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HeartWare Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. and SYDNEY, Nov. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- HeartWare International, Inc.(NASDAQ: HTWR; ASX: HIN), a leading innovator of less invasive, miniaturized circulatory support technologies that are revolutionizing the treatment of advanced heart failure, today announced revenue of $22.9 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012, compared to revenue of$21.3 million for the same period of 2011. Revenue from international markets increased approximately 40% to $19.2 million in the third quarter of 2012, from $13.7 million in the third quarter of 2011. U.S. revenue, which is presently derived from clinical trial activities, was $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2012, compared to $7.6 million in the third quarter of 2011, due to the completed enrollment of the Company's Destination Therapy clinical trial in the second quarter of this year. Currency fluctuations decreased revenue by nine percent in the third quarter compared to the same period in 2011.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, revenues increased approximately 31% to $78.3 million, compared to $59.7 million in the first nine months of 2011, supported by 60% commercial revenue growth internationally. Currency fluctuations decreased revenue by seven percent compared to the same period in 2011.
"We are pleased to have maintained strong international growth, particularly during the summer months of Europe, as 214 HeartWare® Ventricular Assist Systems were sold outside the U.S. in the third quarter of 2012, a 51% increase compared to 142 in the third quarter of last year," noted Doug Godshall, President and Chief Executive Officer. "With the completion of enrollment in our Destination Therapy study in the United States, domestic revenue was primarily limited to the remaining slots in the Continued Access Protocol in the Bridge-to-Transplant indication. As a result, 42 of the 256 global units sales generated during the third quarter of 2012 were from the U.S. Globally more than 2,500 patients have now received the HeartWare System at one of the 103 international hospital sites or 50 clinical sites in the U.S.
"Following the positive recommendation of the Circulatory System Devices Advisory Committee in the second quarter, we have been focused on working with the FDA as it finalizes its review of our Premarket Approval (PMA) application for U.S. commercialization of the HeartWare Ventricular Assist System as a bridge to heart transplantation," added Mr. Godshall. "Our team has been diligent in preparation for anticipated launch, and we look forward to the opportunity to advance the global commercialization of the HeartWare System and HVAD® Pump."
Total operating expenses for the third quarter of 2012 were $35.1 million, as compared to $23.5 million in the same period of 2011. Research and development expense was $21.4 million for the third quarter of 2012, as compared to $12.7 million in the same period of 2011. Increased development costs are a result of continuing clinical trial costs and research and development costs related to advancing HeartWare's pipeline technologies, including the MVAD® platform and a fully implantable system, as well as other early research initiatives.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $13.8 million in the third quarter of 2012, compared to $10.8 million in the third quarter of 2011. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses is related to continued growth supporting commercial activity outside of the U.S., preparation for anticipated commercial launch in the U.S., and an overall increase in corporate infrastructure to support the Company's rapid growth.
Net loss for the third quarter of 2012 was $25.0 million, or a $1.75 loss per basic and diluted share, compared to a $14.0 million net loss, or a loss of $1.00 per basic and diluted share, in the third quarter of 2011. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company recorded a net loss of $66.6 million, or a $4.70 loss per basic and diluted share, compared to a $33.5 million net loss, or a loss of $2.41 per basic and diluted share, in the first nine months of 2011.
At September 30, 2012, the Company had $117.6 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments.
HeartWare will host a conference call on Friday, November 9, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Daylight Time to discuss the Company's financial results, highlights from the quarter and business outlook. The call may be accessed by dialing 1-877-941-1428 five minutes prior to the scheduled start time and referencing "HeartWare." For callers outside the U.S., please dial +1-480-629-9665.
A live webcast of the call will also be available at the Company's website (www.heartware.com) by selecting "HeartWare Third Quarter 2012 Conference Call" under the section titled "Corporate Presentations" on the Home Page. A replay of the conference call will be available through the above weblink immediately following completion of the call.
About HeartWare International
HeartWare International develops and manufactures miniaturized implantable heart pumps, or ventricular assist devices, to treat Class IIIB / IV patients suffering from advanced heart failure. TheHeartWare® Ventricular Assist System features the HVAD® pump, a small full-support circulatory assist device (up to 10L/min flow) designed to be implanted next to the heart, avoiding the abdominal surgery generally required to implant competing devices. HeartWare has received CE Marking for the HeartWare System in the European Union and TGA approval in Australia. The device is currently the subject of United States clinical trials for two indications: bridge-to-transplant and destination therapy. For additional information, please visit www.heartware.com.
HeartWare International, Inc. is a member of the Russell 2000® and its securities are publicly traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market and the Australian Securities Exchange.
HEARTWARE®, HVAD®, MVAD® and HeartWare logos are registered trademarks of HeartWare, Inc.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are based on management's beliefs, assumptions and expectations and on information currently available to management. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future are forward-looking statements, including without limitation our expectations with respect to the timing and progress of clinical trials, the presentation of clinical trial data, expected timing of regulatory filings and approvals, commercialization planning and research and development activities. Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they speak only as of the date when made. HeartWare does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. HeartWare may not actually achieve the plans, projections or expectations disclosed in forward-looking statements, and actual results, developments or events could differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the possibility the FDA does not approve the marketing of theHeartWare® Ventricular Assist System in the U.S., and those described in Part I, Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We may update our risk factors from time to time in Part II, Item 1A."Risk Factors" in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, or other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For further information:
Christopher Taylor
HeartWare International, Inc.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: +1 508 739 0864


