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MSC Cruises, the world's largest privately-owned cruise line, is enhancing its range of cruises from the United Arab Emirates with the introduction of a second ship, MSC Lirica. Featuring new extended cruises of 11 nights and 14 nights, MSC Lirica will be making her debut in the UAE in November 2018, offering longer itineraries, two overnight stays in Dubai, as well as cruises to India for the very first time. This addition to the winter 18/19 offers guests the opportunity for extended winter cruise holidays, and the chance to discover yet more new and exotic destinations.
Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises' CEO, expressed his enthusiasm saying: "This will be our seventh season in the UAE and we have seen strong demand for our quality product offering from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. A strong Fly&Cruise programme means that guests from all around the world are able to enjoy this popular cruise region. Our modern ships and distinctive, quality cruise experience are an appealing way for holidaymakers to explore the rich and diverse experiences that the UAE can offer."
Mr Onorato continued, "Introducing India to MSC Cruises' Winter 18/19 itineraries demonstrates how our significant investment plan is enabling us to expand our global footprint and establish a presence in a high-potential market, one that we expect to grow considerably over the coming years."
Discover the Delights of India
This year, for the first time, MSC Cruises will offer its guests cruises to India from Dubai. Guests will call at bustling Abu Dhabi, followed by the serene and picturesque Muscat, before crossing the Arabian Sea and calling in Mumbai – the front door to India. Teeming with energy and excitement, Mumbai is a place where cultures collide. Lose yourself in some of the grandest colonial architecture India has to offer, or take a cool-dive into the many bazaars and hidden temples around every corner. And your Indian experience is not just limited to Mumbai. The voyage also offers chances to escape from it all whilst watching the sun go down across the uninterrupted stretch of golden beaches in Goa, as well as the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Mangalore. From fragrant, bustling vibrancy to utter tranquillity, expect an Indian experience like no other aboard MSC Lirica.
Extended Winter Sun
For those searching for a longer getaway in the winter sun, MSC Cruises' 11-night itineraries from Dubai and Abu Dhabi will provide the perfect escape. There is a range of beautiful beach locations en route. Sir Bani Yas, a unique island beach oasis, exclusive to MSC Cruises on the days it calls, offers guests pristine beaches, water activities and access to the region's largest nature reserve. The Pearl-Qatar, Doha's stunning man-made island, spans a million square metres and is home to beaches, a wide range of shopping and over 100 bars and restaurants. Khasab, Oman is one of the most striking cities on the Arabian Peninsula, where turquoise water cools the warm beaches on the shores of its impressive and historic fort. Manama, Bahrain's charming capital, is a metropolis abuzz with culture and intrigue where modern skyscrapers stand with historic buildings.
More time to explore
MSC Cruises is also introducing two overnight stays in Dubai as part of its new itineraries, allowing guests an extended amount of time to explore the delights of this cosmopolitan port. Guests will have the chance to take in the sights of the legendary night skyline, from the luxury of MSC Lirica. Beyond this, MSC Lirica passengers will witness the night sky in Muscat. Watch the sun go down over the domes and minarets of this historic port city – an evening to truly remember.
Shore Excursions for Every Port
MSC Cruises is committed to offering guests a wide range of quality shore excursions to enhance their experience at every port. Booking an excursion through MSC Cruises is stress-free, with offers to meet all your holiday needs. Guests that book excursions in advance will also benefit from a 20% discount. Some of the highlights of the shore excursions on MSC Liricainclude:
• Dubai - EXCLUSIVE DUBAI: BURJ KHALIFA & LUNCH AT BURJ AL ARAB
This excursion takes in some of the most iconic symbols of Dubai, from Dubai Mall, to the world's tallest building, the incredible Burj Al Khalifa, to world-renowned seven-star luxury hotel Burj Al Arab, and the man-made, palm-shaped Palm Jumeirah. Take a break from the glamour to visit Dubai's famous gold souk, and experience Dubai's traditional way of life.
• Abu Dhabi - THE LOUVRE MUSEUM & ABU DHABI EXPLORATION
Fondly referred to as the "Manhattan of Arabia," this sightseeing tour allows guests many photo opportunities across the city, finishing up at the incredible new Louvre Abu Dhabi, the largest art museum on the Arabian Peninsula.
• Bahrain - BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT IN A 4X4
Here, guests score through the Bahrain International Circuit in the heart of the Sakhir Desert. Take a 4x4 to the limit over man-made and natural obstacles. One for the true adventurer.
• Muscat - MYSTICAL MUSCAT
This excursion allows guests to commune with Oman's spiritual and cultural heritage, on a tour from the Grand Mosque, through to old Muscat and the Muttrah Souk, a traditional Omani market. Guests will also stop at the Bait Al Zubair Museum, to discover archaeological finds, as well as viewing the traditional dress and jewellery of Oman.
• Qatar – DESERT SAFARI AND RELAX AT THE BEACH
To understand Qatar's singularity, a trip through its surrounding desert is a must. Experience an exhilarating ride as across the rolling sand dunes, and end up at Gulf Adventure camp; an oasis of tranquillity located in the Arabian desert, kissed by the blue waters of the Arabian Gulf.
• Goa - CROCODILES, MANGROVE & RIVER CRUISE
Here, guests will discover Goa's verdant landscape on this one-of-kind river cruise. Head down to the mangroves where the Cumbarjua River flows; the impressive birdlife and freshwater crocodiles are a sight to remember.
• Mumbai - OVERLAND TO THE TAJ MAHAL
Over the course of three days, this tour takes guests through Mumbai, New Delhi, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra – home to the breath-taking Taj Mahal – and Cochin. With two nights in luxury hotels, experience an express tour through some of India's most famous and memorable landmarks.
• New Mangalore - Jain & Udupi Temples
This tour takes guests to visit the famous Jain temples of Mangalore. From the 15th Century Moodbidiri temple, to Udupi's Krishna Temple, these ancient temples are a unique immersion into India's heritage.
A Grand Adventure!
For those seeking even more adventure, the Grand Voyages offer a unique opportunity to traverse the historic Suez Canal. MSC Lirica departs Venice, Italy on 2nd November and arrives in Dubai on 18th November and then returns to the Mediterranean on 15th March.
MSC Lirica will be offering ten cruises starting from either Dubai or Abu Dhabi with Fly&Cruise packages. Totally refurbished as part of MSC Cruises' €200 million Renaissance Programme, MSC Lirica represents the height of style and comfort at sea. This modern ship will offer fine dining options with the best of Mediterranean and International cuisines, exclusive, world-class entertainment, unparalleled family facilities, luxurious pampering and wellness and accommodation to meet every need.
MSC Splendida will also be based in the UAE for Winter 18/19 offering 7 night cruises with two embarkation ports – Dubai on Saturday and Abu Dhabi on Sunday. MSC Splendida features the MSC Yacht Club. Designed for the most discerning guests who desire exclusivity and privacy but with a world of choice. The MSC Yacht Club is an innovative "ship within a ship" design concept, as it offers an entirely self-contained area on the foredecks of the ship providing sweeping sea views with a range of private facilities including a pool, solarium and a dedicated restaurant.
For any further detail on the updated itineraries from MSC Cruises, please click here.


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Organic Romper Spinach Ruffled
Sold OutSaleDetails
This Organic Romper Spinach Ruffled is the perfect choice for your little one. With its organic cotton fabric and relaxed fit, it's comfortable and stylish. Plus, you'll love the cool ruffle model and joyfull spinach pattern! Get it and make your kid look and feel great.
100% Organic Cotton Supreme
Produced in Turkey
Machine wash 30°C ,no tumble dry, iron medium from inside out
PVC Free, Water Based Print.
Returns & Exchange
Thank you for ordering, it means a lot to us!
We believe in our products and have many happy customers, but we understand that sometimes online purchasing might be challenging and you can change your mind. You can return your order within six months of purchase or one month is on sale (oh just a polite reminder; unused, with tags on and in the original packaging please) for a full refund or exchange. If your product is faulty, please get in touch with us as we have a quality guarantee.
How to return something?
All you need to do is pop us an e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com regarding your request. We will send you your return label. Once you pack your return, please use this link to find Click & Drop Locations near you and drop the package. Easy peasy return policy.
UK Returns & Tracking
Please visit Royal Mail to view your parcel's journey using the tracking number we sent you.
Free Delivery
We understand that during these uncertain times you may prefer to do a quick run to buy and collect what you need to minimise the time you spend out for shopping. If that is the case, please pick Click & Collect Service on our website at checkout.
If you are avoiding going out, self-isolating or just don't feel like going to the city centre then please select Local Delivery Service at check out. Order placed till 5:00pm will be hand delivered on the same day, except for Sundays. Just one reminder - this local delivery is available only for a 5 mile radius from Exeter city centre.

