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A pediatrician. A university professor. Arkansas state health director. The 15th Surgeon General of the United States. An outspoken champion of "bringing sexuality out of the dark ages." Ladies and gentlemen, I give you M. Joycelyn Elders, MD.
Editor's Note: This article is part of a series developed by the American Social Health Association (ASHA) in celebration of Sexual Health Month 2012 during September. Rewire will be publishing articles by ASHA all month, see all the articles here and visit ASHA online throughout September for updates.
Cross-posted with permission from the American Social Health Association (ASHA).
A pediatrician. A university professor. Arkansas state health director. The 15th Surgeon General of the United States. An outspoken champion of "bringing sexuality out of the dark ages."
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you M. Joycelyn Elders, MD.
Sex. Abortion. Parenthood. Power.
The latest news, delivered straight to your inbox.
Dr. Elders has devoted her life to science in the pursuit of public health and social justice. Now retired but very active, her projects include developing a sexual health education chair at the University of Minnesota that will bear her name. As part of Sexual Health Month 2012, Dr. Elders chatted with us to offer her perspective on where we've been with sexual health, and where she hopes we'll go.
The prescription is straight-talk and sanity. The good doctor is in.
Sexual health touches on many things: relationships, sexually transmitted infections, and matters of social justice. What should our sexual health priorities be?
I think our first priority should be that every person is allowed to enjoy their sexuality to the greatest extent possible, as long as it doesn't come at the expense of another.
To me sex is about the three P's: procreation, prevention, and pleasure. We have to procreate (but every sperm is not a baby meant to be!) but we want to be healthy and protect ourselves and others from infections. Of course, pleasure is one of the most important aspects of our sexuality.
Why are we so squeamish about sex? It's easier to show graphic violence on screen than two caring adults making love.
I don't think we've ever really learned to appreciate our sexuality, and it's hard for me to understand why we don't. We're so secretive about sex; we've crammed it down in a hole and don't like to bring it out. We need to get over our silence and be open and honest about our sexuality. Everyone should be aware of how important sex and sexuality are but more than that, we need to learn to value our sexuality. It's important that we do that for ourselves, for others, and our children, too.
Keeping with the idea of valuing others and their sexuality, I'd like to ask about sexual minorities such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. How do we bring them more into the mainstream, especially with regard to healthcare?
It starts with education. There is a great deal of misinformation and stereotypes and we need to start early; we do far too little, too late. People just don't have an understanding of what it means to be LGBT, so they live believing all the myths.
Outreach to health-care professionals is critical, as they have to be educated so they understand LGBT issues. It should start during their training: I was shocked to learn our medical schools spend an average of five hours of talking about, not just transgender, but all of LGBT. Think about that, all of five hours. When you consider we spend almost 30% of our health-care dollars on problems related to sexual and reproductive health, we really have to address it better in medical schools.
You mentioned that education about sexual health should start early. Thinking of young people: what should school-based sexual education programs cover, and when do we start?
I'm always talking about the need comprehensive sexuality education, which we often say should begin in kindergarten and last through 12th grade. However, I'd say it should start at birth and last until death! We need to educate our children early, so why wait until kindergarten? As soon as they can understand we need to tell them about their body parts, and we need to be honest with what we tell them. Children can learn; they might as well learn the right words as the wrong ones!
It's not like sexuality has a switch that's suddenly flipped at some magical age that is turned off somewhere down the road…
That's right, it lasts a lifetime!
Masturbation: it's something everyone does, it's pleasurable, and doesn't lead to any harm. Why would your comments on the subject be controversial at all?
That's exactly my feeling. Nobody's ever gotten a sexually transmitted infection or become pregnant because of masturbation. It won't make hair grow on our hands; it won't make us go blind or crazy. Some of that probably has root in the fact many mental patients are seen masturbating (speaking of which, that's another group that's ignored when it comes to sexual health education). It really makes no sense at all to me, especially when the data suggest something like 90% of the people will have masturbated at some time during their life.
I mean, if everybody who ever masturbated turned green, we'd be a green society!
The University of Minnesota is establishing the Joycelyn Elders Chair in Sexual Health Education. Tell us what that will involve.
The Joycelyn Elders Sexual Health Chair will be in the department of sexual health and family medicine to really provide further education, starting with healthcare professionals we'll seek grants so faculty will have funds to do the kinds of studies we need to bring sexuality out of the dark ages.
It's also important that we educate parents. I think parents would do a good job if we gave them the tools; they don't want to make a mistake with their children and are so scared of doing something wrong they often just don't do anything!
So it's about educating healthcare professionals, parents, and children. If we do all that, we'll educate our community!


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Jakarta grooves to SRK's beats
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan took his Indonesian fans by storm as he grooved with his friends, actresses Preity Zinta, Rani Mukerji and Bipasha Basu, as part of his Temptations Reloaded tour in Jakarta
Shah Rukh made his stage-entry on a bike, sending the huge crowd at Sentul International Convention Center, Jakarta, into a frenzy of excitement.
'This time I didn't get a chance to roam around in Jakarta. But I have always felt strongly that one can always tell how beautiful the place is by the people one meets there. Jakarta is a lovely place and the love that I got from the people there was my 'feel good factor',' Shah Rukh said in a statement.
'I say that because I have been rushing around these days from film festival to movie shoot and then to Jakarta. It has been a mad rush, but the love I got at Jakarta made it all worthwhile,' the actor added. Shah Rukh enjoys being part of such live shows.
'Doing shows like this is a fine experience of being part of the entertainment industry. Last time we did Temptations was in 2004. The years after that, I and all my friends, who were part of the show got busy. So we decided to start off again and that's why it's called Temptations Reloaded,' said Shah Rukh.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Fitness Training Sessions - Term 1 2020, Parramatta (Monday)
Fitness Training session at Harry Todd Band Hall. This Functional Fitness & Strength (Heart & Body Health) involves Circuit training, Cardio, Bands and weights, Body movement and Body weights. Introductory Price: $60 per term. Number of Lessons: 10 Day and Dates: Every Monday from 3 February to 6 April 2020 Time: 5:30pm to 6.30pm Important Information: Spaces are limited due to the City of Parramatta's Fitness Training Guidelines, Council employ a "first in best dressed policy" Registrations are essential. Program continuation is subject to participation rates and community interest. It is the responsibility of the participant to communicate all medical issues and injuries with the facilitator prior to facilitation. Participants do so at their own risk and will be required to complete a pre-activity screening questionnaire. Sign up to the Active Parramatta newsletter here or like our Facebook page here to stay up to date with all the latest news! FAQs Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event? No, for fitness classes, teenage participants must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. What should I bring to the event? Please wear appropriate non-restrictive clothing, enclosed shoes, water bottle and a towel. Where can I contact the organiser with any questions? Please contact Council on 9806 5052 or firstname.lastname@example.com Can I update my registration information? Yes, you can update your information via the Eventbrite website, you'll need to create a login. Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? No, your name will appear on an attendance sheet. The facilitator will mark you as attended. What is the refund policy? For medical reasons or instances of severe hardship and unforeseen circumstance, please contact Council on 9806 5052 or email@example.com to arrange a refund. If Council needs to cancel or transfer the program you will be entitled to a refund. The Eventbrite processing fee is non-refundable. Can I register as I go? Casual sessions? Council does not provide this option; attendance must be purchased as a term based package. The term has already started; can I still join? Most programs are designed in a way that a participant could join at any point throughout the program if there are spaces available. Enrolments will be kept open for this purpose. I am pregnant, can I still participate? It is suggested that you seek medical clearance from your health care professional. Participation is done so at your own risk. I am recovering from an injury can I still participate? It is suggested that you seek medical clearance from your health care professional. Participation is done so at your own risk. Can I claim against my health insurance? Programs are delivered by industry qualified professionals; however, the individual terms and conditions of your health insurance provider apply. Please contact your provider for information on what you are covered for and how to claim. Ticket Information Ticket Price Fitness Training - Parramatta - Introductory Price AUD 60


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Collection Items
Map40 miles around New York
Forty miles around New York | H.H. Lloyd's New York and forty miles around it : | New York and forty miles around it Regional map emphasizing railroads and areas/names of local municipalities. Relief shown by hachures. "Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by H.H. Lloyd & Co., in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York." Includes text, notes, and publisher's map list. Map on verso: H.H. Lloyd's new map of the great...
- Contributor: Fisk & Russell - H.H. Lloyd & Co.
- Date: 1867


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I have an ssis package which loads 1.2 million records of data from oracle into SQL SERVER 2008R2(with 32 GB RAM) dataware house table once every week. (truncating and loading)
This process is taking 5 hours to complete the load of 1.2 million records.
If any body did the same thing,i wanted to know their average time to complete the load.
I am new to ssis. Please advice me. Is 5 hours an optimum time ??
Note: the destination table is de-normalized and no indexes are there on it because it is in the dataware house.


