text:
Earth : Asia : Central Asia : Uzbekistan : Tashkent Region : Tashkent
Tashkent (Uzbek: Toshkent, Тошкент; Russian: Ташкент) is the capital city of Uzbekistan. It is an ancient city on the Great Silk Road from China to Europe. Little remains of the ancient city after the 1966 earthquake and earlier modernisation work following the 1917 revolution. Tashkent is a very Soviet city that has little remaining from its ancient Central Asian past. The city has a mixture of modern new office buildings, hotels, parks and crumbling Soviet style apartment blocks. The streets are generally clean and there are not too many potholes in the city center. Further out, the infrastructure is not so good.
Over the last few years the Uzbek government has embarked on a major reconstruction program in the centre of the city. Roads, government buildings and parks are all being reconstructed (many historical buildings and sites are bulldozed in process). To the visitor, the new city looks very impressive, although many of the local residents have yet to see any improvement in their residential areas.
Tashkent is waiting for a boom. The infrastructure, hotels and shops are there but the influx of people and business has failed to materialise. This is caused in part by a combination of government policy and bad publicity.
Although Uzbek is now the official language, Russian is the native language for most Tashkent dwellers, although most also speak Uzbek. Most businesses use Russian in their signs, menus and other printed material. Only government institutions use Uzbek as the first language, and even then, many government forms and reports are in Russian, rather than Uzbek. Currently, Uzbek uses the Latin alphabet rather than the Cyrillic that was used during the Soviet Union. This is a source of some confusion for many Uzbeks, especially those of the older generation. Shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, and Uzbekistan declared independence in 1991, the written Uzbek language was converted back into Latin characters. Many older Uzbeks have difficulty reading the Latin characters. Uzbek is a Turkic-based language, and while Uzbeks and Turks cannot completely communicate directly, the better educated on both sides can usually find some common understanding.
Many of the signs in Tashkent are in Cyrillic. A significant number of Russian words are similar to their English counterparts. Learning the Cyrillic alphabet — which is not as difficult as one might think — will help a traveller to read signs and in restaurants. It is very useful for the casual visitor to Tashkent to learn a few basic Russian or Uzbek words and phrases. If you need to speak English, young people are your best bet, and even then there is no guarantee that they will speak more than very basic English.
The name Tashkent is usually derived from the Turkish word "tash" (stone) and the Persian word "kent" (city), meaning "city of stones". Another opinion refers to the Sogdian word "tschatsch", meaning "place on a hill".
Tashkent has a population of 2,2 million people (2005).
Get in
By plane
Tashkent International Airport "Yuzhniy" [15] (IATA: TAS; ICAO: UTTT) is just a few kilometers from the city centre. Airlines serving Tashkent include Aeroflot, Air Astana, Air Baltic, Asiana, Uzbekistan Airways and Turkish Airlines. It is also the hub of Uzbekistan Airways [16], which flies to many destinations including Almaty, Tokyo, Bangkok, London, and New York-JFK. All the airports in Uzbekistan have immigration posts and Uzbekistan Airways Operates direct flights from Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, Andijan, Fergana airports to CIS Countries.
Note that while the domestic and international terminals (terminals 3 and 2) are at the same airport the only way to get from one to the other is by road, a ten minute taxi ride [17] and see notes below about the taxi situation.
International flights
Uzbekistan Airways, [18] offers daily flights from Amritsar on Tue, Wed and Fri, from Athens on Tue, from Bangkok on Tue, Wed and Fri, from Beijing on Tue and Wed, from Delhi on Tue, Fri and Sat, from Dubai on Mon and Fri, from Frankfurt on Mon, Thu and Sat, from Geneva on Fri, from Istanbul on Mon, Wed, Thu and Fri, from Kuala Lumpur on Wed, from Lahore on Tue, Thu and Fri, from London on Tue and Fri, from Milan on Fri, from New York via Riga on Mon, from Osaka via Tokyo on Wed and Fri, from Paris on Tue and Fri, from Rome on Mon and Thu, from Seoul on Tue and Wed, from Sharjah on Wed and Fri, from Tel Aviv on Mon, Tue and Thu, and from Urumqi/China on Mon, Wed and Sat (Summer Timetable 2010).
Uzbekistan Airways [19] offers daily flights from Almaty/Kazakhstan on Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat, flights from Ashgabat/Turkmenistan on Wed, from Astana/Kazakhstan on Mon and Wed, from Baku/Azerbeijan on Mon, Thu and Fri, from Bishkek/Kyrgyzstan on Mon, Wed to Fri, from Ekaterinburg/Russia on Thu and Sat, from Kazan/Russia on Tue, from Kiev/Ukraine on Tue ans Sat, from Krasoyarsk/Russia on Tue and Sat, from Mineralniye Vody on Fri, from Moscow twice daily, to Novosibirsk/Sibiria/Russia on Mon and Thu, from Rostov-on-the-Don/southern Russia on Mon and Fri, from Simferopol/Ukraine on Mon, Thu and Sun, from Saint Petersburg/Russia on Tue, Thu and Fri, from Tyumen/Russia on Wed and from Ufa/Russia on Wed. (Summer Timetable 2010).
Air Astana [20] offers flights from Almaty on Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Friday and Sun, arriving in Tashkent at 10:50 (at 10:00 on Thu); and flights from Astana on Tue and Friday arriving at 22:20.
Aeroflot [21] offers daily flights from Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO2) to Tashkent, arriving in Tashkent at 3.35AM.
Air Baltic [22] offers flights from Riga to Tashkent on Mon and Fri, arriving in Tashkent at 2.40AM.
Czech Airlines [23] offers flights from Prague to Tashkent on Mon and Thu, arriving in Tashkent next morning.
IranAir [24] offers flights from Tehran to Tashkent every F 10AM. One way flight costs USD356 and you can only purchase ticket at their office in 1, Toy-Tepa Str between 9AM to 2PM. Bring exact change as the office doesn't give you any change. Phone: (+998 71) 259 13 74, 250 44 44, 233 81 63
Korean Air [25] offers flights from Seoul to Tashkent on Mon and Sat.
Turkish Airlines [26] offers daily flights from Istanbul to Tashkent arriving in Tashkent next day at 1.40AM (for Wed, Sat and Sun) and at next day 06:30AM (for Mon, Tue and Thu).
Other airlines serving Tashkent are Gasprom Avialines, Domodedevo Airlines, IMAIR (Azerbaijan), KrasAir (Airlines of Krasnoyarsk), Kuban Airlines (Airlines of Kuban), Kyrgiszstan Airlines, Airlines of Moskova, Orenair, Perm Airlines, Russia Airlines, Samara Airlines, SKAT Airlines, S7 Airlines, Tatarstan Airlines, Transaero Airlines, UM Airlines, Ural Airlines and VIM Airlines.
Uzbekistan Airways, [27] has offices in Baku/Azerbaijan, Beijing/China, Paris/France, Frankfurt/Germany, London/United Kingdom, Athens/Greece, Delhi and Amritsar/India, Tel Aviv/Israel, Rome and Milan/ITaly, Tokyo and Osaka/Japan, Almaty and Astana/Kazakhstan, Seoul/Korea, Bishkek/Kyrghyzstan, Riga/Latvia, Kuala Lumpur/Malaysia, Lahore/Pakistan, Moscow, St.Petersburg, Chelyabinsj, Ekaterinburg, Kazan, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Mineralnye Vody, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Rostov-on-the-Don, Samara, Sochi, Tyumen and Ufa/Russia, Jeddah/Saudi Arabia, Geneva/Switzerland, Bangkok/Thailand, Istanbul/Turkey, Ashgabat/Turkmenistan, Kiev and Simferopol/Ukraine, Sharjah/United Arab Emirates and New York/United States.
Domestic flights
Uzbekistan Airways, [28] offers flights from Andijan Tue, Thu, Sat and Sun, from Bukhara on Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat and Sun (operated by B757 on Sun), from Fergana on Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri (operated by B757 on Mon), daily flights from Karshi (operated by B757 on Thu), from Namagan on Tue and Sun (operated by B757), daily flights from Navoi, two flights per day from Nukus, flights from Samarkand daily except Fri (operated by B757 on Tue and Sat, by A-310 on Thu and Sun), three daily flights from Termez and two daily flights from Urgench (operated by B757 on Fri afternoon) and flight from Zarafshan on Tue, Wed, Fri and Sun (Summer timetable 2010).
The Uzbekistan Airways Main Ticketing office is located at Amir Timur Str,51. Flight tickets can also be purchased from hundreds of ticketing agents and some even offer free ticket delivery.
A short and inexpensive ($2-3 USD) taxi journey is the easiest way to get to the center. One should bear in mind, however, that upon exiting the international terminal, a large number of men will be crowded at the (sole) exit door offering "taxi" services. For the most part, these are not "official" taxis. "Taxi" drivers will attempt to charge whatever they believe the market will bear. For those without Russian or Uzbek language skills it is best to arrange to have someone meet you at the airport. Fair fares are usually only obtainable by those who understand the system and speak at least some Russian or Uzbek. It is better to walk 50 meters from the exit towards the taxi stand where many taxis are waiting on the road and negotiate. Generally Prevailing fare is minimum 2 to 3 USD for 5km (20 cents per each additional km). Always negotiate. Taxi drivers will rarely accept small bills (dollars, euros or pounds), and cannot be counted upon to give change (in any currency). Baggage reclaim and customs formalities are now pretty efficient but some times can take up to 2 hours.
Before passing through customs, you will need to fill out 2 copies of the Customs Declaration. These forms are often handed out on the flight or can be found on the stands in the baggage reclaim area. The customs officers will keep one copy and stamp the other. You will need this form when you leave the country and may have problem in taking out money without it. Make sure to declare all money and valuables (cameras, PC's etc). You may not be able to leave with more money or valuable items than you arrive with. The Uzbek government have strict rules on entering or leaving with money.
The departures area is on the upper floor. The access road has been closed, so you have to walk around the left hand side of the arrivals level and up some stairs or up the road. Allow plenty of time when leaving the country via Tashkent airport. Check-in, customs and passport control can be very time consuming, especially if there are large numbers of passengers. Make sure and have the customs form you were given when you entered the country.
By train
Tashkent is a key stopping point for rail services from Central Asia. There are direct connections to Moscow, Russia and Almaty, Kazakhstan
If changing trains it is possible to travel from or to Dushanbe in Tajikistan and Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. It is possible to travel to China (through Almaty). Ticket prices are cheap by western standards, but will need to be paid for in cash.
There are many warnings about thefts of personal belongings on the trains.
To Samarkand there is a fast train that now leaves daily at 8AM arriving Samarkand at about 10:10AM. On Saturday and Sunday there is a second train that leaves Tashkent at 7AM arriving Samarkand at 9:10AM. The return train is at 5PM and 6PM, arriving back to Tashkent around 7:10 and 8:10PM respectively.
On Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat and Sun train no 2 leaves Tashkent at 7AM and arrives at Samarkand at 10.50AM, train no 1 leaves Samarkand at 5PM, arriving in Tashkent at 8.50PM. Train no 50 leaves Tashkent every day at 7PM, arriving at Samarkand at 11.55PM, Train no 49 leaves Samarkand daily at 7AM, arriving in Tashkent at 10.55AM next moring,.
Train 662 leaves Tashkent every day at 8PM and arrives at Bukhara at 8AM next morning, train 661 leaves Bukhara every at 6,45PM, arriving in Tashkent at 7AM next morning.#
On Wed and Sat there train 54 leaves Tashkent at 3.40PM, arriving at Urgench at 11.35AM next day, On Tue and Sat train 53 leaves Urgench at 2.05PM, arriving in [[Tashkentv at 9.40AM next morning.
On all even days train 280 leaves Tashkent at 5.25PM, arriving at Termez at 1PM next day, On all even days train 279 leaves Termez at 2,30PM, arriving in Tashkent at 9AM next day.
All trains (both domestic and international) leave now from the Northern Railway Station (Severny Vokzal), Tukestan kochasi, Metro station "Toshkent". Make sure that you buy ticket in advance or arrive 1 hour before train departure as the queue for ticket office is often long and chaotic with people jumping the queue.
By car
There are road routes from surrounding countries but the borders may not be open and there have been security problems. The border from Afghanistan is some times closed or not open to Uzbek nationals. A person has to walk at least 4 Km to Cross the border on Foot from Uzbek Check Post to Afghan Check Post.
The Cherniaevka crossing from Kazakhstan near Saryagash was closed to non-Uzbeks/Kazakhs as of 10 November 2009; foreigners need to cross at Yallama, 100km from Cherniaevka. Allow one or two hours to get through, especially from the Uzbek side. On 6 July 2010 we crossed at Chernaevka, so it seems to be open again for foreigners. Pretty ok, but long long lines, take the left line at the Uzbek customs, they want you to declare any cellphones as communication devices.
From Kyrgyzstan Dostlik post 30 Km from Andijan is open from 9 to 6PM. From Tajikistan Oiybek Post 80 KM from Tashkent is open for foreigners from 9 to 6PM. Tursanzade Post 60 KM from Dushanbe Tajikistan is open for foreigners and locals 180 KM from [[Termez. Chorzhu Post on the Border of Turkmenistan 30 KM from Bukhara is also open for foreigners and Locals.
Distances from Tashkent by road are as follows: Almaty in Kazakhstan 810 km, Ashgabat in Turkmenistan 1290 km, Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan 570 km, Kashgar in China 880 km, and within Uzbekistan: Andijan 392 km, Ferghana 325 km, Kokand 236 km, Samarkand 295 km, Bokhara 600 km, Urgench 1020 km, Khiva 1045 km, Nukus 1115 km, Termez 705 km and Karshi 430 km.
Taxis to Samarkand leave from "Avtovokzal" in the Metro station "Sobir Raximov", taxis to Fergana Valley leave from the Northern Station and Kuyluk Bazar. Shared taxis to Andijan (5 hrs) cost 8 USD, to Bokhara (7 hrs) 13 USD, to Ferghana (4 hrs) 8 USD, to Kokand (3 hrs) 6 USD, to Samarkand (3 hrs) 8 USD, to Termez (10 hrs) 15 USD and to Urgench or Khiva (14 hrs) 25 USD.
Car Hire
Although there are no international car rental brands in Uzbekistan, you can rent cars with driver from several local companies. Online Tashkent car hire is also available.
