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Europe held off a late challenge from America to reclaim the Ryder Cup as U.S. Open champ Graeme McDowell won the final singles match at Celtic Manor.
The Americans rallied from a three-point deficit to tie the score, but McDowell made a clutch birdie putt on the 16th and was conceded his par putt at No. 17. Hunter Mahan missed a chip shot, then missed a last-gasp putt from off the green to save par.
The victory allowed Europe to reclaim the cup won by the Americans at Valhalla two years ago. Rickie Fowler, the 21-year-old U.S. player, gave the Ynaks a shot when he won the final three holes against Edoardo Molinari. Fowler rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the 17th to extend the match, then made an 18-footer at the final hole to stun the Italian.
U.S. & World
A few minutes later, Zach Johnson bested Padraig Harrington to tie the overall score and leave it in the hands of McDowell, of Ireland, and Mahan.
The Northern Irishman was 3 up with seven holes left. But he made a bogey at No. 12, then an errant tee shot at the 15th, a short par-4, handed Mahan another hole.
With Fowler's half-point, Mahan merely had to halve his match for a 14-14 tie that would've kept the trophy in American hands.
But McDowell rolled in a slick, downhill putt from 15 feet at No. 16 for a brilliant birdie. When Mahan made a mess of the 17th hole, the winner didn't even have to bother with his final putt.
"There was a reason why he was put there," Ian Poulter said of having McDowell in the final spot. "He's the U.S. Open champion. He pulled it off."
McDowell was engulfed by his teammates on the green, but perhaps the biggest cheers were reserved for European captain Colin Montgomerie. One of Europe's greatest Ryder Cup players, he now has a win leading the team in what he called the highlight of his career before it even started.
"We came close," U.S. captain Corey Pavin said, "but we didn't quite get there."
The Europeans started strong, but Pavin backloaded his lineup in the hope of rallying at the end. It almost worked.
Tiger Woods played in the eighth spot and routed Molinari, holing out from the fairway at No. 12 for eagle and playing 15 holes at 9 under. Phil Mickelson, who lost all three of his team matches, played in the 10th spot and beat Peter Hanson 4 and 2.
"No regrets at all," Pavin said. "I'm quite content with everything - except maybe the result."
Selected Reading: The Associated Press, RyderCup.com, PGA.com.


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Tax burden shifts to homeowners in Nassau
Successful commercial tax challenges have shifted more of the property tax burden onto single-family homeowners in Nassau while overall assessment reductions are pushing up tax rates throughout the county, according to a legislative report.
Single-family homeowners have seen their share of the total tax bill rise by 8.3 percentage points over the past decade, largely because of commercial reductions, the legislature's independent Budget Review Office reported.
In just the past year, as the county granted tens of thousands of residential assessment reductions, nonschool tax rates in Nassau's towns increased by as much as 17 percent while school tax rates jumped three times higher than expected.
Despite a county freeze on assessment increases and a state tax cap, "it is still possible for a resident to experience a double-digit increase in his or her property tax bill," the office concluded. "Lower assessed valuations are triggering property tax rate increases. Since the county has frozen assessments, everyone, except those who successfully grieved their parcels, are paying a greater share."
Even those who won assessment reductions "may be paying a higher share of the property tax levy," the office reported.
The Budget Review office analyzed assessments before any reductions that may result from superstorm Sandy. It did not include the county general fund tax bill in the study.
A spokesman for County Executive Edward Mangano, a Republican running for re-election this year, called the report "nothing more than political spin."
Aide Brian Nevin said, "Ed Mangano has never increased taxes and all residents have the ability to correct their assessment before making payment. With 85 percent of residents grieving their taxes, this would suggest 85 percent saw their taxes go down. Again, Nassau County has not taken an additional dime from taxpayers as Ed Mangano has frozen the tax levy for three straight years."
Budget Review Director Maurice Chalmers said the report speaks for itself. It notes that county tax collections have remained level under Mangano. But it also points out that tax rates must increase when assessed values go down in order to collect the same amount in taxes.
The office reported that Nassau's total assessed value plunged 20.8 percent since 2010 while home prices declined just 2.3 percent from 2010 through 2012.
Legis. Wayne Wink Jr. (D-Roslyn), who requested the report, said the Mangano administration has "built a system that has no connection to reality whatsoever. It's all about getting people to challenge and drop their assessment so they think they are getting a deal. But if everyone gets a reduction, then nobody gets a reduction."
The report notes that commercial properties' share of the tax burden had decreased as homeowners paid more. Business assessments are determined by how much a commercial property can collect in rent. "Hence in a down economy when commercial parcels make less rental income, they can successfully lower their property tax expenses. No such mechanism exists for residential homeowners. If a household earns less money, their house could still retain its value," the report said.
Attorney Laureen Harris, head of Nassau's tax challenge bar, said the swing between business and residential taxes would have been even greater were it not for the State Legislature, which has traditionally passed legislation "to buffer the tax shift shock" when values fluctuate dramatically.
Last year's drop in assessed values led nonschool residential tax rates to soar: an average 17.3 percent in Hempstead, 13.6 percent in Oyster Bay and 11.3 percent in North Hempstead.
North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, a Democrat "exploring" a run against Mangano, said the report "is consistent with what we've been hearing and seeing: people's tax bills going up thousands of dollars from one year to the next. It's an indication of a system that's failed."
James Stefanich, Oyster Bay tax receiver, said rates in some water districts soared because of costs to clean up pollution. "Put that on top of the assessment reductions, and it makes properties that didn't get reductions pay a bigger share," he said.
Homes are Class 1 properties - single-family homes and condominiums of three floors or less. About 102,000 homes countywide were not counted because they had renovations done or had exemptions other than basic STAR, both of which would have influenced assessed value. Homes in Amityville and Cold Spring Harbor were excluded because those school districts lie primarily in Suffolk County. Glen Cove was excluded because the city of Glen Cove does its own assessments. The Bellmore-Merrick, Sewanhaka and Valley Stream Central high school districts are not listed because their taxes are levied by the component elementary districts.
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subset: commoncrawl


text: I live in Eugene, Oregon with my husband and our sons Riley (9) and Dylan (7). Prior to 2010 I spent many years as a software marketer, these days I work from home as a freelance writer. I enjoy high-quality ballpoint pens, exercise-induced endorphins, dark TV dramas, and things that smell like coconut.


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In contrast to what you might read elsewhere on the net,
e.g. Raptors Rebounding Woes Continue
in the NBA, the inability to REBOUND the basketball on a consistent basis, as a TEAM, is not a "Concentration" issue; nor is it an issue of "failing to get into [opponents'] bodies".
At this level of competition …
A team's ability to REBOUND successfully is a "Personnel" issue. Period.
Relative to the position they are playing:
"++" Rebounders are major contributers;
"+" Rebounders are positive contributers;
"0" Rebounders are neither positive nor negative contributers; and,
"-" Rebounders are negative contributers.
When you look at the Raptors' roster, this is what you see:
PG /Calderon 0
OG/Kapono –
SF/Moon +
PF/Bosh +
C/O'Neal 0
PG/Ukic 0
OG/Parker 0
SF/Graham +
PF/Humpries +
C/Bargnani –
PG/Solomon 0
OG/Adams 0
PF/Jawai 0
C/Voskuhl –
A good Rebounding team in the NBA needs to have at least three [3] "+" Rebounders on the court at all times.
With their current roster, the Raptors do not fit into this category … plain and simple … because:
1. Specifically, given the "+" Rebounders they DO have on this team, the Raptors are choosing to play the WRONG players in combination with one another, so far this season;
2. In general, there are NOT ENOUGH "+" Rebounders on the Raptors' roster in the first place.
Until the Raptors fix THIS issue they will not be able to solve their Rebounding problem.


