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The third night was the charm for a new crop of The Voice contestants, who covered Tom Petty, Mary J. Blige, Katy Perry – and even songs by judges Shakira and Blake Shelton Monday night.
But there was also heartbreak: Julie Roberts, a gold-record selling country artist who hit fame in 2004 – only to be dropped by her label in 2010 – failed to turn the chairs of any judges in a comeback bid, even as she sang Shelton's "God Gave Me You."
"She just kind of fell through the cracks in the business and it's not fair," Shelton said of her talents once he saw who had performed his song. "I just feel really bad that I didn't turn my chair around."
Roberts, 33, who lost everything she owned in the 2010 Nashville flood and was also diagnosed with MS the same year, took the tough news well. "God just has another path for me and I have to find that," she said.
Miami's Monique Abbadie – a child star who appeared on the Spanish-language variety show Sabado Gigante – sang Shakira's hit "Loca," winning praises from all of the judges, including Usher and Adam Levine.
"The rhythmic sensibility was so on the money," Levine said. "It was amazing." But Abbadie settled on her longtime idol Shakira, who praised her "aggressive" version of the song.
Introverted indie rocker Michelle Chamuel, the lead singer of the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based band Ella Riot, charmed with her nerd-punk version of Perry's hit "I Kissed A Girl." Wearing black glasses, sneakers and a blunt bob, the wiry alternative singer fascinated the judges with her unlikely appeal.
"You really shocked us. I feel like you are a great talent," said Usher, whom she later picked as her mentor.
Garret Gardner, who was turned away on the show last year at 16, put to work returning coach Shelton's constructive criticism and sang a growling cover of The White Stripes' 2003 hit "Seven Nation Army." He was snapped up by Shakira.
Shelton and Levine fought over country artists Holly Tucker, 19, of Waco, Texas (she picked Shelton), and handsome crooner Warren Stone of Hannah, S.C.
"I am so ignited by what you've just done," his new coach Levine said of Stone's cover of the Zac Brown Band's "Colder Weather." "The second you uttered a couple of notes, I knew."
He added of stealing Shelton's country thunder: "My dream has come true! I've finally done it."


text:
Next Episode of The Beverly Hillbillies is
not planed. TV Show was canceled.
An instant hit, the rural comedy was the ultimate fish-out-of-water story. The Clampett family strikes it rich in oil and move from their mountain cabin in the Ozark Mountains to the upscale neighborhood of Beverly Hills. Each hilarious episode revolves around the culture clash between the "uncivilized" Clampetts and the "civilized" culture of their elitist neighbors.
Buddy Ebsen(Jed Clampett)
Irene Ryan(Daisy May "Granny" Moses)
Donna Douglas(Elly May Clampett)
Max Baer, Jr.(Jethro Bodine)
Raymond Bailey(Milburn Drysdale)
Nancy Kulp(Jane Hathaway)
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subset: commoncrawl


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In a move the chairwoman of its local chapter, Elaine Jones, characterized as a "back room deal," Zachary Cohen has been replaced by Bill Wilkinson as the Independence Party candidate for East Hampton Town supervisor. "I am so upset," she said Monday. "I was lied to. We are checking in with the board of elections."
According to Ms. Jones, on Monday Mr. Wilkinson, as a result of papers filed with the Suffolk County Board of Elections, received a so-called Wilson-Pakula authorization from the party's leadership designating him as the Independence Party candidate for supervisor, despite the fact that the local Independence Party had named Mr. Cohen as its candidate of choice. Authorization is required because Mr. Wilkinson, a Republican, is not a party member. Mr. Cohen, who is running on the Democratic line, is also not a member of the party.
For non-party members to be eligible to run on a third party line, according to New York State Election laws, a candidate for town supervisor must receive signatures from 5 percent of the registered party members. In East Hampton, this means signatures of 47 of the 944 registered Independence Party members were needed.
"I had 80 signatures for Zach," said Ms. Jones. She submitted them to Frank MacKay, chairman of the Suffolk County, New York State, and National Independence Parties, on July 11, she said. "Theresa Quigley carried petitions for Bill [Wilkinson]. As a notary, she can," said Ms. Jones. According to Mr. Cohen, Wilkinson supporters "came in with a petition that had the required number of party member signatures" to file a "right to challenge," his nomination.
"What I don't understand," said Ms. Jones, is "if the Republicans wanted to take the line of the Independents, why haven't we been allowed to have a primary?" Had Independence Party leadership granted Wilson-Pakula authorization to both Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Cohen, a primary would have been held to determine which candidate would receive the party's endorsement. It is now too late to run a primary. "Our 944 [party members] should have been given the right to choose," Ms. Jones said.
In a May release endorsing Mr. Cohen, Ms. Jones wrote, "Although the decision was a difficult one, many of the Independence Party members felt that because Zach Cohen is neither a registered Republican or Democrat, he will be an independent thinker and represent all the people of East Hampton Town." In the previous, 2009, election, the party endorsed Mr. Wilkinson, a Republican who had also received Conservative Party backing.
Ms. Jones said that UpIsland party leadership chose not to endorse Mr. Wilkinson's Republican running mates, Steven Gaines and Richard Haeg, candidates for the town board and instead provided de facto support for the local designees, Bill Mott, an Independence Party member, and Marilyn Behan, a Democrat who received Wilson Pakula authorization from party leaders to run on the Independence Party line. "I have a good slate," said Ms. Jones, referring to Mr. Mott and Ms. Behan, "and I'm voting for Zach."
Assemblymen Fred W. Thiele Jr., an Independence Party member, said he, like Ms. Jones, was surprised that the party leadership chose not to hold a primary, assuming both Mr. Wilkinson's and Mr. Cohen's petitions were valid. "To my knowledge there weren't any previous disagreements between East Hampton and county party officials," he said.
Reached at his office Tuesday, Mr. Wilkinson said that he "hadn't received any word on my nomination, [by the Independence Party] but if what people are saying is true, I'm grateful to the 83 people who signed my petition and to Frank Mackay."
Ms. Jones has been unable to reach Mr. MacKay since the decision to endorse Mr. Wilkinson was made. "I'm not resigning. They [party leadership] will have to remove me. This is as dirty as it gets," she said.
Mr. MacKay did not respond to several requests for comment.


