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As usual, I'm so grateful to TLC Book Tours for giving me reason to update my blog! And this time, it's to take a look at ONE BIRD'S CHOICE, a memoir from "an overeducated, underemployed twenty-something, living in the big city in a bug-filled basement apartment and struggling to make ends meet" who ends up moving home to live with his parents – a topic to which so many of us can relate in this economy.
Even though I'm not typically a memoir reader, I was excited to read Iain's story because it very easily could have been my own. A couple years ago, I was happily residing in Chicago with my two best friends from college, living in an amazing apartment, enjoying wonderful people and a great city and toiling away at an advertising agency. Did I love my job? No. Was it terrible? Absolutely not. It was all I knew a couple years out of college. When the economy tanked, many advertising dollars (and accounts) were pulled – thus leaving me (and many wonderful co-workers) laid off in the new year (hello, 2009). So…. I job hunted. And I free lanced. And I volunteered at literary organizations. And I tried a couple trial gym memberships. My days were so busy I had trouble understanding how I ever worked those long 50+ hour weeks.
So could I sympathize with Iain's predicament? Definitely. Was I baffled by his actions (or lack there of)? Definitely.
Iain and I had similarities: My parents also lived in a small town and are very supportive. My siblings were also off successfully living their lives. But Iain seemed content to essentially take a year off from life. He enjoyed lots of sleep, ate wonderful meals cooked by his parents, drank beer alone, and helped out with the animals; I'm thinking there was personal growth in there or a lesson in humility, but that didn't come through for me.
The one story that really resounded was when his Dad coerced him to hit the gym one day, and he was in shock at the elderly men standing around nude in the locker room. Well, those free gym trials I mentioned I enjoyed during my unemployment were often used during the day and my favorite (aka only) class was "low impact jazzercise" so you can imagine who I was hanging out with in the locker room.
If you're a reader of memoirs and a lover of animals (and Canada – some of the scenery descriptions are beautiful) then pick up ONE BIRD'S CHOICE. It's an enjoyable read, just try not to over analyze the characters (I admit this is a fault of mine). In the meantime, I suggest you meet the fabulous animals in the ONE BIRD'S CHOICE book trailer:
Also, check out the entire tour available on the TLC website here.


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Original design inflatable bouncer with slide used inflatable indoor playground
inflatable playground
Strong oxford cloth or
0.55 PVC tarpaulin
1pc repair kit
1pc blower by CE/UL,
Strong PVC bag for inflatable,
carton for blower
Different angle photos of inflatable
Design Photo and real photo
Product details
Channal History
Advantage of Channal
1) One of TOP 3 Inflatable manufacturer of Guagnzhou.
Channal has more than 120 workers & Advanced Euipment for commercial inflatable & water games.
2)Channal's WAREHOUSE of LOS ANGELES,CA owns large inventory, and brings convenience for you.
3)IAAPA Member since 2010, and keep attending Orlando IAAPAEXPO every year Since 2011
4)12 YEARS Alibaba Gold Supplier----12 years export experience for Inflatable Industry.5) 202,000 USD Alibaba Trade Assurance Amount to ensure the security of transaction.
Team of Channal
Trade Show of Channal
1. What's the MOQ?
-- 1pc for PVC items and in stock Residential Nylon Bouncers.
2. May I get a sample?
-- Paid sample is accepted. We promise to refund the sample charge after your bulk order.
3. May I have my own logo or design for the products?
-- Of course. Our experienced design team can better help to meet customized needs. Your specific logo and design is accepted.
4. How is quality control?
-- Goods will be checked one by one after finished production by technical QC team. Strict quality control brings us regular orders!
5. How about the package?
-- PVC carry bag or Carton.
6. Items in stock?
-- Ocassionally, we donot have stock for all products. But we can offer some popular items for selection.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Mayan Prophecy: the truth about 2012 Maya Prophecy brings clarity to what the Mayans meant with their prophecy.
After providing an overview of what the Mayans said, and some examples of what has been added by our contemporaries without supporting evidences, "Mayan Prophecy: the truth about 2012 Maya Prophecy" offers selected historic texts to penetrate the Mayan culture. In appendix, the book offers practical wisdom to make the best of the present and coming years of transition.


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SPRINGFIELD - December 4, 2012. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today issued the following statement regarding the Senate's passage of legislation to issue every qualified Illinois resident a driver's license.
"I am pleased to see the Senate take this important step toward making our roads safer for all Illinois residents. Regardless of legal status, we need to make sure every eligible driver in our state has received the proper training and carries insurance - before they get behind the wheel. This is an important public safety measure that will do just that, and I hope the House will pass the bill quickly and send it to the Governor's desk," Simon said.
Simon joined the bipartisan coalition supporting Senate Bill 957 based on her experience as a Jackson County prosecutor who witnessed the damaging financial impacts of uninsured, unlicensed drivers on Illinois roadways. New licenses are also projected to generate much needed new revenue for the state, she said.


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Novus International, Inc. Revises Bulk Delivery SOPs to Improve Biosecurity
ST. LOUIS (Dec. 16, 2015) – After the news of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) broke earlier this year, producers throughout the United States altered and heightened their on-farm biosecurity measures to prevent outbreaks. HPAI can cause high mortality in commercial poultry flocks and can be transmitted in various ways, often through direct contact between a healthy bird and an infected bird or its secretions and fecal material. It can also be transmitted by humans and equipment that have been in contact with infected material.
The customer supply chain organization at Novus International, Inc. quickly responded to all specific requests from customers receiving bulk ALIMET® and SANTOQUIN® deliveries who called for increased biosecurity procedures. Then, they decided to take it a step further and alter their delivery biosecurity procedures.
"We elected to be proactive and let our customers know we were taking steps to help protect their business as we continue to supply them products like ALIMET® to keep them productive," states Rick Kasmarick, Executive Customer Supply Chain Manager at Novus. "Our drivers were happy to comply with the new policy. If customers request specific procedures above and beyond our revised measures, we will do our best to comply."
The North America Customer Supply Chain organization has further refined delivery protocols this fall, and biosecurity procedures are continuing to be implemented by Novus to prevent the chance of spreading of HPAI or any other disease.
Novus's response to current and future outbreaks is implementation of the following biosecurity procedures:
1. Novus's customer service team will review and accommodate all customer biosecurity procedures to the best of our ability.
2. Truck drivers have been educated and recognize the significance of this disease and will follow the customer's individual biosecurity procedures such as:
a. Utilizing truck wash/spray systems at customer locations
b. Using disposable booties when requested and provided by customer
c. Providing documentation of seal numbers when requested
3. All trucks and trailers will be equipped with sanitation kits including:
a. Tek-Trol aerosol spray or equivalent product
b. Hand sanitizer
4. All hose tubes and meter box doors must be resealed between deliveries.
5. Prior to re-entering the cab of the truck, drivers will:
a. Spray shoes, pants, working jackets and other articles with Tek-Trol aerosol spray
b. Apply hand sanitizer
Novus International, Inc. is committed to the safety, well-being and sustainability of our customers. This has been a challenging time in our industry and we thank you for partnering with us.
About Novus International, Inc.
Novus International, Inc. is headquartered in metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. and serves customers in over 100 countries around the world. A global leader in developing animal health and nutrition solutions, Novus International's products include ALIMET® and MHA® feed supplements, ACTIVATE® nutritional feed acid, ACIDOMIX® preservative premixture, CIBENZA® enzyme feed additive, MINTREX® chelated trace minerals, SANTOQUIN® feed preservative, AGRADO® feed antioxidant and many other specialty ingredients. Stratum Nutrition, a division of Novus Nutrition Brands, LLC, focuses on human nutrition through specialty and functional ingredients for manufacturers of foods, beverages and dietary supplements (www.stratumnutrition.com). For more information, visit www.novusint.com. ©2015 Novus International, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Courtesy of Natalie James at NJinLA.com
The alarm on her FuelBand pulses at 5:30 am because she wants to be a better person. Studies show that early risers are more proactive, more likely to anticipate problems, and more optimistic than those who sleep in. She wakes up two hours later because no one is expecting her to be anywhere. She slept for 12 hours and worries for a moment that it means she is depressed. It's still early, she thinks aloud.
From bed she scrolls through news, links, baby pictures, and other pieces of life. She composes an update to share and deletes it. She writes something else and deletes that too. She looks around the room. She's happy to be home even if it doesn't show. She chides herself for forgetting to practice gratitude. She closes her eyes and thinks about her family with gentle love and appreciation. Thank you, she whispers to the universe. Her goodwill quickly evaporates as she hears Deb, her mother, making a morning racket in the kitchen. She decides to wait until Deb leaves to get out of bed.
Lately she finds herself eating almost exclusively from Trader Joe's because it's easier to track in MyFitnessPal. She thinks they probably have some kind of deal. She eats every three hours beginning an hour after she wakes up. Right now she's consuming 1500 calories a day, but she hasn't been counting. She might need some encouragement.