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Lindsey was born not far from KARE 11 in Golden Valley, Minn. and grew up in the northwestern Twin Cities suburb of Plymouth, Minn. where she graduated from Osseo High School.
She began her news career in Minnesota, reporting at KCCO-TV in Alexandria before heading out west to KTVN-TV in Reno, Nevada.
Lindsey also spent several years at WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio and worked at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis before joining KARE 11.
She's earned several Emmy awards, a regional Edward R. Murrow award and a National Headliner award for her writing and reporting.
When I grew up, I wanted to be: Always a journalist. My parents tell me I planned newscasts from my living room, and penned books in crayon. It's always been my calling.
Why do you like your job: Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, offering people a voice, and serving the community. I love telling stories of inspiration, especially stories about people overcoming odds. The best part of my day is writing a story from a blank page.
Inspiration: My parents are retired public school teachers who gave me the gift of curiosity and taught me the importance of public service.
Perfect Day: Sleeping in! It used to be my hobby until our son came along. The best day would include a run around the lakes, a yoga class, some time with a good book and a trip to the spa. It would end with a trip to a new restaurant for a good meal and a glass of wine with my husband.
Favorite Story: This is always hard to choose, and I am always looking for powerful stories! Most recently, I cannot forget the story about a little girl who wrote a letter to her friend in heaven. She could not attend her friend's funeral, so she attached her farewell to the end of a pink balloon and let go. That balloon traveled more than 100 miles, where the mystery of her words touched an entire town.
Alma Mater: Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. I left with a journalism degree and along the way, met my Hoosier husband.
Family: Husband Ian, son Stellan, daughter Phoebe and teacup Yorkie, Izzy. My mother is in Arizona, not far from my younger sister, Allyson.
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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'Linsanity' won't save Mike D'Antoni and Knicks
Except that the Knicks with Jeremy Lin started to look a lot like they did without him. They were 8-15 when Lin fell into their laps and are 18-22 today and need to win a ballgame, and keep winning ballgames, or maybe people will start wondering if (Mike) D'Antoni is even going to make it to the end of the season that Jeremy Lin was supposed to have saved for him.
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Jeremy Lin is not the Messiah. He's a young point guard trying to find his way in the NBA.
Lin can't save Mike D'Antoni's job as coach of the New York Knicks. And he can't save the Knicks from the dysfunctional Carmelo Anthony.
Remember, the Knicks were decent before selling the farm to acquire Anthony from the Nuggets one year ago.
Owner James Dolan wanted Anthony so GM Donnie Walsh reluctantly traded for the forward -even though he knew the shot-first small forward would clash with Amar'e Stoudemire.
D'Antoni's run-and-gun style won't work with Anthony, who must be the focal point of any system he's in. So it's a 'fait accompli' that the former coach of the year will lose his job.
Anthony has the backing of ownership. D`Antoni does not. Lin can't change this.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.


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Hope College junior pitcher Adam Clements of Ann Arbor (Saline HS) has been named to the NCAA Division III ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region baseball team.
Sponsored by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), the all-region teams recognize outstanding Division III players from schools in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Clements has been named to the all-region second team.
Clements had a sparkling junior season achieving first team all-conference honors in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) while being ranked statistically among the nation's leading Division III pitchers.
This season he posted a 7-3 record with nine complete game performances in 10 starts. He had an NCAA earned run average of 1.29 and allowed opponents a meager .212 batting average. Over 70 innings he struck out 58 batters and walked just 10.
Clements led MIAA pitchers with a 1.64 earned run average, posting a 5-3 record with 50 strikeouts over 55 innings.
In NCAA Division III (367 teams) he ranked ninth among all pitchers in earned run average (1.29), fewest walks per nine innings pitched (1.29), fewest hits allowed per nine innings pitched (6.94) and strikeouts (58).
NCAA statistics are based on nine innings games while most of Hope's were seven-inning contests because they are played as doubleheaders. Clement's earned run average, if calculated on a seven inning formula, would have been an even more impressive 1.00 (10 earned runs over 70 innings pitched).
He has a 17-5 career record and 3.38 earned run average.
An engineering major at Hope, Clements is a 2008 graduate of Saline High School. He is the son of Tom and Tami Clements of Ann Arbor.


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After yesterday's incredible day in the Premier League (how about that wonderful Blackpool against Bolton match, just for one?), we have five more matches on deck today featuring:
- Chelsea vs Newcastle, 8:30am ET
- Birmingham v Fulham, 11am ET
- Liverpool v Tottenham, 11am ET
- Wigan v West Ham, 11am ET
- Arsenal v Aston Villa, 11am ET
The biggest match for me is Wigan against West Ham United. The Hammers must get all three points to have any hope of staying up this season. A draw or a loss and they'll be relegated. Even a win might not be enough depending on results next Sunday (West Ham have the worst goal difference in the league along with Wigan). For Wigan, a win will give them a chance of beating the drop but even then it's not guaranteed. Expect a nervy game to start that has the potential of end-to-end action and plenty of goals.
At Anfield, the game between Liverpool and Tottenham will help decide who will finish in fifth position in the league and thus qualify for next season's Europa League. Arsenal will want to win to help narrow the gap against Chelsea. The Blues are at home in the early kick-off against Newcastle. And Birmingham needs a win to guarantee Premier League football next season. Fulham, meanwhile, will want to put in a better performance than their thrashing against Liverpool last Monday.
Whatever happens today will have big implications on the 2010-11 Premier League season!
Before, during or after any of the matches today, use the comments thread below to post your rants, raves, questions or observations. We've only got 180 minutes of Premier League football remaining for most teams, so let's make the most of it!


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Yesterday, Doug mentioned that someone criticized him for buying his Ferrari instead of building it. Take note, this is what happens when you try to build your own Italian supercar.
"Just built, very good condition all round. Registered, mod plates, roadworthy certificate.This car is based on a 300ZX sp it comes with great handling"
An Ebay seller in Australia has this Reventon kit car for sale with a Buy It Now price of 45k AU (aprox. 42k USD). I know all of you in the US are very sad that this is a right-hand-drive car. But hey...he did upgrade the turbos!
I have to say that the nose and hood are really not bad, but once you get to the wheels then it starts to fall apart a bit. He was very wise to park it next that Dodge Caliber in the lead image.
If you have a question, a tip, or something you would like to to share about car-buying, drop me a line at email@example.com and be sure to include your Kinja handle.


text:
Get Your Free Audiobook
Die Unablässige Suche des Menschen [Man's Relentless Search]
Publisher's Summary
"What does the other fellow consist of? What is that other fellow? Well, the philosopher had to answer that question. And it's the onequestion he never answered satisfactorily. And it's the one question that'sbeen answered satisfactorily in Scientology." — L. Ron Hubbard
An extraordinary drama played out across thousands of years, Man's long search to penetrate the mystery of "the other fellow"—and thereby to know himself—found its expression not only in philosophy and religion, but even in war and conquest. Yet in spite of, or perhaps because of, the crucial intensity of this quest, its continuing failure down the centuries accumulated ever-deepening problems for Man. Hence, in desperation, he eventually abandoned the search entirely—in 1879, to be precise. And into the vacuum of its failure there stepped a new and deadly theory. Specifically, that "the other fellow" is no more than an aggregate of brain, blood and sinew, a stimulus-response mechanism that reacts to but is incapable of mastering its environment. As this concept gained strength, so declined the respect shown each individual and, with it, the sense of honor and purpose of Man as a whole.
In interpreting this remarkable story, L. Ron Hubbard not only explains why Man's epic search met with failure for so long, he reveals the missing element that has finally brought success and solved the mystery of "theother fellow." For today, one can indeed know the truth about one'sfellow human beings and, hence, come to understand oneself.And what that knowledge foretells for both the individualand Mankind is not only the recovery of respect, honorand purpose, but a level of success that exceeds anything previously attainable.
Please note: This audiobook is in German.


