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Tuesday, December 8, 2009
TNA shouldn't get its hopes up
Al Castle here, contributing writer for Pro Wrestling Illustrated and its sister magazines, and author of the columns "Quick Counts" and "Workin' Stiff." I'd like to thank Stu and the team over in Blue Bell for putting this blog together, and I look forward to dropping by regularly and offering my two cents on the latest pro wrestling headlines.
I thought I'd start by talking about one of the major stories coming out of a very newsworthy weekend for wrestling – Hulk Hogan's announcement on Spike TV Saturday night that TNA Impact will be going head to head against WWE's Monday Night Raw on January 4. From the Hulkster's rhetoric, as well as TNA's subsequent press release, it seems apparent that TNA has some pretty high expectations for the show. They've all but declared a new Monday Night War.
Dixie Carter is in for quite the reality check.
TNA declaring war on WWE would be somewhat akin to Jamie Noble challenging the entire WWE locker room to a fight. It will be a blow out.
Just like the multitude of acquisitions of ex-WWE stars, or moving to Thursday nights, or going to two hours, or every other smoke and mirrors tactic that TNA has attempted to give its product a boost, this latest dawn of a new day for TNA will not make much of a difference to its bottom line.
If Dixie Carter thinks the only thing keeping TNA from seriously competing with WWE is a Monday night time slot and the addition of Hulk Hogan, she is nothing short of delusional. If Carter and Hogan are using WCW as inspiration that a wrestling company could give WWE a run for its money, they are missing the big picture. WCW had decades of history behind it when it created Nitro, and more importantly, had a product that was good enough – and for a while considerably better – than what WWE was offering. TNA has none of those. And while WCW Nitro's success was driven by Eric Bischoff's determination to do things differently than WWE, TNA has repeatedly failed at carving out its own identity – or at least a positive one.
If I were asked to list some of TNA's unique qualities I'd mention: 1). Overly complicated and undisciplined booking 2). Convoluted and inefficient gimmick matches 3). Washed up stars from the Monday Night Wars and more recent WWE mid card cast offs. 4). Short matches. 5). An abundantly talented and mis-used cruiserweight division. 6). A small-time TV studio setting. None of those things put TNA in a position to compete with WWE.
All that said, moving to Monday nights is not a bad idea (although doing it as a one-time experiment could have disastrous results and make Spike gun shy about making the move permanent.) If the Monday Night Wars left us with anything it is the broad recognition that Monday Night is wrestling night. ROH and HDNet were wise enough to figure this out when they moved their program to Monday Night.
So while I don't think for a second that TNA, as we know it today, could ever come close – much less beat – WWE in a ratings battle, I wouldn't be surprised to see Impact's ratings climb a bit (and just a bit) as more fans are apt to watch wrestling on a Monday night than they are a Thursday night. If TNA ever were to move permanently to Monday nights, they would be wise to run 8 to 10 p.m., so they can have that first hour to itself.
Everyone has his prediction of what rating TNA will do on January 4. Some are expecting ratings in the 2's, which TNA would have to see as a major success. Other are expecting a disaster in the range of 0.8 or lower. I'll predict they do around a 1.2.
What do you think?
-Al Castle
6 comments:
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated said...
2.2. There will be a lot of flipping back and forth between Impact and Raw.
Stu Saks/Publisher
- December 8, 2009 at 2:32 PM
- Jay Cal said...
Outside of TNA advertising on USA, I don't think you are going to get traditional WWE fans to switch over to TNA. I think Impact will benefit slightly from the move, but don't see the rating being any higher than 1.6-1.8.
Even with Hogan in the Impact zone, he probably won't be wrestling and just an appearance isn't going to get the attention of the casual wrestling fan.
- December 9, 2009 at 1:10 PM
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated said...
Even if Impact were to break the 2.0 barrier on Jan.4, what good will that do TNA in the long haul? Not much at all. The more important challenge for TNA will be following up whatever it does on Jan4. Otherwise it's back down to 1.0-0.9 for Impact. I just hope whatever Hogan comes up with it isn't a WCW reunion. An RVD appearance would be compelling
-- Frank Krewda
- December 9, 2009 at 3:17 PM
- Michael said...
Very interesting take on the situation. I agree. I don't think TNA will pose a serious threat. Here's to hoping they don't make the same mistakes WCW did. I look forward to a future Monday Night War. I just don't think it will start on January 4.
- December 10, 2009 at 2:54 PM
- Delliott said...
hmm very good post, I expect a 1.3 rating
again very good post
- December 12, 2009 at 6:26 AM
- Frank Boss said...
I agree with Delliott, as TNA will probably do a bit better than usual (1.3 to 1.5). TNA is not WCW; they do not have the market share or history that WCW had back in 1995. Plus, it is only for one night. WWE is a lot stronger now than it was back then. TNA should concentrate on its own product instead of trying to take down McMahon's. WCW had a lot of things going for it back then. TNA just does not have everything aligned. Making money is what TNA needs to focus on. While the Monday night show is well worth the risk, it is in no way a guarantee deal maker for the company.
- December 12, 2009 at 8:13 PM


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The use of heat galvanised steel to create a support structure for the mast and keel was pioneered by X-Yachts in 1981. Since then the Danish yard has produced more than 6,000 yachts featuring this technology and has won worldwide recognition for the strength of their designs.
Her hull, keel and rudder configuration gives the helmsman a very light and direct feel of the yacht, and she responds immediately to minor corrections.The X-41 is not only a serious racing performer but also a comfortable cruiser. X-Yachts has concentrated hard, and without compromise, on details that work for both racing and cruising alike. The growing international fleet is proof that they succeeded. The optional anchor box, including electrical anchor windlass and chain, can be removed within minutes. The optional sprayhood is also quickly and easily removed. The optional deck recessed furling headsail system is great for cruising, but can quickly be removed and replaced for a dedicated racing forestay.

