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Students swing around weighted wooden swords and try their hand at Samurai sword training moves during a weekly class at Reebok Sports Club/NY in New York City. The class, which is named Forza after the Italian word for strength and power, improves students' cardiovascular fitness level, mental concentration and muscular endurance, says Diane Gausepohl-Karpus, group fitness manager for the 140,000-square-foot Reebok/NY.
By offering unconventional group fitness classes, clubs can shake things up, energize the instructors, create excitement and keep their members motivated, she says.
"Sometimes clubs let things get stale or allow an instructor to stay in the same time slot for years," Gausepohl-Karpus says. "You need to change things up and take chances."
More club owners are taking chances with the types of group exercise classes they offer, says Petra Kolber, an IDEA Fitness spokesperson. She has noticed a trend that more clubs — from big chains to boutique facilities — are offering innovative classes.
"It comes down to member retention," she says. "The more we can create programming that is appealing to current members and those thinking about joining, the better."
Performance Tracking
Out-of-the-box classes can boost revenue and retention if executed successfully, but if they fizzle rather than sizzle, they may not stick around on the schedule for long, Kolber says. In the past, clubs gave new exercise classes time to grow, but that is no longer the case, she says.
"Before, if a class wasn't full in the first month, it wasn't automatically taken off," says Kolber, a group fitness instructor at Equinox in Santa Monica, CA, and Spectrum Athletic Clubs South Bay in El Segundo, CA. "Now, there's so much competition that clubs don't have the luxury of allowing as much time as needed to keep formats on."
Keeping or dropping an unconventional group fitness class is often a numbers game, she says. If class attendance starts off strong and drops off suddenly, then the class may disappear from the schedule prematurely. Classes that thrive, however, may start off as a test program but evolve into a staple on a group ex schedule.
To ensure a return on investment, Reebok/NY tests out unconventional group fitness concepts during its Open Mic Night on the first and second Thursday of each month.
"We don't like to throw something in [the permanent schedule] in a do-or-die situation and let it sit on our schedule for 12 weeks if it's not working," Gausepohl-Karpus says. "If our members like it, we'll find a spot for it."
When Kolber worked at Equinox in West Hollywood, CA, the club took a similar approach by keeping a slot open on its group exercise schedule every Sunday called the Master Class Special. If a class generated a lot of interest, then the club added it to the schedule in the next quarter. If not, then it could disappear, she says.
To determine whether to keep or to drop a new class format, clubs are turning to software programs that can pinpoint the percentage of a club's members who are in the studio at any one time. Clubs also often require instructors to write down their own class numbers, as is the case at Reebok/NY. The club, which regularly runs reports, allows three months for a new class to build numbers. If a class starts off with low attendance but slowly increases, the club will give it more time on the schedule.
"We have an attendance expectation for all classes," Gausepohl-Karpus says. "If a class does not have enough members to be considered a group experience, it will be taken off the schedule."
The Embarcadero YMCA in San Francisco, which has 5,000 membership units and offers 103 classes per week, follows a similar protocol for its unconventional classes. The branch attracts an average of 15 to 17 students in most prime-time classes. If the attendance continually falls below five students, then a red flag is raised, says Ross Goo, fitness director for group programs at the Y. Before dropping the class, however, he considers several factors, including the time slot, day of the week, format of the class, seasonality and the instructor.
"We have a lot of studio space, and for us to risk only serving a few, it's not worth it to us," Goo says. "That being said, there are times of the day where an above average of five students would be hard to garner, such as in the middle of the afternoon."
Goo evaluates the facility's classes and instructors every six months. Other clubs revisit their schedules every quarter. Crunch Fitness schedules all of its classes in three-month intervals. At the end of each quarter, Donna Cyrus, senior vice president for programming at Crunch, performs calculations to determine whether classes are trending up or down. If a class continually brings in strong attendance, she considers pushing it out to other markets, but if the attendance trails off, then the class may move off the schedule or into a different time slot with a new instructor.
Many clubs try to capitalize on the latest group fitness trends, but overcomplicated choreography, an unpopular instructor or a lack of attendance can lead to a class's downfall. Other times, overexposure in the mainstream press can cause a class to fade away. For example, Crunch Fitness' signature Stiletto Strength class, which taught women to walk in high heels, was hot in the beginning, but members tired of it quickly, Cyrus says.
"They got turned off by having a lot of media in the studio every week," she says. "We pulled the program back, took it off the schedule, and we'll bring it back annually in the fourth quarter of our schedule."
Return on Investment
Although not every class will ultimately succeed, some unconventional classes have consistently brought in high attendance numbers and even additional revenue for a club. To cover the expense of training specialty instructors and buying accessories, some clubs are charging their members for specialty classes or offering fee-based private or group sessions. For example, Crunch charges $199 for a private pole dancing session, which can accommodate up to 20 exercisers for bachelorette parties and birthday celebrations.
At Reebok/NY, one-third of the facility's 9,000 members participate in group ex programs. Innovative classes, private triathlon training and one-on-one yoga classes drive sales and increase revenue, Gausepohl-Karpus says.
Heavens Fitness in Calgary, Canada, also drums up revenue from its 15 five-week specialty classes. About 40 percent of nonmembers who participate in specialty classes eventually sign up for a membership, says Helen Vanderburg, the co-owner.
"It allows nonmembers to come into the facility without making an obligation to a long-term membership," she says. "After trying out a class, they often feel comfortable with the club and are ready to try out other programs and equipment."
For the past four years, the 22,000-square-foot boutique club has offered 15 specialty classes per week on a five-week rotation. The 25-year-old club charges $40 a session for members and $60 for nonmembers. The clubs' most successful five-week programs have been Hula Hooping, a class with weighted hoops; Chicks With Sticks, a martial arts class using inexpensive, lightweight wooden sticks; and Ladies Night, a combination of Strippercise, chair dancing and pole dancing.
The most popular class hands down has been Ladies Night, she says. The participants use weighted body bars as a pole, and, as they move them around, they get a strength training workout, she says. The class can take 35 people and sells out everytime, Vanderburg says.
Unconventional classes demand hours of instructor training, and in some case, special equipment, but they can also drive membership sales, increase retention, and at the end of the day, help members reach their goals in a fun, safe and effective way.
"All clubs have the ultimate goal of providing an environment that will encourage sales and retain membership," Gausepohl-Karpus says. "Group exercise accommodates the needs of many members at one time. If a class is successful, it creates a buzz, and it energizes the whole club."
Group Fitness Classes that Step Beyond the Basics
- Childhood Games
Club members can travel back in time at Crunch during its Recess class, which puts the play back in fitness.
- Inner Diva
Adding classes in pole, belly and chair dancing can add an edge to a club's group ex schedule and give members a challenging workout.
- Suspension Training
Crunch developed a BodyWeb class based on suspension training, in which exercisers work out every body part on a hanging apparatus.
- Martial Arts
Karate and Tai Chi are now becoming staples on many clubs' group ex schedules. Reebok/NY is also offering a class called Forza, an empowering workout using wooden swords.
- Upper-body Cycling
A new concept called Kranking, pioneered by Spinning creator Johnny G, provides a cardiovascular workout for the upper body.
- Dance
In addition to all the "Dancing with the Star"-inspired classes, other dance/music-based classes are springing up. Julie Hecker, a former club owner and fitness industry veteran, teaches her Punk Fitness class at Detroit-area community recreation centers and at nightclubs, bars and a bowling alley. During a typical class, punk rock music blares on the stereo as women swing hula hoops around their hips, dance and jump rope. Hecker created the Punk Fitness class as an alternative to the traditional high/low aerobics classes set to the tune of Top 40 hits.
- Mind-Body
Crunch has put a new spin on yoga classes with offerings such as Sunrise Salutations, and Hot and Cold Yoga, but perhaps one of the more unconventional mind/body classes is Doga or doggie yoga, which is popping up in animal-friendly locales around the country. Brenda Bryan, a Seattle yoga instructor, teaches Doga classes at the Seattle Humane Society. By pulling together two things that people love (yoga and dogs), she says that she's able to pull in participants who may not otherwise exercise.
Seven Ways to Infuse Energy into Your Group Exercise Schedule
- Carefully target your demographics
It may be tempting to add a class in belly dancing to a conservative group exercise schedule, but first study your members' ages, interests and ability levels to determine if it's appropriate.
- Select a creative name
Although a creative class name is important, the name should make it clear to attendees what to expect. For example, Crunch names its cycle classes Ride and its Boot Camp class Circuit City.
- Change up the location
Instead of holding all of your classes in your group ex studio, take your boot camp class outdoors in the summer or schedule a yoga class by the pool.
- Vary the time of day
By selecting a different time slot for your class, you can generate excitement for the program and boost attendance during slow times at your club.
- Ramp up the intensity
A Pilates Mat class at Heavens Fitness in Calgary, Canada, turned out to be a flop, but by making the workout more advanced and renaming it Pilates Infused Core, the class is now full.
- Hire quality instructors
A class can have the perfect time slot, concept and music track, but if the instructor isn't well trained and charismatic, it may not fly. The individual walking into a room and up to the front of a class can change the energy of a room, says Petra Kolber, spokesperson for IDEA.
- Play live music
Rather than always pumping music through your sound system, consider bringing in live musicians or DJs. For example, Crunch offers an African dance class with live African drummers, and DJs spin tunes once a month for classes at Heavens Fitness.


