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Each year customers of Neiman Marcus anticipate what will be offered in their annual Christmas book. This is the 89th year for The Christmas Book and for 2015 shoppers can treat themselves or their loved ones to a trip to the edge of space, a limited edition Ford Mustang car or a set of three guitars commissioned by music legends Billy Gibbons, Lyle Lovett and Steve Miller.
The folks over at Neiman Marcus gave us a sneak peek at some of their fantasy gifts Tuesday morning.
For $150,000 you can buy yourself or your honey the Arch Motorcycle & Ride experience. Not only do you get a limited edition KRGT-1 motorcycle, you get an exclusive two-day ride experience for two along the California coast with he men behind Arch Motorcycle Company, actor Keanu Reeves and Gard Hollinger.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Each year Neiman Marcus features a one-of-a-kind car, in 2015 it's a limited-edition Mustang Convertible. The sporty paint scheme and bells and whistles commemorating Mustang's 50th anniversary will run you $95,000.
$90,000 will get you a World View Exploration at the Edge of Space – the two-part adventure takes you and seven of your closest friends up 100,000 feet into space in a luxury pressurized capsule where you will experience 360 degree views of Earth.
Also featured is an Iris Apfel Accessories Trunk valued at $80,000. The gift includes lunch and a styling session with 93-year-old fashion icon Iris Apfel as well as a Ikat-embellished trunk filled with accessories and vintage finds inspired by Apfel's personal collection.
A Texas Guitar Trio can be had for $30,000 each. Each guitar was commissioned by Texas music legends Billy Gibbons, Lyle Lovett and Steve Miller – the guitars will be handed over backstage at a musician's concert.
For the lady who loves her dresses, there's the Couture Diary at $10,000. Artist Abigail Vogel will hand-paint 20 of the recipient's treasured ensembles, and renowned craftsman Paul Vogel will bind the book in your choice of red or black Scandinavian calfskin.
This year's his and hers gifts is Ultimate Children's Costumes in MacKenzie-Childs Trunks. At $5,000, each personalized MacKenzie-Childs trunk features the child's hand-painted initials and inside is a selection of Chasing Fireflies Ultimate Collection costumes. The boy's trunk features five Marvel Super Heroes costumes while the girl's trunk features four Disney princess dresses.
Three trips are considered the highlight of The Christmas Book.
- Italy Tour With Ippolita & Artemest Craftsmen for $150,000 – You and three guests will join jewelry designer Ippolita Rostagno on a seven day art tour of Florence and Venice.
The Orphan Barrel Project for $125,000 – Visit the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Kentucky for barrel hunting, tasting and creating unique Orphan Barrel variants to be hand-bottled and labeled exclusively for you and five bourbon-curious friends.
Dream Trip to India for $400,000 – For 12 days you and a guest will experience the beauty and grandeur of India through O'Harani Luxe Experiences.
Even though some of the gifts are pricey, the folks at Neiman Marcus say there is a gift for everyone in this year's Christmas book.


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It's impossible to know, of course, whether Lucille Ball would have laughed uproariously at "Bridesmaids" or turned as red as her trademark hair.
But with the centennial of the comedy queen's birthday this week, we'll posit that you can draw a line – albeit a squiggly one – between the comic mayhem of Ball and Vivian Vance at the chocolate factory and Kristen Wiig and her pals at the bridal salon.
Ball, born Aug. 6, 1911, exerts a lasting influence on comedy more than two decades after her death. Legions still love Lucy, but her gift is less about spreading love than laughter.
We can see Lucy's uninhibited spirit in other funny women who followed her onto the small screen and beyond, from Carol Burnett to Gilda Radner to Tracey Ullman to Wiig. But her impact on humor and television is more far reaching.
Milton Berle may have been TV's first comedy superstar, thanks to his vaudeville-style laugh-a-minute show, which debuted in 1948. But Ball soon after became the medium's first sitcom superstar, creating conventions amid the hilarity.
Ball and Jack Benny were perhaps the best early practitioners at translating radio sitcoms to TV, offering funny half-hour domestic-driven story arcs aided by wacky neighbors, a pantheon that stretches from Ethel Mertz to Cosmo Kramer.
Ball, though, became the first sitcom star to fully exploit the power of TV as a visual medium, bringing slapstick to the living rooms – whether she was being attacked by a giant loaf of bread, trading mirror moves with Harpo Marx (in an homage to "Duck Soup") or getting sloshed on Vitameatavegamin. There are hints of Lucy Ricardo everywhere these days, from Wiig's zany physical humor in the movies on and "Saturday Night Live" to Ty Burrell's goofily clumsy Phil Dunphy character on "Modern Family."
The enduring appeal of Lucy Ricardo rests in much more than sight gags. There's something compelling about the likeable character's desperate need for the spotlight and her willingness to go to bizarre lengths for attention. Unlike the talent-free nobodies who go to extremes to get on TV these days, Lucy's antics marked classic executions of comic creativity and timing.
Ball, who went on to other shows after divorcing Desi Aranz, displayed a remarkable ability to reinvent herself. Once a young model and B-movie starlet, she transitioned into TV comedy at an age – then and now – when many actresses find themselves without a career. When "I Love Lucy" debuted 60 years ago this October, Ball was 40 – the same age as Tina Fey when she won the Mark Twain Prize for American Comedy last year.
The comedy of Lucille Ball, 100 years after her birth, remains ageless. While we can never know what Ball would have thought of "Bridesmaids," there's little doubt that somewhere in the world, someone is watching "I Love Lucy" and laughing.
Hester is founding director of the award-winning, multi-media NYCity News Service at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is the former City Editor of the New York Daily News, where he started as a reporter in 1992.

subset: commoncrawl


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TRANSFER applicants must submit the following:
A transfer student is a person admitted/applying to Tuskegee University after attending another institution of higher learning. A student who attends summer school immediately after receiving a high school diploma and before enrolling at Tuskegee University will not be considered a transfer student. If the student expects to transfer college credit hours completed during the summer period prior to enrolling in Tuskegee University, a transcript must be submitted to the Registrar by September and the student must also inform his/her advisor that transfer credit is being requested. Also required are transcripts from various colleges you have attended.
Applications will not be evaluated until the application itself and all required materials are received. A transfer student must indicate on the application for admission all previous colleges or universities attended. A student who has registered in other colleges and/or universities may not disregard his/her record in such institutions and make application for admission to Tuskegee University solely on the basis of the high school record. Any student who does so is subject to suspension from the University and transfer credit will be denied.
A student who transfers to Tuskegee University from other colleges and universities is governed by the following specific requirements and procedures:
Transfer students should review the following resources before applying:
Transfer students must have satisfied Tuskegee's high school course expectations and completed minimums of 12 to 24 semester credit hours of college-level coursework (not remedial or developmental) prior to enrollment at Tuskegee. The minimum number of credit hours will vary based on each student's high school and/or college academic credentials. During application evaluation, the Admissions Counselor will determine whether an individual's college coursework is sufficient. For consideration, transfer applicants also must meet specific criteria for individual academic programs.
Transfer applicants who have not completed a bachelor's degree must provide a final high school transcript. If you did not meet high school course expectations while in high school, we will review your college transcript(s) to determine if you have made up any deficiencies. One semester of college-level coursework is equivalent to two semesters of high school. Applicants in their first semester of college may be admitted as transfer students based on their high school academic record, pending successful completion of their first semester of college coursework.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Having only the minimum GPA does not guarantee admission. Each application is reviewed holistically for the program to which the student has applied. Criteria for admission may change without notice.


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Carla is April's "AICR Cancer Fighter of the Month". A mother of two, Carla's using her personal fitness goals to raise funds for cancer research and build awareness for health, fitness and cancer prevention. We asked Carla about her active lifestyle and what motivated her to start her journey to health.
Here are photos of Carla before and after.
Q: You're competing in a figure competition next month. Why did you decide to compete and fund-raise for AICR?
A: With my 40th birthday approaching in November 2011, I started to contemplate doing a figure or bodybuilding competition to commemorate this milestone. I had recently gotten back into shape after having my daughters and was really passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I was still somewhat on the fence about the decision when something happened that created a "tipping point" for me. My dear friend Sue lost her battle with ovarian cancer. I became determined to find a way to pursue my goal while also raising funds for cancer research. I'm just so grateful AICR was there to support me in doing so. Read more… "Q&A with our Cancer Fighter of the Month. How does she do it?"


