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Prepares yourselves for card-based global domination! EA studio Phenomic has just revealed details about the worldwide open beta test for their upcoming collectible card real-time strategy fantasy PC game BattleForge. The beta kicks off November 7th, with beta sign ups now live at www.battleforgecardhunt.com. North American players can guarantee themselves a slot by pre-ordering the game at the usual participating retailers.
"After three years in development, we are very excited to open the game to a mass audience and see how people play. It's going to be a great process watching players experience the revolutionary concept of creating their own armies and teaming up on a massive scale in RTS," said Volker Wertich, Creative Director.
The game features single player and co-op scenarios, but the real fun is sure to be found in PVP duels, where you can go one on one, two on two, four on four, or participate in massive 12 player battles. Yum.Phenomic Reveals Open Beta Details for BattleForge Gamers Worldwide Get Ready for the BattleForge Open Beta on November 7th REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Phenomic™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) studio, today announced that the open beta for BattleForge™ will begin on November 7th. In the open beta, fans from all over the world will be able to start collecting their favorite cards and experience magically-charged battles online. Players can register for the open beta at www.battleforgecardhunt.com. In North America, players are guaranteed access into the beta by pre-ordering BattleForge from participating retail partners. Developed in Ingelheim, Germany, BattleForge is an epic real-time strategy (RTS) fantasy game that combines the elegance of RTS gameplay with the collectability of trading cards in an online environment where friends can play together. BattleForge pioneers strategy gaming with its online multiplayer design and robust community. Players can get in the game by purchasing the title at retail in early 2009 and then take their game online to play with the larger BattleForge community. "After three years in development, we are very excited to open the game to a mass audience and see how people play. It's going to be a great process watching players experience the revolutionary concept of creating their own armies and teaming up on a massive scale in RTS," said Volker Wertich, Creative Director. In BattleForge, players use virtual trading cards to build the perfect army and lay waste to their foes. The cards are the tools of war each representing a unit, building or spell that is conjured directly onto the RTS battlefield. They enable you to customise and combine factions, and play with a unique army of your own design. With no base building and production queues BattleForge players are instantly immersed into fast-paced RTS action. BattleForge features single-player and cooperative scenarios as well as Player vs. Player ranked duels. Co-op battles are played in teams of two or four, or players can hurl themselves into epic 12 player battles for the greatest rewards. Players must work cooperatively to fulfill the mission and be victorious. Featuring action-packed co-op and PvP, the ability to build your own army, and robust community features like auction hall, direct trade and in-game mail, BattleForge offers unique RTS gameplay that is easy to learn, but hard to master. Developed at Phenomic, BattleForge will ship in Early 2009 for the PC. This product is not yet rated by PEGI or ESRB. For more information about the BattleForge open beta, visit www.BattleForge.com. 1 Requires online connectivity.


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A&M researchers now studying religion through funny Internet memes
The battle of the religious memes rages strong on timelines and Twitter feeds every day, and now researchers at Texas A&M have studied them.
Classics like "1 John" over a picture of a toilet were featured in a research paper called "Reading Religion in Internet Memes," which found that it's quite a skill to put them together.
The witty photo-and-text combos have become a language in themselves, researchers said. It's something that could potentially have its own Rosetta Stone course to learn it, it seems.
"Memes require an interesting level of literacy," said Heidi Campbell, associate professor of communication at A&M. "You need to understand visual images, have basic digital literacy, have a fluency in memes culture so you understand how different memes work."
And you need to know which side of the religious fence you sit on.
"They can be positive or critical," said Campbell.
Memes can swing wildly from supportive messages created by religious organizations themselves, to irreverant and sarcastic messages written by, shall we say, less religious folks.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery," proclaims one meme, followed by in big letters, "Sorry Joseph."
The word meme was apparently coined by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in 1976 who said a meme was an "idea, belief or behavior that is spread through a given culture or social system through social or information sharing."
Whole genres have sprung up, like the Lolcats memes which sprung from the famous "I can haz cheezburger" meme.
Another trend highlighted is the Sean Bean/Boromir memes based on his famous line from Lord of the Rings, "One does not simply walk into Mordor" which birthed hundreds of "one does not simply..." spin-offs.
Researchers note that the inauguration of the new Pope last year was a major event in the meme world.
"There was a ton of memes that were produced in just a few days during the process, you can watch over a 72 hour period the whole debate unfold," Campbell said.
Houston's own major meme event was the polar vortex icepocaplyse of 2014, during which Houstonians used the language of the meme to express a vast array of ideas in a short time.
Perhaps the most memorable, the irony-drenched Star Wars parody which featured HanSolo and Luke Sykwalker setting out in the snow, with the words, "We're going to H.E.B., want anything?" underneath.

subset: commoncrawl


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Luxurious Champagne bucket set in Azul Macaubas
Luxurious and big Champagne bucket set sculpted by hand from a solid block of Azul Macaubas.
The set consisting of 1 Champagne bucket, 1 circular plate and 4 circular coasters. Polished finishing.
Limited edition of 50. Signed and numbered by hand. Certificate of Authenticity.
Champagne bucket dimensions: D26 H41 cm
Plate dimensions: D22 H 1.2 cm
Coaster dimensions: D10 H 0.8 cm
Azul Macaubas
Marble is a natural material, every piece is unique as each marble block is different in veins and color shades. All of our creations are handmade by Italian artisans and can slightly vary in shape and size. This is to be considered as a guarantee of a handmade object. Every piece is signed by hand.
Marble is sensitive to liquids of acid nature. Contact, especially if prolonged, with substances such as wine, lemon, vinegar, fruit juices, cola and alcohol can stain the surface. Cleaning should be carried out with a soft sponge, water and neutral detergent. Do not use metallic or abrasive sponges, do not wash in dishwasher, do not use in microwave. After hand-rinsing the marble, its color can undergo variations due to the humidity trapped in the superficial micro-pores. Once fully dried, it will regain its original color.
Pieruga objects are made of precious marbles and natural onyxes. Each piece is different from another, it will have its own color tones, veins and nuances. This feature makes each piece unique and precious.
Marble is sensitive to liquids of acid nature, especially a prolonged contact with substances such as wine, lemon, vinegar, fruit juices, cola and alcohol can stain the surface. Cleaning should be carried out with a soft sponge, water and neutral detergent.
Pieruga is a project very dear to us since, spending some time in Carrara working on a sculpture, we realized how much knowledge and skills of the ancient tradition are slowly being lost. Our reflection starts from the marble, a natural material that comes from bygone times and still accompanies us in everyday life, in work, in art, a material that knows how to adapt continuously to the needs of man.
Pieruga proudly creates elegant accessories and complements in marble through artisanal processes, bringing into dialogue ancient techniques of sculpture with advanced technologies. 100% made in Italy.
Our mission is a clear signal of opposition to the enormous waste that occurs in the extraction and processing of large blocks of marble, tons of material are discarded and thrown, in disfigurement to the generosity of our mountains. Few marble pieces are really useless nowadays, creativity and intelligent design are here to turn objects or materials which seem waste into something new and useful. Especially in a world where resources are scarce. Rediscovering the ancient art of manual sculpture we give new life to even the smallest fragment of marble, bringing to light its millenary beauty that is lost in more than 2000 years of architecture and sculpture.