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Once upon a time, a lonely single mom decided to go on Zoosk to find her long lost love. It took her nine years to muster up the courage to make a change in her life. When she was searching she at first ignored the flirts and winks that were sent to her by a particular suitor. Then one day he was online at the same time as she and decided, "What the heck." They chatted for approximately two hours. They met the next day at a local restaurant and arrived there at exactly the same time. They conversed for another two hours and it was history from there. Ten days later they were engaged. The wedding will take place next August 17th, one year and one day from the day we met. Thank you Zoosk for changing our lives! —Kristine from Buffalo, New York
Congrats to the happy couple! We can't wait to see their wedding photos next year! By the way, have you met someone on Zoosk too? Send your own Zoosk success story to success [at] zoosk [dot] com!
Zoosk dating | Zoosk on Facebook | Zoosk on Twitter | Zoosk on YouTube

subset: commoncrawl


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The phrase "Lincoln's Loyalists" always bothers me.
Theoretically, yes, Southern Unionists were Lincoln's loyalists, but that's not to say they were all necessarily dedicated to Lincoln. I can imagine, for example, that the slave-holding Unionists remained worried over which way the institution might go under his administration.
Still, yes… some really were supporters of Lincoln.
In the Shenandoah Valley, despite Southern Unionists throughout the area, only one county – Shenandoah County – reflected any votes for Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 presidential election. Was that because all the other counties didn't allow Lincoln on the ballots? We just don't know, but… the total who voted in favor of Lincoln in Shenandoah County numbered thirteen.
One of those men was Silas Munch.
Munch, a farmer and native (2nd generation Valley-born*) of Shenandoah County, was a 47-year-old resident of Powell's Fort* when he cast his vote. As might be expected, that decision to vote for Lincoln would haunt him in the coming years… especially when it came time for Virginia's referendum on secession, in May, 1861.
I was one of thirty [actually, only thirteen] [who] voted for Mr. Lincoln for President in 1860 in this County. I was threatened for that, which made me vote for the Ordinance of Secession. After the Ordinance of Secession I was still a Union man.
From the beginning of the war to the end, I desired to see the U.S. Govt put down the rebellion and I always thought they would. I was willing to do all in my power to that end.
Indeed, in August 1872, when he submitted his Unionist claim, it was for supplies he had provided to Gen. Nathaniel Banks Union forces, in the Spring of 1862.
But, that one instance was likely the last straw from those with opposing sentiments.
Providing testimony on Munch's behalf, Watkin James stated:
I think he left here because he considered it not safe to remain. I left for the same reasons. He was such a prominent Union man that there was no safety for him here.
Without a doubt, a swift departure was likely an excellent idea. As John W. Wayland points out in A History of Shenandoah County, Virginia (1927), one area Unionist was killed in June…
A tragedy of the Civil War occurred in the Fort when several of its prominent citizens were taken from their home and bushwhacked (murdered in the woods) because they sympathized with the Federal government. Absalom Clem was killed and left in the mountains in June, 1862, and Tasker was shot or murdered at Tasker's Gap in May preceding.
On June 25, 1862, Munch left his home for Ohio (where he may have actually had a few Munch cousins who had relocated there, in years prior), taking his son, George Washington Munch, with him. That George accompanied his father seems quite intentional, as, at the time, the young man was between the ages of 17 and 18, making him the prime age for conscription in the Confederate army.
In his refugee years in Ohio, Silas continued to make his living in farming. In 1863, however, he did make an effort to return to his home in Powell's Fort. After a visit of no more than three weeks, he determined that it was still not safe to remain, and returned again to Ohio. Sometime within those years in Ohio, his son George took the next step in Unionism, and volunteered for service with Co. I, 95th Ohio Infantry (and also on record with Co. D, 65th Ohio Infantry). George Munch later (1889) applied for and received a pension for his service.
With the close of the war in 1865, Silas Munch returned to Shenandoah County.
I took the amnesty oath after the war at Woodstock, Va. in this county. I had nothing to be pardoned for.
Within the year, Silas and his wife would have another son, and, as a continuation of his loyalty to the man who had earned his vote in 1860… named the child Lincoln Munch.
As for the Claims Commission application filed in 1872, it appears the decision of the commission was easy.