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NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government has authorized limited re-exports of foreign crude to Europe, for the first time in years, raising new questions about how companies are testing the limits of controversial, decades-old export constraints.
The Department of Commerce has granted two licenses to export crude to the UK since last year and another two to Italy, according to data Reuters obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
One application for German exports was filed in January and is awaiting a decision by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which is responsible for reviewing requests to export crude under a 1975 law that bans most shipments with a few exceptions, including sales to Canada and re-exports.
On Tuesday, after Reuters reported on the existence of the permits, a BIS official said they only covered re-export of foreign oil and not domestically produced crude oil. He did not say where the oil would come from.
The bureau earlier had not responded to repeated requests for comment on whether the licenses were for the re-export of foreign crude or swap deals for oil that had been produced in the United States; both provisions are allowed within current export regulations.
These are the first permits for shipments to the UK since at least 2000 and the first to any European country since 2008, according to data from the BIS. The bureau has approved 120 licenses since January 2013, nearly 90 percent of which were for sales to Canada, the data show.
While the permits do not show that U.S. producers are moving more of their oil overseas, the licenses could add to the growing debate in Washington on the benefits and pitfalls of lifting the ban, among the year's most urgent policy questions as the relentless rise in shale oil production threatens to saturate domestic refiners as soon as this year.
They may add to expectations that the Obama administration will allow companies to use provisions in the existing regulation to slowly increase exports, while stalling on a decision on whether to scrap the ban.
Canadian oil sands producers have begun exploring ways to increase exports of their deeply discounted crude, most of which is now bound for the United States. Such re-exports would be controversial among environmentalists who are seeking to stem the growth in energy-intensive oil sands output.
They could also fuel critics of Canada's oil patch and the Keystone XL pipeline, which some fear may allow for the United States to be a conduit for growing oil sands production. TransCanada has denied that its long-stalled pipeline would be used to export Canadian crude.
With U.S. oil production at a 25-year high, many oil producers are eyeing other markets and have called for an end to the ban on exports, which they consider a relic of the 1970s, when the Arab oil embargo led to steep prices at the pump.
Alaskan Republican Lisa Murkowski, the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee's top Republican, has backed that position.
On the other side, independent U.S. refiners, which stand to benefit from cheaper domestic crude, have argued against easing restrictions.
Senator Ron Wyden, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and a Democrat of Oregon, warned at a hearing last week that "a number of influential voices" that want to export oil could drown out the risks for the average consumer.
If more exports to Europe are allowed, refiners across the Atlantic may have cause to celebrate since access to cheap, high-quality U.S. shale oil would help revive their margins.
The BIS declined to comment on the identity of the exporting companies, citing exceptions in the Export Administration Act.
The bureau's data does not show which permits were used, and the Department of Energy's oil export data does not show any crude shipments to Europe through November 2013.
Exports of crude to Canada were initially approved by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, and have picked up rapidly in recent years. The United States sent about 200,000 barrels of oil a day to Canada in November, the highest volume since 1999, data from the Department of Energy shows.
A handful of licenses have also been regularly approved over the past decade for countries in central America or Asia, either for the export of heavy California crude or the re-export of foreign-origin oil, according to a BIS statement released last year.
But European countries have rarely appeared on the list. Two permit applications filed in 2011 for exports to Switzerland and one for exports to the Netherlands were not approved.
The two approved UK permits were for shipments with a total maximum value of $1.8 billion, while those to Italy were valued at $3.12 billion. The application for German exports was worth $2.6 billion, the data show.
The licenses for re-exports may add to pressure among North American producers to allow for oil volume swaps, by which companies can export in return for a higher quality or volume of crude or refined fuel.
"The implication is that we are not exchanging a higher value item for a lower value," said Ed Morse, global head of commodity research at Citi, while noting that re-exports of Canadian heavy oil from U.S. shores are on the rise.
Applicants for such licenses have to demonstrate that the trade is part of an overall transaction in the nation's interest and the oil cannot be sold for a reasonable price in the United States.
Sellers also have to prove that exports will be terminated if U.S. supplies are seriously threatened.
Theodore Kassinger, a partner with the law firm O'Melveny and Myers in Washington who previously served as the deputy secretary and general counsel of the Department of Commerce, said it is difficult for sellers to prove that they cannot sell the oil at a profit within the United States.
"But the time will not be very far when it will not be commercially viable to market the crude in the country," he said.
Without established trade routes or tanker rates, it is difficult to compare the economics of exporting Canadian heavy oil sands versus shipments of U.S. light-sweet oil to Europe. Few traders have examined the value of such unprecedented shipments.
While Canadian crude trades at deep discounts to the U.S. benchmark futures contract, most European refiners are not configured to process the heavy oil.
Ultra light, low-sulfur Bakken, on the other hand, would be welcome in Europe, but trades at relatively higher prices in the United States where local refiners are still eager to replace imported crude with the domestic grade.
Reporting by Selam Gebrekidan; Editing by Jonathan Leff and Leslie Adler


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Why Obama May Get Wish of Closing GTMO
The idea of shuttering Guantanamo Bay prison has consistently run into road blocks. Jerry Seib explains on the News Hub why administration officials think it's more likely they can succeed this time. Photo: Getty Images.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... the Obama administration once again making each line to close the Guantanamo Bay prison his will present at the site to his major counterterrorism speech yesterday ... most become a symbol around the world for America ... that Fox ... the rule of law ... there is no justification be on politics ... for Congress to prevent us ... from closing a facility ... the mission should of never know ... will have back and mall right here right now on the New Saab good afternoon and welcome I'm Simon Constable ... Wall Street Journal Washington Bureau Chief Jerry side has three reasons why ... the president's wish to close Gitmo may have a better chance of happening this time around an e joins us by RIAs thanks for being the caring ... the viewer to sign him ... so ... let's go through these reasons cuz ... he's wanted this for awhile ... right well look any Gary member for starters that can aid Obama into thousandeight city close Guantanamo Bay detention facility ... into thousandnine newly elected President Brock Obama said he would do it ... yesterday President Obama in his second term said on a close the detention center in Guantanamo Bay so the question becomes why should you think it's more likely to happen now often has an after foreigner half years ... and as you suggest I think they're so are three reasons why it may be more likely to happen now ... the first is that the big thing that needs to be unblocked ... it in Guantanamo Bay to move detainees out and to get to the place for you because it is a big bunch of Yemeni ... detainees detainees from the country of Yemen ... who spends bubble out there says two thousandnine because the of the US that Obama administration says he was afraid to send them back home ... Yemen was spinning out of control President ... Ollanta ... spreads in all it's all up I didn't seem to control the country's seem like a place for you let that get go back home ... they would be bad guys in a country that without rule where they can start to the bad things again well Yemen is under better played a better place now it's under better control to the new president ... it may be a place Israel was ready to work with us to take back ... prisoners and not let them run wild ... the second one is there's been a hunger strike underway in Guantanamo Bay hundred and two of the hundred and sixty or so detainees who are down their message Don't hunger strike ... that's got some attention and I think as ... underscored the futility of the situation these people find themselves in ... and the best on a sustainable situation I think the third thing is ... there more Republicans predicted the Senate who are now saying you know maybe this can go on forever John McCain in particular at a hearing this week an armed services Committee hearing ... was making the point that we really should find a way to close Guantanamo Bay ... it's essentially hurting the image ... on it and the ability of U S abroad ... I'd to to do some things with perfectly Islamic countries so I think those three things together make it more likely they may be a few weeks ago that is the might be or that might be with them to get this done that there might be away from the still somehow both commentary I know that that's so as a big issue not a lot of folks have about having ... aam some some of these detainees on US soil ... yell right there on their two big issues that actually right one is that mean so there's a certain number of these a large number of these detainees ... you can repatriate back to their home country maybe to third countries ... but some of them are going to be tried and convicted of crimes in what you do with them and they are not a lot of places in us that are ready to receive them ... but that might be unsolvable problem ... if Congress decides ... that along with the administration he wants to make that happen ... the second problem and its related to the first is ... there really still isn't the kind of unified an agreed upon legal system ... for processing the stop detainee's through on a judicial ... process the judicial half ... the reason the justice of sometime in the Arctic is one of the military commissions to the military commissions under what rules military commissions in Guantanamo Bay or someplace else here or ... should seventies cases actually be moved to civilian courts ... that question has to be resolved ... there been political roadblocks maybe now there's a greater political will to anchor to find the answers to those questions content will we shall say


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Postmortem: Thief: The Dark Project
July 9, 1999 Page 1 of 4
Editor's note: This Postmortem appears in the July issue of Game Developer magazine.
The Dark Project is one of those games that almost wasn't. During
the long struggle to store shelves, the project faced the threat of cancellation
twice. A fiscal crisis nearly closed the doors at Looking Glass. During
one seven-month span, the producer, project director, lead programmer,
lead artist, lead designer and the author of our renderer all left. Worse
still, we felt a nagging fear that we might make a game that simply was
not fun. But in the end, we shipped a relatively bug-free game that we
had fun making, we were proud of, and that we hoped others would enjoy.
The Concept
The Concept
The Thief team wanted to create a first-person game that provided a totally different gaming experience, yet appealed to the existing first-person action market. Thief was to present a lightly-scripted game world with levels of player interaction and improvisation exceeding our previous titles. The team hoped to entice the player into a deep engagement with the world by creating intelligible ways for the world to be impacted by the player.
The central game mechanic of Thief challenged the traditional form of the first-person 3D market. First-person shooters are fast-paced adrenaline rushes where the player possesses unusual speed and stamina, and an irresistible desire for conflict. The expert Thief player moves slowly, avoids conflict, is penalized for killing people, and is entirely mortal. It is a game style that many observers were concerned might not appeal to players, and even those intimately involved with the game had doubts at times.
The project began in the spring of 1996 as "Dark Camelot," a sword-combat action game with role-playing and adventure elements, based on an inversion of the Arthurian legend. Although development ostensibly had been in progress on paper for a year, Thief realistically began early in 1997 after the game was repositioned as an action/adventure game of thievery in a grim fantasy setting. Up to that point we had only a small portion of the art, design, and code that would ultimately make it into the shipping game. Full development began in May 1997 with a team comprised almost entirely of a different group of people from those who started the project. During the following year, the team created a tremendous amount of quality code, art, and design.
But by the beginning of summer in 1998, the game could not be called "fun," the team was exhausted, and the project was faced with an increasingly skeptical publisher. The Looking Glass game design philosophy includes a notion that immersive gameplay emerges from an object-rich world governed by high-quality, self-consistent simulation systems. Making a game at Looking Glass requires a lot of faith, as such systems take considerable time to develop, do not always arrive on time, and require substantial tuning once in place. For Thief, these systems didn't gel until mid-summer, fifteen months after the project began full development, and only three months before we were scheduled to ship.
When the game finally did come together, we began to sense that not only did the game not stink, it might actually be fun. The release of successful stealth-oriented titles (such as Metal Gear Solid and Commandos) and more content-rich first-person shooters (like Half-Life) eased the team's concerns about the market's willingness to accept experimental game styles. A new energy revitalized the team. Long hours driven by passion and measured confidence marked the closing months of the project. In the final weeks of the project the Eidos test and production staff joined us at the Looking Glass offices for the final push. The gold master was burned in the beginning of November, just in time for Christmas.
|Stealth is one of your best weapons in Thief. The game's designers made sure that expert players would have to make effective use of silent weapons such as the blackjack and the bow and arrow. zoom [left] [right]
In many ways, Thief was a typical project. It provided the joys of working on a large-scale game: challenging problems, a talented group of people, room for creative expression, and the occasional hilarious bug. It also had some of the usual problems: task underestimation, bouts of low morale, a stream of demos from hell, an unrealistic schedule derived from desire rather than reality, poor documentation, and an insufficient up-front specification.
However, Thief also differed from a number of projects in that it took risks on numerous fronts, risks that our team underappreciated. We wanted to push the envelope in almost every element of the code and design. The experimental nature of the game design, and the time it took us to fully understand the core nature of that design, placed special demands on the development process. The team was larger than any Looking Glass team up until then, and at times there seemed to be too many cooks in the kitchen. Reaching a point where everyone shared the same vision took longer than expected. A philosophy of creating good, reusable game engine components created unusual challenges that didn't always fit well with schedule and demo pressures. The many risks could have overwhelmed the project, if not for the dedication, creativity, and sacrifices of the team.
Throughout the life of the project, more than 50 people worked in one way or another on Thief — some as part of the "Camelot" project, others as part of the Looking Glass audio-visual and technology support staff, some as helpful hands from other Looking Glass projects. The core team consisted of a number of veterans of previous Looking Glass titles (Underworld I and II, System Shock, Flight Unlimited, Terra Nova, British Open Championship Golf, and the unpublished Star Trek: Voyager), as well as some new industry arrivals. The project had a number of very talented people and strong wills. Although it took some time for the team to unite as a tight-knit creative force, the final six months were incredibly productive, spirited, and punishingly fun.
Page 1 of 4