text: On virtually any street corner in Mexico you can find people gathering amongst the aromas of fresh tortillas, wood smoke, roasted vegetables, toasted chili and grilled meats. The crowds are brought together by the work of a small group of family members who sell traditional street food from a tiny cantina, a mobile food cart, or a makeshift street stall. Although the menus they offer are small and the preparations simple, the flavours are unforgettable. Everything is fresh and the food is eaten from a couple of napkins. The goal is to stay true to a style that has existed for generations. My brother and I opened Chingón as a celebration of the flavours, music and décor that we grew up with. We invite you to explore the venue, talk to the chefs and ask any questions you may have. We view Chingón as a continuation of our home and thank you for visiting us.


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A portrait of male pubescence in grotesque free-fall. A junk-art mirror-image of the sickness festering in the future of society. Larry Clarke's 11 apostles. Music's last punk band. Now, no more. We're in the realms of novelty as of OF Tape Vol 2, with the novelty in scant supply. In the field of shock art, there's a fine conceptual line separating a faecal-based art installation and a load of old shit. Odd Future are over that line and away.
It's difficult to pinpoint exactly when on OF Tape Vol 2 the collective stop being transgressive art and crossed the border into puerile trash. Less abstract, less experimental, and less absurdist in tone, OF's first post-fame collaboration is a definitively less 'artsy' offering. But thats not it; there's more than that to separating provocative art from bad taste dreck. But somewhere between the clumsy, turgid crunk; the tedious skits; the chintzy bass tracks; the witless, over-egged comedy, and Tyler's banally literalist, increasingly uninspired bouts of self-examination, the collective lost their shock-art mojo; that ability to challenge the way you think about the nature of western culture, by means of extremity. Put simply, the music has lost its power.
The problem lies mainly with the move away from macabre synth-rap to languid r'n'b - exampled in Tyler's 'Her' on Goblin - which underwrites the vast majority of the tracks here. On one level the genre makes for a pitch dampening, tepid and pace-slowing foundation, compared to the cauterizing punk misanthropy that defined Bastard - an album of staggeringly violative fare, both outrageous and alien, as is how transgressive art should be. The absence of tracks like 'Sandwitches', 'Oblivious', 'French' and 'Splatter' has stripped the collective of their exotic indie-rap otherworldliness, their outsider danger; with the r'n'b substituted in to normalise their sound. It also stinks of the collective pandering to their idols in the mainstream game: arguably they've compromised here, in order to conform, when what they should have done is stick to their guns. Because what they had before was precious and ephemeral: the dark energy of dispossessed youth. A quality that is out of reach for their grown up idols.
On another level, however, in terms of a vehicle for the delivery of misogynistic content, lascivious soul-funk is a discomfortingly matter-of-fact mode of presentation. The air of unreality provided by the old horror rap aesthetic rendered OF's extreme misogyny pure fantasy. But without that cloud of illusory macabre, what was once art becomes something mundanely real, and thusly humdrum, in the ugliest way possible: like daytime soaps, reality TV - trash basically. But not by any stretch of the imagination, art.
Shock art is only art if it announces itself as such, loudly so we're sure. Yet the nonchalant way that reprehensible content is delivered here is as if oblivious of that conceptual delineation. It sounds casually anecdotic, like a would-be rapist bragging over late-night elevator muzak. And the abiding impression is of youngsters so desensitized they don't even know that it's wrong.
Problems continue in the shape of the production. Indie hip-hop is on the brink of a production golden age, with the arrival of the octi-limbed Shabazz Palaces, cloud-rap pioneers Main Attrackionz, the data-damaged Death Grips and the rise of the LA beat scene. By contrast, the self- produced OF Tape Vol 2 seems pedestrian, basic and, most of all, uninspired. OF are in dire need of a professional producer. Not only for the purposes of technical sophistication and, ideally, quality control, but also to provide cohesion - to mastermind the central unifying idea of OF, if there is one. Before, their no-fi approach worked, of a piece with their gonzo punk harshities. But smooth r'n'b, along with the various genres dabbled in here, demand high-quality composition and immaculate production in order to work. And inexplicably absent is The Jet Age's anticon-indebted stuff; the discombobulated avant-beat fare that before represented the production vanguard of the collective.
OF Tape Vol 2's 18 tracks range from the tacky to the middling. Lounge funk duo The Internet score with the classy and atmospheric, if typically undisciplined 'Ya Know,' while the seedily hallucinogenic 'Sam (Is Dead)' profits from murder-fi synths and an on-form Tyler. 'H Cap'd', meanwhile, uses 808 drums and a Wagnerian-level trumpet to formidable effect, while 'Rella', with its barbaric synth line and deranged tone, courses with terrible glee. Frank Ocean's angelic 'White' is predictably diamond-encrusted, while 'Snow White' is tense and glowering, alternating schizophrenically between Neptunes-esque synthwork and an insistent, sheer beat. Elsewhere, 'P' sees a real return to form, a perfect balance of skulking hip-hop and psychotropic effects. The rest is awful, like truly dismal, cheap and nasty crap; from the amateurish crunk on 'We Got Bitches' and '50' to the reedy r'n'b of 'Analog 2' and 'Real Bitch'; from the preset hip-hop of 'NY (Ned Flander)' and the insipid 'Bitches', to the unaccomplished coke-rap trappings of 'Forest Green', right the way up to interminable 10 minute long closer, 'Oldie'- a one-note, dragging and heinously dull meeting of all 11 members.
By the end you yearn for the old days; the rooted, the real, the soulful and the principled; the sturdiness of Nineties rap, the human-ness of a Nas or a Tupac - artists who OF once provided illicit, almost modernist salvation from - their nihilism, moral ambivalence, and apparent of souless-ness forming the antidote to hip hop rootsiness: earnestness, street moralising and community spiritualism. A cold (odd) future-shock. But over the course of OF Tape Vol 2, souless-ness has curdled into banality. And the only thing you really are left with is a vague impression that little boys grow up too fast in Fairfax, CA; and an interrupted childhood begets a type of retarded masculinity. For the first time in their combined 15 albums they sound like nothing more that a bunch of kids who can't believe their good luck. And on OF Tape Vol 2, neither can we.
4John Calvert's Score


