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Portland, OR 97215
(503) 233-1286
In Portland, Oregon, a veritable melting pot of tree-hugging hippies, tech-savvy yuppies, organic food junkies and white trash, a pizza revolution is beginning to take form, and the most popular iteration of this burgeoning pizza haven must certainly be Apizza Scholls.
Nestled between a chocolate shop and the Bar of the Gods on hip Hawthorne Boulevard, Apizza Scholls dishes out whole pies to legions of local fans seven days a week (5pm - 9:30pm Monday thru Saturday, 4pm - 8pm Sunday). Such is the enthusiastic fervor surrounding the pizzeria that lines can form thirty-strong or more an hour prior to opening on Fridays and Saturdays, making a simple walk-in-sit-down-and-order an impossible affair on busy weekends. To-go orders are available only Monday through Wednesday, but after that, expect a long wait if you're not there when the doors open.
After the moment of heart-stopping elation that comes when the hostess calls your name, you're ushered to one of the ten or so tables in either of the dual dining rooms. Décor is sparse, with simply painted walls adorned with the occasionally piece of framed artwork. It's really nothing special. But you're not here for the atmosphere, you're here for the eats!
Thankfully, Scholls has several beers on tap to get you nice and buzzed, all at $4.50 a pint (except for the Schneider Hopfen-Weisse at $6), as well as nearly 30 more bottled. Several red and white wines are also readily available, along with an impressive array of Boylan's soft drinks.
The menu is as expansive as the drink list. Beyond the usual house and Caesar salads ($7 and $8, respectively) you'll find some delicious antipasti options, such as an assortment of delicious cured olives ($5), a veggie plate with roasted red peppers, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, cherry peppers, Fior di Latte, and grilled artichoke hearts ($10) and a meat plate with proscuitto rosa, salame Gentile, soppressata, salame Siciliana, and mortadella ($10). Your best bet is the House Antipasti Plate, which offers a hearty mix of both the meat and veggie plates. All of it is cured to perfection and a steal at $12.
And that brings us to the pies, and what pies they are. An unabashed mash-up of New York and New Haven styles, pizzas at Scholls are large 18-to-20-inch discs with a well-charred, crisp crust that holds up well to the toppings, whatever they may be. The air pocket-filled outer crust is bubbly and perfect, with a nice crisp crunch giving way to a light, chewy center. Owner and head pizzaolo Brian Spangler closely monitors every pie in his electric oven with an infrared thermometer gun, watching them char under controlled 700°F+ heat and making sure each one comes out perfect. As far as I can tell, he has succeeded every time.
If you're in Portland for any reason and consider yourself a fan of pizza, skipping Apizza Scholls is the most cardinal of cardinal sins. A Slice of Heaven author and Serious Eats founder Ed Levine named it one of the "Top Five Pizzerias in America," and after just one of Spangler's masterpieces, you'll understand why.
OVEN: Electric
RECOMMENDED: House Antipasti Plate, Margherita with Sausage


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Spanish language report here
UPDATE 2: Coincidentally (????) August 12th was the day after her big election loss this year.
Final update: Here's Reuters English language
You cannot make this shit up. I repeat
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 4, 2013) -Liberty Silver Corp. (LSL.TO) ("Liberty" or the "Company") has entered into a non-binding letter of intent with BG Capital Group Inc. for a total of U.S. $1.0 million debt financing (the "Loan") subject to a number of conditions, including due diligence, definitive documentation and approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Loan provides for an immediate advance of U.S. $50,000 with U.S. $200,000 to be advanced at closing and execution and delivery of definitive documentation, U.S. $250,000 at the end of the first quarter following the closing date, and two further advances of U.S. $250,000 at the end of each of the next two following quarters.continues here
My best guess was right. LionGold is in buyout talks with Minera IRL
Let the fun begin
Here's the NR
1) Jennings covers Minera IRL (IRL.to) (MIRL.L) and likes the stock too, with a 75c target price on the current ~25c stock.
2) The Jennings analyst is Kwong-Mun Achong Low and I'll bet you a full dollar to a lowly donut that his Mandarin Chinese is up to scratch.
3) IRL has one producing gold mine and two others under development
4) IRL is listed on three foreign stock exchanges
Oct 4 (Reuters) - Singapore-listed gold miner LionGold Corp Ltd, whose shares are suspended by the Singapore Exchange, said it is at an advanced stage of negotiations to acquire a stake in a company listed on three foreign stock exchanges.But the unnamed target firm, which has a producing gold mine as well as gold mines under development, is considering if the acquisition should continue in view of the suspension, LionGold said in a stock exchange filing.The target company was introduced to LionGold by Jennings Capital Inc, a Canada-based investment dealer, LionGold said.The Singapore Exchange Ltd suspended trading in three stocks on Friday, warning the market may not be fully informed after a plunge in their share prices, with one falling more than 60 percent. (Reporting by Eveline Danubrata; Editing by Rachel Armstrong)
...gold, kitco 3 dayer:
Andy Home is always a good read on metals, yesterday he was a very good read on copper. So read this
...the gold/oil ratio, three years:
SCOTTSDALE, AZ--(Marketwired - Oct 1, 2013) - International Minerals Corporation (
TSX: IMZ) (IMZ.SW) (the "Company" or "IMZ") announces that it has entered into a binding arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") with Hochschild Mining plc. ("Hochschild") pursuant to which Hochschild will acquire IMZ, primarily for IMZ's 40% interest in the jointly-owned (Hochschild 60%) Peruvian assets: the Pallancata silver mine and the Inmaculada gold-silver development project.Hochschild will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of IMZ (other than those that it already owns) by way of a court-approved Plan of Arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Yukon).Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, each IMZ shareholder (other than Hochschild in respect of the cash) will receive consideration comprising:
- US$2.38 (approximately C$2.46) per common share in cash; and
- One common share of a new Canadian public company ("SpinCo") for each common share of IMZ.
- The following non-Peruvian assets and liabilities of IMZ will be transferred to SpinCo at closing:
- IMZ's remaining cash and receivables (estimated at approximately US$58 million); and
- IMZ's non-Peruvian (primarily Nevada) subsidiaries and related liabilities.
Dedicated to MM, JM and TK:
Worth watching just for the Alice Springs bit.
PS: If you need NSFW notices you shouldn't be reading IKN in the first place, dumbass.
GORO this morning has a sudden uptick in volume.
A chart:
Iwnattos has a special message for you.
UPDATE: Kip Keen picks up the message
The total purchase price on a fully diluted basis, including assumed net debt, and excluding funding of ExploreCo, will be approximately Cdn. $1.6 billion . Financing of the acquisition will be accomplished by cash on hand and bank credit facilities including a committed U.S. $1.3 billion short term bank facility, which the Company expects to refinance after the acquisition is completed.
The information and opinions contained within this site reflect the personal views of Inca Kola News and therefore all material within should not be construed as accurate or reliable or be utilized as advice for investment or business purposes. Independent due diligence and discussions with ones own investment and business advisors is strongly recommended. Accordingly, nothing on this site should be construed as offering a guarantee of the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein, as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or as an endorsement of any product or service. All opinions and estimates included on this site are subject to change without notice. All content may be reproduced under fair use doctrine providing proper credit and a return link is made to this https://www.liquidtintz.com/ site.

subset: commoncrawl


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BOXED, 9MM 147 RN 356 Copper Plated Bullet 500ct
X-Treme Bullets are proudly made out of the finest materials available in the United States in order to ensure performance delivered down range with each and every shot. Our process starts with a lead billet that is extruded into wire. The lead wire is then swaged into a core. The cores are copper plated, then restruck once more. Though not common in the industry, this restrike process produces a bullet that is more uniform, with a more precise diameter and a smoother finish for a better shooting and better looking bullet.
|9mm Luger
|Bullet Profile
|Round Nose (RN)
|Bullet Weight
|147 Gr


