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Mass Broadcasting is a powerful efficient marketing practice enabling marketers to reach thousands of potential clients without having to manually contact them. With an intuitive interface, easy integration with other systems and numerous features, AstraQom's Mass Broadcasting platform is a must for any professional marketing campaign. The complete telemarketing software is able to offer Singapore Voice Broadcasting (also known as Robocalls for Singapore), SMS or Mass Message Broadcasting for Singapore, Fax and Email campaigns with features like Answering Machine Detection, Do Not Call Lists and Advanced Campaign Management and Scheduling settings.
SMS, Fax and Singapore Voice Broadcasting
The AstraQom Singapore Voice Broadcasting platform or SMS and Fax Broadcasting, comes in handy for a wide range of purposes. We have seen customers use this as an Appointment Reminding Service, some have used this to deliver political messages to electorates, companies use this to deliver mass messages to clients, some have used it to promote products and more. It is a versatile tool able to serve in multiple ways.
Campaign Management and Reporting
The system monitors and provides reports on campaigns allowing clients to know which persons where contacted and transmissions that failed. AstraQom Singapore has the capability of sending mass message broadcasting for Singapore and Robocalls for Singapore to up to 10,000 contacts per blast. Using our management interface, administrators can easily manage and make changes.
Singapore Voice Broadcasting or Robocalls for Singapore
We offer to broadcast your pre-recorded messages and the system can be programmed to play the message once the contact picks up the calls. Call campaigns can be scheduled to start and stop at the set time on specified dates.
AstraQom Singapore complies with telemarketing rules
Telemarketing and mass emailing are strictly regulated, and AstraQom's marketing tool is here to help you ensure that your database is in compliance with the legal requirements. You can customize your campaign to not allow calls to contacts on the Do Not Call List, as well as mark contacts who unsubscribed accordingly. The system can be configured to allow contacts to decide not to be called again by us.
Mass Message Broadcasting for Singapore
Your next SMS Broadcast can be simply handled by us. We can load as many contacts you need to reach and send out the agreed messages to them. We provide reports generated by the system to let you know what was delivered and what failed. Mass Message Broadcasting for Singapore campaigns can be scheduled.
Talk to our team of experts today about your needs for voice campaigning for Singapore
Broadcasting saves businesses significant time and resources. No matter your industry you can always count on our mass broadcasting system to keep you in contact with your current and potential clients. You can use it to send SMS notifications to your clients containing important updates or new offers, run phone surveys related to your products, services or quality of your Customer Care, send pre-recorded messages to remind your customers of due invoices or pending renewals and many more. Talk to our team of experts today.


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4BETTER OR WORSE- The week in review
Best news for city property owners: City Council likely will approve dropping the real estate rate from $1.05 per $100 of assessed value to $1 when it votes on the budget April 11.
Latest oh-please-you've-gotta-be-kidding bomb charges: UVA first-year John Sweeney is arrested March 27 for setting off a "Drano bomb" in a plastic bottle March 25 in the Hereford parking lot, the Cavalier Daily reports. Sweeney is charged with felony manufacture of a fire bomb or explosive material, and released on a $10,000 bond. "I didn't know they were illegal," he tells the CD.
Best Virginia/international incident: The welcome mat is abruptly withdrawn from a delegation of the Wildlife Center of Virginia invited to a military base in Venezuela to conduct training on how to combat illegal trafficking in wildlife March 27, according to a release. The group, told they are not allowed into any government facility, beats a hasty retreat out of Venezuela the next day.
Worst dine and dash: Robert Fox is hit by a tractor trailer on U.S. 29 at Rio Road March 30 after he allegedly skips out on his Pizza Hut tab and then slips out of the back of a police car after being arrested and handcuffed on several outstanding warrants, NBC29 reports. Fox is in stable condition at UVA Medical Center.
Worst clipping of an Albemarle sheriff deputy: The side-view mirror of a gold-colored SUV hits the arm of an officer pulled over on the U.S. 250 Bypass near Hydraulic March 29 and does not stop. Charlottesville police are looking for the driver.
First Virginia manslaughter conviction for a pit bull owner: Deanna Large is sentenced to three years in prison March 29 for the mauling death of an 83-year-old Spotsylvania woman. Dorothy Sullivan and her Shih Tzu, Buttons, were attacked in her front yard by Large's three pit bulls last March. Witnesses said Large's pit bulls menaced the neighborhood, and at one time she had 13 in her doublewide trailer.
Best free ride: UVA students, faculty and staff ride fare-free on any Charlottesville Transit Service bus during April.
Seventh best value: The Princeton Review ranks UVA in the top 10 of public universities.
Biggest benchmark: Waynesboro tops the 20,000 mark in population for the first time ever, according to the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.
Most softball-playing law students: 112 teams from 50 schools flock to UVA Law School's annual tournament April 7-9 to raise $10,000 for Children, Youth and Family Services.
Best chance to see the Godfather of Soul: James Brown will perform at the Charlottesville Pavilion May 25. Also announced: Merle Haggard May 3, Wynton Marsalis, the Neville Brothers, and Dr. John June 11, and Willie Nelson July 16.
Best fest: The Virginia Festival of the Book claims a record crowd of between 23,500 and 25,000 during the March 22-26 event, Melanie Mayhew reports in the Progress.
Best 15 minutes: 1998 Fluvanna High graduate Chris Daughtry, a finalist in the American Idol televised singing competition, gets wall-to-wall coverage in the Progress– and even his own Wikipedia entry. The 26-year-old Daughtry now lives in McLeansville, North Carolina and works as a service advisor with an auto dealer.
Best knees: White-short-wearing Albemarle Supervisor and NFL ref David Wyant is captured officiating a UVA lacrosse game in an April 3 Andrew Shurtleff photo on the cover of the DP.

subset: commoncrawl


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Herman Kukuk
Herman E. Kukuk, 82, of Perry, Okla., died June 15. Services were June 18 in Perry.
He was born April 2, 1931, to Raymond and Anna Feken Kukuk. His wife, Audrey, and a great-granddaughter preceded him in death.
Survivors include seven children, Larry, Marion; Marissa Makovec, Ramona; Sandra Kenaston, Orlando, Okla.; Ray, Robbie, Ann Potter, and Tony, all of Perry; two brothers, Harold, Eucha, Okla.; and Raymond, Enid, Okla.; 22 grandchildren; and 28-great-grandchildren.
Last modified June 27, 2013
© 2019 HOCH PUBLISHING | Marion County Record | Hillsboro Star-Journal | Peabody Gazette-Bulletin | Checkerboard


text: Heavy-duty Rhinehart X50 calf dehorner with special Caprine 3/4" diameter tip is one of the best irons we've found for disbudding kid goats. Iron gets very hot for quick disbudding. Heavy copper head retains heat so you can disbud several kids in a row. The basic head for disbudding large calves has 2 1/2" diameter. For disbudding kid goats, we attach our specially-designed 1/2" (inside) diameter Caprine tip. Dehorner can be used on Pygmy and Nigerian Dwarf kids if you wait until there is sufficient horn buds. Built-in stand. Iron is 10" long with tip; 8" long 3-wire cord. CAS approved. 239 watts. 120 volts.


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Business marketing banners is a high quality Business Multiporpose Marketing Banners , full layered and very easy to edit, unique design, includes 9 standard web banner sizes
A full set of web banner templates designed for Business Marketing Banners
Included are: 18 PSDs | Minimum Adobe Version: Photoshop CS3 | Two color scheme option
Fonts used: Cambria http://www.cufonfonts.com/en/font/12049/cambria
Fonts used: Open Sans Open Sans is a clean and modern sans-serif typeface designed by Steve Matteson and commissioned by Google. It is especially designed for legibility across print, web, and mobile interfaces.
http://opensans.com/ http://www.google.com/fonts/specimen/Open+Sans
Image used: http://photodune.net/item/senior-executive-with-support-from-team/646308
If you still have some questions please write me. Thanks for purchasing!


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May 28 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Each summer, we provide a one-week program to help children ages 3-10 learn about their faith through games, crafts, videos, music, Bible adventures, and more. This year's program is "Roar: Life is Wild - God is Good" and runs July 29- August 2.
How can I help? Both adult and youth volunteers are required to make this program a success. We need adult station leaders, as well as youth to be small group leaders. Anyone entering 6th grade and up is welcome to volunteer! Feel free to share ideas or give some time to help with planning and preparation between now and July.
What is the time commitment? Youth volunteers must attend a two-hour orientation before the program and be available during the week of VBS. Adults involved in the planning process should expect to attend at least 3 meetings.
Who do I contact to get involved? Please let Elizabeth Kwiatkowski know how you can help! Send an email, call 671-1100 x 14, or stop by the Parish Office.


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Jennifer Foster and Jakob Clow, both of Dunnell, Minn., announce their engagement and upcoming marriage.
Parents of the couple are Kathy and Rod Foster of Armstrong and Jody and Keith Franck of Dunnell, Minn. and Mick Clow of Truman, Minn.
The bride is a 2006 graduate of Armstrong-Ringsted High School and attends Buena Vista University where she is studying elementary education. She also works for Jerry's Well Service in Armstrong.
Article Photos
Jennifer and Jakob
The groom is a 2004 graduate of Truman High School. He works at Jerry's Well Service in Armstrong.
The couple plans a July 17, 2010 wedding at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sherburn with a reception and dance at the VFW in Fairmont, Minn.