subset: commoncrawl


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Health & Beauty Categories Include;
- Make-up
- Skin Care
- Hair and Hair Care
- Fragrances
- Health Care
- Intimate
- Manicure & Pedicure
- Hand, Feet & Nail Care
- Contact Lenses
Content Elements;
- Product Name:
Product Name structure for FRAGRANCES should be in this manner;
For Men ; Perfume Name – Perfume Volume
For Women ; Perfume Name – Perfume Volume
For Men ; Polo Blue EDP For Men – 125ml
For Women ; 5th Avenue For Women EDP – 125ml
- Brand
Brand of the product. If brand does not already exist in the database, please click BRAND CREATION FORM and fill accordingly to request for brand creation. Example: Avon, Nivea, Smart Collection.
If the product that you intend to create does not have have an actual brand name, please create the product with GENERIC or UNIVERSAL.
- Model:
Not Applicable For This Category
- Main Color:
Predominant color of the product i.e The color most prominent on the product (in the case where there are multiple colors) Example: Royal Blue, Mint Green, Wine
- Product Line:
Please Enter In Here Your Store Name
- Color Family:
Basically the Primary Color of the product's Main Color. This greatly helps customers find your product using the provided color-filter on the website.
- Type
The Material Family of the Main Material of the Product Example: Synthetic, Leather, Natural Fibre, Textile
- Main Material
Predominant Material of the product i.e The Material most prominent on the product (in the case where there are multiple Materials) Example: Cotton, Polyester, Chiffon
- Index
Does the product include a unique product description? If yes, make it visible for search engines by clicking the box.
- Product Description
A brief introduction of product that covers all its major features;
Inspired by the classic architecture and distinctive Manhattan skyline, Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue captures the alluring style of the most famous street in the world. The fragrance exudes the energy and excitement of New York while maintaining classic femininity and luxury.
YouTube ID Please Add your Youtube Video ID here Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htlgaXRAe2k YouTubeID is: htlgaXRAe2k
- Highlights
MUST Be in Bullet Points. How Do I Put My Highlights In Bullet Points? Enter short major highlights of the product, to make the purchase decision for the customer easier Example:
- Main Material: Example: Cotton
- Colour: Example: Multicolour
- Style: Example: Shoulder Bag
- Other Highlights: Example: Size: 46cm x 33cm x 28cm/18.11″ x 12.99″ x 11.02″ (Approx.)
- Other Highlights: Example: Occasions: Travel, Party, Shopping, Gift, etc
- Other Highlights: Example: Features: Big Shoulder Bag, Buckle, Handbag, Zip
- Other Highlights: Example: Magnetic Snap/Zipper/Velcro
- What's In The Box
MUST Be in Bullet Points. How Do I Put My Highlights In Bullet Points?
Short, accurate summary/list of the package content, which the customer gets.
- 1 x Necklace
- 2 x Earrings
- 1 x Bracelet
- Note
Possibility to enter some extra comments, notes or additional information about the product Example: Great user experience, Machine Washable
- Dimensions (Length x Width x Height in cm)
Measurement of the product (Length x Width x Height in cm)
- Weight
Weight of the product. The unit for measuring should be specifically in Kilograms.(If weight is in Grams convert in Kilograms). Enter only numeric value of weight. Example: If the weight is 10 kg enter as 10. If the weight is 10 grams enter as 0.1 NEVER ADD .g OR .kg
- Product Warranty
When a customer makes a major purchase, the manufacturer/seller makes an important promise to stand behind the product quality, which is valid only for a period of time. This is called a Product Warranty. Only a valid Product Warranty should be provided. Examples of valid Product Warranty periods are;
- 6 Months
- 1 Year
- 2 Years
- 5 Years
- 10 Years
N.B If your product is NOT covered by a valid Product Warranty, Kindly input N/A
- Warranty Type
There are multiple types of Product Warranty. These are;
- Repair By Vendor – Vendor has the resources to retrieve and repair the faulty item.
- Replacement By Vendor – Vendor has the resources to retrieve and replace the faulty item with a new, faultless item.
- Service Center – If the vendor is an authorized distributor, he can provide manufacturer's Service Center customer can go to for repair/replacement.
Warranty Type is a drop down selection that allows multiple-option selection. Kindly choose appropriately. N.B If your product is NOT covered by a valid Product Warranty, Kindly Ignore after inputting N/A in Product Warranty.
- Warranty Address
Enter the Service Centre Address. If you have multiple-options selected in the Warranty Type use the sample format for addresses. Example; Jumia Service Center; 109, Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, Telephone: 01-8881102 Opening Hours – 9:00am – 5:00pm N.B If your product is NOT covered by a valid Product Warranty, Kindly Ignore after inputting N/A in Product Warranty.
- Certifications
Select different certifications, that the product owns, or with which certifications the product was marked Example: Organic, Suitable for Allergics Fair Trade
- Production Country
Where the product was made/produced Example: Germany, France, China
Jumia Local
- Jumia Local
If this product is made or assembled in Kenya, tick this box to add it to the Jumia Local program. By ticking this box, you are agreeing to the Jumia Local Terms & Conditions.
Text Manufacturers
- From the Manufacturer
Add some information from the manufacturer about the product
- Care Label
Enter information about the care of the product, provided by the manufacturer. Example: No direct sunlight, wash with low percentage alcohol


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We are Johnston Law Group PLLC, a law firm dedicated to helping you enhance and protect your well-being, the welfare of your loved ones, and the fruits of your labor. Our clients include individuals and families, business owners and non-profits, and large and small agricultural producers, and we offer a variety of legal services to address each client's particular needs. So whether you want to preserve your hard-earned assets for the next generation, provide for the care of an elderly parent, establish a new business or keep an existing business going strong, or otherwise need assistance with other property, tax, or trust and estate matters, we can help you. We'll listen to your concerns, evaluate your needs, and provide you with legal services of the highest quality tailored to your unique situation and goals. Because we are independent advisors, our commitment to our clients is always our highest priority.
We charge fixed fees for many standard services we provide, and we are happy to give you a fee quote for these services after we have had a chance to evaluate your legal needs. We also offer a free one-hour initial consultation for new client matters, so we can examine all aspects of your situation in a relaxed environment. This free consultation creates no obligation on your part—if at the end of the hour-long free consultation you decide not to retain us, you will not be charged for the meeting. For further information, please click on the following link to download a copy of our Initial Consultation Agreement, which we'll ask you to sign at the beginning of the initial consultation meeting.
We enjoy our work, and we appreciate our clients for choosing to work with us. We hope that we will have an opportunity to work with you too.


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I am currently OPEN for commissions.Click here for further details about Commissions.Make a Donation, Thanks!
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Drawlloween Madness
On Facebook I saw this image with the daily prompts for Drawlloween. How could I resist? The idea is that each day in October, you do one of the prompts. At the end of the month you will have 31 … Continue reading
Posted in arts & crafts, ATCs & Deco Books, challenges, drawing and painting, swaps
Tagged altar, arts & crafts, ATCs & Deco Books, ATCsForAll, bat, black cat, books, contest, creepy, day of the dead, grave, Halloween, handmade, haunted house, holidays, IllustratedATCs, jack o lantern, love, pagan, painting, pentacle, poultrygeist, projects, pumpkin, roses, sabbat, Samhain, spooky, sugar skull, swaps, watercolor, watercolour, wicca, witch
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Special topics
Tullow Oil has announced the appointment of Dorothy Thompson as independent non-executive Director and Chair-designate of Tullow with effect from April 25, 2018.
It is anticipated Dorothy will succeed Aidan Heavey, Tullow's current Chairman and Founder, as Chair at the conclusion of the Board meeting scheduled for 20 July 2018. Aidan will retire from the Board at the same time.
Dorothy, 57 years, brings extensive experience to Tullow having served for 12 years as Chief Executive Officer of Drax Group plc, the international power and energy trading company, until the end of 2017.
"I am very pleased to be joining Tullow as the Company emerges from the recent downturn in a strong position following the significant progress it has made over the past two years. I am looking forward to working with Paul and the Board as we focus on delivering the full potential of the Company's world-class portfolio and the return to value enhancing growth," Dorothy Thompson said on Tuesday.
Before joining Drax, Dorothy managed InterGen's European power business, was head of project finance at PowerGen and worked at CDC Capital Partners, the private sector arm of the British Government's aid programme.
Dorothy has extensive emerging markets experience including a period working in the Commercial and Industrial division of the Bank of Botswana. Dorothy holds a BSc and an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
As well as her experience with Drax, Dorothy is also currently a non-executive Director of the Court of the Bank of England (since 2014) and the NYSE-listed Eaton Corporation plc (since 2016). She was a non-executive director of Johnson Matthey plc from 2007-16.
Aidan Heavey, Chairman of Tullow Oil plc said, "I am delighted that Dorothy Thompson is joining Tullow and I wish her well as she takes on her new responsibilities. Dorothy has exactly the right mix of leadership, managerial, operational and financial experience that Tullow needs. I look forward to working closely with Dorothy during the transition period until she takes over as Chair in July and I will follow Dorothy and Tullow's progress over the next few years with much interest."
Paul McDade, Chief Executive Officer of Tullow Oil plc, also said,"Dorothy Thompson's extensive experience as CEO at Drax will be exceptionally valuable as we work together to position Tullow for growth in what remains an uncertain environment in our sector.
While Tullow is well-positioned with a balanced set of production, development and exploration assets, we will need to ensure that the Company not only delivers on the potential of its current assets but also seeks out new opportunities for growth. I look forward to welcoming Dorothy to the Company and working closely with her in the coming years."
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Schedule a Consultation
Consistent & Simple Monthly Pricing
With Netivity, Inc., it's never a challenge to understand your monthly IT spend. Budgeting for growth is simple! There are never any out-of-scope labor fees, so you can rest assured that all labor is always covered within our truly flat-rate monthly pricing. We provide the highest quality IT service in the industry because our goal is to keep your network running at top efficiency. Not only does our simple pricing help you understand how to budget, it also gives you a transparent view of exactly what you're paying for.
Contact us for a quote today! We're available and ready to help you make the best decision for your business.
Contact Information
Get in touch today. We'd love to hear from you.
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Once you and your doctor have decided on the type of contact lenses you'll need, it's time to choose the most suitable contact lens solution for your eyes and contacts.
There exist 2 different types of solution for contact lenses: Multipurpose and Hydrogen Peroxide-based. While both remove debris and build-up, and disinfect lenses, only hydrogen peroxide is capable of penetrating the microbial biofilms for a deeper clean. As an added benefit, hydrogen peroxide does not contain preservatives — which can be particularly beneficial for those with allergies or eye sensitivities.
Multipurpose Solution
Multipurpose solutions are straightforward and easy to use; only one solution is needed to rinse, clean, disinfect and store your contacts (as seen in the image). Their convenience and low cost make them a popular choice.
Hydrogen Peroxide Solution
Hydrogen peroxide solutions, such as Clear Care® by Alcon or Refine One Step™ by CooperVision, contain no preservatives or allergens. This solution thoroughly breaks up the proteins and removes deposits on the lenses during the disinfection process, which can be beneficial for people who tend to accumulate large amounts of build-up on their lenses. Moreover, hydrogen peroxide is more effective at battling acanthamoeba keratitis (an eye infection that may lead to blindness) than all other types of contact lens solutions.
Since hydrogen peroxide is a chemical that causes stinging and burning when it touches the eye, after the contacts have been disinfected the solution must be neutralized to be healthy for your eyes. Included with every solution bottle is an upright contact lens case containing a platinum-coated disk that chemically reacts with hydrogen peroxide to decompose it into a safe, non-irritating, sterile saline solution. This chemical reaction produces bubbles inside the case as it undergoes the transformative process over a period of several hours. Since the neutralizing disk loses its effectiveness over time, it is critical to regularly replace it.
If your eyes do make contact with hydrogen peroxide, make sure to immediately flush it out with sterile saline. If saline is not available, wash your eyes with water or artificial tear drops and make sure to see our optometrists as soon as possible. Though painful, it doesn't cause permanent eye or vision damage.
How does it work?
To clean your lenses, place them in the designated case that is freshly filled with the hydrogen peroxide solution and soak them for 6-8 hours. This can be a one-step or two-step process, depending on the product. The one-step products contain a built-in neutralizer in the contact lens case, while the two-step products require you to add a neutralizing tablet to the solution after cleaning.
Make sure not to reuse or top off hydrogen peroxide solution after it has been neutralized, as it will have lost its disinfecting power.
Be sure to dry your case thoroughly between uses and to replace your case every 2-3 months to prevent infection.
It is important to note that hydrogen peroxide solutions will change into unpreserved saline. Therefore, if contact lenses are stored for extensive periods of time (e.g. more than a couple days), it is safer to consider multiple-purpose solutions for long term.
Hydrogen peroxide-based solutions are known for their exceptional disinfecting ability. At Ideal Eye Team, in Central Texas, our patients are extremely satisfied with the cleanliness and comfort they experience when using hydrogen peroxide-based solutions for their contact lenses. Speak with our optometrists to find out whether this solution is right for you.