text:
I thought I'd do a post on the operational side of what's going on around Rose Quarter after an out of control car careened into some signaling equipment last week, since the only side the public sees is pretty much just the loss of Transit Tracker and maybe noticing trains stopping more near Rose Quarter. A helpful primer on this would be the original post about Rose Quarter signals just to familiarize yourself with how this area works under normal operating conditions.
One of TriMet's photos of the scene. Only one car was involved; the blue car in the background is a supervisor's car that was narrowly missed by everything
The Impact's Impact on Transit Tracker
Preface: I am not a signal tech and have nothing to do with Transit Tracker, so if anyone who has a better handle on this than me wants to step in and fill in the gaps/correct me if I'm wrong, please, by all means do so. For all the folks reading the news about this and subsequently wondering why Transit Tracker was routed through here or "stored" in this box, this wasn't a mythical box that Transit Tracker lived in any more than your computer is a mythical box that the internet lives in. Transit Tracker for passengers is more of a nice little byproduct of what this box (and other signal relay boxes like it) did, not its primary purpose. To the best of my understanding, while Transit Tracker for bus is GPS-based (and therefore it was not affected), Transit Tracker for rail has been based on what circuit the train is in. The crash affected power to all of the intersections between Rose Quarter and OCC, and I know that's affected the signals but I'm not sure the extent to which circuit detection was affected, but because Transit Tracker isn't working I'm assuming that it was impacted. This is a centrally located section of the alignment that I am guessing is not getting standard data on train positioning, so the Transit Tracker method of locating trains to predict their arrival isn't functional. Since ALL trains pass between these two platforms (remember that Yellow and Green are the same trains) all lines are affected.
I'm not above criticizing TriMet when I think they make bad decisions or plan things poorly, but I think this was unfortunately a situation in which there was no right thing that TriMet could have done that would have made everyone happy:
- Some people are saying that sensitive equipment shouldn't have been in a high-risk area. As far as I know, given that Rose Quarter was part of the original alignment (called Coliseum there), that box or something like it has probably been there since the mid 80s. But as a conservative estimate, we know that the equipment was 16 years old, so let's say it's been there since the mid 90s at the latest. This is the first time a car has come careening off of I-5 doing about 80mph ass over teakettle onto the platform, so I'm going to say that this isn't really a high-risk area, it was the site of a freak accident. I have not heard of any other crashes in that area coming anywhere near close to where the box had been. Besides, it was tied to the alignment in that area – where else are you going to put it?
- The equipment in the box was so old that replacement parts aren't available. Fine, it's old, but you know what? It worked. There's probably a fair amount of infrastructure in use right now that's equally old and not easily replaced (I think the fact that TriMet spokesperson Roberta Alstadt said that the delay in replacing it is due to finding something that can communicate with the rest of the system pretty much says that the rest of it, if it fails, can't be easily replaced either). And just imagine the fits that people would throw if TriMet were to announce they were spending millions to retrofit rail equipment that would make Transit Tracker more reliable or fit all the rail cars with GPS as bus routes are being sliced and 20+ year old buses are on the road. Would replacing this before this incident happened have been the best use of TriMet's limited money? How about putting GPS on the trains when the circuit location system works? Setting up bollards everywhere a car might fly into something? Yeah, it'd be nice to replace all of the old equipment but I think there are higher priorities for TriMet when it comes to replacing old equipment (e.g. BUSES) than this would have been.
Sure, the loss of Transit Tracker is probably annoying to commuters, but trains are still able to safely pass through this area with minimal delay. If anything, I think this shows a strength of rail in that while a fixed right of way is never going to be as flexible as a bus, there are still workarounds to even major issues like this to keep things moving. So now on to what's going on here operationally:
Special Instruction 79
Those of you following along at home on the radio have probably heard a lot of trains calling in either from OCC westbound or Rose Quarter eastbound to follow special instruction (SI) 79. Remember that a special instruction is a temporary modification to operational rules that can be in effect for up to a year, versus a train order which expires after 24 hours.
The operationally relevant part of SI 79
And now, in English.
Eastbound trains must stop and call Control from Rose Quarter. For most trains, this will be from the eastbound main platform and signal 18G, though the SI is set up to allow for eastbound moves from the special events track, westbound main or trolley barn as well (for a review of those signals, refer to the previous post on Rose Quarter). Since the signals cannot be called normally through train-to-wayside communication to get a proper to proceed, the automatic train stop (ATS) magnet in the platform will be active and the train will be tripped if the operator tried to go.
ATS trip and bypass counter inside cab of train
Inside each train cab is an ATS counter like the one pictured, which records the number of times that cab was active (i.e., had an operator keyed in and moving forward) and tripped an ATS magnet as well as the number of times an operator has bypassed an ATS magnet. When you bypass a magnet (also referred to as "key-by"), you have 23 seconds to get past it without it stopping your train. Control keeps a record of the totals in these counters for each train car and cab – it prevents an operator from selectively bypassing an ATS magnet or from tripping and continuing without calling it in. You never bypass a magnet without direct authorization from Control first.
So the operator will tell the controller what car and cab they're in, and what their new bypass number will be. When they have a fresh parallel walk sign on 1st Ave, they will bypass the magnet so they can proceed forward, ensuring that the switch (topmost one in that picture) is not set against the movement since this area does not currently have signal protection, and also ensure that the intersection is clear of any pedestrian or vehicle traffic. The instructions to stop at 2nd and 3rd and then proceed when safe are slightly different from the standard instructions to SOP an intersection, due to the lack of power at these intersections which means they aren't displaying parallel green lights. Once into the OCC platform, normal operations can resume as points east were not affected by the crash.
Call board at OCC westbound.
There's one of these at Rose Quarter eastbound as well.
Westbound the procedure is fairly similar. At the OCC platform, operators will call Control and report their car, cab, and new bypass number. The ATS magnet in this direction is up closer to 2nd Ave by signal 18A.
After getting permission from Control to proceed, trains can proceed when safe through 3rd Ave, which is is street immediately in front of OCC when facing west. They must then stop at 2nd to bypass the ATS at signal 18A, ensuring that those switches in the above picture are properly set for a move into the westbound track (or the special events track if directed there). Once at 1st Ave, the operator will make sure that Rose Quarter is clear and wait for a fresh parallel walk sign before continuing into the Rose Quarter platform and then proceeding as normal to all points west.
This special instruction will be in effect until everything through here is fixed, presumably over the next few weeks. Since all of the steps are packaged into the SI, it cuts down on the amount of radio transmissions for everyone – operators don't have to call in for permission at each intersection after the initial call to Control, and controllers can grant permission to "follow SI 79" without needing to say all of the steps each time a train goes through here.
Window washer rope around pantograph (Photo by Jason McHuff, more here)
Now consider that the RQ-OCC issues were still going on yesterday and SI 79 was in effect when the window washer's rope took out Red & Blue Line service downtown (which was pointed out to me was once again the unfortunate car 235) and a semi truck hit a Yellow Line train on Interstate, causing trains to be turned around at 7th or Jeld Wen or Jackson or where available.
Semi vs MAX, picture from Twitter
Yes, there were delayed trains and crushed loads for commuters, but the amount of effort required to keep anything moving at all when that many things go wrong is pretty phenomenal. I do think that there are a number of areas that TriMet needs to improve, such as getting word out to passengers in a more timely manner, not pulling in-service buses out in order to bus bridge (or at least not pulling as many – it leaves bus passengers stranded, puts a lot of strain on the buses left in service). But I still think that it's good for the public to be able to see "behind the curtain", so to speak, to get an idea of what's involved on the back end to get people to their destinations when things go wrong.


text:
Vol. 25, No. 4: Tight Headlines
Headline guidelines
This stylebook entry has been tweaked to take into account editors' difficulties in squeezing large-type headlines into small column widths, in effect easing the rules a bit. For example, if you must put a preposition on one line and its object on the next, still follow the capitalization rules for prepositions — usually lowercase unless they are an integral part of the verb.
When underwater is under water
The one-word underwater is used before a noun: underwater properties. The two-word under water is used after the noun: The properties are under water.
Today's workforce
The stylebook also has been amended to include workforce among the one-word entries with the prefix work, conforming with Webster's New World listings. Workbook, workday, workforce, workhorse, workload, workplace, workstation and workweek all are solid as well, but work sheet remains an exception.
Unproven track record
Q: When is a track record just an ordinary record?
A: Just about always in stories that aren't about horseracing.


