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Gold bugs need help from FedJune 20, 2012: 1:40 PM ET
Gold has enjoyed a mini-rally in the past few weeks even as other commodities have plunged on continued concerns about the health of the global economy.
Through Tuesday's close, gold was up 2% since mid-May. Meanwhile, prices of the far more useful copper were down 3%. Corn futures are down 4%. Other demand-sensitive commodities like oil and wheat have each fallen nearly 10%. And coffee is in decaf mode. Prices have tumbled more than 15%.
But hopes for a sustained rally in the yellow metal pretty much begin and end with the Federal Reserve. Gold is viewed as a classic inflation hedge and any further stimulus from the Fed during the next few months would likely be viewed as bad for the dollar and good for gold.
Investors are clearly betting that the crisis in Europe, slowdown in China and continued sluggishness in the U.S. (Is that some dry rub I see on the job market? Yes kids, we're still in a low and slow BBQ recovery!) will eventually lead the Fed to do a lot more to lift the financial markets (and perhaps even the economy) out of its funk.
But the market didn't get what it wanted Wednesday. The Fed simply decided to extend its Operation Twist program (swapping short-term bonds for longer-term debt) instead of announcing a third round of quantitative easing, or QE3. Gold was trading about 1% lower prior to the Fed announcement and continued to drop in mid-afternoon trading.
Related: Gold's on a bumpy ride
Gold bugs obviously want (and need) the Fed to be more aggressive. Still, it's not clear just how high gold could really go in the coming months even if the Fed eventually changes its tune on the need for QE3. While more Fed accommodation should, in theory, be a plus for gold, the reasons that the Fed needs to consider more bond purchases in the first place is not positive for gold.
Sure, gold does tend to rise and fall in line with inflation expectations. But you can't completely remove the Economics 101 law of supply and demand from the investing equation. As I pointed out in a column last month, the awful conditions in Europe may lead to a prolonged period of "Au"-sterity for the metal, especially if the PIIGS pain is followed by reduced purchases of gold from Europe's biggest trading partner China and, to a lesser extent, India.
Given all the chatter about central banks around the world potentially easing en masse, it's a bit surprising that gold hasn't rallied even harder than it has in the past month. In fact, the SPDR Gold Shares Trust ETF (GLD) has lagged the S&P 500 (SPX) during the past month.
Richard Ross, global technical strategist with Auerbach Grayson in New York, points out that gold actually has been a disappointing investment if you back out its nearly 4% jump on June 1 -- the day when a woeful U.S. jobs report kicked QE3 talk into high gear.
The lack of a bigger jump in gold is also unusual when you look at what the dollar has done lately.
The greenback has weakened against the euro in recent weeks as the favorable (for now) outcome to the elections in Greece and hopes that European leaders will eventually step in with a formal plan to save Spain and Italy (unveiled at next week's ubiquitous EU summit perhaps?) have boosted the odds of the euro currency surviving in its current form.
Related: The euro lives to see another day
Ashraf Laidi, chief global strategist with City Index Ltd. in London, wrote in a report Wednesday that gold may now be "out of touch" with the euro. With so many investors flocking into U.S. debt simply because they are not Southern European bonds, yields have plummeted to ridiculously low levels. If the safe haven trade is finally unwinding, 10-year Treasury yields may have nowhere to go but up -- even if the euro gains more ground versus the dollar.
So much for a weaker dollar being good news for gold.
"Gold has not been able to build on its gains and that is somewhat curious," Ross said. But he added that all it may take for gold to break through technical levels of $1630 an ounce and start climbing even higher is for more hints from Bernanke about additional stimulus.
Unless the U.S. economy roars to life in the coming months, there's still a good chance that those hints will come. Keep in mind that the Bernanke playbook for the past few years has been to sit patiently during the summer to see if the economy still needs a jolt following the typical May-July slump. The answer was yes in 2010 and last year. It may be yes again this year.>
With that in mind, Bernanke likely will tip his hand about what the Fed plans to do next at its annual confab in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in August. That's where Bernanke introduced the notion of QE2 in August 2010 and it's where he teased the idea of Operation Twist last year.
Marshall Berol, co-manager of the Encompass Fund (ENCPX) in San Francisco, considers himself a gold bull and he expects that an eventual Fed move will be a catalyst to lift gold to new highs near $2000 an ounce.
"Gold has come down enough from its highs that it should find a base and resume its upward move," he said.
But Berol, who prefers to invest in mining companies as opposed to actual metals, said that firms like Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX), which he owns in the fund, may be better bets than the metal. That approach may make more sense than trying to invest in gold itself.
Mining companies have actually outperformed gold lately. The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX), which owns big stakes in industry leaders like Barrick Gold (ABX), Goldcorp (GG), Newmont Mining (NEM) and AngloGold Ashanti (AU), is up more than 10% in the past month. And those four stocks, as well as Freeport-McMoRan, all pay dividends to boot.
Frank Holmes, chief investment officer of U.S. Global Investors in San Antonio and the author of the book "The Goldwatcher," also likes gold miners that pay dividends. His firm owns shares of Franco-Nevada (FNV), Yamana Gold (AUY) and Randgold (GOLD) and he said the lack of QE3 for now does not mean gold's run is over.
"The fear trade for gold is that the government is devaluing the dollar. That has not gone away," he said.
So if you think gold may soon be heading higher, you may want to consider miners instead. Time to channel my inner Warren Buffett here. Good luck trying to get quarterly dividend payments from a cube of bullion.


