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Hospitality exchange
Ooaj Travel Guide, tourism, hotel reservation, residence, plane, cheap pension for you holidays in hospitality exchange
Free Travel guide Ooaj.com A free travel guide for holidays. Hotels in hospitality exchange, Bed and Breakfast!
A hospitality exchange or home stay network is an organization that connects travelers with local residents in the cities they're visiting. If travelers can connect with the right people at the right time, they can get room and sometimes board in the place they're visiting for free or at a deep discount. Network size goes from a few thousands to a hundred thousands, and most networks are growing steadily.
Home stays have advantages and disadvantages. The most obvious advantage is that accommodation costs are much lower (at most networks for free) than at hotels or even youth hostels. More important, though, is the opportunity to make a personal connection with someone from a different culture and social classes, you see the destination you're visiting from a local perspective. You have your own adventure and as a side effect, the goal from some networks, this can build and strengthen intercultural understanding and reduce prejudices and intolerance.
There are disadvantages, though. Home stays require some additional planning before travel, and courtesy requires sticking at least reasonably close to your schedule. There are usually strict limits on the length of stay and what you can do in the home. And the opportunity to make a personal connection has its flipside: awkwardness between host and guest can make a visit to an otherwise pleasant city unbearable.
There are a number of different networks that connect hosts and guests, with different requirements for participation, restrictions for guests and member number and geographical spreading. There is currently one network with a membership above 100,000 (the Hospitality Club) and three networks with a membership between 10,000 and 100,000 (CouchSurfing, GlobalFreeLoader, and Servas). The real number of active members within the different networks is unknown.
For many, joining just requires filling out a Web form; some offer and others require further verification. Usually a Web listing or printed book of available hosts is provided, sometimes with eBay like reviews by travellers (or vice versa). All listed networks operate worldwide.
Although a slightly different concept, home exchange is closely related to hospitality exchange, and there are a number of other agencies specifically for those who are interested in swapping homes.
CouchSurfing Project
The CouchSurfing Project (http://www.couchsurfing.com) is a newer, USA-based non-profit hospitality exchange organization, founded in January 2004. As of December 2005, there are approx. 40,000 members all over the world. Membership is free. It is optional to become "verified member" (US$25 one-time fee) to increase security and keep the project running. Extended Profiles are given and extended search is possible. After using the service, you can comment ("leave a reference") about your host or guest. People with extremely bad references (like sexual harassment) are deleted from the site. It is possible to see if people are travelling themselves, and the percentage of messages responded to.
GlobalFreeloaders.com (http://www.globalfreeloaders.com) is an online hospitality network. As of December 2005, it has over 30,000 members. Australia is especially well represented.
Hospex (http://www.hospex.org/) is the first Internet based hospitality network. Started back in 1992, after several years it converted to Hospitality Club:
Hospitality Club
The Hospitality Club (http://www.hospitalityclub.org/) is the largest hospitality exchange organization, founded in July 2000. As of January 2006 there are approximately 100,000 members in 201 countries. (http://countries.hospitalityclub.org) Membership is free. After using the service, you can comment about your host or guest, even though accounts with bad comments are not systematically terminated. There are also Wiki-like Travel Guide sections, though they are hardly maintained. The club is based on the work of hundreds of volunteers around the world who believe that by bringing people together they can increase intercultural understanding and peace.
The sole condition to become a member is to provide the administrators with one's real name and address, so as to prove that one is a real individual. Potential guests can either navigate the database of hosts geographically or use the advanced search feature. An internal message-sending mechanism is then used, allowing to keep email addresses confidential and to block spam thanks to checking by volunteers. The duration of the stay, whether food is provided for free, for a fee or not at all, and all other conditions are agreed on beforehand to the convenience of both parties.
Pasporta Servo
The Pasporta Servo (http://www.tejo.org/ps/) ("passport service") is a home stay network for speakers of Esperanto, an international auxiliary language. It's sponsored by TEJO, the World Organization of Young Esperantists, who publish a book each year listing thousands of hosts in 80 countries.
Travelers pay a fee for the yearly host list. Hosts ask no fee for rooms, but each sets their own requirements for duration, number of visitors, contact ahead of time, and whether or not food is offered. Some hosts ask for compensation for food. Hosts receive the host list for free.
All travelers are expected to communicate with their hosts in Esperanto. Coordination with the service is in Esperanto, and the host list is in Esperanto. If you don't speak Esperanto, aren't really interested, and can't see learning a new language just to get into a home stay network, Pasporta Servo is not for you.
Servas (http://www.servas.org) was created in 1949 by Bob Luitweiler, an American who lived in Denmark. The organization spread rapidly all over the world and has thousands of hosts and travellers in more than 120 countries. Servas is also recognized by the United Nations.
Servas recommends applying for the program at least 4 weeks in advance of travel. Participation in Servas requires paying a membership fee, which varies by country, and an interview with a local Servas coordinator. After the interview, the traveler gets a "letter of introduction" that's good for one year of travel, and a list of hosts in the countries they're visiting.
Travellers have to write letters to prospective hosts weeks in advance, giving estimated dates of travel, and they have to telephone one or two days in advance to confirm. They can stay with hosts for up to 3 days and 2 nights, and are encouraged to stay the full time to develop a deeper relationship with the host.
Hosts provide room and food and give advice for visiting the city or area.
At the end of their trip, the Servas traveller is expected to provide a report to the local coordinator with updates to host lists (change of address and phone number, for example) and any other information that may be useful.
Stay4free (http://www.stay4free.com/) claims to be the first free accommodation network, but its webpage doesn't offer lots of information about the network and its goals. There is also no terms of services. It seems that the network allows members to publish their name, address, email address, and basic information about their interests, and to browse other members' profile geographically. The website seems to be ran by a Dutch Web hosting company, and may have been founded in 1998 or earlier. The amount of members is undisclosed.
TravelHoo (http://www.travelhoo.com/) is the one of the oldest web-based hospitality exchange organizations, operating since 1997. As of December 2005, there are about 6,000 members in 114 countries, Eastern Europe and Asia being well represented. Membership is free, as the network is run by a team of volunteers.
External links


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I thought for sure someone would have commented by now on ex Senator McElroy's video declaration that he saw a memo to Eisenhower referring to UFOs. Just when I was about to discard the ET hypothesis for once and for all, this video surfaces, seemingly unrelated to anyone in the exopolitics circuit. I know the Source A story captured much attention (great work!), but now this senator comes online, out of the blue, so to speak, with info that is credible because he is not associated with the exopolitics movement.
Has anyone checked to verify the identity of the man in the video? Is he who he claims to be? I was unable to find a photo of him.

subset: commoncrawl


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MURRIETA- At least one protester was arrested today outside the Border Patrol station in Murrieta, as tensions rose among protesters from both sides of the immigration issue.
The protester was seen calmly walking towards a police squad car, as demonstrators both opposing and supporting the federal government's recent migrant policies lined a rural road and shouted at each other.
CBS2 identified the arrested protestor as Larry Spencer, and said police told them he was charged with delaying a police officer.
"It's a free speech issue," Spencer told the station, as he vowed "I am not going anywhere."
Meanwhile, both the mayor and city manager of Murrieta have said the Tuesday blockade of three buses by relocation opponents has given the city a "black eye" — an image that does not reflect the "compassionate and caring" nature of the city.
"We have been challenged and in some ways we fell down in the face of the challenge" presented by protesters who succeeded in blocking three buses from arriving at the Murrieta Border Patrol station, city manager Rick Dudley wrote in an open letter posted Thursday night.
Since the protest, long sections of rural roadways near the Border Patrol station have been marked "no parking," and both sides of the issue have been given assembly areas. But law enforcement officials have said a repeat of Tuesday's blockade of three buses, presumably carrying women and children, will not be allowed.
Persons who support a more-humane immigration policy, and opponents of the federal immigration policy, have squared off. Police kept the two sides apart, but reporters said screaming and yelling was common.
The gate to the Border Patrol station was protected by several dozen police today, as about 140 women and children from Central America was rumored to be heading from San Diego to the Murrieta station. There, they are to be processed and in many cases, released to travel.
On Monday, Murrieta mayor Alan Long appeared on national television and encouraged residents to protest the use of the federal facility in Murrieta.
On Tuesday, swarms of people blocked three buses heading into the post, presumably with women and children fleeing strife and poverty in Central America on board.
And on Thursday, city manager Rick Dudley posted a letter on the city's website whioch defended the right to protest, but expressed sadness at the results.
"This was not a victory," the letter said.
"It was a loss for the City of Murrieta … It made this extremely compassionate community look heartless and uncaring.
"That is not the Murrieta that we know and love," he wrote. "The unfortunate acts at Tuesday's protest … were not representative of our community."
Conservative talk radio station hosts in Los Angeles and San Diego were urging listeners to drive to Murrieta to protest, and Spanish-language radio station were urging counterprotests.


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Like many Kentucky communities, the harsh reality of the economic downturn has hit Grant County.
Recently released data by the state revealed that the unemployment rate rose dramatically in Grant County from 6.8 percent in February 2008 to 11.4 percent February 2009.
Kentucky's overall unemployment rate for February 2009 was 10.2 percent.
The goal of the free Operation: Job Hunt program is to dwindle those statistics by helping participants improve basic writing skills, organize a resume and prepare for a job interview.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the Grant County News, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
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Usability and the evolving library website
Beseda, Addie Marie
MetadataShow full item record
Beseda, Addie Marie
The academic library website presents many complex usability issues, and most are affected by the ever-changing nature of digjtal information. This thesis explores these issues with the aid of usability testing on the University of Oregon Libraries website. Undergraduates performed tasks that reflect real library usage; the problems they encountered are summarized based on the usability measures of effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction. The study found that although students were able to effectively use the UO Libraries website to conwlete tasks, they did so inefficiently, with many missteps before reaching completion. Similarly, although students were able to find the information they needed on the website, they indicated that they preferred search engines over libraries for research purposes. These results serve as a starting point for discussion of the relationship between the library website and the search engine, the necessity of background knowledge in information gathering for competent website use, and a strategy for making the Libraries website into a tool students prefer.