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Given everything on his plate as president of the United States, why does Barack Obama feel the need to take on a second job -- chairman of the Democratic National Committee? Officially speaking, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine chairs the DNC. But, as is customary when a party controls the White House, its true head is the president. But there should be a certain amount of delicacy in how the White House exerts its explicit partisan political power.
President Obama is choosing not to be delicate in tossing his elbows within the Democratic Party: America woke up Sunday morning to a New York Times headline saying that Obama and the White House political team had decided that unpopular New York Gov. David Paterson should step aside -- not run for a full term next year.
The decision to ask Mr. Paterson to step aside was proposed by political advisers to Mr. Obama, but approved by the president himself, one of the administration officials said.
"Is there concern about the situation in New York? Absolutely," the second administration official said Saturday evening. "Has that concern been conveyed to the governor? Yes."
U.S. & World
Well, the Times story isn't "extraordinary" really: This is actually Obama's fourth intervention in a state race and he hasn't even been president a full year! In fact, his first intervention was also in New York. Obama chose to "clear the field" for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, appointed by Paterson earlier this year to replace Hillary Clinton. Obama reportedly personally called Rep. Steve Israel of Long Island and asked him to not challenge Gillibrand in a primary. Similar pressure (though not necessarily an Obama phone call) was brought to bear against Rep. Carolyn Maloney.
The president has also picked sides in contested primaries in both Colorado and Pennsylvania. The latter one is somewhat understandable in that it involves Arlen Specter who switched parties. In these situations, the party usually stands behind the switcher.
But getting involved in all of these races isn't exactly smart for a sitting president who needs to keep his party united when he's trying to push through controversial legislation. This creates a no-win situation: Even if Obama is successful, he creates a certain amount of ill-will in the party -- and expends precious political capital within the party. On the other hand, if his preferred candidates lose, he ends up looking weaker within his own party.
There's another danger in being this explicitly political: It gives the GOP another line of attack against Obama and the White House. On CBS' Face The Nation, RNC Chairman Michael Steele adroitly (or shamelessly, depending on your perspective), introduced the race card in assessing Obama's attempt to force Paterson out:
MICHAEL STEELE: I found that to be stunning that the White House would send word to one of
only two black governors in the country not to run for re-election. And it just raised a curious point for me.
I think Paterson-- Governor Paterson's numbers are about the same as Governor Corzine's numbers, yet
the President was with Governor Corzine, and I don't know if there's been a request made of Governor
Corzine to step down in New Jersey. So I-- I just find it to be stunning and also rather bold.
BOB SCHIEFFER: Well, you don't think he's asked him not to run because he's black?
MICHAEL STEELE: Oh, I don't think that, but I just find-- I mean look, you-- you have so few-- if you're
looking-- if you're saying it's the numbers, then why isn't there a call for those other Democrat governors
who have low numbers who are in trouble as well? So I just think that it's-- it's just a curiosity for me that
the President would inject, or the White House would inject itself into that debate when it's-- I don't think
it's appropriate nor necessary, because it's a primary. If he's going to be challenged he'll be challenged.
And he'll survive it or not survive it.
Amazingly, Steele said this barely one minute after commending Obama for pushing back against charges that racism was behind criticism of the administration! Now, that's a deft piroutte. In fact, Paterson's numbers are actually far worse than Corzine. And Steele didn't mention that Obama didn't do the same to the other black governor -- Deval Patrick -- who also has poor approval numbers. One big difference between Corzine and Paterson (besides race) is that Corzine is up for this year, and there's hardly time to get somebody else to run in his place (though not unheard of in New Jersey). But the big difference between Corzine and Patrick, on the one hand, and Paterson on the other? The former two are elected governors who have the ability to recapture 51 percent of the support of the people.
Paterson, on the other hand, was never elected governor. He ascended to the office in the wake of the Eliot Spitzer scandal and resignation. There is no built-in "trust" factor for him to appeal to the public. Besides, while Corzine and Patrick might point to the overall economy as the main source of their problems, Paterson has compounded that same situation with multiple public errors -- including the bungled selection of Gillibrand. He assuredly didn't gain himself much cred with the White House when he helped launch the whole criticism-of-black-politicians-is-racist with a bizarre series of interviews last month.
Ultimately though, Paterson is doomed as much by a shadow looming over him that isn't extant in either New Jersey or Massachusetts -- a viable consensus candidate to run in Paterson's place. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is overwhelmingly popular in his own right, crushes Paterson in head-to-head matchups and handily defeats the strongest potential Republican opponent, Rudy Giuliani.
So, it's no surprise why Obama would want Paterson out -- but doing so publicly actually makes the situation more problematic. Even if he is a poor candidate, there's no reason to humiliate Paterson -- which the leaking of this story does. Paterson is already sounding quite defiant. Even though Obama will eventually win this fight, he's arguably undermined his above-the-fray moral authority in favor of playing raw political hardball.
New York writer Robert A. George blogs at Ragged Thots. Follow him on Twitter.