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REAL ESTATE- ON THE BLOCK- Glorious excess: How much is too much?
ADDRESS: 380 Ballenger Lane
NEIGHBORHOOD: Palmyra
SIZE: 5,000 fin. sq. ft., 453 unfin.
LAND: 10 acres
CURB APPEAL: 9 out of 10
LISTED BY: Sally Neill, Pace Real Estate Associates, 434-817-7223
Mae West once famously said, "Too much of a good thing can be wonderful." We were reminded of that phrase this week when we viewed a house with both a pond and a decorative fountain, a swimming pool and a pool table, and a porch that wraps around not just two or three, but all four sides of the house.
From the outside, the slope of the roof looks like it has taken too much headroom from the second floor. But the optical illusion is dispelled inside, as visitors see that a vaulted ceiling high above follows the contours of the roof around massive second-floor windows in the front and rear of the house, keeping the entryway and living room well-lighted (and this column has never criticized a home for having too much light).
A sitting room in the corner of the first floor has traditional windows along its two exterior walls, while a bay window in the adjoining dining room makes both rooms feel open and spacious. An additional bay window in the kitchen allows room for a table.
Above the kitchen island is a hanging rack for pans, and while we would like to have seen more counter space, the sink and inset cooktop try to work alongside what's available. Generous cabinets provide lots of storage options, and there's a washer and dryer in an adjoining mudroom. Detailing in the hardwood floor around the kitchen island adds a decorative flourish.
All through the house, metal wall sconces light up white walls to create a clean look that contrasts with the dark cherry hardwood floors. A striking antique chestnut mantel around the gas fireplace in the living room was rescued from an old barn.
The master suite is carpeted and slightly more private as the few windows are shaded. His and hers walk-in closets flank the hallway leading to the master bath, which has double sinks, an elegant wooden linen closet, and a built-in vanity. Although there's no tub, the shower has "his and hers" heads.
The owners have strategically placed furniture to create a secluded space outside the master bedroom's French doors. It's especially effective because the porch– which is almost a boardwalk, wrapping around the whole house– provides a deck that looks out over the pool behind the house.
Two identical bedrooms face each other on the second floor, each providing more room than their Cape Cod windows would suggest. Both have generous amounts of closet space, but one connects directly to the upstairs bathroom, while the other does not. Rather than a straight line connecting the two sides of the house, the edge of the balcony between the two bedrooms is marked by a graceful curve that adds definition to the space.
Downstairs, one can choose between two areas to use as office space, or between two bathrooms to change into a swimsuit. A downstairs bedroom provides guests with direct access to the pool, and two unfinished storage rooms— one of which contains the utilities– provide extra space that will come in handy for families with too much stuff. A pool table in the central downstairs space would work well for entertaining guests, especially considering a nearby wet bar.
The patio outside offers several opportunities for recreation. Homeowners can swim, enjoy the hot tub, or watch the carp swimming in the peaceful alcove under the house that's fed by a rocky fountain. Alternatively, one can sit out on the gazebo, cooled by the overhead fan while admiring the panoramic views framed by wide windows. In addition to the fan, the gazebo offers overhead lights on dimmer switches for evening soirees.
The two-story detached garage has a high ceiling and space for three cars. A three-room apartment above the cars has its own water heater and heating system, a kitchen/living space, bedroom, and private WC with shower. Since it's probably tough to find renters looking for three rooms way out in Palmyra, the secluded space would also work well for parents or in-laws (and when it comes to in-laws, there's no such thing as too much distance). In fact, previous residents of the space appear to have been elderly, since a motorized chair lift is still attached to the stairs.
While it may look like there's too much grass to mow, the owner says the landscaping requires minimal upkeep. One hopes new owners won't find the occasional hedge-trimming to be too much work. With ten acres, four structures, and three stories, it's almost too much home to write about.
Each week, a brave local seller invites the Hook to provide an impartial, warts-and-all look at their real estate listing. E-mail yours today!

subset: commoncrawl


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Although Chalky Emulsion emulates a traditional finish, it is a long lasting emulsion that gives superior coverage and can be wiped down. Suitable for interior walls and ceilings.
As it is water-based, Chalky Emulsion equipment such as brushes and rollers can be washed out in water.
Creating premium paints since 1829 with quality, simplicity and beautiful homes in mind, Craig & Rose is one of the oldest established paint makers in the UK.
Craig & Rose works on a 2 - 3 working day delivery service.
We are pleased to announce that we are taking orders and dispatching normally. There may be slightly longer lead times during this period, but in most cases deliveries are arriving normally (next working day) as described below.
In stock items, ordered before 2pm weekdays, will be securely packaged and dispatched on a next working day delivery service. We keep huge paint stocks, however, some paints will need to be ordered in, or dispatched direct from the manufacturer. This usually takes an extra day. To check our stock prior to ordering please contact us.
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Your safety is our priority. We're doing more than ever to help ensure your protection and well-being when you come see us for care. Learn more.
Get regional updates for Providence Oregon, including visitor restrictions.
Even low-to-moderate intensity activities for as little as 30 minutes a day can be beneficial. These activities may include:
However, more vigorous aerobic activities, done three or four times a week for 30 to 60 minutes, are best for improving the fitness of the heart and lungs. Regular, aerobic physical activity increases a person's capacity for exercise and plays a role in prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Aerobic exercise may also help to lower blood pressure.
These activities may include:
Regular exercise or physical activity:
A daily exercise program can provide a way to share an activity with family and friends, while helping establish good heart-healthy habits. For children, daily exercise deters conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, poor cholesterol levels, and poor lifestyle habits that lead to heart attack and stroke later in life. For older people, daily physical activity helps delay or prevent chronic illnesses and diseases associated with aging, and maintains quality of life and independence longer.


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One Piece Grand Battle Official Movie 1
Fight your way to pirate booty in this clip from One Piece Grand Battle.
Fight your way to pirate booty in this clip from One Piece Grand Battle.
Luffy does his best against Kuro in this movie.
Buggy unleashes his special brand of fury in this clip.
Check out an awesome battle between Usopp and Kuro.
Take a look at an action-packed minigame in this clip.
In this interview Atsushi Minowa discusses some of the key features in the new fighting game One Piece.
Nami wields her staff as she faces off against Usoff
Captain Kuro tries to smash as many crates as possible in this One Piece mini-game.
Luffy squares off against Nami in a winner takes all battle royal.
Take a look at all the titles that Nintendo has lined up for the GameCube in this excerpt from the company's E3 press conference.
Pirate-themed pugilism for PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance, and GameCube now available at stores nationwide.
We get a look at Bandai's madcap arena fighter based on the popular, whimsical anime series.
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Monday I was at the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) conference in Philadelphia to give a version of the same talk I gave at PyCon in March, talking about my experiences teaching Python using the combination of Scribbler robot and Fluke bluetooth board developed by Georgia Tech and Bryn Mawr. I think the talk went reasonably well – 50 or so attended, and they laughed in the right places, which is my main criterion for success. I also got to say hi to a few old acquaintances and even meet a couple of new faces with Python edu-sig connections.
Although I was talking about a class I'd taught, and combining robots with Python, the other point that I hope the audience also got was the need to make programming classes relevant, real, interesting, and above all, darned cool. As anyone who's heard me talk about it knows, I'm happiest teaching project based courses where we're free to pursue interesting topics as they come up. Writing a chat bot in Python, plotting the Mandelbrot set in Java, or trying to crack passwords in C, it's the joy of tackling a hard problem and doing something really exciting that has driven all of my best classes.
It doesn't have to be robots, or necessarily Python, but if kids don't leave a programming class feeling they've truly done something pretty amazing, I think we've missed the boat. That feeling I think is key to getting a more diverse group of kids into the field (yes, I mean girls, but others as well) and it should be within reach – there's so much amazing stuff they can do.
I'm not alone in this thinking, of course. Many of the edu-sig gang have done great work in this regard, including Jeff Elkner, Kirby Urner and Brian Brumley, and many others. But we're too few, and too spread out. In general, the state of secondary and middle school programming instruction in this country reminds me of the old Woody Allen joke about the Jewish ladies at the resort, "The food is so awful here…" "Yes! And such small portions!" We have to keep working on that from all sides.
I was also surprised to find that I was the only Python related talk at all of ISTE. I'm afraid the joke is right – if it doesn't cost money, it gets no traction at ISTE. Similarly, there were only a few other open source related talks, a sad decline from my first couple of years at ISTE (then NECC) as the Python presenter at the start of the Open Source Pavilion. Then it looked like open source software might make a real dent in one of the most commercialized conferences I've ever attended. I could seriously say that I went to preach Python and open source at NECC because that's where the unconverted were. Well, the unconverted are still there, and more numerous than ever, I'm afraid.
Still, there were some encouraging notes. Out of the 50 or so who attended my talk there was one gentleman who was trying to get programming classes offered by his school, and who thought that Python and robots might actually be the way to persuade his administration to try it. Another was reworking an established program to include more Python as the capstone language, because, as he put it, "all the colleges are switching to it". I truly hope he's right on that one.
Finally, thanks to my employer Zoro Tools (http://www.zorotools.com) for giving me the time to go make the presentation – go buy something
from us – we sell nearly everything. 😉
And even greater thanks go to the Python Software Foundation Board for supporting my trip. My rather quick departure from Canterbury for Zorotools.com had left my travel to ISTE unfunded, and the PSF stepped in to help me for the second time. That's probably something that the PSF should brag about somewhere – what other open source programming language's foundation has cared enough about education to send someone to speak at big conferences like ISTE? If others have, good for them, but I'm thinking it's pretty rare.


