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Nationwide delivery in just 1-3 days.
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Product Guarantee
We promise to deliver high-quality products, in good condition, to your door. If, for any reason, your purchase is not satisfactory, we will gladly replace it or refund your money (excluding delivery charges).
Simply return your merchandise with the original paperwork and packaging within 30 days of receiving your order. We promise to process your request in a timely manner. For detailed information on the return policy (including the mailing address), please see the invoice included in your shipment or call Customer Service toll free at 877-387-4564 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
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A mortgage is generally the largest debt most homeowners have to manage. It's a good idea to give your personal real estate finance portfolio a check-up at least once a year.
Since there are many reasons a homeowner may choose to refinance, we'll take a look at the four most common.
Mortgage Rates Drop
Typically, the most common reason that homeowners refinance their mortgage is to secure a lower interest rate. Interest rate and loan amount determines the total cost that a borrower will pay. The lower the interest rate, the less the overall cost will be. Interest is calculated on a daily basis and usually paid back to the lender on a monthly basis.
Lower Payments
Lowering a mortgage payment can be achieved by lowering the mortgage rate, lengthening the loan term, combining two or more loans or removing mortgage insurance.
New Mortgage Program
Refinancing an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) to a new Fixed Rate Mortgage (FRM), combining a first and second mortgage or paying off a balloon loan are three possible reasons to explore a refinance.
Debt Consolidation
If there is sufficient equity, sometimes paying off consumer debt by combining all debts into one lower monthly mortgage payment can significantly reduce the short-term deficits in a budget. However, it's important to keep in mind the total cost of that debt by adding it into a 30 year mortgage payment.
Q: Do I have to refinance with my current mortgage company?
No, you may choose any company to refinance your mortgage since the new loan will replace the existing mortgage.
Q: Is it easier to refinance with my current mortgage company?
It is possible your current mortgage company may require less documentation, but this could add additional cost or a higher interest rate. Do your homework and shop around to make sure you're getting the best deal.
Q: Will I automatically qualify if I've never made any late payments?
No, you will have to qualify for your new refinance. However, certain programs will allow for reduced documentation like a FHA to FHA Streamline Refinance.
Be notified about the latest news, information, and events. Go on... you'll love it!
Our clients love us. Read from our many positive, unsolicited reviews and discover why so many people choose AZ Lending Experts!
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subset: commoncrawl


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Gold Jumbo Pearl Belides • Endless Hoop Charm Earring
Our 18k Gold Jumbo Pearl Belides Earring was inspired by an ancient Roman tale of chastity and transformation. Vertumnus, the god of trees and the seasons, desired a beautiful nymph named Belides. Ruthlessly pursued her and to escape, Belides turned herself into a beautiful bellis flower. The Latin name bellus means "beautiful".
18k Gold Charm with single White Japanese Saltwater Akoya Pearl + 14k Gold Endless Hoop
Earring is approximately 1 3/32" in length (including hoop)
Hand-crafted in Los Angeles, California
For additional stone options, please contact the studio
Designed to mix or match. How will you wear yours?
Always remember to put your jewelry on last when getting dressed. AFTER cosmetics, perfume, hairspray, lotions, or other chemical substances that could be corrosive to the metal or stones. Gently wipe your jewelry with a soft cotton cloth before storage.
For sterling silver or 18k gold, a few drops of a mild PH neutral soap with water and a soft cotton cloth. Dry thoroughly before storing. A light sweep with a polishing cloth on the high surfaces while allowing the dark to remain in the crevices will highlight the design's details. Avoid using abrasive cleaning materials as they can damage the metal, finish, and stones.
Let your antiqued or oxidized silver weather naturally. Do not clean or polish.
Bead pieces should always be dried flat, never hung.
For deep cleaning or restorations, we recommend sending your pieces to the studio as many of our finishing techniques are proprietary. Each request is handled individually, please contact the studio to discuss.
We do not use cadmium or zinc in our any of our gold, sterling, or solder. All of our earring designs incorporate a 14k gold hoop or post back with butterfly clutch. And our 18k white gold is nickel free. This should cover most common metal allergies, if something different is needed, please contact the studio we are happy to discuss recommendations.
Free complementary shipping for domestic orders over $250.
DOMESTIC SHIPPING: We offer 2 flat rate options of $10 standard ground or $30 express delivery. For insurance reason, all packages over $250 require a signature upon delivery.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING: Currently, we offer shipping to Canada with USPS and UPS based o order value and destination. Add items to your cart to view your rates & shipping options.
For other countries, each international order is handled individually to ensure the best rate and shipping option based on your order value and destination. For all other countries, please contact the studio for assistance.
Learn more on our Shipping Policy page.
EXCHANGES + RETURNS: We understand the challenges of ordering jewelry online and know how personal the decision is. Each item we offer is hand crafted and it is absolutely important to us that you are completely delighted with your purchase. If for any reason, you wish to exchange an item, notify us within 7 business days from the date your package was received. Visit our Exchange + Returns Policy Page to learn more.


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Epic Art 'Dog Rock' by Dariusz Klimczak, Acrylic Glass Wall Art
Epic Art 'Dog Rock' by Dariusz Klimczak, Acrylic Glass Wall Art
Regular price
Regular price
Sale price
Unit price
"Dog Rock" by Dariusz Klimczak printed on crystal clear acrylic glass.
Polish photographer, Darius Klimczak, has done photography for over 30 years. With use of symbols and archetypes, Dariusz creates surreal (often black and white) photomontages in square forms. Dariusz aims to provoke the viewer to think or smile. Thus far, he has done over 20 solo exhibitions.
Acrylic wall art looks amazing in your home or business. Printed on the back of the acrylic giving it depth and easy maintenance. The super durable and hard-to-damage qualities make it the ideal wall art for hotels, rental properties, and restaurants. Now Epic Art brings it to you at unbelievably low prices making it very affordable for your home as well. From small sizes to extra large sizes, it is easy to hang, won't shatter like glass if it ever falls down, and is easy to maintain. Simply dust it off or use a damp soft cloth for cleaning.
For small sizes, mounting brackets and padded bumpers will be attached for simple hanging. For the larger sizes, pre-drilled holes and fitted metal standoffs are included for easy wall installation.
- High gloss wall art printed on high quality clear acrylic glass
- This modern art with vibrant colors and extraordinary depth comes ready to hang with already mounted hanging plate or metal standouts depending on size
- Officially Licensed Digital Print, Artist: Dariusz Klimczak
- Printed on the back of the acrylic giving it depth and easy maintenance
- Made in USA


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Maturity: Beta
- The LOINC Groups project is a work in progress. The contents of this file may change from release to release as we receive feedback from users and refine our processes.
- The contents of the file and the groupings MUST be validated by the user prior to implementation in any aspect of clinical care. We have created Groups that may be useful in specific contexts, but these Groups have not been vetted for use in either patient care or research and should be used with caution.
- More information on LOINC Groups is available on our website.
Basic Attributes
- Version First Released
- Pending promotion to Production status (Beta)
- Parent Group
- LG74-7 Urine<SAME:Comp|Prop|Sys><ROLLUP:Tm|Meth>
- Group Category
- Flowsheet - laboratory
- Molecular Weight of Analyte
- 165.19
LOINC Terminology Service (API) using HL7® FHIR® Get Info
Requests to this service require a free LOINC username and password. Below is a sample of the possible capabilities. See the LOINC Terminology Service documentation for more information.
- ValueSet definition
- https:
//fhir.loinc.org/ValueSet/?url=http: //loinc.org/vs/LG35472-6 - ValueSet expansion
- https:
//fhir.loinc.org/ValueSet/$expand?url=http: //loinc.org/vs/LG35472-6
LOINC terms in Group
LOINC | Long Common Name |
25969-7 | Phenylalanine [Moles/volume] in 24 hour Urine |
26967-0 | Phenylalanine [Moles/volume] in Urine |
LOINC Copyright
Copyright © 2024 Regenstrief Institute, Inc. All Rights Reserved. To the extent included herein, the LOINC table and LOINC codes are copyright


