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The term "fit for duty" in modern firefighting goes beyond being physically fit to include being resilient to the stress and emotional effects of the job. For individual resilience, this means having the ability to prepare for and recover from stressful events so the responder can return to duty with some sense of normality. To accomplish this, responders must sleep well, eat right, and positively engage with peers.
Unmanaged, constant exposure to stress and adversity can affect relationships, cause health issues, hinder safety at work, and even lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicide. Resilience begins with understanding the stressors that can lead to such negative consequences. Responding to the needs of a community during a crisis can have a lasting effect on the way emergency responders process the world around them. Being a resilient responder starts with a commitment to personal wellbeing by sleeping well, eating well, and living well.
Get a Good Night's Sleep
Resilience begins with reporting for duty mentally and physically ready to respond, which starts by being well rested. Getting adequate sleep is a critical component of one's physical health and mental wellbeing and is essential to resilience. Sleep helps the brain function and process the stressors of the world, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which is part of the National Institutes of Health. Sleep also prepares the brain for duty by increasing attention span, decision-making abilities, and creative problem-solving skills.
NHLBI also points to the value of sleep in managing physical wellbeing and repairing the effects of stress on the body. When sleeping, the body heals and regenerates, and even has the ability to repair the heart and blood vessels affected by a variety of stressors. Alternatively, sleep deficiency can negatively affect emotions, behaviors, and ability to cope with changes. In turn, these emotional and behavioral changes can lead to elevated levels of stress, which have been linked to depression, risky behaviors, and even suicide. A continued lack of sleep can lead to other complications such as increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke.
Take Time to Eat Right
To be resilient, responders also need to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and avoid excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol, which can interfere with sleep cycles and exaggerate stressors on the body and mind. Excessive amounts of alcohol or caffeine can also increase blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. Instead, firefighters need to drink large amounts of water to stay hydrated.
Although stress initially may reduce appetite, stress eating can also become a significant problem, according to an article in Harvard Health. Prolonged exposure to significant stress triggers the body's survival mechanisms, which includes an increase in appetite. If the body perceives that stress is ever-present, it may cause a continuation of appetite. Stress eating can lead to overeating comfort foods that are high in fats and sugars, which in turn can cause weight gain and lead to obesity.
Stress can also change the type of food desired. Several studies, including one published in February 2012 by the "Harvard Mental Health Letter" have shown that "physical or emotional distress increases the intake of food high in fat, sugar, or both." Foods that are heavy in fat and sugar may interfere with the area of the brain that identifies stress. These comfort foods may reduce stress but create cravings for what may be unhealthy choices. To counteract the cravings for unhealthy food choices, firefighters need to focus their food choices on fruits and vegetables and limit the intake of foods high in fat, salt, and sugar. In addition, drinking water and exercising have the ability to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Engage Peers, Partners & Friends
Having healthy relationships is a critical component of a personal resilience strategy. Being mentally prepared for duty includes having the ability to process and discuss experiences with trusted people. Strong relationships help responders maintain a positive and calm outlook. It is essential to have a support structure to be resilient and have the ability to recover from stressful events.
The American Psychological Association (APA) released an online brochure that can assist individuals in building resilience. Two factors that they associate with resilience are communication skills and the capacity to manage strong feelings and impulses. Although an individual can build these capabilities alone, having relationships allows peers, partners, and friends to be part of their support network. Also, being there for others in need can be beneficial to building personal resilience. Strong relationships with others create environments where changes in personalities and behaviors can be recognized and mitigated early.
No one is immune to the physical and emotional impacts of stress. Just as physical conditioning takes time, building a resilient lifestyle takes time. However, it is an essential component of ensuring fitness for duty.
A previous version of this article was originally published in "In Public Safety" on 16 May 2017. Reprinted with permission.
Anthony S. Mangeri
Anthony S. Mangeri, MPA, CPM, CEM, has more than 30 years of experience in emergency operations and public safety. During the terrorist attacks of 9/11, he served as operations chief at the New Jersey Emergency Operations Center, coordinating that state's response to the passenger-aircraft crashes into the World Trade Center. He has served his community as a volunteer firefighter and an emergency medical technician (EMT) for more than 25 years, ultimately earning the rank of assistant chief/safety officer and serving as the fire department's health and safety officer for many years. Currently, he is a consultant focusing on emergency management, planning, training, and exercising. He is also on the faculty of several universities. He serves on several professional committees, including the ASIS Fire and Life Safety Council, and is president of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Region 2. He earned a Master of Public Administration from Rutgers University. He is a Certified Public Manager and has received the IAEM's designation of Certified Emergency Manager.


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"Zulu Time"—also known as Coordinated Universal Time or, abbreviating the French Temps universel coordonné , UTC—is the standard by which the world sets its clocks. In brief, Zulu Time establishes time zones in relation to zero degrees longitude. So, if you find yourself on the uninhabited Baker Island, you are at UTC-12, and your watch should be set 12 hours earlier than, say, London. Not surprisingly, this (ultimately arbitrary) standard was elected by the British at the height of their colonial power.
Thus, concludes New York-based artist Kambui Olujimi, Zulu Time is tainted by the residue of empire and implicitly favors Western ways of organizing a day. "Kambui Olujimi: Zulu Time" (May 5 through Aug.13 at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art) investigates the temporal hierarchies that benefit some while disadvantaging others. Olujimi takes viewers on a journey from the birth of the universe through the question mark of the future, using diverse media including blown glass and wheat pasting.
"Future MKE"
Kenilworth Square East
1925 E. Kenilworth Place
"Future MKE" finds seniors in UW-Milwaukee's Design and Visual Communication program waxing both prognostic and nostalgic. The capstone showcase features group projects about the past, present or future of Milwaukee's major aorta, Wisconsin Avenue, aside personal manifestos written by each student. Since today's graduates are tomorrow's designers poised to determine the future face of Milwaukee, the public is encouraged to attend and to provide feedback. The forward-looking showcase takes place on Thursday, May 4 from 6-9 p.m.
"Claire Milbrath: Still Lives"
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Groovy Dog Gallery
2401 N. Weil St.
Claire Milbrath's style calls to mind the airy figurations of Matisse, except—and there's no euphemistic way to say this—with way more penises. The Montreal-based artist and editor-in-chief of art and fashion quarterly The Editorial Magazine delights in situating her signature character, Poor Gray, in homoerotic scenes set against ornamental interiors and idyllic outdoors. "Claire Milbrath: Still Lives" exhibits paintings of flowers, ashtrays, fruit and other items from Poor Gray's home. The show opens with a reception on Friday, May 5, from 7 p.m. to midnight and is on display through June 3.

subset: commoncrawl


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Odd Fellows Hall
Text-to-speech Audio
A view of the hall in 2009 ((By The original uploader was Ser Amantio di Nicolao at English Wikipedia [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons))
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
The Odd Fellows was a communal organization which had roots in England, dating back to the late eighteenth century. Few communal organizations like the Odd Fellows allowed for African American membership, but the Odd Fellows held no such restriction. The Organization founded a chapter in Alexandria in 1846, making it the second lodge in Alexandria to allow African American members, the first being a Masonic lodge. After the American Civil War, it became legal for secret societies to meet, and as a result, several prominent members of the Odd Fellows chapter in Alexandria decided it was time for the chapter to have a meeting hall of its own.
The members found a building in 1869, which was constructed in 1864, that suited them and seemed as though it might make for a quality meeting hall. They commissioned master carpenter George Seaton to make additions and enlargements to the home in order to make it into a meeting hall, and in 1870, the meeting hall was completed and ready for use with the help of funding from the Freedmen's Bureau. Though the hall allowed society members of all races, genders, and secret organizations, it remained particularly important to African Americans, being one of the earliest in Alexandria to allow them access to a communal organization. On September 10th, 2003, it was designated on the Virginia Landmark Register, and on January 16th, 2004, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The hall still currently serves the Alexandria chapter of the Odd Fellows.