By bus
To Travel by bus to Uzbekistan a traveller has to take a bus to the border post. Then cross the border on foot and then take another bus to the final destination. Buses do not operate inter-country regularly. But some private operators run bus services to many CIS cities on announced dates. But it is difficult to get information and some times dates can change without warning . Buses to other cities leave from "Avtovokzal" in the Metro station "Sobir Raximov". Buses usually are very full and advance purchase of tickets is recommended. Tickets are sold to foreigners at Movarunahr Kochasi 51, daily from 8AM to 5PM As of 2009, buses to Bokhara (11 hrs) cost 8 USD, to Samarkand (6 hrs) 5 USD and to Urgench/Khiva (20 hrs) 12 USD.
Marshrutka is a small bus or van or a bus which follows a fixed route and stop on demand to take on or drop off passengers. As of 2009, marshrutkas to Andijan (6 hrs) cost 5 USD, to Bokhara (8 hrs) 6 USD, to Ferghana (6 hrs) 4 USD, to Kokand (3 hrs) 3 USD, to Samarkand (4 hrs) 4 USD and to Termez (10 hrs) 8 USD.Inter City Bus time table, Prices, Distances online
Get around
By metro
The city has a good public transport system which is cheap. The metro/underground system is typical of the old Soviet style - with large and impressive stations - and is actually quite modern. There are also modern buses and trams many of which were renewed in 2008. Tickets (which on the metro are small blue coin size tokens) cost 700 soms for any single journey. It is not permitted to take photographs in the metro stations. Police will usually be present on all platforms. Do not risk taking photos "while the policeman is not watching" because they have security cameras everywhere and policeman will approach you instantly and check your documents. In all cases do have documents while you are taking the metro (or anywhere in the city), for you can be checked any time.
Tashkent metro has three lines:
By car
Taxis can be cheap after some negotiation, however some of the vehicles are very old. While there are official, authorized taxis (with the appropriate sign on the roof of the car), in reality almost any driver in Tashkent can double as a taxi driver. The local custom is to simply stand by the side of the road with your arm extended downward and slightly away from the body. A driver will pull over and then you will state your destination and negotiate the fare in advance. At least some Russian or Uzbek language skills is needed to accomplish this without difficulty. It is usually safe to use this procedure, although virtually every foreign embassy recommends against it. Directions are rarely given here using an address. Most often, a landmark is used, such as "near the hotel Russia,". Moreover, many streets and hotels have been renamed in the past few years but often drivers will not recognize the current name of the street or hotel, still knowing them by their old names. Asking to be taken to the Grand Mir hotel, for instance, will often result in a blank look. Tell the driver you want to go to the Gastinitsa Rossiya (Hotel Russia), however, and they will know exactly where you want to go. For those who speak neither Russian nor Uzbek, it is helpful to have someone draw a rudimentary map or write out directions in Russian. Few drivers will know English.
Do not expect western-style taxi services. Taxi drivers will often smoke while you are in the car and asking them not to will most often result in nothing more than a look of disapproval. You may be paying, but you are in their car. There are many taxi services operating in the city with fixed rates and a person can order the taxi from their hotel room. There are some web sites offering complete lists of taxi services and taxi charges
Taxis within the city can by reserved by calling Taxi Express, tel 1399999 or 16360272.
Car rental
None of the major international car hire companies operate in Tashkent. Where car hire is available, it will include a driver. Generally daily car rental charges are from 25 USD to 35 USD. It all depends upon your negotiating skills. Car rentals are offered by taxi companies. They are expensive but can be more reliable.
Old Town
The Old Town has retained much of its old charm. Here you will find low adobe houses with shady courtyards, narrow winding streets and many ancient mosques and madressas.
A typical monthly wage rate in Tashkent is different among different people. Usually state office workers get around US$200-300 a month. Private firm workers usually get higher salaries. It is possible to live cheaply if you do not visit any restaurants or other attractions. Most people rely on support from their family and friends.
Farmers Markets and Bazaars
Local produce, such as fruit, nuts, vegetables can be very good, especially when they are in season. In the late summer, local melons appear on the streets and in the bazaars and are tasty and very cheap.
Most local residents do their primary shopping in bazaars. There are many of them in Tashkent, the largest of which is the Chorsu Bazaar. It is huge, colorful, teeming with people and offers just about anything that can be purchased locally, from produce to locally-made furniture and hardware. Hand-crafted items, including crockery, rugs, traditional dress, etc., are also available and far less expensive than in the shops frequented by tourists. Have a local go with you to the bazaars if possible. Foreigners are inevitably charged higher prices. Bargaining is common, but requires some language skills.
Saligokh Street, known locally as 'Broadway', has some street artists, etc. The street is easy to find from the Amir Temur monument, just head away from the Uzbekistan Hotel. The 'mirstore' just off of Saligokh Street has a modern supermarket, coffee bar and hugely overpriced fashion stores. This area, known locally as "Demir," also has MirBurger, which has burgers, pizza and local dishes at reasonable prices. There is also a Georgian restaurant ("Tblisi") and a Chinese restaurant. There is a heavy police (militsiya) presence here and foreigners are not often, but occasionally asked for their documents. It is advisable to keep a photocopy of your passport and visa with you, but leave the originals in the hotel safe.
There are souvenir shops in the Grand Mir, Intercontinental, Dedeman Silk Road Tashkent, Tashkent Palace and Uzbekistan Hotels.
Uzbek national dishes are similar to those of other Central Asian countries.
Though the King of Uzbek food is Plov but Uzbeks feel very proud to make Sumalyak. To every body Sumalyak is a miracle sweet dish. It is made from Pure wheat and with out any addition of sweetener. The art is such that Sumalyak becomes sweet and Uzbeks take it on very special occasions. A visitor if visting Uzbekistan with a family must make it a point to see the process of making Sumalyak. Readers can find all the information in detail about making sumalyak and other Uzbek Cuisines from link [31] There are hundreds of small cafes in Tashkent (and other Uzbek cities and villages) offering these and other local dishes at very inexpensive prices. A meal of salad, bread, tea, soup and shashlik at around 2-3 USD isn't difficult to find. Bear in mind that sanitation standards leave a lot to be desired in many of these cafes. Especially on warm days, look to see if the meat is kept refrigerated before it is cooked.
There are many small restaurants serving simple meals at good prices. Burgers and kebabs are common. Borsch (soup) is tasty and perfect on a cold day. Drujba Burgers (a local chain) are every where. Kazan Kabob near Yoshlik (Milli Bogh) Metro, Near Beruni Metro on Sufiski, on Novoi Street is very Popular amongst the local population. In Kulug there are cafes which cook good quality Korean Food, In Badamzar Area Local Home cooked Uzbek Food is Popular, Lavash (Armenian) and Shaurma (Arabic) can be taken from many Kiosks in Town for a Price of 1.5 to 2 USD with a Bottle of Cola.
As is common in other Central Asian countries, tea is drunk by most people, but without milk. Black coffee is also available everywhere. Some coffee shops and cafes offer good coffee, but the best of them is probably Amore Coffee at the MIR store just off of Broadway.
Alcoholic drinks are readily available. Outdoor bars are popular in good weather. Uzbek wine, vodka and many different beers are available. The Russian beer "Baltika" is popular. Baltika 3 is good and similar to other international beers. Baltika 0 has no alcohol, Baltika 5 and 7 are also good, and Baltika 9 is very strong. A new local beer, Sarbast, has been launched and should be about half the price of imported beers. It is quite good and at 4.2% (red label), not too strong. Sarbast is also available with a blue label at 5.6%.
Nightclubs, as everywhere offer expensive drinks and typically play a mix of Russian and Western music. Strip shows are common.
The Chelsea Arms in Kakhara Street is a 'traditional' themed English pub. It looks like it has been transplanted from the East End of London. It also offers Wifi! Tashkent also has at least two Irish-themed bars - the new Irish Pub and Patrick's Irish pub, 45a Istikbol street.
Tashkent has many good hotels offering good standards and Value for money, most of them are empty during off season (Dec-Feb). Dedeman Hotel offers good service standards and is popular amongst international visitors. The image of the Intercontinental Hotel (right) is typical of the new buildings in Tashkent. Intercontinental hotel offers standards of a genuine 5 star hotel. Asia Tashkent Hotel is a newly constructed hotel located on Usman Nosir Street. It has an indoor swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, 72 rooms, night club, and is popular amongst European customers Tel 2509687, 2509688. Tashkent Palace Hotel located on Buyuk Turon Street offers good value for money.
Clean, and comfortable. Short walk to Chorsu Bazaar and Metro Station. Rooms approx $20 per person, Dorm $15. Rides from the airport can be arranged for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, the owner can sometimes be very rude and unfriendly...
Fire brigade: 01, Police: 02, Ambulance: 03, Telephone information: 09
Telephone number change
During November 2007 the Tashkent telephone number plan has been changed. The changes are complex. Some numbers that began with the number one have been changed to begin with two. Golden Pages has a list of the changes [39].
Railway Station
Dental clinics
Stay safe
Tashkent is generally a very safe place to visit. However, visitors should refrain from political activities or doing anything that could be regarded as undermining the state. As anywhere, remember to watch your personal belongings.
There have been incidents of robbery, including some violent assaults but they are very rare. Travellers should use the same caution they would use in any large city, especially at night. It is not advisable for foreigners to walk around alone at night, especially in areas where few people are about and/or lighting is poor.
Avoid confrontations of any kind. If you witness a confrontation, especially in a crowded area such as a bazaar, move away.
Concerning food: in hot summer days try to avoid dairy products, mushrooms or any products that might be damaged by heat. You might want to avoid fish unless you are sure it has been well stored.
The local currency is the Uzbek Sum. There are bank notes of 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 (still rare, printing started in 2013) som.
Always exchange money at official exchange offices - there are many of them. It is illegal to change currency on the black market, although the exchange rate can be up to 30% higher than in banks. If you do decide to exchange on the black market (only US$ or Euros), around Chorsu bazaar is the place. Some hotels will exchange money on the side at the better rate. US dollars can fetch a good rate but other acceptable currencies are Euros, British pounds, Russian rubles or Japanese Yen. Notes must be in perfect condition with no marks or damage. As of 2013, the official exchange rate is about 2100SUM to US$1 while the black market rate is about 2800sum to US$1. Few ATM's (known as Bankomat) work with foreign cards. US dollars are available inside banks using international credit cards with commission of about 2%. The dollars can then be changed to local currency. Newer shops and hotels are accepting credit cards and Maestro.
Embassies and Consulates
Get out
By plane
International flights
Uzbekistan Airways, [40] offers daily flights to Amritsar from F-Su, to Athens on Tuesday, to Bangkok and Delhi on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, return flights on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday), to Birmingham on Monday (operated by B757), to Dacca from M-Th, to Kuala Lumpur from M-W, to London on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, to New York on Friday and Sunday, to Paris on Tuesday and Friday, to Beijing on Wednesday and Sunday, to Rome on Monday and Thursday, to Seoul from M-W, to Istanbul from M-Th, to Tel Aviv on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, to Frankfurt on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and to Sharjah on Thursday and Sunday.
Uzbekistan Airways [41] offers daily flights to Almaty in Kazakhstan, flights to Ashgabat in Turkmenistan on Tuesday and Saturday, to Baku on Thursday and Sunday, to Bishkek in Kazakhstan on Monday and Tue, to Ekaterinburg on Mon and Thu, to Yerevan in Armenia on Friday, to Kazan on Friday and Sunday, to Kiev on Tue, to Krasoyarsk from Monday to Wednesday, flights to Moscow on Wednesday to Sunday, to Mineralniye Vody on Friday, to Novosibirsk on Monday, Wednesday to Friday, to Rostov on Friday, to Samara on Thursday, to Saint Petersburg on Tuesday, to Simferopol on Friday, to Tyumen, Ufa and Khabarovsk on Tuesday and to Chelyabinsk on Monday.
Aeroflot [42] offers daily flights to Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO2).
Air Baltic [43] offers flights to Riga to Tashkent on Mon and Fri.
Czech Airlines [44] offers flights toPrague on Tue and Fri.
IranAir [45] offers flights to Tehran on Fri.
Korean Air [46] offers flights to Seoul on Mon and Sat.
Lufthansa [47] offers flights to Munich on Wed, Fri and Mon.
Turkish Airlines [48] offers daily flights to Istanbul from Tashkent.
Other airlines serving Tashkent are Gasprom Avialines, Domodedevo Airlines, IMAIR (Azerbaijan), KrasAir (Airlines of Krasnoyarsk), Kuban Airlines (Airlines of Kuban), Kyrgiszstan Airlines, Airlines of Moskova, Orenair, Perm Airlines, Russia Airlines, Samara Airlines, SKAT Airlines, S7 Airlines, Tatarstan Airlines, Transaero Airlines, UM Airlines, Ural Airlines and VIM Airlines.
By rail