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Symphony No. 2 in B flat Op. 21
Chadwick, George Whitefield
44,00 €
Chadwick, George Whitefield
Symphony No. 2 in B flat Op. 21
The score is introduced with a scholarly preface (English and German) and the preface is available online for inspection. All this is made possible by a worldwide network of musicians, musicologists and music-loving amateurs who contribute to the series in many different ways.
At the end of the preface you find a reference to the music publisher providing performance materials. In case we provide the performance materials you find a note under the additional information tab.
Read preface / Vorwort > HERE
Score Data
Edition | Repertoire Explorer |
Genre | Orchester |
Seiten | 224 |
Format | 210 x 297 mm |
Druck | Reprint |


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Baby Birth Announcement - Customised (S509-74)
Baby Birth Announcement - Customised (S509-74)
Baby Birth Announcement - Customised (S509-74)
This is a customised baby birth announcement embroidery design. It is personalised with the baby's information that you supply to me.
At checkout please provide in the 'note section' or email me the following information.
1. Baby's full name
2. Date and time of birth (please include am or pm or if you prefer - 24 hour clock)
3. Length
4. Weight
5. Machine format/s required (eg: pes, vp3, exp etc.)
As this is a customised, personalized design it is NOT AN INSTANT DOWNLOAD – please allow 24 hours for me digitize your design and email it to you (usually sooner).
If you would prefer to add your own fonts and baby details the blank templates without baby's info are available in Birth Announcements-Templates - Please click on the link.
This design is a digital file and you will require an embroidery sewing machine to stitch it out. It is not a patch or anything iron on. Please email me if you have any questions.
It will be supplied to you in 3 sizes - Stitch count varies depending on the baby's information supplied.
3.9"x3.9" (98mmx98mm) 4"x4" hoop" - approx 11000 stitches
4.9"x4.9" (124mmx124mm) 5"x7" hoop - approx 13800 stitches
5.9"x5.9" (150mmx150mm) 6"x10" hoop - approx 17200 stitches
If you need a different size please email me.
Birth announcements make wonderful gifts and keepsakes for the new parents and look great on all sorts of items such as baby blankets, towels, tote bags, sheets, pillows – even baby clothing.
Back to all custom baby announcements


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Help create a national walking network
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Marathon Happening Today in Ludhiana
Get the Latest Marathon happening today Sports Events Details Happening in ludhiana
Are you searching online for your favorite sporting event details? If so, you have come to the right place. To all the sports enthusiasts, now you have a chance to be a part of the Marathon happening today tournament and have a guaranteed splendid time. Whether you would like to buy tickets for tournaments, matches, or Marathon happening today sports events happening today in your city, we have all the inside details that you want to know. We provide you with the best seats and offers. Not just this, we also have a list of upcoming events. We make it easier for the sports enthusiasts among you to find all the particulars about your favorite live sport, register, and book tickets online for the same with just a few clicks. No matter what type of matches you would like to be a part of, we bet you we can help you find the details and tickets right here. Just search for Marathon happening today matches happening in ludhiana, click on it, and buy the tickets. That's about it, and we will send a booking confirmation email to your registered email ID.
Marathon happening today Tournament Happening Today
Want to save time? We recommend using our filters to look for tickets for different Marathon happening today sport events in ludhiana. Filters make your search for your much-awaited events easy. You will get to know everything about the event, along with the number of tickets that we are left with. No matter what type of sport matches you would like to be a part of, we will keep you thoroughly informed about the same. Be it e-sports, football, boxing, baseball, or more; you will get easy access to all these sport tournaments and many more.
Exciting List of Matches You Shouldn't Miss!
Book Marathon happening today tickets in-advance or book on the same day with us. We allow you to book tickets for live Marathon happening today sports with just a few clicks. Trust us because we share all the relevant information you need about various upcoming events. These details are hard to come by, especially all in one place. With our help, you will be able to book tickets for the upcoming matches smoothly and without any hassle. As tickets for upcoming Marathon happening today matches in ludhiana are subject to availability, we can let you know how many tickets are available.
Top Upcoming Marathon happening today Tournaments Details
If you aren't sure about the venue that best suits you or the venue closest to you, go through our extensive list to find the top venues. You can then check if these venues fit your schedule and select the best one. Once you find the details for the upcoming events of your choice, we suggest booking the upcoming Marathon happening today sport tickets right away. Go through the graphical representation of the seating arrangement, and book your tickets so that you can enjoy your time in ludhiana.Online sports events are always enjoyed to the fullest in the company of your favorite friends, so do call them over for a game night.
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Are you interested in booking tickets online for the live Marathon happening today sports event in ludhiana? Hurry up and get going with online booking in-advance until tickets are available online. BookMyShow spoils you with fantastic event ticket offers, gift cards, BookMyShow exclusive offers, rewards, superstar offers, corporate vouchers, and coupons so that you get to save money and enjoy your beloved sport to the fullest. Choose the best offer, enjoy cashback and reward points on some of the cards, and enjoy a safe ticket booking experience.,
Get ready and cheer for your favorite team with the sports star and book tickets online for the much-awaited Marathon happening today sports event in ludhiana right here!
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Got a show, event, activity or a great experience? Partner with us & get listed on BookMyShow
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Sports Events in Ludhiana
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The content and images used on this site are copyright protected and copyrights vests with the respective owners. The usage of the content and images on this website is intended to promote the works and no endorsement of the artist shall be implied. Unauthorized use is prohibited and punishable by law.
The content and images used on this site are copyright protected and copyrights vests with the respective owners. The usage of the content and images on this website is intended to promote the works and no endorsement of the artist shall be implied. Unauthorized use is prohibited and punishable by law.


