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Booked this place sight unseen. We had a great site with plenty of room [not all sites are this nice]. Kids loved the pool. Pool was empty every morning until about 11:30 so we had it all to ourselves. The kids tubed down the river next to the campground. The water was low, but they did fine. Kids also loved the trampoline thing. It is located in the heart of Pigeon Forge so there is plenty to do. Trolley comes by every 30 minutes to ride. Our site was at one of the Trolley stops, but it was quiet, no problems. We will definitely be back. BEST PART - NEW, HUGE, BATHROOM/SHOWER COMBOS!!
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- Choose Camp Riverslanding RV Park as your Pigeon Forge Campground Whether you are planning a vacation to Pigeon Forge or just a weekend getaway. Camp Riverslanding has everything you are looking for:•All sites Water/Elec/Sewer•Concrete Pads•Wi-Fi Internet throughout camp•30 & 50 Amp Service•Free Cable TV•Picnic Tables •Fire Rings•Laundry Facilities•Bath House with 10 Private Bath Rooms•River Tubing•Swimming Pool, Kids' Pool, and Splash Pad•Bounce Pad for Kids•Dog Park•Game Room•Basketball & Tennis Courts•Fishing•Cable Television•Pigeon Forge Trolley Stop•Playground •Pets Welcome A Pigeon Forge Campground just minutes from Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains Camp Riverslanding is a campground and RV Park located in the heart of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We offer a family atmosphere as well as a unique beauty. We are proud to be a family owned and operated RV resort and campground offering you the best possible experience in Pigeon Forge camping. We are centrally located giving you the convenience of being close to all of the action and activities that the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge area is famous for, yet at the same time our beautiful landscaped grounds and many amenities give you the feeling of being tucked away in a true outdoor resort. At Camp Riverslanding you will find 117 sites that include 30 and 50amp service. All sites with the exception of our primitive sites include water, electric, sewer and cable connections. Peaceful Riverside Camping in Pigeon ForgeImagine camping along the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Pigeon Forge, perfect for fishing, wading or just relaxing. The beautiful shade trees, grassy surroundings and well kept grounds will only add to your enjoyment. You may want to take a stroll up stream and find the perfect fishing hole or just find a spot to sit and watch the water go by. You are also just minutes away from all of the action and restaurants that the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg area are famous for. ... more less


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A German court ruled on Thursday that consumers have a right to be compensated in case their internet connection goes down.
The Federal Court of Justice of Germany ruled in favour of a consumer who complained he wasn't able to use his DSL connection for two months in 2008 and 2009. He already received compensation for having to use a mobile phone, but he also wanted to be compensated for the internet outage.
The court ruled that internet access is as important to everyday life as a car. Why a car? Well, German courts routinely compensate car owners after accidents for every day their car is undergoing repairs, unless the menders provide a replacement vehicle. The same logic can now be applied to internet access. The consumer could be forced to change service provider, or use costly mobile internet access instead. In this case, the consumer asked for €50 of damages for every day of the outage.
However, the claim was deemed too high. In car compensation claims, the court usually awards the equivalent of 40 percent of rental costs, so compensation for internet outages should be closer to average DSL access rates, hardly €50 per day.
According to Sueddeutsche.de, the Court's vice president, Woflgang Schlick, pointed out that compensation could only amount to a fraction of the €50-per-day claim.
"It is a very optimistic estimate," Schlick said. It is still unclear how much compensation the court is willing to grant.
The ruling could pave the way to further compensation claims, but it could also force ISPs to change the way they do business. For example, if they are unable to sort out a DSL outage in a day or so, they could be forced to provide alternative internet access, the same way car dealerships hand out replacement motors.
Andrew Ferguson at ThinkBroadband pointed out to TechEye that there are similar structures in place in the UK. "While compensation for cases where someone is without broadband for a period of two months can often be obtained in the UK, a lot of the time it will be dependent on the cause of the problem," Ferguson said. "There is a big difference between total outages and those trying to claim for periods where the service was performing below par but still functional to some extent."
He continued: "In this case it appears that compensation might actually be less than what some UK providers would provide voluntarily, which is to refund the subscription or provide a credit note to that effect. In cases where the outage is just a day or two, then things become more complex.
"If compensation were legislated then the danger is that it would be inflexible and might result in prices increasing as providers build in the costs of compensating people. In the UK we are seeing this partly with the way that Openreach has been pressured to lower the monthly costs of telephone services. The fault investigation can sometimes result in a charge to the consumer if it is believed the consumers' hardware or their extension wiring is to blame."
For business users, Ferguson said, there are already service level agreements available for purchase both for the phone line and for broadband – which will offer better response times to faults and to compensation levels. "These are more useful, not for the compensation, but for the speedier response to faults," Ferguson said. "Broadband is critical to a business – one afternoon without service can cost a lot of money. Therefore it is important to make sure you have alternate methods of accessing the internet; something as simple as an arrangement to allow you to use a neighbouring firm's broadband can help to stay on top of things like customer inquiries."

subset: commoncrawl


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Lightweight and comfortable to wear, Beats by Dr Dre Studio 2.0 headphones deliver excellent sound quality with streamlined style. Featuring soft ear cups and an ergonomic bellow to create a flexible, custom fit for every head shape, Dr Dre Studio 2.0 noise cancelling headphones have smooth surfaces with no visible screws.
In eye-catching blue, with a compact, foldable design, Beats by Dr Dre Studio 2.0 headphones ensure that you can enjoy great sounds at any time, whether at home or on the go.


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Beginning today, Chatham County government employees will have a new place to seek health care.
The doors of a new health facility, located at 813 East 68th St. in Savannah's Medical Arts area, will be open to thousands of employees who can obtain primary care without having to take out their wallets for co-payments.
The idea for an employee health clinic arose from a desire to control rising health care costs and improve the health of employees, many of whom were found to be suffering from obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension and other health risks.
About 1,400 employees currently covered by the county's medical plan will be eligible for free visits to the clinic. They were mailed information packets and can schedule appointments online. Next year, about 2,100 dependents will become eligible to receive services.
An increasing number of governments in the state and around the country have opened similar clinics that are seen as a viable way to lower medical costs through preventive care, while boosting the productivity of healthier employees.
According to the county, its clinic will "diagnose, treat and prescribe a wide variety of common illnesses and injuries. In addition to sick care, employees will have access to a full range of health assessment, coaching and disease management services."
In February, county commissioners awarded a $618,798 annual contract to Vermont-based Marathon Health to manage the clinic. A consultant has estimated that the county could save $5 million over the next five years.
Carolyn Smalls, county human resources director, said officials should have an idea of how effective the clinic is a year from now, when costs, claims and other data can be compared. Included in the contract with Marathon Health are performance measures.
"We'll be evaluating a lot of factors over the course of the next year to determine what the actual cost savings have been," Smalls said.
The clinic, which is being leased from a dentist by the county, once served as a medical office and already contained exam rooms. Commissioners received a tour of the space Tuesday afternoon.
Following minor renovation work that included flooring and countertop replacement, along with fresh coats of paint, the clinic's staff spent the past two weeks preparing for today's opening.
A full-time nurse practitioner, part-time registered nurse and full-time medical assistant will staff the facility, Smalls said. The clinic's operating hours are 8 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. other weekdays.


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Don't get grabby, have manners, make eye contact and 10 other first-date tips from women.
8. You Make Lots Of Big Declarative Statements About What You're Looking For: Sounds more like you just want someone who will nod along with your lectures. Don't get me wrong, I want to know what kinds of things are important to you. But if it feels like you're going down a checklist, I have to wonder, are you laying down the law or do you want to get to know me?
9. You Called Your Ex-Girlfriend "Crazy": Sure, I might be scared you'd say the same thing about me. But I'm even more afraid that she truly is nutso and, by dating you, I'll incur her vengeful wrath.
10. You Didn't Bring Anything To The Conversation: I'm glad you like what I have to say, but what's on your mind? We're not at that comfortable silence stage at date #1.
11. Dress To Impress: That T-shirt has a stain on it. You don't have to get all fake fancy, but on the first date shouldn't you be trying to look your best? I didn't blow-dry my hair because I thought I was going to meet a mess.
12. You Were Rude To The Waiter/Waitress: Whether you seemed one flirt away from slapping her ass or you complained about every detail of the meal, you should always be respectful. If you're already abusing your relationship with a waiter/waitress, what hope is there for me?
13. I Remind You Of ... : Your mom, your sister, your ex-girlfriend—AGH! Unless you are going to compare me to a babelicious celeb you don't have any connection to (say, Zooey Deschanel, Bar Rafaeli, Marilyn Monroe), keep the comparisons to yourself.
More from The Frisky:
10 Reasons He Didn't Ask You Out On A Second Date
13 Reasons He Won't Have Sex With You, Even After A Hot Date