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Friday 25 January
|Crocodylus (1)
A fairly large crocodile species, the American crocodile has a stocky body with a long, powerful tail. The short but muscular legs end in sharp claws (2) and the long triangular snout contains 14 to 15 sharp, conical teeth on each side. The large fourth tooth of the lower jaw fits into a pit in the upper jaw, but remains visible (5). The American crocodile is neatly adapted to life in the water. The ears, eyes and nostrils are located on the top of the head so that nearly the whole body can be submerged (5). A fold of skin can close the windpipe to enable the crocodile to open its mouth underwater and breathe through the nostrils (5). The eyes can be covered with a third eyelid to protect them underwater and the ears are covered with a flap of skin (2). The pupils are vertical slits to help with night vision (2) and there is a distinct swelling in front of each eye (3).
Very young American crocodiles are green with dark banding on the back and tail (2) (6). Juveniles are olive green and are no longer banded (6). Adults are dull grey, with a white to yellow belly (2). Compared with other crocodile species, the armour is less prominent. Rows of raised scales contain knobs of bone (5).
Reaching sexual maturity at 2.5 metres, the female American crocodile prepares a nest during the dry season, either in a hole or on a mound of mud or sand (3). After two months of surprisingly gentle courtship, during which the female must reduce the male's territorial aggression by making audible signals and by lifting her head to expose her throat, and nuzzling his head and neck (6), the female lays between 30 and 60 eggs. These are covered with sand and left to incubate under the heat of the sun for 90 days (3). The female guards the nest and assists during the hatching process, which coincides with the start of the annual rains. Both parents may guard the hatchlings (6) although they can fend for themselves immediately (2). Only a few survive due to predation particularly by raccoons (7).
The adults make dens, dug 3 to 9 metres into the river bank, near the nest site, but move inland during the winter, as they are unable to tolerate water temperatures of much below 18ºC (6). The American crocodile's diet consists mainly of fish, but birds, small mammals, crabs and turtles are also taken and eaten underwater (3). Crocodiles hunt by waiting motionless in the water until their prey is close enough, then attacking the prey and drowning it. They will even regurgitate small amounts of food to attract fish. During winter, the digestion rate is very slow, so they can go for months without food (2).
The American crocodile is found along the eastern coast of the Pacific Ocean from western Mexico south to Ecuador, and along the western coast of the Atlantic Ocean from Guatemala north to the southern tip of Florida (6). It is present in southern United States, Central America and northern South America (3).
The American crocodile can be found in both freshwater and saltwater habitats, but is most commonly found in tropical wetlands such as mangrove-lined saltwater estuaries and lagoons (6). It constructs long burrows to avoid adverse conditions (3).
Between the 1930s and the 1960s, the American crocodile was hunted for its skin, which was a popular material for bags and belts (3). The species was declared endangered in 1979 and is now legally farmed for its skins. Now, the major threat to wild populations is habitat loss as a result of increasing urban development. Illegal hunting and accidental encounters with fishing nets, cars and boats are still a threat (6).
Surveys and research into population statistics and behavioural ecology have proved extremely useful for recovery efforts in the United States, and are hoped to continue for more southerly populations. The American crocodile is fully protected in the majority of its range, but enforcement of this protection is inadequate, and legal hunters of caiman are known to illegally hunt American crocodiles as well. Management programmes have been set up in eight countries within the range, but they are commonly ignored. As well as reducing illegal hunting, crocodile farms can provide individuals for restocking the wild. For example, Venezuela contains much suitable crocodile habitat, but would benefit from restocking (3).
For more information on the American crocodile and on crocodilian conservation and research, see:
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Sweet potato & lentil soup
Satisfying and simple to make, homemade soup is a great supper or take-to-work lunch
Nutrition and extra info
- Freezable
- Vegetarian
- kcal287
- fat8g
- saturates2g
- carbs49g
- sugars17g
- fibre6g
- protein9g
- salt0.71g
- 2 tsp medium curry powder
- 3 tbsp olive oil
Olive oilol-iv oyl
Probably the most widely-used oil in cooking, olive oil is pressed from fresh olives. It's…
- 2 onions, grated
Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…
- 1 eating apple, peeled, cored and grated
Grown in temperate regions, apples are one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits. There are…
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 20g pack coriander, stalks chopped
- thumb-size piece fresh root ginger, grated
Mainly grown in Jamaica, Africa, India, China and Australia, ginger is the root of the plant. It…
- 800g sweet potatoes
Sweet potatosweet po-tate-toe
Sweet potatoes have a creamy texture and a sweet-spicy flavour that makes them ideal for savoury…
- 1.2l low-sodium vegetable stock
- 100g red lentils
- 300ml milk
One of the most widely used ingredients, milk is often referred to as a 'complete' food…
- juice 1 lime
The same shape, but smaller than…
Put the curry powder into a large saucepan, then toast over a medium heat for 2 mins. Add the olive oil, stirring as the spice sizzles in the pan. Tip in the onions, apple, garlic, coriander stalks and ginger, season, then gently cook for 5 mins, stirring every so often.
Meanwhile, peel, then grate the sweet potatoes. Tip into the pan with the stock, lentils, milk and seasoning, then simmer, covered, for 20 mins. Blend until smooth using a stick blender. Stir in the lime juice, check the seasoning and serve, topped with roughly-chopped coriander leaves.


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Home > Jewelries & Watches > Jewelries > Brooches > Gorgeous Crystal Diamante Floral Wedding Prom Bridal Brooch Pin
Product Details
- Occasion: Wedding, engagements,prom,every occasion you want to be more charming
- Very shining to show off your glamour
- Material: Silver plated,alloy, rhinestone
- Color: Silvery
- Flower Diameter: Approx. 6.5cm/2.56inch
Package Includes:
- 1 x Brooch
Note: Please be reminded that due to lighting effects and monitor's brightness/contrast settings etc, the color tone of the website's photo and the actual item could be slightly different.
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Amazing Race Pinoy TV5 acquired EditionWe read the tweet of the TV5 Jun Contagion took the franchise rights of Filipinos Edition Amazing Race and have announced it in front of advertisers.Certainly participate in many reality show contestants bringing in different places.Who will host the Amazing Race because it is busy, Paolo Bediones holding the number of shows on TV5 and he was also the host of Extreme Make Over Home Edition plus he also executive network?
I am excited as well, but yes, please translate asap!! Hard to tell if this is a reall announcemwnt or spec??
I think we will wait and see! TAR is being franchised left, right, and center,,,so But we have the BEST possible contestants right here!!
TARP is confirmed! Will air next year.
They better make it good. TV5 is a promising station, second only to ABS. I wonder whether they are gonna make it a daily show. Please no, I hope its gonna be once a week only. And I hope Paolo Bediones will host! HahaI'm excited, and worried because Philippine TV Shows always massacre foreign shows (except Big Brother)
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The irony of a water gun fight is that you basically have to put yourself in the range of your adversary's weapons and retaliation in order to accurately hit them. But not any longer. Indoor RC helicopters have evolved in leaps and bounds over the past few years, and now they come with built in reservoirs and water cannons.
Okay, 'cannon' might be a bit of a stretch, but this RC toy can deliver an H2O payload that will certainly annoy your target, even if it doesn't soak them. Its infra-red remote works from up to 10m away, keeping you at a moderately safe distance to escape retaliation. On a single hour charge you're probably looking at about five minutes of flight time given the extra payload, which isn't a bad way to terrorise your co-workers for £42.