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76ers beat Bulls 79-78 and advance to 2nd round
Omer Asik placed his hands on his hips in disbelief as an improbable 76ers' celebration erupted around him.
Omer Asik placed his hands on his hips in disbelief as an improbable 76ers' celebration erupted around him.
Derrick Rose was lost for the series in Game 1. Joakim Noah hit the bench for good in Game 4.
Now all the Chicago Bulls are headed home after a tough tumble from the top of the East to postseason punch line.
Andre Iguodala made the go-ahead free throws with 2.2 seconds left and Philadelphia rallied for a 79-78 victory over the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in Game 6 on Thursday night, advancing to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2003.
"I really thought we'd take it back to Chicago," forward Taj Gibson said.
Instead, the Sixers will move on and face Boston, which beat Atlanta in six games, in the conference semifinals.
Asik missed two free throws with 7 seconds left that would have given the Bulls a three-point lead. Iguodala grabbed the second miss, sprinted the length of the court, and was fouled by Asik on the driving layup.
The Sixers put their season in the hands of one of the worst fourth-quarter free-throw shooters in the NBA.
Coach Doug Collins was hunched over with his hands clasped while Iguodala was at the line.
He made both - and 20,362 fans went absolutely wild.
Iguodala made nine of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter in this series after shooting 45 percent (23 of 51) from the line in the period this season.
Iguodala changed his approach at the line this series. He started thinking what it would be like to teach his son how to shoot free throws.
Dads don't miss.
"I was like, 'Son, this is how you shoot free throws,'" Iguodala said.
Asik stood motionless on the free-throw line when the stunning upset was completed. Philadelphia cheerleaders stormed the court and danced around him before he trudged off the court.
The Sixers are the fifth No. 8 seed to win a first-round series against a No. 1 seed. Memphis eliminated San Antonio last season, while Golden State (2007), New York (1999) and Denver (1994) also pulled off the rare feat.
In his second season, Collins had already led the Sixers to their first winning season in seven years. Now, they are on to the second round for the first time since Allen Iverson was an All-Star.
Iguodala hopped on the scorer's table and played to the crowd as the catchy 76ers' anthem blared in the arena.
His teammates joined Iguodala and danced along as confetti fluttered around them.
"Number one, Philadelphia. Here they come, team of the year."
Team of the first round, for sure.
"I don't know how we won this game," Collins said.
The Sixers were smiling and mobbed each other as they dashed to the locker room to keep the party going.
The Sixers were 2.2 seconds from playing Game 7 in Chicago.
Now, they will pack their bags for the second round. They went 2-1 against the Celtics this season.
Collins had a catch in his voice at the postgame podium and was joined by his 4-year-old grandson, Cooper. Collins held back tears while talking about faith, family and his guys in the locker room.
"I'm a Sixer for life," he said.
Collins and the Sixers hardly cared the series win comes with an asterisk.
The Bulls lost Rose to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee late in their Game 1 win. Noah missed the last three games with a sprained left ankle.
"I thought we had more than enough to win with," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "I'm disappointed in the loss, but I'm not disappointed in our team."
Without their stars, the Bulls found it tough to gut one out against the Sixers.
Iguodala scored 20 points, and Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams each scored 14 for the Sixers, who were outrebounded 56-33.
Iguodala snagged the one that mattered.
"We win on a rebound. Something we don't get all night," a smiling Collins said.
The Sixers started 20-9 and led the Atlantic Division for the first half of the season until a late fade sent them tumbling toward eighth place.
None of that matters now.
Not even the fact the Bulls were down two stars.
The 50-win Bulls are heading home early a year after they reached the conference finals.
"We were on the ropes and we battled," forward Carlos Boozer said. "In the end, it came down to the very last second. So, it's tough. We were right there, given everything, right there. It will be a long summer."
Luol Deng had 19 points and 17 rebounds for the Bulls. Richard Hamilton scored 19 points and Boozer grabbed 13 rebounds.
The Sixers tried to get a laugh by showing the Bulls bench on "Kiss Cam." Noah popped his warm-up jacket toward the camera and the crowd booed the oversized "Chicago" on the big screen.
Noah was one of the top offensive rebounders in the league and the Bulls figured on missing his presence in the middle. Led by Deng and Boozer, the Bulls instead went out and controlled the boards, holding a 49-29 edge early in the fourth.
"This one hurts," Noah said. "We battled. We believed. But in the end, it wasn't enough. I will think about this one all summer."


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JBL Pure Bass Sound
For over 70 years, JBL has engineered the precise, impressive sound found in big venues around the world. These headphones reproduce that same JBL sound, punching out bass that's both deep and powerful.
6-hour battery life/Recharges in 2 hours
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Ensures that the headphones remain comfortably secure and tangle-free around your neck when not in use.
3-button remote with microphone
Enjoy wireless calls and manage your music hands free.
General Specifications
- 1 pair of TUNE160BT headphones
- 3 sizes of ear tips (S, M, L)
- ICON charging cable
- Warning card
- Warranty card
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Manuals & Downloads
The latest owner's manuals, quick start guides, and documents.
Search Result For ""


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Check this out from USA Today – 5 of their 8 staff writers pick the Packers to win the Super Bowl. Several of you have noted the increasing amount of positive press the Packers have received heading into the season. Lots of the expert types are picking the Pack to win the Super Bowl. Normally, I would be a bit concerned about it – will the players be able to handle the weight of expectation? will they keep their heads? and just as importantly, how will the coaching staff respond to this kind of pressure?
So far, I like the way the team has responded to this pressure. It seems the players may have been given the "OK" to simply address questions about expectations head on – instead of offering up the usual cliche crap like "we're only focused on the Philly game". Really, since the team regrouped this spring, it seems to me that generally, the players have not avoided questions about expectations. After the Family Night scrimmage for example, Jermichael Finley and a few others talked very directly about the expectations indicating that the team has the same expectations and the team believes they belong in the Super Bowl. McCarthy must be coaching the guys up to believe that these are not unrealistic expectations and I really like this. There seems to be a message floating around Lambeau that players/coaches ought to embrace this goal publicly rather than avoid it at all costs.
For some reason, I suspect that one guy who may be behind this head-on approach to managing expectations may be Dom Capers. I think Capers, a veteran coach who has seen a lot throughout his NFL coaching career, may be encouraging this open attitude about expectations in part because he knows on one side of the ball, he has a QB who can handle it mentally and on the other side, he has a veteran leader who can handle it mentally – and who wants it so badly (Woodson). One thing that will continue to impress people in the next 3-4 years in particular, is just how strong Aaron Rodgers is mentally. I'm not quite sure the same open approach toward expectations would have been encouraged if we had a different QB.


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Photinia X Fraseri Standard Tree 10/12cm Girth
Photinia x Fraseri Red Robin tree is a great choice for screening in gardens as it is grown with a clear stem to sit along the top of a standard fence line. The dense evergreen bushy head will hide intrusive windows or buildings creating a 'raised hedge', with a clear stem of approximately 1.8m which can be under planted if you wish.
As a hardy and fast growing tree Photinia Red Robin provides winter and spring interest, young foliage emerges red in spring time accompanied by an abundance of white flowers in April/May. As the young red leaves of the tree matures, they gradually harden to a glossy green as spring turns to summer. Suits almost any garden style.
It is possible to create a full screen or single trees can be strategically placed to screen unsightly views from your property e.g. neighbours windows, satellite dishes, extensions. Recommended planting distance for the Photinia tree is 1.5m apart, unless you require heads to touch to give an uninterrupted screen.
Photinia Red Robin is a shallow rooted tree which does not create the problems associated with foundations and larger trees root systems.
Please select the size and quantity of your Photinia tree below.
If the availability below is not listed as 'In Stock' please contact us for more information regarding the item.
We are always updating the stock for sale at our tree nursery but some varieties may only be available through the winter season.
Local delivery / collection - items too heavy or large to ship by carrier.
Pre - Order - not in stock but usually only a short order time.
Out of stock - not available at present.
- 10/12cm girth
- £238.00
Availability: Pre-Order
Photinia x fraseri Red Robin Standard Tree
Plant Information
- Size: Girth of 6/8cm, 8/10cm, 10/12cm, 12/14cm.
Girth in CM equates roughly to height in feet. For example: 10/12cm girth = 10/12ft tall.
- Botanical name/s: Photinia x Fraseri
- Common name/s: Red Robin, Christmas Berry
- Flower / Foliage: Creamy white flowers
- Plant type: Evergreen, bushy
- Flowering period: Spring
- Mature height: 4-4.5 metres
- Mature spread: 2.5-3 metres
- Fast growing?: Reaches mature height in 5 years
- Recommended usage: Photinia Red Robin standard trees are designed specifically to be planted in front of a 1.8m fence panel. The head of the Photinia tree sits above the fence line. When planted in line, they create a stilted hedge giving maximum privacy, but without encroaching on the rest of your garden. The height and width of the head will increase as it grows; stem height will remain the same.
- Nursery grown: Yes
After Care / Plant Maintenance
- Once planted Photinia Red Robin will need watering throughout the first growing season, but make sure not to over / under water.
- Check tree tie / stake isn't rubbing and / or too tight or too loose on the trunk.
- Check for and remove any dead, decaying, diseased or crossing branch.
- Remove any weeds from around the base of the Photinia tree (including grass).
- Position/Aspect: Photinia Red Robin can be grown in all aspects
- Soil: Any: sand, clay, loam e.t.c.
- Hardiness: Hardy in all areas of UK
- Plant maintenance: Twice annual clipping.
Photinia 'Red Robin' Information and Advice
How do I order from King & Co?
Order online
Your order may be placed via our Online Shop, which is fast simple and secure.
After your Online Shop order has been placed we will send an order confirmation email to the email address provided. This will provide you with details of your order, including the order number, which you should check and retain for your records. If there is an error in your order requirement, please contact us as soon as possible quoting your order number, so that we can rectify prior to dispatch.
Phone us
We will take your credit or debit card payment over the phone. Simply call us on 01376 340469 and one of our experienced team are always available to discuss your order 7 days a week.
From our Nursery
Collect your trees or shrubs from our Nursery in Rayne.
We accept all major credit cards including: Maestro, MasterCard, Visa Credit, Visa Electron and Visa Debit.
How can I expect delivery from King & Co?
Overnight to your door
We can delivery to you anywhere in England and Wales via an overnight courier service (two days for Scotland & Ireland).
Via Online Shop
Orders placed via our Online shop if placed by 12 noon Monday –Thursday can be delivered to you the very next day. If placed on a Friday - Sunday delivery would be on Tuesday.
We deliver by national overnight courier service.
Should you require a specific delivery date, let us know in advance and we will arrange for your delivery to arrive on your required date.
Every tree and plant is packed to ensure your order arrives safely.
For large trees or quantities of trees and plants
Please phone us to discuss, we are usually able to deliver to you via a dedicated vehicle.
For local deliveries
We will deliver to you in our local area and we will be pleased to arrange this with you whilst you are visiting our Nursery or via the phone. We also provide a planting service.
Planting service
We have our own installation teams to carry out planting in Southern & Eastern England. Please call us to discuss, we are always happy to provide you a quotation.