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Perhaps I am a bit of a contrarian but I am not as high as most experts are on the overall strength of the Toronto Blue Jays current batch of prospects. The system is probably in the best shape it has been in quite some time and Alex Anthopoulos has done a masterful job of restocking a cupboard of prospects that was once considered a laughing stock.
But I am just not that convinced that it will ultimately produce any potential star players and there isn't one guy that I feel is a must have, outside of Brett Lawrie. The list is deep, which is good and I hope if a potential young cost controlled player becomes available (like a Justin Upton) the Jays wouldn't hesitate in cleaning out the system a bit to fetch a nice asset.
But depth doesn't excite me, and after the top two (Brett Lawrie and Kyle Drabek) the list really goes downhill in my opinion. Even the top two names that have far and away the most potential of the group can leave bit of a sour taste in your mouth. It's not to say that any prospect out there is a sure thing, but there are a lot of other teams who have a more exciting basket of potential impact players.
The Yankees have Jesus Montero knocking on the team's door, and further down their list have extremely promising arms like Dellin Betances, Manny Banuelos and Andrew Brackman. Not to mention a young catcher named Gary Sanchez who would likely rank 2nd or 3rd on the Jays list. I just don't see a Jeremy Hellickson, Aroldis Chapman, Carlos Santana, Mike Stanton, Starlin Castro or Domonic Brown type in this group.
Top Blue Jays Prospects 2011:
#1 INF Brett Lawrie
Brett Lawrie is a naturally gifted athlete who just happens to play baseball, and play it well. The kid has moxie and tools that rate off the charts with his hit tool rating the best. Currently a line drive gap power hitting machine a lot of those doubles should eventually turn into long flies and Lawrie could be a high 20s HRs type of player.
Drafted as a catcher by the Milwaukee Brewers, he was quickly switched to second base at his request and the biggest question mark surrounding Lawrie isn't if he can hit enough it is where is he going to play on the diamond? Most feel a corner outfield spot will be his eventual landing spot and the kid does come with a few warts.
Lawrie while highly touted has shown immaturity and is on his second organization before reaching the 'AA' level. He refused an assignment to the Arizona Fall League this year and decided he would prefer to be a second basemen as opposed to attempting to play catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. The reviews are mixed if Lawrie can handle a middle infield role and he has already been shifted to third base to ensure a speedy road to the major league level.
The kid is young, only just turning 21 in January/2011 and judging any of his behaviour without thinking of how I acted at the same age would be short-sighted so I am willing to let bygones be just that. However, playing a corner infield spot means his bat is going to have to be that much more impactful and power is the hardest skill to project and normally last attribute to arrive. He is cocky, confident and seemingly brash and I like that, posting a .361 wOBA as a 20-year old in AA might do that for you.
Brett Lawrie won't be an average ballplayer if he makes it I think he makes it big and if he doesn't I don't see him even in baseball in five years. I am expecting an impactful, solid offensive career for the kid and I think he is the Toronto Blue Jays best hitting prospect to come along in years. He is our top prospect as a potential top or middle of the order hitter who can play every day, hopefully at a premium position like the keystone corner.
Second on the list is Kyle Drabek who for me is one of the most underwhelming "top" pitching prospects in baseball. Don't get me wrong I think he could still develop into a solid #2/3 starter but the talk of a potential ace is a bit of a reach based on the numbers he has been putting up in the minor leagues. In particular the mediocre to poor minor league strikeout numbers are disturbing.
Of course not everybody can be Stephen Strasburg or Clayton Kershaw coming through the system in terms of strikeout numbers but it is a great way to gauge the pitcher's overall stuff and how they project in terms of future major league success. I hope for the Jays sake Drabek proves me wrong but he is certainly not taking a typical path to stardom. Besides 61.2 IPs in 'High A' ball (as a 22 year old in 2009) where his K/9 was 10.8 the overall minor league resume is lacking.
|Kyle Drabek
I am sure some pitchers have gone on to solid careers with mediocre minor league strikeout numbers but the probability isn't great and the number of examples isn't plentiful. For a right handed starter to succeed without high strikeout numbers he would need to have extreme groundball tendencies and play in front of a solid defence. Drabek has improved in this regard as his groundball ratios have improved over the past two seasons.
A must inclusion for Toronto in the Roy Halladay trade, Drabek is being counted on to develop into a big time inning eating starting pitcher. I was holding out hope that the Philadelphia Phillies would have panicked and offered their top prospect in toolsy outfielder Domonic Brown and it is a bit worriesome that Drabek's name was being thrown around more than a few times for such a highly touted prospect.
If Drabek were a lefty I'd be more optimistic but at this point I see a solid #3 starter who will give us innings, a 6 K/9, 2.5 K/BB and a FIP in the low to mid 4.00s – very solid but not 'ace' like. Alex Anthopoulos did well to ensure Drabek was included in the deal that sent the best pitcher in baseball out of Toronto and the future is still very bright for the son of Doug Drabek.
Kyle Drabek possesses a very solid fastball and can hit the mid 90s on a regular basis so there is room for improvement going forward if the secondary stuff can improve and help him miss more bats. This is a guy who could end up making me and this scouting report look very foolish with only a few tweaks and subtle improvements. After all, he already went through TJ surgery so we should cut him a bit of slack I suppose.
Well, those are the two best in the system and after that I feel it drops off dramatically. Here is the best of the rest as we rank 3-10.
#3 SP Deck McGuire
Drafted out of Georgia Tech in the recent 2010 MLB Amateur draft the consensus around the world of scouting is that McGuire was an excellent selection who possesses a crafty 4-pitch arsenal that projects to be a workhorse type mid-rotation guy. I think the ceiling here is a poor man's Matt Garza. A solid, exciting name but a guy who has never even thrown one professional inning yet he ranks near the top of almost all of the most respected Blue Jays prospect rankings.
#4 C Carlos Perez
The Jays currently have a plethora of solid young catching prospects and I feel the 20-year old Venezuelan Perez has the most upside of all of them. A potential 10-12 HR guy who can play strong defence and is a strong athlete. Has shown solid patience in his young career at the plate and he could profile as a solid mid to bottom of the order hitter with a bit of pop.
#5 SP Zach Stewart
Acquired in the Scott Rolen trade from the Cincinnati Reds Zach Stewart's stock dropped a bit in 2010 as his K/9 plummeted to only 7.0 in 136 'AA' innings as he posted the worst FIP of his career at 4.18. Stewart will turn 25 years old this summer and the time for him to arrive is now, another guy who likely wouldn't crack many teams' top ten lists. There has been talk he is best suited for a late inning relief role also but I think the Jays will exhaust all possibilities of becoming a starter before that happens.
I am higher on Anthony Gose than probably any other evaluator so far this offseason but I don't understand the trepidations with Gose who at worst will provide gold glove calibre defence at a premium position and steal a few bases. However if the bat develops into even slightly below league average we are talking about a potential 5.0 WAR player who is still only 21-years old who just posted a .363 wOBA in 113 PAs for the Jays 'AA' team.
Gose athleticism ranks off the charts and the only question mark with him is the plate discipline and overall bat tool. Acquired for 1B Brett Wallace I'm rolling with him and I like this type of talent, very toolsy.
#7 C Travis D'Arnaud
Probably the most complete all-around game of the Jays catching prospects, D'Arnaud has the potential to develop into a plus defender who would only need an average bat to provide decent value to his club. I think he should develop into a useful hitter but a guy who will always bat near the bottom of the lineup but he is still only 22-years old and has time to continue his development.
#8 C J.P. Arencibia
This guy ranks all over the place on various lists, as high as #3 on Marc Hulet's Fangraphs ranking while down to 8th on Baseball America's. I feel the general consensus regarding Arencibia is 'meh' and I feel the same way. Already turned 25 years old Arencibia had virtually fallen off the prospect map after a horrible 2009 where he posted a 236/284/444 slash line in 500 'AAA' PAs.
When the team moved to the little league park in Las Vegas his numbers subsequently jumped with them. I am not buying it and I don't think he ever hits enough to justify the worst facet of his game, and that is game calling and defensive skills. Terrible plate discipline, bad defense and one park/league infused season justifies ranking him so low.
There are others to be at least mindful of but they are either still too young or just drafted to give them a meaningful scouting report or ranking. Among them are:
OF Jake Marisnick – toolsy, big ceiling, big risk.
SP Asher Wojciechowski – between him and scrabble the Jays are doing their best to empty ink cartridges. Strong upside from the College right hander.
SP Aaron Sanchez – strong high school righty, just drafted in 2010.
SS Adeiny Hechavarria – suspect bat tool but legit glove.
OF Eric Thames – the bat is exciting.
SP Chad Jenkins – stock fell a bit with pedestrian K-rate in advanced 'A' ball.
SP Adonis Cardona – top 16-year old Venezuelan signing in 2010, years away.
The Jays system has depth again and the Alex Anthopoulos plan and era are in the early stages so I fully expect given him competency that the Blue Jays farm system and draft excellence will continue to be at the very forefront of the plan. Even in 2-3 years a lot of the names will start to look more exciting as they reach higher minor league levels and the system starts to hopefully do its job and churn out big league regulars.
Right now though I feel the system is solid but a tad on the overrated side.


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The amount of television advertising for electronic cigarettes that American adolescents saw jumped by more than 250 percent over the past few years, according to a new study.
Researchers said the extra exposure to e-cigarette marketing, if not curtailed by regulation and countered by public health messages, could lead more youth to start using the devices.
"It appears that youth are being exposed to a sustained level of marketing about the benefits of e-cigarettes," said Jennifer Duke, the study's lead author from the nonprofit research organization RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. "In television, that can be influential."
E-cigarettes were first introduced in China in 2004. The battery-powered devices let users inhale nicotine-infused vapors, which don't contain the harmful tar and carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke.
Concerns about use of the devices by teens and young adults include the possibility that nicotine could harm developing brains, that the safety of the inhaled vapors has not been established and that nicotine use could lead to smoking traditional cigarettes.
"I think - as a potential gateway to future use - this could potentially cause public health harm," Duke said.
Unlike traditional cigarettes and other tobacco products, e-cigarette advertisements are not subject to federal regulations.
The proportion of young people who report ever having used e-cigarettes is already growing. The number more than doubled from about 3 percent in 2011 to about 7 percent in 2012, Duke and her colleagues write in the journal Pediatrics.
"We thought it was important to look at trends in advertising," she said.
By analyzing data from the Nielsen ratings company, the researchers looked for patterns in e-cigarette marketing from January 2011 to September 2013.
To estimate young people's exposure to e-cigarette advertising, they used Nielsen's system of target rating points, or TRPs, which measure the portion of a specific population within a TV commercial's total audience that saw an ad.
For example, a commercial with a 50 "youth TRP" may have been viewed five times by 10 percent of the youth audience or once by 50 percent of that audience in a given period.
From 2011 through the first half of 2012, e-cigarette ads had fewer than 100 TRPs among kids between the ages of 12 and 17 years old. That rose and peaked at 347 TRPs from April to June 2013 before declining to 275 TRPs by September.
During the same period in five specific target markets, including Columbus, Ohio and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, youth TRPs for e-cigarette ads were over 1,000.
The national numbers could mean that 50 percent of all kids in that age group saw 21 e-cigarette ads from October 2012 to September 2013, the researchers write. Or, it could mean 80 percent of adolescents saw 13 ads during that time.
The increase over the entire study period represents a 256 percent rise in TRPs for e-cigarette ads between 2011 and 2013.
The researchers found that more than three quarters of the ad exposure occurred on cable networks, including Country Music Television, Comedy Central, TV Land and VH1.
For young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 years, the TRP numbers were even greater than for adolescents, and represent a 321 percent increase in exposure from 2011 through 2013.
The increased exposure among teens and young adults was largely driven by an ad campaign from one brand of e-cigarettes known as blu eCigs, which is owned by the cigarette manufacturer Lorillard Inc.
"We have proactively set limitations on when and where blu eCigs can be marketed in an effort to minimize any potential exposure to minors, a part of our criteria is to screen all marketing opportunities to ensure that our TV ads only run with media targeting an adult audience of 85 percent or greater," blu eCigs told Reuters Health in a statement.
In a perspective piece published in the same journal, Drs. Emily Duffy and Brian Jenssen from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia called for more oversight of the e-cigarette industry.
"There's really nothing controlling the quality or the safety of these products," Duffy, a pediatrician, told Reuters Health. "I think it just makes sense that in any situation when there is a product being marketed that has a potentially addictive or harmful substance, it really makes sense for an organization like the (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) to regulate these items."
Most Read
A 75-day comment period for e-cigarette regulations that FDA proposed in April is currently in effect. In May, a group of urban health officials urged FDA to regulate e-cigarettes more like traditional tobacco products, including restrictions on ads (see Reuters article of May 1, 2014, here: reut.rs/1hoccAN).
"For parents, it's important to try to maintain a dialogue with their children on the risks of any substances – particularly with e-cigarettes, because there is so much that's unknown about them," Duffy said.
Duke thinks some regulation of e-cigarette ads is needed or the situation will likely remain unchanged.
"I think if current trends continue, e-cigarette use among youth and young adults will continue to rise," she said.
SOURCE: bit.ly/uFc4g2 Pediatrics, online June 2, 2014.


