text:
Please complete the Contact Form and we'll be in touch.
Contact Form
17 Red Bank Drive Erial NJ 08081
Educate yourself on a variety of financial topics.
A host of financial tools to assist you.
A dynamic library of videos.
These magazine-style flipbooks provide helpful information.
Financial terms from A to Z.
Manage your taxes and prepare for the upcoming tax season.
July 15, 2019 @ 03:43 PM
Market data delayed per exchange rules.
All quotes are in US Eastern Time (EST).
Market data provided by ICE Data Services. ICE Limitations. Powered and implemented by FactSet. Legal Statement.
Paul Genoese is a registered representative registered to transact business with clients in NJ, PA, DE & FL. Paul Genoese is advisory licensed in NJ & PA. Paul Genoese is insurance licensed in NJ, PA, DE & FL. If you are not a resident of the states noted above, all investment-related information on this site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or offer to sell securities or insurance services over the internet. Securities offered through H.D. Vest Investment ServicesSM, Member: SIPC, Advisory Services offered through H.D. Vest Advisory Services SM, 6333 North State Highway 161, Fourth Floor, Irving, TX 75038, 972-870-6000. Investments & Insurance Products: Are not insured by the FDIC or any federal government agency. Are not deposits of or guaranteed by the bank or any bank affiliate. May lose value.
Brandywine Benefits Group is not a registered broker/dealer or registered investment advisory firm.


text: "Ladies and Gentlemen of Worth, please come closer and have a look... " In a little stand with numerous maps, the human Advantos sells land-rights with a shining smile and jovial talk at bargain prices. He sells even squatter rights (first to settle is the owner). About 20% of the lands do not exist or belong to someone else. About 30% do not have even that value, or have other problems attached- swampy, cursed, haunted, Old Indian/Pet Cemetery (tm)... Be assured you will not see this man in the same city twice.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Sleep is Essential
Sleep is very necessary to the well-being of
mind and body. Most people spend close to 30% of their time either sleeping or
trying to. Not only does sleep provide needed time for rest and repair of your
body, but your mind needs sleep as well, in order to process the events and
stresses of the previous day and to dream. If people are deprived of sleep and
dreams for too long, they will start to dream while awake or fall into a state
where they sleep for a few seconds or minutes in a kind of cat nap. Extreme
sleep deprivation can lead to a form of psychosis, with delusions and
hallucinations. Fortunately, most people don't ever get to that point.
How Insomnia Occurs
Pain, stress, worry, anxiety and panic,
illness, the side effects of drugs, uncomfortable or strange surroundings,
noise, travel, and the disruption of your normal rhythms and cycles can all
play a part in insomnia. Insomnia may take several forms. Some people have
difficulty falling asleep, some wake in the middle of the night and others wake
too early, after having had too little of their well-deserved rest. Other
people have dreams and nightmares which disturb their sleep. Sleep comes
because your brain begins to filter out incoming stimuli and gradually shifts
your attention from outer to inner awareness. Your body awareness becomes less
and quickly, or gradually, you fall asleep. When your mental activity, pain,
emotional state, noise and discomfort keep your attention above the sleep
threshold, you don't sleep. The biochemicals and the hormones that the body
produces in an aroused, excited or fearful state work directly against the
process needed for going to sleep. In going to sleep, the parasympathetic or
calming aspect of the nervous system comes into play, while when you are
stressed or excited the sympathetic nervous system is activated, causing you to
stay awake, ready for fight or flight. In order to go to sleep, you have to
shift to the parasympathetic, relax, breathe deeply and let your mind move into
feelings and images, rather than verbal thought.
How to Sleep Like a Baby
Is there anything you can do about
insomnia? Natural medicine has a lot to offer to the insomniac. Most of the
ways to fight insomnia involve helping the brain and body to relax and slow
down and to shift your awareness to a more internal focus. Herb that have
sedative qualities mimic the brain's own system for going to sleep by altering
neuro-transmitters and stimulating the natural opiates produced by the brain.
Homeopathic medicines restore the natural sleep rhythms and balance, and heal
emotional states which prevent sleep. Here are some of the most effective
herbal and homeopathic sleep aids
Herbal Sleeping Potions
The herbal medicines for sleeping calm the
nerves and help induce drowsiness and relaxation. The most common of these is
chamomile tea, which acts as a mild sedative and a cup before bed can soothe
jangled nerves. The most potent of the herbal sedatives is valerian root, which
by itself can often induce sleep if given in sufficient doses. Valerian can be
given as a boiled decoction of the root, in capsules, tincture or solid
extract. Taking too much can make you nauseous. Passion flower is a very good
nervine for decreasing the anxiety which interferes with sleep. It is usually
combined with skullcap and hops to make an effective anti-insomnia formula.
Calms Forte' uses a similar formula in tablet form and has proved effective for
mild cases of insomnia.


text:
How to Use
Key for Map 1
A. The Taft family's Mount Auburn address.
Questions for Map 1
1. Locate the suburb of Mount Auburn. Alphonso Taft moved from his home at Fourth and Vine streets (downtown) to Mount Auburn in 1851. What were the advantages and disadvantages of living downtown? Why might Alphonso Taft have moved his family from downtown to Mount Auburn? Why do families move to residential suburbs today? Are the motives different?
2. The Tafts' new home was still located only one mile from Alphonso's downtown law practice at Third and Sycamore streets. What means of transportation would have been available during the middle of the 19th century? Why was it important to reside close to your work?* The map on the screen has a resolution of 72 dots per inch (dpi), and therefore will print poorly. You can obtain a high quality version of this map, but be aware that the file will take as much as two minutes to a load with a 28.8K modem.


text:
Aqua Terra 150M Omega Co‑Axial Master Chronometer 34 mm
Steel on steel
* Recommended retail price (incl. VAT)
Encircled by diamonds, the ladies' Seamaster Aqua Terra is the true definition of elegance.
With a symmetrical 34 mm case, this stainless steel model features a glossy skin-tone dial with a date window at 6 o'clock and 11 diamond indexes in rhodium-plated holders.
The watch is presented on an integrated stainless steel bracelet and is driven by the OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibre 8800, certified at the industry's highest standard by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS).
5-Year Warranty
All OMEGA watches are delivered with a 5-year warranty that covers the repair of any material or manufacturing defects. Please refer to the operating instructions for specific information about the warranty conditions and restrictions.
Anti-magnetic Anti-magnetic
Chronometer Chronometer
Date Date
Diamonds Diamonds
Transparent case back Transparent case back
Technical Data
- Between lugs: 16 mm
- Bracelet: steel
- Case: Steel
- Case diameter: 34 mm
- Dial colour: Silver
- Crystal: Domed scratch‑resistant sapphire crystal with anti‑reflective treatment on both sides
- Water resistance: 15 bar (150 metres / 500 feet)
Movement CALIBER OMEGA 8800
Power reserve 55 hours
Type Self winding
Self-winding movement with Co-Axial escapement. Certified Master Chronometer, approved by METAS, resistant to magnetic fields reaching 15,000 gauss. Free sprung-balance with silicon balance spring, automatic winding in both directions. Rhodium plated finish with Geneva waves in arabesque.
Find a store
Order a Catalogue
Get the latest edition of our official Omega catalogue "The Collection".


text:
Tag Archives: pantyhose
Venus in Malaysia
Asians are typically not Christian
Western people never take into account the fact that Asian women are usually not Christian. We are not eduacted in Christian values. This is why Asian people can own a dog but eat it if they run out of food. This is why Japanese still hunt whales and why Malaysians will literally eat anything.
Western men think of femdom in terms of hiring a lady to give them a certain femdom experience. Like ordering from a menu? This is all wrong.
In Japan, a man pays for an hour of a femdom lady's time and she does to him what she wants to do to him.
e.g.: Watch the videos carefully and see that compassion, consideration and concern over the man's wellbeing is not a factor.
Japanese ballbusting videos are widely available on-line and these show how much the women enjoy inflicting pain and the power it gives them. They are not horny for the man or turned on by the man. They probably have no sexual interest in the man. They are turned on by the power and the effect of their actions.


text:
The wrestling program is nearing the end of their first season and some of the wrestlers will get a chance to qualify for state after the regional meet Feb. 11 and 12 at Walton-Verona High School.
First-year head coach Matt Shearer has his wrestlers practicing moves to get them to state.
"We have been doing a lot of wrestling and doing conditioning to improve their stamina to do more matches in one day," he said. "Trying to work with them on refining their moves and focus on their weaknesses and improve on their strengths. At this time it is too late to show them any new moves."
Moves that the Braves are working on that can be translated into high percentage takedowns would be like single-leg and double-leg.
According to an article published on ezinearticles.com, a single-leg takedown is a move where the wrestler will reach for their opponent's leg and pulls it towards their chest. Once that has been accomplished, the wrestler will turn the leg to force the opponent to the mat. A double leg takedown is the same move as the single, but you are grabbing both of the legs.
Shearer said he wants his wrestlers to avoid the low percentage takedowns like a headlock, where it will be more like a throw and doesn't allow you to pin the opponent.
Junior Damien Lucas, a captain for the Braves, said that the team is looking good going into the tournament this weekend.
"This doesn't look like a first-year program," he said. "We have grown huge leaps in the last couple of months and I think this year is still a growth year and that we will be stronger next season with a year of experience."
The team has a record of 5-11 going into the regional meet and Lucas said he feels like he can make it to the state meet.
"There is a good chance, but anything is possible," he said.
Lucas, who transferred from Ryle High School, had a year off between wrestling seasons and said that coach Shearer has been a good coach for the wrestling program at GCHS.
"He has been great about handling the stress for the team," Lucas said. "Next year will definitely be a better year."
With the meet going from a single-day to a two-day meet, Shearer and Lucas both agree it will help this program execute on the mats.
"It will be nice to have the regional meet split up so that the wrestlers get their rest," Shearer said.
Shearer expects his wrestlers to do well and his tip for them is to start at the basics.
"If you can capitalize on the basics, and you're good at them, how can anyone stop them if you're perfect," he said.
At the time of press, the price of admission was still being determined. Log on to www.grantky.com for ticket price information. First day weigh in takes place at 4:30 p.m. with the first match set for 5:30 p.m.
The second day weigh is 8 a.m. with the first match set for approximately 9 a.m.
Add new comment
Read and share your thoughts on this story


