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More Details Revealed Concerning CIA's Spying On Senate Intelligence Committee
from the oh-and-back-to-those-questions deptEarlier today we covered reports of the CIA spying on the Senate Intelligence Committee as it tried to prevent the committee from releasing a supposedly "devastating" report about the CIA's torture program. That was based on a NY Times article. It appears that reporters at McClatchy were digging into the same issue and rushed out their version, which includes more details, including the fact that the CIA's inspector general has already asked the DOJ to investigate the situation.
Also, the McClatchy report ties this spying by the CIA back to some questions that Senators Ron Wyden and Mark Udall had asked John Brennan back in January. We had written about it at the time, noting that the two were clearly hinting at something having to do with the CIA spying on Americans, but it wasn't entirely clear where the questions were coming from. Reading the questions now, in light of the report of what the CIA was doing, makes the story a hell of a lot clearer. Here was Wyden's exchange with Brennan, concerning whether or not the CFAA -- the federal "anti-hacking" law -- applies to the CIA itself:
Wyden: Does the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act apply to the CIA?We had thought it was a slightly odd question, since the CFAA clearly states that it "does not prohibit any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, or intelligence activity of a law enforcement agency of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State, or of an intelligence agency of the United States." But, that's because we figured that Wyden must be talking about how the CIA was running an "authorized investigation." However, if it was illegally examining the Senate Intelligence Committee staffers' computers, that clause almost certainly doesn't apply -- meaning that the CFAA certainly could now apply.
Brennan: I would have to look into what that act actually calls for and its applicability to CIA's authorities. I'll be happy to get back to you, Senator, on that.
Wyden: How long would that take?
Brennan: I'll be happy to get back to you as soon as possible but certainly no longer than–
Wyden: A week?
Brennan: I think that I could get that back to you, yes.
Then there's Senator Mark Udall's question to Brennan, which we assumed was connected to Wyden's. Again, in light of the new revelations, that seems likely to be the case as well:
Udall: I want to be able to reassure the American people that the CIA and the Director understand the limits of its authorities. We are all aware of Executive Order 12333. That order prohibits the CIA from engaging in domestic spying and searches of US citizens within our borders. Can you assure the Committee that the CIA does not conduct such domestic spying and searches?I guess he meant "except and until we're scared shitless that you're going to expose how ridiculous, useless and illegal our torture program was."
Brennan: I can assure the Committee that the CIA follows the letter and spirit of the law in terms of what CIA's authorities are, in terms of its responsibilities to collect intelligence that will keep this country safe. Yes Senator, I do.
The McClatchy report also details how the CIA accomplished this. Apparently, it had insisted that the Intelligence Committee staffers who were investigating the torture program had to work on computers at the CIA's headquarters, to make sure that classified information didn't leave the building:
The committee determined earlier this year that the CIA monitored computers – in possible violation of an agreement against doing so – that the agency had provided to intelligence committee staff in a secure room at CIA headquarters that the agency insisted they use to review millions of pages of top-secret reports, cables and other documents, according to people with knowledge.I have to imagine that if you're folks at the CIA, knowing that the computers were in the same damn building, it was just too damn tempting not to go spy on them. After all, the situation was that the CIA had this internal study, which is apparently also fairly devastating and (worse) which showed that the CIA lied to the Intelligence Committee. Furthermore, it appears that the CIA had worked hard to make sure the Intelligence Committee never saw that study. Then, suddenly, in December, Senator Udall claims to have that study -- and the CIA has no idea how he got it. Given who they are, it must have been just way too tempting not to then spy on those computers in their own building. Of course, that further highlights a point we've been making for quite some time. Spies are human too -- and the temptations to abuse their power will always be there. The idea that they're immune to abuse, as put forth by some (including Senate Intelligence boss Dianne Feinstein) is just laughable. And this story just further supports that claim.
Filed Under: cia, dianne feinstein, john brennan, mark udall, ron wyden, senate intelligence committee, spying, torture


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Packing up and cleaning ground sheets in the awning. Thankfully the sun shone all day so everything dried out quickly
Packed to the gunnels, all we own in the world in one car!!
Molly checking out the car for the journey!!
Last morning in Iznate and clouds over our beloved Maroma
Daisy Duke the campsite cat that we feed waiting for breakfast….we were told that morning from another English camper that she had discovered his dog Vinny's food bowl. Vinny is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Rhodesian Ridgeback cross who doesn't like cats but nothing freaks Daisy out. She is such a cool cat 🙂
Ready to leave, hubby estimated we would be away by 8am, I estimated not before 10am. We finally left at just gone 11am!!
I had to hold Molly's paw for much of the journey
Stop off overnight just outside Seville. A quiet site meant we could just pull up and not have to 'unhitch' to save us time the following morning. It didn't!!
Confined to barracks overnight meant having to 'gawp' from inside…
The caravan gets a bit 'cluttered' when we are actually traveling!!
We awoke to light rain which quickly turned torrential. By the time we had packed up the heavens were in full fury. We also woke to a flat tyre on the caravan. Luckily we are a twin axle so we made the decision to keep going on it until the weather improved enough to change it. We then had to get out of the site which; because of a bad layout, meant having to reverse out. Hubby did a sterling job despite not being able to see anything in the side mirrors (reversing in a caravan is no easy task) Helped by me on one corner and a very kind fellow Englishman on the other he slowly managed to inch back out to the entrance and turn around. By this time I was soaked to the skin and shivering but a change of clothes and blast of the car heater and we were on our way – time now 11.30am!!
We limped along stopping to pump the tyre up every hour until it was obvious we were losing the battle. So hubby had to change the tyre in the rain 😦
My hero!!
Oscar slept oblivious to the drama unfolding around him
Molly was a little more concerned about Daddy's tyre changing abilities…..
The old fellow stretching his legs after the journey
And Molly checking out her surroundings
We caught a glimpse of the 'super moon' last night (probably what was responsible for yesterday's freaky weather!) before we fell exhausted into bed.
The sun is shining this morning which bodes well for getting the awning up and the car unpacked. Hubby has his work cut out leveling the caravan as at the moment we are very definitely rolling on one side! Ok when you have had a beer or two but a bit perturbing otherwise.
But we are here, and it is good to be back. Looking forward to a long, hot summer and a relaxed pace of life for the next 6 months 🙂

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Jah Sang Ho
Editor's note: This recipe is reprinted from My Grandmother's Chinese Kitchen: 100 Family Recipes and Life Lessons, by Eileen Yin-Fei Lo.
Oysters are one of those three fruits of the sea permissible to Buddhists and were therefore insisted upon for New Year lunch by my grandmother. Cooking them with a batter is traditional. Their name, ho see, sounds like the Chinese words for good business.
- Yield
- Makes 4 to 6 servings
- Batter
- 1 1/2 cups bleached all-purpose, high-gluten flour
- 10 ounces cold water
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 2 tablespoons peanut oil
- 5 cups peanut oil
- 20 medium-size fresh oysters, opened, removed from shells, patted dry, dusted with flour
- Combine all batter ingredients in a bowl and reserve.
- Heat wok over high heat for 1 minute. Pour in peanut oil, heat to 375°F. Dip each oyster into the batter until well coated. When a wisp of white smoke appears, lower oysters into oil. Deep-fry 5 at a time until light brown, about 3 minutes. Remove oysters, place in strainer, drain over a bowl.
- Deep-fry last batch to a golden brown, about 4 minutes. Place cooked oysters back in oil for 2 minutes more so they become golden brown. During frying, always control heat. You may need to lower if oysters brown too much, or raise if they cook too slowly.
From My Grandmother's Chinese Kitchen: 100 Family Recipes and Life Lessons by Eileen Yin-Fei Lo, (C) © 2006 By arrangement with Home Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA)