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Oil prices as well as other markets are riding the wave of emotions as the markets try to figure out if the Cyprus bailout is a good or bad thing. Bailouts are bullish and the market acted accordingly but not when you start to think that in the future your account security is based on the whims of the regulators and the stability of the banks and your money may be frozen for days as they try to decide how much cash they should take out of your account. We will relive the Cyprus nightmare over and over again or at least that is the impression that the head of the Eurogroup of EU finance leader Jeroen Dijsselbloem gave when he said that the Cyprus bailout would be used as a template for other bailouts. In other words larger depositors and bond holders will be required to fund future bailouts. So why in heavens names would you keep anything of substance in a European bank.
Yet The New York Times reports that actually just maybe this won't be the model. "The Cyprus bailout "was the solution to a problem that had become desperate," Benoît Coeuré, a Frenchman and a member of the ECB.'s governing council, told Europe 1 radio. "Cyprus was in bankruptcy, hat is something that doesn't exist anywhere else in the euro zone." "The situation was so unique that it needed a unique solution," he added. "But I don't see any reason to employ the same methods elsewhere."
The uncertainty played out in the Brent versus WTI spread as it closed to the tightest level in months as the perception of demand growth in the U.S. is far outweighing the uncertainty in Europe. The market also is reacting to the fact that the Seaway pipeline as well as other modes of transport is starting to cut into the glut of oil in Cushing Oklahoma.
So for oil it appears that the seasonal bottom is getting more solid and it appears that the products are falling. Cheaper Brent and the increasing flow of WTI oil will continue to pressure the Brent-WTI spread, perhaps changing the relationship between WTI and products. Instead of moving in tandem we may see them move in opposite directions.
Oil may get a boost from the fact that China will cut gasoline and diesel prices by 310 yuan a metric ton and CNY300/ton respectively, effective Wednesday, the National Development and Reform Commission said Tuesday. This represents decreases of 3.2% and 3.4% over current average gasoline and diesel retail ceiling benchmarks of CNY9, 630 and CNY8, 810, respectively, according to Dow Jones Newswires calculations. The exact price ceiling varies by geographic location. The NDRC last adjusted gasoline and diesel prices on Feb.25, raising them by CNY300 and CNY290, respectively, to reflect rising international oil prices. China will also shorten the adjustment period for fuel prices to 10 working days from 22, the NDRC said in a statement. Under previous oil-product pricing system, domestic fuel prices may be adjusted when the moving average of a basket of international crude changes more than 4% over a period of 22 working days. The NDRC said it will also scrap the 4% trigger point under the new.
Nat gas can't stay above $4.00 bucks leading some to call for a top. Still with the cold weather and the funds piling in I would not call the top just yet. Look for a draw of 70 bcf.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Informatica Corporation (Nasdaq:INFA), the world's number one independent provider of data integration software, today announced the Informatica Cloud Connector for Amazon Redshift, a cloud data integration solution for direct connectivity to the Amazon Web Service (AWS) cloud-based data warehouse service. The new Informatica offering is aimed at changing the economics of data warehousing by making cloud-based analytics a viable and affordable option for small and large organizations.
Amazon Redshift is a fast and powerful, fully managed, petabyte-scale data warehouse service in the cloud that delivers scalability and performance at dramatically lower costs. Amazon Redshift costs under $1,000 per terabyte a year. Leveraging the power of the award-winning Informatica Platform, the Informatica Cloud Connector for Amazon Redshift enables organizations to quickly and reliably move data into Amazon Redshift, both from on-premise enterprise systems and from other cloud applications. The new Informatica offering will be provided on a subscription basis.
"Amazon Redshift allows companies to quickly analyze vast amounts of data at less than a tenth of the cost of traditional data warehousing solutions," said Terry Wise, head of Worldwide Partner Ecosystem, Amazon Web Services. "Informatica's new cloud integration offering moves on-premise and cloud data into Amazon Redshift in a highly efficient and economical fashion and we're pleased to work with Informatica to provide customers this cost-effective data warehousing solution."
"Informatica is changing the economics of data analysis by making it possible to integrate nearly all volumes and types of data easily into Amazon Redshift," said Brad Kern, senior vice president, Worldwide Alliances, Informatica. "Consequently, more companies will have access to affordable data analysis and data warehousing in the cloud, and Informatica's customers will gain a compelling new option for their data warehousing requirements."
The Informatica Cloud Connector for Amazon Redshift is currently available in prerelease and will be generally available in the first half of 2013. For further information, visit www.informaticacloud.com/amazonredshift.
Tweet this: News: @InformaticaCorp Teams to Change Economics of #DataWarehousing with Amazon Redshift http://bit.ly/WLtv8l @infacloud
Informatica Corporation (Nasdaq:INFA) is the world's number one independent provider of data integration software. Organizations around the world rely on Informatica for maximizing return on data to drive their top business imperatives. Worldwide, over 5,000 enterprises depend on Informatica to fully leverage their information assets residing on-premise, in the Cloud and across social networks. For more information, call +1 650-385-5000 (1-800-653-3871 in the U.S.), or visit www.informatica.com. Connect with Informatica at http://www.facebook.com/InformaticaCorporation, http://www.linkedin.com/company/informatica and http://twitter.com/InformaticaCorp.
Note: Informatica, PowerCenter, Informatica Cloud, Informatica Cloud Connector for Amazon Redshift and Informatica Platform are trademarks or registered trademarks of Informatica Corporation in the United States and in jurisdictions throughout the world. All other company and product names may be trade names or trademarks of their respective owners.


