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Vatican City, Jan 13, 2014 / 09:15 am (CNA).- Pope Francis' Monday morning homily centered on the theme of God's profound and unique love for each person.
"I like to think that the Lord might have the feelings of a couple who is expecting a child: he waits. He always waits for us in this history, and then accompanies us during history. This is the eternal love of the Lord: eternal, but concrete! It is also a 'handmade' love, because he makes history, he goes to prepare the way for each of us," preached the Pope on Jan. 13 at the Santa Marta guesthouse chapel.
"It's fitting for God, for the love of God, to prepare the way," he explained, since God "does not make Christians by spontaneous generation." Rather, "he prepares our way, he prepares our life, in time."
Furthermore, God does not wait to love us until we are perfect. "We think of the great David, a great sinner and a great saint," suggested the Pontiff. "The Lord knows! When the Lord tells us, 'with eternal love, I have loved you,' he refers to this."
Pope Francis also pointed out that the Apostles were far from perfect. Instead, the Lord prepared them over time to be his followers.
In the gospel passage where Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John, it seems they were "definitively chosen," noted the Pope.
"Yes, they were chosen! But at this moment they were not definitely faithful!" he exclaimed.
"After being chosen, they made mistakes, they made unchristian suggestions to the Lord; they denied the Lord! Peter, above all – the others more fearfully. They were frightened and they left. They abandoned the Lord." Yet, "the Lord prepared."He went on, "And then, after the resurrection, the Lord had to continue this journey of preparation until Pentecost. And after Pentecost also, some of these – Peter for example, erred, and Paul had to correct him. But the Lord prepared."
Just as Christ patiently loved his disciples, God's love for each person is steadfast. "This is the love of God – he loves us from always and without abandon!"
"And when things are not going well, he intervenes in history and sorts out the situation and goes forward with us," assured the Pope.
God is not afraid of our sinfulness: "But we think of the genealogy of Jesus Christ…in this historical list, there are sinners, both men and women. But why did the Lord do this? He involved himself, straightened the path, regulated things."
"Through many generations the Lord has thought of us, of each one of us!" Pope Francis emphasized.
When "our rationalism says, 'But how come the Lord, with all the people he has, thinks of me? But he has prepared the way for me!'" it is "an act of faith" to ask "for this grace to understand the love of God" which is "concrete, eternal, and handmade."
"The Lord prepares us through time, journeys with us, preparing others. And he is always with us! We ask the grace to understand with the heart this great love," concluded Pope Francis.


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Date : 9th July 2015.
CURRENCY MOVERS OF 9th July 2015.
EURUSD, Daily
EURUSD has found support at a weekly pivot candle and moved closed above the previous day's high yesterday making this candle a new pivot. The pair rose slightly after yesterday's close and has at the time of writing failed to challenge the trend channel bottom and a resistance level at 1.1117. This level is not far from a weekly low at 1.1130 and therefore made buyers hesitant. This level also coincided with the upper Bollinger Bands in a 4h chart. Market has been now moving lower after a 60 min rejection candle at 1.1170 resistance was created. I am seeing support at 1.0957 to 1.0976. Significant daily support and resistance levels: 1.0930 and 1.1135.
European stocks rose slightly yesterday and futures are pointing to a higher opening today, while core bond yields rose and peripheral yields declined following Greece's formal request for a 3-year ESM loan program. The details of the promised reform plans were once again missing though and the risk is another setback, if today's reform list once again falls short of expectations. For many Grexit becomes the main scenario now.
FOMC minutes revealed concerns over Greece and China, among other considerations, that encouraged a steady policy stance, as was evident in the policy statement and other materials. While views on the economy and labor market were generally upbeat, as Q1 sluggishness was attributed to temporary factors and seasonal adjustment issues, there were offsetting elements that reflected a very cautious group of policymakers. A number of officials warned against premature tightening and wanted to see stronger conditions before pulling the trigger. It was also stressed that policy decisions would be on a meeting-by-meeting basis. With the Greek and Chinese situations having eroded further since the June 16, 17 meeting, the FOMC may be even more gun-shy about liftoff, adding to market speculation the Fed could remained sidelined in September. We'll wait for Yellen's upcoming comments, as well as data, before we shift out of our September forecast.
Yesterday's US consumer credit climbed $16.1 bln in May after a $21.4 bln April surge (revised up from $20.5 bln). Non revolving credit paced the strength with a $14.5 bln increase versus the $12.9 bln gain in April (revised from $11.9 bln). Revolving credit was up $1.6 bln versus the prior $8.5 bln print (revised from $8.6 bln).
Currency Pairs, Grouped Performance
After yesterday's strong movements in favour of JPY we are now seeing a rather strong reversal. This suggests that the need for safe haven did go a bit too far in some of the JPY pairs. CADJPY for instance reached a daily pivot candle from March and is reacting strongly higher from it. GBPJPY hit a weekly pivot high from February this year and bounced higher. USDJPY found support from a range formed in May but has resistance above. There should be more volatility and trading opportunities in these pairs over the coming days.
Significant daily support and resistance levels for these pairs are:
Main Macro Events Today
China's CPI grew at a 1.4% y/y pace in June, better than expected following the 1.2% pace in May that was the slowest pace since January's 0.8% growth rate. CPI was a year peak of 1.5% y/y in April.
Australia's employment rose 7.1k in June, contrary to an expected dip after a revised 40.0k gain in May (was +42.0k) The unemployment rate rose to 6.0% in June but from a revised 5.9% in May, leaving an unemployment rate that undershot expectations in June.
BoE Interest Rates Decision. Bank of England is expected to maintain the current level of interest rate at 0.5%. The BoE should once again announce a no-change outcome, which would be a non-event for markets as the central bank doesn't normally issue statements after unchanged decisions, so we'll have to wait until the minutes are published on Jul-22 for insight.
US Initial Jobless Claims are expected to decline slightly from the previous number of 281k to 275k.
Please note that times displayed based on local time zone and are from time of writing this report.
Click here to access the full HotForex Economic calendar.
Janne Muta
Chief Market Analyst
Disclaimer: This material is provided as a general marketing communication for information purposes only and does not constitute an independent investment research. Nothing in this communication contains, or should be considered as containing, an investment advice or an investment recommendation or a solicitation for the purpose of buying or selling of any financial instrument. All information provided is gathered from reputable sources and any information containing an indication of past performance is not a guarantee or reliable indicator of future performance. Users acknowledge that any investment in FX and CFDs products is characterized by a certain degree of uncertainty and that any investment of this nature involves a high level of risk for which the users are solely responsible and liable. We assume no liability for any loss arising from any investment made based on the information provided in this communication. This communication must not be reproduced or further distributed without our prior written permission.