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Tamarac, Fla. – Jane F. (Lennon) Windecker, of Tamarac, Florida, died Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012 with family gathered by her side at UMass Medical Center in Worcester. She was 85.
Born on July 5, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York, she was a daughter of the late Albert and Mildred (Hortsman) Lennon. Raised and educated in New York she was a graduate of Midwood High School in Brooklyn. She married Francis J. "Frank" Windecker on September 24, 1950 in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, New York. They lived most of their married lives in North Babylon, Long Island before retiring to Tamarac, Florida in 1987. Frank died on April 15, 1997 and last March she moved to Massachusetts to be closer to her daughters and family. She was lovingly known to family and friends as "Daisy." She will be so very missed.
Jane loved her work as secretary for the Suffolk County Police Department Property Bureau in Yaphank, Long Island where she worked for more than 30 years, retiring in 1986.
While living in New York, she was an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in West Islip where she served on its Altar Society. In Florida, she was a volunteer at the Museum of Science in Fort Lauderdale and the Millennium Middle School. She really enjoyed her work on "Citizens Patrol" in her living community in Florida. Her interests included sewing, reading and a good game of Mahjong with friends in Florida. Diagnosed with polio at age 5 she was a member of the post-polio support group in Fort Lauderdale.
In addition to her husband, Frank, she is preceded in death by her granddaughter, Aimee K. Guerrera, and her sister, Patricia Weimer.
She leaves her daughters, Jane Mihalich and her husband, Jim, of Shrewsbury, Kathy M. Guerrera and her fiancé, Michael Gour, of Worcester and Eileen Cynamon of Auburn; her sister, Mildred Ingram of Kings Park, New York; her grandchildren, Matthew J. Mihalich and his wife,. Marta Poltorak-Mihalich of Washington D.C., Alexander J. Mihalich of Shrewsbury, Neil H. Mihalich and his girlfriend, Allison Kraus of Washington D.C., Cassie L. Guerrera and her boyfriend, Jeremy Falat, of Norwood, Drew J. Guerrera and his girlfriend, Katie Mulcahy, of Boston, Jared M. Cynamon and Samuel A. Cynamon, both of Auburn; and nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor and remember Jane's life by gathering for calling hours Friday, Nov. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center, and again at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 640 Main St., Shrewsbury, where her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m.
Burial aside her late husband, Frank, in Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, Long Island, New York will be held Friday, Nov. 9 at a time to be announced.
Honor Jane's memory with a contribution to Saint John's High School, Scholarship Fund, Office of School Advancement, 378 Main St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545.


text: Departmental Acquisitions: Professional Studies / Counseling Title: Affirmative psychotherapy with gay clients American Psychological Association. Title: Aim high, achieve more : how to transform urban schools through fearless leadership /Yvette Jackson and Veronica McDermott. Title: Anxiety disorders produced by Jamie A. Dyce and Therese Chevalier. Title: Assignments matter : making the connections that help students meet standards /Eleanor Dougherty. Title: Bullying interventions in schools : six basic approaches /Ken Rigby. Title: Classroom assessment in action / Mark D. Shermis and Francis J. Di Vesta. Title: Cognitive-behavioral therapy for clients with anxiety and panic a production of Digital Learning and Media Design, Governors State University. Title: A comprehensive guide to suicidal behaviours : working with individuals at risk and their families /David Aldridge and Sergio Pâerez Barrero. Title: Conducting school-based functional behavioral assessments : a practitioner's guide /Mark W. Steege, T. Steuart Watson. Title: The core six : essential strategies for achieving excellence with the common core /Harvey F. Silver, R. Thomas Dewing, Matthew J. Perini ; foreword by Heidi Hayes Jacobs. Title: Cross-cultural communication how culture affects communication /Odyssey Productions LLC. Title: Curriculum in early childhood education : re-examined, rediscovered, renewed /edited by Nancy File, Jennifer J. Mueller, and Debora Basler Wisneski. Title: Data-driven decision making : a handbook for school leaders /Chris O'Neal. Title: Disorganized attachment and caregiving / edited by Judith Solomon, Carol George. Title: From good schools to great schools : what their principals do well /Susan Penny Gray, William A. Streshly ; foreword by Marge Hobbs. Title: Fundamentals of library instruction / Monty L. McAdoo. Title: Handbook of prosocial education / edited by Philip Brown, Michael W. Corrigan, and Ann Higgins-D'Alessandro. Title: Homeroom security : school discipline in an age of fear /Aaron Kupchik. Title: John Bowlby attachment theory across generations /written and narrated by Howard Steele ; produced by Frances Davidson ; directed by John Davidson. Title: The last boys picked / Janet Sasson Edgette ; with Beth Margolis Rupp. Title: Leadership for social justice and democracy in our schools / [edited by] Alan M. Blankstein and Paul D. Houston. Title: Mindfulness for anxiety a production of Digital Learning and Media Design, Governors State University. Title: Personality disorders by Jamie A. Dyce ; produced by Jamie Dyce, Therese Chevalier. Title: Philosophy of education / Nel Noddings. Title: Police in the hallways : discipline in an urban high school /Kathleen Nolan ; foreword by Paul Willis. Title: Renewal : remaking America's schools for the twenty-first century /Harold Kwalwasser. Title: Saving the school : the true story of a principal, a teacher, a coach, a bunch of kids, and a year in the crosshairs of education reform /Michael Brick. Title: The school counselor's study guide for credentialing exams / Rita Schellenberg. Title: The school psychologist's survival guide / Rebecca Branstetter. Title: School psychology for the 21st century : foundations and practices /Kenneth W. Merrell, Ruth A. Ervin, Gretchen Gimpel Peacock. Title: Sexting / Stefan Kiesbye, editor. Title: Teach beyond your reach : an instructor's guide to developing and running successful distance learning classes, workshops, training sessions, and more /Robin Neidorf. Title: Teachers matter : rethinking how public schools identify, reward, and retain great educators /Marcus A. Winters. Title: Three approaches to psychotherapy with a female client the next generation /American Psychological Association ; produced by Governors State University Division of Digital Learning and Media Design ; producers Yvette Brown and Jon M. Tullos. Title: Three approaches to psychotherapy with a male client the next generation /American Psychological Association ; produced by Governors State University Division of Digital Learning and Media Design ; producers, Yevette Brown, Jon M. Tullos ; DVD authoring, Mark Kundla, Heather Penn ; director, Jon M. Tullos. Title: Who's in your social network? : understanding the risks associated with modern media and social networking and how it can impact your character and relationships /Pam Stenzel & Melissa Nesdahl. Title: Working with African American men American Psychological Association presents ; produced by Digital Learning and Media Design, Governors State University. Title: Working with issues of social class in psychotherapy American Psychological Association.


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* Q4 2012 loss $489 mln vs Q4 2011 loss $761 mln
* Revenue flat compared with year-earlier quarter
* Shares down 3.8 percent
By Elinor Comlay and Gabriela Lopez
MEXICO CITY/MONTERREY, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Mexico's Cemex, the giant cement company that has been struggling to turn around its debt-laden business since the U.S. housing crisis, said weak sales in Europe offset a pickup in its U.S. business and led it to report a wider-than-expected fourth-quarter loss.
Cemex said that although revenue from its hard-hit U.S. unit increased 11 percent, cement sales in northern Europe and the Mediterranean region fell 8 percent and the company's total revenue was flat compared with the year-earlier quarter at $3.71 billion.
The Monterrey-based company's shares fell 3.8 percent to 13.28 pesos after it reported on Thursday a loss of $489 million in the fourth quarter, compared with $761 million a year earlier. Analysts on average expected a loss of $47 million, according to a Reuters survey.
The company's sales in Mexico, where it dominates the cement market, were also a little lower than expected, analysts noted. That may be a result of last year's presidential election and change in administration that has slowed infrastructure projects.
Still, Cemex reported a pickup in operating income and core profit, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), that confirmed the company was turning around, analysts said.
"This actually looks like a pretty solid quarter even though it was a bit of a miss," said Todd Vencil, an analyst at Sterne Agee in Richmond, Virginia.
Cemex's shares were up 8.7 percent this year through Wednesday, fueled by expectations of a U.S. construction recovery.
Vencil, who spoke before markets opened, said investors may have been getting a little ahead of themselves. "If Cemex ends up being down today I think it's going to be due more to overheated expectations than the reality of the quarter."
Cemex said EBITDA increased 13 percent to $611 million in the quarter from $540 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.
The company also reported a higher quarterly operating profit of $285 million, up 26 percent from $227 million in the year-ago quarter, but below analysts' expectations of $299 million, according to a Reuters survey.
Cemex expects to sell between 1 and 3 percent more cement in Mexico, the United States, Latin America and Asia in 2013. Those increased sales volumes "will more than offset the expected weaker Northern Europe and Mediterranean regions," finance executive Fernando Gonzalez told analysts on a call.
The company also expects to invest about $700 million on capital expenditures this year, with most of that money going toward maintenance and $175 million for "strategic capex," Gonzalez said.
"The fact is that in North America ... we seem to be solidly in the early phases of a good construction recovery," Vencil said. "Europe and Cemex's Mediterranean region is still challenged, but hopefully that goes in the same direction before too long."
Cemex was hurt by the 2008 U.S. housing meltdown shortly after paying out $16 billion to buy Australian peer Rinker. It has been digging out of deep debt obligations for the past three years.
It wrapped up a refinancing package in the autumn that gave it much-needed room to push back looming debt payments for up to four years.
Cemex has also used non-core asset sales in the past to pay off debt. It raised about $1.1 billion in November by selling a bigger-than-expected stake in its Latam unit in an IPO in Colombia.