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Midwife's Assistant Training Program
Become a Midwife's Assistant!
Birth Arts International Midwife's Assistant and Monitrice Training and Certification program is an extensive and exploratory training program. Students will learn how to work as a Midwife's Assistant/Monitrice prenatally, during labor and postnatally, serving the needs of the mother and her family, and additionally learning the skills needed to practice and work as a midwife's assistant. Additionally, BAI will assist you in finding a midwife to work with or an apprenticeship. Although this cannot be guaranteed we will assist you in your search for a local placement.
Midwife's Assistant and Monitrice Training and Certification
Women do not experience childbearing in isolated segments but as continuum. A relationship flows naturally to love making with pregnancy following, which flows into the birth, postpartum and child raising. It is a continuous process that is woven into the rest of her life. She is also a part of a family and larger society. This program is based on that continuity and context and what women really need during this time.
A Birth Arts International Midwife's Assistant can provide a continuity of care that is lacking in our fragmented health care and social service systems. She can support the woman prenatally, during birth, postpartum and with family life. Traditionally, women learned how to be mothers and care for children from her family and the women in her community. In these times, all too often, a mother finds herself isolated with no one to "hang out with" to learn these things in a natural way. She may want to do things differently than her own parents. She turns to books, TV or the internet searching for her community of wise women. The Monitrice/Midwife's Assistant is a person in her own community that the mother can get to know during pregnancy and will feel comfortable turning to throughout the childbearing year. The Midwife's Assistant will know this mother, her family, and her particular circumstances and can tailor her care to her individual needs.
Women process feelings and thoughts by talking with others. As she talks, things become clearer and she is able to work out problems for herself. The Monitrice/Midwife's Assistant offers an understanding ear and a reflective perspective. The Monitrice can help the mother in a direct way. Cooking, shopping, doing household chores, child care, breastfeeding support, giving information or sharing resources are some of the things she does.
We know that one on one, in home, personal support works better than large classes or brief visits with a care provider. Women prefer this and the whole family benefits from such intensive care. The Monitrice/Midwife's Assistant always fosters family bonding, showing the partner or other family members how they can support the mother and baby.
A Monitrice/Midwife's Assistant will be familiar with local resources and can refer a mother for what she needs. She can work with her local health department, social services, hospital, homebirth midwife, birth education or breastfeeding group or on her own. She is familiar with alternative/complimentary health care modalities that are available.
The Monitrice is not a medical caregiver. Although a lot of monitrices are nurses, you must check with your nursing board before working as both. She does have specified basic health assessment skills she is competent to perform. She may also teach them to parents so they can do them for themselves. She is knowledgeable about normal childbearing and encourages the mother to see her caregiver when there are medical questions.
A midwife's assistant works with a regional midwife as an assistant care giver to families. She also has all the skills of a monitrice.
Birth Arts International is educating you to be a valuable resource for your community. Our goal is to bring currently available doula training to a deeper level. Advanced education modules are also available. We feel this way of caring for birthing women will contribute greatly to the health of women, their families, the community and world.
Our students learn to properly work with women utilizing skills for:
- History of the Birthing Arts
- Pregnancy Assessment
- Client relations
- Communication
- Cultural Diversity
- Nutrition
- Anatomy
- Prenatal Care
- Labor Support techniques and skills
- Adjunct Therapies
- Postpartum support and skills
- Breastfeeding support
- Household Support
- Herbal Support Techniques
- Aromatherapy Practices
- Flower Essences
- Universal Precautions
- Skills work - BP, FHT, Urine Collection, Etc..
- Business Skills
Students have to complete additional assignments throughout the workbook and additional readings.
eLearning Education Program
Instant access to materials
No Shipping Costs
All of your educational materials are online and you can work wherever you have internet
Interactive classroom and student connections online
Mentored Training
Distance Learning
Materials sent to you
Access to eLearning Classroom and other students
Mentored Training
Work with other students
Multiple Enrollment Options
Scholarship Options
Unlike other certification organizations, Birth Arts International has no additional fees. Your enrollment fee is the only fee we will charge you. We do not have certification, membership or examination fees that are due to become certified or to keep your membership current. All enrollments are final.


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Sham Da God - Zone A [Unsigned Artist]
'As a Lower East Side native and "Zone A" resident, Sham Da God gives his raw depiction of the effects of Hurricane Sandy and it's aftermath"
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From NBC's Shawna Thomas and Mark Murray
As expected, Indiana Rep. Mike Pence's (R) amendment to strip federal funding for Planned Parenthood passed the House by a 240-185 vote. Ten Democrats joined the GOP majority, while seven Republicans voted against the measure.
It is very unlikely that the measure would pass the Democratic-controlled Senate.


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Yesterday was the lovely Yvonne's Birthday so I thought I would surprise her with this card.
I used Stampin' Up! Rose Wonder Stamp Set and Rose Garden Thinlit Dies. To add the colour I just used my Stampin' Write Makers. Love how this turned out. Happy Birthday Yvonne I hope you had a great day xxx
What's happening now:-
Here's what is happening in Stampin' Up! and at Stamping with Karlie right now:
Here's what is happening in Stampin' Up! and at Stamping with Karlie right now:
Shop anytime
Shop in my Online store 24/7 HERE. Plus during Sale-a-bration for every $90 AUD you spend (before shipping and handling), you get a FREE Sale-A-Bration product. That means it's the perfect time to purchase those products you've had your eye on while earning more products for free. There are some gorgeous items to choose from, plus you can shop from either of the two catalogues or clearance items.
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Want free monthly tutorials from me plus the ability to earn hostess benefits without hosting a party? Join one of my Stampin Up Clubs (It's all by mail and email so you can join anywhere in Australia). Details HERE.
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For $169 you get $235 product plus 20% off all your future orders click HERE to join my team today. Plus until the 31st March 2016 you will be able to choose an additional $60 of free product for your kit. All up that's $295 product of your choice for only $169 - what a deal.
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- 2 Beds
- 2 Full Baths
Property TypeResidential – Condominium
SubdivisionVail 21 Condo
Listing Date11/30/18
Year Built1972
Parking1 Car Assigned
Property Description
In the heart of Lionshead village, this adorably renovated 2 bedroom condo has quick access to the Eagle Bahn Gondola & great retail shopping + dining. Offered turn-key with new furnishings. Opportunity beckons to enjoy effortless living. Recent exterior renovations including the outdoor hot tub area make this desirable location the perfect property for rental income. 1 assigned parking space included + $77K credit applied at closing from Seller for new parking garage.
Presented By
- Bus Route
- In Town
- Walk to Slopes
- Mountains
- Ski Slopes
- Cross Country Trails
- Hiking/Pedestrian Trail
- On Bus Line
- Cable Available
- Deck
- Fireplace - Wood
- Spa and Hot Tub
- Cable TV
- District Sewer
- District Water
- Electricity Avail.
- Natural Gas Avail.
- Snow Removal
- Trash Pickup
- Baseboard
- Common
- Natural Gas
- Common
Financial Information
About Lionshead
Adjacent to Vail Village alongside Gore Creek, Lionshead - named after a rock formation atop the mountain - also offers tremendous dining and shopping in addition to convenient proximity to the Eagle Bahn Gondola. Lionshead Village has undergone major improvements over the past decade including the development of the Arrabelle - housing a luxury hotel and condominiums as well as shops and restaurants. Lionshead, with its Alpine architecture and cobblestone streets is equally as convenient to winter and summer events and activities as well as being a charming pedestrian village.
Area Market Data
2 Beds 3 Baths
4 Beds 5 Baths
3 Beds 4 Baths
We get asked this question a lot. Below is a tool that gives you the ability to see what the market is like in your community. Find out what homes like your own are selling for right in your back yard. Simply enter in your address, choose the proximity of the search and find out market data for other homes that are selling near you.
While we'll provide you with plenty of information, this is a snapshot of your market data and there are real people behind the high-tech and automated tools. If you would like more detailed information or help in understanding the results we are here to help.
Until then, enjoy the tools!
The data relating to the real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Vail Multi-List Service, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Vail Multi List, Inc. (VMLS). The information displayed herein was derived from sources believed to be accurate, but has not been verified by VMLS. Buyers are cautioned to verify all information to their own satisfaction. This information is exclusively for viewers' personal, non- commercial use. Any republication or reproduction of the information herein without the express permission of the VMLS is strictly prohibited.
Listing courtesy of LIV Sotheby's International Realty - Covered Bridge