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U.N.: Libyan weapons spreading
Libyan weapons are spreading at "an alarming rate" to new territory in west Africa and the eastern Mediterranean including Syria and the Gaza Strip where they are fueling conflicts and increasing the arsenals of armed groups and terrorists, a U.N. panel said.
In a report to the U.N. Security Council circulated Tuesday, the panel said cases of illicit transfers from Libya in violation of a U.N. arms embargo that have been proven and are still under investigation involve more than 12 countries and include heavy and light weapons such as portable air defense systems, explosives, mines, and small arms and ammunition.
Story Continued Below
Since the uprising that ousted dictator Muammar Qadhafi in 2011, the panel said, "Libya has over the past two years become a significant and attractive source of weaponry in the region."
It said civilians and militias remain in control of most weapons in Libya, adding that "the lack of an effective security system remains one of the primary obstacles to securing military materiel and controlling the borders."
"In the past 12 months, the proliferation of weapons from Libya has continued at a worrying rate and has spread into new territory: West Africa, the Levant and, potentially, even the Horn of Africa," the panel said. "Illicit flows from the country are fueling existing conflicts in Africa and the Levant and enriching the arsenals of a range of non-state actors, including terrorist groups."
The five-member expert panel made 28 visits to 15 countries in Africa, Europe and the Middle East including 10 visits to Libya. The 94-page report details arms trafficking cases that violate the embargo imposed after the 2011 uprising began as well as efforts to track down the financial assets of individuals and companies linked to Qadhafi and his regime that are on the U.N. blacklist.
The panel said it also examined evidence of the delivery of weapons and ammunition from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to support the anti-Qadhafi revolutionaries during the uprising and considers that both countries violated the U.N. arms embargo, despite Qatar's denial that it transferred any military materiel.
It cited a case of the transfer of ammunition to Libya involving the United Arab Emirates, Armenia, Albania and Ukraine, a separate case involving Sudan, and the reported transfer of a drone to the Libyan opposition by a Canadian company which Canadian authorities say is under investigation.
Last month, the Security Council eased sanctions on non-lethal military equipment for the Libyan government but warned that the country is awash with illegal weapons.


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By Randy Patrick
Landmark News Service
Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, was being considered for a Senate leadership position when the Republican Caucus met late Tuesday, but the job of majority whip went instead to Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard.
"I assume I was a close second, since there were two of us," Higdon said just before 8:30 p.m.
"It's not the end of the world," he said. "There will be several committee chairmanships available, and I'll concentrate on getting one of those."
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the The Springfield Sun, 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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text:
This annotation is used to define the security roles that comprise the security model of the application. This annotation is specified on a class, and it typically would be used to define roles that could be tested (for example, by calling isUserInRole) from within the methods of the annotated class.
Following is an example of how this annotation would be used. In this example, BusinessAdmin is the only security role specified, but the value of this parameter can include a list of security roles specified by the application.
@DeclareRoles("BusinessAdmin") public class CalculatorServlet { //... }
Specifying @DeclareRoles("BusinessAdmin") is equivalent to defining the following in web.xml:
<web-app> <security-role> <role-name>BusinessAdmin</role-name> </security-role> </web-app>
The syntax for declaring more than one role is as shown in the following example:
@DeclareRoles({"Administrator", "Manager", "Employee"})
This annotation is not used to link application roles to other roles. When such linking is necessary, it is accomplished by defining an appropriate security-role-ref in the associated deployment descriptor, as described in Declaring and Linking Role References.
When a call is made to isUserInRole from the annotated class, the caller identity associated with the invocation of the class is tested for membership in the role with the same name as the argument to isUserInRole. If a security-role-ref has been defined for the argument role-name, the caller is tested for membership in the role mapped to the role-name.
For further details on the @DeclareRoles annotation, refer to JSR–250, Common Annotations for the Java Platform, and Using Enterprise Bean Security Annotations in this tutorial.


text:
Next Episode of BBC Proms is
BBC Proms is the world's greatest classical music festival.
Clarke Peters(Presenter)
Clemency Burton-Hill(Presenter)
Katie Derham(Presenter)
Suzy Klein(Presenter)
Petroc Trelawny(Presenter)
Angel Blue(Presenter)
Lloyd Coleman(Presenter)
Tom Service(Presenter)
Looks like something went completely wrong!
But don't worry - it can happen to the best of us,
- and it just happened to you.
Please try again later or contact us.


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Whenever we ask people what they want to read in the paper, we hear the same thing.
Whenever we ask people what they want to read in the paper, we hear the same thing.
They want more feel-good stories, ones that warm their hearts.
I agree. The media, in general, focuses on crises, crimes and corruption. We do that because those are the stories that most readily drive readership and viewership. Scandal sells.
But in the 20 years I have been in this business, I have noticed that good news � the right kind of good news � also sells.
People respond to stories that make them feel good, to stories that build their confidence that the world is a better place than the bad news makes it seem.
So beginning Tuesday, the Daily News will feature a short story on people who are making a difference.
It can be the teller at your bank who greets you by name, the teacher who goes out of her way to take care of children or the neighbor whose seasonal decorations brighten up your neighborhood.
They don�t have to be superstars or heroes by the classic definitions.
For example, the first story is about a school crossing guard who has saluted passing cars for 19 years. He likes to make people smile, he told me. And he does.
Another one features a convenience store clerk who went out and changed an elderly customer�s tire.
They�re not people who normally appear in the paper, and they�re not people looking for publicity.
They�re just out there doing what they can to brighten others� days.
I will continue to write these stories as long as I continue to hear from you.
So, take a few minutes to think about the people in your world. Anyone stand out? Anyone you have always wanted to thank but never quite found the time? Who are your local �heroes?� Who is a superstar in your life?
We won�t stop writing about fires and wrecks and corruption. We will still cover government news and courtroom happenings. We still want to hear the scandalous news tips.
We just also want to know about those other people, too.
Please call me with their names and where I can find them. Be sure to leave your name and number, too.
You can also email me.
My email address and phone number are at the bottom of this column.
Then watch for the stories in the paper on Tuesdays.
Happy reading!
Daily News Staff Writer Wendy Victora can be reached at 850-315-4478 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @WendyVnwfdn.


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When Good Critters Go Bad
By L.A. Jackson
It's nearly impossible to garden without experiencing at least some negative interactions with wildlife. The key to keeping your sanity while still nurturing wild things is to manage those human-animal interactions safely and humanely.
The first thing to remember is that most wildlife problems are relatively benign, says Jim Armstrong, a professor of wildlife sciences at Auburn University who specializes in human-wildlife interactions and wildlife damage issues. Armstrong notes that unless we encounter a sick or venomous creature, most wild animals that impact gardens are not dangerous; they are simply doing what comes naturally.
"They're just trying to make a living and we are helping them, whether we mean to or not," he said.
Gardens and landscapes attract wildlife because they offer easy sources of food and shelter. For that reason, Armstrong suggests putting a little space between the domestic and the wild worlds by developing a wildlife buffer strip around the home and garden. Position wildlife feeding areas and habitat structures (brush piles, bird and bat houses, etc.) as well as compost piles as far away from the house and garden as possible. And don't leave enticements, such as pet food or loose garbage, on or near the doorstop.
Also, lower the taste factor of your landscape. Numerous plants are available that are unattractive or downright unpalatable to wildlife, such as some pungent herbs, bitter-tasting shrubs and trees and even some herbaceous plants such as calendulas, irises, marigolds and fleabane.
The next choices are to repel, exclude or remove nuisance wildlife. Repellents can be chemical or mechanical in nature, ranging from smelly substances or yucky tastes to loud noises or bright lights. Chemical repellents typically have an offensive smell or taste to wildlife. Some may smell like garlic, rotten eggs, soap and ammonia while others may carry the scent of humans or predatory animals. Still others may be hot or bitter agents that can be sprinkled or sprayed on foliage and fruits to make them less tasty. These repellents are usually nontoxic (to animals, humans and pets) and can be applied directly to plants or around the perimeter of a garden area. A variety of such products are available commercially from garden stores and mail-order sources, and there are also home recipes available to make your own repellents.
Chemical repellents may not work on all species of garden pest animals, and topical repellents usually must be reapplied after a rain or periodically refreshed when the smell or taste fades.
Another option is to use loud or unexpected sounds, mild shocks, sudden spurts of water or flashing, bright lights, all of which can be rigged to motion detectors or timers.
Old-fashioned, low-tech options include scarecrows, tying up flapping pie plates or placing models of predators (such as snakes and owls) in the garden to scare off any nibblers. Tenacious wild animals may eventually lose their fear of these items, so you may have to come up with a steady supply of scary ideas to keep them away.
The most fool-proof repellent of all may be a four-legged security guard—a noisy, preferably large dog that patrols the garden area for at least part of the day. In fact, a dog may also help protect your garden against a domestic garden pest, the neighborhood cat that uses your garden as rest stop.
Excluding wildlife means erecting a barrier, such as a fence or underground blockade, around your garden. The height and design of a fence depends on what kind of animal you're trying to keep out—it needs to be some seven feet high for deer, for example, but only knee high for rabbits and smaller mammals. Electric fences or fences made by stringing cloth tape in a staggered design that visually disorients deer may be better options.
To exclude burrowing animals, such as groundhogs and moles, sink a metal or wire barrier deep enough in the soil to keep whatever pest is present from burrowing under the barrier—at least a foot or more deep to be safe. Netting also helps keep birds and some other animals from eating plants or ripening fruit. Exclusion devices can be rather expensive to install, but once they are in place they should be relatively low-maintenance.
The option of last resort is to actually remove animal pests from your space. Killing wildlife is usually illegal and almost always unnecessary. But trapping and relocating them is often allowed. Check with your local animal shelter or wildlife experts to find out how to trap and relocate them safely.
Help is available through most state Cooperative Extension agencies or other land-grant university resources and through some federal agencies, such as the Wildlife Services program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.


text: If you are updating a Nexus or Pixel device that is manufactured in 2015 or later (for example, a Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL device), run this command: For Pixel 2: To flash the bootloader, Pixel 2s boot loader must be updated to at least Oreo MR1s version first. This may be done by applying an over-the-air (OTA) update, or sideloading a full OTA with the instructions on that page. For Pixel 2 XL only with loader version prior to TMZ20a: the critical partitions may also need to be unlocked before flashing. The unlock can be performed with this command, and should NOT be done on other devices: If you are updating an older device, run this command: The target device will show you a confirmation screen. (This erases all data on the target device.) See Unlocking the bootloader for more detailed instructions. Open a terminal and navigate to the unzipped system image directory.


