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The genius of photography is the ability to capture something in a moment in time. The beauty of photography is the ability to show us the things we see or, perhaps, overlook everyday, and the challenge is to get us to stop and take notice. I try to bring a sense of energy and emotion to whatever I photograph. When I make a photo I try to execute my technique at the time the image is captured. Motion, selective focus, or lack of focus the challenge is to keep the digital intrusion to a minimum. My commercial background helps me see an image before I capture it, but when I shoot I approach my subjects with an open mind. This collection of photographs should be interpreted any way you, the viewer sees them. Some of these images will...
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text: Penis In Latina Pussy Like Puzsy be caught dead standing next to you in a swimsuit. Id look like a beached whale. I quietly responded. Puscy Your beautiful and womanly, babe. Dont say stuff like that. Jane cried out, really upset. I glanced towards Sam, shocked at his facial expression. Im going to pretend I didnt hear that, Heather. You would look fantastic in a swimsuit. Sam Pfnis spit out, angrily. Truce I pleaded with Penis In Latina Pussy They both smiled mischievously and pulled me into a group hug. Let me go I laughed loudly, You guys are nuts Call me later, Heather. Sam called out over his shoulder as he left. I can so tell by the way you look at him. Jane asked me softly. Penis In Latina Pussy God, Jane, I dont have a chance in hell with your brother. Hes way to sexy to settle for a fat girl. I whined. Im gonna help Pusy seduce that boy if its the last thing I do. Right now Jane barked out, grabbing my arm. Jane practically had to torture Pusay to even try stuff on. To my complete surprise, we had found Penis In Latina Pussy sexy dress. It was Latinw deep emerald green satin and fitted snug, the style flattered a fuller figure. The hem fell to my knees but split up the sides Puesy Puesy my hips. My tits looked fantastic, pushed up and together to produce massive cleavage. We had also managed to scrounge up a pair of dangerously sexy black satin pumps that completed the look. Damn, Heather, you look fucking hot Sam is going to have a heart attack. Well, right after he creams his jeans. Jane exclaimed. Im so worried. Laina I chewed on my bottom lip. Jane just laughed and grabbed the dress and shoes. Leaving me stranded in the lingerie section. I looked around at the selection of sexy thongs, stockings, and bras Penks I tried to be discreet and casually grab a bra and matching thongs in sheer black. Feeling Pe nis I also grabbed a pair of silky black stockings.

subset: commoncrawl


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Motorcyclist Luis Filipe de Sousa Carreira dies in crash at Macau Grand Prix
MACAU Race organizers say Portuguese motorcycle rider Luis Filipe de Sousa Carreira has died after a crash during qualifying for the Macau Grand Prix.
The 35-year-old Carreira crashed Thursday at Fisherman's Bend at the Guia circuit. No other riders were involved in the accident.
Organizers say two doctors went to the rider's aid and Carreira was taken to a hospital. He was declared dead about 20 minutes after arriving at the hospital.
The qualifying session was stopped after the crash and later abandoned.
Carreira raced for the Bennimoto Raider-Cetelem team.


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Not too long ago, I left the world of theism for good. My most recently religion was Mormonism - not the casual kind of theism, and I was not a casual practitioner of it, let me assure you. I was a member in a young-adult (18-30 age group) ward, most of whose members are pretty laid back, non-judgemental, and haven't given me any grief about leaving (at least the ones I've met since departing). My old Bishop had the attitude that people need to make decisions for themselves, and once they've heard the basic message, they should be left to their own devices... so, thankfully, I've had no crazy missionaries or home teachers barging in on me.
The problem I'm having is with one particular Aunt who has nosiness issues. (Other family members have also reported moments of aggravation caused by said aunt). Even when I was a member, she was often calling me up to complain about my practice of the faith, or social life, etc., and even showed up at my house on some occasions (namely after I told her to leave the topic be, over the phone). I reported her once to my bishop, who asked her husband (my uncle was an assistant to him) to educate her about nosing into adults personal lives. She continued on with that behavior on other occasions, but I got pretty tough with her once and she seemed to just leave my personal matters alone after that.
Recently she learned of my atheism. Of course her response was to go scripture ballistic and try to convince me to return; I let he know very plainly that I was not interested and to drop it. She called twice more to lecture me fervently... only to receive the same reply; the second time she called she started off on other topics first; she let me know that a certain young lady friend was having a tough time because of a boyfriend in prison, and she wanted me to come over so she could arrange for us to hang out a bit, you know, to help said friend out... but then she brought up religion again.
Soon after she realized that I would not even listen to her on the phone anymore, my aunt started visiting our house more often, and of course would always visit my bedroom/office. The first time she visited, she just burst out about religion as though she had just received the news of my atheist status. She got a bit of an education and once again notified that I was not interested. The second time she visited, I asked her if she was going to talk about religion before I would let her in my room to talk. She said "no" and I allowed her in. She asked about my coming over to help my friend, asked about my sister and stuff... and then of course, after that, brought up religion again... I let my aunt know that I don't have any questions regarding religion, that I was not interested (and if I was, would go to an actual authority on topics thereof), and to leave me alone.
Since she (must have) realized she will no longer have access to me via. the phone or via. personal visits, she started writing letters. The first one had photographs of myself with certain family members, but the letter component was no so nice, talking about how wonderfully I was doing in church, then complaining that I was being a bad fellow, basically, and that I was pushing "people's" buttons, being arrogant by "not listening" to her (funny, I thought I heard every word she said). Her second letter contained scriptures (the testament of John) with highlighted passages (I guess she thinks I haven't read them [five dozen times] or didn't understand them). The scriptures were prefaced with a picture of a turkey and a thanksgiving invitation to her house. I ripped both letters up and plan on ripping future ones up without reading them.
I am very aware that the two invitations mentioned above would likely be used to get me in a place/situation where I would be inclined to stick around for more religious bombardment, a captive audience. This is where things are going to become a problem. I have a bit of a social anxiety problem, and struggle to speak up for myself when I am in groups. When I am cornered and attacked by my aunt, my heart starts pounding and I really struggle to keep my anger down, or from having an attack. She darn well knows that I would have a problem defending myself if she gets me in a situation surrounded by Mormon—and other christian—friends or family members. What can I do about those things besides not attend them... and aggravate other family members who expect me to participate in Thanksgiving with them?
In addition, school and work related things get me stressed out enough without coming home to find a letter from aunt-crazy, or find her at my house or other events and know that I have to lock myself in my room, or find some place to avoid her for the rest of her or my stay. My heart rate and blood pressure rise every time these things happen, despite trying to keep my cool.
My question is, what can I do to stop her letters and make sure she leaves me be when I inevitably end up in other situations where she is present, short of violence, pressing charges, or getting other family members involved and possibly upset at me for being mean to her? How do I deal with her?
P.S. I should mention that I have more secular family up north that would have me, but I am going to school down here (In SoCalifornia), cannot afford my own place, and am on grant money. I am not sure that moving is an option (since Calif. pays 3/4 of tuition, would the Feds appreciate my moving to a state where school cost way more?)
Views: 1510
Two words, 'Return Refuse!' writen on her letters.
You could consider calling the police and making an harasment charge.
You could thank her for her deep concern about your spiritual welfare, and suggest to her that 'god and I will take it from here, aunte Maim!'
Perhaps rather than ripping her letters up, write "Return to Sender" on them and send them back to her so she understands you never read them. You can also complain to the post office about being harrassed. I believe they will tell her she should stop trying to contact you on pain of being prosecuted.
Oh, I just read James Cox's suggestion, very similar to mine. Mine is how it would be done in the United States.
RE: "You can also complain to the post office about being harrassed. I believe they will tell her she should stop trying to contact you on pain of being prosecuted."
That's not their job.
Ripping the letters and sending them back in a fresh envelope doesn't imply you've read them, but definitely sends the message that you will not welcome future correspondence.
Or, you can follow Unseen's advice and involve outside authorities that, if they do anything, which I doubt, will only further estrange you from your family. I have an idea, maybe Unseen will take you in --
That's not their job.
True. I was thinking of their policy regarding sexually objectionable mail. It doesn't work for any other sort of harassment unless you're ready to say there's something about her mails YOU find sexually provocative. There are two levels, apparently. In one, the Post Office will simply not deliver mail from that party. In the other, They will actually send a warning to the other party as well.
Yes, a mental health holiday! I think I would take it!
Most of my family is either nonreligious or are VERY aware of my stance on religion (much like Douglas Adams, I am a "Radical Atheist"). When people decide to confront me about my position on religion, I just explain why my position is as it is. I tend to attack the core, blowing off out-of-context specific quotes in lieu of the grander view. I explain that the bible is useless as a source of any meaning information, considering that it contains hundreds of contradiction, inconsistencies, and logical fallacies. I explain how the Great Flood couldn't possibly have happened, how the story of Babel is completely erroneous, and how it is impossible for morals to have come from a single source, much less from an immoral being such as yhwh. The trick to getting people to stop talking to you about their delusional superstition is to get them to the point where they can't justify it anymore. Once they are painted into that corner, they tend to shut up and about it. People HATE feeling like idiots, so if they are in a position that they are unable to justify, such as some really immoral act of god, like slaughtering children for calling someone "baldie", or trying to justify the belief in a story that can't possibly be true, even if it doesn't change their mind, they tend to keep quit about it.
It sounds like you might just need to prepare for an intense, one-time conversation with her that will get it across that you will not be intimidated into believing something that can't be proven and that you have ample evidence that xianity is false. Most of my friends tend to be very religious. The way we maintain friendship is that they don't try to convince me that their religion is valid, and, in exchange, I don't bother to go through the effort of explaining how they are so completely wrong. After a single conversation with me regarding their religion (I just simply attack the Old Testament and when they try to focus on Jesus, I explain that the New Testament is nothing without the OT, since that is what the NT is based on).
One other tact that I have used is to explain that there is no evidence that Jesus ever actually existed and is just a character that was created from a compilation of other religions' myths about man-gods and how the circumstances around the character are so similar to other fairy tale characters such as Horus, Mithra and Buddha. When I say there is not a single instance where jesus is mentioned in any writings except the bible, sometimes it will be brought up Josephus Flavius, but then when it's explained that, first he was borne in 37CE, so there is no way he witnessed jesus' existence, and second, the page where he mentions jesus was fraudulent added by Eusebius (the proof is that this page is ONLY in copies that the church has had control of, but is missing from any copies of his manuscripts that were not in church control), and combine that with the fact that the OT is useless as a source of valid information as well, this tends to shut them up really quickly.
My advantage is that I'm pretty boisterous and passionate about how utterly destructive religion is to civilized society, so people have a tendency to want to avoid these conversations with me rather than actively try to engage. Sometimes that a good thing, but, as my wife will attest, sometimes its a bit of a bummer, since I actually enjoy engaging xians in debate, just to watch them squirm. :-)
Fight fire with fire. Find some scripture that shows she's in the wrong and use it against her. We all know there is scripture to support every possible argument. If that doesn't work show her you have no time for the disrespectful and tell her to Fµck off.
If that doesn't work a restraining order followed by arrest for breaching it usually gets the point across. If you wouldn't tolerate her behaviour from a friend there's no reason to tolerate it from a relative. Tolerating bad behaviour is tantamount to support of it.
Don't defend; attack! You have intelligence, knowledge, reason, science, evidence, and logic on your side. They have nothing with which to counter, other than fear, ignorance, medieval dogma, and delusional fairy tales. It's been my experience that an informed, relentless litany of the inanities and failures of theism is sufficient to not only get them to retreat, but to keep them away. My Mormon next door neighbor NEVER brings up religion any longer. And when it inadvertently enters the corners of our conversations, he immediately seeks to extricate himself from any possible need to defend his religion. Ditto a theistic science teacher of my long acquaintance.
I love it when the J.W.'s and Mormons come a-knockin' at my door, I politely tell them they're making a mistake. It's a friendly warning, of sorts, but I agree to converse with them for as long as they wish. This seems to please them initially, since they are so used to getting doors slammed in their faces. I then take the offensive and hit them with a barrage of questions they've never faced before, and which they can't answer cogently. Funny, THEY are always the ones who break it off and slink away. They rarely return.
Here's just one typical exchange:
I ask:
"Do you have your Bible?"
"Yes." (of course!)
"What is your opinion of the passage in II Kings, Chapter 2, verses 23 & 24?"
They usually stare at me at first, reluctant to admit they don't know that particular passage, and embarrassed that an admitted atheist might know their Bible better than they do. Then they get busy looking it up.
"Oh yes, that one." As if they knew it all the time.
"Well, what do you think?"
"About what?" Trying to put off the inevitable.
"Do you think that it's a good example of your benevolent God at work?"
"Well, uh..." I can almost hear their apologetics cranking.
"...uhh, he was a holy man."
Then they instantly realize what a lame answer that was. This is often the point at which they start to excuse themselves. At the very least, they scramble to change the subject.
Religious zealots are fond of waving the Bible around as their source of knowledge and authority; but when they're forced to defend it in its particulars they intuit the poverty of its prurient, pusillanimous prose ( I love alliteration!).
You imply that you are familiar with the Bible. If so, you are loaded with ammunition. The contradictions, inconsistences, depradations, genocides, misogynies, etc. in that miserably ridiculous black book are virtually impossible for them to rationalize and defend with a straight face.
And that's the point! Any discussion you have with your aunt should force HER to do the defending. If, on the other hand, you choose to be defensive, you deserve what you get.
If it were I, I would answer her letters with letters of my own. Let HER dread the next mail delivery.
I once had a local librarian try to defend her concept of the soul as being science-based. She gave me a book that purportedly proved her case. She even implied I wouldn't read it. I not only read it, but I wrote a 50 page critique, exposing the absolute idiocy of it. I went almost page-by-page, pointing out how ludicrous and easily disproven were the claims. She never again brought up the subject.
You MUST take the offensive, if you are ever to be free of your aunt's pious harangues.
Start selling Amway or some other program you have to sign up for to participate in... Find one she isn't interested in of course...Then every time she brings religion up start trying to sell her on the product. Call her up every day and ask if she's ready to buy it yet. Work it in to every conversation. Tell her she doesn't know what she's missing. I promise you she will begin to leave you alone.
Every time she calls bring it up! Make her buy stuff from you. Invite her to the meetings. Bug the shit out of her with it. Eventually she may get the idea.
I found over the years that the 'attack' stance is also used by many theists!
OSU(Oregon) had hosted many debates over the years between theists and the philosophy department or some science prof. What I noticed is that if the theist goes on the offensive right out of the gate, the other party gets all flustered and starts looking like an unprepaired FOOL! One time it was so embarracing that I walked out of this full auditorium, rather loudly mentioning that 'I leave this fiasco to you people!'
Over the years, during classes in philosophy, history, or the sciences, some theist of other would cross swords with the prof. I would most times try to come to the prof's aide. I have a few boxed come backs, but most times I wing it!
One thing I've learned is that religious people, especially of older generations, are impenetrable in their reasoning. Thankfully my mom doesn't push.. i remember handing my crucifix to her and she cried.. but that was it. She didn't ask again.
But when it comes to obstinate, vehement religious people, you simply need to stand up for your beliefs. I feel you on you anxiety.. I'm extremely comfortable speaking eloquently on a computer, but when it comes to speaking to these people in person.. my heart rate and blood pressure go into hyperdrive. It's unfortunate because I want to be reasonable.. but their fundamental and unreasonable views scare me.
You just have to overcome it with experience. I empathize with you. And I hope that helps a little.