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Cook the Book: Ginger-Marinated Heirloom Tomatoes with Watermelon, Burrata, & Spicy Arugula
All summer long, I have designated a significant portion of my precious fridge space to watermelon. I've been blending Watermelon Margaritas, snacking on cool slices all day long, and mixing chunks of sweet watermelon into tomato salads. Since our time with both tomatoes and watermelons is coming to an end, I figured I should make my last watermelon salad of the year count. I chose Ginger-Marinated Heirloom Tomatoes with Watermelon, Burrata, & Spicy Arugula from Laurent Tourondel's Fresh from the Market as my final farewell.
The combination of heirloom tomatoes, watermelon, red onions, and arugula is a stand-up salad on its own, but adding a spicy ginger marinade and oozy, milky burrata makes this a salad to remember. If you've never experienced the joy that is burrata, I would recommend dropping everything and seeking out a ball of it immediately. On the surface, it appears to be identical to mozzarella, but when you cut into it, the center is soft with cream and curds that really need nothing more than a spoon and perhaps a sprinkling of salt. Pairing this rich, mild cheese with sweet tomatoes and watermelon is a dream come true—like the caprese salad of your dreams. The ginger dresses the fruits and vegetables perfectly, adding just the right amount of spice, and the oil-cured black olives are there for a salty respite.
As always with our Cook the Book feature, we have five (5) copies of Fresh from the Market to give away this week.
Adapted from Fresh from the Market by Laurent Tourondel. Copyright © 2010. Published by Wiley. Available wherever books are sold. All Rights Reserved.
- Yield:6
- 1 piece (6 inches) fresh ginger, peeled
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons aged sherry vinegar
- 24 baby heirloom tomatoes or multicolored vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh basil
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups 1-inch pieces red or yellow seedless watermelon
- 2 cups baby arugula
- 1/4 cup cured black olives, pitted and sliced
- 2 pieces burrata, 8 ounces each
Grate the ginger on the large holes of a box grater. Wrap the grated ginger in a piece of cheesecloth or thin kitchen towel and squeeze over a medium bowl to extract the juice. You should have about 4 tablespoons of juice.
Whisk the ginger juice, the 1/2 cup of olive oil, and the sherry vinegar in a medium bowl to blend. Add the tomatoes, red onion, and half of the basil and toss until well combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Allow the tomatoes to marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Add the watermelon to the marinated tomatoes and toss until well combined. Toss the arugula in another bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Divide the tomato and watermelon mixture among 6 plates. Garnish with the remaining basil and the black olives. Cut each piece of burrata into 3 pieces. Spoon the burrata evenly over the tomatoes and top with the arugula. Serve immediately.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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My first great review came from the Romantic Times. I love them for it. I do not consider Catnapped a romance but I can't actually tell you why. Someone with more imagination than me at RT saw my book and thought it was good enough to make their list regardless of the imprint's backlist or the book's placement on some arbitrary shelf. My protagonist's love interest was added after the first draft. Probably after the fifth. That's how much I considered my book a romance. Yet, that first review brought many readers to my work who couldn't have found it another way tucked as it was on the mystery shelves.
Look at Tim O'Brien. He's a National Book Award winner who frequently writes about his experiences, fictionalized, during the Vietnam War. He's Mr. Literary. He wrote a book called In the Lake of the Woods. In my opinion, it's a romance. It's a nuanced examination of a long-term relationship and how our assumptions about another person can become our reality if they are never challenged. It's as complex a relationship story as any written by Nicholas Sparks yet it's somehow treated differently. A man reading The Notebook on a commuter train is likely to have it hidden in a book cover while Tim O'Brien's book can be viewed openly, possibly eliciting engaged conversation with an intellectual co-passenger. Tim O'Brien's book is also a mystery. I won't spoil the end for you. If you haven't read it, or anything by him, I beg you to give him a try. But in Lake of the Woods when you get to the last word, if you're like me, you'll double-check to make sure you're not missing another chapter. The one that answers the questions. How great a mystery is that? It's got as much heft as Hammett, surprise equal to Christie and a twistier end than the one from The Usual Suspects. I don't care what the business calls him. I just think he's great.
There's a famous quotation I can't seem to find the attribution for that says (I'm paraphrasing here) that a forgery is still art if that's the way you see it. Genre is art. Literary is art. Good stories are good stories regardless of their marketing strategy. Seek them out in all their guises. Never judge a book by its cover or library location. Keep in mind that books aren't pillows. You can go ahead and remove the label.
Thanks for reading.


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Since 1999 (17 years and counting!), we have provided free listings for LOCAL BUSINESSES, on the premise that EVERY BUSINESS DESERVES TO BE ONLINE. And every business should be able to afford it! So, we built the Free Listings with
free categories (unlike those "yellow guys"), free logo, free website link, free news announcements, free coupons, sales, or flyers, free jobs postings, and free events promotion...
Every business is listed on its own merits & information, and listed based on the USER'S search criteria, with no "monkeying around". The searches & options are context-sensitive, and results displayed are filtered using user-specified search criteria. Giving users the business(es) they are looking for, and also giving businesses the customers they WANT!
Now that we have added the graphical interface (looks a bit like Pinterest), with photos linking to website articles & stories, and now the business logos (or photos) link to business listings and information, we've allowed progressive businesses to STAND OUT over those that don't have web links (Really? Still?) or haven't uploaded a photo or logo (still showing the default blue "Click Here" image??).
But how do you step up from there? PREMIUM ADS!
Three key benefits of FoundLocally's Premium Ads:
From as little as $50 a month, this advertising is SUPREMELY AFFORDABLE!


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City Events Calendar
Click here to subscribe to the City's calendar via RSS.
Please read our calendar listing guidelines here.
Putt'n Around Mini Golf
- Date: 06/14/2019 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM
- Location: The Armory
939 Valota Road
Redwood City, California 94061
May 3 through mid-July
The Armory in Red Morton Park
939 Valota Road, Redwood City 94061- map
Fri- 3pm-10pm (Last tee time 9:15pm)
Sat- 10am-10pm (Last tee time 9:15pm)
Sun- 10am-8pm (Last tee time 7:15pm)
Closed Mon-Thurs (open for rentals- see below)
(last tee time, 45min before close)
Putt'n Around Mini Golf is the latest pop-up recreation activity for all ages. We've brought back your favorite mini-golf memories with an 18 hole course complete with scaled decorations and nighttime black light golf! Book your tee time today!
Putt'n Around is open for team building events, summer camps, and special groups. Please email firstname.lastname@example.com to schedule events for weekdays. Rates are $300 for the first hour and $150 for additional hours.
Click here for more info and to reserve tee times online.


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Scorpions – World Wide Live (1985, Mercury)
- Countdown
- Coming Home
- Blackout
- Bad Boys Running Wild
- Loving You Sunday Morning
- Make It Real
- Big City Nights
- Coast To Coast
- Holiday
- Still Loving You
- Rock You Like A Hurricane
- Can't Live Without You
- Another Piece Of Meat
- The Zoo
- No One Like You
- Dynamite
- Can't Get Enough (Part l)
- Six String Sting
- Can't Get Enough (Part ll)
Total Time = 1:17:27
WORLD WIDE LIVE is another favorite live album from my early teenage years that I still listen to regularly. I had discovered the Scorpions at the time like I did with most bands: through magazines and record store trips. I knew about the Scorpions but I never heard a single song until I saw the video for 'No One Like You' on MTV. I remember that video being in regular rotation and it wasn't uncommon to see it at some point every hour. I picked up BLACKOUT but I really didn't get into the band until they released LOVE AT FIRST STING in 1984 and became a huge commercial success. The Scorpions were everywhere: MTV, radio, magazines, and on tour. They rode a massive wave of success on the sing;es 'Rock You Like A Hurricane', 'Still Loving You' and 'Big City Nights' but I liked the whole album and I started to put all the Scorpions' albums at the top of my want list. I remember reading about a new Scorpions live album in Circus Magazine so I was definitely getting it.
I remember how I got WORLD WIDE LIVE very vividly. I was always a collector. I liked baseball cards, Star Wars toys and comics but, once I got hooked, Rock music became my passion. My father recognized my almost overnight change from a kid playing with toys to a kid listening to Heavy Metal and wearing studded wristbands! My father decided he was going to get involved in my new hobby by actually taking an interest into what I was buying, reading and listening. He was concerned like parents were at the time because all he really knew was what he heard on the news: how Rock/Metal music pushed kids into a world of sex, drugs, violence and danger. In order to try and understand what I was into, he thumbed through my Rock mags and made sure he understood exactly what tapes I bought. Shortly after WORLD WIDE LIVE's release, I asked my father if he could pick it up for me on the way home from work. My father worked in the Boston area about a little over an hour's commute so I knew that he wouldn't want to take me to the record store so I convinced him to stop at the Good Vibrations in Foxboro, about halfway between work and home, and pick it up for me. Surprisingly, he agreed. My father came home and gave me my brand new cassette: Scorpions – TOKYO TAPES (1978)!
Now my father tried but he didn't really get it. Each band was faceless and each album was the same, as long as I still got straight A's in school and didn't turn into a deliquent, he was happy. His effort to understand and keep an eye on what I was listening too was genuine but a little above his head. Turns out he stopped at the Good Vibrations, asked the clerk for a Scorpions concert album, and the showed him two different ones. He forgot the title so he bought the one that looked the safest…..TOKYO TAPES. Of course, I knew the difference right away and I told him that I wanted to exchange it at my usual Good Vibrations near home over the weekend. I ended up going to return the tape that weekend but I just ended up buying the WORLD WIDE LIVE cassette and keeping the TOKYO TAPES instead. My father found out I didn't exchange the one he bought so he gave me the ten bucks I spent on WORLD WIDE LIVE and I ended up with two albums for free!
I was big into BLACKOUT and LOVE AT FIRST STING so hearing live versions of 'Bad Boys Running Wild', 'Can't Live Without You' and 'Dynamite' alongside the popular singles 'Rock You Like A Hurricane' and 'No One Like You' was very cool. What was even better was that there were other songs that I had never heard and they kicked major ass! 'Another Piece Of Meat', 'The Zoo', 'Loving You Sunday Morning' and 'Make It Real' were awesome and I started to add all the Scorpions' albums to my growing want list. My favorites on this album are the live versions of 'Big City Nights', 'Can't Live Without You' and 'No One Like You' but the best part of the album was when Klaus Meine would talk to the audience…..the band was German and I knew there was a language difference but with the accents and the different phrasing, Klaus came off a bit comical while pumping up the crowd. It was because of WORLD WIDE LIVE that I became a huge Scorpions fan and I started buying up all their albums.
I had the cassette, which I wore out and it snapped, so I upgraded to CD. the problem was that the initial U.S. pressing on CD dropped 'Another Piece Of Meat', 'Can't Get Enough (Pt.1)', 'Six String Sting' and 'Can't Get Enough (Pt.2)' to fit it on one disc. I couldn't listen to it without those songs so I went out and bought a new cassette. Somewhere in the late '90s, Mercury Records started reissuing the Scorpions' catalog and the CD reissue of WORLD WIDE LIVE ended up having all the songs and the original artwork so I picked it up on sale for $8.99.