The conduct of Munch both before and after his vote for secession clearly show that it was not in any sense a voluntary act… but that being conspiring as a Union man & Lincoln voter – his life would have been in danger if he had acted otherwise. Loyalty proved.
Silas Munch died August 24, 1893, and was buried in the family cemetery at Seven Fountains, in Powell's Fort.
* Silas Munch was a grandson of Philipp Simon Munch/Muench, born in Freisbach, Germany, in 1728.
* Powell's Fort was later well described by Eugene Hale Munch (1877-1974), a grand-nephew of Silas
Powell's Fort is not an artificial stronghold of stone and steel, but a valley enclosed by mountains, near the center of the Shenandoah Valley. It is a gem within a gem. Commencing behind Signal Knob, near Strasburg and Waterlick, on the northeast, it extends almost to New Market Gap on the southwest. The valley is 22 or 23 miles long and about 5 miles at the widest point, near Cross Roads, measuring from the top of the Woodstock Mountain, near the viewing tower, to the top of the Page Mountain, through Milford Gap.
* Silas had two brothers (Enoch/Enock and Addison) in what he referred to as the "reserves of the rebel army"… and, as stated in his claims application, he "furnished nothing to any brothers, either in equipments, money, or clothing."


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"Self-love seems so often unrequited."
– Anthony Powell
You have to love yourself before someone can love you, so the saying goes. Or maybe it's you can't love someone else until you love yourself. Something like that. Anyway, it seems the saying might not be far off. A recent study demonstrates that self compassion is associated with a healthier relationship. Neff and Beretvas (in press) questioned 104 participants and their partners on their self compassion, their partner's perception of their self compassion, and various aspects of their relationship, such as control, relational well-being and verbal aggression.
The study found that people who had higher levels of self compassion were in healthier relationships and less controlling of their partners.
The authors noted that self compassion is different from self esteem. Self esteem can be unstable and conditional; often relying on others; involving feelings of superiority; selfish and egotistical. The authors define self compassion as having three components:
Self-kindness versus self-self judgement being kind to oneself when suffering, comforting oneself instead of judging and blaming oneself
Common humanity versus isolation the recognition of the shared human experience and that everyone makes mistakes. Rather than feeling isolated one feels connected with others
Mindfulness versus over-identification a mindful response to suffering means neither suppressing nor ruminating on feelings of suffering. Rather than dramatically running away with ones feelings, mindfulness involves maintaining a balanced awareness and acceptance of the feelings as the fabric of life
The more self compassion that you have, as defined above, the more accepting you can be of other people's flaws and feelings. The results of the study also showed that people with higher self compassion were less controlling over their partners. It's possible that people who are kinder to themselves and happier are more content to give their partners to freedom to make themselves happy.
Of course the study is correlational so we can't say that being self compassionate causes a healthier relationship, but it seems logical that if you can't forgive yourself for your mistakes or flaws, you will struggle to forgive others. If you believe that you are the cause of your suffering, then you are likely to blame others for their own problems, and be reluctant to expend your own resources helping, them.
But how how do you know if you are self compassionate and how can you have more self compassion? There is a test here, which is very similar to the one the authors of the study used. And in order to increase your self compassion, clinical psychologist, Dr Christopher Germer, has developed a form of therapy called Mindful Self Compassion (MSC), which aims to help people be in the moment with their negative feelings, to accept them and to hold these emotions in"loving awareness". Sound like a load of old cobblers? Well, it may be, but Dr Germer has kindly provided free downloads of his meditations for anyone to try.
I really recommend you give it a go. Hopefully when life gets tough you can follow the tenets of self compassion: self kindness, humanity and mindfulness. Being kinder to yourself when things are tough is not simply a selfish act. As this study has shown, self compassion is associated with healthier relationships. Being kinder to yourself also gives you the tools and the emotional freedom to be more compassionate to others around you. It's not just a case of "do unto to others as you would have done to you" but do unto yourself what you would do to others.