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POSTED: Nov 29, 2012 7:20 PM ET
UPDATED: Nov 29, 2012 9:21 PM ET
MIAMI (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs will be punished by the NBA for their decision to send four top players home and not make them available to play in Miami against the Heat on Thursday night.
Popovich Minutes
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said the decision to rest Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green - the core of the Spurs - was in the team's best interest. The league wasn't happy about it, and Commissioner David Stern promised that San Antonio would be penalized.
"I apologize to all NBA fans," Stern said. "This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming."
Stern's statement was released roughly the same time as tip-off in Miami for a nationally televised game.
Gregg Popovich Coaching Tree
Before the game, Popovich said he decided to sit his core when he saw how challenging this particular part of the schedule was for his team. Thursday's matchup ended a six-games-in-nine-nights swing for the Spurs, who won their first five on the trip.
"Everybody has to make decisions about their schedule, about players playing and back-to-backs and trips and that sort of thing," Popovich said before the game. "In our case, this month we've had 11 away games, after tonight. We've had an eight-day trip and a 10-day trip, and we're ending it with four (games) in five nights here. I think it'd be unwise to be playing our guys in that kind of a situation, given their history."
It's not unlike other moves Popovich has made before; in fact, not only did he give Duncan, Parker and Ginobili time off together toward the end of last season, which was condensed by a lockout, he actually flew home to San Antonio with them and took a two-game, pre-playoff sabbatical.
This time, when Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and Green flew home - reportedly on a Southwest Airlines flight on Thursday from Orlando, where the team played one night earlier - Popovich stayed with the Spurs for the trip to Miami.
Duncan is in his 16th NBA season, Parker his 12th and Ginobili his 11th. Green is a kid compared to those guys - 25 years old and a veteran of only 110 NBA games - but Popovich said he chose to rest him as well because Green has played a lot.
Green leads the Spurs with 496 minutes played this season, which was 44th-most in the NBA entering Thursday's games. The Spurs aren't expected to practice Friday, then they face Memphis on Saturday in San Antonio.
"Perhaps it'll give us an opportunity to stay on the court with Memphis on Saturday night," Popovich said. "Historically, when you're on a long road trip, that first game when you come home is really tough. And Memphis is one of the best teams in the league. They're of much more concern to us than playing four games in five nights. It's pretty logical."
Given Stern's statement, it's also logical to think that the Spurs could know their penalty by Saturday as well.
Popovich also said facing the Heat had nothing to do with his decision.
"I've gotten letters from those people before when I've done it and I understand their perspective totally," Popovich said. "If I was taking my 6-year-old son or daughter to the game, I'd want him or her to see everybody. And if they weren't there, I'd be disappointed. So I understand that perspective. Hopefully, people in that position will understand my perspective, what my priority is - the basketball team and what's best for it."
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Popovich's move didn't affect Miami's preparation.
"Each organization has a big-picture view of what they are trying to get accomplished and I think the league respects that," Spoelstra said.
Popovich had Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner, Tiago Splitter, Nando De Colo and Patty Mills in his starting lineup. Besides the four players sent home, Stephen Jackson and Kawhi Leonard are injured, meaning the Spurs had only four substitutes available.
"Obviously," Bonner said, "we're a little short-handed."
The Heat had one lineup move as well. With Shane Battier out with a sprained right knee, Spoelstra moved Rashard Lewis into Miami's starting lineup alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers.


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I'm interested in these dragon boats you have for sale..
much coffee spat reading this. Classic PF
Fucking classic, "need to sell my lizzards asap to pay for ultrasound for baby" to "all reptiles gone, swapped them for a boat"
You couldn't make it up
How the fuck did this not make it to the poolroom? So good.
this ones going straight to the pool room
I am a retarded 747 captain who now sells waterslides in Perth.