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CIBC Global Asset Management is proud that the Renaissance Canadian Small Cap Fund has been honoured with a FundGrade A rating by Fundata Canada. It is gratifying to be included in the elite group that represents the top 10% in the category, and to be recognized for the risk-return characteristics which are so important for investors and their advisors in their endeavors to build stable, growing portfolios.
How did we do it? It hasnt been easy over the past year. Sovereign debt issues in Europe, especially in Greece, political unrest in the Middle East and Africa, and the U.S. negotiations to raise its debt ceiling weighed on the sentiments of the small cap market.
Generally, investors look to small caps to add a little oomph to their portfolios, and looking at the last 40 years, Canadian small caps outperformed large caps by 55% on an absolute basis. At a time when you are not getting a lot of inflation-adjusted returns by investing in bonds, you are probably looking for some growth to boost your overall long-term returns. We recommend, depending on your risk tolerance, that you consider a proportion of the equity component of your portfolio to be in small cap stocks.
The way we manage the Renaissance Canadian Small Cap Fund is to structure the portfolio to participate when the small-cap equity market is strong, but still offer some downside protection if the market declines. We always have exposure to well-managed companies with strong balance sheets, predictable cash flow, and attractive dividend yields. We focus on companies that have the ability to develop their businesses and net asset values. The stability provided by these investments provides the portfolio with the fundamental ballast to take advantage of Canadian resource opportunities.
A glance at the largest holdings in the Fund should give you an idea of how we accomplish that.
Canadian Western Bank (TSX: CWB) is the largest western-based bank in Canada. It is focused on commercial lending and is increasing its leasing, trust, and direct insurance operations. It concentrates its business in western Canada, where it has a long history of above-average loan growth and earnings.
Glentel Inc. (TSX: GLN) is a telecommunications retailer operating under the Wireless Wave, T-Booth/La Cabine T, and Wireless Etc. brands, selling both Rogers and Bell wireless products. In an industry growing rapidly through the increased use of smart phones, Glentel is in an envious position. Its customers can comparison shop and theoretically get advice without bias. Glentels valuable coast-to-coast distribution network is becoming more strategic as more competitors enter the Canadian wireless telecommunication market. In August 2010, Glentel agreed to purchase Diamond Wireless, a 128 store Verizon Wireless retailer operating in the U.S. west and south-western states, giving it a valuable U. S. presence.
Canadian Energy Services & Technology Corp. (TSX: CEU) is one of the best-positioned drilling fluids companies to benefit from the increasing use of horizontal drilling in unconventional resource plays throughout North America. Its market share rose by more than 300%, to over 25% in Canada since 2006. And, through an acquisition, has captured 6% of the U.S. market share in less than 18 months. In addition, the company has recently moved into the production of drilling chemicals, which will provide another avenue for growth.
Cineplex Inc. (TSX: CGX) is the largest player in the Canadian cinema market, with a market share of 66%. The movie industry is economically resilient because it is an inexpensive form of entertainment with its success more dependent on the quality of movie releases than the economy. In recent years Cineplex has benefited from the trend to 3D movies, which command higher ticket prices. The successful SCENE loyalty program gives it a large membership base to build and maintain market share.
How does the future look for small caps and for the Renaissance Canadian Small Cap Fund?
CIBC Global Asset Management expects the economic recovery in the developed world to be sluggish and to lag developing countries. We think every investor should have some exposure to emerging markets. Canadian small caps are a good way to get that exposure within a regulatory and legal framework that Canadians are familiar and comfortable with.
The Canadian small cap market has over 50% of its holdings in energy and materials stocks. The Funds exposure to resources is focused on commodities essential to the industrialization of developing economies driven by the rise in urbanization and increasing wealth in China, India, and Brazil. This will continue to stimulate the demand for oil, copper, fertilizers, and iron ore.
We believe that current conditions also support the price of gold. The evolving European sovereign debt crisis, high U.S. government debt levels, growing Chinese demand and inflation in the developing world, all support the price of gold and its place as a store of value is increasing. The price of gold is ultimately a measure of investor sentiment. Although we expect to see a good measure of volatility, the current environment remains positive for gold.
Even when the economy looks shaky, over a longer period of time, investors would benefit from small cap exposure in their equity holdings. When the general economy does emerge out of a recession, small caps tend to outperform the overall market in a dramatic fashion.
At CIBC Global Asset Management, we have examined five recessions in Canada that took place between March 1970 and April 1992. The average outperformance for small caps over large caps for the 12-month period after a recession is 13.1%. Coming out of this latest recession, from 2008 to 2009, small caps outperformed by an astonishing 48%, a record performance.
On a portfolio basis, small cap exposure offers sector diversification to an equity portfolio. The small cap materials sector favours gold and copper. A 39% overweight of the materials sector in small caps counterbalances a 30% concentration of banks and financials among large caps. Even within the energy sector, there is a complementary relationship. The small cap energy sector has a higher concentration of service companies and firms focused on natural gas, as opposed to the large cap energy sector, which has a greater concentration of oil companies. Better diversification contributes to better equity returns.
While we are not expecting the small cap outperformance to continue in such dramatic fashion, history has shown that small caps positively contribute to long-term returns. We believe that consistent exposure to the Renaissance Canadian Small Cap Fund would benefit any long-term portfolio.
Jennifer Law, CFA, is vice president of Canadian equities at CIBC Global Asset Management and is the manager of the Fundata A-Grade award-winning Renaissance Canadian Small Cap Fund and the CIBC Canadian Small-Cap Fund.
Notes and Disclaimer
The views expressed in this article are the personal views of the author and should not be taken as the views of CIBC Global Asset Management Inc. or Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). This document is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice nor does it constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities referred to. Individual circumstances and current events are critical to sound investment planning; anyone wishing to act on this article should consult with his or her advisors. The information contained in this document has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable and is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing, but we do not represent that it is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. All opinions and estimates expressed in this document are as of the date of publication unless otherwise indicated, and are subject to change. © 2011 CIBC Global Asset Management Inc. operates under the brand name of CIBC Asset Management and is a member of the CIBC Group of Companies.


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I only use basic fonts or free fonts in my designs, so you can rest assured your design will look just like the template if you download the fonts in the instructions.
I recommend printing at home, it's fastest, cheapest, and most home printers have excellent quality.
Printing at a printshop or online is possible, but every printer will have different requirements. A best practice is to obtain a word template from your printer with the layout they require, and then to copy/paste from my template into theirs. Save the file as a PDF before sending it to your printer.
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i want to slide on both ice and snow, because like other slide maps it's very anoying that you stop / die if you touch the snow.
in other words i want to use death regions.
could you help me with the triggers tried several things but i'm not so familar with JASS .
thank you for your'e time !