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Finding the best 3D Printer for under 500 does not always have to be difficult or expensive and thanks to our guide on the best 3D printers available in the market today. Through our blog today we would be providing you with a clear and concise information on a wide range of 3D printers, helping you choose the best based on your needs and requirements.
We have made a comparison on the internet helping you find the best deals when it comes to the 3D printers. So when you find that this 3D printer for under 500 is the best one for you, then you can go ahead with the knowledge gained that you are paying the best price. Starting from entire process of the compact 3D printers that can sit on your desk, the budget 3 printers to the industrial grade 3d printers that can help in creating one of the best print outs available in 2018. Read on to find the best one based on your needs and requirements.
The Cubepro trio: We do have come across printers that might be limited to either one or two color printing, but Cubepro is one among those medical devices that continues to have the capability of three different materials in just one session. This 3D printer can be used if you wish to create any sort of an enclosed mechanism, say for example the nylon can be used for gears, and the ABS for the surrounded and the last but not the least the PLA for the support structure that could be easily dissolved with caustic soda.
The Da Vinci Mini Printer Cheapest printer: This is a printer that is most of the times mistaken to be an high end 3d printer due to the features that incorporate to be as best cheap 3D printers. It is generally a true plug and play machine that comes with ready to print option. This product is considered to be the best for all the hobbyists, educators and the last but not the least the small scale products. The printer generally uses the standard size of 1.75 diameter, PLA filament and the resolution can be set from 100 microns to 400 microns.
Monoprice Select Mini Best 3D Printer: Some of the cheapest printers like the Monoprice select mini best 3D printers generally come with many features and advantages in it. And with such a low price you actually begin shaking your head in disbelief. This small 3D printer generally has a small foot print and will not take much space when it comes to your desk. It is a fully assembled printer that comes along with a PLA filament and MicroSD card that is out for box printing.
Formlabs Form 2: The Formlabs form 2 is generally considered to be one of the excellent printers for all those individuals who don't mind paying extra when it comes to the best printing quality. The printer is beautifully designed and can be can be easily connected with the PC using the USB via wifi or the internet. Though this 3D printer does not require any kind of printing reliability of the ultimaker 2+ but the printing quality is something more than making up for all those errors.
Hope we have been successful in helping you find the best 3D printers. So which among the above mentioned would you go ahead and choose. Have you purchased any one among them? How has your experience turn out to be? Do leave your comments below. We would love to hear them.


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China, the inexplicable – I found it impossible to write one article about why the Chinese government behaves the way it does, so unlike what we expect of great states. Its political attitude is shaped by other forces than those which shaped the West, found in its history, culture, experience and much more. It is a world apart, and that suggests a beginning: its geography.
Political maps are useless things – splodges of colour with no context. They show China as connected to many neighbours, but it is really a island continent cut off from the world. Its name for itself is Chung-kuo – which means 'Middle Kingdom', and so it has always seen itself: the one civilisation alone in the world with barbarians hovering at the fringes.
China is an island: it is surrounded by the sea to the east and south-east, almost impassable mountains to south-west and west and deserts within and to the north. Before flight, anyone who wished to enter China would have to come by sea or through the narrow gaps between the mountains and the deserts; lands sparsely inhabited. Mostly they trickled in by narrow camel caravans; sometimes with an horde of a million armed horsemen over the Gobi Desert.
Within its bounds, the Chinese learned to find all they needed to live and for their rulers to prosper, if not the people, and this led to almost complete indifference to the outside world until it was a threat. Outsiders had nothing to teach China – no cultural insights were to be gained from the nomadic Mongols and Turks to the north and west nor from the field-dwelling Manchus. They did at some point absorb from India Buddhist ideas (which India itself largely rejected) but it just fell into the mix of ancestral religion. (It was of use as a weapon: the Chinese sent Buddhist monks to Mongolia to transform it from a peerless warrior nation into a people of despicable weakness.)
Ships from Europe and from Britain sailed to China early on, but not a single Chinese junk sailed the other way, and apart from a grand expedition around the Indian Ocean by Zheng He that was never repeated, they were content with home waters, and Chinese ships never developed that world-going capacity that Western and Arabian ships did.
When the Portuguese arrived in the South China Sea, they were a curiosity. When the British and Dutch East India Companies arrived, they appear to have been seen as no more than more strange barbarians from whom China had nothing to learn. These new barbarians though were a good source of silver, paid willingly for silk and tea, but the Chinese were not willing to buy from them, until the opium started to arrive from India.
Suddenly, China met the concept of a world outside itself.
See also
- By Jung Chang:
- The Travels of Marco Polo
- An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith:


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Daniel Petráš Group
I am bioinformatician at the Biology Centre CAS in České Budějovice. I have experience with processing biological data, particularly amplicon sequencing, shotgun sequencing, metagenomics, RNASeq, modelling of metabolism based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. I attended long term work placement at the University of Bergen, Norge and Deakin University, Australia. My research focuses mainly on processing of biological data sets, revealing hidden patterns in combined experimental datasets (e.g. NGS, environmental, qPCR) by use of advance statistics, machine learning and datamining techniques. Besides my scientific activities I teach at Technical University in Liberec informatics topics and I have been supervisor of two Ph.D. students.
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Transcutaneous Electronic Nerve Stimulation
Transcutaneous Electronic Nerve Stimulation (TENS) utilizes electronic stimulation as an effective means to reduce pain where oral medications are not desirable.
Setup Guide
Step 2. Turn on amplitude buttons for every channel you are using.
Step 3. Adjust amplitude buttons slowly to effective treatment without pain levels.
Step 4. If pulse width, time, frequency or stimulation modes need to be adjusted, adjust them slowly.
Step 5. When pain has subsided, turn down the amplitude buttons to off.
Step 6. Remove electrodes and place them back on dura-stick plastic film.
Safe and Efficacious Treatment
TENS is effective in temporarily reducing pain by blocking the pain signals traversing the site to the brain. Patients are taught how to regulate their pain utilizing safe and effective strengths of electronic frequencies, without the potential side effects of oral medications.
Ease of Use
These lightweight, portable units are simple to use and can be safely regulated by the patient. As-needed sessions make effective treatment easy.
Training and Support
A trained NuLifeMed representative will deliver, set-up and explain the use of the device. Representatives will be available for patient support 7 days a week.
Enhanced Therapeutic Outcomes
Patients who can regulate their own therapy and thereby have ownership and control over their pain management have been shown to be more satisfied patients with better clinical outcomes.
Comprehensive Patient-Focused Service
A trained and certified service technician will ship the therapy to the patient's home and train the patient in effective and safe therapy use via phone or video calls. Representatives field all patient questions, 7 days per week and NuLife Med handles all TENS claims.
Range of Applications
Our Intelect TENS units support a wide variety of treatment sites with either 1-channel or 2-channel electrode modes of therapy. Analog timers and settings make our TENS simpler for patients to use, thereby creating more compliance with your prescription.