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Planning & Development Agendas & Minutes
Planning Commission
- Date: 12/03/2019 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
- Location: City Hall
155 Johnston Street
Rock Hill, South Carolina 29730
Regular meeting of the Planning Commission. You may view the meeting on the City Channel. For more information about specific cases, consult cityofrockhill.com/planinfo.Return to full list >>


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DENTAL TIPS FOR YOUR EVERYDAY SMILEWe're all about continued education, not just for our doctors and staff, but for our patients as well!
PERSONAL Dr. Tim Smith was born and raised in the north valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has been married to his wife Trish for 19 years hand they have two beautiful daughters, Isabella and Liliana. EDUCATION Dr. Tim graduated from Creighton University School of...read more
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. These teeth can be beneficial when healthy and properly aligned, but more often than not, they become misaligned and cause health problems. When wisdom teeth...read more
Relax With Sedation Dentistry
At Valencia Family Dentistry our doctors are highly trained and we offer many levels of Sedation Dentistry for our patients comfort. Stay calm and relaxed while undergoing potentially painful dental procedures. Sedation Dentistry helps to safely reduce pain and...read more
Reasons To Replace Missing Teeth
Top Reasons To Replace Missing Teeth A lot of people are suffering from tooth loss. If this happens to you, it is a must to get your missing teeth replaced at the soonest time possible. Having your lost teeth replaced can give you both aesthetic and health benefits....read more
Advanced Cleaning
There are a variety of treatments for gum disease depending on the stage of disease, how you may have responded to earlier treatments and your overall health. Treatments range from nonsurgical therapies that control bacterial growth to surgery to restore supportive...read more
Dental Implants
Despite improvements in dental care, many people still suffer from tooth loss due to decay, gingivitis or injury. In the past, the only treatment for missing teeth was a bridge or denture. But today we have modern dental implants to replace a missing tooth's root and...read more
Dental Crowns
A crown is used to cover or "cap" a damaged or broken down tooth. Crowns strengthen a compromised tooth increasing the lifespan of the tooth and preventing further breakdown and eventual loss. A crown can also be used to improve a tooth's appearance, shape or...read more
Benefits of Dental Implants
Modern Dental Implants give hope of a normal life to people with missing teeth Implants provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function just like natural teeth. With dental implants people can eat practically without being bothered by seeds,...read more
Tonsils And Adenoids
Another area of concern among young patients is tonsils and adenoids. They're lymphatic tissue in the back of the mouth and throat. They are there primarily to help fight infection when we are young. Nevertheless they can be a problem if they become distended or get...read more
Tooth Crowding Of The Upper Jaw
Tooth crowding and narrowness of the upper jaw is among the most common types of malocclusion and results in a misalignment of the upper and lower teeth. This leads to the lower jaw being trapped back and not allowing it to grow to its full and proper position, that...read more
Patient Reviews