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Springfield Bath Remodel
If your bathroom doesn't function as well as you'd like and your tub is damaged or just worn out, then you need a top-notch Springfield bath remodel from Milwaukee Bath and Shower. On the other hand, if you think you won't need a remodel just because your bathroom is still intact, then you might be missing out on some great benefits that a good bathroom remodeling package can bring to your home.
Milwaukee Bath and Shower is here for all your Springfield, WI bath remodel needs. Let us be your partner in improving your health, hygiene, and relaxation time with a newly refurbished bathroom.
Call us so we can begin working on revitalizing your bathroom as soon as possible.
Call Milwaukee Bath and Shower at (262) 239-4799 for your Free Consultation!
Comfortable, Personalized, and More Functional Bath
A top-of-the-line Springfield bath remodel from Milwaukee Bath and Shower will first and foremost provide you with the chance to have a bathroom with an aesthetic and functionality that perfectly fits your needs and style.
With a bathroom remodel, you can make major changes to your bathroom according to the layout, design, color scheme, and visual theme that you want. Remodeling also provides the amazing opportunity to reformat your bathroom according to the unique needs of the people you care about. If you live with children, elderly people, or people with disabilities, you can improve the accessibility of your bathroom structures. Even if you just want to have a bathroom that is more convenient to use, you also can add accessibility and luxury features.
Every change that you want to make to your bathroom can be achieved. If you want to have low barriers or walk-in tubs for easier access or just want to glamorize your bath surround and modernize your amenities, Milwaukee Bath and Shower can provide everything you need to create the ideal bathroom for you. Whether you want to remodel for functionality, style, or both, we guarantee that this will be a delightful experience for you.
Raised Value of Your Bathroom and Home
If a newly remodeled bathroom is beneficial for you, then it will be impressive to the people who may want to purchase your house someday as well. By remodeling your bathroom, the total value of your home may increase in the real estate market.
Nothing tops the personal comfort and relaxation of a good bathroom unit. So once you remodel your bathroom into a truly intuitive system for human use and comfort, future buyers will find favor from your house.
In fact, even minor transformations that have spectacular effects on the look and feel of your bathroom are enough to improve your home's value. You can make changes such as changing the tub surround, expanding the storage capacity, or repainting the structures. Our bathroom experts at Milwaukee Bath and Shower can help you find the best ways to improve your home's real estate value through a top-notch Springfield bath remodel package.
Work With Professionals
You can have to remake your bathroom into one that best suits you and your family if you work with the right team of professionals at Milwaukee Bath and Shower. There is a wide range of upgrades that you can apply to your bathroom today to add value to your house and serve your functional and aesthetic needs.
Remodeling a bathroom involves big decisions that must always be calculated properly. You may need to decide on matters like changing the layout, replacing entire walls and floors, adding many new features and technology, or switching from a bathtub unit to a shower unit. In making these decisions, it pays to have the assistance of an expert who has years of experience and training in such an endeavor.
With a professional contractor to provide specialized services, expert advice, and customer support, you can guarantee that your bath remodeling project's quality will be way better than a standard DIY project. You will know if your decisions are the best ones, if you're choosing practical solutions, or if you've considered all possible choices available.
Call us – Get a Free Consultation
As the best Springfield bath remodel company, Milwaukee Bath and Shower is dedicated to ensuring that you get the best of every penny you spend on our services.
Contact a professional from Milwaukee Bath and Shower to help you with your Springfield bath remodeling project today!
Call Milwaukee Bath and Shower at (262) 239-4799 for your Free Consultation!


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When In Manila, the one time you will see NO traffic, NO quarrels, NO fighting, NO political problems and the ONLY time that the entire Manila and the entire Philippines turns over from an extensively high troubled nation into one with a ZERO PERCENT crime rate is when Congressman Pacman, Manny Pacquiao steps into the boxing ring!
Here we go again with another big fight for the pound for pound champion Manny Pacquiao!
Unless another worthy opponent shows up, this may be one of, if not the last, big bouts of Manny Pacquiao's elusive career. There aren't a lot of high hopes of a Pacquiao vs Mayweather fight as Floyd Mayweather, the mouth that can't seem to back up what comes out of his mouth, may be in jail due to domestic violence problems.
So with that, this Manny Pacquiao vs Surgar Shane Mosley may be the last big bout we will have from the Pacman Manny Pacquiao.
Again, it's a time for people all over the world to watch their favorite boxer of all time. The World Champion in multiple divisions and also Congressman, Manny Pacquiao.
Odds are totally stacked on Manny Pacman Pacquiao's side. It's 6 to 1 in favor of Pacquiao. Rumor has it the only people betting on Mosley are desperate people praying for a big payday hopefully at the hands of a Sugar Shane Mosley upset in ths Pacquiao Mosley fight.
Either way, let's celebrate this wonderful Mother's Day by watching the most bad-ass mofo in the planet that also brings upon him Peace, throughout the world.
Good luck to Manny Pacquiao for this big fight!
When In Manila, be sure to watch the Manny Pacquiao fight, it's Pacquiao vs Mosley as we'll see if Sugar Shane Mosley has any more fuel left in his tank to take on this unstoppable Pacman tank!
Manny Pacquiao vs Mosley Live: The Path Towards Peace in the Philippines