subset: commoncrawl


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Michelle Vesterby
Danish triathlete and IRONMAN winner
Michelle Vesterby is one of the most remarkable triathletes in recent IRONMAN history. The string of surprising new personal records set by the young Dane has seen her rise steadily up through the rankings. She always has a smile on her face as she takes on world-class competition, and she's always a top contender no matter who she's competing against.
So it's only a matter of time until she adds many more triumphs to her IRONMAN victory in Lanzarote (2012). Calf Sleeves 2.0, always perfectly co-ordinated with her race outfit, are Michelle's iconic trademark. She also swears by Socks for Recovery after long training sessions and while traveling. Short Socks are her latest favorite product from CEP, and she simply loves how they fit. Or, in her own words: "I'm a happy girl!"
Andy Potts
American triathlete and multiple IRONMAN winner
American Andy Potts is a world-class triathlete and an inspiration to many. He has not only been voted national Triathlete of the Year several times and won three IRONMAN events (2010, 2012, 2013), he is also a great source of training tips and advice.
The former international swimmer is known for using only the best equipment and subjecting it to thorough testing before he will use it in competition. So it's no surprise that he started wearing CEP socks as soon as he heard about them. The difference the gentle compression on his calves makes has impressed him so much that he no longer starts any event without his Run Socks 2.0 and Calf Sleeves 2.0.
Christoph Koschel
German dressage rider and international coach.
Christoph Koschel is one of Germany's most successful dressage riders. The countless titles from national and international Grand Prix events are a clear indication of his skill, and he even has his own dressage facility at Hof Beckerode stables.
CEP is proud to partner with Christoph Koschel, who is a true expert and consultant when it comes to developing the perfect riding socks. For Koschel, CEP Riding Socks are the ultimate legwear – not least because he was instrumental in their development.
Meb Keflezighi
American runner and Olympic silver medalist
Meb Keflezighi is one of the world's best runners and he trusts CEP compression to deliver top performance. The American runner was a silver medalist at the 2004 Olympics in Athens in marathon running, won the prestigious New York Marathon in 2009 and took first place at the Boston Marathon in 2014. What makes this top athlete so exceptional is his unrelenting drive to be a front-runner at national races and his presence time and again on the international scene. He demonstrated that resoundingly at the 2014 Boston Marathon, where he ran a personal best time and surprisingly took first place as the first American to win the race since 1983 – wearing his CEP socks, of course.
His personal bests are 1:01.00 h for half-marathon and 2:08.37 h for marathon. When he runs, Meb relies on CEP Run Socks 2.0 to deliver perfect compression and keep his legs fast and light all the way to the finish line. He's also a big fan of CEP Short Socks, which ensure a perfect fit in his running shoes.
Daron Rahlves
American Alpine and freestyle skier
Growing up in Northern California, the first love of Daron Rahlves was water skiing. At the age of 20, he even became a world-champion jet ski racer. But he reached true fame in Alpine skiing: He earned a gold medal in Super G at the World Championships in St. Anton in 2001, and took silver and bronze medals in Bormio in 2005. He also won a total of 12 World Cup victories, and was among the top three finalists no less than 28 times at World Cup events. After ending his career in 2006, he transitioned to freestyle skiing (ski cross) and has since been a regular competitor at many major events. Daron Rahlves is one of the true greats on the Alpine skiing scene, so his feedback is all the more important for product development at CEP. He is enthusiastic about CEP's Ski Merino Socks and appreciates their unique combination of perfect thermal characteristics and compression benefits.
Sven Kueenle
German freeskier and expert
He's been on skis ever since he could walk. That much could probably be said about most successful Alpine skiers. But when creativity and enthusiasm are added into the mix, a perfect freeskier is born. Sven Kueenle was involved with film projects from an early stage in his career. He literally jumped to the top of the German freeskiing scene in 2008 with his backflip in the "Mausefalle" ("mousetrap") section of the legendary "Streif" downhill run in Kitzbühel. Numerous appearances in major film projects that included international productions followed. He has been particularly prominent in LEGS OF STEEL projects, but also recently appeared on TV as a pundit at the Sochi Olympic Games. Sven Kueenle takes advantage of CEP's wide product range and uses Run Socks 2.0 for keeping fit in general, Socks for Recovery and, of course, Ski Thermo Socks.
Stephan Siegrist Swiss professional climber and base jumper
Stephan Siegrist is one of the world's greatest climbers. But the mountain guide, husband and father is more interested in technically challenging climbs than lavishly staged media events.
He is the first person to have completed first ascents on all seven continents. He's also a trusted expert for the great north faces of the Alps (among others, he's climbed the Eiger Nordwand 30 times!).
Siegrist's versatility is apparent in his many other "hobbies" like base jumping and walking the highline or bouldering and big wall, ice and mixed climbing. When it comes to his equipment, only the very best will do – which is why CEP and medi are the perfect partner for him. He especially appreciates CEP's innovative Outdoor Merino Socks for their excellent heat and moisture management. Whether in Patagonia or the Himalayas, they offer the perfect combination of merino wool, polyamide and silk to keep his feet comfortably warm and dry.


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Middleburg FL Real Estate
It is said that Middleburg is one of the oldest settlements in the state of
Florida. The unincorporated community of Middleburg lies in the vicinity of
Black Creek, a tributary of the St. Johns River in Clay County. During the early
1800s this community served as a port of entry for the Florida interior.
Settlers developed cotton and tobacco in addition to harvesting timber.
Middleburg served as a junction point between Jacksonville and St. Augustine
enabling the town to thrive.
Today Middleburg is a growing community dedicated to preserving its historical
past while building for the future. Middleburg enjoys strong support from the
Clay County Chamber of Commerce and a healthy business climate.
There are many wonderful homes in this area, but you need a local market expert
to help you. Watson Realty Corp is a locally owned company with over 40 years experience selling homes in the area.


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Portfolios: Rafael Torcida
Ghosts of Ourselves
"This is an exhibition about a common theme: Life in modern cities. It's called Polis. Since last year I've been traveling some places in Europe just for business. My small coolpix camera has always been with me and I thought of taking some shots about these cities. The idea was to shot places and situations not usually taken by touristic shots. If you isolate the typical monuments and places of each city then it could happen that we all live in the same city. And how are our cities?. Of course this is a very personal point of view, but I find them grey, stressing, unhuman, sad,... This is what I tried to capture with these shots. All of them where taken with a Sony DSC-P8 and a Nikon Coolpix 3500. Except "Stress Day" which was taken with a Minolta Dynax 800si."
"My name is Rafa Torcida. I'm from Spain and I'm 28. I've been taking photographs all of my life. As a child with an small Minolta Hi-Matic my father gave me, of course, with no knowledge about composition, lighting, etc... just for fun. But I think that made me love photography. Seven years ago, when I finished my Telecommunications studies and I started working... first thing I do was buy an SLR camera (a Minolta Dynax 500si). That little machine became one of my most loved friends for years. Since that moment photography has been a very important part of my life. I try to read as many books as I can about technique, master's life, etc... and I try to shoot even when I'm working :). I work as a software developer but I would like to make a living of photography some day in the future. Will it be possible?. I'm not really sure I have enough talent to make it. But for the moment, I'll try."
My portfolio web site: http://www.terra.es/personal8/918793105/index.htm
My blog site: http://adigitaleye.blogspot.com


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Thank you for visiting our past auction result archives. If you have an item identical (or similar) to this auction lot, please call, write or contact us to discuss. We will be able to help you.
Lot # 1168 (of 1727) < Previous Lot | Next Lot >
Circa 1887 Wright & Ditson Professional-Model Bat
Starting Bid - $500, Sold For - $1,410
Extremely rare professional model Wright & Ditson baseball bat dating from the late 1880s. Hand-turned, with lathe marks on both ends, measuring a full 36 inches and weighing 34 ounces. This is identical in style to bats used by many Major Leaguers in the 1880s and can be seen being held by many ballplayers in period photographs, including in the photographs used on many N172 Old Judge baseball cards. In fact, the bat that Mike "King" Kelly is holding at his side in the famous "Four Base Hits" photograph is practically a dead ringer for this bat. We have seen very few surviving examples of professional quality Wright & Ditson bats. Ideal for display and a very significant nineteenth-century bat rarity. General wear to the applied stripes and Wright & Ditson logo. Overall in Good to Very Good condition. Reserve $500. Estimate $1,000/$2,000.
(Click the smaller thumbnails to the left and right (if any) to cycle through each photo in the gallery of images for this lot.)


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Mike Huckabee Says He's On The Right Side Of History, Is Not A Homophobe
Like all Fox News studios, there must be a perilous black hole on the set of Huckabee, causing it to be Opposite Day, every day. On his black hole of a show over the weekend, Mike Huckabee predictably railed against the Supreme Court's rulings in favor of civil rights, but surprised a few viewers who forgot to take their brains off when he made two laughable claims: he's on the right side of history being virulently opposed to equal marriage rights; he's not a homophobe.
"Same-sex marriage is newer than Google and the iPod!" so therefore, Huckabee insists, he's on the right side of history because he supports opposite-only marriage, which has been around since the 50s. Nevermind that same-sex marriage would've been around just as long as "traditional marriage" if bigots like Huckabee didn't successfully have it banned. That time—their time—is over.
"Despite the frothing of advocates to the contrary, I'm neither a homophobe nor a hater," Huckabee added. "I'm simple enough to believe that a marriage of one man and one woman not only is the only biological combination capable of creating the next generation, but in the context of a monogamous and committed relationship, it's the best context for children to learn how to replace their parents."
If marriage is strictly about procreation, Mike, how do you feel about adults over 50 getting married?
"If we're determined to change the definition of marriage to accommodate how people feel and what they wish to do because of their mutual consent, then we should immediately release those incarcerated for practicing polygamy or bigamy. And, frankly, let's make all consensual adult behaviors legal, whether prostitution, assisted suicide, or even drinking 16 ounce sodas in New York City."
And here we go again: Mike Huckabee, who is not a homophobe, has compared homosexuality to prostitution, suicide and polygamy. Nope, not a hater.
(h/t: Towleroad)