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Guide: Tomb Raider (2018) Initial Press Coverage
By Dre on October 11, 2017 | No comments yet
Hello, fellow Raiders!
Excited for the new Tomb Raider film releasing in 2018? Check out the gathered videos below for coverage and press interviews promoting the new movie!
Tomb Raider Movie: Poster – Teaser Trailer Reveal
By Dre on September 18, 2017 | No comments yet
Warner Bros has officially revealed the poster art and teaser for the new Tomb Raider film, starring Alicia Vikander — in theaters March 2018!
Alicia Vikander — A Rebooted Saga
By Dre on September 13, 2017 | No comments yet
The Hollywood Reporter sat down for a press interview with Alicia Vikander for the release of her new film "Euphoria," and had an opportunity to ask the tomb raider about Lara's newest adventure on the silver screen.
First Look: Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in New Tomb Raider Film
By Dre on March 28, 2017 | No comments yet
MGM Studios and Warner Bros has officially released new photos of Alicia Vikander embodying the role of a fresh faced and eager young Lara Croft. The movie will stand as a reimagining of the Tomb Raider film franchise, much like the Tomb Raider 2013 reboot, and will not have connections to previous films that starred Angelina Jolie as classic Lara Croft.
The film is set to release in theaters March 16th, 2018 and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and in select territories by MGM.
Check out the film's synopsis and gallery of our new Lara Croft!
Lara Croft is the fiercely independent daughter of an eccentric adventurer who vanished when she was scarcely a teen. Now a young woman of 21 without any real focus or purpose, Lara navigates the chaotic streets of trendy East London as a bike courier, barely making the rent, and takes college courses, rarely making it to class. Determined to forge her own path, she refuses to take the reins of her father's global empire just as staunchly as she rejects the idea that he's truly gone. Advised to face the facts and move forward after seven years without him, even Lara can't understand what drives her to finally solve the puzzle of his mysterious death.
Going explicitly against his final wishes, she leaves everything she knows behind in search of her dad's last-known destination: a fabled tomb on a mythical island that might be somewhere off the coast of Japan. But her mission will not be an easy one; just reaching the island will be extremely treacherous. Suddenly, the stakes couldn't be higher for Lara, who—against the odds and armed with only her sharp mind, blind faith and inherently stubborn spirit—must learn to push herself beyond her limits as she journeys into the unknown. If she survives this perilous adventure, it could be the making of her, earning her the name tomb raider.
From Warner Bros. Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, "Tomb Raider" is the story that will set a young and resolute Lara Croft on a path toward becoming a global hero.
Lara Funko POP Figure Available Now!
By Dre on January 20, 2017 | No comments yet
Hello fellow Raiders, if you have yet to get your hands on a Funko POP! Lara figure — be sure to go out and get one! They're available now, online and at your local GameStop! The Vinyl "Rock Candy" figure from Funko has just released! Check out the adorable little Lara's below!
20 Years of Tomb Raider: 2016 in Review
By Dre on January 8, 2017 | No comments yet
My new year resolution for 2016 was a goal to become more involved with the Tomb Raider community and thankfully I was afforded that opportunity. I've met so many incredible people, made such great friends and joined a passionate and embracing Tomb Raider family.
After my initial trip to Crystal Dynamics in Redwood City, California — I was so eager to do Tomb Raider events the following year!
In July of 2016, I was able to fly out to San Diego during Comic-Con season. My family was already vacationing there, and it made sense for me to join my family later that week, and join in on the Tomb Raider festivities, such as the Cosplay gathering where members of the community showed off their awesome costumes and hung out for the weekend!
It was super nerve-wracking, meeting so many members of the community and development team. I remember being so reluctant and afraid to show up at the "Square Enix Experience" where demos and gatherings were being held downtown by the convention center. But it was such an incredible and memorable first experience, meeting such talented and likeminded people, all gathered for our love for Croft!
At the "Square Enix Experience" I was able to get hands on with the PS4 version of Rise of the Tomb Raider, climb a super cool rock climbing wall, and meet the ever so fabulous Camilla Luddington! I was super nervous meeting her, I never in a million years expected to ever meet this girl. But there she was, glamorous and so down to earth. I remember being so starstruck and stunned to actually see her walk on to the lot, greeting all the fans.
SDCC 2016 was super special, and it was an honor to finally meet everyone there!
More recently in November of 2016, Crystal Dynamics and a company in northern Cali called Adventure Out partnered up to host a survival training course with staff members of IGN to be grouped up with members of the community to learn basic survival skills and compete Tomb Raider style!
As a Colorado native, it was quite the trip to haul ass halfway across the country on such short notice for the next TR event! That being said, I road tripped 13 hours from Colorado to Arizona to meet up with a buddy, Isaac Cabrera aka Tom Braider — Where we drove through Los Angeles to pick up a few more members of our party, and drove up the coast to Santa Cruz to join the rest of the group for the training class! We even met up with Earl Baylon for a lunch date in LA.
During the course we learned how to build shelter, purify water, make fire by friction, and even build bundle bows like Lara's iconic makeshift bow in TR 2013! It was a blast, and I'm super excited for what's to come in 2017! Be sure to check out the gallery below!
I want to give a special thanks to my road trip buddies — for dealing with my shenanigans, and being the best road trip pals. It was so much fun.
Rise of the Tomb Raider – Blood Ties VR Spoiler-Free Review
By Laura Louise on January 4, 2017 | No comments yet
As you may already be aware, 2016 was the year of Tomb Raider. Marking 20 years since the franchises birth, Crystal Dynamics celebrated 20 years of Tomb Raider by hosting several events — such as the Tomb Raider Suite that happened in December, and Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration edition that released on PlayStation 4. This edition of the game is jam packed with new content, as well as the award winning base game. The new content features a co-op version of Endurance mode, where people can play together to survive the wilderness. It also features new storyline DLC called Blood Ties – allowing us to explore Croft Manor first the first time in true HD and also in VR (Exclusively to PS4) – and that's not all! In the special add on 'Lara's Nightmare' we are be able to defend Croft Manor from Zombies in this new action packed adventure.
I was lucky enough to have a family member who owns PSVR and let me try out VR mode. PSVR is quite costly as many pieces of equipment are needed; the headset alone costs £349.99 in the UK ($399.99) and you also need a PlayStation camera for the headset to work which will set you back another £45.00 – so needless to say, I was extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to try this out without having to shell out a lot of cash.
The headset, when finally fitted is quite comfortable, there is a strap at the back for adjusting how tight it is. I was also pleasantly surprised that it's possible to wear glasses with the PSVR and it will still work fine. The only issue I encountered with the headset is that the lenses can get a little fogged up depending on your surroundings and heated environment. Obviously when wearing the headset, you're unable to see anything as the headset covers your eyes, for this reason it's essential to make sure the area in which you are gaming is large enough and clear of obstacles.
I've read that it's possible to use PlaySation Move controllers with the PSVR, however I didn't have one so I used the DualShock 4 controller instead, and that worked just fine. It turns out there are two different ways of controlling Lara in VR mode; firstly, you can control her as normal, left analogue stick to move, right analogue stick for camera. Secondly you can use a strange "teleportation" mode where you use certain buttons on the controller to warp you to different areas. I found the latter quite confusing to figure out, so I went with the traditional style controls to move around Croft Manor.
It's well known that using traditional controls whilst wearing the PSVR headset can make a lot of gamers dizzy and nauseous, but for me it wasn't too bad, I noticed that they had slowed down the speed of which you can move greatly, possibly to counteract any dizziness or motion sickness.
This is where the reality (pun intended) of virtual reality kicks in.
I was standing in Lara's study in Croft Manor, my view was first person, I could see the safe in front of me. If I turned to my right I could see down the hall, If I turned to the left I could see out of the window, this was insane. I made my way down to the main hallway and really took my time taking in the sights, looking up at the top right of the 'screen' I could see the beautiful architecture of the building, the stone balconies, rain pouring in from a hole in the roof, all like it was right there in real life. Wherever I turned my head, the camera would follow – hard to explain, but it was amazing to experience.
The only downsides I experienced with the PSVR were of course the lenses fogging up, which made it difficult to see, and also sometimes the camera wouldn't track my movements properly and when I would load up the menu it would be at a very high portion of the screen, or an extremely low portion of the screen, although I think some of this may have had something to with the fact that I was using tradition controls to move Lara around, and using the right analogue stick messed the camera up.
Although I found the whole experience interesting, I still wouldn't be tempted to shell out the £349.99 to be able to have this experience in my living room, however this is just my personal opinion. If you have the opportunity to try out Blood Ties VR mode, definitely try it out, but if not, the normal version is just as satisfying.
Be sure to check out the gallery below!
Tomb Raider Series Discounted in Steam Autumn Sale
By Laura Louise on November 24, 2016 | No comments yet
Great news for PC gamers this week. Steam launched their Autumn sale last night with some great offers for the Tomb Raider series.
If you were waiting to pick up Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20th Anniversary edition, the game is currently 50% on the Steam store, costing only £19.99/$29.99 which is an amazing price considering all of the content included in this version of the game:
– Classic Lara Skins
– Blood Ties story DLC
– Lara's Nightmare expedition
– Cold Darkness Awakened DLC
– Endurance Mode
– Baba Yaga DLC
– Co-op Endurance Mode & much more!
Also discounted is Tomb Raider 2013, which you can pick up for around £3.74 – a really great deal. If classic Tomb Raider is more your thing, you can pick up the classic games for less than £1.50 a piece! Make sure to take advantage of these great deals as the Steam sale ends on November 29th!
Rise of the Tomb Raider 20 Year Celebration Collectors Bundle Announced
By Laura Louise on September 26, 2016 | No comments yet
Recently a special collectors bundle for Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration was announced, it will release on October 11th 2016 alongside the standard and limited edition versions. So far this bundle is only available from the Square Enix European Store, priced at £89.99 which is great value for everything that you get in the box:
Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration physical game
Replica of Lara's diary
Replica of Lara's necklace
Limited edition 20 Year Celebration art book
12″ Lara Croft statue
Beautiful collectors box
As someone who owned this version of the game for XBox One, I would highly guarantee this as a purchase, it will include all DLC previously announced as well as the new Croft Manor/Blood Ties/Lara's Nightmare and Co-Op Endurance mode, priced at £89.99 this version of the game is a steal! I can't speak for the artbook, however the replicas are well made and the Lara Croft statue is huge and beautiful.
At the moment this edition is only available from Square Enix Europe, as soon as any news for other regions becomes available, we will let you know.
PLAY Expo 2016 – How to survive a comic con
By Laura Louise on August 27, 2016 | No comments yet
With the huge announcement of the 20 years of Tomb Raider celebration taking place at PLAY Expo Manchester, UK this October 8-9th We've put together a comic con survival guide! Feel free to use it for information if you are a first time con-goer or as a check list for seasoned veterans.
Do your research before the day: Show guide, floor plans, signing / photoshoot schedules and cosplay prop weapon restrictions
It always pays to be prepared, be sure to thoroughly research the event before attending so that your day flows as smoothly as possible. Having a show guide to hand can be extremely useful! If you are attending signings and photo shoots, have a copy of the schedule nearby so that you know where you need to be and at what time.
If you are cosplaying, one of the most important things to do is to check the terms and conditions for props, it would be terrible to have your props confiscated because they did not follow the guidelines! Be prepared and research thoroughly.
Where possible, purchase early bird/entry or weekend tickets
If you are planning to attend both days of the event, it is always more financially beneficial to purchase a weekend tickets, as single day tickets are usually a little more expensive. Purchase your tickets as soon as possible as weekend tickets are usually the first to sell out. If you are attending for a single day, it is always best to purchase an early bird/entry ticket rather than a general entry ticket. This is to ensure you get into the event and through the queuing system as swiftly as possible, so you can start enjoying your day!
Prepare yourself, there can be big crowds
Each year PLAY Expo gets bigger and bigger, attracting more people every year! So do your research before the day: Show guide, floor plans, signing and photo shoot schedules.
Keep hydrated, drink lots of water
Naturally, with all of these people in one giant hall, the temperatures are bound to rise, keep well hydrated by drinking lots of water. You can either take your own or there will be stalls inside selling drinks.
Technology – Take a fully charged camera, an empty memory card and a portable phone charger
Comic cons are an amazing place to take lots of photos, the cosplayers look wonderful and put so much effort into their costumes, but remember to always ask permission before taking a photo of cosplayers. These days' cell phone batteries deplete very fast, so a portable charger for your phone is always a good idea, you want to make sure you always have battery power.
The most important tip – Enjoy yourself
It's not every day that we have these special events to bring us all together, make sure you enjoy PLAY Expo for everything that it is, take lots of photos, catch as many panels as you can, go shopping, just make sure to have fun.
The 20 Year celebration of Tomb Raider event was organised by PLAY Expo in partnership with Tomb of Ash. Meet other Tomb Raider fans as well as cast and crew who worked on the Tomb Raider games! Tickets are on sale now at PLAY Expo's official website. The event takes place at Event City Manchester, United Kingdom on Saturday October 8th and Sunday October 9th 2016.
From the press release:
In tribute to gaming's first lady of adventure, the party starts with what is set to be the largest Tomb Raider panel ever assembled! Hosted by Sky Sports™ eSports commentator Matt Andrews, and with a host of famous names throughout the history of the franchise, fans will be able to engage in a Q&A with the panel as well as hear untold stories from the development of the series. With more names yet to announce, confirmed guests so far include:
Ian Livingstone CBE: Former CEO of Eidos® Interactive
Jeremy Heath-Smith: Executive producer and Co-Founder of Core® Design
Natalie Cook: Lara Croft™ original model for Tomb Raider™
Richard Morton: Lead Game Designer / Level Designer / Environmental Artist for Tomb Raider II™ – Tomb Raider III™ – Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation™ – Tomb Raider Chronicles™ – Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness™
Gavin Rummery: Programmer for Tomb Raider – Tomb Raider II – Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness / Head of Core Design
Heather Gibson: Level Designer for Tomb Raider / Tomb Raider II
Andy Sandham: Level Designer / Artist / Script Writer for Tomb Raider III – Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation – Tomb Raider Chronicles
Murti Schofield: Lead Writer / Casting for Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
Nathan McCree: Composer for Tomb Raider – Tomb Raider II – Tomb Raider III
Stuart Atkinson: Artist / Animator for Tomb Raider – Tomb Raider II
James Kenny: Concept / Environmental Artist for Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
With so many cast and development members' together at last, no reunion on this scale would be complete without the opportunity to capture the moment, and a Tomb Raider themed photo shoot will be the perfect place stand shoulder-to-shoulder with gaming's greatest heroes!