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Today we are madly in love with the simple, cute and science-tastic designs from Surly-Ramics on Etsy. Created by Surly Amy, these necklaces and earrings feature planets, radio telescopes, animals, fossils and geeky aphorisms. (I think "Clone me" is my new favorite retort to everything.) If you're looking for something awesome and handmade that isn't going to break the bank (most pieces are around $20 or less), check out Surly Amy's collection.
More from Gizmodo
'I think "Clone me" is my new favorite retort to everything.'
For everything? I have a hard time seeing that as an effective rhetorical strategy in all cases.


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Drought dries: but wells might too
Jerry Stenger can't pinpoint the day it ended, but using all the standard measures available in the state climatologist's office, he says the drought is over.
One clue is the nearly 39 inches of snow and sleet we've had so far this winter, compared to last winter's paltry 4.4 inches.
Another clue is that February's accumulation is four times the normal frozen precipitation for the month, making it the second snowiest February since record keeping started.
A third, unofficial, measure would be the number of cases of cabin fever sweeping the area, a sure sign of excess precipitation. That doesn't mean we're out of the dry woods.
"The real question is what the status of groundwater is," says Stenger. "The water table has been drawn on substantially the past four years with insignificant recharge during the winter."
Why is winter recharge so important? During late spring through early fall, evaporation and plant intake suck up six to eight inches more water than normal rainfall provides, Stenger explains.
And when you have successive winters of low precipitation, well, "We knew by last March we had a deficit," he says.
Larry Tropea, head of the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, is extremely pleased with the weather lately. "I've been a cheerleader for bad weather," he says. And he reports that all reservoirs are "completely full."
However, Tropea doesn't believe the drought is over. "We're still continuing with depressed groundwater levels," he says. "It's hard to dig out of a three-year drought in one year."
Of course, knowing exactly what the groundwater levels are is problematic because Albemarle County doesn't have any groundwater monitoring wells. Nor, for that matter, does the entire Commonwealth of Virginia, according to Tropea.
Tropea came to Charlottesville from Pennsylvania, a state with "very deep and expensive" groundwater monitoring wells in every county. "That's something we need to invest in in Virginia," he says.
While this past December-February have had 138 percent of normal precipitation, Stenger resorts to humor when pressed for a prediction about the summer's rainfall: "It's very likely," he says, "some areas will receive above normal rainfall and some below."
For some of the 5,700 Virginians whose wells dried up between last August and January, that means the drought may not be over.


text:
Need a reading, mandala or some jewelry? Check it out.
Beijing (CNN) -- In recent years Halloween has become a big deal in Beijing, with locals and foreigners hitting up dozens of themed parties around the city in their wackiest costumes.
Some, however, seek out something truly macabre -- an authentic haunted house.
Among the freakier options in the city is a building simply called "no. 81."
Unlike your average haunted house, found hidden in some dark alley or unlit street, this one sits on one of Beijing's busiest thoroughfares -- Chaoyangmen Inner Street.
The area is famous for its Western-style clubs, restaurants and concerts.
But these days No. 81 has been giving the street a ghoulish boost due to its alleged ghostly residents.
Decrepit is kind of scary
"The only word to describe that house is 'decrepit'," says Guo Tao, a former resident of the neighborhood.
"The broken windows, the crawling ivies ... not many people want to stop at that place."
The building has grown in infamy. Beijing taxi drivers have no trouble finding it when you tell them you're looking for the haunted house on Chaoyangmen.
Numerous mentions online have made it a popular site for young adventurers.
"I came here to celebrate my birthday," said a middle school girl visiting the building last week. "Almost all of my friends have been here, and I thought it would be nice to come here for some fun, especially as Halloween is approaching."
With theme parks getting more expensive, more young people are opting to get a "free ride" in the city's old, broken buildings, ignoring 'Danger! Do not enter' signs in the front.
Next to the "danger" sign at No. 81, there's a more intriguing handwritten warning on a window pane: "There are ghosts."
Is the place even haunted?
Building no. 81 was built in 1910 to serve as a language center and rest area.
When the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, administrative departments moved in and used the building for offices.
Local resident Guo says that in the 2000s, the building was abandoned due to a lack of funding.
Over the last decade, it's deteriorated to its current state, giving the building an eerie edge that's led many to assume -- or hope -- that it's haunted.
Where do the ghost tales come from?
Various accounts are making the rounds, but the commonly accepted yarn has it that a number of people have unexpectedly died on the property, including workers, adventure-seekers and other innocents who for some reason or other made their way into the building.
Spooky as it all sounds, a recent Xinhua state-run news agency interview with local police attempted to clear up the rumors, saying no deaths were reported to have ever taken place in the building.
Meanwhile, the company that currently owns the building told Xinhua that its famously haunted space isn't actually haunted at all.
Ghosts or no ghosts, for young adventurers the place is still a spooky destination -- especially around Halloween.
"I heard the building is going to be demolished or renovated soon," said one student who recently visited the site. "I'm not sure if it's true, but I really wanted to take a look before it changes."
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text: With no movies to drive toy sales, the Kenner toy company ceased production on the 3.75-inch Star Wars action figures in 1985. Production did not resume until ten years later when Hasbro (which had acquired Kenner in 1991) issued another line of figures called Power of the Force. Collectors call this series Power of the Force 2 to distinguish these figures from the POTF figures of 1984-1985. Collectors recognize POTF 2 figures by their exaggerated "buff" physiques and disproportionate features. With their oversized musculature, the figures could not even fit in the vehicles sold for play with them. The oddest figure was Princess Leia, who had large muscles in her legs and thighs, but, even worse, her poorly designed face looked more simian than royal. Star Wars enthusiasts took to calling her Monkey Face Leia. The POTF figures of the 1990s came with several variations easier to recognize if figures remain in their original packaging. Cards backs came with either red (1996) or green (1997) highlights, and figures had added features including a Freeze Frame or Flash Back Photo or Commtech chip. When the action figure with the chip was placed on a Commtech reader, it repeated dialogue from one of the Star Wars movies.