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On the recommendation of IPAC, a temporary change was made to Iris. "Current holdings" is now displayed as just "holdings". It is expected that IPAC will be reviewing patron responses to this change.
It was agreed that systems would create a report of all open 930s for the purpose of converting them into 866s. Kayla, Iliana, and Teri will receive the 930 reports from Christopher. Work will not begin on the conversion project until the Holdings Group reviews and approves updated 852/866 formatting standards.
Grace Agnew suggested that a group begin to investigate the possibility of having serial records link with related monographic series records thru use of the 856 tag. This group would consist of Christopher, Elizabeth, Paul, and Gracemary.
A discussion ensued about how to display MARCs for titles with holdings at two or more different call#s but for the same sublocation in the same library. It was decided that a single MARC would be created and that only a single "holdings" line would be created for each call#. The full example will be added to the revised 852 Format document.
The word "current" can be used in three different places in a MARC holdings record. In order to alleviate some of this confusion, Kayla made a suggestion to replace "current" (when used with the PER sublocation in the 852 tag) with either "reading room" or "loose". There was no concensus by the group on whether to replace this word or not.
"Stack collection does not circulate" (as an 852 |z note) was suggested as an appropriate way to describe an exception to a normally circulating collection. Other notes that need standardization include: "with gaps"; "v.9 onwards catalogued separately"; "sporadic volumes catalogued analytically". Grace suggested we use Keyboard Express for creating Macros for standardizing 852 notes.
All members were asked to review update #2 of the 852 Format document and come up with more examples of unusual situations, with recommendations for standard treatment. In the past, we have been following 930 local holdings patterns. We should be considering new ways of displaying notes. We should also be constantly referring back to Webcat in order to see how the public views the changes we make in our holdings.
The proper sequencing for processing invoices is being investigated and standardized.. To find available money to pay over-encumbered invoices is very time consuming. Christopher asked to be informed about "falsely encumbered" titles, where nothing has been received for 5 years or more.
A discussion ensued about how order records become detached from bibliographic records. While individuals may still be inadvertently detaching order records, it was also suggested that there might be a system bug that is creating this problem. Further investigation is needed.
While the budget office/acquisitions dept. coordination has improved, Gracemary suggested that a future meeting of the Holdings Group should discuss definitions of terminology, and ways of improving invoice processing. It was suggested that Peggy Gerenza and Nancy Hendrickson be invited to the meeting.
A brief discussion ensued over cancellation and ceased procedures at NBL, Camden, and Newark. Gracemary would like both Camden and Newark to e-mail their current concellation procedures to her for use in a future Holdings Group discussion.
It was recommended that cancellations should be processed in the following sequence: vendor notification, then order record cancellation, then control record modification. Also, it would be useful to use job titles in place of personal names within the text of our generalized cancellation procedures. Grace suggested that we eliminate extraneous information from Iris, eliminate unnecessary steps, eliminate redundancy, and try to avoid having the same person review the material more than once.
The status and procedures involved in the DRP were briefly reviewed. These included: creation of Sirsi lists containing online items in specific call# ranges for selector review (i.e. retain, transfer, or withdraw); creation of 4 Excel lists to help facilitate the process; Douglass-only withdrawal items being offered to Camden and Newark; and last copies being searched online and in the Alex card catalog (for possible duplicates) before being shipped over to the Annex for permanent retention. Grace mentioned that the last copy policy is RUL-wide, and not just NBL-wide.
The issue of space availability for accomodating volumes sent to unit libraries was brought up. Both Camden and Newark did not have any problem in absorbing the selections requested. Some units in NBL did have space limitation problems. It was recommended that authorization be received from each appropriate unit prior to any shipment being sent out.
Once the DRP is completed, a review and analysis will be undertaken to determine which procedures worked better than others. The goal is for a generalized rationalization process to be formulated which can be used for all future rationalization projects.
Next meeting Wednesday, Feb. 5, 10:00 AM @ TSB Conference Room


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An event every week that begins at 12:00am on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, repeating until August 13, 2018
Categories: Calls To Artists, Photography, Visual Arts
Art Saint Louis announces our juried exhibit opportunity for "Art St. Louis XXXIV, The Exhibition," our 34th all media, all themes, all subjects, all styles, all techniques exhibit. The deadline to enter is August 13, 2018. The exhibit will be presented in the Art Saint Louis Gallery November 10-December 20, 2018. Open to artists 21+ in the St. Louis, MO region & surrounding 200-mile radius only. There are size limits and other rules apply. Works created 2015-2018. Online entries only through CallforEntry.org. Entry fee: $25/Art Saint Louis member; $45/non-member; SCHOLARSHIP (free entry) available. Juror for this exhibit is artist Debra Drexler, Professor, University of Hawai'i at Manoa; Awards judge is artist Robert A. Powell, Portfolio Gallery & Education Center, St. Louis. Complete rules of entry: https://www.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=4974
Copyright © 2018 Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis. All Rights Reserved.


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The first-term Republican from Polk City, who is also the namesake for the county's administration building in Bartow, asked the question on Twitter earlier this week, earning condemnation from the state house Democratic whip and drawing attention from political reporters and editors from across the country.
LAKELAND | Is President Barack Obama responsible for the chemical attacks in Syria?
State Rep. Neil Combee isn't sure he's not.
The first-term Republican from Polk City, who is also the namesake for the county's administration building in Bartow, asked the question on Twitter earlier this week, earning condemnation from the state house Democratic whip and drawing attention from political reporters and editors from across the country.
Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahasee, called Combee's accusations "malarkey," but Combee is defending the tweet.
He said he is just asking important questions as the country has a national discourse on military intervention in Syria.
"I think it's my place, your place and everybody's place to question what is going on here," Combee said Thursday. "Who do we believe?"
In the tweet, he linked to a blog post on the website globalresearch.ca that asserts the White House may be responsible for, or at least complicit after the fact, in the Syrian sarin gas attack the Obama administration claims killed at least 1,400 civilians and could lead to a U.S. military strike in the Middle East country.
The post uses mostly unnamed sources from the Syrian opposition and "solid circumstantial evidence" to claim the Syrian opposition provoked the chemical attack and that the White House may have had knowledge of the plans.
"Who knows? Did the White House Help Plan the Syrian Chemical Attack?" Combee asked in the Tuesday night tweet that was directed to local congressmen, including Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, and Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Winter Garden.
Williams said on Twitter that Combee should be ashamed of the accusation and that he "just can't believe an 'American' would say such things about our President & military!"
Closer to home, Karen Welzel, a Polk County Democratic Executive Committee member and former state House candidate, said it was par for the course from a man who is not "the sharpest knife in the drawer."
Combee doesn't regret the tweet. He points to the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi and the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative groups for tax-exempt status reviews as examples of why the Obama administration can't be trusted.
"I tweeted a link to an article," he said. "(Other people) can decide what they believe about it or don't believe about it. That's up to them."
Florida Southern College political science professor Bruce Anderson said Combee is using unsubstantiated conspiracy theory to prop up his unpopular, or at least not-in-power, political agenda.
"The willingness of people to believe the improbable that would support their own agendas is as old as human beings," Anderson said.
And the practice isn't Republican specific. Anderson said Democrats made similar claims during the George W. Bush administration.
"I think what we are hearing in both cases is someone who is furious that their own agenda is not being followed," Anderson said.
"They are grasping at these improbable straws."
Welzel said Combee is generating lies and fear to support his agenda instead of representing his district.
Combee said he is just asking questions and sharing information a lot of citizens in his district have and want.
"Here's the deal: I don't know what to believe and there's a lot of people I talk to on a regular basis who don't know what to believe," he said. "There are a lot of things that we are told to believe that we clearly can't believe.
"I can't help but be concerned and worried about what's going on there. Maybe I need to turn the television off and hope it works out, but I am talking to everybody and anybody I can … not that we can do a lot about it, but I can certainly communicate with my (local congressman)."
Combee plans to keep the tweets coming.
"I am trying to make sure they know I am concerned and I am speaking for a lot of people I know."
[ Ryan Little can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 863-401-6962. Follow him on Twitter @LedgerRyan ]


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|CFDA Number:
|84.330C - Advanced Placement Incentives Program
|Goal 8: To increase the numbers of low-income high school students prepared to pursue higher education
|Objective 8.1 of 1: Encourage a greater number of low-income students to participate in the AP program.
|Indicator 8.1.1 of 1: Students served: The number of AP tests taken by low-income students.
|Targets and Performance Data
|Assessment of Progress
|Sources and Data Quality
Additional Source Information: Educational Testing Service
Frequency: Annually.
Collection Period: 2001 - 2002
Data Available: October 2003
Validated By: No Formal Verification.
Return to table of contents


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posted by Thom Holwerda on Sun 15th Jun 2008 22:40 UTC
"Internet Explorer 8 is set to be Microsoft's most standards compliant browser ever. After originally stating that IE8 would default to the same non-compliant behavior exhibited by IE7, Microsoft relented and plumped for standard-by-default. The first beta of IE8 was released in March and it did indeed default to standards compliance. Web developers have been clamouring for standards compliance for a long time; IE is a long way behind the competition, requiring considerable hacks and workarounds to get pages working properly. IE8 should make things a lot better - but it will still fall far short of the standards set by Firefox, Safari, and Opera. Some of these problems are technical, but others are cultural. Where the other browser developers are open and communicative, Microsoft is still leaving web developers in the dark."