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The Walt Disney Era
After the Alice Comedies, Disney's second animated series (after the Laugh-o-Grams), folded up in 1927, Carl Laemmle approached Disney and requested a new all-animated series featuring a rabbit. Disney and Ub Iwerks created a new character called "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit". The first Oswald cartoon, Poor Papa, was poorly received by Charles Mintz and demanded a better, younger version of Oswald. The next cartoon, Trolley Troubles, was well-received and the series was officially launched.
In 1928, with the series going strong, Disney demanded an increased budget from Mintz, which he refused. Mintz instead told Disney that he was going to cut the budget and if Disney did not agree to the cut, Mintz would take Oswald for himself. Disney refused and most of Disney's employees left to go work for Mintz. Only Ub Iwerks and Les Clark remained, who, along with Walt, secretly created a new cartoon star to replace Oswald — Mickey Mouse, who became the most legendary cartoon icon in the world, which is what would've been Oswald's position.
Meanwhile, over at Universal, Oswald's popularity and appearances in films would diminish with every passing year until the character fell into obscurity and was ultimately forgotten by the public and possibly Universal itself.
Return to Disney
In 2002, an episode of House of Mouse called "Dennis the Duck" inspired Disney to get Oswald back from Universal. Over the years, they had tried to get Oswald back through many attempts.
In 2006, the Walt Disney Company finally got back the rights to Oswald through a trade with sportscaster Al Michaels after over 80 years. To celebrate Oswald's triumphant return to the company, a line of special merchandise was released at Disney Stores nationwide and a Walt Disney Treasures DVD set was released compiling all of the surviving Disney-produced Oswald cartoons.
Modern Era
In his current revival, Oswald is portrayed as being rough, spiteful, resentful, bitter, cold and short-tempered around anyone he doesn't trust. Being forgotten for over 80 years made him very cynical about his life, mainly due to how no one remembers him. He has sympathy for others who suffer fates similar to his.
He especially harbored a strong jealousy and hatred towards his "brother", whom he blamed for ruining his life. Oswald appeared to have a strong attachment to Walt to the point that he had a replica of his statue built in Wasteland, viewing him as a fatherly figure. Unfortunately, Walt's apparent favor towards Mickey would contribute further to Oswald's bitterness. It takes someone with a strong will to earn his trust. Beneath his harsh and cold exterior, however, lies a saddened, miserable and hurt character who just wants to be loved again by the hearts of others. His time with Mickey helped him realize how Mickey cares about him despite their differences and the glory Mickey stole from him for so long, allowing Oswald to drop his grudge and accept Mickey as his brother since it is what Walt would have wanted.
Besides being rather grumpy, Oswald mirrors Mickey in many ways. He is quite mischievous, adventurous and never escapes trouble, but finds his way out through cunning and wit. He loves to play and make others laugh, but still has morals despite his flaws and always tries to do the right thing. He will attempt to do what's best for his family and friends, even if there are risks involved. Though he doesn't appear to be, Oswald can be quite friendly if he wants to. His love for Ortensia is just as strong as Mickey's love for Minnie.
Classic shorts
In Oswald's first, official short, Poor Papa, he was a considerably older rabbit with a far more aggressive attitude. While the short was poorly received, it was significant in introducing Oswald's children, who would later reappear in Trolley Troubles and Oh, Teacher. As mentioned above, the following short, Trolley Troubles, was the first to showcase the Oswald the world knows today.
He was portrayed as a small, rather mischievous rabbit, often finding himself in trouble. He would always be saved, however, through his luck (hence the name). He was also shown to have the ability to disassemble his body parts at will, as seen when he literally detached his leg and kissed it for good luck. This trait would carry on to later incarnations.
Like many classic Disney characters, some stories revolving the rabbit would center wooing a love interest. Oswald's original love interest was named Fanny; a sultry rabbit. She would later be replaced by a cat named Ortensia in The Bankers Daughter.
Before he was introduced to Mickey, the infamous Pete was an enemy of Oswald's. The two were bigger rivals, often at odds for varying reasons, though Oswald would always come out on top, due to he impressive strokes of luck.
Mickey Mouse
On Disney.com, in the online game "Hidden Mickey" (based on the episode "No Service"), some Oswald dolls can be spotted as prizes at carnival game booths along the boardwalk.
Christmas Greeting Card short
Disney of Japan released a small Christmas short with Oswald and Ortensia online for the holidays. Creating the first new pure Oswald animation since his return to Disney. The story simply revolved around Oswald hiking up a mountaintop to visit Ortensia for Christmas.
Get A Horse!
Oswald makes a cameo appearance near the end of this short, waving to the audience from the bottom right side of the screen when Mickey and the gang all rejoice at Pete's defeat when Minnie drives Pete's car through.
This was Oswald's first appearance in a Disney animation production in more than 84 years. However, Oswald's cameo was so well hidden that it was not noticed by the public that Oswald even appeared in the short until this fact was announced by Jerry Beck on his Facebook page in a post made on September 28, 2013.
Big Hero 6
A sticker of Oswald's face can be spotted atop the ceiling of Hiro's bedroom during the scene Baymax tends to his toe-stubbing injury.
Video games
Epic Mickey
Oswald is one of the main characters in the Nintendo Wii video game Epic Mickey. In the game, he is the ruler of The Wasteland—a world where forgotten, rejected and retired Disney creations reside. Working with the Mad Doctor, he constructs robotic Beetleworx as a construction crew for his Disneyland-inspired vision. But then, an accident caused by Mickey Mouse early in his career creates a monstrous Shadow Blot that brings the Wasteland into ruins. The Mad Doctor then betrays Oswald and sides with the Blot. After a long battle, Oswald and his sweetheart Ortensia seal the Blot inside a large jug at the top of Mickeyjunk Mountain, but at the cost of Ortensia's life.
Ever since, Oswald remains at the mountain to guard the jug while nursing his hatred towards Mickey for having stolen the life and career that could have been his. When Mickey arrives, Oswald ends up reluctantly helping him on his quest to get out of Wasteland by refurbishing the Moonliner rocket in Tomorrow City, although Oswald is implied to be tempted to remove Mickey's hearte and leave him in Wasteland.
After defeating the fake Shadow Blot at the summit of Mickeyjunk Mountain, Mickey reveals that he is responsible for the Thinner Disaster and the Blot and an extremely furious Oswald accidentally releases the real Blot, who steals Mickey's heart and begins to destroy Wasteland. The two decide to use the rocket to attack the Blot, only to land in Dark Beauty Castle, where the plans change to using fireworks to do the job.
The Blot ends up consuming Oswald, Mickey, and Gremlin Gus and the three have to fight the Blot from the inside. Oswald is stuck to the Blot's walls but is freed by Mickey. He catches Mickey's released heart but takes a good look at it, then, though a bit reluctantly, gives it back to Mickey, and launches the fireworks, which destroys the Blot once and for all. In doing so, Oswald is the real hero; he gives back Mickey's heart in the end, and then saves the day. The impact causes Oswald and Ortensia to crash back to Mean Street, and causes Mickey to leave Wasteland. In the shower of Paint that results from the explosion, Wasteland is restored and Ortensia is revived, helping to seal Mickey and Oswald's friendship and perhaps even extending into a true brotherhood.
Originally, Oswald was to play a far more negative role. He was meant to be the main antagonist during the game's early stages. He and the Blot were originally going to combine and become the Storm Blot, but this was soon dropped and Oswald eventually became an anti-hero with a boss battle before finally settling down to deuteragonist because the producers didn't want to reintroduce him to the world this way.
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
In the sequel to Epic Mickey, the Mad Doctor returns to Wasteland, claiming to have reformed and offering to help protect the world against a new threat in the form of natural disasters. Oswald teams up with Mickey to save the day once again. To aid Mickey, Oswald has a remote that can defeat or redeem enemies with electricity, like Mickey's paint. Oswald's remote can turn Beetleworx into allies, and power machines. Oswald's other powers are the use of his ears as a helicopter to float and to remove his arm and use it as a boomerang to get items or hit things and enemies.
Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion
Oswald appears in the game to Mickey as he re-enters Wasteland. Because Mizrabel was forgotten, she brought Castle Illusion to Wasteland to drain the currently famous characters and threatens Wasteland's safety as well, and had kidnapped Minnie to lure Mickey in. In the game, Oswald monitors the hub stations as parts of the castle break away to inform Mickey of the captured toons and locate Mizrabel herself.
Disney INFINITY
In Disney INFINITY 2.0, Oswald appears as a townsperson. He will appear as a summonable character by Mickey in Disney INFINITY 3.0.[1]
Printed media
Epic Mickey: Tales of Wasteland
- "He's got it all! Friends who admire him! A girl who adores him. 420 kids who want him to play with them! Detachable feet that can be rubbed strenuously to give him an extra boost of luck! So why can't Oswald, Disney's first cartoon star, put Mickey Mouse and the outside world into his rearview mirror? Why can't he just focus on Wasteland, the amazing world he's rebuilding into his image? Could it be that the luckiest rabbit in Wasteland simply doesn't know how lucky he is? It almost makes you wonder what kind of disaster would have to hit to make him appreciate everything he's got. Let's hope he never finds out!"
- ~Oswald's Tales of Wasteland profile
Oswald is the main character in the Wasteland (digi)comics. These comics are a prequel to Epic Mickey and takes place before the Thinner Disaster.
As the main character, he appears in all six of them. He and his Animatronic pals try to clean the Clock Tower in "Clock Tower Cleaners" and tries to spend a night in Lonesome Manor because Pete dared him in "One Scary Night". He gets his feet stolen in "The Game's Afoot", fiercely competes with Horace in "The Rubbish Cup", visits the Mad Doctor with Ortensia and tries many different personas to regain his popularity in "Oswald the Lucky Duck" and tries to escape Wasteland in "There's a Hole in the Sky".
Oswald is quite adventurous, friendly and competitive in the comics. He is quick to take up a challenge and prove his worth, but also believes most people don't care for him and see him as an out of date version of Mickey. The Mad Doctor tries to trick Oswald for his evil plans. Oswald loves Ortensia and their Bunny Children and seems to be good friends with Horace Horsecollar. He also takes his Animatronic pals with him on many adventures.
Epic Mickey: The Graphic Novel
Disney Epic Mickey: The Graphic Novel is included in the Epic Mickey: Tales of Wasteland digicomics. It's a 64 page-long graphic retelling of Epic Mickey. Oswald plays a similar role like in the game and is one of the main characters. However, it's not exact. Some events of the game are arranged in a different order and are either expanded upon or cut down. For example: The scene where Oswald and Ortensia seal the Blot is expanded upon while many quests are skipped.
A Magical Christmas
The Norwegian "En magisk jul!" ("a magical christmas!") marks the first Oswald and Ortensia appearance in modern Disney comics outside of the Epic Mickey universe. Written by David Gerstein and the art by Mark Kausler. It is based and takes place in the times of the classic Oswald shorts from 1927/1928.[2]
A hungry Oswald and Toby Bear see Ortensia and her rich banker father called J. P. Whiskers standing before a house where various foods are being brought in for J. P. Whiskers's Christmas dinner party. Oswald uses his charm and asks Ortensia if he and Toby can join them. A charmed Ortensia seems willing, but Oswald and Ortensia are quickly interrupted by Ortensia 's little brother Homer the Cat. The small bratty cat drags Ortensia inside while Whiskers lectures Oswald and slams the door in his face.
Still wanting to join Ortensia and the party, The hungry rabbit tries to prove his good luck as a disguised Oswald and Toby sneak into J. P. Whiskers's Christmas dinner party by impersonating a man they think is the head waiter. But the "waiter" was really a hired magician, so Oswald is forced to put on a magic show with a genuine, very powerful magic hat.
Disney Parks
Prior to 2014, Oswald did not make any live appearances at the parks, due to the company having had no ownership of him for decades. After Disney reacquired the character in 2006, his likeness has become a semi-common part of the parks.
For Tokyo Disneyland's Disney's Easter Wonderland, Oswald was the inspiration for a float.
During the Disney California Adventure expansion, Oswald appeared in a mural depicting him and several of his fellow classic Disney characters working as a construction crew. Also in the park, a souvenir shop called "Oswald's Filling Station" opened with Buena Vista Street in 2012.
At the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, a poster of Oswald can be seen in the queue area of the Town Square Theater. Also, inside Mickey's meeting area, a doodle of Oswald and Mickey can be seen.
Clothing, toys, pins and other merchandise items featuring Oswald have since been made available in the parks as well.
Oswald finally made his first appearance as a meetable character at Tokyo DisneySea, starting on April 1, 2014. On September 14 of that year, Oswald began making meet-and-greet appearances on Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure park[3][4], though he first debuted in that park on September 4.
Oswald's Disney shorts filmography
- Trolley Troubles
- Oh Teacher
- The Mechanical Cow
- Great Guns
- All Wet
- The Ocean Hop
- The Banker's Daughter
- Empty Socks
- Rickety Gin
- Harem Scarem
- Neck 'n' Neck
- The Ol' Swimmin' Hole
- Africa Before Dark
- Rival Romeos
- Bright Lights
- Oh, What a Knight
- Sagebrush Sadie
- Ride'em Plow Boy
- Sky Scrappers
- Ozzie of the Mounted
- Hungry Hoboes
- Poor Papa
- The Fox Chase
- Tall Timber
- Sleigh Bells
- Hot Dog
- Get A Horse! (cameo)
- Oswald is (supposedly) the first actual cartoon character.
- Oswald is similar to Bonkers character Fall-Apart Rabbit, in that they are both rabbits who have the ability to remove their body parts, and are friends with famous toons. Fall-Apart and Oswald were also both voiced by Frank Welker.
- In the Bonkers comics, there is a character named Nimrod the Rabbit, a comedian and keeper of the Toonstone.
- Fourteen years prior to Epic Mickey, Oswald's video game debut was in a Sega Master System game titled Woody Woodpecker's Frustrated Vacation, released only in Brazil in 1996. This game notably marked Oswald's final appearance in his Walter Lantz design.
- If Oswald wasn't bought by Universal, he would've had Mickey's life as the most popular cartoon character in the world.
- Oswald has black fur and blue shorts, but in some appearances in Japan, he has blue fur and yellow shorts.
- Oswald's Japanese appearance may have inspired the character design for the Bunny Children, as each Bunny Child is blue in color.
- Despite having a different appearance in Japan, his usual design can still be seen there, as the Oswald float (in Tokyo Disney Land's Disney Easter Wonderland event) still have his original design and his design wasn't changed in the Japanese release of Epic Mickey.
- Oswald's name is also different in Japanese, as he is called Oswald Rabbit instead of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
- Since 1943, Oswald was voiced by June Foray. He had been voiced by Bill Nolan, Pinto Colvig, and Mickey Rooney earlier, and is now voiced by Frank Welker.
- Unused concept art by Disney artist Kevin Nelson for Wreck-It Ralph had Oswald being proposed as a racer for Sugar Rush. It is unknown if it was supposed to be a simple cameo, an actual appearance (probably showing him as the protagonist of an in-universe Epic Mickey game), or if Nelson was only joking when he drew him in that concept-art, even not considering the possibility of putting this scene on-screen.
- In Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, Oswald's ability to use his ears as propellers for flight bears a resemblance to the same technique used by Cream the Rabbit from the Sonic the Hedgehog series.
- Oswald appeared on a page in the Inside Out book, The Bing Bong Book.
External links
- Oswald's page on the Epic Mickey wiki
- Oswald's page with list of Oswald shorhs on The Encyclopedia of Disney Animated Shorts
- Oswald 's Disney Epic Mickey 2 website desciption.
- Oswald's page on Wikipedia