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You're walking down the street in a big city. A man in an alley offers to sell you a gold Rolex watch for $50. Having some time to kill, you stop and look. Sure looks authentic with diamonds flashing in the sun. But being the shrewd, worldly businessperson you are, you entertain no delusions that it's genuine. Still, you might think about buying one just for the fun of seeing the expressions on your friends' faces. What would be the harm?
Back at the office, you check your e-mail. There's a message from someone saying he's a distributor of electrical products overseas. He has some overstock of name-brand electrical equipment, and he's looking for a buyer. He quotes prices far below your U.S. wholesale cost and includes a link to his Web site. The company appears to be legitimate, and pictures on the Web site show products identical to the ones you're installing — complete with all the logos and certification marks. Being the shrewd, worldly businessperson you are, you can't help but consider making a deal that could allow you to lower your next bid significantly. What would be the harm?
Actually, the harm could be substantial. Long associated with knockoffs of high-dollar consumer items, traffic in counterfeit goods has escalated in recent years, spreading into markets where it was never a concern before. In the past 10 years alone, counterfeit electrical products have begun appearing in markets all over the world. Driven in part by advances in technology, traffic in fake name-brand products is unfortunately expected to continue growing rapidly in the future.
Although figures on the scale of global traffic in counterfeit goods are hard to come by, some estimate it's a $500-billion-per-year business, growing at a rate of 20% to 25% annually. Electrical products account for only a fraction of a percent of that market; however, their potential for health and safety implications put them in league with counterfeit pharmaceuticals, automotive parts, and safety products as sources of heightened concern among customs officials, testing labs, and law enforcement bodies the world over.
Stakes are high. The electrical products seized as counterfeits are predominantly consumer items, including power strips, surge protectors, extension cords, and batteries, but shipments of counterfeit circuit breakers, fuses, industrial control relays, lamps and electronic lamp ballasts, smoke detectors, receptacles, ground-fault circuit interrupters, conduit fittings, telecommunications cables, and electrical connectors also have been found. For example, counterfeit power strips marked for 12-gauge wire have been found to actually contain thin 24-gauge wire and caught fire under normal use. Counterfeit circuit breakers that looked indistinguishable from a name-brand breaker have been found to have nothing but a switch inside.
The direct threat to the health and safety of users of such products is clear, but the potential damage to players up and down the legitimate electrical supply chain is also significant. A distributor who sells a counterfeit product that malfunctions and causes injury or damage, for example, stands directly in the path of a product liability lawsuit with no manufacturer's deep pockets to back him up, says Clark Silcox, general counsel for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Rosslyn, Va.
"If the manufacturer can show that it didn't make the product, the manufacturer is off the hook, and it's the wholesaler and retailer that are on the hook," he says.
Consequences for electrical contractors using counterfeit products could be similar. Although much is yet to be seen — as far as how litigation precedents play out in the courts — electrical contractors purchasing counterfeit electrical products could potentially be exposed as well. If they bought the product on good faith from an authorized distributor or other reliable source, for example, their exposure to liability would mostly likely be minimal. Those choosing to buy outside the traditional supply chain should be more wary. A good rule of thumb: Beware of any deal that seems too good to be true.
Whether you're a distributor or a contractor, counterfeits damage the supply chain as a whole by driving down prices and taking sales that would otherwise have gone to legitimate manufacturers. They also tarnish the reputations of everyone associated with a product that fails to perform as expected.
What's driving the deception. The recent surge in counterfeit electrical products is driven by several factors. In part, it's an unfortunate side-effect of the globalization of trade. Manufacturers shifting their production operations to developing countries, where intellectual property rights enforcement lags behind more developed countries, creates an opportunity for counterfeiters by promoting the development of manufacturing capacity in the form of equipment and workforce training. A failed relationship with an offshore manufacturer can turn legitimate production toward the production of knockoffs. There have also been instances of plants producing legitimate products by day and counterfeits by night.
Another driving force is the constant advance of technology. Contract manufacturing plants are constantly improving their ability to create — or reverse-engineer and recreate — anything a client wants in short time frames at low cost. In fact, the quality of the duplication has gotten so good that, in some cases, even the intellectual property owner is hard-pressed to identify the fake without breaking it open and testing it. Computer graphics technologies make it easier than ever to create authentic-looking labels that are precise duplicates of their name-brand counterparts.
When a man caught by U.S. Customs officials last year importing counterfeit electrical receptacles was questioned about how and where the fakes were made, he told them he went to a home center in the United States, bought a name-brand receptacle, shipped it to a plant in China, said "make this for me," and they did.
The rush of technological innovation puts pressure on brand-name manufacturers and certifying organizations to stay a step ahead. Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Melville, N.Y., builds sophisticated identification systems into its labels to make it readily apparent what is real and what's not, says Brian Monks, UL's director of anti-counterfeiting operations.
Areas of weakness. The Internet has been a huge boon for counterfeiters by allowing them to reach an international market at very little cost. Online auction services such as eBay, while providing distributors and end-users valuable access to legitimate discontinued, surplus, and overstock items, also can be manipulated by those bent on misrepresentation and fraud.
The speed with which products can be shipped around the globe only adds to the problem. Air freight leaving China today arrives in New York tomorrow. The creation of free trade zones where import-export operations are streamlined adds to the ease with which products can be moved from country to country. Counterfeit products often are mixed in with legitimate products, following a circuitous route to their destinations.
"These are sophisticated criminals. They're very organized. They operate much like a drug-smuggling operation," says Monks. "A shipment doesn't necessarily go from the host country to its final market. It might go to Panama first, then Canada, and then into the United States. The paper trail is cleaned up a little bit at each stop."
Counterfeiters are quick to seize an opportunity, and any situation where demand significantly outstrips supply is a prime target. Doug Geralde, director, Corporate Audits and Investigation, for CSA Group, a testing and certification organization based in Toronto, expects to see an influx of counterfeit electrical products and other building supplies in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas as that area continues to rebuild from hurricane devastation.
"Katrina and Rita created a prime spot for counterfeit products to fill a void," Geralde says. "We're very concerned about that marketplace because the usual checks and balances are not in place. Everything's devastated, so people aren't asking where something came from; they just need it now. If they're putting in products that are inferior, we might have fires, injuries, and fatalities a short time down the road."
Combating counterfeiters. Those who work to stop counterfeiting face an incredibly difficult challenge. Working independently and through international groups such as the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC), Washington, D.C., Silcox, Monks, and Geralde work closely with governments, customs officials, and law enforcement around the world to educate them about how to spot counterfeit products, track down counterfeiters, and prosecute them.
Finding the counterfeiters is one thing. Holding them accountable is quite another. Most of the counterfeit goods on the market come from China, so significant anti-counterfeiting efforts are concentrated there. The Chinese government is active in its pursuit of intellectual-property violators, but with such a vast, populous, and rapidly industrializing nation to police, it's difficult to catch and prosecute criminals.
A lot of work goes into trying to raise awareness of the problem, which can be a challenge. Counterfeiting is commonly viewed as a commercial, essentially victimless crime when compared to drugs and terrorism. For three years, NEMA has been working with the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that would strengthen laws against counterfeiting and piracy.
Early in March 2006, the "Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act" achieved final passage by the House and Senate. President Bush followed suit by signing the bill into law shortly thereafter. The Act addresses two objectives, says Silcox. First, it overturns an appeals court decision finding that fake labels, tags, boxes, and cans do not violate criminal law against counterfeiting. In the electrical industry, it would mean producing or trafficking in fake UL, CSA, and other labels becomes a criminal offense. Second, it strengthens remedies for counterfeiting, allowing law enforcement to seize product if it's shown to be counterfeit (even if it's not yet proven in court), to seize and destroy machinery and tools used to make counterfeit products, and to seize money gained in the sale of counterfeit products.
"Our goal is to give the government every weapon it needs to go after these guys, so they know they're going to suffer a lot of pain for trafficking counterfeit goods," Silcox says.
The legislation will also help the U.S. Trade Representative press for more intellectual property rights protection in negotiations over free trade agreements in Central America, Singapore, and Bahrain, he adds. "In those agreements' sections on intellectual property rights, each trading partner agrees to improve its own internal laws dealing with counterfeiting and piracy," he says. "We would like to mandate the same tough level of deterrence and enforcement as we'll have in our own law."
Domestically, what the anti-counterfeit crusaders need most are the eyes, ears, and attention of people knowledgeable enough to spot a counterfeit product when it crosses their path. Distributors and contractors, along with dealers of used and surplus equipment, are the places where counterfeit products are most likely to enter the supply chain. They are also the people most likely to notice subtle variations in product and packaging that could signal that a product is not what it appears to be.
As production and importing of counterfeits continue to grow and as counterfeit products become more difficult to detect, distributors and contractors will need to be more vigilant when it comes to whom they choose to do business with. Any deal involving an unfamiliar source or an unusually good price may be a red flag that signing the deal could do more harm than good.
Doug Chandler is the executive editor of Electrical Wholesaling magazine.
Sidebar: Surplus on the Front Line
Perhaps no one in the electrical supply chain is more aware of counterfeit products than surplus equipment dealers. They routinely buy outside the traditional, authorized channels, picking up surplus, obsolete, and used equipment and returning it to service. This makes them one of the most attractive venues for producers and importers of counterfeit devices to get their products into the mainstream of the channel.
Surplus dealers buy from anyone who has product, which requires them to be exceptionally shrewd, observant, and vigilant about whether the seller is representing the products truthfully. The opportunities for getting duped come every single day.
Fortunately, many also have the expertise to tell the real products from the fakes. Many surplus dealers refurbish and remanufacture the products they buy and sell, which means they've seen pretty much every product broken down to its component parts. They test everything they buy before selling it — even the new equipment — and in the course of testing discover many anomalies.
David Rosenfield, president of Romac Supply, Commerce, Calif., has seen all kinds of funny business. He's bought 70A F-frame breakers that had been relabeled as 200A breakers — the housings were identical coming out of the factory, and he only discovered the discrepancy by testing. He's bought lighting breakers on eBay that turned out to be counterfeits, identified because they were missing some of the real manufacturer's typical marks. Sometimes, the discrepancies are as subtle as a slight variation in the shape of a handle or the size of a terminal.
"We know the dirty part of the market better than anybody," Rosenfield says. "Work with us to educate the market, to elevate the safety of the market as a whole."