subset: commoncrawl


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|....Optics Highlights
III. The Telescope
|A Dutch eyeglass maker, Hans Lippershey, has been given credit for the invention of the telescope in 1608; when he offered it to the government for military use, they required that it be converted to binocular form. By 1610, Galileo announced the telescopic observations of the moon and planets which signaled the end of the Ptolemaic theory of the heliocentric solar system. Galileos telescope was a simple refractor, employing two lenses in a tube. Keppler invented the form of the refracting telescope which is the basis for modern refractors; it has a convex lens placed in back of the focus. The reflecting telescope invented by Isaac Newton used an on-axis planar mirror to move the focus of the parabolic reflector to a point outside the light collecting cylinder; reflector telescopes avoid the problem of lens chromatic aberration which affect refractors. Variations of the Newtonian reflector in which the light was reflected back through a hole in the primary mirror were invented by James Gregory in 1663 and by Cassegrain in 1672. A lens design which resolved the problem of chromatic aberration for refractor telescope was discovered in 1733 by Hall but kept secret until it was uncovered and used commercially in 1759 by John Dolland and his son. A third type of telescope, which uses a spherical mirror and a correcting lens, was invented in 1930 by Bernhard Schmidt. The Schmidt telescope serves astronomy as a wide angle camera.
|Hans Lippershey (1570-1619), a native of Wesel, Germany who had settled in the Netherlands, applied for a patent for the telescope in 1608. At least two other Dutch spectacle makers made telescopes about the same time, and there were rumors of some such sort of magical device during the 16th century. Nevertheless, Lippershey was the first to describe the telescope in writing. He was paid handsomely by the government to construct several telescopes, but the patent was denied because it was felt that it could be not kept secret. Certainly, within a short time, three-power telescopes were being made and sold by Parisian eyeglass makers.
|Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1643) was the oldest of seven children born to a gifted Pisan composer and mathematician. As an impoverished student, he turned from medicine to mathematics and science, and was known for both brilliance and trouble-making. He began his career as a professor in the University of Pisa, but was soon in conflict with the authorities and was forced to transfer to Padua. He never married but his mistress provided him with three children. He was always in financial difficulties of one sort or other and because he could not afford dowries for his illegitimate daughters he had them placed in convents. In 1609 Galileo learned of the invention of the telescope, built a three power instrument, which he quickly improved to eight, twenty and then thirty power. These were the most powerful instruments of his time and with them he made the discoveries that established Copernican system.
|(Sir) Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727) occupies such a large niche in the history of science and mathematics that he now appears as an Olympian, god-like, figure. In fact, however, he was a man subject to acute anxieties that led him to defend his work in such an irrational and furious manner that his friends questioned his sanity (he did suffer a series of nervous breakdowns) and put him in a series of vicious conflicts with such important scientists as Robert Hooke, John Flamsteed (the royal astronomer) and Gottfried Leibniz. Newtons paranoia is often ascribed to the fact that his father died before his birth and that at the age of two his mother remarried and left him with his grandmother. His work on color phenomena led him to conclude that light consists of distinct particles (of different sizes) with immutable refractive properties and that an achromatic lens was impossible; thus he was led to the invention and construction of the reflecting telescope in 1670. (Shown above). However, for a century, problems in mirror grinding and in maintaining an untarnished surface prevented the use of reflector telescopes.
|James Gregory (1638 - 1675), born in Aberdeen, Scotland was a professor of mathematics at the University of St. Andrews (1669 - 1674) and later at the University of Edinburgh (1674 - 77). He left St. Andrews, writing that his salary was not paid and that students "were violently kept from me, contrary to their own and their parents wills, the masters persuading them that their brains were not able to endure it." Gregory was the first to publish a proof of the fundamental theorem of the calculus and letters show that he was the first to discover Taylor's theorem. Gregory also discovered the diffraction grating; he used a birds feather! In order to build an observatory at St. Andrews he stood outside the church in his hometown, Aberdeen, and took up a collection.
|N. Cassegrain, a French scientist, proposed the telescope design which bears his name in 1672. Nothing else is known about him. One hundred years later, Jesse Ramsden, an English instrument maker who rose from poverty to membership in the Royal Society, discovered that the Cassegrain design may be used to reduce spherical aberration using a paraboidal reflector and a hyperboloid for the secondary reflector. Microwave reflector antennas often employ the Cassegrain design, with the feed horn between the primary and secondary reflectors.
|Chester More Hall (1703 - 1771) was an English barrister and amateur mathematician who, like Euler, became convinced from the fact that the eye is achromatic that an achromatic lens could be built. He experimented with different types of glass until he found the correct combination of flint and crown lenses in 1730. Although he later appeared unconcerned by priority claims, he did attempt to keep the discovery secret by contracting the construction separately to two different firms; however, they subcontracted to the same lens maker, George Bass, who realized what was being built.
|John Dolland (1706 - 1761) was the son of Huguenot silk weavers who set up an optical business in London with his son. By 1759, Dolland learned the secret of the achromatic lens (from George Bass, it is believed), patented the design, received a medal from the Royal Society and began commercial production which made him wealthy. When it was learned that Hall had invented the achromatic lens, Dolland's patent was contested, but the British court upheld his rights
|Bernhard Schmidt (1879 - 1935) was born in Estonia, studied in Germany, and worked as an optical technician at the Bergedorf Observatory, Hamburg. In 1930 he invented the telescope which is named for him. It uses a spherical mirror, not a paraboidal reflector, and employs a correcting plate at the telescope aperture to compensate for spherical aberration, thus it is a combination reflector-refractor system. The Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is the most popular among amateur astronomers because of its compact design and large aperture and because the optics are completely enclosed .
|...Back to first page
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Brazil MDG Award salutes innovation in developmentJun 1, 2012
Brasilia – Brazil's Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Award, announced Wednesday, recognized 20 innovative initiatives led by municipalities and civil society organizations across the country that are helping improve lives of some of the country's most disadvantaged communities.
In a ceremony with hundreds of government representatives, civil society organizations, and ministers from Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark joined Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in launching the fourth edition of the prize.
"By recognising and rewarding the initiative and creativity of those making a difference at the local level, awards like these can spur innovation, shift attitudes, engage citizens, and establish new partnerships," Clark said. "At the forthcoming Rio + 20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development here in Brazil, all who convene here can be inspired by the achievement of so many communities and nations which are not only lifting human development, but also are determined to do so within planetary boundaries."
"In granting this award we are recognizing the efforts of each organization and municipality to truly transform the lives of people and help their achievements in gaining rights, voice and citizenship," Rousseff said. "This award means a lot [to us] because it reaffirms the cause of social justice, combating exclusion and the drive to build a country without poverty—and this needs everyone's involvement, no exceptions."
Rousseff also stressed that the number of participants - 1,638 in this edition - represents the commitment and participation of the bulk of society and local governments. She said that Brazil's advances in achieving the MDGs, owes a great deal to the more than 5,000 registered projects since the MDG Award's first edition.
Initiatives ranged from empowering women in one of Rio de Janeiro's poorest communities (Complexo da Mare) to helping low-income communities improve sustainable practices of Brazil nut extraction in the country's tropical savannah, an area that has undergone tremendous deforestation in the past.
Clark, who also took part in the Fifth Forum for Development with social development ministers from Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa this week, said that Brazil is a pioneer in its work towards achieving the MDGs through social policies and therefore a source of inspiration in South-South Co-operation.
During the ceremony, Clark also launched the Portuguese version of UNDP's publication, Triple Wins for Sustainable Development. The document showcases eight examples that highlight the scope and importance of the three key dimensions of sustainable development: social, environmental and economic.
The UNDP report notes some of Brazil's innovative policies such as Bolsa Familia (Family Grant), Bolsa Verde (Green Grant) and Luz para Todos (Light for All)—linked to a programme called Brazil sem Miseria (Brazil without Misery) which seeks to target 16 million people living under extreme poverty across the country. They include a range of initiatives from granting direct financial aid and to low-income populations, to supporting subsistence, boosting energy access and creating water cisterns in semi-arid areas.
Brazil is undergoing a transformation which has already brought better lives and opportunity to millions of people. Such social programmes have helped lift millions out of poverty in less than a decade, bringing a mass of citizens into the middle class, which also helped spur the country's economy.
In the past two decades, GDP per capita in Brazil almost doubled, while the numbers of people living in poverty almost halved. Extreme poverty (people living on less than US$1.25 a day) declined abruptly from 14 percent in 2001 to less than five percent in 2009. Ten million formal jobs were created between 2004 and 2010.


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Raymond L. Reed, M.D. (B.A. Chemistry 1948, M.D. 1953), as first-year medical student at Indiana University, 1949. (Courtesy IU Archives)
Interested in Medical School?Attend the annual Health Programs Fair, which allows you to meet directly with medical school admissions officials who make decisions about who is accepted and who is rejected.
Welcome! Whether you are a freshman student just beginning to think about a career in medicine, or a current applicant to medical school, we invite you to explore all the sections below. The Health Professions and Prelaw Center will support you and guide you throughout the process of preparing for medical school. Admission to medical school is highly competitive and students need to plan carefully and thoroughly from the start in order to be successful. Please read the sections below to learn more about preparing for a career in medicine.
- Preparing for a Career in Medicine
- MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test)
- Applying to Medical School
- Additional Resources and Information
High School Students and Parents
Important information for high school students and their parents. Also, an invitation to visit the Health Professions and Prelaw Center! Read more »
Applying for Medical School?
HPPLC offers guides to the application process and a variety of workshops on Writing a Personal Statement, Preparing Your Application, and Interview Skills. Sign up for the HPPLC email list so you will receive notices of these events, and more. Make sure to learn about the process of obtaining letters of recommendation early on and plan ahead long before you will apply.


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Do you run a small business? Rent or own a home? Now is a great time to shop for electric prices in Newark, Ohio. Searching "best electric suppliers, best electric prices in Newark, Ohio, electric rates in Ohio" will provide online paid ads and high price offers. Instead look to RD Energy's www.rdenergypricechoice.com for the best and lowest electric rates.
How much money can residents and businesses in Newark, Ohio save on their electric rate? RD Energy's www.rdenergypricechoice.com is the best way to find the lowest price and can show you how much you will save. Does Newark, Ohio have an aggregation program? Most likely, www.rdenergypricechoice.com has lower rates. If you are shopping for the best Apples to Apples electric price, then RD Energy's www.rdenergypricechoice.com will likely be the best place to search and compare. Telemarketing is expensive and a nuisance to most. Companies with a big online paid presence have high costs to recover the marketing which shows up in their high price offers. When people and businesses need a great electric rate RD Energy's www.rdenergypricechoice.com will provide a stripped down wholesale price without all the added marketing costs so consumers in Newark, Ohio and around Ohio get probably the best electric price they can find.
Look us up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rdenergyohio for our posts and videos to see how simple it is to enroll on our RD Energy's www.rdenergypricechoice.com online shopping site. People shop for everything online. Travel, clothing and even dates. So why not better electric prices?


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I was born with a penis
Lady K and his girls do a last minute makeup check at the subway station. He spends most of his nights sneaking into bars and clubs getting other men to pay for drinks and food. They often stay out long past shelter curfews and are forced to go home with strangers rather than spend the night on the street.
» View Kevin German
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text: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 Guideline Writers Have High Rates of Financial Conflicts, Study Says Physicians with private financial conflicts of interest dominated some of the panels that wrote guidelines on cardiovascular health in recent years, according to a New York Times article based on a study released yesterday in the Archives of Internal Medicine. According to the study, conflicts of interest were reported by 56% of 498 people who helped write 17 guidelines for the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology, from 2003 through 2008. Of people who led the guideline panels, an even higher rate (81%) had personal financial interests in companies affected by their guidelines. In a joint statement, the cardiology and heart associations said that they had tightened their conflict-of-interest controls in 2010 to align with recommendations from the Council of Medical Specialty Societies. They now require that the people leading the group and a majority of members of any guideline-writing group be free of conflicts of interest. The groups also said their new policies were aligned with standards issued last week by the Institute of Medicine aimed at enhancing the quality and reliability of clinical practice guidelines, which include avoiding "intellectual, institutional, financial, or other forms of conflicts whenever possible." The study's senior author said its most important finding may be that 44% of guideline writers had no financial interests in the area they reviewed. That rebuts the argument that there are not enough experienced experts who are independent, the Times says.


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The Civil War section of the cemetery features a Civil War Memorial with the American Flag, and the soldiers laid out in two rows behind the memorial and bring images of the Kansas Infantry to mind.
In this normal look at the Memorial at the head of the section we can see it bears the message Rest Soldier Rest on the orb. The rectangular area directly beneath the orb is inscribed with a flag, above which reads The Flag They Fought For. The remainder of the message reads To the Memory Of // Our Unknown Dead. // They Sleep // On Southern Battlefields // And 'Neath The Ocean Waves. The base acknowledges the donors as General Curtis Relief Corps. No. 29 // Dedicated May 30, 1897.
Many of the graves are marked with their original GAR Post stars and remind us of our old soldiers finally at ease.
The soldiers remain in their ranks for all time, marked by their marble Union tablets and armed with their badges of honor.
A Patriot at Rest
And Time Marches On
I hope you enjoyed this different view of this Civil War Memorial. These photos are digital IR and were shot using an infrared filter on the camera. This is the view a scorpion or a snake might have of the cemetery.
See more of Spring Hill cemetery including photo-index at the Ditigal Cemetery.
Leave me a message and let me know what you think!