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Construction Consumer Products Metals & Materials Safety Environment Transportation Chemicals Energy Medical Quality
U.S. Federal Agency Use of Accredited Laboratories
The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation is a network of laboratory and inspection accreditation bodies. Created in 1978, its purpose is to help remove technical barriers to trade caused by redundant testing requirements at the point of import.
Accreditation bodies, which have been evaluated and recognized by their peers as competent and reliable organizations, sign the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement to facilitate the acceptance of products and services across national borders. The goal is to create a framework to support international trade through the removal of technical barriers. The ILAC MRA covers the fields of laboratory and inspection body accreditation.
As of Dec. 1, 2012, there were 78 MRA signatory accreditation bodies from 65 economies covering more than 90 percent of the world's gross domestic product. Coverage remains to be achieved in much of Africa, Eurasia and the Middle East, but significant progress is being made in those areas with the recent establishment of the African Accreditation Cooperation and the Arab Accreditation Cooperation.
Article 9 of the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade - the TBT Agreement - requires that members, wherever practicable, formulate and adopt international systems of conformity assessment where a positive assurance of conformity with a technical regulation or standard is required. Article 6 of the agreement specifically recognizes accreditation as a means for realizing positive assurance:
6.1.1 adequate and enduring technical competence of the relevant conformity assessment bodies in the exporting Member, so that confidence in the continued reliability of their conformity assessment results can exist; in this regard, verified compliance, for instance through accreditation, with relevant guides or recommendations issued by international standardizing bodies shall be taken into account as an indication of adequate technical competence.1
The TBT Committee has recognized that the ILAC MRA is designed to facilitate acceptance of test results across economies and that acceptance of these results facilitates trade.
The experiences of six U.S. government agencies with the ILAC MRA described below have been presented to the WTO TBT Committee for the Sixth Triennial Review of the TBT Agreement.2 In addition, the United States has provided an example of recent guidance to U.S. agencies to promote the choice of trade facilitative conformity assessment procedures. The United States provides conclusions and recommendations for consideration under the Sixth Triennial Review.
The ENERGY STAR and WaterSense programs include requirements that test data from third-party laboratories come from labs accredited by signatories to the ILAC MRA. Both programs are administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but participation is voluntary rather than mandatory. EPA cites these international arrangements to provide greater assurance to consumers that products carrying the ENERGY STAR and WaterSense labels meet strict program requirements.
Participation in the ILAC MRA benefits the EPA in number of ways.
"We didn't have to develop and implement our own set of rules," says Eamon Monahan, program integrity lead, ENERGY STAR, Washington D.C. "Any kind of agency-specific rule creates costs or hassles for industry, and that was something we really wanted to avoid. We currently certify products in 65 categories, many of which are manufactured and tested overseas. Referencing the ILAC MRA took the EPA off the hook for developing a lot of criteria for labs or for conducting our own lab oversight. And, by working only with ILAC signatories, we have confidence that the labs have been appropriately assessed. We've now recognized 27 ILAC-signatory accreditation bodies from all over the world."
Monahan believes that MRA participation provides a financial benefit to the EPA. "I can't offer a dollar amount on how much money was saved due to the EPA's reference of the ILAC MRA in our lab requirements," he says. "I can say that the EPA being solely responsible for lab oversight or creating duplicative lab requirements would have cost the agency and industry very considerable resources."
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, adopted into law in August 2008, requires certification, based on testing by a third-party conformity assessment body, of certain children's products. The CPSIA required the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish its own accreditation program or to designate an independent accreditation. After careful consideration of the considerable resources and time necessary to set up its own system, CPSC decided to rely on existing international arrangements.
In 2008, the CPSC issued regulations to recognize test data associated with children's products coming from laboratories accredited by an ILAC MRA signatory accreditation body. CPSC registers laboratories that can perform compliance testing based on a simple application process identifying the relevant scope of accreditation from an ILAC MRA signatory accreditation body.
This move enabled CPSC to leverage its limited resources, yet provide for the acceptance of test data originating from the countries of export and reducing the need for redundant testing upon import.
"The MRA has had a tremendous impact on our group," says Scott Heh, program manager in the CPSC Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction, Bethesda, Md. "With all of the products we see from manufacturers around the world - cribs and bunk beds from China and the United Kingdom, bike helmets and baby walkers from Taiwan and Italy - knowing that they have all been through an accepted standard of testing from an accredited lab gives us a greater level of confidence in those products. It provides a sense of consistency in quality."
In September 2007, the Federal Highway Administration revised its regulation on the general requirements for quality assurance procedures for construction on all federal aid highway projects that are part of the National Highway System. After two years of implementation, FHWA requires the accreditation of laboratories that conduct crash tests on roadside hardware by an accrediting body that is a signatory to the ILAC MRA or the National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation. The FHWA determined that using accredited laboratories will improve the agency's ability to trust that crash test laboratories are qualified to conduct and evaluate tests intended to determine the crashworthiness of roadside safety features. FHWA also determined that laboratory accreditation is widely recognized as a reliable indicator of technical competence.
Nicholas Artimovich, an FHWA highway engineer, Washington, D.C., agrees. "Even though being a part of the MRA has had no direct impact on the work of the agency," he says, "the overall requirement for crash tests to be conducted by accredited laboratories has improved our confidence in the results received."
The U.S. Coast Guard accepts test results for lifesaving and fire safety equipment and materials from independent laboratories that are accredited via the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission standard 17025, General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories, and are signatories to the ILAC MRA. In October 2011, the USCG issued an interim rule to harmonize the USCG accepted independent laboratories program with the International Maritime Organization's new guidelines on lifesaving equipment.
The new rule cited scheduling delays and increased expenses as a reason for using laboratories accredited through the ILAC process versus the use of Coast Guard-employed inspectors. Additionally, the USCG called out the modern trading system where many manufacturers produce lifesaving equipment for multiple-flag vessels, and must have their equipment approved by each nation. Using third-party accredited testing laboratories would allow manufacturers to satisfy requirements from multiple nations, which avoids the need for duplicative tests.
"Obviously, avoiding duplicative tests saves a lot of time," says Kurt Heinz, chief, life saving and fire safety, U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C. "A lot of the safety materials we use in ship construction, like the fire-resistant coatings on bulkheads and other areas, are manufactured in Europe and Asia, so being able to accept and depend on test results from labs in those countries makes sense," he says. "And, less time spent doing routine approval work translates into more time spent on policy and standards development - which is a good thing."
The U.S. General Services Administration requires star of life ambulances procured by the U.S. government to be tested by an independent laboratory accredited in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 by an accreditation body that is a signatory to the ILAC MRA.
All of the GSA's ambulance standards are used to validate that their contractors are producing a quality product, and the MRA is one tool among many in their assessment of quality. They accept accreditation from MRA signatories but still perform source inspections on each ambulance ordered and procured for federal agencies under a GSA contract.
Over 10 years ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration pursued and obtained accreditation of its food testing laboratories. In January 2009, FDA issued a draft guidance document on data packages that addressed its preference to have food tested by laboratories accredited by an ILAC MRA signatory accreditation body to assure data credibility.
The Food Safety Modernization Act, enacted on Jan. 4, 2011, gives a statutory mandate to the FDA for recognition of laboratory accreditation associated with the testing of food. FDA is developing regulations to implement this provision. Information on implementation of FSMA is available on the FDA website, including information about the various FSMA regulations (when published).
On Jan. 17, 2012, three White House agencies - the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative - issued a memorandum for the heads of executive departments and agencies entitled "Principles for Federal Engagement in Standards Activities to Address National Priorities." The goal of the memorandum was to clarify principles for engagement in those limited instances in which the federal government takes on a convening or active engagement role together with private sector standardization organizations to address a national priority. It is notable, however, that the memorandum also contains guidance aimed to strengthen implementation of Article 9 of the TBT Agreement. The federal memorandum notes:
Agencies should explicitly include consideration of conformity assessment approaches that take account of elements from international systems, to encourage private sector support and minimize duplicative testing. Agencies should evaluate whether their objectives necessitate creating government-unique conformity assessment schemes, which may be expensive to develop and maintain, may impose additional costs on the private sector and may not be recognized beyond national boundaries. In doing so, agencies should use existing best practices and leverage available resources in the private sector as well as within the Federal Government.3
These U.S. government agencies are benefiting from the use of internationally recognized accreditation under the ILAC MRA as it:
Even greater regulatory use of internationally recognized accreditation is likely once awareness of these benefits is more fully realized by the U.S. Congress and the executive branch of the U.S. government.
The United States has found that the ILAC MRA can help domestic regulators and other authorities in achieving their agency objectives and priorities. The ILAC MRA is cost effective and provides a robust way to ensure that products meet the requirements set out in technical regulations and standards. The United States has found, to date, that reliance on the ILAC MRA can help build a globally robust and trade-facilitative scheme that enables U.S. agencies to fulfill their mission. This, in turn, facilitates confidence that products comply.
1. World Trade Organization, Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, Article 6: Recognition of Conformity Assessment by Central Government Bodies.
2. Parts of this article are based on "The Use of the ILAC MRA and the IAF LA by Central Government Bodies: The Experience of the United States," the U.S. Trade Representative submission to the WTO TBT Committee for the Sixth Triennial Review of the TBT Agreement, March 15, 2012.
3. Whie House Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, "Principles for Federal Engagement in Standards Activities to Address National Priorities," Jan. 17, 2012.Peter Unger is the president and CEO of the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, Frederick, Md., a position he has held since 1996. He has been involved with national laboratory accreditation since 1978, and he currently serves as chairman of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation. Kessel Nelson is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in national and international publications, and he has covered diverse subjects, including art, energy, crime, science and health issues. He has a B.A. in history from the University of Pennsylvania and spends his time between Philadelphia and New York City.