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Its seems like just about every day there is another Android device that is wooing consumers into a purchase. Google reported some pretty impressive stats at this years Mobile World Congress; that included a year-on-year growth rate of more than 250%. With 850,000 new Android devices being activated each day and over 150,000 apps (half being worthless) to choose from in the Android Market, the Android platform is doing pretty well in the mobile device world.
As the Android platform it bombards its way through the consumer market, it has also been embrace by enterprise consumers as well (thanks to BYOD). As the Android platform continues to grow, many organizations have already embraced it with open arms, but have they embraced it too quickly?
BYOD: Security does matter
Sometimes the word security in an enterprise environment gets tossed around so much that underlying importance of it gets lost. Employees are now dictating what devices they want to use at work and trending devices like Apple's iPhone are finding their way into more CEO's hands. The problem is that a large portion of the BYOD devices are Android devices, and they simply just don't have what it takes to be fully embraced by an organization that requires a secure device.
Security matters the most when something bad happens, it matters the most when an organization finds themselves with a massive data breach because they threw caution to the wind.
Security matters because the threats to high-powered organizations are real. A couple of weeks ago the FBI issued a security warning regarding Android devices. The warning informs users of Android smartphones about two of the latest malware threats that have been attacking the Android platform; Loozfon and FinFisher. According to the warning, " Loozfon is an information-stealing piece of malware. Criminals use different variants to lure the victims. One version is a work-at-home opportunity that promises a profitable payday just for sending out email. A link within these advertisements leads to a website that is designed to push Loozfon on the user's device. The malicious application steals contact details from the users address book and the infected device's phone number."
FinFisher is another spyware that is capable of hijacking a mobile device. Its more sophisticated than Loozfon, and targets mobile users using a trojan. Once a device is infected the spyware is then capable of taking over various components of the device, and sending that information to a remote attacker.
Android devices are inherently more vulnerable security flaws than BlackBerry devices. A report from Duo Security, the makers of X-Ray a free Android vulnerability assessment tool; show that over 50% of Android devices are vulnerable. Even those numbers are fairly conservative considering the large amount of Android devices that are out there.
Too many choices
If you find yourself in any electronics store you will find that the Android OS is embedded in just about every device you pick up. Smartphones are also dominated by the Android OS, it seems like every month there is a new Android phone that has hit the market.
Options are good, but sometimes too many are a bad thing. Android device fragmentation is a real problem, not just for developers, but for organizations as well. With so many devices to choose from it becomes a nightmare to secure the various OS versions that they are running.
Patches and updates
Updates and patches are a real problem with Android devices. Updates to the latest versions are not always available and organizations are often at the mercy of carriers for delivery. Although sometimes getting the latest update may not seem like a priority, it is when there are security issues that new updates fix.
Since there are so many Android devices available it has become a favorite target for malware. The more widely used a platform is, the more likely bad guys are willing to write malicious code for it. In addition, as an open platform anyone can do anything to their device. To Androids defense, the recent updates Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean have provided some additional enterprise features like better device encryption, enhanced VPN connectivity and face unlock features. However, there is still much room for improvement.
Smart choices for BYOD
Data security, compliance, and even employee privacy are major concerns when adopting BYOD, but yet organizations are continuing to allow the most exploited OS on the market handle their company data. Its time for organizations to make smart choices when reviewing the devices that enter their infrastructure. The writing is on the wall when it comes to smartphone security. BlackBerry is number one in security, there is no second guessing, there is no question what device an organization should choose when securing their data is a top priority.
pictures: TrendLabs


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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A University of North Florida exchange student was killed in a crash Saturday while on spring break in Mexico.
Maryam Lahcen, a Morocco citizen and a exchange student from Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco, was on a personal vacation.
UNF said it was notified that she was killed in a single-car crash Saturday afternoon.
No other details were available.


text:
These Youngins Have No Respect For The Elders: Roast On A Homeless Man On The 4 Train For Being Smelly! "You Smell Like Suicide" (Causes Arguments Between Passengers) + Granny Takes Up For The Man! "Smell My Pxssy"
Submitted by tyrell jones of alist films
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Not long after all the kids had left home, there was an evening when the husband and I were coming home from dinner, he was unlocking the door and I was standing close and we kissed. We both chuckled because it was like being 17 and on a first date. But it wasn't a first date, it was just a couple who hadn't had an extended pause together in a very long time.
Jordan PondThe silence of an empty house takes you back to when you first met and all the things that have happened between then and now. You realized you never looked this far into the future. You never really imagined what it would be like when it was just the two of you again.
Who was he anyway? An even better question, who was I?
"We've turned into the Bickersons," a friend lamented after her last one left home. Five years later they were divorced.
Much of a mother's work vanishes with the kids. A big part of her is packed into cardboard boxes and tossed in the back of a car. And now it's just you and Mr. Conversationalist over there who hasn't spoken a word in 50 minutes. Had we ever thought this far ahead, as to what life would be like once it was the two of us again?
Did we know we'd be so all-consumed by jobs, work and everyday demands, that the tender bond that first united us could grow a brittle crust?
We were hiking around Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park on a short getaway as I was thinking precisely such grumpy thoughts. We had the trail and the pond to ourselves. The husband was alternately lagging behind and dashing ahead, framing photos, making pictures. It was Spring and small green shoots were pushing up through the remains of winter. Hibernation season was over and life was awakening.
The trail that circled Jordan Pond alternately broke into the sunshine and wound through the dark covering of the forest. It was a long, quiet, desolate hike.
A rutting sound bounced off the hillside. I grabbed a long stick. It was a pitiful excuse for a weapon, but at least I might be able to poke the beast's eye with it, or at least tickle a funny bone. The husband caught up with me and heard the sound, too. Something large was on the hillside.
"Do you plan to fight a bear with that stick?" the husband asked, smirking.
"If I have to," I said indignantly. "What do you propose? If something comes charging out of the woods, what is your plan?"
"You take off running."
"Why would I take off running?" I ask.
"You'd run for help."
"And what would you do?"
"I'd stay with the bear so you had time to get away."
An accumulation of tiny resentments and petty grudges brought about by the busyness of family life suddenly melted away. Life is different now, but I am still loved by the one I chose to love all those years ago.