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Wednesday September 19, 2007 12:03 pm
Own Your Own Dinosaur
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Toys
Dinosaur freaks will adore this lifesize version of the Camarasaurus. At the gimongous size of 20 x 56 x 10 feet, this overgrown reptile weighs about 3,748 lbs. Imagine your neighbor's reaction when they find this towering over your house as a giant watchdog. Its price is the equally enormous £28,999.99 (~$58,336.00.) If that is beyond your budget, there is a Facebook application called "I Want To Buy A Ruddy Great Big Dinosaur" that you can join for a mere £ that will buy you a piece of one.
Read More | Drinkstuff
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- camarasaurus, dinosaurs, facebook, prehistoric, reptile
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It was at one time understood that to be noble one must not draw unseemly attention to oneself or glorify oneself or make oneself seem, in a crowd, to be the most important person, or to seek glory only for oneself at the expense of others, nor to seek to draw the fame of others toward oneself for one's own gain.
But today, all good citizens must tweet and tweet widely. One must take selfies and tweet these selfies widely. This is well understood and does not reflect poorly upon the tweeter.
And yet, things hold us back. Prior scruples, outdated mores and education, notions about what is proper and good, about how the self ought to be portrayed, about the self itself, how it once was a unitary thing and yet is now an atomized thing, an amalgam of a million tweets and bytes, a decentered, fluid phenom of the video multiverse.
I confess that on three recent occasions I was near people whose glory exceeds my own and should have therefore taken selfies and tweeted them widely but indeed did not. I had my iPhone in my pocket but did not bring it out. I betrayed my sacred duty. I froze up. I forgot my true mission. I had conflicting teachings. My father on his deathbed said to me, "Son, do what you have to do, but don't overdo the tweeting. It's bad for your eyes." This admonition, wise as it was, held me back.
Yet when it is time to tweet, one must tweet. One must overcome. So herewith, three occasions upon which I should have tweeted and could have tweeted and did not in fact tweet. May the subjects and recipients of these tweets now, in response, retweet and widely retweet, so that these tweets may cover the earth and the cause be glorified.
1) Stanley Bing aka Gil Schwartz, upon the publication of his new book, The Curriculum:
There I was in his home, in the bosom of his family, among his many friends and his lovely wife. I could have embraced Gil Schwartz, aka Stanley Bing, taken a selfie and tweeted it widely. Yet I did not. Why not? Apparently I was doing what used to be called "having a good time." I do not know what that is called now but I found myself sitting in his living room playing his guitars, joking with him and Laura and guests, and eating red beans and rice (or jambalaya, as later Norma and I had a rather detailed discussion involving some not inconsiderable amount of Internet research o the question of jambalaya versus red beans and rice). All that time, I could have been tweeting about his hilarious new book The Curriculum. I could have put my arm around him and his lovely wife Laura Svienty and we could have posed for a selfie-plus two and it would have only taken a second and might, as it journeyed around the globe, have inched his already impressive Amazon sales ratings just a tiny bit higher. I could have and did not. What is wrong with me? I think that Gil, Aka Stanley, might look into my eyes and say, Cary, my friend, you're just trying too hard. Get with the flow. And I think he would be right.
So go buy his new book The Curriculum. If you do not, I just may buy it for you. It is as of this second Number 1 in Amazon in the category of Books > Business & Money > Management & Leadership > Training
2) Gary Kamiya's Cool Gray City of Love:
So that was Saturday night. Then on Sunday afternoon Norma and I thought we would go down to the San Francisco Public Library to see what authors would get awards from the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association this year, because among our many friends up for awards was the inimitable and brilliant Gary Kamiya, whose Cool Gray City of Love was up for best regional nonfiction, and which, among many fine nominees, was indeed the winner. Again, I had my iPhone and while embracing Gary it would have been an ideal opportunity to take a selfie and tweet it but I did not.What is wrong with me? So imagine, if you will, the handsome Gary Kamiya receiving his award and reading from his book, and then go and buy the book so you can enjoy it yourself. It is now of this second Number 13 in the Amazon category of Books > Sports & Outdoors > Hiking & Camping > Excursion Guides! Oddly enough, but there you go.
3) The Write On Mamas collection Mamas Write:
Finally, on the Thursday preceding, we were at Diesel Books in Oakland with the Write On Mamas for the publication party for Mamas Write, their collection of essays on writing and parenting which Norma and I had a hand in producing, as I provided some minimal copy editing and Norma designed the book. Again: I could have whipped it out and taken a selfie with Janine but I did not! What is wrong with me? I will endeavor to do better in the future, without, of course, appearing to work too hard at it.


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Nicole2 necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 47 diseños de 3 diseñadores freelance.
Soul Maps
At Soul Maps, we excavate people's hidden treasures. We teach clients a series of maps to navigate and access their inner wisdom at any time, for any question, so they can enjoy the gentle unfolding of their soul. The vehicle they travel in, the body, is rebalanced through the chakras. They make friends with their driving team through learning about Jungian psychological types. And they see they road ahead more clearly as they get to know their archetypes.
Our clients walk away able to harness the powers of their conscious, shadow, and collective unconscious selves, feeling even more whole and powerful.
The image we would like to communicate is that we are soulful and interested in holistic health and well being.
More information and images at http://www.soulmaps.com.au
The website gives a good idea of the visual theme we currently use.
* People interested in self and personal development
* Spiritually-minded people
* People interested in holistic health, counselling, and life coaching
* People suffering a spiritual depression
* People looking for change in their life, who want to better align their life with their innate skills, talents, and personality
* People who seek life purpose direction and guidance
* This is an increasing market of people, many of whom have already been involved in self-development or spiritual practices such as yoga, healing modalities, alternate therapies, etc.
* This is also for people who have suffered life crises or trauma and seek to make meaning of their experiences.
* Generally we attract people aged between mid twenties through to mid fifties.
Please see attached picture for a general idea.
The circles in the tree represent the 7 chakras, i.e. starting from the bottom - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, indigo
The tree is standing on planet earth
The tree top is illuminated with stars/light (to show connection to the greater universe)
The lettering of Soul Maps should be organic and flowing, not mechanical
Thank you!
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Gastrological Forecast
If you have a headache, most likely you're dehydrated. Try making that noggin' stop throbbin' by drinking a couple tall glasses of water. The pain will probably be gone before the ibuprofen would have kicked in. Likewise, if you're feeling like a cranky old hag you might do well to eat something before you flip out and go loco in line at the gas station. Yeah, I know, everybody's on a diet. But part of "watching what you eat" means watching that you eat. Grab a Power Bar at the convenience store. Put a bunch of bananas on your desk every Monday morning. Stick some yogurt in the office fridge. Me, I rarely have this problem because I am constantly snacking. One warning: snacking all day long on Doritos and Hershey's Kisses will give you a caboose Amtrak would envy. Believe me, I know. But it's easy to control what you snack on if you shop for the stuff after lunch. Try picking up some snap peas, baby carrots, beef jerky or Cheerios. Candy bars and other super sugary snacks will only make you crash worse later. Eat protein or a small amount of carbs and you'll satisfy those mid-meal cravings while doing the body some good. Plus, you'll spare yourself the agony of a low-blood sugar-induced midday shitfit.
The Dish
All the News That's Fit to Eat
Cocina de Manuel is the name of a New Mexican restaurant in the old Rex's Hamburgers space at Coors and Central. Manuel Chavez, of the eponymous restaurant, was formerly the owner of El Camino Dining Room (6800 Fourth NW), which he sold after 21 years at the helm. "I sold it and then I took a year off to golf and fish," Chavez explained, "but even golfing and fishing get boring after a while." Though Cocina de Manuel, housed in a strip mall, doesn't have the old Route 66 charm of Los Ranchos' El Camino Dining Room, Chavez says he's cooking pretty much the same stuff he used to and that he's tried to replicate the friendly feel of his old place. El Camino Dining Room is still open and catering to much of the same neighborhood crowd it has always served. Check out Cocina de Manuel for good old-fashioned New Mexican breakfast or lunch, Tuesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 831-4435 for take-out orders.
Food for Thought
The Low-carb Craze is Ruining Food for the Rest of Us
Don't blame the bagels!
Americans have no shortage of things to be prejudiced against: races, religions, men who cut the sleeves off their shirts. Quietly, a new type of discrimination has swept the nation. Not only are the slurs and harassment painful, but they're dividing us—we're rapidly choosing sides, making meaningful debate nearly impossible.
Cool Stuff
Made in New Mexico
Chowtown Restaurant Guide
When I lived in Chicago and biked around all winter, I learned firsthand how much a stiff drink can warm the cockles of your heart even on the coldest day. A shot of whiskey brings color to the cheeks, calms the chattering teeth and makes the ride back home through the slushy streets seem a little less daunting. Though winter in Albuquerque is a lot less traumatic, there are still moments when we need a warming draught to get ourselves through. Here are a few places we turn to for that tonic on a cold night.