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Kris: It was a treat to go to our local seafood shop, MAKO and find fresh sardines. They are easy to use, you don't need to gut them or fillet them, if you don't mind, you can eat the whole fish bones and all when cooked. I thought they would be a great lunchtime match with some White Rabbit Brewery White Ale.
Pan fried Sardines
200g fresh sardines
1 clove garlic (thinly sliced)
fresh parsley
zest of 1/2 lemon
olive oil
50ml lambic beer
sea salt and cracked pepper
Pre-heat a pan and fry capers, lemon zest and garlic for a couple of minutes
Add sardines and drizzle with a little more olive oil
After 2-3 minutes, turn the sardines
Cook for a couple more minutes
Pour over the lambic ( it's nice to add a bit of acidity) and turn off heat
Sprinkle with finely sliced parsley and season with salt and pepper
Serve with fresh, crusty bread
Kris: This simple dish is a perfect match with the White Rabbit White Ale. This is a Belgian style witbier, brewed with juniper, coriander and orange peel. The citrus and spice cuts through the richness of the sardines and the sweetness from the wheat and addition of some local honey balances the intense saltiness of the dish.
Caroline: This dish was great. You can de-bone sardines this big, but I think the heads and bones and brains add great flavor and texture so I recommend eating them WHOLE (snap off the face if it makes you feel weird). The White Ale added a great amount of sweetness to the salty sardines..yum


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On today's episode, we discuss Twitter's major initiatives and figure out what the platform will look like after it reinvents itself. We then talk about Facebook's cost-per-thousand (CPM) recovery, TikTok's ecommerce efforts, and a recent study about COVID-19 news on Facebook. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer senior analyst at Insider Intelligence Jasmine Enberg.
Subscribe to the "Behind the Numbers" podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, or Stitcher.
Neustar Fabrick™ is a next generation customer identity platform that powers identity management, cross-channel planning, marketing activation, audience syndication, and analytics in a post-device ID world. This integrated set of identity management and marketing solutions connects Neustar's unique identity assets and capabilities with brand, publisher, and technology-partner data to provide a sustainable means of managing and mobilizing customer data across marketing, technology, and analytics use cases. Learn More.
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A new chemotherapy regimen for patients with advanced bladder cancer who aren't eligible for standard treatment is under study at the Medical College of Georgia.
The unfortunate reality is that kidney problems often result from bladder cancer which precludes the usual chemotherapy package of cisplatin and gemcitabine, says Dr. Teresa A. Coleman, hematologist-oncologist at the MCG Cancer Center.
A Phase II study at about 120 sites in North America, Europe and Asia will determine if those patients can benefit from vinflunine, which is in the same vinca alkaloid family as Navelbine®, used for lung cancer.
Patients with stage two disease, which has spread beyond its origin in the bladder's lining, typically get cisplatin and gemcitabine before or after surgery or in conjunction with radiation therapy. However, a major side effect of cisplatin is kidney failure, and gemcitabine alone is believed not to be nearly as effective. "The most effective drug we have can't be used in some patients," Dr. Coleman says.
Bladder cancer, the sixth most common cancer, often obstructs tubules that connect the kidney to the bladder, says Dr. Coleman. While the cancer typically doesn't spread upward, tubule blockage damages the kidneys. Additionally, bladder cancer incidence peaks in the 60s and 70s when other diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and uncontrolled blood pressure, may also have damaged the kidneys, she says. These scenarios make more than 50 percent of patients age 70 to 80 and an estimated 30 percent of all bladder cancer patients are ineligible for cisplatin.
"I see so many patients who come to my office with kidney damage for a variety of reasons, and I have little for them really," says Dr. Coleman. A chemotherapy regimen that includes the drug carboplatin instead of cisplatin - both platinum-based compounds that also keep cancer cells from dividing - is more kidney friendly but less effective than the cisplatin regimen, studies have shown. Bristol-Myers Squibb produces cisplatin and carboplatin.
Participants will either get vinflunine and gemcitabine or gemcitabine alone. They will get the drug regimen intravenously on days one and eight of a 21-day cycle. Patients who do well may continue taking it up to a year or more.
Anemia is the major side effect of vinflunine, which suppresses the bone marrow, but existing anemia does not exclude patients from the trial, Dr. Coleman says.
She hopes the regimen will be at least as effective as the cisplatin therapy, which gives patients with non-metastatic disease about a 50-50 chance of living five years. An earlier study in patients with advanced cancer who received a previous chemotherapy regimen, then vinflunine alone, showed 67 percent had their disease stabilized.
Smoking is the number-one risk factor for bladder cancer. The first symptom is often blood in the urine. "Bladder cancer begins in the urinary lining of the bladder," says Dr. Coleman. "When that lining is disrupted, it's like pulling layers of skin off. You will bleed into your urine. You can have pain, but that's usually a later sign."
Physicians will examine the lining and take a biopsy to determine the extent of the cancer. "If you catch it early, it's absolutely curable," Dr. Coleman says. Physicians literally tear off the diseased lining, which will eventually re-grow. If it's the early stage- one disease, but an aggressive form, BCG, an agent used as a vaccine for tuberculosis that stimulates an immune response, is injected directly into the bladder once a week for six weeks.
The fact that the bladder is literally a sac makes it a target for cancer by holding liquid toxic waste from a smoker's body, Dr. Coleman says. However, it also means that some patients can get localized treatment for their disease.
Source: Eurekalert