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Fourteen-year-old Chloe Moretz: Such a sweet and innocent face. Such dark and twisted roles. And she wouldn't have it any other way.
"The best roles are in dark movies," Moretz, who blew audiences away in 2010 with her edgy roles in "Kick-Ass" and "Let Me In," tells PopcornBiz. "It's roles that aren't you, because if I'm playing Chloe all the time it would be like everyday life and that's boring for me. Then it's like it's not acting, you know? You're just being yourself. I know it's weird to say, but it's fun playing someone that's not me."
The actress' latest trek into the shadows is as a neglected teen living a dangerous existence alongside a remote stretch of southeast Texas used for decades as a dumping ground for murdered bodies in "Texas Killing Fields" (opening in limited release this week). To research for the role, she met with some of the real-life girls who grew up on the edge of genuine darkness.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
"I was actually very scared and surprised to realize that it was real," says Moretz. "I was like, 'Oh, that's a little too close for comfort.' We went to the safe house in the middle of Louisiana, and I met all these women who, when they were girls as presents their family would give them meth and pills and stuff as like that as a reward for when they were doing something good. So it just hit me so hard. And after that day I'd say it definitely grew me up a lot."
Despite the occasionally disturbing revelation through work, the actress says she keeps her professional and personal lives apart. "I can separate it, so when I go home I'm a different person, and that way I don't get a big head," she says, though she tries to act as mature as she can on the job. "When I'm in work mode I don't act like a little kid…People expect you to be more well rounded and able to discuss things more seriously matter, because if you're always joking around with it you can't get to the point and get it done. It's your job at the end of the day, so it's like 'Do your job.' I guess what I give off is a more adult personality, so they feel fine to treat me as if I'm just another actor, which I love. I hate when people treat me like a little kid – I'm like, 'Stop. Please. You don't have to baby me.'"
Moretz says her recent stint shooting alongside Johnny Depp and Tim Burton on the film adaptation of the 60s vampire-themed soap opera "Dark Shadows" was, for a girl who labels herself "a weird bird," a dream come true. "I'm walking into a movie with Helena Bonham Carter, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Tim Burton – all in the same movie together!" she exclaims with disbelief. "And so I was like, 'Is this really happening to me? Or have I died and gone to heaven? Is this what's happening?' It's a very weird, weird, weird character. In the beginning you'll be like, 'Why is she doing that?' But then you'll realize at the end that it makes sense."
"Tim is just crazy – like, you can do anything and it's not out of the realm of possibility," she says admiringly of her director. "And he takes into account what other people say but he goes to his actors 'If you don't like this, you don't have to have it. You tell me and I will rewrite it. I'll do whatever you need to make this comfortable for you because I need you to be able to be in your best shape and form and feeling to be able to give me what I need for my movie.' So he's just so collaborative and he doesn't pigeonhole you."
Depp, too, she says, is "one of the people who can just think of something crazy in his head and somehow he's able to portray it in the most natural sense, which is so weird and you don't know why when you're watching the movie why you're crying for this weird character. But you're like, 'I love you, Edward Scissorhands, and I want to marry you. I want to hug your scissor hands.'"
"Texas Killing Fields" opens in limited release Friday, October 14th


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We're very glad to announce that after a long wait – Google has retired it's old "Keyword Tool", and replaced it with it's new shiny "Keyword Planner".
For details of the changes and what this means for the functionality of Market Samurai please read our recent blog post.
You can read more about some of the data changes (such as their removal of broad and phrase match data) that Google has made through their official blog article at https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/3141229
The good news is we've been working hard to make this transition as smooth as possible for our customers, and a version of Market Samurai that's compatible with the Keyword Planner has been in the testing stage for over a month now.
Today we've made this new "Keyword Planner" version live (simply update your version of Market Samurai to the latest version by launching the app and saying "Yes" to the update dialog prompt).
And we're really excited to announce that…
The new Keyword Planner build of Market Samurai is much faster than ever before!
The nature of the old Keyword Tool made it a very slow process to gather all the keyword data you need for effective keyword analysis. The new Keyword Planner build is much snappier which means that you can perform your keyword research in less than half the time when compared with the old Keyword Tool! Try using privacy critic vpn to have more privacy online.
What's changed in Market Samurai with the new Keyword Planner data?
There are a few visible changes worth noting, however:
We are now defaulting to Exact Match mode for keyword research data, as explained in more detail in the last blog post and in Google's official press release. This will show lower numbers for search traffic than the ones you may be used to, but we feel they're more indicative of the results you'll see in the long run.
We've updated our Golden Rules filters to use the new Majestic SEO competition metrics, instead of the increasingly-unreliable SEOC values. So once again the numbers themselves will be different, but the intent of the filter defaults remains the same. SEOC has ceased to be a reliable metric to measure the "quantity" of search engine competition.
Many other competing keyword research services including our friends at Wordtracker have moved to using the number of times a keyword appears in BOTH the Title Tag AND in anchor text links back to a page (what we now call "TAComp"), as a much more reliable measure of quantity of search engine competition.
SEOC was fine in 2008-2009, but the exponential growth in pages on the Internet since makes this a relatively meaningless number in 2013.
The "Adwords" filter section has been removed, and the AWCPC number is now part of the Commerciality column. AWCTR, AWT and AWV are no longer available as Google have removed this data from their Keyword Planner tool. We still provide the AWCPC and AWI (Adwords Impressions), and SEOV however (as Google still provides this data).
The old "Competition" column has been renamed "Basic Competition" to distinguish it from the "Majestic Competition" metrics we now recommend using.
The "Organic" column now features the "AdWords Impressions" (AWI) metric, which is similar to the older AWT (Adwords Traffic) – though our research has shown that it's not quite the same number, but can be used a pretty good replacement.
- The "Match Type" dropdown box only affects the results for the AWCPC column and the SEOV column – search traffic data is now always for exact-match searches only (as Google only provides Exact Match data now).
Using Phrase to Broad Match Ratio (PBR) is no longer recommended:
While the PBR metric will remain available to use if you want it, we are removing it from our default recommended filter settings and from our training. It was an innovative and time-saving feature while the numbers could be relied upon, but over time they've become less and less trustworthy. We're seeing wild variation in the data being returned from Google.
Unfortunately we feel it's now doing more harm than good in most cases.
Our recommendation is to do what the SEO Pros do – simply use Exact Match competition as this removes any biases due to word order or skews due to longer tail keyword derivations.
There's more information about the interface changes available in our Knowledge Base article here.
Training Dojo Keyword Research Video Updates Coming Soon…
Finally, we're in the process of revamping all our Keyword Research tutorial videos, with a priority on the Golden Rules series to be completed ASAP. They'll include updates on all the minor interface changes that have accumulated since we first produced the videos, and some new examples that reflect the conditions of the online markets as they are today.
Once they're ready to premiere we'll put the word out on Twitter and Facebook, so I urge you to follow us in order to be informed of important news and updates promptly!
What to do next…
To get your hands on this new, faster "Keyword Planner" build of Market Samurai, simply:
- Fire up your copy of Market Samurai.
- When prompted to update to the latest version, say "Yes"
- Wait for the update to download and Market Samurai to relaunch and you're on your way!
We hope you enjoy the new Keyword Planner build. If you have any issues, please feel free to shoot our support team an email at email@example.com
Also, we've done pretty extensive testing of our new keyword filter presets, however, if you have any advice on how they could be improved, please shoot us an email as well.