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Tuesday, July 10, 2012 - Jan and Patrik - Raunchy Sex - KINK
Latest Sets at WilliamHiggins.com
Jan Sadecky and Patrik Lukasz come together for a great raunchy duo. Patrik is tied up and his mouth is gagged open. Jan comes in and it is clear that his cock is already rock hard in his jock strap. He begins to work on Patrik, removing his head support and then licking his mouth and face. He really licks at that mouth as he pulls on Patrik's nipples. Jan then starts kissing and licking the nipples and removes Patrik's towel to show a throbbingly hard cock. He starts to suck on that cock, working his mouth over it and licking up and down the shaft. He takes his time enjoying it as Patrik is unable to do anything to prevent it. The sucking turns into biting as well including biting on the balls. Then, after biting on Patrik's nipples Jan takes a jacking aid and slides it over that hard cock. He wanks it for a while and then removes the aid, taking a knife and cutting it open to release the liquid all over Patrik. Next Jan removes the ring gag from Patrik's mouth and induces him to suck cock. His big dick slides into Patrik's mouth as he his helpless to prevent it. Jan has other ideas to and takes a dildo, attached to a broom handle, and pushes that into Patrik's mouth as well. Patrik is laying there, legs tied and spread his his cock and balls nicely on view as the dildo fills his mouth. It is the perfect position for Jan's next move, which is to shove the dildo into Patrik's ass. When he deems that ass is open enough Jan removes the dildo and replaces it with his big dick. He fucks that ass nice and deep before moving Patrik, so he is hanging in the air. That dick slides into Patrik's ass again, right up to the hilt and the fucking begins again. Patrik takes it so well, his hole opening up for all he can get. Then Jan release Patrik and lays him on his back to fuck him some more. Patrik wanks his cock while taking Jan's huge pole and soon shoots his load over his leg. That is enough for Jan and he pulls out and wanks himself to a climax over Patrik who dutifully cleans that cock off to end a wonderful scene.
Adam Toula is a very good looking guy who, after his solo shoot and a spanking we invited back for a massage. He strips off and does a complete 360 turn so that we see all of him, including a very nice, flaccid cock and a big set of low hangers. Then Adam gets onto the massage table and awaits the masseur. The masseur arrives and adjusts Adam's position and begins to work. He takes some oil and begins to work on Adam's back and shoulders. Then he takes each arm, in turn and massages it before moving on to Adam's shoulder blades. Next it is down to the base of Adam's spine, as he lays there, relaxing. Those hairy legs are next for treatment, with the oil coating them very nicely, as the hands work all over them and the feet. That gorgeous bubble butt then comes in for some attention, with the masseur working on each cheek in turn, and then rubbing into the ass crack. Lifting the ass slightly the masseur then checks on Adam's cock and balls before moving him up onto his knees. Adam's big balls hang nice and low and swing as the position is adjusted. Then the masseur takes hold of Adam's soft cock and begins to wank it a little. Next he grabs a vibrator and, lubing the ass, slips it into that tight hole. He works it in and out for a while, opening the hole and then slips a finger in too. Having loosened the hole a little the vibrator is removed and a finger slides into the hole. A thicker toy is then inserted it slips in very nicely, all the way, and Adam's ass holds it in place. Holding Adam's balls up the masseur then takes the cock again and starts to wank it. The cock begins to swell some and Adam is turned over. The black toy is removed and replaced by the vibrator again as Adam wanks himself. The masseur takes over the wanking and soon Adam's cock is growing well. It doesn't take long before Adam is ready to cum. He shoots a nice creamy load which is rubbed over his cock and then over his face before the masseur leaves him relaxing on the table. What a very nice scene, with Adam being a great sport and being a perfect subject for a massage.
Lukas Nypl and Paco Mlaticka are best friends who came to casting together. Having persuaded them to do the castings as the same time we then took them up to the studio for a shoot, with the intention of seeing what we could get them to do. The start off with an interview, with Lukas, cropped hair, doing most of the talking. Then they stand up to start things off. Lukas removes Paco's top and then has the same done to him, so we can see two very nice chests, with Lukas the slightly more defined. Under instruction Lukas begins to touch Paco, who cannot avoid smiling as he does so. Lukas climbs on the sofa, behind Paco and continues to feel him. Both are smiling and laughing at what they are being asked to do. Lukas' hands tickle Paco and he seems to enjoy it. Then some oil is rubbed onto Paco's body, slowly, which makes it rather senuous. Both guys are very compliant with Lukas doing exactly as he is told to Paco. He is told so slip his hand in the band of Paco's pants, which he does, and pulls them down, revealing Paco's large flaccid cock and low hanging balls. As he continues to feel Paco's chest Lukas cant resist spanking him on the ass, which elicits another big smile from Paco. He then sits on the sofa for Lukas to completely remove the rest of his clothes, and to oil his legs and feet. Then it is Paco's turn to work on Lukas. He oils Lukas' body, rubbing his hands all over his chest. Then he pulls the pants down to let us see Lukas' cock and balls too. Lukas sits on the sofa and Paco removes the rest of the clothes. He then oils the legs and feet, and as he does so his big cock and balls lay nicely on the sofa. Having got the guys naked quite easily it is time for them to get hard and they lean back and start to wank. Lukas rests a leg over Paco's as they wank. Paco has a very big dick and soon it is rock hard and he displays it for us, with his balls still low hung on the sofa. Lukas continues wanking his own cock, his balls bouncing. That cock is a good size too and he proudly shows it off. They then lay back and lift their legs in the air to show their ass holes, with the cheeks well spread. Paco again cannot disguise a smile at what he is doing. Next the guys stand and face each other, so we get a very nice view of two excellent bodies. They both start wanking again, soon getting hard and building up to cum shots. Paco is ready first and closes in on Lukas, dropping some of his creamy cum on him before moving back to release the rest. What a great load it is too. Not to be outdone Lukas wanks himself hard and fast and builds up to a lovely load. He squirts it onto Paco's hip and leg and it runs downwards. That finishes there shoot. Two very good looking guys, best friends and great sports too. What could be better?
Jan Poliak is from Samorin in Slovakia. Aged 35 Jan is a fireman who enjoys sports, fitness and swimming. What a very masculine guy Jan is, such a handsome face and a really great body. He is very relaxed in front of the camera, posing so that we see that body to best effect. The first time he lifts his sweater to reveal his abs is a joy, such perfect musculature. Then the treats just keep on coming, as the jeans come down. His flaccid cock nestles nicely on his balls. Then as he flexes we see those beautiul biceps as well. A series of great poses gives us the chance to inspect Jan's body closely, savoring every aspect. But more is to come as he shows that ass off as well, and the cheeks spread so well to show his tight pucker hole. All in all Jan wins in every department. His video, which will be online next week is one to look forward to.


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"NDP MAC Training Curriculum Changes 2013: Summary
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This mandatory review must be completed by
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Thanks for the comment. Yes, my icon character is a pig butcher. Each year I change the design some but I can't get away from it now. I made the papers and I get alot of people that have become familiar with me so it stuck.
You can check out Stacker Steve or Lot 27 FX on FaceBook


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Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review
Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review (PAMR) collects data regarding all reported deaths that are causally related to pregnancy. The first step is to identify all deaths occurring during pregnancy or within one year of pregnancy. Methods used to establish this temporal relationship between pregnancy and a death include: 1) a pregnancy check box has been marked on the death certificate, 2) the death certificate indicates that the woman was pregnant at the time of death, or 3) the death certificate of the reproductive-aged woman has been matched with a birth certificate or fetal death certificate for a delivery that occurred within one year before the woman's death.
The Section of Epidemiology for Public Health Practice (EPHP) provides the Bureau of Genetics and Healthy Childhood with copies of death certificates that were causally related to pregnancy. For deaths that occurred after a live birth or stillbirth, the matching birth or fetal death certificates are also provided by EPHP. In addition to requesting certificates of deaths that are causally related to pregnancy, EPHP also sends certificates of all deaths that occurred during pregnancy or within one year of pregnancy, regardless of the cause of death or relation between pregnancy and the death.
Data are coded after abstraction of all available information from death certificates (including notes written in the margins of death certificates), medical records, autopsy reports, and matched birth and fetal death certificates. Data concerning all deaths are reviewed and classified by the Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review Board regarding the immediate and underlying cause of death, associated obstetric conditions, and the outcome of the pregnancy.
A woman's death is classified as pregnancy-related if it occurred during pregnancy or within one year of pregnancy and resulted from: 1) complications of the pregnancy, 2) a chain of events that was initiated by the pregnancy, or 3) the aggravation of an unrelated condition by the physiologic effects of the pregnancy or its management.