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|Isabelle wants to deliver her fifth child at a health centre
© UNICEF Timor-Leste/2012/Andy Brown
Suku Hatólia is part of a new initiative that encourages women to give birth at their nearest health centre. After a meeting with her local community, Isabelle signed up. "I don't want to suffer or die giving birth," she says. "Now, when I go into labour we can call the health centre and they will send the ambulance to collect me. I'm very happy to know they will come."


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10. Another awesome discovery I made on this trip was Yelp! I downloaded the app to my phone and then was able to search for restaurants and things to do. Everything was rated and people gave detailed reviews. It was so helpful. We found the BEST tapas restaurant in Brooklyn by using it (El Mio Cid if you care). You can search for things surrounding your current location so it was so easy to find good stuff nearby.
11. Your husband may balk at your instructions to stop the car (so you can take a picture) when you see one of the Real Housewives of NY walking down the street with her family. No matter how loudly you yell. Or how much you pout.


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Construction wrap-up project
BWC has the authority to self-insure a construction entity (business) with workers' compensation for specific projects. Both public and private construction projects are eligible for this coverage. Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 4123.35 has the guidelines for self-insured (SI) construction projects.
Only those employees and subcontractors working on an approved project will be covered under the employer's SI workers' compensation policy. Employees not working on that project will be covered under the employer's state-fund (BWC) policy.
Once the construction project is completed, the employer will become a solely state-fund employer.
To self-insure a construction wrap-up project, submit the Self-Insured Construction Wrap-Up Application (SI-50) to BWC.
- ${title}${badge}


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Reading camp for elementary students coming this summer
Reading camp for elementary students coming this summer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The College of Education is offering the Penn State Reading Camp for elementary school students again in 2013. The camp is scheduled for July 8 to Aug. 1, Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Chambers Building.
The Penn State Reading Camp is designed for reluctant readers and those who are experiencing challenges in developing their literacy.
"Our goal is to help students address the question, 'What are reading and writing for?'" said Coordinator Kathleen Shannon.
Students enrolled in the Reading Camp read across all types of texts in order to become experts. Students then can make museum exhibits and express their new expertise through writing nonfiction, fiction, scripts, poetry, lyrics, maps, diagrams and more. Students will have a chance to work with the artist-in-residence who helps them represent their new knowledge in installation art, sculpture, painting and collage as well as print.
Through this process, students learn decoding, comprehension and fluency strategies while participating in large-group, small-group and independent activities based on their interests and needs, according to Shannon.
The Reading Camp offers a 3-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. The camp's teachers are Penn State master's degree students who are enrolled in the capstone experience for Reading Specialist certification.
The enrollment fee is $50. For more information or to register for the camp, contact Shannon by email at email@example.com.


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Tagged: A's Red Sox
Sox Will Have to Bring Their "A" Game as Tough Foes Dot April Schedule
Happy Opening Day! And now the flurry of questions about our 2012 White Sox will begin to be answered.
The April schedule won't be a cakewalk. First it's three against the Rangers, beginning this afternoon, then three vs. the Tribe–all on the road–then home for three against the mighty Tigers and four vs. the Orioles. The month concludes with a six-game road trip to Seattle and and Oakland and a four-game homestand against the Red Sox.
I hate to get ahead of myself because facing the two-time defending American League champs the next three days is imposing enough. But the facts are the facts. The Sox, in need of getting off to a good start to excite the South Side fandom, have their work cut out for them.
Today, we'll see Robin Ventura's managerial debut and a new lineup that will look like this:
DeAza, CF
Morel, 3B
Dunn, DH
Konerko, 1B
Pierzynski, C
Rios, RF
Viciedo, LF
Beckham , 2B
Danks, P
One mystery is the identity of the closer. Ventura has been mum on the subject, but it seems Matt Thornton, Hector Santiago and Addison Reed are the likely suspects, in no particular order.
One game won't make or break the season, but it sure would be nice to get out of the box with a "W" against the league champs. And it would be even sweeter if Dunn is a big part of it so he can exorcise those 2011 demons sooner than later.


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Covering Dixie Like Mildew - The SEC. Nuff said.
Go to the Head of the Class.
Georgia starting quarterback Aaron Murray is one of 57 Georgia student athletes who made the school's fall academic honor roll. (The Athens Banner-Herald)
Mandatory Manziel.
Texas A&M starting QB Johnny Manziel is compared to Dallas Cowboys starting QB Tony Romo. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? (The Dallas Morning News)
Deal with it.
Dan Carson explains why Johnny Manziel's college experience is making yours look pale in comparison. (Bleacher Report. WARNING: Slideshow ahead.)
What's in it for me?
Arkansas Expats ponders how that bill in the Texas legislature to require Texas A&M and Texas to restore their annual rivalry game may effect Arkansas.
Wish List.
Kevin McGuire lists Florida vs. Miami as two of the college football teams he would like to see required by law to play each other every year. (The Crystal Ball Run)
Action Jackson.
Florida high school senior cornerback Eddie Jackson commits to Alabama's 2013 recruiting class. (al.com)
America needs an early National Signing Day.
Because For Whom the Cowbell Tolls Said So.
Is Ole Miss guard Marshall Henderson "the Johnny Football" of SEC basketball?"
No, because Johnny Manziel is likable. (al.com)


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Mexico Industry Output Falls Three Times More Than Forecast
Mexico's industrial production fell three times more than analysts forecast in March, reinforcing expectations that the central bank will cut interest rates for the second time since 2009 later this year.
Factbox: Key facts about Mexico's tax system
MEXICO CITY – Mexico's new government has promised a comprehensive review of its tax system, to be announced in the second half of 2013 along with an overhaul of energy policy.
Obama tells Mexicans a 'new Mexico' is emerging
US-Mexico Stereotypes Must Be Broken
America Movil sees material impact from Mexico telecom reform
Despite winning top world trade job, even Brazil looks beyond WTO
Brazil campaigned hard to get the top job at the World Trade Organization this week but behind closed doors even it acknowledges that the WTO's main mission – pushing forward in global trade talks – looks for the moment like a lost cause.
BM&FBovespa Quarterly Earnings Trail Estimates as Costs Increase
Petronas Malaysia bolsters Brazil's Batista with $850 million oil-field buy
Venezuela's Maduro gets firm Brazilian backing, trade
Brazilian M&A Picks Up as Asians Seek Cheaper Oilfields
Latin America
Argentina's Deadbeat Special: Buy a 4% Bond or Go to Jail
Panama Canal Cuts Water Use as Drought Prompts Energy Rationing
Brazil's Odebrecht plans $20 billion spend, targets Peru as key investment
CHICAGO TRIBUNE – Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht plans to invest $20 billion globally over the next three years, mostly in Latin America and much of it in Peru
Saipem wins $500m offshore contracts in Latin America
– Italy-based engineering services provider Saipem has received new engineering and construction (E&C) offshore contracts, worth a total value of $500m, in Latin America.
APMT prepares for high growth markets
Although global container volumes are not predicted to grow as rapidly over the next five years as they have over the past decade, high growth emerging markets will require higher levels of productivity and rely heavily on expanded inland services
Cartagena aims to be a global megaport by 2017
The Colombian Caribbean port of Cartagena is undertaking extensive infrastructure and technology upgrades in an effort to be one of the world's 30 best megaports by 2017.
Filed under: Argentina, Brazil, Central America, Chile, Colombia, Energy & Environment, Malaysia, Mexico, News, Peru, Risk Management, Venezuela, America Movil, Argentina, BM&FBOVESPA, Brazil, Colombia, Commodities, Energy, FX Foreign Exchange, Infrastructure, Investment, Latin America, Merger, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Risk Management, Sea Ports, Tax Exemption, Telecommunication, Trade


