterioration. Oxygen is removed from storage or display cases by displacing it with an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon. A good seal that can maintain interior case conditions depends on advanced case construction, materials, and design. The Library of Congress has researched, designed, and used anoxic encasements since the 1970's. There is often confusion between the terms anoxic and hypoxic. Anoxic refers to the complete removal of oxygen and for the Library (due to limitations of monitoring equipment) this is considered less than 0.5% oxygen. Hypoxia refers to reduced oxygen levels, below that of ambient air which is 21% oxygen.
Most recently, an anoxic encasement for the Buell Map was constructed and is now on display in the North Gallery of the Great Hall of the Jefferson Building. One challenge in the design of the encasement was to replace an oxygen sensor used for the previous encasement monitoring that was no longer commercially available. A prototype of the sensor was built, calibrated, and tested, and is currently in use for the monitoring of the interior conditions of the case.
The construction of the Buell Map encasement followed the success of the collaboration between, the Preservation Directorate and the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) to design, fabricate, and install an oversized argon encasement for the Library's Waldseemüller 1507 World Map,the only surviving copy of the earliest known map that names the land mass of America. This three-year project culminated in December 2007 with the permanent installation of the map in a near oxygen-free environment to mitigate the deleterious effects of long-term display.
In the 1990s, the Preservation Directorate created anoxic cases for five Library treasures, including two drafts of the Gettysburg Address, the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, the Virginia Declaration of Rights, and the L'Enfant Plan of Washington, D.C.
Ongoing research and experimental design with new materials promise to improve the performance of anoxic cases. Leakage and performance testing of cases and sensors is an ongoing program in the Preservation Research and Testing Division.
Contributing Study: NIST Encasement protecting "America's Birth Certificate"
Project Description: The goal of both projects was the successful design, fabrication, testing, and installation of an argon encasement to protect both rare and unique Library maps. The 40 ft. square Waldseemüller 1507 World Map still remains the largest such encasement manufactured to date, with the Buell encasement slightly less in dimensions. The requirements for both encasements were as follows:
- Create a sealed environment and passively maintain inert gas levels for at least 5 (Buell) and up to 20-25 years for Waldseemüller
- Provide capacity to monitor the maps by measuring and monitoring real-time environmental changes
- Meet preservation needs for long-term display of historic materials
- Accommodate changes in differential pressure caused by changes in barometric pressure
- Ability to move anoxic case unit
- Integrate monitoring with the Library's electronic and security infrastructure
- Accommodate size and weight limitations of encasements and historic building requirements
- The encasement frame was specially designed and engineered from a single block of aluminum and fitted with high-grade o-rings to create a hermetic seal and reduce oxygen infiltration.
- Constant monitoring of the encasement confirms it maintains a stable passive environment. Sensors monitor the differential pressure, oxygen level, temperature, and relative humidity in the encasement.
- Testing and monitoring over the first year confirmed minimal infiltration of oxygen into the encasement for a 29-year seal.
- The encasement system receives scheduled calibration and testing of sensors.
Support: Waldseemüller encasement: Alcoa Foundation, Alcoa, Inc. and Solutia, Inc., Buell encasement: The Library acknowledges the support of Mr. David Rubenstein.
Acknowledgements: The National Institute for Standards and Technology was a full partner in these projects and provided invaluable expertise and assistance for developments and advances during both projects.
Update and Images:
October 2013: LC and NIST staff successfully design, construct, test, and install the Buell Map encasement for Public view.
June 2012: Fenella France presented "Defining Data Collection for Assessing and Monitoring Visual Storage Environments" at the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Conference, University College London (UCL), London, UK.
March 2009: Dr. Fenella France presented a paper, "'In and Out Air Strategies' From Climate Change to Microclimate: Library, Archives and Museum Preservation Issues," at the International Federation of Library Associations conference, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris.
April 2008: Elmer Eusman presented a paper at the American Institute of Conservation Annual Meeting in Denver, relating the activities surrounding the design, fabrication and installation of the Waldseemüller 1507 World Map in its new encasement.
July 2008: Dr. Fenella France gave a presentation at the Summit of Research Scientists symposium at the Library of Congress on the long-term monitoring and current status of anoxic cases at the Library of Congress.


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A California man said he has decided to end his 45-year streak of running at least a mile each day after reaching a total 16,437 days.
"Nobody thinks they're going to run a year [consecutively], let alone 40 or 45," Covert said. "I never thought anything like this was going to happen, but I'm so thankful for all the support I've received. I never realized what an important thing this has been to so many people and what the streak has meant to them."
Covert said he decided to take the day off Wednesday due to a mid-foot collapse that has kept him from using the proper part of his foot to run.
"At five years it was a monster. I don't know what you'd call it now, but it's fun to sit back and think about all the different guys and different personalities who have passed through [during the streak]," Covert said. "I just wanted to put my shoes on every morning and go out and run. It's something I've always looked forward to. Getting to 45 years was significant to me, so that's why I'm carrying on to this point. But I'm not retiring, I'm not dying. Now I'm just going to get on my bike and ride every day."
Covert's friend Jon Sutherland, 62, said the occasion is bittersweet, as his own streak is only 307 days behind Covert's.
"I have mixed emotions about it. We've been close friends for a long time. It's bittersweet for me," said Sutherland, who said he will chase Covert's record. "I'm happy for him that he can make this decision and be at peace with it. He seems really relaxed about it."


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DSSO Live on WDSE
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Dive into the beautiful sounds of the newest presentation of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, Live, hosted by Paul Schmitz! Under the baton of DSSO conductor Markand Thakar, critically acclaimed, award-winning pianist Alexander Korsantia of Boston is tonight's guest artist. He is an active concert pianist and holds a professorship at the New England Conservatory. Korsantia is also well known for his sincerity and performs with versatility and power.
DSSO Live "Delicious Melodies"
Saturday, April 28 at 8pm on PBS North
Korsantia's performance features Rachmaninoff's Piano Concertos, particularly No. 2 and 3; and consistently brings audiences to their feet with soaring melodies. Next, Debussy's dreamy depiction of light includes a wordless chorus; and Finlandia brings a triumphant ending.
Markand Thakar has developed a reputation for orchestra building and innovative programming; and is now in his tenth season as conductor of the DSSO. In addition to his busy schedule, Thakar also writes "Maestro Musings," a monthly column for the Duluth Superior Magazine.
In cooperation with the DSSO, WDSE•WRPT has had the privilege of broadcasting selected live symphony broadcasts, each year, to our local viewers since 1984. For ticket information on Saturday night's performance, call (218) 623-3776 or get more information online.


