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A United Iran Against Collapsing Israel
By Kourosh Ziabari
As the racist regime of Israel moves toward greater international isolation due to its aggressive, belligerent policies, Iran receives wider support from the world's nations for its uncompromising resistance against the bullying superpowers and annulling their mischievous plots. The world is witness to the growth of Iran's popularity while hatred and disgust against Israel builds up progressively. Iran is reaching out to the hearts and souls around the world while Israel ignites denunciation and deprecation in the four corners of the globe.
Since Israel raided the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on May 31, the flimsy existence of Tel Aviv began to splinter as the world nations collectively and categorically reacted to the atrocious mass killing of 9 peace activists in the international waters by the Israel Defense Forces.
Israel's unlawful, brutal killing of the unarmed civilians aboard the Freedom Flotilla sparked such a remarkable international condemnation that even the most stalwart allies of Tel Aviv in the EU zone recalled their ambassadors from Israel and called for a thorough, detailed investigation of the incident which they described as offensive and violent. The international condemnations were so extensive and intensive that even the most pessimistic Israeli politicians couldn't envisage. Four countries downgraded their diplomatic relations with Israel in addition to the four countries that had cut their diplomatic ties with Israel during the 22-day Gaza war of 2008-2009, Twelve Latin American countries condemned the Israeli actions, Twenty-one European countries protested Israel and Twelve non-Arab Asian countries officially disapproved Tel Aviv.
The precursor of global protests to Israel was Turkey which had lost 9 of its citizens in the raid. In an insightful, thought-provoking and appreciable statement before his country's parliament, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly questioned Israel's impunity from the international laws and called for a decisive end to the illegal actions of this regime: "It is no longer possible to cover up or ignore Israel's lawlessness. The international community must from now on say 'enough is enough'. Dry statements of condemnation are not enough ... There should be results."
At the beginning and when the first news was released, the extent of Israel's violence had not become clear to the public opinion; however, as the international peace activists began retelling the stories of their ordeal upon being deported by Tel Aviv to their respective countries, the world realized that a great calamity had taken place.
Upon his extradition to Istanbul, the Irish historian and activist Dr. Fintan Lane told the media about his terrible experience on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla which was unjustifiably attacked by the Israeli commandos on May 31: "when they boarded our boat, we resisted entirely peacefully. I sat on the floor and tried to reason with them, but the Israeli commandos physically attacked us. Fiachra (one of the Irish passengers aboard the flotilla) was dragged around the ground and I had a gun pointed in my face by a screaming commando. His mania was so intense that I genuinely feared for my life. Others received beatings."
The American peace activist and anti-imperialist speaker Kenneth O'Keefe was another passenger on board the Gaza aid convoy. He witnessed the death of two of his Turkish colleagues in person and was brutally harassed, tortured by the Israeli forces: "while in Israeli custody I, along with everyone else was subjected to endless abuse and flagrant acts of disrespect. Women and elderly were physically and mentally assaulted in stress positions while hand cuffed to the point of losing circulation of blood in our hands. We were lied to incessantly, in fact I am awed at the routineness and comfort in their ability to lie, it is remarkable really. We were abused in just about every way imaginable and I myself was beaten and choked to the point of blacking out and I was beaten again while in my cell."
Hassan Ghani, the 25-year-old Scottish journalist and media correspondent of the Press TV was also among the flotilla travelers. He was ruthlessly punished by the Israeli commandos in what he described as the "brutal Israeli assault" on the flotilla: "we didn't expect a ship with 32 different nationalities on board, with aid from 50 different countries on board, would be attacked in such a brutal manner They began by throwing stun grenades on to the deck of the ship when people were in the middle of morning prayers. Then they began using rubber bullets, they tried to come aboard the ship from the side. People repelled the commandos with water cannons they had set up on the side of the ship. Then the Israelis used helicopters to drop people onto roof and there was scuffles on the roof. The Israeli solders had already opened fire on the ship, so people were grabbing anything they could to stop the attack in international waters."
Another painful account of the flotilla raid was retold by the prominent Swedish author Henning Mankell who described the Israeli actions as "committing murder": "they got very aggressive and ordered us to come down. There was one older man who was a little slow, so the Israelis attacked him with an electric stun gun. He was in a lot of pain. So was another passenger who was covered in paint after being hit with a paint ball missile. The commandos searched the ship thoroughly and emerged waving a razor and a metal-box cutting tool, which they claimed were "weapons" intended to be used against them. All the passengers were then herded into a group, with armed guards standing watch as the ship was taken to Israel When we got off... we were made to walk down a corridor of armed commandos who filmed all of us with cameras. They stole my mobile phone, my money, my clothes and my credit cards." Mankell said that he was held in a cell for 24 hours along with a Swedish Member of Parliament and then deported even "without his socks".
All of these accounts attest to the fact that Israel is being reprimanded by people from the four corners of the world who object to the inhuman policies and actions of Tel Aviv regardless of the nationality they belong to and the political stance they champion.
Today, it's known to everyone that Israel is a political entity which the United States supports in order to maintain its interests in the Middle East and subject the region's nations. In the other words, Israel plays the role of America's permanent representative in the Middle East and is entitled to resort to every possible mean to intimidate and bring under control the independent nations in the region. The fact is that Israel is a fragile and unstable political regime and every day of its shaky survival is hinged on the exertion of force and violating the rights of other nations. As the Iranian journalist Mohieddin Sajedi once noted, Israel cannot live without creating troubles. From mass killing to occupation, from assassination to the construction of illegal settlements, Israel continues to exist with illegal actions and this is what keeps them alive.
The main adversary of Israel is Iran. Israel has repeatedly warned Iran against the use of force and launch of a military strike on its nuclear facilities. The reason is clear. Iran is turning into an inspiring model for the independent nations around the world. Iran's 30-year-long resistance against imperialism and its courageous confrontation with the bullying superpowers has made it an example of victorious struggle with political arrogance and many independent nations on the face of world see Iran on the frontline of battle with the United States and its colonies such as Israel.
Iran is winning international popularity because it has demonstrated the effectiveness of self-sufficiency in nationalizing the nuclear energy. While Israel possesses up to 200 nuclear warheads in flagrant violation of the international law and Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has made striking advancements in taking over the nuclear power and excelling in using it for peaceful purposes. The fact that Iran has succeeded in nationalizing the nuclear energy without the assistance of Western superpowers is indigestible for Israel which is the sole possessor of nuclear weapons in the Middle East; that's why it has warned Iran against a preemptive military strike; however, the reality is that a 70-million-strong army stands by the resistance movement of Iran and a coalition of powerful troops consisted of the independent nations around the world, stand by Iran against the collapsing Israel forever.
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Rosemont Inn
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subset: commoncrawl


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Marte activated from DL, but gripping bat an issue
Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.
ST. LOUIS -- Starling Marte was activated from the 15-day disabled list by the Pirates prior to Saturday night's game against the Cardinals -- but his initial availability figures to be quite limited.
Without the restriction of a 25-man roster, there was no practical reason to keep the left fielder on the DL. However, given the results of recent workouts, Marte still has difficulty gripping a bat with his bruised right hand.
Still, he could be a pinch-running weapon, and could also play as a late-game defensive replacement. Both could be assets in close games.
Read More: Pittsburgh Pirates, Starling Marte


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How was bonfire night? James Hargreaves and Luke Crofts have a fireworky night of fun and live to tell the tale...
James has quite the hangover from going to the October Drift gig last night. Luke had a civilised Chinese meal instead.
Its a week of ranting and hating on people. They all deserve it, obviously. Listen now to the latest episode of The Sqweek podcast!
A bit of a different track this week as CK Goldiing guests on a two-hour special to talk about his #100musicians project.
James is back joining Luke for this weeks' The Sqweek! More new music, more discussion of the weeks' news and more silly conversation!
The legendary Faith Shaughnessy steps in as guest presenter joining Luke this week because James is being a big girly man-flu beast. She knows nothing about the news or current affairs… What could possibly go wrong?
Alright everybody! Ladies and Gentlemen, this week Luke and James are joined in the Sheffield Live studio by a Sheffield music stalwart; gigger, promoter, podcaster, presenter, guitarist, comedian, actor and whatever else he can get his hands into: Mr. Carl Maloney!
Alex Piearcey of electronic dance duo Resonate joins Luke and James in the Sheffield Live studio for a specially extended 2-hour edition of The Sqweek!
Mince pies all round! Luke and James return to the Sheffield Live! radio studio for the pre-Christmas episode of The Sqweek!
Neil Hargreaves joins Luke and James in the Sheffield Live! radio studio for two hours of high-concept radio, anarchy, fun, laughing - oh, and a little bit of music and the usual stuff!


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Das HandleMeister
Founding Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2011
- Messages
- 3,953
- Reaction score
- 8
Since You are probably all drunk by now, I'll start this one. Wishing everybody I know (except my boss) a happy, healthy, prosperous, and gratifying New Year. I hope that this community here will continue to grow and yet remain as positive and supportive as it has been so far.


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We've made a Classic Capri even Better!
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Work Set to Begin on the Tappan Zee Bridge
Work on replacing the Tappan Zee Bridge is about to begin.
Six barges and tugboats carrying construction equipment will begin arriving next week.
Darrell Waters, the president of Tappan Zee Constructors, said Thursday the barges will be among 50 to 60 that will arrive in coming months. At the peak of construction there will be 100 barges.
Newsday Westchester says Waters told Rockland business executives "we're starting the mobilization of our fleet of equipment."
He said the barges will aid with soil sampling in the river. The work will become more evident once crews begin sinking piles by early summer.
By August, Waters said, crews will begin dredging 900,000 cubic yards of sediment from the river. And by fall, one of the world's largest floating cranes will arrive.