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The wait is over as Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Monday announced via Twitter he will take on Marcos Maidana of Argentina in a welterweight title unification bout May 3.
"I will be fighting Marcos Maidana May 3rd on Pay-per-view Showtime/CBS," Mayweather tweeted.
Mayweather did not identify the site on his tweet. But Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, told this newspaper it most likely will be MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be televised on Showtime pay-per-view.
Mayweather made the announcement on his 37th birthday. At 45-0 with 26 knockouts, he is the consensus No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. His other top consideration for this fight was Amir Khan.
Maidana, 30, is 35-3 with 31 knockouts and has a knockout ratio of 81.5 percent. He's coming off a dominating victory over Adrien Broner, who was dropped twice by Maidana. Maidana won by a wide, unanimous decision and took Broner's title in December in San Antonio.
"He has that one thing I call a game-changer, which is his punch," Schaefer said of Maidana. "He is going to try and do that, he is going to try and change the legacy of Floyd Mayweather."
Mayweather most recently won a majority decision over Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on Sept. 14 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.


text: The Iberian Pullmantur Group S.A. as active in the cruise sector since 1998. The Pullmantur Cruises branch was founded in 2000 with headquarters in Madrid (Spain). Its fleet currently includes 5 ships: Empress, Ocean Dream, Pacific Dream, Sovereign and Zenith. Its main itineraries are the Mediterranean Sea, Northern Europe and the Caribbean Islands.


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Side Chair
Upholstered, Wood
Gold, Other
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56 lbs
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courses.uww.edu »
2018 Fall Term
Physics 496
Variable topics. Group activity. Not offered regularly in the curriculum but offered on topics selected on the basis of timeliness, need, and interest, and generally in the format of regularly scheduled Catalog offerings. Repeatable for a maximum of 3 credits in major or minor in physics.
Other Requirements: PREREQ: MAJOR OR MINOR IN PHYSICS, JUNIOR OR SENIOR STANDING AND CONSENT OF INSTRUCTOR
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There are no sections offered for this course and term that meet your criteria.