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Linebacker Quincy Black's 2012 season ended early because of a neck injury suffered when he hit Ryan Mathews of the Chargers in the backfield during a game.
Now his time with the Buccaneers has come to an end as well. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the Buccaneers have released Black, a move that has been expected for a while as Black has made a slow recovery from the nerve damage he suffered on that play. It's unclear whether he's going to play again and that doesn't work when you're set to make $5.5 million.
Stroud also reports that the team has come to an agreement with wide receiver Kevin Ogletree. Ogletree had a huge first game of the season as the Cowboys' third receiver in 2012, but slowly faded out of use as Dwayne Harris saw more playing time and Ogletree didn't take advantage of his. He finished the year with 32 catches for 436 yards and four touchdowns and probably will be fighting for a role as a reserve receiver with the Bucs this summer.


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SennelierSoft Pastels
BlickFrenchEasel byJullian
BlickWater-SolubleBlock PrintingInks
BlickPencil Case
UtrechtColor WheelGuide
10% Off $35 + Free Shipping
Available Offers
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Da Vinci Fluid Acrylics are an exciting fusion of Da Vinci's most distinguished watercolor hues, and colors traditionally found on acrylic palettes. These fluid acrylic colors promise to awe those who appreciate pigment strength and vibrancy.
Color Swatches created using heavy application/medium application/50% tint and were applied on acrylic primed canvas (7 oz) material.
copper phthalocyanine
Phthalo Blues are pure and clean primary blues with superior covering power. They have a very high tinting strength and tend to overwhelm other pigments, but if color strength can be controlled, they make predictable mixed colors. In oil form, blues are very deep and slow drying. When mixed with other colors or if chlorine is added, Phthalo Blue quickly tends towards green. When using alone, mix with some white, as Phthalo Blue can be semi-transparent and almost black on its own. It is among the most compatible of modern colors with mineral colors and is considered more reliable than Prussian Blue, while sharing the same physical and color properties. Phthalo Blue is a good color for glazing.
Phthalo Blues are completely lightfast and stable and are permanent for all paint uses. They are currently used in inks, coatings, and many plastics due to their stability and are considered a standard pigment in printing ink and the packaging industry.
Phthalo Blues have no significant hazards, although those made before 1982 contained some PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls).
Developed by chemists using the trade name Monastral Blue, the organic blue dyestuff now known as Phthalo Blue was presented as a pigment in November 1935 in London. Its discovery was accidental. The dark color was observed in a kettle where a dye was being made from a British dyestuff plant. The demand for such a pigment came from commercial printers who wanted a cyan to replace Prussian Blue.
Bocour Blue, Cyan Blue, Helio Blue, Heliogen Blue, Intense Blue, Monastral Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue, Rembrandt Blue, Thalo Blue, Winsor Blue.
Lamp black is a very opaque, heavily staining black pigment that does not have much covering power. It is typically the most opaque black in watercolor form. Though a very pure black, it tends to muddy slightly in mixtures, is one of the slowest drying pigments in oils, and should not be used under other colors.
Lamp Black is very lightfast and absolutely permanent. It is used in all techniques in permanent painting.
Lamp Black is slightly toxic by skin contact and inhalation. It is a possible human carcinogen.
Lamp Black is a carbon based black traditionally produced by collecting soot (known as lampblack) from oil lamps. It is the black found in Egyptian murals and tomb decorations and was the most popular black for frescoing until the development of Mars Black.
Carbon Black, Channel Black, Oil Black, Vegetable Black. Flame Black is an impure version of Lamp Black.
organic synthetic, quinacridone
Quinacridone Red is a high performance, transparent pigment with an average drying time and uneven dispersal. It is another name for Quinacridone Violet (PV19) and Quinacridone Red (PR192). Quinacridone pigments have relatively low tinting strength in general. For this reason, quinacridone colors are often expensive, because more pigment is required in the formulation.
Quinacridone Violet has excellent lightfastness and is considered the most lightfast organic pigment in this shade range.
Quinacridone Violet has no known acute hazards. Overexposure to quinacridone pigments may cause skin irritation. Quinicridone pigments contain a compound found to be a skin, eye, and respiratory irritant.
Although quinacridone compounds became known in the late 19th century, methods of manufacturing so as to make them practical for use as commercial pigments did not begin until the 1950s. Quinacridone pigments were first developed as coatings for the automotive industry, but were quickly adopted by artists.
Quinacridone Red (PR192), Quinacridone Red (PR19).
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Da Vinci is a trademark of the Da Vinci Paints Company.


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- 1 Internationalization support for additional Indian languages
Internationalization support for additional Indian languages
The government of India has given 22 "languages of the 8th Schedule" the status of official language. These languages are Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri/Meithei, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English. In Fedora we already support most of these languages still there are missing languages like Manipuri, Dogri, Bodo and Santali. This is the feature to have internationalization support (Fonts, Input Method, Locale) for all these languages.
- Name: User:pnemade
- Name: Pravin Satpute
- Email: email@example.com
- Email: email@example.com
Current status
- Targeted release: Fedora 17
- Last updated: 2012-01-11
- Percentage of completion: 70%
Detailed Description
Out of 22 Official Indian languages Fedora presently supports Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Maithili. Remaining list of India and there users as per 2001 census is as follows,
Language (Number of Speaker in Millions) - Script
1) Bodo (1.4 million) - Devanagari
2) Dogri (2.3 million) - Devanagari
3) Konkani (2.5 million) - Devanagari
4) Manipuri (1.5 million) - Bengali
5) Nepali (2.9 million) - Devanagari
6) Sanskrit (0.01 million) - Devanagari
7) Santali (6.5 million) - Devanagari
8) Urdu (52 million) - Perso Arabic
From last couple of year Fedora internationalization team trying to achieve complete Official 22 Indian language support and lots of work has been done already for this. see https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Features/Sindhi
In Fedora 17 release, fedora i18n team trying to achieve this milestone for Indian languages and provide fonts, input method and locale support for complete 22 official Indian languages.
Benefit to Fedora
1) Will know what are the missing things in Fedora for supporting these languages.
2) I18n support for 22 official Indian languages.
3) Due to i18n support user can go for localization for newly supported languages.
4) This huge language speaking community can use Fedora for doing work in respective language.
This is major Milestone for Fedora to support all 22 official Indian languages. In Last 5 years lots of work has been done for missing languages. i.e. - Getting information from linguist regarding missing things to complete language support.
- Proposals to Unicode for Adding missing characters for these languages.
- Standardization for input method.
- Preparing CLDR.
This is first time in opensource, we are achieving this milestone.
Developers need to find locale information for these languages from community, take feedback regarding missing ligatures in fonts. Develop input methods. It will not affect other components.
This will need changes in following packages
1) Glibc localedata (still need locales for Dogri, Santali and Manipuri language)
2) Bug fixes in Lohit and Other fonts for adding language specific ligatures.
3) Fixes in fontconfig .orth file, so proper fonts will get select for particular language.
4) Need this feature https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Features/Inscript2_Keymaps as it brings input methods for missing languages. (This is already 100% done and approved for Fedora 17)
How To Test
1. yum groupinstall <lang>-support
2. Select Regional language from System->Setting logout and login.
3. open gedit
4.from ibus-menu select input method for the language.
5. Open webpage in Firefox having contents in these languages
User Experience
1. End user can login in system using there respective locales. 2. End users will get input method and fonts respective language.
1. glibc (upstream commit is required by upstream developer)
2. fontconfig (upstream commit is required by upstream developer)
3. inscript2
Contingency Plan
In case we do not achieve all required components for additional language, we can go with available things.
Release Notes
- Provides Internationalization Support (fonts, input method, locale) for Additional Bodo, Dogri, Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali, Sanskrit, Santali, Urdu languages.