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Garbage wars: Some residents say new trash plan stinks
Jeannette requires residents to use designated trash bags
A new trash plan was supposed to help Jeannette residents, but some people say it just stinks.
A new plan requires residents to use city-designated garbage bags, and that has people so angry that even waste-disposal workers are getting yelled at. The city made it mandatory for people to buy garbage bags with the Jeannette logo on them.
Workers won't pick up the trash from homes where residents don't use the designated bags. Officials said residents can face fines up to $1,000.
"We pay the garbage bill. We have to pay extra. It's not right," said Haksu Kwon of Jeannette. "We can buy the garbage bags cheaper anywhere, anyplace."
Many people said they were not told about the new law, and city leaders admit there could have been better communications.
"I do apologize," said City Councilman Mark Levander. "Looking at it now, we should have actually stamped the bags. Sending out a letter to all the residents, that's really not in the budget right now to do something along those lines."
For the past six weeks, residents have been getting their garbage tagged with letters serving as warning.
Levander said he hopes no one will have to pay a fine.
"That's the last thing I want to do is to start fining people," he said. "If we can try to get everybody compliant that would work a lot better than burdening taxpayers with more fines and more government regulations."
Levander wants residents to spread the word about the new rules, which some residents say are confusing.
"So if I put a cardboard box out, am I going to get fined?"" asked resident Don Kirkland. "It's not clear."
The new rules were reported in the newspaper, but Levander said there was no money budgeted to send letters out to notify residents.
Bags can be purchased at City Hall and at Duncan Hardware Store.
Levander said the garbage workers who are picking up the trash are just doing their jobs, and he hopes people will treat them with respect.


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For Immediate Release – July 25th, 2011
Conn-Selmer, Inc., along with Laura and Bickford Brannen, are pleased to announce that a total of seven deserving students were chosen to receive the 2011 Avanti Fund Scholarship. The Avanti Fund Music Education Scholarship was awarded to Candace Hamar, Kavin Ley and Steven Skolnik, who will each receive $2,000 towards their tuition costs to pursue their Bachelor degrees in Music Education. Also receiving $1,000 to become more competitive in their respective fields, are Avanti Fund Conn-Selmer Employee Scholarship winners Hayley Clay, Courtney Cromas, Laura Gentry and Jacob Vollmar.
"These students understand the importance of keeping music education in our school systems to help young kids develop leadership skills and a sense of self-discipline. Music has the ability to help prepare students for high pressure situations such as a job interview, all through focused practice or performing a solo on a stage," says Amy Pribulick, Director of Product Marketing of Flutes at Conn-Selmer, Inc. Kavin Ley of Avilla, Indiana writes "Through the leadership, teamwork, self-discipline, courage, composure, pride, dependability, and other skills, students learn abilities that can help benefit their lives and help them grow into successful member of society." Candace Hamar of Portland, Oregon points out that music education "offers an incredibly diverse range of possibilities, allowing teachers to reach students in multiple ways. Music is also unique in its ability to reach special needs students, offering students who have difficulties with social interaction and speech a new way to express themselves."
The Avanti Fund was established in 2009 by Conn-Selmer, Inc., in conjunction with master flute-makers Laura and Bickford Brannen. Says Mr. Brannen, "The purpose of these scholarships is very simple. It is a way of thanking the Conn-Selmer staff and our customers for all they have done to make Conn-Selmer the national leader in band instrument manufacturing." More information on these scholarships can be found on the Avanti website www.avantiflutes.com/scholarships or by contacting Amy Pribulick at (574) 523-0606.
About Conn-Selmer
Conn-Selmer, under a portfolio of brands, is the leading manufacturer and distributor of musical instruments for student, amateur, and professional use. With a tradition of innovation, and superior musical performance, brands such as Vincent Bach, CG Conn, King, Holton, Selmer, Armstrong, Leblanc, Ludwig, Musser, Scherl & Roth, Glaesel, and William Lewis have earned a legacy of respect unparalleled by any other builders. Conn-Selmer is also the North American distributor of Selmer Paris woodwinds, the US distributor of Yanagisawa saxophones, and the global distributor of the Jiggs pBone (the world's only plastic trombone). With a focus on quality craftsmanship, Conn-Selmer operates US production facilities in Elkhart, IN, Cleveland, OH, Eastlake, OH, Lagrange, IL, and Monroe, NC. Through its educational outreach team, led by Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, Conn-Selmer is the industry leader in providing support and advocacy tools specifically tailored to music education. For more information on the complete line of instruments, services, and support available from Conn-Selmer, visit www.conn-selmer.com.


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April 16, 2013 – A Powerful 7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Struck Iran: A major earthquake described as the strongest to hit Iran in more than half a century flattened homes and offices Tuesday on both sides of the Iran-Pakistan border, killing at least 46 people in the sparsely populated region and swaying skyscrapers and buildings as far away as New Delhi.
Iran's Red Crescent said it was facing a "complicated emergency situation" in the area with villages scattered over desolate hills and valleys.
Iran's semiofficial ISNA news agency and others described the quake, measured at least magnitude 7.8, as the strongest quake in more than 50 years. State-run Press TV called it a "massive quake."
It also was the second deadly quake to hit Iran in less than a week after a magnitude 6.1 temblor struck near Bushehr, on Iran's Persian Gulf coast, killing at least 37 people and raising calls for greater international safety inspectors at Iran's lone nuclear reactor nearby.
Press TV said the quake was centered near Saravan, about 50 kilometers (26 miles) from the Pakistani border. A previous report citing the country's seismological center placed the strength at magnitude 7.5, but it was apparently revised upward. The U.S. Geological Survey put the preliminary magnitude at 7.8 and at a depth of 15.2 kilometers (nine miles).
Press TV said least 40 people were killed, but gave no other immediate details on the extent of damage or casualties. State-run Pakistan Television, meanwhile, said at least six people were killed on its side of the border and at least 47 others were injured. Up to 1,000 mud homes were damaged, it added.
The quake was felt over a vast area from New Delhi to Gulf cities that have some of the world's tallest skyscrapers, including the record 828-meter (2,717 -foot) Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Officials ordered temporary evacuations from some high-rises as a precaution.
A resident in the quake zone, Manouchehr Karimi, told The Associated Press by phone that "the quake period was long" and occurred "when many people were at home to take a midday nap."
Pakistani news channels showed buildings shaking in the southern city of Karachi, where people in panic came out from offices and homes.
In a message posted on Twitter, British Foreign Secretary William Hague sent condolences to families of those lost in the Iran earthquake.
In 2003, some 26,000 people were killed by a magnitude 6.6 quake that flattened the historic southeastern Iranian city of Bam. (Credits: ABC World News, Associated Press & Google Maps).
The Master of Disaster


