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August 2, 2011
Delaware Investments portfolio managers comment on the U.S. debt ceiling as well as the nation's longer-term fiscal challenges.
Macroeconomic forecasts typically do not play a meaningful role when we construct our portfolios. However, a downgrade of U.S. government debt, or a default, would clearly weigh on our growth outlook for the United States as well as other economies across the globe. Either event could lead to challenging equity market conditions over the near to medium term.
A big part of our investment process involves allocating capital to companies that we believe have superior business models, attractive long-term growth potential, and strong balance sheets, as well as those that we believe can outperform their peers in a slow-growth economy or in an environment where access to outside financing is limited. With this framework in mind, we feel comfortable with the way we are currently positioned, and we look to use any widespread selloff in the market as an opportunity to invest in companies with solid long-term earnings growth prospects that are trading at what we believe are attractive valuations.
Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.
Investments in small and/or medium-sized companies typically exhibit greater risk and higher volatility than larger, more established companies.
With the feedback we have been hearing from the various factions in Washington, D.C., the probabilities seem to be growing that U.S. government debt will get negative rating actions from one, if not two, of the major rating agencies in the near future. To address the risk of further downgrades, the United States will likely be forced into focusing on austerity measures to confront the negative capital markets reaction that, to us, seems sure to follow.
Given the severity of the government's financial situation, a partial budget plan cure would not, in our view, last long and would need to be revised to include further cuts in spending or increases in revenue, or both, to help close long-term budget gaps. While, in our opinion, this would be good for the long-term competitive position of the U.S. in the world economy, in the short term it would likely continue to bring economic challenges to our nation, as well as to many of the other developed nations that face similar fiscal challenges.
Within this environment, we continue to position the Funds we manage for a challenging economic environment and a very slow and troubled recovery (both domestically and in the euro zone). Our emphasis on higher-quality income investments continues, as we feel this is a time period in which investors should emphasize the return of capital, and not the return on capital.
Across our diversified funds:
The fiscal challenges facing the U.S. and euro-zone countries are significant. Add to this the tightening of monetary policy in emerging nations, and you have an environment in which conservative income funds, in our opinion, may reduce investor portfolio volatility and possibly hedge against risk-market selloffs. In our view, this is not a time to take a chance on peripheral European debt and try to calculate how many pennies you could get back on your dollar of investment. We believe this is a time for caution and conservative investing.
Fixed income securities and bond funds can lose value, and investors can lose principal, as interest rates rise. They also may be affected by economic conditions that hinder an issuer's ability to make interest and principal payments on its debt.
Fixed income securities may also be subject to prepayment risk, the risk that the principal of a fixed income security that is held by a Fund may be prepaid prior to maturity, potentially forcing the Fund to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.
High yielding, noninvestment grade bonds (junk bonds) involve higher risk than investment grade bonds. The high yield secondary market is particularly susceptible to liquidity problems when institutional investors, such as mutual funds and certain other financial institutions, temporarily stop buying bonds for regulatory, financial, or other reasons. In addition, a less liquid secondary market makes it more difficult for a Fund to obtain precise valuations of the high yield securities in its portfolio.
International investments entail risks not ordinarily associated with U.S. investments including fluctuation in currency values, differences in accounting principles, or economic or political instability in other nations.
Investing in emerging markets can be riskier than investing in established foreign markets due to increased volatility and lower trading volume.
If and when a Fund invests in forward foreign currency contracts or uses other investments to hedge against currency risks, it will be subject to special risks, including counterparty risk.
Diversification may not protect against market risk.
Over the past decade, Congress and the president have separately or jointly introduced policies that raised expenditures and reduced tax revenues, thus creating a long-term fiscal challenge. Despite this, investors have continued lending money to the U.S. government at relatively low interest rates, suggesting that they believed that the country would ultimately be able to bring itself back into fiscal balance. Therefore, the ongoing squabbles in Washington over the debt ceiling have not been prompted by urgent signals from the markets — they are largely a self-inflicted trauma.
When credit rating agencies are making decisions on sovereign credit ratings, they draw a conceptual distinction between economic risk and political risk. Economic risk refers to a country's capacity to make interest payments on its bonds — essentially, whether the country's economic base and demographic profile are consistent with the debt burdens that it has assumed. Political risk refers to a country's political will to ensure that such interest payments are made.
The problem facing the United States is not economic capacity. For the foreseeable future, U.S. tax revenues should be ample to cover the government's debt repayments. Relatively modest changes to marginal tax rates and mandatory programs, some of which are already projected to occur in future years, should be sufficient to bring the U.S. back into acceptable shape economically. Moreover, in spite of all the alarming and alarmist news stories on these topics in recent weeks, domestic and overseas investors generally still seem keen to buy and hold Treasury securities.
If there is no agreement to raise the debt ceiling by early August, then we may see a repeat of the winter of 1995, when there was a partial shutdown of the U.S. government. It's worth remembering that back then, there was no serious discussion of a sovereign downgrade, as everyone apparently understood that the whole exercise should be viewed largely as political theater. Late on the evening of July 31, 2011, the president and Congressional leaders from both parties and both houses announced the tentative outlines of a compromise deal that could allow the U.S. to raise the debt ceiling. If that compromise deal were to pass, then there may be no need for the government to interrupt payment on any of its obligations.
Based on the 1995 precedent, and on what is currently known of the compromise deal that has recently been proposed, it appears that the debt ceiling provision will remain in place. The U.S. is one of the few developed countries to have such a mechanism, and recent events have demonstrated that brinkmanship by an intransigent minority can be highly effective. So it's quite possible that the entire debacle could recur in future years, and there can be no certainty that the U.S. political system will be able to produce a compromise in a timely fashion on the next occasion — in which case, the government may well have to stop paying some of its bills temporarily. However, based on what is known now, it seems certain that even in the event of a partial shutdown of the government, interest payments on Treasury securities would not be affected.
A partial government shutdown could adversely affect some industries that traditionally have been viewed as defensive. For instance, it might reduce the revenues and margins of companies that rely heavily on public-sector financing, such as defense contractors and healthcare services providers. There might also be negative implications for firms that benefit directly or indirectly from government subsidies, for instance in agribusiness or housing. And if the U.S. government reduces its expenditures on Social Security, then firms that focus on older and poorer consumers might struggle — this could include some consumer staples companies that historically have been seen as stodgy but safe.
More generally, standard macroeconomic models suggest that sudden drops in public-sector spending are likely to have a negative impact on the whole U.S. economy, at least in the short run, which might cause problems for companies whose fortunes are tied closely to the U.S. market. Under such circumstances, investors might seek to raise their exposure to the rest of the world, either by investing directly in foreign issuers or by favoring U.S. firms that have extensive operations overseas. Alternatively, some investors might contemplate moving into cash — though they might also be worried about missing any rally following resolution of the current stalemate.
If an 11th-hour agreement on the debt ceiling has indeed been reached, then it's possible that a shutdown of the U.S. government may not happen. And even if a shutdown were to occur, the U.S. government apparently still has both the capacity and the intention to continue making payments on Treasurys. But the rating agencies' concerns apparently go beyond the details of the current situation. They seem to be focusing more generally on what this crisis has revealed about the capacity of the U.S. political system to cope effectively with difficult economic challenges. Thus, even if agreement is reached on the debt ceiling, the rating agencies might still consider that a sovereign downgrade is an appropriate response.
It's possible that the rating agencies might ultimately decide not to implement a sovereign downgrade, for three reasons. First, U.S. government debt is still generally viewed as the most liquid risk-free asset globally — a downgrade of the U.S. might have drastic effects on financial markets worldwide, and the rating agencies might shrink from the prospect of causing such gyrations. Second, the rating agencies themselves all have extensive operations in the U.S. and benefit considerably from their special regulatory status, so they might well be reluctant to attract official ire. And third, as noted above, there has been no indication that the government might actually contemplate ceasing to pay interest on its debt.
On balance, the near-term outlook does not look very promising. But over the medium to long term, the current difficulties will probably be seen as a blip in the overall process of recovery from the global financial crisis of 2008-2009. A few days of gazing into the abyss may well have a positive effect on some of the more intransigent political actors, ultimately putting the U.S. on a more balanced path toward fiscal probity. Investors with long investment horizons and diversified portfolios may do better by simply sitting tight.
A Fund may be subject to some or all of the following risks. Please see the Fund's prospectus for more complete information on the risks for a particular Fund.
The Funds may also be subject to prepayment risk, the risk that the principal of a fixed income security that is held by a Fund may be prepaid prior to maturity, potentially forcing the Fund to reinvest that money at a lower interest rate.
If and when a Fund invests in forward foreign currency contracts or uses other investments to hedge against currency risks, the Fund will be subject to special risks, including counterparty risk.
Investments in small and/or medium-sized companies typically exhibit greater risk and more volatility than larger, more established companies.
The Funds may experience portfolio turnover in excess of 100%, which could result in higher transaction costs and tax liability.
Risk controls and asset allocation models do not promise any level of performance or guarantee against loss of principal. Each Fund has a different level of risk.
From the perspective of a global equity manager, our concerns relate to the interconnectedness of capital markets worldwide. While we believe the failure of the U.S. government to meet its obligations remains a low probability, the political dimension to the process makes visibility difficult.
These concerns, coupled with the fiscal pressure and high sovereign debt levels in various markets, support our underweight position in financial stocks and our aversion to nonfinancial stocks that carry high debt levels.
The inability of Congress and the Obama administration to agree on a plan for increasing the government's borrowing limit and reducing future deficits is disconcerting. While there is a great deal of focus on the Aug. 2 deadline, the bigger concern, for us, is whether the government can formulate and implement a credible long-term deficit reduction strategy. Quite simply, the United States needs a plan that can significantly pare its long-term debt burden without derailing the fragile recovery currently under way. We believe that such a plan, which would need to include clarity on future taxation and spending policies, could reassure markets, encourage capital investment, and enhance the long-term growth prospects and global competitiveness of the U.S.
More broadly, the U.S. fiscal predicament is but one of numerous developments, here and abroad, that have caused us to take a more defensive, risk-averse positioning in our investment portfolio. This positioning has been in place for the better part of the last three years and has translated into large allocations in less-cyclical sectors such as consumer staples and healthcare that have historically had more defensive characteristics. We've also been putting a greater emphasis on quality, seeking companies that, in our view, have leading market positions, diversified business models, stronger balance sheet attributes, and sustainable dividends. We think the shares of these types of companies represent better opportunity in an uncertain macroeconomic environment and can be more resilient in a downturn.
Specific to the government's debt-ceiling issue, we view a default as unlikely. Interest payment obligations are apt to be met, although other domestic spending commitments may experience a temporary hold. A downgrade of Treasury paper seems possible, although leaders at Standard & Poor's seem to be showing a bit more flexibility in their most recent comments. The effects of a potential downgrade are hard to ascertain. A short-term dislocation in the markets (lower equity prices, higher interest rates) may be plausible, but predictions of catastrophic results (mostly from Washington) seem overblown to us. The dollar is still the world's reserve currency and, at least in the near to intermediate term, U.S. Treasury debt would still be considered among the most conservative investments. Alternatively, a breakthrough in the debt-ceiling impasse could result in a strong, though probably short-lived, market rally. While our investments may lag in such a rally, we think their upside potential, along with their more protective characteristics, could lead to competitive long-term returns.
The big question in our opinion, as we look to the remainder of 2011, is how the U.S. government plans to deal with its debt problem. The consequences of a dysfunctional government, conflicting priorities of political parties, and confirmation of troubled U.S. balance sheets will likely have a significant impact on investor sentiment.
We believe this ultimately could slow gross domestic product (GDP) growth by reducing consumer and corporate capital expenditures, weakening consumer confidence, and continuing sluggish hiring trends. Markets already seem to be estimating the risk of a downgrade in prices, though further downside volatility to debt pricing and equities appears likely. Cost of capital should increase, though perhaps only temporarily, as we believe investors will trust that the U.S. will not truly default on interest payments.
We believe that, should the U.S. default on its debts or suffer a credit downgrade, some of the worst performers would likely be consumer discretionary companies and, in the near term, those companies with higher leverage, as the risk of increasing debt costs would erode value. In such an environment, we would favor within the portfolios we manage more defensive and less leveraged companies with benign debt maturities.
Narrowly focused investments may exhibit higher volatility than investments in multiple industry sectors.
REIT investments are subject to many of the risks associated with direct real estate ownership, including changes in economic conditions, credit risk, and interest rate fluctuations.
A REIT fund's tax status as a regulated investment company could be jeopardized if it holds real estate directly, as a result of defaults, or receives rental income from real estate holdings.
The views expressed were current as of Aug. 2, 2011, and are subject to change at any time.
Macquarie Investment Management (MIM) is the marketing name for certain companies comprising the asset management division of Macquarie Group. Investment products and advisory services are distributed and offered by and referred through affiliates which include Delaware Distributors, L.P., a registered broker/dealer and member of FINRA; and Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (MIMBT) and Delaware Capital Management Advisers, Inc., each of which are SEC-registered investment advisors. Investment advisory services are provided by the series of MIMBT. Macquarie Group refers to Macquarie Group Limited and its subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. Delaware Funds by Macquarie refers to certain investment solutions that MIM distributes, offers, refers or advises.
Other than Macquarie Bank Limited (MBL), none of the entities noted are authorised deposit-taking institutions for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth of Australia). The obligations of these entities do not represent deposits or other liabilities of MBL. MBL does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of these entities, unless noted otherwise.
These materials represent the views and opinions of the author(s) regarding the economic conditions, asset classes, securities, issuers or financial instruments referenced herein. Any reproduction of these materials, in whole or in part, or the divulgence of any of the contents thereof, without prior consent of Delaware Investments is prohibited. Certain information contained herein has been obtained from sources that Delaware Investments believes to be reliable as of the date presented; however Delaware Investments cannot guarantee the accuracy of such information, assure its completeness, or warrant such information will not be changed. The information contained herein is current as of the date of issuance (or such earlier date as referenced herein) and is subject to change without notice. Delaware Investments has no obligation to update any or all of such information; nor do we make any express or implied warranties or representations as to the completeness or accuracy or accept responsibility for errors. These materials are not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or other financial instrument or any investment management services and should not be used as the basis for any investment decision. No liability whatsoever is accepted for any loss (whether direct, indirect, or consequential) that may arise from any use of the information contained in or derived from this report. Delaware Investments and its affiliates may make investment decisions that are inconsistent with the recommendations or views expressed herein, including for proprietary accounts of Delaware Investments or its affiliates.
The opinions and recommendations herein do not take into account individual client circumstances, objectives, or needs and are not intended as recommendations of particular securities, financial instruments or funds to particular clients or prospects. No determination has been made regarding the suitability of any securities, financial instruments or funds for particular clients or prospects. For any securities or financial instruments mentioned herein, the recipient(s) of this report must make its own independent decisions.
Conflicts of Interest: Delaware Investments and its affiliates may have investment advisory or other business relationships with the issuers of securities referenced herein. Delaware Investments and its affiliates, officers, directors and employees may from time to time have long or short positions in and buy or sell securities or financial instruments referenced herein. Delaware Investments affiliates may develop and publish research that is independent of, and different than, the information contained herein. Delaware Investments personnel other than the author(s), such as sales, marketing, and trading personnel, may provide oral or written market commentary or ideas to clients of Delaware Investments or prospects or proprietary investment ideas that differ from the views expressed herein. Additional information regarding actual and potential conflicts of interest is available in Part II of Form ADV for Delaware Management Business Trust.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value