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Jeremy Asnes, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cardiology); Director, Congenital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
Departments & Organizations
Pediatrics: Pediatric Cardiology: Adult Congenital Heart Program; Pediatric Interventional Cardiac Catheterization Program
Internal Medicine: Cardiovascular Medicine: Adult Congenital Heart Program
Yale Medicine
Office of Cooperative Research
Dr. Asnes provides diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization services for children and adults with congenital heart disease. Procedures Dr. Asnes performs in the catheterization laboratory include trancatheter heart valve implantation, atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure, transcatheter treatment of aortic and pulmonary valve stenosis, transcatheter treatment of coarctation of the aorta, intravascular stent placement, and coil occlusion procedures. Dr. Asnes has extensive experience in the use of intracardiac echocardiography and is able to perform many of these procedures without the use of general anesthesia.
Dr. Asnes joined the Yale Pediatric Cardiology Section in July, 2005 after receiving additional training in interventional cardiac catheterization at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Education & Training
|Mount Sinai School of Medicine (1991)
|Cleveland Clinic Foundation
|C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
|Chief Resident
|Mount Sinai Medical Center
|Mount Sinai Medical Center
|Mount Sinai Medical Center
|Board Certification
|AB of Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology (2004, recertified: 2012)
Honors & Recognition
Resident Clinician of the Year Award Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY (2000)
Phi Beta Kappa Brandeis University, Waltham, MA (1991)


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Freedom in the World
You are here
2012 Scores
Freedom Rating (1 = best, 7 = worst)
Civil Liberties (1 = best, 7 = worst)
Political Rights (1 = best, 7 = worst)
In a controversial move, Belize's government amended the constitution in 2011 in order to guarantee the state a majority stake in water, electricity, and telecommunications companies. Meanwhile, violent crime and drug trafficking remained serious concerns throughout the year.
Belize achieved independence from Britain in 1981 but has remained a member of the British Commonwealth. Control of the government has since alternated between the center-right United Democratic Party (UDP) and the center-left People's United Party (PUP).
Said Wilbert Musa of the PUP was elected prime minister in 1998, replacing George Cadle Prince, the co-founder of the PUP and Belize's first prime minister. Musa became the country's first prime minister to secure a second consecutive term after the PUP won again in 2003. However, the opposition UDP swept the 2008 national elections, capturing 25 out of 31 National Assembly seats, amid public dissatisfaction with corruption, increased taxation, and rising crime rates. The UDP's Dean Barrow became prime minister.
The Barrow government proposed controversial amendments to the constitution in 2008 that would allow for wiretapping, preventative detention, and the right to seize land where mineral resources are discovered. Opponents argued that this latter measure could easily be abused and did not respect the land rights of Mayan minority groups. The amendments were passed by the National Assembly in August, but the Court of Appeals ruled in March 2009 that a referendum was required as well. The Interception of Communications Act, which would allow for wiretaps and was criticized by opponents for its potential for misuse by law enforcement officials, was enacted on December 2010.
The Barrow government also faced criticism for its 2009 takeover of Belize Telemedia Limited, the country's largest telecommunications company. The Supreme Court upheld the nationalization in 2010, but ordered the government to compensate shareholders immediately. In June 2011, the Belizean Court of Appeals ruled that Telemedia's nationalization was unconstitutional. The Belizean government nationalized Telemedia a second time in July, believing that it had addressed those issues that the court had found to be illegal during the first nationalization process. In July, Prime Minister Barrow also introduced a constitutional amendment to parliament that would ensure government control of all public utilities; the amendment became law in October.
Belize is an electoral democracy. The head of state is the British monarch, who is represented by a governor general. Members of the 31-seat House of Representatives, the lower house of the bicameral National Assembly, are directly elected for five-year terms. The 12 members of the Senate are currently appointed to five-year terms, though Belizeans voted in a 2008 referendum to change to an elected Senate following the next general elections in 2013.
Government corruption remains a serious problem. Belize is the only country in Central America that is not a party to the UN Convention against Corruption. In 2010, three high-ranking Belize City Council members resigned due to allegations of misconduct. A report by the auditor general claimed that the council had misused or failed to account for millions of dollars in municipal funds since 2006.
Belize has a generally open media environment. Journalists or others who question the financial disclosures of government officials may face up to three years in prison or up to US$2,500 in fines, but this law has not been applied in recent years. The Belize Broadcasting Authority has the right to prior restraint of all broadcasts for national security or emergency reasons, though this too is rarely invoked. Despite the availability of diverse sources of media, including privately-owned weekly newspapers, radio and television stations, concerns over government control of the broadcast industry remain after the nationalization of Telemedia. While the government does not restrict internet access or use, internet penetration is low due to lack of infrastructure and high costs.
Residents of Belize enjoy full freedom of religion, and academic freedom is respected.
Freedoms of assembly and association are generally upheld, and demonstrations are usually peaceful. A large number of nongovernmental organizations are active, and labor unions remain politically influential despite their shrinking ranks. Official boards of inquiry adjudicate labor disputes, and businesses are penalized for labor-code violations. However, the government has done little to combat antiunion discrimination, and workers who are fired for organizing rarely receive compensation.
The judiciary is independent, and the rule of law is generally respected. However, concerns remain that the judicial system is vulnerable to political interference. A 2011 report by the American Bar Association scored Belize poorly on 16 out of 28 factors in evaluating its prosecutorial and criminal justice system. Defendants can remain free on bail or in pretrial detention for years amid a heavy case backlog; about one-fifth of the country's detainees are awaiting trial.
Violent crime, money laundering, gang violence, and drug trafficking continued to be serious concerns in 2011. Belize now has the sixth highest homicide rate in the world. Officials estimate the perpetrators are convicted in only about 10 percent of homicides. In September, the government brokered a truce among rival gangs in response to complaints made by residents and alleged gang members of police brutality by the Gang Suppression Unit. Extrajudicial killings and the use of excessive force remain concerns. Police misconduct is investigated by the department's internal affairs office or an ombudsman's office. Belize was added to the U.S. list of "major" drug producing and transit countries in 2011 because of large numbers of drugs and weapons seized along its border with Mexico and weak anticorruption measures. According to the International Center for Prison Studies, Belize has the world's 9th-highest prisoner-to-public ratio, with about 439 inmates per 100,000 inhabitants. Prisons do not meet minimum international standards.
While the government actively discourages ethnic discrimination, it has designated only 77,000 acres as Mayan reserves, and there has been little action on the 500,000 acres of disputed land following a 2004 Inter-American Court on Human Rights ruling in favor of Mayan property rights. However, the June 2010 Supreme Court ruling recognizing the land-use rights of 38 Mayan communities could allow them to block development on communal property. Most Spanish-speaking immigrants in the country lack legal status and face discrimination.
Violence against women and children remains a serious concern, as does the prevalence of child labor in agriculture. Gender disparities are profound; Belize ranks 100 out of 135 countries on the World Economic Forum's 2011 Global Gender Gap Report. There have been reports of discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS, despite the government's efforts to educate the public about the illness. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons also face legal and societal discrimination. While female same-sex sexual activity is legal, male same-sex sexual activity is illegal and can result in 10 years imprisonment. The United Belize Advocacy Movement is challenging the constitutionality of this law and is scheduled to go before the Supreme Court in early 2012. Belize is the only country in the Americas that has no women in its elected lower house of government.
Belize is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for prostitution and forced labor. The majority of trafficked women are from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. The trafficking of workers from South Asia and China for forced labor has also been uncovered in recent years. There is also concern that Belize is emerging as a sex tourism destination. The U.S. State Department's 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report removed Belize from the Tier 2 Watch List but continued to categorize it as a Tier 2 country.


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Stock Image
In a class all its own.
For people who demand speed and acceleration from their outboards, the OptiMax Pro XS is the only choice. Mercury engineers leveraged the Mercury Racing heritage to develop this family of high-performance Direct Injected outboards. The result is an outboard family that blows away the competition when it comes to power, durability, performance and fuel efficiency.
Nothing on the water today is faster or more proven than the OptiMax Pro XS. And we're proud to introduce the newest addition to this family, the 150hp OptiMax Pro XS. In head-to-head tests, the 150 Pro XS outran the competition by almost 5 MPH while delivering 15% better fuel economy! The 150 Pro XS is a perfect fit for those anglers looking to increase the performance of their 18-foot fishing boats.
With remarkable acceleration and awesome performance, the Optimax Pro XS lineup has created a class of its own. Nothing else is faster or more proven than the OptiMax Pro XS.
Powerful and Smooth: The OptiMax Two-Stage Direct Injection System produces consistent performance and unmatched throttle response by providing a constant supply of atomized fuel and air. The Pro XS also offers a Higher Wide-Open-Throttle RPM Operating Range, giving you more propeller options to maximize the performance of your boat. Visit the mercurymarine.com Prop Selector to choose the prop that's right for you.
Light and Fast: The compact 60-degree V6 block combines the smooth-running characteristics of a powerful V6 engine with a slim, lightweight design, making it a great choice for almost any type of boat. It consistently outperforms other DI engines in holeshot, mid-range acceleration and top-end speed.
Run with the Pros: The tournament-tested Mercury ProXS lineup is the choice of thousands of performance-minded anglers. Only OptiMax ProXS engines feature durable and responsive Carbon Fiber Reeds to control airflow into the engine crankcase, while dome-Shaped Piston Heads direct the fuel-and-air charge to the spark plug more efficiently. This results in amazing power, outstanding durability, and excellent running quality. In head-to-head tests, the 150hp ProXS outran the competition by almost 5 MPH – while delivering 15% better fuel economy. In addition, we outfitted the 250hp ProXS with Solid Billet Aluminum Mounts to keep the engine from turning or twisting under high torque (20-inch models only).
Long-Lasting Stainless: OptiMax is built with more stainless steel and corrosion-resistant components, which translates to saltwater durability, longer intervals between maintenance, and lower cost of ownership. In addition, our lower-pressure direct-injection system also provides superior component durability and longevity.
Ultimate Efficiency: The innovative OptiMax Direct Injected system delivers the ultimate in efficiency, squeezing more miles and performance from every drop of fuel. The unique shapes of the OptiMax-exclusive Dome-Shaped Pistons and combustion chambers enhance fuel economy and lower emissions by efficiently directing the fuel/air charge to the spark plug. The OptiMax Air Compressor provides a steady charge of cooled air for maximum combustion efficiency.