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Featured stories, news and videos from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) - 27 February / 2 March
OHCHR represents the world's commitment to universal ideals of human dignity. They have a unique mandate from the international community to promote and protect all human rights.
The Human Rights Council holds an urgent debate on Syria. UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay addresses the Human Rights Council's urgent debate on Syria, describing the situation in the country as dire, and calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to end the fighting and bombardments.
The Human Rights Council calls on the Syrian Government to immediately end attacks on civilians. Condemning the continued widespread and systematic human rights violations in Syria, the Human Rights Council passes a resolution calling for an immediate end to all human rights violations and attacks against Syrian civilians.
The 19th session of the Human Rights Council opens in Geneva. The Human Rights Council, convening for its 19th session, immediately schedules an urgent debate on the human rights and humanitarian situation in Syria.
Strengthening human rights starts at home: the Paraguayan experience. The Government of Paraguay presents a National Human Rights Action Plan aimed at improving the human rights situation in the country.
Harnessing the potential of sports for human rights. "Both sport and human rights share many fundamental values and objectives," says Pillay at a UN Human Rights Council panel discussion on sport and human rights.
Combating homophobic violence against women. A combination of legal reforms and public education are needed to combat discrimination and violence against lesbians, bisexual women and transgender persons.
Syria - Urgent debate of the Human Rights Council
Link: http://youtu.be/cdFhNpUyzLk
Human Rights Council - Internet Freedom
Link: http://youtu.be/EkBr3oZSQFY
United Nations Human Rights on Facebook , Twitter and Youtube
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.
United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC Brussels)
Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 155, Block C2,7th and 8th floor, Brussels 1040, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 788 8484 / Fax: 32 2 788 8485


text:
- 12 ounces onions (about 2 medium), halved, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 8 large eggs, room temperature
- 3 cups water
- 1/8 teaspoon liquid smoke*
- 4 3x3/4-inch fingerling potatoes (about 4 ounces), scrubbed
- Grapeseed oil (for frying)
- Coarse kosher salt
- 1/2 cup mixed herb leaves (such as 1/4 cup chervil or tarragon, 2 tablespoons parsley, and 2 tablespoons 1-inch pieces fresh chives)
- 2 ounces American hackleback caviar or paddlefish caviar
- Smoked salt or Maldon sea salt
- 4 teaspoons purple sweet potato vinegar (see Ingredient Tip) or Sherry wine vinegar
Recipe Preparation
Place all ingredients in small saucepan. Simmer uncovered over lowest possible heat until onions are very tender, and butter and water are reduced to silky sauce, stirring often, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Cool, cover, and chill. Rewarm before serving.
Bring large saucepan of water to boil over high heat. Add eggs to water gently to prevent cracking. Cook 5 minutes. Transfer eggs to large bowl of ice water. When cool enough to handle, crack eggs gently all over on flat surface. Return to ice water and peel carefully. (Do not break eggs; yolks will be runny.)
Mix 3 cups water and 1/8 teaspoon liquid smoke in large saucepan. Add peeled eggs to water. Cover and chill overnight.
Using V-slicer or mandoline, thinly slice potatoes crosswise. Rinse potato slices in small bowl of water. Drain. Rinse until water runs clear, 1 or 2 times more. Drain well. Place on kitchen towel; pat dry.
Pour enough oil into large deep saucepan to measure depth of 1 inch. Attach deep-fry thermometer to side of pan. Heat oil to 360°F. Working in 3 batches, fry potatoes until beginning to brown and crisp, stirring frequently to prevent slices from sticking together, about 1 minute per batch. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towel-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt. Cool. Transfer to clean paper towels.
Using slotted spoon, gently transfer eggs to medium bowl. Bring smoked water to gentle simmer over medium heat. Carefully slide eggs from bowl into water. Cook until heated through, about 4 minutes. Rewarm soubise. Mix herbs together in small bowl.
Spoon generous 2 tablespoons soubise onto each plate, using back of spoon to create small indentation for egg. Divide potato chips among plates, creating small mound alongside soubise. Spoon small pile of herb salad alongside chips and soubise. Place 1 egg atop soubise on each plate. Using small sharp knife, cut 1-inch-long slit in each egg (yolk will spill out). Spoon small dollop of caviar atop yolks, dividing equally. Sprinkle with small pinch smoked salt. Drizzle 1/2 teaspoon vinegar alongside soubise on each plate.


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The Humidor in Redlands, California
Yes, it is a dry heat. Still, when the mercury hits 105 in September, one becomes a little uncomfortable. Water is what you're after the most. Of course, it's nice to have a Cabaiguan to go with it. And I did, courtesy of Tim Hughes at The Humidor, a cigar shop on the edge of the revitalized business district of Redlands, California.
Redlands used to be the Palm Springs of the early twentieth century, with prominent American families building luxury homes among the orange groves and pastures. Of course, then Palm Springs became Palm Springs.
The Humidor is a great stop on the way, about 45 miles from Palm Springs, or a destination itself. For people who live in this desert valley, The Humidor is a great local gathering place. Next door is a fine martini bar and you get the sense that combining a cigar and a drink is not that problematic after hours or maybe even in the cigar store's lounge in the back.
Vine Street, where both establishments are located, is part of the reinvention taking place here, causing some to call Redlands "the Pasadena of the Inland Empire." (The Inland Empire consists of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, situated to the east of Los Angeles and Orange counties. Pasadena has an "old town" section that is full of restaurants and shops.)
There's no bigger fan of this reinvention than Hughes, the third owner of this three-year-old cigar emporium in a building from 1926. Opening the store has helped Hughes discover his own cigar center.
"I spent a good 15 years not knowing what I was smoking," Hughes explained as he enjoyed a Joya de Nicaragua Antaño. He said he now finds great satisfaction in helping people pick out the right cigar for them.
"I don't want people to go through what I went through," said the former corporate warrior.
Hughes is working on dressing up The Humidor. He's got two female mannequins in the window that have become a sort of inexplicable attraction. He's got a poker tournament on the second Thursday of each month and soon will add darts. Wood floors are in the plans.
The store is busy. Customers come through the door, comment on how hot it is — and dry, did you hear? —and tell Hughes that they want something like "a 30-minute mild cigar, a Garcia Vega or a Punch." I'm sure that's the first time I've ever heard those two brands uttered in the same sentence. Hughes is surprisingly tolerant of this kind of request. He helps the guy and finds him an appropriate cigar.
The Humidor is kind of an oasis on this and most days. There's a guy on the computer in the lounge, which has WiFi. A football game is on the TV. Another visitor is in town for his son's college soccer game and has a couple of hours to sit and enjoy a smoke, listen to the blues on the sound system and then hear Hughes play a mean blues harp (harmonica).
"I can't do this where I live," said the guest, the stress melting away. He's from Calabasas, a California city that banned outdoor smoking.
Hughes just shakes his head upon hearing this tale of woe. He's heard the blues before. Now he just plays them. And he knows what he's smoking.
The Humidor Cigars & Gifts (aka, The Humidor)
12 E Vine Street
Redlands, CA


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With Herbalife's world class products comes a world class business opportunity!
Herbalife already has almost 2 million Independent Distributors operating in 78 countries around the world.
In recent years as Herbalife aligned with leading sports teams and athletes from every continent and now with the launch of our Herbalife
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More and more people in the fitness arena are seizing the opportunity to integrate Herbalife's products with
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Whether you are a personal trainer, fitness instructor, gym owner or simply have a keen interest in sport, you too could work with us and benefit from
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If you are ready to learn more please complete your details below and we will be in touch to discuss further.
"I worked out hard to prepare myself for the racecar. The first time I tried REBUILD ENDURANCE was after a grueling 3.5-hour bike ride. Normally I'd feel sore and sluggish the next day. This time I was surprised to feel fully refreshed and ready to tackle the boxing gym with full strength. REBUILD ENDURANCE is awesome!"
Townsend Bell, Herbalife Sponsored IndyCar Driver
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These materials were prepared by and are the responsibility of independent Herbalife distributors:
Buy Herbalife Online: Buy Herbalife Online - Weight Loss
Independent Herbalife Distributor: Customer Services, , , , , email@example.com


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For more than eleven years I've lived in San Francisco I have been frustrating locals with my loyalty to San Diego sports teams. But what can I do? I lived there first? I moved to San Diego the summer before I turned four and was instilled with San Diego loyalty by my father who had grown up there.
Three years later we moved to Northern California which put us in the media market for Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area. That meant we could see games of the SF Giants and 49ers and Oakland's A's and Raiders. We could still see some of our San Diego games when when they played their division rivals: the Padres vs. the Giants and the Chargers vs. the Raiders. This means to me the Giants and Raiders have always been opponents. I'll keep track of what they're doing but only to see how it relates to America's Finest City's teams.
Thankfully the 49ers and the A's only play the San Diego teams once every few years (less before the MLB started interleague play). So I could wear my Red & Gold with pride and without any sense of betrayal. I want to see all four of those teams do well each and every year. The best Super Bowl match up I ever got was XXIX and at the start of every season I hope for another one. But maybe this time The Unconventional City could win their first national professional sports championship.