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Daughter Responds To Father Shooting Laptop Over Facebook!
"Daughter goes off about father shooting her laptop and tells him that she shot up his truck." - blackberrymafia
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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Citrix announced today that it has closed the acquisition of Zenprise, a
leading innovator in mobile device management (MDM). As announced on
December 5 2012, Citrix will integrate the Zenprise offering for mobile
device management, with its Citrix
CloudGateway? and Me@Work?
solutions for managing mobile apps and data. As a result, IT will now
have a comprehensive set of tools that make it easy to manage and secure
devices, apps and data, while users will now be able to access any app
from any device, giving them the freedom to work and play anywhere. Amit
Pandey, former Zenprise president and CEO will lead the new Mobile
Platforms product group at Citrix. Citrix will continue to fully support
and serve the Zenprise global customer base.
Citrix plans to discuss the financial details of the acquisition during
its fourth-quarter 2012 results teleconference.
Follow Us Online
About Citrix
Citrix (NASDAQ:CTXS) transforms how businesses and IT work and people
collaborate in the cloud era. With market-leading cloud, collaboration,
networking and virtualization technologies, Citrix powers mobile
workstyles and cloud services, making complex enterprise IT simpler and
more accessible for 260,000 organizations. Citrix products touch 75
percent of Internet users each day and it partners with more than 10,000
companies in 100 countries. Annual revenue in 2011 was $2.21 billion.
Learn more at www.citrix.com.
For Citrix Investors
This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant
to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933 and of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The
forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees
of future performance. Those statements involve a number of factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially, including risks
associated with the impact of the global economy and uncertainty in the
IT spending environment, including in revenue growth and recognition of
revenue, products and services, their development and distribution,
product demand and pipeline, economic and competitive factors, including
the introduction of new technologies and products by competitors or the
entry of new competitors into the markets for Citrix and Zenprise
technologies and products, the Company's key strategic relationships,
acquisition and related integration risks, including Citrix's ability to
retain key employees of Zenprise, as well as other risks detailed in the
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Citrix
assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information
contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements
described herein.
The development, release and timing of any products, services, features
or solutions, or functionality described for our products, services,
features or solutions, remains at our sole discretion and is subject to
change without notice or consultation. The information provided is for
informational purposes only and is not a commitment, promise or legal
obligation to deliver any material, code or functionality and should not
be relied upon in making purchasing decisions or incorporated into any
Citrix®, CloudGateway?, Zenprise® and Me@Work? are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. and/or one or more of its
subsidiaries, and may be registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office and in other countries.
CitrixKarin Gilles, email@example.com
on Twitter


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Advanced Search
The two companies compete based on the virtualization products they offer. However, under the partnership, each leverages the other's technologies to reach various enterprise customers in a so-called cooperative competition (or "cooptition") approach.
Microsoft offers its Hyper-V hypervisor virtualization solution, which is part of Windows Server 2008. For its part, EMC holds a controlling interest in VMware, a pioneer in virtualization technology and solutions.
The partnership combines EMC's storage, content management and security solutions with Microsoft's servers, such as Windows Server 2008, plus Microsoft System Center for management. The two companies have been working to assure interoperability between EMC's Documentum content management system and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server, Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Office Outlook.
The collaboration on SharePoint is specifically designed to enable document storage that meets the legal compliance needs of businesses.
Under the partnership, EMC has already designed its RSA DLP Suite 6.5 to work with Microsoft's Active Directory Rights Management Services. The companies plan to incorporate RSA Data Loss Prevention technologies into the Microsoft platform and "future information protection products," according to a jointly issued announcement.
To deliver virtualization solutions to the enterprise, EMC fields a consulting team knowledgeable about Microsoft products, with about 1,000 members.
The two companies might be expected to want to tear each other apart. However, in a long interview with CNet News reporters, Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer described the relationship with EMC as mostly cooperative.
"We're 80 percent to 85 percent cooperation, something like that," Ballmer said.
About the Author
Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.
Microsoft and Citrix this week outlined the current direction of their longtime collaborative partnership efforts.
Microsoft on Tuesday released July security patches, addressing a total of 123 common vulnerabilities and exposures.
The Microsoft Secure Score service has reached "general availability" commercial-release status worldwide, Microsoft announced on Monday.
Microsoft this week repeated some patch warnings to IT pros, with a couple of milestones coming up soon.
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A Nature-Inspired Wedding at The Monrovia Historical Museum in Monrovia, California
Jess Chitra and Liz Perez transformed their love of design and nature into a trendy modern fete with an organic vibe. Their goal was to enhance the beauty of The Monrovia Historical Museum by creating focal points within the large space. For the ceremony, a white geometric screen did just that, making the couple pop as they exchanged "I dos." An eye-catching dessert display, eight-foot sweetheart table and bold palette bar helped ground the reception décor. To complement the garden's natural color palette, Jess and Liz teamed up with Faithful Blooms to create bright textured arrangements for the tables. Burgundy amaranthus, orange dahlias and blue thistle offered just the right blend of romance, texture and modernity. "It was important to both of us that we incorporate hints of our cultures. We are Mexican and Thai. What better way to represent our roots than with tasty food?" Jess says. During cocktail hour, waiters passed Thai hors d'oeuvres such as fresh papaya salad and chicken satay skewers. For a late-night snack, the couple switched gears, serving up Mexican-style corn with lime juice, cheese and chili, plus Paloma cocktails. After the ceremony, Jess and Liz took 10 private minutes to soak in the moment. "The time alone allowed us to breathe and take everything in without any distractions. We told each other what we were feeling at that exact moment and mentioned a few things we noticed during the ceremony—like the surprise violinist!" Jess says. "I recommend this to all couples on their wedding day. It is a memorable time that we will always cherish."
Faithful Blooms
One Call Event Rentals
Best Creationz
Kinki's Entertainment