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In Fear Ticket Giveaway
1. Information on how to enter forms part of the terms and conditions of entry to this game of chance promotion (the "Prize Draw"). Entry into the Prize Draw is deemed acceptance of these terms and conditions. 2. The Promoter is IGN Entertainment UK Limited, 93 Newman Street, London W1T 3EZ (the "Promoter").
3. The Prize Draw commences at 11am (BST) on 11 October 2013 and closes at 9am (BST) on 14 October 2013 (the "Promotion Period").
4. Entry is open to users who are legally resident in the United Kingdom and are eighteen (18) years of age or over ("Eligible Entrants").
5. Directors, management, employees and officers of the Promoter and its related bodies corporate, employees of associated agencies involved in this Prize Draw and their immediate families are ineligible to enter this Prize Draw.
6. To enter the Prize Draw, entrants must email email@example.com with the subject line "In Fear". Entries submitted by any other means will not be accepted; only those submitted via the official method of entry will be accepted. Use of script, macro or any automated system to enter the Prize Draw is prohibited and entries made (or which appear to have been made) using any such system may be treated as void. Any illegible, incomplete or fraudulent entries will be rejected. One entry per person.
7. The winning entries will be drawn at random on 14 October 2013 from all complete, eligible, properly submitted entries received during the Promotion Period The first fifteen (15) eligible entries drawn shall win the Prize Draw.
8. The outcome of the draw is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
9. Each winning entrant (a "Prize Winner") will receive two (2) tickets to a screening of In Fear at a Central London location on the evening of 18 October 2013. Full location details will be disclosed to Prize Winners upon acceptance of the prize. Travel, transport or accommodation costs incurred by attending the event are not included in the prize, and such costs shall be at Prize Winner's or their guests' own expense. Disruptive, annoying, harassing or threatening behavior or acting in a manner that brings the Promoter into public disrepute, contempt, scandal or ridicule shall be prohibited at the event. The Promoter reserves the right to remove a Prize Winner or their guest from the event if Prize Winner or their guest is determined, in the Promoter's sole discretion, to have engaged in any prohibited behavior. Please note valid photographic identification for each Prize Winner and their guest will be required to enter the event. Only those aged eighteen (18) years of age or over are permitted to enter the event. 10. The prize is valid to 18 October 2013 and must be taken by each Prize Winner as stated and cannot be transferred to another person, exchanged for other goods and services or redeemed as cash in whole or in part. Any element of the prize which is unused will be forfeited and no compensation will be paid in lieu of that element of the prize. Entrants agree that the prize is awarded on an "as is" basis and that neither the Promoter nor any of its subsidiary or affiliated companies make any representations or warranties of any nature with respect to the prize. The prize is subject to the terms and conditions of STUDIOCANAL Limited which can be found at https://www.studiocanal.co.uk/Home/PrivacyPolicy. Any complaints or queries relating to the use of the prize should be directed to STUDIOCANAL Limited.
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James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
Taylor achieved his major breakthrough in 1970 with the #3 single "Fire and Rain" and had his first #1 hit the following year with "You've Got a Friend", a recording of Carole King's classic song. His 1976 Greatest Hits album was certified Diamond and has sold 12 million US copies. Following his 1977 album, JT, he has retained a large audience over the decades. His commercial achievements declined slightly until a big resurgence during the late 1990s and 2000s, when some of his best-selling and most-awarded albums (including Hourglass, October Road and Covers) were released.
James Taylor was born at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 12, 1948, where his father, Isaac M. Taylor, was a resident physician. His father was from a well-off family of Southern Scottish ancestry. His mother, the former Gertrude Woodard, had studied singing with Marie Sundelius at the New England Conservatory of Music and was an aspiring opera singer before the couple's marriage in 1946. James


text: The Washington Heights Community Service (WHCS) is a comprehensive community-based program for individuals with severe mental illness who live in Northern Manhattan. The Service consists of a 22-bed inpatient unit at the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) and three outpatient clinics located in the communities of Washington Heights (Audubon Clinic), Inwood (Inwood Clinic) and the First Episode Psychosis Clinic at NYSPI (OnTrackNY /Connections Program). We serve approximately 1000 people and aim to promote mental health recovery and hope in a culturally sensitive environment. Our individualized treatment emphasizes rehabilitative practices and coordinated care from the inpatient unit to the outpatient clinic. Please refer to descriptions of each component of the WHCS on this website for more details.


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Last week we shared with you that Madison was just rated the fifth most bikeable city in the United States.
Finding scenic bike trails throughout Wisconsin is easy too … it's deciding which one to ride that's tough. A trip thru tunnels and countryside? A spin on an urban riverfront trail? Nearly flat rail trails or a rolling forest trail?
Wisconsin ranks third in the nation for its thousands of miles of on & off road bike trails & scenic paths, and we're a leader in converting rails to trails.
We make it easy for you to B&B&B – that's Bed & Breakfast & Biking, of course. Our bike trail map shows the asphalt or crushed limestone trails (no roads) that are accessed within 10 miles of a B&B city. Of course, many bike trails are just a few blocks from a B&B. Your innkeeper will be delighted to recommend the best routes.


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Wearable computing is just starting to take the consumer technology market by storm, with watches already rising to the top as the go to device for experimenting with the trend. We know Google has an interest in wearable computing with Glass, but watches seem like a much more accessible product. So what would a Google watch look like? User interface designer Adrian Maciburko has hit the nail on the head with his Google Time concept.
By using a combination of Holo themes and other various Google related design elements, Maciburko has taken the best of Google's latest look, feel and information, and created a watch concept that any Android owner would be proud to wear on their wrist. According to Maciburko's concepts, Google Time would work by using a series of gestures to navigate the OS, displaying information like weather, Google+ notifications, details on places, and even allowing for voice search.
If Google's smart, they hopefully already have something as beautiful and functional as Google Time in the works. If not, they should be offering Mr. Maciburko a job as soon as possible. For more on Google Time, check out Adrian Maciburko's Dribbble page, and watch the short video below.


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Italian consumers shouldn't have to pay for software they don't want – Letter to Regulators
17 October 2014
FSFE and Italian consumer association ADUC, along with Italian group ILS, are asking regulators to take concrete steps to protect Italians from being forced to pay for software they do not want or need. Italy's High Court ruled in September that computer vendors must reimburse customers for the price of unwanted non-free software that comes pre-installed on PCs and laptops. Today, FSFE, ADUC and ILS have sent a letter to the Italian competition authorities, calling on them to ensure that vendors will comply with the High Court's decision, and respect the rights of their customers.


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Your childcarer will call you before the booking and you should pay
her for her time at the end. Rates start from just £7.85.
Pay nothing until after you have used Sitters - guaranteed. A booking
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charged to your credit card after your booking has taken place.
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Maria has babysat for us three times, the first time when our lo was just 4 months old. The first time we wanted Maria to get to know and meet our lo, so we stayed home that evening and got on with life admin while Maria played with the baby and attempted to calm her for sleep. Our lo is a bad sleeper but Maria coped really well with all the crying! So we felt reassured Maria and our lo would be OK the next time we went out, and they were! Maria has always been punctual and professional. She kept in touch by text, which was very reassuring. We wouldn't hesitate to book her again.
Kim was looking after our 3yo on a Sunday afternoon and from the moment I met her I felt confident of leaving our girl with her: our daughter is usually reserved/ shy towards strangers, but in this instance she warmed up to Kim almost instantly. Anushka also doesn't like us leaving home without her, so there's always some degree of fuss, but she didn't even notice when we left the house as she was busy reading books with Kim. We came back to happy and fed kid who was dissappointed that Kim had to leave and we would definitely choose Kim again in the future if she's available!
This was my first time using sitters. Evelyn was wonderful. Originally I was only going to leave her with my 2 year old but after spending time seeing her with both the children (and with reassurance from Evelyn) I felt confident to leave my 8 month old in her care also. There were no problems, Evelyn sent me messages while I was out to let me know everything was okay. I returned home to find both kids happy, playing and fed. Evelyn had an easy time engaging with both children and successfully managing my clingy 2 year old as I was leaving home. We will be seeing her again.