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In April 2014, state and federal drug agents raided Jeffrey Campbell's medical clinic in Jeffersonville, Ind. Police cars blocked the parking lot as bewildered patients scattered and the agents carted off boxes of records from the doctor's office.
Some of the seized records would show that Campbell endangered patients by prescribing opiates without any medical need, according to federal prosecutors. Campbell, who collected millions of dollars from Medicare for urine tests run at his office lab, also failed to act when test results revealed patients were abusing prescription and illegal drugs, according to a government medical expert's report.
Four patients died from drug-related causes under his watch, the report said. Others flunked two dozen or more urine tests, but the clinic kept prescribing them pills. One patient with a history of overdoses failed 46 urine tests and was never confronted about it. Campbell denied wrongdoing.
The nation's opioid crisis has prompted an explosion in urine testing. The scourge has driven huge profits for many pain clinics across the U.S., an ongoing Kaiser Health News investigation shows. Spending on urine screens and related genetic tests quadrupled from 2011 to 2014 to an estimated $8.5 billion a year — more than the entire budget of the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a KHN analysis of billing data from Medicare and private insurance billing from the Mayo Clinic.
Medicare and other insurers pay for urine tests with the expectation that clinics will use the results to detect and curb dangerous abuse. But some doctors have taken no action when patients are caught misusing pharmaceuticals, or taking street drugs such as cocaine or heroin. Federal pain guidelines say doctors should discuss test results with patients and taper medication if necessary.
Medicare and private insurers acknowledge that they lack the resources to routinely verify that doctors who order a high volume of drug-related tests do so to improve patient care, not fatten the bottom line.
"This is a big issue," said Louis Saccoccio, who heads the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, a group formed by private insurers and government officials. "There are abusive practices out there."
In nearly a dozen recent criminal cases, prosecutors have cited evidence that doctors supplied opiates to patients with repeated abnormal urine test results.
One such doctor was Alabama pain specialist Shelinder Aggarwal, who billed Medicare and private insurers over $9 million for urine tests solely "because he served to profit," according to prosecutors in Alabama. He pleaded guilty to illegal prescribing and health care fraud. Earlier this year, a judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison.
Theodore Parran, who has served as an expert witness for the federal government, predicted more doctors could face fraud charges, or discipline by state medical licensing boards, over lab testing that appears to be profit-motivated.
"This is certainly on their radar," Parran, a professor of medical education at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, said in an interview. Ignoring repeated abnormal urine tests "is bad medicine" that "endangers the safety of the patients and the community."
The KHN investigation earlier this year found that dozens of pain doctors with their own labs took in $1 million or more in 2015 from Medicare for running urine and, in some cases, genetic drug tests. Some doctors derived at least 80 percent of their Medicare income this way.
Campbell's office was among the clinics billing Medicare the most in the country, according to KHN's data analysis of Medicare billing records.
Campbell and his staff at Physicians Primary Care PLLC billed the government agency a total of nearly $6 million for urine testing during 2014 and 2015, according to the KHN analysis.
In June, more than three years after the Indiana raid, a federal grand jury in Kentucky indicted Campbell and two associates. The charges — which were announced July 13 as part of a national health care fraud sweep — include multiple counts of illegally distributing prescription drugs and health care fraud; one fraud count accuses Campbell of ordering costly genetic tests through an outside lab that were "not medically necessary and never interpreted." All of the defendants pleaded not guilty.
Neither Campbell nor his attorney, Page Pate, would comment for this story. However, in an interview with KHN several months before his indictment, Campbell said the government's case was "without merit." He denied he ran a "pill mill" and said he relied on his "state-of-the-art" lab, which serves the Jeffersonville clinic and a branch just across the Ohio River in Louisville, to help keep patients safe.
"We do a lot of drug testing for patients and we do it appropriately," Campbell said.
Indeed, deciding how often to order these tests, and for which patients and drugs, can be a judgment call. Doctors also sometimes disagree over what action they should take against patients with "dirty" urine: Some doctors kick out drug abusers, while others argue that is unethical. Instead, doctors should counsel these patients and refer them for substance abuse treatment, they say.
Donald White, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General, said if test results are disregarded, "why is the test being ordered in the first place?"
"When abnormal urine drug test results are not acted upon by the physician who ordered the test, it raises concerns not only that the testing itself is not medically reasonable and necessary, but also that the doctor's treatment of the patient may fall below the standard of care," White said.
Prosecutors say Campbell kept them at bay for years by asserting that records seized in the raid, including computers and emails, contained privileged attorney communications. Clearing that hurdle delayed them from sending medical records to an outside expert for review, prosecutors said.
Indiana anesthesiologist Timothy King, who wrote the government medical expert's report in the Campbell case, examined 19 patient files this year for his report. He concluded that Campbell "fails to practice medicine according to generally accepted medical principles and standards of care," and "routinely" prescribed opiates "without a medical purpose."
King said Campbell gave four patients a brew of pills known as the "Holy Trinity," which King called "a street-popular combination of opiate, sedative and muscle relaxant that produces a heroin-like euphoria."
These four patients were prescribed refills despite repeated abnormal urine tests. Two failed two dozen or more urine screens, according to King's report.
All 19 patients repeatedly failed their tests, which King described as an obvious warning sign that they were ingesting prohibited drugs, or possibly peddling unused pills on the street.
"Urine drug screens are routinely inconsistent— [which can indicate] medication misuse, abuse and diversion," the expert concluded.
The four people who died showed telltale signs of trouble such as admitting they had diverted some of their medicine, or had been visiting other doctors to feed pill habits according his report.
A 25-year-old woman identified only by the initials "CM" had "vague" complaints of lower-back pain and used drugs "for purposes of abuse and diversion," according to King. She died three days after the clinic issued her a prescription for painkillers methadone and hydrocodone, King wrote. "EL," who was homeless and disabled, died from a drug overdose in July 2014, also three days after her office visit, according to the report.
King also said Campbell appeared to order unnecessary tests, including X-rays, "to optimize billing."
Less than a month after prosecutors received King's report, a federal grand jury in Louisville indicted Campbell and nurse practitioners Dawn Antle and Mark Dyer.
All have pleaded not guilty. No trial date has been set.
Indiana officials quickly suspended their licenses to practice.
Prosecutors also are seeking forfeiture of Campbell's Jeffersonville office building and other proceeds.
Attorneys for Antle and Dyer also had no comment. In the earlier interview with KHN, Campbell argued his practice attracts many difficult patients who have "no other option" to seek relief from pain. "Nobody else will see these people," he said.
He ordered tests for a slew of substances because none of his drug-abusing patients "ever just uses one drug. They use everything they can get their hands on."
KFF Health News' coverage related to aging and improving care of older adults is supported in part by The John A. Hartford Foundation.


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Environment & Science
Keynote speakers for corporate events do not have to focus on business, politics and leadership; Our busiest speakers currently include an increasing number of environmental, energy and education speakers.
The 21st century has seen society, social responsibility and even philanthropy take centre stage, while environmental awareness is increasingly at the heart of current business procurement and supply chain considerations.
There are many excellent conference speakers on the future of society, the changing nature of education, environmental issues and health sciences, and all our expert speakers in these areas have a slightly different angle and view.
By booking an expert speaker through our speaker bureau, you have access to a vast range of people from around the world, allowing you to provide an international focus for your event, whether it is about science, climate change, education, energy or society.


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A handmade art magnet with the fruits of the spirit.
I make each wooden magnet by hand in my Minneapolis studio.
• Magnet measures 2.5" x 2.5", 1/4" deep
• Super strong neodymium magnet - it actually holds stuff up
• I make all magnets in my studio, and they usually ship out within 3-4 days.
• Magnet is coated in a clear varnish - subtle brush streaks will show
• Each magnet is unique and will vary slightly from photos!
All magnets are shipped via USPS First Class Mail.
INTERNATIONAL: Shipping prices do not include customs fees - buyer is responsible for all customs fees! Please see my policies for more details.
*Due to monitor variations actual colors may vary.
All images copyright © 2019 Juniper & Spruce. All rights reserved. Purchase does not transfer copyright. No reproduction of any kind without prior written consent.


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Image: R.Sampanthan ( credit: The Hindu)
Meera Srinivasan.
Sri Lanka's seniormost politician on the government's record on the political solution to the Tamil issue
R. Sampanthan, leader of the Opposition in Sri Lanka's Parliament, is also the country's seniormost politician, having been in politics for more than six decades.
In the January 2015 presidential poll, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) he leads backed the President Maithripala Sirisena–Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe combine that ousted former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Three years on, in a conversation at his Colombo residence, the Tamil leader, now 84, weighs in on the government's performance, particularly on promises made to the Tamils in the aftermath of a brutal civil war. He also reflects on the future of Tamil politics. Excerpts:
It is three years since Sri Lanka's national unity government came to power with the overwhelming support of ethnic and religious minorities, including the Tamils. How do you reflect on that moment and your decision to support President Sirisena?
I have not the slightest doubt that we made the correct decision in backing Mr. Sirisena. We were sick of the Rajapaksa government which had been particularly unjust and unfair to the Tamil civilians.
President Sirisena had been involved with Tamil politics even before he stood for election. He was one of the strongest supporters of a just and reasonable solution to the Tamil question. He supported the constitutional proposals put forward by President Chandrika Bandaranaike, between 1994 and 2000. That, no doubt, influenced our decision. We were also influenced in our decision by the fact that Mr. Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe were willing to work together. For the first time, this provided an opportunity for the emergence of a multi-party consensus, particularly between the two main political parties, on the Tamil question.
I have no regrets about the decision we made, though the Tamil people, and consequently those of us who represent them, expected greater performance from the government.
Assessing this government's record, especially in relation to a political solution to the Tamil question and constitutional reform, what are the substantial gains made by the Tamils?
The Constitution process commenced in 2016 to evolve a reasonable political solution to the national question and considerable work has been done.
The steering committee [appointed with 21 members under the chairmanship of the PM] met regularly for discussions and submitted an interim report, which has been debated in Parliament. After the local authority elections [in February], we expect the Constitution process to move forward more rapidly. The process has been somewhat delayed because of certain positions taken by certain political parties.
The issues that have been of concern to the Tamil civilian population are the release of [civilians'] land held by the armed forces, the question of continued detention of political detenues and missing persons. I will not say that nothing has been done. I would certainly say that much more could have been done.
Some of the lands [previously held by the military] have been released both in the north and east, after we exerted much pressure on the government. Release of land is a continuing phenomenon. It is not easy, but it is happening. Even a few days ago, 133 acres was released at Keppapilavu in Mullaitivu. I worked very assiduously on that.
In regard to persons detained, about 40-50% of them have come out of jail. On the question of missing persons — apparently there have been about 20,000 complaints — it is a very large number. What their families fundamentally require is some information on their missing relatives. Some conclusion about whether that person is alive or not. There must be some solace, reparation, and some forms of assistance that will enable them to come to terms with reality and be able to pick up their lives and proceed.
The government has not yet addressed its commitments on the question of accountability adopted by the UN Human Rights Council, and co-sponsored by the Government of Sri Lanka in 2015. The Tamil civilian population is bitterly disappointed about the delay.
The constitutional reform process that the TNA is supporting, even prioritising it over war crimes accountability mechanisms, has slowed down with the many deadlines set by the government having lapsed. The debate is mostly stuck on abolishing the executive presidency, according Buddhism the foremost place and initiating electoral reforms, and little on devolution itself. Do you feel that the coalition government is letting down the Tamil people?
We are not able to come to any conclusion on what would eventually happen. But if there has been no serious debate on a certain matter, it can also be for the reason that there is not much disagreement on it. I will not go into the nuances of the issue now, for it is well known that the Chief Ministers of all the provinces of this country, particularly those from outside the north and east, have been very strongly supportive of extensive sharing of power between the centre and the provinces. But of course, I will hold my breath until we see the final formulations.
Are you optimistic?
I am not pessimistic. This country needs a political solution to embark on a journey towards genuine development and progress, based on the equality of all its people. In these circumstances, what we can do is to remain steadfast in the pursuit of these processes, towards an early and successful conclusion. We can't despair, we can't abandon things.
Those of us entrusted with the responsibility have a duty to continue to repose at least a measure of trust in the process. We have to play a role that is responsible, pragmatic and oriented towards achievement of what is important for the Tamil people, rather than make a noise about everything and be a source of disruption and disturbance.
What is the alternative? Do the people want the return of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government? I am not saying that is a good enough reason for nothing to happen, but one must realise that under this government, the rule of law is maintained, we don't have the culture of impunity that prevailed earlier, and the independence of the judiciary and civilian institutions has been restored.
When you take an overall picture of the situation, this is an environment conducive to the resolution of the issues pertaining to the Tamil people.
As Leader of the official Opposition, in what ways do you think you have been able to represent the concerns of Sri Lankans of other ethnicities and in other regions?
I have not ignored that aspect completely, but it may be that there is an expectation from some people that I could play a more constructive role. I will not disagree with that view, but at the same time, I think the most critical issue facing the country is the national question. If this country has not been able to get to where it should, it has been largely on account of this failure. I think the role that I am playing in that effort is probably not appreciated sufficiently by persons who think differently.
The country's ethnic conflict was provoked and intensified by competing nationalisms — though arguably unequal — of the Sinhalese and Tamils. Even today, the dominant discourse of Tamil politics continues to be nationalist and ethnically polarising. How do you see Tamil nationalist politics, often evoking the LTTE and its relevance to the post-war context? Can it speak to the apparent religious intolerance and caste discrimination within Tamil society?
There are no doubts that there are certain fissures within Tamil society. These exist, I suppose, in every society.
The Tamil people need to come out of this sense of them being second class citizens in this country and not equal citizens. They don't have the same rights that the others in the majority community have. The war was fought for that reason. The fact that the war has ended does not mean that the conflict itself has been resolved.
While I do think that there must be a greater appreciation of the need for balance and a cautious approach to different issues, there is a basic root cause that also needs to be addressed. If the new Constitution is able to provide the Tamil people with some belief in their future, these issues can probably be better addressed at that point of time than now.
The historic Northern Provincial Council (NPC) elections of 2013 gave the TNA its first opportunity in regional government. Despite the known limitations of inadequate power devolution, in what ways has the NPC served the people of the north? There is an accusation that much of the funds allocated remainS under-utilised, with the provincial administration not passing necessary statutes.
From all reports that I received and which I read perhaps the NPC could have done better. The 13th Amendment has its shortcomings, but more could have been done within its framework. Initially, the governor was being difficult, he was a military person, but since 2015 there have been new governors who are quite liberal and progressive. The NPC should have addressed issues pertaining to the people, their daily needs, in a much more constructive way than they have done.
Tensions within the TNA keep surfacing frequently, with some constituents accusing your party, the ITAK (Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi), of dominating the alliance. Could you comment on how the imminent local elections may impact Tamil politics and national politics?
Local government elections are held at the lowest level of the society and it is possible that under the new Constitution there will be a list of local government functions, like a list of national functions and a list of provincial subjects. If the provisions contemplated under the new Constitution are adopted, local government institutions can become reasonably important.
At present, I see people raising national issues at the electorate. I would think that a majority of the people would be supportive of the politics of the TNA, as of now comprising the ITAK, the PLOTE (People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam) and the TELO (Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization). Only the EPRLF (Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front) has gone out. I am reasonably confident that the people in their wisdom will appreciate the policies being pursued by the TNA.
And nationally?
We don't know what is going to happen. There are three main players in the south, SLFP (Sri Lanka Freedom Party), the party of the President, the UNF (United National Front) of the Prime Minister and the SLPP (Sri Lanka People's Front) led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. I don't think one is able to yet discern the trends. We have to wait to see how it turns out.
Have you thought of succession plans for the TNA leadership?
I have not been really planning anything or having any definite focus on anyone or any particular course of action. I think it must play out over a period of time, as early as possible. Let us see what happens as we go along. I cannot be there forever, we need to have someone take over. It is not easy — you have to be cautious, you have to be patient and you need not be answering everybody, that is not possible.
Courtesy of The Hindu.


