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New Car Review
2012 Buick LaCrosse: New Car Review
Combining European styling with modern luxury touches and excellent fuel economy, all of Buick's new and redesigned nameplates are largely unrecognizable from the dated brand most Americans still remember. Stodgy and mild no longer have a place in the Buick vocabulary, and, arguably, there is no better example of that than with the new LaCrosse.
When the LaCrosse received a major overhaul in 2009, it was billed as the first car of a new generation of Buicks that were meant to attract a younger buyer-meaning 40 and 50 year olds. For the most part the strategy has succeeded and with the addition of both the new Verano and Regal to the lineup as well as the continued success of the Enclave, Buick's efforts have been rewarded with incredible double digit sales growth in the last year alone.
For 2012, the LaCrosse has received some major tweaks meant to further increase its appeal to younger buyers, the biggest of which are a brand new eAssist powertrain-providing excellent mileage for a luxury car in this class-as well as a touchscreen infotainment system with good smartphone integration.
The 2012 LaCrosse is an excellent choice for luxury shoppers seeking fuel economy and value. Yes it has a few foibles, but they are by no means dealbreakers-especially among the car's target market.
Good Fuel Economy Comes Standard
Rising fuel economy regulations have forced automakers to come up with new ways of making cars more efficient without losing the performance customers demand. The major strategy GM has adopted to attain these seemingly mutually exclusive goals involves a light electrification system dubbed eAssist.
As the first vehicle across all of GM's brands to receive its eAssist package as standard equipment, the 2012 LaCrosse represents a vanguard of sorts, and it's a strategy GM has said will spread across much of its passenger vehicle lineup in the years to come.
The eAssist system mates a large starter motor/generator combo to a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine and pairs it to a big battery in the trunk. The combination of these two elements allows the vehicle to capture electricity through regenerative braking and use that electricity to provide an assist to the gas engine during acceleration. The large starter motor also allows the vehicle to shut off the engine when slowing down and stopped and start back up immediately when needed.
Altogether the system can return some impressive numbers, with the EPA rating it at 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. During a week of driving on approximately 70 percent highway and 30 percent city roads our test car returned about 29 mpg. Considering a large part of that driving was with a fully loaded vehicle carrying luggage for four people and usually seating three adults and two children, the result is all the more impressive.
The auto start-stop feature of the eAssist system performed flawlessly and the engine turned on and off quicker and even more unnoticeably than on most full hybrids such as the Toyota Prius or Ford Fusion Hybrid. The only clue that the system was working came when the tachometer dropped below zero into a section of the gauge that read, "auto stop."
Although the mileage from the base eAssist system is very good, the drivetrain felt as if it were occasionally struggling to keep up in heavy North East Thanksgiving traffic where short spurts of fast acceleration can make the difference between unharmed and accident. Even with the car's smooth 6-speed automatic transmission, when my foot was mashed on the gas pedal it produced a high pitched whine and strained to meet my demands-although the results were still acceptable.
For customers less concerned about mileage and more concerned with a smoother drive and more responsive acceleration, Buick does offer a 3.6-liter V6 upgrade. However, the V6 drops fuel economy substantially to 17-city and 27-highway mpg.
Although the LaCrosse starts at a base price of just around $30,000 after destination and handling, our test car came equipped with convenience, comfort, leather, audio and safety packages that pushed it to a total price of $36,685. These options included adaptive high intensity headlights that were articulated to follow the curves in the road, a blind spot warning system, ultrasonic parking assist, heads up display, navigation system, backup camera, heated seats, fog lamps, an 11 speaker Harman/Kardon audio system, a 120-volt three-prong power outlet, and 8-way adjustable driver and passenger seats.
The V6 engine costs another $1,500 and brings with it some additional comfort and luxury features. All-wheel drive is also available for $4,000 more and requires the V6.
Interior Hits and Misses
While the interior of the 2012 LaCrosse is generally well designed and pleasing to look at, there are a few issues that came up over the course of a week of hauling a family around in it. One of the car's best features is how well the engineers handled noise and vibration. In fact, the car was so quiet even on poorly maintained highways that the road sometimes faded away as an afterthought. With the engine off at every stop sign and streetlight, the quietness was even more noticeable during in city driving.
Although the seats were generally comfortable for long rides, and the 8-way adjustability didn't leave any dull spots, they could benefit from a bit more bolster for front passenger hips and thighs.
There are also some minor details that we hope to see Buick address in the next generation. For one the front cupholders are so high that the driver and front passenger constantly hit any cups in them with their elbows. Also, in a classic case of design trumping functionality, the front door handles are partially covered by a design element that makes grabbing the handle sometimes a bit frustrating.
The center console LCD screen is also positioned such that the driver's right hand obscures a portion of it causing the driver to crane his or her neck to glimpse at it while driving. In addition, as with many modern vehicles, the gunslit window fad has created rear windows on the LaCrosse that anybody less than 5 feet tall will have trouble seeing out of. For young children this makes for some very boring trips.
In an effort to attract a younger, more tech-savvy buyer to the brand, Buick's smartphone integration is very good and relatively intuitive. Connecting an iPhone to the system worked flawlessly and the Bluetooth audio phone connection was clear and easy for incoming callers to understand, even at highway speeds.
Safety Packed But Steering is Twitchy
The 2012 LaCrosse comes standard with a host of six airbags, stability control, traction control, ABS and daytime running lights. The available $1,440 'Driver Confidence Package'-which our test car was equipped with-provided some additional safety features that make that package an incredibly appealing value, including a heads-up display, articulated front headlights and a blind spot warning system.
The heads up display not only provided a quickly accessible speedometer, but was also capable of showing navigation directions and satellite radio information. The articulated high intensity discharge headlights curved with the turn of the steering wheel and provided great nighttime visibility around dark corners. On several occasions in heavy holiday traffic, the blind sport warning lights on the side rear view mirrors provided critical information without the need to look away from the road ahead. Even without those additional safety features the LaCrosse has obtained a five star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" from IIHS.
Yet, although it has some good safety credentials, the modern LaCrosse has unfortunately inherited the steering of the old Buick. The steering is twitchy at high speeds, and caused passengers in the car to remark on it as nearly nausea inducing on more than one occasion and independently of one another. Slight steering corrections led to amplified and noticeable jerkiness at freeway speeds. Although it wasn't ever a big enough problem to cause a safety concern, during long drives the effect became tedious.
Even with its relatively minor foibles, the 2012 LaCrosse is a solid effort. Combined with its modern Buick siblings, it's no wonder the Buick brand is experiencing some of the fastest and strongest growth in the industry. Loaded with luxury features at a less-than-luxury price, the 2012 LaCrosse is a great value and should be on the test drive list of any shopper looking to buy an Acura, Lexus, Lincoln or even a high end Camry.


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MSL fusion composite and airtight coating New for 2016, MSL involves fusing a second layer of hard-wearing polymer to the dropstitch core at the raw material stage, removing hand gluing errors. The high-tech industrial process also saves almost 2kg in weight and makes the boards stiffer at lower pressures.
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By: Michael Peltier
News Service of Florida
THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, October 1, 2012..........Florida's insurance consumer advocate on Monday called on the state-backed property insurer to provide much more data surrounding a decision to loan $350 million in surplus to private insurers willing to take policies out of Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
In a letter to Citizens chairman Carlos Lacasa, consumer advocate Robin Westcott put forth a lengthy list of questions surrounding a deal approved in September by Citizens' board of governors to provide 20-year, low interest loans to private established carriers to partially offset the risk associated with Citizens policies.
"The Office of the Insurance Consumer Advocate shares the Board?s goal of depopulating Citizens and reducing the potential assessments on all property and casualty policyholders in the state,? Westcott said in a letter to the board. But, she wrote, "Citizens must assure consumers and policymakers that a thorough cost-benefit analysis justifies the commitment of up to $350 million of Citizens? surplus, as this program would allow."
The loan program, to be funded with Citizens' surplus, is an attempt to move up to 350,000 customers from the state-backed insurance pool, which now handles more than 1.4 million policies.
The Citizens plan would allow a qualified private insurer to borrow up to $50 million in exchange for taking Citizens policies for at least 10 years. The loans, referred to as surplus notes, would carry a low interest rate and be repaid to Citizens over 20 years. The loans are meant as an incentive for the companies, which would be taking on more risk.
Because the state-run pool charges premiums that are lower than a private company would offer, a gap exists between what a private insurer would have to charge to provide the policy and make a profit and what customers are paying now.
Barry Gilway, Citizens new president and CEO, said the plan is a cost-effective means of reducing Citizens exposure while helping to re-establish a more vibrant private market.
"The addition of the program approved today has the potential of removing more than $1.2 billion in assessment risk shouldered by all Florida policyholders," Gilway said Sept. 7 when the idea was approved.
Among the questions Westcott raised were how the firms would be selected, what enforcement mechanism Citizens would have to make sure the money was repaid and what models were used to come up with the $350 million figure.
In response to Westcott's letter, Associated Industries of Florida urged Citizens leaders to go ahead with the loan program, saying Citizens is "a ticking time bomb that must be defused now,"
"Time is of the essence and this plan should not be delayed," AIF President and CEO Tom Feeney said in a statement. .