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Search in artificial intelligence
Springer-Verlag, 1988 - Computers - 482 pages
This book brings together some new insights and recent developments on the topics of search procedures in Artificial Intelligence and the relationships among search methods in Artificial Intelligence, Operations Research, and Engineering. The purpose of the book is to present these new insights and recent developments in a manner accessible to students and professionals in Computer Science, Engineering, Operations Research, and Applied Mathematics. The articles should provide the reader with a broad view of recent developments on search in AI and some of the relationships among branch and bound, heuristic search, and dynamic programming. New models for discrete optimization problems, new results on the average case of complexity of the well known A* algorithm, new results on the conditions under which A* is optimal over other search algorithms, use of different sources of knowledge in heuristic search, new results on the constraint satisfaction problem, and a result showing the minimax back up rule does not do as well as the product rule in some real games.
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An Algebra for Search Problems and Their Solutions
A General BranchandBound Formulation
AverageCase Analysis of Heuristic Search
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Common terms and phrases
admissible AND/OR graph arc consistency Artificial Intelligence B&B procedure best-first binary branch and bound branching factor breadth-first search CFDR checks complexity components computation traces consider constraint satisfaction problems corresponding cost function Dechter defined definition depth-first search domain dynamic programming Eight Puzzle empty-domain evaluation function example expanded exponential Figure formulation g-queens game tree given goal node heuristic estimate heuristic search implicit enumeration algorithms instantiation lateral combination Lemma Lookahead lower bound macro network minimax monotone network of constraints node expansions number of nodes optimal solution ordered constraint graph pair parse tree partial tree performance problem instance problem type Proof represented RFL1 rooted Rubik's Cube search algorithms search problem search procedures search tree Section selection sequence serializable solution path solution space solution tree strategy subgoals subgraph subset subtree terminal Theorem tree search vertex vertical combinations vertical search width


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There was a time when humanity faced the universe alone and without a friend. Now he has creatures to help him; stronger creatures than himself more faithful, more useful, and absolutely devoted to him. Mankind is no longer alone.
Isaac Asimov, I, Robot
Almost all software engineering experts agree that continuous integration is superior to the "big-bang" integration approach employed in the dark ages. Especially agile methodologies such as Extreme Programming (XP) promote development processes that let developers add functionality little-by-little, thereby significantly reducing project risk.
To ensure that frequent code check-ins (so-called "code deliveries," or "deliveries," for short) are of high quality, frequent build and test cycles are inevitable. One such approach is the now famous "Daily Build and Smoke Test" process, described in detail in Steve McConnell's book Rapid Development (Microsoft Press, 1996). While daily building and smoke testing significantly reduces project risk, for large and complex projects you may want to take this approach to extremes by validating your code base on a check-in basisthat is, many times a day. The advantages are obvious. If you check in buggy code, it will be immediately detected, which means that there will be no more time-consuming "Who's broken the build?" quests.
In this article, I present an approach that puts the Herculean building and testing effort on the shoulders of a test robot, or "testbot."
The Challenge
One of my current projects is a complex embedded-systems project. It isn't particularly large (around 20 developers and 100 KLOC), but it is a multiplatform, multifeature kind of project. At any timeor more precisely, within a rather short period of timethe system has to be in a releasable state for any hardware platform and various combinations of features supported by our common code base. Here, I refer to such a combination of features on a particular hardware platform as a "target."
Working on this project used to be like walking on a mine field. If you added a feature or fixed a bug for some target, there was a certain probability that you broke the build on another target or at least introduced a compiler warning. Over time, these issues tended to accumulate, resulting in a downward spiral. Lots of effort had to be expended later on to get back to a clean build.
Obviously, requiring the developers to verify all of the other platforms and products before delivering their changes would have taken way too much time, let alone the fact that not every developer had access to all of the toolchains (compilers, linkers, in-circuit emulators, and the like) that the code base supports.
The Innards of a Testbot
I solved this problem by assigning dedicated testbots to all the targets we support. The testbots are workstations that host a program that listens on the source-code-versioning system (ClearCase, in our case) for new deliveries of developers. When a developer finishes delivering her task to the integration branch, the testbot executes the following steps:
- Inform developer(s). To inform you that your check-in is under test, an e-mail is sent to you, plus a carbon-copy to the testbot administrator; see Figure 1. The e-mail details what is being tested (whose deliveries) and contains a link to the testbot's logfile. By inspecting the logfile, you can track the status of the testbot's work. In order to implement such an e-mail notification scheme, you need a username to e-mail address mapping. In our case, we use a simple two-column text file that even lets developers specify their mobile phone numbers. This enables the testbot to send you a short message via an e-mail-to-SMS gateway in case something went wrong (or everything built and tested fine).
- Checkout code. The testbot checks out a private copy of the source code based on the last completed delivery.
- Build the code. The whole code is built and possiblyas it is the case on our projectchecked against compiler and Lint warnings.
- Execute (smoke) tests. Depending on the size and the needs of the project, the testbot executes the tests. In our case, we restricted the test set to tests that only cover the most important nominal cases. If test execution consumes too much time, you might not be able to check enough code deliveries per day and hence will detect defects too late; that is, when the developers already went home.
- Inform developer(s). The last step is sending another e-mail (and/or short message, if you want) to you, informing you about the outcome of the test. If the testbot spots a problem, it additionally sends a copy to all team members, warning them about problems on the integration branch; see Figure 2.
The testbot software was quite easy to implement. In total, it comprises less than 1000 lines of Perl code; however, the size depends on the kind of source-code-versioning system you are usingdifferent systems offer different solutions for parallel software development and querying of check-in information. Listing One is the testbot pseudocode implementation. For simplicity, I've left out logging and error handling.
loop forever sleep for 5 minutes check versioning system for new deliveries if new deliveries since last testbot run get list of developers who delivered foreach developer who delivered send 'test started' email checkout code based on last delivery execute build if build problems foreach team member send 'build problems' email redo loop execute smoke test if smoke test problems foreach team member send 'smoke test problems' email redo loop foreach developer who delivered send 'test successful' email redo loop
The TX Model
A small disadvantage of the testbot I've just described is that it heavily relies on e-mail notification. Oftentimes, developers complain about the flooding of e-mails that the testbots send, just because some developer caused a Lint warning on a target they are only marginally interested in.
Thus, I crafted an extended version (see Listing Two) that differentiates between major and minor issues:
- Major issues. Major issues are problems that prevent other developers from integrating their code. We decided that compile- and link-time problems, as well as smoke test execution errors, belong to this category. Because of their severity, major issues are broadcastjust like beforeby e-mail to all developers.
- Minor issues. Unlike major issues, minor issues do not prevent further code deliveries and hence are only reported by e-mail to the developer who delivered the code, the architect, and the project lead. On our project, compiler and Lint warnings belong to this category.
loop forever sleep for 5 minutes check versioning system for new deliveries if new deliveries since last testbot run get list of developers who delivered drop 'build in progress' cookie (target.current) foreach developer who delivered send 'test started' email checkout code based on last delivery execute build if build major problems drop 'build major problems' cookie (target.lkb) foreach team member send 'build problems' email redo loop if build minor problems drop 'build minor problems' cookie (target.lkb) foreach team member, architect, project lead send 'build minor problems' email redo loop execute smoke test if smoke test problems drop 'smoke test problems' cookie (target.lkb) foreach team member send 'smoke test problems' email redo loop drop 'test successful' cookie (target.lkgb) remove 'build in progress' cookie (target.current) foreach developer who delivered send 'test successful' email redo loop
In addition to the e-mail-notification mechanism, there is a client program called "Observer" (implemented in Perl/Tk) running on all project member's workstations. The Observer monitors the state of all targets. The following information can be derived from Figure 3:
- The last update to the screen occurred at 14:02:50 and happened due to a state change (start of build 504) reported by the testbot of the Venus target (indicated by the asterisk next to the name).
- Because of the delivery of JOHNC et al. (you can get the full list of developers who delivered to the integration branch by placing your mouse cursor over "JOHNC..."), the Mars project currently has major issues. The previous run based on the check-in of PETERZ, however, was fine. Since the Mars testbot is idling, we can assume that JOHNC et al. haven't delivered a fix yet; hopefully, they are working on it.
- JOHNC et al. didn't cause any trouble to the Jupiter target.
- Saturn is still being tested, but the previous run (build 473) reported minor issues. Most likely, JACKF just fixed these issues because he is also the originator of the current testbot run (build 474).
- Pluto and Venus are still being tested. The previous run was fine.
To provide Observer with build and test state information, the testbots drop cookies on a shared file server directory. Figure 4 presents the contents of the cookie files for a particular target. The Observer regularly checks this shared directory for changes and displays the information in a user-friendly dialog.
By employing this mixed push/pull (e-mail/Observer) scheme, we significantly reduced the number of e-mail broadcasts, thus improving developer happiness. Moreover, the Observer is a nice tool for project leads because they get constant feedback on the quality of their and other leads' projects.
The Sky Is the Limit
Once you have build and test automation, as well as a testbot framework in place, you can assign all kinds of useful tasks to your testbots. Why not have a testbot execute all of your system tests, stress tests, and performance measurements many more times than you used to? On our project, we have a testbot that takes care of executing all of the thousands of developer (unit) tests. It iterates over a list to which developers add references to their developer test suites. Of course, these extended tests take days to execute, implying that you cannot test individual check-ins but rather whole sets of check-ins. Still, if something goes wrong, you know exactly who made changes to the code base and who is likely to be the culprit.
Delivering functionality in small increments is the preferred way of developing systems these days. Especially on medium to large projects, testbots help ensure code quality and reduce project risk through frequent testingmuch more testing than any human being is able to bear. Equip your testbot with a friendly UI and it will be, as the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation would put it, "your plastic pal who's fun to be with."