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Montana GOLD Spray Color, Lavender - 400ml Spray Can
Montana GOLD spray paint is famous for its superior quality, high-covering, and quick-drying NC-Acrylic lacquer. Highly reliable, it provides artists with the perfect tool for creative work. The specially developed low-pressure system guarantees maximum accuracy to meet the highest requirements while giving professional results! With 215 colors in total, Montana GOLD offers one of the most extensive and most concise color range available in spray paint. Montana GOLD can be applied on canvas, wood, concrete, metal, glass or even flexible surfaces. Perfect also in combination with the Montana TECH and EFFECT sprays as well as the water-based ACRYLIC markers!


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by Sid Perkins via news.sciencemag.org
The electric fields that build up on honey bees as they fly, flutter their wings, or rub body parts together may allow the insects to talk to each other, a new study suggests. Tests show that the electric fields, which can be quite strong, deflect the bees' antennae, which, in turn, provide signals to the brain through specialized organs at their bases.
Scientists have long known that flying insects gain an electrical charge when they buzz around. That charge, typically positive, accumulates as the wings zip through the air—much as electrical charge accumulates on a person shuffling across a carpet. And because an insect's exoskeleton has a waxy surface that acts as an electrical insulator, that charge isn't easily dissipated, even when the insect lands on objects, says Randolf Menzel, a neurobiologist at the Free University of Berlin in Germany.
Although researchers have suspected for decades that such electrical fields aid pollination by helping the tiny grains stick to insects visiting a flower, only more recently have they investigated how insects sense and respond to such fields. Just last month, for example, a team reported that bumblebees may use electrical fields to identify flowers recently visited by other insects from those that may still hold lucrative stores of nectar and pollen. A flower that a bee had recently landed on might have an altered electrical field, the researchers speculated.
Now, in a series of lab tests, Menzel and colleagues have studied how honey bees respond to electrical fields. In experiments conducted in small chambers with conductive walls that isolated the bees from external electrical fields, the researchers showed that a small, electrically charged wand brought close to a honey bee can cause its antennae to bend. Other tests, using antennae removed from honey bees, indicated that electrically induced deflections triggered reactions in a group of sensory cells, called the Johnston's organ, located near the base of the antennae. In yet other experiments, honey bees learned that a sugary reward was available when they detected a particular pattern of electrical field.
Altogether, these tests suggest that the electrical fields that build up on bees due to their flight or movement are stimuli that could be used in social communication, the researchers report online this week in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
The team's findings "are very significant," says Fred Dyer, a behavioral biologist at Michigan State University in East Lansing. "I hadn't heard about the possibility that honey bees could use electrical fields."
One of the honey bees' forms of communication is the "waggle dance." When the insects have located a dense patch of flowers or a source of water, they skitter across the honeycomb in their hive in a pattern related to the direction of and the distance to the site. Fellow worker bees then take that information and forage accordingly. The biggest mystery about the dance, Dyer says, is which senses the bees use—often in the deep, dark recesses of their hive—to conduct their communication. "People have proposed a variety of methods: direct contact between bees, air currents from the buzzing of their wings, odors, even vibrations transmitted through the honeycomb itself," he says.
But the team's new findings introduce yet another mode of communication available to the insects, Dyer says. He notes that the group found that antenna deflections induced by an electrically charged honey bee wing are about 10 times the size of those that would be caused by airflow from the wing fluttering at the same distance—a sign that electrical fields could be an important signal.
"They show that the electrical fields are there and that they're within the range of what the animal can sense," Dyer says. "Their claim of evidence is quite compelling."


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Jo's Art work has been originally made in watercolour with a wash painting effect. She says "Water is both an inspiration for, and an integral part of, the painting process for me. I am drawn to the shorelines, to places where water and land collide. It is about being immersed in that place, that moment, the tide and flow of the water and my physical interaction with it. The underlying strength of these forces lies in their constant state of flux, and my focus lies in these moments" A framed print will come with a 1 inch thick frame in white with a 1.5 inch white mount
|17"x36", 21"x44", 24"x50"
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Billy Madison Bumgarner
by Eno Sarris //
Like Billy Madison in the movie of the same name, Madison Bumgarner had to go back to school to get his millions. After a lightning-quick ascension through the ranks and up the prospect ladder, Bumgarner had a rude awakening in the upper levels of the minor leagues as well as the major leagues last year. Now he's gone back to school, spending much of the first half of this season in the minors. So far, so good back in the majors in 2010 as the Bloomberg Sports Fantasy Tools spider graphs show. What can we expect going forward?
Last year, Bumgarner was the #9 prospect in baseball and had finished two-and-a-half-years at Single-A with a strikeout rate above one per inning and a booming mid-90s fastball. It almost didn't seem like he needed any more fine-tuning in the minor leagues, but he went to Double-A anyway because that's what young pitchers do.
That's when things began to go south. Reports of diminished velocity started coming through, and the results showed that something was off. His strikeout rate fell precipitously, down to 5.8 per nine in AA. The shine was off. The whispers started. A penguin was spotted. Even Bob Barker started talking trash.
The Giants called him up for a cup of coffee anyway, and in four games, his strikeout rate looked great (9.00 K/9), and you'd have been forgiven for thinking that maybe this velocity thing was overblown. Bumgarner would graduate with honors if he could put up a strikeout rate like that, even with the caveat that he was relieving, and that relievers usually enjoy a slightly higher strikeout rate. Unfortunately, his K rate masked a still-diminished velocity (89.3 MPH on his fastball), and batters teed up on him often, with a 1.80 HR/9 number that would have to change for him to be successful at the major league level.
This year, in Bumgarner's return to school, he performed adequately but did not recover his former glory on the gun or in his peripherals. His 6.4 K/9 at Triple-A this year wouldn't qualify him for notice on any prospect list without giving him heavy extra credit for his young age (he's still only 20 years old). The reason he was able to contribute a 3.16 ERA was the fact that he still doesn't walk people (2.4 BB/9 in Triple-A and 1.9 career in minor leagues). And while some reports had him regaining velocity with a change in mechanics, his re-found ability to hit 90 on the gun from time to time was not a full recovery. The scouting reports had him as hitting the mid-90s before the mysterious dip. Another way his reduced ineffectiveness was obvious was in the number of hits Bumgarner gave up per nine innings: 9.6. That was a full two hits per nine worse than his previous numbers.
So now he's back in the majors, diploma in hand. His fastball is averaging 90.3 MPH compared to last year's 89.2 MPH, and he's only striking out 6.75 batters per nine innings. His 47.6% groundball percentage is OK, but not good enough to mitigate his poor strikeout numbers. He's not walking anyone (1.61 BB/9), but that's about the best thing that can be send for him right now… other than his 2.57 ERA. The worst part about his current numbers is that he's been lucky. He has a .266 BABIP and a 82.7% strand rate, numbers which trend towards .300 and 70% across baseball every year. A few more dinks and dunks should fall in, and a few more baserunners will hit home plate. In short, he has graduated, but not with honors. He looks like a pitcher who can put up an ERA in the low fours and lock down the back of a rotation by not walking batters and having just enough stuff.
Needless to say, this isn't what the Giants expected out of their prized arm. At 20 years old, it's possible that he fills in his frame or finds some arm slot that works better for him. He's still young. But if someone values his upside like he was still the super-prospect of old, then managers should go ahead and sell. His 'real' velocity is just not back. Or, as Billy Madison might have said, "OK, a simple "wrong" would've done just fine."
For more on Madison Bumgarner and other quacktastic young pitchers, check out Bloomberg Sports' Fantasy Tools.


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News round-up: top-spec Skoda Octavia on sale, Kia recalls and most powerful Audi R8
* Octavia Laurin and Klement priced from £26,570 * Kia recalls announced * Audi R8 LMX is most powerful R8 yet...
The range-topping Laurin and Klement trim for the Skoda Octavia is now available. The specification includes 18-inch alloys, adaptive xenon headlights, brown Alcantara and leather upholstery, an electric memory seat for the driver, adaptive cruise control and an upgraded sound system.
Laurin and Klement trim is only available with the 178bhp 1.8-litre petrol or 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel. You can get either engine with a DSG automatic gearbox, and four-wheel drive if you go for the manual estate. Prices start at £26,570 for the 1.8 TSI hatch.
Kia is recalling around 7000 examples of its Sportage and Soul models in the UK due to a potential fault with their seatbelt pre-tensioner system. The recall affects Sportage SUVs built between October 2011 and November 2012, and some Soul models built between August 2011 and March 2012. Kia will replace the necessary components free of charge and will contact owners by post.
The Audi R8 LMX is the most powerful version of the company's flagship sports car so far, and Audi claims it will also be the first production car to come with laser headlights as standard. The 562bhp R8 has a top speed of 198mph, and a 0-62mph time of 3.4 seconds. The official fuel economy is 21.9mpg, and it emits 299g/km of CO2.
The R8 LMX will make its first public appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June, when it will also be able to order. Only 99 cars will be available in the UK, and they'll cost from £160,025.