text:
Ad giant Google has opened up its AdWords system to mobile devices by slotting the network into its AdMob mobile app advertising platform.
This means that the company's 1-million-strong ad partners can now run campaigns on 350 million smartphones and fondleslabs running hundreds of thousands of apps within its mobile network for ads.
Google announced the cross-pollination of its two ad networks yesterday.
The firm's mobile ads product boss Jonathan Alferness said: "As mobile usage continues to explode, businesses increasingly need to adapt their marketing strategies to mobile platforms and mobile-specific consumer trends."
Google bought AdMob for $750m in 2009 and, in doing so, immediately came under the watchful eye of US antitrust officials at the Federal Trade Commission, but the deal was eventually cleared.
The company has been working on a one-stop-shop for advertisers for some time now. It acquired desktop online banner ad outfit DoubleClick way back in 2007, and, having built up such a patchwork quilt of ad networks, it was clear that eventually Google would want to knit them all together.
Google's mobile sales and strategy boss Jason Spero told Ad Age that AdWords was the "nuclear power plant at the core" of Mountain View.
We at Vulture Central are less clear about what this means for AdMob. Is it a sinister weapon of mass destruction or simply warm fuzzy goo to help keep the lights on? We'll leave that one to you, dear readers. ®

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Diamonds are suddenly everybody's best friend
Several years ago the term "urban mining" took off. It referred to the discovery of precious metals that were "buried" in people's homes in the form of personal possessions like jewelry and home electronics that they weren't using. A lot of cell phones, for instance, use gold and other valuable materials in their circuits, and when the price of these substances was high, brokers would pay premium prices for them, no matter where they came from or what form they were in.
At the time, gems were not coveted so much, but that's changed. Right now, the price of diamonds on the world market is about 30 percent higher than it was a year ago, according to a recent article in Chunichi Shimbun, thanks to a healthier world economy. Consequently, well-to-do people in Asia, North America and the Middle East are craving diamonds, and foreign buyers, particularly from the U.S., China, India and Dubai, are flocking to Japan because they think there are a lot of the rocks here "sleeping" in people's closets and vanity cases.
The reason is simple. During the bubble period of the late '80s, when the value of various assets was higher than it probably should have been, people with even a little money bought a lot of jewelry that they don't wear any more. Many of these people probably have forgotten they even have diamonds.
Komehyo, the Nagoya-based retailer that specializes in recycling high-end merchandise such as designer accessories and expensive jewelry, is spearheading the drive to get Japanese people to dig into their tansu (wardrobes). As one of the company's store managers told Chunichi, another reason foreign buyers are descending on Japan is that the diamonds are already cut, and used cut diamonds tend to be cheaper than new ones, though there really isn't any difference in quality. Komehyo is hoping to sell used diamonds in bulk and is offering premium prices to anyone who wants to unload theirs. The chain has launched a Diamond Purchase Fair at all its 20 outlets throughout Japan.
In order to get a handle on the market, Komehyo conducted a survey among men and women over the age of 20. They found that, on average, respondents have each spent about ¥780,000 on "jewelry, watches, bags and brand goods" during their life so far.
Several years ago Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo, a dealer in gold and other precious metals, carried out its own survey and found that 80 percent of female respondents have jewelry they don't wear any more, either because they no longer like the design, or lost one earring or just forgot about it. The company calculates that the average woman in this group has ¥40,000 worth of jewelry they never wear. Tanaka was interested in gold, however,
Based on its own findings, Komehyo estimates the average person possesses about ¥160,000 yen's worth of jewelry and other valuables that they don't use any more, which means there could be as much as ¥15 trillion worth of diamonds in people's homes.