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Customized TV Listings are available here: www.latimes.com/tvtimes
Click here to download TV listings for the week of Sept. 29 - Oct. 5, 2013 in PDF format
The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Jimmy Kimmel Live Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Dr. Phil Rachael Ray CBS Steve Harvey Craig Ferguson Hell's Kitchen "America's Next Top Model"
The Story of Film: An Odyssey The new episode "Post War Cinema (1940s)" examines how World War II changed the film industry. It includes commentary from screenwriters Paul Schrader and Robert Towne and director Stanley Donen. 7 p.m. TCM
We Are Men The men of this new sitcom's title are four guys (Tony Shalhoub, Kal Penn, Jerry O'Connell, Chris Smith) with more than a half-dozen failed marriages between them, who live in the same apartment complex. 8:30 p.m. CBS
The Blacklist In this new episode, Red and Liz (James Spader, Megan Boone) go under cover to stop an assassin who disguises his killings in the headlines of everyday tragedies. With Parminder Nagra and guest star Isabella Rossellini. 10 p.m. NBC
Castle Castle (Nathan Fillion) has less than 24 hours to live after being exposed to a stolen chemical weapon capable of killing thousands of people in this new episode. With Stana Katic. 10 p.m. ABC
Independent Lens The new episode "Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey" tells the story of singer Arnel Pineda's overnight transformation into rock stardom. 10 p.m. KOCE
iHeartradio Music Festival, Night 1 Filmed in Las Vegas and airing over two nights, this concert features performances by Katy Perry, Elton John, Keith Urban, Queen with Adam Lambert, Muse, Tiesto, J Cole, Robin Thicke and Fun. 8 p.m. KTLA
Citizen Kane Orson Welles directs and stars in this 1941 tour de force, which tops plenty of public and private "best movies of all time" lists. Joseph Cotten also stars. 8:15 p.m. TCM
CBS This Morning Alexis Ohanian; Jerry O'Connell; Earth Wind & Fire. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS
Today Daniel Radcliffe; the Affordable Care Act; Chris Kimball; Bill O'Reilly. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC
KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA
Good Morning America (N) 7 a.m. KABC
Good Day L.A. James Denton ("Grace Unplugged"); Chloe Bennet ("Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."); swimmer Diana Nyad; Roy Firestone (N) 7 a.m. KTTV
Live With Kelly and Michael Daniel Radcliffe ("Kill Your Darlings"); Jerry O'Connell. (N) 9 a.m. KABC
The View Jason Biggs; James Spader. (N) 10 a.m. KABC
The Wendy Williams Show Gina Gershon ("House of Versace"); Ingrid Hoffman. (N) 11 a.m. KTTV
The Real Story With Gretchen Carlson (Series premiere) (N) 11 a.m. Fox News
The Talk Jerry O'Connell, Tony Shalhoub, Kal Penn and Chris Smith ("We Are Men"); Cristina Ferrare. (N) 1 p.m. KCBS
The Queen Latifah Show Valerie Harper; Keke Palmer; Avril Lavigne performs. (N) 2 p.m. KCBS; 7 p.m. KCAL
The Dr. Oz Show The white mulberry; extreme health habits; the appendix. (N) 2 p.m. KABC
Dr. Phil (N) 3 p.m. KCBS
Steve Harvey (N) 3 p.m. KNBC
Katie Embryo adoption; Gina Gershon. (N) 3 p.m. KABC
The Ellen DeGeneres Show Record release party for Justin Timberlake's upcoming CD. (N) 4 p.m. KNBC
The Doctors (N) 5 p.m. KCAL
The Arsenio Hall Show Max Greenfield; Giancarlo Esposito; A$AP Ferg and A$AP Rocky perform. (N) 11 p.m. KTLA
Charlie Rose (N) 11 p.m. KVCR; 11:30 p.m. KOCE
Chelsea Lately Sarah Colonna; Loni Love; Julian McCullough. (N) 11 p.m. E!
Conan Demi Lovato; J.B. Smoove; Moby. (N) 11 p.m. TBS
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Magic Johnson; Marjorie Johnson; Gary Clark Jr. performs. (N) 11:34 p.m. KNBC
Late Show With David Letterman Sean Hayes; Sting performs. (N) 11:35 p.m. KCBS
Jimmy Kimmel Live Danny DeVito; Wendi McLendon-Covey; The Lumineers perform. (N) 11:35 p.m. KABC
Tavis Smiley Paul Krugman, the New York Times; M. Night Shyamalan. (N) 12:30 a.m. KOCE
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Kevin Nealon; Elizabeth Olsen; The Avett Brothers perform. (N) 12:36 a.m. KNBC
The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson Simon Helberg; The Naked and Famous perform. (N) 12:37 a.m. KCBS
Nightline (N) 12:37 a.m. KABC


text: Bienvenue au Quebec! From chateaus to sidewalk cafes to that famous joy de vivre, Quebec has retained more than the French language from its ancestors. Sure, sophistication, history and spirited joviality intermingle in cosmopolitan cities like Montreal and Quebec City, but don't stop there. Canada's ever-wide-open spaces let you explore protected parks, soaring mountains, rolling hills and rugged coastlines. The verdant countryside, dotted with candle-lit bistros, provides fuel for green getaways—and produce that can hold its own against anything Provence. Soak up the rustic charms of Eastern Townships, and check out the artsy offerings of Baie St Paul, birthplace of Cirque du Soleil. Get your outdoor thrills on the ski slopes of The Laurentians, hike the peaks of Parc de la Gasperie, or simply let the stunning cliffs above the Saguenay River drop your jaw. And, oh yes, make sure to stop in dynamic, diverse Montreal, and vibrantly ambient Quebec City. And if you need a little pick-me-up, a café au lait is never far from reach. Apprecier!


text: Kimberly Lankford shares her most popular advice of the year. By Kimberly Lankford, Contributing Editor December 31, 2012 Thank you for another great year of questions -- more than 5,000 from readers in 2012. Hearing from you gives me great insights into the key issues to cover in the column, and I pass many of your questions along to my colleagues to help us stay on top of the topics that you care about the most.When going through the columns I wrote in 2012, I discovered common themes. Here are some of the issues that you were most interested in during the year and links to columns that remain timely. At the end of the year, readers were very concerned about how to protect their homes and finances from natural disasters -- especially after seeing the devastation from Hurricane Sandy. As snowstorms start to hit, readers want to know what to do to get ready. Some of the advice I wrote about before Hurricane Sandy can help people prepare for other types of natural disasters, too. After the summer and fall storms, readers also wanted help getting their homeowners insurance claims paid smoothly, and they asked how to find assistance if they didn't have coverage. People who didn't have flood insurance had some of the biggest problems collecting on claims after the storms. Readers also continue to have a lot of questions about what will happen to health insurance over the next few years, now that the Supreme Court has upheld the health care law. See Your Health Care: What's Next? for an explanation of changes that have already taken place and those that will be coming soon. Also see Take Advantage of Expanded Preventive Health Care Coverage and Why Some Health Insurers Don't Cover Preventive Care for more information about changes that have already taken effect. The column Make the Most of Health Insurance Changes in 2013 provides strategies for getting the most out of your health insurance coverage at work this year. And this column tells you how to keep health coverage if you change jobs before 2014, when insurers will no longer be allowed to reject people because of preexisting conditions. Advertisement People older than 65 always have a lot of questions during fall open enrollment about strategies for filling the gaps in Medicare. And as the year begins and they start to pay their new premiums for Medicare Part B and Part D, they want to know whether they can contest the high-income surcharge. Some have asked about the rules for changing to a five-star Medicare Advantage plan in their area, even though open enrollment is over -- see Some Can Switch Medicare Advantage Plans Midyear for details. A lot of people who are continue to work after age 65 and have high-deductible health insurance policies through their employers want to know whether they can forgo signing up for Medicare so that they can continue contributing to a health savings account -- see How to Make HSA Contributions After Age 65. And, if they must sign up for Medicare, they ask whether they can still make tax-free withdrawals from their HSAs for out-of-pocket medical expenses -- see Health Savings Accounts After Medicare. I get questions throughout the year about IRA required minimum distribution strategies for people age 70½ and older -- see Answers to Questions About Required IRA Distributions and Easy Ways to Calculate Required Minimum Distributions. Readers are also very interested in strategies for making the most of their Social Security benefits -- see How to Qualify for the Maximum Social Security Benefit, How to Check Your Social Security Statement Online and Understanding the Social Security Earnings Test for Early Retirees. I also fielded a lot of questions from readers last year about saving for college -- for their kids, grandkids and other relatives -- and about making the most of education tax breaks. See Rules for Deducting 529 Plan Contributions and What Grandparents Need to Know About Opening 529 Accounts. Also see Tax-Free Money for College about the documentation needed for 529 withdrawals and Using 529 Plan Funds to Pay Rent. Some readers asked whether their savings would affect student financial aid -- see How Roth IRAs Affect Financial-Aid Eligibility. And they were interested in learning how to help their children or grandchildren open their own brokerage accounts, with low investing minimums and no fees -- see How to Buy Stocks for Children and Open Low-Minimum Roth IRAs for Kids. Advertisement As always, saving on taxes was a big topic. See Don't Forget These 5 Tax Breaks for frequently overlooked deductions, Claim a Tax Credit for Summer Camp Costs about the child-care credit and Take Advantage of Education Tax Breaks for information about the American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning tax credits for college expenses -- some of the breaks readers ask about the most. Also see Tax Tips for Freelancers and the Self-Employed and Which Tax Records to Keep and Toss. If you discover tax breaks you've forgotten to take in the past, see How to File an Amended Tax Return to take advantage of them now. Making the most of tax breaks for retirement savings was another hot topic in 2012. See 2013 Retirement Account Contribution Limits, How the Self-Employed Can Save for Retirement, Rules for Making IRA, 401(k) Catch-up Contributions and Making Roth IRA Contributions in Retirement. Readers also wanted to know how to make the most of their accounts when they leave their jobs (see Rolling a 401(k) Over to a Roth) and how to access their accounts when they need the money (see Roth IRA Withdrawal Rules and Borrowing From a 401(k) to Make a Down Payment). It's always great to hear from other military families with questions about their special personal finance needs and benefits. I wrote 10 Financial Tips for Military Families on Veterans Day with advice for making the most of those special benefits. Also see Best College-Savings Options for Military Families and Financial Resources for Military Families. And readers asked about the key financial issues to consider when deciding to leave the military. See Leave the Military for a Civilian Job? about the decision and about the value of the benefits you'd need to replace. Finally, readers continue to have a lot of questions about protecting themselves from ID theft and the next generation of scams. See Protect Yourself From New Phishing Schemes, Protect Yourself From ID Theft on Vacation, and Protect Your College Student From ID Theft. For advice that is timely right now, see Protect Yourself From New Year's Scams. I look forward to continuing to hear from you in 2013. You can always reach me at email@example.com. Happy New Year! Got a question? Ask Kim at email@example.com. Show comments