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Digital Cameras Guide
Canon Launches New Digital Compact Cameras, Including Flagship PowerShot G1 X [Update]
Canon Launches New Digital Compact Cameras, Including Flagship PowerShot G1 X [Update]
Update: Canon Singapore has just announced the local retail price of the PowerShot G1 X, it will sell for S$999 and be available in early March. Check out the next page for the official press release and click here for our G1 X hands-on preview!
Canon has announced three new digital compact cameras, including the successor to the PowerShot G12. The new PowerShot G1 X comes with the largest image sensor yet in a compact camera body; rivaling the size of sensors found in Micro Four Thirds cameras.
The IXUS 500 HS, IXUS 125 HS and PowerShot G1 X will come with the DIGIC 5 image processor, which promises better quality images in low-light settings, faster operation and improved color accuracy. For the G1 X, the DIGIC 5 enables a High-Speed Burst feature which lets you shoot 4.5 full resolution images in one burst at a frame-rate of 6 per second. The IXUS 500 HS and 125 HS come with Advanced Smart AUTO, with a new Face ID feature which can register up to 12 people on the camera.
Canon PowerShot G1 X
The Canon PowerShot G1 X succeeds the PowerShot G12 which was released in 2010. The G series cameras have always been about the enthusiast photographer looking for the best handling and image quality in a compact camera, but in recent years they've faced competition from their smaller S-series brothers, like the S95 and S100.
The new G1 X blows the S-series out of the water though, with the largest sensor to date for a Canon compact camera (and in fact, the largest sensor to be found in a compact camera today). Measuring 18.7 x 14mm, the 14.3MP sensor is larger than the Fujifilm X10's 8.8 x 6.6mm sensor (the previous large-sensor record holder for compact cameras) and comes close to the size of the sensors found in Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras which measure 18 x 13.5mm. It's no guarantee, but larger image sensors usually deliver better image quality, and the G1 X's should be impressive.
The G1 X comes with a 4x optical zoom lens (35mm equivalent of 28-112mm), with the widest aperture settings of f/2.8 (W) to f/5.8 (T). This makes it a brighter but shorter lens than the G12, which had a 5x optical zoom lens (35mm equivalent of 28-140mm) and the widest aperture settings of f/2.8 (W) to f/8.0 (T). The G1 X features 14-bit RAW shooting and compatibility with accessories like Canon's Speedlites, Macro Twin Lite and Macro Ring Light flashes. The HDR feature from the G12 is carried over, and the G1 X shoots in Full HD 1080p video. The 3" vari-angle LCD with 922k dots is bigger than the G12 and more than double the resolution.
Perhaps of the larger sensor, the G1 X is considerably more expensive than the G12 at US$799.99, which is currently S$1035. The G12 launched at S$749 and its street price should be even lower today. While the local price is just an estimate, it will most likely be even more expensive than the pricey Fujifilm X10, which launched at S$999.
Finally - we couldn't let this go. What's with the Japanese companies' obsession with the letter 'X' recently? In just a few months, we've had the Panasonic GX1, the Canon 1D X, the Fujifilm X100, X10, X-Pro1 and now the Canon G1 X. There are 25 other alphabets in the English dictionary, guys.
The IXUS 500 HS will be available in March with the estimated selling price of US$299.99. The IXUS 125 HS and PowerShot G1 X will be available in February for the estimated price of US$249.99 and US$799.99 respectively.
For more on the Canon PowerShot G1 X, check out the promotional video below by Canon Europe. Click here to go to Canon Europe for a video of photojournalist Gary Knight giving his take on the G1 X. Dpreview has a hands-on preview of the G1 X based on a pre-production model.
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(CNN) -- Sen. Edward Kennedy and Michelle Obama kicked off the first night of the Democratic National Convention with speeches that focused on "new hope" and the American dream.
Jordan Sarver described Sen. Edward Kennedy as "a beacon, something to aspire to be as a Democrat."
iReporters across the country watched the convention and shared their reaction to Monday night's addresses.
Respondents had plenty of praise for Kennedy, who underwent surgery for a brain tumor in June, but the reactions to Obama were more varied.
"Kudos to Ted Kennedy," said Jordan Sarver of Athens, Georgia. "He looked healthy; he looked strong. He really energized the crowd."
Sarver added, "he really just was a beacon, something to aspire to as a Democrat," saying that the ailing senator seemed to inspire the crowd of cheering delegates. iReport.com: Watch the full commentary
Lisa Perez of San Antonio, Texas, said she wondered whether Kennedy would have been a more powerful closing speaker than Michelle Obama.
"It seems like a whole night of the DNC was a wasted opportunity to unite Democrats and whip up a celebratory atmosphere," she wrote on iReport.com.
Perez, a former supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton's, said she now backs Obama.
Although she said Kennedy's speech "brought me to tears and had me cheering," she said she felt that Obama's address "was kind of a killjoy."
"While it was thoughtful, genuine and sensitive, it appeared apologetic to me in the end," she said. Watch as other iReporters speak out »
Like Perez, Donald L. Stuckey II is a former Clinton supporter who has pledged his support for Sen. Barack Obama.
The Detroit, Michigan, resident said he was struck by Michelle Obama's story of her father, who struggled with multiple sclerosis. Stuckey said the speech reminded him of his family's health issues.
"Her father worked every day to provide for his family, just like my mom who goes to work every day even when she is in pain," Stuckey wrote on iReport.com.
Monday night marked one of the first times Joel Najera, 21, had heard the potential first lady speak publicly.
"I was surprised that she was a very good speaker," he said. "She spoke very eloquently, made good points and a good case for her husband."
Najera, who lives in San Angelo, Texas, said his vote has been with Barack Obama "since Day One."
"It is speeches like the one Michelle Obama gave tonight that keep me convinced that the Democratic Party truly does care for every man, woman and child in this country and on this planet," he said.
Below, read additional responses from iReport.com contributors, some of which have been edited for length and clarity:
butterfly1: Sen. Ted Kennedy was the surprise highlight of the event. When Ted opened his mouth, it was with such strong conviction, people were amazed by his voice in the tone in which he spoke. His speech was direct and to the point, about Democratic justice for recovery of America's people. Ted Kennedy was the man of the hour.
docfox: It was a profound moment for me to be reminded by Ted Kennedy that when he passed the torch to the next generation -- that it was my generation.
Our time has come. And indeed, we are the change we have been waiting for.
Fantasy: I've been to a few conventions, and this so far is anything but a convention. I was hoping to hear a strong start on who you the Democrats are followed by a brief description of each policy and who (as in what role they play in the development of each policy) would be representing each policy.
So far all I have seen is the same old stale talk about nothing, leading me to wonder if [Obama] really does have viable plans or if [he] is just in it for the fame.
Proud2BMe: What Michelle proved tonight is that she is America. She has risen above her circumstances and become a powerful role model to anyone who wants to have a little more or do a little better. The faces of the crowds, the tears, the smiles in the audience tell what people thought about Michelle Obama.
mlawmccullou: Clearly, the American people witnessed a magnificent crafted and well-articulated speech rendered by Michelle Obama. If there were any indecisive voters present or watching it via television because they were uncertain about who Barack was and does he actually care about the middle class, my belief is that that notion is put to rest.
All About Barack Obama