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Having made a small fortune ripping off the Beatles as a member of Oasis, Liam Gallagher is putting some of that money behind a film about the Fab Four's record label, and he's recording the music himself.
"The Longest Cocktail Party: An Insider's Diary of the Beatles, Their Million-dollar Apple Empire and Its Wild Rise and Fall" by Richard DiLello recounts the author's tenure working at Apple Records in the late '60s. Gallagher is producing the film adaptation, with the mercifully truncated title "The Longest Cocktail Party."
Gallagher, in Cannes to pimp his new project, spoke recently with the Guardian about the project, revealing that his new band will provide the music.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
"We can recreate that sound like that, you know what I mean? I think it will be more exciting if you have a sound that reminds you of that era, instead of the obvious, going, 'Oh, there's 'Let It Be' ... plus I don't think we can afford it," he told the paper.
Yes, anyone who lived through the '90s is painfully aware of how well Gallagher can "recreate" (read: co-opt) the Beatles' sound.
"The Beatles aren't gonna be in this film -- there's gonna be no one auditioning for John, Paul, George, Ringo -- I ain't gonna be doing that... it's gonna be about the characters behind the scenes," he added.
We haven't read the book, but it sounds like it could make for a fascinating film, in addition to being the home of the Beatles, they were also one of the most innovative labels of their day, working in music, film, retail, electronics, basically everything your average label is into nowadays.


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Orchestral Masters Vol 1
Product Notes
Eight composers of distinct and diverse compositional styles have been selected for the ABLAZE Records Orchestral Masters Volume 1 disc. These composers have won a partially subsidized recording and worldwide disc issue of their compositions performed and recorded by the Brno Philharmonic and Maestro Mikel Toms. The following composers were chosen from a submission pool of over sixty composers from eighteen countries: Lance Hulme (North Carolina, USA) composed a pulse driven but 'maximal' score in his winning work Sirens' Song. The score teems with color, vibrancy, shimmering orchestral edge, luminous textures and most of all a compelling and driven pulse and architecture, which made it a stand out winning work. Federico Garcia (COLOMBIA/Pittsburgh, USA) has written a wonderfully expressive score-passacaglia on the ostinato bass of the Crucifixus from the B minor Mass of Bach. His Passacaglia on a Theme by Bach carries a gorgeously evolving dark coloration carried through the orchestra with tremendously effective counterpoint that is beautifully balanced in bringing this organically conceived, richly textured, evocatively colored and emotionally engaging score to life. Rodney Waschka II (North Carolina, USA) is well known for his electronic and algorithmic compositions. For his Belgrade Overture he used a genetic algorithm to compose a pulse driven and effectively orchestrated work that sets a crackling pace from beginning to end. The work utilizes a Serbian folk tune Ajde Jano and positions this within this pulsing and brilliant orchestral world that is effective, infectious and memorable. Paul Siskind (New York, USA) composed an approachable set of traditional dance forms, reinterpreted from a contemporary viewpoint. His Organal Dances is comprised of a fanfare, gavotte, sarabande, minuet, and gigue, with the traditional aspects of modality and organum applied within an orchestral context. At once approachable and assured, with colorful orchestration, the compelling immediacy of Siskind's piece arises from his artful reshaping of familiar historical and iconic materials. Craig Morris (New York, USA) composed a short and fetchingly beautiful Lullaby for orchestra. Redolent of Bernstein and Copland, and driven with a sure melodic and harmonic hand, this deeply American score paints a lovely and melodic world that is very effectively orchestrated and affectively captivating despite it's brevity. Hiroaki Manaka (Yamato, JAPAN) composed a thoughtful, sensitive and intimate work that reminisces on a long ago trip to the United States. Manaka's Thought of the Great Plains is an expressively subtle and obliquely structured tone poem whose well crafted and considered orchestration gives a deeply colored voice to the beautifully nuanced melodic curves of this musical reminiscence. Spiros Mazis (Athens, GREECE) composed a work that is modernistic and textural in conception, but vibrant, brilliant and visceral in execution. With broad strokes of deeply textured orchestral color, Mazis's 10 Dimensions - AEB160 draws on the superb potential of a large orchestra to create this boldly contrasted, dramatic and colorful, yet dynamically intellectual work. Joyce Wai-chung Tang (Hong Kong, CHINA) composed a tremendously compelling a beautifully hued orchestral work in her Quicksilver Swirls for orchestra. Quicksilver is another term for mercury and in this work Tang re-interprets mercury's "silvery color and intense fast motion" to create a work that is vibrant, visceral and immersive. Tang's music can also be found on ABLAZE Records Millennial Masters Series. Mikel Toms, conductor British conductor Mikel Toms studied at Oxford University and is currently Director of Recordings of the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra in the Czech Republic. Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, Besední dum, Brno, CZECH REPUBLIC The Brno Philharmonic has long been regarded as one of the best orchestras in this CZECH REPUBLIC.