text: Adult costumes : Vegaoo.co.uk sells fancy dress for women and men. Become the character you have ever wanted to be, classical or original, you will find what you are looking for from a large range of funny costumes, retro or sexy. Thanks to Vegaoo.co.uk have a great party at best prices.


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Fabian Siegel necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 286 diseños de 93 diseñadores freelance.
We are a new NY based startup that is working on making check-ins worthwhile.
We have started a couple of companies before - this one get's us all excited these days.
Rewaards is targeting consumers like you and me that need their regular coffee fix as well as local merchants that want to establish a better relationship with their customers.
This is how Rewaards will work: Visit your local coffee/sandwich/clothing/etc. shop, upon check-out simply pull up your phone, tap it (or send a txt) against the Rewaards base station and your are one step closer to your free coffee/sandwich/voucher/etc.
Rewaards is an iPhone app that will give you rewards for check-in to your favorite places and allows you to publish this to your friends, too (via Facebook, Foursquare, Gowalla etc.).
We need you to design our logo for us.
Our logo should be primarily focused on the end customer (you and me). It should express the following thoughts:
- Rewaards is friendly
- Rewaards is easy and fun to use
- Rewaards gives me rewards from my favorite merchants
- Rewaards allows me to check-in to places
- Rewaards is something I use with my mobile phone
- Rewaards helps me to discover new places and new deals
The logo needs to be horizontally aligned (it should fit into a lying rectangle).
Attached document shows early wireframes. 'Bump me' is the placeholder where the logo would go. You do not need to follow the color scheme in the attachment.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Matthew 24 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Signs of Christ's Return
24 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away [a]when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. 2 And He said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down."
3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the [b]end of the age?"
4 And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the [c]Christ,' and will mislead many. 6 You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
9 "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 At that time many will [d]fall away and will [e]betray one another and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, [f]most people's love will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole [g]world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Perilous Times
15 "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 [h]Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 18 [i]Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. 22 Unless those days had been cut short, no [j]life would have been saved; but for the sake of the [k]elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the [l]Christ,' or '[m]There He is,' do not believe him. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will [n]show great [o]signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the [p]elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the wilderness,' do not go out, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe them. 27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the [q]vultures will gather.
The Glorious Return
29 "But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from [r]the sky, and the powers of [s]the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His [t]elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
Parable of the Fig Tree
32 "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, [u]recognize that [v]He is near, right at the [w]door. 34 Truly I say to you, this [x]generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For [y]the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not [z]understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then there will be two men in the field; one [aa]will be taken and one [ab]will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the [ac]mill; one [ad]will be taken and one [ae]will be left.
Be Ready for His Coming
42 "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 But [af]be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be [ag]broken into. 44 For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
45 "Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his [ah]master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his [ai]master finds so doing when he comes. 47 Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that evil slave says in his heart, 'My [aj]master [ak]is not coming for a long time,' 49 and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; 50 the [al]master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, 51 and will [am]cut him in pieces and [an]assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Cross references:
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
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Extra_Muros: Time Drifts
Place des festivals
The Berlin-based artist Philipp Geist has developed his video installation 'Time Drifts' for the square Place des Festivals next to the Contemporary Art Museum in Montreal. In his installation Geist interprets the themes of space and time. He avoids using canvases and projects directly on parts of the facade, on the ground of the whole square, on stairs, and on fog streaming into the square. Words are projected onto the ground, and they are reflected into the fog. Fog is, similar to time, always in a flux, you cannot hold or keep it. This concept refers to the characteristics of museums and to their function as a place for conservation and for providing the visitor with both facts and imaginations: the dissolving projection ground symbolizes the fragmentary knowledge and understanding of life in the past and present, but knowledge is also secured and preserved in the form of text, clearly visible on the concrete.
- Date
June 02, 2010 21:00 - June 06, 2010 02:30
- Venue
Place des festivals
Jeanne-Mance between St-Catherine and de Maisonneuve
Montréal, Canada