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Red Riding Hood (UK - BD)
Chris Gould sat through this one largely because Amanda Seyfried is very cute...
Red Riding Hood opens with a scene in which a young girl gleefully slits a rabbits throat, just for fun. Cut to ten years later and this young girl, Valerie, is now a young woman played by the (admittedly delectable) Amanda Seyfried. Valerie is in love with a handsome woodcutter called Peter (with whom she shared the tender moment of 'rabbiticide' all those years ago), but her parents have agreed to sell, sorry, 'arrange' for her betrothal to Henry, the son of a wealthy family who's always had an eye for her. At the very moment she decides to run away with Peter the body of her sister is discovered in the village, apparently the victim of a werewolf that has stalked the area for many years. The assembled villagers decide to take matters into their own hands and track the wolf to its lair where they succeed in killing it, but not without the loss of Henry's father. However, as is so often the case with these things the arrival of Gary Oldman's Father Solomon and his pack of witch finders reveals the truth—they didn't really kill the werewolf, which is living among them in plain sight in its human form. Cue lots of finger-pointing, uncomfortably sexualised scenes (for a film aimed at twelve-year-olds) and a rather ropey looking CGI wolf…
I'm not sure what I was expecting from the director of Twilight, but I think I got what I deserved. Fragile one minute, strong the next heroine? Check. Slightly aloof, brooding but oh so sexy love interest? Check. Competing love interest, also oh so sexy and probably better suited to our girl? Check. Some supernatural element that purports to be the film's main focus but really takes a back seat to the love triangle? Check. I guess it must be an age thing, but I derived very little enjoyment from this film and its baffling plot. Not baffling in that it's difficult to comprehend, just baffling in so much as it got the green light in the first place. Narratively it's a bit of a mess, the characters aren't particularly likable or relatable, there's little to no chemistry between Seyfried and her suitors (although both me and the wife though the male leads should be playing each other's roles) and the effects are pretty woeful. As previously mentioned some of the sexual content is a tad graphic for a '12' rated film (especially in the alternate cut). Now I don't want to sound like an old fuddy-duddy, but I think that preteen children are bombarded by far too many sexually provocative images nowadays and I found the scenes in which Seyfried wrapped her legs around Fernandez as he hoisted her against a wall before practically dry humping him a tad much. It would have been fine at a fifteen certificate, but I wouldn't have wanted to be sitting there watching it with a child. It's a real pity, because I like Amanda Seyfried and despite a recent spate of questionable roles I have fond memories of her performances in movies such as Mean Girls and Jennifer's Body.
Well I wasn't a huge fan of the film, but the 2.40:1 (1080/24p AVC) transfer goes some way towards making up for its narrative shortcomings. The image has a soft, dreamlike quality that effectively conjures images of the fairy-tale that inspired it. Much of the running time is spent in the characters' homes or in the village square at night time, during which the palette is pushed towards the warmer end of the spectrum with lots of ambers and oranges courtesy of candlelight and fires. As we push through the film there are some quite striking uses of the primary colour of red (to be expected), particularly for the titular hooded cloak worn by Valerie. Blacks are quite murky at times, only occasionally revealing significant detail, while whites look suitably icy. Detail levels are good overall, but the film's dreamy photography precludes the sort of razor-sharp clarity associated with some films and the whole thing looks bit flat at times. As for the shortcomings, well there really aren't too many of note, certainly when viewed on a modest-sized HDTV. I couldn't see too much in the way of artefacting, certainly of the serious kind, so it appears that Warner did a pretty good job with this one and I think my score is a fair reflection of the overall quality.
The strong visuals are accompanied by an even stronger audio track in the form of a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 effort that ticks all of the boxes. It's a lively affair right from the outset, with plenty of ambience in the form of general village chatter and the sounds of nature (hey, they do live in the woods). There's a surprising amount of surround utilisation throughout the one-hundred minute running time, much of which occurs during the various wolf attacks, but the score also has a pretty notable presence in the rears. However, perhaps the most surprising thing about the mix is the sheer power of the low frequency effects, which really are quite startling at times. The wolf's throaty growl elicits a similar noise from the subwoofer and the strange 'hoover-like' humming on the soundtrack is also positively reinforced. Dynamic range is impressive—with crisp highs to accompany the rumbling lows—and dialogue reproduction is spot-on throughout, even during the frenetic scenes. As you might have guessed from my earlier comments about 'hoovers' the music is an odd combination of the traditional and the modern, but it works well for this film.
Although the cover proudly announced the presence of an alternate cut, I'll be damned if I could spot anything different beyond the ending and even then it's quite predictable. Still, it's better to have it than not, right?
I guess the main attraction here has to be 'Secrets Behind the Red Hood', which is a feature-length picture-in-picture track with Catherine Hardwicke, Amanda Seyfried, Shiloh Fernandez and Max Irons. On paper this looks like a pretty good feature, but I have to admit that after around thirty minutes I was pretty bored with the whole affair. It's a bit of an awkward track to say the least, with a seemingly never-ending slew of embarrassing comments from Hardwicke and what I hope is mock arrogance from Seyfried. Fernandez sits there like a ventriloquist's dummy without an operator for most of the time, save the odd comment about how he and Seyfried were fighting while filming this scene and that. Max Irons seems slightly more at ease and cracks most of the gags, but it's not exactly riveting viewing. The track also includes behind-the-scenes footage, rehearsals, interviews and various other bits and pieces in the PiP window, but there are frequent, lengthy gaps between appearances. In short, this feature was a bit of let-down…
Moving swiftly along we come to the 'behind the Story' section of the disc, which includes seven short featurettes. The first, 'The Reinvention of Red Riding Hood (05:25 HD) takes a look at, you guessed it, the reinvention of the fairytale as well as the previous iterations. 'Red Riding Hood: Red's Men' (03:18 HD) takes a fluffy look at Valerie's male love interests, while 'Red Riding Hood: Making of the Score' (10:59 HD) is a slightly more informative look at the film's music. 'Before the Fur... Making of the CGI Wolf (00:40 HD) is a ridiculously short look at the realisation of the film's big bad. Honestly, at less than a minute what's the point? Also included are 'Casting Tapes' (07:24 HD) and 'Rehearsals' (05:52 HD), which I hope are pretty self-explanatory. The last feature in this section is 'Red Riding Hood in 73 Seconds (01:28 HD), which many would argue is the preferred way to watch the movie.
Four deleted scenes come next, but there's really nothing here that adds to the story in any significant way. There's also a gag reel (02:37 HD), which mostly consists of people's clothing getting caught on the scenery, and a couple of music videos, Fever Ray's 'The Wolf' (02:20 HD) and 'Just a Fragment of You' (03:07 HD) performed by Anthony Gonzalez and Brian Reitzell. Finally, if you keep pressing right in the menu (past the music videos) a short (00:26 HD) Easter egg appears. As one of Warner's 'Triple Play' releases you also get DVD and digital copies of the film on the second disc and some BD-Live content that has nothing to do with the film.
Red Riding Hood is not a great film but I can see it being lapped up by the Twilight crowd. It shares much in common with those features, including my desire never to see it again. Still, I've tried not to let that prejudice my feelings towards the Blu-ray release. It's a great looking and sounding disc from Warner that should really please those who do like the film. Unfortunately the extras are a lot flimsier than they first appear but that seems to be par for the course. If you saw and liked Red Riding Hood at the cinema you won't be disappointed with this release, but everyone else should be warned that the technical qualities do little to compensate for the feature's shortcomings.
* Note: The above images are taken from the Blu-ray release and resized for the page. Full-resolution captures are available by clicking individual images, but due to .jpg compression they are not necessarily representative of the quality of the transfer.
Review by Chris Gould
David Blackwell Senior Member Join Date: February 2004 Location: United States Posts: 2,831
I enjoyed it more than you even though I do agree it is a very flawed film. Gary Oldman acts like he is in a Hammer horror film which makes me think he needs a Christopher Lee type to Oldman's Peter Cushing (or was Oldman trying to be like Christopher Lee and he needs his Peter Cushing type to act off of)
Sam Spade Member Join Date: January 2007 Location: United States Posts: 2,032
I made myself sit through Twilight and I regret it. Definitely, do not plan on sitting through this. You two are very brave. Amanda Seyfried is a goddess though.
Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over
Disc Details
Release Date: 22nd August 2011
Discs: 2
Disc Type: Blu-ray Disc
RCE: No
Video: 1080p
Aspect: 2.40:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: Yes
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English, Dolby Digital 5.1 English, Dolby Digital 5.1 French, Dolby Digital 5.1 German, Dolby Digital 5.1 Italian, Dolby Digital 5.1 Japanese, Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish
Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Spanish
Extras: Secrets Behind the Red Cloak, Behind the Story, Deleted Scenes, Gag Reel, Music Videos,
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons, Billy Burke, Lukas Haas, Michael Hogan, Julie Christie, Virginia Madsen
Length: 100 minutes
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The Goddess of Liberty
At the top of the Capitol Dome is the striking Goddess of Liberty, one of the most famous Texas statues. The original statue was cast in zinc and painted white, weighs almost 3,000 pounds, and was placed atop the Dome in 1888. She holds a sword in her right hand and a gilded star in her left which she holds up to the sky. The Goddess stands 15 feet, 7 1/2 inches tall which is said to make the Texas Capitol taller than the U.S. Capitol. In 1986, a replica of the statue made of aluminum replaced the original. The original statue was restored and placed on display in the Bullock State History Museum.