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Wonder Woman
A Bloodsmoor Romance
Interviewers like to ask Joyce Carol Oates, presumably in the accent of awe, how she finds time to write all those books: fourteen novels, counting A Bloodsmoor Romance, eleven collections of short stories, six books of poetry, counting Invisible Woman: New and Selected Poems 1970-1982, two plays, and three books of criticism. The question isn't as innocent as it sounds. With a slight change of tone, it could come out differently, as if it asked: "Don't you think your reputation would be even higher than it is if you took more time, let the typescripts stay on your desk for a year or two before sending them to the publisher? Think of E.M. Forster, a classic novelist on the strength of one book, eked out by a few short volumes and many years of silence." Oates has answered the question, in its implied second form, by saying: "I write with the enormous hope of altering the world." You might as well take as many shots at that target as you think you need, especially if proof that you've altered the world doesn't come merely because you send for it. Oates might also deal with Forster by saying: think of Balzac, think of James.
The question, in any form, is a little vulgar, but it could be redeemed. There is a genuine question to be asked about a novelist who is, as Oates is, serious, prolific, and popular. Is her seriousness limited, carefully restrained to make it compatible with the demands of popularity? Is she popular because she is prolific, a success because she is already a success, the habit well formed? Or because it is attractive to see a writer as productive in her craft as, say, a successful businessman is in his? Oates has made much of a line in King Lear where the King says, "They told me I was everything. 'Tis a lie," and she has converted it into the motto that "the artist must act upon the frail conviction that he is everything, else he will prove nothing." Believing that nothing will come of nothing, she speaks again and again.
Oates's fiction is hard to describe, mainly because it is equivocal in its relation to the genres it ostensibly fulfills. Bellefleur (1980) comes as close as any other book to representing the quality of her work. It is a big book, a saga about an American family, already cursed and living out its doom. The generations are elaborately described, the narrative style is even more full-blooded than the blood it spills. The several stories are grandly sustained. But they are all told as if they had already been narrated elsewhere and have only to be alluded to. The strength of the novel arises from the impression, carefully maintained, that the events are now being recalled rather than imagined. In fact, we rarely feel, reading Bellefleur,…
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Artists: Wu Shang
East Gate 23-25 South Road
Wenling City, Zhejiang Province
+86 130 9382 2226
Web: wswt.cn
What year did you start tattooing?
How did you get into tattooing?
By chance—a friend of mine wanted to have a tattoo, but he could not find a tattooist. As he knows that I can do paintings, he boldly asked me to do the tattoo on him.
What was your first shop experience like?
Probably because it was my first time setting up a studio, the conditions were rudimentary in every aspect, and my family was not familiar with tattoos. I hadn't made enough preparations, including promotion; most of the clients were acquaintances after the studio was set up. But one thing I was very sure of then was that I would devote all my life to this art and seek perfection.
Do you have any special training?
I was enrolled in the China Academy of Art in 1998, and I majored in oil painting. I also learned pottery, sculpture, Chinese painting, and Chinese calligraphy during those years.
What conventions have you done recently or are planning to do this year?
I've joined so many events, including the Supreme Culture and Art Festival that I planned myself. The festival covers art forms of sculpture, handmade art, humanity, country music, modern rock, food, tattoos, fine arts, calligraphy, and performance art. All these forms of art shown on the same platform gave me rich thoughts and learning experiences.
What drew you to your particular style?
My major is oil painting and western fine arts. But in tattoo art, which has a long history, I see a blank area in traditional Chinese culture and style. The sublime nature, majesty, and elegance of Chinese painting are far beyond the imagination. Just like Chinese poetry, Chinese painting has gone far from its origins of narration of objects and description of shape; more than a thousand years ago it entered the phase of magnificent artistic conception. This phase is a supreme realm that aims to express the authors' will and feeling. I try to reflect sentiment and realm in my tattooing.
What inspires you as an artist?
Love. Love is the only effective motive and source for humanity's recognition of things. As a tattoo artist, I love my family, love human beings, and love every tree and bush around me. And what's more, I love the Chinese culture, where my roots are. Without love, there wouldn't be an ancient art form like tattooing. It is all for love that keeps me having a pure heart and a free mind. Love for Chinese culture: I love Chinese architecture, pottery, costume, fine arts, etc.; they are all my fertile ground for tattoo creation and my source of inspiration.
What sets you apart from other artists?
Because of my love for Chinese traditional culture, I absorb the essence of Chinese culture, and reflect them in my aesthetic perception with the structure, colors, lines, and dots of my tattoo work. That's how I set my style apart from the others.
What is the tattoo culture like in China?
The modern Chinese tattoo culture is brand new. It just has dozens of years' history.
What other mediums do you work in?
I have been doing handmade creations all the time. It's my hobby; art is the way I draw nourishment from the world.
How have you branched out from tattooing?
I don't like imitations or copies; I love creation and independence. So I learn from the traditional Chinese culture and bring that into my tattoos.
What kind of tattoos do you look forward to doing?
I love the combination of Chinese painting and calligraphy in tattooing. I use calligraphy to draw the lines of tattoo works all over the body. But no other tattooist could do my tattoo works so far.
Before someone gets a tattoo what advice do you give them?
Since I am good at traditional art forms, I would give them suggestions from these perspectives on how to express their idea into tattoo works.


