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NEW ORLEANS—Feb. 10, 2014—The Association of College Honor Societies, the nation's only certifying agency for college and university honor societies, voted to implement The Plan for Aiming Higher which will help its 66 members, and thousands of chapters around the world, focus on improving their effectiveness. The plan includes the creation and sharing of measures that will help to better assess and improve the work of advisors and chapters.
ACHS members unanimously agreed to the action at its Annual Council Meeting late Friday. They also reviewed the results of a questionnaire of students, advisors, honor society executives and university administrators that focused on officer and program effectiveness, and communications practices.
"The demand for a better-qualified work force that meets the needs of the 21st century means everyone involved in post-secondary education must examine what they are doing and how to improve. Support for excellent learning opportunities extends well beyond the classroom. The ACHS plan to assess both organization and member effectiveness shows that we are eager to be part of this transformation, while always adhering to our existing high standards. ACHS and its member honor societies can then better communicate their value to students, parents, faculty and administrators," says Martha Zlokovich, president, ACHS and executive director, Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology.
The questionnaire found many strengths as well as room for growth. Some of the highlights include:
- Advisors reported that their honor societies focused on four key areas in their programming: leadership (63 percent), service learning (62 percent), scholarship (61 percent) and then research (51 percent). Student members, however, reported a stronger program emphasis on scholarship (87 percent).
- Only 27 percent of advisors reported that they collaborate with other honor societies on their campus.
- Eighty-seven percent of honor society executive directors said they have chapter program initiatives.
At the meeting members attended also heard from Jane Halonen, professor of psychology, University of West Florida, about the need for honor societies to track effectiveness. Jillian Kinzie, Ph.D., associate director, National Survey of Student Engagement, Indiana University Bloomington, spoke about the quality of the undergraduate experience. Other sessions addressed "Chartering and Maintaining Chapters at Online Universities," "Developing Board Members," and "Best Practices for Recruiting, Educating and Retaining Advisors."
It was also announced that Golden Key International Honour Society, after a series of on-going discussions and correspondence, decided to resign from ACHS, effective Dec. 31, 2013.
ACHS members are non-profits that encourage and honor superior scholarship and leadership achievement in areas ranging from business to physics, mathematics to music.
It sets standards for organizational excellence and scholastic eligibility for the various categories of membership: general, specialized, leadership, freshman and two-year honor societies. To ensure member participation in governance, honor societies must be structured on a membership basis so that the interests of individual members are advanced.
Members and society-at-large are protected by the standards of excellence of the Association of College Honor Societies. Not all organizations calling themselves "honor societies" subscribe to the high honors standards of ACHS.
The minimum ACHS scholarship criterion for undergraduate (specialized and leadership) is a rank in the upper 35 percent of the class (a 3.2 or 3.3 GPA in most cases). Undergraduate (general) allow in students that rank in the upper 20 percent of the class. These criteria are minimum ones; many societies have higher standards.
This link provides further details about "How to Judge the Credibility of an Honor Society": http://www.achsnatl.org/standards_alert.asp.
The Association of College Honor Societies (www.achsnatl.org) is a visibly cohesive community of national and international honor societies. A coordinating agency for these societies in chartering chapters in accredited colleges and universities, the Association sets high priority in maintaining high standards, in defining the honor society movement, and in developing criteria for judging the credibility and legitimacy of honor societies.
Adam Shapiro
[email protected]


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Curtain Call hosts evening of miracles and music
Although Nathan Brenn keeps his options open when it comes to his professional aspirations, the character he plays in an upcoming stage production is fairly intent on the role he desires.
"I think he is an interesting character," Nathan, 12, said of Billy, an 11-year-old who has set out on an ambitious plan. "He's impulsive and makes rash decisions without considering what would happen. I mean, he falls in love with a woman 10 years older than him."
Nathan, who lives in Norwalk, will play Billy in a concert reading on Monday, Feb. 18, of "The Kid Who Would Be Pope," which this year received the American Harmony Prize from the Stamford-based nonprofit theater company Curtain Call. The competition showcases musicals that explore America's diverse communities. This year, it is the experience of Irish-Americans.
"The Kid Who Would Be Pope," by brothers Tom and Jack Megan, centers on Billy, a new kid at Our Lady of Perpetual Motion who has developed a major crush on his drama teacher, 21-year-old Sister Katherine. Billy's fascination with this young, talented nun, prompts him to hatch a plan that ensures that one day they may marry. If he can become Pope, he can simply change the rules.
"A big part of the show is about friendship," said Nathan, whose older brother Kyle played Billy during the show's run at the 2011 New York Musical Theatre Festival. "It's about how much your friends are with you for the long haul ... no matter what you go through."
Nathan is well versed with the demands of the stage. He got his start with Crystal Theatre, a Norwalk-based children's theater group, and Summer Theatre of New Canaan. He has performed on Broadway as Kiddo in "West Side Story" and has toured with the Dr. Seuss-inspired production "Green Eggs and Hamadeus."
Carving out a life as a performer is fun, Nathan said, particularly if it allows him to do what he loves best, which is singing. Currently, he balances his theater work with school and such activities as sports.
"I'll see where it goes," he said.
During Monday's reading, Nathan will be surrounded by other professionals who understand the challenges of completing their homework, even as they find time to memorize lines. "The Kid Who Would Be Pope" boasts a cast of young, talented theater professionals.
"They are just unbelievable," said William Squier, a Curtain Call board member who coordinates the competition. "It's going to be absolutely terrific."
Among the cast members are Rachel Resheff, who has performed in about a dozen on and off-Broadway productions; Darien's Grace Cashman, who has had leading roles with Curtain Call; and 13-year-old twin brothers Ben and Noah Radcliffe, who played the McJohnson twins during the show's New York run. These pranksters keep Billy honest in his quest.
The Radcliffes, who live in Meriden, began singing and playing music before they started acting. Both said they enjoyed working with their peers and are hopeful that the reading may lead to future productions.
"I get a lot of satisfaction analyzing characters," Ben said. "I appreciate the stories that other people have created ... and I like that I have that opportunity to express what they have created with the abilities that I possess."
Noah likes delving into the score. Musical theater, he said, is where he and his brother can "act, sing and explore the music at the same time."
Tom Megan said the young cast (there are eight children and four adults) do a great job of telling the story. He said he and his brother wanted to focus on that "tween" age -- the time of first loves, youthful ambitions and that moment when you first "idolize some adult in your life who realizes your full talents."
Sister Katherine is that person for Billy. When he first sees her, she is a young, pretty woman out for a jog. He soon discovers she actually is a nun and his drama teacher, as well as kind and compassionate. "He is just smitten," Megan said.
Megan said he hopes the reading will bring more visibility to the project. Those associated with the show said it is a tale that has great family appeal. Just last week, for instance, Megan learned that it had received the 2013 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater.
"I just fell in love with this piece," Squier said. "It accomplishes something that is very hard to do, but they make it look easy. This is a straightforward musical comedy that is funny and touching and good for family audiences."
firstname.lastname@example.com; 203-964-2241; http://twitter.com/xtinahennessy
Kweskin Theatre, 1349 Newfield Ave., Stamford. Monday, Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m. $15. 203-461-6358, ext. 13, http://www.curtaincallinc.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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The fine details of these restrictions evolve over time, and we're always exploring how we can better offer tools for people to access and share information. For example, last year we were able to make some of our products available for download in Iran. And today we're pleased to make Google Earth, Picasa and Chrome available for download in Syria.
As a U.S. company, we remain committed to full compliance with U.S. export controls and sanctions. We remain equally committed to continue exploring how we can help more people around the globe use technology to communicate, find and create information.
Posted by Neil Martin, Export Compliance Programs Manager


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Please sign our petition urging Congress to REJECT any legislation deregulating the sale of firearm silencers and make them easily accessible to criminals who want to conceal their crimes.
As a North Carolinian, I urge you to please vote against the SHARE Act.
Silencers are already easy to buy if you're a responsible person with a clean criminal record. If silencers are deregulated, there will be nothing to stop criminals from adding silencers to their growing arsenal: a public safety threat that we have successfully countered for the past 80 years.
This bill puts the profits of gun manufacturers ahead of public safety. We know that during active and mass shooting situations, hearing and seeing gunshots can mean the difference between life and death. Protecting communities and law enforcement is more important than gun company profits. So, please vote against the SHARE Act.


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You know USB dongles have become mainstream when operators start selling different color skins to go with them. H3G in Sweden (also called Tre) is positioning their mobile broadband as the "most stylish broadband" in addition to being the fastest!
"Sign up for 3 mobile broadband for 18 months and receive any skin at no extra cost" according to their offer at 3's website. What will they think of next?