text:
About the Community & Neighborhood Development Program ||| Currently Funded Activities ||| Results ||| Proposal Qualifications and Process ||| Materials Available from Us ||| How To Contact Us
Expansion of Individual Choice and Agency Access to Resources
Preferences ||| Activities
These activities help increase the access of lower income households to housing and business development resources through the provision of information and other non-monetary resources, or increase the capacity of community groups to improve such services. They include activities to provide housing counseling and to improve the skills and credibility of low-income renters to strengthen their search and negotiation skills as part of the City's overall Fair Housing strategies. These activities address Objective N in the Five-Year Plan and generally assist households with very low incomes in the under 30% of median range.
Funds will be targeted to the operating costs of activities which provide information or other non-monetary resources to low- and moderate-income persons, such as housing counseling, training, or mediation.
The 2007 target goals are to co-sponsor (with other units of the Department) one Citywide conference of neighborhood associations, and publish one compendium of neighborhood association self-help activities and resources. Benchmark measures include the existence of viable neighborhood associations in every area of the City and progress toward the City's fair share goals.
For information on how to submit a proposal in this category, click here.
The Commission
will give preference to activities that equip individuals with the skills
needed to improve housing tenure.
The Commission will give preferences to activities which either address broader housing opportunities for people of all races and other protected classes, fair housing goals, or activities which support the expansion of affordable housing opportunities throughout the community.
Ongoing / currently funded activities in this category include:
Briarpatch / Tellurian: Downtown Outreach
Community Action Coalition: Housing Counseling
Independent Living: Home Share
Tenant Resource Center: Mediation


text:
How to Roll a Blunt - Redman
"Educate them [children] out there. Weed is not a drug, it's a plant. It's just, like, collard greens or some shit—just with flavor."
Kid Cudi - Marijuana
Mothers lock up your daughters, Fathers lock up your stashes—Kid Cudi is coming to an amphitheater near you!
People are Awesome
Suddenly my Knife-Spoon trick doesn't seem all that impressive.
The White Stripes - Live at Peppermint Parade
Help me out here, I'm having trouble thinking of another 2-member band that's reached even remotely the same level of fame and acclaim as TWS.
Girl and Robot
For once, Frankenstein's Monster does the right thing.


text:
Culture and Values | Beyond A.T. Kearney Culture and Values | Beyond A.T. Kearney
Relationships at A.T. Kearney last a lifetime. Regardless of how long you stay with the firm, the experience you gain and the relationships you develop will be with you throughout your career. Once you join us, you will always be a member of the A.T. Kearney family. We are known for our collegial culture, and we continue to connect with our colleagues even after they leave the firm. Our flourishing global alumni network—more than 18,000 strong—is a testament to our commitment to our people and their commitment to A.T. Kearney.


text:
Mail & Cargo
The following only shows the sub-categories for current listings. Approximately 2,000 sub-categories are available.
Air Cargo and Package Express Service
Boxes-Corrugated and Fiber
Bus Lines
Cargo Nets
Delivery Service
Fork Lifts
Mail Order and Catalog Shopping
Mailing Lists
Mailing Machines and Equipment
Mailing Services
Moving Truck Rental
Packing and Crating Service
Post Offices
Shipping Information
Transportation Brokers and Consultants
Transportation Information
Truck Transportation
Truck Transporting
Trucking-Local Cartage
Trucking-Motor Freight
Twines and Cordage
Warehouses-Commodity and Merchandise
Affiliate Program
Recommend a category
Submit A listing
Legal, Disclaimer, and Privacy Policy
Update Listing
Frequently Asked Questions
Button Program
This page, and all contents, are Copyright © 2019 by BUYERS USA, All Rights Reserved. Buyers USA, Transformation Technologies, Infignos.com, and New Quest City are Service Marks of Buyers USA, Anniston, AL
Number of Visitors: 7761533 Last Date Visit: 07/19/19


text:
Are you looking for the perfect web hosting for your site? So your quest has ended with success! The ideal hosting is running on reliable European servers with professional technical support and has an incredibly attractive prices. This is exactly what Morene.Host offers for you.
Our servers are placed in the Netherlands, and are running in data center with the level Tier III+. We use the KVM virtualization, provide profitable loyalty program and flexible payment system, and else we work according to Five Rules: Quality, Comfort, Wallet, Team, Сlient. For more information about these rules and our prices - visit our website.
Stay tuned, and your site will feel comfortable like a fish in water!
For all customers - a nice bonus: free license for Windows on your VPS!
Our tariff plans for VPS (KVM virtualization):
Amphiprion Intel Xeon E5-2643 1x3.5 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 20 GB RAID10, IPv4 2, IPv6 10. Price $8 in month.
Delphinidae Intel Xeon E5-2643 2x3.5 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 35 GB RAID10, IPv4 2, IPv6 20. Price $16 in month.
Malapterurus Intel Xeon E5-2643 2x3.5 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 60 GB RAID10, IPv4 2, IPv6 30. Price $28 in month.
We have developed special three additional tariffs, which are characterized by increased resources and hard disk.
We invite you to try our new tariffs with SSD!
Serrasalminae Intel Xeon E5-2660 4x2.2 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 120 GB SSD RAID10, IPv4 2 IPv6 50. Price $56 in month.
Huso-Huso Intel Xeon E5-2660 4x2.2 GHz, 12 GB RAM ECC, 160 GB SSD RAID10, IPv4 2, IPv6 100. Price $75 in month.
Acipenser Intel Xeon E5-2660 4x2.2 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 200 GB SSD RAID10, IPv4 2, IPv6 100. Price $100 in month.
Our tariff plans for dedicated servers:
Carcharias Intel Xeon E5-2620V2 6x2.10 GHz, 32 GB RAM, 2x 240 GB SSD, IPv4 2, IPv6 /64. Price $135 in month.
Scyliorhinus Intel Xeon E3-1271V3 4x3.6 GHz, 32 GB RAM, 2 x 240 GB SSD, 2 x 2000 GB SATA, IPv4 2, IPv6 /64. Price $175 in month.
Carcharodon Intel Xeon E3-1271V3 4x3.6 GHz, 32 GB RAM, 4 x 240 GB SSD, IPv4 2, IPv6 /64. Price $245 in month.
There is guaranteed 100 Mbit channel on all dedicated servers!
Additional IPv4 $2.
Additional IPv6 $0.10.
Contact information:
Phone: +373 775 96666
E-mail: email@example.com
Skype: morene.host
Jabber: email@example.com
Telegram: @hostmorene
Viber: +373 775 96666
WhatsApp: +373 775 96666
Live Chat: https://morene.host
Also - the ticket system in the billing system.
Buy a server for a period of 3 months, you will save 5%, for 6 months - 10%, and paying for 9 months and more - 15%! All discounts are generated automatically during the payment process.
In addition to the proposed tariffs, we are ready to offer you an individual tariff - for this just contact us using any of these methods above.
You can find all available payment systems which operate in automatic mode in sectionHelp. The most convenient method of payment for you is absent perhaps in the list. Contact support - and we will resolve this issue.
Our website: https://morene.host


text:
Iowa: Wasendorf owes $14.1 million in taxes, fines
IOWA CITY, Iowa Russ Wasendorf Sr. duped customers, regulators and his colleagues as he pulled off a 20-year, $100 million fraud at his Iowa-based brokerage. The state's tax collectors say he and his ex-wife also duped them, and that the former couple owes Iowa more than $14.1 million in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties.}
The Iowa Department of Revenue filed an assessment in November against Russ and Connie Wasendorf, alleging they underreported their taxable income between 2001 and 2009 by about $75 million and dodged $6.6 million in taxes as a result, according to court records released this week.
Wasendorf is in jail awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to misusing more than $100 million in funds that customers invested with his now-bankrupt brokerage, Peregrine Financial Group. He was arrested last year after attempting suicide in his car outside the company's headquarters in Cedar Falls and left a note confessing to a scheme in which he misused customer funds to support his financial empire and created phony documents to cover his tracks.
- Wasendorf pleads not guilty to fraud charges
- Prosecutor: Wasendorf already admitted to fraud
- Wasendorf pleads guilty to 20-year, $200 million fraud
The details of Wasendorf's tax liability were made public in a filing in federal court in Chicago by a receiver that is in the process of liquidating Wasendorf's far-flung personal and business assets to reimburse his victims. The assessment alleges that the Wasendorfs underreported their income by about $8.3 million per year.
U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer granted the receiver's request Friday to suspend any efforts by the department to enforce the assessment rather than litigate the issue now. The revenue department had agreed to the court order, which puts the process on hold until further notice by Pallmeyer. The order "preserves all rights the department and State of Iowa may have with respect to assessing and collecting any amounts lawfully due."
Randall Lending, an attorney for the receiver, said legal proceedings involving Wasendorf's assets had been suspended earlier in the case to prevent a rush to win judgments against Wasendorf that could give "one set of potential creditors preference over others." He said it's not clear how the department's tax bill would be treated compared to claims from others.
"That would have to be dealt with at a later date. There's a question even as to whether it's a valid claim. Just because they made a notice of assessment, doesn't mean it's valid," he said. "That would have to be looked into, adjudicated and determined."
Once the stay is lifted, the Wasendorfs would have 60 days to appeal the assessment. The couple was divorced in 2010, and Russ Wasendorf remarried another woman shortly before his attempted suicide.
Iowa Department of Revenue spokeswoman Victoria Daniels said Friday that the agency had no choice but to agree to the stay, which is routine in such cases.
"We wanted to assert our rights to collect any taxes that are due to the state of Iowa," she said.
Lending said the receiver has sold off Wasendorf's condominimum in Chicago and other properties, and continues efforts to locate and liquidate his other assets, including his partial ownership of Romanian development firms.