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Rather than wait around for the official Chevy Camaro Convertible, Drop Top Customs is bringing their own version to SEMA. Do you have a Camaro and an extra $18K sitting around the office?
The owner of the company says they're already accepting orders for the convertible at an $18K premium over whatever hardtop version you desire. It's not clear if the custom seats and new wheels are part of the soft cover package or not. But if you love Camaros and can't wait until GM decides to release the convertible mullet-mobile this could be the easiest way to part with your money.


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The CASE statement within SPL is a long overdue request for many Informix users. Finally this wish fulfilled in Informix release 12.10. Now you can use the CASE statement within SPL routines as a faster alternative to IF...ELSE…END IF statements to define a set of conditional logical branches. The syntax for the CASE statement is:
CASE [ expression ]
WHEN condition_1 THEN result_1
WHEN condition_2 THEN result_2
WHEN condition_n THEN result_n
ELSE result
You can use the CASE statement to create a set of conditional branches. The WHEN and the ELSE clauses are optional, but you must include at least one of them.
Here is an example that demonstrates how to use the case statement within SPL. In this example, the CASE statement validates a variable named 'user' and reassign the value of same variable. It also includes a test for NULL value.
CREATE PROCEDURE case_user_proc( )
DEFINE user CHAR(10);
LET user = 'EndUser';
CASE user
WHEN 'root' THEN LET user = 'SuperUser';
WHEN 'informix' THEN LET user = 'DBA';
WHEN NULL THEN LET user = 'Unknown';
ELSE LET user = 'EndUser';
RETURN user;
This enhancement in the SPL code is really helpful for migrate databases from Informix XPS and other database servers to Informix server. For more information please check the Informix Information Center.
-Sanjit Chakraborty


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Yesterday, President Obama said his smoking habit was an "interesting human interest story." Sorry, Mr. President. It doesn't hold a candle to South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's
Appalachian Trail Argentina trip. This is a real human interest story.
Republican or Democrat, supporter or opponent, Sanford's disappearing act is fascinating political theater. Weird? You bet. Fascinating? Of course. Inexplicable? Well maybe. Let's see what he says.
Sanford is holding a press conference this afternoon at 2:30pm to provide us some answers -- maybe. We're going to try live blogging it. We live blogged Rod Blagojevich's guest DJ stint a couple months ago and pulled it off. We'll try again today.
In the meantime, you can click here to read up on the latest. Thar's impeachment rumblings down thar in South Carolina. The Southern Political report writes, "...that some members of the South Carolina legislature are considering an effort to impeach Gov. Mark Sanford after revelations that he spent nearly a week in Argentina without disclosing where he was or providing means of communication."
Guest blogger
Gary Karr is with us today. Karr was former South Carolina Governor David Beasley's press secretary. Karr and I served as press secretaries for different governors at the same time. We go back to 1995. Karr has remained active in politics and still has close ties to the political scene in South Carolina.
Karr spent 12 years at the South Carolina state house as a reporter and as press secretary.
"South Carolina voters have generally liked Gov. Sanford more than political elites have, but it's hard to see how his 'catch me if you can' tour will help him," Karr said.
"When you lie to your staff and have them lie, have your wife not know where you are and you leave your sons on Father's Day ... well, let's just say it's not the best way to build political support," he continued.
Stay tuned....
UPDATE: We're live
Gary Karr on the beginning of the press conference: "Gee whiz did he not think about where he would start?"
Sanford is talking about his love of the Appalachian Trail (where he didn't go) and his frustrations over this past political season.
SANFORD: "I'm a bottom line type of guy. This is going to hurt. I want to apologize to my wife and my four kids."
KARR: Right thing to do right away -- say you're sorry to your wife and boys. That will be what South Carolinians want to hear.
ORR: Sanford is now apologizing to everyone. Wife, kids, staff, his friend Tom. Sanford's voice is cracking. His friend Tom Davis used to live in Sanford's basement.
KARR: I'm not sure I buy that he really cares about his staff, but it's nice to hear a public apology.
ORR: This is an awful long windup. He keeps saying how he's let everyone down. Now he's asking for forgiveness. When is the shoe going to drop?
KARR: OK, now we're getting a bit mauldin. Where's the couch? Where's Oprah? Or Dr. Phil.
ORR: Now he's apologizing to people of faith.
SANFORD: "There are moral absolutes and God's law is there to protect you from yourself. There are consequences. This press conference is a consequence."
Here's the bombshell
SANFORD: "I've been unfaithful to my wife. I developed a relationship with someone who was a dear, dear friend from Argentina. It began very innocently as I suspect things like this do in a casual email.
SANFORD: "But over the last year it developeded into something much more. I hurt her. I hurt you all. I hurt my wife. I hurt my boys. I hurt Tom Davis. I hurt a lot of folks.
SANFORD: "All I can say is that I apologize. I would ask for y'alls zone of privacy -- more for my kids."
KARR: Wow.
ORR: After this long windup, I guess you could expect this. Sanford is now announcing his resignation from Republican Governors Association.
First question: Are you separated from the First Lady?
SANFORD: "I don't know how you answer that. I'm here. She's there."
ORR: Terrible answer.
Second question: Did your wife know about the trip to Argentina?
SANFORD: "We;ve been working through this for five months."
KARR: I'm surprised that he is taking questions. This is jaw-dropping, even in today's times. He keeps saying, "believe it or not." I guess he understands that many people don't believe him right now.
Third question: Only time you've been unfaithful?
SANFORD: Yes.
Fourth question: Did you break it off?
ORR: As far as we can tell, the governor didn't answer this question. Here's what he said:
SANFORD: "I met this person eight years ago very innocently. We struck up a conversation. I am not justifying. What I did was wrong. We ended up in a conversation about why she should get back with her husband. We had an incredibly earnest conversation. At the end of it, we swapped emails. It began on just a casual basis."
ORR: He's not answering the question
SANFORD: "We developed a remarkable relationship over the years. A year ago it sparked into something more. I've seen her three times during the sparking thing."
ORR: [Sparking thing will be a new catchphrase]
SANFORD: "You absolutely want resolution. I spent the last five days crying in Argentina."
ORR: Are you serious?
Last question: Did you mislead your staff about where you were?
SANFORD: We talked about this. I said the Appalachian Trail was a possibility. They went on the original information I gave the scheduler.
[He didn't answer the question].
KARR: "The press in SC wants to know if the Sanford staff purposely lied to them or just didn't know the truth. Oh boy I am glad NOT to be on his staff today."
The press conference has concluded.
KARR: "The apologies got a bit much, but obviously they were necessary. His low-key candor is appealing, I have to admit, and I am not a fan of the governor.
"Because of the way he has acted in the governor's office, one easily leapt to the conclusion that he was merely being a flake. Now, one has to think about him just a differently -- but that doesn't mean that he has much of a political future.
"But if he means what he says, then he's doing the right thing -- focus on his family first. The politics, or lack thereof, will take care of themselves."
ORR: Did he say he broke it off with her?
Karr: It appeared that he did to me but it's not clear whether he thinks he'll stay as governor. I think he did but I don't think it's 100 percent clear. it sounds like he wanted to.
ORR: We've got Gary Karr with us. Gary was press secretary for former South Carolina Governor David Beasley. Karr is a bit shocked:
KARR: "Don't think I've ever seen something that jaw-dropping. I spent 12 years in that Statehouse. Nothing comes close."
ORR: Karr and I served as press secretaries for different governors at the same time (make sense?). Coming from this background, it is very important to maintain good relationships with the press. I asked Gary if he were the press secretary now, how he would react.
KARR: Before knowing this news, absolutely furious. If I knew the truth, and was sure I knew, less so after this press conference. But I would probably tell him honestly that his first job is to make sure he protects and guides his family. And if that means that he cannot devote time to be governor, then he should resign.
ORR: Circumstances are different. States are different. You can certainly rebuild yourself after an affair. But how special are these circumstances?
KARR: I don't think we know today, right know. There will be more questions, and more perhaps more revelations. How did they meet? Did he use state resources at any point to meet with this woman? What does Mrs. Sanford -- who is very smart -- say in the near-term?
KARR: Gov. Sanford has antagonized the Legislature, so few legislators are his fans. The real question is, how much do the people of South Carolina want to rally to his side? Or would they prefer the whole drama go away?
I don't think we know today, right NOW (not know).
ORR: How will people in South Carolina react to this? What's your gut, Gary?
KARR: "His fund-raising base was not great, he is not that disciplined a campaigner (which you HAVE to be on a national stage) and he has only a low-key relationship with the religious conservatives.
"I think there will be a lot of people sorry for him and especially for his wife and sons. People in South Carolina are enormously protective of their own, and, to some extent, protective of women scorned
"The key will be what Mrs. Sanford says. She's a strong and smart woman, from what I know. But if it appears that her husband is not taking her into account, well, he's toast."
ORR: Sanford appeared elusive. Like the last question. Did he tell his staff to mislead the press. How elusive did you find him Gary?
KARR: The real Mark Sanford has always been a bit elusive. So actually, I think he was more forthright than I expected.
ORR: Gary, this was a drop-dead serious press conference. I was surprised that he said, "I spent the last five days crying in Argentina." That was a little weird. What'd you think?
KARR: "Yes. It made me think I was seeing a little bit more of a person than I had a right to do so. It's almost as if he was conducting a little bit of a counseling session right there on the first floor of the Statehouse. Talked about his friend the state senator and a pastoral friend almost as much as he did his wife and sons."
ORR: What's Sanford's political future, Gary?
KARR: He's barred from a third consecutive term and he's largely persona non grata in the Legislature anyway. The only question about his future was whether he could mount a credible national campaign.
Today's news conference doesn't kill that completely, but his future is on life support and the heart rate monitor is beeping only infrequently.