text: This news item expired on 11/30/2013, so the information below could be outdated or incorrect. Parks & Recreation Fall Newsletter Available Come Out & Play is a guide to the activities of Parks, Greenways and Recreation Services. This publication reports on upcoming events, park improvements, athletic leagues, and all of the other services offered through PG&R. You can download a free copy by selecting the link below. Stay informed and active with Come Out & Play! Come Out & Play - September-November 2013 (PDF)


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Liechtenstein is a little German-speaking principality tucked into the Alps between Switzerland and Austria. The Rhine River runs wide and icy-white along the western border, and the prince's cross-timbered castle nestles in an aerie on the mountainside. At seemingly every turn, there are trail heads and bike paths. Pretty, flower-wreathed towns dot the lowlands. A winding road leads east into the mountains, through a tunnel and across meadows to the ski area of Malbun, which attracts outdoorsy families in the summer. -- Susan Spano Read more: Liechtenstein, a principality tucked into the Alps Pictured: A hamlet on the outskirts of Gutenberg Castle near the town of Balzers.
Susan Spano/Los Angeles Times
Copyright © 2018, Orlando Sentinel


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(a) Upon termination of the Workers' Compensation Commission, all of the powers and authority previously conferred upon the Workers' Compensation Commission pursuant to article two, chapter twenty-three of this code, relating to employers in default to the Workers' Compensation Fund, are hereby transferred to the Insurance Commissioner and shall be applied by the commissioner to those employers in default to the Old Fund or having liability to the Uninsured Employer Fund or who are in policy default or fail to maintain mandatory workers' compensation coverage, all as defined in article two-c, chapter twenty-three of this code.
(b) In any case in which an employer is in default to the Old Fund or has liability to the Uninsured Employer Fund or who is in default on a policy or otherwise fails to maintain mandatory workers' compensation coverage, all as defined in article two-c, chapter twenty-three of this code, the commission may bring an action in the circuit court of Kanawha County to enjoin the employer from continuing to operate the employer's business: Provided, That the commissioner may, in his or her sole discretion, and as an alternative to this action pursuant to this subsection, require the employer to file a bond, in the form prescribed by the commissioner, with satisfactory surety in an amount not less than one hundred fifty percent of the total payments, interest and penalties due.
(c) In any action instituted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the circuit court shall issue an injunction prohibiting the employer from operating the employer's business if the Insurance Commissioner proves by a preponderance of the evidence, that the employer is in default to the Old Fund or has liability to the uninsured fund or is in policy default or has otherwise failed to maintain mandatory workers' compensation coverage.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the commissioner shall have the authority to waive penalty and interest accrued on moneys due the Old Fund. The enactment of the provisions of this subsection shall be applied retrospectively to January 1, 2006, and may not be construed to require the commissioner to adjust or otherwise modify any agreements reached with regard to the payment of penalty or interest since that date.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the Insurance Commissioner may compromise and settle any claims for moneys due to the Old Fund or the Uninsured Employer Fund. Information regarding settlements is subject to chapter twenty-nine-b of this code. The commissioner shall submit to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the Legislative Auditor an annual report summarizing the settlements into which he or she has entered pursuant to this subsection. The summary shall describe the parties involved, the total amount owed and portions paid, and the terms of the settlement.


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The FBI has transferred coordination of a task force for the investigation into the "Chicago Tylenol Murders" to local police, the Arlington Heights Police Department announced Friday in a news release.
In 1982, seven people died after taking cyanide-laced Tylenol, which was consumed over three days in Chicago and its suburbs.
No one was ever charged for the killings.
Victims of the poisoned Tylenol included Stanley Janus, 25, and Theresa Janus, 19, both of Lisle; Mary McFarland, 31, of Elmhurst; and Mary Reiner, 27, of Winfield, among others. All seven victims were found to have ingested the cyanide-laced Extra Strength Tylenol capsules on or shortly after Sept. 29, 1982.
The deaths led Johnson & Johnson to recall some 31 million bottles of Tylenol and led to the introduction of tamper-resistant packaging.
The FBI-led task force was established in 2007, along with the Illinois State Police and police departments in Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village, Lombard, Schaumburg, Chicago and Winfield.
The FBI will continue to provide resources as needed to assist the investigation, according to the release.


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. After reading it, it most def seems as though O.J. did it.
Julie, thanks for bringing that up. However, that misses my point that perhaps we as a society are poorer by supporting an industry that sensationalizes depravity. Granted, I am all for freedom of expression and consumption; but I still wonder if we wouldn't be better off as a society if we stopped gawking at these sick murderers. If we are interested in these people, perhaps we should study them with academic detachment and empathy instead of with self-righteous intrigue. Another way to say this is if we are going to interview these people, they should be interviewed by boring PBS instead of glitzy Access Hollywood or Extra!.


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Trimax Trailer Lock
Reviewed By John G (NEWNAN, GA) Reviewed for a 2014 Ford F-150 —9/8/2017 12:16 AM
Outstanding product
Reviewed By Mark M (VAIL, AZ) Reviewed for a 2014 Ford F-150 —8/15/2014 1:37 PM
The lock seems well designed and the pin is sturdy though the dust cover seems a little flimsy. Only time will tell if the dust cover holds up and stays in place. If not will probably just cover it with duct tape to keep the keyhole from clogging. As with any hitch pin, make sure you check it every time you trailer up.