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posted by Thom Holwerda on Mon 17th Mar 2014 21:51 UTC
Satya Nadella is planning to host his first press event as Microsoft CEO next week. The software maker has been inviting members of the media to a special cloud- and mobile-focused event in San Francisco on March 27th. Nadella is expected to discuss Microsoft's "mobile first, cloud first" strategy, and there will be some major news ahead of the company's Build conference in early April. Sources familiar with Microsoft's plans tell The Verge that the event will mark the introduction of Office for iPad.
Meanwhile, Office for Metro is nowhere in sight.


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Cole Hamels looked sharp for three innings, but gave up a two-run home run to Ryan Braun then was hit on the left side of his body by a line drive off the bat of Prince Fielder, forcing him to exit the game in favor of J.A. Happ.
Hamels was hit on the left shoulder. He was later declared to have a left shoulder contusion, which is another word for a bruise. The ball bounced off of his body and toward first base. Fielder was credited with an infield single.
After he was struck, Hamels put his hands on his thighs and bent over at the waist. After he was examined by pitching coach Rich Dubee and athletic trainer Mark Anderson, Hamels walked off the field.
Lefty J.A. Happ took over with one out in the fourth and the Phillies trailing 2-0.
Stay tuned for much more.


text: Member Login Sign Up Home Worksheets Interactive My Progress Search prev worksheet Astronaut comprehension next worksheet worksheet id: 07-02-01-010 Worksheet Details: This KS2 reading comprehension includes a short passage with some interesting facts about an astronaut. Children read the text and then answer the questions that follow. Max Possible score:8 User ratings: Rated by 0 Users Sign up to rate add to my list Download / Print Select Sheet Colour: Black & White Colour print worksheet download worksheet Worksheets Answer Sheet HQ Preview Related Worksheets Planets flashcard - set of 9 Themes Solar system - set of 5 Themes Astronaut colouring page 1 Themes Astronaut colouring page 2 Themes Astronaut colouring page 3 Themes Spaceship colouring page Themes Solar system word search Themes Astronaut acrostic poem Themes Solar system acrostic poem Themes Solar system word unscramble Themes Astronaut comprehension Themes Comet comprehension Themes Earth comprehension Themes Jupiter comprehension Themes Mars comprehension Themes Mercury comprehension Themes Neptune comprehension Themes Pluto comprehension Themes Saturn comprehension Themes Uranus comprehension Themes Venus comprehension Themes Moon comprehension Themes Sun comprehension Themes Spelling List - Solar system Themes Solar System - Match Up Themes Spot the Difference - Space Adventure Themes So what are you waiting for?Become a member and get unlimited access to Primaryleap.co.uk! We offer 1000s of fun, creative worksheets to help children attain their targets and build their confidence in all areas of the syllabus. Sign Up Now


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LITTLE ROCK There is a moral question that, fairly or not, dogs Spanish director J.A. Bayona's The Impossible: Is it all right to make an ultimately uplifting story against the backdrop of unspeakable horror?
If you think it isn't, then you needn't bother with The Impossible, which is about how one family's Christmas vacation was nearly ruined by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, which killed nearly 250,000 people. If you are the sort of person who goes on about "First World problems" on your Twitter feed, then you probably won't care much for this movie.
And I admit I had reservations - it's always dangerous to place a feel-good story in the context of mass destruction. Never mind that Bayona's film does have some political cover afforded by the fact that its based - pretty accurately as far as I can tell - on the true story of the Alarez Belon family from Spain. But then I tend to want to allow artists to address anything they dare to - and assess the work as it comes. You can make a great film about the Holocaust, it's just terribly difficult.
And what Bayona has made is a terrific horror movie, one that genuinely grips and shocks its audience and forces empathy with the would-be victims. Here the family is English, not Spanish, and based in Japan, and their surname is Bennett, not Belon. Maria (Naomi Watts) and Henry (Ewan McGregor) are a handsome and prosperous couple (the sort Melissa McCarthy's character in This Is 40 might describe as refugees from "a bank commercial") and they have three young boys, the oldest of whom, Lucas (an amazing Tom Holland), is nearing adolescence.
We meet them first on an ominously foreboding flight to Khao Lak, Thailand, where they will spend Christmas at a beach resort. All goes well until Boxing Day, when the family head for the pool. Then a moment of thickening silence and calm. And then, the deluge.
In an astounding set piece accomplished through the masterful use of miniature models, computer animation and some remarkable stunt performers, Bayona convincingly re-creates the roiling power of the tsunami. We see vehicles tossed aside, trees pulled under, the resort overwhelmed by surging water.
Maria is swept through a glass wall; Lucas hurtles in the current. They manage to stay in touch and eventually find each other on the other side of an obliterated world. Lucas assumes his brothers are dead, and he takes charge of his wounded mother (who happens to be a physician, although she has taken a few years off to rear her sons).
Meanwhile, Henry and the other boys (Samuel Joslin, Oaklee Pendergast) have remarkably survived and are together. Still, their ordeal is far from over.
Bayona and his cast do subtle work with a script that might seem a little flat on the page (the dialogue isn't strong; we get more of a sense of who these characters are by the way they regard each other than by the words they say). Watts is particularly strong as she plays a woman in shock who refuses to succumb to grief; McGregor is heartbreaking as a man who believes he has lost half his family.
But Holland is the undisputed star here, as a little boy forced to grow up in a moment. He maintains a brave face while at the same time allowing doubt and even hopelessness to play briefly across his face.
There are lots of little grace notes in the film that contrast the possibilities for human tenderness with the random anger of heartless gods. And yes, there are bodies, brown and yellow mostly, and death and fever.
Having heard and read about The Impossible, you might not be inclined to see it. Skipping it will do you no harm. But it's not an insensitive film; its a deeply humane one.
And you can Tweet that.
The Impossible 86 Cast: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Samuel Joslin, Oaklee Pendergast, Geraldine Chaplin Director: J.A. Bayona Rating: PG-13, for intense realistic disaster sequences, including disturbing injury images and brief nudity Running time: 114 minutes
MovieStyle, Pages 29 on 01/04/2013
Print Headline: The Impossible