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Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Over and over again, shame on all of us.
Yet Gov. Jerry Brown may be putting Californians in that predicament with his proposal to place a constitutional amendment before the voters in 2012 to guarantee funding for local law enforcement.
By mandating funds for this important area without defining the resources, Brown's proposal may further strangle California's ability to meet the state's many priorities.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Again and again, over the past few decades, Californians have voted to mandate funds for specific programs usually without providing the sources of those funds.
The biggest mandate comes with 40 percent of the state general fund designated for K-12 public education. But there are other recipients.
Californians have mandated that "third strike" criminals spend 25 years to life in state prisons. With 8,500 such prisoners, the tab at $50,000 each comes to $425,000,000 annually for this group alone.
Californians have also mandated spending for certain types of transportation, after school programs, children's health programs, and mental health programs.
Add up all the mandated spending and it amounts to more than two-thirds of the state budget, according to some experts.
The problem with mandated spending is that such commitments rarely include the funds needed for their implementation. Somehow, the legislature must find them.
At the same time, however, the voters have systematically reduced the ability of policy makers to raise revenues, again mostly through ballot propositions.
As recently as 2010, the voters passed an initiative that now requires a two-thirds vote by state and local governments for virtually every kind of tax increase.
So here's the ugly combination: On the one hand, we keep adding demands for more programmatic expenditures.
On the other hand, we keep adding restraints for revenue collection.
No wonder California begins each budget year in trouble.
Now comes Brown's newest proposal to constitutionally require funding of local law enforcement.
As a concept, that's a great idea, but where will we get the money? On that the governor has been silent, other than to say "Don't worry about the money. We'll get it to you one way or another."
That's the kind of language that has tied the state's budget hands.
We have been promised similar funding mechanisms ever since the days of Proposition 13 in 1978.
We're still waiting, even as the voters agree to additional commitments year after year.
Let us know what you think. Comment below, send us your thoughts via Twitter @PropZero or add your comment to our Facebook page.


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Read This
Environmental Chemistry gives a bang-up review of the case, at length, that should not be missed.
News, Research and Commentary about the Floyd Landis doping allegations.
One of TBV's sons gives Landis a "thumbs up" at the Tour of California, February 21, 2006 -- before things got complicated.
full size image/full image
Environmental Chemistry gives a bang-up review of the case, at length, that should not be missed.
Posted by DBrower at 5/22/2007 06:26:00 AM
Labels: hearing
Excellent commentary on the hearings, thanks!
Why did Floyd Landis chose a black tie on the very day after his thug friend, Will Geoghegan threaten Greg lemond.
Landis already confessed that he was present during that evil call.
Was Floyd Landis still feeing evil the very next day?
Do non steroid abusers behave like this?
A see T-Mobile suffered yet another doping confession today.
"The efforts and dedication those involved with TBV have put into telling this story as completely as possible is deserving of nothing short of a Pulitzer Prize."
Thats a nice pat on the back for you guys...
Joseph Goebels would be envious.
Someone(s) petty jealousy show's their intelligence. Their comments are bringing the discussion down to the level of Dick Pound and his nazi frogmen. If you want to hear yourself talk go in the bathroom and please close the door. Others here are interested in the truth.
How awesome!! That is a website that scientific minds read; and TBV is the authority!! I love the recommendation s for fixing the problems, they make sense! Not political, scientific basis! And it just shows what a great job you guys are doing!!!
Thanks for the link to the Environmental Chemistry review of the case.
In the increasingly "winner takes all" global mindset, it really should be no surprise to see "win at all costs" behavior, whether it is from athletes, the WADA, the USADA, transnational corporations, or all the souls flocking to gambling establishments in search of a jackpot.
Unfortunately, the stakes have become too high and decency, truth, due process, fairness, and integrity have become casualties of the global casino. I certainly am no longer "proud to be an American."
To me to greatest tragedy of this all is that we are being robbed of heroes. Most of us want to believe in something or someone stronger, better, more noble than ourselves. But this is being stripped from us. And all for the vagaries of the global market place. It has all become incredibly Machiavellian and feudal.
Viva La France!
I know, if I were an elite cyclist, I'd be torn between wanting to take part in the most prestigious of bicycle races and the fact that my life could be ruined by a very possible false positive [and the inevitable leaks] from a notoriously shoddy laboratory.
While I think cycling as a sport is not in as much danger as most people would seem to infer, I believe, regardless of the outcome of these hearings [in terms of Floyd's past, present and future], the Tour de France is at serious risk of extinction; no formal "boycott", per se, just a simple avoidance by those who recognize the liklihood of botched "science", should they face testing.
Thank you to all who have worked so hard to provide a glimpse of the procedures and all-too-political motives of the anti-doping [bowel] movement.
What was a daily roundup became an "irregular report" of links with specific Landis interest, with brief comment. We avoided bashing, gushing, or gross stupidity. Unless it was funny.
We're still around for mail, but don't expect much or quick response. Thanks!
Comments are welcome, but may be edited/moderated or deleted for propriety and relevance. The decision of the judges is final. Your milage may vary, taxes and license additional.
TBV tried to be objective, making reference to all points of view. It's intended to be useful for folks of all persuasions.
"As always, Trust but Verify has the best coverage, if you want to delve into it." (Doucheblog)
"Floyd Landis: Blog on Landis Doping Allegations" (LA Times [better than nothing])
Total Poindexter Website Prize: to the fabulous geniuses over at trustbutverify, who not only are perhaps the most impassioned defenders of Floyd Landis' virtue beyond only the boy himself, but actually seem to understand the detailed scientific arguments they put out that the rest of us (well, me) are too stupid to even coherently summarize. Floyd, you better be innocent, or you owe these folks a *major* freakin' apology! (racejunkie)
"TalkingpointsBeforeVeracity " (Will@topix, our #1 fan)"For another solid synopsis of the latest developments check out the always trenchant Trust But Verify site." (JohnnyBaseball)
"For more in-depth daily coverage, go to trustbut.blogspot.com)." (Martin Dugard, author of Chasing Lance)
"Who does awards for blogs? I sense a nomination is in order." (Carlton Reid, of BikeBiz)"Hands-down champion of full-and I mean full-coverage of this hearing is the blog Trust But Verify. You'll have to have excellent background knowledge of the issues, and wade through page after page of detail to get to anything interesting, but it's raw and unfiltered and all there. The guy who runs the site, a cycling fan from Northern California, began casually providing a clearinghouse for Landis case news nearly 10 months ago, and now he has the haunted look of a man whose life has been hijacked and wants it back. (Loren Mooney, co-author of Positively False, at Bicycling)
"thank you for you balanced look at what is happening with floyd." (Michael Farrington. Green Mountain Cyclery, Ephata, PA.)
"This genuine Floyd basher would like to thank you for the hard work you put into this great resource." (Spinopsys Phil)
" Trust but Verify, the essential clearinghouse blog about the Landis case" (Mark McClusky of Wired magazine)"if you want the latest news on the Floyd Landis case, Trust but Verify is the go-to site. The author is biased in favor of Floyd (so am I) but the reporting is neutral and comprehensive." (12string musings)
"Great blog. You're tagged. " (BikingBis. Great, more work)[More...]
Thanks to Free Floyd for the idea, and Groklaw for some inspiration.PK/Strbuk is similarly inclined.
Bill Hue is a passionate about fairness and justice, and is relatively indifferent to Landis' guilt or innocence
Marc is an American living in Paris.
If someone who leans towards guilt would like to contribute directly, please inform us.
Sharing a diversity of viewpoints is the best way we know of to arrive at the truth.


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A study on eyeliner directed by Dr. Alison Ng and her colleagues has recently exploded across internet news, including coverage from Reuters. The commonly used cosmetic is not necessarily 'damaging' the way some have interpreted the study, but it can carry some risks of vision problems and could potentially affect eye health depending on your eyeliner style.
The study looked at the application of eyeliner on the inner and outer sides of the lash line, monitoring the 'migration' of eyeliner particles into the eye. Application of eyeliner on the interior side/inner lid is a popular style for 'smokey' and 'big eyes' looks, however, this style could put your eyes at greater risk of infection and blurred vision. The study observed how the eyeliner particles of both application styles migrated into the tear film (thin coating protecting the eye). Inside the lash line, the eyeliner migrated quicker and there were more (15-30%) particles moving into the tear film than when applied to outside the lash line.
So, why is this important? Many people have worn eyeliner on the inner side of the lash and never had any eye problems. Yes, this is true because after time the amount of make-up moving into the tear film decreases and after a couple of hours, they found there was a negligible amount left- our natural defenses (i.e. tearing) are pretty good at washing away unwanted particles. However, Dr. Ng also highlighted that the eyeliner can alter the tear film, which can add to discomfort, especially for those with dry or sensitive eyes.
Furthermore, wearers contact lenses may be at a greater risk of retaining unwanted particles as eyeliner often contains waxes and oils that can adhere to the lens (usually designed to adhere to the skin), which can build up and cause redness and irritation. It may also allow for introduction of harmful bacteria from the eyeliner, which can cause eye infections or blurred vision as the lens becomes cloudier.
The study was small, and is not able to provide a definitive conclusion that eyeliner on the interior side of the lash line is definitely harmful, or shed light on the long-term effects. However, it does highlight the possible risks that can be associated, especially for contact lens wearers, with applying eyeliner on the inside of the lash line and it may be advisable to re-think the 'big eyes' look, and opt for application outside the lashes.
As a general rule, you don't want to have any foreign visitors in your tear film, and regardless of where you apply your eyeliner, maintaining healthy vision is important. Cosmetic hygiene and 'application don'ts' can help reduce your risk of eye infections, scratches, and suffering with discomfort or blurred vision. See below for cosmetic care tips.
Cosmetic Care Tips:
Keep your eye cosmetics clean! - Make sure applicators, eyelash curlers, brushes, etc. are clean (you can use soap, detergent, or a mild shampoo) before each use, as harmful bacteria can grow in them, which can cause an eye infection.
Do not share or swap eye cosmetics (even with very close friends and family) - Others may have germs or bacteria that may be harmful to you. You are also at greater risk of contamination using testers in stores where multiple people use the same product – avoid testing eye products if you can!
Do not apply eye make-up on the tube, train, bus, car, or anything else that is moving - One bump, jolt, emergency stop could cause you to injure your eye, such as scratching the cornea. Even small scratches can lead to a serious eye infection.
If your eye make-up is causing you irritation, stop using it and remove it immediately, if it persists see a doctor.
Wash your hands! - Our hands carry bacteria that can transfer to your eye, which can then cause an eye infection – err on the side of caution and apply your eye make-up (especially eyeliner) with clean hands.
Keep cosmetic containers clean and don't use old containers - Mascara manufacturers usually recommend discarding after two – four months after purchase.
Don't add water to products (i.e. dried up mascara) - Adding water can introduce bacteria, and it can dilute the preservative that is meant to protect against microbial growth.
Take extra care to not scratch the eye when both applying and removing eye make-up - This can lead to an eye infection.
Don't use make-up on your eyes that is not intended for the area as it may contain ingredients that are not approved for the eye.
Try to avoid storing your cosmetics in direct sunlight or next to heat sources. A cool, dry place is best.
Sharpen your eyeliner pencil to remove any residual 'stuff' and cut off a bit of the end with twist-up eyeliner to start with a fresh tip.
Always remove make-up before bed.