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i can tell the diffrents
Reviewed By George W (Bonaire, GA) Reviewed for a 1999 Ford F-150 —10/29/2015 6:40 AM
my name is george it wasnt to bad to in stall an you can tell in the performance of my truck an well in my gas mileage
There are no customer reviews for this product
Reviewed By Frank S (North Richland Hills, TX) Reviewed for a 1999 Ford F-150 —8/26/2014 6:11 AM
We installed the Airaid system in about 25 minutes to a 4.2 V6! It added a nice sound, trottle responsiveness and a very nice look to the engine. The Airaid system looks and feels solid and the price was right!


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Both search engine marketing programs were in my opinion great events giving insight into the world of Internet Marketing, in New York I moderated two sessions, one on in-house SEO and another on Amazing PPC Tactics. Both really good sessions. At the SMX NY I also talked at a really interesting session called "Iran & Michael Jackson: What Marketers Can Learn From How Consumers Search For Current Events" were I took the United Airlines emergency landing case study, reaction of journalists and other stakeholders and how we maped the news about this happening throughout the internet.
Me and Jens Hilmersson Scandinavia Service Director and Nordic eMarketing went with me to SMX Stockholm and as I spoke at two session he sat throughout the conference on both days and is likely to throw a summary of the Stockholm SMX event and his key learning's out on Optimize Your Web.


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Car Review
2014 GMC Terrain: New Car Review
While some classify the GMC Terrain as a compact crossover, others say it's a midsize. The truth is the 2014 GMC Terrain enjoys the best of both designations. It offers fuel economy fit for a compact and the roominess of a midsize utility. Add to the equation trucklike styling and the GMC Terrain becomes a truly compelling package.
The Terrain delivers on many fronts, much like its almost identical counterpart, the well-rounded Chevrolet Equinox. Both crossovers are competent people-haulers, emphasizing comfort, fuel economy, refinement and roominess, all things held in regard by those shopping for a family vehicle. But the Terrain sets itself apart with distinctive styling elements such as a prominent grille, oversize wheel arches and squared-off body panels.
Despite its rugged name, the Terrain does not offer any off-road capability. To the contrary, the only terrain that the Terrain is truly suited for is asphalt. The Terrain's available all-wheel-drive system is fine for handling harsh weather and road conditions, but it's less than ideal for treading a muddy trail through the woods.
What's New for 2014?
The Terrain is largely unchanged for the 2014 model year, except for a few new alloy wheel designs.
What We Like
Powerful V6; quiet and comfortable ride; impressive fuel economy; bold styling; sliding second row; good storage space
What We Don't
No third-row seat; vague steering feel; underwhelming dynamics
How Much?
Fuel Economy
The Terrain offers two engine choices. A 2.4-liter 4-cylinder is standard. It's hooked to a 6-speed automatic transmission, and makes 182 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is 22 miles per gallon city/32 mpg hwy with front-wheel drive or 20 mpg city/29 mpg hwy with all-wheel drive.
Drivers who want more power can step up to the optional 3.6-liter V6, which makes 301 hp and 272 lb-ft of torque. The V6 is rated at 17 mpg city/24 mpg hwy with front-wheel drive or 16 mpg city/23 mpg hwy with all-wheel drive.
Standard Features & Options
The GMC Terrain is offered in five trim levels: base-level SLE-1 and SLE-2, mid-level SLT-1 and SLT-2, and an upscale model, added last year, dubbed the Terrain Denali.
The base-level SLE-1 ($27,500) includes OnStar, Bluetooth, a 7-inch center-mounted touchscreen, a rearview camera, cruise control, 17-in alloy wheels, a power driver's seat and an auxiliary plug and USB port for music.
Step up to the SLE-2 ($29,000) and you add automatic climate control, GM's IntelliLink infotainment system with voice commands, a Pioneer audio system, a power passenger seat and roof rails.
Next up is the SLT-1 ($30,500), which boasts heated front seats, leather upholstery and a remote engine starter.
From there, drivers can move to the SLT-2 ($33,800), which adds a sunroof, 18-in wheels, rear park assist, a lane-departure warning system, a forward-collision warning system, a power lift gate, driver seat memory and other accents.
Finally, topping the Terrain lineup is the Denali ($36,200), which offers rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot alert, unique wheels and Denali-specific exterior and interior trim.
Many Terrain models offer optional features standard on higher trim levels. The SLE-2, for instance, offers a convenience package that's standard on the SLT-1 and a safety package that's standard on the SLT-2. Other options include a navigation system, all-wheel drive, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and the 3.6-liter V6.
Standard safety comes from six airbags, OnStar emergency telematics, ABS, stability control and traction control. To elevate occupant protection, GMC also offers optional lane-departure warning and forward-collision alert systems, part of the Safety Package available on the SLE-2 and SLT-1 and standard on the SLT-2 and Denali. The Denali also includes a standard blind spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert.
The Terrain received four overall stars in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash testing. It earned five stars in NHTSA's side-impact test but received four stars in frontal and rollover assessments.
Behind the Wheel
Foremost, the Terrain delivers a comfortable and quiet ride that's well-suited for daily commuting or long-distance road trips. GMC has gone to extra effort to make the Terrain's cabin as free from exterior noise as possible. A plush, well-shielded driving experience is what most family-centric buyers want, and the Terrain delivers.
The Terrain really isn't fun to drive, though. Its handling is lackluster, and its steering feels numb and disconnected. Furthermore, the Terrain exhibits noticeable body roll in corners.
As for power, the 4-cylinder Terrain is a fine choice for everyday driving. Power delivery is smooth and steady throughout the rev band. The only time it may come up short is when the Terrain is loaded down with passengers and cargo.
Equipped with the 3.6-liter V6, the Terrain is noticeably more powerful. Off-the-line acceleration feels strong, and the V6 Terrain pulls highway passing maneuvers without struggling. But compared with the base 4-cylinder, this engine takes a beating on fuel economy.
Although the Terrain is not ideal for going off-pavement, it is a capable towing vehicle. Choosing the V6 and the optional trailer package lets the Terrain driver tow a small boat.
Other Cars to Consider
Honda CR-V -- The CR-V offers more cargo capacity but no V6 engine option. Both vehicles provide comfortable transportation for five.
Toyota RAV4 -- The latest RAV4 doesn't have the Terrain's bold styling or V6 power. But it's high on value, fuel economy and interior room, even if it isn't the most refined compact SUV around.
Ford Escape -- The recently redesigned Escape has more high-tech features than the Terrain, and it offers a wider range of engine choices, including a hybrid drivetrain. But the Terrain's sliding rear seat gives it more interior versatility.
Kia Sportage -- The Sportage is sportier and more fun to drive than the Terrain. But the Terrain offers more cargo room and a roomier second-row seat, which slides and reclines.
AutoTrader's Advice
The 2014 GMC Terrain variant that makes the most sense is the SLT-1 trim matched with the 4-cylinder engine. The 4-cylinder provides adequate power and better fuel economy, and the SLT-1 trim offers the best value among the five models. It comes with features such as remote start, heated front seats, leather upholstery, a touchscreen audio system and a backup camera, but does so without breaking the bank. We also suggest opting for the available navigation and Safety Package. And for those living in colder regions, all-wheel drive is highly recommended. Otherwise, stick to the thriftier front-wheel-drive setup.


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Avoid Water Pump Woes - Kopycinski's BrainPosted in How To on July 23, 2013
With temps on the rise and summer just around the corner, it's time to once again think about the cooling capacity of your off-road rig. We often push our engines harder than the average driver, whether that be slow trail crawling where air flow across the radiator is minimal or high-speed running where we're demanding a lot of power and building heat in the motor.
A well-performing cooling system helps your drivetrain last longer and allows your ride to endure the heat of summer without problems. The heart of the system is the mechanical water pump. An impeller spins inside the housing, pushing water from the center of the impeller outward while simultaneously creating suction that draws more coolant into the center of the impeller. Internal failure of the pump can cause water leaks and diminish cooling capacity.
External conditions can also cause a water pump to fail prematurely. These can include a damaged (unbalanced) fan, aged or corroded coolant, defective fan clutch, excessive belt tension, or any contact of the fan with the radiator or shroud.


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Join CNS-ASU faculty and students as we host a sponsor table at the Tempe Festival of Arts the weekend of April 5-7! This event is part of NanoDays, a nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering and its potential impact on the future.
As part of NanoDays, the National Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) produces a ton of fun kits and demonstrations around issues of nanotechnology and other small-scale science. As a participating member of NISE Net, CNS-ASU gets to play with those kits and share them with everyone at the Tempe Festival each year!
This year's activities include making color-changing bracelets from UV-sensitive beads, ferrofluids, magnets, binary code, and lots of giveaway items including reusable water bottles!
We hope to see you there!