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Veteran Groton Town police officer sues town
Groton — A 56-year-old Groton Town police officer has filed a federal lawsuit against the town, claiming not only age and gender discrimination but retaliation by her supervisors, including a demotion, for filing a complaint against them.
Officer Kathleen Doyle, employed by the department since 1985, claims in her suit that she has been the target of "retaliation, harassment and discrimination," ever since she filed a discrimination complaint in 2007 against former Police Chief Kelly Fogg. A settlement with the town led to her promotion to sergeant in 2008.
The lawsuit, dated April 7, names former Lt. Steven Sinagra, now a captain, and Lt. James Bee, who she says singled her out and subjected her to warnings and reprimands for alleged performance issues that Doyle claims in the suit were "misrepresented, exaggerated, and/or minor infractions for which other employees … were not disciplined."
As one example, Doyle claims that while a sergeant, she was not allowed to work as acting shift commander in the absence of a lieutenant. Younger male employees, including those less qualified, were, she claims.
Doyle claims she was subjected to constant monitoring, excessive scrutiny and criticism. Her supervisors "treated her less favorably than similarly situated younger and/or male employees," according to the suit. She claims Bee "behaved in a hostile and intimidating manner … frequently screamed at her," the suit alleges.
Doyle claims Bee required her to seek permission before making an arrest. On one occasion, she says Bee berated and yelled at her for washing a bowl and a spoon that had been left dirty in a sink by another officer.
Doyle claims Bee's promotion to lieutenant was delayed by her 2007 complaint.
Doyle filed a complaint against Bee with the town's human resources department in February 2012. Human Resources, she said, referred the complaint back to the police department for an internal investigation. On April 1, 2012, Chief Michael Crowley, who is now retired, informed her that Deputy Chief Steven Smith found the complaint to be "without merit." At the same meeting, Doyle claims Crowley told her "now we will be investigating you," according to the suit.
Doyle passed the lieutenant's written and oral portions of the exam in May 2012 and was, as a sergeant, therefore eligible for promotion.
During a June 28, 2012, interview with Crowley, however, Doyle claims he asked her "if she was seeking other employment and asked her when she planned to retire," according to the suit. Her answer was she planned to retire as a lieutenant.
Doyle was passed over for the lieutenant's position and in August 2012. Crowley informed her he had concluded an investigation into her deficiencies and proposed to demote her back to officer.
The memorandum, Doyle claims, contained inaccurate information or exaggerations of minor events. In one case, she said the memorandum cited her as insubordinate when she forgot a key card to headquarters. She was also accused of failing to report for duty on two occasions when she was actually late, the suit alleges.
Doyle was demoted from sergeant to officer on Sept. 6, 2012, with a pay cut and five-day suspension without pay.
She subsequently filed complaints with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in November 2012. The complaint was retained by CHRO for a full investigation while she claims she continued to be harassed and received counseling memoranda for alleged performance issues.
On May 7, 2013, Doyle was again issued a written warning for alleged "negative work performance" and "serious recklessness" after her cruiser became stuck in the snow during a blizzard.
Doyle claims the hostile and unfair treatment continues under Bee. She began reporting to him again earlier this year.
The lawsuit states that Doyle was granted a right to sue in federal court from the EEOC earlier this month.
Doyle is seeking an unspecified dollar amount for lost wages, compensatory damages for emotional distress, harm to reputation and attorney's fees. Doyle is represented by New London attorney Magdalena B. Wiktor, who said only that Doyle "looks forward to prosecuting those claims in federal court," she said.
An attorney representing the town was not immediately available for comment.
Stories that may interest you
After 50-year education career, Groton superintendent to retire
With the new Groton Middle School slated to open this fall and elementary school projects beginning, Groton Superintendent of Schools Michael Graner has announced he will retire in mid-October.
It's for the birdies at Stonington golf course
Once a week, golf course superintendent Vin Sylvester counts the purple martin chicks and eggs in the nesting gourds at the Pequot Golf Club.
Handyman connected to infamous Stonington case released from prison
State Supreme Court court reverses 1995 New London murder conviction
After 50-year education career, Groton superintendent to retire
Stonington police obtaining arrest warrants in Mystic racial attack case
Connecticut Port Authority picks engineering firm to oversee State Pier project
Trump: I'll veto defense bill to keep Confederate base names
Teacher and playwright Michael Bradford on finding inspiration and hope in these times of unrest
Dad sold a mobile home to Elvis, and other memories of The King


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The Impact of Urban Farming in New York City
Imagine a rooftop garden lush with salad greens and fresh vegetables. Picture a quaint patio garden growing bay-leaf, lemon-verbena and lime-basil herbs. Urban farming is a sustainability movement that is giving new purpose to rooftops, patios and unused space. The beauty of urban farming is that it not only produces an abundance of organic, locally grown food, but also has a social, economic and communal impact.
Urban farming has the potential to become a global green evolution, improving the economy, sustainability and health of our urban communities. From North Minneapolis and Milwaukee to Cairo and Montreal, urban farms and gardens are sprouting up as a solution to maximize the use of natural resources such as solar energy, advocating healthy lifestyles and even teaching job skills.
It doesn't matter how large or small your rooftop farm or patio garden is, urbanized agriculture positively affects metropolitan areas with stimulated economic growth and better food quality. Urban farming can reduce food-related carbon emissions, including transportation (low food mileage) and production costs (packaging and storage). It can bolster economic growth by keeping the exchange of food localized and gentrifying depressed urban areas, and improve green and energy-efficient initiatives by "reducing harmful runoff, increasing shading and countering the unpleasant heat-island effect," according to National Geographic.
In New York City, urban farming is changing the way communities approach food production, sustainability and socialization:
The Brooklyn Grange Apiary
Farming in a concrete jungle is a seemingly abstract idea, yet transforming one of the world's largest cities into a sustainable metropolis is exactly what urbanites are aiming for one garden at a time. Urban farming is an agricultural revolution aiding the change of global urban landscapes, even in Brooklyn. From rooftop-grown organic herbs to brownstone backyard tomato plants, urban farming is creating green utopias in otherwise unused or abandoned metropolitan spaces.
With urban farming comes urban honey, and that's exactly what the Brooklyn Grange Apiary Project specializes in. The apiary, which is an extension of its flagship farm in Long Island City, will provide natural, distinctly flavored honey that will meet the city's local demand. To produce the honey, the apiary will open 30 beehives in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Hives will be installed to help pollinate crops and increase the productivity.
Riverpark Farm in Manhattan
Nestled in the Alexandria Center for Life Science in Manhattan, Riverpark Farm is a fresh-produce haven that grows every type of crop imaginable. The 15,000-square-foot farm features fresh Atomic red carrots, Shunkyo radishes, Red Russian Kale, New Orchid watermelons and more. Riverpark maximizes the farm space with "intercropping" and "advanced seeding," according to CoolHunting.com. The sustainable and flexible space is specially designed for aeration, drainage, efficient soil replacement and easy plant mobility. Materials for the farm are brought in locally from growers and manufacturers.
The Riverpark farming urbanites harvest and grow crops in its unconventional space using ORE Design and Technology. ready-made, cubic-foot milk crates are double-stacked and serve as individual planters. Within the urban environment, produce is planted, harvested, picked and delivered right to the tables of the farm's special dining area as well as the Riverpark Restaurant. The restaurant's superior chef, Sisha Ortúzar, features American cuisine masterpieces inspired by the farm's seasonal ingredients, such as grilled chicken, farm lettuces and greens, and a summer-squash frittata. The farm's cornucopia of vegetables and greens are the heart of the restaurant's dynamic menu and make for culinary excellence.
Danielle Smile is a contributing journalist to Home and Community blogs, covering topics from design and environmental awareness to education, health, fitness and food. Follow her on Google+ and Twitter.
Images via Alex Brown and spit, chat, chow