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Looking for Cash for Vans in Richmond? Call Us on 0401 322 141 today!
Are you in the Richmond area and have a broken, old or unused van lying around? Or maybe you have one in working order, but you don't use it anymore? Are you feeling the struggle and finding it difficult or expensive to get your van removed? If you can't get rid of your van, then contact All Cars For Cash today, and we'll give you cash for vans and come and remove your vehicle for free.
Cash For Vans In Richmond
Commonly, vehicles such as vans, camper vans and commercially used vans will wear out with frequent use over time. When it arrises that your van's worn out and in poor condition, you'll discover it's challenging to sell it for cash. This often means they remain lying around unused and become dusty, cobwebbed and rusted which can often cause damages to the property it's sitting on.
It's more beneficial to get rid of your van sooner rather than later and often as quickly as possible before any disasters occur. If you're having trouble selling your van, then the best solution to your problem is selling your van to us because we pay cash for vans and remove it for you for free to save you the hassle.
At All Cars For Cash, our team has been removing vans around the Richmond area for years, meaning we have experience in van removal and valuing. So we know to pay you the most reasonable and accurate price for your van whatever its condition.
Regardless of your van's condition, we believe there's always value in some part of it, which is why we give cash for vans and take them off your hands for salvage purposes. If your van was in an accident, if it's run-down, deteriorated, broken or just not used anymore, we still pay cash for vans. Because we know there's always some part of a vehicle which is worth something to someone.
Our team have experience in valuing vans, and we commit ourselves to offer you the fairest and most competitive price for your van.
If you need your van removed and you're in the Richmond area, then give us a call today. And we'll give you a quote of what your van is worth.
Van Wreckers In Richmond
If you're like most people, then you know how challenging it is to remove a scrapped, broken down, old or damaged van. Which is why our team come to your property in Richmond and remove it for you without any hassle. Why do we do this? Because we've got experience in the field of van wrecking and no matter the condition of your van we'll salvage some part of it.
When you're ready to dispose of your van, you should contact a wrecker who's knowledgable about them because they're more substantial, more cumbersome and usually weigh twice as much as most cars. So you want van wreckers who are knowledgable about the worth of these specialised vehicles, which means you'll get a reasonable and honest payment and someone who knows how to remove them properly.
What Are Van Wreckers?
We're a business who carefully strips and rescues wrecked, broken and deteriorating vans. We search for and identify any part of vans which are still usable so we can sell them onto other people who are searching for these particular parts. Sometimes a van may get ridden off or deemed unfixable or undrivable, but this doesn't mean there aren't other parts which are in perfect working order. Rescuing these other functioning parts is where van wreckers come in.
Furthermore, if there are parts which are too damaged and can't get repaired, they're sold onto metal companies. These companies recycle the components in an environmentally and appropriate way. To properly dispose of van parts is a complicated process due to factors such as chemicals, fluids and other materials which can't get re-sold or recycled in standard facilities. Which is why we send these parts off to professional disposal companies who take care of the recycling process the right way.
If you're ready to remove your van in the Richmond area which is sitting around, decreasing in value and giving you headaches, then contact us today. Our process is straightforward and utterly stress-free because we'll come and collect your van for free, offer reasonable cash for vans and take it away for salvage.


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Website Accessibility
We are committed to making our website accessible to all of our visitors.
We are currently working to ensure our site follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Level A and AA Success Criteria.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the accessibility of our site, please reach out to us through email at email@example.com so that we can help accommodate any accessibility issues you may be experiencing.


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Voice of America
New Coating for HIV Drug Holds Promise for Patients
Want to stay abreast of changes in prevention, care, treatment or research or other public health arenas that affect our collective response to the HIV epidemic? Or are you new to this field?
HIV.gov curates learning opportunities for you, and the people you serve and collaborate with.
Stay up to date with the webinars, Twitter chats, conferences and more in this section.


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The Biweekly Mortgage - Who Needs It?
Have you received an advertisement offering to save you thousands of dollars on your thirty-year mortgage and cut years off your payments? With email spam becoming more pervasive as everyone tries to get rich quick on the Internet, these ads are popping up with troublesome regularity.
The ads promote a Biweekly Mortgage and for the most part, do not come from a mortgage lender. Exclamation points punctuate practically every claim:
- No closing costs!
- No refinancing!
- No points!
- No credit check!
- No appraisal!
- Save thousands!
- Cut years off your mortgage!
To achieve these wonderful savings all you have to do is allow half of your mortgage payment to be deducted from your checking account every two weeks. It's easy. Of course, there is a small set-up fee and usually a transaction fee with every automatic deduction.
Essentially, the ads are truthful in almost every respect.
They just want to charge you money for something you can do on your own for free.
The Basics:
Normally, you make twelve mortgage payments a year. Since there are fifty-two weeks in a year, a biweekly mortgage equals 26 half-payments a year. The equivalent would be making thirteen mortgage payments a year instead of twelve. By applying that extra payment directly to the loan balance as a principal reduction, your loan amortizes more quickly, requiring fewer payments.
You save money. The ads are true.
How it Actually Works:
You cannot simply mail in half a payment every two weeks to your mortgage lender. Since they do not accept partial payments for legal and accounting reasons, the mortgage company would just mail your half-payment back to you.
Instead, the biweekly mortgage company is an intermediary between you and your mortgage lender. They automatically debit your checking account every two weeks for half of your mortgage payment then place your funds into a trust account. Basically, this is just a holding account for your money. In another two weeks, there is another automatic deduction from your checking account, and so on. When your mortgage payment is due, your funds are withdrawn from the trust account and forwarded to your mortgage lender.
Since you are placing funds into the trust account faster than your mortgage payments are due, you eventually accumulate enough money to make an extra payment. The way the cycle works, this occurs once a year. he extra payment is applied directly to your principal balance, which causes your loan to amortize faster, pay off more quickly and save you thousands of dollars.
Potential Problems with the Trust Account
Because your funds are held in the trust account until your mortgage payment is due, there are potential dangers. Not only are your funds held in this account, but so are the funds of everyone else enrolled in the biweekly program. That is a lot of money.
Most likely, there will be no problems.
However, if there are accounting errors, mismanagement, or even fraud, your mortgage payment might not get made. The first hint of a problem will probably be a phone call or letter from your mortgage lender, but not until after your payment is already late. Since responsibility for making the payment rests with you and not the biweekly payment company, you may find yourself digging into your personal savings to make the payment directly -- even though the biweekly payment company has already collected your funds.
Later you can work out the trust account problem with your biweekly payment company.
The Cost of the Biweekly Mortgage
There is usually a set-up fee that runs between $195 and $350, depending on how much sales commission is paid to the individual or company setting up the account for you. You also pay a transaction fee each time there is an automatic deduction from your checking account and sometimes also when the payment is made to your mortgage lender. There may also be a periodic maintenance fee.
Meanwhile, whoever controls the trust account is earning interest on your money.
Savings of the Biweekly Mortgage
By making principal reductions using the biweekly mortgage program, your mortgage will amortize more quickly, saving you money. How quickly your loan pays off depends on your interest rate and when you begin making the biweekly payments.
On a $100,000 loan at an interest rate of eight percent, your first principal reduction would probably be a year from now. Assuming the principal reduction is equal to one monthly payment ($733.76), you would save $43,852 over the life of the loan and pay it off almost seven years early.
However, you have to deduct from those savings any amounts you paid in set-up, transaction, and maintenance fees.
No-Cost Alternatives to the Biweekly Mortgage
Instead of hiring a company to manage your biweekly payment, you could accomplish essentially the same thing on your own for free. Just take your monthly payment, divide it by twelve, and add that amount to your monthly mortgage payment. Be sure to earmark it as a principal reduction.
The first way you save is that you do not have to pay any fees to anyone. It's free.
In addition to not paying fees -- using the same example as above -- your total savings on the mortgage would be $45,904. Plus the loan would be paid off three months quicker than with the biweekly mortgage. The reason you save more is because you are making a principal reduction each month, instead of waiting for funds to accumulate so that you can make one principal reduction a year.
The biweekly mortgage companies claim that homeowners are not disciplined enough to follow through with principal reduction plans on their own. They suggest the reason for setting up the biweekly mortgage enforces discipline upon you, and by doing so, they save you money.
However, in this technologically advanced age, banking online and automatic deductions are readily available. You can set up your own automatic deductions including the additional principal reduction and have it go directly to your mortgage lender. Since the deduction occurs automatically, just like with the biweekly mortgages, self-discipline is not a problem. Once again, you don't have to pay anyone to do it for you and you save even more money.
The biweekly mortgage plans do not really do anything except move your money around and charge you for it. Plus, even though the danger is negligible, you must trust someone else to hold your money for you. If you can do the very same thing for free, plus save yourself even more money by doing it on your own, why pay someone else?
The biweekly mortgage plan - who needs it?
If your goal is principal reduction and saving money, then it is a good plan. If you do it on your own instead of paying someone else to do it for you, then it is a great plan.