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fOh yes, it's time for your My Dream App weekly update. Last week on My Dream App, Ground Control, iGTD, and Desktop Wars received the least amount of votes leaving just six applications this week. At long last, we have reached the finals of the competition . This week, you have your choice of six applications: Hijack, Blossom, Atmosphere, Portal, Whistle, and Cookbook; three of which will be declared the winners and be developed into applications, sold as shareware. The three finalists will receive brand new MacBooks and a percentage of all sales of the final application.
This week's judges are big ones: Amber MacArthur (ecrush anyone? OMG call me!), J Allard (of Microsoft fame), Bruce Horn (creator of the Finder), Guy Kawasaki, and Steve Wozniak. Again, no one pulls any punches in this round, not even the perpetually nice Steve Wozniak:
I think Cookbook is the big loser of this space. We all knew in 1981 that recipes were the #1 use for computers. But nowadays email, web browsing, blogging, music and movies are the collective killer apps for real people. When was the last time I pulled up a recipe program? Ummm… 1982?
If you carefully read all the comments, you will learn the man, perhaps almost single-handedly responsible for the personal computer revolution, can't whistle! If that doesn't make you feel better about yourself, I'm not sure what will.
As always, this round you get free schwag for voting. PhotoPresenter, the app that in ten years you will use with your MacBook to make a digital picture frame, and Overflow 2.0, an "extension to your dock". You also get a $5 off coupon for a T-shirt at Insanely Great Tees.
Regardless of who wins this and how good the final applications turn out, one thing can be said for the team that put all this together: they know how to make the hype machine turn.


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Wednesdays: 6:15pm
at 'AMA 'AMA – Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Genre: Traditional Hawaiian Music
Known for his falsetto singing, Hoku Zuttermeister performs the music of Hawai'i in a more contemporary style with roots that stretch back generations.
Dates and times may change without prior notice.
Call Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa at (808) 674-6200


text:
Organizational Management Sklls
Organizational Management Sklls
Salman Zafar is an ecopreneur, consultant, advisor, speaker and journalist with expertise in waste management, waste-to-energy, renewable energy, environment protection, conservation and sustainable development. His geographical areas of focus include Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe. Salman is the Founder of EcoMENA, a popular voluntary organization based in Qatar. He is also the Founder and CEO of BioEnergy Consult, a reputed consulting firm active in biomass, waste-to-energy and waste management segments.
Salman is a professional environmental writer with more than 350 popular articles to his credit. He is proactively engaged in creating mass environmental awareness in different parts of the world.
Salman Zafar can be reached at email@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com


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Feel complete freedom and joy. Get to know the fascinating skating world with us!
Many faces of skating
Skating is mostly associated with competitive ride (inline skating, riding a scooter, and skateboarding). Persons looking for other types of activity will also find something for themselves: from recreational skating to field and fast skating.
Safety first
Skating is accompanied by unusual emotions, but it's worth remembering about your own and your children's safety. To minimize the risk of scrapes and injuries, one should always remember to wear proper protectors. A helmet protecting head is especially important. Remember to check it before each use and to fasten it correctly!
Helmet Spokey Poppet was designed for those who care about their safety. Made of light materials. CE certificate, conforms to EN 1078 norm.
We set high requirements for our equipment, therefore we make every effort to use the highest quality materials to manufacture the products.
We know it is good to stand out and that is why we put special emphasis on the original and refined design. Our helmets are manufactured in line with state-of-the-art trends and in the most fashionable colour versions.
A precise Head Lock adjustment system enabling to optimally match the helmet's size to the user's needs was used in Spokey helmets.
The model is equipped with a protruding peak, providing extra protection of the forehead and the back of the head.
The helmet was made of light material. Low weight ensures comfort during physical activity. The use of a buckle makes it easy to buckle and unbuckle the helmet without the need to loosen the straps.
The helmet was equipped with 6 ventilation holes which effectively carry away the excessive heat during very intensive physical effort.
Inline skating, ice skating, roller skating and skateboarding.
Safe clip helps to fasten and unfasten helmet.
Protecting layer absorbs energy during impact.
System HeadLock facilitates adjusting the helmet to head size.
weight: 200+/-10 g
adjusting: Head Lock, 49-56 cm
excellent protection the forehead and occipital area
outer layer: PVC
inner layer: EPS
quick fastening under the chin
number of ventilation openings: 6 + netting
certificate: CE EN 1078


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A person who's lived with MS for 30+ years has had a totally different experience than have I – a person living with the diagnosis of the disease for over 10 years. Likewise, a person diagnosed today, or within the past few years, has had and will have a very different life with the disease than I have had.
MS service organizations are constantly trying to figure out to best serve the population of people living with this disease and are now beginning to understand that part of the answer is a generational approach as this generation of people living with multiple sclerosis is having a very different time of it.
I often think that my aged group of MS is the most "uptight" about our condition. We're still working (or trying to), often try to hide our disease, and fight it as much as we try to live with it. Many in the older group of people with MS have experienced more progression, didn't have meds from the time of diagnosis and have become comfortable with their set of coping strategies.
The newbies to the party seem to start out very scared and then take their circumstance and incorporate it into the life they want to live, the way they want to live it. I admire them for their pluck!
I've seen a difference, first hand, when I attend various self-help groups as a speaker. First off, many of the older, established, groups still call themselves a "support group"; a term that went out of favor in the professional therapy world a number of years ago. The 20/30-somethings with MS hardly ever even come to such meetings. They prefer social meet-ups and go out and find the information they need/want rather than wait for it to make its way to them.
My generation of MS is someplace in the middle; progression wise, information wise and just plain MS-wise.
Now that diagnostics and education of primary care physicians have come into the new millennium, there is yet another generation of MS; the teens and pre-teens.
How will they deal with MS now and once they leave home???
We all come to a personal place of accepting/dealing/coping/living with multiple sclerosis. Even our community here on the Life With MS Blog could be considered fairly stratified in our MS generation (I'm guessing that the vast majority of us are 35-55. Am I right?).
As we head into the weekend and stumble out of our heat-induced MS stupors, I thought we'd take a few moments and think about how people of different generations have, are and will live with multiple sclerosis.
Wishing you and your family the best of health.
Don't forget that you can also follow me via our Life With MS Facebook page and on Twitter.
Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health.