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'Parker': Swamp of a Florida Thriller
The most distinctive thing about "Parker" is its title. This is the first time Parker figures in a film adapted from one of Donald E. Westlake's many Parker novels. In the 1967 "Point Blank" he was called Walker, and was played by Lee Marvin. In the 1999 "Payback" he was called Porter, and was played by Mel Gibson. Westlake was protective of his hero when granting screen rights; only since the novelist's death four years ago could the man without a first name be called by his rightful last name. In the current iteration he's played by Jason Statham, an English action star who's capable of more nuance than he reveals in a role that turns on exacting revenge by inflicting—and suffering—pain. The essence of this grindingly violent movie can be summed up by what Parker says of his handgun to a terrified clerk at a check-cashing service: "It's small, but it hurts."
When we see Parker for the first time, he's disguised as a priest and part of a holdup gang that bursts in on the Ohio State Fair's offices to relieve the fair of its daily take. The film's first grace note comes when a security guard, whose life Parker has spared, blurts out "Thank you, father." (I also liked a quick cut of four pigs lurching out of the starting gate at a little porker racetrack.) But grace notes are few and far between in Taylor Hackford's brute-force direction, John J. McLaughlin's coarsegrained script and David Buckley's pitiless score. The cinematography is ugly too, but that could be a function of a too-tight shooting schedule, or the producers' insistence on too-bright lighting, so I won't finger the behind-the-camera perp.
The theme of revenge—there is no other—grows out of the gang turning on Parker and leaving him for dead. The quest for revenge leads to Palm Beach. That's where Parker's former comrades in crime are planning an elaborate jewel heist, and where the movie takes a belly whopper into low-tide absurdity by introducing, and constantly leering at, a near-penniless real estate agent named Leslie, who is played by Jennifer Lopez. The coupling of near-penniless and Palm Beach real estate agent is dumb enough, but Leslie is in a dimwit class by herself, and the actress is clearly uncomfortable in the role, especially when her character embarks on a sodden soliloquy about being stuck in her career and hating her life. Back in 1998 Ms. Lopez spent a lot of screen time in South Florida as a U.S. marshal in Steven Soderbergh's "Out of Sight," which seemed phenomenally smart and funny at the time, and remains the gold standard for modern crime capers. "Parker" sets a tin standard for crime thrillers.
'John Dies at the End'
When you hear a song on the radio, where's the song? That's one of the many questions posed by Don Coscarelli's first feature since his cult hit "Bubba Ho-Tep" a decade ago. Another is how this little horror comedy, which was shot for smallish change, looks so good and sustains such a distinctive visual style, with monstrous manifestations and genial gross-outs that aren't up to "Alien" standards but aren't cheesy either. Still another is how the film manages, in the absence of a coherent plot, to be so funny and engaging until, somewhere around the midpoint, it goes as flat as a stepped-on creepy-crawly. Which gets us back to a version of the first question: When you're having great fun at a movie and suddenly you're not, where's the fun?
In this case memories of the fun do linger. They're compounded of situational dada (plots aren't everything if you have nuggets of blithe nonsense popping up every minute); the effects of a street drug called soy sauce; and some deliciously deadpan performances, especially that of Chase Williamson. He plays Dave, one of two college dropouts who may be humanity's only defense against vile visitations—mainly crustacean visitations—from another realm. Much of the time Mr. Williamson seems to be doing next to nothing; his character, a slacker Candide, is either aghast or agog. What he's actually doing, however, is metering out emotion with a precision that belies his lack of experience; remarkably, this is his first feature film.
Rob Mayes is winning too as the other ad hoc ghostbuster, John; he suffers from split identities—though with a shared personality—and remembers things that haven't yet happened. Paul Giamatti gives the disjunct story a discernible framework as Arnie, a journalist to whom Dave tells his lurid tale. The cast includes Glynn Turman, Doug Jones, Tai Bennett and, in a cameo as a priest, Angus Scrimm, who played The Tall Man in Mr. Coscarelli's "Phantasm" and its sequels. Mike Gioulakis did the cinematography. The point at which the film takes a sharp turn for the worse is when it starts to explain itself with a stab at narrative logic (in a sequence that puts Dave and John on alternate-universe thrones, like Danny and Peachy in "The Man Who Would Be King.") Too bad, but probably inevitable. Anarchy defies scrutiny.
Eytan Fox's romantic drama, in Hebrew with English subtitles, takes place 10 years after Mr. Fox's "Yossi & Jagger." In that film, the covert lovers of the title were two young men serving in the Israel Defense Forces in Lebanon, where one of them was killed in an ambush. Now Yossi (Ohad Knoller, as in the earlier film), is a successful cardiologist, but his life has lacked a strong pulse ever since. The same can be said of this sequel, even though it's an affecting and admirably unsentimental portrait of lost love.
The contrast between the two films is instructive. "Yossi & Jagger" was barely feature length, with a running time of 65 minutes. Still, its story was dramatic and complex, what with the lovers' urgent need for secrecy, the details of Israeli military life and the perils of the Lebanon war. (A brief turn by Hani Furstenberg as a flamboyant female soldier didn't hurt.) "Yossi" spends much of its 84 minutes with a passive hero. This older Yossi is a vestige of the man he once was, an overweight and hollow-eyed vestige who drags himself through his daily rounds and solitary nights. Mr. Knoller's performance is admirable, and Yossi does find new reasons to embrace life. But his rebirth comes only after a very long requiem.
DVD Focus
'The Bank Job' (2008)
Jason Statham is Terry Leather, a London car dealer with a vaguely shady past. An early scene in his garage shows one of his mechanics turning back an odometer, and the movie does something of the same thing. It turns back the clock to the 1970s, and to a gritty heist genre that eschews glitz and cutting-edge gadgetry for gimlet-eyed bank robbers who cut their way through masonry and steel with jackhammers and acetylene torches. Don't be put off by the generic title. "The Bank Job," directed by Roger Donaldson, delivers more than it promises.
'Beetlejuice' (1988)
Tim Burton's second feature is a supernatural comedy for the ages, one of the funniest ghost stories ever made. At least half of it is—up to and including a dinner party whose guests are possessed by the need to sing "Day-O," Harry Belafonte's Banana Boat Song. The second half is merely wonderful. Michael Keaton is sensational in the title role of a self-styled bio-exorcist. Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin are the couple who find themselves inconveniently dead, and Winona Ryder is the hilariously morbid daughter of a yuppie couple who move into a haunted house.
'Brokeback Mountain' (2005)
When it comes to defying cultural norms, gays in the Israeli military are shoulder to shoulder with the American cowboys played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger. Although Jack and Ennis love each other passionately, they can't live together in the Marlboro Country of the 1960s and '70s, so they try to hide their love behind shaky facades of heterosexual domesticity. Ang Lee directed, with eloquent simplicity, from a superb adaptation of an Annie Proulx short story by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana. With Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams as the heroes' uncomprehending wives.
Write to Joe Morgenstern at firstname.lastname@example.com
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OTTAWA, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Canada's military plans to pay $38.7 million to DRS Technologies Canada Ltd. for communication devices.
Canadian Associate National Defense Minister Bernard Valcourt said the company will manufacture 13,624 communication selector boxes and 4,937 power distribution units for use in Canada's military tactical vehicle network.
"It is essential to the safety of our men and women in uniform," Valcourt said during a news conference. "They play an important role in protecting us. In doing so, they put themselves at risk. We have a responsibility to give them the tools to keep them safe so that they can return home safely to their families."
DRS Technologies Canada Ltd. General Manager and Vice President Steve Zuber said: "I'd say today is a special day. I feel 2 feet above the ground right now. With the electronics manufacturing we do for rugged terrain in places like Afghanistan, a fair amount of 'survivability' has to be built into their products."


text: This is a fantastic epic trailer with a great culmination at 1:03! The work describes an epic landscape, fight, or whatever you want, it's just epic. Instruments are mainly strings, drums and choir. At the beginning you can hear a chinese string instrument and a kalimba. Enjoy this track, I really like it


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The venue changed, but the competition is fierce.
You didn't click on the wrong story, I'm still talking about our annual Easter Egg Hunt.
I'm in my 30's and a mom of two, and it's still one of my favorite holiday traditions, not to watch, but to participate in!
I've been to the ones at your local parks and heard about the ones other families have, all very civil and sweet. But that just doesn't describe the Easter Egg Hunts I'm used to.
Last week, I talked about a nice, tame family tradition that I'm sure others enjoy as well, Coloring Easter Eggs.
The Egg hunt in our family is quite another story.
Since I can remember, we've been...