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Scentre Group Ltd (ASX:SCG)
+0.010 0.303%Data Powered by EOD Historical Data ("EODHD"). All CFDs (stocks, indices, mutual funds, ETFs), and Forex are not provided by exchanges but rather by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual market price, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. EODHD is not using exchanges data feeds for the pricing data, EODHD is using OTC, peer to peertrades and trading platforms over 100+ sources, EODHD is aggregating its data feeds via VWAP method. Therefore, EOD Historical Data doesn't bear any responsibility for any trading losses you might incur as a result of using this data. EOD Historical Data or anyone involved with EOD Historical Data will not accept any liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information including data, quotes, charts and buy/sell signals contained within this website. Please be fully informed regarding the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, it is one of the riskiest investment forms possible. EOD Historical Data does not give any warranties (including, without limitation, as to merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use).


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Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The Senator from Arizona is recognized.
Mr. McCAIN. I thank the Chair.
Mr. President, in a few minutes my colleague from Maryland, Senator Cardin, will be introducing a bill which I am a cosponsor of, along with a large bipartisan group of our colleagues. I wish to emphasize at the outset that some may characterize this legislation as anti-Russian. In fact, I believe it is pro-Russian. It is pro the people of Russia. It is pro the people who stand up for human rights and democracy in that country which, unfortunately, seems to be sadly deprived of.
This legislation, as my colleague and friend Senator Cardin will describe, requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, to publish a list of each person whom our government has reason to believe was responsible for the detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky ; participated in efforts to conceal the legal liability for these crimes; committed those acts of fraud that Magnitsky uncovered; is responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of human rights committed against individuals seeking to expose illegal activities in Russia or exercise other universally recognized human rights.
Second, the individuals on that list would become the target of an array of penalties, among them, ineligibility to receive a visa to travel. They would have their current visas revoked, their assets would be frozen that are under U.S. jurisdiction, and U.S. financial institutions would be required to audit themselves to ensure that none of these individuals are able to bank excess funds and move money in the U.S. financial system.
I guess the first question many people will be asking is who was Sergei Magnitsky ? Who was this individual who has aroused such outrage and anger throughout the world? He was a tax attorney. He was a tax attorney working for an international company called Hermitage Capital that had invested in Russia. He didn't spend his life as a human rights activist or an outspoken critic of the Russian Government. He was an ordinary man. But he became an extraordinary champion of justice, fairness, and the rule of law in Russia where those principles, frankly, have lost meaning.
What Sergei Magnitsky did was he uncovered a collection of Russian Government officials and criminals who were associated with the Russian Government officials who colluded to defraud the Russian state of $230 million. The Russian Government in turn blamed the crime on Heritage Capital and threw Magnitsky in prison in 2008.
Magnitsky was detained for 11 months without trial. Russian officials, especially from the Interior Ministry, pressured Magnitsky to deny what he had uncovered–to lie and to recant. He refused. He was sickened by what his government had done and he refused to surrender principle to brute power.
As a result, he was transferred to increasingly more severe and more horrific prison conditions. He was forced to eat unclean food and water. He was denied basic medical care as his health worsened. In fact, he was placed in even worse conditions until, on November 16, 2009, having served 358 days in prison, Sergei Magnitsky died. He was 37 years old.
Sergei Magnitsky's torture and murder–let's call it what it really was–is an extreme example of a problem that is unfortunately all too common and widespread in Russia today: the flagrant violations of the rule of law and basic human rights committed by the Russian Government itself, along with its allies.
I note the presence of my colleague and lead sponsor of this important legislation. I hope in his remarks perhaps my friend from Maryland would mention the latest in the last few days which was the affirmation of the incredible sentence on Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his associate which is, in many ways, tantamount to a death sentence; again, one of these blatant abuses of justice and an example of the corruption that exists at the highest level of government.
I wish to say again I appreciate the advocacy of my colleague from Maryland and his steadfast efforts on behalf of human rights in Russia, Belarus, and other countries. It has been a great honor to work with him and for him in bringing this important resolution to the floor of the Senate.
I ask unanimous consent that at the appropriate time, the Senator from Maryland and I be allowed to engage in a colloquy.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The Senator from Maryland.
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, let me thank Senator McCain, not just for taking time for this colloquy concerning Mr. Magnitsky but for his longstanding commitment to justice issues, human rights issues, and the values the United States represents internationally.
We have had a long, proud, bipartisan, and, most importantly, successful record of promoting basic American values such as democratic governance and the rule of law around the world. Engaging the countries of the Eastern Bloc in matters such as respect for human rights was critical to winning the cold war. We will never know how many lives were improved and even saved due to instruments such as the Helsinki Final Act and the Jackson-Vanik amendment. These measures defined an era of human rights activism that ultimately pried open the Iron Curtain and brought down the Wall. Thankfully, the cold war is over and we have a stronger relationship, both at the governmental and societal levels, with countries in Eastern Europe. But, sadly, internationally recognized rights and freedoms continue to be trampled and, in many cases, with absolute impunity.
With the possibility of Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization, and the Presidents of the United States and Russia meeting in France, ours is a timely discussion.
Last week, I joined my distinguished colleague, the Senator from Arizona, and 14 other Senators from both parties to introduce the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act–a broad bill to address what the respected watchdog Transparency International dubbed a "systematically corrupted country" and to create consequences for those who are currently getting away with murder.
Actions always speak louder than words. The diplomatic manner of dealing with human rights abuses has frequently been to condemn the abusers, often publicly, with the hope that these statements will be all they need to do. They say oh, yes, we are against these human rights violations. We are for the rule of law. We are for people being able to come forward and tell us about problems and be able to correct things. They condemn the abusers, but they take no action. They think their words will be enough. Well, we know differently. We know what is happening today in Russia.
We know the tragedy of Sergei Magnitsky was not an isolated episode. This is not the only time this has happened. My colleague from Arizona mentioned the Mikhail Khodorkovsky case. Mr. Khodorkovsky is today in prison with even a longer sentence. Why? Because he had the courage to stand up and oppose the corrupt system in Russia and something should be done about it. That is why he is in prison, and that is wrong.
So it is time we do something about this and that we make it clear that action is needed. For too long, the leaders in Russia have said we are going to investigate what happened to Sergei Magnitsky . We think it is terrible he died in prison without getting adequate medical care. As Senator McCain pointed out, here is a person whose only crime was to bring to the proper attention of officials public corruption within Russia. As a result of his whistleblowing, he was arrested and thrown in jail and died in jail. He was tortured. That cannot be allowed, to just say, Oh, that is terrible. We know the people who were responsible. In some cases they have been promoted in their public positions. Well, it is time for us to take action. That is why we have introduced this legislation.
While this bill goes far beyond the tragic experiences of Sergei Magnitsky , it does bear his name, so let me refresh everyone's recollection with some of the circumstances concerning his death. I mention this because some might say, why are we talking about one person? But as the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin said, "One death is a tragedy; one million is a statistic." I rarely agree with Dictator Stalin, but we have to put a human face on the issue. People have to understand that these are real people and real lives that have been ruined forever as a result of the abuses within Russia.
Sergei was a skilled tax lawyer who was well known in Moscow among many Western companies, large and small. In fact, he even did some accounting for the National Conference on Soviet Jewry. Working at the American law firm of Firestone Duncan, Sergei uncovered the largest known tax fraud in modern Russian history and blew the whistle on the swindling of his fellow citizens by corrupt officials. For that he was promptly arrested by the subordinates of those he implicated in the crime. He was held under torturous conditions in detention for nearly a year without trial or visits from family. He developed severe medical complications which went deliberately untreated, and he died on November 16, 2009, alone in an isolation cell while prison doctors waited outside his door. Sergei was 37 years old. He left behind a wife, two sons, a dependent mother, and so many friends.
Shortly after his death, Philip Pan of the Washington Post wrote:
Magnitsky's complaints, made public by his attorneys as he composed them, went unanswered while he lived. But in a nation where millions perished in the Soviet gulag, the words of the 37-year-old tax lawyer struck a nerve after he died ….. his descriptions of the squalid conditions he endured have been splashed on the front pages of newspapers and discussed on radio and television across the country, part of an outcry even his supporters never expected.