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Animal Sketchbook 8/6/11
The Animal Sketchbook is updated every Saturday featuring two new artists every week. Previously… 7/30/11, 7/23/11, 7/16/11, 7/9/11, 7/2/11. This week: two sketches from Stumptown 2010. First up is the lovely Shaenon K. Garrity who, so far, is the only artist to include Janice or any other characters from The Electric Mayhem. Dig the groovy … Continue reading


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If there is any team that has been a big bully to the New Orleans Saints over the years, it is the San Francisco 49ers.
If there is any team that has been a big bully to the New Orleans Saints over the years, it is the San Francisco 49ers.
I can remember growing up in the late 1980s and early 1990s and watching the 49ers dominate the Saints.
San Francisco was just always too good, and every year, it managed to overshadow and put a beating on some good Saints teams.
It all started with guys Joe Montana, Steve Young, Ronnie Lott and Jerry Rice, and recently, it has continued with Alex Smith, Vernon Davis and Patrick Willis.
If you can remember, and I know every New Orleans fan out there hasn't forgot, the 49ers defeated the Saints, 36-32, last season during the NFC divisional round playoff game.
It had to be one of the toughest and most heartbreaking losses in Saints history.
At first, it seemed like the Saints would pull it out, right after a huge touchdown pass from Drew Brees to Jimmy Graham gave New Orleans a fourth-quarter lead.
But in the final seconds, San Francisco did what it always managed to do to the Saints — crush their hopes and dreams when Smith connected with Davis on a short touchdown pass that won the game for the 49ers.
The 49ers went on the NFC championship game, and the Saints season ended in devastating fashion.
Months have passed since that game in San Francisco, but I know the Saints and their fans haven't forgotten about that nightmare loss.
The memories of that game have been highlighted this week as the two longtime rivals are set to play again on Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Sunday's game will be important for New Orleans.
The Saints are 5-5 and need to keep winning to make the playoffs. They have overcome obstacles all year long to put themselves in a position to earn a postseason berth, and they are playing their best ball of the season.
But there is no denying that revenge will be on the back of their minds this Sunday.
However, the 49ers are still a pretty good team.
San Francisco put a 32-7 whipping on NFC North Division leader Chicago on Monday.
The 49ers have always made life miserable for the Saints. They hold a 46-24-2 all-time series lead over New Orleans, and I'm sure they'll want to keep that streak going on Sunday.
For the Saints, every game on the schedule has equal importance, but I think the 49ers game is the biggest of the season.
A win will put New Orleans over .500 for the first time this season as it enters a tough four-game swing that features contests against San Francisco, Atlanta, New York Giants and Tampa Bay.
A win will also give them extra confidence knowing they could beat one of the league's best teams.
But most importantly, a win will be sweet revenge for the Saints and their fans.
Staff writer Chris Singleton can be reached at 857-2213 or 448-1200 ext. 2213 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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On Monday, Brazilian President Dilma Roussef unveiled a series of daring political proposals designed to put an end to the protests that have unnerved the Brazilian government in the past couple of weeks.
After meeting with members of the Movimento Passe Livre (Free Fare Movement), Roussef offered a statement in which she responded to some of their main concerns.
She essentially highlighted her government's advances in social equality and education, announced that Brazil would spend $22 billion to expand public transportation, suggested harsher penalties for corruption, promised fiscal moderation, and put forward the idea of hiring foreign doctors to work in careworn public hospitals. In a controversial move, Roussef also proposed a plebiscite to call for a constitutional assembly to overhaul the country's political system.
The first five points are tailored to meet with some of the demands that have to do with education, public transportation, corruption, fiscal policies (i.e. spending on events like the World Cup), and healthcare — all concerns that have repeatedly surfaced during rallies across the country. The sixth proposal intends to deal with those who have bitterly criticized Brazil's political system and the politicians that take advantage of it.
All in all, Roussef's proposed plan seems to offer rather accommodating responses to these very real issues, but they don't likely signal the end of protests
"The protests are likely to go on," said Paulo Sotero, Director of the Brazil Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Center a Washington-based think tank. "There were protests yesterday in various cities after the announcement, and there is already a major rally called for July 1."
The most immediate problem has to do with Roussef's sixth proposal. The government has not offered any specifics about the transformations that the political system supposedly needs. Not to mention, Brazilian critics blasted Roussef's call for a constitutional assembly, and accused her of trying to trick the protesters.
Politicians haven't responded much better. Roussef's vice president and members of the governing coalition had spoken against such a measure in the past, so it's not quite clear why Roussef proposed it. A constitutional assembly, after all, is an overreaching mechanism used to write a new constitution.
"Her statement shows that she is obviously listening to the streets," Sotero said. "But the main proposal—the plebiscite to call a constitutional assembly to reform the political system—is not politically viable."
That's true. The government was forced to withdraw the idea early on Tuesday. Officials are now discussing the possibility of enacting reform through a referendum.
In the meantime, the Movement Against Electoral Corruption (MAEC), one of the NGOs that proposed the three changes detailed above, is pushing for reform in another way. The Brazilian constitution includes a provision for direct action by the people. If 1.5 million citizens—one percent of the electorate—sign a proposal, congress must vote it. The MAEC is now recollecting those.
Both options to pass political reform point to a more complicated issue that will probably contribute to the protests' survival, according to Sotero.
"They are symptomatic of the situation in Brazil," he said. "They are both forms of direct democracy. That is, they are not the traditional way in which a representative democracy usually works. Because of the wide nature and the anger of the protests, direct democracy has become and seems to be the only game in town."
The Brazilian movement is highly fragmented and horizontal. Despite the presence of groups like the Free Fare Movement, it has no clear leaders and follows no specific orders. And since there are no individual leaders or organizations taking decisions, nothing stops small groups or numerous individuals from maintaining the protests alive even after the government answers most of the demands put forward by the largest groups.
In all likelihood, the demonstrations will continue, in a subdued form, for at least a couple of weeks. They could grow once again or ultimately fade, and their subsistence will ultimately depend on the political mood and what the government does in the coming days.
"This is a situation that requires leadership," Sotero said, "so the question is: Will Dilma or any of the leaders of the opposition rise to the occasion?"