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Injuries to key players - with midfielder Darron Gibson ruled out for a month with a thigh strain and forward Kevin Mirallas sidelined for a second time with a hamstring injury - have taken their toll over the festive period.
"The mood is fine, we are healthy enough - I'd like a few more players back from injury but so would a few clubs," he said.
In Sunday's home defeat to Chelsea Moyes was forced to pick 18-year-old reserve-team defender Tyias Browning among his substitutes so limited were his options.
Things have improved slightly with the return from suspension of Marouane Fellaini and the possibility of Phil Neville being fit again after being rested having complained of pain in the knee he had an operation on recently.
But Moyes' management skills are being tested to the full once again and he accepts he may sometimes have to tinker with his tactics.
"It is a busy time and I wouldn't say it is a time of year when managers and players want game after game," he added.
"We've had them (Gibson and Mirallas) out before. Kevin and Darron are important players for us but that is what happens. It is a test to try to find teams that can win without your best players. You have to find solutions."
One of the changes which looked like paying off against Chelsea was moving Steven Pienaar into a central position behind striker Nikica Jelavic from where he scored in only the second minute.
"I don't think his biggest thing is scoring goals but we've needed to get some goals from different places and he's managed to get some in recent games which have been important for us," said Moyes of Pienaar. "I don't want it to become predictable about Pienaar and Baines down the left and I felt it was right we changed it and I think he can do a job for us there."
Source: PA
Source: PA


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Traditional Hosting for Small Business - NOT in the Cloud!
In today's cloud-driven environment, keeping your data off the grid is something of a luxury anymore. Sure, the price of online storage is cheap, but how important is the security of the data your are collecting, and that of the customers you are building a relationship with? Just exactly how many Amazon system administrators have access to ... Read More »
9th May 2016


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James Cameron isn't batting an eye over the recent Oscar-vote e-mail campaign by a producer of "The Hurt Locker," a move that got that producer, Nicolas Chartier, barred from Sunday's big event.
"I really couldn't care less about that," Cameron told Access Hollywood at the 47th annual Publicists Awards in Century City on Friday about Chartier's e-mails, which urged voters to cast their ballot for "The Hurt Locker" and not a "$500 million film," a presumed dig at "Avatar." "It doesn't reflect at all on [director] Kathryn [Bigelow]'s integrity or [screenwriter] Mark Boal's integrity because their producer made a dumb mistake."
Cameron, who was formerly married to "Hurt Locker" director Bigelow, has been publicly supportive of his ex-wife's movie, telling Charlie Rose in a prior interview that he hoped she would win Best Director, with "Avatar" taking Best Picture.
And on Friday, he seemed to think that she was poised to win – or at least that he wouldn't have to take the stage.
"You always have to be apprehensive when you stand up in front of a billion people [that] there's the possibility of making a complete fool of yourself," Cameron said. "The apprehension for me is the possibility of having to do that, but I'm guessing I'm probably not going to have to."
The director was honored as "Showman of the Year" at the Publicists Awards (where Access' own Scott "Movie" Mantz was nominated for the Press Award), and Cameron told Access he was accepting the trophy on behalf of his publicity team.
"They did such a great job getting the word out. We went into trying to promote 'Avatar' with no brand name awareness – it wasn't based on anything else, it wasn't a sequel and yet, we had to compete at the highest level," Cameron said. "We didn't have Brad Pitt in the film. Our publicity team got us out there, not only here but around the world, and got the movie open."
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: MovieMantz: Oscar Predictions 2010 — 'It's Complicated? Hardly!'
PLAY IT NOW: James Cameron On 'The Hurt Locker' Producer Scandal: 'I Really Couldn't Care Less'
PLAY IT NOW: Matt Damon On Rumors James Cameron Wanted Him For 'Avatar' - 'It's True'
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: James Cameron - Avatar - 'The Hurt Locker' - Kathryn Bigelow - Movies


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Grills can last for years if taken care of properly
Consumer Reports tests 100 gas grills
With Memorial Day weekend here some people might be shopping around for a new grill or fixing the one they already have.
WISN 12 News' Portia Young shows the best grills for the money and how to maintain them.
"(A) charcoal grill that we got in the '60s, and it's still in very good condition. We use that," said Mary Saskowski of Milwaukee.
She and her husband were able to keep their grill for 40 years by covering it up, which Consumer Reports recommends, but for the best protection, don't use any old cover.
"So covers are a good option provided it's a vented cover. Otherwise, the cover is going to trap moisture and accelerate corrosion," said Dan DiClerico of Consumer Reports.
Mike Kamps, of the Home Depot, is also a grill expert.
"I am very well-respected around the grill," Kamps said.
He's been with the Home Depot for eight years. He said proper care is key.
Charcoal grills can last decades. Propane grills can last five to 10 years.
"If you're having some problems with the ignition systems, sometimes it can be as simple as getting a new igniter. The other thing that can go wrong is the fuel line gas regulator. Depending on how handy you're going to be, there are replacement parts out there," Kamps said.
Consumer Reports agrees, saying you can do most repairs yourself, for under $50.
Not everyone is a professional shopper either, so Consumer Reports tested 100 gas grills.
"Weber rose to the top of the list this time. Weber is one of the biggest names in grills," DiClerico said.
Consumers liked its Spirit line, specifically the E220 and the SP 320 models.
On the pricier end, the Jenn-Air 720 rated high.
Some other advice from consumers: if you have an uneven flame, it's time for new burners. That's a $20 to $50 fix.


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Friday, November 30, 2012
To recap, our only claim for structural damage to our dwelling was lodged with EQC soon after the September 4th Quake in 2010 that started the travails that Cantabrians have been enduring for over two years.
Following yet another visit for some idea of when we can expect some real progress on our claim, this time by swmbo, the nice lady who is being paid a salary to treat all contractors and clients as idiots, after being convincingly shown to be being very economical with the truth, has contacted us with news that a "scoping visit" will happen next Tuesday week.
Today a document has come to my inbox that goes someway to explain some of the rubbish that is clogging the "Fletcher/ EQC" shambles.
From Dorothea Herron.
Administrator Lyttleton Hub / Earthquake recovery.
Subject: Shit that was close.
Fletcher-Weekly near hit reporting by contractors or Shit that was close........
As discussed at recent contractors meetings at the Hub, contractors are required to provide details of all "near hits" weekly.
We would expect at least one from each contractor each week.
Attatched is the form for supplying this information - please send it to your Hub superviser.
Examples would be
.Slipping on the wallpaper on the plastic covering the carpet.
.Nearly cutting finger with the Stanly knife.
.Tripping, slipping, falling without creating an injury.
. Knocking head on ladder.
.Nearly hitting someone with a nail from the nail gun.
.Doors blowing shut on head.
.Moving furniture.
. Nearly dropping something on someone.
.Almost walking into something.
.Unreported dog running loose on property.
.Subbies not mentioned on the Hazard Board.
( bold mine)
Dorothea Herron
administrator Lyttelton Hub / Earthquake recovery.
What a complete load of "BOLLOCKS" the luverly Dotty omitted slipping on an avocado skin, almost removing a toe nail at morning tea running to the karsi in your sox , and forgetting to stir the mug of tea leaving sugar undesolved.
Failing to fill out the statistically obligated form for what might have happened is clearly impeding the rebuild, and Dorothea gets paid every week to perform this ridiculous charade, Gawd elp us.
This email is further evidence of the cluster f#*k that is the Fletcher involvement under the illequipped EQC many of the staff of which appears to be retired policemen, people who have a tenuous connection to the insurance and building industries but are precluded from holding a real job and are therefor available to man the shipwreak.
One of our problems could be that we have a nominated master builder to co-ordinate our repairs. I have anecdotal evidence of some of the sh*t that the Fletcher led teams are employing to maximise the companies hold on the available work.
8 comments:
Fletchers reputation will be forever linked with greed and idiocy. The homeowner who returned to find the subbie in their shower with his misses in their bed, the homeowner who returned to find the Fletchers guy having Sunday lunch with his family in their home, the lawyer who found their office cleaner painting his house.
- November 30, 2012 at 9:21 PM
- Unknown said...
Hi, Thanks for the sharing.
Office & Industrial Moving
- November 30, 2012 at 10:18 PM
LOL I would suggest that the builders the email was sent to email back a template, save it, then email it again weekly just changing the numbers around.
- December 1, 2012 at 8:33 AM
- PM of NZ said...
Better still Jimmie 0833, email the revised template to the Fletcher Circus head honcho on a weekly basis. If you'll excuse the pun, I'm sure Big Jerry will soon do something constructive.
- December 1, 2012 at 9:01 AM
This is NZ 2012. It all about process and following rules. Whether anyone actually does anything like knocking in a nail is immaterial.
- December 1, 2012 at 8:43 PM
- Tinman said...
Personally I've had a great run with EQC so far - even had Mr Simpson personally enquire as to the standard of service.
Of course I don't live on the Banks Peninsula, residing now in the Brooklands area. Maybe that's why.
I do, however, have a good idea of the enormity of the task and know how hard EQC people work to accomplish it. I consider progress acceptable because of this.
I've seen that "near miss" thing before. Are you sure someone's not pulling your tit?
- December 2, 2012 at 7:00 AM
What a travesty - they have a quota for 'not having accidents'?!!!
Here - let me help. Last week:
I narrowly avoided a serious accident with a circular saw ... by not not owning one...
I narrowly avoided losing my life in an air crash ... by not flying anywhere...
I just escaped drowning at sea ... by not going to sea...
I stopped breathing ... fortunately I took another breath ... death was narrowly averted...
Spare me, oh Lord, from the attention of the minor bureaucrats
- December 2, 2012 at 9:33 AM
- gravedodger said...
@ Tinman my sources tell me it is for real and the copy I saw was under a Fletchers letterhead.
- December 2, 2012 at 7:10 PM


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Review: B'way's 'Velocity of Autumn' wry, spirited
NEW YORK (AP) -- Not many old people who fear being shipped off to a nursing home fight back with a home arsenal and bomb threats.
However, the inimitable Estelle Parsons has gleefully unleashed her inner anarchist with gusto to do just that in the dark comedy "Velocity of Autumn," which opened Monday night in a wry, spirited Broadway production at the Booth Theatre.
Playwright Eric Coble presents the aging decay of the human mind and body as a necessary process replete with mordantly humorous and empathetic moments. He lightens the potentially depressing subject matter by providing plenty of comedic zingers to both Academy Award-winner Parsons -- here powerful and ingratiating -- and to her co-star, the equally skilled Stephen Spinella.
Both of these pros imbue their characters with genuine poignancy, rueful humor and their own adept timing. Molly Smith's deft direction also creates a sense of urgency during the 90-minute showdown about a seeming no-win situation.
Parsons plays Alexandra, an elderly widowed artist who's grown tired of fighting the mental and physical indignities of old age. Independent and feisty, she's self-barricaded inside her Brooklyn brownstone, while two of her adult children wait impatiently outside, threatening by phone to either put her into a nursing home or call the police because of her bomb threats.
Alexandra is both thrilled and angry when Chris, her long-estranged and once-favorite third child, (a very likable portrayal by Spinella), climbs into her room through an open window. Sympathetically but urgently, he attempts to dissuade his mom from lighting up the dozens of Molotov cocktails she's prepared for her showdown.
Spinella, winner of two Tony Awards, is a delight as a downtrodden, middle-aged man fighting inner despair over his failures in life. Parsons ranges with nuance between squirrely eccentricity, raspy anger and anguished despair, as she fights to convince her son that she needs to stay in her beloved home. At one point, she slowly collapses into herself, much like a deflated balloon.
As the pair reminisce somewhat fractiously, Alexandra makes telling points about the less joyous aspects of motherhood, in particular her dismay about the neediness of her young children ("You were always there!"). But most of her anger centers on increasing physical frailty and mental confusion. "Old age is one big game of 'Surprise,'" she notes with regret, adding, "You never know how you are until you get up."
Mother and son re-bond in many ways, both yearning for a way to find grace and beauty even in decline. As embodied by these two high-caliber performances, Coble creates a thoughtful, potentially enriching gift to the audience.