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Baltic Native American Law Lawyers
Amanda Work
Winner, SD Native American Law Attorney
(605) 840-2800University of South Dakota School of LawWest Virginia University and West Virginia UniversitySouth Dakota and 8th CircuitThe State Bar of South Dakota and American Bar Association
The LII Lawyer Directory contains lawyers who have claimed their profiles and are actively seeking clients. Find more Baltic Native American Law Lawyers in the Justia Legal Services and Lawyers Directory which includes profiles of more than one million lawyers licensed to practice in the United States, in addition to profiles of legal aid, pro bono and legal service organizations.
Researching Attorney Discipline


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Learning from the Past (2006-06-27)Submitted by Andres Basbas (USA)
It seems like every airsoft player these days is looking for realism in their selection of airsoft guns. I know I started playing airsoft because I loved the thrill of paintball, but could not stand the incredibly ungainly hopper and gas tank, or the flashy, unrealistic markers. I don't mean to bash paintball, as I am still an avid player, but I just find airsoft to be more like the "real-steel" experience.
What I don't understand is the new craving for power in the airsoft world. It seems like the higher the FPS on a gun these days, the more generic the gun looks and feels. The only exception to this rule is the HFC c96 Mauser, but even then, the market is steadily being flooded with c96 models, most of which are getting less and less true to the "real-steel". This invasion high-FPS of non-blowback gas pistols is a real let-down to me, considering the technology we now have that could be used to create ultra-realistic guns.
The worst mistake I ever made was selling my MGC Calico M1000 gas gun at a yardsale. It brings a tear to my eye remembering the rugged realism, affordability, unique style, and quality construction of such a classic piece. I miss the days when companies like MGC, Asahi, and FTC made a plethora of unique models that were affordable to the everyday consumer. Now the only real classic companies left are Hudson and Maruzen, and though their products are beautiful, there are not many to choose from.
Another disturbing piece of the airsoft world is the take-over or AEGs, and the lack of ANY production fullsize gas rifles, with the exception of the semi-auto HFC c96 Carbine. I mean, JAC made beautiful, realistic M-series guns that performed well, and lasted, but they were really the last company to put gas rifles on the American market. Nothing about AEGs impresses me. Other than the affordability of cheap knock-off Tokyo Marui copies, they have no redeeming value in my eyes. The have no blow-back whatsoever, they sound like a running blender, and most come with 70-300 round magazines. I can only pray that a quality company like Maruzen will soon begin production on at least one nice gas rifle. Look at the high sales rate of less gas-efficient blowback pistols! People will make some sacrifices for realism!
I know I am getting tired of tearing internals out of JAC guns and pain-stakingly installing them in AEG bodies. Somebody has to bring back the classics.