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News facts:
An increasingly tech-savvy and connected public has driven significant growth in online shopping, and web-based retailers have come to rely heavily on the wealth of buyer behavior to constantly fine tune their offerings. While every login to a website, click and purchase is analyzed online, conventional store-based retailers - which still account for the majority of purchases made today - have far less information available to them to help maximize their sales. Fujitsu's latest version of its Retail Engagement Analytics solution is designed to address that imbalance.
Fujitsu's solution takes the output from multiple sources, for example from existing in-store cameras and wi-fi access points and merges it with point of sales output, data from other stores and store formats as well as external intelligence, for example, weather information. The real-time results are presented in a dashboard, with easy-to-understand heat maps and reports that visualize key store metrics such as the number of new and repeat customers, the number of customers by time and by department and average shopper dwell time in each location.
Furthermore, Fujitsu's patented Flow Discovery Technology1 enables REA 2.0 to identify the most commonly used routes taken by customers as they move around the store. Simultaneously, heat maps visualize the areas of the store that attract the most traffic at given times. This wealth of data allows retailers to immediately identify areas where improvements can be made via store layout changes, for example, by optimizing floor plans to facilitate the flow of customers or improving product positioning to encourage sales. The system can even send automatic alerts to store associates to redeploy them to where they are most needed.
REA 2.0 also adds considerable value in terms of forecasting and tracking marketing effectiveness. By being able to identify trends and track customer behavior patterns over time and during promotional campaigns, retailers gain powerful forecasting capabilities - helping them match staff schedules and product re-stocking with anticipated demand. The solution can be deployed to track the success of promotions in real-time, reporting minute-by-minute spikes in traffic.
Rowan Cape, Vice President Global Retail Software Solutions at Fujitsu, comments: "Currently, one out of every two retailers is not able to predict in-store customer traffic or decipher customer behavior2. With REA 2.0 we are changing that by giving European retailers access to the same types of analytic data that web-based stores have been exploiting for years. As a result they will be able to rapidly enhance their business operations, improve the shopping experience and boost their bottom line."
The FUJITSU Retail Engagement Analytics solution can be deployed either as in-store infrastructure or as a cloud solution delivered via Fujitsu's Cloud Service K53. Built at scale to process large volumes of data with speed and efficiency, REA 2.0. is fully compliant with the data privacy requirements of the European Union and individual EU countries.
The FUJITSU Retail Engagement Analytics 2.0 solution is currently available in North America and in 12 key European retail markets (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal Spain, Sweden, and the UK).
1 Fujitsu's Flow Discovery Technology is an extension of Fujitsu's Automated Process Discovery (APD) technology. Flow Discovery allows the shopper tracking through the store to be visualized using the facts and evidence from data sources to trace and render the route 'as it happens'. This approach and technology enables the use of non-invasive techniques to gather and process the evidence very efficiently into a comprehensive and accurate picture.
2 EKN Customer Context Power Research, 2015
3 Fujitsu's Cloud Service K5 is a next generation cloud platform, specifically created to enable efficient, easy and cost effective enterprise level digital transformation.
Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 156,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.7 trillion yen (US$41 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.
Fujitsu enables customers to capitalize on digital opportunities with confidence, by helping them to balance robust ICT and digital innovation. Fujitsu's full portfolio of products, solutions and services gives its customers a competitive advantage in the era of digital transformation. In Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA) the company employs more than 29,000 people. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com/fts/about/
Fujitsu Public Relations
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Company: Fujitsu Technology Solutions
All other company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.
Date: 06 March, 2017
City: Düsseldorf
Company: Fujitsu Region
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Click here to enlarge the e-flyer.
Phu is invited to custom a 10" blank Qee organized by Dragatomi
for upcoming Toy2R's 15th Anniversary DIY Qee Celebration
in Sacramento, CA in October.
More info coming soon...So Stay Tuned!!!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Next-in-line project for Dragatomi
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Black Guard
Monday, September 27, 2010
Phu @ Munny World Festival Indonesia
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Black Knight
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Custom in Progress
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Munny World Festival Indonesia
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Rebel Yoka
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Next-in-line production
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Custom in Progress
The name Phu in short is a self-created lingo. Entirely imaginative and not based upon adherence to actuality.
3D art is his pursuit, especially in vinyl customizing. Phu's Phuturistic concept is a manifestation through his artistic form of thought and personalized treatment in which he exercises the habit of recycling.
And it's with this Phuturistic niche, Phu's customed vinyls have been commissioned and showcased in various international exhibitions and shows worldwide.
: : Deconstruct / Recreate : :
© Phu. All Rights Reserved
: : Deconstruct / Recreate : :
© Phu. All Rights Reserved


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Captain's Report
Say it ain't so, Jim! It is true alright, and here is what the co-founder of Pacific Asia Enterprises (aka PAE, Nordhavn) and VP, Jim Leishman, has to say—"This design will appeal to a whole faction of clientele who tend not to prefer the traditional expedition-type look of a Nordhavn," says PAE's vice president, Jim Leishman. "The N78 will evoke a contemporary European feel without losing the dynamic of being a Nordhavn."
Nordhavn says--
"Key to the design is the emphasis Chief Designer Jeff Leishman has placed on outdoor living, starting with the flybridge. The N78's flybridge will feature a Jacuzzi, wetbar, barbecue and a large open deck area perfect for entertaining. Meanwhile, the foredeck – a typical lounging hotspot on most European boats – has been designated the ideal outdoor "chilling space." The cockpit of the N78 has been opened up, too, further enhancing entertaining possibilities. "Another draw of the new 78 is that it better segregates the crew from the owners and their guests. Like the entire Nordhavn product range (with the exception of the N120), the N78 was intended to be operated without a captain. However, Leishman has designed engine room access in the transom so that employed crew can enter the area without impacting company on board.
"The new N78 will come equipped with twin engines, have ocean-crossing capabilities with a range of 3,000+ miles and superior fuel efficiency. The interior will feature an updated, modern design aesthetic that includes sumptuous owners' accommodations and two superb guest rooms all with ensuite heads; crew quarters and off-watch quarters. "Although the lines of the N78 will have a European flair, Nordhavn feels the yacht will appeal to international and American markets alike. "The beauty of this design is that it's a Nordhavn, so you've got comfort and confidence while underway, but the benefits will be realized when you're not passage making," notes Nordhavn Europe's Philip Roach. "The added elements will really allow you to enjoy your time on board once you've arrived."
BoatTEST.com Says—
This yacht is quite a departure for Nordhavn. We thought we'd never see this builder design in a Jacuzzi and put a bunny pad on the bow of a long range cruiser, but we guess change is constant. Azimut introduced a long range cruiser about 18 months ago that took its maiden voyage around the Med last fall, and we suspect that was an impetus for this Nordhavn departure. The owners of Nordhavn, Jim Leishman and Dan Streech, are smart and they are reaching out to a broader market than just the trawler/expedition group. Further, PAE has designs on making more European sales and evidently the styling of its current models are not ringing many chimes there. One would hope that this design will be stylish enough for Europeans, and so we understand the addition of the Jacuzzi and bunny pad. The boat has twin engines which will make it a lot easier to back into Med moorings.The fact that the boat will only go 9 knots or so shouldn't be much of a disadvantage in the Med, as few boat owners there go any distance, anyway. Why pay all of that extra money for big engines to go five miles and anchor off a beach? Med charter boats do better with four staterooms, but other than that detail, we think the guys at Nordhavn might be on to something.This 78' (24 m) vessel has a 21' (6.46 m) beam draws 7'8" (2.35 m) and displaces 252,000 lbs. (114.3 MT). She carries 5,700 gal (21m575 L) of fuel which is considerable for this size of boat. Nordhavn says the boat will have over a 3,000 nm range, which means this boat can go trans-oceanic. She is powered by twin Cummins QSMIIDM-425 425-hp diesels driving through ZF550 V-drives with a 2.96:1 reduction. This vessel is chock full of new ideas and is one of the most innovative boats in this size range that we have seem come along in quite some time. We think the boat will be popular all over the world, and we look forward to seeing it in 2011 when it is launched.Visit Nordhavn's website...
Standard and Optional Features
|Air Cond./Heat
|Battery Charger/Converter
|Head: Fixed
|Shore Power
Exterior Features
|Outlet: 12-Volt Acc
|Swim Ladder
|Swim Platform
|Transom Door
|Wet bar
Boats More Than 30 Feet
|Glendinning Cablemaster
Full Warranty Information on this brand coming soon!
(It's quick and FREE!)