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Primary schools
Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) bullying is widespread in primary schools. In addition, primary school children come from a variety of backgrounds and families. Celebrating different families and tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying is crucial to making all children feel welcome, and enabling them to learn to accept others for who they are.
Here you can find out more about why this is important, how you can work with Stonewall, and the resources we can offer you.
Why does it matter?
Stonewall's 2014 research, The Teachers' Report, revealed that:
- Half of primary school teachers who are aware of homophobic bullying in their schools say boys who 'behave or act like girls' are bullied and a third say boys who are not into sports are bullied.
- More than one in ten say that pupils whose parents or carers are gay are bullied, and one in five say that pupils who are perceived to be lesbian, gay or bisexual are bullied.
- Seven in ten primary school teachers hear children say phrases like 'that's so gay' or 'you're so gay' in school. A third of primary school teachers hear children making homophobic remarks like 'poof', 'dyke', 'queer' and 'faggot'.
I felt picked on and the amount of times I went to see the teachers and they said, just ignore them, they'll get bored. They never did get bored.
Sacha, primary school pupil
...a girl in Year 5 said 'you've got no dad and you've got two mums and I think you're really weird'. And I think I didn't even tell the teacher this time, I didn't even cry, I just walked away.'
Alisha, 7
It's not only about bullying. It's important that all children feel included and that they are able to talk freely about their families. Stonewall's Different Families report found that when children with lesbian, gay or bisexual family members realise that their family isn't ever mentioned in class, and other children use the word 'gay' to mean 'rubbish', they feel excluded and stop talking about their family.
When people say gay, I feel worse than other people...
Mark, 8
Exclusion can lead to children feeling they can't be themselves and may lead to lower aspirations and attainment out of fear of being bullied. If not addressed, this can lead to further problems and bullying at the secondary level.
Teacher training
Our Train the Trainer courses give you the tools to tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying, and gives you the confidence to train colleagues in your school to do the same. Find a course in your area and book now!
45 % of primary school teachers say that pupils at their school have experienced homophobic bullying
86 % of primary school teachers have not received any specific training on how to tackle homophobic bullying
Our primary school resources (including posters, stickers, teachers guides and book lists) give you tips and tools to tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying, challenge gender stereotypes and celebrate different families in your primary school.
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Earth Island Institute
ALERT - A Locally Empowered Response Team
Website: http://alertproject.org
ALERT connects oil and public health, making healthy people and healthy communities part of our energy future. We give people the skills and training to deal with health effects from extreme oil activities and empower people to have a voice in what happens in their communities. Your contribution means funding for programs such as:
- Creating and sharing user-friendly educational material and resources about environmental health and disease for the general public, with a focus on chemical illnesses from exposure to oil and gas activities
- Training local trainers with nonprofit organizations to share and build on this material, to address their community's concerns and needs
- Developing and conducting public health surveys as tools to increase public awareness about the connectivity between community and environmental health issues
- Raising funds to test and treat at least two people from Gulf Coast communities at a licensed medical clinic, as a Demonstration Project to show proper diagnosis and treatment for chemical illnesses
- Building coalitions to integrate meaningful citizen involvement in the national oil disaster planning and response system, to strengthen oil spill prevention and response policies and local governance, and to include protection for response workers and the public health
ALERT Project from Global Access Media on Vimeo.
Director: Riki Ott
PO Box 2195,
Vashon Island, Washington
contact by email


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The car: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante
The power: 5.2-liter, direct-injected V-10 making 570 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. Six-speed automated manual transmission with three shift modes and paddle shifters.
The speed: 0-62 mph in 3.9 seconds; top speed 201 mph
The photos: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante
The bragging rights: Lamborghini's lightest, most powerful all-wheel drive Gallardo convertible
The price: $250,100, including $2,100 gas-guzzler tax
The details: What's in a name? The "LP" stands for Longitudinale Posteriore. It sounds like a description of Sophia Loren's backside, but it actually refers to the positioning of the engine. A longitudinally-mounted engine means the crankshaft is parallel to the length of the car.
The 570 refers to the horsepower (the better to differentiate yourself from the plebian buyer of the Gallardo 560-4 Spyder).
The 4 means the car is all-wheel drive.
Spyder means it's a convertible.
Performante references the car's lighter weight over the standard 560-4 Spyder; Lamborghini boasts that this model is 143 pounds lighter than the 560-4 Spyder. It manages this weight loss through the extensive use of carbon fiber; exterior components include the rear decklid covering the engine and soft top, the rear spoiler, door sills and diffuser. Inside, carbon fiber covers the door panels, seat shells and center console cover. Alcantara covers every other surface.
The drive: Imagine the Audi R8 V-10 Spyder's bawdy Italian cousin; more chest hair, more noise, more fun. The car fires up with a quick, loud cackle, but then settles down to a moderate idle that gets progressively louder with speed. Toggling up from Auto to Sport Auto to Corsa not only quickens the transmission's shift times, but also dials up the amount of noise with which you can inundate those in the slow lane as you blast past. Or so I'm told.
With all-wheel drive providing grip and almost 400 pound-feet of torque, entering and exiting turns at speed is an exercise in ego-magnification. Normal torque-split is 30% power to the front wheels, 70% to the rear and there is a dash of oversteer coming out of the turns. The suspension is stiffer than a stock 560-4 Spyder and body roll is nary an issue. Steering feel on the rack-and-pinion system is impeccable; direct, communicative and responsive to quick inputs or corrections.
PHOTOS: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante
The e-gear transmission lags a bit when upshifting in Auto or Sport Auto mode; drivers should remember this is a transmission with a single clutch, so shifts won't be as fast or smooth as a car with a dual-clutch setup. But the system reads your circumstances well; it was rare that I had to manually override the transmission's selected gear when battling turns. Click the transmission into the fully-manual "Corsa" mode and the car goes into full "Italiano" mode; the exhaust gets louder, the shifts get aggressive.
Around town, this Gallardo is fairly easy to drive. Cabin noise is minimal with the top up or down. If I had my druthers, I would skip the sport seats on this Lambo though. While a stiff ride is expected on a performance-oriented variant like this, it's exacerbated by seats with padding as thin as your date's dress. I'd be fine trading a small weight penalty for an additional modicum of comfort.
The takeaway: The traditionally Italian Gallardo after a shot of grappa.