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ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, Utah — I am seated on a narrow ledge waiting for the setting sun to add a golden glow to the famous Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. A tripod is wedged between my knees. There is not a lot of room here, and a misstep could result in a nasty fall.
Far below, a lone hiker with a backpack walks by — just a small figure diminished by the large arch above him. Then, the light of the setting sun arrives. The red rock begins to glow, and everything else — the trail's 480 feet of elevation gain, the almost precarious perch and more — is swallowed up by the grandeur of the scene.
There are more than 2,000 natural arches in Arches National Park, and although they may not be golden, they do serve up a visual feast. However, the scenic dining table has become a bit crowded, particularly in summer, when more than 500,000 visitors pass through the gates of one of our more spectacular national parks. This despite temperatures that can soar to above 110 degrees. People planning to visit this extraordinary park are advised by the rangers to arrive during the spring, fall and winter months.
We took that advice and decided to visit in late winter. As famed photographer Tom Till, who lives in nearby Moab, Utah, said of the park, "It is a place where it is not so formidable as Zion National Park in terms of getting around. There is pretty good road access, and there is always something new to find." But it is much more manageable in the so-called off-seasons.
Arches is not a big park — just a compact 120 square miles with mostly paved or maintained roads. It is very much a hiker's park and many people do just that. Without a doubt, hiking is the best way to explore, but there is one exception. The Fiery Furnace area requires visitors to sign up for a ranger-led hike because it is easy to become lost among the twists and turns, and that can invite tragedy. There are two ranger-led hikes a day, and reservations fill up months in advance.
Unlike natural bridges that are created by flowing water, the arches are the product of a different type of erosion. Some 150 million years ago, soft red sandstone was deposited here that eventually became the "fins" seen throughout much of the park. Over the centuries, these fins were eroded by wind, ice and water. Some of their walls collapsed, and the result was the arches.
My longtime partner, Gloria Cortes, and I have been to this park several times, but each time we tell ourselves that we must come back. Despite the park's relatively small size, there is so much to see that just one or two visits, or even three or four, don't do you or the park justice. Park interpretive specialist Sharon Brussell, who observes that "the park has pods of coolness," quickly adds, "We're not saying don't come to Arches, but don't come when it is so crowded. For example, in the summer, arrive before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Do like the animals do — take a nap in the afternoon."
Arches also is one of the older national parks. President Herbert Hoover designated it a National Monument in 1929, but his proclamation covered only a small part of the area, really just two disconnected segments. President Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded the area in 1938, and Lyndon B. Johnson added more terrain to the monument in 1969. Two years later, President Richard Nixon upgraded Arches' designation to that of a national park. Writer Edward Abbey was a ranger at Arches and kept a series of journals that became the foundation for his 1968 book, "Desert Solitaire," which drew more attention to the region.
What many visitors do not realize, although many movie and commercial producers do, is that Arches is the centerpiece for some of the best film locations to be found anywhere. The surrounding area offers such a wide range of visual options that a location scout could fill several notebooks with his or her observations.
For example, there are the amazing Fisher Towers. Not heard of them? Well, actually, you have seen them. Remember the recent Citibank commercial of a woman buying climbing gear and then you next see her on top of a stunning red rock formation? That formation is part of the Fisher Towers, the tallest of which — the Titan — soars more than 900 feet above you. Getting there involves an easy 16-mile drive northeast of Moab. The hiking trail is well marked, and there is a campground and restroom. Allow about three hours to hike the trail, and be sure to carry water. The towers face west and become very hot during the summer months. Also, watch out for people above you. Fisher Towers are famous among rock climbers, and the setting is spectacular. Luke Malatesta, a well-known climber, says, "As big and as cool as the Towers are, they still are pretty delicate. You get on top, and there are these crazy little ecosystems with sego lilies and crypto gardens created from seeds dropped by birds."
For a different experience, head 32 miles southwest of Moab to Dead Horse Point State Park and one of the most photographed vistas in the world. Rising 2,000 feet above the Colorado River, this park has miles of easy hiking and biking trails and jaw-dropping views. But how did the park get such a bleak name? Legend has it that in the late 1800s or early 1900s cowboys herded wild horses onto the point, which was used as a corral. Then, for unknown reasons, some of the horses were left in the corral, where they died of thirst. Among the movies shot here were "Thelma & Louise," with its dramatic end in which the two women drive off a cliff into the Colorado River far below, "Mission: Impossible 2" and "John Carter," among others.
Another popular place is Castle Valley, where scenic rock formations greet you at the entrance. Standing watch over the valley are formations called the Priest and Nuns, the Rectory and Castle Rock. Located along La Sal Mountains loop road, Castle Valley can be spectacular from either direction, but the favored route for most travelers is from the south because you get to see the area while descending from the mountains. Rumor has it that people have driven off the road while staring at the view.
There are also impressive arches outside the national park such as the very large Corona Arch and the grand Wilson Arch, which looms along Highway 191 about 25 miles south of downtown Moab. In fact, the variety of the breathtaking scenery and things to do — from sky diving to Hummer tours to white-water rafting on the Colorado River, plus the amazing park itself — will keep us coming back.


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I got the information below from PregnancyWeekly. My wife is telling me that she is experiencing Braxton Hicks. We are now in the home stretch to see are first bundle of joy.
Braxton Hicks are intermittent contractions of the uterus that some women experience during their pregnancy. They were first described by Dr. John Braxton Hicks in 1872, an English gynecologist, and are often referred to as practice labor because they are thought to help prepare your body for the real deal.
Some women have a lot of Braxton Hicks (particularly with second or subsequent pregnancies), while others report not feeling any. They may be short, barely noticeable and infrequent; or they may last for several minutes, stop you in your tracks, and occur several times an hour. Some women experience them from early in their pregnancy through to the end, while others don�t feel any until just a couple of weeks before they go into real labor. However, most women notice Braxton Hicks contractions in the second half of their pregnancies, particularly in their third trimester. They generally last between 30 and 60 seconds and occur less than four times an hour. They often feel like a tightening of the front of your abdomen or pelvis, but you may not even know you are having one unless you place your hand on your belly and notice it�s rigid and hard.
Real labor pains are different for every woman and even with each pregnancy; however, many describe them as being a dull ache in the lower abdomen and back with pelvic pressure, or like strong menstrual or diarrhea cramps.
Many doctors and midwives believe that Braxton Hicks may help tone your uterine muscles and promote blood flow to the placenta. And although true Braxton Hicks do not have any effect on your cervix, false labor (when they occur closer to actual delivery) can actually help your cervix dilate and efface.
Certain things can trigger Braxton Hicks, such as physical activity, touching your belly, movement of the baby, having sex, dehydration, or having a full bladder. If you are experiencing a lot of contractions, try changing positions or lying down on your left side, walking, and drinking water. If the contractions persist, call your doctor.
So how do you know when they�re just Braxton Hicks and when it�s time to head to the hospital?
Braxton Hicks:
- are irregular in intensity
- are irregular in pattern
- are infrequent
- do not increase in intensity or frequency
- are more uncomfortable than painful
- disappear if you change positions or activity level, or drink water
Real labor pains:
- increase in intensity and frequency
- have a pattern to them
- do not lessen or disappear if you walk, drink water, or rest
- are painful
Call your doctor if your contractions progress in intensity, frequency, and regularity or if you have other signs of labor such as abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, increased vaginal discharge, increased pelvic pressure, or low back pain.
What are your experiences with Braxton Hicks?