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The Details:
- Armor All Custom Shield Coating protects paint and body from harsh elements or useful as a temporary customization option
- $16.99 per can (black, white, clear)
- Spray-on, peel-off coating for ease of install and removal without tools
- Weather resistant and can last up to three months before recoat required
Armor All, a household name in car care products, has just introduced a multi-purpose product called Armor All Custom Shield Coating. With the goal of protecting a vehicle's paint and body from harsh elements, the spray-on, peel-off coating is safe to use on the front grill, hood and rocker panels. It is a notable option for those seeking an easy-to-use product that provides a defense against the harsh elements experienced in inclement weather, over a long road trip or due to sun damage.
Each $16.99 can, available in white, black or clear, will peel off by hand without damaging vehicle paint when required. Armor All claims the Custom Shield Coating to be weather resistant and can last up to three months before a recoat is required. To remove, just peel it off and throw it in the garbage-tools are not required.
This quick-to-dry coating could also be used as a temporary color/design option for those seeking a custom look. Think of it as an affordable alternative to custom paint or a vehicle vinyl wrap. You are only limited to your creativity when using Armor All's Custom Shield Coating for customization. For instance, you could use the spray-on coating to add race stripes down the center of the car, or even create stenciled designs on the hood.
Harsh element protectant or custom color alternative, this new car care offering is worth a second look. For more information on the product visit: www.armorall.com


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Levolor blinds offers a trusted brand name with 100 years of experience. Levolor focuses on designer quality fabrics and colors with the goal of delivering high-end décor focused blinds and shades. They also provide an exceptional limited lifetime warranty on all of their custom blinds and shades. They offer vertical blinds, wood blinds, roman shades, cellular shades and many other popular styles. Levolor Shades offer some of the most leading-edge materials and lift options in the entire window treatments industry.
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A quick look at the data on Apple's Fusion Drive
Subject: Editorial, Storage | October 24, 2012 - 08:26 PM | Allyn Malventano
Tagged: hybrid, fusion drive, fusion, apple
Yesterday, amongst a bunch of other announcements, Apple mentioned a 'new' technology that was built into OSX (10.8.2 and up).
Dubbed 'Fusion Drive', this tech enables the late 2012 Mac Mini and iMac models to have a pseudo-hybrid drive. There's been a lot of speculation today on just how this technology will work, but I've cut through the chaff to try and shed some proper light on just how this new thing works, and how it is so different than any other 'hybrid' solution out there.
First, it's not a hybrid drive. The iMac or Mac Mini comes with an SSD and a HDD. Two individual SATA devices. Both devices appear as individual drives, even in Disk Utility. Where the magic happens is that OSX can be configured (and is pre-configured in these new systems) to combine the two drives into one drive that presents itself to the user as a single logical volume. The important point is that the drives are 'fused' together, not merged or mirrored. The SSD and HDD each have their own partition, and OSX can reach beneath the Fusion layer and shift files back and forth between the two as it sees fit. Frequently used apps and files can be shifted back and forth between the SSD and HDD, as seen in the below pic:
The biggest differences are in that since it's not a mirrored hybrid solution, where the SSD space is not available, and a failure of the HDD causes loss of all data. Fusion Drive combines the two volumes and *adds* the space together, and the apps or files will sit on either device (but not both). All files written go to the SSD first and are later shifted to the HDD in the background. This is actually a very smart way to handle things. The entire OSX install always stays on the SSD, so there is no concern of OS files 'rolling off' of the SSD cache, causing intermittent slowdowns. More (perhaps most) importantly, if the HDD fails on a Fusion Drive setup, OSX should theoretically just keep on chugging, albeit without access to the files or apps that were stored on the HDD. On the flip side, if the SSD were to fail, the HDD could simply be mounted in Target Mode under another Mac, and all files stored to that drive could then be recovered. Sure you won't get everything back in these scenarios, but it provides *much* more flexibility for data recovery, and it's worth repeating the fact that an HDD failure in any other hybrid solution results in the loss of ALL data.
A couple of other quick gotchas: You can still dual boot with boot camp under a Fusion Drive setup, but the boot camp partition will only be at the end of the HDD, not on the SSD. Windows will not only run slower because it's on the spinning disk, it will run slower because the latter portions of a HDD typically see about half of the throughput as compared to the start of that disk. Also, you are only allowed *one* additional (non-Fusion) partition on the HDD, which can be used for another OSX install *or* for the Boot Camp Windows install. Users who prefer to boot greater than two operating systems on their newer Mac will have to do so with Fusion Drive disabled.
More to follow as more data comes in. For now I'm only working off of the other speculation and the Apple Support Page on the matter.
Thanks Allyn that was great!
Thanks Allyn, I was curious what they were doing. I've had 3 of the Seagate Hybrids and was hoping this wasn't just a rebrand of some sort..
Do we know if it's just Apple's implementation of Intel SRT or entirely in software? We probably won't know anything until they actually ship, but i was wondering
Someone told me about this new "fusion" technology on the phone yesterday, and I immediately assumed that Apple took Intel's SRT and rebranded it "fusion." While i do not know if this is 100% true, I would more more surprised if it wasn't. Apple probably just told intel they would pay them $XXX to rename it on their computers. Why wouldn't Intel want to do that?
SRT is merely a method for caching files on a HDD. As I understand it, none of the files are actually removed from the HDD.
Apple's implementation seems to stripe the data across both drives, shuffling files between the two disks so that the most frequently used ones are on the SSD, a weird version of RAID 0, essentially (with all the data loss risks that entails).
The description you have given is very much similar to SRT's "maximized" mode. The big differences between SRT and Apple'e implementation seem to be that the OSX implementation works at the file system level whereas SRT works at the block level. The benefit of the OSX version is that file integrity seems to hold up a bit better, and OS files remain intact given potential drive failure scenarios. The downside is that accessing large files will cache them even if little is read, possibly penalizing performance a bit and wasting cache space. Perhaps ideally though, user data should be a priority as often the most important data is in personal files. The benefit for Apple's setup is that the system will appear to still be functional even in the case of hdd failure. It just won't likely have all of the user's data intact, which may be preferable for the target market given that some file loss is highly likely in such hybrid setups.
Nice explanation.
I do not agree that this setup allow *much* more flexibility for data recovery. In my book flexibility implies *user* choice. With fusiondrive there seems to be no such "flexibility".
Unless timemachine is switched on chances are that your important data (the recently used/frequently used ones) are on the SSD.
Frankly I think this(fusiondrive) solution needs an even better backupschedule as the chance of failure has gone up by using not 1 but 2 devices :(.
2nd line should read: Unless timemachine is switched on chances are that your important data is lost in case of SSD failure


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When I speak of French plumbing, and I will, because I am an American, and am thus constitutionally sworn, after a recent trip to France, to speak of French plumbing, I will not be speaking of any problems regarding French toilets.
Because these problems have mostly been resolved, it turns out, in the 35 years since I first encountered France and thus its plumbing.
Spending a delightful first two weeks of September in the land of foie gras — a forbidden fruit for Californians, now rivaling the French access to Cuban cigars! — I encountered not one of those foot-squat holes in the ground that used to pass for toilets in the more down-market brasseries and bars. Regular toilets is what they have. True, far more often than should be the case, one is expected to fork over a half a Euro coin in order to use the toilet in a public place. But at least it's usually to a machine that unlocks the door rather than to the little old lady who used to sit in every French public bathroom and expect you to toss her centimes for the privilege while she sang "La Marseillaise" or whatever she did all day. And, true, I am told the massive sidewalk toilet machines in Paris and other big cities that have replaced the old-fashioned stinky pissoirs sometimes turn on their hose-down function before you have had a chance to exit the place. But I wouldn't know about that from actual experience, as I am afraid to enter said machines, preferring to hold it.
And it is also true that, even with the betterment of the equipment down the decades, there is a Belgian joke about the French: "Why in Belgium is the phrase 'go to the toilet' used, whereas in France it's 'go to the toilets'? Because you have to consider four or five of them before you find a clean one."
Even if that's so, I am not here to speak of toilets.
I am here to speak of French showers, which, sad to say, have not advanced a tad since 1977.
There are showers in France, and, if the somewhat less sour smell in a Metro car is any guide, more Frenchmen are using them on a daily basis than used to be the case.
But in 14 days of taking advantage of those showers earlier this month, not a one had been engineered to deal with the age-old problem: water flowing onto the bathroom floor rather than staying inside its tub or stall.
American interior designers tackle that problem by enclosing the shower in a plastic curtain on a rod, or by installing glass doors that go all the way around it.
This solution has yet to take hold in France. It's true that I did not find a shower that had no curtain or glass at all, as I have on previous trips. But where there was a curtain, it just went at most three-quarters of the way around, which is not far enough. Where there was glass, it mostly went halfway. Those hand-held telephone-style nozzles are nice, yes. But at an inn in Provence, the fixture provided to hold the nozzle while you soaped up turned out to aim the spray directly onto the (happily tiled, with a separate drain) bathroom floor. A call for extra towels had to be made, to the consternation of the proprietor, who never considered that he might be part of the problem.
This past Saturday morning, rising at dawn in a Paris hotel in order to catch the flight home, I stepped into the shower and thought I had finally found a place that got it right, as it should, for $203 a night. There was a glass door, and there were tiled walls, and the door closed all the way, clicking satisfactorily shut. But as I shampooed away, my wife came into the room and cried, "What's with the flood in here?" Being an architect and all, she quickly got to the bottom of it. The glass door had no rubber seal at its bottom, and there was, in Continental-speak, a centimeter or two of a gap precisely where the nozzle was aimed, allowing several, well, liters of water to run out in the course of a scrubdown.
I love France, and its food, and its wine, and the way the most beautiful women in the world tip-tap down the Paris sidewalks in their ballet flats or their high heels, unspeakably elegant.
Solve that little shower problem and Western civilization will have seen its height.
Larry Wilson is a member of the Los Angeles News Group editorial board.