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Local Law Enforcement Looking For Your Help With Crime Spree
This is A LOT of damage!
Belgrade Police and the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office are looking for information on this crime.
On the evening hours of Monday April 1, 2013 and the early morning hours of April 2, over one hundred and ten vehicles in the River Rock, Frontage Road West and Belgrade areas were shot with a Beebe or pellet gun.
Gallatin County Deputies so far have taken over fifty calls reporting damage and the Belgrade Police Department have taken over sixty complaints.
It is estimated that the value of the damage caused to these vehicles may reach as high as $20,000.
It appears the suspect's vehicle may be a Reddish/Maroon Subaru hatchback or similar vehicle. All of the lights on the rear of the vehicle appear to be working including the license plate light and a brake light in the upper rear window.
Anyone with information should call the Gallatin County Sheriff's Dispatch at 582-2100 option #2 or the Belgrade Police Department at 388-4262 or can remain annonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 586-1131. Callers may be eligable for a cash reward.


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As evidenced by the bounty of set photos that have already hit the web, production on Kick-Ass 2 is well underway in Toronto. Director Matthew Vaughn has taken on a producer role on the follow-up, with Jeff Wadlow stepping in to helm the sequel. Some exciting new casting additions have been announced like Jim Carrey as The Colonel and Donald Faison as Dr. Gravity, and all signs point to Kick-Ass 2 being one hell of a ride.
Steve got to sit down with star Aaron Johnson recently at the Toronto Film Festival for his upcoming romantic drama adaptation Anna Karenina, and the actor talked briefly about what fans can expect in Kick-Ass 2. He revealed that they've excised some of the more disturbing material from Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.'s comic book counterpart and teased some interesting character developments. Hit the jump to see what he had to say.
Johnson was remiss to give away any plot specifics, but he teased a source material change that might prove interesting for fans:
"There's some really interesting journeys [that] our characters embark on. I can't really go too deep into it, but I'm really excited about it; we've got a great cast. There are some really disturbing things in the comic book which we're not gonna put in, I think for the better. Yet it's got all the elements there and probably more, it's got a bit of narrative and story to be told, so it's great."
I haven't read Kick-Ass 2 so I'm not familiar with the graphic content that Johnson's referring to, but I trust that the film's development team has crafted a worthy feature film adaptation. Early word on Wadlow's script has been excellent and the ensemble cast is great, so hopefully the finished film delivers the goods.
Watch the portion of Steve's interview with Johnson regarding Kick-Ass 2 below, and look for the full interview closer to the release of Anna Karenina. Kick-Ass 2 opens on June 28th, 2013.


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I have to give a lot credit to Spoeltra. He came to the game with a great game plan: deny the ball to Melo at all cost. If he did get the ball, double-team.
Every coach in the NBA knew about Woodson's strategy: every play ran through Melo. Take Melo out of equation, Knicks will lose.
Spoeltra interrupted the flow of offense and won. It was transparent and well-executed by the Heat. By forcing the ball to Melo just made everything worse for Knicks--lots of TOs.
Why didnt Woodson counter with Melo taking the ball from the backcourt? He made no counters at anytime during the game, no backup plans, no answers to the situations developed during the game.
When refs started to make bad calls, instead of keeping a level head and containing the situation, Woodson lost control emotionally, along with his players--a sin for a headcoach during a game.
Knicks scouts or assistant coaches obviously didnt inform Woodson about the possibilities of LeBron flops. Woodson looked totally bewildered. Knicks folded after that. One played that really changed the game and possible the series.
Woodson entered game 1 as if Knicks were the defending champs, with this-is-what-we-are-gonna-do-and-beat-us attitude. If you lost 3 games during regular season to the Heat, wouldnt it make sense to change and have alternate plans?
Even with 3-0 regular season, Spoeltra focused and countered Woodson's plan of attack and total annihilated Knicks.
If D'Antoni couldn't gell Stat and Melo for half the season, what makes Woodson think he can in a few games?
The blowout in game 1 was just a total mental breakdown by a coach. By far the worst loss by Knicks this season, and it couldve come at a worse time.
Evolve or become extinct! I dont expect a playoff vegitated state of mind is capable of turning series around in game 2, nor game 3 or 4. Spoeltra and Heat are just too talented and well-expereienced. But I will be more than happy to eat crow later.


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More good news for preservationists and Rev War buffs! A few years ago the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina initiated an effort to identify the location of the Battle of Cane Creek, where Charles McDowell's Whigs faced off against Patrick Ferguson's Tories in September 1780. An archaeologist has linked the battlefield to a tract of land in eastern McDowell County, and the Foothills Conservancy has acquired the property.
Cane Creek wasn't a large engagement, but it was an important prelude to the critical Battle of King's Mountain. McDowell's men headed west after the Cane Creek fight to take refuge among the Watauga settlers of present-day East Tennessee. Soon afterward, of course, refugees and overmountain settlers alike mustered and marched east for a showdown with Ferguson's Loyalists.
I'm very glad to hear of the Foothills Conservancy's success. It's a wonderful Christmas present for those of us interested in the Southern Campaign.


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Hi Everyone,
I'm new to kiteboarding (but not new to water sports). I recently received a trainer kite as a gift. We tried it out yesterday at Fort Desoto State Park near St. Pete. I'm looking forward to learning more about kiteboarding and getting everyone's opinions on equipment, techniques, etc. Glad to be a part of the group.


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- Do you have children? If not, do you want some one day?
- Anyone wants to be my fitness buddy?
- What did you dream of last night?
- What is your favorite physical attribute about yourself?
- Worst song to come out in 2014?
- What is the most painful truth you've had to come to terms with?
- Are you obsessed with a TV show? If so, what is it?
- What is your ethnic mix? 🙂
- You can instantly transport yourself to any place or time to spend one day, where and when do you choose?
- if we were to have a movie night, what film would you suggest?
Tag Archives: ask.fm top questions
Few Brand New Questions
1- Selfie time. Post a picture you like of yourself!
2- What would you do on a perfect date?
3- Do you enjoy wearing formal attire?
4- What is one famous person or group of people you would like to spend the day with, past, present or future?
5- Who are some people you'd like to meet someday?
6- What's your favorite saying?
7- What's something that can give people a sense of security?
8- Do you collect anything?
9- If you could explain me in one word or two, what would it be? XD
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Actualités du secteur d'activité
Johannesburg, 21 January 2011 - Sasol Technology (Pty) Ltd of South Africa has appointed the Engineering Division of The Lind Group as preferred Licensor's Engineering Contractors for a major portion of the Sasol®, Fixed Bed Dry Bottom (FBDB™) Gasification Technology for an initial term of 10 years.
Linde's mandate covers the downstream aspects of the FBDB™ Gasification Technology (raw gas cooling, raw gas shift, by-product processing and overall integration of the gas island). Hatch has been appointed for the remaining upstream aspects of the technology (coal delivery, gasification proprietary equipment and ash handling).
Linde's expertise in Hydrogen & Synthesis Gas Production and Gas Processing technologies will be used to provide engineering consultation and related engineering services to Sasol. Linde will assist Sasol's existing coal-based gas production operations with the development of optimization and engineering studies, and will be responsible for process engineering work for new gasification plants. Furthermore, Linde will assist Sasol with the on-going development of its gasification technology.
Since the foundation of Sasol, Linde's Engineering Division has cooperated with the company on a continuous basis, supporting Sasol's R&D initiatives and providing engineering, procurement and construction services for jointly developed and Linde proprietary technologies. To date Linde has been awarded over 70 Sasol contracts ranging from conceptual engineering work to complete supply of plants on a Lump Sum Turnkey basis.
The appointment of Linde Engineering as Sasol's preferred Licensor's Engineering Contractors for the Sasol® FBDB™ Gasification Technology further consolidates a long lasting and successful relationship between these two companies.
Sasol is the world's foremost producer of transport fuels, and other chemicals, from coal using the Sasol® FBDB™ Gasification Technology together with its in-house-developed Fischer-Tropsch synthesis technology.
Sasol is a public corporation, headquartered in Johannesburg, listed on both the JSE and the NYSE. Sasol's principal centres of operation are in Sasolburg, and Secunda, South Africa. In 2003 Sasol commissioned the world's first commercial gas-to-liquids plant in Qatar employing its newly developed cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis technology. A second gas-to-liquids plant using the same technology is under construction in Nigeria.
The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with almost 48,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2009 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 11.2 bn. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its share¬holders, business partners, employees, society and the environment - in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.
For more information, see The Linde Group online at http://www.linde.com
For additional information:
Dr Harald Ranke
Managing Director
Linde Process Plants (Pty) Ltd.
P O Box 5404
2000, South Africa
Phone +27 11 490 0513
Fax +27 11 490 0412
Email firstname.lastname@example.com