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Microsoft confirms another slip for Office
As evangelist reaches for Gospel according to Google
The wheels worked a little looser at Microsoft today as it revealed the next version of Office will be delayed and another exec flew the coop to Google.
And the company also announced it will slash 200 sales jobs at its North American operation – though that could be simply to free up more chairs for the inevitable furniture destruction fest CEO Steve Ballmer must be gearing up for.
Microsoft circulated a bulletin last night saying that "Based on internal testing and the beta 2 feedback around product performance, we are revising our development schedule to deliver the 2007 system release by the end of year 2006, with broad general availability in early 2007."
However, the firm had previously said it was gunning for a January 2007 release.
Meanwhile, the company is cutting 200 sales and marketing jobs, from Redmond and its field offices, CNET reports. At the same time, it will create 66 new roles.
The company will encourage affected workers to chase other roles in the company.
And there is one slot definitely open. Vic Gundotra, formerly general manager for platform evangelism, slipped down the Microsoft to Google brain drain last week apparently. He will spend a year doing philanthropy, apparently, before taking up a role at Google.
Microsoft has lost a number of key brains to Google of late, and the latest defection is unlikely to sooth tensions in Redmond's executive suite.®
Sponsored: Becoming a Pragmatic Security Leader

subset: commoncrawl


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ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- Michael Kleen is now the Republican candidate for Rockford mayor by default. No other candidate has filed for that position in the February Republican primary.
That he became the Republican nominee was a very unlikely event, but it is an event that Kleen believes displays the very best side of the Republican Party. It is a party that values hard work, opportunity, and upward mobility.
"I consider it an honor and a privilege to have this opportunity," Kleen said, "and I will do my best to run a clean, professional campaign that proposes real and practical solutions to the problems we face."
Kleen wants to be mayor of Rockford because he sees the great potential of this city waiting to be unleashed, if only it had leadership with the right priorities. "I want to lay down a path to prosperity," Kleen said, "and I want to make sure that our local government is never an obstacle on that path to prosperity."
As mayor, Kleen's number one priority will be making the streets safe. "No real economic recovery is possible without tackling the problem of crime," he said.