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Two arrested for East Side armed robbery
STAMFORD -- Police say two Stamford men robbed another man at gunpoint shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday night on the East Side.
The victim told police four males approached him on Wardwell Street and two of them robbed him of $100 in cash, police Lt. Sean Cooney said in a statement. One of the men had a handgun.
The suspects fled and the victim called police. Officers scoured the area with the victim looking for suspects. When they came across a group of men, the victim said two them robbed him, Cooney said.
The officers found a BB pistol partially hidden in a nearby bush, police said.
Police arrested a 20-year-old suspect in the robbery. Omar Hackett of 164 Ursula Place was charged with first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery and possession of a facsimile firearm.
He was held on a $25,000 bond and is due in court Oct. 8.
A 17-year-old suspect was arrested in the robbery and faces the same charges. Police withheld his name because he is under 18. He was held on a $10,000 bond and is due in court Oct. 8.©


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Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice was ravaged by drug use and her regal image was tarnished by erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died on the eve of the Grammy Awards she once reigned.
Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen said Houston was pronounced dead Saturday afternoon in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton. "There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent," Rosen said.
Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, said the cause of death was unknown.
Houston's death came on the night before music's biggest showcase, the Grammys. She will be remembered Sunday in a tribute by Jennifer Hudson, organizers said.
IN PICTURES: Grammy nominees 2012
Two days ago, she performed at a pre-Grammy party with singer Kelly Price. Singer Kenny Lattimore hosted the event, and said Houston sang the gospel classic "Jesus Loves Me" with Price, her voice registering softly, not with the same power it had at its height.
Lattimore said Houston was gregarious and was in a good mood, surrounded by friends and family, including daughter Bobbi Kristina.
"She just seemed like she was having a great night that night," said Lattimore, who said he was in shock over her death.
Aretha Franklin, her godmother, also said she was stunned.
"I just can't talk about it now," Franklin said in a short statement. "It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen."
The Rev. Al Sharpton said he would call for a national prayer Sunday morning during a service at Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles.
"The morning of the Grammys, the world should pause and pray for the memory of a gifted songbird," Sharpton said in a statement.
In a statement, Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow said Houston "was one of the world's greatest pop singers of all time who leaves behind a robust musical soundtrack spanning the past three decades."
At her peak, Houston was the golden girl of the music industry. From the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, she was one of the world's best-selling artists. She wowed audiences with effortless, powerful and peerless vocals rooted in the black church but made palatable to the masses with a pop sheen.
Her success carried her beyond music to movies, where she starred in hits like "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale."
She had the perfect voice and the perfect image: a gorgeous singer who had sex appeal but was never overtly sexual, who maintained perfect poise.
She influenced a generation of younger singers, from Christina Aguilera to Mariah Carey, who when she first came out sounded so much like Houston that many thought it was Houston.
But by the end of her career, Houston became a stunning cautionary tale of the toll of drug use. Her album sales plummeted and the hits stopped coming; her once serene image was shattered by a wild demeanor and bizarre public appearances. She confessed to abusing cocaine, marijuana and pills, and her once pristine voice became raspy and hoarse, unable to hit the high notes as she had during her prime.
"The biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy," Houston told ABC's Diane Sawyer in an infamous 2002 interview.
It was a tragic fall for a superstar who was one of the top-selling artists in pop music history, with more than 55 million records sold in the United States alone.
She seemed to be born into greatness. In addition to being Franklin's goddaughter, she was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston and the cousin of 1960s pop diva Dionne Warwick.
Houston first started singing in the church as a child. In her teens, she sang backup for Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson and others, in addition to modeling. It was around that time when music mogul Clive Davis first heard Houston perform.
"The time that I first saw her singing in her mother's act in a club ... it was such a stunning impact," Davis told "Good Morning America."
"To hear this young girl breathe such fire into this song. I mean, it really sent the proverbial tingles up my spine," he added.
Before long, the rest of the country would feel it, too. Houston made her album debut in 1985 with "Whitney Houston," which sold millions and spawned hit after hit. "Saving All My Love for You" brought her her first Grammy, for best female pop vocal. "How Will I Know," ''You Give Good Love" and "The Greatest Love of All" also became hit singles.
Another multiplatinum album, "Whitney," came out in 1987 and included hits like "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody."
The New York Times wrote that Houston "possesses one of her generation's most powerful gospel-trained voices, but she eschews many of the churchier mannerisms of her forerunners. She uses ornamental gospel phrasing only sparingly, and instead of projecting an earthy, tearful vulnerability, communicates cool self-assurance and strength, building pop ballads to majestic, sustained peaks of intensity."
Houston was to make her return to film in the remake of the classic movie "Sparkle." Filming on the movie, which stars former "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks, recently wrapped.
Simon Cowell told CNN's Piers Morgan on Saturday night that he had been considering Houston as a possible judge on the U.S. version of his talent competition, "The X Factor."
"She would have been the ultimate, ultimate mentor to any contestant coming on the show," Cowell said.
Associated Press writers Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles and Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tenn., contributed to this report.


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I was blown away by the team at FreshySites from inception to launch! They worked with our team to make sure all our goals and desires were meet and the response to our new website has been exciting.
Thanks, Vincent, to you and your team for such a great experience!


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Sgt. Scott David has been stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, for four years and is currently about to serve his third tour in Afghanistan as a part of Alpha Company 2-7 Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. On the day of his departure, Sgt. David and his father, John, came into the Robertson Blood Center to partake in a tradition that stems back to two prior deployments. Each time his son has deployed, John David travels down from Dallas, Texas, to donate blood to the Armed Services Blood Program. This farewell was no different -- Sgt. David stood next to his father who had his sleeve rolled up ready to save lives.
John David remembered his son's first deployment and how he stumbled upon the Robertson Blood Center while driving on Fort Hood. As he drove by the blood donor center, he thought to himself that donating blood to a military blood donor center would be a good idea. The first time he donated with the staff at the Robertson Blood Center, he was amazed that donated blood would reach deployed service members in just one week and that in all of his dedicated years of donating he had never heard of the Armed Services Blood Program. However, once he discovered the military blood program, it became a tradition that he follows every time his son is asked to serve his country in combat operations.
"The reason I donate blood is right there," said John David, pointing at his son. "It is all about helping, right?"
With his departure taking place in just a few hours, Sgt. David could not donate blood, but came to spend time with and support his father during his donation. The first time Sgt. David, a mortar man, deployed, he thought his father's blood donation timing was "cheesy," but now he thinks it is pretty cool. With both son and father being A-positive, John David's donation is a just-in-case care package in the event his son should ever need it.
Sgt. David knows the importance of blood donations with multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he will have to wait one year after his arrival back to the U.S. to be eligible to donate blood to the military blood program. Sgt. David will start his quarterly blood donations at that time to do his part for his brothers and sisters in harm's way.
Sgt. David waited patiently for his father's donation to complete, and then they both headed to the refreshment area to enjoy a small snack. As they walked off, side-by-side, Robertson Blood Center staff members overheard them make their lunch plans before they had to say "goodbye for now" and "see you soon."
John David's dedication to donating blood, as well as the precious time he and his son spent with the Robertson Blood Center staff is why the Armed Services Blood Program is so grateful for donors like the Davids.
To find out more about the Armed Services Blood Program or to make an appointment please visit www.militaryblood.dod.mil.