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4 Or 5 Magicians are a Brighton-based indie-pop outfit mixing sparkling melodies with lyrical wit in a manner not wholly unlike a certain Stephen Malkmus-fronted act of not so long ago. This: a good thing. They're also set to play at the next DiScover Club gig, at London's Notting Hill Arts Club, on August 18. Only…
They're sort of not: personnel changes will be resolved by the time the band tour in the autumn, but currently we're looking at a solo set from frontman Dan Ormsby. Which is cool with us – a little unfortunate timing wise but believe us when we assure you, readers many, that we'll be down the front for 4 Or 5 Magicians' dates in October. Check their MySpace site, here, for all confirmed shows.
All answers below answered by Ormsby.
First things first: what is currently going on in the world of 4 Or 5 Magicians? You've a record forthcoming through Big Scary Monsters spin-off Alcopop!, a tour booked, but membership tumultuousness…?
Right this very moment I'm running through two new songs I've written in preparation for playing a solo set on August 18th at Notting Hill Arts Club. They are called 'The Switch That Turned Off The Sun' and 'Out Of My Hands'. It was meant to be the full band playing, but yep, you are right, Matt (guitar) and Jon (bass) have both recently decided to leave the band.
When I started the band back in October 2005, I was going to try and play with different people at every gig. But after three or four gigs with the same line-up it stuck, and we've played together (changing drummer every now and then a la Spinal Tap) until now. We've all now graduated (only just in my case!) and they both want to move on to other stuff in life, so good luck to them. They have been my best two mates over the past four years, so I'm sorry to see them go, but there is such a wealth of musically talented layabouts around Brighton that replacing them - while as people they will be impossible to replace - shouldn't be too difficult in a musical sense. I already have two new members in mind, and we will definitely be back up and running by the time our tour in October comes around - maybe I'll have even learnt what these pedals I've bought for my guitar do by then, too.
The single has a semi-confirmed release date of September 24th, through Alcopop!, yeah, which will be 'Forever On The Edge' backed with 'Conversational Karate', 'Orderly Queue', and 'Tom Waits' Blues', which is me and Mike (drums and keyboards) playing 'Forever On The Edge' in the style of Tom Waits. We were doing this shit way before Scarlett Johansson. Except she probably sings like him better than me, the sex-line-voiced minx.
Alcopop! is a stepping stone, right? You're not presently locked down to a label. Have you had any 'proper' approaches as yet?
The deal with Alcopop! is a one single contract, a limited run of 500 3" CDs. I think it is really cool that Kev and Jack at Alcopop! have asked us to do this single, because there have been a lot of labels approaching us, then not being entirely clear about their intentions - they have continued to come and watch us live, so obviously are keeping a watchful eye on our progress, but they've not talked to us, which I suppose is par for the course from what I've heard. But Alcopop! literally heard us then offered us the chance to do the single straight away. As yet, we've no formal approaches for any kind of album deal from anyone, and I have self-managed the band because it has made the most sense up until this point, but this may well change in the near future if someone I think I can trust wants to take over!
You're picking up a healthy buzz right now on the back of a well-received demo and some stirring live shows: is 2007 the year where you see the band taking The Next Step?
I suppose it's not really about what I think - if a label steps in and offers what I consider to be a good deal then obviously we'd consider it whenever it comes, but it really is up to them rather than me. I'm ready to unleash a classic album on the world at any moment if someone is willing to ask me to do it, but I don't really like looking into the future too much. We'll do these dates in October, then play as many shows in London and Brighton as we can between then and the end of the year, and whatever happens, happens!
Comparisons to acts established can, sometimes, be a hindrance as audiences continue to demand originality. While I'm not suggesting that 4 Or 5 Magicians lack a kind of creativity, have the parallels to Pavement, Pixies et al put a few people off the band, do you think?**
If it has, then I don't think it should have. I think we have some really good songs, and I wouldn't bother doing it if I didn't think that. I'm creating music that I want to hear - a kind of amalgamation of all of my favourite bands to create something that sounds different to any of them. Pavement, Pixies, all the other bands we've been compared to like Built To Spill, Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr, REM... they are all fantastic bands. We're not claiming to be half as good as any of them right now, but given time I am confident we can be just as important to a lot of people. I'm only just finding my feet as a songwriter (and to be honest as a guitarist and singer, too), but I have just written three new songs that eclipse anything I've done before, and I can only continue to get better. The thing about originality is that it can certainly be a good thing, but then sometimes it just doesn't matter. My favourite two bands that exist right now are Oneida and Dead Meadow - Oneida being pretty much unique, and Dead Meadow being completely unoriginal but simply brilliant. Good music is good music. Anyway, we don't sound that much like Pavement, do we? Do we?_ Ha ha..._
** Beyond the demo EP, what other releases/material is available?**
Well not a great deal right now, but like I mentioned above, we have our debut single coming out on September 24th through Alcopop!, and you can listen to the live session we recorded for Radio 1's Huw Stephens show at our MySpace page, here. There are three tracks there, 'Forever On The Edge', a new one called I'm In The Band' and our cover of Sebadoh's 'Gimme Indie Rock'. I should take this opportunity to thank Huw and his production team for their support - they have got us in for this session, and played our un-mastered demo about four times over the last couple of months, so big thanks to them. In a world without John Peel, he is doing a sterling job of carrying on his legacy by supporting the best in new music.
Your 'bands we've played with' part of MySpace is fairly impressive: are there any acts in particular that stand out, that you've previously played with?
When we supported Seafood in October last year, that was pretty special as they were one of my favourite bands when I was growing up - they even played 'Folksong Crisis'. I started a huge fight in the crowd at Reading 2001 during this song completely by accident after I jumped up at the climax and elbowed some guy in the face. He hit me back, my mate swung at him and missed hitting someone else, and the biggest fight pit I've ever seen started (NB. potential lack of violent gig experience). No such antics at our gig, though the night out after was pretty messy. If you'd told me when I was 16 I'd be partying with Seafood six years on I would have laughed in your face.
It's also been great to be able to play with a lot of bands that are doing really well and coming up through the ranks right now... bands like Johnny Foreigner and The Strange Death Of Liberal England are both really cool and seem to like us as much as we like them. There are also a lot of bands we've played with who deserve to be listened to by more people - Favours For Sailors, Wintermute, My Psychoanalyst, Lonely Ghosts vs. The Tumbledown Estate - I'm sure all of these will go on to do really big things.
** Is being a 'pop' band a respectful calling again? It seems that melodies are coming back into fashion, what with the success, critically, of of Montreal, and the domestic acclaim for Los Campesinos!. There's nothing guilty, pleasure wise, about 4 Or 5 Magicians, right?**
My favourite band of all time is REM, who found exactly the right mix between catchy melodies and clever music. So much pop music has relied simply on the tune, but it should definitely be about more than that. In 4 Or 5 Magicians, the tune is definitely important, but then everything else is too (my one pet hate is bands that don't pay attention to the drums - they are just as important as, or even more so perhaps than, the other instruments!). A lot of bands get a guitar hook stuck in your head, other bands a tune; I don't see why both shouldn't happen. In this respect, as well as REM, I take big influence from contemporary bands like The New Pornographers and yeah, Los Campesinos!. I don't think Los Campesinos would give themselves a label like 'pop', though I'm sure if people referred to them as that they wouldn't object. I think, like me, they are just making music that comes naturally to them, and I wish them all the best because they are lovely people, and make some of the most fun music I have ever heard. Hopefully we'll get to play with them in the future - I joked to Gareth Campesinos! we'd be doing the NME tour together next year. Weirder things have happened. I guess like Amen and JJ72 doing the NME tour together.
Tesco Value vs Sainsbury's Basic: discuss. Me, I go Sainsbury's all the time. Basics juice = a winner. Does Asda still have 'Farm Stores'? Does Denise Van Outen really pish you off on ads for Morrisons?
Yeah screw Denise van Outen and Mark Owen squealing in the background - give me Jane Horrocks and Prunella Scales having a mother/daughter tiff any day.
Tesco has good bits - the bakery section is far superior to anywhere else I've come across, but then the Sainsbury's fresh fish section is much better. But on the economy produce stakes, I have to go with you Mike, Sainsbury's is the winner - just for those descriptions they have on the packaging. I actually bought some basics shower gel just because it said "Cleans, no other promises". That's the kind of honesty I like. Though in all honesty, I actually shop at Asda. I think Farm Stores was phased out a while ago. It is called Smart Price now. But yeah - just to make something clear - I'm not supporting these massive multinationals in 'Forever On The Edge', it's just a song written in character. Support your local greengrocer (butcher, baker, candlestick maker, etc).
** Magicians, in general, don't seem to enjoy such high profiles as they did in the 1980s. Wasn't Victoria Wood's husband a magician? Seeing Paul Daniels on Wife Swap: just depressing, isn't it? This isn't a question as such. But yeah, magicians: shit, aren't they? Rabbits and hats and coins from behind your ears. That levitation shit? ANGLES…**
Even though I knew he was married to Dawn French, I always picture Lenny Henry with Victoria Wood, maybe because they were both on the telly so much when I was growing up. Anyway, magic isn't dead - the amount of 'street magicians' that have added us on MySpace is ridiculous. I was delighted to see one, called Dynamo, on the Richard and Judy show the other day showing off his crazy skillz. Hopefully 4 Or 5 Magicians will get a chance to show off their crazy skillz on the Richard and Judy show before too long. Well, you know, it's not as if we can look forward to Top Of The Pops any more, is it?
Dan Ormsby plays the next DiScover Club – with Yeasayer, Public Relations Exercise and Mandelbrot Set – on August 18. Full details can be found here.