text:
STILLWATER, Okla. -- Boise State rolled for a school-record 818 total yards in its last game, climbed to No. 17 and is making a strong case out of the blocks to be a Group of Five member worth considering for the College Football Playoff.
That case could strengthen on Saturday when the Broncos travel to Oklahoma State to meet another 2-0 team, the No. 24 Cowboys.
As prolific as Boise State has been, particularly in its 62-7 rout of Connecticut last week, Oklahoma State actually leads the country with a 674.5-yard offensive average. Boise State ranks fourth (617.0).
"They can do like all of us, dink and dunk," Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said, "but they can take shots. You have to be disciplined on defense and you've got to make plays because you're going to get one-on-ones."
The team that counter-punches most effectively seemingly has the best chance.
Boise State certainly has made the most of these opportunities in the past. The Broncos are 2-1 against the Big 12. Each previous matchup came in the postseason, including the 43-42 overtime thrill ride they claimed against Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
Since 2000, Boise State is the winningest major-college program with 199 victories. It stands 13-16 all-time against ranked opponents but has won three of its last four. The Broncos have just three wins in 17 road games against Power Five opponents but has won two of their last three, at Virginia (2015) and Oregon State (2016).
Clearly, no stage is too tall. No light too bright.
"We are just going to treat (Oklahoma State) like a regular team," Broncos wide receiver A.J. Richardson said. "We'll go in and practice hard. I think that is where it has been paying off for us."
Senior quarterback Brett Rypien has passed for 667 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions, while completing 41 of 56 attempts. He will face an Oklahoma State defense still responding to schematic changes made by new coordinator Jim Knowles.
"We all like it a lot," said Cowboys linebacker Devin Harper, who scored on a pick-six against South Alabama. "It's very energetic and (Knowles) likes to blitz and see us run around. He likes for all of us to be athletes a lot of the time."
As well as Rypien has distributed the ball, one of his top weapons, sophomore wide receiver Octavius Evans, has been out with an injury. He is expected to make his season debut against the Cowboys. Same for senior defensive tackle David Moa.
"I don't see them seeing us any different. They are probably just going to run their offense and run their defense," Cowboys coach Mike Gundy said. "We have to be intelligent as play-callers and from the quarterback position and how we distribute the ball. If they do give us the run at times, then we have to block so our backs can make a cut at the line of scrimmage instead of the backfield."
The Oklahoma State run game has been unspectacular, despite the presence of last year's Big 12 rushing leader, junior Justice Hill. Hill carried just nine times for 32 yards against in a 55-13 romp over South Alabama, but Gundy admittedly was sparing his standout back from wear and tear. Backup J.D. King also gained 32 yards on nine attempts.
"Our run-blocking is very below average," Gundy added. "It's got to improve."
The numbers make Oklahoma State appear well-oiled.
However, Taylor Cornelius, a fifth-year senior in his first season starting at quarterback, will be facing his biggest test. He was sacked three times in the South Alabama win and was under duress on an interception he threw.
Although Cornelius has looked mechanical at times, he was still productive in his first two starts, though the opposition was indeed light.
Against South Alabama, two promising receivers emerged with 100-yard breakouts. Sophomore Tylan Wallace caught 10 passes for 166 yards and sophomore Tyron Johnson added five receptions for 137 yards to give the Cowboys more dimensions within a deep receiving corps.


text:
Gunman Kills TSA Agent at LAX, Injures 2 Others
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press that the suspect in the Los Angeles airport shooting is a 23-year-old man from New Jersey who wrote a rant about killing Transportation Safety Administration workers.
A law enforcement official, who was briefed at LAX on the investigation but not authorized to speak publicly, said the gunman was wearing fatigues and carrying a bag containing a hand-written note that said he "wanted to kill TSA and pigs." The official requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
The official identified him as Paul Ciancia. A second law enforcement official confirmed the identity, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Authorities say the suspect killed a TSA employee in the shooting.


text:
Posh Panda
Baby Red Bow Moc
Regular price $30.00 CAD Sale price
Shipping calculated at checkout.
All our Mocs are handmade in Canada from the highest quality genuine leathers. All Mocs and boots have elastic in the ankle to ensure they stay on those wiggly little baby feet and you don't have to worry about their shoes falling off!
Every pair is handmade by myself so Please make sure you check my current turnaround time to know when your mocs will be finished and shipping out to you
**Please refer to our size chart for the best fit and if you are between sizes please size up as there are NO EXCHANGES for purchasing the wrong size.


text:
Blah. That's probably the nicest thing that can be said about a lot of rental housing.
Apartments, dorm rooms and other rented spaces often share the same bland decor — builder beige walls, utilitarian cabinets and flooring that's uninspired or just plain ugly. Yet rental contracts or residence hall rules may prohibit permanent changes such as painting or putting holes in plaster or drywall.
That doesn't mean you have to live in a boring box, though.
We've gathered some damage-free decorating ideas to perk up the place where you live. They might not turn your digs into your dream home, but they'll make your rental a more pleasant place.
Renters can be reluctant to invest much money or effort into decorating temporary quarters, but David Bromstad thinks that's a mistake. If you don't personalize and beautify your space, "it's always going to feel like it's not your home," said Bromstad, an artist and interior designer who rose to fame as the winner of HGTV's first "Design Star" competition and is now a familiar face on the network.
Think beyond posters and invest in some homelike decorative elements, such as wall sculptures, sconces or framed artwork. Beautiful bedding and window treatments add panache, and some luxurious towels and a handsome shower curtain can do wonders to distract attention from ugly tile or tired bathroom fixtures.
Consider changing unattractive lighting fixtures and cabinet hardware, he suggested. Save the old ones so you can re-install them and take yours with you when you leave.
Thank goodness for adhesive technology. Now you can stick all kinds of things to a wall without risking damage to the wall surface — or to your head from falling objects.
3M has an extensive line of hooks, picture hangers and other hanging hardware using its Command adhesive. They can support a surprising amount of weight — up to 16 pounds, depending on the product — but they're removable without damage or residue, provided you follow the instructions.
You can even get hooks in decorative metallics that add beauty as well as function. Support both ends of a curtain rod or dowel with metallic hooks, and you can hang curtains without putting a single hole in the wall.
Just because your walls are boring doesn't mean your room has to be.
"You don't need color on the walls to have color in your space," Bromstad said.
He prefers to bring color into a room with changeable elements such as accent pillows, art and accessories. In fact, he said that in his most recent decorating projects, he's painted the walls in light neutrals and brought in color with other features.
Don't be afraid to paint furniture, he said. An old chest painted lime green or fuchsia suddenly becomes a statement piece that enlivens an entire room.
Stretched canvas prints are an inexpensive way to add color and character to plain walls, said Gillian Andrew, an interior designer with Garth Andrew Co. in Bath Township, Ohio. Often they're available in groups of three or four prints, which take up a large space.
They're lightweight, because they have no frames or glass, so they can be hung easily with damage-free hangers.
Wall murals are another option for large-scale artwork, she said. Many are backed with a low-tack adhesive, making it easy to put them up, take them down and reuse them.
You can find murals in an almost unlimited array of motifs, from comic-book characters to city skylines. Like Bromstad's style? Online retailer Murals Your Way sells a line of murals featuring his designs.
Or you can have a mural custom made in a specific size and design, perhaps using your own favorite photo or a picture purchased from a stock image company such as Shutterstock, Andrew said.
Murals can even be cut to size and adhered to flat, plastic-laminate kitchen cabinet doors, "which would be amazing," Bromstad said.
Like wall murals, wall decals have a repositionable adhesive that allows them to be removed easily and reused repeatedly.
As long as you're careful to put them on a clean wall, they can be reused almost indefinitely, said Paula Berberian, creative director for decal brand WallPops. In fact, Berberian said she's been to trade shows where decals are removed and replaced maybe 60 times a day.
The decals add large-scale graphics and personality to walls and other surfaces without a long-term investment. Some have gems, flocking or mirror embellishments for a little extra bling, Berberian said.
And she noted that more youthful motifs make cost-effective decorations for children's rooms, because they can be swapped out as a child's interests change without having to redecorate.
You probably wouldn't think of wallpaper as a temporary decorating solution, but it can be. Berberian said improvements in wallcovering materials have resulted in papers that are easy to strip, as long they're installed on walls that have been properly prepared.
WallPops' parent company, Brewster Home Fashions, makes a number of wallcoverings with a nonwoven substrate, some of them prepasted and others requiring wallpaper paste.
Other wallpapers use a low-tack adhesive. Removable wallpaper tiles are offered by Hygge & West. They could be mounted on a wall behind a bed in place of a headboard or used as artwork, surrounded by a simple frame.
Maybe your rental lacks built-ins, paneled doors and similar architectural elements that give a space character. With a little ingenuity, you can add a little of that character yourself.
Flank a doorway with tall, freestanding bookcases, perhaps, or position a bookcase in front of a window — maybe with a cushion on top to create a window seat.
Add an electric fireplace, which requires no venting or installation but is more like a piece of furniture that plugs in.
Shop flea markets and antique stores for vintage furniture pieces or accents that add a timeworn touch.
Or try this idea from the folks at 3M: Add interest to a plain painted door with moldings created from stretcher bars, which are wood frames you can buy from a craft store that are usually used to make painters' canvases.
Configure the bars into rectangles, paint them to match the door and adhere them with Command picture hanging strips. (To see more about this idea, visit http://tinyurl.com/doormolding, and then click through the pages until you find "Custom Closet Doors.")
Your floor is one of biggest surfaces in your room, so Bromstad said it's a logical place to add color and texture.
He prefers an area rug that's big enough to extend under all the furniture. It's OK to put a rug on top of carpeting to break up "the wall-to-wall monotony," he said. Just use a rug pad that's designed for that purpose, so the rug won't wrinkle.
On hard-surface floors, carpet tiles can be installed to add softness and color, Andrew said.
Carpet tiles such as those from Flor install easily and adhere only to one another, not the floor. You can install them wall to wall or create an area rug from them. And when you leave, you can take them with you. Because your next place will need some decorating, too.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Local & State
Collins mum on whether she'd support replacing Ginsburg before election
Nation & World
McConnell: Senate will vote on Trump court pick
Local & State
U.S. House candidate Dale Crafts skydives to support veterans
Local & State
Maine leaders react to death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Local & State
Former Maine Med official from Falmouth indicted for fraud