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"We can do no great things, only small things with great love."
— Mother Teresa
It's no secret that caring for the environment is one of my passions. After all, I'm "crunchy" and I don't mean in milk. 😉 I don't claim to live a perfectly green lifestyle, but I do the best that I can in the moment. I try to lead by example and inspire others to do what they can too.
We all have our different shades of green. There are some of us who are light green – just starting to go green and tentatively taking those first baby steps. There are others of us who are a darker shade and have been at it for years, but are still finding new ways to better our lives and the environment. Then there are those of us who are dark green — the uber-greenies who leave the rest of us in awe at their green awesomeness. You know who you are (though are probably not reading my blog, LOL). 😉
Regardless of your shade of green, I'm a firm believer that you don't have to do it ALL to have a positive impact on the Earth. Every little bit adds up.
That's why I'm excited to introduce you to One Million Acts of Green (OMAOG) — a resource that, once you register or connect via Facebook, allows you to log various "Acts of Green" and then see the positive impact you are having on the environment. Your Acts of Green are broken down into Greenhouse Gases Saved and what that equates to in terms of how many cars taken off the road for a year, how many trees plants, and how many lightbulbs replaced. I think its cool – in a geeky green-kinda way – to see just what the impact is of closing your curtains on a hot summer day, taking public transportation, or setting up a compost bin. It reaffirms to me that the little choices, as well as the big choices I make make a difference.
Why One Million Acts of Green?
In October 2008, Cisco launched One Million Acts of Green in Canada to show that individual, organizational, and community acts of green add up to something significant. Today, it is officially launching in the United States. The idea is that your act of green will inspire other acts, and other people.
Here's how it works:
Once you've registered, find an Act that you'd like to complete to learn more about it. You can "Pledge" to complete an act or simply do it, depending on the Act that you've chosen. Once it's been completed, OMAOG will calculate the greenhouses gases that the Act has saved and add it to your individual, country and worldwide totals.
Some Fun and Easy Ways to Get Started with One Million Acts of Green
Green U is a program meant for the newbie greenies – those who want to live a greener lifestyle, but are overwhelmed and don't know where to start. Green U offers a list of 20 simple Acts to get you on your way.
The Three to Green Sweepstakes offers participants a chance to win a $5000 "green" shopping spree at BuyGreen.com. For every three Acts of Green you complete, you get an entry into the contest. The more Acts you complete, the more entries you receive!
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
— Lao-tzu
Are you ready to take that single step?
Sign up on One Million Acts of Green. Register or connect via Facebook and get started logging your Green Acts and making them count towards the goal of the United States completing One Million Acts of Green! Feel free to let me know if you have any questions too. I'll be sharing more about OMAOG in the weeks ahead.
Disclosure: Rockfish/CISCO One Million Acts of Green is compensating me for my time on this project. As always, all words and opinions are my own.


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University of Hawaii, Shidler College of Business and Vietnam's largest bank sign multi-year partnership for training
Shidler College of Business is part of the $4 billion in business partnerships signed between Vietnam and U.S. organizationsUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Shidler College of Business
HONOLULU - The Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has signed a cooperative partnership for training with the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development (VBARD). Representatives of the University signed the partnership agreement with Mr. Nguyen The Binh, CEO of VBARD. The signing ceremony was attended by the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Nguyen Minh Triet, at the New York St. Regis Hotel on June 19, 2007. President Triet led a senior level government delegation to visit the United States from June 18 — 23. During his state visit, Vietnamese executives from over 100 companies will sign cooperative agreements valued at more than $4 billion.
This partnership is the first step in a projected long-term collaboration between the parties. Based on the success of the initial program between the College and VBARD, a multi-year and
multi-million dollar formal agreement for future programs will be developed.
VBARD, established in 1988, is the largest state-owned commercial bank in Vietnam. As the largest partner of international development projects with microfinance components (World Bank and Asian Development Bank), VBARD has total assets of US$2.7 billion, 5 million clients, 2,500 branches and over 30,000 employees.
The Shidler College of Business Executive Education Center will provide training in the following areas: human resources development, training and updating skills in international
payment, credit card management, treasury activities and investment management, and modern banking practices.
Shidler's Executive MBA is the first AACSB accredited degree program in Vietnam. It has been reported that graduates from the Vietnam Executive MBA program control about 25 percent of Vietnam's GDP. After seven years of successful operation in Hanoi, the Vietnam Executive MBA will be expanded to Ho Chi Minh City starting this Fall. For more information, visit www.shidler.hawaii.edu.
About the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa
Established in 1949 as the College of Business Administration, the College was named in 2006 after alumnus Jay H. Shidler, founder and managing partner of The Shidler Group. The Shidler College of Business is renowned for its expertise in international management education and is consistantly ranked among the nation's top 25 graduate schools for international business by U.S. News & World Report. Long recognized for its Asia-Pacific focus, the College is a professional school, offering a wide variety of degree, certificate and executive programs. The College places a strong emphasis on the development of management skills, entrepreneurship and the management of business information technology. The UH Shidler College of Business is the only graduate program in the State of Hawai'i accredited by AACSB International. For more information, visit www.shidler.hawaii.edu.
For more information, visit: http://www.shidler.hawaii.edu


text:
"The Bachelor" family said goodbye to one of their own on Sunday night.
During "The Bachelor: Countdown to Juan Pablo" special, the long-running franchise took a moment to pay tribute to Gia Allemand, a former contestant who tragically died in August after losing critical brain and organ function following an apparent suicide attempt.
Allemand, a fan favorite during Jake Pavelka's season of the "Bachelor" and later on "Bachelor Pad," was remembered by the show through a touching tribute video, which featured clips of the reality star talking about how she hoped to be remembered and her desire to start a family in the future.
U.S. & World
LOOK: Gia's five best moments on "The Bachelor"
During the emotional tribute, a clip of Allemand during her time as a contestant was shown.
"I just hope people remember my kind heart," she said. "I have a kind heart for people. That's what I hope people remember me for."
Later in the clip, Allemand revealed her desire to one day start a family. "I want two kids, and I want to adopt a baby girl from China," she said. (Allemand was dating NBA player Ryan Anderson prior to her death.)
Allemand's mother Donna Micheletti also took part in the touching tribute, saying, "Gia took her own life and it is heart wrenching and I wouldn't want to see any other parent go through this. There is plenty of help for everyone. I just miss her. Gia was always full of such life, and she'd walk into a room and you'd feel her presence. She'd light up that room like sunshine."
After Allemand's death, Pavelka appeared on "Dr. Phil" to talk about how much she meant to him during his time on the ABC show's 14th season.
"I've never lost anybody close to me," the reality star said. "Gia really understood me. We got really close after the show. We had such a special relationship. I can't tell you how lucky I feel that I knew her, but I wish it was not for such a short time, because I've never met anybody like her."
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).


text: Hi. I'm a newbe. Bought a new Chrysler 300 and Sirius and best of XM was included. My question is: When will Sirius announce a list of stations playing christmas music? I called the toll free number and the operator didn't have a clue. She said it could be found on a directory at the web site. I never found it. Help.