I think Senator McCain and I would agree, there is a thirst for democracy around the world. People in Russia want more. They want freedom. They want accountability. They want honest government officials. They are outraged by what happened to Sergei Magnitsky .
I would point out just last week I met with a leader of the Russian business community who came here and traveled at some risk, I might say. Just visiting me was a risk. We have people from Russia who are being questioned because they come and talk to us. But he said to me that what happened here needs to be answered by the Russian authorities. He understands why we are introducing this legislation.
A year after his death, and with no one held accountable, and some of those implicated even promoted and decorated, The Economist noted:
At the time, few people outside the small world of Russian investors and a few human-rights activists had heard of Mr. Magnitsky . A year later, his death has become a symbol of the mind-boggling corruption and injustice perpetrated by the Russian system, and the inability of the Kremlin to change it.
Regrettably, we know Sergei's case, egregious as it is, is not isolated. Human rights abuses continue unpunished and often unknown across Russia today.
To make this point more clear, let's look at another example far outside the financial districts of Moscow and St. Petersburg in the North Caucasus in southern Russia where Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, condones and oversees massive violations of human rights, including violations of religious freedom and the rights of women. His militia also violates international humanitarian laws. As of this April, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled against Russia in 186 cases concerning Chechnya, most involving civilians.
So Sergei Magnitsky's case is not an isolated case of abuse by the Russian authorities. There has been a systematic effort made to deny people their basic human rights, including one individual, Natalia Estemirova, who personally visited my office at the Helsinki Commission. She was a courageous human rights defender who was brutally assassinated.
So it is time for Russia to take action. But we cannot wait; we need to take action.
Mr. McCAIN. Will the Senator yield for a question?
Mr. CARDIN. I yield back to my colleague.
Mr. McCAIN. First, I thank my colleague from Maryland for a very eloquent and, I think, very strong statement, to which I can add very little. But isn't it true, I ask my friend, that this Magnitsky case and the Khodorkovsky case, which I would like for us to talk a little bit more about, are not isolated incidents?
In other words, this is the face of the problem in Russia today. As the Senator mentioned, in its annual index of perceptions of corruption, Transparency International ranked Russia 154th out of 178 countries–perceived as more corrupt than Pakistan, Yemen, and Zimbabwe. The World Bank considers 122 countries to be better places to do business than Russia. One of those countries is Georgia, which the World Bank ranks as the 12th best country to do business.
In other words, isn't it true in the Magnitsky case, it is what has been taking place all across Russia, including this incredible story of Khodorkovsky, who was one of the wealthiest men in Russia, one of the wealthiest oligarchs who rebelled against this corruption because he saw the long-term consequences of this kind of corruption and was brought to trial, convicted, and then, when his sentence was completed, they charged him again?
Talk about a corrupt system, isn't it true that Vladimir Putin said he should "sit in jail," and we now know that the whole trial was rigged, as revealed by people who were part of the whole trial? In other words, isn't it true, I would ask my friend from Maryland, that what we are talking about is one human tragedy, but it is a tragedy that is unfolding throughout Russia that we do not really have any knowledge of? And if we allow this kind of abuse to go on unresponded to, then, obviously, we are abrogating our responsibilities to the world; isn't that true?
Mr. CARDIN. I say to Senator McCain, you are absolutely right. This is not isolated. Magnitsky is not an isolated case of a lawyer doing his job on behalf of a client and being abused by the authorities. We have a lot of examples of lawyers trying to do their jobs and being intimidated and their rights violated.
But in Mr. Khodorkovsy's case, we have a business leader who was treated the same way just because he was a successful business leader. Even worse, he happened to be an opponent of the powers in the Kremlin.
So we are now seeing, in Russia, where they want to quell opposition by arresting people who are just speaking their minds, doing their business legally, putting them in prison, trying them, and in the Khodorkovsky case actually increasing their sentences the more they speak out against the regime.
That is how authoritarian they want to be and how oppressive they are to human rights. But I could go further. If one is a journalist in Russia, and they try to do any form of independent journalism, they are in danger of being beaten, being imprisoned, being murdered. It is very intimidating. The list goes on and on.
Mr. McCAIN. Could I ask my colleague, what implications, if any, does the Senator from Maryland believe this should have on the Russian entry into the World Trade Organization?
Mr. CARDIN. Well, it is very interesting, I say to Senator McCain. I just came from a Senate Finance Committee hearing, and we were talking about a free-trade agreement. I am for free-trade agreements. I think it makes sense. It is funny, when a country wants to do trade with the United States, they all of a sudden understand they have to look at their human rights issues.
I think all of us would like to see Russia part of the international trade community. I would like to see Russia, which is already a member of a lot of international organizations, live up to the commitments they have made in joining these international organizations.
But it is clear to me that Russia needs to reform. If we are going to have business leaders traveling to Russia in order to do business, I want to make sure they are safe in Russia. I want to make sure they are going to get the protection of the rule of law in Russia. I want to make sure there are basic rights that the businesspeople in Russia and the United States can depend upon.
So, yes, I understand that Russia would like to get into the WTO. We have, of course, the Jackson-Vanik amendment that still applies. I understand the origin of that law, and I understand what needs to change in order for Russia to be able to join the World Trade Organization.
But I will tell you this: The best thing that Russia can do in order to be able to enter the international trade regime is to clean up its abuses in its own country, to make clear it respects the rule of law; that businesspeople will be protected under the rule of law and certainly not imprisoned and tortured, as in the cases of Mr. Khodorkovsky and Mr. Magnitsky . We do not want to see that type of conduct.
If Russia would do that, if they would reform their systems, then I think we would be a long way toward that type of integration and trade.
Mr. McCAIN. I thank my colleague from Maryland for an eloquent statement about the situation as regards Russia. I thank him, and I can assure my colleague from Maryland that, as we speak, this will provide–and this legislation which he has introduced, will provide–some encouragement to people who in Russia now, in some cases, have lost almost all hope because of the corruption of the judicial system, as well as other aspects of the Russian nation.
We all know that no democracy can function without the rule of law; and if there are ever two examples of the corruption of the rule of law, it is the tragedy of Sergei Magnitsky and, of course, Mr. Khodorkovsky, who still languishes in prison; who, in his words, believes he–by the extension of his prison sentence–may have been given a death sentence.
So I thank my colleague from Maryland.
Mr. CARDIN. Will my colleague yield for just one final comment?
I think the Senator is right on target as to what he has said. I appreciate the Senator bringing this to the attention of our colleagues in the Senate.
I will respond to one other point because I am sure my colleague heard this. Some Russian officials say: Why are we concerned with the internal affairs of another country? I just want to remind these Russian officials, I want to remind my colleagues here, that Russia has signed on to the Helsinki Final Act. They did that in 1975, and they have agreed to the consensus document that was issued in Moscow in 1991 and reaffirmed just last year with the heads of state meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, just this past December. I am going to quote from that document:
The participating States–
Which Russia is a participating state–
emphasize that issues relating to human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law are of international concern, as respect for these rights and freedoms constitutes one of the foundations of international order. They categorically and irrevocably declared that the commitments undertaken in the field of the human dimension are matters of direct and legitimate concern to all participating States–
The United States is a participating state–
and do not belong exclusively to the internal affairs of the State concerned.
Mr. McCAIN. That was a statement by the Government of Russia?
Mr. CARDIN. That was a statement made by the 56 states of the OSCE at a meeting of the Heads of State, which happens about every 10 years. It just happened to have happened last year. Russia participated in drafting this statement. Russia was there, signed on to it, and said: We agree on this. It is a reaffirmation as to what they agreed to in 1991 in Moscow where we acknowledged that it is of international interest, and we have an obligation and right to question when a member state violates those basic human dimension commitments. Russia clearly has done that. We have not only the right but the obligation to raise that, and I just wanted to underscore that to my colleagues.
I say to Senator McCain, your comments on the Senate floor are so much on point. I think people understand it. They understand the basic human aspect to this. But sometimes they ask: Well, why should America be concerned? Do we have a legitimate right to question this? Russia signed the document that acknowledges our right to challenge this and raise these issues.
I thank my colleague for yielding.
Mr. McCAIN. I thank my colleague from Maryland, and I hope we would get, very rapidly, another 98 cosponsors.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.