text:
As entrepreneurs we are constantly putting out fires, prioritizing and re-prioritizing our most urgent tasks, and changing our schedules so rapidly that committing to lunch with an old friend next week brings a certain sense of anxiety.
We run our businesses to achieve our mission and earn a profit. We periodically check qualitative and quantitative metrics against a scorecard or budget to ensure that the business is running according to plan.
We get so consumed in the day-to-day management of the business that it's easy to overlook a key part of the strategic planning process: an exit strategy.
Recently, we were approached by an entrepreneur who had just received an unsolicited bid from a company to acquire his business. He was incredibly honest about the fact that while he wants to retire in the next five years, he wasn't sure if now was the best time to exit. He had never really thought about when or how to sell his business.
The lesson: Even if you are many years away from selling your business, you need to ensure you are prepared for the unexpected. Business valuations fluctuate as the capital markets ebb and flow, and it's important to maximize the value of your life's work. There are four things every business owner should be thinking about now in anticipation of an unsolicited bid or another unexpected event that will convince you to sell:
1. Keep the Competitive Advantage.
Evaluate your market and realistically determine your competitive advantage relative to your peers. What unique product or service are you providing to your customers that a suitor can get only from you rather than your closest competitor? Any acquirer will be willing to pay more for competitive advantage instead of something they could replicate themselves.
2. Know Your Potential Buyers.
Identify three to five companies that could and would be interested in your business if it were for sale today. Think about what would make your business more or less attractive to those buyers. Consider investing in assets and capabilities that would cinch the deal.
3. Stay Ahead of Trends.
Start thinking now about the trends in your market and how you need to position your business to be successful five years from now. It is great to have a product offering that fulfills a current market need, but if you are seeing trends that your business is not quickly adapting to, you'll need to consider the implications of maintaining the status quo. If you find yourself chained to your desk, make yourself attend at least one industry conference and just talk to people! It is amazing what you will learn if you keep your eyes and ears open.
4. Start Making Changes NOW.
Upgrade your technology platforms. Aggressively recruit the most relevant talent. Get the right resources and people in place now to start transitioning to your ideal future state. Even if you don't choose to sell the business, these changes will likely make your business more valuable to your customers and shareholders.
Waiting until you are ready to sell is usually too late to do much to maximize the value of your business. These four simple steps may not turn you into the next billionaire, but they are sure to bring in top dollar for your business when the time is right.
Are you considering an exit or preparing for one down the road? Share your thoughts with us at email@example.com.
Avondale associate Asim Aleem contributed to this article.


text:
There are nearly 400 Gizmodo Day Meetups occurring around the world, but unfortunately not all of us can make it to one of the events. So what do we do? We throw an online #gizday Meetup, of course!
To join in on the fun those folks at the "real world" Meetups are having, just head over to the #gizday tagpage and comment your heart out. You'll even get to see the pictures being uploaded straight from events taking place all over the world and you can post pictures from your private Gizmodo celebration—just keep things decent, please.
If you're still confused about how our tagpages work or about commenting in general, check out our comprehensive guide before heading over to #gizday.
Top image via Rob. Inspiration for an online Meetup via KevlarAllah.


text:
Kalie draws on the memory of her Make-A-Wish® experience to stay positive and upbeat.
Kalie returns to the stage with the other models for an encore.
For Kalie, dealing with a life-threatening blood disorder– means she'll always have to be monitored and treated to manage its symptoms. And she doesn't know when the next bout of pain, infections and anemia are coming.
A hard burden to face, Kalie now draws on the memory of her Make-A-Wish® experience to stay positive and upbeat.
Dr. Jonathan Bernstein – Kalie's pediatric oncologist – often refers kids for wishes because he is convinced of the positive force of a wish experience.
After he referred Kalie, wish granters visited her to learn her one true wish – to be a supermodel. Her choice wasn't a surprise to Dr. Bernstein.
"She's always been very stylish – and very smart!" he says.
Wish granters went to work to create an amazing day for Kalie.
Thirteen-year-old Kalie's day starts off with a limousine ride to her modeling lesson, followed by a trip to the studio for a photo shoot.
Then the Macy's Las Vegas staff helps Kalie get ready for the runway, selecting several outfits for a fashion show later that day. Kalie also receives a makeover from Macy's experts.
"It was awesome to be pampered and fussed over by everyone," Kalie says.
The new model even has bodyguards to keep pesky paparazzi at by during her makeup session. But Kalie doesn't let the fame go to her head – she takes time out of her day for lunch with her friends.
Not too long though, it's time for Kalie to take to the Las Vegas Fashion Show mall's runway, complete with spectacular lighting and billboard-sized video screens. Kalie is thrilled by the flash of cameras and applause from her friends, family and fans.
Michael E. Minden Diamond Jewelers then presents her with a watch as a keepsake of her modeling debut.
Kalie says from the time she requested her wish she felt her spirits lift up with something else to think about than her illness.
"Focusing on the future was exactly the medicine I needed," she says.
Dr. Bernstein agrees. He sees how Kalie – usually a bit shy during visits – seems more spirited and outgoing after her wish came true.
Kalie gets a manicure to prepare for her moment on the runway
Kalie gets a makeover at Macy's
Macy's associates give Kalie a supermodel makeover
Kalie gets ready for the runway
Kalie walks the runway with confidence
Kalie's wish experience gives her optimism for the future
She has a better outlook on life and a better outlook on the future.
Share this quote
Dr. Jonathan Bernstein, Kalie's pediatric oncologist
This story makes me feel
Share your recollections about a Make-A-Wish experience.
I have Sickle Cell Too. And its nice too see someone else that goes through the same things as me , and we are close too age im 15. Im already getting started on making my wish. And i think its an amazing thing that you guys at Make A Wish do, Thanx
July 24, 2009 - 9:02 AM
June 25, 2012 - 11:25 AM
Lisa Johnson
Good for you kalie my 11year old son suffers from this horrible decies and it puts a smile on my face that at least for a day you can fLive out your dream,thanks to make a wish foundation,The people who makes these dreams come true are very carding people and there angels...thank you,and Kalie you are always in I and my family will keep you in our prayers....
May 11, 2013 - 7:10 AM
Josie H.
I have sickle cell anemia, too!!! You're also very beautiful. It must have rocked to show your natural talent!!1
May 19, 2013 - 2:14 PM
I have sickle cell also and to see her wish come true give me hope in my own hopes and wishes. i am so happy for her.
June 15, 2013 - 10:08 AM
Kalie, you are a beautiful young lady. You definitely could be a model.
July 22, 2013 - 9:41 AM
That is so amazing and so sweet of them to do this for her. I love how she is lit up getting her nails done. Every child should be fussed over.
August 09, 2014 - 5:43 PM
That great you're a beautiful young lady.I hope someone is able to grant my niece a wish
November 28, 2014 - 5:12 PM
Make-A-Wish America
Hi, Mary. You can learn more about referring a child for a wish at http://wish.org/refer-a-child (and the online referral inquiry form can be found at http://wish.org/refer-a-child/referral-inquiry-form).
December 01, 2014 - 1:15 PM
That was a very touching and wonderful story. I just referred my Grand Daughter and she suffers with a hematologic disorder, too. I see there are other stories that I am anxious to read. This is a wonderful Organization!
December 02, 2014 - 4:10 PM
God Bless you you are pretty young lady and I hope God bless your purpose in life and never give up
December 12, 2014 - 8:50 PM
OMG! I have sickle cell too and every year I go to camp new hope a camp for kids with sickle cell I'm glad to see people looking on the bright side.
May 31, 2015 - 3:10 PM
I wish to be a fashion designer
renal disorder
I wish to be a firefighter
congenital heart condition
I wish to be a famous singer
Stay in Touch!
Sign up to receive email from Make-A-Wish.


text:
The granddaddy of all fan conventions -- the San Diego Comic Con -- is back Thursday through Sunday, in what in recent years has turned into a major event for film studios and TV networks that tout their latest fantasy, action and superhero projects.
But while the stars of the next big film or TV blockbuster hopefuls will be participating in panel events for fans to ask questions throughout the next few days, perhaps the most anticipated gathering will come from three stars who made their mark on network television almost 50 years ago.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment announced earlier this month that that Adam West (Batman/Bruce Wayne), Burt Ward (Robin/Dick Grayson) and Julie Newmar (Catwoman) would be doing a special panel to discuss the digitally remastered "Batman: The Complete Television Series," which will be released for the first time in November on Blu-ray, DVD and digital HD.
The timing of the announcement couldn't be any more perfect. Warner Bros. is celebrating the 75th anniversary of Batman, also known as "The Dark Knight" and the "Caped Crusader," on Wednesday.
West, 85, Ward, 69, and Newmar, 80, are scheduled to sit on the panel to talk about the release Thursday night.
In an interview last fall, Newmar told me she was thrilled to still participate in conventions to promote the character, since it is one of the favorite roles she's played in her illustrious career -- a role, she said that was just as much about the alluring, skin-tight costume as her acting.
"I'm realizing that through all the shows I've done -- the television, film and stage -- all the mediums I've worked in, Catwoman's costume was the one that allowed me to tell the story through my body," Newmar told me. "The words were brilliant, and funny on top of that. The producer hired the right people to do all the lighting, to do this, that and the other, and it was the right time in the right decade. It all worked."
The release of the remastered "Batman" series has been a long-time coming for Batfans, who only last year finally got officially licensed merchandise tied into the "Batman" series after years of reported legal snares held the process.
Since then, companies like Mattel, NECA and Hot Toys/Sideshow Collectibles have produced figures and assorted other collectibles based on the classic series -- and will even unveil some new merchandise at the San Diego Comic Con. Among the offerings are a new, 18-inch figure of Robin from NECA (following the release of an 18-inch Batman last year) and a full-size Batman utility belt with a "Batarang" from Mattel.
Hot Toys, meanwhile, is offering a "Toy Fair Exclusive" from another era in the "Batman" saga -- a 12-inch "Dark Knight" Joker (Heath Ledger) figure in his bank robber gear.
Toy exclusives, of course, are a big part of the San Diego Comic Con, and the likes of Mattel, NECA and Hot Toys/Sideshow Collectibles aren't alone in their offerings.
Hasbro is releasing a complete slate of exclusives, including a 6-inch scale Jabba the Hut figure for its popular "Star Wars" Black series, in addition to offerings from its "Transformers" and Marvel Universe figure lines.
Tim Lammers is a nationally syndicated movie journalist and the author of the new ebook Direct Conversations: The Animated Films of Tim Burton (Foreword by Tim Burton).