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It's all too easy to forget what a miracle water is. With a water supply on tap, food can grow, and people can thrive.
In 2015/16, we provided 5.4 million people with improved access to clean water.
Following the earthquake in Haiti, we delivered more than 300m litres of clean water to people every month.
Every day, nearly 1000 children die from diarrhoea caused by dirty water. This is just a proportion of the 4 million deaths from water-related diseases and poor sanitation each year.
Worldwide, more than 700 million people lack access to safe water and more than 2 billion don't have adequate sanitation.
In emergencies, many more lives are put at risk by inadequate water supplies and poor sanitation. It's estimated that each person needs 15 litres of water per day for drinking, cooking, and washing in an emergency. This makes providing clean water a massive task requiring the sort of specialist skills and equipment Oxfam has.
Fast action can stop an emergency turning into a crisis. Our water engineers are renowned for their speed and efficiency, providing large-scale water supplies and disease-preventing sanitation facilities - even in the most difficult circumstances such as the Haiti earthquake and the Pakistan floods.
In each situation, we look for the most effective and efficient way to provide water - setting up delivery systems that pipe or truck water in from the nearest water source for distribution via water tanks, pipes and tap stands.
We always work with local people, taking into account local needs and practices. We ensure that facilities are designed to enable people - particularly women and children - to maintain their dignity and stay safe. We also provide health and hygiene advice to ensure water and sanitation facilities are used properly to help prevent the spread of disease.
Water, sanitation and hygiene underpin many of our poverty-fighting development projects. We work with local communities to provide long-term, cost-effective solutions that can reduce levels of poverty and disease.
Providing safe water can improve general health and reduce the pressure on often limited health care resources.
Introducing simple irrigation schemes can kick-start farming, improve local diets and give people the chance to make a living.
Providing clean water, latrines and hygiene advice at school can even increase attendance, reducing days lost through illness and raising educational performance. This can be particularly significant for girls. Schools play an important role helping to change attitudes towards hygiene within their wider community.
Make a donation and support our work to tackle food poverty, reduce food waste, and find long lasting solutions to the underlying causes of poverty in the UK.
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Good aid saves lives and helps poor people work their own way out of poverty.
We help people fight discrimination and demand their rights.
When conflicts or natural disasters – such as the drought in East Africa in July 2011 – strike, we get there fast.
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How 'Ideation' Is Growing Business in Memphis
The Tennessee city's Innovation Delivery Team launched a collaborative effort to generate and implement ideas to spark commerce in struggling neighborhoods.
City leaders face tremendous pressure to respond to crises quickly and decisively, and they frequently excel at doing just that. "What are we going to do about this?" or "What can we do about this?" are the sort of questions that drive policy. Too rarely, however, do city officials have the time and space to ask, "What should we do about this?"
In short, municipal policymaking is often a reactive process rather than an active one.
Through its $24 million Innovation Delivery Team Project, in which five cities have been given major grants to create and deploy systems for large-scale municipal innovation, Bloomberg Philanthropies is helping each of the participating cities to change that.
How? By charging each city's Innovation Delivery Team with setting better policy by rapidly generating a range of ideas through creative, collaborative thinking, testing those ideas, and then implementing the ones most likely to succeed. More specifically, this means looking to stakeholders, peers, experts and others for ideas and data about an issue and using that information to rigorously examine those ideas before choosing a direction.
This process is referred to as "ideation," and the Memphis Innovation Delivery Team started it with a road trip.
Charged with boosting businesses in struggling but transitional neighborhoods, the team kicked off its effort by filling a bus with 45 people from virtually every agency in city government, from deputy directors to frontline workers, and taking them to visit the targeted areas.
With the bus tour, the team hoped to accomplish several goals. Team members wanted to get participants to step away from preconceived ideas; foster relationships among agency staff members with varied points of view and responsibilities; and engage everyone in a shared experience. Participants walked away with a fresh sense of each community's very real struggles but also those areas' assets and opportunities.
Next, in an effort to hear what business owners perceived to be the barriers to progress, the team set up what it called "co-creation studios." The team convened local employers for a solid five hours in each neighborhood, encouraging them to describe the challenges they faced, dream about the future and get concrete about what new policies should be developed.
At the same time, the team looked beyond Memphis for ideas and advice, calling in a leading urban-retail planning specialist who set aside three days for a deep-immersion consultation. The expert drove around and observed the neighborhoods, spoke to business owners, residents and government administrators, and then presented key findings and recommendations.
For the Innovation Delivery Team, and for the city, the combination turned out to be revelatory.
On the bus tour, everyone had seen how bad things looked and had assumed that the economy was to blame. But what the team learned as it continued to look and listen was that demand was out there; residents had money and wanted to spend it locally, yet they were leaving their communities to shop. Why? There weren't enough businesses to meet residents' needs. The neighborhoods weren't appealing to shoppers or to potential merchants because of blight, poor property upkeep and fears about crime. Participants in the co-creation studios also noted that another key barrier to economic growth was the city's lack of support for entrepreneurs and existing businesses. The planning expert's report focused on these problems as well, but stressed that the city and the neighborhoods themselves had the tools to conquer them.
The data and the process led to a series of highly targeted initiatives to tackle blight and spark business development. Memphis' plan is anchored in a three-part formula that grew directly out of the ideation phase of the team's work: Clean it (first and foremost, eliminate blight); activate it (spark local ideas and action); and sustain it (align city hall and local resources, approaches and activity).
To clean it, the city is expanding its "25 Square Initiative," an intensive debris-removal and rehabilitation plan that aligns six agencies to revive 25 neighborhood blocks at a time. To activate it, the city is developing a series of creative strategies to spur new ventures including "pop-up retail," which will allow start-ups to test the waters in vacant and underused locations. To sustain it, relevant agencies will be better aligned with local activity, beginning with a major overhaul of the business development agency to provide improved market data and customized assistance.
Rather than simply reacting to the problems in the target communities, Memphis took the time to understand what was happening on the ground and to respond. The result is a plan tailor-made for the communities that it is meant to help-ideation and policymaking at its best.
This is the second in a series of monthly dispatches by New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service examining the Innovation Delivery Teams initiative. The next post, in August, will coincide with a report detailing the techniques and tools that Bloomberg Philanthropies' grantee cities have employed to generate policies that work.


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If you had an account on the old Needham Bikes site, click on "Request a new password".
This is the text of today's press release from MassDOT
MassDOT Implements New Healthy Transportation Policy Directive; Prioritizes Inclusion of Bicycle, Transit, Walking Options
Directive Builds on GreenDOT Plan, Healthy Transportation Compact
BOSTON- Friday, September 20, 2013- Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey today announced a forward-thinking shift in MassDOT's approach to project development. MassDOT's Healthy Transportation Policy Directive will require all state transportation projects to increase bicycling, transit and walking options. This new Directive is intended to promote multimodal access for our transportation customers.
"This policy directive is the next step in putting into daily practice our commitment to build a healthy, sustainable transportation system that meets all our customers' needs," said MassDOT Secretary Davey.
"This exciting transportation policy will play an important role in offering opportunities for healthy living through walking, biking and increased use of public transit," said Department of Public Health Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett, R.N. "We applaud MassDOT and Secretary Davey for taking a leadership role in creating healthier communities."
The Directive builds on the goals established in the GreenDOT Implementation plan and MassDOT's mode shift goal . The mode shift goal announced by Secretary Davey in October 2012 calls for tripling the share of travel in Massachusetts by bicycling, transit and walking by 2030. Together, these initiatives seek to improve service to our customers while improving the health of our public and natural environment.
"This is a vital next-step in taking mode shift from policy to reality," said David Watson, executive director of the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike). "Secretary Davey and his team are making it clear that we must give everyone in Massachusetts the opportunity to bike, walk, or take transit instead of driving."
As part of policy directive implementation, all MassDOT Divisions will review all projects currently in design to ensure they are consistent with Directive goals.
"WalkBoston is very pleased to see MassDOT's growing commitment to walking, and the role that walking will play in meeting the state's mode shift goal. Since at WalkBoston we think of transit as 'the middle leg of a walking trip', it is especially heartening that the new Healthy Transportation Policy Directive mandates attention to those critical walking-transit connections," said Wendy Landman, WalkBoston Executive Director.
Other elements of the Directive include:
The Healthy Transportation Policy Directive and MassDOT's GreenDOT comprehensive environmental responsibility and sustainability initiative may be viewed on the GreenDOT web page: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/GreenDOT.aspx
For transportation news and updates visit MassDOT at our website: www.mass.gov/massdot , blog: www.mass.gov/blog/transportation , or follow MassDOT on twitter at www.twitter.com/massdot and Facebook at www.facebook.com/massdotinfo .
MassDOT's annual Healthy Transportation Conferencewill be held at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel on Wednesday, October 23, 2013. To register go to www.mass.gov/baystateroads .