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Rob Kim/WireImage
Anna Chlumsky, who shot to fame as a child star in 1991 s My Girl, has a little girl of her own now.
Chlumsky and her entrepreneur husband Shaun So, both 32, welcomed daughter Penelope Joan So on Thursday, July 11 in New York City, she tells PEOPLE exclusively.
"She's a really good mix between my husband and me," the Veep actress tells PEOPLE. "When she's with him, you see him, and when she's with me, you see me. She's a perfect mix."
"We think she has my mouth, but it's hard to tell. Even the color of her eyes, they are different in different light. But she has a really full head of hair."
It's been quite a week for Chlumsky, who on Thursday also earned her first Emmy nomination for her work on Veep.
"I'm still in shock. When I got the call I wasn't sleeping because I was breastfeeding my daughter," she says. "It was neat because it was me and my husband and my daughter all in the room getting the news at the same time. When [my manager] told me, it was that nervous, happy, appreciative laughter. I just laughed a lot! It feels really great to have your work noticed."
Not surprisingly, Chlumsky is on cloud nine about all the new developments. "I'm really, really happy. I'm just smiley," she says. "I have this new bundle of love that's now in my life. She has made my life even better."
And motherhood? "I'm really surprised how real it is," she says. "What's really strange is how fast it happened. You prepare for so long, and all of a sudden the baby's here … It's seriously the best thing. Holding her is fantastic. It's one of the more enjoyable things. It doesn't get boring at all. I could hold her all day."
– Tim Nudd with reporting by Paul Chi


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Info Agency Main Banner Content
A Vision for the Soldiers and Sailors Monument
From the outset the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument was envisioned as a great historical and artistic masterpiece. Just how that vision was to be achieved was sometimes a matter of opinion. Some ideas were rejected with more vehemence than others.
An ambitious plan for artworks to enhance the Monument was part of architect Bruno Schmitz' plan. With an eye to the cost, the Monument Commission sent a letter in December 1889 to the Indiana Senate and Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C. asking for a federal appropriation of $60,000 to cover the cost of "emblems and statuary" to embellish the monument. The response evoked a familiar theme: the delegation, although in support of the project, said that because the monument was a state project, there could be no federal dollars appropriated.
George J. Langsdale, president of the Monument Commission, was editor and publisher of newspapers in Greencastle and Sullivan. The Monument Commission reports, attributed to Langsdale, were often filled with gems of artistic prose. Writing about the impressions of the unfinished monument on visitors to Indianapolis and perhaps reflecting ruefully on the federal refusal to contribute monetarily, he wrote: "This monument will become the recognized symbol of American patriotism and valor, and Indianapolis, the mecca of union soldiers… In this respect the good influence of the Monument will be beyond its price."
The Commission rejected a proposal for drinking fountains of artesian water as part of the monument, although it was deemed that the cost would not be great and the artesian water would be beneficial to all who drank.
Rejected with greater verbal embellishment: The committee received a model of the head of Medusa (a mythical Greek figure with snakes for hair), as well as some "nondescript birds", from an unnamed sculptor of Berlin under the supervision of Bruno Schmitz. Deeming the sculptures inappropriate, Commission President Langsdale penned a definitive statement:
"We are seeking an artist capable of producing creations of his own, with reference to our country, our times, conditions, customs, thoughts, religion, science and warfare… and with the ambition to do it. We want a modern master…not a copyist. The state Soldiers and Sailors Monument of Indiana should symbolize Indiana and achievements of her people, not Greece and her past.
"The Board has labored to have the Monument meet the highest mechanical and artistic requirements… and the name of Indiana co-extensive with the knowledge of art and synonymous with the best culture. No longer will the dialect of the ignorant be paraded as the leading characteristic of Indiana(!)"
When the commission finally engaged the capable artist they sought in the person of George T. Brewster, Indiana artist T.C. Steele, as a member of the commission's Board of Experts, wrote of Brewster's design for the "crowning figure":
"In the figure we find a simplicity and harmony of outline and a grace of movement, combined with vigor and strength superior to any of the others. …its expression in the simple grandeur and harmonious strength of the figure is a guarantee that the artist is in full sympathy with the object and purpose of the monument."


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This is still in the basic brainstorming phase. What I need to know is what functionality would make it most useful for you. At the moment I'm looking at the following basics:
- Command-line only with standard exit codes for integration in batch files.
- Parameters can be read for an individual book with command line switches or for multiple books from an external file.
- Basic parameters are 1) License text to use ("Licensed to "); 2) Customer name 3) Optional ID of a topic where the license reference is to go in addition to the rights property 4) Source file 5) Output folder
- Add the customer name or a reference code to the output file name.
- Create an output folder with the customer name in it.
- Simply use the single-output version with the command line switches rather than a list from a file. Then processing passes directly on to your batch process, which takes the output file and does whatever is necessary (for example mailing it to the customer etc).
That's an outline of the basic ideas. Suggestions and wishes?


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Getting and keeping clients. It's the lifeblood of an advisory business, regardless of what's happening in the markets, and often a factor in whether practices rise or fall. That's because winning clients is a source of fees, and often a way for advisors to find other assets and clients, which together help drive business growth. No wonder, of all the things advisors do, client meetings and acquisition takes most of their time—about a fifth, according to the latest Rydex AdvisorBenchmarking report. The survey has seen a trend in the shift in how advisors spend their time, suggesting that the industry may have settled into a "new normal" with a strong emphasis on relationship basics, including spending more time on client communication and client relationship management.
The focus on clients is not surprising, since advisors also report that their largest challenge is getting new clients. According to the most recent study, the biggest threats to RIA practices have remained consistent for the past couple of years, except that technology concerns have become less of a priority, replaced by issues relating to market impacts on assets and managing client expectations.
Among a list of potential threats to advisors' businesses, client acquisition was number one, trumping even the need to meet the demands of compliance and deal with the continuing impact of a bear market. Assets are still hard to come by. Clients remain cautious and require a lot of handholding. And in the wake of investigations into the causes of the financial collapse, the entire financial services industry has come under greater scrutiny—including RIA firms, which potentially face more stringent regulation and higher compliance demands. The result is that management demands on advisors to run their businesses increasingly conflicts with their role "in" the business working with clients and prospects.
For many advisors, there's no better way of acquiring clients than through referrals, which usually stem from strong relationships with existing clients and with "centers of influence," such as accountants, lawyers and trustees who are often asked by their clients for financial advice.
In fact, respondents in the latest AdvisorBenchmarking survey said referrals from existing clients are expected to be the key driver of growth over the next five years.
Three Key Points on Client Acquisitions
Acquiring clients could easily absorb every minute of an advisor's day. But keeping the following points in mind may make the time spent obtaining clients more productive.
Point No. 1: Ensuring Your Practice Is Compatible With the Prospect
A critical aspect of acquiring new clients is determining their compatibility with the advisor's business model. Some independent advisors, for example, often encounter prospects who feel it's important to be associated with a large national brand. Other prospects may not understand the value proposition of an independent wealth management advisor; for example, that it holds client interests at heart and has fewer conflicts of interests. Also, an independent advisor provides a greater opportunity set to clients than does the sometimes limited shelf space of a large broker/dealer.
The asset level of potential clients, while important, may not be the overriding factor in deciding to pursue them. A client persuaded to transfer assets over time based on product offering, the strength of the advice and service level may turn out to produce more loyalty among clients than one who turns over everything at once, but could bolt for no reason. Clients also may be more prized for their potential for referrals than the money they have.
Point No. 2: Enhance How You Obtain Referrals
Start by being sure your current clients are aware of the service you provide, and how your services may differ from the competition. When soliciting referrals, let your current clients know what kind of clients you're looking to bring on board. For example, if you have expertise on working with retirees or executives with stock options, ask them if they have any contacts or referrals that meet this criteria–which will focus their thinking on providing you with potential clients that might be a good fit.
Finally, develop a useful system for tracking your contact with prospects and gaining insight into the referral techniques and discussions that work. And while it may be obvious, make sure that you thank them for their help. A referral gift is also a nice touch.
Point No. 3: Spend the Necessary Time on Client Acquisition
One of advisors' biggest challenges is working in and on the business at the same time. Also, recognize that it's easy for a handful of clients to eat up a disproportionate amount of resources, so be prepared to delegate some client needs to other staff if possible.
Advisors skilled in acquiring clients say they don't hesitate to delegate certain practice duties to an outside provider if it enables them to focus on building the business. Form partnerships or bring in third-party relationships to handle aspects of the business demanding more time or expertise, including investment management, research or compliance and recordkeeping. Efficient time management is the best way to take advantage of growth opportunities.
Expect your effort to find and keep clients to be challenging. But it doesn't have to be a burden. Look for opportunities to explain your investment advisory approach and the satisfaction of your current clients. That can help distinguish your unique offering, while strengthening the core of a successful practice.
AdvisorBenchmarking is a research and analysis center focused on the registered investment advisor (RIA) marketplace. Study results quoted in this article are based on the 300-plus RIA firms that took the online survey in March-May 2011. The service is aimed at helping advisors grow and enhance their firms by comparing how their businesses fare against other advisors. Advisors also learn best practices of the most successful advisors in the business.
AdvisorBenchmarking is an affiliate of Guggenheim Investments. The analysis on AdvisorBenchmarking.com is based on the number of completed surveys and reflects only information from those surveys. This information is intended to be general in nature, and these overviews are no substitute for professional, legal or consulting advice. This information should not be construed as advice from Guggenheim Investments or any of its affiliates.