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Used Truck - 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Mini-van Passenger in Bedrock, Mn
Actual costs may vary.
763-295-2525 +++ MONTICELLO SUPERCENTER +++ Accident Free, Very Clean, Stow and Go Seating, Power Windows, Power Locks, Power Seats, Power Rear Doors, Cruise and Tilt and Much More! HABLAMOS ESPANOL - All Credit Situations Accepted. CALL TODAY!! 763.295.2525
- Front Wheel Drive
- Am/fm Stereo
- Cd Player
- Audio Input Jack
- Wheels-steel
- Wheels-wheel Covers
- Remote Keyless Entry
- Trip Odometer
- Tilt Wheel
- Traction Control
- Brakes-abs-4 Wheel
- 4 Wheel Disc Brakes
- Cruise Control
- Intermittent Wipers
- Bucket Seats
- Seats - Reclining
- Third Row Seat
- Folding Rear Seat(s)
- Cloth Seats
- Heated Side Mirrors
- Mirrors-folding
- Mirrors-vanity-driver
- Mirrors-vanity-passenger
- Air Bag - Driver
- Air Bag - Passenger
- Air Bags - Head
- Rear Shoulder Harness
- Door-passenger 3rd
- Door-passenger 4th
- Rear Defrost
- Air Conditioning
- Climate Control - Dual
- Tachometer
- Tinted Glass - Deep
- Center Arm Rest
- Power Steering
- Power Windows
- Power Door Locks
- Power Brakes
- Clock
- 7 Passenger Seating
Major Accidents, Lemon History and Odometer Problems
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2008 Chrysler Town & Country ReviewThis car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale.
Redesigned for 2008.
Chrysler has redesigned the Town & Country minivan for 2008. In addition to the popular Stow 'n Go seating arrangement, the new Town & Country offers Swivel 'n Go, which includes second-row seats that rotate 180 degrees to face a removable table that stores in the floor. With these improvements, Chrysler bills the Town & Country as the ultimate family friendly vehicle, and we agree.
In addition to the new seating arrangement, the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country gets a new engine choice, a 4.0-liter V6 that is more competitive with the V6 offerings from other manufacturers. The 4.0 moves the T&C nicely, while the carryover 3.8-liter V6 is adequate for around-town duty. The base engine is a 3.3-liter V6. With the redesign, Chrysler has dropped the short wheelbase body style.
On the road, the Town & Country offers a smooth ride and an SUV-like view of the road. The Town & Country is a big vehicle, however, and it is not nimble. It is prone to body lean in turns and the ride can feel floaty at highway speeds. The Honda Odyssey and Nissan Quest are more car-like and sportier.
The Town & Country's entertainment and seating options, however, are the best in the class, matched only by the Dodge Grand Caravan. The available Stow 'n Go seating tucks the second-row seats nicely into the floor, and when those seats are up, the floor bins offer storage space. The rear seats fold into the floor on all models, allowing a perfectly flat, voluminous rear storage area that can accommodate items such as couches, 4x8-foot sheets of plywood, and most any other item you might need to transport. In addition, there is a handy well behind the third row that offers lots of storage space even with the seats up.
The new Swivel 'n Go option will be great for family trips. The second row turns to face the third row with a table in between. It will help keep the kids entertained with games of checkers, a place to draw, or any number of other possibilities. And if that's not enough, the Town & Country offers single and dual screen rear DVD entertainment systems, plus newly available Sirius Backseat TV with three kid-friendly channels. The dual screens allow different viewing options for kids that can't agree on what to watch. And for the adults up front, Chrysler's new MyGIG hard drive radio stores up to 1600 songs.
Overall, the 2008 Town & Country does what a minivan should. It is a great vehicle for families that need to haul kids and cargo on a regular basis. And the seating and entertainment options will prevent a lot of the fights that inevitably accompany road trips. Pricing can exceed $40,000 with all the options, so carefully consider which you'll need and use before you buy.
The 2008 Chrysler Town & Country is available in three models, base LX, well-equipped Touring and top-of-the-line Limited. The LX model comes with a 175-hp 3.3-liter V6 engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The Touring model has a 197-hp 3.8-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission. The Limited upgrades to a 251-hp 4.0-liter V6 with the six-speed automatic. All have front-wheel drive.
The LX ($22,460) comes with Yes Essentials cloth upholstery that Chrysler says is stain and odor resistant, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, front bucket seats, front center console, second-row bench seat, third-row stowable split folding bench seat, power front windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, four-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo, conversation mirror, and P225/65R16 tires on steel wheels with wheelcovers.
The Touring model ($27,700) adds tri-zone manual climate control with rear controls, leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, two additional speakers, cruise control, eight-way power driver's seat with lumbar adjustment, power adjustable pedals, Stow 'n Go second-row stowable bucket seats, overhead storage bins, removable rechargeable flashlight, heated exterior mirrors, power rear windows, power sliding rear doors, power rear liftgate, trip computer, universal garage door opener, automatic headlights, fog lights, roof rack, and aluminum wheels.
The Limited model ($35,670) gets tri-zone automatic climate control with rear controls; interior air filter; leather upholstery; eight-way power passenger seat; heated first- and second-row seats; memory for the driver seat, mirrors, and pedals; 506-watt audio system with 10 speakers; Chrysler's MyGIG Multimedia Entertainment System with 20-gigabyte hard drive; Sirius satellite radio; removable, sliding front console; rear obstacle detection; remote engine starting; auto-dimming driver's side and rearview mirrors; outside-temperature indicator, compass; second- and third-row sunshades; xenon headlights; and P225/65R17 tires on chromed aluminum wheels.
Options start with Chrysler's new Swivel 'n Go Seating group ($495), which includes second-row bucket seats that swivel and a removable table that can be installed between the second and third seating rows. Also offered are Chrysler's MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment system ($1,300), which adds a rearview camera, Sirius satellite radio, Chrysler's UConnect hands-free cell phone link and a navigation system with real time traffic and voice activation to the MyGIG Multimedia Entertainment System. Three rear DVD entertainment systems are offered. The LX model is available with Entertainment Group 1 ($2,120), which has a single rear DVD screen, and also comes with Sirius satellite radio, a rearview camera, and the MyGIG Multimedia Entertainment system with 20-gigabyte hard drive. Entertainment Group 2 ($2,395) for the Touring model has the same equipment, plus a second rear video screen and a second rear DVD player. Entertainment Group 3 ($2,020) for the Limited model has two rear video screens with two DVD players, plus Sirius Backseat TV. A Trailer Tow Group ($795) includes heavy-duty engine cooling, trailer wiring harness, and load-leveling rear air suspension. Stand-alone options include two integrated child seats ($225) for the second row, UConnect cell phone link ($275), sunroof ($895), a power-folding third-row seat ($595), and Sirius Backseat TV ($495). Several of the higher line standard features are also available for the lower line models.
Safety equipment includes dual-stage front airbags, head-protecting curtain side airbags, tire-pressure monitor, ABS with brake assist, traction control, and electronic stability control. Optional safety features include rear park assist and a rearview camera.
With its 2008 redesign, the Town & Country drops its short wheelbase body style, opting for three long-wheelbase models. The vehicle's architecture is basically the same, but stretched a bit. Compared to the outgoing long wheelbase model, the 2008 Town & Country is 1.9 inches longer in wheelbase, two inches longer overall, and at least 100 pounds heavier model for model.
Even with those larger dimensions, the 2008 Town & Country's size is comparable to several competitors. The Nissan Quest, Chevrolet Uplander, Kia Sedona, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna are all within two inches, plus or minus, in overall length. Cargo room is comparable as well.
The Town & Country's new styling is boxier than that of the outgoing model, with a more pronounced front end that, like the Chevy Uplander, offers a hint of an SUV-like appearance. The roof is wider at the top, also contributing to the boxier look.
The snout features a large grille heavily influenced by that of the Chrysler Sebring and Pacifica. The body sides have a clean, simple design, as the last model's side strakes have been eliminated. The rear liftgate is available with power operation, which is handy, but the rear glass doesn't open separately, which isn't. Chrome accents on the front and rear fascias, door handles, belt molding, and mirrors lend an upscale appearance.
The Town & Country's competitive advantage can be found on the inside. While ambiance and materials quality are not tops in the class, thoughtful features are. The Chrysler Town & Country is brimming with them.
First the mundane. Hard plastic dominates the dash and doors. The only padded surfaces are found on the captain's chairs' fold-down armrests, and they are an unimpressive looking rubberized material. The gauges are easy to spot and the various controls are clearly marked.
The radio and/or MyGIG system is set high on the center of the dash for easy access. With either system, the controls are easy to use, but those on the right side are a bit of a reach for the driver. The CD/DVD changer is also set low, making it a possible distraction to use while driving. The gearshift is mounted between the radio and the instrument panel. It's an odd position, but it works and there is an electronic gear readout in the instrument cluster.
The MyGIG radio is available as the MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment system, which includes a navigation system with voice activation, or as the MyGIG Entertainment system, which does not have a navigation system. Both systems have a 20-gigabyte hard drive to hold music, pictures, and, with the Infotainment System, navigation map information. Chrysler says the Infotainment System version can hold 1600 songs; it can hold almost twice as many without the navigation system.
Front-seat room and comfort are typical for a minivan. The front captain's chairs afford an upright driving position with an SUV-like view of the road. There is plenty of head room, and leg room will only be lacking for the tallest drivers. A tilt steering wheel and available adjustable pedals should help most drivers tailor a comfortable seating position.
The clever features start with the storage solutions. Chrysler provides two glove boxes and some cubbies in the center stack for small items storage. A total of 13 cupholders are found throughout the van, so the whole team has a place to put their A&W root beers after the little league game. The standard console has four integrated cupholders and a small storage bin. The premium center console is more impressive. It has four cupholders and a small bin on top. This top level slides back to reveal a larger storage bin below it. The lower bin also slides back. With both layers slid back, the top level moves back a total of 21 inches, which allows parents up front to prepare lunch for the kids and pass it back in a safe manner. The premium console is also removable so you can make good on your threat to go back there when the kids need to be forcefully separated.
The rear seating solutions are better yet. All Town & Country models have a deep well behind the third row, which is a great place put groceries so they won't slide around. With the rear seats in place, there is an impressive 32.3 cubic feet of cargo room. All models have a 60/40 split folding third-row bench seat that folds into the floor. Three straps are attached to the back of each seat and they're marked 1, 2 and 3. To fold the seats into the floor, first pull strap 1, then pull strap 2. You have to give strap 2 a good yank and help the seat along with your other hand. It can require leverage that some moms might not have. Strap 3 pulls the seats back up. A better option is the power folding third row seat, which can be set to four positions, including what Chrysler calls the tailgating position. In this position, the seatbacks act as seat bottoms and the bottoms act as backs facing the rear of the van for those parking lot tailgate parties at sports functions.
Chrysler offers three seating options for the second row, and integrated child seats can be ordered for the second row in any configuration. Standard seating in the LX model includes a removable second-row bench seat with covered storage bins in front of the seats. The Stow 'n Go setup, which is standard on Touring.
Driving Impression
The Chrysler Town & Country is tall, heavy and long, and it drives like you'd expect given those characteristics. Drive it hard into a turn and it prefers to keep going straight rather than reacting quickly to steering inputs. Turns and changes of direction prompt copious body lean. In a word, the Town & Country feels cumbersome. Still, it never feels like it's going to tip over.
The steering is somewhat vague. It has enough play on center to keep the vehicle moving straight when you inadvertently jerk the wheel while spinning around to yell at the kids. The Town & Country is in no way sporty. The Honda Odyssey and Nissan Quest are considerably more fun to drive.
The ride quality, on the other hand, is quite good. The Town & Country irons out most bumps well, and only the sharpest of ruts will crash through to give the passengers a start. The long wheelbase helps prevent larger humps from causing up and down motions. However, it can feel somewhat floaty at highway speeds. While certainly comfortable, the Town & Country isn't as smooth as the Toyota Sienna, which has an almost luxury car feel.
Recognizing that its engine choices weren't competitive with the best in class, Chrysler made some improvements. First and foremost is the addition of the new 4.0-liter V6 as standard equipment on the Limited model. The 4.0-liter makes 251 horsepower, which puts it in the ballpark with the V6s offered by Nissan, Honda and Toyota. The 4.0 gets the Town & Country moving nicely from a stop and teams with a new six-speed automatic transmission to provide decent passing response. With the 4.0-liter V6, the Town & Country has EPA fuel economy ratings of 16 mpg City and 23 Highway. Properly equipped, the Town & Country is rated to tow up to 3600 pounds with the 4.0, enough for personal watercraft or a small boat.
The 3.8-liter V6 is a carryover engine, but for 2008, it gets a six-speed automatic instead of a four-speed. The 3.8 makes 197 horsepower, and it offers plenty of pep for daily commutes and most needs. Teaming the 3.8 with the six-speed automatic makes it more responsive than in '07 models, but the problem still lingers that this engine is just not as modern and powerful as many others from the competition. The 3.8-liter V6 has the same EPA ratings as the 4.0.
The base 3.3-liter V6 makes 170 horsepower and uses the old four-speed automatic. While the EPA fuel economy numbers of 17 mpg City and 24 Highway are respectable, they are little better than the bigger engines and the 3.3 is overmatched in this large vehicle.
On the road, the Town & Country cruises quietly, especially with the 4.0-liter V6. All of the engines can intrude on conversation under full throttle, but tire noise and wind noise generally don't.
The Chrysler Town & Country, and its sibling, the Dodge Grand Caravan, are the most family friendly minivans on the market, if not the best driving. The many unique and handy seating and storage options make them worth a look. Drivers hoping for a carlike ride, sporty handling, or state-of-the-art engines will be best served by the Japanese competitors.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Kirk Bell filed this report from Chicago.
Model Lineup
Chrysler Town & Country LX ($22,460); Touring ($27,700); Limited ($35,670).
Assembled In
Windsor, Ontario, Canada; St. Louis, Missouri.
Options As Tested
Entertainment Group 3 ($2,020) with two rear DVD players, two screens and Sirius Backseat TV; MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment System ($1,300) with navigation system, rearview camera, UConnect hands-free cell phone link; sunroof ($895); power-folding third-row seat ($595).
Model Tested
Chrysler Town & Country Limited ($35,670).The Chrysler Town & Country is a luxurious minivan with an innovative seating design that adds greatly to its versatility. It combines the practical features of the Dodge Caravan with a higher level of equipment and style. The LX trim is powered by a 3.3-liter V6 rated at 175 horsepower mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The Touring model uses a more powerful 197 horsepower 3.8-liter V6 and Limited is equipped with a 251 horsepower 4.0-liter V6. Both the Touring and Limited use a new six-speed automatic. All trims come equipped with a tilting steering column, remote keyless entry and a tire pressure monitor. For 2008, the Chrysler Town & Country receives a complete redesign with a new six-speed automatic transmission, 4.0-liter V6 and a more refined exterior.
13830 North Dale Blvd.
Bedrock, Mn. 55374
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Before Embry
In Eclipse we found out that Embry's dad was from La Push. What we didn't find out was who exactly it was. Who cheated? Or was there really no cheating at all and just wrong assumptions? What exactly did happen before Embry? The teen rating is for stuff that may or may not come in the future. I'm not totally sure yet what future chapters are going to hold. I'm just being safe. Disclaimer:All the characters from the Twilight series belong to Stephenie Meyer. Not me. Too bad though. It would be so awesome if I owned them. But I don't. Sucks for me.
I was really curious about Embry and his dad and stuff after I read that part in Eclipse, so, just like Stephenie, I decided to write and find out what exactly happened.
1. Welcoming Party
Rating 4.5/5 Word Count 705 Review this Chapter
Billy's P.O.V.
"Honey, we're going to be late!" Sarah called from the small living room.
"Just a minute! I can't seem to find my shoes!" I called back. I had been looking for them for ten minutes now. I was sure I took them off in our room last night, but they didn't seem to be there.
"There in here," Sarah called to me. "Now hurry up!"
I rushed into the living room and saw my shoes by the couch. How they got in here, I have no idea, but I quickly ran over and put them on.
"Okay, I told them they could stay up until midnight, but no later. The number of where we'll be is on the fridge. If they get hungry, you can give them whatever is in the fridge or in the pantry. I think that's all. Do you have any questions?" Sarah asked the babysitter as I was getting my shoes on.
"No, I think that's it Mrs. Black. Have a nice evening. You too, Mr. Black."
"Thanks Stephanie. We will," Sarah said. "Are you ready, Billy?"
"Yes," I answered her. I just finished getting my shoes on and was in the doorway. "Let's go."
"Bye Mommy!" Rachel and Rebecca came running into the room hollering. "Bye Daddy!"
"Bye sweethearts. Now be good for the sitter, okay?"
"Okay," they both answered. Then they ran over to Stephanie and started talking to her about what they wanted to do first.
"Bye you guys. Have fun," I called over to them, but they were having too much fun, it seemed, to answer me, so we just left to go to the welcoming party the Clearwaters were having for the new woman who just moved here from the Makah reservation. Everyone in La push was expected to be there. Even Charlie who lives in Forks. This was going to be some party.
"Now, Billy, you're going to talk to people instead of just watching what's on T.V., right?" Sarah asked me
Of course a game was going to be on. There always was the few times somebody put together a party. And every time all the men gathered around it and all the women talked with each other. Usually Sarah didn't mind much, since all the guys did it. But tonight's party was to welcome the lady from the Makah reservation, so I was expected to welcome her and mingle with her, as Sarah had gone over with me a dozen times.
"Yes I will talk with other people, Sarah."
"Good. And welcome Maggie?"
Maggie was the woman from the reservation. "Yes, welcome Maggie. That is what I meant."
"But you are going to talk with other people, too, though, right?"
"Yes, I'll try to talk to everyone there."
"Thank you, Billy."
By this time we were already halfway to the Clearwaters' house. We would have already been there if it weren't for the fact that the fastest my truck can go is 60mph.
When we got there, I saw that it was worse than I could have ever possibly imagined. There were cars lining the street even though a lot of people Harry told me were going to be attending were from this street, and I saw people in the front yard and filling the inside of the house, or at least it looked that way through the front window. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if the whole house was being used. I knew that the backyard was being used, too. This was going to be a nightmare.
Sarah must have seen the horror that I was feeling on my face because she said to me "It's going to be okay, Billy. And besides, you need to be more social."
"Social is ten, maybe fifteen people. This is just crazy! I wouldn't be surprised if the new woman came, saw what it was like, and then just kept on driving."
"The woman has a name, Billy. It's Maggie," Sarah corrected me.
"Right. How long do we have to stay here?"
"A while. You are going to talk to people. You might even have a little fun."
"I don't think so."
"Well then think of it this way. Harry has to suffer. So do you. Now come on."
Then we got out of the car and made our way down the street to the Clearwaters' house. My doom.
- Author
- twilightfan_94
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YORK, PA – The York College women's soccer team put together a solid effort to record a 3-0 win over Penn State Harrisburg on a rainy and humid Tuesday afternoon in York.
The Spartans improve to 3-1-3 overall while the Lions fall to 2-3.
The Lions opened the game by hitting the Spartans with an off-sides trap that resulted in the Spartans being whistled for the infraction number of times in the first half. The strategy appeared to frustrate a more talented Spartan squad but the Green and White became more patient as the half wore on before finally using that patience to create a number of quality first half opportunities.
The Spartans got on the board in the game's 19th minute as Elizabeth Bunn (Lothian, Md./Calverton School) corralled a loose ball outside the box and beat an on-rushing Lion goal keeper Mackenzie Gates for the goal. The tally is Bunn's second of the year.
The Green and White struck for a second goal just 39 seconds later as junior captain Dale Mason (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) drove the ball down the right sideline, drawing a Lion defender before she deftly slid a pass across the box to a wide open Jamie Sokolis (Perry Hall, Md./Perry Hall) who finished the one-timer for the 2-0 Spartan lead. The goal was Sokolis' second of the season.
The Spartans continued to pepper Gates but the Lion goalie played well. The Lions had their most dangerous chance in the 31st minute as Kara Hoy took a free kick from about 22 yards out. Her shot went right to Spartan goalie Melanie Glessner (Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone) who made the save to preserve the shutout.
York continued their second half offensive pressure as they continued to spend a majority of the game in their offensive half of the field.
The Spartans tacked on their third and final goal when senior Jena Arnister (Water Mill, N.Y./Southampton) collected the ball at midfield, beat a Lion defender and sprinted into the box where she fired a shot past Gates for the goal. It was Arnister's first goal of the year.
The Green and White finished the game holding a 25-3 margin in total shots and a 14-2 bulge in shots on goal. The Spartans had a 5-0 edge in corner kicks for the match. York has now outscored their two opponents at home by a combined 13-0.
Glessner earned her fifth shutout of the year as she recorded two saves. Glessner's scoreless streak now stands at 275:35 dating back to the Dickinson game when she surrendered her lone goal of the year. Glessner lowered her goals against average to 0.14 as she has allowed just one goal in 645 of work.
Gates was solid for the Lions as she recorded 11 saves in her 90 minutes of goal.
Today's match kicks off a five-match home stand that continues on Saturday when they host Marymount in a Capital Athletic Conference contest. Kick off is set for 1:00 pm at Graham Field.
Elizabeth Bunn photo courtesy of Scott Guise - Director of Athletic Communications