text:
Protect your mission-critical infrastructure with INDUS enterprise-wide security management and operational services, including secure communications design and installation, information assurance, and IT security certification and accreditation. Apply INDUS expertise to enhance and grow your communication infrastructure and ensure full compliance with all security requirements.
Drive your enterprise to new levels, leveraging INDUS' comprehensive application design, development, testing, and application maintenance expertise to optimize your system assets. Be confident that INDUS' industry and international certifications, expert development teams, and broad industry partnerships will result in the most cost-efficient and effective mission support applications possible.
Modernize your supporting IT infrastructure, taking maximum advantage of available Mobile and Cloud technologies to achieve higher capacity, availability, and flexibility, while maintaining and retaining your legacy infrastructure investments. Apply INDUS' demonstrated approach and solution sets to tailor, scale, and design a solution that delivers all of these benefits as well as out-year cost-savings.
Realize your business and mission-critical needs by deploying analytics tools to develop actionable and real-time, situational awareness capabilities. Deploy INDUS' business analytics and BIG Data expertise to harness, integrate, and usefully deploy large volumes of disparate data. Let INDUS leverage evolving new technologies to deliver your ideal mission portal and analytics capability that streamlines critical decision-making.


text:
(Got the page started....)
(No difference)
|This section needs improvements: Please help us to
cleanup confusing sections and fix sections which contain a todo
KDE attracts many people with different backgrounds. As such, the day-by-day growing KDE community includes many developers, translators, artists as well as usability and accessibility experts and - of course - lots of users. For several years now all those people are welcome to meet at the annual KDE Conference aKademy to discuss KDE related topics and shape the roadmap for future development.


text:
In Charlotte, 2016 has begun
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Mark Warner paid homage to "one of the greatest senators," Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin, Amy Klobuchar invoked the Iowa State Fair's butter cow and Martin O'Malley recalled his experience with "all 99 counties" in the Hawkeye State as a young aide to Gary Hart in 1984.
Yup, the 2016 campaign has already begun.
Story Continued Below
The calendar may read 2012, but at the Iowa delegation's breakfast here Wednesday the trio of ambitious Democrats were already making introductions and grasping for local connections that could serve them well when the caucuses come around in four years. And Warner, Klobuchar and O'Malley — respectively senators from Virginia and Minnesota and the governor of Maryland — were hardly alone among the ranks of 2016-minded Democrats making the trek to a tent in the parking lot of a modest suburban hotel well away from the swanky convention scene in this city's "uptown" hub.
( Also on POLITICO: Full convention coverage)
Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa came out to speak Monday and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will make their pitch on Thursday morning.
To the Iowans, and in similar remarks to South Carolina Democrats, none of the Democrats dare breach the unspoken political etiquette of openly discussing their White House hopes. But even as they all speak to the oh-so-critical importance of reelecting President Barack Obama in November, each is also telling his or her own story – talking up their humble roots and discussing their accomplishments.
( PHOTOS: Top 10 moments from past conventions)
Such moves in the so-called invisible primary have become staples of the modern convention, with a stable of eager pols always looking four years hence. Yet even as the potential aspirants come courting early-state delegates this week, the nascent 2016 jockeying could ultimately be moot. That's because two heavyweights not engaged in openly maneuvering ahead of the next Democratic primary still loom over the race.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, conducting diplomacy in Beijing while her would-be rivals name-drop Keokuk and Muscatine outside the Marriott TownePlace Suites here, has maintained that she'll leave government service at the end of Obama's term and advocate for women and children as a private citizen.
"She's in the same place she is every time she's asked about this," said adviser Philippe Reines, traveling with Clinton in China.
( PHOTOS: 15 banned items from the DNC)
But until Clinton definitively declares that she is or isn't running for president again, the 2016 race will remain in a state of suspended animation. "At least half of them would drop out if she was there, without question," Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper predicted to POLITICO about the impact of a Clinton candidacy on the rest of the field.
Party leaders indicated the Secretary of State would begin the race with a considerable advantage.
"I was for Barack in 2008 and I'll wait on her," said South Carolina Democratic Chairman Dick Harpootlian, an early Obama supporter who memorably compared Bill Clinton to the late GOP operative Lee Atwater in the last Democratic primary in South Carolina. "The only buzz I hear is Hillary."
Jaime Harrison, the South Carolina vice chairman and a former senior congressional aide, added that all the efforts now would turn into a vice presidential derby were Clinton to make the race.
"If she doesn't run, it's wide open," Harrison said.


text:
Create a Ning Network!
Welcome toCOMMUNITY FORUM
Sign Upor Sign In
C&NN Connect was created to support people and organizations working worldwide to reconnect children and nature.
WA Governor Inslee Announces $1.3 Million Grant to Get Kids Outdoors
Americans Want to Spend Time Outdoors, but Work Stands in the Way
Just Seeing Nature May Curb Unhealthy Cravings
Social Media, Screen Time Linked to Depression in Teens, Study Says
Study Pinpoints When Teenagers Fall out of Love with Nature
1 member
Follow us on Twitter
Become a fan
Read our blog
Visit the Children & Nature Network Web site for news, resources, network initiatives, and the Movement Map.
Search Photos
Sort by:
LatestTop RatedMost PopularRandom
© 2019 Created by amy pertschuk.
Powered by
Badges |
Report an Issue |
Terms of Service
Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator.


text:
Quick Search: Choose Model and Year, then enter search topic.
Page: 15
Making personal settings
Selecting the audio source
By pressing the button, you open a window where you can set the current audio source.
The window closes again:
– once you have selected an audio source,
– if a few seconds pass without any input from you.
Always displaying all audio sources in the window
The audio sources "iPod" and "USB" are only displayed if there is a corresponding device connected to the interface. If both of these audio sources are always to be displayed (even if there is no device connected to the PCM), you must activate their display in the SET menu.
You can also activate or deactivate the audio source "AUX" (external audio source) in the SET menu.
Configuring the PCM display
You can set various units, the date and time, the welcome display as well as the operating language of the PCM in themenu.
Setting the language
Setting the date (can only be set if the PCM is not equipped with a navigation system)


text:
Dave White Profile
Dave White
Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex
Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...Read full profile
Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex
Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...Read full profile
To do: Watch train try to kill people. Eat popcorn. Read full review
Jen Yamato Profile
Jen Yamato
A movie fiend on a mission
Jen Yamato is a walking, popcorn-eating contradiction: she loves all kinds of cinema, from art films to schlocky B-movies...Read full profile
A movie fiend on a mission
Jen Yamato is a walking, popcorn-eating contradiction: she loves all kinds of cinema, from art films to schlocky B-movies...Read full profile
Runs... right off the rails. Read full review
Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.
out of 100
Metascore®Generally favorable reviewsbased on a weighted average of allcritic review scores.
Who knew that Unstoppable would be sensational? Talk about well-kept- and welcome-surprises. Tony Scott's latest thriller turns out to be pure cinema in the classic sense of the term. It's a motion picture about motion, an action symphony that gives new meaning to the notion of a one-track mind.
Read Full Review
The exchange of substance for speed may not appeal to all, but if you're on board you'll find it hard to disembark.
Scott paces the film like its mechanized star: deliberately and, ultimately, with enough speed to keep its passengers satisfied.
The best blue collar action movie in who knows how long, this tense, narrowly focused thriller about a runaway freight train has a lean and pure simplicity to it that is satisfying in and of itself.
See all Unstoppable reviews at Metacritic.com
OK for kids 13+
Runaway train thriller is more suspenseful than violent.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that compared to other Tony Scott/Denzel Washington thrillers (like Man on Fire), Unstoppable is relatively mild on violence. There's definitely lots of suspense -- and plenty of nailbiting scenes -- but there's no blood or weapons violence. A train explosion does kill one conductor, the runaway train nearly collides with a horse, and the main characters get injured and bruised. Language includes "s--t" and "ass," and prominent brands include Hooters and Ford. There's not too much sexual content -- a kiss, a couple of embraces, and a shot of the Hooters waitresses. Washington's wise, brave character is a good example of an older character who still has lots of expertise and experience to contribute; he and Chris Pine's character demonstrate strong teamwork skills.
Messages: Will and Frank's efforts demonstrate teamwork and collaboration -- they must trust each other, even though at first they aren't very friendly. The movie also makes it clear that just because workers get old, that doesn't mean they're obsolete. Viewers will also see that what's best for the common good can be at odds with what's best for a particular company's business interests -- and the movie makes it clear that the right thing to do isn't always the easiest or most profitable.
Role models: Frank is smart, experienced, and confident in his skills. Connie, who seems to be the sole woman at a train yard full of men, is effective in her leadership position. Will puts the needs of his hometown above his own fear. Will and Frank learn to trust each other and work well together.
Violence: A character dies in a train explosion, and throughout the film there's a pervasive dread that a group of kids on a field trip -- or the protagonists, or even an entire town -- will get killed/destroyed because of the runaway train. There are several stressful, intense scenes.
Sex: Frank's daughters, who work at Hooters, are shown sporting very short shorts and tank tops. Connie gives Frank a congratulatory kiss. Will and his wife kiss and embrace.
Language: Language includes words like "s--t," "bitch," "ass," "a--hole," "p---y," "hell," "damn," "oh my God," "goddamn," and one use of "f--k," plus insults like "idiot," "stupid," and the like.
Consumerism: Prominent appearances by Ford trucks. Supporting characters work at Hooters.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: A character is shown smoking cigarettes; waitresses serve drinks, but no one really really drinks in the movie.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.
© Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
Copyright © 2019 FANDANGO MOVIES.