text: by: Erin Dower What foods should you include in your prenatal diet? Learn 12 pregnancy superfoods to reach for to satisfy cravings and nourish you and your growing baby. Power Foods for Pregnancy Berry Sorbet Enriched Whole-Grain Cereal Veal Shrimp Orange Juice Beans Pretzels Broccoli Bananas Yogurt Sweet Potatoes Soy Power Foods for Pregnancy You're pregnant and hungry and could eat almost anything in sight. But what should you eat? Find out which foods to reach for to satisfy your cravings and nourish you and your growing baby. Get ideas for folate- and nutrient-rich foods and tips on foods to avoid in your prenatal diet. Berry Sorbet Ice cream is okay every once in a while, but try to kick your constant cravings for it with this healthier dessert. Sorbet in a dark berry flavor, such as raspberry, blackberry, or blueberry, contains vitamin C, a touch of fiber, and a lot of antioxidants, which help boost your immune system. Just be sure to set limits on your sweets. Avoid eating more than two to four servings of fruit and multiple desserts a day to limit your sugar and prevent gestational diabetes. Try this low-fat Berry Sorbet Pie recipe. Enriched Whole-Grain Cereal Pregnancy is not the time to go on a diet, such as a low-carb eating plan. Your body needs six to 10 servings of grain products throughout pregnancy. Opt for cereals with the words "whole" or "whole grain" up high in the ingredient list to get the most fiber and nutrients from hearty wheat, barley, and oats in your breakfast. Most cereals are enriched with folate — which is crucial for fetal development - and other vitamins and minerals you need, so low-sugar cereal is a wise meal or snack for women on the go. Veal You need three or four servings of lean protein a day during pregnancy. Great sources include veal, chicken, turkey, pork, and eggs. Veal is low in fat and high in folate and iron, which helps guard against anemia. If veal isn't your favorite type of beef, look for cuts of meat that are 90% lean or leaner. Meat labeled with the word "prime" tends to be fattier, while words like "select" or "choice" often indicate leaner meat. Try this 20-minute recipe for Veal Scallopini. Shrimp Many women think they can't touch seafood with a 10-foot pole when they're pregnant. While it's important to watch out for some seafood, such as swordfish, mackerel, shark, tilefish, fresh tuna, and seabass, (print this list for a reminder of what's safe), shrimp is fine to eat because it doesn't have high mercury levels. Shrimp is a great form of lean protein that can help you get the three to four meat or protein servings you need daily. Just make sure to avoid undercooked and raw seafood. Orange Juice Water is the best thing to drink during pregnancy, so you should have at least six glasses a day. But a glass of orange juice with breakfast or a snack provides folic acid, potassium, vitamin C, and other vitamins. Because of juice's high sugar content, don't make it your all-day drink of choice. Beans Beans offer variety in meals and side dishes, from chili and soups to rice dishes and salads. They're full of protein, fiber, iron, folic acid, and complex carbohydrates (the good kind of carbs that provide longer-lasting energy). If you're tired of eating the same sources of lean protein, such as chicken, whip up a meal with black beans, white beans, kidney beans, or garbanzo beans (chickpeas) as the main ingredient. Rinsing canned beans in a strainer can help cut down the sodium content. Try this recipe for Two-Bean Chili. Pretzels Okay, so pretzels don't pack loads of nutrients. But they're a great low-fat, low-calorie snack and much better for you than greasy potato chips. Women struggling with morning sickness may find that snacking on a few pretzels, crackers, or other plain snack right when they wake up in the morning helps them feel less nauseated. For extra fiber, go for whole-wheat pretzels, and if you have high blood pressure, opt for lower-sodium pretzels without salt. Broccoli Broccoli may be a health-food cliché, but it rocks in terms of nutrition, containing everything from vitamins C, K, and A to potassium, iron, magnesium, and even calcium. Make sure you thoroughly wash your broccoli — and all your produce — well during pregnancy to avoid pesticides and toxoplasmosis that can contaminate soil. When boiling broccoli, just be sure to cook it for less than 10 minutes in order to maintain its rich nutrients. These 15 tips for disguising vegetables are great for both kids and adults who aren't big on eating their veggies. Bananas Here's another food that makes it onto many healthy-eating lists - and for good reason. Bananas are packed with nutrients, including potassium, folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. They may help lower the risk of colorectal and breast cancer. And they're conveniently packaged in a peel for on-the-go snacking. If you don't love the taste of bananas, spread on a tablespoon of peanut butter or add them with other fruits into a smoothie. Try this Banana Cherry Smoothie recipe. Yogurt Calcium is always important for women, who are prone to bone-mineral loss as they age, but it's especially vital during pregnancy. Your baby needs calcium for bone growth, too, so if your body doesn't have enough of this nutrient, your baby's calcium supply will come directly from your bones. Yogurt will help you get the four to six servings of dairy and 1,000 mg of calcium you need daily. A perk is that it may aid in digestion if you're constipated. Dairy foods to avoid during pregnancy include soft cheeses, like brie and feta, because they're usually not pasteurized. But cottage cheese and cream cheese are fine to eat. Sweet Potatoes If you're tired of regular potatoes or your usual starches, try sweet potatoes for a change of pace. Sweet potatoes taste great roasted with chicken or turkey, or sliced and baked as fries. They're a great source of vitamin A, along with some other orange foods, such as carrots, pumpkin, and cantaloupe. Just be sure to watch your vitamin A intake during pregnancy, because excessive amounts have been linked to fetal malformations. Sweet potatoes and other sources of vitamin A are best eaten every other day. Try this recipe for Southwestern Roasted Sweet Potatoes. Soy Soy beans are a natural source of protein and iron and they're very versatile in cooking. You can purchase whole soy beans whole – as bright green edamame – in most grocery stores' freezer sections these days or order cooked edamame from a Japanese restaurant. It's tasty steamed with a dash of salt, eaten with or without the pea pod-like shell. Soy beans are also used to make veggie burgers and tofu — great meat substitutes for vegetarians. Read these tips for pregnant vegetarians. Next: Power Foods for Pregnancy Next: Berry Sorbet Next: Enriched Whole-Grain Cereal Next: Veal Next: Shrimp Next: Orange Juice Next: Beans Next: Pretzels Next: Broccoli Next: Bananas Next: Yogurt Next: Sweet Potatoes Next: Soy


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Samurai Katana "Kuniyoshi", handmade with katana stand - made from carbon steel, hardened.
Ships with scabbard and katana stand.
Overall length about 102 cm, blade length about 72 cm
This item is available right from stock. Normally you receive the purchased item within 3 working days after ordering (DIRECTebanking) or after we received your payment (Money Order, PayPal).
delivery by todays payment and within Germany: 15.07.-17.07.
Copyright © 2020 www.dekoschwerter.dePowered by osCommerce


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Move over, Victoria's Secret
Lingerie retailer Bare Necessities spiced up sales by making it easier for women to find undergarments that fit online.
(FSB Magazine) -- When we last met Bare Necessities, the lingerie seller, based in Avenel, N.J., was profitable but battling a personality problem: It lacked one ("Taking On Victoria's Secret," June 2006). Enter FSB's Makeover artists - five experts from Frog Design, the product design and branding firm known for its work with Apple. The Frog team led company employees in creative exercises that sparked fixes, which CEO Noah Wrubel says boosted growth.
"Business is unbelievable," he says. The family-owned firm won't give figures, but an industry magazine pegged its 2006 web sales - now about 90% of revenue - at $26.2 million, bringing total sales for that year to around $29 million. In 2005, Bare Necessities had total sales of $21 million (the source of our Makeover estimate of $15 million miscalculated). This year sales should hit $35 million.
The Makeover revealed that many women find buying underwear tedious and ego-deflating. Guided by the Frog session, the company revamped its branding and website (barenecessities.com) to change that. Now the site gives advice on fashion, quality, and, most important, fit. To execute this work, the company set up a new web-focused creative department and hired Victoria's Secret veteran Jessica Jackson as vice president of E-commerce, a new post.
"The new branding didn't automatically improve our marketing," Wrubel says. He also invested in new keywords and is making better use of e-mail. The experience "reenergized" the company, he says. "Life is much more exciting."
To give feedback, please write to firstname.lastname@example.com here.
From the July 1, 2007 issue


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The first lady may be the last to score an invite to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding.
"No, no I'm not going to go," Michelle Obama said on "Live! With Regis and Kelly" on Wednesday. "I wasn't invited."
The Obamas reportedly have not met the couple. There is a precedent for a royal invite, according to ABC News. In 1981, then first lady Nancy Reagan attended the wedding of Williams' parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, ABC reported.
U.S. & World
Elton John, who sang at Princess Diana's funeral, has also said he does not think he'll be invited to her son's wedding.
During a visit to Buckingham Palace in April 2009, Michelle Obama famously breached royal protocol by putting her arm around Queen Elizabeth, though her majesty did not seem to mind.
With Prince William and Middleton's Save the Dates already sent out via fax, Michelle Obma said she'd still attend the April 29 nuptials, if wanted.
"Marriage is a personal private thing, they should invite who they want to invite," she told Regis and Kelly.


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McDonald's New Happy Meal Mascot Will Scare the Big Mac Out of You [PHOTO]
McDonald's is aiming to broaden its appeal with a new Happy Meal mascot that may wind up having the opposite effect.
The fast food giant introduced the mascot, named Happy, on Monday:
McDonald's says Happy "brings fun and excitement to kids' meals while also serving as an ambassador for balanced and wholesome eating."
Yeah, well, he also brings a kind of unanticipated terror, too. Look at that smile -- it looks like it's hiding a bottomless well that swallows little children who only want to enjoy Chicken McNuggets after playing soccer with their traveling team. And those eyes. We're pretty sure Happy is lulling children into hypnotizing them.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the Twittersphere was equally freaked out:
It's enough to make us long for the day of Burger King's creepy king:
Happy will begin his reign of terror in Mickey D's all across this great nation of ours on Friday. Consider yourself warned.


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Provides an instant shine to shoes without buffing. Nourishes and conditions leather. Renews colour and increases water resistance. This 2 in 1 kit includes a sponge applicator and is available in an attractive 12-pack counter display case.
For fashionable dress, oxfords and granny shoes. Our special braid ensures that laces will stay tied longer.


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That was almost 3 years ago and it's been awhile since we have had an automaker try the formula:
Parent(s) + Kids in diapers + Toys + Car + Casio Keyboard Synthesizer + Rap = Viral Video Gold
The parent rapping formula definitely works, Toyota's video has over 11 million views. Then there is a recent addition from the comedy team Bluefish TV that has over 1.6 million views.
Fiat decided to enter this genre and has netted near a million views already; though, it's unclear how much media is behind the success.
"Word to all the mothers out there. This one goes out to you..." reads the YouTube video's description.
It is what you expect a lot of hang wagging, complaints about spit up, rhymes about life before being a mom, a mention of snot, and an attractive upper-middle class mom doing the simplest rap tempo.
The ad, called "The Motherhood", promotes the British release of the Fiat 500L a car we cannot currently get in the States. If you are familiar with automotive naming, you can quickly figure this is a Fiat 500 "Large" basically Fiat's answer to the MINI Countryman. It made it's debut a few weeks ago at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
I'm sure the 500L rap video will continue to gain views. Sadly this formula works. Fortunately, the world is ending tomorrow and with it hopefully the end of rapping white parents complaining about their trials raising kids. It was a creative and fun idea once. The copycats have been painful. Here, here to the Mayan Apocalypse!