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NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is known for its exploration of space, but the La Cañada Flintridge facility is starting to focus its gaze back to Earth.
Three new missions scheduled to launch in 2014 will examine soil moisture, wind, and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The data obtained from the orbiters sent on these missions can be used by farmers, meteorologists and others in understanding how the planet works, scientists said.
PHOTOS: NASA Administrator Charles Bolden visits JPL
"Last year was the year of Mars," said JPL Director Charles Elachi on Tuesday. "This is the year of Earth science."
Elachi and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden donned white coveralls and head coverings Tuesday during a tour of a chamber in JPL's spacecraft assembly facility, also known as the "clean room," where instruments for the missions are currently being assembled and tested.
The Carbon Observatory-2 satellite was absent from the test facility, but talk of the upcoming mission led to discussions about how the agency will address the changing global climate.
"Climate change research is inevitably going to be a part of what almost every agency at the federal government that has anything to do with the environment [does]," said Bolden. "This is, for me, for a former military person, a national security issue."
The satellite will record thousands of carbon dioxide measurements around the world every day. Scientists say it's unknown exactly how CO2 moves in and out of oceans and land masses. They hope this mission will shed some light on the carbon dioxide cycle.
"The carbon dioxide that's growing in the atmosphere is the principal driver of climate change, so if we can't understand this, we're not going to understand climate change," said Annmarie Eldering, JPL's deputy project scientist for the mission. "We need to have better information to make better decisions about what we do about [carbon dioxide] and how much we're going to emit in the future."
The two-year mission launches on July 1, 2014.
RapidScat, launching in April, is an orbiter that will be mounted on the International Space Station. The instrument replaces a former satellite, QuikScat, that monitored wind on the surface of Earth's oceans.
The new mission will use radar to help in the forecasting of flash floods, hurricanes and tropical storms.
"The instrument is sensitive to the roughness in the ocean," said JPL engineer Dragana Perkovic-Martin. "It is sensitive to the little, tiny waves … those waves are actually dependent on the wind blowing."
The radar can scope out the speed and direction of the wind on those tiny waves, sending data back to JPL that could help with public weather advisories and forecasting, she said.
JPL will use data from another mission, Soil Moisture Active-Passive, to create moisture maps that could be useful to the agriculture industry.
Set to launch in October 2014, the orbiter will produce a new global map of the soil moisture on the surface of the planet every three days.
"Farmers might be able to use this [data] to map out regions that are suffering due to a lack of precipitation," said Eni Njoku, JPL project scientist for SMAP. "With these measurements of soil moisture, we can predict whether this is going to be a good year for crops or not."
The mission is also expected to reveal data about weather, said Njoku. "We will be able to predict much better things like floods, droughts, weather and climate events."
JPL currently manages 11 Earth missions, with at least four planned to launch by 2015.
Follow Tiffany Kelly on Google+ and on Twitter: @LATiffanyKelly.
NASA's Mars 2020 mission will look for signs of past life


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The Emergency Communications Department of East Hampton Village put out a press release and began a brochure campaign this week to alert the public that when calling 911 for help, providing certain details can prove critical: the name of the cross street, and as specific an address as possible.
The department answers 911 calls from Montauk Point to Bridgehampton. As the release pointed out, "there are six separate fire and ambulance departments and three police departments" in that coverage area.
The call for greater public awareness of how the 911 system works comes in the context of the death of Lanny Ross, a former Amagansett fire chief, in November. He had a heart attack, and his wife, Sherri, called 911 and gave her exact address, 419 Montauk Highway in Wainscott; dispatchers; however, routed emergency personnel to a duplicate street address in East Hampton. It was not until 13 minutes after her initial call that help arrived.
In that case, the address information provided was indeed quite precise, though the tape of the 911 call reveals that it was not until dispatchers asked Ms. Ross for a cross street that they realized their mistake. Mr. Ross was pronounced dead at the hospital. Sherri and Lanny Ross's estate has filed a notice of claim against East Hampton Village and the various departments and entities (including the village police) involved in the incident, leaving open a window of opportunity to sue for damages.
The village's press release also assured readers that, "Help is being sent while we are on the phone with you; answering our questions will not delay help!"
A spokesperson for the Village Emergency Communications Department, reached by phone yesterday, said no particular incident inspired the public-relations push, and insisted this was simply an education campaign conducted in light of the massive annual influx of out-of-towners that will commence in earnest this week and accelerate over the summer.


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Idoit40fans wrote:Put some salt on them.
Maryland overdoes the salt on the roads. After the "light dusting" of snow yesterday, my car turned from grey to white. I've driven through the mountains in PA during way worse weather and my car has never gotten that much salt on it before.


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Caption That: President Bill Clinton Photobombs Kelly Clarkson (VIDEO)
Kelly Clarkson was about to bust out singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee", (VIDEO) when all of a sudden, homeboy former President Bill Clinton had to get a second look at Kelly (from behind)!
And then it went viral! Here is former President Bill Clinton caught on camera checking out Kelly Clarkson! He straight up pulled a Reesha move and PHOTOBOMBED that picture! (I am a notorious photobomber! I will photobomb your most private moments captured in a photograph in a HEARTBEAT with reckless abandon!)
Now you can check out the picture. Caption that!
And since I am not legally allowed to show the picture, I will just have to link it here.
(Thank you to my friend Ryan for the heads up on this story!)


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March 24, 2007
The Bisons split a double-header at Gardner-Webb on Saturday, March 24, taking game one 6-4, for their first conference win, before falling 12-9 in a game two loss.
After falling behind 3-0 in game one, the Bisons were forced to battle back, getting things started with a run in the third.
Branden Cadavid led off the inning with a single up the middle. Ben Williams followed with a walk, after which Allen Bolden was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. The next batter, Andrew Nickerson grounded into a double-play, plating Cadavid for the Bisons first run of the game.
Ryan Wilkins homered in the fourth to pull the Bisons to within one.
The Bisons took their first lead of the game with two runs in the sixth. With one out, Wilkins drilled his second home run of the game to knot the score at three. One out later, Bond singled through the right side, before stealing second. Justin Sanders followed with a single through the right side, scoring Bond to give the Bisons a 4-3 lead.
The Bulldogs scored a run in the seventh to tie the game at four.
The game would remain tied until the twelfth when Caleb Joseph homered to give the Bisons a 6-4 lead.
The Bisons needed only two pitchers in the extra-inning win. Lipscomb starter, Brandon McClurg allowed three earned runs in six innings in the no-decision. Right-hander Taylor Merry threw the final six innings, allowing just one earned run to record the win and improve to 1-0 on the season.
In game two, Gardner-Webb once again grabbed an early lead. However, the Bisons scored three runs in the fifth for their first lead of the game. The Bisons increased their lead to 4-2 on a homerun by Bond in the sixth.
Ben Williams and Clay Lehning also added homeruns, their first of the season, in the loss.
Gardner-Webb used four runs in the sixth and six in the seventh to take a 12-5 lead. The Bisons pulled within reach with four runs of their own in the eighth. However, that is as close as they would come in the 12-9 loss.
Right-hander John King, was charged with the loss to drop his record to 0-2.
The Bisons will take the field again when they travel to Evansville, IN, to take on Evansville in a single game on Tuesday, March 27. The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.