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THE ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago was shut down last night after a Virgin Atlantic plane entered a closed-off section of the runway and blew a tyre which left the aircraft disabled.
In a press release last night, the Ministry of Transport announced that the airport has been closed until further notice.
The release stated:
"As at 8 p.m. tonight, A Virgin Airways Boeing 747 � 400 destined for Gatwick London inadvertibly encroached on a closed off section of the western taxi way.
"The aircraft inadvertently encroached on a section of the airport that was undergoing repairs and which was lit in red. As a result of the encroachment, one of the tyres on the aircraft was blown and the aircraft was disabled.
"In the circumstances the ANR Robinson Airport is currently closed, while the Civil Aviation Authority and Virgin Airlines are working assiduously to restore operations to normal."
The incident left Virgin Atlantic flight VF52 across the runway, a passenger on board the flight told the Express by phone last night.
The 452 passengers on board VF52 were asked to disembark one hour after the incident and the entire airport was then closed.
Soca artiste Machel Montano was one of the passengers.
No one was said to have been injured during the incident.
"At this point in time the Ministry is not aware of all the necessary and relevant facts and circumstances that resulted in this occurrence, but extremely thankful that there has been no loss of life or limb," the release from the Ministry stated.
"The Ministry of Transport would like to advise that all contingency plans are in place to accommodate passengers who have been displaced by the mishap that has occurred with a Virgin Atlantic plane at the ANR Robinson International Airport," the release stated.
Private cars and taxis were called and took passengers away from the airport.
"For the travelling public between Trinidad and Tobago; contingency plans are being put in place by the relevant Authorities to ensure that travel between the two islands continues to be facilitated," the release from the Ministry stated.
"The Inter Island ferry remains committed to fill any void that may have arisen. The relevant Authorities are working feverishly to ensure that service to the Airport is resumed in the shortest possible time."