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This is a book about the importance of the Sun's energy as it relates to its impact on the Earth's environment. Learners will read or listen to a story about a young boy, Joshua, who finds out that the Sun provides the Earth with energy in the... (View More) form of light and heat, which is necessary for all forms of life, for maintaining Earth's environment, and for allowing humans to produce their own forms of energy. Additionally, an extension activity is included, Searching for the Sun, where learners can conduct a hands-on experiment observing how plants grow towards sunlight in order to make conclusions about why the Sun's energy is a necessary component for life. Reading and vocabulary activities are also included. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free per group of students
This is a book about seasons. Learners will read or listen to a story about two twins, Matt and Matilda, who are tasked with creating a model of the Earth-Sun system for a science fair project. Through some wild seasonal changes they experience... (View More) while creating the model, the two come to a better understanding of the causes of Earth's seasons. An extension activity is included (Reasons for the Seasons), as well as reading and vocabulary activities. (View Less)
Learners will investigate how much you can learn about something just by looking at it. In Activity 1, students study aerial photographs to identify geologic features, determine how they differ from one another, and examine the processes involved in... (View More) their formation. In Activity 2, students investigate how remote observations of a planetary surface can be used to create geologic maps. By the end of the lesson, students will understand how data gathered by spacecraft can not only be used to investigate the properties of an object, but also how it was formed, how it has evolved over time, and how it is connected to other objects nearby. Note: The MESSENGER mission to Mercury that is mentioned in this lesson ended operations April 30, 2015. For the latest information about MESSENGER and NASA's solar system missions see the links under Related & Supplemental Resources (right side of this page). (View Less)
This is an annotated children's story about the Dawn mission to Vesta and Ceres in the asteroid belt. Learners will dissect the story for real and fictional objects and places in the solar system, and for those scientific concepts or processes that... (View More) may be true. Support materials include the story with space for kids to illustrate, an audio recording of the story by the author and an extension activity. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free


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There's never been a better time
to apply to Otterbein University.
Apply online today!
Students who are hoping to develop their leadership skills within community settings are encouraged to enroll in service-learning courses where they have the opportunity to apply their knowledge to real-world public issues.
SLD 2300: Serve the City Practicum: The Role of the Citizen Scholar
Students examine local community issues (e.g., hunger, immigration, poverty, environmental degradation, women's rights, and human inequalities) through a social justice lens as they explore their own responsibility as both a citizen and a scholar. Topics of exploration include decreasing social capital, the soul of a citizen, the call for service, and civic engagement. Students actively participate in the community through service-learning residencies at local schools, non-profits, and government agencies. Students are trained in advocacy, leadership, community-organizing, and cross-cultural skills before moving out into the non-profit sector. Weekly online reflection seminars promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and the development of civic competencies, advocacy skills, and a renewed sense social responsibility.
Melissa Kesler Gilbert
Associate Dean of Experiential Learning and Director for the Center for Community Engagement
p/ 614.823.1251
e/ firstname.lastname@example.com Kristi Robbins
Chief of Staff, President's Office
p/ 614.823.1232
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Otterbein University, 1 South Grove Street, Westerville, OH 43081 614.890.3000
Otterbein University is a private, non-profit, United Methodist affiliated, regionally-accredited institution.
© 2019 Otterbein University. Otterbein University is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top U.S. official said on Sunday the U.S. border is not open to illegal entry into the country, but acknowledged the government does need to be sensitive to the tens of thousands of migrant children flowing into detention centers.
More than 52,000 unaccompanied minors from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras have been caught trying to sneak over the U.S.-Mexico border since October, double the number from the same period the year before. Thousands more have been apprehended with parents or other adults.
"We have to do right by the children, but at the end of the day, our border is not open to illegal migration and we will stem the tide," Jeh Johnson, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.
Johnson said that the government administers deportation proceedings to illegal migrants seized at the border, including children. But he added that the government is looking at being more flexible toward the children seized at the border.
"We are looking at ways to create additional options for dealing with the children, in particular, consistent with our laws and our values," Johnson said.
Johnson repeated the stance, taken by President Barack Obama last week, that the president would take executive action to revamp the U.S. immigration system.
"There are a number of things the president and I, within the confines of existing law, can do to fix the broken immigration system. If Congress doesn't act, we will," Johnson said.
Johnson would not answer a question on the Sunday show pertaining to whether the U.S. government would deport the current wave of Central American children, saying only that U.S. authorities would stem the tide, and that deportation processes are commenced against illegal immigrants.
U.S. immigration officials say the crisis is being driven by a mix of extreme poverty, gangs and drug violence in Central America, as well as rumors perpetuated by human smugglers that children who reach the U.S. border will be allowed to stay.
Critics say that the Obama administration has not moved quickly enough to address the problem.
Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat whose congressional district includes a stretch of the Texas-Mexico border, said on CNN's "State of the Union" program that 48,000 people, including 9,700 children traveling without parents, were detained on the Texas border in May. "We should have been ready for this surge," he said. "The administration should have been ready ... They should have seen this coming a long time ago."
Idaho Representative Raul Labrador, a Republican, said the U.S. needs to take a strong stance against what is happening at border facilities.
"The thing that the administration needs to do is immediately deport these families, these children. I know it sounds harsh, I know it sounds difficult, but they're creating a crisis that's going to harm these children," he said on "Meet the Press."
Labrador added that the frustration building up is because the administration is doing nothing about border security.
Reporting by Michael Flaherty; Editing by Jim Loney and Frances Kerry