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Reading Room
The Reading Room stands at the heart of the Museum, in the centre of the Great Court. Completed in 1857, it was hailed as one of the great sights of London and became a world famous centre of learning.
The Reading Room is currently closed.
Design and construction
By the early 1850s the British Museum Library badly needed a larger reading room. Antonio Panizzi, the Keeper of Printed Books (1837–56), had the idea of constructing a round room in the empty central courtyard of the Museum building.
With a design by Sydney Smirke (1798–1877), work on the Reading Room began in 1854. Three years later it was completed.
Using cast iron, concrete, glass and the latest heating and ventilation systems, it was a masterpiece of mid-nineteenth century technology. The room had a diameter of 140 feet (approximately 42.6m) and was inspired by the domed Pantheon in Rome.
However, it is not a free standing dome in the technical sense. It has been constructed in segments on a cast iron framework. The ceiling is suspended on cast iron struts hanging down from the frame and is made out of papier mache.
A number of bookstacks were built surrounding the new Reading Room. They were made of iron to take the weight of the books and protect them against fire. In all they contained three miles (4.8 kilometres) of bookcases and twenty-five miles (forty kilometres) of shelves.
Early years
The Reading Room opened on 2 May 1857. Between 8–16 May, the library was opened up for a special one-off public viewing. Over 62,000 visitors came to marvel at the new building.
Those wanting to use it had to apply in writing and were issued a reader's ticket by the Principal Librarian. Among those granted tickets were: Karl Marx, Lenin (who signed in under the name Jacob Richter) and novelists such as Bram Stoker and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Restoration and exhibition space
In 1997 the books were moved to a new purpose-built building in St Pancras and the bookstacks were taken down. As part of the Great Court development the interior of the Reading Room was carefully restored. This process saw the papier mâché interior of the dome repaired and the original blue, cream and gold colour scheme reinstated.
When it reopened in 2000, the Reading Room was made available to all Museum visitors for the first time. It housed a modern information centre, the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Centre, and a collection of 25,000 books, catalogues and other printed material, which focused on the world cultures represented in the Museum.
The Reading Room was used for special exhibitions from 2007 until 2013.
Previous exhibitions held in the Reading Room include:
- The First Emperor: China's Terracotta
From 13 September 2007 until 6 April 2008
- Hadrian: Empire and
From 24 July until 27 October 2008
- Shah 'Abbas: The Remaking of
From 19 February until 14 June 2009
- Moctezuma: Aztec
From 24 September 2009 until 24 January 2010
- Fra Angelico to Leonardo:
Italian Renaissance Drawings
From 22 April until 25 July 2010
- Journey through the afterlife:
ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead
From 4 November 2010 until 6 March 2011
- Treasures of Heaven:
saints, relics and devotion in medieval Europe
From 23 June until 9 October 2011
- Hajj: journey to the heart of
26 January – 15 April 2012
- Shakespeare: staging the
19 July – 25 November 2012
- Life and death: Pompeii and
28 March – 29 September 2013
The Museum is now consulting widely about the future use of the Reading Room.
There are public facilities in each of the Museum's curatorial and research departments including study rooms and, in most cases, a library. Find out more about the Museum's libraries.


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The Sunny Girl Zoanthids Coral parades a rich bloom of colors (green, blue and white), all of which work in unison to provide a beautiful eco positive aura. This coral makes a perfect addition to any aquatic tank.
The Zoanthids Coral are a genus that fall within the cnidarians family, and are regularly referred to as Zoas, Zoos and Button Polyps. They have a major presents in most coral reefs throughout the world today. Needless to say, these spectacular species of coral are common and reproduce rapidly. Their commonality, along with the rich array of patterns and colors make them one of the most commonly collected and sought after Coral in the world today.
This genus of coral is more often than not found as detached polyps, attached only by a fleshy stolon or a mat that can be created from small pieces of sediment, sand and/or rock. You can come across the Zoanthids Coral in a variety of colonizing formations and in some large array of color combinations.
Another huge appeal of these corals is that they are extremely hardy, which helps them to withstand even the harshest conditions and a sunscreen mechanism known as zooxanthellae. This combination of factors has made the Zoanthids Coral virtually impervious to most elements.
Although the Zoanthids Coral has been known to survive the harshest of conditions, there are things you can do to provide them with the ideal care required to prosper and live up to their outmost potential.
This includes;
1. Provide your Zoanthids Coral with low to moderate lighting
2. Moderate Water Flow. Note that excessive flow may prevent them from opening fully.
3. Low to mid tank placement.
4. While every effort should be made to provide the Zoanthids Coral good water quality, they generally deal very well with lapses in water quality.
5. Ideal water temperatures should be between 75°F and 80°F.
6. pH levels should be between 8.2 – 8.4 and Alkalinity between 8° to 10° Dkh.
For all the splendid factors associated with the Zoanthids there is thing that's important to keep in mind. All species of Zoanthids contain a certain degree a highly potent neurotoxin called Palytoxin, which can be toxic to humans, especially the Palythoas genus. Palytoxin toxin can found inside the coral's mucus and mesenteries. This toxin has no affect on neighboring colonies; rather It serves as an anti-predator defense system. In order to prevent the risk of Palytoxin poisoning it is important to wear gloves when handling these Corals or even placing your hands inside the aquatic tank in which they reside in.
Most Coral aficionados view the Zoanthids Coral as the ideal choice for virtually any home aquarium. These marvels of evolution come in 300 unique species that range from the beautiful multi-colored floral-bouquet like arrangements of Zoanthus, to the unique and attractive silhouette of the Isaurus. The Zoanthids Coral has evolved into a strong environmentally dominant coral, that very comfortable within most habitat.
One of the most distinctive features of these uncanny Coral is that they are neither coral nor an anemone, they are technically stoloniferans. A stoloniferans can be distinguished by the presence of a runner that connects adjacent polyps, known as the stolon.
The Zoanthids Coral has smooth, flat, broad oral disks with tentacles that extend outward from the margins. Their tentacles are always found in multiples of six, and the mouth is grooved with a gully called a siphonoglyph. This gully is lined with thousands of throbbing cilia that aid in feeding and water exchange.
The genus of Zoanthids Coral is found in shallow waters, especially those in the Zoanthus family, tend to be vibrantly colored, which requires higher light levels. Meanwhile, genus that are darker usually require lower light levels. Zoanthids Coral from areas with stronger water movement tend to have abridged stiff polyp bodies, shorter tentacles, and smaller oral disks. These Corals have a tendency of forming dense low growing mats, oozing less mucus, and usually extremely territorial. The Zoanthids Coral from areas of lower water motion have a tendency to be larger, with longer tentacles, more flexibility and wider oral disks. They secrete more mucus and tend to form smaller colonies.
The ease of care that an average Zoanthid Coral requires is a huge extra bonus for newbies, as well as seasoned enthusiasts, who either don't want or can't dedicate the time and energy on corals. And with its lavished array of colors and textures l will keep any coral enthusiast coming back for more.


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In the back of every taberna there lies its 'culina' - the kitchen. Here you can share recipe ideas and discuss other food related topics. This of course includes Bacon!
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Facility Name: Equinox on Wall Street
Location: New York City
Opened: 2000
Square Footage: 38,000 square feet
In a Former Life: A Chase Manhattan bank inside a historic building on Wall Street
Cost of Renovation: Equinox would not disclose this information but said it was a substantial cost.
Fun Fact: The club transformed the vault into the men's locker room.
A 1912 New York City skyscraper received a new lease on life in 2000 when Equinox transformed part of the 37-story building into an upscale 38,000-square-foot health club. The former Bankers Trust Company Building, renamed 14 Wall Street, spans a city block across from the New York Stock Exchange.
Eight years ago, Equinox purchased the space formerly owned by Chase Manhattan Bank and inserted 20,000 square feet of health club amenities inside the banking hall shell, which had 36-foot high ceilings, warm brown paneling and Venetian plaster walls. By working with the New York architecture firm Rockwell Group, the club mixed historic design elements with the latest equipment and amenities for a more modern look.
"It captures a unique, authentic vibe of the financial districts while adaptively reusing a memorable piece of architecture," says Paul Boardman, special advisor to the CEO of Equinox. "We created a fitness institution surrounded by the world's financial institutions."
The building, which is on the historic tour of the Wall Street district, appeals to area stockbrokers and corporate executives, says Saulo Espaillat, general manager. To make the executives feel at home, Equinox used blues, browns and mustard yellow and added executive touches, such as marble.
"It has a corporate bank feel, and it looks like a modern Grand Central Station," he says. "A lot of presidents of companies enjoy that look."
The prospective members also appreciate the history of the building, especially those who remember when the facility was a bank instead of a high-end health club.
"We had a former bank teller visit our club, and he was amazed at the transformation," Espaillat says.


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Plan and share activities for IYC 2011
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In order to do so you need to be part of the IYC network. Please log in or sign up now.
Join the IYC Network
In this section, your ideas for IYC2011 can start to become reality. Here, you can submit activities for consideration and, after a short review, they will be listed below and any related events will populate the IYC calendar. Activities listed here have a clearly defined theme and describe how, when, and where they will take place.
If you are not quite ready to submit a plan, keep working at it and come back soon. And remember, you can always browse and search this forum to find out what others are planning and even add your own comments to the discussion.
Currently viewing all activities tagged with competition in topics - See all activities
I Youth International Congress of Chemistry Jorge Ruiz-Davila | added on Oct 18, 2010 | Peru We at the Universidad Interamericana para el Desarrollo will celebrate the 2011 International Year of Chemistry by organizing the Chemistry World Youth Congress.
Dr O'Too City of Chemistry Iris Caris | added on Oct 14, 2010 | Netherlands Dr O'Too is a chemistry game designed for 2011 IYC. The game will be launched on facebook in November 2010 and can be played on http://apps.facebook.com/dr_otoo . On www.drotoo.nl Dutch schools can join our competition. The best may compete in the Dr O'Too Battle at the Dutch Chemistry Day the 21th of May 2011.
|celebrating chemistry, competition
|general public, educators, secondary school students
KAPNAYAN 2011: Chemistry Quiz Show Dexter Necor | added on Oct 12, 2010 | Philippines KAPNAYAN 2011 is the local name for Chemistry in the Philippines. The KAPNAYAN Quiz Show will showcase high school students in the whole region. This event promotes awareness and appreciation in chemistry leading them actively participation in chemistry.
|competition, science fair, seminars, hands-on activities
|highschool students, teachers
Undergraduate Organic Competition Bilal Kaafarani | added on Sep 27, 2010 | Lebanon An Undergraduate Organic Competition is scheduled on Feb 7, 2011 to celebrate IYC 2011. The competition is open to ALL students who completed Organic I and Organic II courses. Teams of two students will be competing using Clickers with the "Fastest Responders" tool. The session will be videotaped and will be posted on Youtube.
|organic chemistry, competition
|lebanon universities, students, faculty, staff, guests
A Poster Competition for Kenyan Students Shem O. Wandiga | added on Sep 24, 2010 | Kenya In preparation for the IYC2011 celebrations, the Kenya Chemical Society (KCS) in collaboration with Pan Africa Chemistry Network (PACN) announces a poster presentation competition for Kenyan university chemistry undergraduate students on "Chemistry in Everyday Life."


