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LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - A halftime lead didn't hold for the Wilmington University women's basketball team as Georgian Court shot 53.6 percent in the second half to come back for a 74-64 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory at the Wellness Center on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats (2-7, 1-4 CACC) took a 33-27 lead into the halftime break, but the Lions (2-8, 1-3 CACC) responded with a 47 points second half, taking the lead for good on a three-pointer by Tara Steakin with 13:24 remaining in the contest.
Georgian Court had as large as a nine point lead in the first half, following a layup with 5:28 remaining on the clock. That is when the Wildcats made their move, scoring 19 of the next 23 points to end the half and go into the locker room with a six pint lead.
The team's leading scorer on the night, Lauren Brown got the run started with an old-fashioned three-point play, hitting a layup while being fouled with 4:58 to play. She hit the foul shot to complete the play before the Wildcats hit five more free-throws in the next 52 seconds to bring the score to 23-22.
Brown completed the comeback and extended the Wildcats' run to 11 straight points with a three-pointer, giving the visitors the lead at 25-22. Jasmine lead extended the lead to four points before Brown capped the run with another layup, making it a 15-0 run before the Lions got on the board again with 1:34 to play in the half. Tashea Plummer hit a jumper with 39 second left for the final bucket of the half, sending the Wildcats to the locker room with a six-point lead.
The second half saw three ties but only one lead change, and it came by the Lions' Steakin who's three-pointer broke a tied score and allowed the Lions to never look back.
Plummer layups on the next two possessions for the Wildcats' but they were to bring the Wildcats to within one-point of the Lions each time. After the second bucket by Plummer, Georgian Court ripped off a 23-7 run to open a commanding 17 point lead with 6:22 remaining in regulation.
A quick eight point spurt brought the Wildcats to within nine points with 4:53 to play, and they worked the deficit to as few as five at 69-64 after a layup by Theresa Mitchell. But the Lions wouldn't allow the Wildcats to get any closer the rest of the way, hitting their foul shots down the stretch to pull away with the 10 point victory.
Wilmington had three student-athletes in double-digits, led by Brown's 15 points off the bench. Cari Callaway finished with 14 points while Mitchell chipped in with 10 points off the bench while shooting 4-for-6 from the floor.
The Wildcats did not have an answer for the Lions' Ashiri Broadwater, however, as she finished with a game high 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting, adding 9-of-13 from the foul line. Liz Lawler added a double-double off the bench with 14 points and a game high 10 rebounds.
Wilmington's busy week is not over, as the team will head to Institute, W.Va. to play in the West Virginia State Toys for Tots Holiday Tournament this weekend. The Wildcats open the tournament against the host Yellow Jackets on Friday at 5:30 p.m. The Tournament comes to a conclusion on Saturday against either St. Augustine's or Ursuline depending on the outcome of Friday's play.


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12x9" Urban Gold 3D Display Frame / 2 Hole Cream Mount Cream Back
12x9" Urban Gold 3D Display Frame / 2 Hole Cream Mount Cream Back
This handmade deep box display frame is perfect for displaying precious 3D items such as baby casts, medals, ornaments, keepsakes, memorabilia, collectibles – anything that you want to show off. With a glass display area of 12 x 9 inches (30.5 x 22.5cm) and a depth of 1.75" (4.6cm), this deep box display frame is perfect for displaying those 3D objects. The robust construction gives your creations a professional finish and keeps them safe while on display.
Frame specification
Glass measurement: 12 x 9" (30.5 x 22.5cm)
Aperture Size: 6 x 4" (15.2 x 10.1cm) and 8 x 7" (17.8 x 20.3cm)
Box depth: 1.75" (4.6cm)
Overall frame size: approx 14.5 x 11.5" (37 x 29.2cm) - this includes frame moulding
This deep box frame provides the extra room crafters and casters need to display 3D objects with style. You can hang this frame in either portrait or landscape orientation.
Frame kit contains
- Frame
- Glass
- Front mount card
- Backing card
- 46mm boxing
- Backboard
- D-rings
- Angle bracket
- Screws
- Easy-to-follow instructions
Packaged in a sturdy box
Check out our How To page for a step-by-step frame assembly video.