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Hannah Musgrove, a recent graduate of Lone Star College-North Harris started off the semester knowing that she had one last honors project to present before she could graduate. Musgrove took the opportunity to choose a project that would be fun, but personal as well.
When it came time to decide on what her research topic would be, Musgrove chose to research the artistic significance of the gravestones in Mueschke Cemetery, located just down the road from the college. She had added interest in this project, because she is the third-generation granddaughter of the cemetery's founder, Paul Mueschke.
Musgrove had wondered about her family history and the stories that had been passed down, but had always wanted to learn more. This was her opportunity to find out what she could uncover.
During the spring semester of 2013, Musgrove worked with other honors students to catalog the remaining headstones, and survey the cemetery for historical preservation. While working on the project, Musgrove learned not only about the gravestones at the cemetery, but also about her family history.
"This was a remarkable project honoring local history, and many of the area's early families including the Mueschke family," said Dr. Theresa McGinley, dean of instruction at LSC-North Harris.
During her research for her project, Musgrove learned that Paul Mueschke owned hundreds of acres of land in the Westfield area, a once-vibrant railroad town located alongside the International-Great Northern railroad between Aldine and Old Town Spring. Among the graves that were surveyed for the project were Paul Mueschke's and several of his family members'.
After hours of compiling information, Musgrove completed her project, learning that there was in fact evidence to support her topic and the significance of the gravestones.
"There are master artists who have sculpted beautiful stones; however, critics have not recognized these pieces of art for that they are," said Musgrove. "I am still passionate about these stones, and if the stones were seen as art, they would not have been abandoned to decay."
For Musgrove, who completed her project and graduated, the project was a great success, allowing her to explore her family history and assist in the preservation of the cemetery. The relationships she forged with its caretakers, have also opened the site up to future honors projects for additional students.
Musgrove graduated as an Honors Scholar with Distinction from LSC-North Harris. While attending LSC-North Harris, Musgrove was a member of the Pi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and she served as Historian to the Honors Student Organization. Musgrove also had the distinct honor of presenting at the 2012 and 2013 Great Plains Honors Conferences and 2012 Gulf Coast Intercollegiate Consortium.
Musgrove's future plans include transferring to a four-year university, and pursuing a career as a pediatrician.
Lone Star College-North Harris is located at 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive, one-half mile south of FM 1960 East, between Aldine-Westfield and Hardy Roads. For more information about the college, call 281.618.5400 or visit LoneStar.edu/NorthHarris.
Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in the nation. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.


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oskarpn needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 159 designs submitted by 54 freelance designers.
I need a new, fresh, professional and creative logo for my company. I'm a web developer freelancer who work primarly on building web 2.0 applications.
I believe in great and innovative design, but unfortunately I'm not the right person for doing that, so I'm also looking for future collaborations.
The logo that I want is fresh, clean and will be used in both print and web. You can think as if you were build a logo for a web agency, indeed it should not reflect but i'm a web developer
- I want the name of my business: dibistore (better in uppercase, but not required)
- Logo should include a motto, like 'grow your internet business', but please note that I'm not totally sure about this motto (maybe it's to long). But it must reflect that i work through internet and for business people.
- If you think the motto is bad, your a free to play with it.
- A vectorial representetion of the logo is required.
- I don't want people to think that I build sunday-afternoon websites.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Realtor.com(R) , which is operated by Move, Inc., today announced its top five favorite pet-friendly rental markets in the nation. Although the majority of households in the United States own a pet (62 percent, according to ASPCA[i]), it can be difficult to find rentals that allow co-habitation with furry friends. Odds are better in the cities below, which have the highest number of pet-friendly rental listings among realtor.com-tracked markets and plenty of off-leash areas for man's best friend to roam:
Total Number of
Rank Cities Pet-Friendly Listings Number of Dog Parks[ii]
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1 Houston, Texas 1,381 22
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2 Chicago, Ill. 1,012 21
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3 Miami, Fla. 897 16
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4 Austin, Texas 623 18
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5 Charlotte, N.C. 793 8
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(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130416/LA95306-a)
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130416/LA95306-b)
If owning a pet is a must and owning a home isn't quite within the realm of possibility, chances are you'll have an easier time finding a rental in one of these markets that will welcome you and your pet with open arms. In Miami, for example, about 42 percent of rental listings tracked on realtor.com(R) are pet-friendly. Nearly 1,400 properties in Houston are ready to roll out the welcome mat for pet-owning renters, compared with just 24 in Columbus, Ohio.
A story surfacing in our No. 2-ranked Chicago caught the attention of realtor.com(R) . In March, Otis the dog helped his owners turn around their Chicago apartment rental in less than 24 hours. By making stealth appearances in each shot in the ad, Otis, "the scene-stealing dog," and his apartment listing went viral, gaining national media attention. Inspired by his story, realtor.com(R) jumped on the opportunity to hire the Great Dane-German Shepherd mix to represent our pet-friendly rental listings.
"We know how important it is for renters to find a home that meets all their needs and the needs of their furry family members," said Barbara O'Connor, executive vice president of marketing at Move Inc. and owner of a black rescue dog named Maddie. "We think Otis will do a great job of representing our dedication to pet-friendly listings and, as an extension, our commitment to delivering the best tools available to help renters find the right house or apartment for them."
Otis found his perfect home with owners John and Sara Kanive when he was adopted from Chicago's Almost Home Foundation as an eight-week-old pup. Almost Home is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to rescuing stray and abandoned animals from high-kill shelters. In hopes that other animals also find dream homes, Otis is donating a portion of his realtor.com(R) salary to the foundation.
"We loved Otis' story and reached out to his owners immediately to see if they would consider helping other home seekers find pet-friendly listings," said Dave Arnold, executive creative director at realtor.com's ad agency Pereira & O'Dell. "He's a natural spokesdog and soon-to-be national symbol for tracking down pet-friendly listings first."
Recognizing pet-friendly rental listings is about to become even easier with the help of Otis. Realtor.com(R) will be making photos of the spokesdog available as a tool to help REALTORS amplify their pet-friendly listings on realtor.com(R). Check out Otis' appearance in this San Diego apartment listing, and be sure to look for him on realtor.com(R) and beyond in the coming months!
Tags: pet-friendly apartment, pet-friendly home rental, rental market


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Dr. Helen J. Streubert is the seventh president of the College of Saint Elizabeth, having assumed the role on July 1, 2013. As the first lay president in the 116-year history of the College, she is fully committed to strengthening the academic excellence and mission established by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth and will work with the college community to continue to develop leaders committed to service and social responsibility.
Prior to joining the College of Saint Elizabeth, she was the vice president of academic affairs at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, where she lead an academic leadership team of eight including three deans, the assistant vice president of continued learning, the associate vice president of academic affairs, the registrar, the director of online learning and the director of sponsored research. Dr. Streubert holds a doctoral degree from Teacher's College, Columbia University, New York, N.Y., a master of science in nursing from Villanova University, Villanova, Pa. and a bachelor of science from Cedar Crest College, Allentown, Pa.
A well-respected author and engaging speaker, Dr. Streubert is recognized both nationally and internationally for her textbook, Qualitative Research in Nursing: Advancing the Humanistic Imperative, which has been published in four languages and is in its fifth printing. In addition to writing two textbooks, she has authored numerous chapters and articles on nursing education and qualitative research.
Dr. Streubert was instrumental in establishing the national model Ready Campus – an adaptable planning guide that prepares colleges and universities to serve as resources to their communities in times of crisis.
During her tenure at higher education institutions, including several sponsored by women religious, she served as a professor, department chair, division leader, special assistant to the president, service-learning center director, and associate vice president of academic affairs. Throughout her career, Dr. Streubert facilitated the development of accreditation documents, faculty development programs, and institutional advancement initiatives in corporate, foundation and government relations. She has created policies and processes to support institutional research and revised policy and governance documents.
She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Franklin Pierce University and the Cancer Center Council of the Cancer Research and Treatment Center of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Streubert has served on the boards of directors of the American Cancer Society, the Diversity Institute of Northeastern Pennsylvania and the American Red Cross. She has also served on several local, regional and national governing boards as well as in a community college, a liberal arts college, an academic health center, and in a comprehensive university setting.
As a well-respected teacher, administrator and scholar, she has received numerous awards including induction into the inaugural class of Fellows in Nursing Education (National League for Nursing), an elite group of 41 nurse educators recognized for their significant contributions in nursing education. More recently, she was honored for her service to the field of nursing when she was inducted into the Teachers College Nursing Education Alumni Hall of Fame.
Dr. Streubert resides in Morristown, N.J.