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Wisconsin DHS Has Approved LeadCheck Test Kits for RRP Use
According to a letter sent to 3M on Wednesday June 27, 2012 by the Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health, the state of Wisconsin has just approved the use of 3M's LeadCheck test kit for use under the state's Lead Safe Renovation Rule. Wisconsin is one of the states that has taken over enforcement and administration of the RRP rule from EPA. They did so on April 22, 2010.
How and why it was approved
After review of regulatory requirements and test kit performance measures the Wisconsin Department of Health Services has concluded that the 3M LeadCheck test kit can reliably determine that lead-based paint is not present on wood, ferrous metal (alloys that contain iron), drywall and plaster substrates.
According to the letter: "Therefore, immediately, the Department recognizes the 3M LeadCheck paint test kit for use in Wisconsin limited to the negative response criteria under s.DHS 163.16 (2) (a) when performed by certified lead-safe renovators following the manufacturer's instructions."
According to the letter the Department has determined that using the negative response criterion alone is as protective of human health and the environment because a false positive would require a renovator to follow the lead-safe renovations when they would not have been necessary and therefore would be overly protective rather than less protective of human health and the environment.
Still hoping for a reliable and affordable quantitative test kit
Still hoping for a test kit that meets both the negative and positive response criteria, the letter clarifies that this recognition will remain in place until such time a kit that does both becomes available. The current test kits are only accurate enough to determine whether lead is present or not (qualitative test), not indicate how much lead is present (qualitative).
EPA had assumed a reliable quantitative test kit would be available by September of 2012 when it wrote their RRP Rule, but no kits with that ability have been recognized by EPA or any other state program. According to EPA's own research, the lack of a quantitative test kit has doubled the number of projects requiring lead-safe work practices, projects that otherwise would not have required those practices if a quantitative test kit were available. Read this RRPedia article for more clarification on this subject.
The Department plans to place Information about the new recognition on the lead program website and will provide information about the recognition to all Wisconsin training providers offering accredited lead-safe renovation courses. As of posting this blog the department's website did not have information about the test kit recognition.
Update 7/11/12:
Information about the test kit recognition and approved method of use has been posted to the department's web site.
Guidelines for Wisconsin Renovators
For the benefit of those working on target housing and child occupied facilities in Wisconsin, the DHS offers the following guidance documents for those who must comply with the state's Lead-Safe Renovation Rule.
Guidelines for Certified Abatement Workers and Supervisors
Guidelines for Renovation Contractors and Painters
Guidelines for Plumbers, HVAC, Fire Control
Guidelines for Rental Property Managers


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Australia/NZ Digital Agency Index: Campaign Brief and Bannerblog
Australia & NZ Digital Agency Index
The Official Hot + Cold Agency list for Digital Agencies in Australia & NZ
Presented by Campaign Brief and Bannerblog.
Well the first Digital Hot+Cold is over and no one can say it wasn't a democratic process. Agency inclusion, judging criteria, the jury and even the way it will be displayed was shaped over many (read: MANY!) emails between the 20+ agencies involved in Creative Social.
It was important for the jury to compare apples to apples, so all agencies are separated into 3 subgroups, Full Service, Digital Agency and Digital Production, to reflect the nature of the digital side. We also added the Indie marker to show who is independently owned.
We'll be looking at doing another induction round in <3 months. This will cover any mistakes and also allow the abstaining agencies to put forward their entries. We'll also attempt to introduce the "technical" aspect into the rankings to allow agencies to be ranked via creative or technical.
Some quotes from the judges below Please comment below on your thoughts for this index. |


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Cancel my pending SSL certificate request
If you submitted your SSL certificate request for the wrong domain name and it hasn't been issued, you can cancel the pending request, which will reset the SSL certificate credit.
- Go to your GoDaddy product page.
- Select Manage All next to SSL Certificates.
- Select the certificate that is pending.
- Under Certificate Details, next to Status and Pending Verification, select Cancel.
- A Certificate request pending cancellation banner will appear.
When your pending request is cancelled, you can then request a new SSL certificate.