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What I'm Drinking Now: Maple Mule
Posted by Reese on 2013-02-05 @ 08:33pm
Shortly after I posted a tweet two weeks ago about having won the Crown Maple shot competition, one of my best friends sent me a text with a picture of what he was drinking that night. More than apropos, it was a Crown Maple based Moscow Mule. A Maple Mule, if you will.
The drink sounded great, so tonight I whipped up my own version and I'm loving it.
Maple Mule
1 1/2 oz Vodka 1/2 oz Crown Royal Maple Finished 1/2 Lime Ginger Beer
1) Combine vodka and Crown Maple in a glass with ice 2) Squeeze in the half lime and drop in 3) Top with ginger beer
The maple aroma and flavor are light and subtle and play really well with the lime and ginger flavors. The drink isn't overly sweet and goes down very easily. The copper mug is optional but awesome if you can pull it off.
A very deep hat tip to Conrey for bringing this drink to my attention and for the great picture.


text:
Find A Doctor
Patients & Visitors
Contact Us
August 12, 20192:45 PM
Thank you for choosing Dr. Beckham for your medical needs.
If you are a New patient we do not schedule online, please contact our office directly at 615-882-4000.
If you are unable to find a desired appointment time, please contact our office at 615-882-4000, and the receptionist will be happy to accommodate you.
To reschedule an appointment or for questions about insurance and billing, call us directly 615-882-4000.
In order to expedite your visit, please bring the following items:
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text:
After eight years of working for a Fort Walton Beach agency, Sandra Mercado felt it was time she branched out and opened her own insurance agency.
�It�s a little nerve wracking to say the least,� Mercado said, but at the same time she feels excited and confident.
She opened Coast2Coast Insurance Agency, an independent agency, early this month in Destin, offering professional assistance in helping people find the right kind of coverage.
�I�m not obligated to write for one company,� Mercado said. �That gives me an opportunity to shop around for the customer to find the best rate.�
Coast2Coast specializes in home, vehicle and commercial insurances. Mercado can find coverage for workers compensation and general liability, with a specialization in small businesses such as restaurants and landscapers as well as retail shops.
Coming to the area in 2006 from her native Puerto Rico, Mercado chose Destin as a good center for the agency. Coast2Coast, however, can work throughout the state. If you leave the area, Mercado can come along with you via the phone or email.
LOCATION: 228 Harbor Blvd., Destin, across from city parking
HOURS: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays
EMAIL: firstname.lastname@example.com
BONUS: se habla espanol
A springtime expansion of A Better Ledger Company means success for another woman-owned business in the area.
Karen Hardell first opened A Better Ledger Company in Crestview in 2005. Now with four employees at that location, she had an opportunity to open the Fort Walton Beach office when another certified public accountant retired.
�We have a number of clients who drive up to Crestview each year,� she said. The expansion saves them a trip.
As an accounting firm, A Better Ledger Company offers business accounting services, assisting with pay roll, management, counseling, and income tax planning and preparation.
�We try to customize our services to small businesses,� Hardell also said. For example, she cites handling taxes: �It�s not just complying with the tax law, but teaching and coaching.
�If you come in on April 15, it�s almost too late,� she added. �A lot of changes have come through in the last few years, so now could be a good time to sit with someone to see where you�re at.�
LOCATION: 11 Racetrack Road, N.E., Suite F2
HOURS: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fridays
WEBSITE: www.abetterledger.com


text:
Daily Caller Provides Forum For Right-Wingers To Slam DOJ Staffer
Blog ››› ››› MATT GERTZ
I have to hand it to the Daily Caller: They provide great stenography. If you're a right-winger and you want your claims credulously repeated, they're the ones to talk to -- especially if you want your partisan leanings disguised.
In the latest example, Tucker Carlson's vanity project devoted nearly 1,300 words to a hit piece attacking Loretta King, a career lawyer at the Department of Justice. The article is based on quotes from five conservatives who Daily Caller reporter Caroline May says are "wondering whether her guide is the law or racial politics." Incredibly, May carefully hides the right-wing backgrounds of all of those critics.
While May interviewed three right-wing King critics for the piece and quoted from statements by two other right-wing critics, she gives no indication that she attempted to find any King defenders. Instead, she provides comments from DOJ spokespersons that deal with specific issues with which King was involved, and reports that "King declined to comment to the DC" (it's not particularly surprising that a mid-level DOJ staffer refused to comment on the record for a right-wing publication's hit piece).
It's also worth pointing out that the Caller piece opens with a glaring error on a basic fact. The article is titled "Critics contend Assistant Attorney General Loretta King motivated more by racial politics than the law." May reports in the article's first sentence that King is "a little-known assistant attorney general." But King isn't an assistant attorney general; she's one of several deputy assistant attorneys general who report to Thomas Perez, the assistant attorney general for civil rights. She served for a time as acting assistant attorney general back in 2009, but that tenure ended in October of that year when Perez was sworn in.
It's telling that the Caller feels the need to fib about King's position in order to justify their article. I'd say this effort is embarrassing, but we're talking about the Daily Caller here.
May goes to great lengths to present her sources as impartial and obscure their ideology.
The first King criticism comes from an interview with "J. Christian Adams, who worked with King while serving as a voting rights attorney at the Justice Department." That description hides Adams' GOP partisanship both before and after his tenure at DOJ.
Adams was reportedly a volunteer with the National Republican Lawyers Association and a Bush campaign poll watcher in Florida in 2004. He was then reportedly hired for DOJ by Bradley Schlozman, the Bush-era political appointee whom a DOJ investigation found had "considered political and ideological affiliations when hiring and taking other personnel actions relating to career attorneys in violation of Department policy and federal law." After leaving DOJ, Adams began blogging for the right-wing Pajamas Media; he recently spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
May next cites criticism of King from the testimony before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights from "former DOJ Voting Rights Section chief Christopher Coates." She does not mention that Coates's conservative bona fides were defended by Schlozman, who called him a "true member of the team." Coates later defended Schlozman's hiring practices, and was spotted in November 2010 at a meeting of the conservative Federalist Society.
The article moves on to attacks levied on King by Todd Gaziano, identified only as a "Civil Rights Commissioner." While Gaziano is one of the commission's nominally "independent" nominees, he serves as the director for the Center for Legal & Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation; according to his Heritage bio, he previously "served under noted conservative leaders in all three branches of the federal government." Gaziano has previously attacked Presidents Clinton and Obama and said that "conservatives and liberals all agree" that Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor is "dumb."
The Daily Caller's next source is the "scathing rebuttal" issued by "Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel" in response to the DOJ's 2009 scrutiny - led by King - of the state's voter verification program. May does not mention that Handel was elected to that position as a Republican and later ran in the GOP primary for governor.
May closes with an attack on King from Hans von Spakovsky, "former counsel to the assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division." In who's Department of Justice? May doesn't say, but wouldn't you know, von Spakovsky was in the Bush DOJ. Bush later recess-appointed him to the Federal Election Commission; Democrats refused to confirm him to the position for two and a half years, in part in response to a letter from senior attorneys in DOJ's Voting Section urging his rejection and savaging him as a political partisan. Von Spakovsky is now a blogger for National Review Online and a Heritage Foundation fellow.
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text:
|June 2011
|OKLAHOMA'S eGOV NEWS REPORT
Welcome to Oklahoma's eGovernment News Report. We hope you enjoy the monthly report providing you with up-to-date information on Oklahoma's eGovernment achievements.
June 6, 2011
Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) is a unique program designed to help neighborhoods prepare for disasters. When a crisis occurs, those closest to you may be your greatest help. Emergency personnel may not always be able to immediately assist your area. Being prepared and taking the right course of action within the first few minutes and hours after a disaster may help protect and save lives.
The Map Your Neighborhood program walks you and your neighbors through a simple step-by-step process to customize an emergency preparedness plan for your area.
How to Get Started A wonderful benefit of the Map Your Neighborhood program is it's a great way to get to know or reconnect with your neighbors. More than just a quick wave across the lawn, you'll be working together and learning how to protect your families, friends and property.
A peer-led program, we ask interested association leaders or residents to attend the Leaders Training Session provided for free by OKOHS. During this session they learn how to organize a neighborhood meeting to work through the MYN discussion guide and DVD. Leaders are encouraged to limit the size of their neighborhood "group" to 15 to 20 households in urban areas (a typical neighborhood block) or 5 to 6 households in a rural area. Limiting the number of households helps maintain effective communication. However, this program is also applicable for those living in apartment complexes or condominiums.
After completing the Leaders Training Session, neighborhood representatives are requested to schedule their Neighborhood Meeting within the following 90 days.
During the neighborhood meeting, participants will:
• Learn the "9 Steps to Take Immediately Following a Disaster" • Identify the skills and equipment each neighbor has that would be useful in a disaster response • Create a Neighborhood Map identifying location of natural gas and propane tanks • Create a contact list to help identify those with functional needs (ex. seniors, children) • Learn how to work together as a team to evaluate their neighborhood during the first hour following a disaster
NIC to Present at FOSE Conference, July 19
June 20, 2011
OLATHE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NIC Inc. (NASDAQ: EGOV), the premier provider of official eGovernment services, today announces its Director of eGovernment Innovation, Nolan Jones, will present at the 35th Annual FOSE Conference, at 1:45 p.m. EDT, July 19, 2011. Jones is presenting "Using Mobile Technology to Engage the Public," along with Arkansas's Chief Technology Officer Claire Bailey and Theron Jackson and Tim Carroll, both Special Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
"Mobile is becoming increasingly more important as a way for government to interact with businesses and citizens," said Jones. "NIC has helped the state of Arkansas and the ATF develop mobile applications, and I look forward to presenting with them as we share best practices with the FOSE Conference attendees."
The FOSE Conference is designed to bridge ideas and innovation between the public and private sectors, and claims to be the largest government information technology event in the United States. In addition to the presentation on mobile engagement, the conference will also feature mobile application demonstrations in the Mobile Apps Experience Theater.
Committed to employing innovation in its eGovernment work, NIC has developed more than 40 mobile applications and hundreds of mobile websites to date, developing the first government application specifically for the iPad and creating the nation's first iPhone application for tracking money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. All NIC mobile applications can be found on the respective operating platforms by searching for "nicusa."
About NIC
NIC (NASDAQ:EGOV - News) is the nation's premier provider of official government websites, online services, and secure payment processing solutions. The company's innovative eGovernment services help reduce costs and increase efficiencies for government agencies, citizens, and businesses across the country. The family of NIC companies provides eGovernment solutions for more than 3,000 federal, state, and local agencies across the United States. Additional information is available at http://www.egov.com.
What's Inside
Oklahoma ABLE Commission: Justice Assistance Grant Application
Oklahoma Insurance Department: Bail Bonds Reporting System
Department of Central Services: Vendor Registration System
Oklahoma Department of Safety: OK Amber/Silver Alerts Application
How Do I find the state of Oklahoma's online stores and payment centers?
Oklahoma's Online Stores & Payment Center
How Do I Learn More About Boating Safety in Oklahoma?
Visit DPS's Boating Safety Site
July 4, 2011
September 5, 2011
View Upcoming 2011 State Holidays
Festival of Dreams
July 9 - 10, 2011
Acoustic Mojo
Share Your eGov Story
Have an Oklahoma eGovernment story to tell? Want to give us feedback?
About OK.gov
OK.gov is the official website of the state of Oklahoma and a collaborative effort between the Oklahoma Office of State Finance (OSF) and Oklahoma Interactive, LLC to help Oklahoma government entities Web-enable their information services. OSF is responsible for OK.gov. Oklahoma Interactive operates, maintains, and markets OK.gov and is part of eGovernment firm NIC's (NASDAQ: EGOV) family of companies.
Learn more about Oklahoma's eGov News Report and view past issues
405.524.3468 or Toll Free at 1.800.955.3468