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FAQ About Cosmetic Surgery
What is the difference between reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery?
The goal of reconstructive surgery is to correct defects (as in breast reconstruction after cancer surgery) and to restore form or function to a part of the face or body which is considered to be outside the range of normal. Cosmetic surgery procedures are designed to enhance a part of the face or body which is actually within the range of normal, but there is a personal desire to improve upon it in some way.
How safe is plastic surgery?
Although hundreds of thousands of people have plastic surgical procedures every year without complications, no surgical procedure is completely risk-free. There is always at least some risk associated with any surgical procedure. However, as a patient, you can play an important role in reducing that risk.
Begin by choosing an American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) board certified plastic surgeon. While credentials alone can't guarantee a successful outcome, it certainly starts things off on the right note. Inform your doctor of any medications you're taking and your full medical history, so that a proper evaluation of your medical condition can be done and proper steps taken to help to protect you against potential complications. Follow your doctor's before and after instructions to the best of your ability.
Have more questions? Get the answers here.


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A monument to all 20 Easton residents living in the Unionville section of town who served in World War I was rededicated on July 1 at its new location next to the Unionville playground on Washington Street.
It is the only neighborhood to erect a monument like it, according to Town Historian Ed Hands. The monument previously sat in front of what was once the Unionville Elementary School about a quarter of a mile up the road.
While the school is gone the building on the grounds now houses Smiles Dental Office, a business that Scot Kudcey, chairman of the monument project, said took good care of it.
Even with that care Kudcey said the location made the monument in danger of being damaged by a car or snowplow hitting it.
More importantly, many did not realize its location and others did not know what it was about.
"Although the dental office took really good care of it the monument didn't get the respect it deserved," Kudcey said. "Now it's at a good location. People will see it and appreciate it."
Sunday's ceremony included an Honor Guard from the VFW Post 2547 led by Commander Al Smart and included a three-shot rifle volley in honor of those who served.
One of the soldiers listed on the monument, Yeoman 2nd Class Chester Rice Smith, was the only one of the 20 residents who died.
Smith enlisted in the Navy at the Boston Naval Yard in 1918, a location history now records as the first vector of the Spanish Flu in the United States, according to Hands.
"He picked up the flu as a Navy Reserve guy," Hands said. "Instead of going out on a Navy vessel, heading overseas and risking getting sunk he came home from a hospital in Boston. Everybody made it out alive except Charles Rice Smith. He's buried across the street (at the Washington Street Cemetery)."
Kudcey, a member of the Easton Lions, said the entire club supported the project along with the VFW.
He said Lori Maver of Maver Memorials, Mike Vareika of Vareika Construction and Doug Springhetti of Springhetti Masonry volunteered their services and equipment to make the move possible.
Tina Souza, a Lions member whose father was a veteran, turned out with the two dozen other people who came to pay their respects at the dedication.
"It means something to me," Souza said. "I think it's a huge cause (veterans' causes) that unfortunately is not seen as much."
World War I officially ended 100 years ago on Nov. 11, 1918 when Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies in France.
Death tolls were staggering with nine million soldiers dead and 21 million wounded. Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, France and Great Britain each lost nearly a million or more lives, according to the History Channel's website.
It said at least five million civilians also died from disease, starvation or exposure causing World War I to become known as "the war to end all wars" due to the high casualty counts.
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I often used to find the odd good bargain in charity shops, but they are more keenly priced these days and the margins are generally too tight now. If I ever saw something seriously under priced, I like to think I would point this out to them though. ThanksBarnaby
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Kesan Responds To E6 & WSHH Comments! "Let It Go Dog. I Don't Want No Problems. Say Something Positive. You Just Mad Cause You Got Punched On TV"
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A coalition of Texas border officials released a report Thursday that claims security blunders and the lack of a cohesive strategy to combat smuggling has empowered Mexican drug cartels.
But despite the need for $6 billion to upgrade border crossings and hire 6,000 additional officers, Texas lawmakers say federal fiscal woes and a presidential election make it unlikely that funding will come this year.
The report by the Texas Border Coalition says that $90 billion has been spent by the United States over the past decade to secure the Southwest border.
Apprehensions are down in rural areas because of a buildup of Border Patrol and technology.
But the report cited a Justice Department drug threat assessment that 90 percent of drugs smuggled by the Mexican cartels are coming through the 52 border crossings in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.
McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez said Texas border communities don't expect Congress and the Obama administration to "wave a fiscal wand and achieve full funding levels overnight."
"But if there are additional resources to be allocated this year, they should go to the legal border crossings as a first priority," Cortez said on a conference call with reporters.
Lawmakers are eyeing across-the-board budget cuts to help trim a growing federal deficit.
Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, who is seeking more federal funds for border security measures, said the presidential election and budget pressures would make it difficult to obtain new funding this year.
Cuellar, in an earlier interview, said getting new Customs officers on the border will not be easy.
"The question is going to be: 'Do we have the will or the money to put them down there?' " Cuellar said. "I think the budget is going to loom over what we do with border security."
Companion bills were filed last year by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, to hire 5,000 new inspectors, 1,350 additional staff and authorize the U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioner to construct and upgrade needed facilities and border crossings.
Senate and House committees overseeing DHS have yet to act on the legislation.
Rep. Francisco Canseco, R-San Antonio, said properly staffed land ports in Texas were important to international trade on which the Texas and U.S. economies rely upon.
Reyes, a co-sponsor of the Reyes bill, said he expects something could be worked out on a bipartisan basis.
"I think that despite all the rhetoric going back and forth in Washington, this is something that affects us all and affects us on our border," Canseco said.
Bill Brooks, a CBP spokesman in Texas, said that while he appreciates the concerns of the Texas Border Coalition, "we cannot agree with the assumption being made that CBP is without strategy on the border."
"We at CBP have made significant contributions to increasing our effectiveness to discover, degrade and neutralize the efforts of the transnational criminal organizations," Brooks said.
The Obama administration announced last month that it would draw down from 1,200 to 300 the number of National Guard deployed along the 2,000-mile Southwest border and use aircraft, drones and helicopters to provide heightened security.
The Defense Department will operate surveillance aircraft to support Border Patrol agents on the ground. The Pentagon and DHS said using aerial assets would reduce the $10 million a month price tag for Guardsmen on the border.
The report by the Texas Border Coalition cited as wasteful spending other projects, which occurred under the Bush administration, including the 670 miles of border fence that cost taxpayers $2.4 billion, and cancellation of the "virtual fence" in Arizona that cost $1 billion.


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Quote from: Chateau d If on March 09, 2013, 12:12:48 AMSo Jessica was stuck in Rakaia Gorge. Explain please Not sure what this means.
So Jessica was stuck in Rakaia Gorge.
Just for clarification, Pura Desa Puseh Temple is the one Chateau found. Wikimapia labels it as "Pura Kayangan Puseh - Desa Pekraman Singakerta". "Pura" = "temple", "kayangan" = "heaven", "desa" = "village".So now that the temple's been accounted for, no need for a U-Turn!RiverJessica/John, Mona/BethTempleChuck/Wynona, Joey/Meghan, David/Connor, Pamela/Winnie, Caroline/Jennifer, Bates/Anthony, Max/Katie
2:45 PMJessica & John stuck at the fruit detour
Quote2:45 PMJessica & John stuck at the fruit detourIs this in ZouLy's report?
Where is the link to this Declive? It is not the same as Zouly's report.Is this something you are summarizing from all the info??
INFO ABOUT CHRISTCHURCH LEG : Pam and Winnie - 2nd
there's the third team (which I really shocked how on earth they catch up the flight ) was the M/F team (not-sure speculated florida team by Kandace (male green shoes)
11:00 AMJoey and Meghan on their way to Ubudin about 15 minutes time, Joey and Meghan done their task("Approx. 10 minutes later, they continue their journey to the Monkey Forest and Sanctuary for the Detour")
Are our dancers just for show or do we think there is a get a clue there?No sign of a FF yet....
Here's a new clip in Meghan's Ep 3 recap, it starts at 14.45. The monkeys get the detour clue for them from inside the coconut Detour is called Sandy Bottom or Fruity Top, maybe someone might be able to grab what the entire detour clue says?
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text: I realize that this is slightly off-topic but since we all deal with hardware quite a little bit I thought I'd ask you for recommendations where to buy scientific workstations. The specs for what I am looking for are very similar to my current cluster nodes namely - Dual Opteron 248 - 252 - 4Gig Memory - Gig-E but since these are supposed to be desktops where people do pre- and post-processing and visualization I'd like to add: - 250-300 Gig disk (SATA or SATAII) - NVidia 6600 or comparable (Quadro 540 maybe) - DVD writer - Quiet fans - SuSE-10 preinstalled - 24/7/365 next day on site support I have checked IBM and SUN which are "waaaayyy to expensive" and I am leaning towards HP's xw9300 which seems nice but the sales people at HP are the most unhelpful bunch I've ever dealt with. So obviously I have my doubts about the whole HP-Linux experience. Also, I like the OS preinstalled, patched, the BIOS fully upgraded to the latest and the graphics drivers installed and everything ready to go so that all I have to do is to plug the cables in. Down the road I'd like to see next-day on-site support. Where do you guys go for this stuff? I am looking to buy 10 workstations to start with and then many more down the road. Am I dreaming? Roland