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Turks Gap Road
Two kids (who just finished swimming at "Blue Hole" on the south fork of the Moormans River) step off Turks Gap Road– one of the historic highways severed by the 75-year ago creation of the Shenandoah National Park– to examine the barely surviving chimney of an old home site. The chimney stands on the the 1,024-acre tract the City of Charlottesville owns for its Sugar Hollow Reservoir.
More SnapsRead more on: lost charlottesvillesugar hollowturks gap road
11 comments
"1,024-acre tract the City of Charlottesville owns for its Sugar Hollow Reservoir."
Wow, that's land I never knew we owned.
We don't own it. At least--not that chimney. Way WAY back, 1930's or so--the city bought the land under what is now the Sugar Hollow reservoir. The city also bought all the south fork of the Moorman's river (where Blue Hole is) and most but not all of the north fork. But they bought just the stream beds--not the land on either side. The land on either side is mostly Shenandoah National Park. If you look at the tax maps, the plat of the city property looks like a little string wiggling up the mountainside. Also, though technically owned by the city, the reservoir and its sources have been conveyed to the Rivanah River & Sewer Authority, a multi-jurisdiction entity. Why does all this matter?
Because no matter what jurisdiction the cop is from, if he arrests you for skinny-dipping at Blue Hole, arguably he's in the wrong jurisdiction. A county cop should have brought the case in the city courthouse. Or the federal courthouse. A city cop should be in the county courthouse. Etc.
Skinny dipping doesn't happen so much since the road out there was paved, and families with small children started showing after it got popular from being in the newspaper (gosh darn it). But in the early mornings, or late moonlit evenings, sometimes a tired Appalachian trail hiker does take a diversion downhill for a quick dip, as nature intended.
Without wishing to debate GPS coordinates,the metes and bounds in 90 year old deeds are the only accurate land boundaries as tax maps are very inexact approximations. But-- look at Sugar Hollow farm. The back entrance to the farm which is the flat spot with a stream coming down it, is just behind Blue Hole. That's private property. But the hill to its immediate east, overlooking Blue Hole and the road up to Blue Hole which further downhill has those magnificent soaring cliffs--that entire hillside up to the top is a kind of "island" of Shenandoah National Park. The opposite end of the island is (presumably) where the Charlottesville/RWSA property begins. The chimneys are I think in that Shenandoah National Park island, though I would insist on a surveyor doing metes and bounds if you wanted to put any money on it.
Cops? Sorry to hear of it. Next it'll be teenage lifeguards smelling of suntan lotion tweeting at swimmers out of boredom.
Strangely enough, Google maps accurately shows the island as a sea of green parkland isolated from the rest of Shenandoah National Park by the white squiggle which is the Charlottesville owned streambed of the south fork of the Moorman's River. But Google maps does NOT show the secret of the north fork, which is that the upper part is not parkland but privately owned. I guess the idea was that once the park severed road access, no need to spend scarce money buy it up.
For a really interesting former thoroughfare: go further up to Brown's Gap Turnpike. It s very old road that nobody knows crosses the mountain. Past a certain point the rocks and ruts force you to leave your car and walk. Stonewall Jackson used that old road for one of his lightning dash surprise marches into our valley. He would recognize it today--it hasn't changed--you can almost hear the wagons lurching, and the clatter of horses hoofs on rocks, and you can drink from the bright stream that must have stalled the march as hundreds and thousands of dusty hot tired troops could not be prevented from stoping to drink and refill their canteens.
Thanks Beaver and Hawes, my adventures to Blue Hole have been forever changed with this new information and a sense of history to go with it.
Will check for cops. Bathing suits are so --well --out of place in the garden of eden.
At the cost of time and trouble though not money, you can download USGS topographic maps which are the most accurate available account of Shenandoah National Park boundaries: http://store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/usgs/maplocator/(xcm=r3standardpitrex_prd&layout=6_1_61_48&uiarea=2&ctype=areaDetails&carea=%24ROOT)/.do
The Sugar Hollow area unfortunately is not on one map: it is at the intersection of four of them: Crimora, Browns Cove, Waynesboro East, and Crozet. Crimora has most of the info you need. You'll see the "island" of Shenandoah National Park. So: if you are swimming at Blue Hole you are in Charlottesville, but if you walk away ton either side far enough--about ten or twenty yards--you are in a national park.
Or, here's an alternative: go back up there, walk that 100 yards above Blue Hole up to where the road comes in with the chain across it, and look down at your feet. Shuffle around a little--you will soon find a small bronze marker, about the size of an old silver dollar. Scrape it off, bend over and read it: it says National Park Boundary. Now, as I said before, all maps--even USGS topographic maps--are inexact and only a surveyor reading metes and bounds off a deed can tell you exactly where the boundaries are. Which of course is a preview of my defense if those Albemarle police you mentioned ever catch me au natural.
Correction to myself: that USGS website offers for download newer satellite-photo based maps but has not yet posted all the older maps, better maps, hand-drawn maps that show details of park boundaries, together with springs, old mines, abandoned railroad trestles, lost graveyards, the collected wisdom of previous generations of map makers who walked or rode horseback to survey the area and knew every rock outcropping, every trickling freshet. We've lost that human-scale information with machine renderings of what a satelite can see. I have old-style paper 1977 USGS topographic maps updated in 1987 pieced together to show the Sugar Hollow area and will take a digital photo or provide the original for Mr. Spencer's inspection if he likes, to settle the question of who owns those chimneys. We all do: they are in the park "island."
Beaver, I admire your dedication to preserving history as it was originally written, and not allowing it to be replaced by digital history that has often lost the human touch.


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Maurice Clements, who commissioned this billboard outside Boise, ID, to honor the memory of Libertarian Ralph Smeed, says his group is angry at President Obama for not bringing the troops home:
We're all outraged over that killing in Aurora, CO, but we're not outraged over the boys killed in Afghanistan.
After criticism mounted, however, Clements softened his stance.
That's a technique of trying to make a point, and maybe it was poorly done.


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July 4, 2015
The San Francisco Symphony performs its annual Fourth of July concert and celebration. Each year, the symphony ... READ MORE
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles invites guests to enjoy A Summer Spa Soiree, a one-night-only event featuring ... READ MORE
March 14 - July 19, 2015
Europe's very first restrospective of Alexander McQueen's work will be displayed at the V&A during the ... READ MORE
The Miami Takeover is the only way to experience Miami! Several premiere events are held at Miami's most sought ... READ MORE


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Mass. man dies of injuries after car plunges into Lyme pond, flips over
LYME, N.H. (AP) � Police in Lyme, N.H., say a driver whose vehicle skidded and flipped over into a pond has died of his injuries.
Police said 58-year-old Gerald Pare of Methuen, Mass., died Thursday night at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
He had been traveling south on Route 10 Wednesday morning when he appeared to lose control of his vehicle and plunged into Post Pond. The car flipped as it hit the water.
Authorities and witnesses said he was submerged for three to five minutes and did not regain consciousness at the scene.
Two boaters and a passing driver pulled Pare out of the water.
The crash is still under investigation.


text:
Newarth Car SalesLodge Top Garage14 Worsley Road NorthWorsleyManchesterGreater ManchesterM28 3GW
Telephone: 0161 641 0078
Mobile: 07974 600 500
Email: email@example.com
Please complete all fields marked with an asterisk *
We are an established used car dealer based in Manchester. We offer a wide choice of quality used cars at fantastic prices and will be happy to consider your current vehicle in part exchange. We are committed to providing the highest levels of customer care. You'll be surprised at our range of quality used cars for sale and the great prices we can offer. We have second hand cars to suit all budgets and our personal service means that you can trust us to provide you with the right vehicle at the right price.
We pride ourselves on supplying high quality used cars with service history and we offer a professional level of service at all times. We can also provide nationwide delivery of your new vehicle if required.
Newarth Car Sales are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under reference number 793202. Finance Subject to status. We work with a number of carefully selected credit providers who may be able to offer you finance for your purchase. We are only able to offer finance products from these providers. Postal Address: Newarth Car Sales Lodge Top Garage, 14 Worsley Road North, Worsley, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M28 3GW


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Sen. McCain: 'I Cannot Vote for Either One'
Sen. John McCain said he might write in his "old, good friend" Sen. Lindsey Graham for president when he casts his ballot next month, because he can't bring himself to vote for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.
McCain was asked about his shifting position on Trump's candidacy as he sparred with his Democratic challenger for Arizona's U.S. Senate seat during their first debate Monday night.
McCain was asked why, after Trump's many controversies and personal attacks, including on himself, he hadn't withdrawn his endorsement until this weekend when a 2005 video surfaced of Trump bragging about groping women.