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Using powerful computer tools and cryo-electron microscopes, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine unmasked the secrets of a tiny virus that infects bacteria and, in doing so, opened the door to a better understanding of a variety of viruses that infect people and animals.
In a report that appears in and on the cover of the current issue of the journal Nature, Dr. Wah Chiu, professor in the BCM department of biochemistry and molecular biology and director of the National Center for Macromolecular Imaging, and his colleagues, describe how they were able to look beyond the highly symmetrical ball-like surface protein shell of the episilon15 bacteriophage that infects Salmonella bacteria and describe different molecular parts involved in binding to host cells, injecting DNA into the cell and packaging it during the virus formation.
"This methodology, in theory, can be applicable to other kinds of human viruses," said Chiu. In fact, he said, this bacteriophage appears structurally similar although smaller than the herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores and related infections. That means it should be possible to use these tools to understand better how this and similar viruses infect nerve cells and, some day, interrupt that disease process.
The advance occurred because of innovations in computational method development in addition to the powerful cryoelectron microscopes operated at very low specimen temperature and very high energy that Chiu and others use in their work that looks at different biological nano-machineries at the nanoscale.
In fact, Dr. Wen Jiang, previously trained in the BCM Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences' Graduate Program in Structural and Computational Biology and Molecular Biophysics (SCBMB), developed a new image reconstruction algorithm. These developments enabled him and his co-authors at MIT to see through the bacteriophage at very high resolution. "It turns out that, in addition to the surface protein, there are other proteins that make this virus viable," said Chiu. In particular, proteins protruding at one of the twelve vertices of the virus shell contain structures like tails that actually anchor the bacteriophage to the surface of the bacteria itself. The shape of these "tail" structures gives clues about how the virus or phage and cell interact.
Then as Chiu and Jiang used the computer visualization tool to strip away the surface shell entirely, they saw the concentric coil of DNA underneath. They also identified a protein "hub" through which DNA enters and exits the virus.
"It's like a garden hose, in some ways," said Chiu. "You extend it. If you put it away in a heap, then you have trouble using it again. But if you coil the hose orderly, then it is easy to use again. I think the virus does the same thing. The virus genome has to enter the capsid during the birth of the virus and then inject into the cell during infection. It has to come in and get out easily. The hub anchors the tail spikes, but is also a conduit for the DNA to get in and out."
Below is the "portal" that acts as a motor using energy to coil the threads of double-stranded DNA. Using the capabilities of his program, Chiu and colleagues identified 12 protein copies that make up this viral motor.
Chiu anticipates using the same technique to study other spherical viruses as soon as he can obtain the computer power to study larger structures. Soon, he said, he hopes to be able to study the interactions of virus and cell more closely.
Others who participated in his study include Juan Chang (a current graduate student in the SCBMB Program) and Joanita Jakana of BCM, Dr. Peter Weigele and Professor Jonathan King of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Jiang is now a faculty with Purdue University.
Source: Baylor College of Medicine. February 2006.


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Weddings at Hautes Plaines
Your wedding is a special day of love and family, the start of something extraordinary. You deserve a wonderful beginning that will resound throughout your lives together.
Only 10 minutes from downtown Ottawa, our spacious banquet room at Hautes Plaines can accommodate up to 140 guests. Your wedding photos will retain their beauty forever, taken on our beautiful terrace overlooking the golf course.
Our mission is to be attentive to the tiniest details of timing, quality and atmosphere. Our commitment is to make you and your guests comfortable and at home during your visit, so we get excited about the little details. Let our friendly, helpful and professional staff customize menus and room layouts to ensure your special day unfolds even better than you imagined.
It's a special day for us, too.
ClubLink's OneWedding Guarantee™ ensures that we focus all of our attention on you and your guests. We promise that your special day will be the only wedding we will host at your Club of choice*. No bumping into other bridal parties or having to wait in line for the perfect photo shoot location. Our doors are opened just for YOU. Please contact one of our catering sales managers today for more information and to book an appointment for your own personal consultation.
*Certain conditions apply
Mathieu Carriere
F&B Manager, F&B


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Even if it's to restart a project for the 4th or even 5th time.
The good news; I'm energized. I'm refreshed. I want to renew my blog! (and get my Lovely, Well-Meaning Family off my back over Blog Guilt!)
I'm not going to spend a moment longer dwelling on why I have taken such a long hiatus from blogging other than to say that it's a blog worth saving!
My fresh approach: tidbits.
Yep. Tidbits of our lives. As they happen. I'm not the best writer, nor am I the most witty, but my kids and some of our daily occurrences are well worth noting and a blog is just the spot for all of that. Of course it always has been, but I'm considering this my written permission slip for "quantity performance" over "quality." It's a recession People; it's time for cutting back!
Join me in a toast: "Long Live THE BLOG!!"
Friday, January 29, 2010
Because everyone needs a starting point...
Even if it's to restart a project for the 4th or even 5th time.
Handcrafted by Laura at 10:32 PM
1 Welcome Comments:
- Anonymous said...
Yea!!! Pictures of Grandma's darlings! As much as it means to me to keep up with what the Munchkins are doing, one day Elaina and Lincoln will love looking back on their "baby-years." And if they are anything like their Mother, they will demand to know why you didn't write MORE about them. Love you. Grandma H.


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Liberal activists plan ballot measure if gay marriage ban upheld
SAN JOSE — Liberal activists pledged Thursday to put a measure on the ballot to overturn California's gay marriage ban if the Supreme Court does not throw out Proposition 8 in a decision expected next week.
"If we lose, we're going to fight like hell to make sure we return marriage equality in California in 2014," said Adam Bink, director of online programs for the Courage Campaign.
Bink made the remarks while speaking at California's caucus meeting on the opening day of Netroots Nation, an annual gathering of thousands of liberal activists and bloggers taking place here through Saturday.
Bink said that if the Supreme Court overturns the 2008 voter-approved ballot measure that defined marriage as between one man and one woman, same-sex couples should be able to wed within a month. But if the court upholds the measure, Bink said, activists would immediately begin working on a measure for the 2014 ballot.
Learning lessons from 2008, Bink said, backers of gay marriage would work hard to create a coalition that includes labor, faith and minority communities, to insure the measure was not viewed as only about gay people.
Other policy priorities highlighted at the meeting included overhauling Prop. 13, which limits increases to property taxes; stopping the controversial oil and gas drilling technique known as fracking; unionizing workers in the medical marijuana industry; increasing the minimum wage; and increasing transparency about campaign contributions.
During the caucus meeting, activist Sandra Fluke received sustained applause as she pushed for a bill that would give domestic workers the same rights to overtime, breaks and other benefits received by most other workers.
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Leaderboard: Heroes
Workout Description
For time: Medicine Ball Run, 20/14 lbs, 1 mi -- then -- 8 rounds of: 10 Wall Balls, 20/14 lbs 1 Rope Climb, 15 ft -- then -- Medicine Ball Run, 20/14 lbs, 800 m -- then -- 4 rounds of: 10 Wall Balls, 20/14 lbs 1 Rope Climb, 15 ft -- then -- Medicine Ball Run, 20/14 lbs, 400 m -- then -- 2 rounds of: 10 Wall Balls, 20/14 lbs 1 Rope Climb, 15 ft Officer David Vanbuskirk, 36, of Henderson, Nevada, was killed on July 23, 2013, when he fell during a nighttime aerial rescue mission in Las Vegas, Nevada. Vanbuskirk had been employed with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department since 1999 and joined the elite Search and Rescue Team in 2007. Vanbuskirk is survived by his wife, Adriana; sister, Jenny; and mother, Pat. He is preceded in death by his father, Red; and brother; Michael.
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J.T. Michael Murph Daniel Josh Jason Badger Joshie Nate Randy Tommy V Griff Ryan Erin Mr. Joshua DT Danny Hansen Tyler Lumberjack 20 Stephen Garrett War Frank McGhee Paul Jerry Nutts Arnie The Seven RJ Luce Johnson Roy AdamBrown Coe Severin Helton Jack Forrest Bulger Brenton Blake Collin Thompson Whitten Bull Rankel Holbrook Ledesma Wittman McCluskey Weaver Abbate Hammer Moore Wilmot Moon Small Morrison Manion Gator Bradley Meadows Santiago Carse Bradshaw White Santora Wood Hidalgo Ricky Dae Han Desforges Rahoi Zimmerman Klepto Del Pheezy J.J. Jag 28 Brian Nick Strange Tumilson Ship Jared Tully Holleyman Adrian Glen Tom Ralph Clovis Weston Loredo Sean Hortman Hamilton Zeus Barraza Cameron Jorge Schmalls Brehm Omar Gallant Bruck Smykowski Falkel Donny Dobogai Hotshots 19 Roney The Don Dragon Walsh Lee Willy Coffey DG TK Taylor Justin Nukes Zembiec Alexander Wyk Bell JBo Kevin Rocket Riley Feeks Ned Sham Ozzy Jenny Spehar Luke Robbie Shawn Foo Bowen Gaza Crain Capoot Hall Servais PK Marco Rene Pike Kutschbach Jennifer Horton Scooter Matt 16 T.U.P. Harper Sisson Terry Big Sexy Woehlke Maupin Hildy T.J. Monti DVB Nickman Marston Artie Hollywood Manuel Tiff Paul Pena Yeti Liam Wes Miron Pat Scotty Rich Dallas 5 Dunn Kev Emily Andy Viola Coffland The Lyon T Havana Tama Otis Josie Dork Bert