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NTUC membership is open to anyone above 16 years of age, except personnel from Singapore Police Force, Singapore Prisons, Auxiliary Police bodies, foreign domestic workers and full-time students.
Please note that the NTUC membership fee is $117 per annum ($9 per month from Jan-NOv & $18 in Dec)
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What Is It
The NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers) programme offers eligible members up to $100 worth of assistance on daily essentials and schools supplies, with an additional $100 for each eligible school-going child.
Who Is Eligible
NTUC union members who meet the following criteria:
Further terms and conditions apply.
In 2020, to ensure timely assistance is provided to our lower-income members amidst an uncertain economic backdrop, some 17,500 beneficiaries of NTUC-U Care Fund's 2019 voucher programmes will automatically be eligible for NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers). These beneficiaries, who will be notified in July of their auto-qualified status, need not submit any application and will receive their e-vouchers in end August 2020.
Useful Info
More details on NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers) are available at www.ntuc.org.sg/CareFundEVouchers.
*U Stretch and Back to School Vouchers have been discontinued from 2020. A new programme, NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers) is launched to help provide relief to eligible union members on daily necessities and school needs. For more details, please refer to ntuc.org.sg/CareFundEVouchers.
U Stretch Vouchers
U Care Back To School Vouchers
The U Care Back To School (BTS) Vouchers Programme is one of NTUC-U Care Fund's core assistance programmes which aims to help eligible union members defray the cost of their children's school expenses for the new school year. For 2019, the NTUC-U Care Fund will continue to roll out the U Care BTS Vouchers to potentially help 30,000 members' school-going children. The voucher quantum will be subject to final donations raised.
CAP+Ure Fund targets to provide interim financial support for low-to-medium income union members* who are impacted by sudden loss of income. The funds would be disbursed to help an estimated 2,500 children over 2 years or when the funds are fully drawn down, whichever is earlier.
To ensure that the needs of the children are not compromised, each child will receive a one-time disbursement of S$250 worth of FairPrice vouchers to provide for their daily necessities and schooling needs.
Eligibility Criteria
Member must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the funding:
Application Process
Members would be required to obtain and submit the application form directly from their respective unions. The completed and signed application form together with the relevant supporting documents should be verified and endorsed by the member's union.
Applicant will be notified of the outcome of the application by his/her Union.
You can download the application form here.
*Members who require assistance in reskilling themselves in order to find alternative employment or upskilling themselves to upgrade their current job will be enrolled in the NTUC LIFT-UP Pathfinder, a programme supported by the President's Challenge Empowering for Life Fund where members and their families will undergo customised training to level up their employability, skills and resilience.
The Family Fun Fiesta (F3) @ Downtown East is organised and sponsored by NTUC Club in support of the Labour Movement's U Care initiative.
Held several times a year, the Family Fun Fiesta aims to strengthen family bonding, promote a greater work-life balance and better well-being by enabling lower-income union members to enjoy a day of fun with their families at Downtown East at no cost.
To be eligible, union members must meet the following criteria:
a. Total Monthly Gross Household Income of $4,000 and below;
OR Per Capita Income of $1000 and below if gross household income exceeds $4,000.
b. Members must not be in arrears of membership dues.
When to Apply
The application is now closed.
You can download the Factsheet and Step-By-Step Guide on MyNTUC App for F3 eCoupons Redemption below.
The U Care Hardship Grant provides a one-off assistance to low-income union members in the event that the member suffers hardship arising from one of the following circumstances which is of a non-industrial nature:
a. Death
b. Total and permanent incapacity
c. Serious chronic medical condition*
d. Registered fire or flood victim
* Pre-existing serious chronic medical condition diagnosed before the applicant became a Union Member will not be considered.
Union Members must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for the grant:
a. Total Monthly Gross Household Income of $1,800 and below; or
Per Capita Income of $500 and below if gross household income exceeds $1,800
b. Minimum of 6 months continuous paid-up union membership at the point of application
• $1,000 one-off payout
How to Apply
• If you are an Ordinary Branch (OB) member, please apply through your union.
• If you are a General Branch (GB) member, please apply directly with NTUC Members' Hub, NTUC Centre, No. 1 Marina Boulevard #B1-03, Singapore 018989 or contact NTUC Membership hotline at 6213 8008 (Monday - Friday 9.00am to 5.30pm and Saturday 9.00am to 12.30pm) or email firstname.lastname@example.com for enquiry.
NTUC GIFT is a group insurance policy exclusively for members of NTUC affiliated unions/associations. All union members who are below 65 years old are automatically covered against death and total/partial & permanent disability of up to S$40,000. Union leaders are eligible for double the sum assured. Union members' spouses below 65 years old are also covered against death and total & permanent disability. Eligible members aged 65 years and above may opt for extension of coverage with payment of a token fee. The token fee has been waived until 2022. Please refer to the brochure for the detailed payout.
Members who:
- are 16 to 65 years of age (include spouses below the age of 65, i.e. before their 65th birthday)
- have at least 6 months of continuous paid-up union/association membership
Claim Submission
In the event of a claim, the member/next-of-kin needs to submit the duly completed claim form together with all necessary supporting documents to their union/association for endorsement. The claim must be submitted within 90 days of the occurrence of death or permanent disability.
– For Ordinary Branch (OB) member, please submit the claim form to the union/association that the member belongs to.
– For General Branch (GB) or U Club member, please submit the claim form to NTUC Members' Hub at NTUC Centre, 1 Marina Boulevard, Basement 1, Singapore 018989. For enquiries, please call 6213 8008.
To download the claim forms, please select accordingly:
NTUC GIFT Death Claim Form
NTUC GIFT Total/Partial & Permanent Disability Claim Form
Please refer to the NTUC GIFT Brochure below for more details.
NTUC GIFT Brochure (English)
NTUC GIFT Brochure (Chinese)
Taking A Bold Step ForwardWider Outreach With New e2i And One-Stop Centres
By Joshua Joseph
The Labour Movement will take a bold step forward to better the working lives of Singaporean workers as it looks to set up two new centres in the next few months in support of low-wage workers as well as PMEs(Professionals, Managers and Executives). The two centres will be located at the new Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability (e2i).
NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say shared this on 3 September 2013 at the Labour Leadership Lighthouse (L3) dialogue session that was attended by some 130 key union leaders. In response to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's call for the Government and communities to do more to support individuals, the Labour Movement has charted out new directions to strengthen and deepen its support and assistance for different groups of workers.
For a start, the Labour Movement will set up a new U Care Centre. The centre will champion the well-being of low-wage workers and provide employment and workplace advisory.
In addition, to better serve PMEs in the areas of professional upgrading, job placement and career progression, a U PME Centre will be set up. With PMEs currently making up about one in three of the jobseekers that come to e2i for assistance, the Labour Movement sees the need to strengthen its outreach for this group of workers.
SG Lim said: 'One key objective of this U PME Centre is to do a more intensive outreach tothe employers to bring in as many of these better paying jobs that are more suitable for the PMEs;in particular the mature PMEs who are affected by the restructuring in theirexisting employment.'
Stemming from previous discussions on labour market testing, one of the outcomes that the Labour Movement hopes to see is an establishment of a National Job Bank where Singaporeans, in particular PMEs, will have better access to information on better job openings and will be better placed in these jobs with assistance from e2i and other job agencies.
'One outcome we hope to see is the establishment of a Job Bank where e2i and other employment agencies will have better access to information on job openings,' added SG Lim.
Moving forward, the Labour Movement will also intensify its engagement with SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) to help bridge the manpower gap. This includees efforts in facilitating SMEs to search for workers and where necessary assist them in making their jobs more attractive. It will also work towards helping these workers up-skill to increase their competencies with the ultimate aim of helping the SMEs grow their businesses.
by Nicholas Lee
Life is full of uncertainties. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. Certainly no one would have expected Mr Karuppiah Thiyagarajan to meet with a fatal accident in India.
As a union member, Mr Thiyagarajan, an Indian national working in Singapore, was eligible for the NTUC Gift Group Insurance. Belonging to the Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Employees' Union (SMEEU), Mr Thiyagarajan met with an accident when he returned back to his hometown in India last September, leaving behind his wife and two children aged eight and 13. This brought his family much distress and sorrow as he was the sole breadwinner of the family.
When news of his accident and subsequent demise reached his fellow workers, three of his colleagues liased on behalf of the union with his family in India. On 7 January 2013, his company's Branch Chairman and Executive Committee member, Mr Lim Chee Khian, and branch officials from SMEEU presented a cheque of $20,000 to the widow of Mr Thiyagarajan, who had made her way to Singapore for the presentation.
SMEEU President Wong Weng Ong noted that the NTUC Gift is a valuable benefit for members: "This is a good example of unions helping our members' families in their time of need. It shows that union benefits are for all members, foreign and local."
He added: "We have been advising foreign workers in our branches to join the union - you are working far away from home and the union is your friend."
U Care 50
To demonstrate the Labour Movement's Caring, Sharing and Reaching Out spirit and in celebration of NTUC's 50th anniversary, the 'U Care 50' initiative was launched on 18 March 2011 at the Pertapis Children's Home.
The U Care 50 is a year-long initiative which aims to highlight the quiet efforts by NTUC's affiliated unions/association, LM communities and secretariats/units that have been reaching out to the needy regularly and encourage more corporations and individuals to Do Good, Do Together and Do More.
These efforts which go beyond just helping workers and our members include visits, outings and community outreach activities organised for residents in welfare homes and the community as well as adoption of homes.
Gotong Royong Visit To Pertapis Children's Home
Gotong Royong, a Malay word which means community outreach, aptly describes the annual project by NTUC's Care and Share Committee. Every year, the Care and Share Committee, which comprises leaders and officials from NTUC's affiliated unions and association, come together to provide assistance and bring cheer to the less privileged. This year, the Committee chose Pertapis Children's Home.
Housing some 70 children aged four to 18 who have been abused and are from dysfunctional families, Pertapis Children's Home provides residential care for children who are protected under the Children and Young Persons Act.
In his address to officials from Pertapis and the Care and Share Committee members on 18 March 2011 at the Pertapis Children's Home, Mayor for Central District Singapore and Care and Share Director Zainudin Nordin said: "We have chosen to visit the Pertapis Children's Home as we believe in the good work of the home and would like to show our support. We hope that our presence will bring much cheer to the children in our own small way, show them that there is warmth and kindness in our society."
NTUC and 27 affiliated unions pooled their resources to donate $12,500 worth of basic necessities including pillows, bed sheets, toiletries and stationeries that would last for about a year. In addition, the committee presented the Home with a 'U Care Expression' board to encourage the children to pen their thoughts and express their creativity through drawing to boost their confidence.
Target Exceeded!
By the end of 2011, U Care 50 had hit its target of 50 outreach activities and even exceeded the target by three projects.
U Care 50 CSR Projects in 2011
(In chronological order)
Brief Description of Activity
Number of Beneficiaries
Date of Activity
Chemical Industries Employees' Union (CIEU)
Gift distribution for elderly and low income households in Marsiling
Elderly and low income households in Marsiling
12 households
18 Jan
Food, Drinks and Allied Workers' Union (FDAWU)
Chinese New Year high tea at Copthorne Orchid Hotel
Geylang East Home for the Aged (GEHA)
24 Jan
Public Utilities Board Employees' Union (PUBEU)
Annual Lunar New Year celebration
PEACE-Connect Neighbourhood LINK (PCNL)
28 Jan
Chinese New Year luncheon at Sheraton Towers
31 Jan
Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU)
Chinese New Year community outreach event
Rochor Kongsi Home for the Aged
8 Feb
Singapore Maritime Officers' Union (SMOU)
SMOU and Wavelink Co-operative 60th Anniversary Lunar New Year presentation luncheon
Henderson Senior Citizens Home
Lunar New Year celebration
Senior Citizens of Jalan Besar Constituency
10 Feb
Singapore Organisation of Seaman (SOS)
Lunar New Year Celebration luncheon
Asian Women's Welfare Association
11 Feb
Ling Kwang Home
Jamiyah Home for the Aged
Movie and luncheon gathering for seniors
NTUC ElderCare
United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries (UWEEI)
Chinese New Year visit
Moral Home for the Aged Sick
12 Feb
Lunar New Year celebration for senior citizens from the community
PEACE-Connect Neighbourhood LINK
15 Feb
Hope Community
Care Community
Junior Kidz Day Out II
ABC Children's Place
11 March
Housing and Development Board Staff Union (HDBSU)
Commissioning of donated mini-bus
Canossaville Children's Home
18 March
Outing to Escape Theme Park
Care & Share Committee
Gotong Royong Project
Pertapis Children's Home
Seniors Day Out
Kheng Chiu Loke Tin Kee Home
19 March
Visit to Home and May Day Outing
19 April
Healthcare Services Employees' Union (HSEU)
Outreach to Nee Soon Residents
Nee Soon Residents
23 April
Keppel Employees' Union (KEU)
Visit to Home
Jamiyah Nursing Home
26 April
Food collection drive for needy families under Shan You Counselling Centre
Shan You Counselling Centre clients
11-14 May
Singapore Port Workers' Union (SPWU)
Happy Villa Home
18 May
Food, Drinks and Allied Workers' Union (FDAWU)
Rice Dumpling Festival Celebration
4 June
Singapore Airlines Staff Union (SIASU)
Red Cross Home for the Disabled
10 June
Amalgamated Union of Statutory Board Employees (AUSBE)
Donation and distribution of grocery items
11 June
Union of Security Employees (USE)
Outing to the Universal Studios
Down-Syndrome Association
18 June
Caring Across Generations
Block Party
Low income households in the Marsiling Drive area
10 households
19 June
Sembawang Shipyard Employees' Union (SSEUSEM)
Outing to the Singapore Zoological Gardens
Sree Narayana Mission Home
22 June
Education Services Union (ESU)
Meals on Wheels Volunteering Project
Caregiving Welfare Association
16 July
Community Outreach
26 Aug
National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU)
St Vincent Home
Family Day and Mooncake Festival Celebrations
3 Sept
Singapore Insurance Employees' Union (SIEU)
Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration
Moral Home for the Aged
Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE)
Buffet lunch for the residents
Society for the Aged Sick
17 Sept
Outing to MIND Café and Club HDB
Canossaville Children's Home
7 Oct
Port Officers' Union (POU)
Outing with residents to Yishun Safra Bowl
Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled
8 Oct
Fundraising from Recycling Project
Lutheran Community Care Services Ltd
15 & 22 Oct
Staff Union of NTUC-ARU (SUN)
Outing with residents to the Singapore Flyer
4 Nov
Keppel FELS Employees' Union (KFEU)
9 Nov
NTUC U Family
Visit to Eldercare Senior Activity Centre
NTUC Eldercare
26 Nov
3 Dec
Outing with residents to the Singapore Flyers and Marina Barrage
Sree Narayana Mission Home and Meranti Home
House Painting
Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre
9-10 Dec
10 Dec
Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees' Union (BATU)
St Andrew's Cathedral Home for the Aged
11 Dec
Singapore Maritime Officers' Union (SMOU)
Outing with residents to the Maritime Experiential Museum and Aquarium
12 Dec
Christmas Party
The Spastic Children's Association of Singapore
13 Dec
NatSteel Employees' Union (NEU)
Lunch and sightseeing
17 Dec
Singapore Bank Employees' Union (SBEU)
Geylang East Home for the Aged
Visit to the museum
Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped
22 Dec
By Vanessa Teo
Speaking at the 'U Care Back To School Fair' on 10 December 2011, NTUC Care and Share Director Zainudin Nordin announced that about $9 million was disbursed in 2011 to help about 90,000 low income union members and their families through six different assistance programmes.
The assistance programmes are the U Stretch vouchers, U Care Back to School vouchers, Family Recreation and Fun Carnivals, U Care Education Cofunding scheme, and donations to NTUC Eldercare Trust and NTUC First Campus Bright Horizons Fund.
Said Mr Zainudin: "This is no small amount by any measure, and it goes to show that the Labour Movement cares a lot about our low income members and their families. In fact, we had raised the income ceiling since this August so that we could help as many low-income families as possible."