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Remember, just because Weekend Projects is on break at the moment, that doesn't mean you can't send us your stories and pictures of your mods! Belfast-based hacker David writes in with this awesome upcycled Light Theremin, built on an otherwise discarded dot matrix printer circuit board. He explains:
I'm a keen recycler of components as I was brought up with through hole components and their price has risen dramatically over time due to their being replaced by SMT. With our throwaway society and the decreasing lifespan of electronic devices there is an endless supply of free components if you are prepared to strip a few devices.
I decided to build the light theramin and found a suitable bare PCB from a dot matrix printer control panel which had been stripped to harvest touch buttons for arduino projects.
After trying the 555 timer a few different ways in the 16 pin DIL pad, I found one orientation which worked well and constructed the rest of the circuit around it using the existing tracks, using a few jumpers when required.
See all of the RadioShack Weekend Projects posts


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Williams & Dame Development is a Portland, Oregon based company formed by respected industry leaders Homer Williams and Dike Dame. The mission of WDD is to acquire and entitle strategically located properties to develop high-quality projects that create a unique sense of place and neighborhood.
From the reinvention of Portland's Pearl District, to the rebirth of Los Angeles' South Park neighborhood, WDD has been creating vibrant and visionary residential urban communities and mixed-use developments for more than two decades.
Welcome to the vision of Williams & Dame Development.
Williams & Dame Development features an affiliate company, EB5 Global, a leader in the specialty of EB-5 capital funding for major development projects. EB5 Global sources capital worldwide for U.S. real estate projects that revitalize cities, create jobs and shape communities so many can prosper.
Their mission is to provide exceptional real estate investment opportunities, while providing high-touch service in navigating the compliance requirements for EB-5 investors. EB5 Global will protect client investments and diligently manage the process from start to finish.
Click to learn more about EB5 Global.


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There's no perfect prescription for dealing with the loss of a child. Every parent will grieve differently. But Jennifer Coias has found a way to cope with saying goodbye to son Jude that's particularly beautiful. She's helping other moms sustain their babies with donations of her breast milk.
Coias, an American mom living in Brazil, is known by many parents on the Internet for her natural parenting articles: from her passion about ending circumcision to co-sleeping advocacy. But last month word began to spread about her for another reason. On September 15, she delivered her son, Jude Mateo, via an HVBAC (home vaginal birth after C-section). Jude was stillborn, something the Coias family knew two weeks prior to his arrival. But like the bodies of so many moms who lose a child early on, Jennifer's has continued to produce breast milk.
And Jennifer decided she could use that milk to help other babies: babies whose moms can't produce enough or are unable to breastfeed for some reason, babies who don't have their biological mom and her milk available, any baby really who's working with a human milk bank at a Brazilian hospital. The kids are getting the results of the seven to eight pumpings that Coias is doing daily. Her donations compose HALF of all the hospital's bank gets, and hers is the highest in calories and fat (that's the good stuff for babies). According to her reports on Facebook, before she started donating, the hospital had to ration out the milk for only the "sickest and smallest of the NICU babies." Now they have enough to feed every NICU baby with human milk.
With son Noah at home and son Jude to grieve for, Jennifer's strength is astounding. She could have given up on this a long time ago, but nearly a month in, she's increasing her milk supply and sending out bag after bag of milk. The Coias family has put together an incredible tribute for their son.
Want to help her keep going? She needs milk bag donations, which can be sent to Jennifer Coias, Unit 7500, Box 1381, DPO, AA 34030-1381. A PayPal account has also been set up to cover the costs of services for Jude and her birth bill.
Have you ever donated breast milk?
Image via Daquella manera/Flickr


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Obama Proposes Energy Program Modeled on 'Race to the Top'
As part of his plan for greater energy efficiency across the U.S., President Barack Obama proposed a competitive grant program to help states cut waste.
As part of his outline for greater energy efficiency across the United States, President Barack Obama proposed Wednesday a competitive grant program for states in his FY 2014 budget, in a bid to cut energy waste and incentivize energy efficiency.
For full coverage of Obama's budget, click here.
The budget sets aside $200 million for the program, which would be modeled on Race To The Top, the administration's education reform initiative that has pumped more than $4 billion into states and school districts. Under that program, state and local officials submit applications that detail how they would achieve broad goals set by the White House, and the administration then selects winners to receive funding.
Under the president's newly proposed program, one-time funding would pay for a variety of energy initiatives, including updating utility regulations to encourage energy-saving practices like combining heat and power supplies; improving the performance of the energy grid; and making data more available and more easily shareable for consumers and across systems.
No other details -- such as when the application period would begin or when the funding would be available -- were immediately available from the White House. More information likely will become available when the Energy Department's full budget is released.
The initiative is part of a broader energy plan that includes $2 billion for research into alternative technologies and an earlier pledge of Obama's to double the amount of renewable energy produced in the United States.
"After years of talking about it, we're finally poised to take control of our energy future," the president said last month when he first announced the programs. "Few pieces of business are more important for us than getting our energy future right."
We invite you to discuss and comment on this article using social media.


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COVID-19 Delivery Update - To find out more and for the latest information click here
A rose arch adds height and formality to a garden, linking different areas and formatting an entranceway with flowers overhead, so that the beauty and scent of the roses can be enjoyed every time you walk through. Choose a sturdy arch measuring 7ft x 4ft (2 x 1.2m). For small arches, avoid the more vigorous climbers and ramblers, which could completely overwhelm the structure.


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PRINCETON, N.J., Nov. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Omthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held specialty pharmaceuticals company, today announced that Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Michael H. Davidson, recently presented data from the Company's Phase 3 EVOLVE (EpanoVa fOr Lowering Very High triglyceridEs) trial at the Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association (AHA) in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Davidson's presentation specifically focused on the effects of Epanova, Omthera's lead, Omega-3 free fatty acid compound for the treatment of patients with hypertriglyceridemia (very high triglycerides), on apolipoprotein C-III (ApoC-III), one of the tertiary endpoints of the EVOLVE study. Epanova is a patent protected, novel, ultra-pure mixture of the free fatty acid forms of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ApoC-III, a protein component of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), is an independent predictor of recurrent coronary events and is found to be elevated in patients suffering from very high triglycerides.
ApoC-III inhibits lipoprotein lipase activity and hepatic uptake of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, thereby reducing the conversion of VLDL to LDL and enhancing the formation of more atherogenic small, dense LDL. Various clinical trials indicate that elevated levels of ApoC-III are an independent risk predictor for coronary heart disease. Lower levels of ApoC-III are associated with lower rates of coronary heart disease, making ApoC-III an important and novel therapeutic target.
Omthera's EVOLVE trial evaluated 399 patients in four dosing groups: Epanova 2g/day, Epanova 3g/day, Epanova 4g/day and control (olive oil 4g/day). An analysis of these patients showed statistically significant reductions in ApoC-III of 11% (p=0.022) in the 2g cohort and 14% (p<0.001) in the 4g cohort, compared to olive oil (2%).
The analysis also showed statistically significant reductions in TG of 26% (p=0.003) in the 2g cohort and 31% (p<0.001) among patients in the 4g cohort, compared to 4% for olive oil. There was also statistically significant reduction in Non-HDL-C in all dose groups, with decreases in Non-HDL-C of approximately 8% (p<0.05) in the 2g cohort and 10% (p<0.01) in the 4g cohort. Non-HDL-C is widely viewed as the most accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease. Reductions in ApoC-III were associated with the expected increase in HDL-C with an increase conversion of VLDL to LDL leading to an increase in LDL-C. There was also an increase in LDL particle size. Independent studies suggest that Omega-3 fatty acid formulations containing DHA alone, decrease TG and VLDL-C levels and increase LDL-C levels in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia and that those containing EPA alone, lower triglycerides (TG) to a similar extent as EPA and DHA, but also fail to lower ApoC-III.
Commenting on these results, Dr. Davidson noted, "ApoC-III represents a key link between hypertriglyceridemia and the probability of coronary events. We are therefore highly encouraged by the data from this analysis of the EVOLVE trial, which shows the unique effects of Omega-3 products containing both EPA+DHA, like Epanova, on this important marker of cardiovascular risk. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating both EPA and DHA in patient therapy to provide comprehensive risk management for those with hypertriglyceridemia."
About Epanova™
Epanova is a patent protected, novel, ultra-pure mixture of the free fatty acid forms of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Omthera has developed a substantial body of data on Epanova, which points to an improved and more predictable bioavailability as compared to the ethyl ester form found in prescription Omega‐3 products currently available. Triglyceride, as well as Non-HDL-C lowering with Epanova was recently observed in the Company's 1,000 patient, global Phase 3 program, consisting of its EVOLVE (EpanoVa fOr Lowering Very High triglyceridEs) and ESPRIT (Epanova combined with a Statin in Patients with HypertRiglycerIdemia to Reduce Non-HDL CholesTerol) clinical trials. In all studies performed to date, Epanova has also demonstrated a very good safety and tolerability profile.
About Hypertriglyceridemia
Hypertriglyceridemia refers to a condition in which patients have high blood levels of triglycerides and is associated with increased risk of heart disease. It is one component of a range of lipid disorders collectively referred to as dyslipidemia. The overall dyslipidemia population in the U.S. is believed to be in excess of 100 million, with approximately 40 million of those diagnosed with hypertriglyceridemia (triglycerides greater than 200mg/dL) and an estimated 4 million with very high triglyceride levels (triglycerides greater than 500mg/dL). Very high triglycerides are associated with an increased risk of pancreatitis. Regulatory approval for the treatment of very high triglycerides is based on a significant reduction in the serum triglyceride levels.
About Omthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Founded in 2008, Omthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a privately held, specialty pharmaceutical company focusing its efforts on the clinical development of new therapies for dyslipidemia. Led by a team of experts with exceptional experience in developing new therapies for lipid disorders, Omthera is dedicated to developing innovative therapies for the millions of patients who have elevated triglyceride levels and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Omthera holds worldwide rights to Epanova under a license from Chrysalis Pharma AG, a privately held Swiss company that is the owner of the product. For more information, please visit www.omthera.com
Christian Schade
Chief Financial Officer
Omthera Pharmaceuticals
|SOURCE Omthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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