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Kia Sportage | 1.6T GDi ISG 2 5dr [AWD]
Kia Sportage Overview
I would like all maintenance and service costs included
Initial Rental (Personal)
£2,450.52 inc VAT
Initial Rental (Business)
£2,042.10 ex VAT
Contract Length
48 Months
Processing fee
£199.99 ex VAT
Standard Options
- All round electric windows with drivers auto up/down function
- Privacy glass (rear side windows and rear screen)
- Rain sensing front wipers
- Rear wiper
- Speed sensitive front wipers
- Tinted glass
- Anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution
- Electronic stability control with downhill brake control
- Emergency stop signalling system
- ESP traction control
- Hill start assist control (HAC)
- Android auto with voice control
- Apple car play with voice control
- Bluetooth connectivity with voice control
- Cruise control speed limiter
- Driver attention warning
- Lane keep assist
- Rear parking sensor
- Reversing camera
- Speed limit information function
- Speed sensitive power steering
- 3.5" supervision cluster display
- 7" touchscreen satellite navigation with European mapping and traffic messaging channel
- Kia connected services featuring TomTom live
- Trip computer
- Windscreen washer level indicator
- Auto dimming rear view mirror
- Body colour door mirrors
- Electrically adjustable/heated/folding door mirrors with LED indicators
- Wide view drivers door mirror
- Metallic finish centre fascia
- Intelligent Stop and Go
- 6 speaker audio system
- Bluetooth audio streaming
- DAB Radio with MP3
- Rear USB port
- Steering wheel mounted audio controls
- USB/iPod/auxiliary input connections
- Black side sill and wheel arch body mouldings
- Body colour door handles with chrome inserts
- Chrome front bumper insert
- Chrome grille surround
- Chrome window surround
- High gloss black diamond mesh radiator grille
- Rear spoiler
- Roof rails
- Shark fin antenna
- Solid paint
- Automatic headlights
- Automatic lighting control
- Bi-Function halogen headlights
- High beam assist
- LED daytime running lights
- Projection front fog lights
- Welcome and follow-me home light functionality
- Air filter
- Dual zone automatic air conditioning
- Ventilation ducts to rear compartment
- 12V power in front and rear centre console
- 3 x passenger assist grips
- Centre console storage box
- Door armrest in leather
- Front and rear door storage
- Front/rear centre armrests
- Gear shift indicator
- Interior door lock/unlock function
- Leather steering wheel
- Leather trimmed gearshift
- Light grey headlining
- Luggage area load cover
- Luggage net hooks
- Premium cloth upholstery
- Rear centre armrest with cupholder
- Rear coat hooks
- Satin chrome interior door handles
- Tilt/telescopic adjust steering wheel
- Centre cabin light
- Front cabin LED map light with sunglasses case
- Front door courtesy reflectors
- Glovebox illumination
- Ignition key lock illumination
- Luggage area light
- Active front headrests
- All round 3-point seatbelts
- Dual front side airbags
- Front passenger airbag cut-off switch
- Front seatbelt pretensioners load limiters
- Height adjustable front seatbelts
- Impact sensing auto door unlocking
- Rear door child safety locks
- Twin curtain airbags with roll over sensor
- Twin front airbags
- Tyre pressure monitoring system
- 60/40 split folding rear seat
- All-round height adjustable headrests
- Driver's seat manual height adjust
- Drivers seat power lumbar support
- Front seatback pockets
- Heated front and outer rear seats
- ISOFIX Child seat top tethers and anchor fixings
- Advanced anti-theft system including immobiliser and alarm
- Door deadlocks
- Locking wheel nuts
- Remote central door locking with fold away key
- Speed sensitive auto door locking
- Visible vehicle identification number
- Trailer stability assist
- Driver and front passenger side sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors
- 17" alloy wheels
- Tyre mobility kit
Technical Options
- HC+NOx: N
- Noise Level dB(A): 72
- NOx: 0.036
- Particles: 0.0004
- Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6
- Bore: 77
- Catalytic Convertor: True
- Compression Ratio: 10.0:1
- Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE
- Cylinders: 4
- Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE
- Fuel Type: TURBO DIRECT INJECTION
- Gears: 6 SPEED
- Number of Valves: 16
- Stroke: 85.4
- Valve gear: DOHC
- EC: True
- EC Combined: 36.8
- EC Extra Urban: 42.2
- EC Urban: 29.5
- WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - Max: 11.3
- WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - Min: 8.5
- WLTP - MPG - Comb: 7.6
- WLTP - MPG - Comb - Max: 9
- WLTP - MPG - Comb - Min: 8.8
- Any aspect of the vehicles safety cause concern?: Data Not Available
- Based On ID: N
- Coin Description: T GDi
- Coin Series: 2
- Ghost model for valuation purposes: N
- Man Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 6
- Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3
- NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 71
- NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 5
- NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 174
- NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 1.6
- NCAP Safety Assist %: M1
- Service Interval Frequency - Months: 90
- Service Interval Mileage: N
- Special Edition: Data Not Available
- Special Order: Data Not Available
- Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 100000
- Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 7
- This vehicle is classed as a car for VED purposes: 12
- Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: 66
- Timing Belt Interval Mileage: 83
- 0 to 60: True
- 0 to 62: 9.2
- Engine Power KW: 130
- Engine Power RPM: 5500
- Engine Torque LBS.FT: 195
- Engine Torque MKG: 27
- Engine Torque NM: 265
- Engine Torque RPM: 1500
- PS: Data Not Available
- Top Speed: 126
- Alloys?: True
- Space Saver?: Data Not Available
- Tyre Size Front: 225/60 R17
- Tyre Size Rear: 225/60 R17
- Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT
- Wheel Style: N
- Wheel Type: 17" ALLOY
- Height: 1635
- Height (including roof rails): 1645
- Length: 4485
- Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 11
- Wheelbase: 2670
- Width (excluding mirrors): 1855
- Width (including mirrors): N
- Boot Capacity Saloons: 491
- Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 62
- Gross Vehicle Weight: 2170
- Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 1480
- Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 1900
- Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750
- Minimum Kerbweight: 1604
- No. of Seats: 5
- Payload: 566
Kia Sportage KOREA MOVE (75/100)
This improved fourth generation Kia's Sportage is an affordable mid-sized SUV that delivers even more of what buyers are looking for in this segment. Jonathan Crouch checks it out.
Ten Second Review
How did the Kia Sportage quietly develop from also-ran to front runner in the budget SUV stakes? By offering more of what people want, that's how. This improved fourth generation car now delivers mild hybrid diesel technology for the first time, plus gets an all-new entry-level diesel engine too, along with smarter looks, more safety kit and extra media connectivity. The motto here seems to be 'If it aint broke, try even harder to fix it'.
It might be easy to believe that the market for compact and mid-sized SUVs hasn't essentially changed all that much in the last ten years, but it's now radically different and the biggest beneficiary of these changes has been Kia, and more specifically its Sportage. Consider this. Just over ten years ago, you could pick up a brand new entry level Land Rover Freelander for under £16,000. Even as I'm typing this, I'm double checking to see if that's correct. It is. Nowadays the Freelander's Discovery Sport replacement would probably set you back well over £30,000. That's a massive increase. Yet the Office of National Statistics tells us that the average annual wage over the same period rose by 37%. What it all means is that a huge amount of buyers are being priced out of the SUV market. That's something that Kia not only recognised, but also put itself in prime position to capitalise on with its impressive fourth generation Sportage. This revised version of that car gets a smarter look inside and out and a range of technologies to improve comfort, convenience, connectivity and safety. If you're buying a mid-sized SUV or a Qashqai-like Crossover model in this segment, it's well worth a look.
Driving Experience
This improved fourth generation model carries over many of the mechanicals of its predecessor, but adds some new technology too. As before, buyers get a choice of both front and four wheel drive models. And engines? Well the petrol range is made up of a normally aspirated 1.6-litre GDI 130bhp unit and a much pokier T-GDI turbo 174bhp powerplant. Go for the T-GDI variant and you get the option of the brand's seven-speed 7DCT dual-clutch automatic gearbox, also offered elsewhere in the range. Most Sportage buyers though, want a diesel. For buyers wanting to fuel from the black pump, the range starts with a 114bhp 1.6-litre CRDi variant, which uses the brands new 'U3'-series engine. The key news here though, lies with the 2.0-litre CRDi version, which now features Kia's first mild hybrid diesel powertrain. The system supplements acceleration with power from a compact 0.44 kWh 48-volt lithium-ion battery, and extends engine 'off time' with a new Mild-Hybrid Starter-Generator (MHSG) unit. The MHSG is connected by belt to the engine's crankshaft, and switches seamlessly between 'motor' and 'generator' modes. In 'motor' mode the battery is discharged under acceleration, providing power assistance to the engine, to reduce engine load and emissions. Under deceleration - when braking, or coasting towards a junction or downhill - the MHSG switches to 'generator' mode, recuperating energy from the crankshaft to recharge the battery on-the-go.
Design and Build
Kia has lightly updated this MK4 Sportage model's looks. At the front, there's a redesigned front bumper with smarter fog lamp housings, plus an evolved version of the brand's 'tiger-nose' grille. Sleeker full-LED headlamps with four-point LED daytime running lights also feature. At the rear, the slim combination lamps feature a more distinctive C-shaped LED light signature. The reversing lamp is integrated into a restyled rear bumper with longer reflectors positioned below and is finished with a flash of chrome across its base. In profile, the upgraded model is available with more stylish 16, 17 and 19-inch alloy wheel designs, and some versions have the sill trim finished in chrome. Inside, minor upgrades include a redesigned steering wheel, a revised driver instrument cluster and smarter ventilation controls. The infotainment systems in the Sportage have been upgraded. Depending on trim, there is either a 7.0-inch touchscreen or a new 'frameless' 8.0-inch system, each with DAB digital radio. All satellite navigation systems include Kia's Connected Services powered by TomTom as standard, offering a wide range of driving-oriented information. As before, the cabin is decently spacious, with plenty of headroom front and rear. At the back, the seats recline for greater long distance comfort. Out back, boot space is rated at 503-litres.
Market and Model
Prices are much as they were before, starting at around £20,500 and rising to around £35,000. There's a choice of '1', '2', '4', 'GT-Line' and 'GT-Line S' trim levels. An AWD 4x4 system is either optional or standard on most models, as is Kia's 7-speed 7DCT auto transmission. All models come well equipped. Even the grade '1' variants come with 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, a DAB radio, Bluetooth with voice recognition, automatic light control, a reversing camera system and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. In addition, there's Trailer Stability Assist (TSA), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), Downhill Brake Control (DBC) and cruise control. All models from grade '2' spec have a Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS) to alert a tired driver who may be about to stray into the path of a vehicle approaching from behind. Plus High Beam Assist (HBA) to switch between full and dipped beam automatically when there are other vehicles in their vicinity on unlit roads. And a Speed Limit Information Function (SLIF) within the instrument cluster.
Cost of Ownership
The Sportage engine line-up now conforms to Euro 6d TEMP emissions standard. In keeping with that, Kia's Gamma direct injection 1.6-litre petrol engine (offered in normally aspirated or turbo forms) now has an updated particulate filter. And the old 1.7-litre CRDi diesel has been replaced by a new 'U3' 1.6-litre diesel that delivers 57.6mpg on the combined cycle and 130g/km. Which is a useful step up from the figures you get with the base 1.6-litre GDi petrol normally aspirated unit (39.8mpg and 162g/km). The big news with this facelifted Sportage though, is the introduction of an electrified 'mild hybrid' powertrain for the 2.0-litre CRDi diesel model. Here, the engine is assisted by a compact starter-generator unit belt-connected to the crankshaft. Power for the 48V Ecodynamics+ system comes from a small lithium ion battery mounted beneath the boot floor and the 13bhp electrical boost it facilitates takes the Sportage's total output to 195bhp. When you lift off the throttle to coast, or use the brakes, the starter becomes a generator, recharging the battery with energy that you'd otherwise lose in the form of heat. Kia claims that this technology improves efficiency by up to 4%. All Sportage models, like all Kias, get the brand's impressive 7-year warranty.
Have the updates made to this improved fourth generation Kia Sportage been sufficient to keep buyers loyal? It's true that they could have been more far-reaching, but there's just enough here to keep existing customers happy, we think. That's important as Kia is fortunate enough to have quite a few of these people in the UK, thanks to the impressive sales success achieved by earlier generation versions of this car. This enhanced MK4 model offers these folk a little more technology and, as before, they'll like the generous equipment levels and long warranty. Ultimately, it's a car you sit in and wonder just how so many rivals can really be worth around £5,000 more. That says it all really.
Why use All Car Leasing?
Browse alternate Kia Sportage models
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Personal tools
Fresco is a windowing system derived from a powerful structured graphics toolkit originally based on InterViews. Fresco extends earlier incarnations to the status of a full windowing system, in command of the video hardware (via GGI, SDL, DirectFB or GLUT) and processing user input directly rather than peering with a host windowing system.
Additionally, Fresco's extensions include a rich drawing interface with multiple backends, an upgrade to modern CORBA standards, a new Unicode-capable text system, dynamic module loading, and many communication abstractions for connecting other processes to the server. It is developed entirely by volunteers on the internet, using free software, and released under the GNU Lesser General Public License.