And one of the ways to better help low-income union members and their families is through its yearly organised 'U Care Back To School Fair', where members are able to purchase school related items at discounted prices. They are also able to use their Back to School vouchers at the fair.
"The purpose of the U Care Back to School vouchers is thus to help our low-income members defray the cost of their children's school expenses for the new school year… I hope many of them will drop by at our 'Back to School Fair' to use their vouchers and enjoy all the exclusive discounts and promotions. This is the reason why NTUC organises the 'U Care Back To School Fair' ever year, to complement the Back To School vouchers so as to help our members stretch their dollar and bring greater value to them," added Mr Zainudin.
A highlight at this year's 'Back To School Fair' will also be the U Care Learning Zone, where educational talks for parents focus on healthy eating for their children, social networking sites and how to keep their children safe online. Children can also participate in creative art and crafts workshops such as caricature drawing and designing their own storybook.
Mr Raninyi was one parent who found such an experience innovative. He said: "The fact that my child can come here to learn while we parents get good deals is kind of different from a normal fair. This is my first time here, and I am enjoying it."
The event also saw a caring moment as the Labour Movement presented a donation of $500,000 from the U Care Fund to the NTUC First Campus Bright Horizons Fund, which will help children of low-income families attend pre-school at My First Skool Centres. The new NTUC Central Committee members were also present to interact with union members at the fair as they toured the compound on that day.
By Gwen Sin
The Labour Movement's U Care Fund has done an amazing feat in providing assistance to low-income union members and their families since it was established. Through collective efforts put together by the NTUC Care and Share Department (CSD), NTUC affiliated unions, association and social enterprises, as well as management and tripartite partners, an impressive achievement of raising over $45 million was reached within a short three-year span.
More than 100,000 members and their households have benefited from the U Care Fund yearly, by means of U Stretch vouchers, U Care Scholarship/Bursary Top-Up and Co-Funding Schemes, and U Care Back to School vouchers among others.
With NTUC Club's strong support and sponsorship, some 10,900 members also get to enjoy a day of activities during the Family Recreation and Fun (FRF) carnivals last year, which promote stronger family bonds through quality fun.
A silver lining is also extended to other underprivileged communities in Singapore yearly. As part of the Care & Share Committee's annual Gotong Royong project, union leaders and staff members of CSD brought cheer and basic necessities to the Pertapis Children's Home in March 2011. The U Care Fund also contributes to NTUC First Campus Bright Horizons Fund, as well as the NTUC Eldercare Trust to help needy children and elderly respectively.
Earlier in April 2011, U Care Fund kicked off its first fundraising event with a very special and unique charity golf event in celebration of NTUC's 50th anniversary. 50 flights of golfers came together to play the 27-hole course. The U Care Charity Dinner held in July 2011 marked its second and final fundraiser. To showcase the Labour Movement's Caring, Sharing and Reaching Out spirit, NTUC launched the 'U Care 50' initiative to work with unions to roll out 50 community service projects this year.
None of these good works would have been made possible if not for different groups of heroes and heroines, coming together with selfless commitment and dedication to better the welfare of union members and their families.
They deserve the highest accolades and applause in making the Labour Movement such a caring one, as everyone contributes to 'Do Well, Do Good, Do Together and Do More' for all!
By Gwen Sin
1,591 students ranging from primary to tertiary (Institute of Technical Education, Polytechnic and University) levels were awarded $206,500 worth of scholarship awards and education grants at the 16th annual NTUC General Branch-U Care Fund Education Awards. About 300 students and their families were present at the NTUC Centre's auditorium on 20 August 2011 to receive the scholarship awards with NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Seng Han Thong gracing the event.
This meaningful event kicked off with an enlightening talk by 'MADMum' Anne Yeo from MAD Learning Pte Ltd. In her talk, she shared interesting facts about the human brain, the nature and nurture of it, and which led to more findings about every individual's giftedness and how thinking styles could be represented as a left-right bias for the left and right hemispheres of the brain through the presentation in four main colours, such as red, yellow, blue and green.
In his address, ASG Seng noted that this year's awards also saw a 20 per cent increase in the number of beneficiaries from 2010. He lauded yearly fund-raising efforts which are often met for three purposes: scholarship and bursaries; Back-to-School vouchers for needy students and, lastly, U-Stretch vouchers for low income households.
He shared: "After hearing from Ms Anne Yeo about the functions of our brains, we know that we have all powers when we come together as one community. In a community, people come together to strategise, conceptualise and develop a system so as to care for others.
"So really, the lesson is to think of how many areas of giftedness we have. There are 14 areas of giftedness discovered today. That reminded me of a Chinese adage, "天生我才必有用 (ti n sh ng w cái bì yǒuyòng)", which my teachers always said to my classmates and me about being endowed with natural talents for the future. Hopefully, this scholarship awards will not only incentivise you to pursue your talents further, but will also make you believe that you are gifted in many aspects, so that you will be of service to the bigger self - to the community, to society, to the nation."
All student recipients this year also received a one-year complimentary membership with nEbO.
"We wish to build a community for life for our union members where they can enjoy every aspect of work, live and play. Today's celebration is a key part of forging and strengthening this relationship. I am very happy for the children of our union members recognised through NTUC General Branch-U Care Fund Education Awards. This also helps us to start building an early relationship with the workers of tomorrow! This year we are also equipping these students with a free one-year nEbO membership. This is significant, because the nEbO membership is designed to make them work-ready, world-ready, life-ready. So we do not just endeavour that they are successful this year, but also that they are successful for the rest of their lives, which goes back to our vision of building a U community for life."
NTUC Membership Department Director Vivek Kumar
"I am very happy and excited to receive this award. It helps and pushes me to study harder, so that I can get the scholarship again next year. It also encourages me to reach closer to my aspiration in becoming a psychologist eventually."
Secondary One Chung Cheng High School (Main) student Kong Ling, Jolene was awarded $100 for scoring three As and one A star based on her PSLE results in 2010.
For the first time, NTUC FairPrice Foundation partnered People's Association in engaging all grassroots leaders and the community to support needy families through a mass community participation event, the One Community Walk held on 24 July 2011.
Through this event, FairPrice Foundation donated $1 million worth of food vouchers this year to needy families through all 87 Grassroots Organisations (GROs) and selected welfare organisations.
To spread the spirit of compassion by engaging the community in doing good together, FairPrice Foundation donated $10 to the FairPrice Food Voucher Scheme for every registered participant of the One Community Walk. This year, over 85,000 participants registered for the walk.
In response to the overwhelming support, FairPrice Foundation has donated $1 million in total to help needy families meet their daily needs. More than 20,000 needy families and individuals will benefit from this donation.
The vouchers will be distributed to needy families through all GROs in all 87 constituencies in Singapore. FairPrice Foundation will be writing to all Grassroot Advisors on collection of the food vouchers in early August.
FairPrice Foundation Chairman Ng Ser Miang said: "The One Community Walk is an excellent platform for people to come together as one and to share a common belief as one. By participating in this event, FairPrice Foundation hopes that we can share our belief that together as one, we can build a better community for all."
The Labour Movement's U Care Fund will roll out its first assistance programme for this year – the U Stretch vouchers, which are discount vouchers allowing union members to maximise their daily expenditure on basic necessities. The recent first fundraising event of U Care Fund – U Care Charity Golf 2011 had helped raised more than $6.8 million. From this amount raised, $3 million will be used for the U Stretch vouchers to potentially benefit 30,000 low-income union members. This year, each successful applicant will receive $100 worth of vouchers, a significant increase from the $30 last year.
NTUC's Care and Share Director, Mr Zainudin Nordin said: "Although our economic situation has improved in general, we face the pressures of inflation and rising cost of living. Thus, we hope that this increase in quantum of U Stretch vouchers will help our low-income members cope better especially if they are the sole breadwinners or have several dependants."
U Care Fund would like to make special thanks to the NTUC affiliated unions and associations, NTUC Social Enterprises and tripartite partners whose generous donations go towards funding the U Stretch vouchers, in particular Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF), NTUC FairPrice Foundation, NTUC Income and NTUC Choice Homes. It is through such generous support to U Care Fund that allowed the Labour Movement to continue its efforts in providing assistance to the low-income members and their families.
Each successful applicant will receive one booklet with $100 worth of U Stretch vouchers in 2011. Each voucher is worth $2.50 in value and can be redeemed with a minimum spending of $5.00 at participating NTUC Social Enterprises.
Application is now closed.
By Joshua Joseph
With the mission of becoming a Caring Labour Movement through U Care, the Labour Movement is certainly well on track after having raised up to a total of $53.9 million through fundraising efforts. Held on 7 April 2011 at the Orchid Country Club, this year's fund-raising efforts kick started with a special 27-hole U Care Charity Golf 2011 in celebration of NTUC's 50th anniversary.
A total of over $6.8 million was raised through the sale of golf flights and outright donations. This surpasses by more than 50 per cent the $10 million target set for 2011. The major donors included Singapore Labour Foundation, NTUC FairPrice Foundation, NTUC Income, NTUC Choice Homes and ComfortDelgro Corporation.
At the event, 50 flights of golfers comprising union leaders, management and government officials came together for the fund-raising event. Among the distinguished guests gracing the occasion were NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say, Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong, Minister of State for Manpower and Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan and NTUC Care and Share Alignment Director Zainudin Nordin.
Sharing at the event, Mr Zainudin said: "We are very proud that at the U Care Charity Golf this year we are able to raise a lot of funds in terms of the way we work together in the tripartite partnership, the management, the unions and even individuals who have come forward to raise funds for today's Charity Golf. The other effort that we have consciously done is to engage our Social Enterprises. Our Social Enterprises have also come strongly to assist us in raising our U Care Fund for this year's target..."
With escalating inflation bound to impact low-income households, especially in their daily necessities, the U Care Fund will set aside $11.7 million for 2011 to assist low income members and families cope with the rising cost of living.
The U Care Fund provides assistance to low-income union members and families through core assistance programmes such as U Stretch vouchers, U Care Back to School vouchers, U Care Education Co-Funding scheme and Family Recreation and Fun Carnivals.
"Our 'Care and Share' efforts have gone a long way back, and it is definitely heartening that we continue to receive such overwhelming support from our Labour Movement family throughout the years. We will continue to reach out to our low-income members and extend all the help we can give," Mr Zainudin said.
The event also marked an important milestone for NTUC as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Mr Zainudin added : "The NTUC 50th anniversary is celebrated together with our tripartite partners and with this unique golf event we have a chance to be together, share and celebrate and at the same time help the workers who are in need and the low-wage workers."
By Naseema Banu Maideen, NTUC This Week
The Labour Movement rolled out $8.3 million worth of welfare assistance to brighten up the lives of lower-income members in 2010 through its U Care Fund. In its strive to be the most caring Labour Movement in the world at all economic times, the U Care Fund has distributed about 64,000 vouchers, 6,800 scholarships and bursaries, and 10,200 recreation packages to union members and their families.
These efforts were wrapped up with the distribution of $3.75 million worth of U Care Back to School vouchers to help 30,000 children of low-income union members prepare for the new school come 2011.
Each child received $125 Back to School vouchers, which they could use to purchase school-related items from participating retail outlets and authorised suppliers at schools under the Ministry Of Education. The vouchers could also be used at the annual U Care Back to School Fair from 10 to 12 December 2010 held at Toa Payoh Central.
The mega Back to School Fair had vendors such as Popular Book Company, Bata Shoe, Pacific Bookstores, NTUC FairPrice, Evergreen Stationery, PC Connect and The Point Optical.
For the first time in 2010, the members were rewarded with LinkPoints for their purchases at the fair, on top of exclusive discounts to all union members.
How The U Care Fund Has Impacted Low Income Members
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- Tech Trader Daily
YHOO Rises 3.5%: Barclays Sees $18.22 in Alibaba, Y! Japan, Cash Value
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Shares of Yahoo! (YHOO) today closed up 76 cents, or 3.5%, at $22.70 after Barclays Capital's Anthony DiClemente raised his rating on the shares to Overweight from Equal Weight, based on the company's minority stakes in Chinese e-commerce outfit Alibaba Group, and in Yahoo!Japan, being undervalued at the current stock price. DiClemente raised his price target on the stock to $26 from $22.
Alibaba's valuation has probably risen to $55 billion from the $40 billion at which the company raised capital back in Q3 of last year, writes DiClemente, increasing the value to Yahoo! by $2.23 billion to $8.98 billion.
DiClemente lays out a back-of-the-envelope for valuing Alibaba:
Given the limited financial disclosure around Alibaba Group, it is difficult to assess the exact value of the company. That said, we thought it would be helpful to provide an idea of what Alibaba's financials looked like for calendar year 2012 and could look like for 2013. We note that this is a rough estimate using limited financials and may not accurately reflect Alibaba Group's actual financials. Given the disclosures in Yahoo!'s financials, we know that Alibaba grew revenue 71% and 74% in 2Q12 and 3Q12, respectively, with average operating margins above 30%. If we assume 1) that in 2013 Alibaba saw revenue growth decelerate to 60% (Alibaba saw revenue growth accelerate to 74% in 3Q12), 2) modest margin expansion in 2013 to 32% operating margins and 3) that depreciation and amortization is equal to 6% of revenue, versus EBAY at over 8% for FY11 and FY12, we arrive at EBITDA of $1.77 billion and $2.92 billion for FY12 and FY13, respectively. We note that this number could be conservative as there are likely other adjustments and one-time items that would need to be made in order to arrive at a more normalized non-GAAP operating income. A $55 billion valuation for Alibaba would thus imply ~19x an estimated 2013 EBITDA of $2.92 billion.
DiClemente sees Yahoo! ultimately giving most of the proceeds of that stake to shareholders:
Excluding the $800M in preferred shares which will be redeemed within 10 years, we believe monetization of Yahoo!'s Alibaba stake will yield $8.2 billion in cash for the company. We believe that a significant portion of this cash will be returned to shareholders because: 1) we believe Yahoo! has an active and shareholder-friendly board that is focused on value creation; 2) large-scale M&A appears unlikely as Marissa Mayer has said that she prefers smaller M&A "in the size and scale of double-digit millions and low hundreds of millions"; 3) YHOO's new management team has proven its commitment to capital returns, announcing a $3 billion return of capital in 3Q and then buying back nearly $1.5 of stock in 4Q alone; and 4) CFO Ken Goldman has stated repeatedly that buying back stock at thencurrent levels is "extremely attractive", and though Yahoo! shares have performed well since, the company still trades at a significant discount to its peer group.
While Yahoo! is not currently planning to "monetize" Yahoo! Japan the way it is the Alibaba stake, DiClemente notes that shares of Yahoo! Japan traded in Tokyo have risen 37% since September 18th of last year, a $1-per-share after-tax value for Yahoo!, by his calculations.
Lastly, DiClemente thinks the "core" Yahoo! operations are now worth perhaps $7.78 per share, up from a prior estimate for $5.84, given improvements in things such as "cost-per-click," the rate the company gets paid for its search ads, in light of the recent better-than-expected Q4 results. However, he's not counting on further improvement to boost the stock, writing "we need to see improvement in user engagement metrics and fundamentals in
order to get more constructive on the core business."
DiClemente combines that $7.78 for the core with $18.22 in value for Alibaba and Yahoo! Japan, plus $5.6 billion in cash, to arrive at his $26 price target.