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|V • T • E CPN Holdings
CPN Media Group (83%)
Pogobon Media & Entertainment:
CPN Productions:
Q Media Group
Television channels:
Other channels:
2 Co-owned with Aberic Holdings.
Telecommunciations and television providers:
Quest Communications: Afrabcom • Axiom (Finland) • Kadsrecom • Sinclair Internet & Entertainment • Volar • Hangar Telecom and CPN Telecom • Alexonian Digital Broadcasting 2 • Vodacom 3
Production companies:
1 Docomo Northeast is a joint-venture with NTT Docomo. KTY owns 30% of the venture.
Television channels in Brazil:
Production companies:
Publishing companies:
Record labels:
Leisure & dining properties:
Other properties:
1 Name & branding licensed from Qurate Retail Group
TheCuben2006 Entertainment
Youtube channels
CubenRocks Interactive video games
TV channels
Auto (Quest Auto Group)
Quest Fashion Group:
TCA Productions:
TCA Television Corporation:
TCA television stations:
TCA Radio:
TCA Publishing:
TCA Toys and Merchandising Division:
Other Properties:
Confectionery, Foods & Refreshment:
Crankle & Feench ice cream brands:
RKO Consumer Foods:
Others: Quest Books Group (Laserium Comics (Laserium Parallel) • Quest Books)• RKO Publishing (RKO Books • RKO Comics • RKO Magazine • RKO Features Syndicate • Spoof! Magazine)
Ene: Ene News
Alexonian Digital Broadcasting4: Galaxy/GKlub • Galaxy Xtra • The Movie Channel (Plus) • Cricket Central • The Action Channel • RDTV Classic • The Comedy Channel • Locomotion (Alexonia)
Chronostorm: Toonsat • Vyond Network • Chronoteve (Croeya) • Chronostorm Games • Chronostorm Studios
Channels run by Quest International Television under license:
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Other labels:
Assets bought from RKO: RKO Pictures International • WKDA America • RKO Railways • National Shore Studios (majority stake) • Pink Park (50%) • RKO World • Japanese Harvest Films • RKO Pay-Per-View • Spicy Pictures • Spicy Animation • Spicy Home Entertainment
AF Quest (The AF Store) • NewSystem Inc (NewSystem • NewPlayer • Xfire • Alpha Zone • Air) • Camatary • BOKO
Online digital content (Zoop Digital Entertainment):
Quest Cloud Services7:
Quest International Ventures:
Financial Services (Quest Bank)
Healthcare and pharmaceuticals (Quest Health)
CPN Television: CPN Online (CPN+ • TheCoolTimes • CPN News Online • CPN Sports Online) • CPN News Radio (under CPN News)
Other holdings:
Former assets:
Former brands since November 2019:
Spun off assets:
International versions of former channels:
Defunct/Former RKO assets:
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Former Pira TV Group channels:
Former brands until November 2019:
Affiliated companies:


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Catch pike on spoons, then get the knife
By Babe Winkelman
Send a link to a friend
15, 2014]
"Fish on!" he shouted,
moments after 45 inches of ornery northern pike boiled and inhaled
his red-and-white spoon. The gator made a laser-fast run toward the
rushes for cover and probable freedom if he could get in there and
wrap the line.
the jack wasn't buying that nonsense, and instead of surrendering,
he nosed down and took drag — and nearly my pal's fishing rod — down
to the depths beneath the boat. Then he came up, fast, and broke the
surface in an angry jump — landing with a whomp-splash.
A series of boat-side runs kept the fight plenty interesting,
until the last one sent the pike shooting into the open end of a
ready net. The battle was over. Both fish and fisherman were spent
from the episode. One was smiling.
That fisherman was a good friend of mine who has shared many the
hour with me in a boat, fishing various haunts in North America. On
that particular trip, we were on a fairly small lake in
north-central Ontario, Canada. It was late autumn and the pike were
hungry for big meals. They get that way before winter — eagerly
gorging on large forage to prepare for winter and the upcoming spawn
in the springtime.
We had tried several different lures on that trip, but the ones
that outperformed the rest were good ol' spoons — big 5- to
6-inchers to match the profile and flash of jumbo forage. We started
out by trolling them to cover a lot of water fast and to find the
depth and bottom type the fish were relating to.
It didn't take long to realize that the pike were positioning
themselves on windswept points and in the saddles between islands.
There is no shortage of islands in Ontario, believe me! So we were
like kids in a candy store going from point to saddle to point to
saddle. Nearly every location held at least one fish. And some of
them were whoppers!
[to top of second column]
After identifying these likely spots, we opted to cast our spoons
(versus trolling) and really pinpoint key features on the spots —
like big boulders, visible weeds, deadfalls and other structure.
When swimming those spoons past structure that looked "fishy," we
paused the spoon and then pulsed it to mix up the retrieve a bit.
Pike seem to get a kick out of walloping something that's either
wounded or fleeing for its life. They're pretty ruthless that way.
So when you pause-pulse a spoon in front of an otherwise negative
northern pike, it often triggers that predator into action.
Another retrieve that worked that day was one that nearly
simulates a surface bait. Immediately after the spoon hits the
water, raise your rod tip up to 10 o'clock to keep the nose of the
spoon up, then crank pretty fast. The spoon will rise, and with the
right speed, swim just below the surface. Every once in awhile, give
the rod tip a twitch and let the spoon break water. It can be really
effective, and when you do get a bite, it's a visual thrill.
We spent that day catching and releasing countless
fierce-fighting gators. Oh, man, was it fun! My pal's 45-incher was
the biggest. Two others over 40 inches were landed, along with
plenty in the mid- to upper 30s. Two 3-pounders found their way into
the cooler.
Back at the Ontario resort, we filleted and deboned the two pike,
grilled them and ate them alongside some wild rice, fried potatoes
and sweet corn. There are meals you remember, my friends, and that
was one of them. You might say, it was a dinner we were spoon-fed.
Good fishing.
[By BABE WINKELMAN]
Babe Winkelman hosts "Good Fishing" and
"Outdoor Secrets," the most-watched fishing and hunting programs on
television. Tune in on NBC Sports Network, Destination America,
Velocity, Time Warner Sports Texas & New York, and many local
broadcast channels. Visit
Winkelman.com for airtimes and more information. Follow
Babe Winkelman on
Facebook and Twitter.
Recent features
Back to top


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With the new year, legislators already have introduced more than 2,300 bills on a variety of topics.
That's what legislators are supposed to do, of course. But among those would-be laws are bills that set up taxes with the generated funds assigned for specific uses. This designated spending approach is part of the reason California is in its current fiscal straight jacket.
On the surface, designated spending has appeal. Everyone wants to know where their tax dollars go, and laws with designated spending tell us just that. These days, about 70 percent of all dollars allocated in the legislature are designated for various programs and services.
Gasoline taxes are designated for road repairs and maintenance. Tobacco taxes are designated for health spending. A surcharge of one percent on wealthy income earners goes for new mental health programs only. In some cases, percentages of state revenues are designated, such as 40 percent of the general fund that is designated by law for K-12 public education.
This time, at least two bills have been introduced with specific audiences in mind. One bill would add a tax of one cent per ounce to sugar-sweetened beverages, with the $1.7 billion collected annually designated to fight childhood obesity.
Another would add $1.50 to each pack of cigarettes, with the $1.2 billion collected annually designated for cancer research and smoking prevention. Fighting obesity and cancer are certainly noble objectives, so what could be so wrong with these legislative efforts?
The more the state relies upon designated spending, the more it is unable to move funds to where they are needed most. This lack of flexibility keeps the state from spending efficiently and wisely. What if we don't need all $1.7 billion to fight obesity? Too bad. The new beverage tax would just go into that fund, period. And the same goes for all the other designated spending categories.
At a time when resources are more precious than ever, we might want to think about separating revenue sources from spending priorities. Keeping money flexible may not provide the assurance that X dollars are going to Y causes, but it will allow the legislature to set priorities of where and how those funds should be spent as the times dictate.


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While many would argue that Oprah's best audience surprise was when she gave away brand new cars, some Twi-hards would disagree.
Oprah screened an early cut of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," the third installment of hugely popular Stephenie Meyer vampire series and invited members of the audience to the premiere, according to MTV.
"The Oprah Winfrey Show" episode, which shot on Wednesday, will air next Thursday, May 13.
Already, the lucky fanpires are giving their feedback on "Eclipse" and their favorite stars, including the love triangle between Edward (Robert Pattinson), Bella (Kristen Stewart), and Jacob (Taylor Lautner).
According to the Web site, viewers confirmed that the anticipated scenes from the third novel, including the tent scene where Jacob shares a sleeping bag with Bella, and Bella and Jacob's kiss were all included in the rough cut.
On fan, named Emily, sent a review of the movie to EclipseMovie.org and wrote, "David Slade did an amazing job, his shots and fight scenes were amazingly done. By far the best yet. They stayed completely true to the book – this had the most direct and almost direct quotes andddd LOTS of making out!! Very Edward and Bella focused which was great!"
She went on to say that Jasper Cullen (played by Jackson Rathbone) is the breakout role of the movie.
Meanwhile fans hit Twitter with their reactions.
Courtneex3 tweeted, "OH MY GOD!!!! Eclipse was absolutely AMAZING. Better than both New Moon & Twilight! Holyy crappp =O"
As excitement kicks into high gear for "Eclipse," Summit is prepping for "Breaking Dawn," the fourth film in the series.
"Breaking Dawn" will arrive in theaters on November 18, 2011, Summit Entertainment confirmed to Access Hollywood on Wednesday.
Bill Condon ("Dreamgirls," "Gods and Monsters") was recently tapped to direct the film, joking in a letter to fans that there would not be musical numbers.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hot Shots From 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse'
VIEW THE PHOTOS: New Faces In Twilight's 'Eclipse' Cast
PLAY IT NOW: Trailer: 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse'
PLAY IT NOW: Pattinson, Stewart & Lautner Dish Details On 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse'
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Eclipse - Jackson Rathbone - The Twilight Saga - TV - Young Hollywood