Reward points

subset: commoncrawl


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Quay Women's Mirrored Muse QC-000064-GOLD/PNK Gold Sunglass
Short Descriptions
- Gold / Blue Color
- Sunglasses : Eyewear : Sunglasses Style
- Mirrored Lens
- UVA/UVB Protection
- 67mm / 15mm / 135mm
More Information
There are many different types of fashionistas; those who cherish bright colors, those whose weakness is diamonds, those who love neutrals and keeping it calm, and the list could go on and on. Nevertheless, one thing that fashionistas of all types value is finding the perfect accessory, because an outfit just isn't complete without it. If you are an 'it' girl who can't get enough of vibrant colors, then we've got the perfect shades to match your vibe. These swanky Quay Muse are everything, and we have a feeling you will love them. Their contemporary aviator shape makes for a bold first impression, so if you're looking to stand out in the crowd, then you're in luck with these sunglasses. They feature sharp gold frames that are made out of high-quality metal, so you can be sure this is a pair that will last. Their plastic lenses are a fierce shade of blue, adding to the unique visage of these sunglasses, and they provide immaculate protection from the sun's glare and unhindered vision for any environment. So if you are looking to stand out and make a statement with your next accessory, these Quay Muse shades are what you've been looking for! Made in China. CARE: These are your brand new shades, and we want to make sure you know how to best care for them. Make sure that when you're not wearing them, you put them in their designated case that they come with. To get the best vision, it's beneficial to clean them regularly using a cleaning cloth and lens solution. Avoid using materials such as your shirt or a paper towel to clean them, as this will only cause more scratching. Be careful not to distort their shape, which can be avoided by using both hands to remove them and not placing them on your head.


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Do you have any C batteries lying around? Does anybody? Now you can turn any regular AA battery—which you're bound to have loads of—into a C battery with this Battery Adaptor II.
Each adaptor costs only $5.50, which means for $11, you can have a lifetime's worth of C batteries without actually buying C batteries. But seriously, what uses C? Maybe midget-sized dildos? Now if we only had a way to turn some other AAs into Cs.
Product Page [Brando via Uber Review]


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Staples football dominates Ridgefield in football showdown
Wreckers easily beat Ridgefield
WESTPORT -- In a showdown billed as a likely defensive struggle, the sight of the Staples High School football team celebrating a last-second goal-line stand against Ridgefield Saturday afternoon was consistent with the expected storyline.
What was completely unexpected is how the play would serve as an exclamation point rather than pivotal to the final outcome.
The FCIAC's first so-called game of the year was more like the rout of the year, as the Wreckers combined stellar special teams play with a strong rushing attack and inspired defensive effort to deal Ridgefield a 30-0 loss.
The Tigers' vaunted defense gave up 226 yards on the ground, while an offense considered to be their biggest liability had a number of flaws exposed, as it managed just 86 total yards and was unable to complete a pass.
"Our kids took that personally," Staples coach Marce Petroccio said. "They have a great defense, but I told our kids we play pretty good defense too."
On a day that started with the two teams, along with New Canaan and Greenwich, considered the likely contenders for the league title, the Wreckers stamped themselves as a legitimate threat, while Ridgefield (2-1), at least on this day, looked like a team with a large distance to overcome.
"It's a big, big game for us," said Matt Kelly, who made several key plays in a variety of roles for the Wreckers (3-0). "They have a good defense, but our offense played amazing."
If there was a picture that summed up the day, it came in the final quarter, with the Tigers' heralded defensive linemen, Thomas Jordan and Mike Sheldon, sprawled out on the turf. Jordan had a cramp and Sheldon missed just a play with a minor injury, but the image of two heavyweights looking like boxers knocked out on the canvas left an indelible image.
A Ridgefield turnover less than three minutes into the game provided an immediate momentum advantage that the Wreckers never relinquished, while kicker Santiago Cuartas made three field goals in the first half, and a blocked punt and a long punt return set up two scores.
"To tell you guys that we worked hard on special teams in the offseason is an understatement, and I think it helped us today," Petroccio said. "They did a tremendous job."
Ridgefield coach Kevin Callahan huddled with his assistants for 15 minutes after the game, dissecting the reasons for the loss in a steady drizzle.
"Everything went a good team's way today, and it wasn't us," Callahan said. "Obviously whatever they did was pretty effective."
The Tigers misfired on 10 passes, and one of two that did not end up on the turf was arguably the key play of the day. On the team's opening possession, Ridgefield quarterback Ryan Curnal threw a ball right to the Wreckers' Chris Coyne, who returned it to the Tigers' 16. That set up quarterback Brandon Pacilio's 1-yard run and early 7-0 lead.
"That changed field position," Petroccio said. "We had to come out and move the ball and come out and stop them, and we did both."
To offset the Tigers' inside power on the line, Petroccio's strategy was to spread the field and create openings for his runners. He used a wildcat offense several times.
"The fact that we moved the ball early on really helped us," Petroccio said. "The gameplan worked to perfection."
Cuartas, who has emerged as an important weapon for the Wreckers, made a 27-yard field goal later in the quarter, then, after a beautiful 37-yard punt return by Kelly, another from 36 yards out for a 13-0 lead in the opening minute of the second quarter.