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BUSINESS interest in moving into Liverpool has surged by almost a third since the city was awarded its European Capital of Culture status 12 months ago today.
Enquiries from companies aiming to move into the city are up by 30%, with interest being attracted from all corners of Britain, Europe and the world.
Most of the major players who are looking at the city are being kept under wraps so far, but the Daily Post understands that the Bank of America's debit card operation is among big US names who have approached the region's investment agencies within the last year.
The Mersey Partnership's figures are corroborated by data from Liverpool Business Centre, run by the city council and Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.
A council spokesman said the number of enquiries from companies looking at moving to the area had risen from 44 in the 12 months to June 2003 to 60 in the year since.
"Any city region's appeal as an investment location is enhanced when it is perceived to have a positive and dynamic image giving it a lively buzz and a feeling of confidence," said Mark Basnett, head of inward investment at The Mersey Partnership.
"Such appeal, which is often difficult to quantify, makes locations very attractive and appealing to young executives as a place to live and work.
"European cities such as Berlin, Barcelona and Amsterdam have seen the economic benefits of this effect and, with increasing investment enquiries, we're just starting to see the sort of impact it could make to Liverpool."
However, Mr Basnett warned that there was still work to be done to convert some of the increased number of enquiries into actual investments. "This is not going to happen overnight. It is a bit of a slow burn," he said.
Yet, despite the voice of caution, Merseyside has already benefited from a significant increase in investment in the past year.
Recent arrivals include Koito, a Japanese firm that makes airline seats, and Land Rover, which is transferring production of its Freelander model from the group's plant at Solihull to join Jaguar at Halewood.
The move is expected to create 1,000 jobs directly plus another 500 as a result of suppliers moving to the region to be near Land Rover.
Around 400 jobs are expected to be created by Arvato Services when it builds a print plant at the Estuary Commerce Park at Speke.
The positive impact on Liverpool's image is difficult to quantify, but has undoubtedly been huge, with the story of the city's European Capital of Culture success attracting national TV, radio and newspaper coverage. Capital of Culture stories have appeared in publications around the world, including India Weekly, Le Temps (Swiss Times), Washington Post, Time Magazine, and Stockholm's daily newspaper.
According to Liverpool council figures, positive stories have outnumbered negative ones by five to one.
The Capital of Culture website has received almost one million hits in the past year.
In terms of solid achievements, a great deal has been done in the last 12 months in terms of laying the ground for 2008.
They include:
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has approved the Compulsory Purchase Orders for Liverpool's #800m Paradise Street Development - the largest retail development taking place in Europe. It will create 4,400 permanent jobs and 3,300 construction jobs pPlans unveiled for #300m Kings Dock development. Eyre Wilkinson named as architects to deliver project
Announcement of #15m PFI funding to remodel Liverpool's Central Library into a World Discovery Centre. pLiverpool confirmed as the host port for the start of the 2008 Tall Ships Race pLiverpool to stage start of the Clipper 2005 and 2007 Round the World Yacht Races pLiverpool launched its second themed year in January 2004 - the year of Faith in One City pLiverpool announced the launch of one of the largest funding packages for community art in the UK. More than 80 groups have benefited from a #420,000 Creative Communities grant which has triggered a further #1.6m in match funding.
The Friend Ship, a life-sized interactive ship, is visiting every primary and special school in Liverpool, reaching more than 40,000 children. By the middle of May, 669 pupils had already accessed the ship. pLiverpool staged its biggest-ever clean-up in May. Thousands of volunteers took to the streets to make the city sparkle.
The Monster Clean-Up was part of the Liverpool Culture Company's community-wide G-Litter campaign. More than 10,000 people took part in the project. pWork has started on The 08 Place, a cultural centre to showcase and promote the Capital of Culture Experience, in the build-up to 2008 and beyond.
It is to open in August and will be the first port of call for people who wish to find out about the celebrations, and will include exhibitions and ticket-booking facilities.
Liverpool Culture Company has appointed an artistic director, Robyn Archer, director of marketing, Kris Donaldson and director of tourism, Jason Harborow.
A new Liverpool Culture Board has been appointed, including Sir Neil Cossons, National Chairman of English Heritage, Sir Nick Serota, director of Tate, Sue Street, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, Tom Bloxham, chairman, Urban Splash, Brenda Smith, non-executive deputy chairman, ITV Group, Bryan Gray, chairman NWDA, Roger Lewis, managing director Classic FM, Roy Morris, chairman The Mersey Partnership, Ruth Gould - North West Disability Arts Forum, Sue Woodward, managing director of Granada TV and director of regional affairs, ITV.
Plans developed for River of Light project, a world-class attraction - a nighttime on both sides of the River Mersey.


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Add my congrats to all of the others, DesertRose. Babies are good news!
Add my congrats to all of the others, DesertRose. Babies are good news!
Congratulations DesertRose. Hope Mommy and baby are doing well
I can only please one person a day, today is not your day and tomorrow doesn't look good either
Thank you everyone. Here's a picture of Gianluca.
How adorable DesertRose! Congratulations. Is his name a family name?
One of these days I'll stop being sensitive. Until then, I'll continue to be devastated on a daily basis. Life breaks my heart.
How cute desertrose. Congratulations and spoil him rotten as cute as he is.
Count your blessings!
Very beautiful! Both him and his name!
DesertRose, Gianluca is simply precious! Congratulations!
Congratulations DR!! He's really cute.


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Graham Joins Terriers
Owls striker David Graham has joined League One side Huddersfield Town on loan until the end of the season.
The move was completed this morning after rumours that Town and Doncaster Rovers were chasing the services of the Scottish striker.
Huddersfield manager Peter Jackson told the official Huddersfield site: ''I've been after him for a while and I'm delighted he has decided to come here. He's a proven goalscorer, and although it has not worked out for him at Wednesday he was far away the best player in the second division when he was at Torquay.''
Graham has struggled to win the Hillsborough faithful over since his early season arrival from Wigan Athletic, managing just three goals in 26 appearances for the Owls.
He had better luck at Torquay where he bagged 45 goals in 98 appearances on the South coast. Graham will be hoping he can regain that form to help the terriers to promotion to the Championship.


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text: K4t 0 Posted December 27, 2012 Hi everyone. I guess this may have been answered before but I'm new. So I apologise in advance. This problem I have with my 2002, 1.3 ka is driving me insane. I was driving a few weeks ago for around 20 miles and not once did the heater blow hot it was always cold. So my boyfriend suggested I check my coolant. Which I did and found that it was empty. I topped up and all was good again. About a week later I was driving along to work about 4 miles and there was steam coming from under the bonnet. No temp warning light came on, but the car was very juddery, so I pulled over and the coolant cap was off with no coolant in, strange. I had to go to work so left it and refilled when I got home. Every day since then, about two weeks now, I am loosing coolant daily. I'll top up in the morning and by night it's all gone! I noticed today however my passenger footwell is soaking and if I press down, puddles begin to form. I removed the carpet slightly and it is really wet underneath. I was worried it may be my head gasket but have checked oil and all seems ok. Myself and my boyfriend are at the end of our tethers with this car atm as we can't figure out where the coolant is going and where exactly it is leaking from, if it is coolant in the footwell that is ( doesn't smell like it ) Please can someone give me an indication of where to look and what to do? Do you guys think my coolant is eventually ending up on my footwell carpet? Or is that yet another unrelated problem? Thanks, Kat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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AmSurg and Oberto Sausage Company are the latest corporations on the receiving end of tax breaks from the city, after the Metro Council gave final approval to incentive packages for each on Tuesday night.
The deals did face a bit more opposition than has become expected with the increasingly frequent arrangements but still passed overwhelmingly, with votes of 34 to 5 and 35 to 4 respectively.
For AmSurg, the largest operator of ambulatory surgery centers in the country, the council approved a $2.3 million dollar tax break over eight years, meant to ensure the company's headquarters remains in Davidson County. They will receive a 100 percent property tax abatement for the first two years and a 60 percent abatement for the next six.
Currently based out of two buildings in the Burton Hills development in Green Hills, AmSurg is consolidating their headquarters into a new three-story building within the same development.
Oberto, which is planning to renovate and operate a manufacturing facility on Armory Drive in South Nashville, will receive a 50 percent break on the difference between the 2011 property taxes paid and what they would pay under the newly increased rate. The estimated total tax break for the five-year deal is $700,000.
According to analysis from Metro Council attorney Jon Cooper, the Washington state-based jerky maker will be increasing full-time jobs at the facility from 130 to 310 within the five years.
Councilman Josh Stites, a consistent opponent of Metro's tax incentive packages, offered amendments that would have required the companies to reach job-creation benchmarks in order to receive the full tax break. They were defeated, but the idea of including more accountability in similar deals going forward found support.
Councilmen Jason Holleman and Phil Claiborne each told the council that they supported Stites' idea, but would not vote for it this time because they were hesitant to change the deals at the last minute. They each expressed a hope that such provisions would be considered by Mayor Karl Dean's administration in the future.
"As we go forward, we'll listen to this, and we'll build into it," said Metro Finance Director Rich Riebeling. "The process is the process, and you can't really negotiate at the last minute. And so I think if this had started when the bill was first introduced and some of the concerns were voiced better, maybe we could have made some of these arrangements. But going forward, we heard it and we're going to do better. We always try to improve."
Riebeling also echoed comments from Councilman Sean McGuire, who said that a company like AmSurg, which started in Nashville and has been based in the city for more than 20 years, had proven itself as a worthy partner. Performance standards are important, he said, particularly when there is not a standing relationship with the company.
The council also gave unanimous approval to the mayor's $110 million mid-year capital spending plan. A majority of the funds in the plan will go to the city's stormwater program and the new Lentz Public Health Center. The plan also includes improvements to the Bridgestone Arena and the new downtown police precinct.
Well, Nashville, you get what you vote for.
Amen Ask01!
Yes we do Ask01, and I have no complaints at all. Nashville's unemployment rate is low, especially compared to other parts of the country, and jobs are moving back into our city. I do not like tax breaks, but the reality is Nashville is in a long line a of cities that provide them, and unfortunately if Nashville does not remain competitive on taxes, some jobs will leave.
I do like the idea of having incentive benchmarks in any tax break deal. Any company can project job growth, actually hiring more employees is a different measure.
What is the advantage for Nashville taxpayers if , say all, or a large majority of the employees of these two companies reside out of the county? All that we've created is more peolpe on our roadways, at peak traffic hours, using the services of our police and fire. If there are no provision for a majority of employees being Nashville based, what is the advantage? Yes, they might be purchasing their lunch while here. We're releasing the companies from paying their fair share on the services they will receive. Guess who pays? We know who will pay, don't we?
Didn't we learn anything from the "Dell" beating we took several years ago? History repeast itself again. Nashville continues to attempt to buy itself into prosperity.
Nashvillle Metro has a population under 700,000 and a Council member count of 40. 35 District and 6 at-large. New York City has over 10 times as many residents and FOURTEEN aldermen. Tell me the reason for this.
We need to cut the number of Council members for a couple of reasons:
1. They make $15,000 a year for part-time work. That's $600,000 a year, total.
2. Metro subsidizes 75% of their medical insurance. Check with your employer and see how much yours (if you have any) is subsidized.
3. If they serve two terms and in some other circumstances, they get that same insurance at the same subsidy for life. Not only that, but their spouse, dependent children and dependent mother (but not dependent father) get the same insurance at teh same subsidy after the death of the ex-council member.
4. These are the folks who just raised your property tax. It's blamed on Dean, but all he did was approve it. The Council increased it. Even if you rent, your landlord had to raise your rent to pay his property tax increase.
In my opinion, no ELECTED or APPOINTED position at ANY level of government from Federal to local should receive any retirement pay or benefit beyond Medicare and Social Security. Same as the voters who put them in office get.
If they want IRA or 401(k), cool. Metro can set it up and they get to take it with them when they leave office.
My council member says that we need to take into consideration what would happen if they should become totally disabled while serving from some activity not related to their service as a council member (can't conceive of any council activity that could cause that).
My response was to ask what would happen to a self-employed plumber, carpenter, mechanic or other VOTER and TAXPAYER in that case. TennCare would happen. Well, then TennCare should happen to the council member.
Being a member of the Metro Council, the State Legislature, the US Congress or any of the Executive or Judicial branches at those levels is what is called Public Service and is an honor awarded by the people, not a career. There should not be ancillary benefits.
Did you know that there is a free parking area reserved for Members of Congress at each of the three Washington DC airports? That's 1,635 parking spots, close to the terminals that MOCs use free but that just-folks can't use at all.
If a person belongs to a branch of the military, a police force, a fire department, an rmergency medical service or any other job which puts his/her LIFE AT RISK, then they rate retirement pay and benefits. No LIFE AT RISK id the job description, not benefits.
What do YOU think?
Call your council member. You can find the number at this link:
ConservativeSailor - What a logical comment you just made. Too bad the "kiss Karl's butt crowd" can't see how crooked the Metro gov. club is. The council, does what Karl tell them to & anybody that hasn't seen that by now, belongs to the afore mentioned club.
MusicCity615, wasaw was right. My daughter was part of Dell's failure to keep their side of the bargain.
This Council gave us the new Convention Center with the promise that the users of it would pay for it.
Wanna bet?
Ross Perot was against government subsidy of business expense.
Billed as the world's first purely industrial airport, Alliance airport was developed in a joint venture between the City of Fort Worth, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Hillwood Development Company, a real estate development company owned by Ross Perot, Jr.
Check out the status of payments on that one.
bfra, thanks for the comment. The club is not dependent on the but being kissed. It's the position (mayor or governor or president) that the butt resides in.
Thanks also for overlooking my typos. This Dell keyboard is no better at typing than Dell was at keeping agreements.
ASK01 - you get what the moochers vote for. Read Atlas Shrugged. Half don't pay taxes. Nearly half depend on some form of government payment not related to Social Security or Medicare. I did not vote for a single winner is 2012. If you want REALLY scary, read Sinclair Lewis' 1935 book "It Can't Happen Here". Problem is, it CAN and it IS. Not sure it's recoverable. 2014's resulting House and Senate will tell the tale.
It wouldn't surprise me if some of this yes sir council group hasn't found a way of getting on the freebie gravy trains they are all so eager to support.
So true, bfra.
We should also not forget the Karl Dean supporters who turn out to support any inane proposal or project.
Their undying unconditional support suggests they have a reserved place at the trough.
They will, of course, deny any favors.