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I am writing a script that is supposed to run every day to check if there are any new security updates for Ubuntu.
If there are, it will make a list of those updates, it will download them, and then run some tests.
The purpose of this script is to make sure that no security updates break our code running on the Ubuntu.
I am not an experienced user with Ubuntu, so forgive me if this question seems trivial. I have researched quite a bit, and found information like this Which is useful I presume to those who are home-users or such. But I can not install extra packages, nor does this provide any solutions for doing it without installing packages, (I tried every answer that did not include downloading new packages)
So to refine my question, I would like a command that will fetch all the security updates (so I can see them as a list, and include it in the daily report of which security packages have updates) and then also download and install them. The testing and such I do myself (obviously) I just need help understanding which commands to run.
Since scripts will be running these commands, they do not need to be human-readable in any specific way, so they can be long and extraneous, or such, and preferably 1-liners that do not require pre-configuration.


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The only choice for genuine BMW drivers.
We are passionate about maintaining your BMW at the peak of its technical perfection.
The sole purpose of Genuine BMW Parts is to guarantee your continued driving pleasure.
Genuine BMW Parts are developed with the same inspiration and attention to detail as the cars themselves, and help maintain the integrity and value of your BMW.
In many cases we continue to support our vehicles for up to 15 years after their discontinuation from production, meaning you can rest assured of having the best possible back up when you need a part.
Only authorised BMW dealers can ensure that, with the combination of Genuine Parts and factory trained technicians, every part of your BMW will continue to function in perfect harmony, just as it did on the day it was first delivered.


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By Jerry Briggs
ATLANTA, Ga. — The rematch turned out to be a mismatch Saturday.
UTSA beat Georgia State for the second year in a row, this time cranking out an impressive 38-14 victory in front of a sparse crowd at the Georgia Dome.
UTSA vs. Georgia State game stats
Last year, the Roadrunners fell behind by two touchdowns in the first half, then had to rally to edge the Panthers 17-14 in overtime in San Antonio.
Eleventh-hour dramatics were hardly necessary in the return game for surprisingly undefeated UTSA, which is playing in only its second year of football.
"I felt like we could win, but I thought we'd have to play our best," UTSA coach Larry Coker said. "I'm feeling very proud for our team and for our coaches. Our game plans were good, and our guys executed them."
The third-year Panthers (0-3) took a 7-3 lead in the first quarter on Ben McLane's 84-yard touchdown pass to Albert Wilson.
The Roadrunners (3-0) retaliated with an 84-yard play of their own, a kickoff return by Kenny Harrison that set up the first of three touchdown runs by running back Evans Okotcha.
From there, the rout was on in front of an announced crowd of 11,496.
"We wanted to make a statement," said cornerback Erik Brown, who had one of three interceptions for the Roadrunners. "We came here to prove something, that we're not just a new Division I team that's going to barely make it.
"We wanted to prove that we're a real up-tempo team and that we can play with anybody."
Despite losing running back David Glasco and wide receiver Kam Jones to minor injuries, the Eric Soza-led Roadrunners at one point reeled off 35 unanswered points in the middle quarters.
The Panthers couldn't stop the streak until backup quarterback Ronnie Bell fired a 25-yard TD pass to Wilson at the end of the third period.
It didn't do much to salve the hurt feelings in the home team's locker room.
"There was no lack of effort," Georgia State coach Bill Curry said of his team's spotty defense. "There was execution by the other team that was very good. There were cases where we had the guy covered and simply didn't make the play."
Once again, Soza was solid.
He hit 17 of 24 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns, both of them on highlight-reel worthy catches — one by Aaron Grubb in the second quarter and the other by Marcellus Mack in the third.
In addition, a punishing running game produced 225 yards and 4.2 yards per carry.
Not to be outdone, the defense was physical from the start, holding Georgia State to 307 yards and forcing four turnovers.
As a unit, UTSA finished off the game much better than it did in previous victories this season over South Alabama and Texas A&M-Commerce.
"We had a much better finish today," Coker said. "I think three of our drives we were just using clock, I wouldn't say not trying to score, but not really doing some things that would have made it easier to score. I think the way we finished, I was very pleased with that."


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The Order of the Knights Temporal, long believed the most staunch and sacred defenders of Time, have fallen to apostasy, heresy, and obscenity! We have the sworn testimony1 of several members of the Order that they have hosted secret4 rituals inducting members into the heretical Order in a manner contrary to the Command of Time! These apostates have received their title from "future selves" rather than--yes! I know it is shocking!--rather than waiting for it and joining the Order in proper Time.
I fear that there is little choice put to purge the Order with flame.6
1 Well, it's not really sworn exactly.2
2 But at least we didn't coerce confessions with torture this time.3
3 Mostly because it's really hard to torture people on a forum. What are you going to do, link them Youtube clips of Nicolas Cage films or something?
4 Okay, they weren't really secret. You can just go back and read them on earlier pages.5
5 Which is probably worse!!!
6 Actually, we don't seem to have any flame at the moment, so we may have to purge the Order with semenatedcancerbabyicedcoffee instead.
7 Reading unreferenced footnotes also fails to respect Time. Repent, heretics, lest an Inquisition8 come.
8 It's okay to expect this one, as it isn't Spanish.


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Modern Fabric Studio
offers high quality fabric in rich and vibrant colors perfect for quilting, sewing and creating anything our imaginations desire and they supply patterns and sewing tools to assist our sewing adventures! The owner is devoted to providing the newest fabrics and accessories at competitive pricing, with fast shipping and reliable friendly service.
Modern Fabric Studio is offering TEN - 1/2 yards of Loulouthi, the newest collection by designer Anna Maria Horner, to one lucky reader! The winner will get to choose their selections from the Loulouthi Quilting Cottons available in the Modern Fabric Studio shop. You can check them out here! The Loulouthi cottons, flannels, and voiles are all available at an amazing price right now!! And, you're all invited to...
3. Follow Modern Fabric Studio on their facebook page or sign up to receive the Modern Fabric Studio Newsletter (sign up here on the right side of that page) for a third entry. Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (one entry)


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One of the most spectacular rivers in the East, the Penobscot begins at Ripogenus Gorge and drops over 70 feet per mile through a narrow, granite walled canyon into Class V Exterminator and the Cribwork. The excitement continues as you travel 14 miles through a series of steep drops and calmer sections on your descent under the shadow of Mount Katahdin, Maine's highest peak. For intermediate to expert rafters.
Kennebec River - minimum age 8
Penobscot River - minimum age 12
Dirt bikes/ATV's not allowed.
Smoke free facility.
Accommodations - $10 to $60 per person
Kids 8-15 raft for 1/2 price on all weekdays.
|Map Legend
|Northern Outdoors
Route 201, The Forks, Maine


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Seagate has announced its latest storage milestone. The company achieved storage density of 1 terabit per square inch.
This achievement promises to double the storage of current hard drives when it's introduced later in the decade. The company claims it will allow for 3.5-inch hard drives of up to 60 terabytes, all in the next 10 years.
For its milestone, Seagate used the next-gen recording technology heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). It is expected to succeed the current Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (PMR) tech, which was introduced in 2006 and expected to hit its 1TB per square cap in the next few years.
Current 3.5-inch drives are capable of about 620 gigabits per square inch whereas 2.5-inch drives manage 500 gigabits per square inch. Being just over 1 terabit per square inch, the first generation of HAMR drives should already double the capacities.
While we're not the ones to ruin anyone's milestone, we're still more interested in immediate benefits for users, such as price drops of existing HDDs, as primitive as they may seem now.
Published in Cloud
Seagate hits 1 Terabit per square inch milestone
by on20 March 2012
- font size decrease font size increase font size
3.5'' drives to soar to 60TB in next 10 years
Tagged under


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Are you an artist or do you want to be?
Get inspired, Get graphic!
Draw landscapes, characters, and moments from the story and submit them to email@example.com with subject line "Addison Dark Art" for an opportunity to be included in the Addison Dark pages image gallery. Be a part of the storytelling!
Turn MY novel into OUR graphic novel!
Read me live,


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Tampa City Council
Trail Stop gets beer license
Contributing writer
Tampa City Council approved a cereal malt beverage license request from David Mueller for the Trail Stop on Sept. 10. The license will allow the store to sell beer, as long as it no more than 3.2 percent alcohol by weight.
Marion County Commission Chairman Dan Holub told the council that the four miles of 330th Road west of Tampa will be finished with center and side stripes before winter. The four miles of Limestone Road south of Tampa will be chip-sealed in the spring.
Mayor Tim Svoboda told the council that new street signs, posts, and caps have been ordered. The posts are 12 feet long, and four feet will be underground.
Don Zaideman presented a plan to turn the ball diamond so home plate is in the southwest corner, so balls hit over the fence wouldn't go toward his and other houses on Lincoln Street. Zaideman said he didn't think the change would be very expensive.
"I've talked to many people in the community, and I haven't heard one positive thing about moving it," Russ Kerbs said.
Ty Peterson said he talked to people using a golf course next to homes in Wichita and learned that any golfer causing damage to those homes is liable for the damage. He suggested Zaideman could report damage to the sheriff and get compensation from whoever hit the ball.