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Recalls: 2013 BMW M5 and M6 Oil Pumps, 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL Refrigerant
The NHTSA has issued recalls covering various issues on the 2013 BMW M5 and M6, 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL, and 2011-2012 VPG MV-1.
2013 BMW M5 and M6
The Problem: As we previously reported, BMW discovered a manufacturing issue related to the oil pump used on the S63Tu twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8, which is used in M5 and M6 models. Dealers were ordered in September to stop selling the models, but the automaker is now issuing a formal recall to replace the faulty oil pumps, which could cause the engine to lose oil pressure.
The Fix: Dealers will replace the oil pump free of charge. BMW expects to complete repairs by the end of October.
Number of Vehicles Affected: 696 vehicles, including M5, M6, and M6 convertible models.
The Problem: Daimler's recent crusade against the new R1234yf air conditioning refrigerant has now culminated in a formal recall for all 2013 model year SL roadsters. According to the automaker, a severe frontal impact could rupture refrigerant lines, and if exposed to an ignition source, R1234yf could ignite.
The Fix: Dealers will replace the refrigerant with standard R134a refrigerant while backdating refrigerant lines and fittings designed specifically for R134a. Owners will be notified in early October.
Number of Vehicles Affected: 432 2013 SL models sold in the United States.
2011-2012 Vehicle Production Group MV1
The Problem: VPG's accessible taxi vehicle is available with an optional compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel system. On these models, the pressure relief plug for the CNG storage tank may not be assembled properly, and the gas could leak, potentially leading to combustion if in the presence of an ignition source.
The Fix: VPG dealers will install a secondary pressure relief device that should prevent CNG from leaking. The device will be installed free of charge.
Number of Vehicles Affected: 435 CNG-fueled MV1 vehicles.
Source: NHTSA ODI


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In the Philippines, godmothers play an important role in the lives of children. Together with godfathers, they are expected to bring gifts and goodies on Christmas Day, birthdays and other special family gatherings. The godchild will not hesitate to ask for gifts in case the godparent forgets.
But more than the bearers of gifts, godparents are considered part of a child's extended family.
The extended family is an important social component for Filipinos. Included within the family extension are grandparents, uncles, aunts and godparents. And, in some cases, their words of advice are tantamount to those of the child's parents.
Of all the people included in a child's extended family, only the godparents are not blood relatives, yet they are looked upon as second parents.
One sponsor has earned that position in the life of Shiela.
"Monthly, I receive letters from my sponsor and we talk about life in general, her church and family."
Shiela knows a lot about her long-distance godmother.
"She loves talking about her nephews and nieces, and, recently one of her sisters got married. I also get plenty of photos."
Shiela has kept many of her sponsor's letters, but some were taken by her mother when she left home to live in the province. Her parents have separated and now she is living with her grandmother.
Help Families Affected BY COVID-19
Families in poverty have no safety net in times of crisis. Help provide food, medical care and support during this pandemic.
Sheila's sponsor knows about this and often encourages Shiela to be strong.
"She always encourages me by writing encouraging words. I really enjoy receiving letters from my godmother."
Sponsored children from all over the islands are required to write their sponsors at least three times a year, and to respond whenever they get a letter from their sponsors.
Many of the children, like Shiela, write more than three times a year.
"I love writing to my sponsor, even if I don't really have anything to say. I tell her about my life, my church and how happy I am here at the student center."
Each child development center has its own style of distributing the letters.
In some centers, caseworkers deliver the letters to the children's homes, while most give them out at the center during weekly activities.
"I get my letters usually during our lessons, but I often go to my caseworker to ask if I a have a letter, since I always anticipate that I do.
"It is important to write letters, for people to know each other and to share experiences, activities, ideas and so on."
Country Director of the Philippines, Noel Pabiona, expresses,
"I hope that, at least once a year, sponsors will write their children.
"Exchanging letters really makes a difference. It creates a strong impact in the sponsor-sponsored child relationship and brings the two close to each other."
Through the monthly exchange of letters between Shiela and her sponsor, the sponsor has ceased being just a sponsor. She is now her sponsored child's second mother.
Shiela knows that her sponsor cares about her.
"I write to her about everything. She knows about my parents' problems and that I am staying with my grandmother. I usually write her at home at nights and sometimes while I am here at the student center."


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How do I save the Harvard (UTS) style?
I am having trouble saving the style to the Endnote program on my PC as well as my Mac. I've downloaded the style and when I open it the Endnote program runs as it should, however, on the Mac it tells me that the document (style) could not be opened and on the PC, the window which displays details of the style doesn't come up at all.


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There are so many great choices out there when it comes to trucks that the options can be overwhelming. Conventional cab or cabover? Three quarter ton, two ton, or five ton? Regular cab, extended cab, or crew cab? Diesel or gas? All can be great choices. But a vehicle that's a perfect fit for one company can cause logistical nightmares for another. The size and capacity of your vehicle, the look of your vehicle, and even how you purchase the vehicle can all have a lasting impact on the overall efficiency and success of your company.
|Photo courtesy: Brickman Group
So what do successful contractors look for in their fleet? What types of trucks make a good business better? The consensus can be summed up in four words: finances, function, fit, and form.
The immediate financial concerns of the company tend to play a much bigger role in equipment decisions for landscape businesses that are just getting off the ground. Let's face it, in those early years, capital can be the limiting factor. But experienced contractors warn against putting too much emphasis on saving money up front.
"Cheap is not always the best way to go," says Jaret Bishop, owner of Custom Lawn and Landscaping in Washington Courthouse, Ohio. "Price is always an issue when you're starting a company, but usually a little more money up front will pay off over time. Take a look at diesel for example. It costs more but it will definitely save you money."
Like many contractors Bishop started out with a mower in the back of a pickup truck. Now his company, which specializes in commercial installation and maintenance, operates with a fleet of eleven trucks in a variety of makes, models, and sizes.
Bishop recommends looking not only at your company's current needs but looking ahead at least several months, if not years. Even if you think you can get by with a light-duty truck now, he cautions that you might over-extend it much more quickly than you anticipate. "Heavier-duty trucks are simply going to last longer," says Bishop. Buying a truck that will last not only saves you the cost of buying a new one before you're ready, it also saves you the time and hassle it takes to shop for one.
Bishop points out that an inadequate truck may also compromise safety and cost you money in fines. "Departments of transportation are becoming much more strict when it comes to load restrictions. In our area, we see more people being pulled over for unsafe loads. This can waste time, not to mention money in fines."
|Photo courtesy: ValleyCrest
Some contractors opt to buy used vehicles. This can be a good way to deal with budget restrictions, especially in the early years. But Dan Sell, owner of Big Horn Horticultural Services in Cody, Wyoming, reminds us that there are no free lunches. Sell has grown his company with many used vehicles over the years, but cautions that this option takes extra care and planning. "You have to recognize that you're kind of taking a stab in the dark when you buy used," says Sell. "You have to budget a couple or thousand or more extra for any used vehicle you buy. So far we've found it to be economical for us, but you have to do your homework."
Sell started his business with a Dodge one-ton and a Ford three-quarter ton. His fleet now includes a two-ton Mitsubishi cabover, a Hino cabover, a bucket truck, and a one-and-a- half ton dump truck that is used primarily for tree work. Ten additional pickups of various sizes round out his fleet.
"There are some good deals out there in used vehicles," agrees Michael Hommel, owner of Designs By Sundown, a design/build firm based in Englewood, Colorado. But Hommel stresses that the way you buy your vehicles can be almost as important as what you buy. According to him, developing a good relationship with a dealership is an investment that can pay off for years.
|Photo courtesy: ValleyCrest
The process of shopping for a truck can be a huge time-hog. Wasting time on endless research can cost a company money. "One of the best things we did early on was establish a good relationship with a fleet manager," says Hommel. They help us find exactly what we want, customize it to our needs, get it to us promptly and at a fair price. All without a lot of headaches. I'm too busy to be calling around."
Putting the dealership to work for you is a great way to save time, agrees Maurice Dowell, president of Dowco Enterprises in Chesterfield, Missouri. "Developing a relationship with a sales rep can save you hours of sitting in dealerships. With the last fifteen trucks I bought I never set foot in a dealership. We knew what we wanted and they found it for us. They delivered it to us outfitted with the equipment we needed. You can do your homework and they'll do the rest."
Function & Fit
Financial considerations don't end with the purchase of a vehicle. A truck's ability to function efficiently over its lifetime and fill an important niche in your fleet determines whether it's a good investment. You can count on it making money for you if it functions the way you expect it to and solves problems instead of creating new ones.
Function often starts with efficiency. Fuel efficiency is playing a huge role in truck purchases today, and it isn't just about the vehicle's mpg. Soaring fuel prices are causing many contractors to rethink the way they do business. In addition to opting for more diesel trucks, many contractors are investing in larger vehicles that can get more people and equipment to the jobsite in one trip. Though a larger vehicle may not be as fuel efficient by itself, the reduction in trips saves the company money.
"We're changing things around due to the cost of fuel," says Bishop. "We're looking to convert more to diesel and are also purchasing more trucks with crew cabs. Eventually all our trucks will have crew cabs and diesel engines. One of the major goals in the landscaping industry is to get all the guys and as much equipment as possible in one truck."
|Photo courtesy: Brickman Group
Bishop's company is also using more box trucks in order to haul more, protect the equipment and eliminate the time spent loading gear on and off a trailer. "With a box truck, the equipment is out of the weather, it's always available and ready to go, and there's less time wasted on loading and unloading."
The durability of your trucks also impacts efficiency. "We're leaning more toward diesel because of the life of the engine," says Russ Southard of Dahlkemper Landscape Architect and Contractor in Erie, Pennsylvania. "We're able to hang on to our vehicles for a long time." The company, which specializes in commercial and residential landscape maintenance and construction, operates with a fleet of around eighteen that consists of pickups, and one-ton and five-ton dump trucks. "We use our one-tons in the maintenance side mainly because of the amount if equipment we have to drag around. Our five-tons are used more for the construction side. We can haul more equipment and cut down on trips."
Bill Phagan, business consultant and president of Green Industry Consulting, sees diesels increasing in popularity. "I predict," he says, "diesel trucks, and possibly hybrid vehicles when they come out, will be getting more attention due to the fuel situation."
|Photo courtesy: ValleyCrest
Dale Micetic, president of Grounds Control in Phoenix, Arizona, expands on this idea. "With the diesel," he says, "we don't have to worry about people siphoning gas out of our tanks, since most cars don't use diesel. They are high-torque, low-speed engines. The diesels run and run."
Southard stresses the importance of choosing vehicles that are versatile enough to fit a variety of needs instead of spending money on more trucks. He points out that the increased cost of owning another truck extends well beyond the day you purchase it. "Don't get in over your head," says Southard. "Having more vehicles means you have more equipment to buy for each one, and more to maintain. There's always something to buy for them. If you have several trucks, just the tires alone can be a huge expense." It pays to streamline your fleet and focus on versatility.
So what is the most versatile truck? Of course it depends on the type of projects you do and where you do them. Many contractors who frequently work in urban settings or in areas that require a tight turning radius prefer a cabover or cab forward design. These also allow for better visibility in some applications.Contractors who have more room to maneuver often prefer those with a conventional cab.
For many, the company workhorses are medium to heavy-duty pickup or cab and chassis trucks. "I started out working out of my parents' garage with a Ford pickup," laughs Hommel. Now his company's fleet of 70 trucks relies heavily on Ford F-350s, F-450s, and F-550s with power stroke diesel engines. "These are not too small and not too big," says Hommel. "They're heavy duty enough to accommodate dump bodies, but are still economical."
Dowell agrees. "I use the Ford pickups from the smallest to largest and everything in between. The staple of his fleet is a three-quarter ton truck. "At that point you get breaks that are substantial enough, a transmission that will pull, and the cargo capacity you need, yet it's still not a flagrant over-user of fuel."
|Photo courtesy: ValleyCrest
The key is to closely examine your company's day to day operations so that you understand your current limitations and logistical headaches. Then work up a wish list with your dealer to design a truck that will erase some of those headaches. Make sure it's versatile enough and big enough to allow a little room for expansion.
Balancing function with form
One factor that new contractors sometimes ignore when it comes to trucks is company image. While the consistency or color scheme of the fleet is not important to every company, many contractors rely on their trucks to help with marketing. Some use their vehicles to transport clients.
When you're make decisions about trucks to purchase for a newer company, it pays to consider whether you might want to come up with a color and stick to it. "I wish I had paid more attention to color schemes early on," says Dowell, whose company now uses white trucks with green lettering. "When we first started out, we were just glad to get a truck," he laughs. Dowell's experience is a common one and over time, it is something that can be corrected as new trucks are phased in. But contractors who factor color consistency into their choice from the start will quickly be able to use their trucks to present a professional image.
Successful contractors treat their trucks like the rest of their equipment. They look at their purchase as an investment and weigh the costs and benefits of that investment. They examine their fleet on a regular basis to determine whether it's keeping up as the company changes and grows. They recognize the fact that a well chosen fleet of efficient vehicles can help drive their company to long-term success.