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The United States is a nation of immigrants. From the transcontinental railroad to today's technological advancements on the information superhighway, immigrants have helped to build our nation. The solution to the immigration challenges we face won't be simple, but now is the time to take a commonsense approach to immigration reform. That means ensuring that the immigration bill is also a jobs bill – one that gives Americans workers a fair chance at fair wage jobs.
At recent roundtables in Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton, and Toledo, I've been asking Ohioans their immigration reform priorities. There is almost unanimous agreement that we must fix our broken immigration policy.
The bipartisan Senate plan finishes the job of securing our borders. It also creates a fair, but thorough pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants that require them. It also creates an employment verification system – to crack down on employers who are hiring workers without documentation – that prevents identity theft, and brings jobs out of the shadows.
But while the proposal we're debating on the Senate floor is a critical step forward, I believe there are ways we can improve it further so our immigration policy is also a good jobs policy.
That means ensuring that American companies seek out skilled American workers before seeking visas for foreign workers.
Right now, the H-1B program serves an important, but specific purpose. When American employers cannot find the technical workers essential to their operations, businesses can recruit foreign workers through this visa. But we need to make sure foreign workers aren't being hired at the expense of Americans.
That's why Senator Grassley (R-IA) and I introduced a bipartisan bill called the H-1B and L-1 Visa Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act of 2013. Our bill requires employers to make good faith efforts to hire Americans first and much of it was included in the immigration bill under Senate consideration.
Our work helped ensure that the immigration bill included a provision to require that employers to give American workers the first crack at a job opportunity before it can be filled with a visa holder. But during committee debate of the bill, our provision was altered so that employers now only have to take steps to recruit American workers they no longer have to give hiring preference to equally or better qualified American workers and can instead seek a visa for the foreign worker.
It is counterproductive to require employers to engage in additional recruiting steps designed to attract qualified U.S. workers without also requiring them to hire these workers if they apply.
If there are qualified Ohioans who can do the work, there is no need to fill a post with an H-1B worker. That's why I've introduced an amendment to the immigration bill that will improve hiring practices of companies that temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations.
Our bipartisan amendment requires H-1B employers to first offer a position to an equally or better qualified American worker before seeking a visa to offer it to a foreign worker.
H-1B workers make a valuable contribution to our nation, but they should be hired when there is a demonstrable need not at the expense of a qualified Ohio worker is are ready, willing, and able to do a job.


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Please note a steady hand and a good eyesight are required to successfully bring back the white text to your Spectrum. We recommend a lot of practice before applying to Spectrum as we can't be held responsible if the painting goes wrong.
Best effects can be achieved when used on original Sinclair Spectrum cases rather than after-market replica cases.
Logo repainting service is available at no extra charge as part of our Refurbishment Service if required.
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Since its launch in 1999 the Skoda Fabia has been inextricably linked to the Seat Ibiza and VW Polo, sharing its chassis, engines and more with the other two VW group superminis.
While the VW has always been the "premium" model and Seat the youthful one, the Fabia (surprising vRS models asides) has sat somewhere in the middle.
Across all three generations it's been the mature, value-led choice and that's a position it still occupies.
The i newsletter cut through the noise
Skoda Fabia SE
Price: £15,160 (£16,490 as tested)
Engine: 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, turbo, petrol
Power: 94bhp
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Top speed: 114mph
0-62mph: 10.8 seconds
Economy: 51.4mpg-47.1mpg
CO2 emissions: 106g/km
It's mature in a couple of ways. First off – despite a big facelift last year – the Fabia is relatively long in the tooth. Its Polo and Ibiza cousins are now based on the new MQB A0 platform while the Fabia soldiers on with the previous generation setup.
The other two VW Group superminis are also fresher and more youthful in appearance and feel. There's no bodycoloured dashboard or fancy exterior colours for the Fabia and the biggest screen you can have is 6.5 inches. But the Fabia still projects a grown-up feeling with the refinement and robustness of a larger car.
It's a common-sense sort of machine. There's nothing flashy or particularly clever about it but it's very good at doing what it needs to do and it's at least £3,000 cheaper than an Ibiza, Fiesta or Polo.
Last year's updates did bring more technology and features to the Fabia, so all models now get front assist autonomous emergency braking, LED daytime running lights and a multifunction trip computer.
Our SE-spec car is a step up from the £12,255 entry-level S so also features 15-inch alloys, air conditioning, DAB radio, smartphone connectivity, rear parking sensors and front fog lights. We also had the optional but excellent Amundsen touchscreen with nav – a £570 extra.
Moving from S to SE spec also opens up the full range of engine options. The Fabia is petrol-only with 74bhp, 94bhp and 108bhp versions of the 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI unit.
Our 94bhp version felt pleasantly lively, with more than enough vim to get the Fabia moving along, although an 11-second 0-62mph time isn't going to worry Fiesta ST owners.
For anyone doing mostly city driving the 74bhp version might well prove enough while the 108bhp one, with its option of a seven-speed DSG auto gearbox seems almost like overkill.
Compared with the likes of the Ford Fiesta, the Fabia has never been a driver's car but it handles and rides well around town while feeling solid and secure on faster A roads and motorways.
Its big-car feel is emphasised by a relatively spacious interior for the class, with good rear leg and head room and a 330l boot.
The Fabia is slightly in the shadow of other superminis. The Ibiza and Polo are more youthful and refined, and the Fiesta is still among the best on the market.
But the Fabia shouldn't be discounted. It is a solid, competent and comfortable hatchback and, starting at more than £3,000 cheaper than any of those three, it's a sensible option for drivers looking for a good-value grown-up choice.