"Coach told me to watch the punter and where he would go, and everyone did their job well," Kelly said. "Special teams played a big role for the team."
Cuartas added a 42-yard field goal before halftime following a blocked punt by Keith Gelman, and missed on another 42-yard try after the Wreckers were not fooled on an attempted fake punt.
Staples widened the lead on its third play of the second half, when Ryan Burke turned an option pitch into a 56-yard touchdown run.
Pacilio did a worthy impersonation of Eli Manning to finish off a 12-play, 81-yard drive, spinning out of Sheldon's grasp and improvising a 5-yard touchdown pass to Pat Murray with 10:40 left.
"We wanted to make a statement to the FCIAC and knew we needed the shutout," Kelly said. "I think everyone is going to hear about this game and realize we're the real deal."
Dave Ruden can be reached at email@example.com. Read his blog at http://blog.ctnews.com/overtime/ and follow him on Twitter at DaveRuden


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Popular Services.
iPad 3
If you have an iPad 3 with a screen that is cracked, has a distorted image, no image, or otherwise broken, SimplyFixIt can help. If it has a battery issue, maybe it's not charging properly? Maybe the battery drains too quickly or the iPad 3 shuts down when it reaches 30% battery? We can fix that too. We know that your iPad is important to you, so most repairs are carried out within an hour if possible.
Find your nearest SimplyFixIt Repair Centre.
Quality of components.
Not all iPad components are created equally. When we first started iPad repairs, Apple would make genuine parts available for companies like ours to carry out repairs. But as they have moved more towards pushing people towards replacing damaged devices, rather than repairing them, they have restricted the availability of some genuine Apple parts. Due to our long history of iPad repairs we have been able to build relationships with the people who make the screens. So, we are able to fit high quality components in all of our repairs. (For battery repairs we will always try to fit an original Apple battery.) Put simply, we don't use cheap screens that we've bought from eBay and we didn't learn our craft from watching YouTube videos.
Our Guarantee
SimplyFixIt uses Apple Certified Technicians to carry out repairs on Apple devices, including the iPad 3. There isn't anyone else in Edinburgh or Glasgow who uses technicians who have been certified by Apple. We back that up with a 3-month warranty on all iPad 3 repairs.
Your data
The data on your iPad 3 is important. Our tablets and phones don't just have telephone numbers any more. They have our photos, our chat history and our Facebook posts. Be sure to back it up before you get it repaired. If you don't have a recent backup, speak to your SimplyFixIt Technician. Unlike Apple, we don't routinely wipe the iPad before giving it back to you. We will do our best to make sure nothing happens to your data, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Our technicians can show you how to make sure your iPad is routinely backed up every night so that you don't lose any data ever. It's built into your iPad & free so make sure to ask if you have any questions.
While you wait repairs
There are a lot of websites offering to fix iPads in 30 minutes or while you wait. They're obviously doing that because nobody wants to be without their iPad for any length of time. But all too often we've seen customers bring iPads to us after they have been at other stores, and there might be still pieces of glass in the device. Or the technician cut corners with the assembly to put it back together again so quickly. We are different. We do know that you want your iPad back fast, but the quality of the repair is very important to us. So we don't rush repairs to hit an unrealistic 30-minute timescale. Our Apple Certified Technicians ensure that every piece of glass is removed and the iPad is as good as it can be, after a repair.
Don't try this at home
Every day we see people who have tried to repair their own iPad screen. There are "tutorials" all over the internet explaining how easy it is. It is not easy and you can cause permanent irreparable damage to your iPad if you break one of the tiny connectors on the main board. Our technicians are Apple Certified and have repaired a lot of iPads. You wouldn't consider replacing the screen in your TV set, so please leave your iPad repair to the experts.
Stop Press:
Recently a BBC technology reporter tried to repair her own iPad for an episode of "Click", which is the BBC's gadget show. She spent £15 on parts from eBay, which clearly won't have been a very good quality screen, but that's pretty much all that's available to the public. She didn't have the tools so she went to a local computer repair centre and they let her borrow the tools and supervised what she was doing so that she didn't get any electric shocks or cut her finger with the glass. The repair took her 7 hours and she broke the GPS antenna, which thankfully is one of the least important cables. But it shows that even a professional technology journalist, working under supervision, with tools from a computer store struggled with the repair and even after 7 hours wasn't able to say that it was fully repaired. I say, leave it to the people who have been certified by Apple as trained technicians.
How to get your iPad fixed.
Walk-in Repairs
There is no need to make an appointment at a SimplyFixIt Repair Centre. There are currently 7 stores in Edinburgh & Glasgow. Most are open 7 days a week, with some offering early opening or late closing. We know nobody likes to be without their iPad, so we'll try to fix it within a very short period of time. (Normally 1-2 days). In more complex cases, we may need to keep it for further tests. If we do have to do that, we will still do our best to get your iPad 3 back to you as soon as possible.