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3:00 am
Growing a Greener World "Dispelling Gardening Myths" We've all grown up with them; dig a ten-dollar hole for a one-dollar plant. Water deeply but infrequently is another. But thanks to new academic research, many of these myths are being debunked and in the process, making us all better and smarter gardeners. D
3:30 am
Growing a Greener World "Gardening in a Waterwise Way" With climate change and a global water crisis, conserving this precious resource is more important than ever. Gardeners typically waste over 50% of what water they use for outdoor irrigation. In this episode we meet author and waterwise expert, Nan Sterman in her own backyard to learn how to use less and still have a beautiful garden and landscape, no matter where you live. D
4:00 am
Earth Revealed: Introductory Geology "Intrusive Igneous Rocks" Unveils the rock-forming processes of magmas that do not reach Earth's surface but solidify underground.G
4:30 am
Economics U$A "Banking System" The S&L crisis is reviewed with a discussion of deposit insurance and the accountability of financial institutions. This program was revised in 1992. D
5:00 am
BBC World News NULL
5:30 am
Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish "La Busqueda (The Search)" This episode covers words for seafood and other food items and the geography of Argentina.G
6:00 am
Classical Stretch: The Esmonde Technique "Unlock Your Spince & Improve Your Posture" NULL
6:30 am
Clifford The Big Red Dog "Fluffed Up Cleo/Team Spirit" Fluffed Up Cleo - When Cleo wins the esteemed honor of Fluffiest Dog of Birdwell Island, it's all she can talk about! Clifford and T-Bone bear with the new star, but it takes a lot of patience. When Cleo gets a dose of her own medicine from Mac, she learns that bragging all of the time can be boring - it's okay to be proud of an accomplishment, but be careful to be respectful of others. Team Spirit - After Jetta tells Vaz that his poor soccer skills are holding back their team, Vaz tries to sit out the rest of the game. D
7:00 am
Arthur "I'm A Poet/The Scare-Your-Pants-Off Club" This animated series is based on Marc Brown's best-selling books about Arthur Read, an eight-year-old aardvark, his sister D.W., and their family and friends. All the kids agree to write a poem as part of a bet, in "I'm A Poet. D
7:30 am
Martha Speaks "Billy Collins Speaks/Milo's Reading Buddy" Billy Collins Speaks - Billy Collins writes great poems about dogs, and Martha thinks she knows why. Obviously, the former poet laureate must be a canine himself! When Martha meets Billy Collins she's in for a few surprises.as is he. D
8:00 am
Curious George "Up, Up and Away/Skunked" George learns that it takes a tether, a basket and hot air for a balloon to successfully lift-off.G
8:30 am
Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! "Incredible Journey/Bamboozled" Incredible Journey - Nick and Sally are playing in their homemade Thingamajigger, when the Cat arrives to take them on a real adventure! Off they go to meet salmon Sam, who is returning to the pool where she hatched so she can lay her eggs. With the help of the Subber-e-blubber, they follow Samantha underwater, upriver on her incredible journey! Bamboozled - Sally needs to find a gift for her stuffed panda, Pammy. Who better to ask than a real panda? The Cat takes them to meet Zhu Zhu, a giant panda who helps the kids to discover all the wonderful things you can do with her favorite food, bamboo. D
9:00 am
Super Why! "The Great Robot Race" Ready.steady.splat! Whyatt and his puppy want to win the porridge race, but the bowl of breakfast cereal keeps falling off the puppy's back. D
9:30 am
Dinosaur Train "Stargazing on the Night Train/Get Into Nature!" The Pteranodon family rides a special 'Night Train" to another part of the Cretaceous Time Period, where they meet a Troodontid "cousin" of the Conductor's, Sidney Sinovenator, who knows more about the stars than anyone. Sidney takes the family up to his favorite stargazing spot, "Starry Hill," and teaches the kids why the stars seem to move across the night sky. When the kids build their own version of a nest on the beach, below their actual family nest up on the cliff, they get the idea to turn their beach nest into a clubhouse. D
10:00 am
Sesame Street "Baby Bear's Baby Doll" Baby Bear and Curly Bear are happily playing with dolls. Telly comes along and wants to show Baby Bear his new bulldozer, and Baby Bear quickly hides his doll behind his back and says that it is Curly's. They start to play with the bulldozer, but then Baby Bear suggests they need a driver and he offers his doll. D
11:00 am
Sid The Science Kid "All My Senses" Sid wants to know about all his different senses. At school, Sid and his friends embark on a quest to explore vision, hearing, touch, smell and taste!. D
11:30 am
WordWorld "Welcome Home, Duck/The Lost Letter L" Welcome Home, Duck - Frog, excited about Duck's return from a long vacation, makes a "Welcome Home" banner to hang over Duck's nest. Problem is, the dock connecting Frog's log to Duck's nest has broken, so Frog has to find another way across. Frog tries building a SOCK and a BLOCK to replace the dock, but it's not until he builds a ROCK that he can land on, halfway across the pond, that he's able to get across the water to duck's nest. D
12:00 pm
Caillou "Adventure!" Today is full of adventure! Caillou, Daddy, and Rosie take the car to the carwash, which is scary for Rosie at first. But big brother Caillou explains everything to his sister, who winds up liking the carwash too! Caillou, Rosie, and their babysitter Julie travel to a bunch of pretend far away places like the desert, a big mountain, and even waterfalls in the tropical forest. Caillou doesn't go to school yet but he really wants to ride on the school bus that stops outside his house every morning. D
12:30 pm
Barney & Friends "Lost and Found and Pot Full of Sunshine" Lost and Found: When everyone gets tickets to the circus, BJ convinces them to let him hold onto the tickets until show time. Distracted by the fun of playing basketball, BJ loses the tickets. After a frantic search, he finds the tickets and learns a valuable lesson about responsibility. D
1:00 pm
Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! "Incredible Journey/Bamboozled" Incredible Journey - Nick and Sally are playing in their homemade Thingamajigger, when the Cat arrives to take them on a real adventure! Off they go to meet salmon Sam, who is returning to the pool where she hatched so she can lay her eggs. With the help of the Subber-e-blubber, they follow Samantha underwater, upriver on her incredible journey! Bamboozled - Sally needs to find a gift for her stuffed panda, Pammy. Who better to ask than a real panda? The Cat takes them to meet Zhu Zhu, a giant panda who helps the kids to discover all the wonderful things you can do with her favorite food, bamboo. D
1:30 pm
Zoboomafoo "Who's Inside The Egg?" Rhode Island Red chicks hatch at Animal Junction, but Zoboo, Martin and Chris don't have any idea what's inside a strange egg they find in the nest. The guys are surprised to discover it's a baby alligator, which they take home to mom.G
2:00 pm
Curious George "Up, Up and Away/Skunked" George learns that it takes a tether, a basket and hot air for a balloon to successfully lift-off.G
2:30 pm
Martha Speaks "Billy Collins Speaks/Milo's Reading Buddy" Billy Collins Speaks - Billy Collins writes great poems about dogs, and Martha thinks she knows why. Obviously, the former poet laureate must be a canine himself! When Martha meets Billy Collins she's in for a few surprises.as is he. D
3:00 pm
The Electric Company "A Fistful of Confetti" It's Neighborhood Record Day, and everyone in town is trying to break silly records. Francine and Jessica are both trying to break the same record - filming the most broken records on record day. When Francine tries to get in Jessica's way by giving her fake tips, The Electric Company works together to lead Jessica to victory. D
3:30 pm
WordGirl "Two Brains Quartet/Big's Big Bounce" Two Brains Quartet - For the city's centennial celebration the Mayor promises to unveil its 100 year old cheese wheel to the winner of the Barbershop Quartet Competition. Both the Botsford family and Dr. Two Brains are assembling talented groups. Will Dr. Two Brains be able to sing his way to victory and run away with the city's oldest and most valuable cheese? Vocabulary Words: Melodious, Quartet. D
4:00 pm
Wild Kratts "Caracal-Minton" The Wild Kratts crew is are playing badminton on the African savannah when a high jumping wildcat called a caracal steals the birdie. And this is no ordinary birdie - it is Aviva's precious family heirloom. As they rush to get back the treasure from an elusive, leaping Caracal cat, they learn how the caracal's musculature is specifically designed stalking and leaping- a perfect example of the concept of "form for function. D
4:30 pm
Cyberchase "The Poddleville Case" (topic: Patterns) - The diabolical Hacker wreaks havoc when he steals the power pods of Poddleville, a cybercity filled with patterns. Our heroes must use math and logic to crack the double pattern that unlocks the Poddles' cyberpower vault before Hacker and his henchmen do! The Big Idea: Patterns are sequences that repeat or change in an orderly way. You can use patterns to predict the next step in solving a problem. D
5:00 pm
Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman "Game Show Isle" After losing his FETCHers at the end of the Season Five premiere, Ruff discovers that they're stranded on a mysterious island-Game Show Island. To get off the island and back to Studio G, they must find the "Fabulous Four" game show relics before sundown or they will be trapped on the island forever! Ruff also learns some important clues about the mysterious disappearance of his parents. D
5:30 pm
Nightly Business Report With the start of the new quarter, earnings season is just around the corner. New York Correspondent Suzanne Pratt looks at what to expect. How far apart are Republicans and Democrats when it comes to their budget proposals. D
5:56 pm
NewsHour Promo NULL
6:00 pm
PBS NewsHour NULL
7:00 pm
Antiques Roadshow "El Paso, TX - Hour Two" Host Mark L. Walberg and appraiser Chris Mitchell check out the "Mississippi" rifle and the changes it represented during the Mexican-American War. Highlights include a collection of signed Andy Warhol soup cans and pop art; and a 1570 "lotto" Oushak rug, initially purchased by the owner's uncle for $350, that is valued up to $40,000. Part 2 of 3G
8:00 pm
Globe Trekker "Mid-Atlantic States" Brianna Barnes visits Atlantic City and Wildwoods in New Jersey before heading to Delaware with stops in Lewes and Annapolis, followed by crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay. She journeys through the Brandywine Valley into Pennsylvania where she tastes cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, visits Amish country and checks out Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol Museum.G
9:00 pm
Margaret Mitchell: American Masters "Margaret Mitchell: American Rebel" Discover the Pulitzer Prize-winning author behind "Gone With the Wind. " No ordinary writer - or woman - Margaret Mitchell was a charismatic force who challenged the stifling Southern social order and struggled with the changing role of women. D
10:00 pm
Harper Lee: American Masters Explore the mysterious life of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of To Kill a Mockingbird. The documentary examines social changes the novel inspired, while interviewees reflect on the book's power, influence and popularity. Harper Lee died February 2016 at the age of 89. D
11:30 pm
Charlie Rose NULL