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WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN THE CROFTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FUND BUILDERS CLUB and MAKE A DONATION ON A MONTHLY BASIS? Please click HERE to download the form to make a monthly automatic donation. THANK YOU for your support!
The Crofton Community Foundation would like to establish a financial base for the citizens of Crofton and the surrounding area so they can continue to have a prosperous community and strive to add to the betterment of the area.
The Crofton community Foundation Fund is working to build a nest egg and to create a culture of giving. It's a process for a city, village or a town – like growing up. Once the practice of giving by community residents is repeated a few times and watched by other residents, it becomes woven in the very life of the community. This is why your contribution is important and will have a lasting impact on the Crofton community. Your tax deductible donation is a chance to give back to Crofton and your people. The Crofton Community Foundation Fund will accept donations of any size at any time and offer many ways to donate with just some including:
- Donations of money ~ Donations of money can be made by contacting any of the committee members or mailed directly to Crofton Community Foundation Fund, P.O. Box 52, Crofton, NE 68730
- Donations of grain ~ The Crofton elevator is set-up to conveniently take donations of grain for the Crofton Community Foundation Fund. Just indicate the grain donation amount and the Crofton Elevator will issue the donation to the Foundation in your behalf.
- Donations from estates ~ Donations from estates, such as property or insurance payouts are also welcome donation options. These types of donations require arrangements by contacting a committee member.
- Donations in memory of others ~ The foundation has donation cards that can be sent to the family recognizing a donation has been made to the Foundation in their behalf. In memory of cards are available from any committee members or can be obtained at Town and Country Insurance.
- Donations of business services ~ The Foundation's activities are conducted by volunteers and business expenses are minimized so that donations can be given back to the community, therefore the foundation welcomes donations of business services. Printing services, promotional products, advertising and business supplies are appreciated and will help keep operational cost at a minimum.
*If you would like to make a cash donation click HERE to download the form for mailing a cash donation.
*If you would like to make a grain donation click HERE to download the form for a grain donation
*If you would like to make a donation via credit card click HERE and then click "Donate to this Fund".
The Crofton Community Foundation Fund wants to leave a lasting impression so the community and rural area will enjoy bountiful rewards, which will affect the lives of family and friends who will follow in our footsteps for years to come. Keeping the community strong and progressive will attract younger families who will make a positive impact on the Northern edge of Knox County.
Remember the monies which the Crofton Community Foundation Fund raises, stays in the Crofton community, and operates locally through volunteers only. We hope to make improvements in the city's two parks and even a museum has been discussed. We sincerely hope you all join in the conversation on ways the Foundation can make a positive impact, and please send your suggestions to the foundation.
Consider giving one of the committee members a moment of your time and listen to all the good things which can come from a community project and ask how you can help make the foundation a success.
The endowment fund is a permanent investment account, which is similar to a personal investment account, where the principle remains in the account and grows through investments managed by the Nebraska Community Foundation. The Nebraska Community Foundation helps Crofton manage our local foundation and manages the investments. Once the foundation has built-up the endowment and starts receiving returns, Crofton's Foundation will then return the money made back to the community. Some examples of what the foundation can provide is money for our youth in scholarships, park projects, city improvements, assistance to other community organizations or specific improvements the committees feel are most appropriate. The endowment is very important to the future of Crofton and the future of Crofton's foundation, and is a permanent asset to the community.
The Crofton Community Foundation Fund meets once a month in various locations in town. It's an informal, come-as-you-are-type of meeting. The Foundation is represented by a variety of business people, town people and farmers. However the foundation would prefer to have more representation from area agriculture and farming, the mainstay of the community. Therefore anyone interested in joining the Crofton Community Foundation Fund Committee please contact any of the committee members.
Any CCFF committee members are able to assist with any donation or pledge, gift or estate memorial. The members will be glad to answer any questions regarding the Foundations. The CCFF committee members include:
~Mick Reifenrath, Peoples Grocery, Crofton
~Rod Schieffer, Schieffer Insurance Agency, Crofton
~Doyle Stevens, Doyle Stevens Construction, Crofton
~Terry Mueller, Town and Country Insurance, Crofton
~Charleen Buschkamp, Farmers and Merchants State Bank, South Yankton, Crofton
~Michael Guenther, Downtown Auto Service, Crofton
~Jon Zavadil, Citizen and Committee Member, Crofton
~Irma Arens, Citizen and Committee Member, Crofton
The future of Crofton is up to us. Following the leadership of the CCFF committee will make Crofton shine. Talk to a CCFF committee member, or get involved in the community and set in on a meeting.
Thanks to everyone for the support and donations, we are all building a better future for Crofton.


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"Tears of Steel" is a dystpoian scifi flick made possible through crowd-funding and the open source 3D creation tool Blender. The goal of the project was to improve and test a complete open and free pipeline for visual effects in film - and to make a compelling sci-fi film in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
The film itself, and all raw material used for making it, have been released under the Creatieve Commons 3.0 Attribution license. Visit the tearsofsteel.org website to find out more about this, or to purchase the 4-DVD box with a lot of extras."


text:
Slim Dunkin Funeral: Slim Dunkin's Mother Asks Son's Killer To Turn Himself In!
The mother of slain Mario Denzel Hamilton aka Slim Dunkin
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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Holders Spain draw Denmark in play-offs
Friday 14 September 2012
Article summary
Holders Spain will play 2011 hosts Denmark while last year's runners-up Switzerland were paired with 2009 winners Germany in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off draw.
Article top media content
Article body
Holders Spain will play Denmark and Germany were paired with Switzerland in the pick of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off ties after the draw was made in Nyon today ahead of next summer's tournament in Israel.
Spain will have fond memories of Denmark having won their third U21 crown in fine style in Aarhus in June 2011. Their opponents that day, Switzerland, have it all to do if they are to reach another final tournament after drawing a Germany team that tallied 28 points from a possible 30 in qualifying.
Perennial qualifiers England come up against a Serbia side who also have a proud record at this level, while five-time winners Italy drew Sweden. The Netherlands, back-to-back champions in 2006 and 2007, were pitted with Slovakia, whose only previous finals appearance was back in 2000.
The draw in full
Spain v Denmark
Italy v Sweden
Czech Republic v Russia
Slovakia v Netherlands
Germany v Switzerland
England v Serbia
France v Norway
The play-offs get under way on 12 October and conclude four days later. The seven play-off winners will advance to the draw for the final tournament – to be played from 5–18 June in four host cities – on 28 November.
UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino, who conducted the draw in tandem with Lance Kelly, UEFA head of national team competitions, said: "We consider it as the best opportunity to see, all together, the stars of the future – or rather, the stars of the immediate future. Remember that two of the Spanish title holders of 2011 – Javi Martínez and Juan Mata – became champions of Europe in Kyiv less than three months ago."


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Visits represent a fundamental activity of the Special Rapporteur. Pursuant to report
E/CN.4/2005/61, para. 14, the Special Rapporteur undertakes country visits to get an in-depth understanding of specific contexts and practices and to provide constructive feedback to the given country and report to the Council or the General Assembly. During country visits, the Special Rapporteur holds meetings with representatives of relevant State bodies, representatives of religious and belief communities present on the territory, associations of religious groups and other non-governmental organizations as well as persons who may be interested or affected by the mandate. The Special Rapporteur also undertakes field visits during these country missions in order to be completely acquainted with the surrounding circumstances.
The Special Rapporteur has also re-established the initial approach of sending follow-up letters after country visits in order to receive updated information about the implementation of recommendations at the national level (see
A/HRC/13/40, para. 15). In this regard, the Special Rapporteur transmitted in November 2009 follow-up tables to the Governments of the eight countries which she had visited from 2005 to 2007. These tables contain the conclusions and recommendations from her mission report and follow-up information from relevant United Nations documents, including from the universal periodic review, special procedures and treaty bodies. A third column includes information provided by the State on the consideration given to these recommendations, the steps taken to implement them and any constraints which may prevent their implementation
To access the reports in all the official languages, please copy the relevant document code, click on "Categorized Search", and paste it in the
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Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief
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Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or beliefc/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human RightsUnited Nations at Geneva8-14 avenue de la PaixCH-1211 Geneva 10Switzerland
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text: Kaspersky Internet Security apk Don't feel shy to share this article on Social media like Twitter, Google+ with your friends Developer: The materials published on this site were found freely available on the Internet. If You are developer of this app and feel that your copyright has been violated please contact us using the feedback form. We will perform all necessary steps to remove the app from the catalog.


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A man who pleaded guilty to stealing U.S. military medical supplies was sentenced to six months in prison in San Diego, Calif., court records said.
Michael Tuisee, 34, was one of three civilian contractors charged in the case, accused of taking medical equipment from Camp Pendleton, Calif., destined for U.S. troops overseas, and reselling it for profit, the newspaper U-T San Diego reported Tuesday.
The other defendants, Henry Bonilla, 25, and Richard Navarro, 39, are scheduled to be sentenced in August. All three worked at a medical supply warehouse at the base, and each pleaded guilty in March of conspiracy to engage in theft of government property, U-T San Diego said.
U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo sentenced Tuisee to the jail term, as well as six months of house arrest and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to repay nearly $180,000 in restitution to the U.S. Marine Corps and forfeit 48,250 in illegal proceeds.
The 2012 indictment of the three said they stole equipment, including ventilators and defibrillators, valued at more than $3 million.