Send in for repair.
If you can't make it to a SimplyFixit Repair Centre, we can still fix your iPad. You can post it to us, and in most cases we will have it back with you within 48 hours*, with a brand new screen. We fix hundreds of iPads each month for customers all over the U.K, even as far south as Cornwall. Our Apple certified technicians are always working really hard to ensure that our repairs meet the highest standards.
Click to print out a repair authorisation form for your iPad 3.. Please complete it and put your iPad 3, and the form in the post to us. We really recommend using a service like Royal Mail Special Delivery, so that the delivery is tracked and you have compensation cover for up to £500. As soon as your iPad 3 arrives at SimplyFixIt, we'll be in touch to let you know.
Thousands of devices fixed.
We Fix MacBooks, iPads, iPhones and Windows laptops for people from all over the country, not just Edinburgh and Glasgow. Chances are that you live close to one of our customers already. This is a map of the people that we have helped, who live outside of Edinburgh & Glasgow, in the last 30 days. They have posted us their device. We have fixed it, and returned it by overnight insured courier.
Send your device to us via Royal Mail Special Delivery, which should provide you with adequate insurance. We will fix it and return it to you without any fuss.
We have applied a fuzziness to the location markers so they don't show the exact location of our customers. The markers fall in a slightly different location each time, but the general area is correct.
At SimplyFixIt, we believe doing things right is better than doing things fast, so there will be some cases we need just a bit longer to get your iPad 3 ready. Don't worry though, as soon as it's complete, we'll be in touch to let you know so we can arrange express delivery back to your home or workplace.
SimplyFixIt iPad Repairs
United Kingdom
Lo-Call: 0844 822 6072
Calling from a mobile? It's probably cheaper to call 0131 549 8820 (Choose Option 1)
iPad 3 Screen Repairs
The iPad 3 is an amazing product. Offering all-day battery life it is perfect for watching movies on, keeping children entertained, or even getting work done. But the screen is made of glass, and unfortunately, it can break. We have seen iPads 3 drop on the floor, or items fall from a kitchen cupboard onto the iPad. Either way, we're here to help. We can repair or replace the screen on your iPad 3, using certified technicians and high quality components. That's why we can offer a 3-month warranty on all iPad 3 screen repairs.
Cracked iPad glass? Do you know that the Apple warranty will not cover physical damage to the glass on your iPad and will actually charge you over £200 to repair it? So, if the screen broken on your iPad, you need someone who can fix it.
2 Screens?
There are actually 2 screens on your iPad. The lower screen controls the images that appear, while the top screen is the glass front. This top screen also controls the "touch" capabilities. If your iPad doesn't recognise your finger swiping, then it could be that your top screen has become faulty or broken. The lower screen is called the LCD, while the top screen is called the digitiser.
iPad Digitiser Repair
Cracked iPad glass? Did it fall and get cracks that look like a spider web? The graphics look fine, just the top glass is shattered? Maybe the screen is not responding to your touch? The top glass screen of the iPad is sometimes called the digitiser (or digitizer for our American friends). This screen controls the touch capability of the iPad and protects the lower screen, which shows the graphics. It's possible for the top digitiser screen to be smashed and the graphics to look fine underneath. We will remove the smashed screen and replace it with a new screen so it looks as good as new.
The digitiser is a very important part of your iPad. If the digitiser cracks or breaks, the functionality of the iPad is affected and it is difficult to use the iPad. If you have a cracked iPad screen and you are in Edinburgh or Glasgow, then you can pop into any of our repair centres for a fast service. If you are outside of Edinburgh or Glasgow, then we can also help. Click on Nationwide iPad Repairs to get details on how to send us your iPad for a fast repair.
Broken iPad Digitiser Symptoms:
- iPad glass cracked
- Digitiser not responding to your finger swipes
- Top glass smashed or shattered
- The on-screen keyboard does not work
- Glass is scratched
*Please note that if the back case of your iPad is bent, even slightly, there may be a chance that the new screen may not fit flush in the iPad. In some cases, the aluminium back case can be re-formed to fit the glass. We normally do that at no extra charge, but it will never be completely smooth as the original pre-smash condition. In very rare cases the back case may need to be replaced as well. Our technicians will notify you if this is the case, because it will add some cost to the repair.
iPad LCD Repair
The LCD screen on the iPad is the lower screen. It displays the graphics. It's generally a very reliable part, but can break from a fall, or from liquid getting into your iPad. If you see coloured lines, grey lines, white spots, dead pixels on the screen or ff the display is completely white, flickering or bleeding, no back-light it has to be replaced. The lower LCD screen on your iPad is normally protected from knocks by the top glass screen, but even still it can break. Sometimes it starts with graphics corruption, which gradually gets worse. Sometimes it is a totally white screen.