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Jersey Shore in all its trashy glory is returning; so hold onto your pouf and get ready to move to Florence, Italy for the Season 4 Premiere!
So what can you expect from this season's Italian adventure? According to Executive Producer, SallyAnn Salsano: "The dynamic is supercrazy and explosive and yet more caring." SallyAnn also relays being thousands of miles away from real friends and family, the cast had to rely on each other for support instead of bickering constantly!
While one might expect the Guidos and Guidettes to take to Italy like ducks to water, apparently the cast members had a difficult time adjusting to the lack of available facilities, i.e. GTL: We rarely made it to the gym," says Vinny. "That's unheard of for us. But it's not really a big thing there. And these little weird streets that were built in the 1000s… going to the laundromat, you have to haul your luggage through friggin' Italian villages. That made us stop doing certain things in our routine."
The Guidettes also had some difficulty with Italian architecture, as apparently stripper shoes are not compatible with cobblestones, explains Sammi: The worst thing was the cobblestone roads and walking in heels. I had to buy a lot of flats, which I would probably never wear in Jersey."
Despite the difficult surroundings, the cast still made sure to bring the drama to the max! And while no one is revealing the biggest conflict – apparently the Guidos were the source of most of the conflicts, without Angelina there to annoy JWoww, who reveals: "They were doing the catfighting." Pauly D concurs: "You'll be surprised to see the drama that sparks this year."
There was one routine they didn't have to give up, besides fighting: partying! "The guys, we went hard in Italy. There were a lot of entertaining nights," relays Ronnie.
"Jersey girls still found us," says Pauly D. And lucky for them "American college students are far easier to get home at night than Italian girls," says Salsano. Well, she has a job I certainly don't envy!
In other Jersey Shore news, it appears filming for Season 5, the last and final season, has already wrapped! Wow – these Guids move fast in more ways than one! To celebrate the end of an era, Snooki got her nose pierced! A picture of the pierced Snooki is below!
The cast also bid farewell to the very brave Shore Store, which was ballsy enough to employ them during their time on the Jersey Shore. After bidding farewell, The Guidettes decided to hang out on the roof one final time. I wonder what they'll all be up to next?
Jersey Shore premieres Thursday, 8/4 at 10/9c on MTV. A preview of the upcoming season is below!
Get More: Jersey Shore, MTV Shows
Will you be watching? Are you sad Jersey Shore is ending? Do you think the Guidos and Guidettes will remain friends?


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Wed Jan 17, 2018 1:02 am
Re: Kingdom Come: Deliverance
I've never tried Mount and Blade. I must admit I wasn't impressed with the look of the original but that's a poor excuse for not giving it a go. Perhaps it's a good indication of how shallow I can be at times.


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|Fri 9 Aug 2013, 7:00pm–10:00pm
Answers from the Other Side is the sensational live show from gifted psychic medium Sue Nicholson.
Sue's abilities have been seen on TVNZ's 'Sensing Murder', the 'Good Morning' show and 20/20. Her outstanding gift helps to create a communication link between those who have passed over to the spirit world and the living. Through this interaction Sue is able to deliver messages to loved ones and help them reach a sense of peace.
At her Answers from the Other Side Show Sue will channel messages from who have passed to many of the audience members, she will help guide you through part of the process of learning how the spirit world works and assist people with the messages they may receive.
Sue amazes and enlightens audiences wherever she goes as she connects in her compassionate, captivating and uplifting way. It's her authenticity that shines through when on stage, whether a believer or not, there is certainly something special about Sue.
Don't miss an evening of laughter and intrigue as she connects with the Spirit World and shares her experience of the paranormal.
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As usual, these books are presented in ascending order of their stinkiness.
- Saturn's Children by Charles Stross (review)
This was one of the three books I read in preparation for my review of the Hugo-nominated novels. I wasn't hopeful about this endeavor, but Saturn's Children, a parody of Heinlein's Friday in which a sexbot tries to find a reason for her existence after humanity's demise, still managed to sucker-punch me. This is an unholy mess of a book, bloated well past the point of being even vaguely recognizable as a novel by a relentless litany of information that lacks even the elegance of a common infodump and drowns out its plot and characters. Either an unfunny comedy or an absurd and unbelievable straight-faced story, Saturn's Children squats in the uncanny valley between these two modes, making for a punishing, seemingly interminable, and utterly inert reading experience.
- Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (review)
I expected to dislike Little Brother on the grounds of its well-publicized didacticism, but found to my surprise that it actually holds together as a work of fiction, and that though Doctorow lacks Neal Stephenson's skill of making infodumps interesting, he has at least made the ones in Little Brother easily skippable. No, what makes Little Brother one of the worst books I've read this year is its appalling message. The book's premise--teenager Marcus Yallow is imprisoned and tortured by Homeland Security for the crime of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and vows revenge--comes off like a self-satisfied, self-congratulatory fantasy of suffering in the name of a good cause, but it's Doctorow's choice to use that premise, and the very real abuses it riffs off, as the means of achieving the self-actualization of a privileged, middle class white kid that truly rankles, and it's Marcus's obvious prioritization of revenge on the people who have humiliated him over the well-being of the friend whom they still hold in custody that turns Little Brother into a morally bankrupt novel. It is mind-boggling to me that anyone thinks this book has a valuable message for children.
- The Magicians by Lev Grossman (review)
It's interesting to note that the further we go down this list, the better written the books on it become. On a technical level, The Magicians is quite readable, and in its first half even enjoyable. I confess that had Grossman not leveraged the book's publication into a series of statements and essays about literature and genre that made him sound like a pompous ass, I might not have named The Magicians the year's very worst book. But it still would have ended up on this list, on the strength of its complete and total lack of strength. The Magicians is a novel that rests on the shoulders of giants and pretends to have climbed Everest. Whether he's mimicking C.S. Lewis in his creation of a Narnia analogue with which the book's characters become obsessed (and leaving out that series's religious component, which is essentially to render it meaningless) or writing a Harry Potter pastiche when he describes the magical school at which they live (and ignores even the flawed and partial gestures towards social realism that peppered Rowling's novels) or following in the footsteps of authors like Susanna Clarke, China Miéville, and most of all M. John Harrison when he tries to imagine the meeting of the magical and the mundane (which he parlays into an excuse for his characters to feel sorry for themselves despite the fact that they are young, beautiful, powerful and rich) Grossman seems blissfully oblivious of how far short he's falling of the works he's chosen to emulate. That obliviousness permeates the novel itself, which is so smugly satisfied with itself for positing a meeting between Harry Potter and the drugs-and-sex college experience that it fails to notice that nothing comes of that meeting. The novel's cowardly ending, which sells out what little gravitas it had accumulated by introducing a consolatory escape hatch from reality, is the final twist of the knife that makes The Magicians a complete waste of the reader's time and energy.
- Benighted by Kit Whitfield
- Just After Sunset by Stephen King
- The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Jesse Bullington