text:
The start of something new — FlakPhoto Digest.
We're developing a new project, a weekly newsletter focused on photography + visual culture recommendations carefully curated from across the Web. You know, the good stuff that deserves a closer look. FlakPhoto Digest is currently in closed beta and will be available to the public later this year. You can request an invite by subscribing below.
Untitled 2,
New York, 2001-2006
From the River series
Website - JanelleLynch.net
Janelle Lynch is a large-format (8x10) photographic artist and writer based in New York City whose work has been widely collected, exhibited and published. She teaches at the International Center of Photography. Lynch was the 2013 Artist-in-Residence at the Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo, N.Y., which will open a solo show of her work in July 2014. Her River photographs are currently on view in the Major Contemporary Galleries of the Newark Museum in Newark, N.J. Lynch received her MFA in Photography from the School of Visual Arts. She writes about photography for photo-eye, The Photo Review, Loupe, and Afterimage and was a 2012-2013 Fellow at The Writers' Institute, CUNY Graduate Center.
Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2012.
Audition, 2008
Color Blind Rainbow, 2008
No Photographs, 2006
Crossing on the Swannanoa River, 2005
Are you promoting a photography project? Share it with Flak Photo's global audience by placing a graphic advertisement in this space. For details about banner ads, media partnerships or other inquiries, contact editor Andy Adams »


text:
Chinese artist's $1M vase smashed in museum protest
Maximo Caminero was upset over the lack of exposure for local artists at Miami's museums, but he says he didn't know Ai Weiwei's artwork was worth $1 million.
A Florida painter says he smashed an ancient vase modified by dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in a "spontaneous protest" over the lack of local talent on display at the Miami's museums.
"I did it for all the local artists in Miami that have never been shown in museums here," Maximo Caminero told Miami New Times. "They have spent so many millions now on international artists. It's the same political situation over and over again."
Caminero, 51, who was born in the Dominican Republic and creates Caribbean-influenced abstracts, was charged with criminal mischief Sunday after destroying the $1 million artwork at the Pérez Art Museum Miami.
The vase was one of several Colored Vases — ceramic pots created in the Neolithic period, from 5,000 to 3,500 B.C. , that he covered with ordinary house paint. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary museum in Vienna explains:
The dripping and running of the uniform colors of the commercially manufactured paints applied to these hand-made, biscuit-fired Neolithic (5,000–3,000 BC) urns places the traditional form of pottery, with dripping or running glazes, and the expressionless quality of industrially manufactured products into a new relationship of contradiction, coexistence, and accommodation.
Caminero said he wasn't aware of the vanquished vase's monetary value.
"I feel so sorry about it, for sure," he said. "I thought it was a common clay pot like you would find at Home Depot, frankly."
He said he considered the accompanying photographs showing Ai dropping and breaking an ancient Chinese vase "a provocation ... to join him in an act of performance protest."
Caminero has scheduled a news conference Tuesday "to answer all the questions," he told the Associated Press.
Monday, the museum said "evidence suggest that this was a premeditated act."
"As an art museum dedicated to celebrating modern and contemporary artists from within our community and around the world, we have the highest respect for freedom of expression, but this destructive act is vandalism and disrespectful to another artist and his work, to Pérez Art Museum Miami, and to our community," the statement said.
The exhibit, Ai Weiwei: According to What?, runs through March 16.
Ai has been persecuted for openly criticizing the Chinese government over democracy, human rights and corruption. He angered Beijing authorities by helping to document shoddy construction of schools that collapsed during the Sichuan earthquake in 2008, killing hundreds of children.
Ai was the artistic consultant on the Beijing National Stadium — dubbed the "Bird's Nest" — for the 2008 Olympics.
Three years later, the Chinese government detained him for 81 days without charges for alleged "economic crimes" that were never prosecuted. He then successfully defeated a $2.4 million tax bill authorities attempted to levy.


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Black entrance, stainless steel cages, scattered spangles, framed with lightbulbs, black silk electric fans, white spotlights, membranes
Sound: sound of a boat moving round the three annexes of the pavillion
Sound design in association with Frédéric Alstadt
Installation in situ, French Pavillion,
53rd Venice Biennale
© ADAGP Claude Lévêque.
Photo. Marc Domage
Courtesy the artist and kamel mennour, Paris


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Actress Jada Pinkett Smith was driven to campaign against human trafficking after her young daughter drew her attention to the terrifying plight of women and girls across the U.S. who are regularly forced to have sex for profit.
The "Collateral" star was stunned to hear Willow broach the topic one day and as the mum of two researched further into the subject, she felt compelled to try and help put a stop to the sick practice.
During an interview on "Katie" on Monday, she explained, "It's bizarre and it tripped (freaked) me out that my 11-year-old daughter, at the time, came to me with this information (about human trafficking) and I had no idea.
"She came to me and she said, 'Mommy, there are girls in this country that are my age that are being sold for sex', and I said to her, 'I don't think you have your information correct; let me go onto the Internet and check this out.' She says, 'I'm telling you that this is true and I want to lend my voice to this cause', and I was like, 'Woah, OK'. You can't tell her no! …Even though it was a heavy subject matter, I didn't want to put her on pause (stop her) and I said, 'OK, let me investigate it so I can help you with this', and this is how it all started."
Pinkett Smith took young Willow with her last summer when she headed to Washington, D.C. to testify before Congress about the illegal human trade and urge legislators to step up their fight.
Speaking to officials during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting in July, she argued, "Slavery robs us of the thing we value most: our freedom."
Pinkett Smith has since launched a new campaign to help victims, titled Don't Sell Bodies, which fights against the exploitation of women and children around the world.


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The WHEF is hosted by the University of Newcastle in conjunction with the Council for British Archaeology and the Hadrian's Wall Community and Education Team, the Forum is targeted at students between 15 and 18.
All students are accompanied by a teacher, and a number of schools are also bringing a representative of their local World Heritage Site. At present ten schools from the UK will be attending as they have been working on the World Heritage sites of Durham Cathedral and Castle, Greenwich, Hadrian's Wall Liverpool, Saltaire and The Monasteries of Jarrow and Wearmouth (the latter two being on the Tentative List only). Overseas schools are attending from China, Italy and possibly Jordan and Malta. The Forum will focus on two existing (Hadrian's Wall and Durham Cathedral and Castle) and one Tentative List (The Monasteries of Jarrow and Wearmouth) World Heritage sites in the North East of England. Participants will also role-play a World Heritage Committee meeting where students will discuss the nomination of the monasteries of Jarrow and Wearmouth and decide whether or not the site should be inscribed on the World Heritage List.