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Jump To Web Games
Download iPhone Logic Games
3D Brick Breaker Revolution Break blocks in 3D when you download this free game
|Amaze Turn your iPhone into a wooden labrynth, move the ball, avoid holes
|Brain Toot Download this iPhone app to test your math, memory & thinking skills
|Brain Tumor This free iPhone app uses math questions to challenge your brain
|BreakClassic Download this app to play a nice brick breaker game
|Carrie's Dots Boxes game you can download to your iPhone! Colorful, fun
|Cash Cab Based on the tv show, answer questions as you approach your destination
|Cubes Download this 3D blocks game, removing blocks of the same color
|Cubicman Download this puzzle game, move the marble to its destination
|Dots Free Create more boxes than yoru opponent by connecting the dots
|ESPN Cameraman Download this app then find the differences in the pics
|Glow Puzzle Several free levels of challenging puzzles with their solutions
|Fire Drop Tap 3 matching adjacent fire cauldrens to make them disappear
|Hanoi Play this Japanese game by moving the smaller discs onto larger ones
|iBall3D A Labyrinth type game in 3D, download this iPhone game
|iMaze Download this maze game and and play 10 different levels
|Jaw Breaker Download this app, then tap blocks of the same color to remove them
|Lasers Direct your laser through the gems to complete each level with this free game
|Labryinth Lite Maze game you can download to your iPhone
|Lumen Download this game and use the laser to light up the checkpoints
|MazeFinger Over 1000 mazes to conquer with amazing special effects
|PearMe Find matching photo pairs. You can even use your own photos!
|Puzzle Loop Tap where you want to insert colored balls to remove matching balls
|Ragdoll Blaster Free iPhone game that fires ragdolls out of canons and solve the puzzle
|reMovem Download this iPhone game and remove adjacent same color balls
|Riddle Racer Move your car and cones to get to the checkered flag
|Ruby Repeat Download this iPhone app and test your memory skills
|Spinner Prologue Turn your iPhone to naviagate the maze without crashing
|Sprinkle Fun game using many different laws of Physics
|Subway Shuffle Download this Puzzle game, move the cars so you can exit
|Tangram Puzzle Pro Create geomettric shapes with Tangram puzzles
|TanZen Tangram puzzle game where you make shapes with 7 pieces
|Tetravex Download this app then arrange the tiles so that the edges match
|Tilt Maze Tilt your iPhone or iPod Touch to move the ball through the labryinth
|Toobz A fun Pipes game where you create connecting pipes with random pieces
|Topple Stacking game with funny shapes, tilt the iPhone so it won't topple
|Tower Bloxx Deluxe 3D Construction game that tests your reflexes and puzzle skills
|Trace Draw platforms and other objects that will help you clear each level
|Tunnell Navigate your iPhone to avoid touching the sides of the tunnell
|Vault Breaker Free iphone code breaking game like the popular "Bulls and Cows"
|Unblock Me Slide blocks around to move the red block to the other side of the board
|Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Just like the popular game show
Web iPhone Logic Games
|1 (and only)! Find the only dude that does not have a double sitting in the crowd
|14 Pegs Jump over each peg to remove it. Same game as in your favorite restaurant!
|15 Flags Matching game where you match the flags with its country
|3D Shuffle A challenging 3D number game, or is it impossible?
|Align Five Arrange 5 of the same color in any direction to score pointst
|All Lights
|Avalanche Never-ending game of clearing adjacent blocks of 3 or more.
|Baffle Challenging game of creating unique columns & rows
|Belighted Connect 3 adjacent matching LEDs by swapping 2 of them
|Boxes Create a single box. Fun against a person. The iPhone computer is stupid
|Breakdown A cool 3D Breakout game.
|Brick Shooter Challenging & lots of fun! Warning, very addictive as well.
|Bulls and Cows Like Mastermind
|Button Mania Challenging levels where you try to turn all the buttons to display "0"
|Calc 10 Use 4 numbers to make them add up to 10
|Car Thief Rearrange the cars so that you can escape
|Chain Reaction Collect more pieces than the computer. Login Required
|Collapsing Blocks Eliminate matching Blocks
|Color Rush Capture all of the color gems
|Connextion Connect all the pipes together in the puzzle
|Dark Lights - Airport Mode Play the lights game w/o an internet connection
|Deduction Guess the pattern before the time expires
|Demolition Like Blocks
|Ditto Just like the Concentration game, Simon, with high scores list
|Dot Game Alternate turns connecting dots to make boxes
|Dragon Jewels Drop jewels and make 3 matching gems disappear
|Falling Pets Connect 3 matching pets to remove them from the screen
|Flibbix Puzzler Variation of the Blocks game. Remove adjacent colors
|Flip Flop I think you're supposed to try to arrange the numbers sequentially
|Gem Twister A fun 3D game, rotate rows of the cube to find matching gems
|Gems Like Bejeweled
|Helmet Attack Remove the field of all the helmets, for you football fans
|Hungry Snake Navigate your snake towards the food, away from your tail
|iPuzzle - The Sliding Puzzle Game Nice sliding tile game that will even solve it for you
|iTiles Memory Game using smiley faces or Chinese characters
|iValentine Matching game with Valentine's day objects
|Gobico Challenging game of trying to control the board with each move
|Jigsaw Puzzle (MM) Excellent variety of easy and hard puzzles
|JirboMatch Cute appariement jeu avec minuterie
|Knights & Squires Find the right path to the riches.
|Lights Off Turn off all the lights to win. Simple, but challenging.
|Love iPhone game where you shoot hearts to match 3 in a row before the rows get too low
|Logic3 Make all the numbers turn to zero. A challenging game with the solution
|Marble Jumper Remove Marbles
|Mastermind (38ibiz) One of several code breaking games available for the iPhone
|Mastermind (iSmileys) Guess the code
|Mastermind (myiphone) Guess the code using 8 colors
|Mastermind (myiphoneworld) Guess the code
|Mastermind (twopixels) Another guess the code game
|Match 3 (MM)
|Matchbooks A game of Concentration where you find matching matchbooks on your iPhone
|Maze (MM) Find 3 of a kind
|Memory Test your memory skills
|Memory Pets Matching game with animated pets
|MetaSquares Addictive game of building squares before your phone does
|Mobile Life The "Game of Life" version for your phone
|Mosaic Try to clear the board. Login Required
|MultiGame Pack (Jirbo) Download & play matching or memory games
|Nanogram Determine which cells of the 10x10 grid should be filled or blank
|Number Maze A fun number game. Addictive
|OmegaBall Jump the balls until you have only one left, challenging to win
|Patterny Test Find the shape that completes the pattern. Under Mind Games
|Pigs A Poppin Fun game of making the Pigs Pop!
|Pipes Use pieces to create longer pipes with each level. Fun!
|Pirate Treasure Hunt See how long it takes you solve this treasure matching game
|Puzzle Factory 25,000 different sliding puzzles. E-mail the final pics!
|Puzzle Manga Sliding puzzle with titalating graphics on your iPhone
|Puzzle Swap Solve jigsaw puzzles by swapping all the pieces on the board
|Puzzler Eliminate matching Blocks
|Qix Cover the field
|Rapid Access Memory Tap the boxes from lowest to highest from memory
|Remember A variation of Simon Says that tests your memory skills
|Reset Flip the tiles using limited moves to match the original configuration
|Row By Row Slide the balls until you get a row of each coloer
|Same Hearts iPhone game where you elimate 3 matching hearts
|Same Pets Find the matching pets & win
|SameGame Touch the panels that are lined up with 2 or more
|Save The Mac Don't let Windows Vista take over!
|Scenic Seen It Recreate the scenic picture with 20 puzzle pieces after you study the original
|Squaro Numbers indicate which circles should be black, find them all
|Smiley Hunt Find the matching smileys as fast as you can
|Snack Attack Clear all of the bouncing snacks off the screen
|Snack Machine Find the matching snacks
|Sokoban (Fourohfour)
|Stack The Log
|Supercars Memory game of matching cars with their brand names
|Think Ahead (MM)
|Tiger Tile Reconstruct the picture of a tiger using tiles. Same tiger every time
|Tile Another tile game. Recreate a variety of pictures that you can select
|Tri-Trick Challenging puzzle game with 3 difficulty levels and a help mode
|Waterfalls A sliding tile game with pictures of waterfalls
|When Smileys Attack Remove the smileys from the screen
|When the Office Attacks Remove the office items from the screen
|Xmas Manga A titilating game to improve your memory
There are over 400 free iPhone games to choose from!
Select which type of free iPhone game you want to download:
The free iPhone game list is available in other languages:
Select Language