Broken iPad LCD (Lower Screen) Symptoms:
- Display screen cracked or broken
- LCD "bleeding" or "black ink stain"
- Display blank or very dark
- LCD flickering
- vertical lines visible on your screen
- Dead pixels on display
- graphics corruption, e.g. red marks appearing randomly
iPad 3 screen repair costs
Accidental damage isn't covered by the Apple's Warranty, so unfortunately, there will always be a cost, even if your iPad is brand new. For an iPad 3, the price for a screen repair or replacement is normally £89 including VAT unless you have our MobileShield™ warranty. In that case the repair will be free.
Battery & Power
Does your iPad 3 battery drain too quickly? Does it sometimes not charge when you plug in your lightning cable? Try restarting it first. That can help if the problems are being caused by an app that is running in the background.
Are you having trouble getting your iPad 3 to power on? First, make sure you've given your iPad's battery enough time to charge. If your iPad has been without charge for while, it will take more time than normal before it registers that there is any charge in the battery. Try to use a different cable and power socket if you can. If you normally charge your iPad by plugging it into your laptop or MacBook, try plugging it directly into a USB charger that is connected to the mains electricity.
Not all USB chargers are the same
Make sure that you are using a good quality USB charger for iPads, which can output at least 2 amps of electricity. Cheaper USB chargers, or those that are designed to work with an iPhone, are only designed to give 1 amp, and sometimes even lower. This won't charge an iPad. The good news is that if you use a 2-amp iPad charger with an iPhone it will charge faster, so that's the one you should aim for.


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NHS LPP Steering Board meeting
19 March 2020 - 14:30 to 17:00
The LPP Steering Board meets every two months and is a panel of Chief Executives, Directors of Finance and Heads of Procurement from within our membership. If you are a member and would be interested in joining the Board, please contact Michael Pace, Managing Director.
Location200 Great Dover Street


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There are still innumerable questions about how Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over rebel-held areas of Ukraine on Thursday. But nobody contests that the 298 people so senselessly killed deserve far greater respect than they have been shown by the Russian-backed rebels who have controlled the incompetent searches of the fields on which the Boeing 777 came down. The callousness of the rebels and, by extension of their Russian sponsors, is outrageous.
On Monday, Dutch forensics experts and representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe finally examined the four refrigerated rail cars holding the remains of the crash victims, which were taken to Kharkiv, Ukraine, for proper identification. As President Obama said in a brief statement on Monday, returning the remains to their families as soon as possible is "the least we can do."
But it is far from all that must be done. The facts about the shooting down of the plane must be established by trusted, international experts. The most likely finding, for which American and other Western officials say there is strong evidence, is that the jetliner was brought down by rockets fired from rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine. That would require not only ground-to-air missiles but also the expertise and equipment to guide them, raising the possibility of assistance from Russia itself. Russia has denied any such role, and its military officials have pushed a competing scenario, inculpating Ukraine.
These are very serious charges. Innocent victims are sadly common in conflicts, but whoever unleashed a lethal missile not knowing how to distinguish between a military and a civilian plane is not only irresponsible and stupid, but a war criminal. The evidence lies in those same fields that the separatists have effectively sealed off for days. Though they surrendered the flight recorder boxes to Malaysian officials on Monday, their delay gave them plenty of time to hide or destroy incriminating evidence.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia issued a statement on Monday saying, "Everything possible must be done to ensure that international experts can work in safety at the crash site," and Russia joined in a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding full access to the crash site and condemning the downing of the plane. But then Mr. Putin has said many reasonable and conciliatory things since the Ukrainian crisis began, and he has done nothing to rein in the thugs who have seized control of parts of eastern Ukraine, or to block the fighters and sophisticated weapons supplied them from Russia.
In that same statement, Mr. Putin also sought to transfer blame to Ukraine, saying the tragedy would not have happened if Kiev had maintained a cease-fire. And he sanctimoniously declared "no one has the right to use this tragedy to pursue their own political goals." That is not terribly convincing coming from Mr. Putin, who has cynically encouraged a dangerous secessionist conflict to grow until it became a threat to the world.
The comments from European leaders have been clear and tough, but words will count for little unless European Union foreign ministers enforce more stringent sanctions against Russia if it fails to cooperate in an immediate and independent investigation of the plane crash, and take tangible measures to curb the rebels. After the downing of Flight 17 and the brutish handling of the victims, it is time for Europe to hold Mr. Putin to his words.