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Containers for household or kitchen use; household or kitchen utensils, namely, bottle openers, non-electric coffee grinders, cheese graters, cooking graters, cork screws, non-electric egg beaters, non-electric fruit squeezers, garlic presses, kitchen tongs, pot and pan scrapers, rolling pins, scoops, skimmers, spatulas, turners, vegetable mashers and whisks; kitchenware, namely, splatter screens, kitchen ladles and chopping boards for kitchen use; dinnerware and cookware, namely, basins, casserole dishes, dutch ovens, non-electric griddles, pots and pans, non-electric pressure cookers, roasting pans and roasting dishes, steamers, frying pans and non-electric woks; serving ware, namely, cheese plates, pasta serving forks, serving spoons, serving tongs, serving forks, serving ladles and serving platters and trays; tableware, namely, bowls, dishes, dish covers, plates and sugar bowls; canister sets; cheese board and knife sets; cheese plates and serving platters; non-electric coffee percolators; non-electric coffee makers and coffee pots; cooking utensils, namely, cookery moulds, grill covers, wire baskets and batter dispenser; cocktail shakers; cups, mugs and saucers; cutting boards; decanters; dewar vessels of metal for making ices and iced drinks; drinking vessels; egg poachers and egg separators; flasks; goblets; glasses, namely, shot glasses, wine glasses, drinking glasses and tumblers; ice pails; jars, namely, glass jars, cookie jars and insulating jars; non-electric fruit and/or vegetable juicers; jugs; non-electric kettles; knife rests; lazy susans; liqueur sets comprised of wine glasses and wine openers; lunch boxes; napkin holders and napkin rings; pie servers; pitchers; portable coolers; table serving implements, namely, serving spoons, serving tongs, serving forks, serving ladles; salt and pepper grinders; salt and pepper shakers; spice sets, namely, spice racks; spoons for kitchen use, namely, mixing spoons, serving spoons and slotted spoons; stoppers, namely, glass stoppers, vacuum bottle stoppers, drain stoppers for sinks and drains; strainers for household purposes; tea pots, tea infusers and tea strainers; tea services; toothpick holders; trivet; urns; vases; waffle irons and wine tasters
Business in Wanchai, Hong-Kong, CN


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I just recently got my new blog up and running (http://schizopunkgeek.wordpress.com), but I can't seem to find anywhere on there a button to subscribe to the blog via an RSS reader.
Does anyone have any insight of why this might be and how I might go about solving this?
I would really like my viewers to be able to have the ability to subscribe via RSS.


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Tough game for me to call personally. Clemson sounds like the easy pick here with NC State barely beating Richmond. NC State is 2-0 but has yet to play a high caliber team until they meet Clemson on Thursday.
Clemson seems solid on both sides of the ball while NC State is struggling at the QB position and lacks a solid running game.
I like Clemson here but I might just stay away.
looks too easy…
combato bro - i gotta respectfully disagree with you
this is not your normal choke oriented clemson team...they seem legit this year...this is potentially a heisman showcase for Boyd...NC State's glennon loss is big. if this were in october and Clemson were coming off a big win, then of course, what does clemson do...we all know, we have all been burned by the person...of course there is the risk they will do it again....
i just don't think they will choke...national tv, thursday night featured showcase coming off a bye...ranked 3rd in the AP..they have a chance to have a special season...they are not going to blow it on nc state...
Clemson 42
NC State 14
Hi LH - always respect your opinion and cant argue with your results either.
The NCS spot is a 55% edge based on my own records which is not a huge edge at all - I look for as many of these spots as I can find every week and bet them. One will make money over the long run betting games like this but over one game, anything can happen including a Clemson blow out.
It is like being the house at the roulette table instead of the players by betting NC St.
Originally Posted by LonghornHoosier:
Agree - one cannot make money by simply fading the public which is a 50% positive EV ( long run loser for those who don' know what that means)
The trick is knowing which subsets of public games are the best to fade .
Fading some subsets of public games are positive EV in the long run - the trick is knowing which ones.
Originally Posted by Mr-Stache:
Speaking of the public betting, check out these numbers. These are the betting pct at the "squarest" of the offshore books.
1. Sportsbook - 89% Clemson
2. Carib - 82% Clemson
3. SIA - 90% Clemson
4. CRIS -89% Clemson
Public is on Clemson. Public loses these types of games about 55% of the time Public wins these games 45% of the time.
Clemson may win and cover - they have a 45% chance of doing so. But not with my money
Goin against public etc may be smart but I aint putting my dollahs with a busted broke down nc state joint. They dont have nfl qb anymore. The hard part will be if State can score. Clem and OV for the large!!!!
Stache - you talk pretty big but you do have decent logic at times.
I am not here to argue with you - I like to hear all points of view/
But until you have been around here long enough to establish some credibility, I will take everything you say as I would with any rookie capper.
After I see you play at least 100 games and you have at least a 55% win, pct then I might consider what you say as credible. Until then, you are just another square amateur poster in my opinion.