text:
My PostGIS database contains OSM data from my country. For transportation reasons I want to export a spatial view I created from that data to a SpatiaLite database.
Is there any way to directly extract my PostGIS view to a SpatiaLite db without resorting to a man-in-the-middle (shapefile then SQLite) solution?
Im using Ubuntu Linux, with PostGIS 2.1 GDAL 191.
Here's a single cmd to export to shapefile:
ogr2ogr -f "ESRI Shapefile" <name-of-folder-to-be-created> \
PG:"dbname=dbname user=username password=pass" \
-sql "<sql query eg> select * from database where <whatever>"
If you get a getsrid(geom) error, load in your database the
psql -f /path/to/legacy.sql


text:
Vigo 5.75 oz. Stuffed Manzanilla Olives
Manzanilla olives have a mild, yet fruity taste, and are the most popular green olives exported from Spain. They are a small oval shaped fruit with delicate smooth skin. Stuffed Manzanilla Olives are pitted and then stuffed with minced pimento, and brined. These olives can be eaten straight from the jar or added to a main dish, sandwich, salad or relish tray.
Product Specifications
Product Info
- Country of Origin: Spain and/or Argentina
- Packed in: USA
- Best By Date/Location: DDMMMYYYY; On the side of the jar. Above the label
- Serving Suggestions:
Please note that product information does change from time to time and the most up to date information may not always be reflected on this website. Please refer to the actual product packaging for the most up to date and accurate information.


text:
Wicking Good Short Sleeve T-Shirt, L
- Zoro #: G0504233
- Mfr #: TB0A111WD67
- Item: Wicking Good Short Sleeve T-Shirt,L
- Country of Origin (subject to change): Guatemala
Orders over $50 ship free.
- Shipping & Returns
Free Shipping on Orders Over $50
Shipping shouldn't be complicated. That's why you won't be charged for standard ground shipping on orders over $50—no picking charges, packing charges, or handling fees. Certain restrictions apply.
No-Hassle Returns
If you are not satisfied for any reason products may be returned within 30 days of shipment for a full credit or exchange. Certain restrictions apply.If you have any questions please call our customer service department at 855‑BUY-ZORO (855-289-9676).
- Sign up for Zmail and get 10% off your first order
Timberland Pro #TB0A111WD67 Specifications
|Item: Wicking Good Short Sleeve T-Shirt,L
|Country of Origin (subject to change): Guatemala
Help us improve our product information
Wicking Good Short Sleeve T-Shirt


text:
Surf-Forecast.com provides surf forecast and surf reports for over 7,000 of the world's best surf spots. We also provide surfers, windsurfers & kite surfers with wave maps, wind maps and a custom e-mail surf and wind alert system. Also check out the beach cams, wind forecast and our local Wave Finder before going surfing.
St. Augustine Beaches
St. Augustine's beaches stretch from Vilano Beach north of the city to Crescent Beach in the south. The Intracoastal Waterway naturally divides the mainland from the barrier islands with their are miles of gorgeous coastline with many public areas for beach recreation and relaxation.
Among the things to do in our fair city, visiting St. Augustine's beaches are often at the top of the list. St Augustine's beaches provide a variety of options, from idyllic State Parks to public beaches only a block or two from restaurants. You can choose to spend a day at gorgeous, unspoiled Anastasia State Park, where no cars are allowed on the beach, or drive a bit farther south to St. Augustine Beach where cars are allowed in designated areas. When your day at the beach is done, be sure to check out the great local bars and restaurants that line A1A, "Beachfront Avenue."
Observe beach rules for safety and to preserve the natural habitats. Keep in mind that no alcohol or glass is allowed on the beach itself. Also, pets must be kept on a leash. Personal watercraft vehicles must be launched from area boat ramps and not directly from the beach.
Handicapped Beach Wheelchairs
St. Johns County has three wheelchairs specially designed to roll on the sand so that everyone in your family can experience the fun of the beach. Rentals are free and the county will even drop the chair off to you on the beach. Just call the St. Johns County Beach Services Department at (904) 209-0752 to request one of the three available chairs for your visit. They are given out on first come, first serve basis. You can choose delivery (applies to any beach in St. Johns County) or pick one up at 901 Pope Road, St. Augustine, FL 32080.
Crescent Beach
Crescent Beach is located in the southern area of St. Johns County. It is situated on Anastasia Island, a wildlife refuge. This beach offers a serene, natural setting and is a great place for beachcombers. It is one of the most scenic, unspoiled beaches in Florida. Crescent beach offers boating, diving, fishing, and many other attractions. It is convenient to excellent RV and camping facilities.
Location: Just south of the intersection at A1A and State Road 206 about 15 minutes south of historic downtown St. Augustine.
St. Augustine Beach.
St. Augustine Beach is located on Anastasia Island where you can enjoy white sand beaches, the St. Johns County Pier, a playground, pavilion, fishing pier, volleyball courts, bait shops, fine restaurants, shopping and more. RV and cabin camping areas are located nearby. Vehicles are permitted on the beach within designated areas.
Location: Old A1A Beach Boulevard south of State Road 312 at the St. Johns County Pier, less than five minutes from downtown St. Augustine.
Anastasia State Park and Recreation Area
Anastasia State Recreation Park is a protected bird sanctuary and consists of 1,700-acres and five miles of beautiful, sandy beaches. It features swimming, lifeguards, a bath house, hiking, nature trails, a boat ramp, fishing, a volleyball court, beach equipment rentals such as umbrellas and beach chairs, canoes, nature trails, grills and picnic areas, concessions, a covered pavilion, gift shops, playgrounds, and camping. Vehicles are prohibited from driving on the beach in this area.
Location: 1340 A1A South between the St. Augustine Lighthouse and the Surf Station approximately one mile from the Bridge of Lions on Anastasia Island. Phone: (904) 461-2033. Hours and Admission fees: Hours are generally 8:00 am until sundown, unless camping overnight. Admission is $8.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle. $4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle. $2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.
Vilano Beach
This serene beach is a local "best-kept secret" offering a wide variety of vacation rentals, lodging, waterfront restaurants, the Vilano Beach Fishing Pier, parasailing and Sea Doo rentals and several parks. Be sure to visit Surfside Park, at 3070 Coastal Highway, and enjoy a picnic shelter, beach access and outside showers. You can charter a deep sea fishing boat or a sailboat from this area. Vehicles are permitted on the beach within designated areas.
Location: North A1A just over the Usina Bridge, less than five minutes from historic downtown St. Augustine.
North (Usina) Beach
North Beach offers a serene oceanside environment and two campsites. Enjoy the ocean and the Intracoastal waterway. North Beach features great seafood restaurants, boat ramps, a picnic area with grills, restrooms and showers.
Location: North A1A just past Vilano Beach, approximately five minutes from downtown St. Augustine.
South Ponte Vedra Beach
South Ponte Vedra Beach is located in northern St. Johns County and just south of Ponte Vedra, which is home base for the PGA Tour, the Players Championship each spring, and the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour. You'll find many resorts, upscale shopping opportunities and parks. However, beach access is limited and no vehicles are permitted on the beaches.
Location: North A1A about 20 minutes from downtown St. Augustine.
Guana River State Park
Guana River State Park is a 2,000 acre sanctuary for endangered species. Recreational activities are many and varied. It features two public beach access facilities, consisting of parking lots and associated dune crossover boardwalks, along a 4.2 mile stretch of otherwise undeveloped beach on the Atlantic Ocean. Swimming, sunbathing, surfing, fishing, shelling and other traditional beach activities are enjoyed here. Pets are prohibited on the beach, but are allowed in other areas of the park on a six-foot, handheld leash. There are no overnight camping facilities or developed picnic areas. For a calendar of events or more information, visit their web site.