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Every morning, feel the warmth of the sun on your face, through large windows in your bedroom.
Live a wholesome, healthy life with your family, taking a walk along beautiful lawns and flowers within the township.
The Peerancheruvu lake, next to PBEL City makes for great walks, picnics and even small fishing trips.
The Heritage rocks around APPA Junction are the perfect getaway. No more waiting for weekends.
Just one of the pleasures of living in a high-rise apartment and close to unpolluted natural beauty
Live pollution-free, beat stress, use the gym or go for a swim. A healthy family is a happy family.
Cool, breezy and open on three sides. Relax with a cup of hot coffee or gather with friends.
Never run out of cash. Use banking facilities 24/7. At our very own ATM.
Breathe easy in an emergency. Corporate and community healthcare is less than 15 minutes away.
Now stay connected all the time in and out of your apartment. Log on even in the common areas.
PBEL City's very own power transformers, world-standard power backup. Uninterrupted living!
No more unwieldy cylinders, and no more last minute rush when a cylinder goes empty.
The playschool within PBEL City township ensures that learning is an enjoyable experience for your child.
Glendale, Srinidhi, Sloka and more choice of schools within a fifteen minute drive.
The Mrugavani National Park at Chilkur and other breath-taking views that are protected from change.
Live pollution-free, beat stress, use the gym or go for a swim. A healthy family is a happy family.
The open and wide outer ring road (ORR) makes commutes to work short and family time, sweet.
Inorbit Mall, Banjara Hills and even Gachibowli are just a short distance away. Even shorter on weekends!
Shear walls, much thinner and stronger, make your home spacious and earthquake resistant.
Cleverly designed spaces for furniture and appliances give you more space for your money.
The unique design of the flats protects your family's privacy from nearby balconies.
Aesthetically designed with hidden toilet cisterns and geysers to give you freedom and space.
With a 3-part sliding door the balcony of your apartment becomes part of your living room. Host a party. Now!
Well-ventilated homes make living in a high-rise apartment really cool
It's easy to wallpaper our silky smooth walls. Less painting. More art.
The extra-tall door of the flat looks and feels solid. Makes a memorable first impression.
Shiny. Elegant. International. These fittings add glamour to your bathrooms.
High quality switches, circuitry and aesthetically hidden wiring. A pleasure to see and use.
Fancy a thumping smash or a deft drop shot? Hone your skills or just enjoy a long rally with friends on the outdoor badminton court.
There is enough space for all the gadgets that make your life in the kitchen easier.
Every tower in the township has a double height lobby – tall, spacious and airy.
The wide entrance road into PBEL City makes you feel good every time you drive home.
Park your car with ease in the large parking space and the wide driveways make reversing super-safe too.
With vehicles only allowed on the peripheries of the township, children can play anywhere safely.
Designated pickup and drop off areas for school buses or vans to ensure your child's safety and your peace of mind.
Automatic sprinklers, fire-retardant exit doors. A fire-safety system that exceeds standards.
Get fresh veggies, fruits and other supplies from our well-stocked supermarket within no time.
Designed to receive natural light in your home, common areas, even the basement of your apartment!
The rainwater harvesting system adds precious water back to the local water-table.
Avail the numerous facilities of PBEL City's upcoming grand central club house.
Jump right in with your family for a splashing great time.
PBEL City homeowners are a young vibrant group. Great friendships and lifelong bonds are awaiting.
India's world cup win, Independence day, Ganesh Chaturthi. The good times never end in the community.
No waiting for a salon appointment. Book an appointment and walk down to become a new you!
So convenient to work off the stress and extra pounds! Burn calories without the long drive.
The residents of PBEL City Hyderabad Independence day with complete zeal and fervour with patriotism flowing through the beautiful township. Here a a few pictures from the morning of 15th August 2016.


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About .FISHING Domain Names
Note: This domain name extension renews at the same cost (tier) it is registered. For example, if you register a domain for $100, the cost to renew it each year will be $100.
Fishing is a meditative and relaxing pastime for many people, but it is also an extremely successful commercial venture. The .fishing domain will be a perfect standard domain for those who engage in fishing either recreationally or professionally.
Pre-Registration Information
General Availability
Beginning September 4, 2014, at 18:00 UTC, customers can register .fishing domain names on a first-come, first-served basis.
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The .fishing domain is a sweet spot for anyone who fishes commercially or recreationally, and for those involved with bait shops, ecology, or hatcheries and farms.
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Are there nameserver requirements for my .fishing domain names?
One nameserver is required for .fishing domain to resolve, and a maximum of 13 nameservers is allowed.


text:
Send Results to This Email:
Street Address:
Street Address:
Dana and Ray Brandon
Ray's Take Job hopping, especially in the early years, is more common than ever. Careers are more evolutionary now, as the days of lifetime jobs seem long gone. However, a lot of retirement savings can wind up lost if care is not taken when changing jobs.
If your current employer matches any part of your contributions to a company 401(k) plan, the timing of a job change could cost you quite a bit depending on how vested you are. If you are close to being fully vested in the program you might miss out on a significant amount of employer-matched funds. It could pay well to check this out before taking a new job. It might even be a negotiating point.
Short of complete desperation, it is critical to avoid simply cashing out of that qualified plan. Twenty percent of the funds would be subtracted for taxes automatically, and you will probably have an additional 10 percent tax penalty for withdrawing early. Plus adding the remainder to the year's income might put you into a higher tax bracket for an even bigger tax bite. Not only will your final gain be much smaller than the original figure, you'll also have given your retirement savings a serious setback. It's simply not worth it. This unfortunate outcome could also occur if you've taken a loan from the plan that remains unpaid.
To protect your 401(k), do one of three things: leave it in the plan of your old employer (if allowed), roll it directly into the 401(k) plan of your new employer (if there is no waiting period), or roll it directly into an IRA account. The better choice depends on the quality of the plans available at both employers and what you can find at other financial institutions. There are also a few more favorable options to a 401(k) versus IRA. The important thing is to always have these retirement savings plans transferred directly from one trustee to another. Receiving a check payable to you will cost you – now and later.
Dana's Take All too often, people considering a job change look at the salary and don't pay attention to the other benefits, especially if they are young and healthy. That can be a big mistake.
In addition to considering the advantages of the free money from employer contributions to a 401(k) plan, other benefits should be carefully considered, too.
Does the employer provide any subsidy for advanced degrees? Will their health care plan wind up costing you more in monthly contributions or co-pays? Are there perks like free parking, onsite childcare, or other value-added benefits?
Factoring in money-costing or saving advantages like these can change your monthly financial picture just as much as a raise might. Add it all up and that new job may look even better, or not nearly as good.
Ray Brandon is a certified financial planner and CEO of Brandon Financial Planning (www.brandonplanning.com). His wife, Dana, has a bachelor's degree in finance and is a licensed clinical social worker. Contact Ray Brandon at email@example.com.
Copyright 1995 -
by The Daily News Publishing Co. Inc. - All Rights Reserved


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Senators Target Student Loan Rates
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators are back to the starting line in search of a compromise to reduce interest rates on student loans. Lawmakers were spooked by a $22 billion price tag that accompanied a potential deal.
Lawmakers from both parties had tentatively agreed on a proposal that offered Democrats the promise that rates would not reach 10 percent and gave Republicans a link between borrowing terms and the financial markets.
But that deal's $22 billion in red ink over a decade proved disqualifying and sent lawmakers back to square one.
Lawmakers are looking for a deal to undo the rate increase on subsidized Stafford loans, which doubled to 6.8 percent on July 1. If lawmakers reach an agreement before students return to campus, the lower rates could be restored.


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Should work with older versions too. There are two ways to get it work: 1) nasty, but simple way: just overwrite langenglish.php with langczech.php, that means czech translation will be named...
A translation of pixelpost to danish. Just extract the file into the "languages"folder inside your pixelpost. Watch it at work at http://fotoblog.xerxes.dk.
Translates months and days to the language choosen by user in Pixelpost. NEW TAGS: <IMAGE_MONTH_DAY_TRANS> image date this should be used in image_template.html <ARCHIVE_MONTH_DAY_TRANS>...
Polish language translation for PixelPost 1.4
Ceska lokalizace verze bez diakritiky testovano na Pixelpost 1.4 a 1.5rc12
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The stunt is only 14 days. Two weeks. And as I'm nearing the finish line, I'm realizing there have been failures.
1. still have muffin top. even my fattest jeans are tight. i didn't think the pounds would fly off–but i may have even added more. lesson: cheese diets don't work and exercise might be a better idea.
2. acorn flour. my dear wonderful friend D brought me some acorn flour. I immediately began eating it. I made a weird gruel first with some milk. I ate it but reluctantly. then i remembered my failure with the gnocchi and tried again. I mixed egg, baked squash, and the acorn flour. it turned a strange brown color. i paid no attention and boiled a few in salted water. they sank like tiny turds and stayed that way until i prodded them. then they warbled up to the top, floating and glistening. as i brought one out of the drink, i thought: what if i've discovered some new genius recipe that chefs will soon be imitating? what if they'll name the gnocchi after me? (starvation diets make delusions of grandeur). then the brown ball passed my lips and was chewed. it was, dear readers, a monstrosity of sog combined with grit. tasted like dirt. then i thought: i should fry these brown balls. like falafal. which i did. they actually tasted good, like a falafal type food. nutty and crunchy. then i went to bed and developed the most splitting headache i've ever had. failure.
3. i visited the good students at USF the other day. they have planted a beautiful garden, and some freshmen farm and live in the dorms as an interest group. they are adorable, and grow food for a farm stand and make value added products, and learn how to graft. it made my heart sing to see these good citizens fired up about growing food. And then, they offered me lunch. it included, homemade foccacia and soup with (sweet baby J) barley. i lost all resolve and sucked down all those forbidden carbs, comforting myself that at least the vegetables had been grown on their little farm. failure, but i would do it again.
however, i'd like to report one success in the last few days: i accompanied tamara wilder (the instructor for the rabbit hide tanning workshop here at the gt farm this weekend) to a dim sum restaurant post-class, and watched her eat approximately 27 dumplings. and never once, never, did it cross my mind to grab one of the pillowy pork and cabbage dumplings, dredge it into the sweet soy/ginger nectar, and have it explode in my mouth. not once. i swear.