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Rock Band iOS Apps to be Removed from App Store on July 31st (UPDATE)
Not too long ago, people who were playing the Rock Band app on the iPhone received a message saying that it was going to be disabled on their device. Now it seems that people are getting a similar notification on Rock Band Reloaded, saying that on July 31st, the app, along with the other Rock Band app, will be removed from the App Store and that after that date it will be impossible to buy new songs for it.
If you haven't picked up the Rock Band apps, or was holding out on a DLC pack for it, now would be the time to get them, before they leave the store.
UPDATE: EA released a Q&A explaining the situation and it is explained that the apps will no longer work due to an expiration of the licensing contract between Harmonix and EA.
22 Responses to "Rock Band iOS Apps to be Removed from App Store on July 31st (UPDATE)"
So when I upgrade to the iPhone 5 later this year, I wont be able to redownload the app? That sucks. 🙁
I'm pretty sure that you can still get it if you purchased it. It'd be under the Purchased section in the App Store.
There's no guarantee it'll keep working on future versions of iOS, though. (Traditionally, Apple's been really bad with backwards compatibility.)
No, it wouldn't still be re-downloadable over the App Store. However if you backup your purchases to iTunes, keeping a local copy on your computer, you can re-install on any future iPhone's that way
As others have mentioned, it likely won't even show up in the app store, whether you have purchased it or not. It has happened this way with other apps like iMAME that got delisted. That still shows up on my iPad.
Apple does have the ability to reach out and actively remove an app from your device, but I don't think they have ever actually done that…
So now the question is: Will they replace it with an updated Blitz-type game on more platforms?
Considering it was EA who published the Rock Band apps of old, I have my doubts. (Incidentally, that's probably why they're stopping with the sale of it as well.)
This doesn't preclude the possibility of Harmonix creating and releasing their own iPhone/iPod/Android app. Since EA is out of the game, then perhaps HMX could release their own app.
Hi just wanted to let you know (in case you didn't) that some songs seem to be cheaper! At least in the European PS3 Store! I'm not making an exhaustive research but I've already found Stereo Hearts (Gym Class Heroes), Rock 'n' Roll Dream (Crooked X), U Suck (Just Kait), Use Me (Hinder), Yomp (thenewno2) and I Don't Care (Fall Out Boy) at 0,79€ each, instead of 1,49€. Also, both All That Remains and Big Dippers packs are listed as 2,29€ (and each song at 0,79€ as well). Some songs here I wasn't sure if they were cheaper before but, according to DLCQuickplay, they weren't…
I'm not sure where to post it but I thought it should be known and I'm sorry if it is too old and I didn't noticed it early.
The store in Rock Band Reloaded still shows 2-packs of songs for 99 cents each. Plus a bunch of free ones. I currently only have the free packs, and am debating whether to go ahead and grab the remaining non-free packs…
Oh I'm not talking about the Rock Band Reloaded store… I'm talking about the Rock Band PS3 European Store
FAKE!!!! Once again! I bet it is.
Nah, it makes sense this time.
They no longer have the license with Harmonix to sell the game, so they're removing it from the app store.
At least this time they're not saying that the game will be completely disabled for those that have purchased it.
Not fake this time. As referenced in the update in the main post, there is a O&A explaining everything.


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Lazard Profit Beats Estimates on Rise in Takeover Advisory Fees
Lazard Ltd., the biggest independent merger adviser, reported third-quarter earnings that beat analysts' estimates on higher revenue from advising on mergers and acquisitions.
Profit rose 18 percent to $62.2 million, or 46 cents a share, from $52.5 million, or 41 cents, in the same period a year earlier, the Hamilton, Bermuda-based firm said today in a statement. Profit surpassed the 42-cent average estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Operating revenue from mergers and acquisitions advice jumped 29 percent to $160.7 million.
Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Jacobs has added bankers as Lazard bets on a rebound in takeovers. The firm got a boost this quarter by advising on the merger of Continental Airlines Inc. and UAL Corp., and on $14.4 billion of transactions between Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. and Coca-Cola Co., according to the statement. Asset-management revenue climbed 32 percent.
"We're looking for a gradual improvement in M&A and you've been seeing that," Chief Financial Officer Michael J. Castellano said in an interview today. "CEO and board confidence has recovered tremendously from where it was a year ago and the financing markets have gotten better."
Jacobs, 52, was named CEO in November 2009 after the death of Bruce Wasserstein, the Wall Street dealmaker who took Lazard public in 2005.
'Solid Quarter'
"Solid quarter and, more important, the outlook remains encouraging," Douglas Sipkin, an analyst at New York's Ticonderoga Securities LLC ,said in a note today. He has a "buy" rating on the stock.
Lazard rose 59 cents, or 1.6 percent, to $36.83 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares are down 3 percent for the year.
The quarter's increase in revenue from takeovers cushioned a 45 percent drop from restructuring advice to $66 million, Castellano said. Operating revenue from asset management increased to $208 million. Lazard looks to that business to temper the swings in its advisory businesses. Asset management provided at least 35 percent of annual revenue from 2004 through 2009, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
"The star here was asset management," Chris Kotowski, an analyst at Oppenheimer & Co. in New York, wrote today in a research note. The unit's operating revenue was 16 percent higher than he estimated.
Kotowski downgraded the stock to "perform" from "outperform" after it hit his price target. There is nothing to dislike about Lazard other than its stock price, he wrote, calling the shares "not cheap."
Assets Accumulate
Assets under management climbed to $143.6 billion at the end of September from $123.5 billion in June this year and $120.2 billion in September 2009.
The firm gathered $1.1 billion of net inflows to the management business, which is about 84 percent equities, Castellano said. Year-to-date inflows are $6.2 billion.
"We continued a positive trend in an environment when many managers are seeing significant outflows," Castellano said.
Compensation expenses rose to 59.7 percent of operating revenue from 58.2 percent in the same quarter last year, according to the statement. The latest figure exceeded the firm's target of no more than 57.5 percent, spelled out in Lazard's initial public stock offering prospectus in 2005.
The ratio has moved down this year as deal-making has picked up, Castellano said. For the first nine months it was down to 60 percent from 62.9 percent for the same period a year earlier. The firm expects new government restrictions on bigger competitors to hold down Wall Street pay, Lazard executives said in a July conference call.
Compensation Costs
Following an initial round of hiring after the start of the credit crunch, Lazard pruned its payroll to control compensation costs. The firm had as many as 154 managing directors in its financial advisory segment in March 2009 when it took a $63 million charge to cover staff reductions, according to company filings. At the end of June, Lazard had 131 managing directors to provide financial advice on deals, restructuring and raising capital, according to a report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The firm was the 10th-ranked financial adviser by the value of deals announced in the first nine months of the year, according to Bloomberg data.
To contact the reporter on this story: David Henry in New York at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: David Scheer at email@example.com