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The stock-standard announcement (I hope to start blogging a bit more soonish):
imminent rebellion #9 is fresh off the printer! (In fact we're still high off the ink) Weighing in at a staggering 108 pages, imminent rebellion is making a come back after 3 years of hibernation as an irregular anarchist journal from deep in the South Pacific.
Included in this issue are personal commentaries from some of those arrested as part of the October 15 'terrorist' raids, an overview of the police's Operation 8, a consideration of police treatment of activists over the last few years, critiques of NGOism, activism and identity politics, and more.
Read online or buy direct from our website: http://www.rebelpress.org.nz
Rebel Press
PO Box 9263, Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand


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Yuntai Garden lies at the foot of Baiyun Mountain, with a total area of 120,000 sq. meters. Being the largest garden of its kind in China. The structure and layout of the garden is unique and special, with the Colorful River, the Roman Column, and the Earth Stone Carving, as well as over 200 kinds of rare Chinese and foreign flowers there. Yuntai Garden is indeed a modern place of interest with beautiful scenery.
Guangdong Province, referred to as "Yue ", the provincial capital Guangzhou, the jurisdiction of cities in 21 provinces, including two deputy provincial cities (Guangzhou, Shenzhen), prefecture-level cities 19. Formerly Kwangtung, Canton, is Pinyin GuǎngDōng. Guangdong is the southern coast of mainland China, a province located south of Nanling, the South China Sea, Hong Kong and Macao, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi and Fujian border, and Hainan across the sea. It is a Han Chinese as the main provinces, the country's 56 ethnic groups are distributed in the province. Guangdong customs and in language, history and culture, have a unique aspect, the internal department has three people, and northern China are very different. Guangdong GDP value has surpassed Taiwan as China's most economically developed provinces in the most open culture.


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June 4, 2012
"Zimbabwe is one of the key countries to watch in the drive to eliminate pediatric AIDS in Africa," Chip Lyons, president and CEO of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, writes in this post in the Huffington Post's "Global Motherhood" blog, adding, "Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and its international partners -- including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.K. Department for International Development (DfID), and most recently the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) -- have helped turn the tide of the pandemic in children." He writes, "In June 2011 at the United Nations, a Global Plan was introduced to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015," and notes, "Zimbabwe was among the first of many countries to answer the call."
Lyons highlights efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) in Zimbabwe, writing, "PMTCT has become a true HIV prevention success story in the country, averting thousands of new infections in children and helping identify those in need of urgent HIV treatment. From those three original sites, there are now 1,560 sites in Zimbabwe where pregnant women can go to protect their own health and their babies from HIV." He continues, "Many in the global community thought that large-scale HIV prevention and treatment programs couldn't be successfully implemented in the region," concluding, "Through this kind of political and financial commitment, Zimbabwe has become a model for the other 21 high-prevalence countries that are partners in the Global Plan to end pediatric AIDS. ... By committing to the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Zimbabwe has ensured that its children will not only survive, but have the opportunity to thrive" (6/1).
Back to other news for June 2012
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ons is a valid word in this word list. For a definition, see the external dictionary links below.
The word "ons" uses 3 letters: N O S.
Direct anagrams of ons:
nos son
Words formed by adding one letter before or after ons (in bold), or to nos in any order:
a - naos b - nobs snob c - cons d - dons nods e - eons noes nose ones sone f - fons g - nogs snog song h - hons nosh i - ions m - mons noms o - soon p - pons r - sorn s - sons t - snot tons u - nous onus w - nows owns snow sown wons y - nosy
Shorter words found within ons:
no on os so
Words formed from any letters in ons, plus an optional blank or existing letter
Try a search for ons in these online resources (some words may not be found):
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Other words with the same letter pairs: on ns
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- DISC Closed! [1%] by carl, 2018-02-28 03:18
- DISC is closed from the 13th of March until the 7th of May. During this time there will be no aboc Sprint on Sundays or Track Torque on Fridays. Spin will ...


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New York, June 17, 2010 – The winners of the inaugural Cooney Center Prizes for Innovation in Children's Learning, an educational media innovation competition launched by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, were announced yesterday by Aneesh Chopra, White House Chief Technology Officer and Gary E. Knell, President and CEO, Sesame Workshop, at the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Games and Learning Summit held at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles. Project NOAH (Networked Organisms and Habitats) was selected as the winner in the Breakthroughs in Mobile Learning In the Breakthroughs in Literacy Learning: Innovate with The Electric Company category, Jay Schiffman was named the winner for his entry The Electric Company Heroes.
Project NOAH (Networked Organisms and Habitats) is a mobile application which teaches children and youth to understand and appreciate nature and serves as a common technology platform for research groups to harness the power of citizen scientists around the globe. The project has a community hub on their website where users can view submissions, explore the species database and discuss findings. NOAH helps children master vital science and technology skills as they learn about local wildlife and contribute to a network of organizations that are working to catalog and preserve our planet's biodiversity, including the Museum of Natural History and National Geographic Society. Project NOAH was created by Yasser Ansari, Martin Ceperley, Bruno Kruse and Peter Horvath of Networked Organisms, LLC. The team recently graduated from the New York University Interactive Telecommunications Program.
The mobile application was also the inspiration for CrisisCommons' Oil Reporter an open data initiative, launched in May, which is collecting and sharing information on local instances of distressed wildlife due to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The literacy learning prize was awarded to the most innovative idea for a digital media experience that promotes literacy skills using Sesame Workshop's revival of the iconic show The Electric Company. The winning concept, The Electric Company Heroes, is an online game promoting literacy skills through role-play activities. Players create their own avatar heroes that can interact with members of The Electric Company and play games testing their literacy skills in such areas as vocabulary, decoding and reading comprehension. The point's players earn for mastering literacy skills can then be traded for new superpowers for their avatar. Schiffman is the founder of Thinkativity, an award-winning maker of electronic learning toys.
The Project NOAH team received $50,000 towards prototype development and Schiffman received a $10,000 prize and will have the opportunity to collaborate with Sesame Workshop to produce his winning idea. They were selected by a distinguished jury that included Warren Buckleitner, Editor, Children's Technology Review; Alan Gershenfeld, President and CEO, E-Line Ventures; Gary E. Knell, President and CEO, Sesame Workshop; Laird Malamed, Senior Vice President, Activision Blizzard; and Liz Perle, Editor-in-Chief, Common Sense Media.
"Technology pioneers have proven that breakthrough ideas can change the world forever. The prizes competition encourages young entrepreneurs to think big and to develop bold digital prototypes that may influence the future of learning. We are delighted that the inaugural winners and finalists produced innovations with real potential to make a positive difference in millions of children's lives," said Dr. Michael H. Levine, Executive Director of The Cooney Center.
Other entries selected as finalists that participated in a pitch competition before the judges were:
· Motion Math: Mobile, Embodied Learning – a math skills game utilizing a mobile device's tilt function, where players aim a bouncing ball containing a fraction to its correct position on a number line. Created by Gabriel Adauto, Jacob Klein and Amrita Thakur, graduate students of the Learning, Design, and Technology program at Stanford University's School of Education.
· Mobile Technology as a Sustainable Literacy Education Option for the Underserved – a global network that uses mobile devices to provide literacy exposure to children in developing countries by encouraging story sharing. Created by Dr. Paul Kim, Neha Taleja, Melanee Grondah and Vallabhi Parikh of Seeds of Empowerment, the non-profit arm of XRI, a spin-off of the Stanford University School of Education.
· Toontastic: A Global Storytelling Network for Kids, by Kids – a platform that enables children to learn about the world around them through the eyes of their peers through storytelling. Created by Andy Russell, Thushan Amarasiriwardena and Alex Fajkowski of Launchpad Toys.
The Cooney Center Prizes was powered by Idea Crossing's Skild competition platform.
The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop is an independent, non-profit research center that is fostering innovation in children's learning through digital media. The Cooney Center conducts and supports research, creates educational models and interactive media properties and builds cross-sector partnerships. The Cooney Center is named for Sesame Workshop's founder, who revolutionized television with the creation of Sesame Street. Core funding is provided by the generous support of Peter G. Peterson, Genius Products, Mattel, Inc., and Sesame Workshop.