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by HendricksonPublishers (Creator)
For churches who prefer the beauty and accuracy of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, inexpensive but high-quality editions have been difficult to find. Until now. Hendrickson's new NRSV Gift & Award Bible combines thoughtfully designed features with a surprisingly affordable price. Boasting better-grade paper, clear and readable type, three pages of updated color maps, and a presentation page, this is a beautifully crafted Bible as well as the most affordable one on the market.
- Great value at a budget-conscious price
- Six attractive colors--black, royal blue, burgundy, green, royal purple, and white--suit any occasion
- Imitation Leather, 912 pages, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2
- Color maps and presentation page
Other NRSV award Bibles on the market may look good, but aren't designed to be actually read. This handsome award Bible will withstand heavy use, thanks to its better-quality paper and supple but sturdy cover material. Shipped with an attractive four-color half-wrap and shrink-wrapping
Format: Leather Bound
Pages: 912
Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers Inc
Published: Oct 2004 ISBN 10: 1565634942


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Next, in the movie below, watch the interesting patterns that salt forms on a metal plate when the plate is made to vibrate with sound. (Warning: This movie has high-pitched sounds. Be sure to turn down the volume on your speakers before playing, especially if you have pets.)
—Mellow Monk
Go to the Mellow Monk tea page
Subscribe to the blog feed (RSS)


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An autoimmune liver disease panel is a series of tests that is done when a person is thought to have autoimmune liver disease. An autoimmune liver disease means that the body's immune system attacks the liver.
These tests include:
Sometimes the panel may also include other tests. Often immune protein levels in the blood are also checked.
Liver disease test panel - autoimmune
A blood sample is needed. For information on how this is done, see: Venipuncture.
The blood sample is sent to the laboratory for testing.
No special preparation is needed for this test.
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
In autoimmune disorders, cells from the immune system attack tissues or organs. These disorders are one possible cause of liver disease. The most common autoimmune liver diseases are autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis.
This group of tests helps your health care provider diagnose liver disease.
Protein levels:
The normal range for protein levels in the blood will change with each laboratory. Please check with your health care provider for the normal ranges in your particular laboratory.
Negative results on all antibodies are normal.
Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens.
Blood tests for autoimmune diseases are not completely accurate. They can have false negative results (you have the disease, but the test is negative) and false positive results (you do not have the disease, but the test is positive).
A weakly positive or low titer positive test for autoimmune disease is often not due to any disease.
A positive test on the panel may be a sign of autoimmune hepatitis or other autoimmune liver disease.
If the test is positive mostly for anti-mitochondrial antibodies, you are likely to have primary biliary cirrhosis.
If the immune proteins are high and albumin is low, you may have liver cirrhosis or chronic active hepatitis.
Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
Angulo P, Lindor KD. Primary biliary cirrhosis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 89.
Czaia AJ. Autoimmune hepatitis. In: In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 88.
Hoofnagle JH. Chronic hepatitis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 152.
Review Date: 2/4/2011
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright ©2003 A.D.A.M., Inc., as modified by University of California San Francisco. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Information developed by A.D.A.M., Inc. regarding tests and test results may not directly correspond with information provided by UCSF Medical Center. Please discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.


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Tuesday, November 20, 2012
The Non-Invisible Invisible Zipper
I wanted a zip pillow finish, but I dislike working with invisible zippers. When the original pillows from the book came home to me, two of the invisible zippers were broken. Invisible zippers are finicky and in my experience they don't wear well. So, I looked for a new zipper option.
a brilliant zipper tutorial by Autumn on Sew Mama Sew. That Sew Mama Sew site is one of the best online sewing resources. I installed this zipper in seven minutes flat. Easy peasy and uses a regular zipper.
12 comments:
- Laura said...
Thanks for the information. What a great idea!!
- November 20, 2012 at 10:42 AM
- Kristina @ withaKquilting said...
just a thought...but you could use a button up shirt as the pillow back. this is what i do and it solves the zipper problem. although...i love what you did with these pillow covers! they are beautiful!!
- November 20, 2012 at 10:50 AM
- Jodie said...
I don't believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny or invisible zippers.
- November 20, 2012 at 2:53 PM
- OneLittleThread said...
Loving the Invisibility Cloak idea!
- November 20, 2012 at 9:02 PM
- Suz J said...
Very Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 - oops, revealing my age!!!
- November 20, 2012 at 10:21 PM
- Mego said...
Beautiful...generally I use Katie's tutorial for the zipper in the seam but this adds a little 'zip'...Thanks for the info!
- November 20, 2012 at 10:41 PM
- Di~ said...
I wish I weren't scared of zippers! :) nice job on yours!!!
- November 21, 2012 at 12:05 AM
- Miss Sews-it-all said...
Hey, that is an awesome way to hide a zipper! I absolutely love those pillows. LOVE!
- November 21, 2012 at 9:55 AM
- Amira@littlemushroomcap said...
Lovely.. I bought your book recently.. I should have bought it earlier!! It is such a great book.. I am itching to start despite of my a lot to do pile.. Lol.. Great job, keep up the great super work
- November 22, 2012 at 1:00 AM
- Sally said...
This is a great idea for a zipper! Thanks for the link! I will definitely be trying this one out!
- November 23, 2012 at 4:12 PM
- beachiesews said...
I love this method and it is now my "go to, don't do it any other way" method! I call those 2 sided pillows because the second side usually looks as good as the first side!
- November 25, 2012 at 6:07 PM
- Mama Pea said...
Pam Damour, the Decorating Diva, has a great video that shows how to put a zipper in a pillow. I love it. Also really easy and an invisibility cloak. She also sells zipper tape in long rolls. It comes with pulls that you add when you cut the zipper up. They are super easy to install, because you can separate them before installing. Works pretty great. And she claims (as a decorator) one has NEVER separated on her. I used the strategy recently to install a zipper in a pillow and it worked great. :-)
- November 29, 2012 at 10:19 PM


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Gay Marriage Passes Britain's House of Lords, Closer to Becoming Law
Gay marriage in Britain took one step closer toward becoming a reality on Monday after the House of Lords passed a bill that seeks to redefine marriage.
The bill will now go back to the House of Commons for a review, though the Associated Press reported that is likely to go without a problem, as the House of Commons passed the bill earlier, 390 to 148.
If signed into law, same-sex couples will be allowed to have both civil and religious ceremonies in England and Wales. The Church of England, which has opposed gay marriage and often spoken out against it, will be banned from performing ceremonies.
"It's impossible to express how much joy this historic step will bring to tens of thousands of gay people and their families and friends," said Ben Summerskill, chief executive of gay rights group Stonewall, according to The Telegraph.
"The Bill's progress through Parliament shows that, at last, the majority of politicians in both Houses understand the public's support for equality – though it's also reminded us that gay people still have powerful opponents."
Colin Hart, campaign director for Coalition for Marriage, insisted, however, that the fight for traditional marriage is not over.
"They are just ordinary men and women, not part of the ruling elite. They are passionate, motivated and determined to fight on against a law that renders terms like husband and wife meaningless and threatens one of the foundations of the institution of marriage: fidelity and faithfulness," Hart said of traditional marriage supporters.
Despite its opposition to gay marriage, last month the Anglican Communion admitted that the bill is likely to pass and Britain will join the growing list of countries that accept the practice.
"Marriage is abolished, redefined and recreated – being different and unequal for different categories. The new marriage of the bill is an awkward shape with same gender and different gender categories scrunched into it – neither fitting well," said the Rt. Rev. Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, during a government debate about the bill.
The Rt. Rev. Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester, said that the question now is how the bill can be strengthened in a number of aspects, such as the rights of children and how fidelity in marriage is defined.
"If this Bill is to become law, it is crucial that marriage as newly defined is equipped to carry within it as many as possible of the virtues of the understanding of marriage it will replace. Our focus during Committee and Report stages in the coming weeks and months will be to address those points in a spirit of constructive engagement," Stevens said.
Gay marriage is an issue that has evoked dividing opinions among the general public – a 2012 poll found that 78 percent of respondents believe Britain is tolerant of gay and lesbian people, with 43 percent supporting gay marriage, another 32 percent backing civil partnerships for gay couples, and 16 percent remaining opposed to both same-sex marriage and civil partnerships.