text: Learn about the partnerships, events, community resources and contacts for underrepresented minority MBA students.In the webinar embedded below (filmed September 2017), Senior Associate Dean and Global Chief Diversity Officer Martin Davidson discusses diversity and inclusion throughout the communities of Darden and Charlottesville, VA. Menu Partnerships Ambassadors Events Student Clubs UVA Resources Diversity Partnerships & Alliances Darden partners with a variety of diversity organizations that strive to increase the representation of minorities, women and other populations historically underrepresented in business and MBA programs. The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management is the country's preeminent organization for promoting diversity and inclusion in American business. Through an annual competition, member schools award merit-based, full-tuition fellowships to America's best and brightest diverse candidates. The Consortium has built a legacy of fostering inclusion and changing the ethnic and cultural face of American business. If you are a Consortium applicant and would like to learn more about applying to Darden via the Consortium, please visit our Consortium Application Process page. Graduate Horizons Graduate Horizons is a four-day workshop for Native college students, college graduates and master's students in preparing for graduate school (master's, Ph.D. or professional school). Graduate Horizons partners with 45 university graduate/professional degree programs where admission officers, professors and deans mentor and advise students on the admissions process, professional/career development and the various fields of study, research and graduate programs available. JumpStart Advisory Group JumpStart Advisory Group (JSAG) provides professional development opportunities for women and minority students exploring careers in consulting, financial services and management. Through JumpStart Diversity Forums and customized on-site training sessions, JSAG offers students the kind of insight, education and exposure to industry professionals that creates a powerful competitive edge. Management Leadership for Tomorrow A national nonprofit organization, Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), has made groundbreaking progress to correct the dramatic underrepresentation of minorities in leadership positions. MLT works to increase the number of minorities in institutions that develop talent, such as first-tier business schools and high-profile companies. National Society of Hispanic MBAs Darden is an official university partner for the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA). NSHMBA works to prepare Hispanics for leadership positions throughout the United States so that they can provide the cultural awareness and sensitivity vital in the management of the nation's diverse work force. NSHMBA serves 28 chapters and 6,000 members in the United States and Puerto Rico. National Black MBA Association The National Black MBA Association is dedicated to creating partnerships that result in creating intellectual and economic wealth in the black community. In partnership with over 400 of the country's top business organizations, the association has inroads into a wide range of industries as well as the public and private sector. The PhD Project The PhD Project's expansive network helps African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and Native Americans attain their business PhD, become business professors and mentor the next generation. As faculty, they serve as role models, attracting and mentoring minority students while improving the preparation of all students for our diverse workplace and society. Riordan MBA Fellows The Riordan Scholars Program is a pioneering career-based outreach program that motivates high school students from diverse backgrounds and under-served communities to consider and prepare for careers in management through education, mentorship and professional development. Teach for America The Darden School partners with Teach for America to provide the following opportunities for corps members: Two-year deferral for students who are admitted to the program and choose to join Teach For America (applicable to incoming corps members and exiting corps members who apply during their two years of service) Waives application fee for exiting corps members who apply during their two-year commitment Provides one half-tuition scholarship for applicants, renewable over two years, provided the student remains in good academic standing Ten School Diversity Alliance The mission of the Ten School Diversity Alliance is to have an impact on and influence the diversity of MBA campuses, organizations and the global community. It also strives to increase awareness of and participation in graduate management education by underrepresented populations. Toigo Foundation The Robert Toigo Foundation has worked to change the face of the financial services industry. Bob and Sue Toigo, active leaders in the industry through business and political work, created the Financial Services Fellowship (FSF) to increase opportunities for minorities in the field. Contact a Diversity Organization Student AmbassadorIf you have any questions about the diversity organizations below or how they relate to Darden, please feel free to contact these student ambassadors:The Consortium for Graduate Study in ManagementJamal HalepotaHometown: East Greenbush, NY Undergraduate Institution: Boston College Undergraduate Major: Economics Areas of Interest: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Strategy, Banking and Private Equity Summer Internship: Credit Suisse — Investment Banking Summer Associate Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Business Student AssociationJasmin ChurchHometown: Trenton, New Jersey Undergraduate Institution: Spelman College Undergraduate Major: Economics Areas of Interest: Diversity, International Development, International Business, Investment Banking, Impact Investing Summer Internship: J.P. Morgan — Healthcare Investment Banking Email: email@example.com American Network @ DardenAna Maria Chamorro Hometown: Bogota, Colombia Undergraduate Institution: Seton Hall University Undergraduate Major: Diplomacy & International Relations Areas of Interest: Consulting, Technology, Social Impact Summer Internship: Google — Marketing & Strategy Email: firstname.lastname@example.com African Business OrganizationAgatha Patterson Hometown: Bellerose, NY by way of Kumasi, Ghana Undergraduate Institution: Pomona College Undergraduate Major: International Relations Areas of Interest: Nonprofit Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship in Africa Summer Internship: Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices — Marketing Leadership Development Program Intern Email: email@example.com Diversity EventsDarden students, alumni and faculty host and attend a variety of diversity-related events and conferences each year.National Black MBA Conference at DardenThe annual National Black MBA Conference is an important networking and recruiting event for Darden students and alumni. To learn more about the event, visit the Black Business Student Forum (BBSF).International Food Festival at DardenOne of Darden's most popular and largest student-run social events, the International Food Festival brings together students, faculty and staff to enjoy delicious food and drinks from around the world. The Darden International Business Society hosts the annual event, which is always a culinary and cultural delight. To learn more, watch the following video: Black Business Student Forum (BBSF) ConferenceThe annual BBSF Conference held on the Darden Grounds each spring focuses on relevant topics in the community including, but not limited to: Emerging Domestic Markets Social Venture Capital and Philanthropy Urban Education Health CareLatin American Student Association (LASA) ConferenceThe annual LASA Conference at Darden gives students an opportunity to discuss Latin America's economic and political situation as well as challenges and trends in emerging markets.National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) ConferenceEach year, Darden students and alumni attend the NSHMBA Conference. The event features distinguished speakers and a career expo that serves as a pavilion of job opportunities for thousands of Hispanic MBA professionals and students looking for a promising career. Student Affinity Clubs Darden has a wide range of affinity student organizations that serve to enhance the quality of MBA student life. The clubs organize events for the Darden Community and provide resources and support throughout business school. Asia Business Club at Darden Black Business Student Forum Darden African Business Organization Darden South Asia Society European Society Pride at Darden Graduate Women in Business Hispanic American Network @ Darden International Business Society Latin American Student Association You can also view the complete list of student organizations. Diversity Resources at UVA Diversity at UVA Office of African American Affairs Black Graduate & Professional Student Organization (BGPSO) The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center The International Center The Women's Center