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Karen Tse
Our Fellows
Karen Tse
2002 Global Fellow
Founder of International Bridges to Justice (IBJ)
Karen Tse 2002 Global Fellow
Ensure the basic rights of ordinary citizens in Asia through the support of public defenders and citizen education initiatives.
With a personality that has charmed even the most immovable of leaders, Karen Tse has managed to change the fate of millions who face human rights abuses globally. Born in 1964, Tse has made it her mission to ensure that people in developing countries are protected under human rights laws, specifically in Cambodia, China, India, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zimbabwe. To explore her interests in the humanities, Tse received her formal education from some of the most prestigious universities in the world - including Harvard University School of Divinity and the Tianjin Foreign Languages Institute. She became passionate about human rights violations while still in college, so as soon as she graduated, Tse pursued a career in law that would aid her in her quest to make a difference. Undeniably intelligent, Tse wisely combined her innovation and drive with her skills for persuasion and founded her organization, International Bridges to Justice, in 2000, for which she is currently the CEO. To say that changing the justice system in developing countries is a challenge would be an enormous understatement. Tse's undertaking with International Bridges for Justice, and the successes she has experienced with the organization, are nothing short of spectacular. In addition to serving International Bridges for Justice, Tse has been a public defender, a United Nations Judicial Mentor, and is, currently, a Unitarian Universalist minister. For her incredible work, Tse was honored with the International Human Rights Award in 2008. For dedicating her career to the protection of people in countries around the world, Karen Tse is an inspiration among activists.
- 2002 Fellow
- Global Fellow
- Civil & Human Rights
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- China
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- India
- Myanmar
- Rwanda
- Zimbabwe
Bold Idea and summary information may only be accurate as of the awarding of the Fellowship. Echoing Green attempts to maintain current Experience information, but for their most recent status it may be best to contact the Fellow directly.
|Eric Glustrom
|Fadi Elobra
|Sandra Kwak
|David Carmel
|Katya Fels Smyth
|On The Rise
|Afzal Habib


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Used 2016 AudiA3 2.0T Premium Plus Sedan
- Stock: PG1031230
- Mileage
- 17,160 miles
- Fuel Economy
- 24.0/33.0 mpg City/Hwy
- Exterior Color
- Black
- Interior Color
- Titanium gray
- Body/Seating
- Sedan/5 seats
- Transmission
- 6 speed automatic with auto-shift
- Drivetrain
- quattro all-wheel drive
- Engine
- 2.0L 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine
Highlighted Features
- Leather upholstery
- Automatic temperature control
- Power moonroof
- Wireless phone connectivity
- Parking sensors
- Exterior parking camera rear
- Front dual zone A/C
- Rain sensing wipers
Detailed Specifications
Dealer Notes
KBB.com Consumer Reviews
- 5.0
By juju on Tuesday, April 16, 2019Once you get into a German car you will always have one, the performance and styling of Audi has always been the best in my opinion. For 180HP geared to a dual clutch automatic DSG transmission you will feel like you are driving a luxury go kart with fancy wheels.
- 4.0
Doing what it's supposed to do
By 5H4RK on Thursday, March 28, 2019Bought this car used with 15K mikes and have owned it for about 6 months. Main goal was to reduce the amount of $'s I was spending on fuel. I went from a full size SUV (Escalade) to a tiny A3 - a bit of a shocker initially but I'm past that. My daily commute is about 50 miles round trip some on freeways and parts in heavy traffic. I'm averaging just above 45 mpg which is pretty good compared to the EPA estimates (and my Escalade at 14mpg). Car is quite luxurious and well bolted together. I'd far rather have the A3 than a similarly frugal Golf or Jetta even if it would be a little cheaper.
- 5.0
Great car, experience, decision
By Bizquik on Monday, January 11, 2016I want to write this review because I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what car to get and also to justify spending more money that I originally planned to. I looked at a number of SUV's priced in the high 20's and low 30's. Ultimately, I either didn't like the way they looked or how they drove. Most cars – luxury or otherwise – either were not AWD or just looked boring. Besides the look, I wanted a driving experience and a car that was reliable and safe. According to Consumer Reports, the new A3 has great safety rating and the realiability is suprisingly good. After a ton of research, I took a leap of faith on the reliability after owning Japanese cars to this point. I have owned my car for 6 months so I feel it's a fair time to write a report. Although it is probably too early to comment on reliability, I can talk to other points. First, the driving experience is pretty amazing. It has great pick up and zips around great. I live in the mountains so going uphill or taking curves is effortless (compared to other cars / SUV's I have driven or been in). Second, I have now driving in snow a number of times and it feels like vecro is stuck to the tires / road. It handles so well that I couldn't possibly be happier. I never think twice about road conditions when it comes to this car (of course, you have to worry about other drivers). As for appearance, the car is really sharp. I have gotten my fair share of compliments. The interior is smartly designed – everything makes a lot of sense and it's easy to navigate. The car heats up / cools off really quickly. The seats are adjustable in a lot of ways and super comfortable. And the interior just looks sharp. The headlights are pretty terrific especially the high beam - both make it much easier to drive at night (I live where streets are not really lit up and tend to be really dark). I ended up with the Premium Plus with the premium stereo and the driver's assist. Actually, I really wanted the stereo after reading a lot of reviews but the driver assist wasn't on my 'radar'. Here is something I learned – not all dealers order the cars the same way. One dealership tried to have me believe that unless I bought the highest end A3 that the radio wouldn't be an option. Then I went to another dealer to find out that they appreciate good sound and order a lot of their cars with the premium stereo but also a couple other features people might want. He tried to convince me that the driver assist is something I would love as well once I used it. He's a sales guy – I'm probably not going to believe everything he says. Well, he was right. I love having it as well as the cold weather package (especially but not limited to the seat warmers). Needless to say, to this point I am super happy with my purchase. In the end, I might have spent a little more than I initially had wanted to but it was well worth it all the way around. The driving experience, the amazing stereo sound, the peace of mind, and all the other little things confirm that my research and patience really paid off. I hope my review will help you save some time and answer some questions you might have already had.
Price excludes tax, tag and other governmental fees, if any, dealer installed options and the dealer processing charge of $300.00.
We have taken reasonable efforts to ensure display of accurate data; however, the information shown may contain errors and omissions, may not reflect all vehicle items and accessories, and errors with regard to pricing may occur. All displayed inventory is subject to prior sale and all prices expire at midnight on the date displayed. Price shown is for the state in which Dealer is physically located and if transferred to another state, the price may change. Dealer is not responsible for any errors but should be consulted in person to confirm the information on this page.
Exterior Color: Black
Interior Color: Titanium gray
Stock: PG1031230
View this 2016 Audi A3 Sedan 2.0T Premium Plus for sale at Rockville Audi in Rockville, MD
New Arrivals
2019 Audi Q7 Premium SUV
- $49,981
- Gray Exterior
- 2.0L TFSI four-cylinder engine Engine
2018 Audi Q5 Premium Plus SUV
- $39,981
- Black Exterior
- 2.0L TFSI four-cylinder engine Engine