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What would I do? I guess you didn't bother coming around here during the lockout. I took a beating on a regular basis for my stand on the issues. I got a tune up from doc, made toppers list, argued tooth and nail with coco, meds, potato, tantalum...Todd Bersnoozi wrote:ukcanuck wrote:Okay Todd now your just being silly, you don't really expect to bet against your own team and not get slapped for it do you?
But that aside,
No credibility? Seriously?
lets start with the handles, doc picks arguably the greatest movie ever made and a character by one of the comedic geniuses of the century if not ever...
You pick a disgraced hockey player with a criminal record (not that I don't have a soft spot for big Bert)
Doc needs no explanation nor any reference he is a total asshole
You on the other hand...well you bet against your own team.
Well, I haven't watched very many movies from that time, so I wouldn't know.
As for the handle, I have had it before Bert was a even a star and way before the whole incident.
I would agree to that. But, what about etiquette? Just because your anonymous on the internet, it allows u to be a jerk and finger ppl for nothing? I'll be the first to admit that I like acting like a tard sometimes online as well, but I still make it a point to treat others with respect and dignity.Doc needs no explanation nor any reference he is a total asshole
So what would u do if a guy gives u the finger? Maybe u don't care and would just leave. I decided to play along, have a lil fun with it and see what he'd do. The way I saw it, I'd be totally happy to be down $50 for a good cause and see boyz bring the cup to Vancity. To me it was a win-win. I did what I had to do.
Anyways, game time. Go Canucks Go!
It got nasty at times but meh, you learn, you don't take it personal, you forgive and forget and you move on.
Maybe try to find something funny to laugh at ...


text:
There's never been a better time
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Apply online today!
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24 Hours via Cardinal Card swipe. Notes:
Users must be inside Roush Hall before the building is locked at closing to access the lab after normal operating hours.
Units: 20 user workstations with Windows 7 plus 2 OSX iMac's. Hardware:
Lab Support
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Submit a Help Request
The Otterbein Web help desk system will allow you to submit requests, update requests, and search our FAQ database.
Log in now.
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Any emails of a suspicious nature should be forwarded to firstname.lastname@example.com or submitted as a helpdesk request.
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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


text:
Translate Something -- 2
Presupuesto $10-30 USD
I am looking for a freelancer to help me with my project. The skill required is Translation. I am happy to pay a fixed priced and my maximum budget is $55 USD. I have not provided a detailed description and have not uploaded any files.
19 freelancers están ofertando el promedio de $239 para este trabajo
I can make the translation for you Up to 80000 words All my work is reviewed by native speakers to perform a delivery 100% error-free. We can start as soon as you want. Feel free to contact me for any quest Más
Greetings.I am an English teacher with bachelor's degree as philologist.I am a native Turkish speaker.I have been doing translations for police,notary and court documents in my city for 5 years from English to Turkish Más
Hello! I am a bilingual journalist with vast experience in translation and proofreading of diverse content. I have worked for a couple of companies translating and managing their websites and contents. I am native Más
If you're looking for high quality professional translation and localization services to enable you to communicate accurately, we can provide translation services into and from over 180 languages, no matter the file or Más
i am lebanese american, i studied english-arabic translation, you didnt mention what languages you are seeking, if english and arabic is your request please contact me. thank you
Hello Sir/madam I am writing in response to your advertisement for a "Translate Something -- 2". After carefully reviewing the experience requirements of the job description, I feel that I am a suitable match for the Más
I draft documents & letters on a daily basis. Getting a piece of work out within the deadline to the satisfaction of my employers is my utmost priority.
I am a native English (US) speaker and can translate fluently Spanish. I agree to the terms as long as the project is not to long.


text:
© 2016 - Walt Disney Pictures
Running Time: 113 min.
Release Date: May 27, 2016
Current rating:
based on 104 votes and 26 reviews
Rate Movie | Read all user reviews
Cast: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Rhys Ifans, Matt Lucas, Ed Speleers, Sacha Baron Cohen, Stephen Fry, Toby Jones, Alan Rickman, Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Geraldine James
The clock is ticking and as we count down to 2017, we hope the new year brings us...
In the sequel to the 2010 Oscar-winning film Alice in Wonderland, Alice Through the...
Tuesdays are challenging. They're too close to the beginning of the week and too far...
You clicked. We crunched the numbers. And the second trailer for Me Before...


text:
Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc (ITCI) Jumps 8.75% on January 14Equities Staff Follow |
Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc (ITCI) was among the biggest gainers on the Russell 2000 for Thursday January 14 as the stock popped 8.75% to $43.75, representing a gain of $3.52 per share. Some 404,672 shares traded hands on 3,740 trades, compared with an average daily volume of 891,193 shares out of a total float of 43.02 million. The stock opened at $40.36 and traded with an intraday range of $44.40 to $39.31.
After today's gains, Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc reached a market cap of $1.88 billion. Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc has had a trading range between $60.79 and $17.95 over the last year, and it had a 50-day SMA of $52.56 and a 200-day SMA of $36.56.
Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company. The Company is engaged in discovery and clinical development of small molecule drugs that address underserved medical needs in neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders.
Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc is based out of New York, and has some 26 employees. Its CEO is Sharon Mates.
For a complete fundamental analysis analysis of Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc, check out Equities.com's Stock Valuation Analysis report for ITCI. To see the latest independent stock recommendations from Equities.com's analysts, visit our Research section.
The Russell 2000 is one of the leading indices tracking small-cap companies in the United States. It's maintained by Russell Investments, an industry leader in creating and maintaining indices, and consists of the smallest 2000 stocks from the broader Russell 3000 index.
Russell's indices differ from traditional indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) or S&P 500, whose members are selected by committee, because they base membership entirely on an objective, rules based methodology. The 3,000 largest companies by market cap make up the Russell 3000, with the 2,000 smaller companies making up the Russell 2000. It's a simple approach that gives a broad, unbiased look at the small-cap market as a whole.
For more news on the financial markets, go to Equities.com. Also, learn more about our independent proprietary equity research reports and our robust do-it-yourself Stock Valuation Analysis reports in our Research section.
All data provided by QuoteMedia and was accurate as of 4:30PM ET.
DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer


text:
Confused About Reverse Mortgages?
Sep 3, 2013
For some senior homeowners, a reverse mortgage may be an effective way to benefit from the money you've invested in your home over the years.
But, experts warn, it's important to fully understand the obligations of this loan product. "Some seniors and their families struggle to understand the obligations of a reverse mortgage," explains Rob Greenbaum, a director in Fannie Mae's marketing department.
Not meeting the conditions of your reverse mortgage may put your loan in default. This means the mortgage company can demand the reverse mortgage balance be paid in full and may foreclose and sell the property.
Finding Help
Fannie Mae now features educational information about reverse mortgages on this website. "We explain the responsibilities of a reverse mortgage and tell seniors how to get help if they're unable to pay property-related expenses or have other hardships," notes Greenbaum.
In the new section, you'll find contact information for reverse mortgage servicers and contact information for HUD-certified housing counseling agencies offering free assistance.
A housing counselor can help you review your financial situation and work with your mortgage servicer so you can repay any past-due expenses. In addition, your counselor will be able to refer you to other resources that might assist you in balancing your budget and retaining your home.
Finally, if you have someone helping you with your mortgage who may need to speak with your mortgage company or counselor, you'll need to sign an authorization allowing disclosure of your loan information or finances to a third party.


text:
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - Paul and Danek - FULL CONTACT
Latest Sets at MaleFeet4U.com
Our previews from malefeet4u.com today are two great looking guys, Jan Mikulec and Marek Koval. You can see their full shoots at www.malefeet4u.com.
If you haven't recently checked out the foot site, now is a good time to do so, Franky as completely redesigned it.
Also, thanks for the photo and video suggestions for foot fetish shoots. Please keep them coming by writing email@example.com
|Jan Mikulec
Open Jan Mikulec MaleFeet4U.com Set
More about Jan Mikulec - MaleFeet4U.com ...
|Marek Koval
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The End of William Higgins Newsletter