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Stefan Bradl has to get ready for the Corkscrew at the upcoming MotoGP at Laguna Seca somehow, so he took his Honda and went down San Francisco's legendary Lombard Street. Here's his POV.
The German rider is in his first year in 1,000cc bikes, having been bumped up after winning the 2011 Moto2 championship. This year will also be his first big race at Laguna Seca, so the trip to the ultra-twisty Lombard Street makes sense. The tourist trap road has no less than eight hairpins, though none are quite the same high-G rollercoaster that is the Corkscrew.
After the PR-gasm of the Lombard ride, Bradl went over to Stanford with his team owner Lucio Cecchinello for a conference on how racers understand and handle risk. You can watch the whole lecture, titled "Embracing Risk in the Pursuit of Victory," here.
Now he just has to see if Red Bull can get him some space to go jump drifting through the rest of town.
Photo Credit: Cameron Baird / Red Bull


text:
Sitenotice: 11/29/2018: The wiki is back. It turns out, some anti-virus product on my web server had an issue with the latest version of PHP. My server techs have resolved this issue, and things should be working again. During the investigation, I did restore to a backup from September. There is a chance that any changes done since then were lost, but I do not recall any edits. --OS-9 Al
8/30/2016: Massive re-work is being done on the InfoBox Templates. Read that page to keep up with the plan for that, and adding better keyword tags (categories) to all the pages. --OS-9 Al (talk) 15:28, 31 August 2016 (CDT)
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text:
Not that I have any sympathy for them, but I wouldn't want to be the execs (former execs) at USProtect right now. You know, they're the guys who bribed a GSA employee with cash and cruises and landed $100 million+ in federal contracts? Yeah, those guys. Anyway, they're getting what's coming to them. As in: The Maryland U.S. attorney's office is seeking $6.9 million and property from a bank account owned by a Silver Spring security company whose former executive has admitted bribing a government official to secure $130 million in contracts. Federal prosecutors filed the forfeiture claim yesterday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore against USProtect, formerly called Holiday International Security, which provided guards for 18 federal agencies at 120 installations in 32 states and territories. USProtect is also now in bankruptcy filings, so if they owe you money, fat chance seeing it. As in, if you're a guard working for them, your paycheck is going to bounce. I'm kind of shocked the Baltimore Sun is the only real mainstream outlet covering this story. It seems ripe for the Dateline treatment, if you ask me - fat government contracts, bribery, everybody's fessed up.
Vultures swarm around USProtect carcass
This blog, by Paul Ragusa, the editor of Security Systems News, offers thoughts, news, and a forum for discussion for those who work in and around the physical security industry, integrating and installing security systems in North America.


text:
Atheist Alliance International is condemning the jail sentence for Alexander Aan. Aan is the Indonesian man who wrote "god does not exist" on a facebook page, and has now been sentenced to 2½ years in prison for blasphemy. I'm mentally adding up the number of years I'd get for Pharyngula…I'm just relieved I'm not posting from Indonesia.
The whole ruling is confused and inconsistent, but that's what religion does to you. Here's an interview with a newspaper editor that's also confusing: he can't come out and say that there's a problem with this decision, and I can't tell whether it's because he agrees with it or he's afraid to say. The comment about the problem being that they are extending tolerance to intolerant groups (the Muslims) suggests that maybe he is seeing the problem, but is being cautious in expressing it.
The Indonesian constitution mandates freedom of religion, but requires everyone to have a religion. Right. They have a little discussion about Indonesia's reputation as a tolerant place…I'm sorry, I don't see it. If they ever had such a reputation, it's gone now.