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STEP Helps Extend Education Policy Discussion Beyond Classroom
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For Stephen Payne, the president of Students Together in Educational Policy (STEP), the goal for his student organization is to encourage education policy discussion outside of the classroom.
As its name suggests, STEP's focus is on educational policy issues. The group tries to talk about the issues of the day, as well as general educational policy theories.
"Last night we had a meeting and we had Dr. David Post from the higher education faculty come in and talk about the connection between educational policy issues and higher education," Payne said.
"The meeting before that, one of the members of the State College Area school board came in to talk about some of the issues they face when they deal with Harrisburg."
It's discussions like those that Payne hopes will swell the ranks of STEP from the 50 it currently has on its listserv.
STEP, in its current form, is a little more than a year old. It had existed a few years ago, but graduation robbed the organization of its leadership, and it lay dormant for a time.
In fall semester 2012, Payne and his officers — Marcy Herr, Emily Werns, Christine O'Hare and Lindsay D'Aiuto — resurrected STEP.
Right now STEP membership consists mostly of education and public policy (EPP) majors and education policy studies minors. But Payne said policy discussions should extend beyond those who plan a career in the EPP field.
"We're definitely interested in the perspective of education majors, elementary and secondary. Their perspective is important," he said. "Increasing our membership is important, because we are a small major in the first place."
It helps that Hilary Chubb, a grad assistant in EPP, serves as a co-adviser. And Dana Mitra, associate professor of education, is the adviser of the program and head of the major.
"We're trying to establish relationships with faculty and helping them extend the classroom beyond what you do in 50 minutes," Payne said. "I think we're doing a cool thing in our major, trying to get that up and running and consistent."
"I think we extend the classroom and make these issues a little bit more real to students. It's a little less formal. It's a dialogue and a discussion, especially to elementary and secondary majors," he said.
"They might not have time in their schedules to take a class or two or three. The perspective they can gain from just coming to our club, from students who have taken these classes or from professors who do teach them, I think is really valuable to their experience. Policy at all levels is very important and becoming even more important as time goes by."
-- by Andy Elder (November 2013)


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A step-by-step guide to walk you through removing DRM protection from iTunes M4V and converting iTunes M4V to Premiere Pro on Windows/Mac with best video quality and perfect video/audio sync so that you can edit iTune M4V videos in Adobe Premiere Pro.
Do you have some M4V files that downloaded from iTunes Store and wonder how to import M4V files to Premiere Pro for editing or transfer them to your Tablet/Phone? Maybe you are emailed with a video that right in M4V format but you don't know what to do to do with it?
Not only video players, but also editing programs do not appreciate this format. M4V is not supported natively on both Windows and Mac as well as NLEs, for instance, Adobe Premiere Pro.
What is M4V file?
M4V is the most common format used in iTunes videos for watching on Apple TV. However, videos purchased from iTunes store is protected by DRM so that you cannot playback them on any devices other than iDevices, nor edit in NLEs.
Moreover, M4V is also not a proper format for playback on tablets/phones like Galaxy Tab 3, Galaxy Note 3, Surface RT/Pro, Kindle Fire HD, Nexus 7(2013), Moto X, Sony Xperia Z1, HTC One, watch on PC or do precise editing in programs like Adobe Premiere Pro, FCP, iMovie, Avid Media Composer, Pinnacle, etc.; for that M4V files are highly compressed in MPEG-4 with not good video quality.
To remove DRM protection from iTunes M4V videos, or get better video quality and edit in Premiere Pro, the recommended solution is to remove DRM protection and then convert M4V to MPG/MOV/AVI/WMV that works with your Adobe Premiere Pro or devices (like: Blackberry, Nokia, HTC, and Palm Pre, etc.).
Here we would like to introduce this professional DRM Removal software or Mac DRM Removal software, a powerful iTunes M4V converter software on both Windows and Mac. With it, you can easily remove DRM protection from iTunes video and encode them to various formats including AVI/MOV/WMV/MP4/MKV/MPG/FLV/F4V, etc.
- Read more: Top 5 Best DRM Removal Programs Review
How to remove iTunes DRM and convert iTunes video to Adobe Premiere Pro
Step 1. Load M4V files to the DRM Removal Tool.
Get this DRM Removal Tool installed, drag and drop your iTunes M4V files to it directly.
Step 2. Choose output file format for editing or playing.
Adobe Premiere Pro supports FLV, F4V, MPEG-2, QuickTime, AVI file formats, Just click the drop-down list besides "Format" and choose "Adobe Premiere/Sony Vegas" -> "MPEG-2 (*.mpg)", "MOV (AVC)(*.mov)" or "WMV (VC-1) (*.wmv)"; You can also key in AVI in the search box to quick locate this profile.
Step 3. Strat removing DRM protection from iTuens M4V.
Now you can click "Convert" button to start removeing DRM protection and converting iTunes M4V for editing or playing smoothly. Wait for moments, then click "Open" to locate the converted video.
Here are several tips during the conversion:
a). Please don't use iTunes during converting, or an error may occur.
b). It's highly recommended to use iTunes V10.5.0 or higher.
c). This product cannot convert unplayable iTunes files (damaged, unauthorized, etc).
d). The DRM removing process may mislead your anti-virus software to falsely report virus/worm. Please ignore the report to keep on ripping.
Now, you can follow this page to learn the Adobe Premiere Pro workflow: How to import media files to Premiere Pro?.
FYI: if you just want to convert unprotected M4V to MOV/WMV/MP4/MKV/MPG/FLV/F4V, Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate is high recommended for good video quality and reliable workflow.
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- How to Play MKV VOBSubs/PGS in Kodi?
- Convert 3D MKV/FLV/MTS/ISO to 3D MP4 for Google Daydream VR


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A Community Pharmacy for Physicians
The growing number of medications on the market today makes it increasingly difficult for physicians to stay on top of the latest drug treatments and related issues. You can now rely on Sparta Pharmacy to be your pharmaceutical expert. Our experienced on-site staff is here to help you with medication choices and dosages for your patients, avoiding adverse prescription interactions. In addition we provide,
- Delivery of medications to your office or patient's home.
- Electronic prescribing capabilities.
- Reduce patient calls to your offices.
- Take care of all benefits co-ordination, giving you more time for patient care.
- Ensure patient compliance through refill reminders.
- Provide on-going support and education to manage patient concerns such as side effects and drug interactions.
- Increase patient care and satisfaction
- Special order items, such as vaccines, hard-to-find and speciality medications and compounded drugs.


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BMW 535is Parts
- 535is
- Drivetrain and Axle
- 535is
- Suspension
About BMW 535is Parts
The BMW 535is is a model produced by BMW from 1987-1988 and was mostly like the 535i with a few impressive and notable improvements. One of the major improvements and alterations that made this such a desirable model from BMW was the introduction of the sports suspension, and interior/exterior upgrades. Some of the BMW 535is original parts included a rear spoiler, and new sports seats that complimented the suspension upgrade for a more complete feel. This particular model boasted about 182 horse power, an impressive feat for a vehicle produced during its time. As BMW continues to persevere in the fields of technological advancement and aesthetic innovation, surely the BMW 535is will be known as and remains an effective and reliable classic that is still prominent on today's roads.
BMW 535is Parts from FCP Euro
FCP Euro's continued effort to bring you the largest, most user friendly BMW 535is catalog can be seen with our constantly updated selection of BMW 535is parts. Whether it be 535is original parts designed to uphold the quality performance and power output of your vehicle, or simply some BMW 535is accessories to recondition that classic look, FCP Euro has you covered. As you browse through our selection we'd like to remind you that all our parts are backed by a quality and fitment guarantee, as well as a one year warranty that you can trust for the life of your vehicle. Also, if you don't see what you're looking for, please just shoot us a phone call , and our friendly and knowledgeable staff of customer service experts will gladly assist you. Whether it be a new suspension system, or just an answer to question about a noise your vehicle is making, our team of experts are also fellow enthusiasts who appreciate the value of keeping your BMW operating with maximum functionality and integrity.


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Aetna's 1Q profit jumps 36 pct, forecast climbs
Aetna's first-quarter net income soared 36 percent, fueled by gains from a multi-billion-dollar acquisition, and the health insurer hiked its 2014 earnings forecast above Wall Street estimates.
Its results breezed past analysts' expectations, and Aetna shares jumped more than 5 percent Thursday after it detailed a starkly different quarter compared with competitor UnitedHealth Group, which dragged down other health insurance stocks last week after it said first quarter earnings fell 8 percent.
Aetna completed a $6.9 billion acquisition of fellow insurer Coventry Health Care last May, and it said Thursday that deal was the main factor behind its growth in this year's first quarter. The Hartford, Conn., insurer's medical enrollment swelled about 24 percent in the quarter to 22.7 million people versus last year.
Coventry serves customers in two markets primed for growth. It administers Medicaid, the state and federally funded program that covers the needy and disabled people, and it offers Medicare Advantage plans. Those are subsidized versions of the federal government's Medicare program for the elderly and also disabled people.
Aetna Inc. reaped large, year-over-year gains in both those categories during the quarter. It also added another 230,000 paying customers through public insurance exchanges that debuted this year, courtesy of the health care overhaul. The federal law set up state-based exchanges on which customers can shop for coverage with help from income-based tax credits.
Aetna expects to add about 450,000 paying customers this year through the exchanges, and company officials said the risk of that business appears to be manageable so far, although they cautioned that they still don't have a good sense for what types of claims these customers will generate.
"It has been kind of in the neighborhood of our expectations," Chief Financial Officer Shawn Guertin said, adding that the company still expects a "modest loss" this year from its exchange coverage, a small slice of its overall business.
Overall, Aetna earned $665.5 million, or $1.82 per share, in the first quarter. That's up from $490.1 million, or $1.48 per share, a year earlier.
Adjusted earnings totaled $1.98 per share, not counting one-time items.
Analysts forecast earnings of $1.53 per share, according to FactSet.
Operating revenue excluding capital gains totaled $13.97 billion. Analysts expected about $13.6 billion.
Aetna now expects 2014 adjusted earnings of between $6.35 and $6.55 per share, which is more than the average analyst expectation of $6.31 per share.
Shares of several health insurers dipped last week after UnitedHealth Group Inc. also warned that it saw some tough price competition in several markets, including New York. Aetna said Thursday it hasn't seen the same thing. Trends in the sector should become clear as other major insurers like the Blue Cross Blue Shield provider WellPoint Inc. report results in the next couple weeks.
Aetna shares climbed $3.74, or 5.4 percent, to $72.65 in midday trading, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index rose slightly. UnitedHealth and WellPoint shares both advanced more than 2 percent.