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Torchlight (PC) review
"Your first step into Torchlight will put to rest your worries or quell your doubts. The rich art style with appropriately used earthy colors and a darker, grimmer setting tell you that this is a far cry from Fate's somewhat confused atmosphere. Where the latter is cartoony and a tad happy-go-lucky forced into the same bed with violence, blood-letting and terror, Torchlight is consistently dark and moody. It doesn't pretend to be My First Diablo Clone, but knows what players are looking for. It shows the level of detail that Runic Games put into this game, and that they really wanted you to come, stay and get cozy."
Community review by JoeTheDestroyer (February 16, 2011)
Rumor has it that Joe is not actually a man, but a machine that likes video games, horror movies, and long walks on the beach. His/Its first contribution to HonestGamers was a review of Breath of Fire III.
More Reviews by JoeTheDestroyer [+]
If you enjoyed this Torchlight review, you're encouraged to discuss it with the author and with other members of the site's community. If you don't already have an HonestGamers account, you can sign up for one in a snap. Thank you for reading!
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Skip to comments.White House disses Drudge Report: Be mindful of your sources
Posted on 08/07/2012 10:57:14 AM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
During the White House Press Briefing today, Press Secretary Jay Carney told a reporter to be mindful of your sources when asked about the Drudge Report article reporting that Mitt Romney was considering selecting former Army General and current CIA Director David Petraeus as his running mate.
The report asserted that President Obama privately told a top fundraiser that Romney was considering it.
I can say with absolute confidence, such an assertion has never been uttered by the president. Carney said. And again be mindful of your sources."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Was he talking about Harry Reid?
Right, Carney. Trying to dis the source who was pivotal in breaking the Lewinsky WH scandal. Drudge probably knows every time Jay Carney takes Bo for walk.
That's funny cause Drudge is mostly Just a clearing house of news reports with a list of almost every news organization... he simply features top news reports and puts a headline spin on 'em...
Perhaps Obama thinks that we should be watching NBCABCCBS or reading the New York Times for the most accurate news coverage?
(Do I really need the /s?)
The thought occurred to me that the libs must be very frustrated that controlling the old "mainstream media" is no longer enough to brainwash the entire population.
This is a confidence game, eh?
I'm just as confident about this as I was about the Churchill bust.
In this case, the story is a Drudge exclusive, currently headlined on his site:
Drudge is in the tank for Romney, but I'd certainly believe him on this before I'd believe Obama or his shills—not that Petraeus is necessarily going to get the nod, but that Obama said he was.
Petraeus is NOT a conservative, although he was popular among them for a time. But he showed quite a different side, working for Obama in Afghanistan.
any pools on when it will be retracted?
Does this mean Petraeus is also a RINO?.....
Drudge just pulls stuff out of his hat. He decided for whatever reason that Petraus should be VP so he made this up to get people talking about it.
Since Colin Powell emerged on the scene the general officer corps has been loaded with politicians. Many of the field grade officers of the Clinton era are no doubt filing the top ranks of all services. Petraeus didn't become a 4 star general or head of the CIA without considerable political skills and very good friends in high places.
Much as we would desire a pure meritocracy, most people who rise to the top of large organizations (government, military, corporations, journalism, academia) know first how to win friends and influence people. As we've see with the current President of the United States, actual accomplishments are not required to achieve elective office. We should not forget the same President who appointed Mr. Petraeus also appointed Van Jones, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotamayor, Hillary Clinton, Leon Panetta, Janet Napolitano, Kathleen Sabelius, Cass Sunstein, and Steven Chu to some of the highest offices in the nation. While I would like to believe Mr. Petraeus was appointed purely on the basis of his accomplishments during his military career, the track record of this administration would lead one to believe his political philosophy must be in alignment with the President. Therefore, Romney choosing Petraeus as his VP candidate would tend to confirm suspicions of many conservatives about the true nature and agenda of the Republican Party.
True any that think the Clintoons are not exactly as left-wing Marxist as Obama are delusional..
And not a few republicans as well... like Richard Luger.. and the Maine bobsie twins.. not to speak of Juan McLaim and probably Graham..
"Drudge probably knows every time Jay Carney takes Bo for walk."
Don't you have that backward? I'm pretty sure that Bo is much smarter than Carney.
Monkey do as monkey see: Romney should SEAL his Federal and State Tax Records.
Do you think Petreaus was "working for obama" in Afghanistan??? or working for AMERICA
Seems like his arm was twisted pretty good by an administration deperate not to lose outright and unwilling to admit that bush's surge was the right thing to do in Iraq
and a good soldier never leaves his comrades behind
You are so correct.
Obama has his teleprompter, Carey has Bo to help with the answers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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EMI Hires Another Techie Into Senior Management; Co-Founder Of Second Life Joins The Team
from the stepping-in-the-right-direction deptNormally, I tend to think of big media companies hiring a "Chief Digital Officer" as being severely misguided. That's because thinking "digitally" isn't a separate job function or a separate department these days. It should permeate across the business -- and assigning it to one exec pretty much guarantees that the rest of the company now thinks that it isn't their problem to think about how new technologies impact their business strategy. However, record label EMI is making some news lately, and has now hired Second Life co-founder Cory Ondrejka to be its VP of digital strategy. Combined with the fact that EMI also recently hired Google's former CIO Doug Merrill, it makes you wonder if the company really is taking the importance of technology seriously in establishing its business strategy. It remains to be seen if the company really is taking the time to understand these concepts across its business, or if it's pigeonholing "the tech guys" into limited roles. No matter what, it's worth watching to see if a major record label really can evolve and adapt to the changing market.
Filed Under: cory ondrejka, douglas merritt, record labels, technology
Companies: emi, second life


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Flashfox wrote:I started seeing a problem with Barca 2.8 in Windows 7 Pro x86. At random times, I get a "Socket 6" error and it persists until I restart Barca (not the computer). My AV/FW software is AVG IS 10.x but the problem started when I was running AVG IS 9.x. Any ideas why this might be occurring?
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(CNN) - Sen. Carl Levin, the powerful chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday he would like the Armed Forces Network to drop the controversial Rush Limbaugh program from its service that provides radio and television shows to U.S. service members around the world.
"I would hope the people that run it see just how offensive this is and drop it on their own volition," Levin told CNN in an exclusive interview in the Capitol.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
Listen to the interview:
Levin's comments come in the wake of a widening uproar over Limbaugh's characterization of a young female law student as a "slut" and a "prostitute" for advocating insurance coverage of contraceptives.
The Pentagon said Monday the Defense Department currently has no plans to stop broadcasting the show. DOD's policy is to broadcast shows that "reflect a wide range" of opinion, said Pentagon press secretary George Little.
Levin, a generally liberal Democrat from Michigan whose top spot on Armed Services makes him very influential inside the Pentagon, said he would "love" to see the program dropped, but he doesn't think it should be up to Congress to pass a law to make it happen.
"I think that is probably an issue that should be left to the folks that run that network," he said. "In other words, I'd love to see them drop it but I don't think I'd legislate it."
The liberal leaning advocacy group Vote Vets and other progressive voices in the blogosphere have called for the AFN to drop Limbaugh's program.
Levin said he was "delighted" so many advertisers had pulled their commercials from the program.
Also see:
'Joe the Plumber' wins GOP primary in Ohio
In battle of incumbents, Kucinich loses House seat in Ohio
Thank you Sen. Carl Levin!
Taking him off military radio is a great idea. Rush spouts his distaste for the administration all day, every day and members of our military hear it. Much of what he says can be termed seditious or maybe even treasonous. Should young members of our military be listening to that? He can rant all he wants about Obama but he is the president and, as such, the Commander in Chief. But perhaps more importantly, his views of women are not appropriate for our younger troops to be exposed to. He wants the young woman to show videos of her private life. God help us
just turn off the radio or change the channel..... dont like limbaugh ,, but stop the government control senator..work on jobs...
this story is over. Rush survived as he should. The next step tio this is to expose how radical Fluke is
Rush needs to be fired from his show.disgusting behavior.
Wait. Does the Pentagon pay for this program? Probably not. Or, which advertisers buy ads for this market of military personnel. Target them instead! How does this market work?
I haven't heard Rush Limbaugh apologize to his listeners for LYING to them. THE LISTENERS did not recieve an apology for his RANTING MISINFORMATION about Ms. Flukes testimony.
We have heard several times that the women in the military have to deal with rape and deal with disrespect. That goes for those that are gay. How does Rush think his behaviour feeds into this problem? I believe he has been hurtful, hateful and venomous. Not only disrespecting our President, who is the Commander-in-Chief voted in by the citizens of this country but, many others who do not KISS his ring. I don't agree with everything ANY President does and I defend free speech but, I don't defend lying and purposeful distortion of domestic and international policies whose results cause confusion and put our troops in the middle.
I am a mother of military men and I believe he is truly a national nightmare and doesn't care if his LYING comments hurt their efforts at home and aboard.
Pull the plug on this guy. Just because someone calls him or herself a patriot DOESN"T MAKE IT SO!!
That's right Mr. Senator, prevent the military man and woman from being able to hear free speech! How about suggesting you senators serve only one term and then retire w/o pay and benefits? Mr. Limbaugh said what needed to be said. We as americans are entitled to listen to hom or not. So, go do something more constrctive, like saving money and creating jobs!
"DOD's policy is to broadcast shows that "reflect a wide range" of opinion..." - Umm, the show doesn't reflect a wide range of opinion, it only reflects an extreme right-wing opinion, including intolerance and hatred of other American citizens. Limbaugh truly is a worthless, bigoted pig.
Go get em levin!
Where was his moral voice when Bill Maher was saying vile and obscene comments about Sarah Palin?
So far, no one, absolutely NO ONE, has addressed Rush Limbaugh's basic premise though. Derisive language aside, the question remains unanswered: Why should the Federal government subsidize ANYONE'S promiscuous behavior???
Mr. Limbaugh is an embarrassment to what the USA stands for. He has nothing positive going for him and his deep inferiority complex due to his weight and lack of high education make him act like the person he is right now. Mr. Limbaugh is to radio shows what Mr. Oral Roberts was for religion.
It may be a good idea for the DOD to consider dropping Mr. Limbaugh and other similar voices from its network, left or right. Mr. Limbaugh's is a message of hate which stirs irrational passions in people who listen to him regularly. I see that hate come to rest in people in the civilian world who are exposed to a larger range of ideas. If it affects those in the civilian world my guess is that it would have greater effect on men and women who live in a sheltered, authoritarian society. They have been trained to accept authority without question. They are more likely to see Mr. Limbaugh as an authority figure and more easily accept his theme of hate toward government. I have seen the contempt for civilian authority first hand when I served during the Vietnam conflict. Of course, I do admit that I am no longer living among the troops and my concerns are premised upon my own experience in the military. I would like to hear from those who are serving or have recently served.
the jewish propaganda machine wants to eliminate all other competition... which includes rush limbaugh
There are only minor changes but nothing is going to happen to Limbaugh substantially. He will continue to make money from the advertisers. The jumping ship of the some advertisers is just a sugar coating that has been used to calm down the anger.
Where was Levin when Bill Maher called Sarah Palin the "C" word and other choice names? Where was Levin when Ed Schultz called Laura Ingraham a slut? Come on, liberals have a double standard and they have no right to call out anyone on the conservative side. This is all about squashing conservative opinions completely, which is a total assault on our Constitution!