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The Senate Wednesday voted to defeat a highly controversial House budget plan for fiscal year 2012 that quickly registered as a liability with voters for lawmakers that supported it. But, in an omission that could also be controversial, Senate Democrats have failed to produce their own plan for getting the nation back on a sustainable fiscal path.
Democrats voted unanimously to defeat the House budget plan, drafted by Rep. Paul Ryan (R) of Wisconsin, which would cut $4.4 trillion in spending over 10 years and reduce Medicare to a government subsidy to purchase private insurance.
They were joined by five Republicans, Sens. Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, both of Maine. The measure failed 40 to 57.
The president's budget, deemed a nonstarter because it projects a $1.1 trillion deficit for FY 2012, failed to win a single vote from either party. Proposals by Sens. Pat Toomey (R) of Senate and Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky also failed.
Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D) of Nevada called the vote a victory for priorities.
"The Ryan plan ends Medicare as we know it and breaks a solemn promise … that if you work hard and contribute, Americans will make sure you are protected in your golden years," he said on the floor before the vote.
Medicare and New York's special election
The defeat on the Senate floor comes on the heels of an upset win for Democrat Kathy Hochul in a special election Tuesday on traditional GOP turf in New York's 26th congressional district. Her come-from-behind campaign was waged mainly on the threat to Medicare in the Ryan budget.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D) of New York calls defeat of the Ryan budget "the first serious step" toward a bipartisan budget agreement.
"The only way we are going to get a real budget is by Democrats and Republicans sitting down together," he said in a conference call with reporters on Monday.
"If you may remember, when we had the vote on H.R. 1, and it was defeated roundly, it helped many in the GOP understand that they're going to have to work together on a bipartisan strategy," he added, invoking the defeat of a House bill to fund the balance of FY 2011, also gridlocked.
But Republicans charge that Democrats are simply avoiding the responsibility of laying out a plan of their own for FY 2012 spending, including specifying how they will rein in deficits.
"It's a shocking display of irresponsibility," said Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) of Alabama, after the vote. "They have said: we're not going to produce anything. We're just going to attack what you've done."
The Senate Budget Committee has not marked up its own vision for the current fiscal year and beyond, even though the congressional budget process requires the Senate panel to report a budget resolution by April 1 and the Congress to complete action on a budget resolution by April 15.
Waiting for the 'Gang of Five'
Questioned on the absence of a Senate plan after today's vote, Senator Reid said that Democrats haven't produced their own budget in deference to ongoing bipartisan talks in the so-called Gang of Five and the leadership group led by Vice President Biden.
"If something happens with the Gang of Five or bipartisan group we have to have an instrument to get to the floor," he said.
But Republicans and some independent analysts say that it's a risk for Democrats to try to ride out the FY 2012 budget debate.
"Politically, it's a problem for Democrats," says Julian Zelizer, a congressional historian at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. "There are economic and budget problems that are very real, and the polls show that voters care about this."
"Democrats can try to avoid controversial votes but there's a cost to that," he adds. "You can avoid tough votes [on a Democrat budget plan], but it gives Republicans the opportunity to fill in the blanks and say what Democrats are about. It's an unhappy electorate. Being quiet and just playing defense for the next year won't necessarily work."


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Thai Hand Carved Elephants
Northern Thailand has a rich heritage of wood carving that is reflected in the amazing temples and traditional architecture of the area. We buy direct from the wood carvers who still make a living out of the skills that are passed on through families. Made in small workshops and family homes in rural villages near Chiang Mai. We always pay an advance, we commit to never delay or cancel orders and generally we are able to accept the prices quoted because we are buying direct from the source. Monkey pod wood is a fast growing and sustainable resource.
(Total Products 6, Showing: 1 to 6) Sort By: Price Low to High | Price High to Low


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TweakTown are giving away a pair of GIGABYTE boards this week in their aptly named Weekly Giveaway Competition. The catch? Well it's all actually rather simple and straightforward; just head over to the TweakTown Facebook page, hit up the old 'Like' button, write this comment "I want to win one of two new GIGABYTE motherboards at TweakTown!" and you're done for the day. Sit back and count down the hours til our buddy Cameron announces the winners on March 5th next week.
The prizes are a Sandy Bridge-ready Z68XP-UD3, and a Llano toting A75-UD4H motherboard. How could you possibly resist?
Check out the competition page here on the TT forums.


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At a pre-scheduled time, your Decorating Consultant will visit your home to discuss style options, show you the range of possible fabrics and materials, and help you decide on the perfect choice of window treatments to style your home.
Placing your order with our Decorating Consultant is simple and hassle-free. Leaving no detail unturned, your order details are then verified by a certified technician before being sent for manufacturing.