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Over the past two weeks, senior Federal Reserve officials on the lecture circuit have dismissed concerns that the economy appears to be losing momentum as weather-related and signaled they intend to continue to steadily pull back on the pace of their stimulus program.
But this could be a big blunder, said Steven Ricchiuto, chief economist at Mizuho Securities.
The slowdown in the economy is not due to the weather, but to the central bank's tapering, Ricchiuto said in an email to clients after the latest of a string of poor economic releases, a reading of manufacturing sentiment in the Philadelphia region in February.
"This morning's data continues to suggest that the growth bulls have been overstating the ability of the economy to grow," Ricchiuto wrote. Weather is just "a convenient excuse."
The real problem is that "the quicker the Fed moves away from accommodation, the slower the economy becomes," he added.
The Fed has cut back its asset purchases by $10 billion at each of its last two policy meetings. They are widely expected to do so again at their meeting next month.
In a telephone conversation, Ricchiuto said it is "the wrong thing for the Fed to be pulling back."
Deflation remains the biggest risk to the economy, but Fed officials appear "hung up on asset inflation," he said.
The current slowdown echoes the sluggish economic conditions that surrounded the end of the first round of asset purchases in March 2010 and second round of the Fed's asset purchase in June 2011, he said.
In those two cases, the Fed was forced to eventually restart asset purchases.
"There are so many hawks on the Fed, it is inevitable they will end QE3, the question is what comes after," he said.
— Greg Robb
More must reads on MarketWatch
Fed minutes reveal fraction debate on policy
Rate pledge on table: taper is not: Fed officials


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The number of distressed homes sold in Burbank last month dropped by almost 40% compared to a year ago, according to the latest real estate figures, which kept the city in line with nationwide trends.
The number of distressed home sales declined from 31 in November 2011 to 19 last month. The homes were either owned by banks or short sales, where a lender lets a homeowner sell their home for less than what is owed on the mortgage.
The number of short sales decreased to 14 last month and there were only five bank-owned homes sold, according to statistics compiled by Realtor Eric Benz with Dilbeck Realtors in Burbank.
Christopher Rizzotti, broker and co-owner of Rizzotti Real Estate in Burbank, said banks are now more willing to approve loan modifications, which is leading to a reduction in foreclosures.
"The banks have stepped up and concentrated on keeping people in their homes if at all possible," he said.
Also, average home prices have climbed to a level where homeowners who are at risk of losing their homes can sell and escape foreclosure by working with lenders.
Rizzotti added that, overall, the employment picture has improved so more homeowners can stay current on their mortgages.
Single-family home sales picked up a bit last month with 41 homes sold — a 10% increase from 37 in November 2011.
The average price of a home also rose from $489,625 in November 2011 to $589,709 last month.
Low inventory and increasing demand continue to push up home prices, said Rizzotti, president of the Burbank Assn. of Realtors.
He also continues to see several all-cash transactions each month with no appraisals needed, which is attractive to sellers because they can close in about 15 days.
Rizzotti expects the current market trends — diminished inventory, low interest rates and slowly increasing prices — to continue through 2013.
In 2014, many homeowners who have stayed on the sidelines because they are under water on their homes will enter the market because prices will have risen to a point where it makes sense for them to sell, Rizzotti said.
"I think it's going to take time for prices to continue to edge up," he said.
The news wasn't so good for condominiums. Only four condos sold last month, down from seven during the same period last year.
Likewise, the average price of a condo slipped from $391,200 to $356,188.
The number of homes and condos for sale didn't plunge as deeply in Burbank as they have in the past several months.
There were 55 homes on the market last month, down from 63 in November 2011, while 15 condos were for sale last month compared to 22 last year.
-- Mark Kellam, Times Community News
Follow Mark Kellam on Twitter: @LAMarkKellam


text:
- Breakthrough in twist drill technology ? the revolutionary Viper Bit.
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Free nursery education 'to be made more flexible'
BBC |May 30, 2012
Rules governing the way free nursery school education in England is delivered are to be changed, making it easier for parents to take up places.
Under plans announced by the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, parents will be able to spread their free nursery place over two days rather than three.
Mr Clegg will also announce 10 pilot areas where disadvantaged two-year-olds will get a free place from September.
Councils and nurseries say the plans require proper funding.
Currently, about 800,000 three- and four-year-olds in England take up 15 hours of free education a week.
Mr Clegg says that from September, the hours during which parents can drop their children with early years education providers for their free place will be extended by two hours.
At present, parents are restricted by having to drop their children off no earlier than 0800 and picking them up no later than 1800 – these hours will be extended to 0700-1900.
Under the current rules, the free 15-hour nursery entitlement can only be used over a minimum of three days, meaning parents can only leave their children for five hours a day.
Mr Clegg says this is not flexible enough for parents who work part time, and that parents will be able to use the 15 hours over two days.
There will also be revised statutory guidance making it clear that parents do not have to pay to use their child's free early years place, following concerns that some free places were being made conditional on parents being able to make additional payments.
Plans to give 15 hours of free pre-school education a week to some 260,000 two-year-olds from poorer homes, first announced under Labour, will be extended nationwide from September 2013.
But Mr Clegg is announcing 10 pilot areas for this scheme from September 2012, benefiting 1,000 children in 10 neighbourhoods.
Under the scheme, the 20% most deprived children in those areas will be eligible.
The trial neighbourhoods are in Blackpool, Cornwall, Greenwich, Kent (Ashford), Lancashire (Preston), Lambeth, Newcastle, Northamptonshire (Wellingborough), Peterborough and Rotherham.
Mr Clegg said: "We're revolutionising the early start our children get in life – there will be more free childcare, it will be higher quality, and it will be more flexible for parents.
"By getting things right from the off, we're making sure our youngsters are ready to learn when they start school so that they get the most out of their education."
The Local Government Association (LGA) welcomed the announcement, but said the expansion of early years education must be met with proper capital funding.
David Simmonds, chairman of LGA's children and young people board, said: " It's achievable as it currently stands.
"But as it expands to all parents, there will be a need for building additional capacity."
The chief executive National Day Nurseries Association, Purnima Tanuku, said: "The funding allocated to early years provision must cover costs, otherwise it is not sustainable for many nurseries to participate in the free entitlement, without pushing up the price of paid-for care for other parents.
"It is vital that nursery costs are covered to ensure there are the 260,000 additional places for two-year-olds, which are needed by September 2014, can be created."
The shadow minister for children and families, Sharon Hodgson, said the government should develop a comprehensive plan for childcare.
"While children's centres are closing or having their budgets squeezed, ministers must be clear about how they are going to ensure that there are enough well-qualified staff and accommodation in order to provide good quality care for an extra 260,000 children.
"There are real concerns for families, as nurseries begin charging top-up fees, children's centres funding is slashed, and family tax credits are being cut."
The Daycare Trust welcomed the changes, saying increased flexibility over the number of days and hours benefited the whole family.
Chief executive Anand Shukla said: "Parents, particularly those working in part-time roles, will be able to use their hours at the time that works best for them."
Filed under: Education News, In Case You Missed It - 2nd June 2012, Other News | Tagged: Free Nursery Places, LGA, Local Government Association, National Day Nurseries Education, Nick Clegg, Nursery Places, The Daycare Trust |


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Oct. 17, 2006
BOSTON, Mass. - MIT is one of four area colleges honoring women's rowing pioneer Ernestine Bayer with the dedication of four racing shells in her name this weekend.
The Women's Rowing Teams of Boston University, MIT, Northeastern and Radcliffe have collaborated to dedicate four new racing shells all to be named after Ernestine Bayer, considered "The Mother of Women's Rowing". Bayer died at the age of 97 on September 10, 2006.
The Boat Dedication will take place on Saturday October 21 at 5:00pm at the Boston University De Wolfe Boathouse, 617 Memorial Drive, Cambridge.
A true legend in the sport of rowing, Bayer was a world leader in introducing women to the sport of rowing. Her name is recognizable around the world for her achievement and advancement of women's competitive rowing. Her pioneering efforts made it possible for women to row at the club, college and international level. She was instrumental in women's rowing events being added to the Olympic Games in 1976.
Bayer received every award given by the National Rowing Association, including the first United States Gold rowing medal and Coach of the Year. She was a member of the first Women's Rowing Olympic Committee, was the first women inducted into the Rowing Hall of Fame and one of rowing's "10 Most Influential People of the Century."
The Women's Rowing Teams of Boston University, MIT, Northeastern and Radcliffe are pleased to honor Ernestine Bayer by dedicating four boats simultaneously in her name. American rowing would not be where it is today, with countless opportunities and resources available for women of all ages and abilities, if it were not for all the hard won victories Bayer spearheaded.