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Health insurance giant WellPoint Inc. gave a lower-than-expected profit outlook for 2013 as it prepares for the federal healthcare overhaul and continues to search for a new chief executive.
WellPoint, which runs Anthem Blue Cross in California and health plans in 13 other states, reported a bigger-than-expected 38% jump in fourth-quarter net income Wednesday, boosted by one-time gains related to an income tax settlement and investments.
But the company said it remains cautious about the year ahead in light of federal budget battles over Medicare and Medicaid and upheaval in the health insurance markets from the federal Affordable Care Act. WellPoint estimated full-year earnings of $7.60 a share, below analysts' expectations of $7.94 a share compiled by FactSet.
The Indianapolis company said the search is still underway for a new CEO to replace Angela Braly, who stepped down in August after major shareholders expressed dissatisfaction with the company's performance. John Cannon, WellPoint's interim chief executive, said the company expects to name a new leader some time in the first quarter.


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Our exclusive new line of furniture includes this two-rung chair in a traditional ladderback design, made to order from solid Black Walnut wood by expert American craftspeople. Also available in White Oak and as a Three Rung Chair. Pairs with our Gathering Bench and Trestle Table.
16" wide x 18.5" deep x 30.5" high
(41 cm x 47 cm x 77 cm)
Seat is 18" high x 16" deep
(46 cm x 41 cm)
Also see measurement visual at left.
Black Walnut
Made in
Key points
- Exclusively designed by Kaufmann Mercantile
- Made with solid Black Walnut
- Handmade by skilled American craftspeople
- Unique diamond detail in the rung sets it apart from classic ladderback design
Kaufmann Mercantile is committed to help you live a conscious and inspired life.
Many of the items you discover here are exclusive to Kaufmann Mercantile, which is what makes our community of designers and artisans so special.
If you find one of our products anywhere else for less than it's being sold on our site, we will match it.
Our dedicated Concierge Team is here to help. Reach out any time at:


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"Having SEC-MALS provides Dalton with a specialized capability that supports large molecule products which are a growing part of our business"
(PRWEB) November 30, 2012
Dalton Pharma Services a leading provider of drug discovery, development and manufacturing services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, today announced that the Company has added SEC-MALS large molecule testing services. The new service addition will allow Dalton to more effectively develop and manufacture large molecules, such as proteins and polymers, for its customers.
Having a new Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) - Multi Angle (Laser) Light Scattering (MALS) instrument now allows Dalton to accurately measure size and composition of large molecules. This advanced technology can replace a number of more manual testing methods including viscosity, electrophoresis and chromatography retention times. It provides an absolute measure of molecular weight for molecules 10 to 1,000 nm in size.
Dalton's scientific team is able to develop and validate new analytical methods using the technology as well as reliably testing and releasing large molecule products by this method.
"Having SEC-MALS provides Dalton with a specialized capability that supports large molecule products which are a growing part of our business", said Peter Pekos, CEO of Dalton. "We are constantly expanding our service offering to better meet the evolving needs of our customers. This is an example of how Dalton keeps up with the latest technologies in order to deliver the most efficient services."
About Dalton:
Dalton Chemical Laboratories Inc. o/a Dalton Pharma Services is a Health Canada approved contract pharmaceutical manufacturer that supplies chemistry, analytical and formulation development services to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries in the areas of chemistry, medicinal chemistry and fine chemical manufacture. Dalton provides cGMP manufacturing of solid dosage forms and aseptic filling services to its customers at any stage of the regulatory process (Phase I, II, III or commercial). In its modern cGMP facilities, Dalton produces active pharmaceutical ingredients at the gram or kilogram scale. Dalton conducts aseptic fills to produce batches of finished drug product in vials or syringes, either aseptically filled or terminally sterilized, under fully validated conditions. In addition, Dalton's analytical chemistry laboratory offers method development, validation and ICH stability programs to its clients. Further information can be found at http://www.dalton.com.
For further information, contact:
Peter Pekos
President & CEO
Dalton Pharma Services Inc.
349 Wildcat Road
Toronto, Ontario
Tel: 416-661-2102


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Hematocrit is a blood test that measures the percentage of the volume of whole blood that is made up of red blood cells. This measurement depends on
Alternative Names
How the Test is Performed
A blood sample is needed.
How to Prepare for the Test
No special preparation is necessary for this test.
How the Test will Feel
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.
Why the Test is Performed
The hematocrit is almost always ordered as part of a complete blood count (
Your doctor may order this test if you have signs of:
- Anemia
- Diet deficiency
- Leukemia
- Other medical condition
Normal Results
Normal results vary, but in general are as follows:
- Male: 40.7 to 50.3%
- Female: 36.1 to 44.3%
Normal results for children vary, but in general are:
- Newborn: 45 to 61%
- Infant: 32 to 42%
The examples above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What Abnormal Results Mean
Low hematocrit may be due to:
- Bleeding
- Destruction of red blood cells
- Leukemia
- Nutritional deficiencies of iron, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6
- Overhydration
High hematocrit may be due to:
Congenital heart disease
- Failure of the right side of the heart (
cor pulmonale) Dehydration
- Abnormal increase in red blood cells (
- Low blood oxygen levels (hypoxia)
- Scarring or thickening of the lungs (pulmonary fibrosis)
- Bone marrow disease that causes abnormal increase in RBCs (
polycythemia vera)
Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Fainting or feeling light headed
- Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
- Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)