Once your custom windows treatments have been manufactured, installation will take place on a designated date that is convenient to you. Our certified technician will install your custom window treatments, including any necessary hardware, while maintaining a safe and clean work site in your home. Once you are completely satisfied with your newly-installed custom blinds, shades, drapes and/or shutters, our certified technician will then teach you how to operate the window treatments (if needed) before leaving your newly restyled home.
13360 137th Avenue Edmonton, AB T5L 5C7
Store: 780-472-4200 Tool Rental: 780-472-4201 Pro Desk: 780-472-4212
200-390 Baseline Road Sherwood Park, AB T8H 1X1
Store: 780-417-7875 Tool Rental: 780-417-7881 Pro Desk: 780-417-7878
604-1 Westmount Shopping Edmonton, AB T5M 3L7
Store: 780-732-9225 Tool Rental: Pro Desk:
6725 - 104 Street N.W. Edmonton, AB T6H 2L3
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The countdown has started for "Rio +20", the UN conference on sustainable development (20-22 June). Aware that time is running short, the environment ministers of the EU27 meeting in Horsens (Denmark) for their informal Council responded to calls by Ida Auken, the president of the Council, on Thursday 19 April, by giving her a clear mandate for the final negotiating session to take place in New York next week (23 April - 4 May).
On the basis of an informal document prepared by the services of the European Commission, the EU27 identified energy, water and the oceans, soil, biodiversity, resources and, in particular, waste as the five areas to be included in the EU's position and serve as an example in the home straight before Rio, to be included, as the EU hopes, in the inclusive roadmap towards a green economy to be agreed upon at the anniversary conference of the Earth Summit.
"We are sending out a very clear signal that will accompany me to New York. The ministers have shown me their political goodwill", Auken told the press. She went on to add that "creating an inclusive green economy is a step towards sustainable development. We need to create strong DNA to unite the three pillars - social, economic and environmental - of sustainable development."
Brice Lalonde, the coordinator of Rio + 20 is rather opmistic on the results of the conference in an interview with the French news agency AFP although he admits that the current text "lacks ambition". He is however, encouraged by how many heads of State and government have declared their intention to particpate in the conference. In total 50,000 attendees are expected.
« Right now there is a tension between those whose number one priority is development and those who say that the biggest priority is saving the planet ; that we cannot go on like this, « Mr. Lalonde told AFP.
« We are looking for this magic formula which responds both to the needs of development and the environmnet. »
(Sources : AFP, Agence Europe)
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Health experts are concerned about large increases in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK: "Two-thirds of women reporting a new STI were under 25, as were more than half of men." Doctors and technology experts in the UK are currently developing mobile rapid-test kits similar to pregnancy tests that would allow users to diagnose sexually transmitted diseases (STDs for short) according to The Guardian Online. Their reasoning appears to be that when someone begins experiencing symptoms, it can be too embarrassing to go to the doctor to find out. Having a private option similar to the home pregnancy test should, in theory, lead to individuals testing themselves sooner, thus encouraging them to seek treatment faster.
What do you think? Would such devices help reduce the number of STIs in developed countries like the UK, USA, and others? What about the risks and impacts of false results, both positive and negative?


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President Barack Obama honored Burt Bacharach and Hal David on Wednesday night as "two kings of songwriting," presenting them the nation's highest prize for popular music at the White House.
The songwriting duo received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during a tribute concert in the East Room, featuring Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett and others. Wonder sang their tunes, "Make It Easy on Yourself" and "Alfie," wowing the crowd on his harmonica.
Bacharach, 83, thanked Obama, saying the award for his life's work topped even the Oscars and Grammys he won for individual projects. David, 90, could not attend because he is recovering from a stroke. His wife, Eunice David, accepted on his behalf.
U.S. & World
Bacharach and David have written many unforgettable tunes — "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," ''Close to You" and "That's What Friends Are For" all come from their songbook. They produced dozens of top 40 hits, churning out hit music for movies, television and a variety of recordings artists in the 1960s and beyond.
More than 55 years after their first songs hit the airwaves, Obama said "these guys have still got it." He noted Bacharach appeared in recent years on "American Idol" and "Dancing With the Stars," and their music is still being recorded by such artists as Alicia Keys and John Legend.
"Above all, they stayed true to themselves," Obama said. "And with an unmistakable authenticity, they captured the emotions of our daily lives — the good times, the bad times, and everything in between."
The Library of Congress, which houses the world's largest collection of sheet music and some of the earliest sound recordings, awards its Gershwin Prize as a lifetime achievement award to honor the legacy of the songwriting team of George and Ira Gershwin. Bacharach and David truly reflected the Gershwins as a combination of composer and lyricist and have produced one of the world's "most recognizable and richest multigenerational playlists," said Librarian of Congress James Billington.