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The 250 SX is regarded as the motocross motorcycle with the best power-to-weight ratio. The lightweight 2-stroke engine scores highly with unrivalled performance packed in an extremely light chassis – a formidable rival for the costlier 4-stroke competitors.
- Frame: The modern frame design of the SX models, comprising lightweight, high strength, chrome-molybdenum steel section tubes, combines maximum longitudinal stiffness with optimum torsional stiffness. A forged and milled cross-tube connects the two frame halves with the connecting rod of the linkage on the new SX frame for 2015. Omission of the weld seams leads to very precise manufacturing tolerances and greater safety - moreover, it saves another 60 grams of weight.
- Linkage / Shock Absorber: The revamped damping system for MY 2015 features a new linkage with optimized geometry. The flatter progression with a higher initial rate ensures greater stability and lowers the rear end. In addition, the new design saves another 40 grams of weight. The fully adjustable WP 5018 shock absorber has been completely retuned to suit the new linkage.
- Fork: The fully adjustable upside-down fork from WP Suspension has been perfectly tuned to the new rear wheel damping system and the new 22 mm front axle (formerly 26 mm) for MY 2015. The new axle provides a better feel for the front wheel and also saves a further 40 grams. The new fork stubs now feature an offset of 33 mm instead of 35 mm, which together with increased trail deliver greater ride stability. Furthermore, they accommodate newly developed, 50 gram lighter fork protectors.
- Triple Clamps: High quality, CNC-machined triple clamps have long since been standard equipment at KTM. They ensure precise handling and provide a perceptible boost to the flexing characteristics and hence the responsiveness of the telescopic fork. The new O-ring carrier for the lower steering head bearing, a revised shaft tube and the new steering head bolt save another 40 grams.
- Bodywork: KTM engineers have focused on designing the bodywork ergonomically and functionally in such a way that the whole motorcycle is in perfect harmony with the rider down to the very last detail. The front fender is a perfect example of how molded plastic components can gain maximum stability with a well thought out structure and well-conceived attachment.
- Graphics: A new, refined graphic design with clear lines underlines the high demands made of a modern, state-of-the-art offroad motorcycle.
- Seat: The ergonomically perfectly designed seat is equipped with a durable foam core, ensuring both greater comfort and higher stability.
- Airbox: At the same time, the design of the airbox guarantees optimum protection of the air filter from dirt plus maximum air throughput for the highest performance. Quick replacement of the twin-air filter - without tools and in a matter of seconds - has long since been an unrivalled KTM standard.
- Fuel Tank: All models in the SX range are equipped with a 7.5 liter, lightweight polyethylene fuel tank. The fuel pump system used on the 4-stroke motocross models is the same as that used on the 4-stroke enduro models, thereby allowing optional fitting of larger tanks from the PowerParts range or from the enduro models.
- Handlebar: All SX models are equipped with the extremely sturdy, tapered Renthal Fatbar 827 handlebar that features an offset specially designed to meet the demands of motocross. In accordance with the proven KTM standard, the handlebar can be fixed in a choice of four positions. For MY 2015, it is equipped with softer two-component grips to spare the rider's hands.
- Wheels: The wheels fitted for MY 2015 feature black coated, high-end Excel rims with lightweight, CNC-machined hubs and spokes with lightweight aluminum nipples, allowing highest levels of stability to be achieved, while keeping weight to a minimum. New Dunlop Geomax MX 52 tires were developed in collaboration with the KTM USA factory team and offer perfect traction with top performance. The new rear sprockets save 50 grams in unsprung mass.
- Brakes: High-tech brakes from Brembo have always been standard equipment on KTM offroad bikes and, together with the lightweight wave brake discs, they are the measure of all things in terms of brake technology. As the best brakes in the motocross class, they remain unchanged for MY 2015.
- Engine: The powerful KTM 250 SX engine unites an unbeatable power-to-weight ratio with outstanding performance and extremely easy handling.
- Clutch: A new DDS clutch (Damped Diaphragm Steel) with diaphragm spring and wear-free steel cage is fitted to the KTM 250 SX engine. The diaphragm spring, which preloads the package, not only reduces the operating force required to pull the clutch, but also provides space for integrated hub damping. The result: more traction and protection for the transmission. And with updated hydraulic clutch actuation from Brembo, the rider has everything under control right from the start.
- Design: 1-cylinder 2-stroke engine, water-cooled, with reed intake and exhaust control
- Displacement: 249 cm³
- Bore: 66.4 mm
- Stroke: 72 mm
- Starting aid: Kickstarter
- Transmission: 5 gear, claw shifted
- Primary ratio: 26:72
- Final drive: 13:48
- Clutch: Wet multi-disc clutch / Brembo hydraulics
- Ignition system: Contactless, controlled, fully electronic ignition system with digital ignition timing adjustment, type Kokusan
- Frame: Central tube frame made of chrome molybdenum steel tubing
- Fork: WP Suspension Up Side Down 4860 MXMA 4CS
- Shock absorber: WP Suspension 5018 BAVP DCC
- Suspension travel Front: 300 mm
- Suspension travel Rear: 317 mm
- Brake system: Disc brakes, brake calipers on floating bearings
- Brake discs - diameter Front: 260 mm
- Brake discs - diameter Rear: 220 mm
- Chain: 520 X-ring
- Steering head angle: 63.5 deg.
- Wheel base: 1,495±10 mm
- Ground clearance (unloaded): 385 mm
- Seat height (unloaded): 992 mm
- Total fuel tank capacity approx.: 7.5 L - Unleaded premium fuel (95 octane), mixed with 2-stroke engine oil (1:60)
- Weight without fuel approx.: 97.5 kg
- Engine Type
- 1-cylinder 2-stroke engine, water-cooled, with reed intake and exhaust control
- Displacement
- 249 cm³
- Bore and Stroke
- 66.4 mm x 72 mm
- Cooling
- Liquid
- Ignition
- Contactless, controlled, fully electronic ignition system with digital ignition timing adjustment, type Kokusan
- Front Suspension
- WP Suspension Up Side Down 4860 MXMA 4CS
- Front Brakes
- Disc brakes, brake calipers on floating bearings
- Rear Suspension
- WP Suspension 5018 BAVP DCC
- Rear Brakes
- Disc brakes, brake calipers on floating bearings
- Dry Weight
- 97.5 kg
- Fuel Capacity
- Wheelbase
- 1,495±10 mm
- Ground Clearance
- 385 mm
- Seat Height
- 992 mm
- Transmission
- 5 gear, claw shifted
- Final Drive
- 520 X-ring chain


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Professor's Research Takes Flight With Launch of Planck Satellite
The European Space Agency's much-anticipated launch of the Planck satellite on Thursday, May 14, may be the first step towards answering some of scientists' most pressing questions about the universe. And Emeritus Professor of Astronomy Bruce Partridge will be watching live, from the European space port in Kourou, French Guiana (on the north end of South America) at 9:12 a.m. Eastern time. It's only fitting, since Partridge has been an integral part of the satellite's research team for 16 years, and, in fact, helped draft the initial proposal for the mission.
The Planck's goal is to map the entire sky and measure the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), heat radiation left over from the Big Bang."There are small fluctuations in the brightness of this heat radiation from place to place on the sky," says Partridge."Careful measurements of these bumps and wiggles offer the best clues we have to important cosmological issues, like the curvature of space, the age of the universe, and the nature of its contents.
"More than 40 years ago," Partridge reflects,"a Princeton colleague and I searched for these CMB fluctuations, using a cheap assemblage of surplus military components. It's a delight, towards the end of my career, to be part of a project far more sophisticated (and 50,000 times more costly) that should give us unprecedented sharp 'baby pictures' of the early universe. I can't wait to get to work on the results!"
Partridge has been involved in various aspects of the satellite since its inception. For the past six years, he has been co-leader of a working group on foreground radio sources, which he defines as"any radio-emitting galaxies found between us and the edge of the universe." Planck, he adds, will provide the first wide area survey of extragalactic radio sources at a broad range of unexplored frequencies. Postdoctoral research associate and Haverford astronomy instructor Anna Sajina has just begun working with Partridge and his team, deciphering the properties of the kind of radio sources Planck will detect.
The Planck's launch vehicle is called Ariane 5, and is, says Partridge, the largest European rocket in existence. The Planck, accompanied by a larger satellite called Herschel, will eventually settle in a stable position one million miles from Earth, opposite the sun.
The launch will be broadcast live at www.videocorner.tv.
To read more Haverford coverage of Bruce Partridge and the Planck satellite, go to www.haverford.edu/newsletter/feb06/partridge.htm.
-Brenna McBride


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Borg Reflection Eternal
Fan of 6 Teams
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7 Top Friends
140 Friends
Rival of 5 Teams
11 Rivals
2 Photo Albums
Croatia (6 Photos)
LA Galaxy vs Sporting KC (11 Photos)
Joined: 21st, May 09
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Borg wrote in Manchester United Chat
Yeah, West Ham had our number. Thanks Glory. I need to pop in here more often. Still a lot of football in the season but I just think this team doesn't have the...
2 years ago
Tough result. I was really feeling optimistic after so many teams dropped points the other day. A good side has to get all three there. Also, I'm entirely sick ...
On Tonys wall
Was thinking of dreamfooty the other day and decided to check out the site again. We had some good times on here, Tony! Been pretty busy but still keeping up on...
Glad we have a break to get some of our currently injured players fit. It's all about United for me now that my local club has been knocked out of the playoffs.
4 years ago
Hey Badge! I'm doing well. I kind drifted over to reddit for my football news/discussion. I think footytube is better in some ways so hoping to post more in her...
Hey guys, long time no see! I've been away from footytube for awhile. How's everything going?
Hi Jim, You are correct about TC Fire! I played on that team for two summers a few years ago. It was mainly made up of former/current U of M club players (I pl...
On Borgs wall
Hey, I saw you support MN United, or MN Stars as it's on this site and then saw you play/played for TC Fire. Was that the MASL D2 team? If so I know a bunch o...
Happy New Year mates! I haven't been active on here in quite a while. Been busy either playing or going to matches here and there of my local side. Anyway, with...
5 years ago
Cech Lahm-Bonucci-vidic-Subotic Ribery-Vidal-Martinez-Ronaldo Hamsik Cavani
Can't believe nobody has mentioned Cavani
Bjarni is spot on. If we don't have attackers making early runs into the box the opponents defense can more easily organize and defend out players standing stil...
Saying someone's not a winger isn't pidgeonholing.
This forum is bordering between overdramatic hype and excitement. It's awesome to get excited about a young player. But I certainly don't think we should specul...
Your getting way too far ahead of yourself.
A lot of fans from this modern era think if you aren't constantly playing the ball on the floor it's an inferior style. I think that's bullshit, a well rounded ...
Januzaj isn't a winger, he cuts in and plays quite narrow.
Naismith was shocking the entire match. He was really channelling his inner Rangers.
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it seems like its been ages since croatia knocked england out of Euro 2008. Now Hrvatska is out of the world cup :(
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4 years ago
Hey, I saw you support MN United, or MN Stars as it's on this site and then saw you play/played for TC Fire. Was that the MASL D2 team? If so I know a bunch of guys on there. Still playing competitively this summer?
6 years ago
What up dude! Thought you might like this track.
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6 years ago
Great track!
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6 years ago
Love the 'le kung fu king' profile pic Cool votes for you
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6 years ago
2 clever votes for telling me about the algorithm
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Book Giveaway: 'My Milk Toof: The Adventures of ickle and Lardee 2'
Update (10/3/13): Check out the winning recipes here!
World got you down? Need a pick-me-up? Head straight to My Milk Toof and the adorable adventures of ickle and Lardee shall flood you with enough joy to power an army of Suns*. Watch the bumbling cuteness unfold as these milk teeth buddies try to share a bunk bed, go couch diving for cash, make too much popcorn, and more. Your worries—and maybe your brain—will melt away.
* This measurement hasn't been scientifically proven. Yet.
Win 'My Milk Toof: The Adventures of ickle and Lardee 2'
Thanks to My Milk Toof's creator Inhae Lee, we have a copy of her second collection of photo-comics, My Milk Toof: The Adventures of ickle and Lardee 2, to give away to one Serious Eats reader. The book comes out September 23 and features four brand new stories never before seen on the blog. To enter, make up a goofy, unorthodox recipe that you think ickle and Lardee would love to eat and leave it in the comments section below. ickle and Lardee will eat pretty much anything fun, like experimental cupcakes, bunny apple slices, and stacks of tiny pancakes, but the recipe doesn't have to taste good or make sense. Here's an example recipe:
Egg-cellent crackers 2 eggs, 3 lollipops, 5 graham crackers, pepperoni, Twizzlers, chili, and a pineapple
Winner will get a signed copy of the book, and Inhae will personally make the recipe and take a picture of ickle and Lardee eating it!
Contest will end and comments will close at 12 p.m. on Monday, September 23 2013. One entry per community member. Winner will be chosen by Inhae Lee and Robyn Lee. Winner may be located anywhere in the world. Standard Serious Eats contest rules apply.
This post may contain links to Amazon or other partners; your purchases via these links can benefit Serious Eats. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.