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keyrings(7) | Miscellaneous Information Manual | keyrings(7) |
keyrings - in-kernel key management and retention facility
The Linux key-management facility is primarily a way for various kernel components to retain or cache security data, authentication keys, encryption keys, and other data in the kernel.
System call interfaces are provided so that user-space programs can manage those objects and also use the facility for their own purposes; see add_key(2), request_key(2), and keyctl(2).
A library and some user-space utilities are provided to allow access to the facility. See keyctl(1), keyctl(3), and keyutils(7) for more information.
A key has the following attributes:
- Serial number (ID)
- This is a unique integer handle by which a key is referred to in system calls. The serial number is sometimes synonymously referred as the key ID. Programmatically, key serial numbers are represented using the type key_serial_t.
- Type
- A key's type defines what sort of data can be held in the key, how the proposed content of the key will be parsed, and how the payload will be used.
- There are a number of general-purpose types available, plus some specialist types defined by specific kernel components.
- Description (name)
- The key description is a printable string that is used as the search term for the key (in conjunction with the key type) as well as a display name. During searches, the description may be partially matched or exactly matched.
- Payload (data)
- The payload is the actual content of a key. This is usually set when a key is created, but it is possible for the kernel to upcall to user space to finish the instantiation of a key if that key wasn't already known to the kernel when it was requested. For further details, see request_key(2).
- A key's payload can be read and updated if the key type supports it and if suitable permission is granted to the caller.
- Access rights
- Much as files do, each key has an owning user ID, an owning group ID, and a security label. Each key also has a set of permissions, though there are more than for a normal UNIX file, and there is an additional category—possessor—beyond the usual user, group, and other (see Possession, below).
- Note that keys are quota controlled, since they require unswappable kernel memory. The owning user ID specifies whose quota is to be debited.
- Expiration time
- Each key can have an expiration time set. When that time is reached, the key is marked as being expired and accesses to it fail with the error EKEYEXPIRED. If not deleted, updated, or replaced, then, after a set amount of time, an expired key is automatically removed (garbage collected) along with all links to it, and attempts to access the key fail with the error ENOKEY.
- Reference count
- Each key has a reference count. Keys are referenced by keyrings, by currently active users, and by a process's credentials. When the reference count reaches zero, the key is scheduled for garbage collection.
Key types
The kernel provides several basic types of key:
- "keyring"
- Keyrings are special keys which store a set of links to other keys (including other keyrings), analogous to a directory holding links to files. The main purpose of a keyring is to prevent other keys from being garbage collected because nothing refers to them.
- Keyrings with descriptions (names) that begin with a period ('.') are reserved to the implementation.
- "user"
- This is a general-purpose key type. The key is kept entirely within kernel memory. The payload may be read and updated by user-space applications.
- The payload for keys of this type is a blob of arbitrary data of up to 32,767 bytes.
- The description may be any valid string, though it is preferred that it start with a colon-delimited prefix representing the service to which the key is of interest (for instance "afs:mykey").
- "logon" (since Linux 3.3)
- This key type is essentially the same as "user", but it does not provide reading (i.e., the keyctl(2) KEYCTL_READ operation), meaning that the key payload is never visible from user space. This is suitable for storing username-password pairs that should not be readable from user space.
- The description of a "logon" key must start with a non-empty colon-delimited prefix whose purpose is to identify the service to which the key belongs. (Note that this differs from keys of the "user" type, where the inclusion of a prefix is recommended but is not enforced.)
- "big_key" (since Linux 3.13)
- This key type is similar to the "user" key type, but it may hold a payload of up to 1 MiB in size. This key type is useful for purposes such as holding Kerberos ticket caches.
- The payload data may be stored in a tmpfs filesystem, rather than in kernel memory, if the data size exceeds the overhead of storing the data in the filesystem. (Storing the data in a filesystem requires filesystem structures to be allocated in the kernel. The size of these structures determines the size threshold above which the tmpfs storage method is used.) Since Linux 4.8, the payload data is encrypted when stored in tmpfs, thereby preventing it from being written unencrypted into swap space.
There are more specialized key types available also, but they aren't discussed here because they aren't intended for normal user-space use.
Key type names that begin with a period ('.') are reserved to the implementation.
As previously mentioned, keyrings are a special type of key that contain links to other keys (which may include other keyrings). Keys may be linked to by multiple keyrings. Keyrings may be considered as analogous to UNIX directories where each directory contains a set of hard links to files.
Various operations (system calls) may be applied only to keyrings:
- Adding
- A key may be added to a keyring by system calls that create keys. This prevents the new key from being immediately deleted when the system call releases its last reference to the key.
- Linking
- A link may be added to a keyring pointing to a key that is already known, provided this does not create a self-referential cycle.
- Unlinking
- A link may be removed from a keyring. When the last link to a key is removed, that key will be scheduled for deletion by the garbage collector.
- Clearing
- All the links may be removed from a keyring.
- Searching
- A keyring may be considered the root of a tree or subtree in which keyrings form the branches and non-keyrings the leaves. This tree may be searched for a key matching a particular type and description.
See keyctl_clear(3), keyctl_link(3), keyctl_search(3), and keyctl_unlink(3) for more information.
Anchoring keys
To prevent a key from being garbage collected, it must be anchored to keep its reference count elevated when it is not in active use by the kernel.
Keyrings are used to anchor other keys: each link is a reference on a key. Note that keyrings themselves are just keys and are also subject to the same anchoring requirement to prevent them being garbage collected.
The kernel makes available a number of anchor keyrings. Note that some of these keyrings will be created only when first accessed.
- Process keyrings
- Process credentials themselves reference keyrings with specific semantics. These keyrings are pinned as long as the set of credentials exists, which is usually as long as the process exists.
- There are three keyrings with different inheritance/sharing rules: the session-keyring(7) (inherited and shared by all child processes), the process-keyring(7) (shared by all threads in a process) and the thread-keyring(7) (specific to a particular thread).
- As an alternative to using the actual keyring IDs, in calls to add_key(2), keyctl(2), and request_key(2), the special keyring values KEY_SPEC_SESSION_KEYRING, KEY_SPEC_PROCESS_KEYRING, and KEY_SPEC_THREAD_KEYRING can be used to refer to the caller's own instances of these keyrings.
- User keyrings
- Each UID known to the kernel has a record that contains two keyrings: the user-keyring(7) and the user-session-keyring(7). These exist for as long as the UID record in the kernel exists.
- As an alternative to using the actual keyring IDs, in calls to add_key(2), keyctl(2), and request_key(2), the special keyring values KEY_SPEC_USER_KEYRING and KEY_SPEC_USER_SESSION_KEYRING can be used to refer to the caller's own instances of these keyrings.
- A link to the user keyring is placed in a new session keyring by pam_keyinit(8) when a new login session is initiated.
- Persistent keyrings
- There is a persistent-keyring(7) available to each UID known to the system. It may persist beyond the life of the UID record previously mentioned, but has an expiration time set such that it is automatically cleaned up after a set time. The persistent keyring permits, for example, cron(8) scripts to use credentials that are left in the persistent keyring after the user logs out.
- Note that the expiration time of the persistent keyring is reset every time the persistent key is requested.
- Special keyrings
- There are special keyrings owned by the kernel that can anchor keys for special purposes. An example of this is the system keyring used for holding encryption keys for module signature verification.
- These special keyrings are usually closed to direct alteration by user space.
An originally planned "group keyring", for storing keys associated with each GID known to the kernel, is not so far implemented, is unlikely to be implemented. Nevertheless, the constant KEY_SPEC_GROUP_KEYRING has been defined for this keyring.
The concept of possession is important to understanding the keyrings security model. Whether a thread possesses a key is determined by the following rules:
- (1)
- Any key or keyring that does not grant search permission to the caller is ignored in all the following rules.
- (2)
- A thread possesses its session-keyring(7), process-keyring(7), and thread-keyring(7) directly because those keyrings are referred to by its credentials.
- (3)
- If a keyring is possessed, then any key it links to is also possessed.
- (4)
- If any key a keyring links to is itself a keyring, then rule (3) applies recursively.
- (5)
- If a process is upcalled from the kernel to instantiate a key (see request_key(2)), then it also possesses the requester's keyrings as in rule (1) as if it were the requester.
Note that possession is not a fundamental property of a key, but must rather be calculated each time the key is needed.
Possession is designed to allow set-user-ID programs run from, say a user's shell to access the user's keys. Granting permissions to the key possessor while denying them to the key owner and group allows the prevention of access to keys on the basis of UID and GID matches.
When it creates the session keyring, pam_keyinit(8) adds a link to the user-keyring(7), thus making the user keyring and anything it contains possessed by default.
Access rights
Each key has the following security-related attributes:
- •
- The owning user ID
- •
- The ID of a group that is permitted to access the key
- •
- A security label
- •
- A permissions mask
The permissions mask contains four sets of rights. The first three sets are mutually exclusive. One and only one will be in force for a particular access check. In order of descending priority, these three sets are:
- user
- The set specifies the rights granted if the key's user ID matches the caller's filesystem user ID.
- group
- The set specifies the rights granted if the user ID didn't match and the key's group ID matches the caller's filesystem GID or one of the caller's supplementary group IDs.
- other
- The set specifies the rights granted if neither the key's user ID nor group ID matched.
The fourth set of rights is:
- possessor
- The set specifies the rights granted if a key is determined to be possessed by the caller.
The complete set of rights for a key is the union of whichever of the first three sets is applicable plus the fourth set if the key is possessed.
The set of rights that may be granted in each of the four masks is as follows:
- view
- The attributes of the key may be read. This includes the type, description, and access rights (excluding the security label).
- read
- For a key: the payload of the key may be read. For a keyring: the list of serial numbers (keys) to which the keyring has links may be read.
- write
- The payload of the key may be updated and the key may be revoked. For a keyring, links may be added to or removed from the keyring, and the keyring may be cleared completely (all links are removed),
- search
- For a key (or a keyring): the key may be found by a search. For a keyring: keys and keyrings that are linked to by the keyring may be searched.
- link
- Links may be created from keyrings to the key. The initial link to a key that is established when the key is created doesn't require this permission.
- setattr
- The ownership details and security label of the key may be changed, the key's expiration time may be set, and the key may be revoked.
In addition to access rights, any active Linux Security Module (LSM) may prevent access to a key if its policy so dictates. A key may be given a security label or other attribute by the LSM; this label is retrievable via keyctl_get_security(3).
See keyctl_chown(3), keyctl_describe(3), keyctl_get_security(3), keyctl_setperm(3), and selinux(8) for more information.
Searching for keys
One of the key features of the Linux key-management facility is the ability to find a key that a process is retaining. The request_key(2) system call is the primary point of access for user-space applications to find a key. (Internally, the kernel has something similar available for use by internal components that make use of keys.)
The search algorithm works as follows:
- (1)
- The process keyrings are searched in the following order: the thread-keyring(7) if it exists, the process-keyring(7) if it exists, and then either the session-keyring(7) if it exists or the user-session-keyring(7) if that exists.
- (2)
- If the caller was a process that was invoked by the request_key(2) upcall mechanism, then the keyrings of the original caller of request_key(2) will be searched as well.
- (3)
- The search of a keyring tree is in breadth-first order: each keyring is searched first for a match, then the keyrings referred to by that keyring are searched.
- (4)
- If a matching key is found that is valid, then the search terminates and that key is returned.
- (5)
- If a matching key is found that has an error state attached, that error state is noted and the search continues.
- (6)
- If no valid matching key is found, then the first noted error state is returned; otherwise, an ENOKEY error is returned.
It is also possible to search a specific keyring, in which case only steps (3) to (6) apply.
See request_key(2) and keyctl_search(3) for more information.
On-demand key creation
If a key cannot be found, request_key(2) will, if given a callout_info argument, create a new key and then upcall to user space to instantiate the key. This allows keys to be created on an as-needed basis.
Typically, this will involve the kernel creating a new process that executes the request-key(8) program, which will then execute the appropriate handler based on its configuration.
The handler is passed a special authorization key that allows it and only it to instantiate the new key. This is also used to permit searches performed by the handler program to also search the requester's keyrings.
See request_key(2), keyctl_assume_authority(3), keyctl_instantiate(3), keyctl_negate(3), keyctl_reject(3), request-key(8), and request-key.conf(5) for more information.
The Linux key-management facility has a number of users and usages, but is not limited to those that already exist.
In-kernel users of this facility include:
- Network filesystems - DNS
- The kernel uses the upcall mechanism provided by the keys to upcall to user space to do DNS lookups and then to cache the results.
- AF_RXRPC and kAFS - Authentication
- The AF_RXRPC network protocol and the in-kernel AFS filesystem use keys to store the ticket needed to do secured or encrypted traffic. These are then looked up by network operations on AF_RXRPC and filesystem operations on kAFS.
- NFS - User ID mapping
- The NFS filesystem uses keys to store mappings of foreign user IDs to local user IDs.
- CIFS - Password
- The CIFS filesystem uses keys to store passwords for accessing remote shares.
- Module verification
- The kernel build process can be made to cryptographically sign modules. That signature is then checked when a module is loaded.
User-space users of this facility include:
- Kerberos key storage
- The MIT Kerberos 5 facility (libkrb5) can use keys to store authentication tokens which can be made to be automatically cleaned up a set time after the user last uses them, but until then permits them to hang around after the user has logged out so that cron(8) scripts can use them.
The kernel provides various /proc files that expose information about keys or define limits on key usage.
- /proc/keys (since Linux 2.6.10)
- This file exposes a list of the keys for which the reading thread has view permission, providing various information about each key. The thread need not possess the key for it to be visible in this file.
- The only keys included in the list are those that grant view permission to the reading process (regardless of whether or not it possesses them). LSM security checks are still performed, and may filter out further keys that the process is not authorized to view.
- An example of the data that one might see in this file (with the columns numbered for easy reference below) is the following:
(1) (2) (3)(4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) 009a2028 I--Q--- 1 perm 3f010000 1000 1000 user krb_ccache:primary: 12 1806c4ba I--Q--- 1 perm 3f010000 1000 1000 keyring _pid: 2 25d3a08f I--Q--- 1 perm 1f3f0000 1000 65534 keyring _uid_ses.1000: 1 28576bd8 I--Q--- 3 perm 3f010000 1000 1000 keyring _krb: 1 2c546d21 I--Q--- 190 perm 3f030000 1000 1000 keyring _ses: 2 30a4e0be I------ 4 2d 1f030000 1000 65534 keyring _persistent.1000: 1 32100fab I--Q--- 4 perm 1f3f0000 1000 65534 keyring _uid.1000: 2 32a387ea I--Q--- 1 perm 3f010000 1000 1000 keyring _pid: 2 3ce56aea I--Q--- 5 perm 3f030000 1000 1000 keyring _ses: 1
- The fields shown in each line of this file are as follows:
- The ID (serial number) of the key, expressed in hexadecimal.
- Flags (2)
- A set of flags describing the state of the key:
- The key has been instantiated.
- The key has been revoked.
- The key is dead (i.e., the key type has been unregistered). (A key may be briefly in this state during garbage collection.)
- The key contributes to the user's quota.
- The key is under construction via a callback to user space; see request-key(2).
- The key is negatively instantiated.
- i
- The key has been invalidated.
- Usage (3)
- This is a count of the number of kernel credential structures that are pinning the key (approximately: the number of threads and open file references that refer to this key).
- Timeout (4)
- The amount of time until the key will expire, expressed in human-readable form (weeks, days, hours, minutes, and seconds). The string perm here means that the key is permanent (no timeout). The string expd means that the key has already expired, but has not yet been garbage collected.
- Permissions (5)
- The key permissions, expressed as four hexadecimal bytes containing, from left to right, the possessor, user, group, and other permissions. Within each byte, the permission bits are as follows:
- 0x01
- view
- 0x02
- read
- 0x04
- write
- 0x08
- search
- 0x10
- link
- 0x20
- setattr
- The user ID of the key owner.
- The group ID of the key. The value -1 here means that the key has no group ID; this can occur in certain circumstances for keys created by the kernel.
- Type (8)
- The key type (user, keyring, etc.)
- Description (9)
- The key description (name). This field contains descriptive information about the key. For most key types, it has the form
name[: extra-info]
- The name subfield is the key's description (name). The optional extra-info field provides some further information about the key. The information that appears here depends on the key type, as follows:
- "user" and "logon"
- The size in bytes of the key payload (expressed in decimal).
- "keyring"
- The number of keys linked to the keyring, or the string empty if there are no keys linked to the keyring.
- "big_key"
- The payload size in bytes, followed either by the string [file], if the key payload exceeds the threshold that means that the payload is stored in a (swappable) tmpfs(5) filesystem, or otherwise the string [buff], indicating that the key is small enough to reside in kernel memory.
- For the ".request_key_auth" key type (authorization key; see request_key(2)), the description field has the form shown in the following example:
key:c9a9b19 pid:28880 ci:10
- The three subfields are as follows:
- /proc/key-users (since Linux 2.6.10)
- This file lists various information for each user ID that has at least one key on the system. An example of the data that one might see in this file is the following:
0: 10 9/9 2/1000000 22/25000000 42: 9 9/9 8/200 106/20000 1000: 11 11/11 10/200 271/20000
- The fields shown in each line are as follows:
- uid
- The user ID.
- usage
- This is a kernel-internal usage count for the kernel structure used to record key users.
- nkeys/nikeys
- The total number of keys owned by the user, and the number of those keys that have been instantiated.
- qnkeys/maxkeys
- The number of keys owned by the user, and the maximum number of keys that the user may own.
- qnbytes/maxbytes
- The number of bytes consumed in payloads of the keys owned by this user, and the upper limit on the number of bytes in key payloads for that user.
- /proc/sys/kernel/keys/gc_delay (since Linux 2.6.32)
- The value in this file specifies the interval, in seconds, after which revoked and expired keys will be garbage collected. The purpose of having such an interval is so that there is a window of time where user space can see an error (respectively EKEYREVOKED and EKEYEXPIRED) that indicates what happened to the key.
- The default value in this file is 300 (i.e., 5 minutes).
- /proc/sys/kernel/keys/persistent_keyring_expiry (since Linux 3.13)
- This file defines an interval, in seconds, to which the persistent keyring's expiration timer is reset each time the keyring is accessed (via keyctl_get_persistent(3) or the keyctl(2) KEYCTL_GET_PERSISTENT operation.)
- The default value in this file is 259200 (i.e., 3 days).
The following files (which are writable by privileged processes) are used to enforce quotas on the number of keys and number of bytes of data that can be stored in key payloads:
- /proc/sys/kernel/keys/maxbytes (since Linux 2.6.26)
- This is the maximum number of bytes of data that a nonroot user can hold in the payloads of the keys owned by the user.
- The default value in this file is 20,000.
- /proc/sys/kernel/keys/maxkeys (since Linux 2.6.26)
- This is the maximum number of keys that a nonroot user may own.
- The default value in this file is 200.
- /proc/sys/kernel/keys/root_maxbytes (since Linux 2.6.26)
- This is the maximum number of bytes of data that the root user (UID 0 in the root user namespace) can hold in the payloads of the keys owned by root.
- The default value in this file is 25,000,000 (20,000 before Linux 3.17).
- /proc/sys/kernel/keys/root_maxkeys (since Linux 2.6.26)
- This is the maximum number of keys that the root user (UID 0 in the root user namespace) may own.
- The default value in this file is 1,000,000 (200 before Linux 3.17).
With respect to keyrings, note that each link in a keyring consumes 4 bytes of the keyring payload.
keyctl(1), add_key(2), keyctl(2), request_key(2), keyctl(3), keyutils(7), persistent-keyring(7), process-keyring(7), session-keyring(7), thread-keyring(7), user-keyring(7), user-session-keyring(7), pam_keyinit(8), request-key(8)
2024-06-16 | Linux man-pages 6.9.1 |