"This is music that has filtered through and survived not only their lifetimes, but people will go on discovering their tunes that aren't as recognizable," Billington said.
Past recipients of the Gershwin Prize have included Wonder, Paul Simon and Paul McCartney. This is the first time it has gone to a songwriting duo.
Many lyrics and tunes from Bacharach and David are timeless, from "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" and "I Say A Little Prayer" to "What The World Needs Now Is Love." They produced dozens of top 10 hits that continue to resonate in pop culture. Their music was recorded by legendary singers including The Beatles, Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond and their longtime partner Dionne Warwick.
At the White House, stars including Diana Krall, Mike Myers and Lyle Lovett were to perform in their honor. The private concert will be broadcast May 21 on PBS for the series "In Performance at the White House." The library also hosted a concert Tuesday night featuring Warwick.
Bacharach told The Associated Press he wanted to hear the president sing a few lines "because the guy can really sing."
"I heard him on YouTube sing 'Walk On By,' and it just blew me away," Bacharach said.
In the YouTube video, a younger Obama told a crowd that when he was 15 or 16, he would slip in a Warwick cassette "to show you were real smooth," before he sang part of "Walk On By."
The White House ousted reporters from Wednesday's concert before there was any chance to hear Obama sing again.
Bacharach said in an interview that he was influenced by a lifetime of experiences. He learned to play piano to please his mother but thought he'd be a football player. The sounds of classical music and tunes from Brazil stuck with him. He also would sneak into Manhattan nightclubs with a fake ID to hear Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker play.
Early in his career, Bacharach toured as the accompanist and conductor for Marlene Dietrich, and soon after he as writing R&B hits — two opposites in his life, he said.
David had been a newspaperman in New York before taking his word-smithing to music, Obama said.
"Soon, the football player and the journalist started writing songs, and they struck gold," the president said.
Bacharach said he was sad to see David miss the honor.
"It's a big one for him to miss," he said. "I know this is as good as it gets."
Most of Bacharach's writing with David was defined by capturing the sensual side of music. David would usually write the lyrics first and then pass them to Bacharach to set to music because they had to help tell a story, often for film or stage. They produced film scores for "Alfie," ''A House is not a Home" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," among others and the musical "Promises, Promises," which won a Grammy and was revived on Broadway in 2010.
Often they were writing songs for the female voice.
"They're love songs ... a lot of them deal with the heart and the lonely heart or heartbreak and taping into the romance of music," Bacharach said. "I think you're a sponge in your life. You go through your life and whatever you're exposed to you take in, it gets into your system."


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Tight oil still profitable even if prices plummet
HOUSTON — Even if global oil prices fell more than $30 per barrel, the overwhelmingly majority of U.S. tight oil production still would be profitable, analysts with Wood Mackenzie said.
More than 70 percent tight oil reserves would be economically viable if global oil prices fell to $75 per barrel, said Harold York, the firm's principal downstream research analyst, in a new report.
Brent crude, the global benchmark, currently is trading around $106.90 per barrel. It last traded at $75 in August 2010.
Industry observers often question at what price oil production will become unprofitable in the unconventional plays that have driven the current U.S. energy boom. As York sees it, that's not happening any time soon.
"The question we get asked by our clients is what does it take to knock tight oil off the rails, off the path it's on," York said. "It would have to be something pretty extreme happening."
Wood Mackenzie presented the findings at the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers annual conference in late March in Orlando.
Deal breakers
York said it's difficult to make generalizations about U.S. tight oil, since even individual wells within the same play can have dramatically different break-even points. But broadly speaking, he said there's only a few things that could cause tight oil plays in the U.S. to stop being profitable: a dramatic decline in global oil prices, the failure of drilling technology to improve, or a dramatic changes in regulations like a broad fracking ban.
York believes none of those things is likely to occur.
York says he doesn't predict a drop in global oil prices since demand — especially in the developing world — continues to increase. And even if prices did drop, they could have to fall dramatically and remain depressed for months or even years, he said.
Pipeline shortage
Meanwhile, even though limited infrastructure has hurt the profitability of tight oil plays in the past, he's confident that the country is adding enough pipeline capacity and will be able to use rail to accommodate the production.
While some have worried that shale production slows at a more rapid pace that conventional plays, York echoed many in the industry who say they're confident technological advancements can help turn the tide.
"The industry has a track record of solving problems," York said. "It's part of the DNA of the industry."
There's not universal acknowledgement of that view. Some skeptics have said that shale plays cost too much to be financially sustainable in the long-term.
Earlier this year, for example, Michelle Michot Foss, chief energy economist at Bureau of Economic Geology's Center for Energy Economics at the University of Texas, suggested that many producers would shift their focus back towards offshore plays.