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Scoreless week earns Masterson AL honors
Indians ace named Player of the Week after throwing back-to-back gems
Indians ace Justin Masterson was named the American League Player of the Week after throwing two scoreless outings last week.
Masterson went 2-0 with a spotless 0.00 ERA, 20 strikeouts and five walks over 16 innings to claim his first weekly honor and the first for an Indians pitcher since CC Sabathia in 2008. Masterson is the second Cleveland player to earn the recognition this month after teammate Ryan Raburn won the award for the week ending May 5.
"I think every pitcher's confident," Masterson said of how he's feeling lately. "They're confident in their abilities and when they go out there every time, there's no point in getting overconfident, because this game will humble you quickly. But, definitely out there, working with Carlos [Santana], we're putting down the right fingers and [we're] on the same page for the most part."
Masterson was tops in the Majors in strikeouts and tied for first in wins, ERA and innings pitched last week. He became the first Indians pitcher to record multiple 1-0 shutouts in the same season when he beat the Yankees on Monday at Progressive Field. Bud Black and Greg Swindell each did it in 1989.
Masterson then outdueled Felix Hernandez on Sunday with a season-high 11 strikeouts over seven shutout innings as the Tribe beat Seattle, 6-0. It was Cleveland's 20th win in its last 27 games.
"I think last year when he had some of those outings where things kind of got away in a hurry, he had trouble reeling it back in," said manager Terry Francona. "Now, maybe instead of an inning, it's a hitter. His stuff is dominant also. He's been consistent but consistent at a level that's just -- his velocity, his breaking ball, ability to hold runners -- he's just done everything."
Masterson has beaten three former Cy Young Award winners this year -- R.A. Dickey, David Price and Hernandez. Masterson leads the Majors with 70 innings pitched.


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Ferroli Boiler Repair Birmingham
Are you experiencing problems with your Ferroli boiler? At Boilers Worcester we specialise in Ferroli boiler repair Birmingham. Having hot water and heating is essential in any household whether you have a family to look after or even if you are living on your own. Just like all boilers, Ferroli boilers require regular servicing and from time to time repairs will be needed to keep your central heating system efficient.
Common issues boilers like Ferroli experience include some of the following:
- No heat or hot water
- Leaking and dripping
- Strange banging, whistling or gurgling noises
- Pilot light goes out
- Lose of pressure
- Frozen condensate pipes (more regular in the winter)
- Thermostat issues
- Kettling
If you are experiencing any of the above issues with your boiler then there is no need to panic! Boilers can fail at any time which is why it is vital to look after your boiler, Ferroli boiler repair Birmingham is one phone call away…
Ferroli Boiler Broken Down
If your Ferroli boiler has broken down out of the blue you can rely Boilers Worcester's Ferroli boiler repair Birmingham. We do not have a call out fee and we don't charged by the hour, if the price you are quoted is the price you will pay with no hidden fees. Our team is full of Gas Safe Registered engineers ensuring you that we are the best for the job. If by any chance your faulty boiler requires a new part you will be given a written quote on the day and you can also add our Ferroli boiler service to the call out if you require one.
If you have any questions regarding our Ferroli boiler repair Birmingham service then please call our team on 0121 706 2888, alternately you can fill in our contact form for a response.


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Welcome to IMAGE 3.0 Documentation
IMAGE is an Integrated Model to Assess the Global Environment.
The IMAGE modelling framework has been developed by the IMAGE team under the authority of PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. IMAGE is documented on this website (including updates) and in the IMAGE 3.0 book. In 2014, IMAGE has been reviewed by an international advisory board (International review of IMAGE3.0). The development strategy for the period 2015-2020 is elaborated in the IMAGE strategy document.
What is IMAGE?
IMAGE is an ecological-environmental model framework that simulates the environmental consequences of human activities worldwide. It represents interactions between society, the biosphere and the climate system to assess sustainability issues such as climate change, biodiversity and human well-being. The objective of the IMAGE model (version , released in 2014) is to explore the long-term dynamics and impacts of global changes that result from interacting socio-economic and environmental factors.
Below, we briefly indicate some of the information available on this website.
To become acquainted with the IMAGE framework:
- Introduction to the framework and Integrated Assessment Modelling.
- Framework summary of drivers, models, impacts and policy responses.
Policy-related pages:
- Climate policy, Air pollution and energy policies and Land and biodiversity policies comprise the policy response components.
- Policy interventions overview provides access to the Policy issues pages of the models.
- Projects/applications overview links to projects in which the IMAGE framework has been applied.
Model-related pages:
- Model components overview links to all components (e.g. drivers, core models, impact models and policy responses).
- Data flow overview links to the input/output of all components.
Assessment-related pages:
Availability of data results
- The Download page explains how to download and use the User Support System (USS) for IMAGE scenarios. USS is a viewer showing the scenario indicators (>200) of a number of projects.
- At IIASA (RCP Database (version 2.0)) the IMAGE scenario results are part of the model set. At this website many indicators can be viewed and compared.
Availability of models
Most of the models, currently, are not available as downloadable software. They are too complex and require expert use.
The IMAGE 3.0 book
The contents of this website originates from the IMAGE 3.0 book. The website extends and actualises all information on the IMAGE framework.
What's new in IMAGE 3.0
☛ What's new in IMAGE 3.0 summarises the changes towards IMAGE 2.5.


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Stats junkies: here's more data on the end of the hit-driven music economy.
A few weeks ago I posted this chart on the number of Gold (over 500,000 sold), Platinum (1-2 million), Multi-Platinum (2-10 million) and Diamond (10 million and up) albums since 1958:
Many of you asked to see these numbers as a proportion of total music sales, to eliminate the distorting effect of the overall growth of the music industry over that period. I finally got good sales data for the pre-Soundscan (1993) period, so here you go, with a nice polynomial curve fit to highlight the trends [UPDATE: I've clarified the Y axis units; it's hits/total $s]:
Here's the underlying data, in spreadsheet form. The RIAA database this is drawn from is fascinating, and if I had more time I'd be running more queries on trends in genre, sales velocity, and the changing breakdowns between gold, platinum and multiplatinum. But I don't, so I'll leave that as an exercise, as they say. If you do it and find something interesting, ping me and I'll link to it.


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Vladimir Lifschitz, Wanwan Ren
Action description language C+ is more expressive than ADL in many ways; for instance, it addresses the ramification problem. On the other hand, ADL is based on first-order logic, while C+ is only propositional; expressions with variables, which are frequently used when action domains are described in C+, are merely schemas describing finite sets of causal laws that are formed according to the same pattern. In this paper we propose a new approach to the semantics of action descriptions with variables that combines attractive features of ADL and C+.
Subjects: 3.3 Nonmonotonic Reasoning; 5. Common Sense Reasoning
Submitted: Apr 24, 2007
This page is copyrighted by AAAI. All rights reserved. Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of all of AAAI's terms and conditions and privacy policy.


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Via the inimitable Pat Kiernan, yesterday's mass mob arrests in the New York area have unearthed some fantastic new mob nicknames. As a group, mafia types really excel at the nickname, perhaps even more than ballplayers; today I thought I'd try to merge the two genres. Herewith, actual mob nicknames from the Daily News, and their imaginary position on the baseball diamond:
Tony Bagels
Two good options here: the reliable ace who keeps putting zeros up on the scoreboard, or the hapless rookie still hitting .000 two weeks into his first stint in the majors.
The Claw
Jack the Whack
Dumb-as-a-post platooned corner outfielder who plays unfortunate defense but, at the plate, runs into one every so often and hits it to the next county.
Fat Larry
Elder-statesman DH beloved by teammates and groupies coast-to-coast.
Baby Fat
Fat Larry's younger brother, a perenially disappointing 3B who would be more suited to DH but is just not a good enough hitter.
Popular hefty lefty starting pitcher.
This would work for like 40% of all Major League players, actually.
Vinny Carwash
Middle reliever who's nothing to write home about except for his one truly fantastic secondary pitch, probably a changeup.
Junior Lollipops
Light-hitting shortstop who plays just good enough defense and smacks just enough seeing-eye singles to stay in the league basically forever.
Ancient first base coach famous for his heckling gifts with regards to opponents and umps.
The Beard
I did not know Brian Wilson was a member of the Genovese crime family.
You know what? I'm not going to make fun of anyone nicknamed Nighthawk. Likely not someone you want to mess with.
Baby Shacks
Former Rookie of the Year 2B who never lives up to the hype.
Johnny Glasses
Grouchy veteran umpire.