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Trekking in Ma Pi Leng mountain
۱۳۹۸/۰۷/۱۶ ۰۶:۲۷
Trekking routes across the Karst plateau of Dong Van Town, located in northeast Ha Giang Province, have become increasingly popular since being recognized as part of the Global Network of National Geoparks (GGN) in 2010. Dong Van-based
offers amazing trekking routes between the rocky town, ethnic Mong villages in MaLe and Thien Huong as well as up to the Ma Pi Leng mountain pass.
The 18km route from Ma Le to Thien Huong has become known as the valley of rocks due to its spectacular natural appearance. As per schedule, tourists are taken to Ma Le Village, 5km from central Dong Van, via van before embarking on a full-day tour. "The trip is amazing. The landscape and natural conditions across the 1,600m above sea level area has lured many travelers," said TUN travel agent Hoang Anh Tuan. "The wild routes offer the perfect conditions for memorable experiences such as barbecues," he said. Tuan added that tour groups are always accompanied by local Mong guides to avoid people getting lost.
Tourists are additionally provided with sticks and jungle-knives to help them make their way through dense undergrowth. Ta Lang Village, home to the hospitable Giay and Tay ethnic groups, is the first stop. "Because international tourists often can't speak their language, the hosts may refuse to welcome them into their homes. That's where we as guides come in handy," said local guide Li Thanh Hong.
"We always prepare lunch near the Nho Que river-bank while often buying either goat or chicken meat for barbeque parties in the jungle," Hong added.
"It's like a wild life lunch. Local guides often teach tourists how to catch fish by hand," said tour guide Luc Thi Thuy. She added that fish is mostly grilled alongside moss while chicken is coated with clay before being placed on the fire.
Vertical limit: The route is very tough and challenging, and the mountain pathways are almost vertical in places. Ban Mo Village is another favorite stop over for lunch with visitors seated on stone slabs in the middle of the Nho Que River in the dry season. The last and final trek of the day, running 7km uphill from the river-bank to the top of the Ma Pi Leng mountain pass, takes a challenging two hours.
"The route is very tough, but also very interesting. The mountain pathways are almost vertical," said Anh Tuan, who designed the route two years ago. "When you reach the top, the river looks like a silk thread cutting through the deep valley." The tour reaches its end on top of the Ma Pi Leng mountain pass from where tourists are taken back to Dong Van Town to while away the afternoon in exploration. Tour operators offer packages from US$100 including
Vietnam visa on arrival
for groups of four, and transportation from Ha Noi to Dong Van Town.
TUN Travel also provides trekking tours via Tam Son Town in Quan Ba District as well as in the districts of Yen Minh and Meo Vac. Tourists always benefit from exploring the UNESCO recognized town as a member of the Global Network of National Geoparks. The town's main market day falls on Sundays while it lights up with lanterns on Saturday nights. Dong Van Town is a definite must on the tourist radar due to its spectacular natural surroundings and its well preserved cultural and ethnic heritage.


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by Lannah Dunn
by Lannah Dunn
by Lannah Dunn
Daintiest LD continuum half, Rose Gold
Daintiest LD continuum half, Rose Gold
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Our Profile
We are all faced with drainage problems at one point in time or the other and these challenges not only present disruptions to our lives and severe inconveniences, but also health risks.
Most of the time the drainage problems are a result of poor construction or obsolete materials. They present themselves in different places; sinks, drain pipes, and sewers, leaving you frustrated.
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We do not hide anything behind technical jargon, nor are we impatient with your questions. We are ordinary people who understand your right to know what happened to your drain, why it happened, what needs to be done and what you are paying for.


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Christmastide Ephemera Digital Collage Sheet
Christmastide Ephemera Digital Collage Sheet
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We create Lunagirl collage sheets from authentic Victorian Edwardian and vintage ephemera and art, carefully enhanced and lovingly altered and embellished to be "just right." They are ideal for altered art and ATCs, altered books and boxes, card making, jewelry making, scrapbooking, collage, assemblage, decoupage, gift tags and hang tags, labels, primitives, ornaments, fabric arts, and endless other creative projects. The only limit is your imagination.
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Advising and Registration
Students in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute must meet with their advisor at least once per semester.
Meeting with your Advisor
- Some majors have group advising sessions, others have individual advising appointments or walk-in hours.
- Your advisor will email you with information about the procedure used in your department.
Preparing for your Advising Session
- Determine how many credit hours you want to take.
- Compile a list of courses and alternates you would like to take.
- Determine whether you meet all the prerequisites for these courses.
- Once the Schedule of Classes is available on myPurdue, make sure all the course times work together.
Topics Typically Covered in an Advising Session
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Additional Information
The Schedule of Classes: The Schedule of Classes is typically available in mid-October for the spring semester, in mid-January for the summer semester and in mid-March for the fall semester.
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Waiting lists: If you try to enroll in a class that is full and the course doesn't have linked sections, you may have the option to be placed on a waiting list for one particular section (CRN). It is then particularly important to monitor your Purdue email, so that you can respond within the allotted 16 hours.
Course Withdrawal: A record of the fact that a student was enrolled in a course and withdrew from the course after the second week. When a course assignment is canceled prior to the end of two weeks of a semester or one week of a summer session, the course will not be recorded on the student's record.


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Use hot therapy when motion is limited by stiffness. Heat increases blood flow to the affected area and improves range of motion. Use cold therapy when motion is limited by pain. Cold reduces blood flow to the affected area and controls inflammation.
Feature | Benefit |
Durable construction | for long life |
Store in freezer | for immediate cold therapy |
May be heated in hot water or microwaved in water | for hot therapy |
Thick and flexible premium gel | remains conformable at all temperatures |
Formulated with non-toxic and non-caustic ingredients | for safe use by everyone |
Medium and large sizes | maintain therapeutic temperatures for up to 30 minutes; small size up to 20 minutes |
Order Code | Description | Ship Case |
MH76948 | Reusable Hot and Cold Gel Pack, Small, 4" x 6.5" (10.2cm x 16.5cm) | 48/Case |
MH73912 | Reusable Hot and Cold Gel Pack, Medium, 5" x 10.5" (12.7cm x 26.7cm) | 12/Case |
MH73200 | Reusable Hot and Cold Gel Pack, Large, 8" x 11.5" (20.3cm x 29.2cm) | 6/Case |
Never place hot or cold packs directly on the skin. Packs should be insulated with a cloth cover or towel before application.