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Bean updates on state of Culver food pantry
Culver food pantry director Leroy Bean stopped by Culver's REAL Meals last week to update diners there on the pantry's efforts.
The pantry, located in the lower level of Grace United Church of Christ on Plymouth Street in Culver, is an effort of the Culver Council of Churches, and is open every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon. Bean said he gathers food from the food bank in South Bend, as well as purchasing it locally at Park N' Shop, Kroger, and Aldi, where some food is sold at cost.
So far this year, the pantry has collected almost 12,000 pounds of food, he noted, much of which has been given away. He tries to weigh all food brought in, to keep a record of it.
To date this year, 632 pounds of those 12,000 were donated, while the rest were provided by the USDA or purchased using donated funds, said Bean.
Around 170 people have utilized the food pantry so far this year; Bean said the pantry doesn't count multiple visits as new numbers. Numbers from week to week vary. Last week saw 11 clients, while Bean says there may be 30 next week.
Clients can only take away food once every two weeks, he added, and are allowed three grocery bags full of food. Starting in November, the pantry will begin asking for identification, "to help keep track of things."
Bean also explained that pantry volunteers don't evaluate the neediness of clients.
"If the richest guy in Culver comes down and signs his name and address, he can get food," he said. "We won't turn him down."
Visitors from Plymouth, for example, while not turned away, are informed of other pantry sites in Marshall County, including of course in their own community.
"But a lot say, 'We've already been to them and they don't give us much food,'" Bean said.
Dennis Lewandowski is Bean's "right hand man," he says, while there are a few ladies who help out when the pantry is open, which takes place after the shelves are stocked early Tuesday morning.
Bean notes he sends a monthly report to the food bank in South Bend telling how many families have come in and how much USDA-provided food has been used. He said the pantry was inspected by the USDA Monday and passed.
He also noted meat may be given to the pantry provided it's pre-packaged. The pantry included a double-wide, commercial freezer, and a home upright and chest-type freezer, respectively. There are also a couple of commercial refrigerators.
The pantry perimeter is lined with metal shelving donated by Park N' Shop when it was remodeled recently (John Elliott power-washed it for the pantry, says Bean).
Produce can be accepted, but Bean prefers to buy it himself, which he only does if it's from the day before, since it doesn't keep well.
Hunters wishing to donate a deer they've killed may do so, but only certified processing plants -- of which there are none in Marshall County at present -- can handle the meat for the pantry.
Besides food, toiletries are hard to keep stocked, and so are in demand, Bean explains.
He asks that, if donors wish to buy items to donate, they purchase a case of one particular food type, such as green beans or corn, rather than "a little of this or a little of that; it's easier to distribute that way. We buy it in quantity."
Bean says operation of the pantry is aided by Pat Birk, who as treasurer handles all monetary donations.
"We've got a good budget," he notes. "During Thanksgiving and Christmas it spikes, but it slows way down until then. It's been very slow this summer."
However, he adds, Union Township on the whole is "very generous.
"I've never run out of food."
Perhaps due to the recent recession, use of the pantry has increased in recent years, Bean points out. The pantry's mission is to serve the Culver Community School district, so its clientele is intended to go beyond the borders of Culver or even Union Township. He estimates over half the pantry's clients come from outside the township, and they vary in demographic, though a number are older residents or young families.
To donate to the Culver food pantry, call Leroy Bean at 574-842-3460, as opposed to simply dropping items off at the church.


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Mechanical Engineering Technology [1]
What it is about
Engineering and Technology Pathway Description: These curriculums are designed to prepare students through the study and application of principles from mathematics, natural sciences, and technology and applied processes based on these subjects.
Courses you will take
Course work includes mathematics, natural sciences, engineering sciences and technology.
What you will gain
Graduates should qualify to obtain occupations such as technical service providers, materials and technologies testing services, process improvement technicians, engineering technicians, industrial technology managers, or research technicians.


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Daniel Shays wrote to the selectmen in South Hadley asking that they assemble their men and make sure they're well armed and properly organized in a military group. This request was made because the General Court was determined to find the men who had stopped the court, and mete out punishment. The town of South Hadley was not sympathetic to the Regulators. By sending this copy of Shays' letter to the pro-government Hampshire Gazette, the town clerk made sure the readership knew what the Regulators were planning. William Butler began publication of the Hampshire Gazette on September 6, 1786, in Northampton, Massachusetts. The mission of the newspaper was to inform the public about the issues pertaining to the ongoing conflicts. Butler was decidedly on the government side of the issues.
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Newspaper article from the Hampshire Gazette regarding the court
Letter to Capt. Harvey requesting assistance published in the Hampshire Gazette
Hampshire Gazette newspaper article on Shays' Rebellion
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Real-Estate News: San Francisco Condo Plan Starts a Rumble
Here is a look at real-estate news from Wednesday's WSJ, including the Property Report
San Francisco Condo Development Starts a Rumble: A battle between the developer and some residents has morphed into a high-price, campaign-style fight—complete with political-sounding television ads—in a display of what can happen when a not-in-my-backyard development fight becomes well-funded on both sides.
Pop-Ups Raise a Question: As the holiday season approaches, temporary stores selling Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas merchandise are sprouting up in malls across the country. But whether pop-up stores are a positive or negative trend for retail landlords is an open question.
Blackstone Eyes Pivotal IPO: As Blackstone Group prepares an initial public offering for shopping-center landlord Brixmor Property Group Inc., investors and analysts are watching the deal to see what tone it sets for other Blackstone-led IPOs waiting in the wings.


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The U.S. Labor Department said Friday that the unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in February—but does that rate tell the real story?
A number of economists look past the "main" unemployment rate to a different figure the Bureau of Labor Statistics calls "U-6," which it defines as "total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of all civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers."
In other words, the unemployed, the underemployed and the discouraged — a rate that still remains high.


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Mulch Delivery & Spreading – Drivers are needed to haul mulch in trucks provided by RFY Inc. from the landfill to delivery sites. This service runs year-round, but most business is in the fall and spring. Satisfy that macho urge to get behind the wheel of a big truck!
Trails End popcorn –Each October, the BSA coordinates a national fundraiser with Trails End popcorn for councils, units, and scouts to raise money and earn prizes. Each scout and troop receives a portion of each product sold. Scouts receive a guide to help determine the cost of one year in scouting to use as a guide for setting their personal sales goal.
Touch a Truck – This event provides a unique opportunity for children and families to explore vehicles of all types, in one place! Held each spring, the event is mandatory for all scouts to attend and is a fundraiser both for the troop and the North Carolina Children's Hospital.
High Adventure Fund Raising
Scouts and leaders participating in a high adventure trip or activity sponsored by the troop may elect to use fundraising projects to offset or pay for the activity. Projects have ranged from Courts of Honor dinners to carwashes to spreading mulch and selling doughnuts. Such projects are in addition to any troop-level fundraiser. Participation is expected if the group agrees to a project.
Courts of Honor dinners
Dinners are generally held prior to a family night Court of Honor ceremony three times each year. Groups may volunteer to coordinate the dinner at our Brownsea planning retreat in August. Tickets are purchased at the door.
Courts of Honor are generally held in October, February, and May. This is the ceremony in which scouts receive merit badges, advancement awards, recognition, and other awards. Eagle Scout award recipients have a special ceremony at the end of the troop ceremony.