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The Department of English and Humanities develops students who can think and read critically, write and speak clearly, and who understand the contributions literature, art, music, and philosophy can make to the quality of daily life.
The Department believes that the skills of reading, writing, and thinking are the foundations upon which a successful college career is built, and, therefore, all areas within the Department accept as part of their charge the continuous development of writing and speaking skills.
To this end, the Department is committed to providing opportunities for the integrated study of a variety of art forms as well as to infusing its academic programs with American, international, and multicultural perspectives.


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The Department of Campus Recreation encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities in all programs and services. To facilitate opportunities for people with and without disabilities to engage in recreational pursuits together, the Department of Campus Recreation provides inclusion support services, including -- but not limited to -- staff support and adaptive equipment.
Additional requests for other accommodations should be made through the Membership Services office, Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-7 p.m, or via email at email@example.com


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Volunteers Complete the First Renovations of a School in the Philippines
Following the recent Typhoon Haiyan disaster in the Philippines, Projects Abroad has successfully initiated the Disaster Relief Project. With eight volunteers currently in destination and a further ten arriving over the coming month, the renovation of one classroom at Don Pedro Elementary School was completed on Friday 13th December 2013.
The volunteers helped in putting up a new ceiling, installing glass window blades and painting the classroom walls. On Tuesday 17th December the new classroom was officially handed over. The renovations of Don Pedro Elementary were fully funded by Projects Abroad.
The Disaster Relief Project is now working on the renovations of DCM Taytayan Integrated School, where the roof and ceiling of two classrooms were completely destroyed and some classrooms sustained minor damage. Last week, our volunteers and local builders completed putting up a new ceiling for both classrooms. It is estimated that the two classrooms will be completed before Christmas. Projects Abroad has also funded the reconstruction of this school.
The Disaster Relief Project is also working on the renovations of a further three schools in the area. Both current and future volunteers arriving in December and January will work on the reconstruction of Bung-aw Elementary School where, after the typhoon, only two classrooms survived. The aim is to complete the construction of two new classrooms and to build new roofs and ceilings for two other classrooms; with a hand-over date in mid-January.
Projects Abroad Operations Manager, Ligaya Basalo, who is originally from the Philippines, explains:
'The volunteers' efforts have already made a significant contribution to the community; through the Disaster Relief initiative, Projects Abroad is continuing to direct resources and efforts in the Philippines to areas that need help. A big thank you to all the volunteers joining this work.'
Read more about the Disaster Relief project .


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DWTS Season 12 Cast Rumors – Count Donna D'Errico Out, Lorenzo Lamas In?
In an earlier reporting, it appeared Donna D'Errico might have been a strong possibility to dance on Dancing With The Stars along with friend Lorenzo Lamas. AOL News is reporting today that she turned the show down. She's decided to look for the remains of Noah's Ark in Turkey instead. She also wants to fulfill her dream of having a cooking show.
Former "Baywatch" star Donna D'Errico has enjoyed a pretty amazing career arc.
But the 42-year-old actress, who recently turned down a spot on "Dancing With the Stars," is now focusing on Noah's ark.
D'Errico, 42, is in training to fulfill a lifelong dream of climbing Mount Ararat in Turkey to search for the frozen remains of Noah's ark.
But, what about Lorenzo Lamas? Is he still a strong possibilty? Theatre Mania is reporting he showed up for the L.A premiere of "Ballroom With A Twist" pictured below. More pictures of the cast and other people in attendance at the link.
Anyway, maybe this is nothing and Lorenzo just wanted to see "Ballroom With A Twist". Then again, maybe he's wanting to watch as much dancing as possible (to learn as much as he can) and mingle with the potential pros who might be on Dancing With The Stars Season 12? Hmmm? I get the feeling Lorenzo is doing the show. 😀


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Bass Punch Records is ran by MarchMelloW & Skrewface. Born out of the need to get out dubs that deserves to be rinsed worldwide, Bass Punch Records will deliver QUALITY over quantity. Bass Punch's aim is to become into a label associated with high quality releases and productions in due time.
Bass Punch genres will stretch from mainly Electronica (Dubstep, Sublow, Grime, House) but also Dancehall, Reggae & Dub.
If it punches you in the face, expect it to be released through this label.
Bass Punch Records owes it to Dylan James (Betamorph/Abducted Dubs) for all the assistance and guidance.
Bass Punch Records Album Sampler Autumn-Promo
1. ill boding – cleanstep (5:56)
2. rdubz – dont dare (6:30)
3. rakoon – faul (5:33)
4. decree – brahms war (4:10)
5. genetic.krew – the city (4:55)
6. marchmellow – ouch!! (5:10)
7. swiftee – strange thoughts (5:03)
8. richie august – righteous kill (4:27)
9. riskyman – rio (6:44)
Just to listen- what you can expect from bass punch.
For more check myspace
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The winners of last night's planning meeting for "grown-up" book club are as follows:
|Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
|Mary Ann Schaffer
|and Annie Barrows
|The Elegance of the Hedgehog
|Muriel Barberry
|Alison Anderson
|My Life in France
|Julia Child
|The Maytrees
|Annie Dillard
|Mrs. Dalloway
|Virginia Woolf
|The Space Between Us
|Thirty Umriger
|Hunger Games
|Suzanne Collins
|The Black Book of Secrets
|FE Higggins
|Distant Land of My Father
|Bo Caldwell
|(and for over achievers or fast readers)
|Last Chinese Chef
|Nicole Mones
|The Help
|Kathryn Stockett
|The Middle Place
|Kelly Corrigan
|My Stroke of Insight
|Jill Bolte Taylor
|Last Town on Earth
|Thomas Mullen
|pick from recommended
|Peony in Love
|Lisa See
|Anti-Intellectualism in American Life
|Richard Hofstadter
I had been looking forward to this evening for quite a while and started doing by "research" for suggestions this past July. Everyone in the group brings a suggestion (or two or three) and then we hash it out. Some books are clear 'winners' if more than one person brought the book as a suggestion. We also get recommendations from the owner and the manager of the local book store for consideration. We try to always have one classic, one non-fiction, and one young adult book, in addition to fiction titles. There are a few members who can always be counted on to bring non-fiction recommendations as well as a few who love the classics. I'm one of two who inhale young adult, so it's always fun to compare notes as well as getting our friends to read some of our YA favorites. Hunger Games was an easy pick for both of us.
I had brought the three titles in bold and have been holding off on reading Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society in hopes that it would make this year's list (sometimes if too many people have already read a title, it can eliminate a book from 'the running'.
The classic is always the hardest for me with non-fiction coming in a close second. I still haven't made it through a classic in three years. It doesn't help that the non-fiction month usually overlaps when I am reading YA books like a fiend before Newbery announcements. I'm not making any bets that I will make it to Virginia Woolf, but maybe if I can buy it on I-tunes and listen to it in the car.
The group expanded as many brought a friend and we were able to make decisions in record time this year. Big thanks to Susan for hosting and organizing. We wouldn't all be the varied readers we are without your organization.