text:
London rail travel disruption
Passengers travelling in and out of London faced delays on Saturday morning after rail and underground services were cancelled or delayed.
Some South West Trains to and from Waterloo station were cancelled or diverted because of an electrical supply problem to the level crossings between Barnes and Richmond in south-west London.
Alerts on the company's website advised passengers of the changes resulting from the disruption.
These included: no trains running between Barnes and Twickenham in south west London; the London Waterloo circular service departing at 07, 15, 37 and 45 minutes past the hour was cancelled; and the service that runs between London Waterloo and Reading was diverted, and would not call at Richmond or Twickenham.
A spokesman for the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance said the maximum delay passengers would face was just over 20 minutes.
He said: "We would like to apologise to our customers for the disruption to their services. Engineers are working hard to resolve the problem so we can return services to normal as soon as possible.
"Passengers may use London Buses and London Underground on any reasonable route."
But passengers were also affected by a number of planned closures on the Tube network, including the Bakerloo, Circle, District, Hammersmith and City, Metropolitan, Northern and Victoria lines.
A spokesman for Transport to London said: "After a pause in major upgrade work in the lead up to, and during, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the work to replace old track, signals and trains restarted in mid-September.
"This work will further improve performance and deliver reliable Tube services for Londoners - with faster and more frequent journeys, fewer delays and, ultimately, 30% more service across the network.
"Every effort is being made to keep disruption to an absolute minimum and, through detailed planning, the effect of the works has been reduced by 10% compared to last year and by 25% compared to two years ago."


text:
Center for Business Law and Innovation
Meyer Memorial Trust Awards Transformative Grant to SBLC
December 04, 2012
The Meyer Memorial Trust has made a generous three-year grant of $200,000 to the Small Business Legal Clinic. This grant will enable the SBLC to meet the growing demand for legal services from small businesses in the Portland Metropolitan area, as well as reach out to new communities in Oregon. It is anticipated that the SBLC will double the number of small and emerging business clients served annually. In addition to legal counseling, the SBLC will expand their outreach to local microenterprise and business development organizations through seminars on relevant legal issues for small businesses.
The Small Business Legal Clinic is funded by Lewis & Clark Law School, the Portland Development Commission, law firms, businesses, and individuals. Additional contributions are being raised to augment the grant from Meyer Memorial Trust to completely fund this initiative. If you would like to contribute to this effort, please donate here.
Meyer Memorial Trust invests in organizations, communities, ideas and efforts that contribute to a flourishing and equitable Oregon. MMT is a private foundation that is not connected to Fred Meyer, Inc. For more information on the Meyer Memorial Trust please visit their website at www.mmt.org.


text:
The world is not going to end tomorrow, at least not because of something the Mayans probably didn't predict. Yet, everyone reading this will have a last drive at some point. That final car trip before fate (or a caring relative) steps in to take the keys away.
Assuming you have a choice, what would your ideal last drive be? In what car? With whom?
(QOTD is your chance to answer the day's most pressing automotive questions and experience the opinions of the insightful insiders, practicing pundits and gleeful gearheads that make up the Jalopnik commentariat. If you've got a suggestion for a good "Question Of the Day" send an email to tips at jalopnik dot com.)
Photo Credit: LouisR


text:
SSL encryption of your data when it is transmitted over the internet is very important to your information security and protection of your privacy. We use a dedicated SSL certificate from a renowned SSL encryption leader in the industry.
SSL is an acronym for Secure Sockets Layer, an encryption technology that was created by Netscape to ensure secure transactions between web servers and browsers. The protocol uses a third party, a Certificate Authority (CA), to identify one end or both end of the transactions. Web servers and Web browsers rely on the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol to create a uniquely encrypted channel for private communications over the public Internet. Each SSL Certificate consists of a public key and a private key. The public key is used to encrypt information and the private key is used to decipher it. When a Web browser points to a secured domain, a level of encryption is established based on the type of SSL Certificate as well as the client Web browser, operating system and host server's capabilities.
Trust of a credential depends on confidence in the credential issuer, because the issuer vouches for the credential's authenticity. Certificate Authorities use a variety of authentication methods to verify information provided by organizations. An SSL certificate enables encryption of sensitive information during the transactions over the internet. Each SSL certificate is a unique credential indentifying the certificate owner. A certificate authority authenticates the identity of the certificate owner before it is issues. This is in short how it works:
When you are transmitting sensitive information on a web site, such as credit card numbers or personal information, you need to work with a secure shopping website that has SSL encryption. It is possible for every piece of data to be seen by others unless it is secured by an SSL certificate. According to Gartner Research, nearly 70 percent of online shoppers have terminated an online order because they did not "trust" the transaction. In those cases, 64 percent indicated that the presence of a trust mark would have likely prevented the termination.
All prices are in USD | © 2020 Jaden Bass Company | See full Sitemap


text:
All News Releases By Date
Settlement Helps Repay Cleanup Costs for Durham Meadows Superfund Site in Durham, Conn.
Release Date: 12/05/2013
Contact Information: Kate Renahan, (617) 918-1491
(Boston, Mass. – Dec. 5, 2013) – EPA and the State of Connecticut have reached a settlement with the Durham Manufacturing Company (DMC) for partial reimbursement of EPA's past costs in the remediation at the Durham Meadows Superfund Site, and for DMC to perform certain work obligations at the DMC Study Area portion of the Site.
The settlement between the parties is based upon DMC's limited ability-to-pay. Under the terms of the Consent Decree, approved by the Court on Nov. 12, 2013, DMC agrees to make cash payments in the amount of $2.9 million, to be paid in four installments over three years. The company also agrees to perform certain work obligations at the DMC portion of the Site. EPA has valued the work obligations at $1.1 million.
The settlement also requires DMC to provide access and impose institutional controls on the properties at the DMC Study Area in order to ensure protection of human health and the environment.
The Durham Meadows Superfund Site includes the former location of Merriam Manufacturing Company at 281 Main Street, and DMC's currently-operating manufacturing facility at 201 Main Street, both located in Durham, Conn. During their respective operating histories, both companies used various solvents in the manufacture of metal cabinets, boxes, and other items. The companies' past disposal of wastewater at their facilities contributed to contamination that has been detected in soil and groundwater on both industrial properties, as well as in residential drinking water wells surrounding the two facilities.
EPA performed cleanup work at the Merriam Manufacturing Company Study Area and also entered into a settlement earlier this year with the Merriam Manufacturing Company, Aztec Industries, LLC and the Estate of Allan Adams. EPA, in cooperation with the State of Connecticut, has begun design work for the remedy selected at the DMC Study Area.
More information on EPA's cleanup work at the Durham Meadows Superfund Site: (https://www.epa.gov/ne/superfund/sites/durham)
# # #
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.


text:
Photo questions or concerns can be forwarded to the CKC at firstname.lastname@example.com.
No breeders found,
visit the club website
The Canadian Kennel Club is a national, member-based non-profit organization, incorporated under the Animal Pedigree Act of Canada. It provides registry services for all purebred dogs it officially recognizes. Provides governance for all CKC approved dog shows, dog trials and canine events. Finally, the CKC is a communication organization informing all people interested in dogs.
Read More...
Lire la suite...


text:
Time is escaping me at a rapid rate due to lots of other workloads, with no time for considered prose. So this time it's just a series of videos and soundclouds of things that I reckon you should wrap your ears around. They are out now or due soon. Plus there's a list of current favourite listens at the end of the post showing what's on rotation on the I-Pod at the moment….and a bit of shameless self-publication at the bottom. Enjoy!
MESMER DISCIPLES – REAL LOUD (Leeds,UK)
CHORE – THE HITCHHIKER (Ontario, Canada)
THE FRANKLYS – CASTAWAY (London, UK)
PAPA M – BLOOM (Louisville, USA)
FLIES ON YOU – DARKENING MY DOOR (Leeds, UK)
BOWERY ELECTRIC – FEAR OF FLYING (New York City, USA)
WE ARE BANDICOOT – TEMPER (Kent, UK)
THE STRESS OF LEISURE – GIRL ON A LILO (Brisbane, Australia)
- Fistula – The Shape Of Doom To Cumm )))
- Loser Life – …And I Am Going To Live This Way , Things Will Never Change, I Want The World, My Hell, Life Number Two, Burning Fields/Hard To Please (complete back catalogue being released)
- Chore – The Coastaline Fire
- Papa M -Highway Songs
- Donny McCaslin – Beyond Now
- Chads Tree – Crossing Off The Miles
- Harry Howard and the NDE – Sleepless Girls
- The Stress of Leisure – Achievement
- Kristin Hersh – Wyatt at the Coyote Palace
- Moss Skellington- The Lump
- The Get – The Private Men EP
- Miles Davis – Freedom Jazz Dance
- The Triffids – Born Sandy Devotional
AND SOME GIGS COMING UP (which is why I have been otherwise engaged)


text:
DRHOOK- Losing patients: Why I cry every time
Death and taxes are the only two things that are guaranteed in life. In fact, we even get taxed for dying... so you just can't win. Too bad we can't file our death like we file our taxes...looking for loopholes and deductions to cheat death. CPA would stand for "Can't Pass Away."
My religion professor, who had the strongest German accent in the world, used to say, "Vonce du realize du are finite, du vill start to live an honest life."
I was only 17 at the time and didn't really get what he meant. "Of course we are going to die. So when is our next term paper due? I need to get an A so I can get into medical school."
Once I got into medical school and, in particular, once I started taking care of patients, I all too well learned what death is. Or should I say I started to learn what death means, because I am still learning about it.
What does it mean to a doctor when he/she loses a patient?
I have been pretty lucky in my medical practice because I haven't had many patients die. But when it does happen, it really stinks. In fact in recent years, I cry every time a patient dies. (God, I hope that doesn't make me look like that weird Florida judge who cried over the Anna Nicole Smith trial!)
The closer I get to a patient, the more it hurts when she or he dies. In the past year I have had a handful of dear patients pass away, and frankly, it leaves me wondering, "Where are they now? What happens after we die?"
I want to believe that after life, it will be an eternal sleep on a Tempur-Pedic Mattress: restful, comfortable, and scenic. "Hey, those rings of Saturn are pretty cool up close!" (My luck, I'd hit an asteroid.)
I find it unsettling that I will never know what is death until I actually die. When I get a chance to see a sunset, I have actually been asking some of my patients who are now gone from this world, "Hey, if you are out there under those orange and red streaks of light, can you give me a sign of what is to come?" So far, no text messages, no emails, or voice mails from the cosmos above.
Two of my patients last year died in their prime of life: one from a rare cancer, and one from heart disease. They fought tough battles and were so courageous, but their medical problems eventually took over.
And what I think about is, "All their relationships, all their experiences, and all the goodness they brought to others has now come to a close."
Sure, while I'm taking care of them for their pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, etc., I also know I am treating more than just them. I'm treating a whole network of people who will feel great loss when they are gone... including me.
In January, I saw a 91-year old man embark on a new journey, hopefully on a Tempur-Pedic mattress in the universe. And as his partner in life mourns, I also know hundreds– if not thousands– of people carry on the memories of the amazing things he did to touch others. Everyone kept saying to me, "I wish you had known him when he was younger. He was so vivacious." I kept responding, "I knew. It has been there all along."
In the back of my mind for those who have died, I keep thinking, "Could I have done more?" However, unlike Voodoo, the medical field cannot prevent death. We can only help make life as good as possible for others.
Farewell my patients– my friends. Have a Cosmo up there for me.