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Store: Love Bright Jewelry Inc – Online Jewelry Shop
Coupon Code: M03D17 – Use Coupon
Expiry: 2013-05-31
Details: These gorgeous round GF bangkok rubies stud earrings are perfectly matched in bezel-setting with total gem weight (TGW) of 2.00 carat. Beautifully crafted in shiny polished .925 sterling silver rhodium and also available in Push-back. So buy this and Get $3 discount on GF Bangkok Ruby Bezel-Set Stud Earrings : .925 Sterling Silver – 2.00 CT TGW.


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Sainte Maxime E Cup Bikini
Brand: Freya/Fantasie
Product Code: FS6232INK
Product Code: FS6232INK
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Sainte Maxime E Cup Bikini from Fantasie. E Cup underwires with moulded soft cups and adjustable straps. Briefs are 96cm before stretching.


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If you like all of these great freebies and deals, make sure you sign up for my newsletter.
Join So Connected at Ruby Tuesday! When you do, you will receive a coupon for a free dessert with the purchase of an entree. You will also receive coupons throughout the year, and probably something special on your birthday.
Image Credit: Ruby Tuesday


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My kids love the book Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, so they couldn't wait to see the movie when it came out in theaters! We now own it on DVD (I know, we live in a technologically lame household and don't have Blue-Ray). This is such a cute show. If you haven't seen it yet, treat yourself to a chuckle and give it a view.
My son enjoys this movie so much that he requested a Cloudy With a Chance Of Meatballs themed party for his 4th Birthday. I took his challenge and did my best to come up with some fun ideas. As always it's hard to take photos at a busy Birthday party when you are the host, but Mike and I did manage a few.
Besides a bounce house filled with toy squeaky cheeseburgers (found in the dollar bins at Target), the Spaghetti & Meatball cupcakes were a party highlight.
Shhhh...no one tell Suzanne Somers. Winks...(snort-snort)
To make the cupcakes I piped butter-cream icing with a #234 tip to look like spaghetti noodles.
Then topped the icing with Strawberry pie glace (I used Kroger brand). Next I added a Ferreo Rocher chocolate candy for my meatball and put a wee bit more strawberry glaze on the meatball. I topped off the entire cupcake with freshly grated white chocolate...to look like Parmesan cheese, of course!
Phoenix had a chill in the air on party day, so we put together a last minute hot cocoa bar. I took a glass vase and filled it with holiday shaped marshmallows and then hung candy canes around the rim for stir sticks. Everyone love it!
I found some really fun and unique gummi food for the kids to take home as favors.
Each bag contained gummi cheeseburgers, hot dogs, pizza, pop and even sour gummi french fries. No favor bag would be complete, however, without my son's very favorite thing from this movie...
Spray-On Shoes!!!!
Or in this case, a decorated can of Silly String. Grin. If you're not familiar with Spray-On Shoes, just watch this clip.
At the end of the day, a good time was had by all. Especially by Lawson when he got his beloved Monster Truck Mater, aka The Tormentor.
The Birthday boy later that day...
Happy December Everyone! Looks who's back at our house...
(riding a turkey, mind you, because I'm a dead-beat who hasn't taken down my Thanksgiving decorations yet! Ha!)


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UNIONDALE, NY (May 12, 2014) – The Bridgeport Sound Tigers announced today that Chris Langkow has agreed to terms on a one-year, American Hockey League contract.
Langkow, 24, recorded 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 64 games with the Sound Tigers last season. The Vegreville, AB, native added nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 11 games with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL.
Langkow was named an ECHL All-Star and won a Kelly Cup in 2010-11 with the Alaska Aces, who were coached by current Sound Tigers Head Coach Brent Thompson. In 138 career ECHL games with Alaska, the Reading Royals and South Carolina, Langkow scored 96 points (40 goals, 56 assists). He played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League with the Spokane Chiefs, Saskatoon Blades and Everett Silvertips.
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Sale Price: $65.99
Part Type: (R) = Authentic reproduction of the original GM product
Years: 1966-1967
Sold As: KIT
These quality RESTOPARTS® reproduction clips connect the boot to the well. 1964-65 clips are original springboard-style steel required to secure the boot. Each clip is then dipped to form a plastic film so as not to scratch the chrome around the well. 1966-67 style clips are a plastic-nylon blend. Stronger and more durable than the original GM clips, these provide an easier snap-on fit.


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Welcome toSouth Florida BirdingWithLarry ManfrediProfessional Bird Guide"Birding North America and the Caribbean"We offer tours that cover the Dry Tortugas, Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. New and exciting tours are being planned all the time. By participating in one of our tours you can expand your horizons, birding in comfort and safety with an experienced guide.
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Gov. Malloy asks Republicans to help cut budget
State budget: Governor meets with Republican leaders to discuss spending cuts
HARTFORD -- Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Friday announced a framework for dealing with the state's burgeoning budget deficit, offering a list of about $243 million in cuts from the current $20 billion spending package.
The reductions in the budget that runs through June 30 would be combined with $170 million in cuts already ordered by Malloy, who met with minority Republican leaders Friday morning. Malloy said he is committed to a bipartisan approach.
"Let's put it in perspective,:we're talking about a little over 1 percent of the entire budget that needs to be adjusted," he told several reporters after the meeting. "We are capable of doing that on a bipartisan basis. I firmly believe that, and we move forward."
Overall, the cuts would also work toward an anticipated $1.18 billion deficit in the budget set to take effect July 1.
Malloy's proposed spending reductions, which he called a "roadmap" for lawmakers to consider when bipartisan meetings start next week, include $9.4 million in his budget staff, the Office of Policy and Management. Debt service payments would be reduced by $25 million because of favorable interest rates in last month's bond sale.
Other proposed cuts include:
$2.6 million in the Department of Economic and Community Development.
$5.4 million in the Department of Developmental Services.
$63.5 million in the Department of Social Services.
$13.6 million in the Department of Education.
$10.7 million in the Department of Correction.
$4.6 million in the Department of Children and Families.
$2 million each from the Legislative and Judicial branches.
Emerging from Malloy's office after the morning meeting, Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, of Fairfield, and House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., of Norwalk, pledged the support of their caucuses in reaching a bottom line.
"We had a very good conversation," Cafero said. "What the governor has proposed is laying out a framework for a bipartisan solution to the problems we face, and I think he's very sincere about having us all at the table to work out this."
On Thursday, the governor met with majority Democrats, who control the House 99-52 and the Senate 22-14. Both sides will meet throughout next week in attempt to reach consensus when the special session of the Legislature meets Dec. 19.
"There's a genuine desire on the governor's behalf and ours to try to solve this problem in a bipartisan manner," McKinney said. "I think we both made that very clear to each other, and I think we've come together on a process in which we can make that happen."
Cafero said that while in the past Republicans have called for sharp spending cuts that were ignored by Democrats, the current deficit, ranging from $365 million to $417 million, necessitates a bipartisan solution.
"We've often called for cutting, but no one has ever said we relish the opportunity, nor is it easy," Cafero said. "I think my caucus knows it's a tough road ahead, but they also know it's something that we have to do."
McKinney and Cafero said that while the budget and associated shortfall are the responsibility of the Democrats, their minority caucuses were elected to work for taxpayers.
"We ran for office for a reason," McKinney. "We want to make our state a better place and we believe we have an important voice and important and good ideas that can help solve the problem. We want to be part of that. There's the added benefit of demonstrating to the people of Connecticut that we can actually get our business done in a bipartisan manner."
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