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To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
I'm glad they are, and that Herb Sutter is so passionate about moving C++ forward. The pick up in speed in the adoption of the C++11 and beyond standards are encouraging too.
What is also encouraging is how they map a lot of the C++ intrinsics to WinRT ABI stuff, like a lot of their foundational collection classes map to STL collections cleanly. Same with their (yet another) string format.
On a more general note, I just think the NT kernel porting effort to the phone proved more chaotic than is let on, and some terrible program management screwed up some ship dates.
It really felt like WP8 barely eeked across the finish line, the SDK was months late for example. Given these issues, The Verge is reporting that Microsoft had specific issues with getting their new chipset support baked into the OS, especially around unlocked carrier-free devices being identified on the network.
Hopefully now that the guy who ran WP is in charge of Windows as a whole we'll see much more resources dedicated to the mobile effort. For a while it seemed WP was treading water despite Windows and not because of it.


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George Bush's justification for the US troop withdrawal from Iraq – that the surge has promoted political reconciliation – is false.
The Iraq troop withdrawals President Bush announced on Tuesday at the National Defence University were much ado about nothing. The slight reduction in troop levels will keep US troop levels several thousand above what they were in January 2007 when he announced the "surge" of US troops. Bush administration critics will say the troop withdrawals are too little and too late, while supporters will echo Bush's "return on success" talking point.
The greatest myth promoted by Bush in his speech was found in this line: "Political reconciliation is moving forward, and the Iraqi government has passed several major pieces of legislation." By overstating the meagre steps taken by Iraq's leaders in barely passing a few relatively insignificant laws in their parliament, Bush's statement ranks right up there with his 2003 "mission accomplished" speech and vice-president Dick Cheney's assertion that the insurgency was in its "last throes" in 2005.


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– Sixteen players were selected by the Perfect Game staff to
participate in the Rawlings Home Run Challenge at the Metrodome
Saturday night. Mississippi State commit Chase Vallot (St. Thomas
More HS, Youngsville, La.) saved his best round for last,
out-slugging left-handed hitter Braxton Davidson (T.C. Roberson,
Arden, N.C.) 4-2 to claim the title of 2013 Rawlings Home Run
Challenge Champion.
the event's opening round each player was given 10 outs. From there
the top two players would advance to the final round, where they each
got 10 outs again.
led off the event and set the tone early, hitting two homers to
left-center, one which flew over the #PGNational banner. He got
around the ball a little quicker on his last home run, putting it 20
rows deep in left field and drawing unison of approval from the other
just tried to relax and flick the wrists," Vallot said.
Vallot was lefty Justin Bellinger (St. Sebastians, Weston, Mass.) who
hit two out, one which hit the foul pole and jarred a reaction from
his peers.
a great experience getting to hit some home runs here," said
Bellinger. "It's really fun."
of North Carolina commit Braxton Davidson then stepped up and put on
the most memorable performance of the Challenge, connecting for nine
home runs, six more than anyone else in the first round.
show was quite entertaining. He connected on the first pitch he saw
and sent it out over the right field wall. He also provided us with
back-to-back-to-back homers, one that landed in the right field press
box. Davidson also hit moon shots to the upper deck and a few off the
right field suites.
jaw-dropping performance drew quite the applause once he stepped out
of the box after his final out.
home run derby, man, I love it," the winded Davidson said. "I
love hitting, it's my tool."
wasn't Davidson's first home run challenge, but it was by far his
best. "My past home run challenges I struggled a little bit. I
didn't even get one out of the ballpark. But with the short porch
here I'll take it."
Peters (Glendora HS, Glendora, Calif.) collected three home runs in
the opening round as well. His first homer wrapped around the left
field foul pole, drawing some ooh's and aah's from the other
here was fun," said Peters. "Hopefully I could be playing on a
field like this one day."
commit Bryce Carter (Cascia Hall Preparatory, Tulsa, Okla.) also
connected for three bombs to right field to make it a three-way tie
for second after the first round.
always dream about hitting on big league fields when you're
younger," Carter said. "Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau did the same
stuff (at the Metrodome), so it's really interesting to do that."
commit Handsome Monica (St. Paul's, Mandeville, La.), Clemson
commit Michael Chavis (Sprayberry HS, Marietta, Ga.), and Missouri
commit Shane Benes (Westminster Christian Academy, Town and Country,
Mo.) each hit two home runs.
a big field so it takes a big hack to get it out of here," said
agreed with Benes on that point.
the end I realized that line drives weren't gonna win it so I tried
to dip and rip a little bit."
who's easy-going personality and light-hearted humor kept everyone
loose and laughing, didn't connect for his two home runs until he
had nine outs.
was feeling a little bit of pressure knowing I'm gonna walk off and
get some trash talk from the other players, so I'm glad I at least
hit two out," said Monica.
State University commit Gregory Deichmann (Brother Martin, Metairie,
La.) hit his only home run off the right field press box.
Bonfield (Immaculata HS, Skillman, N.J.), Luke Dykstra (Westlake HS,
Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Trenton Kemp (Buchanan HS, Clovis, Calif.),
Michael Cantu (Corpus Christi Moody, Corpus Christi, Texas), Felix
Osorio (Colegio el Dahia, Santiago, Dominican Republic), Khevin
Brewer (Travis HS, Richmond, Texas), Hunter Williams (Cosby HS,
Chesterfield, Va.), and Kel Johnson (home schooled, Palmetto, Ga.)
all participated in the home run challenge as well.
three-way tie prompted a tiebreaker round before the finals. Each
player was given five outs during this round.
Carter wasn't able to connect for any in this round, but Vallot and
Peters were each able to connect for two and advance to the finals
with Davidson.
was the last of the three to hit in the tiebreaker round, and with
four outs he connected for two home runs to advance with Peters,
prompting lots of cheers and excitement from the other participants.
led off the final round and hit four home runs, which would end up
being enough to win. Peters followed with two homers of his own, and
finally, Davidson hit two more home runs, including another upper
deck shot.
was surprised his four home runs were enough to win. "I thought for
sure (Davidson) was gonna win."
it was the slight advantage that gave Vallot the win. "I use these
(bats) in high school so I had a feel for them."
Davidson sure seemed to enjoy himself and everyone appreciated a
break from serious baseball for a while.
this challenge, Davidson admitted he really liked what Rawlings put
usually an Easton guy, but swinging that Rawlings, I like it, I like
it a lot."
was the sixth Rawlings-sponsored Home Run Challenge at the PG
National Showcase. Vallot joins previous winners Jonathan Singleton
(2008), Justin O'Conner (2009), Joshua Tobias (2010), C.J. Hnojosa
(2011), and Rowdy Tellez (2012).