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Chris Lee LeDoux,
Born Oct. 2, 1948, in Biloxi, Miss., LeDoux got his start in junior rodeo and at the same time became absorbed in music. He joined the PRCA in 1968 and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo five times. In 1976, he won the bareback riding world title. LeDoux retired from competition in 1980, but continued writing and singing about the rodeo life.
He began recording songs in the early 1970s and went on to national stardom with such songs as "A Cowboy Like Me," "Too Tough to Die" and "What More Could a Cowboy Need?" His songs captured the romance, the freedom, the dirt and the hurt of rodeo. LeDoux had recorded 22 albums of his own, when Garth Brooks mentioned his name in the 1989 hit song, "Much Too Young (To Be This Damn Old)." As a result, LeDoux's music became more widely known, and he went on to sign with Brooks' record label, Capitol Records. He recorded 36 albums during his career and sold nearly six million records.
In 2000, he was diagnosed with a liver disease and successfully underwent a liver transplant. Within six months of surgery, he was on tour again throwing himself right back into the hard-driving full-force stage shows that included a mechanical bucking machine.
In 2004, he was diagnosed with cancer of the bile duct and began radiation treatment.
On March 9, 2005, the singer/songwriter, rodeo champion and acclaimed sculptor lost his battle with cancer at the age of 56 in Casper, Wyo. His body was cremated the next day per his wishes.
On July 16, 2005, he was inducted into The ProRodeo Hall of Fame with five other individuals receiving the ultimate honor in professional rodeo.
Chris LeDoux's ashes spread on Frontier Park Arena by his son Beau LeDoux (07/25/2007) Article
1964 Little Britches Rodeo Bareback World Championship
1967 Wyoming State High School Bareback Bronc Championship
1969 National Intercollegiate Bareback Riding Champion.
1976 Bareback Bronc World Championship
Height: 6 feet 1 inch
Eyes: blue
Hair: brown
Parents: mother Bonnie; father Alfred, died in 1995
Spouse: the former Peggy Rhoads, married Jan. 4, 1972. "My wife rodeoed with me," Chris says. "We spent a week by the river in California eating beans and bologna when we first got married. I found the perfect lady for this old cowboy."
Children: Clay, 29; Ned, 24; Will, 22; Cindy, 21; Beau, 19
Residence: Haywire, a 700-acre ranch near Kaycee, Wyo.
First horse: a buckskin gelding named Comanche that Chris' grandfather bought for him
First rodeo: a Boy Scout rodeo in Texas in which Chris won four out of the six events he competed in
First world championship title: 1964 Little Britches Rodeo Bareback World Champion
Rodeo life: In 1967, Chris won the Wyoming State High School Bareback Bronc Championship and decided to remain in Wyoming and attend Casper College on a rodeo scholarship. In 1969, he transferred to Eastern New Mexico University on another rodeo scholarship, then quit school to follow the circuit professionally. In 1976, he won the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association title of World Champion Bareback Rider. Chris estimates that he had more than 1,500 rides as a professional cowboy from 1970 through 1984.
Rodeo trails: In the 1970s, Chris hit the road in Rodeo Rose, a reddish orange 1972 Chevy Suburban. "I built a bed in the back and put in an eight-track player and it was like home," he says. "That car took me through the best part of my rodeo career. I put three engines in it and 350,000 miles on it before it broke down forever."
First album: Songs Of Rodeo Life was recorded in a basement studio in Sheridan, Wyo., in 1972. "I was playing rhythm guitar and singing," Chris recalls, "and some rancher was playing lead and a highway patrolman was playing bass." His parents duplicated the tapes in their kitchen, and Chris sold the album on the rodeo circuit.
Sculptor: Chris' bronze Western sculptures have won Best of Show awards in statewide exhibits in Wyoming and Nevada; Charlie Daniels and Garth Brooks are among those who collect his work; and one of his pieces is on display in the Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum in Douglas, WY.
Weathering the storm: In the summer of 2000, Chris was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, the same liver disease that felled Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton. Fan and friend Garth Brooks offered to donate part of his liver to Chris, but doctors determined that Garth's liver was too small for the procedure. In October 2000, Chris underwent a successful transplant and has since resumed touring and recording. "I've always been the kind of guy who appreciated every day. Those feelings are even more keen now. Every aspect of life feels special to me."
Gold albums: Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy (1992); Best Of Chris LeDoux (1994); 20 Greatest Hits (1999)
Billboard Top 10 single: "Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy" (No. 7, 1992, featuring Garth Brooks)
Published on: May 8, 2002 - Country Music Weekly
It has been said that Chris LeDoux has a real cowboy voice. He is just a tad bit gravelly with a western accent. With a voice like that it's easy to fall in love with all of his songs. When he sings about the trials of rodeo and the heartaches of love, you can tell by his voice that he has experienced all that he sings about. His love for his wife and family, the outdoors, ranching, and rodeo, all come through loud and clear in the songs he sings. It has also been said that Chris has a songwriters voice. Mike Corcoran Wrote in the Dallas Morning News, "It's strong yet vulnerable, like a well-worn pair of snakeskin boots. When he wraps his voice around tales of bucking broncs, you can almost feel the thrill, as well as the pain. The words of his cowboy songs seem to lounge in his throat for a glorious millisecond before they spring out like the truth.
He is the finest, brightest, and most brilliant songwriter to have ever picked up a pen and a guitar. All the words come to him effortlessly and endlessly. His music is about a world many have only seen in the movies, and others believed to be lost to history.
The rhythm of his music varies from song to song. He can sing an up-beat, fun loving song just as easily as he can sing a love song or country rock. Even though most of his listeners will never attend a rodeo, they can hear the crowd going wild, smell the riders fear, and feel the dust seeping into their jeans through one of his songs. One of his most loved and often played song is "Tougher than the rest". The song beautifully describes his love for his wife and tells her that even though he may not be the most handsome, most romantic, or have the most money he will always be tougher than the rest.
In 1986 "Running Through the Rain" was a Billboard pick and used on a commercial by the Ford Motor Company in several states. The song went "Just rollin' down that great American highway. With that morning sky lit up like a flame, chasin' dreams and followin' a rainbow. Like children running through the rain.
His biography was released in 1987, along with his 19th CD, both titled, "Gold Buckle Dreams". The Biography tells of his life on the rodeo circuit, the trials and tribulations he had to go through to become the wonderful singer he is now.
His 1988 release, Chris LeDoux and the Saddle Boogie Band, was called a "must" for every cowboys' record collection, by CashBox. Every song on this CD is awesome, there aren't very many CD's I find where I like every song. One song on the album tells of a young mans dreams of being a cowboy, and leaving his family to rodeo. Another fantastic song, "Look at you Girl", tells of a cowboy coming home to visit after being on the road for awhile, going to a dance and falling in love for the first time. One of his most treasured songs is on this CD. "Utah Tribute", tells of his appreciation for the fans in Utah who have been there for him since the beginning.
In 1989 Chris found himself a household name. Every one that listened to country music had to know who Chris LeDoux was. Another prime CD was released called "Powder River Home." On this CD was a song, "Blue Bonnet Blues", that was a Billboard and CashBox pick. He didn't have to wonder if there was anyone out there listening to his music. He got the recognition he deserved, but wasn't chasing. For Chris the love of singing is what he sings for, not for the fame, fortune or the money, unlike another singer out there. You see all these rappers, rock artists and R & B artists who sing for the money and the attention, Chris has never been like that.
His duet with Garth Brooks, "Whatcha gonna do with a cowboy," was nominated for a TNN/Music City News Award, a Grammy, and an Academy of Country Music Award. After being released in 1992 his CD, also titled, "Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy", went gold.
In 1993 he released another majestic CD titled "Under This Old Hat." He had somehow recorded another CD that was worthy of bringing a tear to the eyes. In this CD he sings a song, "She's Tough", which tells that his woman is "...tough even to stand by me when it all comes tumbling down. She's tough enough to steady me when I'm standing on shaky ground. When it comes to tenderness, buddy that's when she's at her best. When the going gets rough, she's tough."
In 1994 he released "Best of Chris LeDoux". Which had most of his cherished songs. The next year he released "Haywire". It was another triumphant CD. He later released another "Best of" CD, but this one was titled "Chris LeDoux Live."
He is a very diverse singer. He sings with old timers, like Charlie Daniels, a popular singer in country music; such as Garth Brooks; and on his 1999 release, "One Road Man", he sings "Bang A Drum" with rock icon Jon Bon Jovi.
He has been named by the press "...the last of true western song stylists." One reporter even wrote, "A real country singer singing real country music. What a concept." His legendary honesty and directness all make him adored by the press.
He has sold over $4 million worth of product since 1972. Him and his brother sold his albums out of the back of his truck after rodeos and out of booths after his concerts.
Another one of his prized songs is "Silence on the Line", which was re-released on his CD, "Cowboy".
Chris LeDoux has always been a leader, he is considered a rodeo legend, folk hero, and a world class entertainer. He describes his music as country soul, sage brush blues, cowboy folk, and rodeo rock and roll. Chris is so influential that many new comers have patterned the way they sing after him. George Strait released "Amarillo by Morning" two years after Chris did. Tracy Byrd released "Big Love" after Chris did. But since these guys are more media related, and promoted their releases more, they had more luck than Chris did.
Chris has always done things "his way" and will never change his ways just because the media says he should. Many rappers and other singers change the way they act, dress, and even talk just because the media says they should.
Some Groups like Metallica can write songs that deal with life situations, but Chris does it in a way that you can feel that you are actually experiencing it. There are songs that have good voices like the lead singer of Creed, of all the singers Chris has a voice that stands out amongst the rest.
Chris has ecstatic rhythm, he can go from a country rock to a love ballad and make it extremely fantastic. Chris has a range of rhythm and tempo that makes you want to get up and dance or even sit there and imagine yourself in the song.
Chris has never been nominated for an award, other than his duet with Garth Brooks. He doesn't sing for the awards, he sings because he loves it and he sings for the fans. It has never mattered to Chris LeDoux that he isn't quite as well-known in the east as he is in the west. The west is home to him and is a lot of what he sings about. Maybe he is more popular in the west is because the people here can understand what he sings about.
Chris LeDoux is a plain-spoken man, whose family valued come first and everything else second.
Quote from Chris LeDoux:
"What I want to be known for, on top of everything else, is that I was a good husband and family man."