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Jeremy Berlin
2018 Educational Foundation Scholarship
Melissa Risso, MA
2018 Clinton E. Phillips Scholarship recipient
(Generously underwritten by Simple Practice)
Robert Dreyfous
2018 Ronald D. Lunceford Scholarship
recipient. (Generously underwritten by
CPH & Associates)
Photo (left to right):
2018 Educational Foundation Grant recipient
Dr. Matthew Mock, LMFT and CAMFT
Past President Dr. Bob Casanova, LMFT
Photo (right to left):
Bob Casanova, Psyd, MFT, CAMFT Past
President and Darlene Davis, MA, LMFT
2018 Mary Riemersma Distinguished
Clinical Member recipient
Photo (right to left):
Bob Casanova, Psyd, MFT, CAMFT Past
President and the Pacifica Graduate
Institute 2018 Outstanding School or Agency
One of the hallmarks of a life well lived is giving back to make it better than
you found it. With generosity, a plot of land becomes a community garden; a dilapidated
building becomes a food bank; and a mental health profession becomes more robust
and diverse.
Since 1977, the CAMFT Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3)
organization, has awarded nearly $150,000 in scholarships and grants. Today,
the need to create a more diverse mental health workforce has never been greater,
and scholarships and grants help make the dream of licensure as a marriage
and family therapist a reality for many.
Please consider making contribution to allow the Educational Foundation to continue its legacy of awarding scholarships and grants to the next generation of marriage and family therapists! All contributions are 100% tax deductible.
Monetary gift: whether
check or credit card are critically important to the CAMFT Educational Foundation,
because it can immediately fund scholarships and grants.
AmazonSmile.com will
donate a portion of your eligible purchase to the Foundation. Enjoy the same
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Bequests to
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Your gift to the CAMFT Educational Foundation will allow your
generosity to leave the MFT profession better than you found it!
The CAMFT Educational Foundation was formed to support and
enhance the profession of marriage and family therapy. The Educational Foundation
fulfills this mission by providing scholarships, grants, and other assistance
to persons pursuing the profession or conducting research relevant to the practice
of marriage and family therapists, and also by engaging in other programs to
enhance and expand awareness of the profession.


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I was the auction winner of Myiesha Simmons' Speed Trac X radar unit and I couldn't wait to see what kind of speed I was serving at. Boy, was I surprised....
I figured my flat serve was about 100. Not even close!.....88 mph. Slice into the deuce court: 76 mph. And lastly, the 'kick' serve I've been trying to learn: 48-56 mph.
Brings a whole new level of appreciation to the pros that are serving at 130 on a regular basis.
Views: 145
Replies to This Discussion
you should appreciate your speeds. you are not a professional. i have some pretty good serves. but i have been beaten by people who can just barely get it over the net too, so i became a good returner, something i have to work at that will back up the serve and be there when the serve is not, besides putting a big servers serve back across the net. breaks him down a few button holes since the ego is part of the trust in the big serve.
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Hope women's tennis coach Adam Ford has been recognized by the Racquet Sports Industry magazine as a 30-under-30 rising star in the industry.
Ford has been the head tennis pro at DeWitt Center Center since 2010. He holds the highest rankings in the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) and the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA).
Ford has developed seven highly ranked juniors in the United States Tennis Association's Midwest Section. He was named PTR Michigan Pro of the Year in 2011.
Ford was one of the youngest coaches to pass the USA High Performance Certification Program. He is the founder and owner of Baseline Video LLC that makes tennis-related videos for the industry.
Ford guided the Flying Dutch to a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) women's tennis championship and NCAA Division III Tournament appearance last spring.
"Adam is an incredible success in the tennis industry, and a rising star who will make a lasting impact in this business," said Jorge Capestany, DeWitt Tennis Center manager.
Click here for a link to the Racquet Sports Industry article.