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There's a feature on Susan Sarandon in the new issue of PEOPLE. She talks about aging in Hollywood. You can read most of it here. I like the part where she talks about how there are a lot of guys out there who are attracted to interesting women. Because their mothers raised them to be. And mothers should take some pride in that. So of course on the other side of that, what about the mothers whose sons are, like, f-cking girls like Tara Reid? Those mothers can't all be Dina Lohan, can they?
Anyway, two years ago I saw Susan Sarandon on The View or something and she said she hadn't yet had any procedures but that she wouldn't rule it out. Now 65, Susan has revealed to PEOPLE that she recently had liposuction:
"I've had some lipo under my chin and under my eyes."
She's apparently also considering Botox but worries about the results:
"I have these two huge frown lines here (on my forehead). But if you can't move your face or you're unrecognisable, I don't see how that's a productive enhancement. You don't want to look like a female impersonation of yourself."
I love her that she admitted it. I love her that she admitted specifically what it was that she did. And I think there's a difference between what Susan Sarandon did/will do and, for example, what Nicole Kidman and Madonna are into. Madonna wants to look like she's 30 forever. Same goes for Granny.
I interviewed Susan Sarandon a few weeks ago for Jeff, Who Lives At Home (which is such a sweet, adorable movie, you should really see it) and she didn't look 30. Or 40. I don't think she wants to. That might be the difference then, right? Susan Sarandon isn't trying to stop aging. Susan Sarandon is trying to look great as herself while she's aging. Is that ok? Does my plastic surgery policy have to cover all age groups and cases like a blanket, or can I condone it in appropriate situations?
I think it's ok when a 65 year old woman does it in moderation and doesn't come out the other side like Joan Rivers. I don't think it's ok when a 25 year old girl is flattening out all the features that make her face unique.
Attached - Susan at a charity event a few days ago. That's no LA Face.
Source Wenn.com


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By Helsinki Commission Staff
En route to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Winter Meeting in Vienna, Austria, a delegation organized by the Helsinki Commission visited Israel and Turkey for talks on issues of key concern to U.S. foreign policy and the OSCE. These destinations in particular were selected to explore the impact on the OSCE region resulting from the ongoing tensions in the Middle East stemming from the active conflict and humanitarian crisis in Syria. The delegation was not only bipartisan but included Members from the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as two senior officials from the Department of Commerce.
The delegation, which departed February 15 and returned on February 23, was led by Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland and included Representatives Robert B. Aderholt of Alabama, Alcee L. Hastings of Florida and Mike McIntyre of North Carolina as well as Assistant Secretary of Commerce Michael C. Camuñez from the Helsinki Commission. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Europe and Eurasia Matthew Murray also joined the delegation.
High Level Meetings in Israel
The delegation's first stop was Jerusalem. Following a late arrival on Saturday, February 16, the delegation was briefed by Ambassador Daniel Shapiro and Consul General Michael Ratney in preparation for meetings on Sunday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, the Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations (Mossad), Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and other officials.
High on the delegation's agenda were U.S.-Israeli relations, including economic cooperation, the peace process, renewal of Israeli-Turkish relations and regional security. President Peres welcomed the delegation in his residence and praised the work of the Helsinki Commission on human rights. Chairman Cardin and President Peres engaged in a lengthy conversation regarding the nuclear ambitions of Iran as well as human rights in that country. They also focused on investment and economic development in the region, particularly the need to provide employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people in the Arab world.
Members of the delegation met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his cabinet offices for a wide ranging discussion on Iran, the peace process, violence in Syria, Israel-Turkey relations and economic cooperation between our two countries. The Prime Minister also offered a candid assessment of the January 22 parliamentary elections in Israel and his efforts to form a new government.
Meeting with the delegation in the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad provided an overview of the economic and security situation in the West Bank, the status of Palestinian-Israeli relations and the peace process. The Prime Minister indicated that there is outright disillusionment with the peace process among the Palestinian people. What is badly needed, he said, is a sense of renewal and energy by both parties to return to negotiations.
The remainder of the day included meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy, Dan Meridor, Central Bank Governor Stanley Fischer and a briefing by Israel's Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations (Mossad). The delegation departed early the next morning for Turkey.
Fostering Security Cooperation with Turkey
Chairman Cardin's delegation stopped in Ankara, Gaziantep, and Istanbul while in Turkey. In Ankara, the delegation met with President Abdullah Gul, Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, and Omer Onhon, former Turkish ambassador to Syria. The delegation prioritized international engagement in the Syrian conflict, the status of Syrian refugees, the urgency of improving Turkish-Israeli relations, the Middle East Peace Process, bilateral economic cooperation and ongoing human rights concerns in their consultations with Turkish government officials. The delegation was briefed by U.S. Ambassador Frank Ricciardone and his staff on bilateral U.S.-Turkish priorities and the security of U.S. embassies following the tragic February 1, 2013 attack on the embassy in Ankara.
In Gaziantep, Chairman Cardin's delegation was the first group from Congress to visit the American detachment of the newly established NATO Patriot missile batteries. Members met with the troops stationed near Gaziantep and were briefed on security concerns emanating from the Syrian conflict and NATO efforts to ensure the security of Turkish communities near the Syrian border. The delegation was briefed by regional staff of the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance on their substantial efforts to meet the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people in refugee camps and ensure the necessary resources reach the internally displaced civilians within Syria.
The delegation then proceeded to visit the central Turkish camp for Syrian refugees in Kilis, which is one of more than 20 such camps along the border. After a briefing by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Members had an opportunity to see the facilities. The Turkish government has independently made a substantial investment in Syrian humanitarian assistance through their camps. They urged the delegation to encourage the international community to contribute more financial support to address the lack of resources for the growing Syrian refugee population in the region. The delegation also met the camp leadership elected from among the refugees, which reflected the diversity of those displaced by the conflict. The camp leaders urged the delegation to act expeditiously to support the Syrian opposition before the positive perception of the United States irreparably diminishes among Syrian civilians.
In Istanbul, the delegation participated in a discussion on the success of bilateral economic cooperation and overcoming barriers to increase U.S. investment in Turkey hosted by the Joint American Business Forum of Turkey and the Turkish-American Business Council. Members then convened a roundtable discussion with a diverse group of Syrian opposition activists based in Istanbul. The activists expressed an urgent interest in the future U.S. role in addressing the security and humanitarian impacts of Syrian conflict. The delegation also had an opportunity to meet with graduate students of Bahcesehir University to discuss the importance of international academic exchanges and youth professional development.
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Meets in Vienna
The congressional delegation concluded in Vienna, Austria, to represent the United States at the Winter Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA). Like the OSCE of which it is a part, the Parliamentary Assembly has been an important venue for important initiatives relating to the Helsinki Commission's work. Those initiatives include addressing specific human rights concerns in numerous countries and combating intolerance in society, organized crime and official corruption, and trafficking in persons. They also include promoting transparency in government and business practices. The United States has traditionally maintained a robust presence in the Assembly, assuring European friends and allies of willing U.S. engagement on issues of common concern and ensuring that the Assembly's work reflects U.S. interests. Representative Aderholt, for example, is currently an OSCE Vice President and sits on a subcommittee dealing with rules of procedure and an ad hoc committee focusing on reform and transparency of the OSCE.
The Winter Meeting is a two-day event held at the Hofburg premises of the OSCE, allowing diplomatic personnel from this multilateral organization to report to the parliamentarians on security, economic, environmental and human rights developments across Europe and into Central Asia. The Winter Meeting also provides a forum for open debate of topical issues and to present ideas for resolutions to be considered later in the year. In the decade since it was first organized, the Winter Meeting has become second in importance only to the OSCE PA's Annual Session, which is held in June or July in different locations to consider these resolutions and adopt a declaration. In 2013, there were more than 200 parliamentarians in attendance.
Ambassador Ian Kelly, the U.S. Representative to the OSCE, briefed the delegation soon after its arrival on the regional issues of interest to the OSCE, as well as organizational developments, from a U.S. policy perspective. Ukraine has taken the OSCE's chairmanship for 2013, and efforts continue to achieve progress on priority issues in time for a foreign ministerial scheduled for year's end. As it approaches its 40th anniversary in 2015, the OSCE is also seeking to develop its structural and substantive abilities in order to remain relevant to European security, but it must do so in the face of efforts by Russia and like-minded states to undermine the OSCE's human rights focus.
OSCE PA President Riccardo Migliori of Italy opened the Winter Meeting with a call to find "solutions for the future" based on "the road map signed in our past," namely the 1975 Helsinki Final Act. The opening plenary was also addressed by Austrian National Council President Barbara Prammer, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier of Italy, and the Special Envoy of the OSCE Chair-in-Office, Viacheslav Yatsiuk of Ukraine.
Additional discussions were held in each of the Assembly's three General Committees: the First Committee dealing with political affairs and security; the Second Committee with economic affairs, science, technology and the environment; and the Third Committee with democracy, human rights and humanitarian questions. Committee rapporteurs and guest speakers discussed current issues and the prospects for OSCE PA work in the coming year.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce Camuñez was a featured opening speaker for the Second Committee, focusing on economic issues in particular. Calling for a "truly 21st century approach" to engagement on these issues within the OSCE, he focused in particular on work being done on energy security and sustainability. He also called for operationalizing OSCE commitments on good governance and transparency adopted at the 2012 Dublin Ministerial Council of the OSCE and asked parliamentarians to play their role by passing needed laws and encouraging government policies that reflect OSCE norms and goals.
The Winter Meeting traditionally includes a closing joint-committee session to debate issues that are particularly relevant and timely. This year, the debate focused on how OSCE countries should respond to crises in Syria, the Sahara, and North Africa. Representative Hastings, speaking as the OSCE PA's Special Representative on Mediterranean Affairs, made a presentation that called on the parliamentarians to consider being in the place of the Syrian people as they flee their homes and lose loved ones, including children, while the world watches. He called on the participating States to halt the flow of arms to Syria, and insisting the Bashar al-Assad "must go," called for him to be held accountable for his crimes before the International Criminal Court. Chairman Cardin also spoke in the debate, reporting on the discussions the delegation had in Israel and Turkey regarding Syria and praising Turkey's efforts to accommodate massive inflows of refugees.
During the course of the Winter Meeting, the OSCE PA convenes its Standing Committee, composed only of Heads of Delegation and officers, to shape the Assembly's work. Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Representative Christopher H. Smith, who was unable to attend the Winter Meeting, and Rep. Hastings each submitted to the committee written reports on their activities as Special Representative on Human Trafficking and as Special Representative on Mediterranean Affairs, respectively. Chairman Cardin participated in a lengthy debate on OSCE election observation, calling for the Assembly and the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to coordinate in the field and to take advantage of parliamentary leadership to make observation most effective.
The delegation used its time at the Winter Meeting to engage in bilateral meetings with parliamentarians and officials regarding Helsinki Commission concerns, including the OSCE Chair-in-Office envoy Yatsiuk, OSCE Secretary General Zannier and ODIHR Director Janez Lenarcic of Slovenia. Representative Hastings also organized a working session with visiting delegates from the Mediterranean Partner countries in order to plan activity for the coming year that will strengthen the partnership between the Mediterranean Partners – Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia – and the OSCE. Representative Aderholt also met with human rights activist and opposition representative Andrei Sannikov to discuss common concerns in Belarus.
Beyond the Hofburg, the delegation also met with Ambassador Joseph MacManus, who represents the United States at United Nations organizations based in Vienna, and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano of Japan. Nuclear proliferation was the main issue in these meetings. Chairman Cardin also was accompanied by the U.S. Ambassador to Austria, Willliam Eacho, as he paid tribute at the Austrian National Council to the Vienna-based organization CENTROPA and its American Director, Ed Serotta, for efforts to preserve Jewish memory in Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, the Balkans and the Baltics for future generations.
By all accounts, the Winter Meeting represented two days of healthy debate and discussion. The U.S. Delegation played an active role throughout the meeting, making presentations and responding to statements of others.