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Today's news of the death of fantasy author andrew j. offutt comes to me as half of a very strange coincidence.
Last week on eBay, I scored a small stack of Tom Reamy's deluxe 1960s-'70s fanzine TRUMPET, which I'd always wanted to know more about; they arrived yesterday and I was surprised to discover that my old friend andy had written a column for them. When I say TRUMPET was deluxe, I mean photo-offset and art and writing by the best in the business at that time. Even their letters column was illustrious. And I have to say, I hadn't really thought of andy in years. I read andy's columns and enjoyed them; one of them was illustrated with three pictures of the young fellow he must have been at that time, and they brought back memories of his direct and wily gaze and that impressive Kentucky colonel voice he had etched into ordinary sinew with decades of intensive and unusual reading. ("I've read all of Havelock Ellis," he boasts in one of these columns.) It had the ring of Civil War-era courtliness and Jack Daniels, though I'm told by mutual friend Joel Zakem that his prefered brand was Maker's Mark.
I knew of him because he contributed to other fanzines produced by friends of mine; I sent him my first fanzine, THE HYDRAULIC PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH #1, which looked like absolute crap, yet despite my flat-out lack of credentials, he agreed to write something for my second (which I called APPLES WOOFER #2) -- a very amusing, character-driven overview of the then-current (1972) horror movie scene. This makes him not only the first professional writer I ever met or knew, but the first one I ever presented in print. Either one of those distinctions would make this blog entry kind of a heavy one to write, and I can assure you, especially given yesterday's coincidence of discovering those early columns and those pictures of him in his youth, this is a heavy piece to write.
We met at the 1972 Midwestcon -- he, his wife Jodie and the kids known as the "offuttspring." I was 15 or 16 and, when I expressed an interest in his work, he took me to his hotel room and showed me a book full of the paperback porn he wrote under other names. I wish I could have bought them all, but I could only afford HOLLY WOULD by John Cleve, which he said was the best of them. The only other title I remember from the box was BLACK BUCK, WHITE BITCH -- a title he hated, imposed on another of his aliases by his publisher (my first-ever awareness that writers weren't always on ideal footing with their publishers, or vice versa). His first hardcover was about to be published at that time, and I remember Jodie excitedly sharing with me her handsome husband's first-ever dust jacket and author's photo. andy's forte was sword-and-sorcery, which was never mine, so I never did read much of his work, but I remember him as a strong and razor-sharp personality, a devil and a hedonist and an eccentric in the best of all those terms, and someone who had the stuff of genius in him. He was a verbal gymnast and he communicated to me the joy of writing for a living.
Did he make full use of his genius? I leave that for his steadfast readers to decide. But I can tell you this: When I started watching TRUE BLOOD in its first season, his son Chris was the show's story editor, and I could see a LOT of the andy I remembered in Stephen Moyer's original performance as Bill Compton. I wrote about that here, at the time. Chris didn't stay with the show and Moyer's performance changed -- and not for the better, if you ask me.
During the year or two when I regarded andy as a mentor, he used to sign his letters to me "peace/out, ajo." Peace/out to you, andrew. Thank you for your kindness to the younger me, and for showing me this path.
Update 5/3/13: I'm appending this obit from Andy's hometown newspaper.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
LISA AND THE UNNATURALS: A Buzzati Connection?
In my review of SCHREIE IN DER NACHT -- the German DVD release of Antonio Margheriti's CONTRONATURA/THE UNNATURALS, 1969) -- in the current VIDEO WATCHDOG, I mention that it bears a surprising narrative similarity to Mario Bava's heretofore unique LISA AND THE DEVIL (1973).
I just learned from the organizers of the "Contronatura" section of the Operazione Paura Festival that Margheriti's film was loosely based on a story by Dino Buzzati entitled "And Yet They Keep Knocking At Your Door." (This is not mentioned in the film's credits.) Further research revealed that this story was translated into English for a hardcover collection entitled CATASTROPHE: THE STRANGE SHORT FICTION OF DINO BUZZATI, published here in 1965. When I first started looking into this, I thought, on the basis of the film's resemblance to Margheriti's earlier CASTLE OF BLOOD (DANSE MACABRE, 1964), that it might have some basis in the writings of Algernon Blackwood. In looking over some customer comments about Buzzati at Amazon.com, I noticed that one of them described him as a kind of "Italian Algernon Blackwood."
I was also struck last night, while revisiting Jess Franco's A VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD (1971), by the similarities of this dream-like film to Margheriti's and Bava's, in that it's about a living woman who spends time in a house full of people, one of them blind, who are eventually revealed to be dead, the ghostly figments of a damned existence. In LISA AND THE DEVIL, Elke Sommer plays Lisa Reiner; in A VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD, Christina von Blanc plays Christine Reiner. Coincidence?
Unfortunately Buzzati's CATASTROPHE is now a very rare book; I could only find a used copy going for more than $300 -- a bit too steeply priced to read just one story. However, Bava supposedly read everything in the genre he could get his hands on and I suspect there is a connection here to be explored.
Posted by Tim Lucas at Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Hammer DRACULA Restoration... Incomplete!
Hammer fans have been torn on their response to Lionsgate/Icon's new Region 2 Blu-ray/DVD set of Terence Fisher's DRACULA (1958). Everyone is overjoyed to finally see the long-censored decomposition scene as it was intended to be seen, while others have complained that the film now looks too blue or too dark. As it happens, I can't agree with either side of that criticism. The film looks just fine on my 60" Kuro Pro monitor, but after carefully examining the three surviving Japanese reels included as a bonus supplement in the set, I can't agree that we're seeing the decomposition scene as it was intended by director Terence Fisher to be seen either.
Let us begin with a series of frame grabs from the 2012 restoration, beginning with the skeleton of Dracula's hand emerging from the ashes of its disintegrated flesh. This material runs from 79:43-44.
The film then cuts to a baleful close shot of Dracula's face, Christopher Lee investing the moment with pathos and defeat.
The film then cuts back to Dracula's arm as the last of the ashen flesh crumbles and the sleeve of Dracula's coat shrinks back to expose the crumbling bones of his forearm.
More about this and my evaluation of the remainder of the restoration in the next issue of VIDEO WATCHDOG -- #174.
Posted by Tim Lucas at Thursday, April 11, 2013
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Recipients of the 2012 Rondo Awards
-- COMMENTARY: David Kalat on Criterion GOJIRA/GODZILLA
-- DVD EXTRA: Universal Monsters ORIGINAL HOUSE OF HORRORS booklet
-- SHORT FILM: FALL OF HOUSE OF USHER (animated)
-- BEST ARTICLE: Christopher Lee: A Career retrospective, by Aaron Christensen, HORROR HOUND #34
-- BEST INTERVIEW: Michael Culhane talks with original DARK SHADOWS cast, including Jonathan Frid's last interview, FAMOUS MONSTERS #261
-- BEST COLUMN: It Came from Bowen's Basement (John Bowen), RUE MORGUE
-- BEST THEME ISSUE: Tie, MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT #30 (Vincent Price); VIDEO WATCHDOG #169 (Dark Shadows)
-- COVER: Jeff Preston's Phibes cover for LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #29
-- FAN EVENT: Rick Baker gets star on hollywood Walk of Fame
-- HORROR HOST: Svengoolie
-- MULTIMEDIA (Audio/video): FRIGHT BYTES
-- TOY, MODEL OR COLLECTIBLE: Jeff Yagher's BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN scene
-- WRITER OF YEAR: Tim Lucas
-- REVIEWER OF YEAR: David-Elijah Nahmod
-- INTERNATIONAL MONSTER FAN: Rhonda Steerer (operates Boris Karloff 'More Than a Monster' site from Germany)
-- MONSTER KID OF THE YEAR: SIMON ROWSON (for work in Japan unearthing lost footage in HORROR OF DRACULA)
-- J.D. LEES -- Editor/publisher who helped popularize kaiju scholarship with G-FAN, now a giant-sized 100 issues old.
-- COUNT GORE DE VOL: Still going strong in multimedia, 40 years later.
-- TED NEWSOM: Opinionated but with good reason -- he was there researching and interviewing long before most others.
-- STEVE BISSETTE -- Writer's love of the genre has spread across all genres, from comic books to deep research.
-- JESSIE LILLEY: From Scarlet Street to Famous Monsters and Mondo Cult, she has expanded the outlook of fandom.
-- And the late GARY DORST: One of fandom's founding forces, gone far too soon.
Posted by Tim Lucas at Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Monday, April 08, 2013
Aloha, Annette (1942-2013)
Today we've lost Annette Funicello at age 70, after a long and largely private struggle with multiple sclerosis. Wikipedia reports she was unable to walk since 2004 and unable to speak since 2009, enforcing her early retreat from public view. This news is hard to believe for those of us who remember Annette as a 12-year old Mouseketeer (I can, thanks to 1960s reruns of THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB) and her later appearances in a half-dozen BEACH PARTY movies for AIP which, to me as a pre-teen, played like freewheeling, madcap previews of what teenage life might be like.
Walt Disney had seemingly plucked her out of nowhere after spotting her in a juvenile performance of "Swan Lake" at Burbank's Starlight Bowl, in which she played the Swan Queen; she was the last Mouseketeer to be cast and the most popular, even before her puberty hit in a manner television had never documented before. Though noticeably more voluptuous, she wasn't a conspicuously different Annette in the Beach Party films than in the MICKEY MOUSE CLUB serials "Annette" (which launched her hit song "How Will I Know My Love?"), "The Further Adventures of Spin and Marty", or the Disney series ZORRO; there was still something of "Swan Lake's" Swan Queen about her, a warmth and sweetness but also a tacit distance; a hermetic sense of young, grassroots American royalty. With her earnest voice double-tracked, she recorded a number of hit songs ("Tall Paul", "Pineapple Princess"), some of them written by her first serious boyfriend, Paul Anka, who famously spun one of them ("It's Really Love") into the theme music for THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON.
One of the great images of Annette Funicello that I carry with me is one I never saw, but was once described on an episode of THE MATCH GAME by actor Bart Braverman. He remembered seeing her once drive into a studio parking lot in a peach-colored sportscar convertible and stepping out in peach-colored clothes and boots. He said it was the one thing he'd seen in his life that spoke of genuine stardom to him and that he would never forget. I also remember hearing somewhere that Annette and Shelley Fabares were best friends who met once a week to have lunch together, and thinking how many men must see them talking at a nearby table and fight the urge to pick up their check out of simple gratitude.
My own favorite memory of Annette is the opening credits for a certain movie from 1965. I saw this on the big screen as a kid and it may still be the only time a credit sequence has outdone the rest of the picture, even though I like the rest of the picture. Written by the Sherman brothers, it's still the happiest song in the world for me, and I thank her for it -- and for a lifetime of companionship, though she never knew me and I'm sure I knew the real Annette less well than I'd like to believe. To borrow the title of another Beach Boys song, Annette embodied the romance of The Nearest Faraway Place, always close but too far to reach.
Posted by Tim Lucas at Monday, April 08, 2013
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Thoughts About Jess
Of course I regret that we never met in person, but I think there is no doubt that we experienced a perfect meeting on some special metaphysical level. The one time we spoke on the phone, we both laughed for nearly a full minute before we could begin a proper conversation, so amused were we both to be finally talking together. It was very much like catching up with a friend from some other lifetime. Would shaking his hand have made any difference? We seemed to cross-pollenate one another, odd as that seems; we had a genuine and complete correspondence. I am pleased that I had some hand in reversing what was once the common wisdom about him and his work, and that he acknowledged my efforts on his behalf in a warm and appreciative manner. A shared love of his work also became a password into many important friendships in my life... and there is much more work for us still to do.
Yes, I shed some tears this morning, but listening to Clifford Brown's "I'll Remember April" -- a song I posted on Facebook in tribute to Jess -- reminded me that grief is selfishness. To really be in the presence of Jess Franco, all you need do is listen to great jazz, the most alive music there is. Wherever Jess is, the mystery is taking him into his confidence as a final reward. His best movies addressed the balance of those two great mysteries, sex and death, and he now knows more about the poem he spent his life writing than he ever did while alive.
So I am moved by his death, but not sad; I am actually happy for Jess. No one achieved more; he is the unchallenged King of the Mountain. He went out with a new movie awaiting release. His work just hit Blu-ray this past year and he's got numerous films now being restored and awaiting release on this state-of-the-art medium. He can put his infirmities behind and rejoin the love of his life and the loves of his life. Now that his filmography is complete, its full arc and all its oceanic confluences can be measured and charted; maybe it's the kick in the ass I need to come to complete grips with this book I've been compiling on the back burner and get it done. In the meantime, there are more Blu-rays coming up and I'm hopeful of recording audio commentaries for at least a couple of them.
Jess Franco is finished with life, but life is far from finished with him.
(Photo above, courtesy of Alain Petit's collection.)
Posted by Tim Lucas at Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Jesús "Jess" Franco (May 12, 1930 - April 2, 2013)
Jesús Franco Manera passed away sometime after 11:00am this morning, from complications of a stroke, at a clinic in Malaga, Spain. He was 82 years old.
Word came at roughly 5:30am (US Eastern time) this morning, on Facebook's El Franconomicon fan page, when Frank Munoz -- stationed at the hospital where "Tio Jess" had been under observation since suffering a serious stroke last Wednesday -- posted this brief message:
"Estoy en el hospital. Acaba de fallecer. Se lo han llevado ahora mismo. Lo siento."
Translation: "I'm at the hospital. He has just passed away. They are taking him right now. I am sorry."
And so ends -- or begins -- the most epic story in the history of fantastic cinema. The IMDb credits Franco with directing 199 features and the list is surely incomplete, lacking some titles altogether, not to mention variant editions and unreleased titles. Very often, he was also their writer and very often their cameraman, editor, dubber and a member of the cast. No one demonstrably loved making movies more than he.
Of course, Jess has always been the Patron Saint of VIDEO WATCHDOG, the subject of our very first feature article; the way his films invited me in, the way each of his films seemed to open up worlds within worlds, made our obsessive style of coverage possible. I watched two of his films tonight, wanting to be "with" him. I had a feeling this might happen.
Jess was only one month shy of his 83rd birthday, and his final feature -- AL PEREIRA VS. THE ALLIGATOR LADIES, in which his longtime friend and associate Antonio Mayans reprised a role he had played several times -- recently had its first public screening. Of course, Jess's wife and muse Lina Romay (Rosa Maria Almirall Martinez), who became the very essence of his cinema from the time they met in 1973, passed away just over one year ago, on February 15, 2012.
Go with our blessings, Maestro. And take with you our grateful thanks for all the complex riches you have left behind, which will keep us occupied for so many years to come.
Needless to say, more to follow once I've had a chance to absorb this news.
Posted by Tim Lucas at Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Monday, April 01, 2013
On this April Fool's Day, instead of pulling cheap jokes to fool our friends, why not remember the role played by the Fool in the Tarot deck?
There -- as in this example from the famous Rider-Waite deck -- the Fool is depicted as a vagabond, a fanciful adventurer, less brave than innocently unaware; he seems to know nothing of the world, yet he's out there meeting it head-first, taking risks, ready to step off a precipice as if onto an invisible stairway to Heaven, as the little dog of rational thought yaps and nips at his ankles.
I'd like to reclaim this day for the heroic principle of the Fool, so that it's less an opportunity to mock others than to throw off our shackles of routine and do something foolish ourselves; something that might take us a bit outside our usual comfort zone toward something, anything, that we might look back on in days and years to come as something so unlike us and so worth our time.
Posted by Tim Lucas at Monday, April 01, 2013
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It is said that the only thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping baby. We completely agree, especially when they are the stars of nezo art (which literally translates as "sleeping position art").
The art wasn't exactly made in Japan. The true pioneer in this genre is Finnish former designer Adele Enersen, who rose to Internet fame with her blog Mila's Daydreams. She photographed her daughter sleeping in various artsy dreamscapes realized with props and costumes. She eventually spun that popularity into a photo book, titled "When My Baby Dreams" and published in January 2012.
While Mami Koide has clearly been inspired by Enerson, the 41-year-old illustrator diverges from the master by giving her dream tableaux a slightly more DIY vibe. In fact, in her self-imposed rules, Koide says creators of nezo art should strive to use everyday objects found around the house as their props. It's all a matter of taste, but we prefer the more amateurish, homey nezo creations.
Koide is not alone in Japan. NAVER Matome has compiled an array of photos contributed by individuals who have chosen to put their little ones on the slumber stage. You can also check the Twitter hashtag #NezoArt for more. And if that isn't enough, there's Koide's recently publish photo book, "Nezo Art Book."