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Fox's "American Idol," defying a trend that saw other reality shows show decline this week, held steady Wednesday and beat the combined demo deliveries of the other major networks on a night that included repeats of comedies on ABC and dramas on CBS.
According to preliminary national estimates from Nielsen, Fox rolled from 8 to 10 p.m. with a two-hour edition of "American Idol" (5.0/14 in 18-49, 17.2 million viewers overall), in line with last week and expected to rank as the week's No. 1 program in 18-49 for a third straight week. Head-to-head, "Idol" beat CBS' "Survivor" (2.8/9 in 18-49, 9.6 million viewers overall), its closest pursuer on the night, by 71% in 18-49 (4.8 vs. 2.8) and by 60% in 25-54 (6.1 vs. 3.8).
Elsewhere, CBS followed "Survivor" with repeats of "Criminal Minds" (1.7/4 in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers overall) and "CSI" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall). And ABC went with repeats of "The Middle" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall), "Suburgatory" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 3.8 million viewers overall) and "Modern Family" (1.9/5 in 18-49, 5.3 million viewers overall) followed by a repeat "Happy Endings" (1.9/5 in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall) and a special encore of new Thursday drama "Missing" (0.9/2 in 18-49, 4.1 million viewers overall).
NBC had another wobbly Wednesday with the finales of "Whitney" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall) and "Are You There, Chelsea?" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 3.1 million viewers overall); the fate of both shows for next season is up in the air. They were followed by two more original episodes of new comedy "Bent" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 2.6 million viewers overall at 9 p.m. and 0.8/2 in 18-49, 2.4 million viewers overall) and newsmag "Rock Center" at 10 (0.8/2 in 18-49, 3.3 million viewers overall).
At CW, the penultimate episode of "One Tree Hill" was down week to week (0.6/2 in 18-49, 1.3 million viewers overall), but "America's Next Top Model" edged up to its best scores for the current edition (0.7/2 in 18-49, 1.3 million viewers overall).
Univision placed ahead of both ABC and NBC on the night in adults 18-49, with all three of its novellas ranking among Wednesday's top 10 shows in the demo.
Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: Fox, 5.0/14; CBS, 2.1/6; Univision, 1.4/4; ABC, 1.3/4; NBC, 1.0/3; CW, 0.6/2.
In total viewers: Fox, 17.2 million; CBS, 8.3 million; ABC, 4.3 million; Univision, 3.6 million; NBC, 3.1 million; CW, 1.3 million.


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A couple has been jailed over a brutal Warrawong schoolyard brawl, with a magistrate slamming their decision to seek violent retribution against their daughter's alleged bully.
The pair, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were sentenced to six months' jail yesterday but they were granted bail, pending an appeal against the sentence.
Jailing the couple, Magistrate Les Mabbutt sent a clear message that schoolyard violence would not be tolerated.
"The community expects that children at school should be protected from violence," he told Wollongong Local Court.
"Society clearly indicates that adults assaulting children, to the extent that they are sent to hospital, because of a dispute with their own children is not something that will be tolerated.
"Adults are expected to behave better than this when children [are] around ... this was a disturbing incident where other children and adults were forced to observe this level of violence ... no penalty other than jail is appropriate."
The pair, who pleaded guilty to affray, assaulted the 15-year-old girl and her younger brother outside Warrawong High School on February 20 last year.
The girl was waiting in the car park after school when the couple started arguing with her.
The woman then grabbed the girl's hair and repeatedly punched her, knocking her to the ground.
When the girl's younger brother ran to defend her, the woman punched him in the face, splitting his lip.
Her de facto husband, who had been watching the fight, quickly ran in and pulled his partner off the girl.
However, he then grabbed the teen by the hair and shook her, tugging her like a "rag doll".
The semi-conscious girl was taken to Wollongong Hospital suffering a concussion, swelling and bruising.
Just hours before the attack, the couple were asked to leave the school office after they got into a heated discussion about their daughter being bullied.
The man was overheard saying: "If I find out who is saying these things, I will slap their face".
His partner replied: "I'll do more than that", the court was told.
Barrister Bill Lucas, acting for the couple, conceded the matter was serious but said the pair had not intended to cause trouble.
He said the woman had been "pushed to the end of her tether" and had simply reacted to her child being bullied.
She had complained about the abuse but had become increasingly frustrated at the school's inaction and had "lashed out".
The court heard the woman had no record and was unlikely to reoffend.
Mr Lucas conceded the man had a criminal history but argued he was less involved in the attack.
He said the man was undergoing drug, alcohol and anger treatment, had full-time employment and had shown contrition.
Mr Lucas said no arrangements had been made for care of the couple's children while they were in jail.
Magistrate Mabbutt said the court was aware of the long-term effects of bullying but it did not give parents the right to use physical violence to resolve disputes.
The couple's appeal will be heard on March 15 in Wollongong District Court.


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This is a 'state-of-the-franchise' question.
With that trade, I have no idea what direction the franchise is going. It was very clear before that. 2010 and 2011 and 2012 were clear in my mind.
To me, the boat's adrift right now.
Can anyone tell me where this ship is going?