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Hi all,
I've recently moved to kiteboarding from wakeboarding.
As my first board for kite i purchased a 2nd hand Fone "NEXT" from my local Fone dealer (an official Fone dealer in my country).
When I bought my board it was in "new" condition and came with a roller leash that connects to the heel-side left fin.
After 6 or 7 sessions of NON-INTENSIVE riding, on a beach with no rocks, or any other hazards in the water, I had a regular fall, not from a huge trick or extremely high riding speed.
The leash literally tore off a piece of the board - look at the picture:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/ ... 5ee056a933
my question is: Do I have a claim for manufacturing defect? after 17 years of wakeboarding i know that boards arent supposed to be that fragile and when there are manufacturing glitches you normally get another board.
Please let me know what I can do, it really sucks to have your board broken 2 weeks after purchase.


text:
Battle Zoo #1 (collectors edition) Cover
2 Comments
great stuff, love the comic cover
You need to make more predator shirts asap i need that's one and mars attacks too! I own the munny mouse shirt and planning on getting the alien one as well
great stuff, love the comic cover
You need to make more predator shirts asap i need that's one and mars attacks too! I own the munny mouse shirt and planning on getting the alien one as well
And that means GLORP gum is rolling out three brand new flavors and three brand new FREE t-shirts to go with them! Nothing says nice weather like chewing gum in a new shirt. But that's not all! GLORP also has new hats, patches, and die cut sticker sets that will be sure to put the spring in your step even if the weather doesn't!
So feel free to head on over to the shop and pick up an item or two. Every shirt and object I sell through the shop helps me out tremendously and I really appreciate it!
Holy balls, is it really August already? Hot pockets! Where the hell have I been? What the shit Happened to BATTLE ZOO?!
Fear not dear readers, for I have been impossibly hard at work on a major acquisition/big time corporate money buy type of thing.
In other words.. I BOUGHT A GUM COMPANY!
Well, not any gum company, the Glorp gum company!
Back in January I acquired the defunct Glorp Gum Brand. I always loved Glorp gum as a kid, and am looking forward to getting the company back up on its feet. I've got a lot of exciting things planned for GLORP. Including reissuing lots of great old Glorp gum products.
To start with, I've 4 Classic GLORP Gum shirts, Glorpoid trading cars, Vintage Glorp gum machine sticker sets, Old school Metallic button sets, and even a hat!
What is Glorp gum you ask? Aren't you Tired of your gum not coming with a free T-shirt? Well, the Glorp Gum family of products is here to help! Each and every piece of our hand crafted "aged to perfection" bubble gum comes with a high quality limited edition T-shirt. So when you think of gum, think of GLORP! America's CHEW value!
So step on over to Glorpgum.com right now and check out the stuff!
Here's a vintage Glorp Gum commercial I dug up on you tube:
Hey Gang!
Sorry for the long delay in updates. October and November were swallowed by a 3 big projects. Including some animated bumpers for a new TV show that will be airing sometime in the new year. I'll keep everyone updated on it. But you can see some pictures of my contributions over on my Twitter or my Instagram.
I also have plenty of new stuff over at my shop. Including newish Anatomy of the Gremlin and Mogwai shirts. All manners of holiday cards (a little late for that) but
you can check out the story behind this years cards and see some long lost video over at my personal site.
I'm going to do my best to figure out a regular schedule for Battle Zoo in the new year. The Final pages of the first issue are all ready to be colored and The 2nd issue is all written and laid out, so hopefully I can find a few days to get it all together (The 2nd issue is super shitting Bonkers BTW).
Since this blog has been getting getting a lot of "hits" I'll do my best to keep it updated, but If you want the most constant updates follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook as I'm going to start showing a lot more process shots of Battle Zoo.
Behold! The beautiful gut filled goodness of the Predator! This shirt is perfect for Job interviews, weddings, and first dates. Let the world know that you're the #1 dude with this stylish shirt!
This is a 2-color design soft ink over discharge underbase screen printed on a Canvas brand 4.20 oz. 100% ringspun preshrunk cotton shirt in "Deep Teal."
These shirts are really nice and soft, very similar to the American Apparel shirts that I usually use. The sizing is similar to AA shirts, but you might want to double check the size chart before you order. I would have used AA shirts this time, but this Particular color was just too perfect to pass up. These shirts are going to look awesome.
NO! THERE IS STILL MORE TO BE HAD! The first 25 orders will get a FREE black and white inked sketch! The sketches turned out pretty great last time, so don't miss out!
Did you want to get in on the discounted price and get in on the sketches? Well signup for my Email Party and get the scoop on the next shirt!
Shirts are $21 plus shipping. But wait! That's not all! You'll also get a BRAND NEW super secret sticker!
Click that button above to order or click this WORD
Are you familiar with Robert Cop? No, I'm not talking about the half-man, half-machine future of law enforcement jackass. I'm talking about ROBERT COP, the officially unofficial Chinese bootleg toy!
The first time I heard about Robert Cop was way back in the early '90's. There was a tiny picture posted in the toy column of Heroes Illustrated (a Wizard magazine knock-off, appropriately enough). It blew my mind! There was nothing funnier to 12 year old Brad than the name Robert Cop. I showed EVERYONE the tiny crappy photo that some reader had sent in. I couldn't believe it was real. It was 100% comedy gold to me, and I had absolutely no idea how to get one of my own. Alas, those pre-internet days are long gone, and now every hilariously terrible thing is just a PayPal button click away (sniff).
THAT IS, UNTIL NOW! Behold! Something you can't get on the internet:
Advertisement courtesy of Battle Zoo
A ROBERT COP 2 T-shirt? HELL YEAH! Twelve year old me is pumped as shit right now, and you should be too, because this shirt is fuckin' weird. Robert Cop 2 features robots from all of my favorite 90's sequels, and now stands before you, ready to befuddle onlookers at all of the cool places that you hang out.
Fans of the Xenomorph shirt have told me that it totally bewilders people, which is just about the best compliment in the world to me. Hopefully this shirt will prompt even more "WTF" from your peers:
Still not sold on the second greatest bootleg tee shirt of all time? (First greatest). Well, here is a TINY preview of the bonus fun that the first 25 pre-orders will receive along with their shirt:
Not much of a preview, huh? Well, I'm keeping these under wraps at the moment. Only my dog, Bailey, and I know what awesomeness is in store for you, and man, are these cool. I probably shouldn't be wasting my time making cool stuff for you, but screw it. You're totally worth it. I'll post next week with more details.
So, if you're a fan of Robert Cop, bootleg toys, or absurd tee-shirts, then click the button below to preorder this This swank ass shirt.
DEETS: This Cool 4 color design is printed on a "Sea Foam Green" American Apparel 100% ring-spun cotton uni-sex shirt. Printed using a soft ink over discharge underbase screen-printing method (no thick plastisol inks here, folks!) making this the softest and classiest shirt available anywhere on the Internet!
ONLY $22 plus shipping! All the rest of the details at SHOP!
PS There is no way this shirt will be as popular as the Xenomorph shirt, so if you want one, you really should pre-order it.
Hey, hey, hey! Look who's got a new online store! I've got more than a few new items over there, so go check them out. I haven't moved everything over just yet, so there will be a week or two of overlap with the new shop and the many wares that are scatted around BRADMCGINTY.COM.
Here are the new prints available:
Anatomy of the Martian! Get all the details on this beauty over at the new store!
Anatomy of the Mogwai! Details at that NEW STORE everyone keeps talking about!
Anatomy of the Gremlin! Find out more at this AMAZING new internet site that sells Brad Mcginty swag!
Man, I bet they would all look great in your place!
But, I've got more than prints hanging around the new shop. Check out these beauts:
WHAAAAAAAA?? Pretty swank, huh? Like I said, all this junk is available over at my brand new store. I don't have the comics up yet, but they'll be there shortly… Followed by a few new shirts, and some even newer prints!
I want to take a sec (while I'm drunk) to thank everyone who has bought something from me in the past year. Your support has made a big difference in my life, and has helped me complete more than a few projects I've wanted to do for some time. I'm not even sure it's possible to put into words what
it all means to me, so I'll just say thanks again, and I hope I can keep making stuff that you all enjoy as much as I do!
Did you hear that? No? Well, that was the sound of THE FUTURE OF COMICS BEING BORN!
Ladies and Gents, girls and boys, pay attention! Gaze upon this page, for you have just witnessed the birth of a new age of comics! Mark your calendars and get a commemorative tattoo, for this is a day you'll remember forever!
So be prepared to have this conversation with your future offspring:
Your shitty future kid: Daddy, were you there on the first Brad McGinty Day, when our savior changed the face of comics forever?
Your shitty future self: Yes, child, I was. It was the greatest day of my life.
Your shitty kid: What did it sound like?
Your shitty future self: GNHHHHHNNNNNNNN! GNHHHHHNNNNNNNN! GNHHHHHNNNNNNNN! GNHHHHHNNNNNNNN! GNHHHHHNNNNNNNN!
Your shitty kid: WOW.
Your shitty future self: Yeah.
How am I changing comics, you may ask. Well, naysayer, the same boring way that everyone changes things: THE INTERNET!
You are, I'm sure, sick of all of the digital comics talk, what with the digital download numbers and Twitterverse synergy. WELL, I introduce to you BATTLEZOO, a web-based comic just like every other!
You know how you used to spend hours paging through stacks of crappy comics as a grimy youth? BattleZoo is an attempt to replicate that experience using the interweb. So grab your pouch of Capri Sun and get ready, because I'm not making any apologies about the blatant goofiness of this comic. I'm going balls to the wall, here!
So, you can expect a new section to magically appear on the site every week for the foreseeable future. If you like it, leave a comment. Or better yet, indirectly fund my opus by buying some sweet merchandise from my other site.
Be sure to email me all of your fan art, and Send me a picture of that sweet commemorative tattoo you just got.