text:
Home Sellers Don't Make These Top Mistakes!
Thinking about selling your home? Don't fall victim to any of these common seller mistakes.
Guest Post by Kristina Clement Wilton
Thinking about selling your home? Don't fall victim to any of these common seller mistakes.
Here is a brief summary of the tips from the video with a few helpful tips on how to avoid making costly mistakes when selling your home:
1. Putting your home on the market before it's ready: Get your pre-sale work done PRIOR to listing (painting,new carpet, declutter, financing)
2. Incorrect Pricing: Price is determined by the market, price it accordingly the first time. If too high– you will help sell the comparables before your own which may result in a price reduction and the loss of potential buyers. At the same time if it is priced your potential profit will suffer. Working with a real estate professional with help you to determine the right price for your home.
3. Getting Too Emotional: When you decide to sell, it is important to accept that it is no longer your home. You may be advised to do some cosmetic work or staging, it can be difficult but don't take it personal.
4. Stretching out buyer negotiations: It is important to reply immediately to an offer. When buyers make an offer they are, right then, in the mood to buy. Don't give them a chance to keep looking because you don't want to lose a sale because you stall in replying.
5. Selling without a professional: surveys show self-sellers often net less from the sale than sellers who use a Real Estate agent. Avoid costly mistakes, let a professional handle the sale of your home. We know the ins and outs of selling homes.
Kristina is a real estate professional with Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Centre in Newmarket, ON.


text:
Talk to our experts
HP Printer Functions Setup – At first look, every HP printers problem seems insurmountable. Take another look just to be sure. Or you could simply dial our toll-free number to talk to our experts. Think no further, expert help is just a click away! Give your HP printers the professional care it requires.


text: I currently use a qwerty layout and I wanted to try the dvorak one. My main concern is about still being able to retain the qwerty speed. I know this has to do with muscle memory, but I'd like to know from former qwerty users whether they still retain good speed on the qwerty layout after switching over to dvorak. Also, has anyone tried to switch back to qwerty from dvorak ? How much time does it take to regain the old speed. Currently I average around 75 wpm on the qwerty format.


text:
The start of something new — FlakPhoto Digest.
We're developing a new project, a weekly newsletter focused on photography + visual culture recommendations carefully curated from across the Web. You know, the good stuff that deserves a closer look. FlakPhoto Digest is currently in closed beta and will be available to the public later this year. You can request an invite by subscribing below.
Jōmon Sugi Japanese Cedar #0507 02 (7,000 years old),
Yaku Shima, Japan
From the The Oldest Living Things in the World series
Website - RachelSussman.com
Rachel Sussman grew up in Baltimore, punctuated by stints in Santa Fe and Costa Rica. She began a practice-based fine arts PhD at Central Saint Martins College of Art in London in 2008 (now on hold), attended the Bard MFA program in 2008 and received her BFA in Photography from SVA in 1998. Sussman is currently developing the critically acclaimed project The Oldest Living Things in the World, for which she researches, works with biologists, and travels all over the world to photograph continuously living organisms 2000 years old and older. Sussman is a TED speaker, appeared on CNN and the BBC, and has won numerous grants and awards. Her exhibition record spans over a decade, showing in galleries and museums in the US and Europe. Sussman is represented by Kneerim, Williams & Bloom, and her first book is due out in Spring 2014 from the University of Chicago Press.
Posted on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.
Woman walking an iguana, 1995
Pappa Sleeping
Edge (Verse 2) #19
Are you promoting a photography project? Share it with Flak Photo's global audience by placing a graphic advertisement in this space. For details about banner ads, media partnerships or other inquiries, contact editor Andy Adams »


text:
BI Documenter 4.6
Old versionsSee all
BI Documenter outputs "MSDN style" SQL Server documentation in either compiled help (CHM) or HTML format. While documenting all of the major SQL Server components, BI Documenter also documents the entire BI stack, including Analysis Services (SSAS), Integration Services (SSIS), and Reporting Services (SSRS).
The unique documentation snapshot feature enables archiving of historical SQL Server documentation sets. New documents can be regenerated at the touch of a button. BI Documenter also allows you to customize the look and feel of your documentation with the ability to add your own branding.
Info updated on:


text:
We all have the iconic image of climate change ingrained in our minds: a lonely polar bear standing on a piece of broken-off ice while he floats into the open ocean. Now that depressing (yet true) image is an interactive game for kids called Meltdown. Designed by GEOlino, a science magazine for children, and design agency Kolle Rebbe, Meltdown teaches kids about climate change in an easy-to-understand way. The game comes with a sponge board and an ice cube tray for kids to make their own Arctic scene. With a roll of the dice, kids and their parents try to save the polar bear family from the melting ice — literally. We wish the solution to global warming and preservation of animals' natural habitats were similarly at our fingertips. Though Meltdown isn't available for sale right now, GEOlino and Kolle Rebbe are looking to manufacture one in the future. You can stay up-to-date by e-mailing them here.
Check out Meltdown in action in GEOlino's video.
via PSFK
Images © Kolle Rebbe


text:
- August (1)
- October (1)
Law School Teams Earn Top Honors at Moot Court Tournament
February 22, 2012
Two teams from Liberty University School of Law competed at the Leroy R. Hassell, Sr. National Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition at Regent University Feb. 17-18, winning a first-place honor and several awards.
The competition included 13 teams from 10 schools who competed in a simulated federal circuit court in front of prominent local and national judges and attorneys. They presented arguments on the validity of state enforcement of federal immigration laws.
The Liberty team of Brian Giaquinto and John Mark Becton won first place and an award for second Best Brief. They defeated teams from Brigham-Young University, Howard University, the University of Albany-State University of New York and Elon University, and posted three wins over William & Mary to finish with a perfect 7-0 record.
Also at the competition, Charity Katze won the award for Best Oralist and Giaquinto won for third Best Oralist.
The team of Katze and Scott Stier advanced to the quarterfinals, where they were defeated by the runner-up team from the College of William & Mary.
The teams were coached by Dean Rena Lindevaldsen and Professor Scott Thompson.
"The tournament was an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that Liberty University School of Law students perform at the highest levels of legal scholarship in comparison to other law schools across the country," Giaquinto said. "Professor Thompson's and Dean Lindevaldsen's coaching were critical to help us manage the stress of the tournament and to secure the victory."
For more on Moot Court at Liberty University School of Law, click here.