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It is a pleasure to officially welcome singer & model Ricky Jarman to Jake's Take! I first met Ricky online when he followed me on Twitter on March 16, and he sent me over to check out his social media channels. This is where I got to listen to his single: "Get to Know Ya." […]
Home » Ricky Jarman Instagram
A Conversation with Singer-Songwriter Ricky Jarman
May 11, 2016 By Jacob Elyachar 1 Comment
Filed Under: Interviews, Music Tagged With: A Conversation with Ricky Jarman, interviews about the music industry, interviews working on the fashion industry, Jacob Elyachar Interviews, Jake's Take interviews, Ricky Jarman Billboard, Ricky Jarman Facebook, Ricky Jarman fashion model, Ricky Jarman Instagram, Ricky Jarman interview, Ricky Jarman Lucky, Ricky Jarman new single, Ricky Jarman on the fashion world, Ricky Jarman Twitter, Ricky Jarman-the Jake's Take interview


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Helton thankful for career, 'excited' for next chapter
PHOENIX -- Time stops for no man, and Todd Helton knows that better than anyone.
Helton reiterated on Sunday that when his 17th Major League Baseball season comes to an end on Sept. 29, he will retire. He's a career member of the Rockies, and that's the only organization he's ever known.View Full Game Coverage
PHOENIX -- Time stops for no man, and Todd Helton knows that better than anyone.
Helton reiterated on Sunday that when his 17th Major League Baseball season comes to an end on Sept. 29, he will retire. He's a career member of the Rockies, and that's the only organization he's ever known.View Full Game Coverage
"I've known for awhile that I was going to shut it down," Helton said while seated in the visitors' dugout at Chase Field prior to Sunday's closer of a three-game series against the D-backs. "This is probably the part of it I've been dreading the most. To me, it's an exciting part of my life to start a new chapter. I don't know what I'm going to do and to me, that's exciting."
Seeing double
|Tris Speaker
|Pete Rose
|Stan Musial
|Ty Cobb
|Craig Biggio
|George Brett
|Nap Lajoie
|Carl Yastrzemski
|Honus Wagner
|Hank Aaron
|11 (tie).
|Paul Molitor
|Paul Waner
|Cal Ripken Jr.
|Barry Bonds
|Luis Gonzalez
|Todd Helton
|Rafael Palmeiro
The five-time National League All-Star first baseman entered play Sunday with 2,505 hits, 367 home runs, 1,397 RBIs and a .317 lifetime batting average. And that's about where he will finish. His .954 OPS is 20th all-time and among the top at his position. Yankees great Lou Gehrig is third overall and leads first basemen at 1.080. Babe Ruth and Ted Williams finished ahead of Gehrig.
Helton said earlier in the season he wouldn't return as a part-time player or with any other club than the Rockies. Add moving over to the American League as a designated hitter. Thus, just past his 40th birthday, he decided to call it quits.
"Playing part time, that wasn't appealing to me," Helton said. "I'm used to going out there playing every day. To me, it's not worth the travel and the time being away from home just to get a pinch-hit here or there. If they had the DH in the National League it might be a different story. But they don't, so here we are."
Helton wasn't in the starting lineup on Sunday against the D-backs and manager Walt Weiss said he would play Helton intermittently during the season's final two weeks. Helton will take about a year off, he said, before contemplating the future, which might include a return to the Rockies organization in some yet-to-be-defined capacity.
"I haven't talked to them about that, no," Helton said. "Yeah, it might be something I'd like to do somewhere down the road. The idea of retiring is to get away from it for awhile. I do know baseball. Hopefully, if I ever want to get back into it, they'd talk to me."
Helton said his announcement came at this point because he wanted to give Rockies fans a chance to see him one last time as the club embarks on its last nine-game homestand of the season Monday night against the Cardinals. His last game at Coors Field could be for the home finale on Sept. 25 against the Red Sox.
"It was brought up to me last week that I couldn't look at it from my perspective, that I had to look at it from the fans'," Helton said. "That it would be selfish if I didn't [announce it now], and I never thought of it that way. Once I heard that, I said, 'Let's do it!' We're going into the last homestand and I wanted to go into that homestand knowing it would be my last."
Helton just concluded a two-year, $9.9 million contract extension and came off hip and knee surgery to play this season. Right now, he's a .244 hitter with 13 homers and 52 RBIs in 112 games, far below his own expectations.
For an organization that expanded into the NL along with the Florida Marlins in 1993, Helton is the one true Rockie. There is Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla and Larry Walker, to name a few great players who put Colorado on the Major League Baseball map, but all of them started and ended their careers elsewhere.
Helton was taken by the Rockies with the eighth pick of the 1995 First-Year Player Draft, and after a little more than two seasons in the Minors, he was brought up to the big club for good on Aug. 2, 1997. By the next season, he was installed as the starting first baseman and, save for games missed because of injury, that's where he has remained.
Finishing his career with the Rockies was a no-brainer. The highlight?
"Obviously, making it to the [2007] World Series," he said. "That was great. Do you wish you had won a World Series? Obviously, yes, I wish I had won a World Series. But I look at it that I'm very blessed and fortunate to have gone to a World Series. To be in the same organization and to have made it a World Series are very important to me. I look at all the things that we did accomplish, not the one thing that we didn't."
Helton was a big part of the 2007 team that went to the World Series and was swept by the Red Sox, hitting .320 with 17 homers and 91 RBIs that season. The Rox won 21 of their last 22 games to get to their only Fall Classic. Those were the glory days. Helton's come close to those numbers only twice in the five seasons since, playing in a career-low 69 games because of injuries in 2012.
Helton holds the club records for homers, doubles, hits, RBIs and runs scored. There's no one else even close.
Helton said he knew for awhile that the end of the road was near, but he kept his plans for retirement close to the vest primarily because he didn't want anyone to make a fuss. He didn't want to take the same path of announcing early as Chipper Jones did last year with the Braves and Mariano Rivera this year with the Yankees. The last thing he wanted was a farewell tour.
"Coming into the season, I probably knew this could be my last," Helton said. "I wanted to be 100-percent sure. I didn't want to say I was going to retire and then come back. You never want to do that. I wanted be 100-percent certain that I was done. That I wasn't going to come back. I got there in the last few weeks, just talking to my wife, listening to my body. Not only my body, but mentally how I felt going out there for every game.
"At 40, it's time to go. It's a young man's game, and when you get to 40 … I think I've accomplished a lot in this game. I made a lot of good friends and got to do a lot of great things. And so, I'm just excited to start another chapter in my life."
Barry M. Bloom is national reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Boomskie on Baseball. Follow @boomskie on Twitter.


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Where To Go
Kilkenny is recognised as the heritage capital of Ireland - and for great reason. Kilkenny City and County are full of beautiful and engaging heritage attractions - below we have put together some handy heritage itineraries to help you discover Kilkenny's vibrant heritage and hidden cultural gems.
Kilkenny City
First, pay a visit to St Canice's Cathedral and Round Tower, before visiting one of the many local silver and gold smiths to view hand-made jewellery.
Then visit Rothe House and enjoy the tranquil Garden, followed by a short stroll to the Black Abbey. Finally, pop into the Chapter House of St Mary's Cathedral, before embarking on the Kilkenny Way Tour to learn about Kilkenny's extraordinary Hurling Heritage!
North East Kilkenny
Located 10km from Kilkenny City on the Castlecomer Rd, visit Dunmore Cave, which contains some of the finest calcite formations found in any Irish cave.
Continue on the same road and enjoy a stroll amongst the deer at Jenkinstown Park, before journeying onto Castlecomer Discovery Park, which has the Jarrow café, a fascinating coal-mining interpretative museum and a craft yard.
East Kilkenny
A meal in the Gowran Racetrack Restaurant will fill you up for this active bundle, which includes a trip to the historic St Mary's Church.
Call into the artisan food shop "Glasrai and Goodies" for some treats. Then pay a visit to Ireland's only Reptile Zoo. Journey onto Goresbridge and take a scenic meander along the banks of the River Barrow.
South West Kilkenny
First, pay a visit to the Calder-Potts Family at Highbank Orchards to sample some of their famous, and delicious, apple syrup. Continue on to see Bridge Pottery run by Caroline Dolan and Spirit Jewellery by Friederike Grace.
Visit Burn Church Castle where Oliver Cromwell rested, before arriving at spectacular Kells Priory, known locally as "Seven Castles" for its striking tower houses.
This is feast for lovers of craft. Call into Larry Kinsella and witness him crafting beautiful candles at Moth to a Flame. Enjoy a cuppa in the restaurant at Nicolas Mosse Pottery Factory before wandering around the pottery shop and observing how this internationally famous pottery is hand crafted.
Call into Philip Heiter, a local wood turner, followed by a leisurely stroll along the River Nore.
Take a class at the Kilkenny School of Food or visit their training garden. Browse around Karen Morgan's contemporary pottery shop in Thomastown, before paying a visit to Jerpoint Glass to learn about the craft of glass blowing. Continue on to Jerpoint Abbey, built in 1180AD.
From the Abbey, drive on the same road and you will see Goatsbridge Trout Farm, which is a must for all fish lovers. Continue on to Jerpoint Park you will enjoy the wonderful experiences of Jerpoint Park, Ireland's best surviving example of a deserted 12th Century Medieval Town. Finally, stop into the magnificent Mount Juliet Estate for well-deserved refreshments.
The charming village of Inistoige can be fully appreciated from an outlook point on the drive up to the exquisite grounds of Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum, which is a steep drive from the village but well worth it.
Explore one of Ireland's most picturesque villages and a village which has been used as a backdrop to dozens of films. Visit to Tunde Toth Papermaker to learn about the art of papermaking (by appointment only).
Visit the largest Cistercian Duiske Abbey in the gorgeous village of Graiguenamanagh. Enjoy the ambience by the River Barrow on the way to Duiske Glass Kilkenny, followed by a visit to see Cushendale Wollen Mills. Finish your journey by bike, on foot, or by car to the beautiful village of St Mullins, enjoying some desserts at the Mulicán Café.
To get more information on the itineraries above, including key contacts, locations, opening times etc. please visit http://www.visitkilkenny.ie/things_to_do and http://www.visitkilkenny.ie/heritage_kilkenny
And to book your accommodation, please visit http://www.visitkilkenny.ie/accommodation_kilkenny