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I love the first Men in Black. Really, truly, sincerely love it; to me, it's the Ghostbusters of the '90s. If you know me, that's high praise. I was seven years old in 1997, so there's always going to be some nostalgia attached to my memories of the movie, but I was surprised by how well (read: completely) it held up when I watched it again a couple years ago. I so adored the first film that when the sequel came out in 2002, there I was on opening day dressed all in black, wearing sunglasses and an MiB: Alien Attack hat I'd gotten at Universal Studios earlier that year. It's fair to say I was excited. Even at 12, though, I felt something missing from the sequel. Like Ghostbusters II, it lacked the freshness of the original, content to rest on its laurels and half-heartedly copy what made the first so enjoyable.
That said, it's a pleasure to see Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) still knocking E.T.s around in Men in Black III, and perhaps more so to see that their partnership has been developing off-screen over the last ten years. J is still the wisecracking hothead of the pair, and K the no-nonsense straight man. But they've grown complacent in their roles. When J wants his partner to actually open up for once, K can't. Still, they're partners, so when K disappears and no one but J can remember him, J resolves to get to the bottom of things. It turns out that there's been a fracture in the time stream; K was killed in 1969 by a nasty piece of work called Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement). Time travel was made illegal long ago, but J doesn't seem to have much trouble tracking down an undercover time travel service. He jumps (literally) back to the day before K was murdered; hijinks ensue.


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HUDSON - Authorities said a two-day sting last week led to the rescue of human trafficking victims and would-be prostitution customers in St. Croix County.
The operation was timed months in advance to coincide with the Super Bowl, occurring in Minneapolis - just a half hour's drive from Hudson, where state, county and local authorities launched one arm of a two-pronged sting.
The sting, held between Feb. 1-2 at a Hudson hotel and at undisclosed "meet places" yielded five arrests and the recovery of two trafficking victims, Attorney General Brad Schimel said a news conference Friday at the St. Croix County Government Center.
Some of those suspects knowingly targeted children as young as 14, he said.
"By targeting the so-called johns, we can suppress the money-making arm of the traffic networks," Schimel said. "For those people who purchase sex, you need to know law enforcement -- local, state and federal -- are coming after you."
St. Croix County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Cathy Borgschatz explained the operation began taking shape last summer after she and Sheriff Scott Knudson began discussing the local impact of human trafficking. That, she said, was when a special agent with the state justice department's Division of Criminal Investigation reached out to propose a joint operation coinciding with the Super Bowl.
Days later, another state agent proposed an Internet Crimes Against Children operation that would run in tandem with the trafficking operation. Borgschatz said agencies from Hudson, River Falls and New Richmond - along with the Turningpoint shelter organization - pitched in.
"I know we have a lot of work to do to effectively address human trafficking and internet crimes against children," Borgschatz said. "This is the beginning and I look forward to building on what was learned and what was accomplished last week."
See next week's print edition for more from the news conference.


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- This event has passed.
Yoga for the Mature Body
February 18 @ 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, repeating indefinitely
Tuesdays, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Kathleen Greco, RYT invites you to experience a 6-week class introducing the benefits of yoga. This gentle practice targets the needs of a maturing body.
Men and women benefit from movement without strain, increased flexibility. According to Dr. Lauren Fishman, director of Manhattan Physical Medicine, Yoga promotes good bone health by using the weight of your own body in poses while focusing and sharpening the mind.
Begin your journey to wellness with connecting your body, mind and spirit. A guided meditation to enhance overall relaxation ends each class. Mats are optional. Registration recommended.
$40 for 6 classes or $10 per class.


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I was wondering why my blog was going crazy with visits today!
If you haven't yet heard, I've been featured in another piece — "Fastidious Spelling Snobs Pushed Over the Edge" by Diane Mapes on MSNBC.com.
It's a great feature. Nice work, Diane!
Welcome, readers. Enjoy the blog — and if you have any submissions of grammar or spelling errors in your community, feel free to email me at kate.mcculley [at] gmail.com.
If you're a news organization and would like to contact me for an interview — I've done educational grammar consulting and I've been featured as the resident grammarian on a few NPR segments — feel free to email me as well.
Thanks for visiting!


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CHICAGO—Cintas Corporation has launched CintasDesign, an iPad application that allows its image consultants to create uniform programs for customers virtually.
"Using the iPad, we can now build uniform programs for our customers faster and more efficiently," stated Todd McKeown, VP, global hospitality and gaming, Cintas. "With the CintasDesign app, our image consultants can help customers visualize, design and test new uniform ideas instantly, shortening the amount of time it takes to implement a new apparel program."
CintasDesign allows Cintas' image consultants to show customers the latest runway styles and trends on their iPads and also search for Cintas apparel by garment type, collection, theme and job function. Using the app's "Uniform Designer" module, Cintas' image consultants can try out various uniform concepts for customers and bring their ideas to life via virtual models.
To begin the process, image consultants select a male or female model and then choose from a variety of shirts, pants, suiting and more to dress the models. To see how their customers' uniform creations correspond with their organizations' interiors or unique color schemes, Cintas' image consultants can change the background color of the model or upload an actual picture of their customer's property, such as a hotel lobby or restaurant floor.
For customers who prefer not to start their programs from scratch, Cintas also offers a variety of collections and themes under the "Inspiration Boards" module. Using this functionality, Cintas' image consultants can have customers view apparel ensembles under themes such as "essential" or "distinctive" and use them as a starting point for identifying elements they would like to incorporate into their own programs.
Additional app features include a full product catalog, the ability to save uniform designs for customers' future inspiration or purchases, and the ability to export a single product, dressed figure or an entire uniform program. By having the ability to quickly and easily export uniform products and illustrations, Cintas' image consultants can create sell sheets and presentations for customers on the fly.


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NEW YORK — Much of the big-name talent was overlooked in the first stage of the MLS Re-Entry Draft on Wednesday, but the day turned out just fine for Joseph Ngwenya and Aaron Hohlbein.
D.C. United opted to pick up the contract for Ngwenya and the Columbus Crew picked up Hohlbein as the only two selections of the league's inaugural event. All other teams in the draft passed and did not take a shot on one of the 35 players eligible for selection.
READ: MLS unveils players for Re-Entry Process draft
Ngwenya comes to D.C. United after 12 appearances last season with the Houston Dynamo. The six-year pro has also suited up the LA Galaxy and Columbus Crew during his MLS career, and he made 11 appearances for Turkish club Antalyaspor during a brief spell abroad in 2008-09.
He won an MLS Cup with the Dynamo in 2007, scoring nine goals in 33 games across all competitions and appearing in four playoff matches that season. He's also been capped five times by Zimbabwe.
Ngwenya has shown flexibility as both a forward and midfielder during his career and should help to shore up the attacking front of D.C. United, who scored a league-worst 21 goals during 2010.
"Joe is a guy that I always thought posed big problems for defenses in our League," United head coach Ben Olsen said. "He is an athletic guy that knows how to play the game, and I really do believe that his best days are ahead of him."
READ: Talking Tactics -- Determining a player's worth
Hohlbein joins the Crew after four seasons in Kansas City, where he made 43 appearances, including a career-high 22 starts in 2009. A midfielder/defender during his career, Hohlbein joins a Columbus team that has spent much of the offseason retooling a lineup that reached the postseason this year but failed to win the Supporters' Shield for the first time in three seasons.
The news Wednesday was just as much about the players who didn't get picked, including some of the top veterans in the league. Names passed over in the first stage of the draft included Juan Pablo Angel, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Jimmy Conrad, Frankie Hejduk and Josh Wolff.
READ: FC Dallas declines options on Cunningham, Sala
Those players – and the 28 others who had their options declined by their team at the end of the season or whose contract simply ran out – have another week to continue negotiations with their team or elect to be part of the second stage of the Re-Entry Draft on Dec. 15.
At that point, teams can select an available player for the right to negotiate a new contract for the 2011 season and potentially beyond. Selections in the second stage will take place in the same order as the first stage, beginning with D.C. United.
Ready to Launch: MLS Matchday 2010, The official MLS iPhone app. It's FREE! Download it here!


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Links I Like is a collection of blogs, articles and books I've come across recently and thought they were worth sharing. Click here for past Links I Like.
5 temptations every church leader, dad and husband face.
In the same way that almost every parent is tempted to engineer their child's life from choosing a career, As a church leader, there's pressure to want to engineer your child's faith life. I have said it many times over. I want nothing more than for my children to be in a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. And you can be tempted to try to make that happen. You certainly can and should influence their decision. After all, you are the greatest influence in your child's life. But you can't make them love God.
Tim Challies on 4 simple steps to destroying a church.
Dave Bruskas on How to prepare a daughter for marriage.
One of the hardest moments in a dad's life is giving away his daughter in marriage. Preparing her for that moment is even harder.
How to work ahead on your sermon prep.
Alex Chediak on Giving teens a biblical view of sex.
Sex is perhaps the most powerful God-created way to help you give your entire self to another human being. Sex is God's appointed way for two people to reciprocally say to one another, "I belong completely, permanently, and exclusively to you."
7 things I wish someone told me before I was a parent.
Justin Taylor on 3 reasons God cares who you sleep with.
1. Everyone cares who people sleep with, so why would God be any different?
2. If there is a God and he has a timeless ethical standard, wouldn't you expect it to challenge every society somewhere?
3. Finally, why do we care so much whom we sleep with?
Questions you should ask if your church is not growing.
One of the best things any leader can do when they're in a tough spot is to stop making assumptions and start asking questions. Our assumptions got us to where we are, but they won't necessarily get us where we need to go.