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LGAMMA(3) Linux Programmer's Manual LGAMMA(3) NAME lgamma, lgammaf, lgammal, lgamma_r, lgammaf_r, lgammal_r, signgam - log gamma function SYNOPSIS #include <math.h> double lgamma(double x); float lgammaf(float x); long double lgammal(long double x); double lgamma_r(double x, int *signp); float lgammaf_r(float x, int *signp); long double lgammal_r(long double x, int *signp); extern int signgam; Link with -lm. Feature Test Macro Requirements for glibc (see feature_test_macros(7)): lgamma(): _BSD_SOURCE || _SVID_SOURCE || _XOPEN_SOURCE || _ISOC99_SOURCE || _POSIX_C_SOURCE >= 200112L; or cc -std=c99 lgammaf(), lgammal(): _BSD_SOURCE || _SVID_SOURCE || _XOPEN_SOURCE >= 600 || _ISOC99_SOURCE || _POSIX_C_SOURCE >= 200112L; or cc -std=c99 lgamma_r(), lgammaf_r(), lgammal_r(): _BSD_SOURCE || _SVID_SOURCE signgam: _BSD_SOURCE || _SVID_SOURCE || _XOPEN_SOURCE DESCRIPTION For the definition of the Gamma function, see tgamma(3). The lgamma() function returns the natural logarithm of the absolute value of the Gamma function. The sign of the Gamma function is returned in the external integer signgam declared in <math.h>. It is 1 when the Gamma function is positive or zero, -1 when it is negative. Since using a constant location signgam is not thread-safe, the func‐ tions lgamma_r(), lgammaf_r(), and lgammal_r() have been introduced; they return the sign via the argument signp. RETURN VALUE On success, these functions return the natural logarithm of Gamma(x). If x is a NaN, a NaN is returned. If x is 1 or 2, +0 is returned. If x is positive infinity or negative infinity, positive infinity is returned. If x is a nonpositive integer, a pole error occurs, and the functions return +HUGE_VAL, +HUGE_VALF, or +HUGE_VALL, respectively. If the result overflows, a range error occurs, and the functions return HUGE_VAL, HUGE_VALF, or HUGE_VALL, respectively, with the correct math‐ ematical sign. ERRORS See math_error(7) for information on how to determine whether an error has occurred when calling these functions. The following errors can occur: Pole error: x is a nonpositive integer errno is set to ERANGE (but see BUGS). A divide-by-zero float‐ ing-point exception (FE_DIVBYZERO) is raised. Range error: result overflow errno is set to ERANGE. An overflow floating-point exception (FE_OVERFLOW) is raised. CONFORMING TO The lgamma() functions are specified in C99 and POSIX.1-2001. signgam is specified in POSIX.1-2001, but not in C99. The lgamma_r() functions are nonstandard, but present on several other systems. BUGS In glibc 2.9 and earlier, when a pole error occurs, errno is set to EDOM; instead of the POSIX-mandated ERANGE. Since version 2.10, glibc does the right thing. SEE ALSO tgamma(3) COLOPHON This page is part of release 3.65 of the Linux man-pages project. A description of the project, and information about reporting bugs, can be found at http://www.kernel.org/doc/man-pages/. 2014-01-18 LGAMMA(3)[top]
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DiamondsAndHeels14 Blogger Cassandra Shares Her Inspiring Road To YouTube Success
Cassandra of DiamondsAndHeels14 is the reason why some teens feel okay about going to school each day. The blogger is candid about being teased by bullies who made her feel so self-conscious about her acne that she spent most of her time alone. She turned to YouTube for its sense of community and seemingly endless supply of makeup tips. The self-taught beauty guru is now famous in the vlogosphere for perfecting a foundation routine that turns even the worst breakouts into flawless-looking skin. It wasn't easy going makeup-free in front of the world to share that routine with her viewers, but facing her fear paid off big-time, drawing enormous support from fans (and a whopping 16 million views!). But mostly, the thanks she received from girls everywhere made it well worth the struggle.
When Cassandra is not inspiring us with blemish-erasing beauty tricks on YouTube, she's doing shoots and strutting her stuff on runways. Teen Vogue catches up with the YouTube blogger turned model as she preps for her catwalk appearance at the fall 2013 Boy Meets Girl show to get the inside scoop on what it was like to film that life-changing video—and she even lets us take a peak into her makeup bag to see which products she's loving right now!