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Seeking a full-time board-eligible/board-certified Hematology Oncology physician. Join a collaborative, communicative group of physicians at Providence St. Mary Medical Center's growing Regional Cancer Center where both Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology are represented, as well as a credentialed pharmacist on site and the ability to participate in clinical trials. Enjoy a productive and healthy work-life balance in the friendly community of Walla Walla.
Where You'll Work
Providence St. Mary Medical Center is a leader in quality, safety and customer service in southeast Washington. A Level III trauma center, Providence St. Mary is one of seven hospitals in the state to earn a five-star rating for quality from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Regional Cancer Center is cutting-edge, while the Neuroscience Institute houses a renowned regional Spine Center. With high scores in provider engagement surveys, this tightly integrated network boasts a range of specialties.
Where You'll Live
In sunny southeast Washington, Walla Walla is a city where scenic beauty, western history and outdoor adventure blend with small town friendliness, taste-tempting restaurants and more than 140 local wineries. The city has several public parks, theatres, galleries and boutiques to peruse year-round. From the scenic beauty of the Blue Mountains to the educational opportunities of Whitman College and Walla Walla University, Walla Walla has opportunities and entertainment for all ages.
Who You'll Work For
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Equal Opportunity Employer including disability/veteran
Job ID Number: 8544
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Aerosmith has postponed a concert in Canada today following frontman Steven Tyler's hospitalization for falling off stage during a concert in South Dakota on Wednesday.
The 61-year-old singer hurt his head, neck and shoulder, a concert spokesman told The Associated Press. Video footage of the performance showed Tyler fall mid-spin from a catwalk after the sound system failed while the band performed "Love in an Elevator."
"He does a lot of dancing on the stage and he does a lot of stuff with his mike stand," said Mike Sanborn, a spokesman for the Buffalo Chip Campground, which hosted the Wednesday concert. "He put his stand down and twirled around and stepped backwards off the stage."
U.S. & World
Tyler was rushed backstage by security. Guitarist Joe Perry later told the crowd the frontman had been taken to the hospital and the show was over, according to AP. A rep for the band said they were investigating the accident.
Aerosmith band members have dealt with a string of injuries on their latest tour. In June, Tyler contracted pneumonia, according to the AP. Last month, the singer injured his leg while jumping on stage, forcing cancellation of seven shows, Rolling Stone reported. Afterward, the band announced bassist Tom Hamilton would bail on the band's summer tour for "non-invasive surgery" (Joe Perry Project musician David Hull has since taken his place).
Guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford also sustained injuries recently. Whitford missed the first "handful" of shows of the tour after needing surgery for smashing his head on his Ferrari, Rolling Stone reported.
Perry may be healthy and fit now -- but he had knee surgery back in March 2008.