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Owner jailed after puppies saved from Vegas arson
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Las Vegas pet shop owner who prosecutors say was seen on security cameras torching her store with 27 puppies inside was handcuffed and taken to jail on Friday after a judge raised her bail by more than $250,000.
Animal rights advocates who held signs outside the courthouse hailed the determination by Justice of the Peace Janiece Marshall that defendant Gloria Eun Hye Lee is a danger to the community and a flight risk.
"We're elated she was remanded today," said Gina Griesen, the head of the advocacy group Nevada Voters for Animals. "We'll be following this case all the way through."
File-A Feb. 3, 2014, file photo provided by Clark County Fire Department, shows Gloria Eun Hye Lee at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas. Lee faces felony conspiracy and arson charges in the early Jan. 27, 2014, fire at the Prince & Princess Puppy Boutique in Las Vegas. A hearing for a Las Vegas pet shop owner accused of trying to burn her store with 27 puppies inside drew animal rights protestors and more charges from prosecutors who sought to have her jailed at least until her preliminary hearing on multiple felony charges. (AP Photo/Clark County Fire Department ,File)
The judge raised Lee's bail amount from $40,000 to $310,000 two days after prosecutor Shanon Clowers filed additional charges and said Lee's criminal record included felony and misdemeanors convictions that included a 2001 escape in California.
Las Vegas firefighters rescued the puppies alive and credited fire sprinklers with dousing flames early Jan. 27 inside the Prince and Princess pet store southwest of the Las Vegas Strip.
Lee, 35, faces felony charges of arson, burglary and conspiracy, plus 27 counts of attempted animal cruelty that could be tried as felonies or misdemeanors. A preliminary hearing was set for Feb. 27.
Lee hasn't been asked to enter a plea, but her attorneys, Tom Pitaro and Ozzie Fumo, said they will fight the charges.
Pitaro argued for nearly 30 minutes but lost his bid on Friday to keep Lee on house arrest and out of jail. He noted that she has lived in Las Vegas since 2003 and is a U.S. citizen.
e defense to minimize the allegations against Lee.
"To call her not a danger to the community is absolutely astonishing," Clowers said. "Her and her boyfriend poured gasoline throughout the puppy store and lit it on fire."
Pitaro and Fumo didn't say immediately after the hearing whether Lee could post the additional $270,000 bail to be freed again from Clark County jail.
At Pitaro's request, Marshall scheduled another hearing Tuesday for arguments about whether the state was properly reporting Lee's prior felony convictions in California.
Clowers said in court documents that Lee was convicted in 1999 of forgery and in 2001 of larceny from a bank and escape.
"The fact that she committed escape, whether it was 10 years ago or 20 years ago, still shows what her behavior is," Clowers said in court.
Court records say security video shows Lee and a man identified as Kirk Bills setting the puppy store fire, and Lee removing files from the building. The video hasn't been made public, and Pitaro complained that he hasn't been provided a copy.
Clowers said federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents were reviewing the recording.
Police were seeking Bills, 27, of Henderson on an arrest warrant. He faces the same 31 charges as Lee. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach him have not been successful.
Lee's case was transferred to Marshall from Justice of the Peace Joseph Sciscento, who heard bail arguments on Wednesday. Prosecutors noted that Sciscento is personal friends with Pitaro and Fumo.
Find Ken Ritter on Twitter: http://twitter.com/krttr
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Alright, I'm trying to learn some basic threading and this is a problem I've been banging my head up against for a while.
I'm doing some image manipulation using boost::numeric::ublas::matrix, which I believe is supposed to be thread safe, but as soon as more than 1 concurrent thread is involved I get radically different results on every execution.
I believe my algorithms should be order independent (or close to it).
My first bit of calling code looks like:
n = 0;
for (int structNum = 0; structNum < 8; structNum++)
for (int x = 0; x < numthreads; x++)
tg.create_thread(boost::bind(&decompose::octagon,d,boost::ref(M),boost::ref(copy),x,structNum, boost::ref(n), boost::ref(bar)));
if (n == 0)
numLoops ++;
And it's calling:
void decompose::octagon(matrix4D &M, matrix4D ©, int threadNum, int structNum, int &n, boost::barrier &bar)
I have two copies of my matrices, an original and a copy. For each call to octagon, the original is only used as read only while the copy has its corresponding values modified. I send the function what thread number this is (a global variable stores the number of threads) and the general algorithm through the matrix is:
for (x = threadNum; x < (h); x += num)
for (y = threadNum; y < (w); y+= num)
Where threadnum is the current thread number, and num is the total number of concurrent threads. As such, no threads should ever operate on the same element in the matrix object (unless I'm wrong about matrix being thread safe).
I expected tg.join_all() to cause each thread to finish execution before program flow would continue. I wasn't sure if it wasn't doing that, so I tried adding a barrier condition (bar) with a count of 3, though that doesn't seem to make a difference. Still, each thread calls bar.wait() upon finishing, and so does main after creating both threads. Also, join_all doesn't seem to destroy threads, so threadgroup tg ends up containing hundreds of threads by the end of the program execution. I assume that they're mostly all just idle, but I suppose it could be a problem.
Am I missing something major with my threading design?


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The Evolution of Windows: WinRT
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Raymond Chen tells the story of Windows' API evolution from the beginning up to its latest version, WinRT.
Raymond Chen is a programmer at Microsoft Corporation who has been involved in the evolution of Windows for more than 20 years. In 2003, Chen began a Web site known as The Old New Thing, spawning a book, coincidentally also titled The Old New Thing (Addison Wesley 2007). Chen also writes the Windows Confidential column for Microsoft TechNet magazine.
RAMP: A sold-out conference on how to scale backend systems at startups and fast growing companies designed for everyone who wanted to create MVPs that scale beyond expectations. It featured a great lineup of stories and presenters including Jeremy Edberg from Netflix (previously lead architect at Reddit), Rajiv Eranki (formerly lead server architect at Dropbox), and Theo Schlossnagle (OmnIT).
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Photography in South Africa 2013 – Now Accepting Reservations
The Tarleton Digital Media area is pleased to announce registration is open for the 2013 summer 2 class – Digital Safari Photography in South Africa. This class is open to all majors. Art-486 will fulfill any upper level major elective needed for your degree plan.
Spend 10 days traveling to South Africa and visiting Kruger National Park, one of the largest reserves of wild animals in all of Africa. Many of the park's common residents can be seen in the famous viral video Battle of Kruger. Sleep in air-conditioned and furnished bungalows and wake up to catch wildlife while the African sun rises. Come back for breakfast and class, where we will cover photography exposure basics, camera techniques, and special effects. Other activities include guided bush walks, presentations by park rangers, and night tours.
To apply, point your browser to www.tarleton.edu/studyabroad <http://www.tarleton.edu/studyabroad> , and choose "Programs," then the link for "Fine Arts." (direct link <http://www.tarleton.edu/studyabroad/trips/Fine_Arts/Photography.html> ) Both the program application and International Education Fee Scholarship application are available there. You do not need to have a passport at this time to apply for the program, but you will need to obtain one (if you do not already have one) prior to departing for South Africa. The deposit is $500, and it is payable at the Tarleton State University Business Office. Return the program application and scholarship application to Mr. Ireland in Fine Arts 163 or the Art secretary Sara Simpson in room FA105.


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Does anyone else want to slap Lola Mitchell in the gob?
Grr...she's cooking my swede! What kind of mother is she going to be!?
OK...I know it's not real, but still!
*Highlandcow eats a massive bowl of ice cream to get through the annoyance*
mattmxl wrote:Definitely more a "hate to see" character from my point of view.
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2 U.S. Code § 28a - Compilation of the Precedents of House of Representatives; date of completion; biennial update; printing and availability of copies
The Speaker is authorized and directed to complete the Compilation of the Precedents of the House of Representatives by January 1, 1977, and prepare an updated compilation of such precedents every two years thereafter. Copies of the Compilation of Precedents shall be printed in sufficient quantity to be available to every Member and the standing committees of the House of Representatives.
Section is based on section 208 of House Resolution No. 988, Ninety-third Congress, Oct. 8, 1974, which was enacted into permanent law by Pub. L. 93–554.
Pub. L. 93–554 provided that the enactment of House Resolution No. 988, Ninety-third Congress, into permanent law is effective Jan. 2, 1975.
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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Investors might be looking to focus on some longer-term indicators on shares of Bank of New York Mellon Corp (BK). The 100-day moving average verse price signal is Sell. This is the signal from the 100-day MA which is used to monitor changes in stock price. The 100-day MA verse price direction is currently showing Weakest. Another longer-term signal we have been tracking is the 60-day commodity channel index. After a recent check, we have noted that the current signal is Hold. The CCI indicator is typically used to scope out overbought and oversold levels. The CCI signal direction is presently Bullish.
Investors are constantly looking for ways to find success in the stock market. Figuring out what stocks to buy can be tough. With so many different names to choose from, the task can seem quite overwhelming at times. Many investors will opt to go with a mix of growth and value stocks. Investors looking to capitalize on shorter-term price movements may have a completely different game plan than those who are looking to fin stocks to hold onto for the longer-term. Finding quality stocks that match the individual's criteria may take a lot of effort and dedication, but it may be well worth it for the long-term success of the portfolio.
Checking out some other company technical data, we have noted that Bank of New York Mellon Corp (BK) currently has a 9 day raw stochastic value of 94.84%. This value (ranging from 0-100%) shows where the stock price closed relative to the price range over the specified period. Zooming in on another other raw stochastic time frame, we can see that the 50 day is 46.35%.
Investors are usually on the lookout for the next great stock pick. Finding the next big winner may take a lot of market research. Filtering through the enormous amount of data collected on publically traded companies can seem treacherous. Many keen investors will approach stock research from various angles. This may involve studying fundamental and technical data. This may also entail tracking analyst opinions and following what the big money institutions are buying or selling. Currently, the stock has a consensus analyst rating of 3.4166666666667. This is based on a scale where a 5 would indicate a Strong Buy, a 4 would equal a Moderate Buy, 3 a hold, 2 a moderate sell, and a rating of 1 would indicate a Strong Sell. Investors and analysts will be closely monitoring company shares as we approach the next earnings report date.
Let's take a look at some historical average volume information on shares of Bank of New York Mellon Corp (BK). Currently, the stock has a 1 month average volume of 6501539. Investors may be trying to identify volume trends over time. Some investors may look for consistency, while others may be interested in strange activity. Looking at some more average volume numbers, the 20 day is 6574165, and the 50 day average volume is noted as 5649110.
Tracking some recent stock price action, we can see that Bank of New York Mellon Corp (BK) recently touched 49.03. Since the start of the trading session, the stock has hit a high of 49.24 and dropped to a low of 48.44. Market watchers will be closely following company shares into the second half of the year. Interested investors will be trying to figure out if the stock is building momentum or following any defined trends.
New traders may face many challenges when entering the stock market. One of the bigger challenges involves not repeating mistakes. As with any new endeavor, there will be a learning curve. Paying attention to historical trades can help the trader figure out where they might have gone astray. Repeating the same mistakes over and over again can lead to the demise of the trader's confidence and hard earned money. Traders who are able to move forward and learn from previous errors may find themselves making much better decisions in the future.
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If you are planning to take the certified public accountant (CPA) exam, make sure you're aware of the educational requirements of the state in which you intend to sit for the exam, as they may vary.
To become a CPA in Massachusetts, you must complete 120 hours of education before taking the exam, as well as an additional 30 hours of post-exam education. We offer several programs that can help you fulfill these requirements:
- A four-year undergraduate accounting degree qualifying you to sit for the CPA exam
- Masters degree programs leading to both an undergraduate and master's degree, such as the BS/MBA
- Post-baccalaureate or graduate certificates that can be combined with a Bachelor of Science