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The Dar Itrane Lodge
With a welcoming and warm living room and relaxing terraces from which the view is wonderful, Dar Itrane is the perfect place to discover the region, as well as local cultures and traditions…Meeting with local people will give you the opportunity to share in berber customs and traditions, in a simple way.
Waiting to savor delicious Moroccan meals, you will have the opportunity to relax in the leisure room with local books, music and films.
Of course, you will also relax in the traditional Moroccan hammam with natural products.


text: Hi all, we're having some trouble with nodes showing high ECC corrected error (CE) counts. I'm wondering whether you have any wisdom on the following: - first, how would you go about setting a threshold for how high is an acceptable CE count? we by default are using the mce module, which by default polls at 1Hz. my thinking is that if we get overflow events (the multiple error bit is set), then it's too fast. - do you have or know of a good exerciser for testing ECC's? yes, I know about memtest86, but I'm more curious about a load that could be run under linux. my thinking is that ecc's are triggered by bad reads, so something which allocates all memory and then continually reads it would be best. - how about layout of memory -> dimms? take a single page, for example: I presume that the first cacheline (16B) will be "striped" across both channels of one bank (for instance, the first dimm-pair.) is it normal for the 17th byte to begin on the next dimm-pair (csrow)? dmidecode seems to indicate that 8 1GB dimms are mapped to contiguous addresses (which would imply no channel interleaving, which is wrong...) - does "numactl --hardware" work correctly for you? I see something like: available: 2 nodes (0-1) node 0 size: 5375 MB node 0 free: 3550 MB node 1 size: 4095 MB node 1 free: 3874 MB 9470 MB total, which, on a machine with only 8x 1GB dimms is unexpected... thanks for any comments, mark hahn


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October 18, 2012
Dancing on the 'Fringe'
A. Sue Weisler
The First Niagara Rochester Fringe Festival took place Sept. 19-23 and featured performances and exhibits by many RIT students, faculty and staff. "Spirits Within," pictured here, was a collaborative effort among FuturPointe dancers, Eastman School of Music and RIT's 3-D Digital Design students led by professor Marla Schweppe. The graphics, created by the students, were projected against a restored organ in Christ Church.


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2670 Lake Circle Drive Indianapolis, IN 46268 Store #27 (317) 874-0290
- Blazers
- Dresses
- Pants
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- Shoes
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14002 Hoard Dr Noblesville, IN 46060 Store #1075 (317) 776-7579
2685 East Main Street Plainfield, IN 46168 Store #461 (317) 838-8786
Dress Barn at 2670 Lake Circle Drive | Find Women's Dresses Near You
We can't wait to see you at the Indianapolis dressbarn! Located at 2670 Lake Circle Drive, this store carries women's dresses and clothing ranging from size 2-24. You will also find a curated assortment of brands designed for work, date-night, weddings, and other special occasions.
Understanding your combined love of fashion and value, dressbarn is the only place that translates the latest high-end fashion trends into exclusive, affordable womens clothing. Our design team travels to London, Paris, Milan, and other European cities at least twice a year to understand the latest fashion trends. Additionally, we work with the top European and vintage print studios to create custom prints and exclusive designs that can only found at dressbarn.
As one parting tidbit, our first love will always be the dress - an obsession we've dedicated over 50 years to perfecting! We are all about dresses and believe the right dress has transformational powers. We carry dresses in all stores year round.
So what are you waiting for? Come in and experience dressbarn in Indianapolis for yourself! Or shop a larger selection online at dressbarn.com (and be sure to check out our assortment of dresses and plus size dresses). Fashion adventures, style solutions and compliments are waiting for you.


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NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday that the Tennessee Titans will either trade or release Chris Johnson before offseason workouts begin next week.
After speaking with Titans management Wednesday, agent Joel Segal told SiriusXM NFL Radio that it's only a "matter of time" before the organization cuts ties with Johnson.
Surprised by the Eagles' release of his client DeSean Jackson, Segal was reluctant to guess whether Johnson would be leaving Nashville via trade or cut.
We would be shocked if the Titans find a taker for Johnson's $8 million salary in 2014.
Once he's released, the Jets are expected to be first in line for his services. In tracking Johnson's potential landing spots, we've yet to find another team matching the reported interest level of Rex Ryan's club.
UPDATE: Rapoport reported Thursday night that Johnson is headed to Tennessee for a face-to-face meeting with Titans general manager Ruston Webster, after which the running back will likely be released, per a source informed of the Titans' plans.
The latest Around The League Podcast welcomes NFL Media columnist Jeff Darlington to the studio, reacts to the DeSean Jackson signing and discusses big-name veterans still looking for new teams.


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All items > Knife Accessories > Beads
- Height:0.79"
- Width:0.63"
- Depth:0.65"
- Material:Pewter
- Color:Brass
- Weight:0.22 oz.
- Brand:Schmuckatelli
- Model:Vinnie Garoon Cowboy
- Country of Origin:USA
- Product Type:Bead
This Vinnie Garoon Cowboy Skull Bead is pewter and has a 3/16" diameter center hole. It comes in a rustic Roman brass finish. The Schmuckatelli lanyard bead is just the way to dress up your knives and gear. Be sure to click on the pictures above for a larger, detailed look at this cool skull bead.
Sold Individually


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Graduation Requirements
The following requirements must be met prior to graduation:
- Satisfactory completion of each required class with at least 80% attendance
- A grade point average of 2.5 or better
- All papers must be completed and approved
- All clinical obligations must be fulfilled
- All tuition and fees for the program must be paid in full
- All library books must be returned
- Successful completion of the clinic practical final examination
- Successful completion of the comprehensive written examination
- Attendance at an exit interview
- Submission and acceptance of a completed Petition to Graduate
- Loan recipients must attend and document a financial aid exit interview
- 30 months (Acupuncture) or 36 months (OM) at an ACAOM or WHO recognized college
Petition to Graduate
After completing all courses and internships, students must call the Racine Campus and request the online Petition to Graduate be started. Administrative staff and financial aid staff must certify that all requirements have been met. A student's graduation date is not automatically the last day of the final quarter, but is the date all academic requirements are completed.