text:
Cuba's easing of travel signals a sea change of hope
- The government can still deny visas -- such as to scientists or people facing charges
- Question is%2C if Cubans are allowed to leave in droves%2C what countries will receive them%3F
- New rules could prompt Washington to rethink 50-year-old embargo on the island and its own travel restrictions
MIAMI -- The stories of past Cuban migrations to the United States are filled with harrowing tales at sea.
The 1980 Mariel Boatlift saw U.S. watercraft packed with more than 100,000 Cubans fleeing the island. The rafter crisis of 1994 saw tens of thousands more braving the 90-mile voyage across the Florida Straits on inner tubes, Styrofoam vessels and cars converted into floating barges.
Starting Monday, a new kind of migration commences as the communist government eliminates a long-standing restriction on Cubans' ability to leave the country, with its population of more than 11 million. And this time, instead of pushing out to sea and riding the Gulf Stream, the route to the U.S. could take Cubans on a meandering tour of foreign airports, visa offices and difficult land crossings.
Yoani Sanchez, a popular blogger in Havana, said most Cubans have been eagerly awaiting this day since the government announced the change in October. She said people on the island are positioned like runners crouched into the starting blocks on a track.
"On your mark, get set, go," Sanchez, 37, said in a telephone interview. "The majority of Cubans are very enthusiastic about this."
The change could significantly alter the complicated relationship between the governments of the United States and Cuba, a half-century-old feud that nearly ignited a nuclear war and has even outlived the Cold War that spawned the standoff.
Americans have long called on Cuba to grant more freedoms to its people, so the new rules could prompt Washington to rethink its 50-year-old embargo on the island and restrictions on most Americans from traveling there. If the new rules lead to another mass migration, President Obama and Congress may need to alter the policy granting most Cubans legal status once they touch U.S. soil.
Cuba experts want to see whether all Cubans will truly be free to travel before having those discussions, because they fear that the changes could just be a ploy by Cuban President Raúl Castro to win more concessions from an Obama administration that has already eased restrictions for Americans traveling to Cuba.
"They're not doing this because the Castro brothers became nice guys all of a sudden," Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., whose family fled Cuba, said of Raúl Castro and his brother, Fidel Castro, who ran the country for five decades before falling ill and stepping down in 2008.
In the October announcement — where they revealed that Cubans no longer need to obtain an elusive exit visa to make any trip off the island — officials made clear that the government could still deny travel to Cubans for reasons of defense, national security and "other reasons of public interest." The new rules specifically forbid people involved in "economic development," scientists and people facing criminal charges to leave. Cubans must also have a valid Cuban passport, so applying for and renewing one could prove another obstacle.
During a meeting two weeks ago with Health Minister Roberto Morales, the nation's health care professionals were told that they would benefit from the new travel rules, according to the Associated Press. But most Cubans won't know until they try to leave.
"Whenever they make a decision like this, you never know what's behind it, what the motivations are," said Mario Soler, 46, a Cuban now living in South Florida with nearly 1 million other Cuban Americans. "They're the only ones who know how this is going to work."
If Cubans are allowed to leave in droves, and many find their way to U.S. soil, it will provide a dramatic test of America's policy toward Cuban immigrants and pave the way for the first significant shift in U.S.-Cuban relations in nearly a half-century.
Under the "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy unique to citizens of Cuba, any Cuban caught at sea is returned to the island, while those who touch U.S. soil are generally granted legal residence. From 2000 to 2010, more than 30,000 Cubans a year became legal U.S. residents.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government severely restricts travel to Cuba. Only Americans with relatives on the island and those going on educational, religious or artistic licenses can legally travel there.
"It's a political move on the part of Raúl Castro to put pressure on the United States," said Jaime Suchlicki, director of the University of Miami's Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies. "Now Raúl can get up and say, 'I'm allowing my people to travel, why don't you let Americans travel to Cuba?' That's what it's going to be — a pressure point."
The influential Cuban-American community in Florida, a key voting bloc in the massive swing state, has long pressured Washington to maintain an economic embargo on the island. But Obama has done well in his two elections among Cuban Americans, signaling that younger Cubans may be more open to easing travel rules.
The changes in travel restrictions could also be viewed as the latest in a series of steps that Raúl Castro has undertaken to remove what he called "excessive prohibitions" on Cubans and a state-controlled economic system that has long been languishing.
Since he assumed power, Castro has allowed Cubans more access to cellphones and computers, let them stay in tourist hotels previously off-limits to them, granted more licenses to open private businesses and, for the first time in the history of the revolution, let Cubans buy and sell their cars, apartments and houses.
Philip Peters, vice president of the Arlington-based Lexington Institute, said Castro understands that many Cubans will permanently flee the island when given permission to travel. But he said that Cuban officials also see the economic benefit of letting people travel more freely, where they can make more money and, hopefully, send it home.
"I think they decided to take the leap, and they're making a bet that they're going to be stronger for this," Peters said. "Cubans who have been involved in the deliberations — economists who have studied migration — they talk about circularity. If they allow Cubans to travel freely, they're going to be better off."
Christopher Sabatini, senior policy director at the Americas Society/Council of the Americas, agrees that the Cubans see this as a money-making venture. But he said there are other motivations involved.
"There is a palpable concern among some government officials about this process of reform getting a little out of control, that it's slipping out of their hands," Sabatini said.
Allowing some Cubans to travel more freely, he said, provides a "distraction" from the still-languishing economy and a "safety valve" to release some of the steam building up in the dissident community.
"It's never that easy with Cuba," Sabatini said.
Who will take them?
The change Monday eliminates the requirement that Cubans obtain an exit visa — known as the "carta blanca," or "white card" — before leaving the island. Most countries require citizens only to have a passport and a visa from the receiving country.
The question now becomes: What countries will receive them?
Bahamian Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell expressed the fears of many in the region when he said that Cubans traveling to the Bahamas under the new rules must be viewed as potential immigrants.
"The question we have to be preparing for is whether or not there is going to be any rush for the door as a result of the change," Mitchell told The (Nassau) Tribune last month.
Suchlicki said even European countries with strong ties to Cuba — already saddled with their own immigration challenges on the economically battered continent — are reluctant to accept large numbers of Cubans who may decide to stay.
"They're not going to give them tourist visas because they know people are going to stay," Suchlicki said. "Spain? They don't want 5,000 Cubans roaming the streets."
Some countries allow Cubans to travel there without a visa. But Armando Garcia, the Cuban-born president of Marazul Charters, which operates direct flights between the U.S. and Cuba, said that list isn't very enticing.
"Those are countries that people are not interested in — Venezuela, Ecuador, some African countries, the old Soviet bloc," he said. "People really want to travel. But many people say 'Yeah, but to where?' "
The U.S. has granted more than 15,000 tourist visas a year to Cubans, but State Department officials said they will closely monitor the new travel rules, with State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland emphasizing that "our own visa requirements remain unchanged."
"We are not shy in all of our public and private comments on Cuba that we want to see the human rights of the Cuban people respected," Nuland said after the changes were announced. "This is a certainly a step."
But there is another way. Cubans have gone to other countries and made their way to the U.S.
"Other countries are viewed as a step in the ladder," said Zoraida Colina, 48, a Cuba native who left the island three years ago and now lives in Newport News, Va. "You go to Ecuador, for example, and from there you make your way to Mexico."
Cubans have increasingly used the southwestern U.S. border with Mexico to gain access to the USA. In 2010, 6,795 Cubans presented themselves at ports of entry in San Diego, Tucson, El Paso and Laredo, Texas. By 2012, that number had increased to 10,757, according to data from Customs and Border Protection.
Department of Homeland Security spokesman Matt Chandler said U.S. officials have been working with governments in Central and South America "on migration issues to enhance our mutual security," and cautioned would-be travelers from Cuba about the perils of the trip.
"The United States does have contingency plans in place to deter and respond to such changes either in the maritime or land environments," Chandler said. "Just as there are dire risks involving sea journeys from Cuba, Cubans transiting Central America and Mexico to reach the U.S. often face extremely difficult circumstances, to include threats from criminal organizations that prey on migrants in the region."
To start the trek, Cubans are looking far and wide. Sanchez, the blogger, said word has spread quickly around the island — through e-mail, text messages and handwritten lists — of countries that don't require visas for entry. Ecuador and Singapore are atop the list.
"They'll go to Norway or Chile or Zimbabwe — the initial destination doesn't matter," she said.
Sabatini said officials throughout Latin America, especially in Mexico, are considering visa restrictions on Cubans to avert mass influxes.
"They're scrambling behind the scenes figuring out what to do," Sabatini said.
In a statement, Canada's office of Citizenship and Immigration said that it will handle new Cuban visa requests no differently than in the past.
"This development puts Cuba in the same situation as other countries in the region," the statement read. The Canadian agency emphasized that Cubans must apply for a visa and meet several requirements before it is granted, including the assurance that they "will leave Canada voluntarily at the end of their authorized stay."
'A lot of hope'
While many may want to leave Cuba — for work trips, vacations or permanent departures — getting out is not so easy in a country where most people receive meager state salaries and rely on a bare-bones black market.
Cuban officials last year said the average Cuban salary had risen to the equivalent of $19 a month. That means people who aren't receiving money from relatives abroad will have a tough time paying for trips.
"It'd be nice if they could travel and someone from outside the country didn't have to pay for their trips," said Rafael Nodarse, 48, who left Cuba for Miami 12 years ago.
That has left people taking advantage of some new changes, and selling their cars, houses and apartments.
"A 1956 Chevrolet, if it's in good shape, if you've painted it, repaired it — you can sell it for $25,000 (U.S. dollars)," Sanchez said. "For a family that is going to start a new life in a new place, that $25,000 can pay for the flights, for rent, for a down payment on a house."
Money issues aside, Julia Castillo says the excitement in Cuba is palpable. After returning last week from a trip to visit relatives in Sancti Spiritus, Castillo said the possibility of traveling anywhere they want is all that Cubans could talk about.
"People have a lot of hope," said Castillo, 72, who left the island two years ago and now lives in Clewiston, Fla. "They believe it."
Sanchez said she will take her place in line Monday to see whether she can leave. The dissident said her passport is filled with visas from other countries, but she has repeatedly been denied Cuba's exit visa. For instance, in 2008, she won the Ortega y Gasset prize for digital journalism, but could not go to Spain to accept it. She was invited to Copenhagen in 2010 after winning the Danish Center for Political Studies Freedom Award, but again, she was denied travel rights. In 2011, the U.S. State Department named her one of its International Women of Courage, but again, she could not accept the honor.
When asked where she would travel first, Sanchez says she wants to go to places that have had similar struggles, like Chechnya. She wants to visit friends in Spain, Italy, Germany, Chile and Brazil. She also wants to visit New York, Silicon Valley in California and the "northern Cuban state" of Miami.
But Sanchez insists that she will not leave her homeland without being guaranteed one thing: "If it's not with a return trip, I'm not going anywhere."