text:
Best Shots Reviews: AVENGERS, ACTION COMICS, HELLBOY, More
Greetings, 'Rama readers! Your friendly neighborhood Best Shots Team is at it again, with this week's big column featuring all-new comics! So let's kick off with Earth's Mightiest Heroes as George Marston takes a look at the debut of the Marvel NOW! Avengers...
Avengers #1
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Art by Jerome Opeña and Dean White
Letters by Cory Petit
Published by Marvel Comics
Review by George Marston
'Rama Rating: 7 out of 10
Marvel's Avengers are poised to take over the world. With the biggest movie of the year under their belts, a host of fan-favorite and marquee characters on their roster, and two of Marvel's most up-and-coming talents working on their flagship title, all of the ingredients are there for Earth's Mightiest Heroes to become the biggest thing in comics right now. Marvel NOW!'s Avengers #1 is a good start, but it leaves too many opportunities on the table to truly capitalize on its chance at greatness.
Now, that's not to say that Avengers #1 isn't a terrific book. Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opeña's technical skills alone make this a worthy read, but there is a sense that it could have been so much bigger, so much more impacting to the Marvel Universe than it actually is. And the problem lies, primarily, with the characters. The Avengers themselves start out strong enough, showcasing the six members of the team showcased in the film. It's a good move, and obviously one designed to help new readers relate to the book. Unfortunately, they're up against a trio of villains that, while visually interesting, are about as generic as they come in terms of characterization and motivation. They're less characters, and more plot devices tailor made to necessitate a new team of Avengers.
And that's where the real conundrum lies. In recruiting his new team, Captain America enacts a protocol that he and Iron Man designed, prior to their encounter with the Garden, to create a team of globe-spanning Avengers. It's a good idea, if not a novel one, but the page that should be the book's "wow" moment, the reveal of the new roster, is somewhat undersold when it's revealed that the team consists primarily of people who were already Avengers, like Spider-Man and Wolverine, or third-tier characters like Gateway's nephew that no one will recognize. That's not to say there isn't story potential, but any chance of that page impacting a new reader is almost lost immediately.
There is a sense, though, that Jonathan Hickman is doing all of this with new readers in mind. Perhaps he's aiming to create a team that will feel like someone who's just coming into Avengers own team. Everyone remembers the line-up that got them into the book, so Hickman may be aiming to craft a team that will appeal to those not mired in Avengers continuity. We also know that the aforementioned movie team is still sticking around for later issues, so it's not like it's a wholesale replacement, it's just underwhelming as a hook. Coupled with a threat that's less than compelling, Avengers #1 has a decent ways to go before it's emblematic of the definitive take on the team that Marvel NOW! has promised.
Fortunately, Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opeña have the chops to really ramp things up. Opeña in particular is a fantastic choice for this title. If he can keep up a monthly pace with the level of detail and personality that are present in this issue, then he's going to conquer the world. His work is very reminiscent of Leinil Yu, but where Yu has recently sometimes seemed bored by big, blockbuster superhero fare, Opeña's work conveys an excitement at working with these characters. Dean White's colors, laid down over Opeña's raw pencils, add a kind of painterly vibe that really sells the look of this book.
There's not a long way to go for this iteration of Avengers to reach its potential. The talent is there, and the book looks, and reads, almost flawlessly. The main failing of this first issue is that it doesn't translate the energy in the ideas into a particularly electrifying story. There's a sense that we've seen this done before — especially with the Avengers — that undersells some of the impact, as does a less-than-surprising or invigorating cast of new characters, but there's so much potential for this book that it's hard to say it's not going somewhere great.
Action Comics #15
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Brad Walker, Rags Morales, Andrew Hennessy, Mark Propst and Brad Anderson
Lettering by Steve Wands
Published by DC Comics
Reviewed by Brian Bannen
'Rama Rating: 9 out of 10
From the second Clark met his landlady, Mrs. Nyxly, most readers with a cursory knowledge of Superman lore could probably see the connection to Kal-El's greatest magical foe, the 5th Dimensional villain Mr. Mxyzptlk. Here, we finally see the link in action.
Told in a mixture of present tense, flash backs and flash forwards (like ), Action Comics #15 runs the gamut of emotions, giving readers intimate insight into some of Clark's most defining moments, from his senior prom with Lana Lang to the death of his father. Morrison is also re-writing years of continuity and history, but not in a way that shows a lack of respect for those who have come before him. If anything, Morrison is trying to deepen Clark's history by showing an interconnectivity between al the forces at play in his life.
The crux of the story is a conversation between Clark and Mrs. Nyxly, a woman who up until now has been a cryptic, yet important part of Clark's life. Here, we find out why — she was a princess in the 5th Dimension, but when a jilted lover enacted his revenge on her, she ended up on Earth, biding her time until her true beau returned to save her. The skill with which Morrison moves between these moments (which can be years in the past or years in the future) is not lost on this reviewer. The story is lucid, and regardless of the time shifts, never loses its focus.
This movement between present, past and future cannot be easy, yet the artists of the book comply with Morrison's storytelling superbly. Brad Walker and Rags Morales both pencil the comic, but I can't tell where one stops and the other takes over. Where previous issues of Action Comics have had inconsistent art — characters out of focus, odd postures, and unappealing ink lines — this issue is a noticeable change. With Gary Frank-like clarity, Walker and Morales draw what is easily the best art of Action Comics so far. Images are crisp and detailed, particularly in close-ups. And when Mrs. Nyxly tells the story of her life as a princess in the 5th dimension, the art takes on a cartoonish style with soft colors, a lack of facial definition, and a bubbly, irregular style. Given the offset between the two worlds, one can't help but be impressed by the tonal change.
Brad Anderson's colors are also to be applauded as he makes the book come alive through an impressive palette that, for readers, easily distinguishes the current world, the future world, and the alternate world of the 5th Dimension. The future shots, for example, are given a sickly orange hue that makes the world look like it's dying, if not already dead. The visceral reaction they create cannot be ignored.
When I'm reading a Grant Morrison comic, I know that at some point in time, the small nuggets of the story will come back to play a greater role. This issue of Action Comics is like that. When I finish a comic like this, I'm left in awe of its writer and his skills, and I can only offer a feeble encapsulation of its impact. But if you needed a reminder that Grant Morrison is one of our generation's greatest comic writers, look no further than Action Comics.
Hellboy In Hell #1
Written by Mike Mignola
Art by Mike Mignola and Dave Stewart
Lettering by Clem Robins
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Review by Scott Cederlund
'Rama Rating: 9 out of 10
Mike Mignola's artwork in Hellboy in Hell #1 contains mysteries. Back in the land of the Mignola-esque shadows after having Duncan Fegredo and Richard Corben handling the art for the last couple of years, Mignola's Hell isn't full of fire and brimstone. It isn't some Hieronymus Bosch looking landscape full of horrors and torture. Watching Hellboy fall into a well of darkness, Mignola's Hell is about what we don't see. Mignola's shadows often conceal secrets of characters or locations but now they hide the whole world from us. He doesn't show us the architecture or the details of where Hellboy is. Mignola leaves that up to our imagination in his return to art.
The overwhelming presence of shadow also means that there is a disturbing lack of light in this issue. Dave Stewart has always provided the colors and his work had fought back against Mignola's darkness. The two creators' art has worked in balance. But here, we only get hints if that light, mostly from Hellboy's one remaining eye. Almost brilliantly, there is no other source of light in this issue other than the organ that gives Hellboy vision. Stewart's colors are muffled, fighting against Mignola's darkness and losing here. Hellboy's remaining eye lights the way and provides just a bit of hope for him.
Following his character into Hell, Mignola alters the tone of his story just enough to make it more sinister and dangerous. As the character tries to adjust to his new surroundings, Mignola remains reverential to his story. He's creating a modern mythology around Hellboy that echoes so many ancient stories that we've heard since childhood. Any true hero needs to make some kind our journey into Hell. The question is what kind of hero is Hellboy. We've seen him doing his labors and we've seen him drunkenly running away from everything. He's spent the majority of the past 10 years running away from the people who loved him and the responsibilities that he had. Just as he began to accept those and make peace with his own life, he has his heart literally ripped out of him in the final battle with a dragon.
After fighting demons in the first half of this issue, Hellboy gets to witness an odd Christmas-time story as a couple of puppets recreate a scene from Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Jacob Marley heralds a night where Ebenezer Scrooge will need to revisit his past and confront his own sins and failures. Hellboy could be the real Scrooge here, having to face his own prideful sins. Mignola doesn't feel like he's ready to let his character off scot-free here, as his Hell may be forcing his character to accept his own weaknesses before there's any chance of him being a true hero. Mignola writes Hellboy as flippant and down-to-earth as possible; Hellboy is just a working man's demon fighter. But here he is on the start of a Dante-like journey into Hell. Confronting the ghosts of his past may just be the start of this strange new land for Hellboy.
Hellboy's survived the storm and the fury, but here is something new for him to face. One storm is over but Hellboy in Hell #1 reads like the hours before another storm. Each panel is a clap of thunder. Some of those claps are in the distance acting as an early warning while others rattle your very soul. That's the power of Mignola and Stewart's images. Mignola reminds us of the primal forces that exist unseen in the shadows while Stewart provides some hope in the form of light against the darkness. As the character has to face his own past like a modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge, he will need to understand everything he has lost. That may be too much to ask of Hellboy, and Mignola knows this.
Before Watchmen: Comedian #4
Written by Brian Azzarello
Art by J.G. Jones and Alex Sinclair
Lettering by Clem Robins
Published by DC Comics
Review by David Pepose
'Rama Rating: 3 out of 10
Eddie Blake is an animal. He's a terror of the V.C., the embodiment of American terror on foreign soil. He is Vietnam. But as Before Watchmen: Comedian barrels towards its conclusion, the punchline is lost under an unfocused, almost catatonic story.
It's difficult to say what Brian Azzarello was going for, here, with Eddie's time in Vietnam. He opens up the story with a war crime, but here's the sad news — maybe it's because artist J.G. Jones shies away from too much overt atrocity, or maybe we as readers are just too jaded, but the stakes are just nonexistent. It's a punch to the gut that never connects, and thus we're led to a bit too much R&R from Eddie's time in the jungle. There are a few moments where we get some nice insight into what a twisted misanthrope Eddie is — it's hard to see him taking two Vietnamese boys under his wing as endearing when he refers to them as "Hearts" and "Minds" — but those moments come few and far between.
The other major hook of this story — namely, Eddie tripping on acid while armed and dangerous in a combat zone — is where Azzarello and Jones show a surprising lack of imagination. It's not the fairest comparison to make, looking at this alongside the drug scenes in Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Conner's artful , but honestly, we know that Eddie's probably not going to have a experience with drugs. But how does this twist him further? How does this continue to show him that the world is just one sick joke? Aside from the weird historical fixation on the Kennedy Clan this book has taken, there's not much insight, not even much subversive punch to the Comedian trying to end the war single-handedly, even if he has to burn down all of Vietnam to do it.
That all said, Jones does bring a solid foundation to the story, with his characters looking particularly solid (his inking almost making some of them look like Bryan Hitch's ultra-realistic figures). There is one awesome page that Jones produces, as the Comedian tumbles out of a helicopter, where you can almost feel foot after vertigo-inducing foot as he falls into the wild, his smiley-face helmet rolling empty in the distance. Yet this story does seem a little too slow, a little too deliberate for his style, leaving him essentially sitting on his hands, not sure how to stage things. Colorist Alex Sinclair brings some nice energy to the book, however, particularly a scene that's cast in an ominous blood red.
When you have to explain the punchline of a joke, chances are, it's not a very good joke. That's the problem with Eddie Blake's story in Before Watchmen. The message and drive behind this story are so oblique that this just feels like an exercise in wasting time, with no insight gained from Eddie's time at base camp or his slaughter on the battlefield. It's a senseless fictional crime, with the only victim being your wallet.
Daredevil: End of Days #3
Written by Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack
Art by Klaus Janson, Bill Sienkiewicz, David Mack and Matt Hollingsworth
Lettering by Joe Caramagna
Published by Marvel Comics
Review by David Pepose
'Rama Rating: 2 out of 10
While the opening issue of Daredevil: End of Days teased a fall from grace epic even by superhero standards, Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack have long since burned through that good will. What could have been a dynamic mystery or an old-school story of corruption instead reads as a drawn-out, decompressed slog.
And considering this is more or less a straight-up homage to , that's kind of depressing. Eighteen pages of story (with eight of those pages being single- or double-page splashes) result in too little story to really draw you in. Phil Urich's journalistic pursuits wind up feeling less exciting than you'd expect, instead serving as a vehicle to speak to two of Matt Murdock's exes. Considering none of these exes even have any meaningful information to give, you wind up wondering what we're even doing here — sure, in the real world journalism can lead you to of dead ends, but do you really want to do that when you have the power to make an entire story out of exciting moments?
Not only does this comic feel almost beat-by-beat a rehash of the last issue (in particular, Bendis and Mack beat last issue's twist into the ground so much it has almost descended into self-parody — seriously, did nobody teach Matt Murdock about responsible himboing?), but it's also suffering from a distinct lack of imagination. Elektra as a soccer mom? That's sadly about as good as it gets here. Matt Murdock's supporting characters have always been gold because of whether they enable or challenge his morally questionable behavior, but without Daredevil, these formerly interesting characters seem like they're just trying to sober up.
The art by Klaus Janson and Bill Sienkiewicz also feels particularly rushed, with the overreliance on splash pages and the shakiness in composition. In previous issues, Janson's scraggly lines worked in his favor, evoking Daredevil uber-artist Frank Miller — but Miller was a master of panel-to-panel layout, leading the viewer through the story with innovative visuals. Here, Janson and Sienkiewicz really only deliver one memorable image here, a single panel of a woman tearing up — indeed, it's the strongest moment in the book on both a visual and conceptual basis, as one of Matt's supporting cast members wrestles with the secrets even she keeps from herself.
Bendis himself says in this story that a book about "Avengers: Where Are They Now?" would be the most depressing book in history. But the reality is it isn't depressing as much as it is dull. Phil Urich is on the prowl for a mystery that doesn't have any clues, for witnesses that don't have anything to say. What's the point of Daredevil: End of Days, when it almost aggressively fails to produce any of the tropes needed to make this detective story work? It's one thing to take a new spin on the genre, to have new ideas — but as this book should teach all of us, an absence of alternative directions altogether isn't revolutionary. It's just a waste.
Legends of the Dark Knight #3
Written by Steve Niles
Art by Trevor Hairsine
Lettering by Saida Temofonte
Published by DC Comics
Reviewed by Brian Bannen
'Rama Rating: 7 out of 10
The first series I ever fully collected was published in Legends of the Dark Knight. I rode my bike to a neaby 7-11 and pulled the books from a wire-rack newsstand, shaking with excitement at having found all five issues of the arc. I had no idea of the importance the story would play in the Batman mythos. Entitled "Venom," the arc later spawned Bane and led to a series of characters who used performance enhancers, way ahead of baseball legends, to make themselves more formidable opponents for a guy in a bat suit. Imagine my excitement when DC started publishing new Legends of the Dark Knight comics, and when I saw that Steve Niles was going to author one of them.
Known best for his 30 Days of Night series, Niles is a great horror writer with an adept skill at building atmosphere in his comics. How does he fare in the Batman world? Decently, if a bit on the hokey side.
Niles' story is about Batman capturing the Joker, only to see him escape hours later. Bruce then wrestles with the "revolving door" aspect of the penal system, analyzing the philosophy of his consistent attempts to keep criminals incarcerated only to know that they will, eventually, escape. But then he receives several odd packages — bags of mail addressed to Batman (much like the bags of mail addressed to Santa), and through Alfred's insistence, Bruce uses his time to read through the letters, learning about the lives he's touched and the criminals he's reformed (through brute force, of course).
The story has some great character moments, particularly between Alfred and Bruce. While the Joker appears in the book, he's really nothing more than a catalyst for the plot. The real meat of the book is in the conversations, and if Niles does one thing well, it's to show that Alfred can influence Bruce with a minor suggestion, and that Bruce — despite his intensity and ferocity — still listens to his butler when he knows he is saying something important. The letters to Batman angle is novel, and apropos given the time of year, but saccharine especially when Bruce decides to act on one of the letters and find a job for someone. Imagine if Batman walked into your business and said, "Give this man a job." Would you say no?
Trevor Hairsine, known for his work on Judge Dredd and Captain America, does the art for the book, drawing a super imposing Batman, and crafting great action scenes for the entire comic. Hairsine uses visual filters to create misty imagery in flashback scenes, off-setting them from the present tense moments, but he's also adept at using light and shadow. Each panel is full of detail, and his inks makes the drawings sleek and glossy. The visual beats, moments when characters don't speak but emotion is pressed on character faces, are executed with superb skill and the while I found the idea of the story mushy, I couldn't help but be moved by the accompanying art.
Given its non-canonical story, Legends of the Dark Knight is a freeing read. Regardless of the plot, and its mawkish impetus, the story still carries well, particularly under Hairsine's talented pen. And while DC is using the series as a way to give well-known writers an opportunity to produce Batman stories, the one-shot technique works well. I can only hope that one of the writers composes a "Venom"-like story that influences the regular canon the same way.
And that some 12-year-old is there to snatch it off the wire-rack shelf.
Hoax Hunters Volume 1 TP
Written by Michael Moreci, Steve Seeley and Jeremy Tinder
Art by Jim Ringuet, Axel Medellin, Emilio Laiso, Charo Solis, Rosario Costanzo and Jeremy Tinder
Letters by Jim Campbell
Published by Image Comics
Review by Rob McMonigal
'Rama Rating: 6 out of 10
A team of quirky researchers roams Louisiana, seeking television ratings in strange dealings—but the hoax is actually on the viewers! A secret government agency roams the world trying to prevent the public from becoming aware of the Jersey Devil, swamp creatures, and even more sinister threats in the first trade of Hoax Hunters, which is enjoyable enough but doesn't cover much new ground.
It is incredibly difficult to be original in fiction. With so many people writing so many stories in so many media forms (comics being just one of those options), it is not surprising to find certain concepts repeated. One that is a particular favorite is the "hidden government agency" trope. We as a society are fascinated with the idea of imaginary threats being real and it makes for a solid plot base.
The key is in what you do with that plot. Unfortunately, I'm just not convinced that the writing team of Moreci and Seeley are breaking enough new ground in this series. I love the creatures they face, starting off with an astronaut who comes too close to another dimension and ends up merging with a crow-like consciousness, but the overarching plot left me cold. I've seen the hidden organization turn out to be the organization with something to hide one too many times, especially recently.
Right now, you can find the same hidden agency with dark secrets concept in (also Image), (Top Cow/Image), (Valiant), and even Hickman's (yet another Image book), just to name four off the top of my head. And that's not including comics that merely feature a secret team, because I only have so much space. Each of those branches further away from the base plot with each issue. Unfortunately, this book seems to stick closer to the stock script.
That being said, Hoax Hunters does some fun things with its characters and story. I like the idea that Jack is a second-generation member of the organization, with his father's disappearance shrouded in mystery. There's good banter between the dead mind reader and the girl who can use energy to affect others. In the main story arc, they face off against threats that really do tax their abilities and tie into the local flavor, like adding voodoo to the mix. It's clear that Moreci and Seeley have a good handle on the genre and character interaction. Hopefully, that will progress into better plot development as they move into a new arc.
While there are quite a few artists credited in this trade, there is very little reader whiplash due to placing each team on a different story (with Jeremy Tinder writing and drawing an amusing short about Mothman's love for classic DJ-curated radio). The opening story is given an angular look by Jim Ringuet, with characters and panels placed at odd distances from each other, throwing your eyes off-balance, which is fitting for the weird nature of the story. The characters are squarer than you'd normally see, but it works because the entire world feels a bit cubed and boxed in.
In the feature story, Alex Medellin opts for a more open style that actually bears a striking resemblance to Francesco Gaston, the artist of . The lines are far softer than Ringuet, with an emphasis on creating space and giving the characters room to move through the pages. The faces are more expressive as a result, and we see a lot of emotion come out not just in the dialogue but the art as well. Emilio Laiso draws issue five, but doesn't do much other than tell the story in a straightforward manner. There's little to see in the faces of his characters and the panel selections are safe, doing the job without interfering—but also without contributing much.
It's early yet, so perhaps there will be some twists and turns that move this book into its own area, but right now, Hoax Hunters is a book worth trying if you like the "secret organization" genre but isn't doing anything to make this worth adding to your book list if you feel like you already have enough top secret stories in your life.Got a comment? There's lots of conversation on Newsarama's FACEBOOK and TWITTER!