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Eric Holder says the Department of Justice is looking for someone to prosecute in connection with the Wikileaks leak:
"To the extent we can find anybody who was involved in the breaking of American law, who put at risk the assets and the people I have described, they will be held responsible; they will be held accountable," Holder said at a news conference on another topic. He called the WikiLeaks probe "an active, ongoing criminal investigation."
Good luck. Bradley Manning is already in custody. The New York Times is within DOJ's jurisdiction, but don't hold your breath waiting for charges to be brought. I have no idea whether Julian Assange can be extradited or not. But one wonders: where was the outrage when Wikileaks disseminated the much more damaging stolen documents relating to the Iraq and Afghan wars? In that case, lives were endangered. Is the difference that the Obama administration never felt responsible for those wars and therefore cared less about those leaks? If that isn't the difference, what is?


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{photo by Nina Brav}
When you live in Small Town, Big Island, Hawai'i, sometimes it's a stretch to look beyond your local environment…let alone decide to start a revolution that might have an impact on the world. But it seems easier when you have the advantage of being naively unconcerned with challenging undertakings or succumbing to the easy road by limiting your aspirations. Sometimes when you look outside yourself, you find the strength. That's what a group of Hilo youth are doing in their quest to make a difference and create positive change in the lives of those less fortunate.
Of course, despite one's best intentions, it can be a long road, to discovering where you are needed and what exactly you can do to help others. In this case, some inspiration and focus was generated when a local girl named Kristie Campbell went to Africa and became involved with the Grace of God Orphanage. Her schoolmates didn't simply listen to Kristie's stories of her experience with admiration, but took it as an open invitation to become involved.
They decided to start Revo: an aesthetically designed humanitarian project based on fighting social injustice; a movement based on the concept of love, with an ideology of thinking beyond oneself and redefining our modern conception of necessity. Revo Hilo would raise money for Grace of God and their first fund-raising event held last spring was an overwhelming success. This was because of the many like-minded people who jumped on the opportunity to participate: from event organizers, artists, designers, local businesses as well as the 700 people who attended.
One of the artists involved was quite surprised by the local interest. "I had no idea of how huge the event was going to be, or how much funds we were actually able to raise," admitted Lisa Franklin. "I think it was great how Revo brought the whole Big Island community together. We are fortunate to have such a creative artist collective and such an abundance of volunteers. It just feels really good to help these kids out."
{remember Johnny, who used to work downtown Hilo Starbucks – here he is, transported to Malawi, in front of one of the new buildings the people of Hilo built, as well as some of the kid's clothes and school supplies}
Little did any of the participants realize how profound the affects of their efforts would be for the recipients. When a group of seven of the Revo organizers went to Malawi this summer to hand deliver the $10,000 they raised ($6,000 at the event, and another $4,000 through mailed-in donations) the reality that this money would have such an impact it would actually save the children's lives became tangibly apparent.
"For me, it was pretty incredible. How much everything we did in Hilo affected and changed [the children's] lives forever. It was a humbling experience to see how they live; how little they have," said Nina Brav, the founder of Revo. During the time in which their first Revo event took place, a little girl named Samantha died of malaria. "While in Africa, I found the malaria pills cost just $4 U.S. but they couldn't even afford that. So our goal," Brav declares, "is for them to always have enough money that they don't have to die because of something as simple as that."
Before this energetic group of Revo supporters got involved, the Grace of God Orphanage was financed solely by Campbell. "Kristie's paycheck is what has helped them survive the last three years," said Brav. "She's a full time student and makes $600 a month babysitting. She lives with parents and they pay for her food and gas. They don't care, they're stoked."
Because of Hawai'i support and monies raised at the Hilo event, they were able to not only afford doctor's visits, medication and a three month's supply of food, but had enough left over to build two buildings including dormitory housing, as well as mosquito nets and school supplies for each of the 114 orphans.
Now Revo is extending the invitation to anyone who wants to be involved. Utilizing the marketing potential of MySpace friends and bulletins, they have created a massive network of young people from around the U.S. who care enough to get involved.
First they pick a cause: Clean Water, Hunger, Woman's Rights, HIV/AIDS, War and Peace, Child Slavery, Torture, the Environment, Human Trafficking and brothels, Poverty and Homelessness, etc. They then chose an under-funded, underdog activist organization in their area and hold local events to raise money. Currently there are Revo groups in 10 states, including Baton Rouge, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York and Nashville. Some of the projects include: Blood Water Mission, Invisible Children, Stop the Traffik, Care, The Mocha Club, and the African Orphanage Project. The current goal? To get cities in all 50 states participating in the project by 2010.
- Campbell has started a program for people in Hawai'i to choose and sponsor one of the orphans. Interested sponsors can email Campbell at firstname.lastname@example.com or refer to her MySpace at www.myspace.com/graceofgodorphanage to view individual photos of the orphans.
- Start a Revo of your own or find one in your area: get involved.
- Attend and participate in Revo events.
Elevate Church in Hilo has graciously donated their large building for the upcoming Revo art show December 28th! It promises to not only be a fundraiser but the place to be: featuring artists Jacob Medina, Roy Ruiz, Lisa Franklin; photographers Nina Brav, Willie Branlund; designers Leah Evans, LaPistol; DJ Storm, among many others.
If you're out of town for the holidays and unable to attend, check out the web site startarevo.org; support the cause. If you are interested in making a donation, checks can be made out to Revo and sent to PO Box 4250, Hilo, HI 96720. Remember, it's not the amount, since every little bit helps but -as this socially active group has proven- it's more about having an open heart and making an effort to start a revolution; no matter how impossible it may seem!
Revo 2.0, Social Justice Fight Art Show, @ the Elevate Church Building, 21 Kalanianaole Ave. (just past Verna's). Fine art, photography, film, fashion. $5 entry fee. All proceeds go to the Grace of God Orphanage, Malawi, Africa.
For more information contact Nina Brav at www.myspace.com/revooflove or firstname.lastname@example.com
Hey, even mega-famous YouTuber and local Hilo boy "nigahiga" had something to say about the matter… and with over 23,000 views in just over 20 hours might make one reconsider the potential power of da kine small town, eh?!


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Cultured Meat Is An Alternative, Not A Solution
The idea of cultured meat (also known as 'in vitro' meat) has been played with for several years, as scientists have attempted to produce meat from cell cultures. Over the past week, this topic created headlines once again thanks to reports that 'cultured' sausage and hamburgers are on the way within the next six to twelve months. That is not to say they will be commercially available, but rather that they will serve as tangible proof of this technology's capabilities.


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Location: Colorado
Established: January 26, 1915
Size: 265,873 acres
Nowhere else in the United States can a visitor see so much alpine country with such ease. A mere two-hour drive from Denver, Trail Ridge Road takes visitors into the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park, traversing a ridge above 11,000 feet for 10 miles. Along the way, tiny tundra flowers and other wild blooms contrast with sweeping vistas of towering summits; 78 of them exceed 12,000 feet. Alpine lakes reflect the grandeur.
The summits form at least the third generation of mountains to rise in this region. The first probably protruded as islands above a shallow sea more than 135 million years ago, when dinosaurs reigned. Another range grew out of a later sea some 75 million years ago. Over the eons these summits eroded to rolling hills, which rose once again, although unevenly: Some portions sank along fault lines, helping create the striking texture of the current scenery.
Rock as old as that at the bottom of the Grand Canyon—nearly two billion years—caps the Rockies' summits. Within the last million years, glaciers, grinding boulders beneath them, carved deep canyons. Erosion later scoured the more jagged summits into their present profiles.
Rocky Mountain, though only about an eighth the size of Yellowstone, accommodates as many visitors—three million or so a year. Overcrowding worries park officials and conservationists, who cite distressed animals, trodden plants, and eroded trails. Condominium development is crowding the park's borders also, shrinking the habitats of elk and other wildlife and threatening to turn the park into an island of nature.
How to Get There
Take I-25 north from Denver (about 77 miles away) or south from Cheyenne, Wyoming (about 90 miles away), then US 34 west at Loveland. From the west, pick up US 34 at Granby. Airport: Denver.
When to Go
If you go from mid-June to mid-August be prepared to share the park with lots of other visitors. If you plan ahead and visit the park early in the morning or late in the day you'll avoid some of the crowds. Willing and able to hike more than 3 miles in to the backcountry? You'll experience much more solitude. Trail Ridge Road stays open from roughly late May to mid-October; trails thaw out by around July 4. In May, sub-alpine wildflowers bloom; in early July, the tundra flowers. September, the sunniest month, is a prime time to visit: Elk move to lower elevations, and you can hear their mating bugles. The tundra turns crimson early in the month; aspens turn golden later. In the winter there is cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
How to Visit
On a one-day blitz from the East Entrance, drive Trail Ridge Road as far as Farview Curve for the classic overview of the park's mountains, valleys, and tundra. If you wish, make a loop of the first leg by driving one-way, unpaved Old Fall River Road west, then Trail Ridge Road east. Old Fall River Road gives you an intimate look at a wooded mountainside, but it's usually closed by snow until early July. (Neither Old Fall River Road or Trail Ridge Road have guardrails or shoulders, and are very winding.) With more time, drive all the way to Grand Lake on the west side the first day, then take your trip to Bear Lake the second day. Spend extra time on the excellent nature trails and day hikes.
If you go in summer and plan to backpack and hike, be sure not to be caught above timberline between about 12 and 4 p.m., when lightning storms are frequent.