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When having a conversation about farmland prices and values, the word "bubble" slips in pretty quick. Many predicted in 2012 that farmland values would finally begin to decline, after nearly two decades of overall growth.
But, last year the historic increase in farmland values continued, according to USDA. Major crop-growing states such as Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio and Indiana all surpassed the $5,000-per-acre threshold of average farm real estate value. Other states, such as the Dakotas, Nebraska and Kansas, also posted large gains.
Mike Walsten, editor of the LandOwner newsletter, part of Farm Journal Media, predicted farmland prices to trend steady to 10% higher last year. "Instead, we saw a breathtaking upswing in prices during the last third of the year as the impact of record corn and soybean prices was felt across the Corn Belt."
He says the major driver behind the price explosion was the historic drought. "It upset predictions and resulted in another year of strong net incomes for many producers."
2013 Outlook
Steve Bruere is president of Peoples Company, a real estate brokerage based in West Des Moines, Iowa, which manages farms and sells farms. He says the land market continues to be bullish. "We've seen really a 50% rise in land values over the past couple years."
Supplies are tight for farmland, he says, but the big wild card for 2013 will be precipitation. "The weather will dictate what happens to land values. We'll have the world's largest crop planted in 2013. If we have timely rains, commodity prices will go south and that will have a negative impact on values. If we have another short crop, then land values could continue their ride up."
Walsten agrees. "Current drought patterns in the western Corn Belt again have us wondering what 2013 crop yields and prices will bring."
As of now, Walsten predicts net income prospects to remain positive for 2013. "Strong net incomes usually mean strong demand for farmland." In addition, interest rates should remain low, at least for the majority of 2013.
The other major contributor to land values is supply. He is expecting another tight year. "With the late-2012 tax-inspired selling now out of the way, offerings will mainly be limited to estate tax settlements."
Therefore, for 2013, Walsten is predicting land values to rise 10% to 15%. "But that all could change, of course, with a turn of the weather."
Related Audio Report
Steve Bruere, president of Peoples Company, a real estate brokerage based in West Des Moines, comments on the current land market.


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When I first started teaching at CWRU over twenty years ago, I recall giving a physics final exam in which students wrote their answers in the familiar blue books. When I started grading them later, I found one in which the student had made little or no attempt at answering the problems. Instead he had spent the entire time sketching quite elaborate drawings of guns firing and other violent images for page after page. At that time, there wasn't the heightened sensitivity to violence on college campuses that there is now and no training to be alert to such warning signs, and so apart from giving the student a zero on the exam, I did not do anything.
I personally did not feel threatened and dismissed the whole thing as the work of someone who was merely playing the fool and had spent time watching too many violent films and reading violent books rather than studying his physics. Nowadays, I would immediately refer such a student to the counseling center for possible help. As far as I know, that student never did anything else to warrant concern, at least as far as his time in the university was concerned.
A few years later, I had another student. He was socially awkward and struck me as one of those very smart students who had done very well in school with little effort or work, coasting along on his wits. He was arrogant and had the kind of know-it-all attitude that one comes across from time to time in physics classes.
But in college, there are some things that seem dreary and time consuming but must be done even by the brightest students and one of those things is the introductory physics lab and writing the lab reports. Although I taught only the lecture part of the course and the labs were run and graded by another faculty member, the lab grades were reported to me and I had to include them in my final grade for the student and it was a department rule that if you failed the lab, you failed the course. This student had been doing well in the theory part of the course but had been skipping the labs and was getting a zero. Despite my repeated warnings to him to do the labs or fail the course, he kept skipping them.
Then in the last week of classes, he committed suicide.
His death still haunts me. It is very hard to know why anyone commits suicide. But I still wonder if the thought of failing his physics course, maybe the first course he had ever failed and thus a grievous blow to the image he projected to everyone around him, was the trigger, and makes me wonder if I should have noted any warning signs that he might do something drastic like that and whether I should, or could, have done anything differently. A physics grade is nothing when compared to a life.
These two stories from my own life show how difficult it is to predict people's behavior by their personality traits. After the fact, we see signs and think we should have known and acted differently to prevent the tragedy but before the fact the signs seem quite ubiquitous and much less ominous, trivial even.
In the wake of last week's mass shooting, NPR had a good interview on Friday with Jack Lewin, a professor of sociology and criminology at Northeastern University. Lewin pointed out that such killers have many common characteristics.
[M]ost mass killers have suffered some kind of chronic depression and frustration. Over a long period of time, they externalize responsibility, blaming everybody but themselves for their failings. They have some kind of an acute strain, a catastrophic loss – the loss of a job, the loss of a relationship at home, maybe even a terminal illness.
And they have the means whereby they can do a lot of damage. They have training and access to firearms, for examples, which means that the body count may be very large.
Very few mass killers, including school shooters, actually snap. They don't go berserk. They don't run amok. They don't go bonkers. We have so many ways of saying that. But the truth is that most of them are methodical. They plan this sometimes for months. They'll get the weapons and the ammunition. At Columbine, for example, the planning took 13 months. And that's not unusual.
But in the audio of the interview (which is missing from the transcript for some reason), he says that though we know the profile of such killers pretty well, this is not helpful for prediction and prevention since there are so many false positives, vast numbers of people who show all the symptoms but do not act out on them. Like me with my students, the problem is that after the fact, we all recall the warning signs but it we started reporting everyone who exhibited any of those symptoms, the counseling centers would be swamped. Most people turn out to be quite harmless.
Lewin also points out that despite the perception that these kinds of mass killings are on the rise, the number of such events per year has been fairly steady for decades at about 20 per year with a victim count of about 150, but that these numbers pale compared to the number of single-victim homicides that are around 15,000 and that this is the real problem. I am sure that I have heard this latter number many times before, but every time I hear it, I am staggered at its size.
Mass killings may serve the purpose of focusing our attention on what we should do about this epidemic of homicides.