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Consider the following entirely fictitious but totally plausible scenario:
A diner at the Kuwait City branch of The Cheesecake Factory restaurant chain complains to his waiter that the pickles in his Americana Cheeseburger (American and cheddar cheese, crunchy potato crisps, lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, pickles and secret sauce) had a funny texture. The waiter instantly offers to replace the dish, since The Cheesecake Factory is committed to "absolute guest satisfaction," according to Donald Moore, chief culinary officer for The Cheesecake Factory Inc.
So the diner opts for the Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich(crispy coated chicken breast covered with melted cheese and either spicy Buffalo or chipotle mayo, served on a brioche bun), and subsequently reaches the company's desired level of satisfaction.
That very same day, diners at Cheesecake Factory outposts in Wauwatosa, Wis., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and Pembroke Pines, Fla., also complain about the texture of the pickles on their burgers.
Are these hypothetical experiences related in any way? And even if they are, is there any way that the people at The Cheesecake Factory's factory would ever learn of these events and connect them together?
In the future, the answer will be yes, according to Angela Nardone, chairman and chief innovation officer of N2N Global.
Nardone's company has partnered with IBM to use tools for analyzing big data sets to help the restaurant chain look for potential problems like this.
With more than 170 outlets, 300 menu items, and something like a thousand different fresh ingredients from dozens or hundreds of suppliers, Nardone explains, The Cheesecake Factory is blessed/cursed with a lot of data. The new software would allow the company to track whether the pickles all came from the same supplier, and whether other outlets were experiencing the same problem without yet being aware of it.
Normally, says Nardone, finding out something like that, never mind doing anything about it, can take weeks. With the big data analytical software, she says, the problem can be spotted and solved within a day.
"The new system can work bottom up or top down," says Nardone.
The software might detect a pattern in complaints from the field, as in my fictitious scenario, or a supplier could contact the restaurant chain about a problem with a particular ingredient, and the new software could rapidly disseminate that information to local branches.
And while the system wasn't implemented with public health in mind, it would certainly simplify tracking the culprit in cases of an outbreak of foodborne illness.
"We have talked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about this," says Nardone.
This complex new data analytics system may seem like a fairly expensive way to prevent the occasional mushy pickle from appearing on a burger. But as Atul Gawande wrote in The New Yorker, The Cheesecake Factory does seem to have an extremely high commitment to smooth operations and customer satisfaction for the more than 80 million people it serves each year.
But "absolute guest satisfaction"? I have to admit, that quest seems a bit quixotic to me.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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