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W.Va.: It's OK to drink the water
Green is good, red not so much for 300,000 West Virginia residents after state officials announced Monday that the "do not use" order on tap water was being lifted by zones.
West Virgnia American Water said it has been flushing the 1,700 miles of pipes affected by Thursday's chemical spill, and that untainted water is beginning to flow in the Charleston area. High-density, high-need areas that include hospitals and nursing homes are getting water first.
"Thank you for your patience!" the water company tweeted Monday. "Finalizing the "Do Not Use" Lift Process. Will go to media, on website (web-based map), automated phone calls."
The color-coded map will show where the water is again safe for drinking, showering, cleaning and other normal daily uses. Use had been limited to toilet flushing.
There is one more hitch. Customers will need to flush their own home plumbing systems once their water is declared safe. Details on that process haven't been released yet.
The company was providing flushing guidance via its website, media, and call center and will "be offering customers a credit of 1000 gallons, which is more than will what likely be required to flush the average residential home," the company said.
The emergency began Thursday following complaints of a licorice-type odor in the tap water. The source was identified as 4-methylcyclohexane methanol, which had leaked out of a 40,000-gallon tank at an industrial facility along the Elk River. Residents of nine counties — 15% of the state's population — have gone without clean tap water since.
State officials say they believe about 7,500 gallons of chemical leaked through a one-inch hole. Some of it was contained before reaching the river, so it's not clear how much entered the water supply downriver.
Dozens of people have sought treatment at hospitals for symptoms such as nausea, but there have been no reports of serious illness.
"Most people did not know a whole lot about this chemical,'' Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin acknowledged Sunday. "We've had to do a lot of research.''
The company that stored the chemical, which is used to wash coal, said it had "very, very low toxicity" and posed no danger to the public. But Jeff McIntyre, president of the water company, demurred: "We don't know that the water is not safe, but I can't say it is safe."
Bill Arthur, owner of The Anchor, a Charleston restaurant since 1936, bought $20,000 worth of food last week that he can't sell. He said if he reopened he'd have to restrict his fare to bottled beer and shots of whiskey, "like the Long Branch Saloon,'' the infamous Dodge City bar.
Schools, day-care centers, hotels and many restaurants in the affected area remained closed Monday, the Associated Press reported.
Officials are hoping normalcy will return soon.
"I ask all West Virginians to continue to be patient as we work to safely restore service to the affected areas," Tomblin tweeted Monday.
Contributing: Rick Hampson


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There were rumors the 2011 GSM/AT&T iPhone would have an HSPA+ radio for faster download speeds but when Apple announced the iPhone 4S, while they said it would do 14.4 mbps, they only listed it as an HSPA device.
Now, some are of the opinion that anything under 21 mbps should qualify as HSPA+, so iPhone 4S with only 14.4 mbps speed shouldn't qualify. However, 3GPP release 7 doesn't mandate that faster speeds are necessary to qualify as HSPA+ -- a device can support any 3GPP release 7 feature and still be classified as HSPA+. The Qualcomm chipset in iPhone 4S uses 3GPP features, and so it's an HSPA+ radio, speed be damned.
So while iPhone 4S did indeed get its HSPA+, it didn't get the 21 mbps or 42 mbps speed to go with it that many were hoping for. Also, Apple chose to neatly sidestep the whole 4G/fake 4G issue, so we won't open that can of worms here either.
Note: This applies only to the GSM/AT&T iPhone 4S. The CDMA/Verizon/Sprint iPhone 4S retains the same EV-DO rev A
More: AnandTech
Thanks: @nerdtalker, @justin_horn, @varek, @shuxley


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I have been playing with MadCodeHook trying to hook methods in a C++ class in a 32 bit application.
In 32 bits, the usual "__thiscall" calling convention will require handcrafted assembly to recover the "this" pointer passed by ecx and pass it on to the "next hook".
I can declare the handler/nexthook as class members and follow the technique shown here viewtopic.php?t=66.
I am curious if this is still the recommended way, or if the library has changed since then and you recommend a different method.


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stellas necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 192 diseños de 47 diseñadores freelance.
Logo needed for bar/restaurant including the name of the bar ("Swig") and the tagline ("Charcuterie and Suds for the Curious"). Logo will be used for front facade of building, as well as promotional materials and other purposes.
Demographically, Swig is looking for the 25-50 year old. Swig can be described as an inexpensive, fun, intimate, neighborhood joint. Features include 19 draft beers, comfort foods primarily focused on sausage sandwiches, etc. Seats about 60 people inside, another 75 on outside patio during warm weather. Stainless steel tables and bar with black walnut trim.
We're looking for a logo that "puts a smile on people's faces" and makes them curious enough to come in. Swig will be a casual place, where people can feel comfortable "come as they are," but it will be well-kept and have a bit of hipness, too.
- Sign for front facade.
- Logo for promotional purposes (letterhead, advertising, etc.)
- Logo or simplified version of logo will also appear on shirts, and maybe hats and aprons.
- Prefer script or cursive, but open to creativity. Would suggest you submit designs with different font options.
- Leaning strongly toward deep gold and red as our colors.
- Formats: Would prefer to have logo available in EPS, PDF and SVG formats.
- Item 1...
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Enter your zip code to view estimated shipping for this item.Zip Code:
The displayed shipping price is for '1' PatrolEyes DV5 DV5-2 480P External Camera with Wide Angle Lens. To find the shipping cost for all your items, please view your cart.
International shipping rates are only available during checkout


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Keystone XL critics said they amassed more than 1 million comments against the pipeline to carry oil from Canada, showing what they called grassroots opposition to the US$5.3-billion project.
Keystone will "contribute dramatically" to global warming and pose an "unacceptable risk to water," according to a letter posted on the website of environmental group 350.org that visitors could electronically sign and submit to the State Department, which is reviewing the comments.
[np_storybar title="EPA slams State Department's Keystone XL pipeline review" link="https://business.financialpost.com/2013/04/23/epa-slams-state-departments-keystone-xl-pipeline-review/"%5D
The U.S. environment regulator on Monday said the State Department must take a harder look at climate and other impacts of the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL oil sands pipeline before the Obama administration issues a final decision on the project.
The department collected comments through Monday on its draft environmental analysis that is seen favouring project supporters. Keystone foes said the level of opposition should give President Barack Obama cover to reject TransCanada Corp.'s pipeline, which is backed by oil companies and labor groups as a source of jobs and greater U.S. energy security.
"The president said that he needed a movement to compel him to act," Daniel Kessler, a spokesman for 350.org, said in an e-mail. "People are more fired up about this issue than any other enviro issue in a generation."
The Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental groups also encouraged their members to submit comments opposing Keystone. The State Department plans to post all comments, although none were on its website Monday.
Social Media
Social media tools make it easier to rally on a particular issue, and therefore the effect of mass mailings is diminished, said Julian Zelizer, a history and public affairs professor at Princeton University in New Jersey.
"That said, it still gives some measure of sentiment outside the Beltway and can at least cause legislators to think twice before casting a vote," Zelizer said in an e-mail.
An administration rejection of Keystone would probably be challenged by Republicans in Congress who support the pipeline. Last month, 17 Democrats joined every Senate Republican in voting for a non-binding resolution endorsing Keystone XL. The House Energy and Commerce Committee last week voted 30-18 to approve and send to the full House a bill that would allow the pipeline to be built without the administration's approval.
While the State Department's March draft environmental impact statement makes no recommendation about building Keystone, it found that the pipeline from Alberta to the U.S. Gulf Coast presented no significant environmental risks.
EPA Criticism
Its effect on climate change, for example, would be minimal because Alberta's oil sands would be developed anyway. Tar sands mining and processing releases more greenhouse gases than drilling and refining conventional oils.
Environmentalists dispute the State Department assessment on the climate-change impact. Their position appeared to receive a boost in comments the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency submitted yesterday to the draft analysis.
The State Department needs to conduct a more complete economic review to show that railroads and other transport options existed to carry Alberta oil sands to refineries if Keystone was rejected, the EPA said. It also said the State Department's final environmental analysis should "more clearly acknowledge" that cleaning up oil sands crude is more difficult than conventional oil.
Oil Groups
Polls by an analyst at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a research group based in Washington, found that 74% of Americans support approving the project, compared with 68% of Canadians in a separate survey. Most Americans said they care more about North American energy independence than reducing greenhouse gases contributing to climate change.
"It is in the best interests of all Americans to build the pipeline to ensure our long-term energy security, a dependable supply of Canadian oil to state of the art U.S. refineries and the creation of thousands of American jobs," the American Petroleum Institute, the Association of Oil Pipe Lines and 13 other groups said in comments to the State Department.
API also led a mass mailing effort through the website energycitizens.org that encouraged visitors to sign electronic letters encouraging Secretary of State John Kerry to approve the pipeline.
"Every day we continue to delay this important piece of U.S. energy infrastructure inhibits our economic growth and weakens American security," the letter states.
Eight Agencies
Sabrina Fang, a spokeswoman for the Washington-based oil group, whose members include Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp., said the campaign generated about 230,000 comments to the State Department.
State Department officials will review the comments submitted since the draft analysis was issued March 1. Eight agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Department, will advise the State Department as it weighs whether Keystone is in U.S. interests.
The State Department has said it will also accept additional public comment during the next phase of the review before issuing a national interest determination.
Besides environmental risks, the review includes an evaluation of what Keystone means for U.S. energy security, the economy and foreign policy.
Since TransCanada applied to build the pipeline across the U.S.-Canadian border four years ago, the project has galvanized groups including 350.org and the Sierra Club in San Francisco that view Obama's decision as a sign of his sincerity in meeting a second-term pledge to tackle climate-change risks.
'Glaring Error'
The "most glaring error" in the State Department analysis is its "assertion that the tar sands will be developed at the same rate regardless of whether Keystone XL is built," the Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation, and 14 other groups critical of Keystone wrote.
The State Department is reviewing the project because it crosses an international border. Paul Bledsoe, a former White House aide to President Bill Clinton, said on issues like Keystone that become high-profile ultimately the decision rests with Obama.
"While various departments and agencies have technical authority over different regulatory matters, the political reality is on major issues the White House has the final say," Bledsoe, who is now a senior fellow on energy at the German Marshall Fund, said in an e-mail. "In the White House-centric modern executive branch, everyone knows where the buck stops."