text:
Swisher 60" 14.5 HP Finish Cut Tow-Behind Trailmower (2 models available)
Product Details
About this item
- 60" Trailmower produces a finished cut
- Tow-behind model can be pulled by ATV, UTV's & tractors
- Features a universal articulating hitch for maneuverability
If you have a large area of grass to mow, you need a Swisher Trailmower! Backed by the power of 60+ years of design experience, the Swisher 60" 14.5 HP Trailmower is designed to dramatically reduce mowing time. The Swisher Trailmower attaches to ATV's, lawn tractors, and any utility vehicles to cut large lawns and meadows fast. Three blades are powered by a 14.5 horsepower, Briggs and Stratton engine for a finish-cut quality, each and every mowing.
A 60" side-discharge cutting deck cuts wide swaths and spreads the grass out to avoid choking. The true floating deck reduces scalping for professional mowing results, even on tricky terrain. Cutting-height adjustment handles are easy to control for just the right cut. This Swisher is equipped with a handy 12-volt key starter, so firing up the mower is a snap, rather than a big workout. A universal articulating hitch attaches to any hitch system and lets the mower maneuver easily behind whatever is pulling it. The 2.5 gallon fuel tank means less downtime and more productivity for getting the job done fast and getting back to your weekend. The Trailmower is the ultimate time saver! Made in the USA
Policies & plans
- 14.5 HP Briggs & Stratton I/C, 12V electric start engine
- 60" true floating cutting deck with side discharge
- 1.5"-5.5" variable cutting height adjustment
- Operating blade engage / disengage controls
- Lock-out system and safety tether kill switch
- Three 5" diameter anti-scalp rollers for smoother travel
- Electronic safety switch
- Covered battery with access panel
- Additional underside baffles
- Finish cut - three blade system
1 Year Manufacturer's Limited Warranty
Manufacturer Info
Assembled Country
Assembled Size
Component Country
Shipping Info
- Delivery is not available in AK, HI or Puerto Rico.


text:
This year the Japanese brand Edwin have come out with a drop for this year that shows their skills. Their clothes live up to their Japanese background, craftsmanship and expertise with their constant look at the current styles and drive to innovate within the industry. Their accessories are no different, this is the Kurt Beanie. It has been constructed with long lasting materials and will compliment your look.
UK Delivery (click here for full details)
Courier orders placed before 2.30pm Monday - Friday will be delivered next working day.
European and International delivery (click here for full details)
The following brands are not able to be shipped outside of the European Economic Area: Patagonia, Red Wing, Carhartt WIP, Filson
Returns Policy
60 Day Returns - If you are not happy with your purchase you can return it to us within 60 days (14 for sale items) of receipt for a refund or exchange,
To return your purchase for a refund or exchange, please click here for full details.
Payment can be made online by any credit or debit card, or by Paypal.
Our site uses the latest 128 bit SSL security, complying with and exceeding all necessary security requirements to protect your details. We do not store any sensitive information (card number, etc).
SSL encrypts your order online to avoid any decoding of that information of anyone other than the necessary processing parties. To check the security of your connection, look at the status bar of your browser window after accessing the server. If you see an unbroken key or a closed lock then, depending upon your browser, SSL is active. You can also double check by looking at the URL line of your browser - while accessing a secure server the first characters of the address will change from HTTP to HTTPS.


text:
PTSD Bill Passes Committee (Feb 13, 2013)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - An Oklahoma Senate committee has approved a measure to improve the care given to Oklahoma National Guard members suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
The bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. Brian Crain, says many guard members with post-traumatic stress disorder don't get proper treatment. His bill, passed Wednesday by the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, calls for training for members' caregivers on treating PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.
Crain says the bill is intended to bridge a gap in guard members' mental health treatment. He says full-time military employees have greater access to treatment resources through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, while guard members must rely on their states for help.
According to Pentagon data, more veterans died by suicide than in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan last year.
« back


text:
Happy Father's Day!
Are you worried about your partners pregnancy? Has your partner already had preeclampsia? Do you have advice for other dads who could be going through similar experiences as yourself? Post here!
1 post • Page 1 of 1
Happy Father's Day!
A big Happy Father's Day to all our resident Dads (and you lurkers, too!). I hope today is filled with joy and peace, whatever your situation may be.
1 post • Page 1 of 1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


text:
The creative team and a timeline for the project will be announced at a later date.
Grammy and Golden Globe Award-winner and six-time Academy Award nominee Diane Warren is the first songwriter in the history of Billboard to have seven hits, all by different artists, on the singles chart at the same time. She is known globally for platinum-selling songs performed by legends like Elton John, Beyonce, Tina Turner, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion Aerosmith, Ricky Martin, Faith Hill, Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, Carrie Underwood Britney Spears, Jennifer Hudson and LeAnn Rimes among many others. Her more than 100 Top Ten hits include the platinum-selling "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," "If I Could Turn Back Time," "How Do I Live", "Unbreak My Heart", "Because You Loved Me" and many more.
Dede Harris Productions (Dede Harris and associate David Carpenter) recently produced One Man, Two Guvnors and the 2012 Tony Award winning Best Play Clybourne Park and are currently producers of the 2011 Tony Award winning Best Play War Horse (Broadway, Toronto, National Tour) and I Love Lucy: Live on Stage (Chicago)as well asthe upcoming Hands on a Hardbody opening on Broadway in the Spring of 2013 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre said, "It's a thrill and an honor be able to present Diane Warren's brilliant body of work on Broadway. Her songs are a pinnacle of popular culture and will bring fresh energy and excitement to the Great White Way."
On the announcement of the new project, Diane Warren said, "I greatly admire the incredible shows and performers that have come from Broadway. It has always been a thrill for me to write for musical artists who began their careers on the New York stage and I'm so happy that my songs will be part of a new musical."
Dede Harris Productions –Broadway:ClybourneParkwinner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Play, One Man Two Guvnors, War Horse, winner of the 2011 Tony Award for Best Play, (Lincoln Center, Toronto and National Tour), Jerusalem (starring Mark Rylance), Elling, 9 to 5 the Musical (starring Allison Janney) , TheNorman Conquests, winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush(starring Will Farrell); David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow (starring Jeremy Piven, William H. Macy ,Norbert Leo Butz and Raul Esparza); TheSeagull (starring Kristin Scott Thomas); The Lieutenant of Inishmore; The History Boys, winner of the 2007 Tony Award for Best Play; The Pillowman ( starring Jeff Goldblum and Billy Crudup); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (starring Jonathan Lithgow and Norbert Leo Butz); A Raisin in the Sun (starring Sean Combs a.k.a. P. Diddy); Golda's Balcony (starring Tovah Feldshuh); Hairspray the Musical, winner of the 2003 Tony Award for Best Musical; Arthur Miller's The Crucible (Starring Liam Neeson and Laura Linney); Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses, winner of the Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk Award, and Drama League Award; Elaine Stritch at Liberty, winner of the 2002 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event; Noises Off (starring Peter Gallagher and Patti LuPone); One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (starring Gary Sinise), winner of the 2001 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play; The Music Man; Swing!; and More to Love: A Big Fat Comedy. Currently: I Love Lucy: Live on Stage (Chicago) Upcoming:Hands on a Hard Body (Broadway / 2013)
Diane Warren is one of the most prolific songwriters of all time. She has been nominated for 9 Grammy Awards, (winning for the song "Because You Loved Me") and 5 Golden Globe Awards. She has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame, named ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year 6 times and Billboard's Songwriter of the Year 4 times. Some of her big movie hits include "How Do I Live" performed by Trisha Yearwood for Con Air and also a chart-topper sung by LeAnn Rimes as well, "Because You Loved Me" sung by Celine Dion for the film Up Close And Personal, "Music Of My Heart," sung by *NSYNC and Gloria Estefan for the film Music Of The Heart, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" performed by Aerosmith for Armageddon, and "Do You Feel Me" from American Gangster sung by Anthony Hamilton. Diane won the 2011 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for the powerful ballad "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me," which is performed by Cher in the movie Burlesque, starring Cher and Christina Aguilera. Most recently, Diane has penned the original song, "Silver Lining" performed by Jessie J for the upcoming feature Silver Linings Playbook. In addition, she has written "Unfinished Songs" performed by Celine Dion for the feature film Song For Marion. Diane also wrote the song "I Was Here" for Beyonce's latest record, "4," which hit number one on the Billboard charts. The video for the song was shot at the U.N. to launch World Humanitarian Day and it has reached over 1 billion people. Warren owns her publishing company, Realsongs; the most successful female-owned and operated business in the music industry.