text: In Bangkok you will find the redlight district in the Patpong area. Here you will find strip clubs for striptease live shows, lapdance or another kind of adult entertainment. If you like to combine your night in town with wellness you might consider visiting a massage parlour for a Thai massage or a Nana Nuat massage. Sometimes the massage parlours also offer a sauna. If you are visiting for a stag party, please first contact the venue to see if you are welcome.


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Free breakfast, lunch offered to area children
Kids still need good food even when school is out and the Stuttgart School District is accommodating them. Park Avenue Elementary is participating in the Seamless Summer Program, which provides free breakfast and lunch. The dates for the program are June 18 to June 21, June 25 through June 28 and also in July from July 9 through July 12 and July 16 through July 19.
From 7:30 to 8 a.m. breakfast will be served and from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. a sack lunch will be available.
Eighteen and under, all kids eat free, Jennifer Euler, child nutrition director for Stuttgart Schools explains. She said the program is open to anyone in the community that is 18 or younger and she asks that anyone participating come through the front doors of PAE, as all other doors will be locked.
"This is a great program," Euler said. "You can't say that there isn't anything free anymore because there is. This is free breakfast and lunch — you can't beat it."
School districts participating in the National School Lunch (NSLP) or School Breakfast Programs (SBP) are eligible to apply for the Seamless Summer option. Once approved through their governing state agency, school districts serve meals free of charge to children, 18 years and under, from low-income areas.
Stuttgart is considered an open site so all children eat free in communities where at least 50 percent of the children — Stuttgart is 68 percent — are eligible for free/reduced price school meals.
For more information contact Euler at (870) 673-1311.


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Cards use three homers to top Diamondbacks
Phoenix, AZ – Matt Holliday and Jon Jay each hit a two-run home run and Pete Kozma added a solo shot, as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-1, on Tuesday at Chase Field.
Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia (1-0) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing just one run on two hits, but also walked four batters and needed 97 pitches.
Miguel Montero went 2-for-3 with a home run, the only score for the Diamondbacks, who mustered just three hits. Starter Trevor Cahill (0-1) fanned seven and gave up three runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Montero got the first score of the game in the second inning, a leadoff homer off Garcia.
Allen Craig drove in the first run for the Cardinals in the fourth. Matt Carpenter had a leadoff double and Holliday grounded out to second, but allowed Carpenter to advance to third. Craig would ground out to shortstop but allowed Carpenter to reach home plate.
In the sixth, Jay was hit by Cahill to leadoff the inning. After Carpenter flied out, Holliday hit a one-out homer to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead.
"He went down and golfed that ball out of the air," Cards manager Mike Matheny said. "Typically you're not going to get hurt when you're down in the zone like that, but Matt's got some exceptional ability."
Heath Bell came in relief in the seventh, but he wouldn't last long. He allowed a leadoff homer to Kozma on the first pitch. Then, after walking Shane Robinson, Jay homered off the right-field foul pole and the Cardinals increased their lead by five.
"He didn't execute his pitches very well tonight," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said of Bell.
After a double by Carpenter, Bell finally recorded an out, striking out Holliday. Craig then hit a single and Bell was replaced by Josh Collmenter after 20 pitches.
Parra recorded the final hit for the Diamondbacks in the bottom of the inning, a two-out single to center.
Game Notes
Carpenter had two doubles ... The Cardinals were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.