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This VFT 'Dente' was received from Tuyen Thi on 2 April 03. This photo was taken on 23 August 03.
The plant above is during winter dormancy. The photo above was taken on 31 January 04.
The photos above were taken on 8 July 04.
The photo above was taken on 28 August 04; the flower photos below on 30 May 05 and 2 June 05.
The ICPS database states for 'Dente': "Both (this and [Dionaea 'Dentate' {D'Amato}]) are tissue-cultured mutations. The teeth are numerous, short and jagged, like a beartrap." However. the database further states: "the established name for the same cultivar is [Dionaea 'Dentate Traps' {B.Meyers-Rice}]".
The database has this to say about 'Dentate Traps': "A wild collected [Dionaea muscipula {Soland. ex Ellis}] plant was selected because its marginal spines were noticeably mutated. Instead of being long and filiform (as is usual), the spines of [Dionaea ' Dentate Traps ' {B.Meyers-Rice}] are short and triangular. This feature is not always apparent on small traps, or those produced early in the season, but the traps on mature plants in full growth are unmistakably dentate."


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by Stan Zimmerman
Women win marathon political race
The longest election cycle in Sarasota city history ended May 14 with the election of Susan Chapman and re-election of Suzanne Atwell to the city commission.
The election date was moved back a month by the Florida Legislature to ensure members of the armed services would have enough time to request, receive, mark and return an absentee ballot.
The election capped a nearly year-long race for two at-large seats on the commission. Commissioner Terry Turner declined to run for a second term.
Not only was it the longest race, but also the most expensive. Six candidates started, and among them raised more than $120,000. Half that sum was raised and spent by the odd-candidate-out in the three-way May run-off. Atwell received 4,575 votes, Chapman 3,880 and Richard Dorfman picked up 3,433 to finish last in the run-off.
Arrows point to city density increases
Cities in Florida are in a man-made squeeze. Past pension deals with unions are now unaffordable without big tax increases. Meanwhile tax receipts are down drastically because property values dived deep for the past five years. And the ever-clever Florida Legislature capped tax increases to three percent per year.
In a late-night swan song at his last meeting, Sarasota City Commissioner Turner was gloomy. "Revenue growth and business growth are not going to solve this problem," he said. The former economics professor, bank executive and financial entrepreneur's judgment hung heavy in the air.
"One way or the other, we need more density," he said. One downtown condominium at 1350 Main pays more in city taxes than the entire near-downtown Laurel Park neighborhood, said his colleague Commissioner Paul Caragiulo.
"The way you get more population is to focus on making this a place where people want to live," said Turner. "All of your policy decisions need to keep that in mind."
County begins to raid reserves
It was almost a magic trick, the way Sarasota County Commissioners finessed their budget top line for next year. It started at a capital projects workshop where $50.5 million in projects were unfunded over the next five years. Even County Administrator Randall Reid called it "a shocking figure."
But when he suggested – among other ways – to raise the property tax rate, his trial balloon was shot down by one-two-three commissioners. Instead they demanded an analysis of how much they could cut into their reserve funds.
For years during the budgeting process, county commissioners held sacrosanct a 90-day reserve fund to keep the county going through emergencies and disasters and financial shortfalls. The policy was adopted in 2007 when the bottom began to fall out of the property market.
On May 14 by a 3-2 vote they made it official. They chopped the 90 days to 75 and walked away with more than $8 million to use in the next fiscal year.
Sarasota rapid transit anyone?
Sarasota City Commissioners gave their approval to a new route proposed for a super-frequent bus line from the airport to downtown and further south. It's called Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and – if approved, funded and built – would run down U.S. 41 every 10 minutes. Think of it as an above-ground subway.
The city and county previously approved a route running along the Seminole Gulf Railroad right-of-way in the center of the city. The Federal Transit Administration paid for the study confirming the centrist route. But earlier this year, the city and county rejected it, and proposed either US 301 or US 41 as a preferred alternative.
The county then asked the city which of the two – 301 or 41 – it preferred. The city came back resoundingly in favor of the US 41/Tamiami Trail alternative. If the county commission agrees, it will have to fund the $800,000 study to confirm the US 41 route is feasible.
In the meantime, the county is angling to get the city to put up some funding to run the BRT, unwilling to carry the $1.5 million to $2.5 million annual expense.
Orioles break attendance record
Sarasota's spring training team the Baltimore Orioles played 17 home games this year and drew more than 120,000 fans to Ed Smith Stadium. It is a record for the city, which has been hosting spring training since 1924.
The team then announced it is booking six youth baseball tournaments over the summer at Ed Smith and the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex. "This is the largest state championship in summer baseball," said Matt Bomeisl with the sponsor Project Wire. "Between the Buck O'Neil complex and the Ed Smith complex, Sarasota is a great location. The Orioles have first class venues that help us draw additional teams from out of the area."
Sarasota will not lack for top-notch baseball this summer.
- Tags: News Briefs, Sarasota News


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The Major League Gaming Tournament of Champions is heading into its semis tonight. The best of the world's best will battle it out for a spot in the finals and a shot at winning that $5, 000 cash prize the winner gets to take home.
This invitational tournament pits the year's StarCraft 2 champions against each other, all of whom we're winners of tournaments, here's a reminder of who these superior beings are:
- DongRaeGu (Spring Arena 1, Spring Championship)
- Flash (KeSPA Invitational at Spring Championship)
- Leenock (Summer Championship)
- Life (Fall Championship)
- MarineKing (Winter Arena, Winter Championship)
- Soo (MvP Invitational)
- Parting (Battle.net World Championship)
- Rain (2012 OSL Finals)
The tournament started on 3 December and will go on till 20 December, tonight we'll see Rain face-off against Flash. The best of five matches will be streamed live from www.majorleaguegaming.com, all broadcasts start at 6pm ET (01:00 the following day SAST) with rebroadcasts starting immediately after. The games can also be watched afterward on this page.
Brackets so far:
If you've missed the fourth quarter final between Life and Parting you can start watching it below:
Last Updated: December 13, 2012


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Northern Illinois made a resounding splash in the final hours leading up to National Signing Day, when Deion Hallmon announced he is choosing to sign with the Huskies.
I'm officially committed to NIU!! #GoHuskies #HuskieNation @Huskie_Nation @HuskieWire @NIUrecruiting @SFHSSports pic.twitter.com/2TScfPfBPG— Deion Hallmon (@DeionHallmon) February 5, 2014
Carrying 41 FBS offers—including from schools such as Notre Dame, South Carolina, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Nebraska and National Champion Florida State—Hallmon had narrowed his choices down to NIU, Syracuse, UCF, Rutgers and Washington State, ultimately choosing to go with the pride of DeKalb, Ill.. The opportunity to jump in and play early on is said to have been a major factor in his decision.
Hallmon is expected to sign with NIU Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET. The Cypress Bay High School (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) cornerback is rated 3-Stars by 247Sports composite ranking system. His commitment pushed NIU's class up to second in the MAC according to 247Sports, behind only Western Michigan's historic class.
The 6-foot, 175-pound corner is considered a gem for NIU's 2014 class. Outside of WMU commit Lonnie Johnson, he's easily the most sought after recruit to chose a MAC school. With his size, and 4.4 40-yard-dash speed, he's an athletic corner, with great instincts, that can join a Huskies secondary that struggled throughout 2013, and ranked dead-last in the MAC in passing yards allowed.
Holmon wasn't the only player to commit to NIU on the final day before Signing Day. 2-Star WR Will Daniels also committed to the Huskies. The 6-foot, 205-pound Preble High School (Green Bay, Wis.) product chose NIU over South Dakota. He is the fifth WR to commit to NIU for 2014.