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Lynnae M. Ruttledge Confirmed as Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration, U.S. Department of Education.
Lynnae M. Ruttledge has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration, U.S. Department of Education, on Dec. 24, 2009. Ruttledge had served as the director of the Washington Department of Social and Health Service, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation since 2005. She was responsible for leading Washington's vocational rehabilitation program, working annually with more than 23,000 individuals with significant disabilities to achieve their vocational goals. Previously, Ruttledge served in leadership positions at the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services for more than 17 years. Ruttledge began her public service career in Michigan as a classroom teacher in the public school system. She has received numerous recognitions and awards including serving as a Mary E. Switzer Scholar on Emerging Workforce Issues with the National Rehabilitation Association in 2000 and being honored with the Oregon Governor's Award as Disabled Oregonian of the Year in 2000 and the Washington Governor's Award for Leadership in Management in 2007. As a person born with a disability, Ruttledge received assistance from the vocational rehabilitation program and graduated from the Northern Michigan University with a B.S. in Education.
(December 24, 2009)
Alexa E. Posny, Confirmed by the Senate as Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan congratulated Alexa E. Posny for being confirmed by the Senate on Monday, Oct. 5 as assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services.
Posny comes to the department from Kansas where she served as commissioner of education for the state. As commissioner, Posny was responsible for helping over 450,000 students meet or exceed high academic standards, licensing over 45,000 teachers and overseeing a state education budget of more than $4.5 billion. Prior to her work as commissioner, Posny served as the director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for the U.S. Department of Education, a position in which she assisted state and local efforts to effectively educate all children and youth with disabilities. Posny has also served as the Kansas deputy commissioner of education, Kansas state director of special education, director of special education for the Shawnee Mission School District, director of the Curriculum and Instruction Specialty Option as part of the Title I Technical Assistance Center (TAC) network of TACs across the United States, and a senior research associate at Research and Training Associates in Overland Park, Kan. Posny earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, a master's degree in behavioral disabilities and a doctorate in educational administration both from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Posny has also served on the Board of Directors for the Chief State School Officers, the National Council for Learning Disabilities, and chaired the National Assessment Governing Board's Special Education Task Force. Posny has also been a teacher at the elementary, middle school, high school and university levels.
(October 8, 2009)
October is Disability Employment Awareness Month
Expectation + Opportunity = Full Participation!
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today issued the following statement in support of President Obama's proclamation of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month:
"President Obama and I recognize the critical role that education plays in empowering the next generation of Americans with disabilities. Through education, we can help people with disabilities build a strong foundation of knowledge and marketable skills with expectations for employment and the ability to give back to others in their communities. Stimulus funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act represents an unprecedented investment in students with disabilities and demonstrates the administration's commitment to helping all Americans achieve success in school and work. We are proud of the many projects underway at the Department of Education to assist children and adults with disabilities in acquiring the tools they need to achieve their dreams," Secretary Duncan said.
To celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) will feature innovative, employment-based projects and individual success stories on http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/deam-2009.
In addition, the office will join the Department of Labor, Social Security Administration and other federal agencies for a celebration sponsored by the American Association of People with Disabilities Oct. 12-13 in Duluth, Minn., highlighting the importance of exposing youth with disabilities to work-based learning and job shadowing opportunities. OSERS staff will be gathering input in coming weeks from parents, educators, students with disabilities and others to inform work on upcoming legislative reauthorizations and issues of importance to students with disabilities.
(October 6, 2009)
Transition Activities in OSERS
Over the last four decades, the transition of youths with disabilities from school to productive adulthood has received high priority from OSERS' Office of the Assistant Secretary (OAS) and all three program components within OSERS: the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). These offices award discretionary and formula grants to states, and execute regulatory and policy guidance in an effort to have a successful impact on education and employment outcomes for youths with disabilities. To build upon this priority and the history of accomplishments among the program components, the OSERS Transition Steering Committee (Steering Committee) was established. OAS and all three program components of OSERS are represented on the Steering Committee. The purpose of the Steering Committee is to facilitate the collaborative efforts of OSERS to improve outcomes for youths with disabilities in their transition from secondary school to adulthood. One of the Steering Committee's first activities was the development and dissemination of Transition Activities in OSERS.
Transition Activities in OSERS describes past, present and upcoming OSERS transition activities, such as projects supporting youths with disabilities served by state agencies, written products offering technical assistance and OSERS-sponsored conferences facilitating the exchange of information among transition partners. It is intended to be used as a working document to broaden awareness of OSERS transition activities and includes link offering more detailed information whenever possible.
(August 19, 2009)
Determination Letters on State Implementation of IDEA
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services released state determinations on the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for Part B and Part C for fiscal year 2007. The 2004 amendments to the IDEA require each state to develop a State Performance Plan (SPP) that evaluates the state's efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of the IDEA, and describes how the state will improve its implementation. The SPP includes baseline data, measurable and rigorous targets, and improvement activities for 20 indicators such as graduation rate, dropout rate, participation and performance on assessments, meeting evaluation timelines, and ensuring that complaints and hearings are resolved within required timelines.
(June 2, 2009)
Duncan Hails Passage of President's Stimulus Package, Cites "Historic Opportunity to Create Jobs and Advance Reform"
Education Secretary Arne Duncan today called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) a "historic opportunity to create jobs and advance education reform." He credited the "leadership of the President and the Congress in laying groundwork for a generation of education reform and economic opportunity."
The ARRA provides more than $100 billion in education funding and college grants and tuition tax credits, as well as billions more for school modernization. It includes:
- $12 billion for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs.
- $5 billion for Early Childhood, including Head Start, early Head Start, child care block grants, and programs for infants with disabilities. (Includes Department of Health and Human Services programs).
(February 18, 2009)


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Aviation Wrongful Death: $1,837,500
See our Prior Results above for other settlements and verdicts.
This case result is by no means a guarantee of a specific dollar amount for your case. Each case is different, and we will do everything we can to get you the appropriate recovery for your case. The amounts stated are before deductions for attorney's fees and case related costs and payments, if any, to medical providers, health insurers, Medicaid or Medicare.


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Some recent developments have highlighted the contrasting systems.
Ancestry.com continues to expand by acquiring and partnering with smaller companies. As Ancestry.com's new web page explains they are developing a whole new area of DNA testing and partnering with Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation.
In March, Ancestry.com DNA, LLC acquired access to an extensive collection of DNA assets from Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, a non-profit organization. Founded by molecular genealogy pioneer, James LeVoy Sorenson, this organization has been dedicated to building the world's foremost collection of DNA samples and corresponding genealogical information. Over the last 12 years, the Sorenson Foundation collected a one-of-a-kind DNA database of tens of thousands of DNA samples with documented family histories in more than 100 countries on six continents. This DNA database gives AncestryDNA test-takers an expanded family history genetic resource, and should enable new levels of discovery about people's family backgroundsFamilySearch is in the process of expanding into a new product called Family Tree while at the same time making available millions upon millions of digitized source documents. FamilySearch has also recently released some information about a new website called Poindexter.
MyHeritage.com has recently acquired WorldVitalRecords.com and other acquisitions.
It is apparent that all three are expanding rapidly in both hosting of user generated family trees and in providing other websites and services.
Recently, there were some comments in the blog posts about a new organization called the Family History Information Standards Organization, Inc. or FHISO. The entity was organized as a non-profit corporation in Arizona on March 5, 2012. The new organization's website has little information other than links to BetterGEDCOM. FHISO is described on its website as:
FHISO is community owned. The organization will not sell stock; rather, those in the community "join" and become members of FHISO. The membership elects officers and board members; members also approve changes to the FHISO bylaws and articles of incorporation.The statements go on to say:
BetterGEDCOM has been, and will continue to be, an open forum for the exchange of ideas about different aspects of technology and standardization. Many of those ideas are at the stage where they will need a more structured and organised environment to come to fruition; FHISO will provide that environment.At about this same time, FamilySearch formally announced its involvement with GEDCOM X at RootsTech 2012.
The establishment of FHISO signals neither the replacement nor the end of BetterGEDCOM. FHISO will be the sponsor of the BetterGEDCOM wiki. The future role and function of the wiki will be determined as FHISO further documents its forum requirements.
Concurrently with the announcement of the FHISO, Ancestry.com apparently agreed to become a founding member of FHISO according to Dick Eastman.
So we have Ancestry.com in the BetterGEDCOM camp and FamilySearch in the GEDCOM X corner of the ring. I have yet to see where MyHeritage.com weighs in on the issue.
What is at stake is the future of genealogists to move their information from one database to another. The open questions begin with whether or not the two different standards that are evolving will have any compatibility? Will you be able to move your genealogical data from an Ancestry.com or MyHeritage.com format to FamiySearch and back?