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Artwork Proof E-mailed for Approval after Ordering
Online pricing includes embroidered logo in 1 position. For other branding options or express service please contact us. Processing time is approx 8 business days from artwork approval.
To order select colour, sizes and branding requirements, upload your artwork and complete checkout. A customer service representative will be in contact with your artwork proof for approval.


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Here's a cool way to kick off the new year and decade: Coming soon is a fantastic new release called Crimson White and Indigo, a DVD/3-CD set that captures every second of the Grateful Dead's superb July 7, 1989 concert at Philadelphia's John F. Kennedy Stadium. If you loved the popular 2005 DVD/CD release Truckin' Up to Buffalo, from July 4, 1989, well, this is the very next show: why, it's practically like being on tour without having to pitch in gas money, eat bad road food, swelter in the heat or score a miracle ticket. Nope, all the work has been done for you—from the crisp multiple-camera shoot (with no video effects, you'll be happy to hear) to the crystal clear and powerful audio, mixed from the original 24-track analog tapes in both Dolby Digital stereo and 5.1 surround (for the DVD), and mastered in HDCD (for the CD). But the proof is (always!) in the playing, and this show from the sizzling summer of '89 tour is sure to please both hard core and casual fans with its energy, diverse song list and passionate playing.
Two years removed from the craziness that surrounded the "comeback" tour of 1987 and the Dead's unprecedented flirtation with mainstream success—thanks to "Touch of Grey" and the In the Dark album—the group was still riding the crest of that wave and attracting thousands of new fans with each passing tour. The summer of '89 began in style for the Dead on the solstice itself with a nationally televised/broadcast concert from Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, Calif. A week and a half later, the GD circus hit the road for seven East Coast stadium shows, followed by a handful in Midwest amphitheaters. The group was in excellent form throughout, offering a great selection of old and recent favorites, and polishing some of the new songs which would make up their album-in-progress at the time, Built to Last. Visually, the Dead's stage set that summer was perhaps the most spectacular they ever mounted—designed by noted Czech artist Jan Sawka, it consisted of dozens of enormous painted canvas panels covered with various patterns, colors and shapes—some abstract, some concrete; quite an amazing sight in an enormous stadium.
In what would turn out to be the final rock concert in Philly's JFK Stadium (the first was The Beatles in August 1966; the aging stadium itself dated back to 1926), the Grateful Dead come out on a brutally hot afternoon (after a fine opening set by Bruce Hornsby & the Range) with rock 'n' roll on their minds. "Hell in a Bucket" is an appropriate opening choice for a day that is nearly hot as Hades, and then Jerry takes the party to the next level with a truly inspired "Iko Iko." He's all smiles, and that's always a good sign! From there, the first set dips into some blues ("Little Red Rooster"), Hunter-Garcia classics like "Ramble on Rose" and "Loser," a potent version of Dylan's "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again," a wonderfully exploratory version of "Let It Grow," and finally, Brent Mydland's still-newish anthem "Blow Away," which is one of his finest performances of that rockin' tune.
You gotta love a second set that opens with a warm and inviting "Box of Rain"—peppy and nicely sung—and then right on its heels a "Scarlet Begonias" > "Fire on the Mountain" that is as "up" and celebratory as you could hope for: The "Scarlet" breezes along with joyous purpose, and the "Fire" hits all sorts of mighty peaks; at nearly 25 minutes, it's a spectacular pairing. "Estimated Prophet" is marked by a smoldering intensity and then the jam that follows settles into the majestic Hunter-Garcia ballad "Standing on the Moon," surely one of their greatest late-era compositions, and played only seven times before this standout version. The DVD depiction of the "Rhythm Devils" percussion duel gives us a fascinating glimpse of the tools and techniques Mickey and Bill used to create their magical alchemy, and then, following "Space," the band launches into a hair-raising, careening "Other One" (dig how the camera shows us Phil's rumbling bass intro up close!), Jerry takes us down to the docks of the city for an emotional "Wharf Rat," and Bob gets back into party-mode for the concluding "Lovelight." The encore of Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" offers a beautiful grace note for a show that has taken us through so many different spaces and moods.
The beautifully designed package for Crimson, White and Indigo (the name comes from a line in "Standing on the Moon," of course) includes loads of great photos by Bob Minkin and an essay from veteran Grateful Dead observer Steve Silberman. All in all it's a wonderful show from a great year!
--Blair Jackson
Stay tuned for pre-order info, coming to this space soon!!
dead comment
This looks just wondreful
The music plays on.
Great. Love to know the status of the pre-80's Dead vids
sounds promising
After reading 500 some posts
JackstrawfromCo... you beat me to that question ..
Road Trips
samadams757 ask the most important question
blow away (rhino)
7/7/89 DVD/CD Set
A really happy Deadhead here
Fred garvin and the merry pranksters were there
Good release-Very tempting
Another good review
thanks but
Count Me In!
FInally a DVD!!!
Road Trips
I can't wait for the drama!
jackstraw and stuman
Hal R
God Aweful Customer Service
Actually I was defending the store
trouble in store
New Release past experiences ordering from dead.net and rhino
I agree...
a dvd 3 cd set
The first Road Trips was
It seems inevitable
Sneak preview
GD Hour station list


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On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It has been translated into more than 350 languages worldwide, and more than 100 African languages. The full text of its 30 articles in English can be found by clicking the subsequent links.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Last change: 04.01.10 - 19:24


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Planning to change employers this year? As you look forward to starting your new job, you're probably not thinking about taxes. But actions you take now can have an impact next April – and beyond.
Here are three tax-smart tips:
* Roll your retirement plan. You may be tempted to cash out the balance in your employer-sponsored plan, such as a 401(k). But remember that distributions from these plans are generally taxable.
Instead, ask your plan administrator to make a direct rollover to your IRA or another qualified plan. If you're under age 59½, this decision also avoids the additional 10% penalty on early distributions. Bonus: Your retirement money will continue to grow tax-deferred.
* Adjust your withholding. Assess your overall tax situation before you complete Form W-4 for your new employer. Did you receive severance pay, unemployment compensation, or other taxable income? You might need to increase your withholding to avoid an unexpected tax bill when you file your return.
* Keep track of your job-related expenses. Unreimbursed employment agency fees, résumé preparation costs, and certain travel expenses can be claimed as itemized deductions.
Are you moving at least 50 miles to your new job? You may be able to reduce your income even if you don't itemize. Eligible moving expenses are an above-the-line deduction.
More tax issues to consider when you change jobs include stock options, employment-related educational expenses, and the sale of your home. Give us a call. We'll be happy to help you implement tax-saving strategies.


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Amid disturbing reports that Bashar al-Assad may be preparing to use chemical agents against insurgent opposition, the Obama administration is reiterating its position that such a step constitutes a "red line" the Syrian dictator dares not cross. "Today I want to make it absolutely clear to Assad and those under his command: The world is watching," President Obama said on Monday. "The use of chemical weapons is and would be totally unacceptable. And if you make the tragic mistake of using these weapons, there will be consequences and you will be held accountable." Added Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: "we are certainly planning to take action" in such an event.
That seems like an uncontroversial position. Except when you consider that, in the nineteen months since the Syrian uprising began, Assad's forces have killed the great majority of the more than 40,000 people to die in the conflict, many thousands of them innocent civilians. His men have indiscriminately shelled residential neighborhoods; tortured prisoners; allegedly burned infants in their beds and even buried men alive. All without crossing a red line.
(MORE: Bashar Assad's Chemical-Weapons' Calculus)
So why draw a line at chemical weapons? "The international community has spelled out a specific set of rules and norms outlawing the use of chemical or biological weapons," explains White House spokesman Tommy Vietor. "The death to civilians is indiscriminate and the human suffering they inflict is horrific."
It certainly is. Assad is thought to have a stockpile of sarin gas, which, for instance, produces drooling, convulsions and vomiting before death. But conventional weapons are horrific, too. Explosives cause dismemberment, severe burns, collapsed lungs. And while the effects of poison gas are often likened to torture, countless Syrians have already endured torture–the kind with cables, whips and electric shocks to the genitals.
As Vietor notes, international law does treat chemical weapons differently. They were banned after World War I by the Geneva Protocol (which Syria signed), and again by the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention. (Syria is among a small and nasty club of states not to join that one). But Assad's brutality has violated international law many times over; chemicals aren't a game-changer.
(MORE: The Anti-Assad Offensive: Can the West Oust Syria's Strongman?)
So the real issue here isn't moral or legal. It's psychological–and therefore political. Academics debate why chemical weapons carry a special stigma; it may be a special genetic aversion to poison, or perhaps a dread-inducing unfamiliarity with their effects. But the fact is that Assad's use of chemical weapons would generate a degree of revulsion and outrage that would give the west the political cover required for direct intervention. "The possible use of chemical weapons would be completely unacceptable for the whole international community," NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters this week. The White House's Vietor even invokes Saddam Hussein, whose gassing of the Kurds was an oft-repeated rationale for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. "The last leader to do so was Saddam Hussein, clearly a pariah in the international community," adds Vietor. "Assad could still have some possible exit valves available to him. I can't imagine any state would help him if he gassed his people."
There is one other rationale for this red line, one that the White House doesn't publicly emphasize: terrorism. Chemical weapons tend to be relatively portable, and give a terrorist the theoretical ability to kill large numbers of people in a dense urban area. (That point has attracted the particular interest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is reportedly contemplating airstrikes against Syria's chemical weapons depots.) Even so, when five members of the fanatical Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo released sarin gas on the Japanese subway in March of 1995, the death toll of thirteen was a small fraction of the 190 people killed on the Madrid subway in 2006, when the method was old-fashioned high explosives.
Unless he runs out of conventional weapons, Assad would be foolish to incite America by tapping his chemical arsenal. He's spent most of the past two years inflicting blood-curdling suffering on his people. There's little reason to think we'll try to interfere–so long as his sadism is the conventional kind, the kind we apparently can tolerate.


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By Chef Laura Frankel
I love the idea of a brightly colored, chilled and refreshing soup for the holidays this year. There is plenty of cool weather coming during which I can eat heartier hot soups, but rarely do you get to show off gorgeous produce in holiday china.
The color of this soup, alone, will kick the meal off to a great start. Details count on the soup, so go crazy with garnishes and seek out the best tasting produce you can find.
3 medium red beets
2 pounds favorite heirloom tomatoes, diced
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
2 medium shallots, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
¼ cup best quality extra virgin olive oil
3 cups of tomato juice (preferably from fresh tomatoes)
Kosher salt and pepper
Garnishes: diced heirloom tomatoes (lots of colors here!), beet slices*- thinly sliced on a mandolin, fresh herbs, sliced cucumber, micro diced green and yellow beans**, extra virgin olive oil, edible flowers, diced figs, diced watermelon, pomegranate arils/seeds (if you can find them!)
Preheat oven to 350
Drizzle olive oil on the beets and wrap them individually in foil and roast for about 1 hour, until tender or until a paring knife can easily pierce them. When cool enough to handle, peel the beets. (the beets can be roasted up to 3 days ahead of serving).
Puree the ingredients for the soup, in batches in a blender or food processor, until smooth and no lumps remain. Chill the soup. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper
To serve the soup, portion the soup into shallow bowls or gorgeous glasses. Garnish with as many fresh items as you can find. Finish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
The soup can be made up to 3 days ahead of serving.
*To slice the beets for garnishes, position the blade on your mandolin to the thinnest setting. Peel the beets (I am using golden and candy stripe beets), holding the beets with a towel to prevent cuts, slice a cross section as thin as possible to produce a beet chip. Store the beet chips in ice-cold water in the refrigerator. The beet chips can be cut 1 day ahead of serving, with each color being stored separately.
**To micro-dice the beans, gather the beans together in a tight bundle (about 6 beans) and cut tiny cross sections. The beans can be gently blanched and shocked or if they are really sweet and delicious, cut them raw!
Serves 6-8.
Recipe, kosher, soup, parve