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When shopping around for wedding rings pay no attention to how the retailer classifies the weight of the ring such as "medium weight" or "heavy weight". They are extremely misleading when comparing one supplier's wedding rings to another. If you wish to compare one ring to another you MUST find out the weight as the main cost of any wedding ring is in the material. Some of the more budget retailer's class even a relatively light weight ring as heavy weight ring in an attempt to make it appear excellent value. You have been warned... always compare the actual weight of the ring in grams.
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To the world, she is one of 298 victims of the Malaysia Airlines disaster, but to students of an exclusive Sydney school, she was like a grandmother.
Sydney nun Sister Philomene Tiernan was on board flight MH17 when a suspected surface-to-air missile struck it, killing everyone on board.
She was among 28 Australians on the plane.
Sister Philomene worked for more than 30 years as a teacher and director of boarding at Catholic school Kincoppal-Rose Bay, in Sydney's east.
A year 12 boarding student, outside the school, spoke of her shock and sadness.
"The impact of this is just unbelievable in the whole community," the student, who did not want to be named, told AAP.
"It comes as a shock to us all."
The nun had been enjoying a sabbatical in France.
"I feel like since we are all away from our parents she seemed like a grandma that everyone just loved," a year 10 student said.
The school has educated some famous faces, including Gai Waterhouse, Ita Buttrose, Lucy Turnbull and Princess Michael of Kent.
"Many women incl my wife Lucy & daughter Daisy were inspired by the love of Sr Phil Tiernan RSCJ. God bless her & all who died in MH17," Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull tweeted.
Kincoppal-Rose Bay principal Hilary Johnston-Croke earlier described Sister Philomene as a friend and mentor who had brought love to the school community.
"We are devastated by the loss of such a wonderfully kind, wise and compassionate woman who was greatly loved by us all," she said in a letter to parents.
"She contributed greatly to our community and she touched the lives of all at KRB in such a positive and meaningful way."
Mrs Johnston-Croke said her main focus was on helping students deal with the loss.
"These sort of events are just huge shocks to young people," she said outside the school.
Monsignor Tony Doherty, the parish priest at Rose Bay's St Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, has known Sister Philomene for about 30 years.
"She's an incredibly gentle personality - one of those blithe gentle spirits that you never just touch without coming back a bit enriched," he told ABC radio.
"Her contact with the young women at Kincoppal was powerful."
Monsignor Doherty will lead a special prayer service for her on Saturday at 9am.
"We'll be having a mass to focus our grief and loss of such an extraordinary woman," he said.
Sister Philomene had an award named after her for boarding students.
The school is offering counselling to students.
Former deputy principal Michael Clancy and his wife Carol are believed to have perished on MH17.
Albion Park Public School, south of Wollongong, released the news in a letter to parents on the school's website on Friday evening.
"Sadly, I must inform you that Mr Michael Clancy and his wife, Carol are believed to have been on board that flight," said principal Glenn Daniels.
"Mr Clancy retired at the end of last year after serving this community as a highly respected teacher and Deputy Principal for the past 22 years."
"As Mr Clancy is known to so many of us in the community, we have chosen to provide you with this sad news."
Mr Daniels said counselling and support would be made available for students next week.
Premier Mike Baird said there were now "at least" three confirmed NSW victims.
"On behalf of the government and all of the people of NSW, I express my sadness and my condolences to the families of those involved," he said in a statement.


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Accel Tune up Kit
Reviewed By Emory P (Rural Retreat, VA) Reviewed for a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee —10/6/2011 3:05 PM
Was Skeptical but thought i would give this tune up kit a try. I like to use quality parts when working on my autos. Don't always trust ads that say they have the best products. This is a quality kit and the Jeep runs great! Would buy this again.


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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Princess Irina Walker, the daughter of the last king of Romania, was hobnobbing two years ago with European royalty in Bucharest to celebrate the 90th birthday of her regal father.
On Friday, she and her husband - a former Oregon sheriff's deputy - are expected to appear in court to face charges of running a cockfighting business on their ranch in Eastern Oregon.
Government prosecutors say Irina and John Walker staged at least 10 cockfighting derbies between April 2012 and April 2013, bringing in as much as $2,000 a day. Blades were attached to the birds' legs, spectators were charged admission, and food and drink were sold, the indictment said.
Irina Walker, 60, is the third daughter of former Romanian King Michael I. The 91-year-old Michael, one of the few surviving heads of state from World War II, was forced to abdicate by the communists in 1947. Sent into exile, he lived in Switzerland and worked as a commercial pilot and briefly as a chicken farmer.
According to a statement on the royal family's website, King Michael expressed "deep sorrow" about Princess Irina being arrested and hopes that the American justice system and Oregon courts will act as quickly as possible. He does not mention his son-in-law and adds he hopes the presumption of innocence will function.
The Walkers are charged with operating an illegal gambling business and conspiracy to violate the federal Animal Welfare Act. Each of the offenses carries a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Federal prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of the ranch.
Authorities arrested 16 other people in the case.
Irina Walker moved to the U.S. from Switzerland in 1983 with her former-husband John Kreuger, according to her daughter, Angelica Kreuger of Myrtle Point, Ore. She said her parents were school friends in Europe and her father fell in love with Oregon.
Angelica Kreuger said her mother is proud of her heritage - she keeps a large picture of her father in the living room - but never lived a lavish lifestyle. As for herself, Kreuger said being the child of a princess only got her picked on in school.
"We tried to live as normal as possible around here," she said. "Then you go over to Europe and that's sort of like all fancy."
Never a particularly social person, Irina Walker rode horses, gardened, studied the Bible and raised two children while living in Myrtle Point. She later divorced her husband and, in 2007, married a man who had been a family friend and neighbor - former Coos County sheriff's deputy John Walker.
Angelica Kreuger said John Walker took her mother to the Hermiston area in Eastern Oregon.
"She kind of turned hippie," Angelica Kreuger said. "From when we were growing up to when she moved to Hermiston, she just kind of did the whole free-spirit thing. She just wanted to wake up in the morning and tend to her goats and mess with her horses."
Kreuger said her mother became isolated from the family and the two have not spoken in a couple months. Walker visited Myrtle Point earlier this year and Kreuger sensed something was wrong.
She said she had warned her mother about John Walker, whom she called "bad news," but her mother didn't want to believe it. She said Walker made her mother feel beautiful and special, and her mother would do anything he said.
"My mom's kind of naive, that's the easiest way to put it," Kreuger said. "She doesn't really know the bad side of people."
Kreuger said she has been to the Hermiston area a couple times and never saw a fighting chicken. She doesn't believe her mother knew the full extent of what was allegedly going on, and wouldn't have gotten caught up in such a thing if she knew the potential for a jail sentence.
"I don't see her being there watching it, because my mom loved animals," Kreuger said. "She wouldn't want to watch a chicken die like that."
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Royal fall for princess accused of cockfighting
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Princess Irina Walker, the daughter of the last king of Romania, was hobnobbing two years ago with European royalty in Bucharest to celebrate the 90th birthday of her regal father.


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Welcome to Janss Marketplace
Janss Marketplace is conveniently located on the corner of Moorpark Road and Hillcrest Drive in the City of Thousand Oaks, California. Janss Marketplace is a one-stop experience for shopping, dining and more. With a variety of specialty shops and services, there's no need to go anywhere else!


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91-year-old sets age-group weightlifting record
PHOENIX (AP) — A 91-year-old Arizona weightlifter didn't just break a world record for the bench press, he powered through it by 52 pounds.
Sy Perlis of Surprise set the record by benching 187.2 pounds at the National Bench Push-Pull Press and Dead Lift Championships on Saturday in Phoenix.
The Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/1984ic8) reports that the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters previous record in the 90-and-over age division was 135 pounds and had stood since 2005.
Perlis took up weightlifting when he was 60 but didn't enter his first championship competition until five years ago.
"I got a lot of satisfaction out of it, and it made me feel good, and it was good for me," the suburban Phoenix resident said.
When he competed in the division for 85- to 89-year-olds, Perlis won the state title in 2009 and world title in 2010 and 2011 in the 181-pound weight category.
Association President Gus Rethwisch said Perlis is an inspiration.
"We've had a lot of lifters in their middle 80s, late 80s and occasionally we get one 90 and over, but they've never inspired people (like Perlis has)," Rethwisch said.
Chhanda Dutta, chief of the Clinical Gerontology Branch of the National Institute on Aging, said it's a common misconception that exercise is unsafe for older people.
"The risk of leading a sedentary lifestyle is much greater than anything related to exercise," Dutta said. "I think it's important for people to realize that age alone doesn't determine the intensity of your workout."
Perlis said his doctor knows he participates in the sport and has told him, "If you can do it, do it."
His five-day-a-week training routine includes cardiovascular exercise and weightlifting.


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Playing Super Mario Galaxy
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Playing Super Mario Galaxy
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