text:
To proceed with brokering a vehicle contract hire / consumer credit finance request, we are obliged to bring the following information to your attention:
We are Ascot Motor Cars and our registered office is
We are a broker of vehicle finance for regulated contract hire and consumer credit finance a credit broker.
We are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered No : 629620
We are not a lender
We charge a fee of £### + VAT for our Brokering Services.
You have the option of paying this within 14 days after delivery date of the vehicle in one lump sum by bank transfer or we can roll this into the finance agreement to be spread over the agreed contract hire term. (See our terms of business for details).
We may charge a fee for cancellation of a Business Agreement for Brokering Services with Ascot Motor Cars as set out in out Terms of Business up to the value of £### + VAT for services rendered.
This will be requested within 14 days of a cancellation notice being received by us and will be payable by Bank Transfer to Ascot Motor Cars within 14 days of the charge request being received by the client.
(This does not affect your right to cancel your finance agreement within any cooling off period, in accordance with the Distance Marketing Directive.)
For us to proceed further in supplying our Brokering Services, please can you reply to this 'Information Notice' confirming that the details contained in it are yours, accurate and that you are content to proceed. Any undue delays in receiving confirmation may impact on the finance rental rates quoted.
When you select "Continue to application" below you will be redirected to our secured finance application form, giving you the peace of mind that the information we are collecting from you is secure and encrypted.
Once you have completed the application form you will be redirected back to our website with a confirmation that the application has been received.
* All vehicle images and car descriptions on this site are for illustration and reference purposes only and are not necessarily an accurate representation of the vehicle on offer.
Ascot Motor Cars
Mill Lane
Town Bridge
Registered Office :
| Company Reg No : | Data Protection No : ZA151304 | VAT No : 171 9903 86 |
Ascot Motor Cars are a credit broker and not a lender, we are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered No : 629620
Copyright © 2019 Ascot Motor Cars, All rights reserved.