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Once heralded as the greatest British actor of his generation, Nicol Williamson was also a legend for stormy onstage behavior that included calling off a performance of "Hamlet" mid-speech because he was too tired to go on.
"I'll pay for the seats," he later recalled telling the audience in 1969, "but I won't shortchange you by not giving my best." And then he walked off.
He made his name as the faltering attorney in playwright John Osborne's "Inadmissible Evidence" in the mid-1960s in London, rode the role to a Tony Award nomination on Broadway and re-created the part in the 1968 film.
The Scottish-born Williamson was perhaps best known for his critically acclaimed portrayal of the wizard Merlin in the 1981 film "Excalibur" and for his turn as the drug-addicted yet brilliant Sherlock Holmes in the 1976 movie "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution."
Williamson, who lived in Amsterdam, died Dec. 16 at 75 after a two-year struggle with esophageal cancer, said his son, Luke. He announced the death Wednesday on his father's website.
When Williamson auditioned for "Inadmissible Evidence," Osborne wrote in his diary that this "pouting, delinquent cherub produced the face to match the torment below the surface. He is much too young, 26, to the character's 39, but no matter. He is old within," according to a 1993 London Independent article.
The playwright later called Williamson "the greatest actor since Marlon Brando," the London Guardian said in 1994.
Upon seeing Williamson portray Hamlet in London in 1969, the New York Times review declared that the title of "Greatest English Actor of his Generation" was about to fall on Williamson's shoulders.
He appeared to be drawn to roles that presented "a marathon challenge to his ability to portray the darker human emotions," the Los Angeles Times said in 1969, while noting that he was "touchy, mercurial — and very, very talented."
In the movies, he had his most visible success in "Excalibur" as the wizard, "magnificently played," according to the 1981 Times review. "The actors are led by Williamson's witty, perceptive Merlin, missed every time he's off the screen."
"I enjoyed playing Merlin," Williamson told The Times soon after the film, which became a hit, was released. "I tried to make him a cross between my old English master and a space traveler, with a bit of Grand Guignol thrown in."
Since the early 1960s, Williamson had regularly acted in films but often gave well-reviewed performances in lesser-seen movies, a list that included "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution" and "Robin and Marian" (1976), in which he played a subdued Little John to Sean Connery's Robin.
As an actor, he had a reputation for being difficult and impulsive, an observation that gained credence in 1991 when he was playing the ghost of John Barrymore in "I Hate Hamlet" on Broadway. In an oft-told story, he was ostensibly teaching a fellow actor to duel when Williamson whacked him with the sword, then turned to the audience and asked, "Well, should I sing?"
His stage and screen career stretched into the late 1990s and included the one-man Broadway show "Jack: A Night on the Town With John Barrymore."
While trying to assess what happened to "a superstar — the Hamlet of his generation," the London Independent said in 1993 that "the reasons given for his absence" from the London stage "are many. They include tax and booze and the breakup of his marriage to actress Jill Townsend," to whom he was married from 1971 to 1977.
Yet as early as 1971, Williamson had announced that he was no longer interested in being "the greatest actor of my generation, and all that jazz," and that same year he released an album of country music in Britain.
He was born Sept. 14, 1936, into a poor family in Hamilton, a mining town near Glasgow, Scotland. His father, Hugh Williamson, later operated an aluminum manufacturing plant; and his mother, Mary, "had a wonderful singing voice," he later recalled.
"I can never remember a time when I wanted to do anything but be involved in the richness of language," Williamson told The Times in 1986.
After spending two years in the military in Britain, he was hired to play a pirate in "Sinbad the Sailor" for Dundee Repertory Theatre in Scotland. After appearing in more than 30 productions over nearly 18 months, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1962.
His nearly 20 television acting credits include playing Lennie in "Of Mice and Men" (1968) and King Ferdinand in "Christopher Columbus"(1985).
About two decades ago, he retreated to Amsterdam and, increasingly, his music. Before he died, he was able to finish recording the CD he had been working on, said his son, Williamson's only immediate survivor.


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For more than 1,300 years pilgrims have flocked to Lichfield Cathedral to pray to Saint Chad, a missionary monk and "wonderworker" who touched souls and helped heal the sick.
Yesterday more than 7,000 people made a modern day pilgrimage to the sandstone building to pay homage to a local lad and his own wondrous achievements.
Stephen Sutton would be the first to say he was no saint – just an ordinary teenager who died too young from cancer.
But the courageous way he fought the disease, while raising millions to help other young sufferers, touched hearts around the world and inspired a legacy of love.
That's why total strangers travelled to Staffordshire yesterday to file past the coffin of a 19-year-old they'd never met.
That's why the streets were decked out in yellow ribbons – the colour of summer, Stephen's favourite season – and a traditional symbol of rememberance.
And that's why he was given the sort of send-off usually reserved for royalty or statesmen, the great and the good. Because they don't come greater or inspire more goodness than big-hearted Stephen.
The Dean of Lichfield, Adrian Dorber, summed it up perfectly. "Stephen has touched so many lives," he said. "With his positive attitude, has turned his own cancer into a force for life."
The brave youngster died in his sleep two weeks ago and will be buried in a private family ceremony later today.
But so many people wanted to pay their respects the Church of England agreed to let his coffin lie "in a place of honour" – on the knave altar – for a two-day public vigil.
And as folk began gathering for an early evening service the Teenage Cancer Trust announced that the total Stephen has raised via his Justgiving site had just broken the £4million mark.
It was another reason to celebrate - and Stephen's mum, Jane, 49, had insisted these two days MUST be a celebration of her son's life... spreading the joy and generosity that witty, upbeat Stephen made so
"The continued love and support for Stephen is wonderful and a great comfort," she said in a Facebook post. "I want people to have the chance to come and pay their last respects to Stephen.
He'd told her he wanted to put the "fun" into funeral, so she urged people not to wear black, but light candles and walk happily past his coffin.
And she added: "If you can't make it, remember to take a moment at 11am on Friday morning to give a thumbs up for Stephen via social media #ThumbsupforStephen, or you could give the thumbs up to a stranger, think a positive thought, clap, cheer, or even perform a random act a
"Do something that makes you and others happy in Stephen's memory."
Stephen's coffin left his family home in Burntwood at 6pm in a white carriage drawn by four white horses with yellow plumes.
Two simple wreaths adorned the coffin – one a Smiley Face made from yellow carnations. Stephen had used that symbol so many times in his relentlessly positive and upbeat social media posts.
Dozens of locals lined the streets as his coffin travelled through the town, where houses, gate posts, trees and railings were decked in yellow ribbons.
The sea of yellow spread on into Lichfield and the 14th century cathedral where a thousand people were waiting in the cold and drizzle.
They carried yellow roses and carnations which they placed at a makeshift shrine beneath the West Lawn flag pole.
Some teenage girls even sported yellow nail varnish. As the cortege approached the crowds burst into applause – as they did again when Stephen's family, led by mum Jane and younger brother Chris, got out of their cars.
Stephen's father, Andrew, his partner Christine and their son Paul were also there along with Stephen's grandparents, Anne and Tony.
A single bell tolled as the coffin was carried inside and placed amid white and yellow flowers and four tall candles also tied with yellow ribbons.
Dean Dorber told the packed cathedral and the hundreds listening by loudspeaker outside: "The lesson Stephen has taught us is not to waste time on resentment but to grab hold of every single thing that enhances life and makes the world a more joyful place."
He added: "I hope this vigil can help us lead our lives like Stephen– fully, vibrantly, without whingeing and unselfishly... he had a sheer joy in existence. He has been an inspiration and we all want to share now his sense of hopefulness."
Julia Hayburn, assistant head at Stephen's former secondary school, paid tribute to the way he dealt with his illness and insisted on carrying on with his studies – even when doctors advised against it. She said his fellow pupils and staff now strive to emulate his "passion and empathy... to be the best we can be."
Simon Fuller, of the Teenage Cancer Trust said Stephen's story was not about cancer – it was about living life to the full. And when he urged the congregation to "stand and applaud Stephen and all young people with cancer"
the response almost lifted off the roof.
Afterwards the Dean invited everyone to file past the coffin, pause and give Stephen's "thumbs up" sign, a heart-wrenching reminder of the final picture he posted on Facebook three weeks before he died, saying "It's a final thumbs up from me!"
The cathedral stayed open until midnight and was due to open again early this morning for others to pay their respects. Cathedral spokesman Neil Harvey-Smith said: "It's remarkable how he has touched so many people's lives."
Like Cher Melsom, 38, whose daughters Molly, 12, and Lizzie, 15, went to school with Stephen. In February last year Cher was diagnosed with ovarian cancer – and says Stephen's courage helped her fight the disease. She said: "I was told I wouldn't see Christmas but here I am. Like Stephen used to say – I've got cancer but it hasn't got me!"
In the book of condolence, a lad called Ollie wrote a farewell message that was typical of many: It said: "You are a true hero and what you have done has inspired me to be a better person."
You can still donate to the Stephen Sutton fund for the Teenage Cancer Trust here.