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Monday MADness: Happy Birthday Jack Davis!
The great Jack Davis is 89 years old today!
This from a post here in 2006:
Any conversation about the greatest and most influential cartoonists of the last half century must, at some point, include the name Jack Davis. From the notorious E.C. horror comics of the 1950?s to MAD Magazine to TIME and TV Guide covers, record covers, movie posters, advertising, animation design and even US postage stamps, Davis's art has entertained, amazed and inspired generations.
John Burton "Jack" Davis Jr. was born in Atlanta, GA on December 2nd, 1924. An incurable doodler, the young Jack Davis drew on textbooks, writing tablets and anything else he could get his hands on. As a young man he did his share of cartoons for his high school newspaper and school annuals, having developed a love of cartooning and "funny drawin'". He joined and served in the Navy during World War 2, and they promptly put his talents to work on Navy publications in the P.R. department out of Pensacola, FL. He was eventually shipped off to Guam, but his drawing talents could not be repressed. While there he developed a strip called "Boondocker", which was published in the Navy News.
Jack returned to the states in 1946 and studied art at the University of Georgia under the G.I. bill. While at U of G he did cartoons and illustrations for the college paper and humor magazine, and spent his summers cartooning for the Atlanta Journal newspaper. He also assisted on the syndicated comic strip "Mark Trail" by Ed Dodd. Eventually a good paying job illustrating a training manual for the Coca-Cola company netted Jack enough money to buy a car and and finance a trip to New York City to pursue bigger and better assignments.
He arrived in New York City, portfolio in hand and confidence high. His car was promptly stolen and a con man swindled him out of his savings… welcome to New York, Jack! Undeterred, Jack spent six months scraping by working for small publishers and the New York Herald Tribune while pounding the pavement in search of more substantial work. Eventually his path led to the door of E.C. Comics. He had found a home, and his artwork had found the perfect creative outlet for it to flourish.
E.C. publisher Bill Gaines and editor Al Feldstein made Jack one of their cornerstone artists. According to Feldstein, Jack's subtly humorous touch on the gruesome stories in comics like "Tales from the Crypt", made them more palatable to readers (if not to congressmen). Jack's natural speed with his art, and the versatility that allowed him to work with equal success on horror, war, crime and humor stories made him almost indispensable. Jack had so much work that he was known to ink pages on the train into Manhattan from his apartment in Westchester, and place them on Bill Gaine's desk with the ink barely dry.
When Harvey Kurtzman was tapped by Gaines to create MAD, Davis was one of the first artists Kurtzman turned to. Jack did the lead story in MAD #1, a send-up of his own E.C. horror story comic work. Jack continued to work with E.C. until Kurtzman's departure in 1957. Jack followed Kurtzman to "Trump" and other short lived humor publications. He returned to MAD in 1966, but by then he had become very successful in other venues of freelance. He contributed regularly to MAD doing TV and movie parodies and illustrations for other features, but he also did a great many other jobs for a variety of high profile, high paying clients incluing TIME, LIFE, Esquire, Playboy and TV Guide, movie posters like "The Bad News Bears", record covers for the likes of Johnny Cash and Jerry Reed, countless advertising jobs and book illustrations, and even animation design for ABC's "The Jackson 5? and various commercials. Jack was one of the most prolific and recognized illustrators of the 60?s, 70?s, 80?s and 90?s.
He is also easily one of the most imitated cartoonists in the history of the medium. Many lesser cartoonists made all or part of their living doing "Jack Davis art" on jobs where Jack was either unavailable or the client was unwilling to pay the rates his work and status deserved. Part of the reason there were so many Davis clones was that his artwork was incredibly unique and singularly recognizable, and it was difficult to be influenced by his work without directly aping his style. Jack Davis drawn hands only work in a Jack Davis world, and that means Jack Davis feet and Jack Davis lamp posts and Jack Davis arm chairs… you get the idea. Jack's style in both pen and ink and his rich, earthy watercolors amazed even his contemporaries. One story goes like this: a fellow successful cartoonist asked Jack how he achieved such an interesting and unique color palette with his watercolors. The inquisitive artist could not seem to get similar colors no matter how he mixed them. Jack admitted that he used pond water when he painted with watercolors… he just trudged on down to the lake, filled up a jar and took it back to the studio.
When I first started working for MAD, both Nick Meglin and Sam Viviano gave me advice about the nature of great cartooning, and it was no surprise that Jack Davis was the example they both cited. The essence of what they told me was that a great cartoonist creates a world populated by people, objects, places and things all seen through their eyes… and all drawn in a way that creates a believable and cohesive world to the viewer. You cannot draw a goofy, cartoony dog peeing on a realistically drawn fire hydrant and convince the viewer they are looking through a window into a cartoonist's singular world… the juxtaposition of the different looks is confusing. The fire hydrant and the dog need to be drawn in a similar fashion, so they look like they belong together and are seen thorough one set of eyes that see the entire world in their own unique way. "Jack Davis's drawings of a chair, a car, a person and a cat all look like they were drawn by Jack Davis, and they look like they belong in a Jack Davis world," Sam told me once. "That is what makes Jack's world so convincing."
Jack also taught me something about being a professional illustrator. He understands that, no matter how emotionally invested an artist might be in a particular piece he/she is working on, at the end of the day it's just a job and that is just another drawing. That sounds cynical or defeatist perhaps, but I think it's just realistic and putting things in perspective. If I feel myself getting bent out of shape when an art director wants me to change all the things in a piece I think are making it successful and turn in into a piece of crap, I just remember Jack saying how easy it is to let go and start again. "It's just another drawin'", he'd say. Great talent makes it seem so easy…
Happy 89th birthday, Jack. Thanks for the inspiration and awe-inducing work you've thrilled us with for seven decades.
Nice picture and tribute Tom. I have the soundtrack album for Peter Seller's "The Party" with Jack's joyful artwork on the cover. If only the movie could have matched the fun spirit of the art. In the process of wanting to see that art online, I came across a great movie poster site- Internet movie poster awards, or impawards.com. You can click on individual artists and see all or most of Jack's poster art. I also looked up a personal illustrator favorite, the late Richard Amsel.
HAPPY B-DAY JACK! Tom, I just received a book "Albert Dorne Master Illustrator"! Jack Davis did a graphic forward for it as he did your book Tom! If you are a fan of the "golden age of illustration"this book is a must have! After getting Tom's book first of coarse,lol! Thanks for the B-day shout out for Jack Tom!
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|Oracle FAQ
|Your Portal to the Oracle Knowledge Grid
Home -> Community -> Mailing Lists -> Oracle-L -> Re: QUERY PERFORMANCE ISSUES AFTER DATABASE UPGRADE FROM 8174 TO
Hi All,
We recently have migrated 3 databases to 10g. The two 9i databases are having no problems, however the 8i (184.108.40.206) database seems to have several performance issues. We have several queries which take milliseconds in 8i database but in the upgraded 10G database it is taking minutes to produce the same results. We have run this same query against our data warehouse, which was migrated from 9i to 10g, and the query returns immediately.
For trial purpose we have created another 10G database and imported the data from 8i database but the query was taking same amount of time but when I deleted the statistics it came out in milliseconds. Even in the database which was upgraded from 8i - 10G, I deleted the statistics and the query performance changed from minutes to milliseconds. I computed the statistics again and it again went back to 4-5 minutes.
Oracle has suggested to set OPTIMIZER_FEATURE_ENABLED=8.1.7.and all the queries are returning in milliseconds after setting this parameter. Does anybody know that if I will use this parameter what other parameters and features of Oracle 10G will be disabled. One difference I know is that it will use the default "RULE BASE" optimizer of 8i..
Pls suggest.
-- http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-lReceived on Tue Jun 28 2005 - 11:35:28 CDT
Original text of this message


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You may not know this about Windows Media Player, but it knows secrets about you. It's aware of your man-crush on Sean Connery, it knows about what you did with your roommate's toothbrush, and it knows that you threw up in your tuba during 10th grade marching band practice. What you may not know is that it can only hold a finite amount of secrets, and once it hits that limit it'll start blabbing all your secrets to your iPod.
(submitted by Jovica P.)


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FastFollow for Instagram helps you go from Zero to Superstar while being a fun way to discover new and interesting users to follow.
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Share-A-Song Wednesday – Introducing…The Gray Havens
I'm always on the search for new music. But sometimes new music finds me. Like recently, when my Spotify playlist went rogue and started throwing new artists and music into my headphones. I was just about to tackle it back into submission when…a new song came on. And I wasn't … Continue reading


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Molds are found everywhere in nature and frequently indoors as a component of household dust. However, when mold spores are present in large amounts they can pose a health hazard to humans through allergic reactions and respiratory issues. Additionally, some molds also produce mycotoxins that can pose serious health risks to humans and animals.
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Come and experience the thrill of royalty!
On February 6th, 2007, HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, thrilled the management and staff at Pedro St. James by paying a royal visit. His official title is: His Royal Highness The Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis, Earl of Wessex, Viscount Severn, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Honorary Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty.
Despite his royal origins, Prince Edward was warm, gracious, inquisitive, and completely charming. He sat among the tourists in the Pedro Theatre and toured Pedro Castle as countless members of the media, delighted tourists, and the Pedro St. James staff snapped an endless succession of photos.
Come and see what kind of a royal experience you will have at our castle by the sea…


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A statement released earlier today by Zacks Investment Research about Inovalon Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:INOV) raises the target price to $16.00
- Updated: October 17, 2016
Boasting a price of $13.88, Inovalon Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:INOV) traded 0.73% higher on the day. With the last stock price close down -18.60% from the two hundred day average, compared with the S&P 500 Index which has decreased -0.01% over the date range. Inovalon Holdings Inc has recorded a 50-day average of $15.22 and a two hundred day average of $17.01. Volume of trade was up over the average, with 896,208 shares of INOV changing hands over the typical 621,435
Inovalon Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:INOV) had its stock price target increased to $16.00 by Zacks Investment Research in an issued report announced Monday October 17, 2016. The upped price target suggests a potential upside of 0.15% based on the company's last stock close price.
See Chart Below
Inovalon Holdings Inc has a 52 week low of $13.50 and a 52 week high of $23.87 with a P/E ratio of 46.79 The company's market cap is currently $0.
In addition to Zacks Investment Research reporting its stock price target, a total of 7 brokerages have issued a research note on the company. The average target is $20.00 with zero analysts rating the company a strong buy, zero analysts rating the company a buy, zero analysts rating the company a hold, zero equity analysts rating the company a underperform, and lastly 0 brokers rating the stock a sell.
General Information About Inovalon Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:INOV)
Inovalon Holdings, Inc. is a technology company. The Company combines advanced cloud-based data analytics and data-driven intervention platforms to provide services for health plans, hospitals, physicians, patients, pharmaceutical companies and researchers. The Company operates through developing cloud-based data analytics and data-driven intervention platforms segment and provides related services to its clients. The Company's datasets, integration technologies, predictive analytics and subject matter expertise allows the Company to provide platforms. Its analytics platforms identify gaps in care, quality, data integrity and financial performance in its clients' datasets. The Company's data analytics and intervention platforms consist of four primary components: data integration, advanced analytics, intervention platforms and business processing. The Company integrates data into its systems through its Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) tools and processes.
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