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Biological Safety Cabinets
Biological safety cabinets (BSCs) are among the most effective primary containment devices used in laboratories working with infectious agents. They act as primary barriers to prevent the escape of biological aerosols into the laboratory environment. This is important because most laboratory techniques (e.g.; centrifuging, pipetting, vortexing, sonicating) produce inadvertent aerosols that can be readily inhaled by the laboratory worker.
HEPA Filters
High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are present in all classes of BSCs. A HEPA filter removes only particulates (including microorganisms), not vapors or gases, from the air. Depending on its quality, a HEPA filter is able to trap up to 99.97% of particles with dimensions equal to or greater than 0.3 micron.
BSC Protection
BSCs are designed for:
- Personnel Protection: Protects personnel from harmful agents inside the BSC.
- Product Protection: Protects the work, product, experiment, or procedure performed in the BSC from contaminants in the laboratory environment or from cross contamination inside the cabinet.
- Environmental Protection: Protects the environment from contaminants contained in the BSC.
A comprehensive description of BSC types, performance characteristics, and applications can be found in the publication Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, 5th Edition, Appendix A: Primary Containment for Biohazards: Selection, Installation and Use of Biological Safety Cabinets.
Before selecting a cabinet, potential users must evaluate their program and match specific requirements with the appropriate equipment. The Division of Research Safety (DRS) can assist researchers with these evaluations.
Certification Requirement
To ensure that BSCs are providing adequate personnel and environmental protection, on-site testing and certification of BSCs is required:
- At the time of installation;
- At least annually thereafter;
- At any time the BSC is moved.
Principal Investigators (PIs) are responsible for ensuring that BSCs in their facilities are certified on an annual basis. Most departments have a designated safety contact who will coordinate the certification of BSCs with a qualified vendor. If there is no designated safety contact for the unit, the PI is responsible for contacting a vendor and scheduling the certification. Once certification is completed, cabinet information should be updated in the safety cabinet management system.
PIs will receive email reminders 60 and 30 days prior to the expiration and on the day the certification expires. Safety contacts will receive emails on the 1st of every month listing all BSCs that expire within the next three months. Email reminders will continue until cabinet information has been updated in the safety cabinet management system.
Accredited Certifiers
Certifiers must be accredited and have a Certificate of Liability on file. DRS maintains a list of qualified vendors that have certified or repaired BSCs on campus, which is available upon request.
Other accredited certifiers can be located by using the following links:
Note: P-Cards and i-Cards cannot be used as payment for services or repairs of biosafety equipment. Biosafety Cabinet certifications or repairs require a purchase order (P.O.), either "Regular" or "Standing," in Banner for payment. If you have questions about obtaining a P.O., contact your business office.
Policy on the Use of Uncertified BSCs
If a BSC is no longer certified (due to either certification expiration or failure) it must not be used as a primary safety device. An uncertified biosafety cabinet with the blowers running can disseminate potentially harmful material throughout the environment. Any work with pathogens or potentially infectious materials, even those classified as Risk Group 1, should not be performed in an uncertified cabinet.
Occasionally, there are requests to work with non-pathogenic material (e.g., plant or certain animal tissue cultures) in an uncertified cabinet. This should be considered only if the situation can be carefully managed. The cabinet should have a warning sign, and occupants of the laboratory should be trained on the limitations and potential hazards of using the equipment incorrectly. Such use is strongly discouraged in laboratories where pathogens or potentially infectious materials are also present because the potential for, and risks associated with, using the equipment incorrectly are increased.
For those who wish to work in an uncertified BSC, contact DRS for assistance with developing a risk assessment to determine if the proposed use would qualify for an exemption from the certification requirement.
Chemicals in a BSC
BSCs should not be used in place of a chemical fume hood. Volatile or toxic chemicals should not be used in Class II Type A cabinets without ducting because vapor build-up inside the cabinet presents a fire or explosion hazard. In addition, this type of cabinet recirculates air from the cabinet work space into the room, potentially exposing the operator and other room occupants to toxic chemical vapors
Gas Connections in the BSC
Gas connections to a BSC are not permitted without a written justification for specialized, limited-duration work. Note that routine "flaming" is not considered adequate justification. Approved gas connections should have an additional shut-off valve installed outside of the BSC. Alternatives to continuous flame burners should be used.
Open flames in BSCs:
- Create turbulence in the airflow, compromising protection of both the worker and the work;
- Present a potential fire or explosion hazard, especially when using a gas burner in conjunction with ethanol;
- Cause excessive heat build-up, which may damage HEPA filters and compromise the cabinet's integrity;
- May inactivate the manufacturer's warranty.
Ultraviolet Lamp Usage
The primary method of decontamination should be to use an effective, EPA registered disinfectant such as 10% bleach for 10 minutes. For corrosive chemicals such as bleach, disinfection should be followed by rinsing with sterile water or 70% ethanol to remove chemical residue that may otherwise damage stainless steel surfaces.
Ultraviolet (UV) lamps are not recommended in BSCs nor are they necessary. If installed, UV lamps must be cleaned weekly to remove any dust and dirt that may reduce their germicidal effectiveness. The lamps should be checked weekly with a UV meter to ensure that the appropriate intensity of UV light is being emitted. UV lamps must be turned off when the room is occupied to protect eyes and skin from UV exposure, which can burn the cornea and cause skin cancer. If the cabinet has a sliding sash, close the sash when operating the UV lamp.
A few BSCs have UV lamps. When used, they must be tested periodically to ensure that their energy output is sufficient to kill microorganisms. The surface on the bulb should be cleaned with 70% ethanol prior to performing this test. Five minutes after the lamp has been turned on, the sensor of the UV meter is placed in the center of the work surface. The radiation output should not be less than 40 microwatts per square centimeter at a wavelength of 254 nanometers (nm).
Use of Cabinets
- Thoroughly understand procedures and equipment required before beginning work.
- Minimize disruptions, such as room traffic or entry into the room, while the cabinet is in use.
- Turn off the UV light if in use. Ensure that the sash is set in the correct operating position.
- Turn on the fluorescent light and cabinet blower.
- Check the return air grilles, especially in the back of the workspace, for obstructions, and note the pressure gauge reading.
- Allow the cabinet to operate unobstructed for at least fifteen minutes.
- Wash hands and arms thoroughly with soap.
- Wear a long-sleeved lab coat with knit cuffs and over-the-cuff gloves.
Surface Decontamination Before Work
- Wipe down the interior surfaces of the cabinet with 10% bleach, followed with 70% ethanol after 5 to 10 minutes to prevent pitting of the stainless steel, and allow to dry.
Loading Materials and Equipment
- Load only the materials required for the procedure. Do not overload the cabinet.
- Do not obstruct the front, side, or rear return air grilles.
- Large objects should not be placed close together. After loading the cabinet, wait two to three minutes to purge airborne contaminants from the work area.
Work Techniques
- Keep all materials at least four inches inside the sash, and perform all operations with contaminate material as far to the rear of the work area as possible.
- Segregate all clean and contaminated materials in the work area and arrange materials to minimize the movement of contaminated materials into clean areas.
- Keep all discarded, contaminated material to the rear of the cabinet.
- Avoid moving materials or excessive motion of the operator's hands and arms through the front access opening during use.
- Open flames SHOULD NOT be used.
- Use proper aseptic technique.
- Avoid using techniques or procedures that disrupt the air flow pattern of the cabinet.
- If there is a spill or splatter during use, all objects in the cabinet should be surface-decontaminated before removal. Thoroughly disinfect the work surfaces of the cabinet while it is still on. This will prevent the release of contaminants from the cabinet.
Final Purging
- When work is completed, the cabinet should be allowed to operate for three to five minutes undisturbed to purge airborne contaminants from the work area.
Unloading Materials and Equipment
- Disposable contaminated objects, including gloves, should be placed in disposal pans or autoclave bags inside the BSC after use.
- Reusable objects in contact with contaminated material should be surface-decontaminated before removal from the cabinet.
- All open trays or containers should be covered before being removed from the cabinet.
Surface Decontamination After Work
- Wipe down the interior surfaces of the cabinet with 10% bleach or other EPA-registered disinfectant, followed in 10 minutes with 70% ethanol to prevent pitting of the stainless steel, and allow to dry.
Shutdown (Optional)
- Turn off the fluorescent light and cabinet blower, if desired.
Last Update: 2/8/2017


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The next get together of Brisbane Skeptics in the Pub is Tuesday 3 June
Signup for our email newsletter to make sure you get a personal reminder right in your inbox.
Where: Upstairs in the Heritage Room at the Plough Inn, click me to see the GZ
SitP: Brisbane Skeptics in the Pub is a very relaxed get together of rational folks. Show up any time after 6:30pm till closing; we are usually kicked out of the pub and carry on chatting outside til late.
Contact: Phil Kent @Skeptimite 0417 696 739 email@example.com
Keep in touch: Find Brisbane Sitp on Facebook and @BrisbaneSitp on Twitter