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Opa is a new Web programming language. It delivers innovation to Web programming in three main areas:
- Web programming is typically very fragmented. The database, client code, and server code are all driven by different technologies, which introduces complexity and the need for communication among different elements of the application. Opa eliminates these difficulties by providing a uniform and coherent platform for every part of the application.
- Opa provides a common runtime for all the components of the application. The Web server, the database, your application, and its resources all live together in a single executable. Deployment is as simple as executing the file. Cloud deployment is as simple as executing it on many machines at once.
- Opa brings increased safety to Web development thanks to its use of static analysis and static typing techniques.
The ideas behind Opa go back 10 years or more, but development gained real speed four years ago with the founding of MLstate in Paris. Opa was its principal product.
Work on the new language was triggered by frustration with existing tools for Web development. Even relatively simple apps were composed of a bunch of separate components that had to be harnessed to work together, sometimes against their will. Want to develop a desktop application? Choose your language and you are on your way. Want to write a Web app? You'll have to configure a Web server and a DBMS, master a database query language, select a client-side language, and choose a server-side language, plus probably a Web framework on top of all that. Then you'll have to set up lots of boring boiler-plate for client-server communication with JSON or XML.
Developers seem to accept this multitude of technologies as inherent to Web programming. But it doesn't have to be. What if you could create all the components of your application with one coherent package? That's what Opa is all about. Opa stands for "One Pot Application." It flattens the technology stack needed to develop for the Web.
Hello Opa
This is probably the simplest application that you can write in Opa:
server = Server.one_page_server("Hello", ( -> <>Hello Web</>))
This program is the Web equivalent of the traditional "Hello world" program. It creates a Web service with a single, static Web-page titled "Hello" and with "Hello Web" as its content. Let's take a look at the code in more detail.
server is a keyword that marks the entry point of the application an HTTP server, as Opa programs are Web applications. It's like
main in Java or C, only an Opa program may consist of more than one server if it is listening on different ports, for instance.
Server.one_page_server is a function that constructs a particular, simple type of server, which consists of a single page. It takes two arguments: the title of the page and its body. The first argument is a single string. The second is more interesting. It's a function (with no arguments) that returns an
xhtml, which is Opa's type for, well, XHTML. Indeed, if we take a look at Opa's API documentation we see:
Server.one_page_server : string, ( -> xhtml) -> service
In our call to this function, we pass
-> <>Hello Web</> for the argument. There are two things to notice here.
First, the arrow is used to construct anonymous functions, the general syntax being
arg1, arg2, … -> exp. In our example, there are no arguments; hence, nothing before the arrow.
The second is the syntax for XHTML. The empty tags
<>...</> serve as delimiters for the markup. (We could have written something like:
<span>Hello Web</>; the name in the closing tag is optional.)
I mentioned that the goal of Opa was to replace a complex technology stack with a single language so what is XHTML doing here? It turns out that Opa does not replace (X)HTML or CSS. Instead, it incorporates them into the language. They are regular datatypes that can be manipulated easily within Opa.
It would be possible to build an abstraction layer on top of those presentation technologies, and in a sense, Opa provides such a layer in the form of numerous widgets. But in the end, Web pages are built using (X)HTML and CSS. A Web language should make it possible to work with them easily.
Let's continue with our "Hello Web" example. After saving the code to a file, hello_web.opa in this case, we compile it with:
opa hello_web.opa
Compilation results in a single executable: hello_web.exe. This executable contains:
- All the resources used by the application, including images, external stylesheets, and so on
- JavaScript for client-side code (automatically generated by Opa)
- Code for all the client-server communication (Ajax & Comet, generated by the compiler)
- Database queries (automatically generated by Opa)
- An HTTP server
In other words, the executable contains all that is needed to run the application. Copy it to the server, execute it, and your Web application is up and running. Want to deploy the application in the cloud? Use the opa-cloud tool.
Opa's Type System
Opa incorporates a strong static type system. It is based on the notion of a record (product types), and on sums (union types). Together, these types form the basis for algebraic types. Almost every type in Opa is built using algebraic types, except for primitives such as string, int, and float. Even css and xhtml are constructed using algebraic types. For instance, Opa's boolean type is a choice between true or false:
type bool = {true : void} / {false : void}
The type declaration can be abbreviated as:
type bool = {true} / {false}
This is roughly equivalent to an enumeration type, but we can add more complex records and recursive types. Here is the concise definition of a binary tree:
type bin_tree('a) = / {leaf} / {left:bin_tree('a) value:'a right:bin_tree('a) }
'a in this code is a type-parameter that can be instantiated with any other type, resulting in a binary tree over elements of that type.
Opa is a higher-order language, so the types of record labels can be functions. As a result, records can also be used as interfaces. Consider this (simplified) signature for a function that creates a button. The arguments are its content and the function that should be executed when the button is clicked. The function returns a button; that is, a record allowing interaction with the button (in this case, changing its title and disabling it).
mk_button(title : xhtml, on_click : -> void) : { set_title : xhtml -> void; disable : -> void }
A common criticism of statically typed languages is the overhead required by writing types. Type inference ensures that this is almost never required in Opa.
Database Integration
I said earlier that Opa eliminates the need for a multitude of technologies. SQL is one of them. Declaring persistent data is as simple as declaring a variable:
db /revenue : intmap(float) // mapping year -> revenue
The only difference is that in such declarations, stating the type explicitly is required. This is how we perform reads:
this_year_revenue = /revenue[2011]
Updates look like this:
/revenue[2011] <- /revenue[2011] + 999.99
In this example,
/revenue is a path, which is used to organize data in a hierarchical way much like files in a file system. The leaves in this database tree can be arbitrary Opa types (with the exception of functional types), giving rise to further levels in the hierarchy. Think of records having other records as their fields, and so on.
At this time, all of this works with Opa's internal database. A future release is expected to offer interoperability with MongoDB and CouchDB.


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Snow Monkeys - - Japan 2014
I had dreamed of seeing wild Snow Monkeys since I can remember first seeing them in a documentary as a child and the opportunity to witness and photograph them myself firsthand was an incredible experience! They were just such a delight to sit with an witness behavior and expressions. I hope you can tell I was particularly drawn to the babies and especially their endearing interactions with one another. The little touches, hand gestures, crinkles of a nose and the power of a stare were just utterly and completely captivating!! I could hardly drag myself away, even when my fingers were frozen or the light of the day was fading away. Thus they have their own solo gallery. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! PLEASE NOTE: IF ORDERING PHOTOS . . . © WATERMARK WILL NOT SHOW ON YOUR FINAL IMAGES! Thank you!!Read More
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