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Blocking of access to social networking sites.
By: Dave le Roux on: Wed 06 of Aug, 2008 [09:05 UTC] (510648 reads)
Access to social networking sites from Unisa has been blocked. Due to reports of worms using these sites to spread through the user communities hosted on such site. It has been decided that a temporary block will be placed on these sites until the situation can be better assessed.
These sites currently include ...
Face book
My space
Featured links


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Center upgrades add punch to loaded Central Divisionby Corey Masisak / Chicago Blackhawks
|The Central Division will be home once again to dominant centers including Jonathan Toews and Paul Stastny (Getty Images).
The Central Division has been the center of attention in the NHL this offseason.
Nearly every team in the division has upgraded at the center position, and the two that didn't, the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild, will likely be moving one of the top young players in the League to the middle on a more permanent basis.
The result of a flurry of trades and signings has the Central looking like the toughest division in the NHL for the 2014-15 season. Though the Chicago Blackhawks still look like the leader of the group, they finished third in the division standings last season and might only have the fourth- or even fifth-best collection of centers despite the presence of all-world pivot Jonathan Toews.
Five teams made the postseason in 2013-14 and the Nashville Predators missed by three points. Any of those six teams will be confident they can be a playoff team in the coming season, and 95 points might not be out of the question for any of them.
Here is a breakdown of what the seven Central Division teams have done so far this offseason and how the additions or subtractions could affect their lineup for the 2014-15 season:
Note: The additions, re-signed players, still unsigned players and subtractions pertain only to the NHL roster. The money figures are according to CapGeek.com or have been provided by the club.
Additions: Jarome Iginla, Daniel Briere, Brad Stuart, Bruno Gervais, Zach Redmond, Jesse Winchester
Re-signed: Nick Holden
Still unsigned: Ryan O'Reilly (RFA), Tyson Barrie (RFA), Stefan Elliott (RFA), Andre Benoit (UFA), Cory Sarich (UFA)
Subtractions: Paul Stastny (St. Louis Blues), P.A. Parenteau (Montreal Canadiens), Matt Hunwick (New York Rangers), Brad Malone (Carolina Hurricanes)
The Avalanche lost the top center on the market, but will replace him by either shifting Nathan MacKinnon or O'Reilly to center. If Colorado had a little more depth on the wings, putting them at center (assuming O'Reilly stays with the team) along with Matt Duchene would make the Avalanche one of the best in the League at the position.
That would possibly help Colorado's puck possession problem, which eventually caught up to the Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Colorado had fewer than 48 percent of the shot attempts, but scored more than 53 percent of its goals at even strength during the regular season through a combination of a high team shooting percentage and outstanding goaltending from previously inconsistent Semyon Varlamov.
Losing Stastny and Parenteau, the two best possession forwards in 2013-14, and replacing them with Iginla and Briere, isn't going to solve the problem. Adding Stuart on defense certainly won't either. The fourth line was an anchor last season, and Winchester isn't likely to have a dramatic effect.
The depth on defense remains an issue, though playing Tyson Barrie more would help. Varlamov is going to need to be great again, and given the tutelage of Francois Allaire and Patrick Roy he might be.
Additions: Paul Stastny, Jori Lehtera, Joakim Lindstrom, Carl Gunnarsson
Re-signed: Patrik Berglund, Brian Elliott
Still unsigned: Vladimir Sobotka (RFA), Jaden Schwartz (RFA), Brenden Morrow (UFA), Steve Ott (UFA), Derek Roy (UFA)
Subtractions: Ryan Miller (Vancouver Canucks), Adam Cracknell (Los Angeles Kings), Roman Polak (Toronto Maple Leafs)
The Blues had one of the deepest groups of forwards last season, but the offense went dry during a first-round series with the Blackhawks. Enter Stastny and Lehtera to try and help fix that problem.
David Backes and Berglund could shift to the wing, and the Blues' forward group now looks downright scary. It might have been better naturally, with improvements from Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko (though Schwartz could be in for some shooting percentage regression at both the individual and team levels).
Swapping Polak for Gunnarsson might make one of the best defense corps in the League slightly better as well. Polak was one of the worst possession players on the Blues, and Gunnarsson's raw numbers look bad but not as much in the context of the Toronto Maple Leafs' struggles.
Goaltending will be in focus, because the Blues might have one of the best collections of 18 skaters in the NHL, but Elliott and Jake Allen will have to prove they can help this team deep into the playoffs.
Additions: Brad Richards, Kyle Cumiskey
Re-signed: Jeremy Morin, Ben Smith, Peter Regin, Antti Raanta
Still unsigned: Pierre-Marc Bouchard (UFA), Sheldon Brookbank (UFA), Michal Handzus (UFA), Nikolai Khabibulin (UFA)
Subtractions: Brandon Bollig (Calgary Flames)
The Blackhawks were one goal from the Stanley Cup Final, where they would have been heavy favorites to win the Stanley Cup for the third time in five seasons. Instead, they watched the Los Angeles Kings win again and cement the two franchises as the NHL's current superpowers.
Los Angeles had one clear advantage against Chicago, and that was down the middle. Richards could help close that gap. He struggled against the Kings in the Cup Final, but should be an upgrade from Handzus. Uber-prospect Teuvo Teravainen might help eventually as well.
Otherwise, things are pretty much status quo. Getting a third-round pick for Bollig was a great deal. The big thing this summer for general manager Stan Bowman is trying to finalize extensions for Toews and Patrick Kane. If that happens, Chicago's place as a top Cup contender will be secure for years to come.
Additions: Thomas Vanek
Re-signed: None
Still unsigned: Jonathon Blum (RFA), Justin Fontaine (RFA), Darcy Kuemper (RFA), Nino Niederreiter (RFA), Jason Zucker (RFA), Ilya Bryzgalov (UFA), Dany Heatley (UFA), Nate Prosser (UFA), Michael Rupp (UFA)
Subtractions: Matt Moulson (Buffalo Sabres), Clayton Stoner (Anaheim Ducks), Cody McCormick (Buffalo Sabres)
Adding Vanek gives the Wild even more offensive punch. The top two lines will likely include Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu, Vanek, Jason Pominville, Charlie Coyle and Mikael Granlund, which is among the elite groups in the League.
There is depth behind them as well, with younger players like Erik Haula and Nino Niederreiter. Losing Stoner will not hurt the defense corps, and adding a top young prospect like Mathew Dumba could be an upgrade.
Like the Blues, there are questions in goal for the Wild. Josh Harding played great and was an amazing story last season, but missed a lot of it because of his illness (multiple sclerosis). Niklas Backstrom has struggled to stay healthy. Kuemper looked like a future No. 1 goaltender at times during his rookie season.
Additions: Jason Spezza, Ales Hemsky, Anders Lindback
Re-signed: Vernon Fiddler
Still unsigned: Brenden Dillon (RFA), Cody Eakin (RFA), Antoine Roussel (RFA), Ray Whitney (UFA), Tim Thomas (UFA)
Subtractions: Alex Chaisson (Ottawa Senators)
Expectations are going to be a lot different in year two of the Jim Nill era in Dallas. After completing maybe the best trade of the offseason before 2013-14 by adding budding superstar Tyler Seguin, Nill acquired Spezza to play behind him.
Add in Hemsky, and the Stars suddenly have a potentially great second line to support Seguin, Jamie Benn and Valeri Nichushkin. Eakin can slide to the third line, and with Fiddler back, not to mention backup options like Shawn Horcoff and even Nichushkin, the Stars are loaded at center.
What might prevent Dallas from being ready to roll through the Western Conference is the defense corps. It will be the same group as last season, though a young guy like Jamie Oleksiak or Brenden Dillon could certainly improve. If Nill goes hunting for help later this offseason or near the trade deadline, expect it to be on the blue line.
Additions: James Neal, Olli Jokinen, Anton Volchenkov
Re-signed: Carter Hutton
Still unsigned: Taylor Beck (RFA), Mattias Ekholm (RFA), Ryan Ellis (RFA), Michael Del Zotto (UFA)
Subtractions: Patric Hornqvist (Pittsburgh Penguins), Nick Spaling (Pittsburgh Penguins)
The spending spree last offseason didn't yield positive returns, but trading for Neal and adding Jokinen might in 2014-15. Neal gives the Predators a dynamic scorer they've lacked.
Jokinen isn't flashy, but he'll make Nashville a little better down the middle. General manager David Poile has reportedly been interested in other centers as well. Full seasons for Filip Forsberg and Calle Jarnkrok could also give the offense a little extra juice.
Having Pekka Rinne back and healthy is another big reason for optimism in the Music City. He can be the best goaltender in the division, and Nashville had problems at the position without him last season.
The Predators will look pretty similar on defense, but any gains made by Seth Jones in his second season could help them be better as well.
Additions: Mathieu Perreault
Re-signed: Chris Thorburn, Adam Pardy, Michael Hutchinson
Still unsigned: Michael Frolik (RFA), Patrice Cormier (RFA), Carl Klingberg (RFA), Devin Setoguchi (UFA), Matt Halischuk (UFA)
Subtractions: Olli Jokinen (Nashville Predators), Al Montoya (Florida Panthers), Zach Redmond (Colorado Avalanche)
The Jets were only four points behind the Predators (and seven back of the Stars) last season, and there's a good chance Perreault is an upgrade over Jokinen. That said, the other teams in this division have all made significant upgrades while this has been a relatively quiet offseason for Winnipeg.
Perreault will help at center, as will continued development and maturation from Mark Scheifele. A step forward for Jacob Trouba could make the defense corps better as well. Where Dustin Byfuglien plays will also be something to monitor in training camp.
Michael Hutchinson had a strong Calder Cup Playoffs run with St. John's and could be in line to be the No. 2 behind starting goalie Ondrej Pavelec.


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Hi all,
I browsed thru docs API, I have an doubt whether sencha touch supports SOAP type of web service. when i went thru the docs I could see only proxies for AJAX, JSON.
anyone knows how to access soap requests in ST. OR any plugin available??
Please reply.
In some posts i have seen like ST does not support SOAP.


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Facebook is all fun and games on the iPhone; and why shouldn't it be? you've got scores ways to disseminate your preferences and personal information to the web, all through the lens of 'social networking'. It wasn't always that way though, and in lieu of recent official decisions such as the Digital Economy Act, the sharing of personal information makes loads of sense, at least from a witch-hunting perspective. Facebook has had to erode its privacy policies to manage stay on top of the social world; if it hadn't, it'd be snowed under by the next aggressive phishing trend.
Just a friendly reminder to mind your own information whilst farming, mafia'ing, and facing around on the good – and now stodgily pervasive – social network agent.