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Long Beach's Crystal Antlers rocked the El Rey Theatre on Wednesday, Nov. 18, opening up for The Big Pink, alongside io echo. I had seen them play this past summer at FYF Fest and was totally stoked on their explosive energy. Drummer, Kevin Stuart is a beast behing that kit! Dude was bangin' out the drum rolls so hard and fast I thought he was holding four sets of sticks … talk about trails. Errol Davis is an amazing guitarist and knows how to work the crowd not only with some psychedelic wails and insane guitar solos, but he's got some sweet-ass on-stage movement. Between the loudness of the drums and guitars, I really couldn't hear front-man, Jonny Bell's vocals. They were kind of blasted out through massive orchestrations of sound. But I didn't mind gettin' my ears rocked off one bit.
Be sure to check the Crystal Antlers out! They're touring heavily and getting a wide spread of global notoriety. You can buy their debut full-length "Tentacles" here.
P.S. Love, love, love Damian Edwards handling the percussion with his candid persona. That dude is so fun to watch with this high kicks and jumps. Sexual Chocolate baby!
Words: Sandy B.
Photos: Craig Parker


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by Trinna Leong
KUALA LUMPUR (The Straits Times/ANN) - Malaysia's opposition alliance gave mixed signals on Thursday about who would be its prime ministerial candidate, pushing the announcement to Sunday (Jan 7) when the four-party pact will hold its annual convention.
The presidential council of Pakatan Harapan (PH), comprising the most senior leaders of the alliance, held a three-hour meeting yesterday but did not name the person who would become Malaysia's seventh prime minister should it win in the national polls that are expected to be called within months.
The issue of PH's PM candidate has gripped Malaysian politics, amid expectations that 92-year-old Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad - who led the country for 22 years until 2003 - could become premier again should the opposition win federal power.
Just ahead of yesterday's meeting, opposition chief Anwar Ibrahim issued a statement from jail indicating that his Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) had not made a decision on the matter.
He said PH's strength lies with "the voice of the people". "Therefore, it is appropriate for the tradition of consulting NGOs and activists to be maintained," he wrote.
On the other hand, Parti Amanah Negara's deputy president Salahuddin Ayub said PH cannot walk into the general election without naming its prime minister, a mistake it made in the 2013 polls that he said cost the opposition votes.
"PH should not repeat the mistake in PR (2013's opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat), where the three parties at that time did not come to a consensus and name Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister before contesting in the 13th general election," he told The Malaysian Insight news site.
The PH pact consists of pro-Malay Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) led by Dr Mahathir, Chinese-led Democratic Action Party (DAP), Anwar-led PKR, and Amanah - a moderate Islamic party.
The year-old PPBM wants Dr Mahathir to become prime minister again, based on his experience of leading Malaysia for 22 years.
Both the DAP and Amanah support this position, according to opposition politicians. But a section of PKR leaders are wary of Dr Mahathir as he carries too much political baggage from his 22 years in power. Others frown on the fact that PPBM, which has only one seat in Parliament and whose members joined the opposition just a year ago, is making demands without first proving its commitment to the opposition's reform agenda.
While Anwar is the overwhelming opposition favourite to be the next prime minister, he is behind bars for a sodomy offence. He cannot run for political office for five years after his release, unless the Malaysian King pardons him.
In PH's meeting last month, Dr Mahathir and PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anwar's wife, were proposed as prime minister and deputy prime minister.
But the proposal was not publicly announced because PKR said it wanted to discuss the matter first at the party level.


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Having bought sheep or goats from the sale yard or through a private sale, you need to ensure that you are prepared to provide adequate transport to your property. It is important that you are capable of caring for your new animals, providing sufficient protection against predators and weather, as well as supplying them with a healthy environment.
Sheep and goats may be kept in numerous environments, from extensive grazing to closed confinement and housing (or a combination of both systems). No matter how you choose to manage your animals, it is now your obligation to care for their welfare, health, nutrition and safety.
Key requirements for transporting sheep and goats:
- Sheep and goats can be flighty, so move quietly and avoid the use of dogs.
- A livestock transport trailer or truck is the preferred method. The size and design of the transport vehicle should be compatible with the size and number of livestock being transported.
- Transport animals in trailers or trucks with adequate ventilation.
- The front of all transport vehicles must provide protection from the wind.
- Sheep and goats must be transported in such a manner in which they are not overcrowded. If necessary, make extra trips!
- Sheep, lambs, goats and kids should have space to lay down without being crushed or stood on.
- Separate classes of stock during transport; separate females with suckling offspring from mature males and advanced pregnant females from all other animals.
- Drag sheep or goats by their horns.
- Drag sheep or goats with ropes around their necks.
- Pick up sheep by their wool or hair.
- Tie sheep or goats by their legs in order to restrain them.
- Put sheep or goats in vehicles without adequate ventilation.
- Put animals in the trunk of a car, sealed container or any type of transport vehicle that restricts airflow and adequate ventilation.
- Transport sheep or goats with other species.
Speak to a livestock hauler or broker if transportation is required for your new purchase.
Caring for sheep and goats:
Handling facilities and shelter:
It is important that the unloading facilities, sheds, pens and paddocks on your property are constructed and maintained in a manner that minimizes the risk of injury, disease, overcrowding and trampling.
Your sheep or goats should be put into a small paddock or pen the first few days to allow them to become acclimated to their new surroundings. Also, this enables you to inspect them for any diseases, injuries or lameness. During this time, it is important to provide treatment to your new animals for internal and external parasites and to prevent resistant parasites from being introduced to your property. This initial step is important for the biosecurity of your property and other animals already present.
Sheep and goats are sensitive to extreme weather changes. Therefore, accommodation and shelter should be provided to prevent heat and cold stress.
General feeding guidelines for sheep and goats:
- Depending on the type of sheep or goats you may have purchased, it is essential that their diet meets their requirements to maintain growth, pregnancy, lactation and fiber production. Consult your local veterinarian, extension personnel or nutritionist for advice.
- A holding paddock or pen is a good place to introduce your animals to hay, in order to calm them after transport. When you finally introduce them to a larger paddock, it is best if you continue to feed hay for at least 2 days. This allows their ruminant digestive system to adjust to the nutritional program on your property at a gradual rate. If pasture quality or quantity is limited, you will have to provide your sheep or goats with dietary supplements until adequate pasture is available.
- Sheep and goats are selective feeders; they graze and browse. When they browse, they usually consume feed of low quality, so a supplementary feed should be supplied.
- If the animals are confined to pens, they should be provided with good quality forage daily in the form of hay, or pelleted feeds which contain a minimum of 30% forage.
- Sheep and goats should not be deprived of feed for periods longer than 24 hours.
Water requirements for sheep and goats:
- Sheep and goats must have access to clean, fresh water at all times!
- Water intake will vary depending on the temperature and type, size and production stage of the animal (eg. gestation, lactation, dry or breeding).
Assessment of health of sheep and goats:
While the sheep or goats are being held in pens, use this time as an opportunity to assess them before you put them out to your paddocks or pasture. The most important things to look for are:
- Any injuries that might have occurred during transport.
- Lameness or uneven gait.
- Making sure lambs and kids are nursing on their mothers.
Please remember that sheep and goats require ongoing supervision and maintenance to remain healthy!
Table 1. Diseases of sheep and goats.
Clostridial (bacterial) diseases
Clostridial organisms cause a variety of diseases, including Entrotoxemia (overeating disease), lockjaw and tetanus. These organisms are found in the soil, where they can live for a very long time. Clostridial diseases are usually fatal. Prevention is easily achieved by vaccinating the sheep or goats.
Footrot is an infectious and contagious disease caused by the bacteria, Dichelobacter nodosus (D. nodosus for short). It can result in sheep or goats becoming severely lame and unable to graze. It is important to have an experienced, well-trained individual examine the animals before you buy them. Also, make sure that your animals come with a signed declaration of freedom from footrot.
Johne's Disease
Johne's Disease is a chronic wasting disease caused by one or more strains of bacteria. The main symptoms of the disease are diarrhea, wasting and eventual death because the infection will remain with the animal throughout its life.
Sheep lice
Sheep body lice are external, biting insects that cause affected animals to become itchy and irritated. Signs of lice infestation include excessive rubbing, biting and scratching. Lice can become a problem in large flocks of sheep but are controllable, eradicable and preventable. For further advice, speak to your local veterinarian.
Internal parasites and liver flukes
Internal parasites and liver flukes found in sheep and goats can cause severe production loss and death in stock. Control of these parasites may be achieved by conducting fecal egg counts and through proper anthelmintic (de-wormer) treatments.
Due to the way parasites in sheep and goats have been controlled in the past, the parasites have become resistant to many of the common anthelmintics (de-wormers). This has been caused by overuse and incorrect dosage rates. History of the product and knowledge of how to administer the treatment is important in order to properly control the parasites. Sheep and goats should be treated before they are moved onto pasture. Minimum treatments and strict pasture management should be used to control internal parasites.
Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE or Big Knee)
CAE is caused by a virus, and a majority of the domestic goat population may have been exposed to it. Young goats tend to get the form of the disease that affects the nervous system, while the arthritic signs appear in older animals. There is no treatment for either form of the disease. When purchasing goats, it is important to know the history of the herds in which they are coming from.
Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP)
Ovine progressive pneumonia or OPP is a viral disease of sheep. The OPP virus can cause disease with any of the following signs: severe and progressive weight loss, labored breathing or pneumonia, paralysis, swollen joints associated with lameness, and hard, unproductive udders. However, most infected sheep never show clinical signs of the disease. Once a sheep is infected with the virus, that animal stays infected for its lifetime and serves as a carrier even in the presence of high levels of circulating antibodies.
Coccidiosis is a contagious disease which may cause diarrhea, dysentery and in some cases, anemia. Preventative measures against coccidiosis should be carried out as soon as the sheep and goats enter your property. Contact your local veterinarian for advice.
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the nervous system of sheep and goats. Scrapie is caused by a prion organism. Symptoms include scraping against rocks, trees, and fences, lip-smacking, strange gaits, and compulsive behaviors. There is a national scrapie eradication program set up to eradicate scrapie from the United States. There is no treatment for scrapie; suspected cases should be reported to your local veterinarian.
For more information, please contact:
- Roger A. High (614-292-0589; firstname.lastname@example.com).
- The OSU Department of Animal Sciences website: http://ansci.osu.edu.
- Sheep Resource Handbook, Bulletin 194R, Ohio State University Extension, Columbus, http://estore.osu-extension.org/
- Sheep Production Handbook, American Sheep Industry Association, Englewood, CO, http://www.sheepusa.org/
This fact sheet was prepared by: Jessica Pempek, Roger High, Maurice Eastridge, and Naomi Botheras. Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University. June 2013.
This information was adapted from:
- Transport and Care of Sheep, Deb Morrison, Department of Primary Industries, The State of Victoria, Australia. July, 2007.
- Transport and Care of Goats, Alan R. Ross, Department of Primary Industries, The State of Victoria, Australia. July, 2007. (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DPI)
OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or veteran status.
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, OSU Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.