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Hello! im new here and generally in the world of the internet.First of all i want to tell you to keep up with the hard but also good work you are doing!Well in the point now! I have heard that connecting to a proxy server anonymoys or not increases your browsing speed and also your security because they see an other computers name or something that. I want to ask how can i connect to an anonymoys proxy server and where i can find some lists of working proxy servers.I also want to say that i did tried to connect with some but nothing happened! Please tell me how to do it right!
Thank you for your time reading this!


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Nobody likes to juggle paperwork, invoices, payments, drawing up timetables and registers, chasing late payers, keeping in touch with students and parents, backing up important data... the list goes on.
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generate printed registers and look up class details.
Hand on heart, do you know how much your business has taken this week? This month?
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There's no better time to switch to a modern way of running your business.
Don't put it off - in 6 months from now you wished you had started today.
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Create class registers and sign-in sheets in one click and track attendance right in the studio.
Starting at only £29/month membermeister is surprisingly affordable
and pays for itself several times over, month after month.
We guarantee that you will save money with membermeister - try us!


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Naya Rivera is cheering on "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star NeNe Leakes, who joins "Glee" next year as Coach Roz.
"She's great. She's hysterical," Naya, who plays McKinley High School Cheerio Santana on "Glee," told Access Hollywood on Tuesday during a break from filming a new commercial for Proactiv.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Back To McKinley High: 'Glee' Season 3!
U.S. & World
On Monday night, Chris Colfer (Kurt) and Lea Michele (Rachel) announced on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live" that NeNe was joining the cast for a guest spot. Chris and Lea admitted they were big "Housewives" fans and Naya told Access on Tuesday, she is too.
"I definitely do [watch 'Real Housewives of Atlanta'] religiously, so I was stoked that she was coming. Got to meet her," Naya said of NeNe's appearance, before dropping a hint that more NeNe could be in store. "And, I think she's coming back!"
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Bravo's 'Real Housewives'
Naya is hoping if NeNe does return – continuing what will be a faceoff with Jane Lynch's Sue Sylvester — she wants some scenes with the reality star.
"No scenes with her [yet]. I've been pushing for them," she said.
Also headed to "Glee" in the new year, now that the guest star embargo seems to be over, is Gloria Estefan in the role of Santana's mother.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Lovely Ladies Of Primetime Television
"I'm very excited about that," Naya said of the Grammy-winner's upcoming cameo. "I have met her. She came to set earlier on in the year and brought her kids and I got to meet her then and I thought that was cool enough and for her to be playing my mom, it's like, 'Yes!'"
Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Gorgeous 'Glee' Gal Lea Michele
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: Dish Of Salt: Heather Morris, Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz & Naya Rivera Talk 'Glee' Season 2
PLAY IT NOW: Lea Michele 'Thankful' She Was Paired With Ashton Kutcher For 'New Year's Eve'
More from Access: [ Glee Naya Rivera NeNe Leakes ]


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If you are, then I hope you got up early.
The History Channel ran a Civil War documentary at 7:00 this morning. After that, it's a solid block of truck driving shows for the rest of the day.
Why don't they just go ahead and pick up some American Idol reruns?


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Darien's patriotic parade celebrates creativity
For the past nine years, all manner of nonmotorized vehicles and their riders have rolled up to the Goodwives Shopping Center in Darien intent on making a spectacle of themselves. This year, for the 10th time, such spirit remains the same, but there will be a few new attractions to celebrate the milestone.
The YWCA Darien/Norwalk Push-n-Pull Parade returns the morning of Friday, July 4, offering families a chance to show off the bikes, wagons, scooters and other nonmotorized vehicles they have created and decorated for the event. The parade, which will feature elected officials, a special visit by "Uncle Sam" (Darien resident Joe Warren) and firetruck escorts, will make its way from the shopping center to the Post Road and on to Tilley Pond Park, where there will be food and entertainment. Throughout the day there will be music, including Mary Ann Hall's Music for Children and Ray and Jay.
Last year, the parade drew close to 3,000 people. This year, those who gather will get to see this year's winners, who will be picked in multiple categories and serve as honorary grand marshals -- which is new this year. You must be under 18 to enter; family participants must have one child under the age of 18. Money raised during the event benefits the YWCA Darien/Norwalk's community service programs.


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Hip Pop with Shari Polis, Choreographer and Artistic Director (Ages 6 - 9)Date: April 4, 2019
Time: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Contact: Shari Blake SchneeEmail: email@example.com
Hip Pop with Shari Polis, Choreographer and Artistic Director
Learn choreography to kids' favorite pop hits! Explore new dance moves, enhance stage presence, and grow self-esteem while having a blast at dance class. Each child has the opportunity to develop their own style as well as learn group dances. Parents are invited to attend a performance on the final day of class.
Thursdays, January 31 – May 9 (skips March 28) | 4:30 - 5:30 pm | $280 per child | Ages 6 - 9 | FULL


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The trailer for Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace 3D debuted this weekend in theaters with The Three Musketeers but you can now check it out online using the player below. Opening in 3D theaters on February 10, 2012 the conversion was supervised by Industrial Light & Magic.
Written, directed and executive produced by George Lucas, the film has earned $924.3 million at the worldwide box office so far. "The Phantom Menace" stars Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Pernilla August, Ahmed Best, Anthony Daniels, Ray Park, Kenny Baker and Frank Oz.


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Long before she sang wink-wink sexual lyrics in "Physical," Olivia Newton-John was a pure-as-snow country singer. That all changed when she joined the cast of 1978's classic musical "Grease."
Even now we're still feeling the vibrations of that ground breaking movie, which has been re-released in select cites as "Grease Sing-A-Long."
Newton-John's appearance as Sandy-gone-bad in the leather catsuit is still smoking today, but it doesn't have quite the social impact that it did when the movie first came out. It was really big stuff in 1978 and beyond.
John Travolta's greaser character Danny loved it onscreen once he got over the shock. The rest of the world loved it as well and, after "Grease," Newton-John was able to move away from her clean-cut image for the first time.
"(That suit) opened up a whole new realm of possibility for me," Newton John tells PopcornBiz. "It opened up a lot of doors."
"Until that point I did have this girl-next-door image," she adds. "It was great, but I would have never have gone into these other films I did after 'Grease.' "
The rest is showbiz history. If you need an indication of Newton-John's star appeal even today, you don't have to look any further than her hilarious appearance with Jane Lynch on "Glee." And "Grease Sing-A-Long" could build into something special.
In fact, the big question might be, what took so long? Newton-John says she remembers "watching the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' and thinking we should do that with 'Grease.' " It has the groundswell of love and the infectious songs to keep it going for a long time.
Just as long as they don't dare remake the film.
"It's one of those things that you just shouldn't mess with," says Newton-John.
Olivia Newton-John and Smokin' "Grease" Catsuit Are Back
Long before she sang wink-wink sexual lyrics in "Physical," Olivia Newton-John was a pure-as-snow country singer. That all changed when she joined the cast of 1978's classic musical "Grease."


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Reporting on Technical Cooperation Activities
The Programme Management Unit (PMU) is responsible for reporting on technical cooperation issues and activities to the biennial sessions of the Commission and meetings of the Executive Committee. The purpose of the annual reporting is to highlight the technical cooperation activities undertaken by UNECE Divisions and Regional Advisers, including the main accomplishments, the sources and the uses of funding, geographical structure of activities etc. It also helps to timely identify the need for a modification and, if necessary, to introduce adjustments in the on-going activities and projects, as well as to respond to requests of countries for technical assistance.
The PMU also coordinates the biennial reporting of UNECE achievements in the Regular Programme on Technical Cooperation (RPTC). This forms part of the UN Secretary-General's biennial Programme Performance Report on RPTC.