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Serial Port Terminal 4.1
Serial Port Terminal is a session-based, multi-purpose application that provides simple communication interface to connect to any serial port device.
Connect to a remote computer using null-modem cable, send or receive various types of data over a serial line, redirect input or output data streams into a specified file, monitor data exchange between serial devices, and troubleshoot and test modem settings.
Open as many serial ports as you like; dynamically change serial port settings without necessity to close and reopen current port; adjust baud rate, data bits, parity, stop bits, flow control parameters; and save all received bytes into a file for later analysis. Being a session-based tool, the program allows creation of options set and saving them under individual session names for different hosts. You can not only send, but also receive and view data in hexadecimal format, switch between dump and terminal view modes, which could be very useful for debugging and testing serial port connections. Customizable interface lets you customize program interface to your taste and needs.


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Editor's Note 4/13/16: Sadly, the Grown-Up Grilled Cheese is no longer on the menu at Captain Cook's. It didn't return after the restaurant underwent a recent refurbishment. Read more here.
It's been grilled cheese weather for us out there, and I'm pretty sure it has been for many of you as well! So it's time to put together our list of the Best Grilled Cheese in Disney Restaurants…and I can't wait to hear your additions!
You know we love cheese around here, and Disney has found lots of different ways to be creative with this particular recipe for success.
Let's take a look at our favorites in Disney World and Disneyland!
Walt Disney World Grilled Cheese
Before we catch a flight to California, let's see what's happening, grilled-cheese-wise, at Walt Disney World!
Tomato Bisque and Grilled Cheese at Beaches and Cream
OK, I'll admit that this sammich is currently my #1 at Walt Disney World! I tried it (belatedly) in October and couldn't get enough!
When you're down for the count and need some sustenance to get through your park touring, trust me and head over to Beaches and Cream at Disney's Beach Club Resort for their take on a familiar favorite: Tomato Bisque and Grilled Cheese.
Six flavorful cheeses make up the blend on this amazing entry. And buddied up with sourdough bread and super creamy tomato bisque, this is comfort food perfection.
Grown-Up Grilled Cheese at Captain Cook's
A cult favorite among Disney fans, Captain Cook's at Disney's Polynesian Resort has a must-try entry into the Grilled Cheese category: the Grown-Up Grilled Cheese.
What's so adult about this one? Three cheeses — cheddar, Swiss, and Boursin (Boursin!) — melted together on a hearty sunflower bread give this one the perfect marriage of creamy and nutty. It's lovely.
Croque Monsieur at Be Our Guest Restaurant
Let's head over to Disney World's newest restaurant — Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland — for our third contender!
Be Our Guest features a table service format for dinner, but during lunch hours you'll find a more casual line up, including this delicious Croque Monsieur. I'll have my own review of this goodie coming up very soon!
Thick-carved ham, Gruyere cheese, AND creamy béchamel sauce make this sandwich a must-try.
Get here early (they open at 10:30am for lunch) and treat this one as your late breakfast!
Note that another great Croque Monsieur can be found at Chefs de France in Epcot's France as well!
Disneyland Grilled Cheese
Disneyland has some amazing grilled cheese options…some that you might not expect! Let's check 'em out over on the West Coast!
Jolly Holiday Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
To begin your Disneyland grilled cheese crawl, stop by Jolly Holiday Bakery for their Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup combo.
Three layers of cheese on toasted white bread are cut into three "fingers," perfect for dipping! And the soup is creamy and the perfect accompaniment.
Check out the photo at the top of this post to see the inside!
Cafe Orleans' All-Cheese Monte Cristo
When you'd like to go upscale with your grilled cheese experience, head to Cafe Orleans to try their Three Cheese Monte Cristo.
Three cheeses — Swiss, mozzarella, and double-cream brie — are layered between rich bread, which is deep-fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar. The berry puree dipping sauce takes this straight over the top and into grilled cheese Nirvana.
It's very rich, but well worth the calories (and the nap you'll have to take afterword)!
Cheddar Cheese Stick and Corn Dog Castle at Disney California Adventure
When is a grilled cheese not a sandwich? When it's dipped in cornbread batter and fried like a corndog!
That's right, just when you thought there was nothing original under the sun with retro food favorites, Corn Dog Castle along California Adventure's Paradise Pier proves you wrong with their Cheddar Cheese Stick.
Freshly prepared and perfectly decadent, no conversation about grilled cheese would be complete without this treat.
And now, please excuse me while I hop on a plane. I'm not sure whether I'm headed east or west, but it's time for some Disney grilled cheese! 🙂
I can't wait to hear your favorites!! Leave us a comment with any awesome grilled cheese options you've found in the Disney parks and resorts!


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Organ Transplant Recipient Receiving Anti-Rabies Shots After CDC Confirms Rabies Death in Donor
State and local health departments identifying close contact medical staff
SPRINGFIELD – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced today laboratory testing confirmed a person who died and donated organs in 2011 and one of the organ recipients recently died of rabies. Three other people received organs from the same donor, including one recipient in northeastern Illinois. The recipient has no symptoms of rabies, but has started anti-rabies shots as a precaution. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), along with local health departments, is working to identify any hospital personnel who may need post-exposure prophylaxis, in consultation with CDC.
"There is no ongoing threat of rabies to the public associated with this situation," said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck. "The Illinois Department of Public Health will continue to work with the CDC and local health departments to monitor the health of the Illinois recipient and determine the need for rabies treatment in hospital personnel."
Transmission of rabies from person to person is highly unlikely and only occurs when a person has contact through their eyes, nose, mouth or a break in the skin with saliva, tears or neural tissue (nervous system) of a person infected with rabies.
Transmission of disease via organ transplantation is very rare. The vast majority of transplant-transmitted infections happen within three months of transplantation. People who have had a recent organ transplantation and are concerned about infection should speak with their health care provider.
All potential organ donors in the United States are screened and tested to identify if the donor might present an infectious risk. Organ procurement organizations are responsible for evaluating the suitability of each organ donor. The benefits from transplanted organs generally outweigh the risk for transmission of infectious diseases from screened donors.
Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain if not given anti-rabies shots promptly.
Illinois Department of Public Health
535 West Jefferson Street
Springfield, Illinois 62761
Phone 217-782-4977
Fax 217-782-3987
Questions or Comments


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Hello everyone, and welcome to the Open Forum, which is hosted by Kotaku's reader-run blog, TAY. This is a place to talk about life, video games, or anything else, so feel free to hop in and join in the topic discussion, or comment about anything. Then, when you're done, feel free to peruse the articles on TAY and TAYClassic. Is this your first time on TAY or the Open Forum? Then check out this handy TAYTorial! Also, don't forget the IRC Chatroom. And theDirecTAYry is here for all your contacting needs.
I'm filling in for TUT today—I think he was just having an off day yesterday and forgot. Either way, welcome to the weekend forum. I think these things are kind of known for being on the shorter side of the forum spectrum, so I'll try not to break tradition too hard.
I stayed up kind of late watching the ends of the Ultra Street Fighter IV quarter and semi-finals... some of those were pretty intense. I still regret staying up as late as I did, though, since... well, you know, the video archives are a thing. Not like I couldn't have woken up when I wanted to today and still caught the end of them, you know? But I guess it wouldn't have been nearly as exciting that way.
What are some dumb things you've stayed up way late for, TAY? Talk about it down below.
Always get to bed on time, huh? Well then, feel free to talk about life, love, gaming, or whatever else you desire. The Saturday Open Forum is now open!
Also, be sure to check out some of TAY's fantastic features, such as:


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Spaces & Places
Study Spaces
Quiet Study
The 6th, 7th, and 8th floors of the Reynolds wing are designated as quiet study areas. Individual tables and study nooks give people who need space to concentrate just what they need.
24/7 Study Rooms
Two 24/7 study rooms are located off the library's main entrance. The rooms are available for use by WFU students, faculty, and staff and are open 24 hours, including when the library is closed (Friday and Saturday nights and during university holidays). When the library is closed, access to the 24/7 study rooms is gained by using a current WFU Deacon OneCard as a key card at the library's entrance. The Rhoda K. Channing Reading Room, dedicated to the memory of Rhoda K. Channing, Director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Library from 1989 to 2003, is a 24/7 room to the east of the main entrance. It is open 24 hours while school is in session (summer sessions included), including Friday and Saturday nights. In 2008, the room was renovated to include a full service Starbucks® Coffee Shop.
Students of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine who would like to use the Z. Smith Reynolds Library after hours should go to the Deacon OneCard Office, on the lower level of the Maya Angelou Residence Hall, during regular business hours and request a Deacon OneCard . A WFUSOM ID is necessary to obtain the card. A holder of the Deacon OneCard is provided after hours access to Z. Smith Reynolds Library for the remainder of the time he or she will spend on the medical campus. Access to the Graduate Student Lounge is not allowed, but students can utilize all other study spaces throughout the building.
Rows of tables in an airy, light, central space make this among the most popular spaces for students who want a place to study, read, use their laptops, and spread out, in a quiet yet social setting.
Group Study Rooms
The library has 10 group study rooms for the use of Wake Forest University students only. Three are accessed through the 24/7 Study Rooms at the front of the library, four are located on Reynolds 2, down the hall opposite the Circulation Desk, three more are on Wilson 6. All group study rooms are equipped with a monitor and all have VHS/DVD equipment for small group video viewing. You can book up to two hours per day up to 5 days in advance. WFU username and password are required to make a reservation. Reserve a room today!
Library Room 401
Library Room 401 is located on the 4th floor of the Reynolds wing and has flexible, comfortable furniture to allow for collaboration and study.
Scholars Commons
The Scholars Commons (Reynolds 400) offers over 100 seats with flexible study options, plenty of electrical outlets and increased technology choices. It offers movable marker board tables, longer tables with privacy partitions, and standing height work tables.
Mandelbaum Reading Room
The Mandelbaum Reading Room is located on the 4th floor of the Wilson wing, just beyond the Reference Collection. The room contains the popular current periodicals and newspapers and features comfortable seating, tables, and chairs for individual reading and quiet study. The room honors long time faculty member Dr. Allen Mandelbaum, W.R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Humanities at Wake Forest University, and displays his honors and awards throughout the room.
Johnson Graduate Lounge
The Johnson Graduate Lounge, displaying portraits of Wake Forest University writers, is located on Reynolds 2, beyond the 24/7 Study Room on the right as one enters the library. The room is attractively furnished and houses portraits of Gerald Johnson, A.R. Ammons, W.J. Cash, John Charles McNeill, and Laurence Stallings. The Johnson Graduate Lounge is available for graduate students of the College of Arts and Sciences. Access is available to graduate students by placing the Deacon OneCard at the card reader at the left of the entrance door.
Graduate Student Carrels
The library has 20 small study carrels located on various levels of the Reynolds wing. These are assigned by the Circulation Department for the use of graduate students on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact the Circulation Department to reserve a carrel. All graduate students are required to leave a $20.00 cash deposit.
Library Places
Starbucks® Coffee Shop is located within the Rhoda K. Channing Reading Room. It is a place where students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors can enjoy a full service coffee shop, relax, visit, study, and get wireless access 24/7. (You don't need to have a coffee to study here, but can you resist?) Hot and cold beverages, sandwiches, salads, and baked goods are available. For more information, including hours, see Starbucks on the WFU Dining Services site.
Library Auditorium
The Library Auditorium (Room 404) can be used for movie showings (provided public performance rights are obtained), lectures, or symposia. While it cannot be used as a classroom for an entire semester, the Library Auditorium can be used by instructors on occasion for a class that needs the space for its DVD equipment or its larger lecture capabilities. The Library Auditorium is fully accessible and has 118 seats. It is DVD and BluRay player equipped, with LCD projector, Ethernet, phone, and standard classroom control system. If you're interested in reserving the auditorium, please complete a Library Auditorium reservation request. For more information, see our room reservation policy.
Special Collections Research Room
Special Collections is located on the 6th floor west of the Reynolds wing of Z. Smith Reynolds Library. If you need assistance, please visit Room 625. All divisions of Special Collections are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the exception of university holidays listed in the library calendar.
Special Collections & Archives Classroom 624
Special Collections & Archives Classroom 624, located on Level 6 of the Reynolds wing, is primarily used for Special Collections & Archives instruction classes and meetings Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. Room 624 seats 20 at moveable tables (with power) and has standard classroom media equipment available. If you're interested in reserving 624, please complete a Room 624 reservation request.
Video Conferencing Room
Video Conferencing Room (Room 204) is located on the hallway that runs behind the Circulation desk on Level 2 of the Reynolds wing. The room is equipped for video conferencing, technology instruction, and presentations requiring technology. The room seats 38 for lecture or 18 for video conferencing and is fully accessible. Ethernet and wireless data connections and power outlets are available. If you are interested in reserving 204, please complete a Room 204 reservation request.
Library Classroom 476
Library Classroom 476, located off of the Reference Department on Level 4 of the Wilson wing, is heavily used for instruction and meetings. When not in use as a meeting/instructional space, Room 476 is open for study and occasional reservations by outside groups. Room 476 seats 28 at moveable tables (with power) and has an additional 12 chairs for extra seating. If you are interested in reserving Room 476, please complete a Room 476 reservation request.
Library Classroom 477
Library Classroom 477, located on Level 4 of the Wilson wing, is used for instruction and meetings. When not in use as a meeting/instructional space, Room 477 is open for study and occasional reservations by outside groups. Room 477 seats 18 at moveable tables (with power). It has the standard classroom media package. If you are interested in reserving Room 477, please complete a Room 477 reservation request.
Digital Media Lab (Mac Lab)
The Bridge has a digital media lab for WFU faculty, staff, and student use when not being used during scheduled classes. It is open during the operating hours of The Bridge. The lab is equipped with 16 iMac computers that are loaded with software packages for multimedia editing, including Final Cut Pro and the Adobe Creative Suite. Please contact the Multimedia Coordinator with questions or for support during normal business hours.
DVD/Viewing Room
The DVD/Viewing Room (Room 403) is located on the 4th floor of the Reynolds wing and houses the library's DVD collection. Media viewing stations are available for students, faculty, or staff to use for watching videos from our collection. The stations are equipped for watching multi-region DVD and BluRay movies. Stations are assigned on a first-come first-served basis; headphones for up to four individuals per machine are available for checkout.
Meeting Rooms
Wake Forest University staff or faculty who would like to utilize the library's study rooms (Rooms 203A or 203B near Starbucks or Room 232 in the 24 hour study room) during the hours of 8am to 3pm Monday-Friday, may reserve a room for your meeting using our study room reservation system. The system allows you to reserve a room within the next consecutive 5 days and for a two hour period each day. If faculty or staff would like to reserve a room in advance that is more than 5 days in the future, please contact the Circulation Desk by email or at x4931. The rooms are equipped with Smart Boards, and will seat 8 people comfortably.
Undergraduate Lockers
The Z. Smith Reynolds Library has lockers available for Wake Forest University undergraduate student use. They are located down the hallway across from the Circulation Desk on a first-come, first-served basis. Locker keys are checked out from the Z. Smith Reynolds Library Circulation desk. Upon presentation of a WFU Deacon OneCard, locker keys may be checked out for up to two weeks at a time. Locker keys may be renewed online one time. Any library materials held in the locker must be checked out to the student before being placed in the locker.
Business Information Commons
The Business Information Commons is located on the second floor of Farrell Hall in the Wake Forest School of Business building. For more information, see our Business Information Commons page.


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Paul Laurence Dunbar
Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906 / Ohio / United States)
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Spring Song
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A lark sits singing in the hedge;
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London, UK - OCT 22, 2006 In light of a call today that Prince Charles should become the Defender of the Christian faith at his Coronation, and a feature by the Sunday Times asking whether it time to take 'God out of the state', the religious thinktank Ekklesia is urging a radical change in the way that the debate about religion and politics is framed.
Specifically Ekklesia has said that the present situation where churches seek government support in areas like education, and government uses faith groups to prop up its own social agenda, is unhealthy for all concerned.
In a discussion paper for both religious and secular opinion formers, Ekklesia argues that the demise of 'Christendom' in the West creates a positive new opportunity for faith groups to welcome genuine pluralism in public institutions – and for demonstrating radical alternatives in an "often acquisitive, violent, confused and atomised society".
The document, 'Redeeming Religion in the Public Square', is available on Ekklesia's website. It summarises and extends arguments from the newly published book by Ekklesia's co-director Jonathan Bartley; 'Faith and Politics After Christendom'.
Ekklesia challenges the popular idea that the only kinds of religion possible are either domineering ones or watered down varieties. It says that a renewal of generous faith, not its reduction, is the best way of 'redeeming religion' from within – and enabling it to discover a positive, though not always unthreatening, role in society.
Both the paper and the book focus their arguments on Christianity in Britain, but highlight questions and challenges for other faith communities and for humanists or those of no religious affiliation.
'Redeeming Religion in the Public Square' says that displays of self-assertion from some religious groups are not signs of strength, but of underlying weakness.
This is because, Ekklesia argues, Britain has seen an irreversible cultural and political shift away from "mutually reinforcing relationship between church and government" in recent years. What we are seeing is a backlash against this.
The think tank says that these new attempts by faith groups to use the state to coerce others into accepting their norms and values is wrong and counterproductive – for religious reasons, as well as for political ones.
Ekklesia argues that Christianity has been corrupted by its easy alliance with the status quo, that faith cannot be imposed on a reluctant majority, and that 'the new deal' between government and religious groups on education and public services raises serious issues of integrity, justice and human rights.
'Redeeming Religion in the Public Square' says that the government needs to adopt a stance of 'interested neutrality' to matters of faith – instead of either privileging religion or adopting the negative form of secularity seen in France.
It argues that Christian churches and organisations, in particular, can embrace a more marginal status in society as an opportunity to rediscover the levelling message of Jesus. This approach is one of "witness, not control" (demonstrating alternatives rather than seeking power).
'Redeeming Religion in the Public Square' outlines 14 areas where this is possible, including active peacemaking, hospitality towards migrants, restorative justice, involvement in anti-poverty alliances and the development of non-confrontational approaches to controversial bioethical issues.
In the same way, the think tank argues that to free up faith and encourage a genuine level-playing-field in public life the time has come to scrap blasphemy laws, to end the establishment of the Church of England, and to stop using religious affiliation as a means of selection in state schools.
Comments Ekklesia co-director Simon Barrow, who wrote the discussion paper: "Politicians cannot ignore religion, and faith cannot be shut away from public life. So what we need is radical new thinking about religion and politics, both by government and all those who want alternatives to 'toxic religion' which tries to justify violence and domination in the name of God."