text:
Editor�s note: The Holiday Happenings originally published on Thanksgiving Day. Calendar items will appear, as space allows, in the Sunday Accent section through the holidays.
Mebane Community Choir will present �Messiah,� Christmas portions of George Frederic Handel�s master oratorio, 3 p.m. today, Mebane Presbyterian Church, 402 S. Fifth St., Mebane. Free. Event made possible in part with support from the Alamance County Arts Council.
Burlington Boys Choir�s 53rd annual Christmas Dessert concert, 7 p.m. Friday, Macedonia Evangelical Lutheran Church, 421 West Front St., Burlington. Directed by William Allred and accompanied by Woodson Faulkner. Free, with donations accepted.
Inaugural concert of the North State Chamber Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Front Street United Methodist Church, 136 S. Fisher St., Burlington. It will feature works by Mozart, Faure and Wagner as well as holiday favorites. Free. www.facebook.com/northstatechamberorchestra.
Jarrod Spector, star of the Broadway show �Jersey Boys,� will perform music from the 1950s to today, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, McCrary Theatre on the Elon University campus. $15, $25, $35 and $50. All proceeds benefit scholarship and financial aid for Elon School students. www.theelonschool.org.
Light displays
Lanes of Light, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. today, Twin Lakes community, 3701 Wade Coble Drive, Burlington. Admission is one canned good per person for Loaves & Fishes Christian Food Ministry Inc. (336) 524-9420.
Gerner Light Display, now through Jan. 1, 2013, 7147 Shoe Road, Burlington. Hours are 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Thousands of Christmas lights in memory of Charles D. Gerner, with proceeds going to the Hospice League of Alamance-Caswell. (336) 516-5330 or email email@example.com.
Triad Stage presents �A Christmas Carol,� today through Dec. 23, Pyrle Theater, 232 S. Elm St., Greensboro. $25. Visit triadstage.org or call (336) 272-0160.
Alamance Children�s Theatre presents �The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!� 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Paramount Theater, 128 E. Front St., Burlington. $8 for adults, $7 for students and $6 for groups of eight or more. (336) 222-TIXS.
Family events
Broom hockey, games at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday, ice skating rink at the Children�s Museum of Alamance County, 217 S. Main St., Graham. Free. (336) 513-5510 or www.grahamrecre ationandparks.com.
Skate with characters, Wednesday ice skating rink on the grounds of the Children�s Museum of Alamance County, 217 S. Main St., Graham. (336) 513-5510 or www.grahamrecre ationandparks.com.
Campfire night, Friday, Children�s Museum of Alamance County, 217 S. Main St., Graham. S�mores for sale, two for $1. (336) 513-5510 or www.graham recreationandparks.com.
Christmas in the Park, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Beth Schmidt Park, 434 Cook Road, Elon. Annual tree lighting and visit from Santa. (336) 449-9255.or elonnc.com.
A Cinnamon Christmas, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Alamance Battleground State Historic Site, 5803 N.C. 62 South, Burlington. Free, but donations are accepted. (336) 227-4785.
Cookies with Santa, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Children�s Museum of Alamance County, 217 S. Main St., Graham. $3 per child and includes a visit with Santa and photos emailed to you. (336) 513-5510 or www.grahamrecre ationandparks.com.
Crafts shows, art shows & demonstrations
25th annual Christmas at Captain White�s, Alamance County Arts Council, 213 S. Main St., Graham. This year�s event is nowthrough Dec. 24. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and the arts council is closed on Sundays. (336) 226-4495 or www.artsalamance.com.
20th annual Chatham Artists Guild Studio Tour, today and Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 9. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 50 artists studios are on the tour. Free. chathamartistsguild.org.
Christmas Tea and Greenery Sale, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. today, Alamance County Historical Museum, 4777 N.C. Hwy 62 South, Burlington. Admission is $5 for Holiday Tea. (336) 226-8254 or www.alamancemuseum.org.
The SaxArt Gallery�s Deck the Halls Annual Holiday Art Market, opens with a preview reception from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. today and artwork will be on display through Dec. 23 at the gallery located at 1616 Jordan Drive, Saxapahaw. (336) 525-2394 or www.saxapahawartists.com.
Glass blowing demonstration, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday presented by Ken Curtiss of Mocksville, Alamance County Arts Council, 213 S. Main St., Graham. (336) 226-4495 or www.artsalamance.com.
The Village of Saxapahaw Holiday Market, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, in Saxapahaw. www.saxapahawartists.com or (336) 525-2394.
Other events
Holiday Tour of Homes, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today, Twin Lakes Community, 3701 Wade Coble Drive, Burlington. Self-guided tour of homes. (336) 524-9420.
Christmas in Milton, 6 p.m. today, historic downtown Milton. Tree lighting ceremony and treats and refreshments. Free. www.miltonnc.com.
Humane Society of Alamance County�s Holiday Social, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Alamance County Arts Council (Captain White House), 213 S. Main St., Graham. (336) 226-4495.
Preservation Society of Chapel Hill�s 40th anniversary Holiday House Tour, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; tour of homes in the Franklin-Rosemary Historic District. $25 in advance and $30 the weekend of the tour. (919) 942-7818 or www.chapelhillpreservation.com.
Festival of Trees at Cedar Ridge Retirement Community, 2680 S. Mebane St., Burlington. Dinner and auction will auction will be held Saturday. (336) 229-2002; proceeds to benefit Hospice League of Alamance-Caswell.
Santa�s workshop, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Pleasant Grove Community Center. Free to participants of all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Register at (336) 263-9645 or www.countyrec.net.
Santa will be at the Hospice Flea Market Store, 1003 W. Main St., Haw River, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Goodies for children and photo opportunities with Santa. (336) 229-0490.
Christmas parades
Mebane Christmas Parade � 7 p.m. Friday in downtown Mebane. Rain date is Dec. 14. (919) 563-3629, ext. 2 or 3
Snow Camp Christmas Parade �11 a.m. Saturday; lineup at 10 a.m. Begins at Sylvan School. (336) 376-6948
Gibsonville Christmas Parade � 2 p.m. Saturday; in downtown Gibsonville. Rain date is Dec. 15. (336) 449-7241
Saxapahaw Christmas Parade, 3 p.m. Saturday. Will begin in the parking lot of Cornerstone Community Church. Rain date is Dec. 9. (336) 525-2101.


text:
Overview of Common Experience
In a large university, it would not seem possible to engage tens of thousands of people in shared consideration of a single topic, but Texas State is doing so.
The Common Experience brings students together to read and engage with a powerful text, explore related themes in University Seminar classes, write responses and reactions to the text in writing courses, participate in related symposia with scholarly panels, hear renowned and respected speakers address the topic, see films related to the Common Experience theme, explore the experience by way of the fine arts, engage in informal discussions in residence halls and coffee shops, and extend the exploration via the avenues of their own choosing.
For entering students, the Experience starts even before they do. The Common Experience text is distributed during New Student Orientation and students are encouraged to start reading it and to become involved by way of the Common Experience website. But Common Experience casts an even broader net, involving faculty, the San Marcos community which houses the University, and others interested in participating in a broad intellectual consideration of a different world-scope topic each year. These topics emerge from the competitive ideas of our own faculty, staff, and students which provides a dimension of ownership and increased involvement.
The Texas State Common Experience continues to evolve and embrace a new challenge and direction each year. The Common Experience is a good idea that has become a great tradition because it has not only given its participants a sense of how to approach issues they may have thought were someone else's business, but also how much power people working together can have.


text:
Poet and antique book aficionado Rose Elliot (Irene Miracle) finds an enigmatic tome entitled The Three Mothers in her local junk shop in New York. The book is the autobiography of an alchemist-cum-architect named Varelli who claims to have built three houses for the titular creatures--malevolent, mythological beings like the Fates, who poison the air and bring destruction to everyone around them. Unfortunately for her, Rose's apartment building just happens to be the home of Madre Tenebraum, the Mother of Darkness. After exploring the building's flooded basement and discovering proof of the Madre's residence (not to mention a very clingy drowned corpse), Rose decides she needs to call in some help.
That help is thousands of miles away in Rome, in the form of her brother, musicology student Mark (Leigh McCloskey). Upon receipt of his sister's letter detailing her troubles, Mark begins to experience strange phenomena himself--a mysterious green-eyed woman (Ania Pieroni) sits in on class, causing freak windstorms while stroking her big furry pussy...cat. Mark's friend Sara (Eleonora Giorgi) reads Rose's letter and goes to the local library to pick up a copy of The Three Mothers, only to be menaced by a bookbinder, picked up by a sports writer, and then stabbed in the spine by a scar-handed killer. Mark beats it to New York, where in the meantime his sister has been offed by another shadowy figure with the same sinister psoriasis. He befriends weirdo neighbor Elise (Daria Nicolodi) and journeys deep into the bowels of the Mother's abode, which as you might imagine stirs up all kinds of fragrant, freaky shit.
I've always been lukewarm on the work of Dario Argento--I mean, I appreciate his importance and his vision, but I've never been the raving fan of his stuff that others--notably his corpulence the Duke of DVD--are. Still, even a jaded critic like me has to admit that Inferno (1980) is absolutely stunning stuff. The director's trademark use of color, particularly his strong use of red and blue gels, consistently wows the viewer and lends the whole film a weird, dreamlike beauty. The opening scene with Rose swimming through the flooded subterranean ballroom is simply amazing. Stylistic camera placement and frame composition abound--in a favorite scene of mine, the camera seems to float on a breeze into the lecture hall where Mark is reading his sister's letter. The whole movie is just gorgeous to look at, and proves just how powerful Argento's vision can be. And the gore scenes, particularly the death of Sara's ill-fated pickup, are fantastic.
Story-wise, this is one of my favorite of Argento's films, perhaps only slightly behind the glorious MADness of Phenomena (1985). The middle of the Three Mothers trilogy, this one cements the supernatural mythology of the series and effectively conveys the vast power of these forgotten goddesses, or demons, or whatever they are. If there's any criticism to bring to bear, it's that at times the movie seems to lose its focus, jumping from Rose to Sara to Mark to Elise without ever settling fully on one protagonist. However, this could as easily be counted a strength of the film, whose real star is Argento's camera and the labyrinthine, expressionist nightmare that is Madre Tenebraum's house.
In short, wonderful stuff from an artist near the peak of his powers. 3 thumbs.
|Significant Stroking


text: Since the mid-1990s, the UMass Center for Industrial Competitiveness (CIC) has been known for its path-breaking research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Our research personnel work through collaborative networks in the North America, Asia, Europe, Australia, and Latin America. Our research and consulting on industrial competitiveness throughout the world provide us with a global perspective on regional development.


text:
hi all,
not sure this is a hardware problem but it might be.
got computer from work.we get rid of them as they get older.so i decided to take one home and do it for kids.
when i put it on had a password and bios password too.so i took batery out and waited few minutes and put it back and now i am stuck with screen which says to press delete to set up.when i did that nothing happened.
tried reboot, tried changing keyboard nothing f8 and things same thing is on the screen.
Dont know motherboard model because i didnt explored everithig yet but screen says:
award modular bios v6.00pg
intel 810 agp set bios for 6wmmc7
intel celeron 766mhz
can you download this bios?
is it anything else misssing there?
opened case and motherboard with integrated video and sound
memory 48
hd 20gb
sony cd
and sony floppy
any sugestions???


text: Graham Barker of Australia is a navel gazer. Or rather, he is a navel fluff gazer, as he is perhaps the world's only self-proclaimed navel fluff enthusiast (and "God-fearing weather-geek") . Barker has been collecting and cataloguing the dirt and lint found in his navel for 20 years (his entire collection is pictured on the left), and he is also dedicated to the research and theory behind the development of belly button trappings. Barker has found that those with hairy stomachs develop more fluff since the hairs trap fibers from clothes more easily. He has also found that those with larger stomachs produce a greater quantity of fluff since larger stomachs have bigger and deeper navels. [Mental Floss]