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A computed tomography (CT) scan of the orbit is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create detailed pictures of the eye sockets (orbits) and eyes.
See: CT scan
CT scan - orbital; Eye CT scan; Computed tomography scan - orbit
You will be asked to lie on a narrow table that slides into the center of the CT scanner. Only your head is placed inside the CT scanner.
You may be allowed to rest your head on a pillow, but this must be done before the scan begins.
Once you are inside the scanner, the machine's x-ray beam rotates around you. (Modern "spiral" scanners can perform the exam without stopping.)
A computer creates separate images of the body area, called slices. These images can be stored, viewed on a monitor, or printed on film. Three-dimensional models of the body area can be created by stacking the slices together.
You must be still during the exam, because movement causes blurred images. You may be told to hold your breath for short periods of time.
The scan should take only 10-15 minutes.
Certain exams require a special dye, called contrast, to be delivered into the body before the test starts. Contrast helps certain areas show up better on the x-rays.
If you weigh more than 300 pounds, find out if the CT machine has a weight limit. Too much weight can cause damage to the scanner's working parts.
You will be asked to remove jewelry and wear a hospital gown during the study.
Some people may have discomfort from lying on the hard table.
Contrast given through an IV may cause a slight burning sensation, a metallic taste in the mouth, and a warm flushing of the body. These sensations are normal and usually go away within a few seconds.
This test is helpful for diagnosing diseases that affect the following areas:
An orbit CT scan may also be used to detect:
CT scans and other x-rays are strictly monitored and controlled to make sure they use the least amount of radiation. The risk associated with any individual scan is small. The risk increases as numerous additional studies are performed.
In some cases, a CT scan may still be done if the benefits greatly out weigh the risks. For example, it can be more risky not to have the exam, especially if your health care provider thinks you might have cancer.
The most common type of contrast given into a vein contains iodine. If a person with an iodine allergy is given this type of contrast, nausea, sneezing, vomiting, itching, or hives may occur.
If you absolutely must be given such contrast, your doctor may choose to treat you with antihistamines (such as Benadryl) or steroids before the test.
The kidneys help filter the iodine out of the body. If you have kidney disease or diabetes, you should be closely monitored for kidney problems after this test. If you have diabetes or have kidney disease, talk to your health care provider before the test about your risks.
Before receiving the contrast, tell your health care provider if you take the diabetes medication metformin (Glucophage) because you may need to take extra precautions and stop the medication for 48 hours after the test.
Rarely, the dye may cause a life-threatening allergic response called anaphylaxis. If you have any trouble breathing during the test, you should notify the scanner operator immediately. Scanners come with an intercom and speakers, so the operator can hear you at all times.
Hackney D. Radiologic imaging procedures. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 419.
Massoud TF, Cross JJ. The orbit. In: Adam A, Dixon A, eds. Grainger and AllisonâÂÂs Diagnostic Radiology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 61.
Review Date: 1/31/2011
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright ©2003 A.D.A.M., Inc., as modified by University of California San Francisco. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Information developed by A.D.A.M., Inc. regarding tests and test results may not directly correspond with information provided by UCSF Medical Center. Please discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.


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Alchemilla Mod is an attempt to recreate original atmosphere of cult game Silent Hill on the Source Engine. It is not a rebuild of one of the games of series, it is its own history on its own reasons. Above all things is a project developed for fanatics of the original game.
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If you would like to view other media in this gallery click here.


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Fog messes with some Thanksgiving travelers
Dense fog around the Great Lakes threw a wrench into some Thanksgiving travel plans Wednesday morning.
"I'm here to see my father who still lives here. Since he's still here, I have to come back for Thanksgiving because that's just how it is," traveler Marcy Adams said.
Adams is one of the 3.1 million people traveling by air this Thanksgiving, according to AAA. Air travel is down a bit from last year because a lot of people are traveling by car.
Dense morning fog canceled 90 flights in Chicago, which had some affect on Mitchell International Airport.
The few delays and cancellations affected Candy Becker and her crew headed from Milwaukee to New York.
"We have theater tickets tonight at 7 p.m., and we're now delayed until 5 p.m., so. I'm not sure we're going to get out," Becker said.
For the first time, Becker is celebrating Thanksgiving away from home. She's hoping to catch the Macy's parade in person.
"We thought it would be really fun to try, and we'll see if we make it there," Becker said.
Tanya Mirek surprised her kids with a trip to Disney World. She, too, is celebrating the holiday away from home for the first time.
"I'm thankful for these guys being healthy and happy and not fighting. That would be a good one," Mirek said.
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is traditionally the busiest airport in the nation for Thanksgiving travel. Visibility Wednesday morning was near zero there for several hours.


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Web-Based Treasury Management Solution
To meet the sophisticated financial needs of today's business client, we have developed i-BusinessBanking™, an integrated Web-based treasury management application. i-BusinessBanking™ provides your business 24 hour access to an extensive array of account information and treasury management services. This will allow you to manage your finances more effectively and further enhance your control of company funds, helping you maximize profitability.
Robust Features and Functions
i-BusinessBanking™ provides users with a full array of electronic treasury management services including the following features and functions:
Account Management Features
i-BusinessBanking™ offers a number of features and reports which will help you manage your deposits, loans and financial information:
- Real-time account reporting and management
- Quick Balance Report with 8 Summary Balance Fields
- Summary Report with Prior or Current Day Balance Information
- Place a Stop Payment on an issued check
- Account Transaction Detail
- Can be requested based on transaction type
- Sort by Date, Transaction Description or Dollar Amount (Ascending or Descending)
- Download transactions in CSV or BAI2 File Format
- Loan Summary and Transaction History reporting
- Create Quick Links for your most used report requests
Funds Transfer, Payments & ACH
i-BusinessBanking™ offers a number of sophisticated transaction initiation services to help manage your business's cash flow:
- Transfer funds or make Loan Payments between accounts within the bank
- Pay Company bills utilizing Bill Payment
- Collect funds with ACH Collection
- Make payments with ACH Payment
- Pay Federal Tax Payments via ACH
File Upload
If you have ability to create your own ACH files or are utilizing our Check Recon or Positive Pay services, i-BusinessBanking™ offers a SECURE file upload service. This service will assist you in the delivery of the following files to the bank:
- NACHA formatted ACH File
- Checks Issued File
User Administration Features
In order to better serve your business's specific needs, i-BusinessBanking™ offers the following user administration features:
- Administrative User ID and Password which allows the Company to:
- Add, Change, or Delete a User
- Set access privileges and functions by users
- Manage user passwords
Customer Support
i-BusinessBanking™ offers complete customer support services:
- General Help is available under each main menu item
- A dedicated customer support team is available to answer any questions you may have. Telephone access to the customer support team is Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 7:00pm CT by calling toll-free to 1-866-873-9572.
- Or you may Contact Us via secure e-mail from i-BusinessBanking.
Safety and Security
i-BusinessBanking™ uses the most advanced software and systems available that are protected by state of the art encryption, firewalls and confidential passwords. This means that only you or your designated staff will have access to your Company information and prohibits any outside parties from ever acquiring any data.
How Do I Sign Up?
For more information including pricing or to schedule a product demonstration, please contact one of our Commercial Banking Representatives.


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Item: 25044240
The 26 oz Titan water bottle is made with BPA free durable Tritan™ plastic and comes in four translucent colors. The push-button chugger cap makes staying hydrated on-the-go easy and the integrated carry handle lays flush on top of the lid when not in use. A non-skid bumper prevents the bottle from moving around on flat surfaces.
26 ounces
0.77 liters
0.35 lbs
0.16 kgs
Exterior Dimensions ( L x W x H ):
2.88" x 3.15" x 9.85"
7.3 cm x 8 cm x 25 cm
Sold Out
Stay hydrated to increase your performance at the gym and at your desk. The 24 oz System Water Bottle features a streamlined design that looks great in any environment and helps you reach your hydration goals wherever the day takes you. This BPA free Tritan™ water bottle includes a silicone band on the lid, making it easy to grip and quick to open and close. The flip-up sipper cap with finger pull keeps the spout germ-free and the included EZ-Freeze® freezer stick keeps drinks colder, longer.
Sold Out
Sleek and stylish, the straight silhouette of the Block 22 oz water bottle is great for backpack pockets and cup-holders alike. The BPA free co-molded diamond design is unique and comes in four translucent colors to fit your style. The chugger cap twists off for easy filling and adding ice, and the lid features a sturdy carry loop and built-in carabiner so you can take your reusable bottle wherever your adventures take you.
took on a cruise and was fantastic.