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The Seminoles clinched the ACC regular season title with the victory over Maryland on Sunday.
By Florida State Sports Information
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – It was a sweet return for the hometown hero as Tiffany McCarty's goal in the 86th minute proved to be the difference Sunday afternoon as No. 1 Florida State (15-1-0, 8-1-0) defeated No. 5 Maryland (11-5-2, 6-3-1 ACC) 1-0 on Ludwig Field.
With the game knotted at zero and overtime looming, Ines Jaurena made a nice run toward the end line down the right side of the pitch before sending a beautiful cross into the box that McCarty one-timed into the back of the net for the goal. A great combination play by the Seminoles in the middle of the field led to the go ahead score as Jaurena's cross went past a diving Rachelle Beanlands and right to the foot of McCarty for the score. The goal for the Laurel, Md., native was her seventh of the season and third game-winner.
"Overall, I thought it was a good, solid performance," said head coach Mark Krikorian. "Maryland is a very good team. It was a hard fought battle and I'm glad that we were able to put one in the goal at the end of the match. I thought we created enough earlier in the game to maybe get one, but we weren't quite good enough at finishing. But credit Maryland for some good defending.
The win over the Terrapins clinched the ACC regular season title for the Seminoles, their second in the last four years and first since 2009. The eight league victories also ties a single-season school record first set in 2005 (8-2-0) and then matched again in 2008 (8-1-1).
"We have shown to be consistent over my eight years which is really important for us," said Krikorian on the Seminoles clinching the league regular season title. "We don't want to be a one-year wonder and we have proven that with a conference tournament championship last year, a regular season championship in 2009 and now again this year. I think that is a fairly strong statement about the health of our program. We are going to continue to fight and hopefully get better after every game."
Sunday's victory was a nice response by the top-ranked Seminoles, who came into the match looking to rebound after suffering their first loss of the season Thursday night at Boston College. The win also snapped Maryland's two-game win streak over FSU in the series
"It was a good day for us," added Krikorian. "Anytime you go on the road in the ACC and win you have to feel good.
"The fact that we put in a very good performance is equally important to me. We came in and battled hard and established a good rhythm. We created a number of different chances in a number of ways. We probably could have had another goal or two through the course of the game, but we weren't good enough in the box."
The win also marked FSU's eighth against a ranked opponent in 2012 and fifth against a team ranked in the top 10.
Florida State finished the match outshooting Maryland 15-6 with five of those Seminole shots going on frame. FSU also held the advantage in corner kicks at 5-4. Jaurena led the Seminoles with a career-high four shots, while three went on goal. Jamia Fields, Jessica Price and McCarty all finished with two shots a piece.
The best scoring chance for the Seminoles in the first half came in the 28th minute when Fields blasted a hard lining shot passed the left post. Jaurena made a nice pass into the 18-yard box to McCarty, who settled the ball and made a nice pass back up toward the top of the box where Fields one-timed the shot wide.
Maryland managed just two shots in the first half with the first finally coming in the 24th minute as Ashley Spivey's shot was blocked leading to the only Terrapin corner kick of the half. The corner went to no avail and was easily cleared thanks to a header by Kassey Kallman.
The second Maryland shot also came off the foot of Spivey in the 38th minute as the freshman midfielder sent a shot wide of the left post from 22 yards out.
Florida State controlled possession for a majority of the first half and went into the locker room with a 6-2 advantage in shots. Fields led the Noles with two shots, while Jaurena registered the only shot on goal. The senior defender one-timed a shot from the top right corner of the 18-yard box forcing Shannon Zickler into a save situation in the sixth minute.
An early corner kick by Maryland led to a scoring opportunity for the Terps in the 51st minute as the ball was sent to the far post and played by Gabby Galanti. Galanti then fed back toward the top of the box where Riley Barger mishit a low lining shot that was easily saved by Kelsey Wys.
The first corner kick of the second half for the Seminoles led to a scoring chance as a header by Price sailed high of the left post. FSU played a short corner back up the field to Isabella Schmid, who sent a long ball into the box where Price out jumped the competition for a header from about 3 yards out.
Back-to-back shots by Jaurena in the 66th and 67th minute off consecutive Seminole throw-ins led to a pair of team saves off the line by the Terrapins. Maryland's Shannon Collins was credited with the first team save near the right post, while Aubrey Baker notched the second save off a shot by Jaurena from 12 yards out on the left side of the box. The ball went out to the top of the box where Pickett one-timed a shot high over the crossbar.
A questionable foul call against Florida State deep in Maryland's offensive third led to a free kick for the Terps in the 82nd minute. Wagner took the kick and tried to sneak a shot to the near post, but Wys was there for the save knocking the ball out of bounds.
The ensuing Maryland corner was cleared out of the zone by the Seminoles.
After Florida State's late goal, the Terrapins only real scoring threat came in the 88th minute off a corner, but the Seminoles cleared the ball without allowing Maryland to get a shot off.
Wys played all 90 minutes between the posts on Sunday as she recorded three saves en route to posting her ninth shutout of the season. The win was also the junior keeper's 46th of her career moving her into a tie with Ali Mims for first place all-time at Florida State.
Top-ranked Florida State will close out its regular season schedule on the road against intra-state rival Miami on Thursday, October 25. The match will air live on the ACC Digital Network/YouTube. Live stats for the match will be available via Miami's website on www.hurricanesports.com, while fans can always receive in-game updates on Twitter @FSU_Soccer. Also, do not forget to like the Seminole Soccer team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FSUSoccer.