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Tutorial Details
- Applications Used: Adobe Photoshop CS5
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Estimated Completion Time: 2h +
Download Source Files
Source files for this tutorial are available to
Premium members.
Login now and Go to the tutorial page
In today's tutorial we will demonstrate how to create an earthy 3D typographic piece using Photoshop's 3D tools.
The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial.
OK let's get started; if you have some knowledge of the 3d tools in PS you know this is very easy, if you don't, you will find out just that; a very easy thing to do. Let's open up this nice stock image I have selected for our work.
Now just select the text tool from the tool bar.
Choose a simple medium/light gray color for the text.
I selected this font here, yet if you don't have it just select some other that is available in your system; I prefer a thick font for this.
For this Helvetica font I selected 110 for the size, yet it varies from font to font.
What you want is a big thick font that almost fills the horizontal space of the canvas as seen here.
Then proceed to the 3D menu and select Repousee- Text Layer.
In the dialog box that appears, select the shape preset shown and adjust the settings indicated. The 3D tools are quite taxing on the equipment, so depending on your system you could have to wait a bit for each step, just be patient.
Now we will also be using the 3D widget that appears on the left top corner of your image. These widget has 3 arrows to control the 3D object in three separate axis, and each arrow has 3 different handles that perform 3 different tasks as indicated here, for rotating, moving, and scaling. Familiarize with these controls so you can go through all the steps with ease.
Now using the widget, reposition the text with a bit of perspective as shown here. That is it we have 3d text that we can work with in a separate layer inside Photoshop.
Now its time to adjust the lights a bit so let's first choose the infinite light 1 and select the 3D Light rotate tool.
Now the infinite light has a similar widget to the 3D widget, yet only has rotate handles
Let's use these handles to rotate the light a bit as shown here; its also a good idea to familiarize yourself with these widget and how it affects the 3D object.
Let's now move on to the materials for the letters, so select the first material and from the diffuse folder icon choose load texture.
Select this texture and click OK.
Now adjust the U scale and the V scale as shown here.
Now the letters as you can see are divided in sections that have separate textures.
Now we need a texture for the bump channel so select load texture for the bump.
And select this texture that I have prepared for you, which is only a black and white version of the same texture with the contrast enhanced.
Now we need to adjust the scale so that it matches the color texture.
Then increase the bump level to 5.
Now we are finished with the material so let's save it by choosing new material; give it a name or just leave it as is.
Now let's make things easy and load the saved material for the rest of the sections.
Now that we have the materials set in all the sections let's adjust the lights a bit. Disable the second light and increase the intensity to 1.5
Now we need to rotate the light a bit as shown here to make the texture look its best, yet you might want to experiment and choose different settings.
We will now transform our object from a word onto separate letters we can adjust individually. But first let's increase the bump in each material to 7 to increase the effect of the bump texture.
OK now go to the 3D menu and select split Repousse Meshes.
Now what we get is separate meshes for each letter, and each have separate textures, but since we textured the word previously we don't have to work on each letter. Also now for moving and rotating each letter you now have to select the mesh rotate tool instead of the object rotate tool .
So let's start with the letter E so select it in the list.
The mesh control widget is the same as the object widget so you should be able to adjust the position in the same way. For the letter E, I adjusted as shown here.
This is the resulting rotation I have for my letter, yet as always you might prefer a different position.
I also lowered the letter a bit as shown here using the arrow handle.
Now do the same for each letter by selecting it from the scene list and positioning it as you like so it fits better on the image. Here is how I modified each of my letters, and that is it we have finalized this step.
At this point before continuing, we will quickly adjust the lights a bit and convert our 3D layer to a smart object. So go ahead right click on the layer and select Convert to smart object.
To access the 3D layer to edit it just double click on the new smart object layer.
You will get a warning dialog box from Photoshop as you enter the smart object. We do this because of two reasons, first a 3d layer cant be used with masks which we will use and also converting it to a smart object reduces the complexity of the document ram requirements.
Once you are in the 3D smart object you can continue editing all the settings for the 3d object. At this point select the infinite light 1 and choose the light rotate tool.
Rotate the light a bit as shown here to get a better illumination on the letters overall
This is how the lights now affect our object, yet you might choose a slightly different position, which is OK but remember where the light is coming from on our scene.
As soon as you are finished just save the smart object and the changes will be updated in your main document.
You will get a smart object update progress box and then you will see the result in the image.
OK now that we have everything adjusted in the 3D realm, we will continue with more traditional Photoshop techniques; let's make a mask for our text layer.
And choose this standard Photoshop blocky brush.
Now let's mask off the border of the letters as shown here, to emphasize the rock appearance of the texture cutting in some imperfections on the edges.
We will paint this mask following the features in the rock texture and also at the bottom taking into consideration the water flow as shown here.
Now continue masking the rest of the letter border as shown here.
Now on top let's create a levels layer and adjust it as shown here.
Now this will have a strong darkening effect; yet we will only use it in selected areas so go ahead and fill the mask with black so its all hidden.
So now that we have our mask filled with black we will mask in the darkening effect; so select the brush tool and change the color to white.
We will use the same blocky brush but reduce the size to about 28px
Now we will increase the shadows in the obvious shaded areas of our letters as shown here.
And continue with each letter as indicated. You can see right away how this helps set in the letters on to the scene.
Time to add some vegetation and moss to our letters so we build up the detail we need so they fit better with the image. We will do this the easy way using the clone tool.
Let's keep our blocky brush but reduce its size to about 3px.
Let's now enable all these settings in the brush palette with pen pressure enabled for all
Then we will need a new layer as a destination for our clone work.
But our clone source will be from our base image itself, so select the base layer and select a clone source as shown.
Then select our new layer back again and start painting in with the clone tool to add some vegetation and moss detail on top of the rock letters.
As many times as you need, go back to the base layer to select a new clone source; but don't forget to go back to the new layer to apply it.
Continue with all the letters as shown here, of course this is a very personal step so your result may vary from this.
Be sure to follow the rock structure from the texture and don't overdo the moss cloning.
Let's now touch up the water so it fits the new letters better; so for this create a new layer.
We will keep our 44 blocky brush but reduce its size to only 2px.
Sample a clear color from the water itself and paint in a bit of a stream here suggesting water going through these two letters.
Then at the back of the E also paint some tiny stream that hints of water going out the back of this letter.
Paint in the same between these other two letters.
And finally, what I think is a very important detail, some water coming out of the hole in the A.
Now sample a light green from the image as shown here.
And add a bit of green to what we have painted inside the A as shown.
Then sample a bit darker green.
And paint in as shown here.
OK nicely done, now go back to the almost white sample.
And touch up the tiny stream as shown here.
And continue detailing the other painted sections of water making the flow more apparent.
Make sure you try to follow the rest of the water flow and create swirling water where needed.
And there we have it, this is what we should have so far, where the stream seems to hug each letter border.
Now let's add a couple of layers to make our overall scene more dramatic and intimate. First off let's do a levels layer and adjust it as shown here.
Now choose a big soft brush of about 400px.
OK the levels layer you noticed it darkens the overall scene, yet we need to brush of in the mask with black to let some of the light in as shown here.
Easy enough now create a Black and White adjustment layer, set it to multiply and reduce its opacity a bit.
Adjust the settings in the B&W layer as shown here.
You can see this new layer provides us with a bit more of darkness but more important some intense mood to the scene.
But again we only want this layer to affect so much of our scene so we will mask off all over with our soft brush as shown here, and of course change the brush size as needed.
Just a quick adjustment, I really don't like the green look of the water so I decided to make it more bluish, so let's make a photo filter layer for this with these settings.
We don't want this effect anywhere but the water so let's fill in the mask with black so its all gone.
Make the soft brush about 52 px.
And with white selected just start masking in the blue tone of the cooling filter.
Of course reduce the brush size where needed to brush in those tight places.
Be sure to keep the mask limited to just the water and this is what you should have by now; then just reduce the opacity of the layer a bit as shown below, and that is it we have a more water looking water :)
Now we will create a new layer that we will use to create some light glow and subtle streaks coming in to our scene. So select first the gradient tool.
Pick up this gradient from the gradient file.
And in a new layer just drag all the way across a big circular gradient.
Now of course we will be creatively masking this effect just where we want it, so create a mask for this layer.
So to start masking off we need a very big soft brush such as this one here.
Then select black and start masking off the layer as shown here.
Then reduce the brush size a bit to about 200px
And keep working with how those light streams come into the scene.
Now let's change to white and mask in some of what we have hidden. As you can see this is pretty much a back and forth process to get an effect we like.
So we now mask in some of those light streams as shown here.
And then go back to the black color to mask off and adjust those streams again
This is again a matter of personal taste how much light streams you want in the scene.
OK as you can see here I have all the work layers grouped, and the adjustment layers outside the group. What we are going to do now its duplicate the group.
And then let's merge the group so we have a flat image layer to work with.
Now let's drag the resulting image layer all the way to the top of the stack.
We will now adjust the levels for this layer directly; not an adjustment layer. So go to the image menu and select levels from there.
Now in the levels dialog box adjust the settings as shown here. You can type in the values to be more precise.
Great now we will need yet another layer mask so go ahead and create it.
And of course we will only need this bright layer to affect small sections of our image, so go ahead and fill the layer mask with black so its all gone.
Then let's pick a tiny soft brush such as this one here.
Change the color to white.
Now here we have this section without any work on this layer and below you can see where I painted in with the mask some subtle highlights.
And here you can see the text without any highlights and the work that has been done below with all the highlights. The best way to get a feel for what has been added is to compare the images or better yet look at the video where you see all the action happening.
For this last step what we need to do is add some shadow that is cast on the water to finalize the realistic look of the scene. We will do this with a levels layer, so go ahead and create it plus adjust it as shown here.
And again since we don't need this layer's influence anywhere but some specific sections let's fill the mask with black so its all gone.
Now let's select our soft brush and make it about 17px
And just start masking in some of the shadow as shown here.
And continue with these other sections of the water where we would get shadow from the finalized light setting.
Once you have all shadows in place just adjust the layer opacity and set its mode to multiply.
And that is it the final detail to our EARTH 3D text.
That is the end of it we have successfully finalized our 3D text on to our scene and made it look cool and blended it, that was fun, hope you guys had fun also, as always be sure to send me an e-mail if you have some issues and also to show off your results. Thanks for your time and support; see you on the next one.


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WASHINGTON – Instead of "Hail to the Chief," President Barack Obama is most likely hearing strains of "Happy Birthday" this weekend.
Obama turns 52 on Sunday and is spending part of the day at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland.
The White House said little about how he's celebrating. He played golf Saturday with friends from his days in Hawaii and Chicago. Some of them joined him at Camp David.
Obama is scheduled to return to the White House on Sunday afternoon. His week ahead includes travel to the West Coast to discuss plans to help homeowners, appear on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno and visit with troops at Camp Pendleton.
He also has a White House meeting Thursday with the prime minister of Greece.


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The UML diagram of the Rectangle class of type.lib contains the following two entries in the method compartment:
getCircumference() : int
hashCode() : int
write the app that starts by prompting for and reading the width and height of a rectangle, both of type int. the app then creates a rectangle object using the Rectangle class of type.lib. finally the app invokes the above two methods and outputs their returns. Here is a samlple run:
Enter the width: 3
Enter the height: 4
The return of getCircumference is: 14
The return of hashcode is: 95