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Haren endures another rough outing in loss to Rox
WASHINGTON -- When Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty walked to the mound in the fourth inning to try to calm down Dan Haren, the crowd of 35,787 at Nationals Park cheered because they thought the starter would soon be leaving the game.
When manager Davey Johnson did just that one batter later, Haren exited to a chorus of boos.View Full Game Coverage
WASHINGTON -- When Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty walked to the mound in the fourth inning to try to calm down Dan Haren, the crowd of 35,787 at Nationals Park cheered because they thought the starter would soon be leaving the game.
When manager Davey Johnson did just that one batter later, Haren exited to a chorus of boos.View Full Game Coverage
"I'd probably boo myself, too," he said.
The Nationals signed Haren to a one-year, $13 million contract in the offseason, and that move hasn't worked out well. The right-hander gave up six runs on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings en route to a 7-1 loss to the Rockies on Saturday afternoon. He struck out five, but also hit one batter and threw two wild pitches, one of which allowed a run to score.
"I'm a little concerned about him," Johnson said. "I'm going to have a talk with him next time he throws and see if we can't do something to make things better for him. I don't want to speculate on what I'm thinking about right here, but we have some concerns."
Haren hung his head as he walked off the field with a 6.15 ERA, the highest in the Majors among qualified starters.
He has allowed four or more runs in four straight starts and hasn't won since May 9, which might force the Nationals to look for other options at the back of their rotation.
"I've never gone through this stuff in my career," Haren said. "It's definitely a battle to stay confident. There's self-doubt that obviously creeps in for everybody whenever they're not doing well, and obviously I've been struggling for a while now."
Haren gave up a solo homer to DJ LeMahieu on just his fifth pitch and never fully recovered. After 13 pitches, the Rockies had three hits and a 2-0 lead. Corey Dickerson made it 3-0 with a two-out RBI double, the first hit of his Major League career.
After retiring the Rockies in order in the second and third innings, Haren unraveled in the fourth. He gave up a single and a double before allowing Wilin Rosario to score on a wild pitch. Then the right-hander plunked No. 8 hitter Josh Rutledge and gave up an RBI single to pitcher Jhoulys Chacin. Haren left with the Nationals trailing, 6-0.
"That's what's been so perplexing, I guess is I'll have spurts where it almost seems easy and then there's spurts where I can't get anybody out," he said. "At this point, it's just still searching for ways to get better."
"It seems like bad luck right now," first baseman Adam LaRoche added. "You can be that good, still strike out a bunch of guys, and any time you miss, it's getting hit."
As their starter struggled, Washington's offense followed suit. After scoring enough runs to win three straight, the Nationals could only generate six hits against Chacin. Ryan Zimmerman hit a solo home run in the ninth, but he was the only baserunner to advance past second base.
Chacin pitched seven scoreless innings to improve to 6-3 this season.
"It was another great outing by Jhoulys," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "He was in control of the game. He used his secondary stuff really well."
Haren has usually had pinpoint command during his 10-year career, which includes three All-Star appearances, but Johnson said that the 32-year-old has consistently left pitches up in the zone. Haren's cutter has been flat and his signature pitch, a split-finger fastball, has been largely ineffective.
He was replaced by another veteran, Ross Ohlendorf, who impressed Johnson with a spot start in Colorado to earn a place in the bullpen. Ohlendorf surrendered a solo home run to Nolan Arenado in the eighth, but he was otherwise stellar in his first relief appearance of the season.
"I think he hadn't pitched in about eight or nine days, but he threw the ball great," Johnson said. "He saved my 'pen, so that was a big boost."
The Nationals had won three straight to pull within five games of the Braves in the National League East. They could've compiled a four-game win streak for the first time since early May. But now the team, like its struggling starter, is still searching for a spark.
"I wish I had more answers," Haren said.
Tom Schad is an associate reporter for MLB.com Follow him on Twitter @Tom_Schad.


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Those wacky candidates
When I first learned that longtime Preston First Selectman Robert Congdon was being challenged by a Mashantucket Pequot, I decided that the challenge might represent one of the craziest local candidacies this election season.
After all, the town of Preston and the Mashantucket Pequots have been waging a low-simmer war ever since the tribe built Foxwoods Resort Casino, an institutional standoff that has taken both sides in and out of all kinds of courthouses.
It wasn't that long ago when almost everyone in town had a lawn sign protesting Pequot plans to expand their reservation and, essentially, shrink the size of the town.
"Not One Acre" signs appeared all over the region.
For the people of Preston to elect a Pequot tribal member as first selectman might even seem a little like the three little pigs inviting the wolf in for dinner.
Still, there are other crazy candidacies this year around here.
In Montville, for instance, Thomas McNally, who has waged two lawsuits over his dismissals, one from his post as assistant chief of the Chesterfield Fire Company and one from his job as assistant supervisor of the town's Water Pollution Control Authority, is running for Town Council.
When I caught up with McNally last week, I found him cheery and glad to talk about the 2009 lawsuit over the fire department dismissal, a suit he said eventually went nowhere.
McNally, who was dismissed over allegedly helping underage volunteers consume liquor at a department banquet at the Polish Club, said, essentially, that there was a lot of politics to the story.
Indeed, a large number of volunteers resigned from the department in sympathy when McNally was dismissed.
McNally also blamed politics in his lawsuit over his dismissal from the water pollution authority, although a New London law firm that was hired to investigate the dismissal found McNally "incapable of performing the essential functions of the position."
McNally was awarded $135,000 in compensation. Both he and his lawyer said the settlement of the case precludes them from commenting, except to say he denies failing to perform his duty.
It could be that McNally was caught up in warring factions of the volunteer fire department and that he also rightfully claimed a financial settlement for a wrongful firing by the town.
Still, it's an odd resume for someone running for office, in a town that he just finished suing.
In New London, there is another contender for craziest candidacy.
Marie Friess-McSparran, incumbent city councilor, not only worked to move the original St. Patrick's Day parade out of New London, but she more recently participated in a New London police union campaign warning people about visiting the city.
She actually called the city's crime rate a "crisis" in a letter to the editor.
After the Democrats refused to endorse her for a new term, she got an endorsement from Republicans, keeping her Democrat affiliation. If this were not wacky enough, she recently made a NIMBY council committee vote to keep a new community center for the city out of her neighborhood.
I was ready to award craziest candidacy to Vincent Eleazer, the Mashantucket Pequot running for office in Preston, even before I found that his name has appeared in the newspaper's police logs a lot over the years.
Most of the charges were motor vehicle related, including a DUI, driving with a suspended license and failure to drive right. The most serious charges were third-degree assault and risk of injury to a minor.
I might say I am sorry Republican First Selectman Congdon, who should get most of the blame for letting the state hang the dirty Norwich Hospital site around the town's neck, doesn't have a more serious challenger than Eleazer, who got onto the ballot as an independent with a petition with only 16 signatures. There is no Democrat running.
And yet I must report that I found Eleazer, who says he works in economic development for the tribe, charming and cordial as he responded directly and honestly to my questions about his history of arrests.
They stemmed from a painful period in his life, he said, when he was getting divorced. The assault charge, he added, was brought by his daughter, who involved police after he disciplined her. He said he never lost custody during months of family therapy.
"We worked through it with love and patience and determination," Eleazer wrote me in an email that he said was meant to provide answers, not excuses.
"And now my daughter is a successful young woman and our family is stronger and closer than ever."
In the end, I decided, if town voters invite the wolf in, they will find a cordial and interesting guest.
Stranger things have happened.
This is the opinion of David Collins.
Never forgive, never forget: Trump once again bashes John McCain over health-care vote
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text: I have a HP Pavillion dv6000 Notebook PC - I need help Setting Up a New Connection to a Wireless Local Area Network in Linux Lucid Lynx 10.04 LTS I am not sure what to specifically call this but I just upgraded to the above Linux platform and cannot get a wireless signal. As a matter of fact when I check the wireless menu it is nothing there, no drivers or anything. Does the "HP Wireless Assistant" work in Linux? I found it at http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...=us&dlc=en&lang=en&lc=en&product=1842155#N345 I need to get this system operational ASAP! Can anyone help with step by step instructions? Thanks in advance!


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Names: White Willow, European Willow
Part Used: Bark
Actions: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, tonic.
Indications: Willow is an ancient remedy which has been
used in various forms for rheumatism and gout, fevers and aches
and pains of all kinds. It is usually considered to be the natural
form and origin of the modern aspirin.