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'Survivor' Recap: The Best Tribal Council Ever
How many times have we had some stupid reality show tell us it's the most "shocking," "amazing," or "dramatic" episode ever, and how many times have we watched it only to be horribly disappointed? Just about every time (except when it was Joe Millionaire). When CBS started touting that last night's tribal council was the best of the 404 tribals that had been on the show, I was incredibly skeptical, but, man — did they deliver. They really F-ing delivered. Wow, this is why we all still watch Survivor even after 13 years, and why we slog through horrible seasons just so you can get to that one true nugget of gold. And at the end, Secret Agent Phillip Shepherd, one of the most exasperatingly annoying people to ever play the game, was finally ejected. Thank god! The angles all played their horns last night.
However, I am going to say — and this may be controversial — that Malcolm did it all wrong.
We'll get to that in a minute, but first we have to address Dawn. At the end of last week's episode, the "Next week on (dramatic pause) Survivor" was all about Dawn's breakdown. Why not start touting the amazing tribal council then? Instead, we all tuned in thinking that Dawn was going totally crazy pants and was going to quit, and it turns out she just lost her retainer and had a bad day, like she was a 14-year-old whose mom wouldn't let her to go a Justin Bieber concert. That's it. That's what all the blubbering was about. A bad day and her missing flipper, like she's on Honey Boo Boo. I feel bad for Dawn, but that wasn't really what I wanted to watch, especially when they made it look like she was going to have some dramatic crack-up about the morals of the game or something. It turns out she was just hungry and tired which, of course. We all get completely bonkers when we're that crazy and tired.
There was a reward challenge where two groups had to dig up bags of balls (I swear all of these challenges are rigged so that Jeff Probst has to say things like "bag of balls" over and over again until you are sure that he means something totally nasty), and then shoot (groan) the balls (hehe, again) into a big pole (this is getting ridiculous). I only bring this up because there were two teams and on one team Malcolm went first and dug up all the bags for his team. On the other team Eric went through, got one bag, and then Reynold came through and dug up the remaining four in less time than it took Malcolm to get all five. Jeff didn't say a thing about how much more slowly Malcolm did it, costing his team. Instead, when Shari didn't do well on the balance beam, he railed against her the whole time she was running the challenge.
This is really starting to annoy me. Probst did it all last season with the "Abi is sitting out another challenge" bit. He always picks on the weak and the women, and never says anything about the strong men, even when they mess up. When Eddie botched the immunity challenge by not getting his ring on the post, he didn't drone on and on about what an "enormous, game-changing blunder" it was like he would have if it was a girl or Cochran. I know Jeff really likes the strong guys, but he might want to try to dish out his scorn equally.
Now, speaking of strong guys, I can't help but wonder how they all stayed in the game. Malcolm, Reynold (who does not rap), and Eddie have a tight alliance, and there were four people and three zombies (Eric, Shari, and Brenda, who don't say a word but shuffle around limply from week to week) up against them. First Reynold won immunity while Phillip sat out. Then Malcolm went and found a hidden immunity idol that was put back in the game after he used it at the last tribal council. Now, this is what I call into question. I don't really know because the idols are usually held until much later in the game, but if one idol is used after the merge and there is still one in the game, is that first one usually replaced? I can easily see the producers putting it out there, knowing that Malcolm and the Three Amigos would find it. (PS — Between the Three Amigos and Stealth R Us, every alliance has a name. Is this Big Brother all of a sudden?) Speaking of Big Brother, was this Jeff Probst bending the rules to keep the strong men in the game and make for a more interesting show just like BB always does? It seems beneath Survivor, but I don't know.
So, Reynold won immunity, and Malcolm found an idol in front of Andrea and Dawn so everyone knew he had an idol. It looked for sure like Eddie was going home. Still, the four people and three zombies of Stealth R Us decided to split their vote with four people voting Eddie, and the three zombies voting Malcolm so that if they decided to switch idols around, one of them was still going home. But all did not go according to plan.
Tribal council started off all nice and normal, with everyone talking about how one of the Three Amigos was getting shipped to the jury. Malcolm responded to this by putting on his hidden immunity idol. Jeff asked about how Eddie was doomed. But then, as soon as Jeff asked about how the three of them were ostracized at camp, Malcolm piped up and said, "Yeah, it sucks and it's going to continue to suck for them because I have another idol and here you go Eddie, we're all safe."
The faces on everyone else. Andrea's face should be a GIF that never stops playing in my mind. This was absolutely amazing television. Usually tribal is the most boring part of the show. Nothing that is said there ever changes the course of the game. Ever. The show is edited so that on any given week we have to wonder which of two people is going home, but it's almost always a certainty. The voting is as perfunctory as the voting at the Electoral College. But now, suddenly, everything that was said mattered. People started whispering and throwing around names. The dissembling was happening before our very eyes. Even Jeff didn't know what to do. He wanted to ask Malcolm questions, but he also wanted to get all the members of Stealth R Us talking about who they thought should go home. If I was Malcolm I would have said, "Jeff, we'll talk in a bit, ask them who they are voting for!" He needs all the fractures in the alliance exposed if this is going to work long term.
Now, this was amazing television, but it was horrible game play. The problem here is that Malcolm, Eddie, and Reynold are still on the flip side of the numbers. Next week they're not going to have the numbers or any immunity idols. What Malcolm should have done was get two or three members of Stealth R Us and say, "We have three immunity idols. We're safe. You can band with us and decide who we're sending home along with us, or you can take your chances at tribal and let everyone else decide who is going home, and it might be you." That way he expands his base and totally crumbles the alliance. He would have gotten rid of one of their members, none of them would be able to trust each other, several people would have flipped, and he could have turned the game around. If they got a solid six, they wouldn't have had to use one or both of their idols.
Instead, he blew it. Yes, the theatrics were great to watch, but not good to win. Malcolm said, "We're voting for Phillip. He's the fun sponge. He takes all the fun out of this game and I don't want to play like that anymore." I get it, I really do. He's horrible and awful and treats everyone like babies and pretends like he's running the game when really Dawn and Andrea seem to be calling all the shots. Philip said, "Say you're voting for me for strategic reasons, don't malign my character." And he's right. Saying, "We don't like Phillip and we want him gone," is not good game play. Either say, "He sat out of the challenge voluntarily for no good reason. That is an insult to all of us because he is not really playing, let's send him home." Or say, "Phillip is in charge of Stealth R Us, so he has to go." You have to give people and excuse to vote for him other than "he's annoying." It also screws Malcolm and co when he's a jury member if they make it to the end, because he will not vote for them out of spite.
The thing with Phillip is he wanted them to say that he was in charge, and that's why he was going home. I think he would like being kicked out for being a threat. Instead, he was kicked out for being annoying. And while we're talking about Phillip, I think it's the same sort of ego that made him sit out the challenge. Sure he had some BS about being trapped under a dock, but that didn't effect him last week when the challenge was, oh, I don't know, being trapped under a surface as the water tried to drown you? No mention of it then. I think that he knew he would lose so he would rather say, "Oh, I only didn't win because I didn't participate" rather than flat out lose.
So, Phillip said, "Let's vote how we're going to vote anyway, see what they do, and if I go home, so be it." And they did! I don't know if it was the confusion of the situation or if they were so tight no one wanted to seem like they were jumping ship, but they all voted the same way except for Zombie Eric who shuffled up there and hadn't eaten enough brains to know that Phillip is not spelled "Full Up." Maybe it's because Eric hated him and was filled up with annoyance when he jumped in the pool all dirty at the reward challenge.
Phillip went home and finally we can all enjoy the show without his saggy briefs and scene-stealing nonsense. But what is Malcolm left with. There was no flipping in the alliance. Only Eric turned, which still doesn't give him enough numbers, and no one in Stealth R Us talked shit about each other, so he doesn't even know who he can try to draw out next week. And he played all the idols. Yes, that was one of the most amazing episodes of all time (second only to when Parvati played two immunity idols and turned around the original Fans Vs. Favorites) but in the long run, it was a big mistake.
Follow Brian Moylan on Twitter @BrianJMoylan
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"You're not too old for those?" she asked. The question came from a date who arched her head and squinted at an assortment of Batman-branded pillowcases in my bedroom.
Those six words hovered on the forefront of my mind, forcing me to suddenly call into question every aspect of my life and how it reflected my level of maturity (or immaturity).
Adulthood, and how it weighs on us, has been an obsession of late. It's at the core of Spry Fox's "Road Not Taken," a vexing puzzle game with magical overtones released this month for home computers and the PlayStation 4.The questions it raises linger long after a play session.
The game has a message: You're not getting any younger. Or maybe it's saying you're running out of time.
This is the emotional head space occupied by "Road Not Taken," a game where life is rough and the kittens are adorable. And thank heavens for the cats, furry little creatures that, in the words of "Road Not Taken," are "an adorable balm for this mortal coil."
The story is simple and Grimm — play as a ranger who must rescue children trapped in a fantastical forest filled with dire wolves and tasty swine. But how it handles themes of aging is cause for reflection, as its characters are more meddlesome than deadly.
They pester the adventurer with the sort of nagging comments that can slowly wreak havoc with one's confidence. Are you married? Do you have enough money? Why don't you have kids? Have you finished your work today? Couldn't you have done your job better, and faster?
Right from the start it's clear that "Road Not Taken" is not a hero's journey. Our ranger, whose gender isn't revealed until late in the game, arrives in town on a boat. There's an important job to do because harsh winters mean children have a penchant for getting lost in snowstorms. It's also difficult: One wrong move can doom a puzzle, all of which are solved by some variation of throwing or combining items.
Moves take energy, and our ranger gets tired. The forest is laid out like mini-game boards, and bringing children to safety is often a refreshingly difficult head-scratcher. I, for instance, have made it only a little more than a quarter of the way through the game before my ranger tires and succumbs to the stresses of life.
It should be noted that this isn't necessarily sad. "Road Not Taken" players immediately connect with the ranger, wanting dutifully to improve the protagonist's life and ensure that he or she (the gender is also randomly generated) is not returning to an empty, lonely house each night.
The player roots for this adventurer because the character is greeted with skepticism. "Everyone still talks about our best ranger," one of the townsfolk says longingly. Instead of putting the player in the role of a "chosen one," "Road Not Taken" manages to capture the sensation of the daily grind, in which rescuers have come before and will likely come long after the main character perishes.
And the main character does indeed perish. This is known going in, as "Road Not Taken" spans 15 years in the ranger's life. As it progresses it becomes less about solving puzzles and more about bettering the quality of life for the player's cloaked avatar (think a more adorable version of the Jawas seen in "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope").
One goal, for instance, is to get married. But don't go looking for bliss.
"Almost any game you can think of where you get married, that's it, you get married. Happily ever after," says David Edery, co-founder of Spry Fox. "'Road Not Taken' is real life. There's a really good chance that something is going to go bad. When you fall in love with someone, they may end up getting jealous of a relationship you have with someone else and breaking up with you. They can have their own relationship with someone else and break up with you. They can get sick. They can die."
The game was born out of very real-life difficulties. Designer Daniel Cook wrote late last year that the game was inspired by his inability to have children and the realization that he will never have a "very traditional Norman Rockwell-style life."
And thus, "Road Not Taken" patiently becomes something rather grand, a quest to simply fill our lives with meaning. This is a game about growing pains — the choices we have to live with and the judgment we must endure.
One key tenant of "Road Not Taken" is that to be successful in the game one may have to be a poor ranger. Our ranger gets paid and praised for saving only half the children as everyone in the game's town becomes resigned to living a satisfactory life and completing an imperfect job. Doing the minimum at your job may lower your personal stress, but you'll also have to live with children freezing to death.
And then there are the signs that pop up throughout the game. At first they're helpful. Then they become, well, like your parents, reminding you that you're no young buck and suggesting that perhaps the reason you're single is because you haven't outgrown Batman bedsheets.
So they don't get that personal, but "Road Not Taken" gets close.
"The signs," says Edery, "will say things like, 'Have a wife yet? Have kids? No? What's wrong with you?' They're more cleverly worded, but they're constantly needling you. You have a career, so where's your family?
"I'm really glad we went that dark. If you want to have an experience that forces you to reflect on the more troubling aspects of life, there aren't a whole lot of options in games."
— Todd Martens | @Toddmartens | @LATherocomplex
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'Ori and the Blind Forest' finds a challenge in sadness
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Steve Millen is crazy and, in case you didn't already know that, here's more proof. It's Millen and his Stillen R35 GT-R racing acrobatic chopper pilot Leigh Hopper's Eurocopter "Squirrel" at the Targa New Zealand. Who will win? More importantly, has Top Gear already taken all the really good car stunts?
It was the second day of the Targa New Zealand race and the competitors were at a scheduled pit stop at the Sunny Hills Airport in Wakworth. In typical Millen fashion, he managed to get "talked into" a drag race with chopper ace Hopper.
Thankfully, Jalopnik pal Tom Reynolds was around to capture the in-car video of the race. In addition to the video above you can see his hybrid racing view here.
Millen and Hopper raced twice, with the GT-R besting the chopper in the first round but the Squirrel ultimately using its speed to outpace Godzilla, which has been ECU-limited to a top speed of 124 mph because of racing regulations.
How about a rematch with the governors off, fellas?
(Hat tip to Stillen and Thomas Reynolds!)