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We knew there was going to be a Fiat 500 Convertible, but we didn't realize Fiat was working on one of those full-length, Citroën 2CV-esque cloth sunroof things. The ahead-of-the-curve opinion-formers over at Next Autos seem to think the car will receive the clunky Cabriolet Coach designation, but we're not sure if all those chrome letters would fit on the back of the diminutive Cinquecento. While this soft top Fiat 500 is significantly less gay than the Castagna Tender Two, like all modern retros, it's still extremely limp-wristed. The coup de grace, in the form of a Mini Convertible-rivaling full-convertible 500 is expected to arrive some time next year. If you're comfortable with your sexuality and you want people to know it, or you're just a cute young girl, go for it. Just watch out for Audi Q7s headed in your direction. [via Next Autos]
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Rob Emslie
significantly less-gay? . . . it's still extremely limp-wristed?
Wes, John Travolta will not be amused.
BTW; this thing is a lot bigger in person than I expected. Especially when compared to the original flavor.


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Adobe Illustrator CS6 is here!
Adobe Illustrator CS6 is powered by the new Adobe Mercury Performance System so you can work with speed and stability on large, complex files. A modern, updated interface streamlines daily tasks. Advanced creative tools enable you to capture your vision better than ever.
- See what's new on the Illustrator pages on Adobe.com
- Join the live webcast of the Adobe Creative Cloud and Creative Suite 6 launch at 10 AM PDT on Monday April 23.
- Find our what 64-bit support really means in Illustrator CS6 in this post by Mordy Golding on his Real World Illustrator blog.


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All qualifying parts are identified with a message stating "Qualifies for Free Shipping..." Parts without this message do not qualify for Free Shipping.
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Smittybilt XRC-9.5K Winch Synthetic Rope Gen2, With Aluminum Fairlead
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The Berkshires were a mountain range on Earth in the region of Massachusetts, from the nation-state United States of America.
In 2161, shortly before the decommissioning of the NX-class Enterprise, the starship's chef considered opening a restaurant in the Berkshires. (ENT: "These Are the Voyages...")
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About 2 a.m. Monday morning, a section of La Crescenta that didn't need to be evacuated got automated calls ordering residents to leave the area.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich acknowledged automated emergency call system called the wrong residents and asked the county executive officer to review the system's effectiveness and flaws, said Antonovich spokeswoman Ali Navid. A report is expected in two weeks.
Read yesterday's blog post with the original story: Did robo-calls alert wrong neighborhoods?


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This year, in lieu of preaching, I'll restrict my thanks to football itself. Namely, the MVP race we have going on right now.
This year, in lieu of preaching, I'll restrict my thanks to football itself.
Namely, the MVP race we have going on right now.
Tom Brady, the quasi-defending MVP from 2007 in that he missed last year, is completing two-thirds of his passes, has 20 TDs to just six picks, and is already over 3,000 yards. His 300+ yards-a-week pace projects him to 4,878, or more than Kurt Warner ever did for The Greatest Show on Turf.
That yardage would trail only Dan Marino's 5,000-yard season, the only one the league ever has seen.
But Brady is hardly in this discussion.
Not with Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Drew Brees and Chris Johnson doing what they're doing.
Brees leads an undefeated team and his 68.1% completion rate makes him a threat to set a record there (Ken Anderson's 70.55 from 1982 has held up all these years; yay Augustana!).
Problem for Brees? The two career kings, Manning and Favre, are each doing better.
Manning's obscene 317.1 yards a week projects him to 5,084 — precisely Marino's record. He's completing 69.8%, so Anderson is in his sights as well. Oh, and his team is undefeated with mostly patsies the rest of the way.
Then you have Favre, who owns three MVPs but never has been as good as he is at 40. With his bugaboo interceptions almost completely gone (3 in 10 weeks), Favre has a 112.1 quarterback rating that leads the league.
The old man is step for step with Manning on TDs (21 each) and percentage (69.7). And his Vikings are once-beaten after visibly being held back by the QB position the last few years. That is, no one has been more valuable.
All these throwers might cancel themselves out if Johnson maintains his crazy 6.2-a-carry average and reaches 2,000 yards. Unless you want to go back to the beloved Bear Beattie Feathers in 1934, or find Barry Sanders' finest season, Johnson's average is unmatched among running backs in the history of football.
His chances would rely on Tennessee at least making a righteous bid at a wild card after its 0-6 start. Four down, six to go on that run.
But the unbeaten Colts and the great Manning loom in a week.
Packers -11 at LIONS: Bitten by the underdogs' 10-5-1 showing a week ago, I'm going to ignore my original instinct of a Green Bay waltz in this one. Pinning our hopes on a sharp showing from the dusty but rested Daunte Culpepper. That's a hit-and-miss proposition if ever there was one. DETROIT.
COWBOYS -13 1/2 vs. Raiders: OK, one of these two games will be a rout. If they aren't ignore-able enough by nature (Detroit every year?), we always turn off one game that stinks. But if we take two big dogs and one is a rout, at least we get the split. OAKLAND.
Giants -6 at BRONCOS: The unnecessary third game. With apologies to Lovie and the Mangenius in Cleveland, these might be the two most un-pickable teams in the league at this time. (I've now made up two words, one with a suffix, one with a prefix.) Praying for a blip in Denver's free-fall for one night, because New York minus-6 does not compute. DENVER.
Peoria Journal Star sports editor Bill Liesse can be reached at (309) 686-3213 or email@example.com.