text:
Madonna on Lady Gaga: 'She's Not Britney Spears'
Paws up, claws out. While we're sure interviewers can't stop asking Madonna about Lady Gaga, Madge can't stop dissing the Mother Monster at every turn.
Their media feud is extended with Madge's latest round of statements, where she comments on Gaga's maternal and close relationship with the LGBT community, which has exaulted her to icon status. (Lest we forget that some of the Material Girl's most ardent supporters are from the gay community, so she probably feels like Gaga is glomming onto a subset of her fans, too.)
In her cover story for The Advocate, Madonna speculated upon Gaga's beloved status in the gay world to The Advocate, saying, "It seems genuine. It seems natural, and I can see why she has a young gay following. I can see that they connect to her kind of not fitting into the conventional norm. I mean, she's not Britney Spears. She's not built like a brick s—house."
Wait, what? What does Gaga's build have to do with connecting with the gay community? She seems to be intimating that Brit, at the apex of her Lolita sexpot days, had a rock solid, voluptuous figure you could bounce quarters off of — making her perfect body less easy to relate to. Brit was closer to "perfect," where as Gaga celebrates flaws. But does that make Gaga imperfect?
Madge also said, "She seems to have had a challenging upbringing, and so I can see where she would also have that kind of connection, a symbiotic relationship with gay men."
Hmm, Gaga talks about being from a loving, Italian family, so we're not so sure what she means by challenging or where she got her info.
Reductive. Not a brick s—house. What's next in the Madge-on-Gaga war of words? Mama Monster has been silent about the whole deal, save for her innocuous Super Bowl comment.
Madge also commented on her own gay fanbase, saying that she is still one of their patron saints who will still give the gay community all her luvin'. "I never left them," she said. "When you're single, you certainly have more time to socialize and hang out with your gay friends, but then you get married and you have a husband and you have children, and your husband wants you to spend time with him."
She's continues: "I'm not married anymore, but I have four kids, and I don't have a lot of time for socializing. I hope nobody's taking that personally. It certainly was not a conscious decision. As it stands, most of my friends in England are gay. But I'm back. Never fear."


text:
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - A few lights went out during warm-ups thanks to a local thunderstorm, but it didn't dim the hopes of No. 25 Georgia College & State University men's basketball (19-4, 13-4 PBC) as the Bobcats beat Georgia Southwestern State University (9-16, 5-13 PBC) 63-46 tonight (Feb. 18) in the Centennial Center.
Georgia College hit 10 three pointers, getting six from senior marksman Shaun Keaton (Albany, Ga.) as part of his game-high 20 points. Sophomore forward Reece Wiedeman (Suwanee, Ga.) powered his way for 12 first-half points, finishing with 16. Senior guard Justin Brown (New Orleans) went 4-for-8 from the floor with 10 points and five boards.
The Bobcats out-rebounded the Hurricanes 39-33, and swatted seven shots. Freshman forward Ryan Aquino (Roswell, Ga.) led all rebounders with nine, added to four points and a pair of assists. The Bobcat bench out-scored GSW's 23-6.
Georgia College got on the Hurricanes early and often, as Brown knocked down the first shot of the game from long range. After a Keaton three just 5:12 into the contest, the Bobcats already had a double-digit lead at 17-7. The gap never got below double-digits, and stretched to its highest at 26 on an Aquino put-back for 54-28 with 9:10 left in the second half.
The win keeps GCSU just one game behind the tie for first in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) between No. 6 Augusta State University and No. 14 USC Aiken.
Keaton's 20 points gives him 1,213 points in his career, standing seventh in school history. His six threes give the senior 217 in his three-year career, six off the pace set by John John Steensland (1996-2000).
On Senior Night, the three Bobcat seniors were impressive, as Keaton and Brown put up scoring tallies and Ken Kemp (Dublin, Ga.) added strong rebounding and defense. Kemp has 440 career boards, five out of the top-10 in Georgia College history.
The Bobcats are back in action Saturday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m., hosting USC Aiken for Homecoming.
Visit www.GCSUBobcats.com to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GCSU Athletics Hall of Fame. The GCSU Department of Athletics sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, GCSU prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the Bobcats' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement.


text:
LocationMesa, AZ
2501 E Main St
Mesa, AZ 85213
New 2018 Riverside RV Mt. McKinley 178
Call 844-853-0584 for your best price today!
View all Mt. McKinley Floorplans
2018 178 Features and Options
As you enjoy the amenities that this Mt. McKinley 178 travel trailer by Riverside RV has to offer, you will want to extend your camping trip just a little bit longer.
Step inside this model, and straight in from the entry door there is a wet bath which has a toilet and a shower.
To the left of the entry door you will find a two burner range, a double kitchen sink, and an overhead cabinet with a microwave. Across the way, there is a refrigerator for your perishables. Enjoy meals at the front dinette, and at night convert this area into an additional sleeping space.
Located in the rear there is a queen bed with plenty of room to walk around. You can enjoy the extra storage above the bed for books or blankets and more!
Location: Mesa, AZ
Stock# 24893
Location: Mesa, AZ
Stock# 24893
Exterior Color: GREY
Interior Color: DOESKIN
Stock# 24893
Exterior Color: GREY
Interior Color: DOESKIN
2018 178 Specifications
|17 ft
|Ext Width
|8 ft
|Ext Height
|9 ft 8 in
|Int Height
|6 ft 6 in
|Interior Color
|Exterior Color
|Hitch Weight
|420 lbs
|Dry Weight
|3350 lbs
|Cargo Weight
|570 lbs
|Fresh Water Capacity
|39 gals
|Grey Water Capacity
|32 gals
|Black Water Capacity
|10 gals
|Tire Size
|Furnace BTU
|20000 btu
|Available Beds
|Refrigerator Type
|Cooktop Burners
|Number of Awnings
|Axle Weight
|3500 lbs
|10000 btu
|Awning Info
|Axle Count
|Number of LP Tanks
|Shower Type
|Wet/Bath Shower
|Electrical Service
|30 amp
For more information, call us at 844-853-0584 or Contact Us
Similar RVs and Floorplans
Riverside RV offers a complete lineup of lightweight and reasonably priced travel trailers, fifth wheel, toy haulers, and truck campers. Each unit is built with genuine Amish craftsmanship. Many units are lightweight enough to be towed by smaller vehicles.
RV Country is not responsible for any misprints, typos, or errors found in our website pages. All prices plus government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document processing charge, any electronic filing charge, and any emissions testing charge. Manufacturer pictures, specifications, and features may be used in place of actual units on our lot. Please contact us at 559-486-1000. for availability as our inventory changes rapidly. All calculated payments are an estimate only and do not constitute a commitment that financing or a specific interest rate or term is available.


text:
Category: Tools (Accessory Items)
Without the use of tools or hardware, the Lolly turns any step, extension, or articulating ladder into a dolly. With a wide wheelbase, the system is rated to hold 200 lb, and it fits in a standard-size truck toolbox. A cable caddy is also available that can be attached along with the ladder and holds as many as six 500-ft spools of 10 AWG wire. Once the ladder is removed, the Lolly can also function as a seat or a flat surface for resting tools and materials.
Mindco Industries
Hide comments


text:
Columbus, Ohio -- September 25, 2002 -- Just in time for the new academic year at The Ohio State University (OSU), Community Connection is now available.
Primary tabs
Columbus, Ohio -- August 30, 2002 -- A revolutionary design project developed by the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD) and OSC was recently featured in the widely-read magazine, Metropolis. In its August/September issue, the magazine spotlighted the Virtual Sketch Project, which allows design students to "create" an interior space around them, immersing them in a virtual environment and resulting in a digital model of space.
Columbus, Ohio -- August 29, 2002 -- OSC, along with several other organizations, is co-sponsoring a four-day conference in Russia on microelectronics. A symposium will be held on September 10-13 in Moscow on "Nano and Giga Challenges in Microelectronics Research and Opportunities in Russia."
COLUMBUS, Ohio - August 8, 2002 - World-class innovation has been demonstrated by the 36 finalists in ECom-Ohio's first-ever E-Commerce Pioneer Awards. Finalists have just been selected, and one winner in each category will be chosen by a blue-ribbon national selection committee.
SIGGRAPH, San Antonio, CA - July 23, 2002 - NVIDIA® Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA), the worldwide leader in visual processing solutions announced that OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) has purchased and deployed more than 50 NVIDIA Quadro4 900 XGL workstation graphics boards to power a new cluster for volume rendering of graphics applications.
Itanium 2-based Supercomputer Running Linux to be Used by Ohio Universities and Private Industry
PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Oct. 21, 2002 -- HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced that the Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) will deploy an HP supercomputer based on a cluster of more than 150 Intel® Itanium® 2-based HP Workstation zx6000 systems.
New Haven, CT, June 28, 2002: Scientific Computing Associates (SCIENTIFIC), experts in parallel and distributed computing with more than 21 years of experience, today announced that SCIENTIFIC's Linda® and Paradise®, a unique programming tool suite, is now available for use at Platform Lab. Platform Lab is a joint project of OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) and the Business Technology Center.
The National Computational Science Institute (NCSI) will offer an introductory workshop entitled, "Introduction to Computational Science Modeling and Simulation in the Undergraduate Environment." The workshop will be held on June 16-22 at OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center), located on The Ohio State University campus.
Columbus, Ohio -- June 19, 2002 -- OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) announces a new statewide software licensing partnership with Altair Engineering, a leading developer of engineering software.
Columbus, Ohio -- May 28, 2002 -- OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) has announced that 16 high school finalists will embark on its Summer Institute (SI) 2002: Experience the Future of Computing.
The OSC SI Program has been offered to Ohio's brightest high school freshmen and sophomores for 14 years. SI gives students the opportunity to work with OSC's most advanced supercomputers.