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Growing up, Posie Cowan, of Blue Hill, didn't hear family members mention her great-grandmother much, but there was a vague rumor that she had been arrested. It wasn't until recently, when Cowan began looking into her great-grandmother Sophie Meredith's history, that she learned not just about her family's forgotten past but the often-overlooked fight for something basic to us today: the vote.
On Sunday, Cowan's story will come full circle as she travels to Washington, D.C., to walk in her great-grandmother's footsteps in a parade to honor suffragists. March 3 marks the 100th anniversary of the 1913 Women's Suffrage Parade. The historic event, where a crowd of mostly men harassed and attacked the women who marched for the right to vote, while police watched, was a turning point for the suffrage movement, and Cowan, 65, has evidence her great-grandmother was there.
"The lesson is that a lot of women's history has been lost and that it's really important for us to know as women our history and to value it and to be inspired by it," said Cowan, who was named Sophie Meredith Sides after her great-grandmother and was born on the date of Meredith's death 19 years later. Sunday's parade also is a reminder that rights worth fighting for — in the past and present — often require a sustained fight. For example, after a 500-day struggle, Congress on Thursday reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, which funds crisis hotlines, women's shelters and other assistance for domestic violence survivors.
Around 2004, Cowan began the search into her great-grandmother's history after watching the movie Iron Jawed Angels, which focuses on the American suffrage movement of the 1910s. On a whim, she Googled Meredith, who she knew had lived in Richmond, Va. She found an article from the Washington Star that said a "Mrs. Sophie Meredith of Richmond" had led a group of Virginia suffragists picketing the White House.
With that context, Cowan turned to the Sewall-Belmont House and Museum in D.C., which keeps copies of correspondence and photographs relating to the National Woman's Party, led by Quaker and suffrage activist Alice Paul. In an index of documents were letters sent to and from Paul and a Sophie Meredith of Richmond. Cowan next traveled to the Library of Congress, where she found the actual letters and old articles. She learned that the rumor was true: Her great-grandmother had been arrested four times in her fight to earn the right to vote.
But her search didn't end there, and again she was helped along by a bit of luck. In her father's Massachusetts attic one day, she discovered a box with discarded draperies hanging over the side. Inside she found four cloth banners relating to women's suffrage that no one in her family had ever mentioned. Cowan believes it's likely her great-grandmother marched with one yellow and white banner, reading "Votes for Women," in the 1913 parade.
Other banners specifically mention the state of Virginia, as her great-grandmother established the state organization there for the National Woman's Party and fought alongside Paul for a federal amendment. Cowan went on to find the minutes of the meetings held at her great-grandmother's house, showing that Paul came to speak there occasionally. She found pictures of her great-grandmother with senators and Paul and discovered her name on old letterhead. She also found a picture from 1915 of her in a car with one of the banners that was later stored in her father's attic.
Cowan is currently writing an academic paper chronicling why her great-grandmother should be seen as a significant woman in Virginia's suffrage history. "I really feel a responsibility of writing her back into the history in her rightful place," she said.
Meredith did live to see success. The 19th Amendment, prohibiting any U.S. citizen from being denied the right to vote based on sex, was passed by Congress in 1919 and ratified by the necessary 36 states in 1920. In the remaining eight years of her life, she continued to press for women's rights — for an Equal Rights Amendment — in a state that officially didn't ratify the 19th amendment until 1952. On her gravestone she is described as "a zealous pioneer for women."
On Sunday, Cowan will carry a canvas copy of the banner that her great-grandmother likely did in 1913, part of how she's reclaiming her ancestor's historic significance, step by step.


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Carla Kienast, Cosmopolitan, GOES, rheumatoid arthritis, Scarpetta, Scott Conant, trusted traveler, Vdara
We had a really good Christmas trip to Las Vegas, arriving the Thursday before Christmas and leaving three days later on Christmas Day.
One of the highlights of the trip was meeting Chef Scott Conant, a celebrity chef that's hard to miss if you watch the Food Network Channel at all. We
had stopped in to confirm our dinner reservations at his restaurant, Scarpetta in the Cosmopolitan resort, and he was standing by the front desk. He was very gracious, but it was a shock to turn around and see someone you recognize from television.
We stayed at the Vdara Hotel, which was wonderful. The accommodations were great and the spa where we indulged in a massage was very nice.
There were a couple of downsides. My knees gave me a lot of trouble. The steroid injection I had before we left doesn't seem to have helped and I'm going to schedule the MRI to see if there is anything but RA going on. Of course, I did a lot of walking — probably 2-3 miles a day, so that didn't help things.
We got a nice surprise on the trip back. Both my husband and I are signed up for TSA's Global Entry Program (GOES) and completed the enrollment for the trusted traveler "fast lane" entry through American Airlines. It lets you bypass some of the yucky parts of travel — like taking off your shoes and taking your 3-oz bag and your computer out of your suitcase. We weren't aware that they had implemented the special lanes at Las Vegas, so it was a treat. Of course, I still had to be scanned since my hip and shoulder replacements trip the metal detector, but it was nice to skip some of the other tediousness of air travel.
I guess the really bad news is that on Christmas day we got word that my step-mother was admitted to the hospital. She has not been in great health for the last few years and she's been in the hospital multiple times in the past few months. She's over 80 and even small things can become quickly serious. I remain optimistic that she'll recover in good time, but it is still a serious situation.
Now it's back to reality and work, although the office is down to a skeleton crew this week between the holidays. I'm treating myself by coming in a bit later in the morning and only working 8 hours a day.
I hope your holiday celebrations were joyful and that those you love were blessed with good health. Thanks for checking in.


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Linux Top 5: SCO Returns
The past week on the LinuxPlanet saw the return of SCO, a company most of us have long ago written off a footnote in the history of Linux's success. It also saw a new study from Ubuntu showing how broad and diverse its base of Linux users have become.
1) SCO Returns
SCO the company that back in 2003 first sued IBM over alleged Unix trade secret violations is back.
This is a case that has gone back and forth ever since – with major setbacks coming to SCO along the way. For one, SCO lost a major decision in 2007 with Novell over the issue of whether or not SCO ever owned the Unix copyrights in the first place. That courtroom loss resulted in SCO declaring bankruptcy in 2007.
Bankruptcy in the U.S. is not a death sentence though and SCO has continued since 2007 to pursue its legal ambitions against Linux supporters. In 2010, a jury decision re-affirmed that Novell owns the Unix System V copyright and patents and not SCO.
Yet despite all that, here we are in 2012 and SCO is still pursuing its legal actions against IBM. A hearing is currently set for April 23rd to pursue that same litigation that SCO started out on 9 years ago against IBM.
While it is shocking that this case still is a going concern, over the last 9 years, lots has changed in the Linux landscape. New Linux distros like Ubuntu have come forward and the dominance of Linux in many areas of computing is now well known. On the other hand, SCO remains a bankrupt zombie husk, with no assets, no real prospects and no future.
2) Ubuntu Server Survey
Among the most popular Linux distributions that have grown up in recent years is Ubuntu. This past week, the 2012 Ubuntu Server Survey was released providing some interesting insights into how enterprises are using Ubuntu.
On the hardware side the top deployment cited by respondents was a tower or desktop PC. Coming in second was Dell servers, followed by HP/Compaq x86 servers. Almost 72 percent of the respondents indicated that they have plans to deploy more Ubuntu servers in the future.
The survey also found that Ubuntu users prefer to use VMware for virtualization more than any other technology. KVM comes in second followed by Xen. While virtualization is often included in the same bucket as cloud computing, respondents were so sure about cloud deployment in general. Only 27 percent indicated that they consider Ubuntu to be a viable platform for cloud-based deployment, while 70 percent of respondents had no response.
3) Linux 3.3 RC 4
The march towards the next major Linux kernel release continued this past week, albeit a little bit delayed.
In his mailing list announcement, Linus Torvalds explained that the development milestone release was delayed due to floating point state corruption flaw. The flaw was triggered by the use of a 32-bit x86 kernel code running on a 64-bit system.
"Anyway, if you are using wireless networking, have a modern CPU that you cripple by running in 32-bit mode, and have seen odd FP-related crashes with (the usual symptoms seem to be flash problems in the browser or the mouse in X suddenly moving to a corner or similar, but anything goes, really), that might be due to this," Torvalds wrote.
The fix for the floating point error will be backported to existing stable kernel releases as well as being part of the Linux 3.3 RC 4 release.
4) Scientific Linux 6.2 released
Scientific Linux is a clone of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and it has enjoyed some decent popularity over the years. With the stalled release of CentOS 6 in 2011, Scientific Linux, for a brief period of time, was a leading light in the RHEL clone community.
Things have changed in 2012 though. Scientific Linux 6.2 was released this past week nearly two months after CentOS released CentOS 6.2. The upstream RHEL 6.2 release itself debuted the first week of December.
5) Cinnamon 1.3 Released
In recent months, the Linux Mint led Cinnamon desktop effort has become increasingly interesting. Initially Cinnamon was just a GNOME 2 type interface for Linux Mint, but the project has now found some (limited) adoption by users of other distros too.
This past week, Cinnamon 1.3 was released updating the interface with some new panel controls.
"In Cinnamon 1.3, every panel component is an applet," Cinnamon founder Clint Lefebvre wrote. "This means you can remove the default menu or window list and replace them with 3rd party applets.
Additionally, Cinnamon applets are can now also be easily moved around the desktop.
"So you can now move any part of the panel(s) around and really fine-tune the layout of your desktop to what works best for you," Lefebvre wrote.
Sean Michael Kerner is a senior editor at InternetNews.com, the news service of the IT Business Edge Network, the network for technology professionals. Follow him on Twitter @TechJournalist.