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SOG MacV Tool Multi-Tool SM1001-CP – Hardcased Black, 12 Tools in One: Bottle Opener, Screwdrivers
The SOG Specialty Knives & Tools SM1001-CP MacV Tool is handy whether you need to open a bottle, tighten a screw or nut, pry a staple out, cut fishing line, or touch up a blade on the go, the MacV Tool has what you need. Designed to resemble the original skull from the MACV-SOG group of which the company is named after, the MacV Tool is a versatile everyday carry, keychain tool that will prove handy in many situations. Best of all, it's already in your pocket. Made out of durable 3Cr13 stainless steel, the one-piece design with hardcased black coating will last many years. The number of uses for a convenient tool like this is endless, especially when you take it everywhere you go as it also complies with TSA regulations. It has twelve basic components: pry bar, bottle opener, small flathead driver, large flathead driver, small Phillips driver, line cutter, blade sharpener, 1/4" wrench, 5/16" wrench, 3/8" wrench, 1/4" hex bit driver, and lanyard/keychain hole. The SOG Specialty Knives & Tools SM1001-CP MacV Tool comes with a limited lifetime warranty that protects against defects in manufacturing and materials. Each SOG product is created with the help of company founder and chief engineer, Spencer Frazer. Known for their uncompromising style and performance, these knives and tools showcase innovation, dependability and a unique, futuristic style that has garnered awards and recognition worldwide. SOG products have also won favor among law enforcement, military and industrial customers that rely on their tools to perform flawlessly in the toughest, most adverse conditions.
Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty


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We're now neck-deep in the holidays, and fun times are still ahead! We've all stashed away our spooky hats and traded them for turkeys here in Katy, and we're ready to bring on the cranberry sauce. But you might have noticed something a little less than stellar about these holiday times. Did your October energy bill look a little scarier than you expected?
With all of the distractions and excellent food to be found in the holidays, it can be easy to forget that we use up a lot of energy this time of year. Where does the majority of that come from? Your HVAC system, which we're sure doesn't surprise you at all. Looking for ways to tame that heating cost? The experts at BVS Air Conditioning & Heating have the solutions you need!
Looking for the best heating services available in Katy, TX? If so, we're the experts for you! Contact the BVS team any time online, or give us a call at 281-391-1510!
Reliable Heating Advice for the Holidays
Worried that some furnace maintenance is going to detract from your seasonal fun? No need to stress, these tips are fast, easy, and guaranteed to reduce your utility costs this Holiday season:
- Reduce your use. We may have mentioned this before, but were you aware that each and every degree your heating system needs to reach accounts for up to ten percent more energy consumed? If you keep your home at 71, knock it down to 70. We guarantee all of the guests and cooking will make up for the heat loss, and you'll be cutting a big dent in the amount of energy your furnace or heat pump sucks up.
- Replace your filter. Change your air filter. This is one we, nor any HVAC professional, can say enough times. Why? Because it's absolutely both the easiest and most effective means for a homeowner to reduce energy consumption and ensure their system remains fully-functional all winter season. Change your filter monthly for best results, or upgrade to polyester filters for a solution that last a few months longer.
- Cleaning. You're probably doing this already, especially if your hosting some holiday bashes. But while you're at it, pay particular attention to vent grates and around your HVAC system. Not only will you prevent dangerous fire hazards, you'll improve the air flow of your heating system as well!
Did You Miss Out on Your Professional Maintenance?
Tips are great, but if you want to get the most efficiency and comfort out of your system this season, you need to make sure you get a professional tune-up. It's just hands-down the most important thing to keep up with. Especially if you don't like breakdowns and huge heating costs. Did you miss your fall visit? If so, contact BVS for heating maintenance today!
Simple Energy Saving Tips
Looking for a little more than some HVAC help? Try these tips out:
- Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Yes, they still use power; even when switched off!
- Change the bulbs in your home to LEDs. Up to ten times more efficiency from your lights is a huge deal.
- Cook efficiently. Fit as much into your oven as you can at once. Those things take up tons of power to operate.
Heating Services in Katy & Houston, Texas
In Texas, regular maintenance reduces heating costs, improves dependability and increases the life of your heating system. Prevent breakdowns and emergency repairs by scheduling routine maintenance for your furnace. Not only does neglecting your furnace result in expensive emergency repairs, but it's also dangerous to your family's health. A neglected furnace can emit deadly carbon monoxide into your home. Respiratory illnesses, allergies, infections and fatigue may all be traced to a neglected heating system.
Extend the life of your furnace today by scheduling an appointment and learning the benefits of our Healthy House maintenance Program!
Author Bio:
Ronald Via
Ronald is one of the key contributors to BVS Home Experts, a family-owned and operated full-service air conditioning and heating company serving the Katy and West Houston areas. With a deep understanding of air conditioning and heating concerns, Ronald brings a wealth of knowledge to our readers.