text:
Does anyone else question whether Hasbro really needs to have the Unleashed at $15 anyway? Aren't they fairly identical in scale, articulation and size to McFarlane figures? Doesn't matter whether you're talking Twisted Oz, Sportspicks or Elvis, the McFarlane stuff is equivalent at 2/3 the price. I would have thought that the UL stuff would have had that tidy additional $5 margin.
The only good thing I see coming out of this line is a fighting weapon. You know instead of using a roll of quarters.....
So Hasbro finally decides to do a removable helmet Boba Fett, and its in the Titanium line? Yeah, that makes sense. Of course this isn't technically "confirmed", but I'm sure there will be some people upset about this. I mean, its nice that they are doing it, but I think it would be quite well received in the "basic" figure line.
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text:
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text:
Double Down necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 60 diseños de 22 diseñadores freelance.
We are a new large sign company in our area and are in need of a good logo. The logo that will be made will make or break our company. It has to be just right so please see the entire description.
The Cincinnati Sign Company
Where Sign Companies Get Your Signs
Desired Color Scheme:
black, silver, blue, white
Desired Style:
see main description
Accepted File Formats:
We are a sign company that makes...well, signs. We make everything you see, from signs in stores, to banners, to posters, to vehicle wraps, to large lit signs. The most important piece of our company is our name because our name has so much feeling, history, and presense behind it that we need something that complements it.
Our company name is, "The Cincinnati Sign Company".
Cincinnati is an old city with a lot of heritage and many, many sign companies and large Fortune 500 companies throughout the years. Since we are the only sign company around the area that carries the name of the city in it, we need to have a logo that says, "yes, we are the sign company for Cincinnati...if you need a sign, you should call us first."
We want people to think that we are the official sign company for the city, that we have been around for a long time WITHOUT LOOKING TOO OLD. We don't want to give the impression that we are some old farts. We are a completely up to date company with the newest technology and best pricing.
The colors that we would like to use are black, silver, blues, whites. Mess around with these to see what you can come up with.
In regards to some desing ideas, here is one for the American Sign Museum.
We like the look of it but obviously don't want copy it since they are in the same city. If you look through that site under things like "The Permanent Collection" you will see examples of some older world sign and may get some good ides.
We have thought that a layout like:
Cincinnati Sign Company
would be a good start because we want to emphasive "The" as us being "the only" sign company to come to in Cincinnati.
Some other things that may be helpful:
*Cincinnati is known as "The Queen City"
*We are located on a major river
*We are an industrial city
If you have any more questions or need any more help, advice, stats, please let me know.
Whoever makes the best design will really be part of something amazing and won't even realize it, so do the best you can.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.