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I'm reading more cookbooks than novels these days but I at least wanted to check in one final time to wrap up the books I read this year. The grand total ended up around 39. Maybe I'll squeeze one more in just to make it a round 40. Hmmm…something to think about.
I'm probably going to switch up my book reviews next year just because doing a monthly round up is feeling a little boring but I haven't quite figured out how just yet. My fellow book nerds: I'm open to suggestions. Anyone write book reviews that you love? How do they keep it interesting? Anyway, here is a quick review of the last few books I read this year:
Little Children by Tom Perrotta – This was my suggestion for Book Club this month and I have to admit I was a little nervous. The last book I suggested for a Book Club was so hated that years later we are all still laughing about it. I thought this would be better, I enjoy Tom Perrotta, it got made into a movie — what could go wrong? And for the most part, nothing did go wrong. It was a really engrossing read. But it is a bit of a heavy book, so I would definitely say you have to be in the right mood.
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles – I think I've obsessed about this book enough on the blog. WHY HAVEN'T YOU READ IT YET?
White Jacket Required by Jenna Weber – Ah, man. I really didn't love this book, and I feel kind of bummed about that because Jenna's blog is one that I enjoy. While I rarely cook her recipes because they are so un-Paleo it's not worth tweaking, I really enjoy her food photography, book recommendations, travel stories and perspective on life. But this book? Was a great concept but sort of missed on the execution. I feel like it suffered from really poor editing because the stories were disjointed and one chapter didn't really lead into the next, but it was clearly NOT a book of stand alone essays. Also, I felt like things were portrayed a bit different than they were on her blog which is always kind of interesting. And the recipes either felt forced into the stories or they just completely didn't belong at all. It was kind of a bummer actually, but I will still enjoy her website. I just don't think every website translates into a memoir. I mean, HELLO, remember Dooce's memoir?
StregnthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath — This book includes a personality assessment and then which determine your overall strengths. The book then breaks down strategies to take advantage of each strength in the work place. While it is definitely a professional book, I think is has a lot of practical application in life as well. I was not surprised that my most emphasized strength was "Acheiver." The paragraph describing that theme was as follows:
You feel as if every day starts at zero. By the end of the day you must achieve something tangible in order to feel good about yourself. And by "every day" you mean every single day — workdays, weekends, vacations. No matter how much you may feel you deserve a day of rest, if the day passes without some form of achievement, no matter how small, you will feel dissatisfied. You have an internal fire burning inside you. It pushes you to do more, to achieve more. After each accomplishment is reached, the fire dwindles for a moment, but very soon it rekindles itself, forcing you toward the next accomplishment.
BWAHAHAHAHA! No one who reads this blog will feel surprised by that, I'm sure. Hey, at least I come by my crazy honestly. What I didn't love though, were the suggestions for how to take advantage of this part of my personality. Two of the suggestions were just to "Understand you probably don't need as much sleep as other people" and to "Accept that you will feel dissatisfied with things even when you are achieving." I know this is about harnessing the "strength" of this theme, but I just didn't love that it ended there. Like, really? I'm doomed to be a psychotic insomniac goal setter who will constantly disappointed? WHERE IS THE SILVER LINING HERE? Anyone else read this book? What did you think?
Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio — This book was just okay for me in the beginning. I wasn't really sucked into the story, but as the mystery began to unravel I felt my page turning quicken. Not my favorite of Jio's books but definitely a good fluffy book to curl up with on a rainy day.
And that's really it. Actually, now that I have confessed my achiever tendencies to you all (ha! confessed!) I can be totally honest with you and tell you that I am ABSOLUTELY going to read one more book to make it an even 40 for the year. Care to suggest one?


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The needs and resources of an effective meetinghouse library will be different all over the world. Each unit will be unique.
The materials in the following list are provided to each new meetinghouse. In consultation with the bishop, the Sunday School president and the ward librarian should determine if there are other materials that are needed and will fit in the available space.
These materials will enhance and support learning and teaching in the classroom as well as in the home and family.
Return to the Meetinghouse Libraries main page.


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In "The Hunger Games,"actress Leven Rambin plays a teenage girl who has trained since childhood to fight to the death in a post-apocalyptic arena. To embody the role, Rambin, 21, had to look the part of the young warrior and also be able to wield weapons convincingly — her character, Glimmer, is versed in sword fighting and archery.
Rambin talked with us about going beyond her physical comfort zone to prepare for the part, learning to fight in the wilderness and discovering what she's really capable of.
You had to get in excellent physical shape for "The Hunger Games." How long did you train, and what did you do?
I had about two months to prepare for the fight sequences and physically train. I did lots of spinning, probably an hour and a half a day. I also did boot-camp-style exercises — rolling kettle bells and balls that weighed 30 pounds across the room, using ropes, and rolling tires around, military style.
Every other day, on the days that we weren't training, I would go hiking or running around Los Angeles, by myself or with my friends. I also did some sprinting — I was pushing myself. Dieting was also a big part of it, so no dairy and no carbohydrates whatsoever.
How did you learn the specific fighting skills, like sword fighting and archery?
I trained different muscles of my body, like my shoulder muscles and back muscles, for long periods of time. I had to thrash the weapons around like I knew what I was doing, and it was pretty difficult to get my muscles to memorize and acclimate to the different maneuvers. It hurt in places I never knew I had.
I trained in fight choreography and on camera with swords and weapons for about two hours a day, tossing them around like I was a skilled fighter. I was doing that whenever I was not doing the other training, whenever I could.
At the end, did you feel like you knew what you were doing?
I did, actually. The trainers were very thorough, and I'm pretty athletic. I enjoyed archery especially.
Before filming, you worked out in a studio in Los Angeles, but you shot the movie in the wilderness of North Carolina. Was it harder to do some of the moves outside?
It was different to be on grass and not to be comforted by padding. During filming, we also didn't have padding under our outfits, which were pretty flimsy, so it was a little bit difficult getting used to that. It was also really hot out there, and it would rain and stuff, so we had to deal with the elements. But it was more natural and organic.
What was your pre-"Hunger Games" fitness routine like, and do you think you'll incorporate your new training techniques into it?
I was sort of just a casual exerciser. I would exercise all the time, but I would never push myself outside of my comfort zone. This showed me how far my body could go if I was willing to push it.
I also definitely learned what works for me, what results I can see and what I like to do, so now that I'm doing another film I want to get back into that shape. I've already gotten back into the mind set of, "It's not the question of whether I'm going to work out, but how long I'm going to work out today." It's about disciplining myself and remembering how much I can handle, and not giving up.
In "The Hunger Games,"actress Leven Rambin plays a teenage girl who has trained since childhood to fight to the death in a post-apocalyptic arena. To embody the role, Rambin, 21, had to look the part of the young warrior and also be able to wield weapons convincingly — her character, Glimmer, is versed in sword fighting and archery.


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The Academy of Surgical Research welcomes advertisements. Posting fee is $50 per advertisement for current ASR members, $100 per advertisement for non-members. Each posting will be active for 6 months, or until the posted position becomes unavailable, at which time it becomes the responsibility of the advertising company to contact ASR with instructions to remove their ad from the Web site.
If you have an employment opportunity that you would like to post, please submit on-line:
ASR Member Job Posting
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The Kentucky Derby tax break
Racehorse owners at the Kentucky Derby can be thankful for more than prime track views and potential pots of cash as they sip mint juleps this weekend.
A gift from Congress is expected later this year: renewal of a multimillion dollar tax break for thoroughbreds.
Story Continued Below
It's a nice little perk for racehorse investors, considering some of these prized animals go for hundreds of thousands, sometimes, millions of dollars.
"Oh, the poor impoverished owners of racehorses," said tea party favorite Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.). "I don't know how you can defend that … I'm sure it's so critical that we borrow money from the Chinese to spend" on this.
( Sign up for POLITICO's Morning Tax tip sheet)
Lawmakers are expected to extend the "temporary" provision that allows the owners of big-name racehorses like "California Chrome" and "Wicked Strong," to write the purchase price off their tax bills. It's part of a package of so-called tax extenders that routinely get approved as a package every few years, with little debate.
The racehorse industry, backed by powerful Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), say it's an easy sound bite to attack the break. The provision is a matter of fairness, they argue, and the deduction also protects the horses.
"This is not a tax break, it's a modification of tax code to reflect the economic reality [of horse racing]… the actual useful life of the property," said Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, which spent $280,000 lobbying Congress last year; $80,000 so far this year.
( Also on POLITICO: Full finance policy coverage)
And it's not just a tax break for the rich, he added: "This 'sport of kings' description for horse-racing sometimes is a millstone around our neck because it unfairly characterizes the people who are involved in the industry who are just working to make a living."
The Senate Finance Committee last month approved an $85 billion package renewing most tax extenders for two years, including the racehorse provision, which will cost about $97 million in fiscal 2014 and 2015 — a small fraction of the overall tax package cost.
The industry is confident the House's top tax-writer Dave Camp (R-Mich.) will follow suit — particularly since Camp in his recent tax reform draft proposed making it permanent.
A Ways and Means spokesperson would not comment on whether they intend to advance the break again.
So it is fair, or a boondoggle?
The tax code allows businesses to minimize tax bills by writing off expenses — wages, computers, equipment — over time, something tax wonks know as "depreciation." The shorter the depreciation schedule, the better for the investor; they get their money back faster.
Some animals are treated similarly. Cattle, sheep and goat owners are permitted to write off their livestock in five years; hogs owners, three.
Standard breeding horses under 12 years old get a seven-year tax write-off.
Then, there are racehorses, which get only a three-year depreciation schedule if they're more than 2 years old. If the racehorse is purchased under the age of 2, however, the owner has to wait seven years to write off the entire bill.
With McConnell's help, the industry won a provision in the 2008 farm bill that extended the shorter, three-year depreciation life to all racehorses — not just those over 2.
Animal rights groups balked, saying the industry didn't deserve the break since around the same time, runner-up Kentucky Derby contender Eight Belles had to be euthanized right after she crossed the finish line and injured herself.
Waldrop says a shorter depreciation life makes economic sense since the "useful life" and "economic benefit" of a racehorse is only three or four years.
Most racehorses can't physically stand to race longer than that because the intensity of the training wears on their bodies.