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Top Cars
Family Cars with a Dark Side
There's a terrible misconception out there that having kids means saying goodbye to driving enjoyment, so we're here to set the record straight. Fact is, there's never been a better time to be an enthusiast with a family. Don't believe us? Then check out the following rogues gallery of vehicles with spice to spare. Who knows, you might even end up thanking your kids for forcing you to buy one of these brood-friendly beasts.
Yeah, we've heard all the noise about the iconic M5 sedan's supposed decline. No more high-revving V10 under the hood...needs a diet...yada yada yada. Hey, haters: what part of 560 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque don't you understand? The M5's twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 begins life as the formidable 550i sedan's motor (among other applications), which means it's already blessed with locomotive-like thrust even before the M treatment. With a nip here and a tuck there from the M Power specialists, the mighty M5 ends up just two horses shy of a Ferrari 458 Italia. Of course, you also get the usual M-car collection of handling and braking upgrades for that (gulp) nearly 50% price premium relative to the 550i. Yet, with a comfy ride courtesy of adjustable dampers, as well as one of the most accommodating backseats in the midsize luxury segment, the M5 can do a wholly credible impression of a regular 5 Series when you're not in the mood for more. Your family won't know the difference unless you want them to.
This second generation of the ultimate CTS has been around for a few years now, but anyone expecting the CTS-V to be humbled by the new M5 has lost sight of a little thing called "torque." Purely by coincidence, we're sure, the M5 has four more ponies than the CTS-V-consider it BMW's subtle way of acknowledging that the previous M5 got soundly spanked by Cadillac's finest. But the CTS-V packs a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 under its sharply creased hood, so in addition to those 556 horses, it's got an absurd 551 pound-feet of torque. That helps it maintain a slight edge in acceleration over the BMW, not to mention just about every other four-door on the planet. In the handling department, the ordinary CTS is hardly a slouch, but the V takes it up a few notches, adding a unique Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel (and optional Recaro sport seats) for good measure. You can even get a proper manual transmission-and that goes for the CTS-V wagon, too, which adds a healthy 53.4-cubic-foot cargo hold. All this can be yours for a shade over $60,000, a downright bargain for a family hauler that performs like a supercar.
Like the BMW and the Cadillac, Chrysler's finest is powered by a V8, but the 300 SRT-8's motor is the first thing on this list to be naturally aspirated. Enjoy it while you can. The Cadillac's supercharger is admittedly all about performance but the BMW's twin turbos are there because of tightening fuel economy standards, and turbocharging is undoubtedly the way of the future for the V8 engine. Hey, we like boost as much as the next automotive web site, but it's no substitute for the raw force and guttural blare of a classic American V8. In the 300 SRT-8's case, make that a 6.4-liter "Hemi" V8, with 470 horses and a matching 470 pound-feet of torque. Additional dark-side credentials include Brembo brakes and a sharp sport-tuned suspension that makes the hefty 300 feel remarkably buttoned-down in corners. Don't worry, though-the SRT-8 comes standard with adjustable dampers that smooth out the ride nicely, and its backseat is as accommodating as you'd expect from a premium luxury car. The trunk's family-friendly as well at 16.4 cubic feet.
Calling a 6,000-pound truck a "family car" might be a bit of a stretch, but the off-road-ready Raptor does have five seats, and if you get the crew cab instead of the standard extended cab, it's got four full-sized doors, too. So there's plenty of room for the kids, who will consider you even more of a hero than they already do if you take them on a desert drive in this thing. Basically a Baja off-road racing truck in street clothes, the Raptor has a comically wide track (good luck fitting into just about any urban parking space), a hardcore trail-busting suspension, and a vocal 6.2-liter V8 with 411 horsepower. In the dirt, it forces you to reprogram your internal panic button, taking obstacles in stride that would leave most other trucks high and dry. How's this for a dark side: the Raptor's fuel economy can easily drop to single digits in spirited driving.
Infiniti should nicely ask Honda if it can borrow the wimpy CR-Z's "Sport Hybrid" label, because if there's ever been a hybrid with legitimate sporting credentials, it's Infiniti's new M Hybrid. Fun fact: drawing on a combination of a 3.5-liter V6 and an electric motor, the M Hybrid generates a whopping 360 peak horsepower, leaving it just 40 ponies shy of that 550i we mentioned earlier. They're special ponies, too, because they're enhanced by the instant torque of the electric motor, so there's no waiting around for higher revs; you just drop the hammer, and a wave of battery-powered thrust does the rest. In most other respects, thankfully, the M Hybrid is just a regular Infiniti M, which means it's got unusually responsive handling and an engaging ride. For the rest of the family, there's also a decently spacious backseat and a beautifully curvaceous dashboard design.
Remember that turbocharging trend we mentioned in the SRT-8 section? Mercedes-Benz's current offerings exemplify it, as almost every naturally aspirated Benz V8 has been replaced by some twin-turbo this or that. A key word there, we're glad to report, is "almost," because the C63 AMG sedan is one of the few AMG Benzes that still offers the magnificent naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8. Have you heard this engine at work? Oh, you really must. Think full-throttle NASCAR, except with palpable German precision in place of all those negative stereotypes. The C63 also benefits from its compact dimensions-unlike the other sedans on this list, this Mercedes is pretty compact, and that pays dividends on tight roads. Naturally, the special sport-tuned suspension helps as well. Now, note that of all the cars on our list, the C63 has the hardest time passing as a family vehicle. Two reasons stand out: it's gloriously loud, and its backseat is relatively cramped. But suppose your significant other insists on four doors, and that's why you're reading this article in the first place. Just buy one. Trust us. The C63 comes very close to perfecting the naturally aspirated V8, and we can't think of a more compelling dark side than that.
This is the way the list ends: not with a performance car, but a minivan. The Toyota Sienna SE, however, is more of a bang than a whimper. Like many Siennas, it's powered by Toyota's brilliant 3.5-liter V6, which received a massive and permanent injection of street cred when Lotus picked it to be the heart of its Evora sports car. This six is so strong, so smooth, so delightful in its muted snarl at full throttle-you'll understand Lotus's infatuation after one run through the gears. Unlike other Siennas, though, the SE model includes a sport-tuned suspension and some tastefully racy exterior styling cues, notably fog lights and exclusive alloy wheels. Okay, don't get the wrong idea here: the Sienna SE still feels roughly as large as a UPS truck from behind the wheel, so there's nothing sporty per se about the drive. But between its confident V6, engagingly firm ride, and slightly tighter steering calibration, the Sienna SE makes minivan-driving as pleasurable as possible, which is pretty much what this whole "dark side" idea is all about.