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Recently, the entire Bloomfield family was able to get affordable, comprehensive health insurance — thanks to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's willingness to defy state lawmakers and expand state-subsidized coverage for the poor and middle class.
It will take Mary and Thomas Bloomfield several years to pay off the $3,000 bill they received when emergency room doctors at Carlinville Area Hospital diagnosed their 12-year-old son with a urinary-tract infection.
Bradford Bloomfield was uninsured at the time, as were his 8-year-old brother, Ryan, and the boys' parents. So the Bloomfields are chipping away at the hospital bill at a rate of $100 a month.
The next emergency room visit should be easier to handle. Recently, the entire Bloomfield family was able to get affordable, comprehensive health insurance — thanks to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's willingness to defy state lawmakers and expand state-subsidized coverage for the poor and middle class.
Debate continues about whether the Democratic governor's action was legal and whether the move will be a wise investment by state government.
"It's appropriate for us to partner with families of low and moderate income," said Jerome Stermer, president of Chicago-based Voices for Illinois Children, which supports the governor's decision.
But state Sen. Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, said the governor's plans amount to "a very broad expansion that has the potential to draw people off the rolls of private insurance. I think that government should take a back seat to the private sector."
Mary "Cissy" Bloomfield and her husband originally picked up a brochure for the state's All Kids program while in the Carlinville hospital's ER. They then applied for and received health coverage for the boys through that program, at a total premium of $80 a month.
The couple didn't expect a letter from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services saying that they, too, were eligible for subsidized coverage — through the state's FamilyCare program for uninsured parents — for an additional $160 a month.
The couple accepted the offer, Mary said, because they didn't want to risk another big bill for some future medical problem.
"That's always in the back of anybody's mind," she said. "Bradford's illness brought it into reality."
With a combined annual income of about $50,000, the Bloomfields, who live in Hettick, 40 miles southwest of Springfield in Macoupin County, previously earned too much money to qualify for FamilyCare.
Mary, 35, a registered nurse, earns $35,000 a year at a Carlinville nursing home. Thomas, 36, who runs a lawn-care business, makes about $15,000.
The previous cutoff for FamilyCare was 185 percent of the federal poverty level, or $38,203 for a family of four. That changed this fall, when the governor used what he sees as his executive authority to expand the income guidelines for FamilyCare.
The upper limit to qualify for FamilyCare now stands at 400 percent of the poverty level, or $82,600 for a family of four. That level makes Illinois the most generous state in the nation when it comes to serving uninsured parents, according to Jennifer Tolbert of the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Several hundred parents have signed up. Blagojevich's move, currently facing a legal challenge in Cook County, is expected to cost the state $43 million this fiscal year.
The FamilyCare expansion is part of $463 million in health-care initiatives the governor plans to put in place without approval from the Illinois General Assembly.
Mary Bloomfield said she is glad Blagojevich is willing to take some flak for the benefit of her and other uninsured parents.
"I'd stand behind him 100 percent," she said.
FamilyCare began in 2002 under Republican Gov. George Ryan.
The program now covers 547,000 parents and cost $1.28 billion last fiscal year, with $685 million of the total coming from the federal government, according to Healthcare and Family Services.
Blagojevich, who has made expansion of health-care coverage a top priority of his second term, included the FamilyCare expansion in his massive health coverage proposal earlier this year.
But lawmakers never took a vote on that proposal, which was called Illinois Covered, because of disagreement over the way it was to be funded: a gross-receipts tax on businesses and an additional payroll tax on employers that offer little or no health coverage to workers.
The governor's aides said he plans to ask the General Assembly again to pass the payroll tax this spring.
But Blagojevich didn't want to wait for lawmakers, according to deputy governor Sheila Nix.
"They don't seem anxious to act," she said. "We could be waiting a very long time."
Nix said FamilyCare is "designed to help working families buy affordable insurance. Many of these parents are in families where they work, but their employers don't provide insurance, and the private market is either unavailable to them or unaffordable to them, or a combination of both."
Before the Bloomfields' coverage started Dec. 1, the family had been uninsured for more than two years. They used to have insurance through Thomas' former job as a cross-country truck driver and then as a stocker at Carlinville's Wal-Mart. Mary said the monthly family premiums were less than $300.
But Thomas has bipolar disorder, and his wife said emotional outbursts related to his condition got him fired in October 2005. After he lost the Wal-Mart job, the family couldn't afford the $950 a month that coverage through Mary Bloomfield's employer would have cost. And that insurance wouldn't have paid for anything related to her sons' attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder for the first 18 months anyway.
A private policy would have cost at least $400 to $500 a month — still unaffordable, she said.
But for a total of $240 monthly for All Kids and FamilyCare, the Bloomfield family has no co-pay for doctor visits for the children and only a few dollars when the parents need care.
The Bloomfields used to pay $120 per child each month for the boys' ADHD medicine. With All Kids, each prescription costs $7. The parents' co-pays are nothing for generics and $3 for brand-name drugs.
Mary and Thomas Bloomfield said there is no shame in getting coverage from the tax-supported programs.
"Insurance is just untouchable anymore," Thomas said.
Mary added: "We still have to pay for things. I've worked for 20 years, paying taxes, so right now I don't feel bad. I feel they can help me in my time of need."
Dean Olsen can be reached at 788-1543 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
By DEAN OLSEN
SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration, state lawmakers and other observers disagree whether he should have expanded the FamilyCare program to cover parents earning up to four times the federal poverty level.
"It's difficult to justify taxpayers basically subsidizing families that are making $80,000 a year, particularly when some of the very families doing the subsidization are making $40,000 a year," says state Sen. Christine Radogno, R-Lemont.
Blagojevich aide Abby Ottenhoff disagrees.
For one thing, the program isn't free for middle-income families, she said.
"The families who participate pay premiums, and the higher your income, the higher your premium, so the state subsidy for people who have higher incomes is very, very minimal," Ottenhoff said.
Families who are near the $80,000 income level in the FamilyCare program "either are unable to get coverage on the private market right now because of a pre-existing condition, so they're just uninsurable," Ottenhoff said. "Or they don't have access to employer-sponsored coverage and would have to get it on the private market, which could mean having to spend up to a quarter of their family income on health premiums."
She said the average premium for family health insurance is $15,000 a year.
"After health care, you can't really afford to pay a mortgage or normal expenses for kids," she said.
But Radogno, a former hospital social worker, said she favors a more focused approach to the problems faced by the uninsured.
"How does one individual define that they can or cannot afford something?" she asked. "That's sort of a variable standard, and that's probably a discussion as policy-makers we need to have. Government is probably not the best entity to mediate everyone's circumstances."
She favors allowing health insurers to offer stripped-down policies, free of expensive state requirements to cover certain health conditions.
State Reps. Rich Brauer, R-Petersburg, and Gary Hannig, D-Litchfield, also said health-care expansion is too important to do without General Assembly support.
"This needs to go through the process and have a fair debate," Brauer said.
Hannig and Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria, said the governor's health-care expansion could add to the state's debts and become part of a financial crisis that could end up denying citizens a variety of state services.
"Clearly there's a potential for some good" with Blagojevich's FamilyCare expansion, Leitch said. "But to expand this without being able to pay for it now … is just the height of irresponsibility."
Jerome Stermer, president of Chicago-based Voices for Illinois Children, said his group is glad the expansion is happening, but concerned that resentment generated by the governor's methods could jeopardize future funding of FamilyCare.
Dean Olsen can be reached at (217) 788-1543 or email@example.com.
WHAT: All uninsured parents or guardians of children enrolled in state health-care programs are eligible for FamilyCare if their income is less than four times the federal poverty level, or $82,600 for a family of four.
EXPANSION STATS: Out of 147,000 custodial parents who potentially qualify under the FamilyCare expansion, 10 percent earn 185 percent to 200 percent of FPL, 54 percent earn 200-300 percent of FPL, and 36 percent earn 300-400 percent of FPL.
OTHER DETAILS: Undocumented immigrants are allowed in the state's All Kids program but not in FamilyCare. Applicants can't be denied or face increased rates because of pre-existing conditions. Parents must have been uninsured for at least one year, with some exceptions, such as being laid off from a job or other hardships.
SUBSIDIZED HEALTH CARE: 2.2 million men, women and children in Illinois receive some form of subsidized health coverage from the state through programs that include Medicaid, All Kids and FamilyCare. That coverage cost $8.2 billion in fiscal 2007.
TOTAL UNINSURED ILLINOISANS: 1.7 million people, representing 13.6 percent of the population, or at least one out of every eight people.
Sources: Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and U.S. Census Bureau


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Skip to Content
DCI Art and Performance 2013's course visited the Olympic Sculpture Park in downtown Seattle where they had a tour of the sculpture park and then the students created and presented site-based performances.
This is a group photo in front of the iconic Alexander Calder Eagle sculpture at the park.
In the second photo two of the students, Johannes Gees and Will Useman, participated in Mayor McGinn's 'My Favorite Things Tour' at the Seattle Art Museum as part of the class.


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This fall, three music faculty members traveled to Shanghai to perform and give master classes at the Third Annual Baroque Chamber Music Festival, which is hosted by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The trip was just the latest effort in an ongoing relationship with the Chinese cultural institution.
"There is perhaps nothing more inspiring as an artist and a teacher than to interact with student musicians in other cultures," said Nancy Stagnitta, instructor of flute at Interlochen Arts Academy. "It helps you realize that while there may be differences, we share so many of the same ideals in our music-making."
While in Shanghai, the Interlochen faculty performed and lectured on baroque performance, with assistance from translators. The audiences included students and instructors from across China, Taiwan, Finland and Germany.
For Steve Larson, accompanist at Interlochen Arts Academy, the trip prompted some reflection on the different cultural approaches to music education. He noted that Chinese students typically start serious study at a younger age, with greater involvement from the parents. "The road to musical success is very different in our respective countries, but our ultimate purpose is the same: to perform great music at the highest level possible."
With plans already underway for future partnerships, the Interlochen-Shanghai relationship will continue to deepen, bringing new perspectives to each institution, their faculties and students. "The reach of Interlochen is increasingly global," said Jeffrey Kimpton, president of Interlochen Center for the Arts. "Activities like this demonstrate that our world-class teachers at Interlochen are increasingly sought-after. It is such a positive step for Interlochen to achieve this kind of visibility and presence, even on the other side of the globe. And our students and faculty on campus will also continue to benefit as we welcome more international guests to Interlochen."


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On August 31, 2017, we hosted our regular Thursday evening fun run at Sports Basement in San Ramon, CA. Whether you are beginner or veteran runners, come run with us and support our running community! Thank you Sports Basement. We posted our event sign up on Eventbrite.com. Click here to sign up [ Fun Run at Sports Basement ]
It is never too late to join our group run. It is FREE and come join us! FB: [ #trivalleyrunningclub ] [ ThursdayFunRunPosts ]
Day: Every Thursday (Rain or Shine!)
Meetup Time: 6:15 PM PT
Start Run: 6:30 PM PT
Host: Michael, Jay, Herman, or Laura from Trivalley Running Club Members
Meetup Location: 1041 Market Place San Ramon, CA 94583
Perks: Post run hydration beverages and make some new friends!
Course maps:
* Spring/Fall/Winter:
>> 3 miles: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/1270417885
>> 6 miles: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/1270448530
* Summer:
>> 5.8 miles: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/1637159175
What to bring with you:
* Carry your own water if you needed
* Headlamp or flashlight since we are getting in to Fall/Winter seasons
* Wear reflective apparel
* http://trivalleyrunnng.org
* http://sportsbasement.com
* Search US! "Trivalley Running Club"
This week post: Thank you Herman Chan to host this event and everyone joined!