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Tyson Gay makes history at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix. The American sprinter runs the second fastest men's 100 meters on record.
Gay's 9.69 seconds matched Usain Bolt's world record and winning time in last year's final at the Beijing Olympics. The Jamaican eclipsed the mark with 9.58 in the 100m at last month's World Championships in Berlin. Gay won silver in that race.
Also in Shanghai: Jamaica's Asafa Powell was second and American Darvis Patton won bronze. Watch, WHEN YOU JUMP.


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OKANOGAN A man on jail release for burglarizing the Eagles club is back in jail today after wearing his court-ordered ankle monitor to rob the place again.
Kyle A. Snyder, 22 of Omak, was arrested without incident Monday night at his mother's home after deputies determined he was a suspect in a Eagles club robbery.
Snyder, who was booked into the Okanogan County Jail, is facing possible charges of second-degree burglary, second-degree theft and first-degree malicious mischief.
The charges stem from Monday's early morning burglary of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie No. 3004, 1820 2nd Ave. N.
The tracking device provided data on Snyder's whereabouts at all times since putting it on, including GPS information showing he was in the club several times between 1:43 a.m. and 4 a.m. Monday, Sheriff Frank Rogers said.
"That's right; Snyder wore the ankle bracelet to do the burglary," Rogers said. "The history on Snyder's monitor showed that he went to from the Eagles several times that night and the times on the history also match the surveillance video obtained from the Eagles."
The data also showed he visited Motel Nicolas, 527 E. Grape St., in Omak. Deputies determined he was visiting Alyssa A. Descoteaux, 19, of Omak.
Following an interrogation, she was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and booked into the jail, too, the sheriff said. So far, she has not been charged in the burglary.
A video from the club shows at least two suspects were involved in the burglary.
Rogers said $2,000 had been stolen from a safe during the burglary. The suspects also attempted to break open an automated teller, or ATM cash machine, without success.
Snyder was previously arrested for breaking into the Eagles in 2012, Rogers said, noting deputies considered him a person of interest.
Deputies thought Snyder was still in jail, but checked his status anyway, only to learn he was wearing a tracking device issued by Friendship Diversion, Rogers said. Checking Friendship Diversions' tracking data, deputies were able to determine Snyder was at the club at times matching video of the burglary.
Rogers said deputies are still investigating the burglary and have search warrants for vehicles.
More arrests are expected in the case.
"The deputies in this case did an excellent job and we appreciate the help from Snyder with the video and GPS coordinates, really makes our job a lot easier," Rogers said.


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Main Library
Meeting Rooms A, B & C
Saturday, April 6 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Shop from a selection of thousands of items: Books, movies, music and more. The average book price just $1.00. Proceeds raised at the monthly book sales help provide funding for Library programs and services.


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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) Lakers guard Steve Blake underwent successful surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle on Wednesday.
The team says he's expected to be out six to eight weeks. Blake has been out of action since Nov. 12, adding to the Lakers' point guard woes with Steve Nash also out with a leg injury.