text:
Italy's government was set on Tuesday to defy the European Commission, preferring to risk financial sanctions than revise its big-spending budget. Source: The Local
GEFIRA provides in-depth and comprehensive analysis of and valuable insight into current events that investors, financial planners and politicians need to know to anticipate the world of tomorrow; it is intended for professional and non-professional readers.
Yearly subscription: 10 issues for €225/$250
Renewal: €160/$175
The Gefira bulletin is available in ENGLISH, GERMAN and SPANISH.
The world's largest group of shipping insurers will not insure vessels involved in the Russian-led Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream gas pipeline projects because of the threat of U.S. sanctions. Source Reuters
Italy expects debt to rise to about 160% of gross domestic product by the end of this year despite a smaller-than-forecast contraction of the economy, officials familiar with ongoing budget talks said. The new figures, which are provisional and still subject to change, see the economy expanding 6% in 2021, the officials said, asking not to be named discussing confidential deliberations. Source Bloomberg Quint
It is less than two months since U.S. President Donald Trump travelled to Texas to declare that the U.S. energy industry, laid low by this year's oil price crash, was back on its feet. "We're OK now," the president told the assembled crowd.
But bankruptcy numbers released this week tell a different story. Another 16 upstream U.S. oil and gas companies — producers and service providers — hit the wall in August, the same number as in July, according to law firm Haynes and Boone. Source Financial Post


text:
MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – A former Eastpointe Police detective convicted of stealing seized items from an evidence locker and distributing them for cash and drugs has been sentenced to probation.
Detective Timothy Stopczynski was charged with one count of misconduct in office, five-year felony, and one count of embezzlement by an agent or trustee less than $20,000.
The embezzlement charge was dropped as part of a plea deal.
He was sentenced Tuesday to a year of probation and credit for spending one day in jail.
Stopczynski, 41, allegedly took tires, rims, slot machines, watches, and other items from the Eastpointe Police forfeiture shed and given them to a former confidential informant to fence for drugs and money.
Stopczynski served with the Eastpointe Police Department for 14 years. He resigned from the force in the wake of this investigation.
Read more Local News headlines:


text:
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
It's all Greek to me! Watching America collapse, Grecian-style
4 comments:
where did you find this stat ... "the national average disposable personal income of $32,446" ...
and do you have the median amount available?
the average (especially with money) is easily inflated by those with the big bucks... the median amount is a far better indicator...
- Tuesday, February 14, 2012 11:59:00 AM
- James Shott said...
Thanks for your comment.
I'll have to check my notes this evening after work and V-Day activities.
I don't have a median figure.
- Tuesday, February 14, 2012 2:33:00 PM
- James Shott said...
Actually, I had the info at hand.
I was a re-cap of a Heritage Foundation report at http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=21588&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DPD
- Tuesday, February 14, 2012 2:40:00 PM
looks like the median is around 26k, which is about 15% less than the 32k average...
using the "average" for any monetary statistic is a horrible practice and tends to inflate/skew the reported amount...when it comes to variables that are not normally distributed, the median is a much better indication of "typical" and really identifies income disparity...
2010 Household Income
WV: Average = $50,674
WV: Median = $37,435
which means half of the families in WV make less than $38k per year (im sure they are all lazy and enjoying their handout)
VA: Average = $80,387
VA: Median = $59,000
interesting when you look at how much better off income earners are in VA...their median is higher than the WV average...
moral of the story is... the median is a much better indication of typical income because the average is always going to be highly inflated and the median identifies the true 50% marker... showing where the population would be split 50/50...
- Tuesday, February 14, 2012 3:11:00 PM


text:
Third-Party Access Program
The Third-Party Access program allows IQVIA clients to request a limited use license agreement for a third-party vendor to perform services for that client.
These third-party limited license agreements permit IQVIA clients to share IQVIA information with vendors for a pre-defined purpose and solely for the benefit of the requesting IQVIA client.
The third-party vendor may not use IQVIA data for their own benefit.
Program Request Process
To initiate a third-party access request, clients can obtain a portal ID and password by contacting their IQVIA account representative. Once you have an ID, access the portal and follow these steps:
- Client identifies the vendor contact, key dates, intended uses, and IQVIA licensed offerings to be shared.
- Vendor contact is automatically notified and enters required vendor information.
- IQVIA processes the request and sends the IQVIA Third Party Limited License Agreement to the Vendor.
- Vendor signs and electronically submits forms back to IQVIA.
- IQVIA notifies the client contact and vendor that data sharing is permitted.
Third-Party Portal Support
Our Clients can obtain a portal user ID and password by contacting their IQVIA account representative.
For general questions regarding TPA Agreement tracking, please contact us.


text:
Earlier, Mark Halperin told the Morning Joe audience that Team Obama has shifted to defense along a rather long blue line, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota. Perhaps we should include Oregon in that mix. Barack Obama won the West Coast state in a Pacific breeze four years ago, 57/41, but today can't get above 47% with just seven days to go:
President Barack Obama holds a relatively narrow lead of six points over Republican challenger Mitt Romney in Oregon, according to a new poll conducted for The Oregonian. …
It shows Obama leading Romney 47 percent to 41 percent, with 8 percent undecided. Three percent of voters said they would vote for someone else and 1 percent said they would not vote in the race.
When an incumbent Democrat can't get to 50% in a deeply blue state like Oregon, that's a bad sign. So too is sudden Romney enthusiasm, although it has yet to be reflected in the polls:
Democratic officials continued to express optimism that Obama would win Oregon, which hasn't gone for a Republican presidential candidate since 1984. But Republican activists said GOP voters in the state have shown a boost of enthusiasm that has energized Romney voters in recent weeks.
"We are seeing incredible enthusiasm at the grass-roots level," said Greg Leo, executive director of the Oregon Republican Party. He said the demand for lawn signs surged around the state following Romney's strong showing in the first debate.
Trent Lutz, executive director of the Democratic Party of Oregon, noted that "we've had a number of close statewide elections" that almost always wind up going to Democrats. He said he was confident that the president still retains the support of most Oregon voters and that the Obama campaign has a stronger get-out-the-vote operation in the state that will pay dividends.
The Oregonian didn't provide a link to their data, so it's difficult to tell how solid the sample is. Elway Research, which conducted the poll, plays primarily in the Pacific Northwest, and doesn't have any of the data on its own. The poll has a five-point margin of error, which suggests a rather small sample, and a six-point lead is nothing to sneeze at, either.
Still, that 47/41 result leaves 12% of the electorate up for grabs, in a state that should be an easy win for a Democrat. In 2008, the exit polls showed a D+9 turnout, with Obama winning 9% of Republicans, and taking independents by 23 points, 59/36. Clearly those conditions have changed in Oregon, and an incumbent who doesn't get to 50% with a week to go probably won't close particularly well in the final seven days.
While we're on the subject of polling, it looks like my earlier prediction has come true:
Gallup will suspend its daily national polling on account of the storm, and many voters in the battlegrounds of Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Hampshire could be out of reach of pollsters just days before the election.
Brad Coker, managing director at Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, said polling outlets can't get good access to voters two days before or two days after a major weather event, as voters stock up on water ahead of time, and clean up their yards in the days that follow. …
And it's not just poll watchers that will be in the dark. The campaigns themselves spend big on internal polling to help determine where to allocate resources.
"That's going to make it difficult to decide where candidates are going to travel," political strategist Doug Thornell told The Hill in an interview.
For a political class and electorate that has obsessed over the polls, the drought couldn't come at a more inopportune time.
It's possible that the national polls could be back with two- or three-day samples by Monday, and Rasmussen usually uses one-day samples for its overall surveys, so we might see a couple of national pictures on the eve of the elections. I'd say it's more likely that we'll just get a keener focus on state polling.


text:
Chad Blakley
The green glow of the aurora seems to stretch from horizon to horizon in Chad Blakley's photo from Sweden's Abisko National Park.
Tonight is prime time for the Geminid meteor shower, but there's another kind of spectacle that skywatchers are seeing up north: auroral displays in the Christmas colors of green and red.
The green glow you see above was captured on camera last week by Chad Blakley, the photographer behind Lights Over Lapland in Sweden. "It's aurora season in Abisko National Park," he writes. Blakley runs nightly photo tours in the park when the northern lights are active. To see more of his work, visit the Lights Over Lapland website or Facebook page.
National Geographic photographer Mike Theiss has also been getting some amazing auroral views, thanks to a photo assignment that took him to Whitehorse in Canada's Yukon Territory. Theiss rented a car and drove hundreds of miles farther north to the Arctic Circle. He's been using his Twitter account (@MikeTheiss) to share a series of pictures from his Arctic adventure — including an amazing shot that shows a meteor streak shooting through the auroral lights. You can see that picture below.
We're also including a Christmas bonus: Time-lapse videos from Vimeo and YouTube that incorporate Blakley's and Theiss' pictures. If you're able to, watch them full screen with HD resolution.
For more of Theiss' work, check out UltimateChase.com or Douglas Main's story at OurAmazingPlanet. And if you're a fan of the northern lights or meteor showers, you'll want to click through SpaceWeather.com's photo galleries as well.
Tonight's early reports suggest that this year's Geminid display is shaping up as a great show. If you snap a picture of the meteors — or the northern lights, for that matter — please consider sharing it with us via NBC News' FirstPerson photo upload page for sky highlights. If I get enough pictures, I'll pass them along on Friday.
Mike Theiss / National Geographic
Mike Theiss' picture from Canada's Yukon Territory features ripples of the northern lights - plus a meteor streak that can be seen on the right side.
Mike Theiss' time-lapse video of the northern lights includes the Arctic Circle marker in the foreground.
A week in Abisko National Park. from Chad Blakley at Lights Over Lapland on Vimeo.
More auroral glories:
- Northern lights shine with the moon
- 'Tis the season for the northern lights
- Your guide to the northern lights
- Cosmic Log auroral archive
Today's pictures also provide a different twist on the Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar, which usually features a daily view of Earth from space during the holiday season. Today, we're highlighting views of space from Earth. To catch up on past calendar entries, follow the links below:
- 2012 Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar
- Day 1: A fantastic Chinese fan
- Day 2: Satellite shows a Grander Canyon
- Day 3: Typhoon stirs awe — and alarm
- Day 4: Glittering nighttime view of Riyadh
- Day 5: Night lights shine on 'Black Marble'
- Day 6: Holy sites seen at night
- Day 7: Blue Marble still leaves its mark
- Day 8: Satellites look into a volcano's hell
- Day 9: Jack Frost nipping at Alaska's nose
- Day 10: Cosmonaut looks down on peaks
- Day 11: Earth looms above moonwalker
- Day 12: Skytree casts shadow on Tokyo
- 2011 Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar
- 2010 Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar
- The Atlantic: Hubble Advent Calendar
- Zooniverse Advent Calendar
Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. To keep up with Cosmic Log as well as NBCNews.com's other science and space news coverage, sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered via email. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.


text:
I was pondering the coolness of the wow days of old, and got to thinking how the old Dungeon Sets really were something interesting.
A Dungeon Set was an introduction to the concept of Tier (or is that tear) Raid sets, and provides something special and different to each class in terms of a visual representation of achievement.
The method of introduction could and should be totally different, and probably utilise the points / badges rather than just being a random drop.
So Cata Devs, I know this is very late; but please just sneak this one in?
Credit for a wow.com article for getting me thinking about the good old days.