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Reported Posted by kastru33 on 21st December 2012


text:
The discussion surrounding DeLand's station and Daytona's prospects of getting one has been building slowly for years.
First came the DeLand plan — Volusia County's piece of SunRail, with a new train station and new development around the northern end of the commuter rail line. Then came "the Davis plan" — County Chair Jason Davis' pitch this month to federal officials to turn away from DeLand and send SunRail to Daytona Beach.
This week, the message from state and local officials was that those two ideas can coexist.
Davis and the council will be working on that concept, too. Because when the chairman went to Washington and pitched a Deltona-to-Daytona alternative to SunRail's DeLand segment, he upset some of his fellow council members who have been working quietly on an eastward SunRail expansion for more than a year.
Especially when the travel expense bill came in around $3,000, and "the Davis Plan" label one county councilman gave Davis' pitch ended up catching on. Another councilman, Josh Wagner, seemed to grow increasingly agitated as that label spread around the county.
"If by 'The Davis Plan' you mean going to D.C. on the taxpayers' dime, and trying to get funding for a 'new plan' that goes against the plan that was voted on by a majority of the County Council, and based on a lack of science or transparency and a Wild West handshake deal," Wagner said, "then the chair might want to think about the precedent that would create."
" 'The Davis Plan,' " Wagner added later, "seems to include the chair as the new dictator of Volusia County."
The discussion surrounding DeLand's station and Daytona's prospects of getting one, too, has been building slowly for years. About a year ago, in a Volusia Transportation Planning Organization meeting attended by representatives of the state, the county and 15 cities, it was clear that in most views, another line connecting Daytona to Deltona along State Road 472 is a must.
The state Department of Transportation's Noranne Downs stressed "there needs to be a tie between S.R. 472 and east Volusia County," according to the meeting minutes.
Then-County Chair Frank Bruno argued that "if getting SunRail to the east side was not supported, there would not be enough future ridership to make SunRail work."
And Councilwoman Pat Northey called it "critically important to link SunRail to the east side of the county."
But what those TPO officials did, rather than go to Washington to pitch a change, was agree to an alternatives analysis on what eastward route makes sense.
"I'm actually not opposed to (Davis') plan," Northey, who represents southwest Volusia, said Tuesday. "I said a year and a half or so ago that we should abandon the DeLand station for a station that's more essential. I've not been shy about making my comments on that. But there's a way to approach that. And I think maybe we all learned a lesson here — it isn't just go out on your own and take that on without having had a discussion."
Since Davis' Washington trip earlier this month, FDOT has been reassuring Volusia that the DeLand station will be viable, and federal funding will be available if the county sticks to the process. Part of that process is submitting a comprehensive plan for the area 5 miles around the station, which will factor into the projected ridership on the train — which will help determine the federal money.
The way that land is developed right now, the projection is 200 boardings per day in DeLand. No one has been arguing that's enough.
Yet FDOT says that ridership projection is only part of the formula used to calculate cost-effectiveness to apply for federal money. Other factors include capital and operation costs. And cost-effectiveness itself is one of six factors the Federal Transportation Administration considers when handing out money. The others are mobility, the environment, congestion relief, economic development and existing land use.
"I do think the DeLand station's viable, and it is the vision of the county for the past 10 years or so," Downs said recently. "Since 2002, it's been DeLand to Poinciana. The consistency of the 61 miles has always been there with all of the local funding partners."
U.S. Rep. John Mica also expressed that optimism Monday.
"Even though the ridership is low at the beginning, it becomes a natural magnet for people to live in a very nice, uncongested area like that in the future," Mica said.
The council last week approved an amendment to its comprehensive plan that designated 323 mostly vacant acres surrounding the station as the SunRail DeLand Activity Center. The plan allows for the development of up to 2,590 new homes and more than 3.2 million square feet of commercial space.
The link between DeBary and DeLand makes up the northern segment of SunRail's second phase and is planned to open in 2016. A first phase, connecting Sand Lake Road in Orlando to DeBary, is slated to open in May 2014.
Northey said Volusia fought hard to be included in phase two — at one point, there was talk of putting DeLand in a later phase three — but there's still a sense that Volusia's portion is considered less crucial than others.
Half of the funding for SunRail comes from federal sources, with 25 percent coming from the state and 25 percent coming from five local partners in the project, including Volusia. While the federal funding application process for SunRail's second phase is still ongoing, there is some funding committed at the state and county level.
Additionally, the state already owns the train tracks, having purchased them in late 2011, and transportation officials already have environmental clearance to build the project to DeLand. In total, the project will cost an estimated $1.3 billion through 2030.
The lack of "money in the bank" for the DeLand segment concerned Davis. His trip to Washington, which he had vaguely characterized as a mission to get more funding, became a lobbying trip for the Deltona-to-Daytona route.
The plan, which he presented to Federal Transit Administration Executive Director Matt Welbes and to staff from Mica's and Rep. Ron DeSantis' offices, called for the tracks to run east from DeBary, following State Road 472 and Interstate 4 to the Daytona Beach area.
This week, after a fairly strong lashing from the council, Davis backed off his pitch.
"They decided they want it to go there to DeLand," Davis said Monday. "It's what council wants. That's what a democracy does."
Davis said he got many phone calls in support of his actions from "influential individuals" in the county, including several mayors. Still, he said he'd respect the decision of the council and "do whatever (he) can to support SunRail."
Mica preferred to stay out of the fray, saying the exact route of the system was purely a local decision.
"I'm not going to tell Volusia County what to do," he said, though noting that a link to the Daytona Beach area has "always been in the plan."
Connecting SunRail to the east side of the county may still be a possibility, however, with the County Council at its Feb. 28 meeting hiring a consulting firm to look into extending rail service to the east side of the county.
FDOT's Downs said her agency would explore the issue over the next 18 months as well and see whether it would be viable to make an "eastern connection" via rail or bus service.


text: The June gloom did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm at Sunday's a Time for Heroes Celebrity Picnic sponsored by Disney. The event raised well over $1 million for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.Celebs worked it in the carnival booths: Carl Reiner and Seth Green read in the storytime corner, gold medalist Evan Lysacek painted faces, Dick Van Dyke performed a special tune and Nigel Barker helped revelers assemble kits headed for expectant mothers in Africa and India. Also lending their time were ABC prexy Bob Iger and wife Willow Bay, Denise Richards, Jamie Pressly and Laila Ali, among others. Not only is the eradication of pediatric AIDS an important cause, Richards said, "I don't have to leave my kids at home for this event."