text: "When Dirk lifted the Larry O'Brien and the MVP trophy it was the greatest sports moment of my life. I sports-cried, called a high school friend that does tattoos and have been on a Dallas Mavericks championship high ever since. Now I realize that I will be sitting on a big German man's face for the rest of my life." [Dallas Observer]


text:
- 1
1 of 1
£16.00 £14.40
£18.00 £16.20
- 1
1 of 1
By continuing to use our site you agree to us using cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Accept & Close
Looks like you are visiting us on
Pep up your party wardrobe with boohoo night, the latest collection of late night looks for your nights out in the new season. Glossy sequins, decorative beading and high shine hues make for an edit of entrance-making maxi-dresses and killer co-ords that'll give you some serious after dark sparkle this season.


text:
S8 E10 Suddenly
Members of a severely injured family are sprawled across a narrow mountain road. Meredith orders a teenage girl, Lily, to care for the baby they were transporting while she and Alex tend to the accident victims. The grandmother is dead and Lily's sister has a shard of glass in her eye. The youngest son is still trapped under the car. Another vehicle is headed right for him. Meredith jumps into the middle of the road to stop it just in time. Help has finally arrived.
Meredith, Bailey and Ben operate on a tear in the young boy's liver. When the kid starts to code, Ben realizes the patient is about to go into organ failure unless they ice him down right away. It's a good call and a great save. It also alerts the team to a genetic condition so that could affect the procedures being done on the rest of the family.
Meredith tries to revive the mother of the family at the hospital even though all hope is lost. Lily watches her mom pass away from the observation window. Her dad is also in extremely critical condition. The guy keeps coding. His body fails a little more each time they revive him. Lily turned 18 during the few hours she's been at the hospital. That means she's legally allowed to make the difficult decision to let her father go in peace.
Mark calls his girlfriend, Julia, to operate on the young girl with the glass in her eye. Lexie is less than thrilled to be working alongside Mark's new lady love. It's touch-and-go for awhile. Derek is ready to pull Julia out of the surgery, but she rallies to remove the glass and save the eye. Much to Lexie's dismay, she realizes that she actually like Julia.
Teddy's colleagues decide to not tell her about Henry until she's finished sewing together her patient's heart. Teddy needs help with the delicate procedure. She needs Cristina. It's an impossible situation, but Cristina manages to fake things long enough to help her mentor save their patient. Of course, Teddy can't understand why April is watching from the observation room with such a grim look on her face.
After the procedure, Cristina pulls Teddy outside to finally reveal the details of Henry's procedure. She gives her the standard speech doctors give family members, but never actually says the words "he's dead." Teddy needs her to say it so that she knows it's for real. As difficult as it is, Cristina obliges. Teddy steps into the OR to say goodbye to her husband.
Arizona wants Alex to back off from his care of the baby. He does for awhile, but ultimately can't stay away. Alex still isn't quite himself. Arizona believes he may be suffering from residual shock after the accident. Hey, that jolt in the ambulance would have shaken anyone up.
Jackson wants to take the blame for the patient Teddy had to save thanks to his mistake, but goof happened on Callie's watch. She'll take the fall. As for Bailey, she seems to finally be coming around regarding Ben. The two of them share a nice moment alone in the cafeteria after a long, difficult day.
Meredith has been awake for 39 straight hours, so she orders a pizza even though it's early in the morning. Derek comforts her by saying they'll all right even though it's just the two of them now. Actually, that's now really an accurate statement. Someone is at the door and it's not the pizza guy. It's the adoption counselor and she has an even better delivery: baby Zola. It's not just the two of them anymore.


text:
February 6, 2014
French scientists have announced that an FDA-approved drug, given to pregnant rodents just before delivery, prevented the development of autism-like signs in their offspring.
The drug, bumetanide, has already shown some effectiveness in early clinical trials in autistic children. The new study, in the Feb. 7 issue of Science, hints that bumetanide could largely block the development of autism if administered around the time of birth-although, even if that were the case, scientists first would have to find a way to determine which babies should be so treated.
"We know that the earlier you diagnose and the earlier you treat, the more likely success will be," said Yehezkel Ben-Ari, a scientist at Aix-Marseille University who led the research team.
The GABA switch
Aside from the therapeutic implications, the findings suggest that an important cause of autism disorders, and perhaps the major cause, is a delay in a developmental phenomenon known as the "GABA switch."
GABA is a neurotransmitter molecule found virtually everywhere in the brain. In adults it has an essential "inhibitory" function: When it activates GABA receptors on a neuron, the effect is to suppress the spiking activity of that neuron. But in the fetal brain, GABA receptors have the opposite, "excitatory" effect.
Why evolution favored an excitatory role for GABA in early development, and a switchover to an inhibitory role in maturity, is still debated. But scientists do at least know the immediate cause of this dramatic shift. GABA receptor function in a given neuron depends on the level of chloride ions in that neuron, and in the fetal brain chloride levels are high, making GABA receptors excitatory. In the mature brain, chloride levels are lower, making the receptors inhibitory. The switch seems to occur (in rodents) in the first weeks after birth, as chloride transporter genes change their fetal expression patterns and cause neuronal chloride levels to drop.
In a study reported in Science in 2006, Ben-Ari and his colleagues found evidence for a sudden, temporary reversal in GABA function (from excitatory to inhibitory) in the brains of mice at the time they are born-triggered somehow by a surge in the mother's production of the hormone oxytocin during delivery. The researchers suggested that this transient, oxytocin-driven event helps quiet and protect the brain during birth.
In the new study, they found evidence that it plays a much more important role in brain development-so important that without it, autism may result.
Rescued from autism
First, Ben-Ari's team determined that in hippocampal neurons the normal GABA switch in the first weeks after birth fails to occur-or is at least greatly delayed-in two very different rodent models of autism.
One model is a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome, a relatively common genetic form of autism in humans. (A separate research group, led by Anis Contractor at Northwestern University, reported similar results for Fragile X mice in a paper in January.) The other model is a rat "valproate model" in which autism is induced by prenatal exposure to the epilepsy drug valproate. Rodents in both models usually grow up with striking autism-like signs, ranging from asocial behaviors to brain wave changes and abnormal vocalizations.
Was the lack of a normal GABA shift in these two models merely coincidental, or did it account for their autism-like signs? Ben-Ari's team decided to find out. They forced the GABA switch to occur in these rodents by adding bumetanide to the drinking water of their mothers on the day before delivery. Bumetanide, a drug originally used to treat heart failure, lowers chloride levels in neurons by blocking the activity of a key chloride-importer molecule.
The result: the baby rodents grew up with virtually no autism-like signs.
The researchers suspected that the temporary, oxytocin-triggered reversal of GABA function at birth might be a key initiator of the GABA switch that occurs in the first weeks of rodents' lives. So they took ordinary, non-autism-model rats and mice and blocked this at-birth effect by suppressing oxytocin receptor signaling with an antagonist drug. Just as in the autism-model animals, the GABA switch failed to occur: Neuronal chloride levels remained elevated at birth and for weeks thereafter-and these baby rodents, which otherwise should have developed normally, began exhibiting autism-like signs.
"It's a very nice piece of work. I was very impressed by it when I read it," says Contractor, the author of the Fragile X study.
What comes next
The results make sense of a lot of prior data on autism, including findings of deficiencies in oxytocin signaling and abnormal effects of GABA circuit activity. Above all, the findings point to the possibility that the delay or failure of the GABA switch in a baby's brain may be the causative factor that most or perhaps all autism-spectrum disorders have in common-and thus may be the prime target for therapies.
If further research confirms that hypothesis, then a big question will be whether autistic children can be treated early enough in life to benefit as dramatically as the rodents did in this study. With current diagnostic methods, autism normally isn't diagnosed until the child is a few years old at least. "We are limited by the diagnostic problem-it's not very simple to diagnose autism early in children or babies," says Ben-Ari.
However, he and colleagues recently reported promising results from bumetanide clinical trials in several dozen children aged 3-11, and have founded a company, Neurochlore, to develop the drug for use in autism. "We are now doing our European phase 2 dose-ranging trial which is meant to be finished by the end of the year in five centers and two countries," Ben-Ari says.
The apparent clinical benefit of bumetanide beyond infancy hints that the GABA switch may occur relatively gradually in humans, over years rather than weeks-but that is another big question that remains to be addressed. In any case, it seems likely that researchers eventually will want to test interventions in the perinatal or even prenatal period.
It probably wouldn't be feasible to dose all babies with a drug such as bumetanide-which has side-effects including potassium depletion-to reduce autism risk. "You couldn't do that," says Susan L. Connors, an autism researcher at Harvard Medical School and co-author of a commentary in Science on the new findings. "You'd have to have a biomarker to determine which of these children at birth is likely to develop autism."
One biomarker is the Fragile X gene mutation, which can be found in parents before the baby is born. "We know people whose children are at a high risk of developing Fragile X syndrome, so that might be a good target group," says Contractor.
In principle, excess neuronal chloride levels in newborns would be an even better biomarker, if a delay or disruption of the GABA switch is indeed a major cause of autism. But it seems unlikely that those levels will be easily measurable in live babies any time soon. "What I'm hoping," says Connors, "is that there's a change downstream from intracellular chloride that is evident in accessible tissues, like blood cells."
Another target for interventions might be events that weaken or inhibit the GABA switch. Premature birth and delivery complications, for example, have been linked to higher autism risk. Some researchers, including Ben-Ari, suspect that scheduled Caesarean section births-which probably involve diminished natural oxytocin signaling-may be another risk factor.
Undoubtedly more research will now be done on the GABA switch, in humans and in rodents, to clarify the biological factors involved and the downstream effects, and reveal further possible targets of intervention. Contractor notes, for example, that any link between oxytocin signaling and the expression of chloride transporter genes has yet to be explained. "We still need to work out what the mechanism is," he says. "And even though they've used two separate models here, it would be nice to look at other models of autism too."
Get the latest neuroscience news delivered to your inbox.