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Join America's Leading Progressive Organization
Director of Development
The Campaign for America's Future (CAF) and the Institute for America's Future (IAF) seek a Director of Development. This position will plan, manage and implement fundraising strategy, calendar and work plan for these two sister organizations. The right candidate will lead a team working to grow the annual budget for both organizations' national operations. The Development Director will play a key leadership role and will report to the organizations' co-directors and boards. We are looking for an energetic and entrepreneurial candidate dedicated to economic and social change. This position is located in our Washington, D.C. office.
Position Responsibilities
• Overall strategy for fundraising, including developing annual work plan and financial projections; and conceptualizing proposals, program summaries and marketing products to communicate with supporters
• Management of development department, including day-to-day operation of systems; supervision of development staff including a top notch development manager and intern; and compliance with all reporting requirements to donors and relevant agencies.
• Active participation in organizational leadership, including close interaction with co-directors; regular reporting of development status with financial team; engagement of Board and advisors in donor research and solicitation; and providing advice about program presentation.
• Creative expansion of supporter universe, including collaboration with program and communications staff to explore, propose and test new ideas for online and social media fundraising.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent plus 5-10 years demonstrated fundraising experience
• History of involvement with organizations devoted to economic and social change
• Experience with and knowledge of the progressive donor community (individuals and foundations) and progressive issues
• Proven success in securing high dollar foundation and individual donor support
• Demonstrated skill in managing staff and systems
• Excellent persuasive writing skills
• Well-developed interpersonal and organizational skills
• Proven entrepreneurial abilities, creativity and initiative
• Motivation and a collegial, supportive personality
• Good humor and ability to work in a team environment
• Commitment to the organizations' missions
• Understanding of 501c3 and 501c4 nonprofit legal issues/structures.
• Experience coaching and training organization executives on best development practices and fundraising pitches
Compensation / Benefits
Salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include vacation, health insurance, health care/dependent care flexible spending accounts, public transportation assistance and retirement plan. CAF/IAF offers a comfortable, creative work environment that welcomes diversity.
To Apply
Your complete application includes a cover letter that indicates how you learned of the job opening, a resume with dates of employment, salary history and writing sample. Please email, fax or mail your application to:
Director of Development Search
Campaign for America's Future
1825 K Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20006
Fax: 202-955-5606
Email: email@example.com
The Campaign for America's Future (CAF) and the Institute for America's Future (IAF) seek interns who are well-organized team players with a commitment to and interest in progressive issues. Interning with CAF/IAF is a great way to gain real world experience that could lead to a career in issue advocacy, public policy, public relations or many other public interest fields. Interns will work with one or more of the following teams:
• Communications / Media Relations
• Fundraising / Events
• Economic Reform
• Labor / Jobs
• Online / Web Communications
• Progressive Message / Conservative Failure
• Policy Research
Solid writing and research skills are a must. Interns must also demonstrate a strong interest and familiarity with progressive politics and a capacity to craft various types of content for the web and social media.
To express an interest in serving as a CAF/IAF intern, please submit a cover letter along with a resume. Please email, fax or mail your application to:
Attn: Internships
Campaign for America's Future
1825 K Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20006
Fax: 202-955-5606
Email: email@example.com


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Terms & Conditions
These Website Terms of Use apply to this website which is operated by Arena Living New Zealand Limited under the domain name www.arenaliving.nz ("Website").
By proceeding beyond the homepage you agree to accept these Terms of Use and we agree to grant you a non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use this website in accordance with the conditions set out below.
We may revise these Terms of Use from time to time without notice and such revision will take effect when it is posted on this Website. Your continued use of this Website will be regarded as your acceptance of these Terms of Use as amended.
In addition to the provisions of these Website Terms of Use, there may also be specific and additional terms that apply to certain sections of this Website. Because those specific and additional provisions also apply to your use of those sections, we recommend that you review them wherever they appear. In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of these Website Terms of Use and those other specific and additional provisions, the specific and additional provisions will prevail.
Copyright and Submitted Material
All materials and information on this Website including without limitation any logo, design, text, graphic and their arrangement ("Content") are licensed to or owned by Arena Living New Zealand Limited. Unless we indicate otherwise you must not copy, distribute, republish, download, display, post or transmit the Content in any form or by any means including but not limited to electronic, mechanical or otherwise without our prior permission or the written permission of the copyright owner. You may access and use the Content and this Website for your own personal use only. Unless expressly permitted otherwise, you must not do anything to alter, modify or add to the Content.
You acknowledge and agree that if you contribute Content to the Website, such Content will become our property and you hereby assign all rights, title and interests in and to such contributions to us. We reserve the right to remove any Content from the Website at any time, for any reason (including, but not limited to, upon receipt of claims or allegations from third parties or authorities relating to such Content or if we are concerned that you may have breached the immediately preceding sentence), or for no reason at all.
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These Terms of Use are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New Zealand. You hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consent and submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New Zealand.
Version 1.0 - Date of Publication 15 June 2016.


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Dear Participants,Here are the results (FIDE Titles) that we decided that they should be distributed to you. In order to finalise our decisions we took into consideration your ID-Cards and the valuable info you provided and further one that we were able to collect, your general behaviour and attendance during the seminar and of course the written exams.
The Lecturers,Jovan PetronicLanka RaviG B Joshi


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Simone Origone, world champion of speed skiing, is the world's fastest man, also thanks to the Pininfarina Wind Tunnel. In fact, in the Research Centre located at Grugliasco (Turin, Italy), Simone Origone developed the equipment with which in 2006 he brought back to Italy the world record of speed skiing.
Origone is often back to the Pininfarina Wind Tunnel to carry out aerodynamic tests on his new sports equipment, with the aim to individuate the profiles ensuring the best aerodynamic performance.


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In the Mosquitia region in north-east Honduras is a place whose natural and cultural wealth can rarely be seen elsewhere in the world. But the future of this exceptional richness, in a country torn by conflict, poverty and adverse socio-economic conditions, strongly depends on the readiness of its authorities to consolidate efforts to manage and conserve it, working together with the area's local and indigenous communities.
Covering the entire basin of the Platano River, the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve is the biggest protected area in Honduras. It is an integral part of Central America's largest tropical rainforest, which extends into neighboring Nicaragua.
Few areas in the world can compete with Rio Platano's natural wealth. Tropical rainforests, mangroves, coastal lagoons and savannahs are all home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. These include 39 species of mammals, 377 species of birds and 126 reptiles and amphibians, as well as many species of timber. Here you can also find a large number of threatened species such as the giant anteater, Baird's tapir, jaguar, puma, Caribbean manatee, American crocodile and brown caiman.
But it is not just the diversity of species and ecosystems that makes Rio Platano so special.
Its mountainous landscape sloping down to the Caribbean coast is also home to over 2,000 indigenous people who continue their traditional way of living, directly dependent on natural resources in their everyday lives. Rio Platano is also an important archaeological site with some fine remnants of the Maya civilization.
The reserve was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1982. But in 1996, concerns about the integrity and conservation status of Rio Platano triggered its inclusion on the List of World Heritage in Danger. It remained on the list for over a decade and there are strong indications that it will soon be inscribed on it again.
"Rio Platano is a gem of global importance due to its largely intact forests and other habitats but also the variety of indigenous and local cultures that live in and around it," says Tilman Jaeger, IUCN's World Heritage Programme Officer. "Unfortunately, the harsh socio-economic reality of the region has been putting its natural and cultural wealth at constant risk for decades."
Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. Almost 60% of its population lives below the poverty line and almost 40% lives in extreme poverty.
Drug-trafficking and other illegal activities have created a climate of lawlessness and impunity. Forests are being converted into cattle ranches and illegal logging, fishing and hunting are widespread in the area. Roads opened by loggers provide access to settlers who clear the land for farming and ranching, causing increased soil erosion and contamination of water resources by agro-chemicals, and the trafficking of many species for the exotic pet market is significantly reducing their populations.
A recent controversial plan to build a series of dams along the Patuca River, which are likely to strongly affect both the river and the indigenous people that have called it their home for centuries, is also causing grave concerns on local and international levels. Although the dams would not be situated in the World Heritage site itself, they are planned to be built within the Mosquitia region, a formally protected conservation complex also known as the "Heart of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor".
"Given the poverty and the marginalization of Mosquitia, the situation is often seen as a trade-off between development and conservation, and the priority tends to be given to development", says Tilman Jaeger. "But short-sighted and large-scale development projects bear the risk of putting local residents in an even more vulnerable situation, threatening the very environment those people depend on for water, food, medicine and many other services."
But all is not lost.
In response to a visit of IUCN and UNESCO representatives in the region, senior government officials of Honduras, including the country's president, have recently reaffirmed their commitment to improve the management of the area and to request inclusion of the reserve on the List of World Heritage in Danger. This is a very promising development for the future of Rio Platano.
"In an area with such a difficult socio-economic reality and limited governmental presence, political will is an essential starting point for any conservation action," says Tilman Jaeger. "The government's commitment is extremely encouraging and we look forward to assisting it in its search for better ways to reconcile conservation and development."
For more information please contact:
Tilman Jaeger, IUCN's World Heritage Programme Officer, e-mail: [email protected]