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Major/Minor Independent Study Successful Graduates BCMB Faculty & Staff Courses Independent Study Seminar Schedule BCMB Club Safety Resources Summer Opportunities Resources
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Ruth W. Williams Hall of Life Science
931 College Mall
Wooster, OH 44691
Phone: 330-263-2418
General Bioinformatics Databases
- Bioinformatics Software
- Bioinformatics Database Links
Links to many useful molecular resources tools and databases, including bioinformatics sites: This is where you might go to browse and find if there are any new programs or databases that might be helpful for you.
- Nucleic Acids Research Part One & Part Two
Review of websites and databases: This is updated annually and provides a short summary of what is available at various databases and webservers.
- Sequence Manipulation Suite
Software available for use on your desktops that allows for some basic manipulations of sequence information.
Literature Search Engines
- PubMed
National Center for Biological Information database and tools.
- PubChem
Search engine provides information on the biological activities of small molecules. Search by compound (using name, synonyms or keywords), bioassay descriptions, chemical structure, etc.
- Brenda
Enzymes database.
Tools for Lab Work
- ExPASy Proteomics Tool
A massive repository of analytical tools useful for all types of experimental work with proteins.
- E. Coli Codon Usage Analyzer
Analysis for optimizing protein expression.
- OligCalc
Calculates oligonucleotide properties. Useful for designing cloning primers.
- Peptide Properties Calculator
Protein Properties Calculator (extinction coefficients, molecular weights, etc.).
- Chemwatch
SDS Database
- Chemwatch Instruction Sheet (.pdf)
Step by step Chemwatch instructions
- Chemwatch Tutorial (.pdf)
Screenshot tutorial
Structural Databases
- RCSB Protein Data Bank
Main repository for protein structural data.
- Protein Data Bank (Europe)
Includes structural biology tools and applications.
- Chimera 3D
Macromolecule structure viewer download and homepage.
- Swiss PDB viewer
3D viewer similar to Chimera with some additional structure comparison features.
- ExPASy
ExPASy Proteomics Tool. A massive repository of analytical tools useful for all types of experimental work with proteins.
- BLAST Basic Local Alignment Search Tool
Protein and gene sequence homology alignments.
Web-based sequence alignment tool.
Analysis tools for predicting protein-protein interactions and biochemical pathways.
- The SEED
An annotation tool for detailed comparative genome analysis.
- Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes
A massive repository of protein function data, organized by type of data needed (such as pathway, orthology, genome, ligand).
- J Craig Venter Institute
Institute for genomic research.
- ENTREZ Genome Project
List of genomes being sequenced and their status: This is about as complete as we can find and provides useful links, status reports and contact information for various genome projects.
- Gene Expression Omnibus
A repository of data collected from microarray/gene expression profiling experiments.
Biochemical Pathways Analysis
- University of Minnesota Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database
Predicts microbial biocatalytic reactions and degradation pathways for novel compounds, with links to known pathways.
- Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes
A massive repository of protein function data, organized by type of data needed (such as pathway, orthology, genome, ligand).
- Phylogenetics Pipeline
This is a useful website that allows one to go from a list of concatenated FASTA files to a phylogenetic tree, all in one, easy to use format.


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One feature which I often miss when using XXP for creating graphics for the net is a tool like: "Create boundling box for selected objects".
The actual case is when I am creating an arrow to be used in an unordered (UL) list on a website. The image need some 3 pixel space above. So the not exsiting tool would allow me to select the objects which make up the arrow, create a boundling box, increase the hight of the boundling box, group the arrow and boundling box and finally export it as a GIF file.
Any good practices out there for such work? I just remembered that a friend of mine who were creating stickers also needed such a tool when sending the drawing to the plotter (which in this case cuts in to folio for stickers :-)).


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On Mondays for the upcoming weeks the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program, College of Social Work, and the W.D. Goodwill Initiatives in Aging and University of Utah Center on Aging are sponsoring a series of seminars on the topic of aging. They will be held from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. in HSEB 2120, and are free and open to the public. Topics and presenters in the coming weeks include:
- January 30: "Emerging Models of Care: Saving Money and Improving Quality" with Fran Wilby, L.C.S.W., Ph.D. and Marilyn Luptak, M.S.W., Ph.D. from the College of Social Work; and Cherie Brunker, M.D., Geriatrics department, from the School of Medicine.
- February 6: " Using Imaging Biomarkers to Understand Aging and Dementia" with Richard D. King, MD, Ph.D., Director, Alzheimer's Image Analysis Laboratory, Center for Alzheimer's Care, Imaging and Research and Assistant Professor of Neurology.
- February 13: "Navigating Your Rights: The Utah Legal Guide for Those 55 and Over" with Jilenne Gunther, M.S.W., J.D. Legal Services Developer State of Utah Department of Human Services Division of Aging and Adult Services.
- February 27: "No Magic Helicopter" (published book), The Story of Carol Masheter (SilverFox) and Climbing Mt. Everest at Age 61 — A Special Slide Presentation.
- March 19: "Changing Long-Term Care – A Culture Change" with Diedra Kearny, Director of Community Education at Dignity Home Health & Hospice and President of the Utah Elder Abuse Prevention Coalition.
For more information contact:
Scott Wright, Ph.D. – firstname.lastname@example.com – (801)-585-9542
Fran Wilby, L.C.S.W., Ph.D. – firstname.lastname@example.com – (801)-585-9276


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A couple of months ago, Marisa Murray stepped out to grab a bite to eat with a friend.
The restaurant they chose was busy, and the table they sat at was shoehorned between two large families. They didn't mind, but as Murray settled in, she found herself paying more attention to the people at the tables beside her than the person at her own.
What caught the clinical psychology student's eye was that the families were socializing, but not with each other: Everyone, from the children to the grandparents, was nose deep in an electronic device.
"It was so strange. There was no conversation. Within the family, everyone had a cellphone. They ordered their appetizers, then they all got back to their device. There was minimal conversation among the family members," said Murray, who studies at the University of Ottawa. "The conversation that was happening was along the lines of who was updating Facebook, what they were tweeting or a game they were playing. I couldn't believe it. To witness firsthand what I have been reading in peer-review journal articles, it boggled my mind."
Murray left the restaurant shocked by what she had seen and took her observations to her supervisor, Gary Goldfield, a clinical scientist in the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute.
She was interested in how the proliferation of Internet devices and social media affects the family dynamic and, more specifically, what impact it has on healthy eating habits created during familial meal times.
Goldfield was intrigued by Murray's questions and observations - they seemed to support anecdotal observations of his own - but he wanted to delve deeper.
In an age when Internet devices are always on, meeting face-to-face is becoming increasingly rare as people choose to meet screen-to-screen. Goldfield wants to know what this new dynamic is doing to normal social interaction? How do these devices and social media services, such as Facebook, affect the way we socialize and communicate with each other?
But, more than that, what impact do these social networks have on their user's mental health?
Murray and Goldfield have teamed up and have scraped together funding to conduct a study this summer examining the impact Facebook has on people's mental health and their everyday lives and interactions.
They aren't alone.
John Lyons, director of CHEO's mental-health research group, has applied to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for a grant to conduct his own study into the topic. However, Lyon's study will be laser focused. With so much anecdotal evidence about the effects of cyberbullying and online taunts, he wants to know what role social media plays in a person's decision to end their life, and if there is a way to leverage social technologies to reach out to people considering suicide.
"It's becoming the medium by which young people communicate with each other. It's a pretty significant social change," said Lyons. "There are some very valuable things about social media and networking, and there are also some dangers. Historically, the (societal) changes have been in musical taste and style of dress. Now it has to do with technology and the use of technology to deal with social relations. It's so fast moving and there is so much going on that it's rather complicated to figure out the good and the bad aspects of it."
The CHEO researchers are part of a growing number of psychologists and other health professionals eager to understand social media and the impact it is having on society. As the popularity of Facebook and other social media websites continues to soar, the online offerings are increasingly finding themselves under the microscope.
None is drawing more attention than Facebook, and it's easy to see why.
With more than 800 million users accessing Facebook regularly, and roughly 425 million accessing the site using a mobile device, the service's reach has become all-encompassing. There are 18 million Canadians on Facebook - more than half our population. More than 12 million of us visit the site daily. On a per-capita basis, Canada has the highest number of Facebook users in the world. The average Canadian has 225 "friends" on the social network, though recent studies from the University of Waterloo have shown that as many as half of our "friends" are people we don't even really know.
Facebook, which is preparing to hold an initial public offering that will value it at $100 billion US, knows everything about its users. It knows what they do, who they hang out with, where they shop and when, what brands they like, what they watch on TV, what kind of music they listen to and who a user's family members are. More than that, all of that information is shared with anyone a user has identified as a "friend."
Users have now had seven years to figure out how to use sites like Facebook and Twitter and have fallen into regular usage patterns with those services. Daily social media usage habits are proving to be an untapped treasure trove of information about how the emerging digital era will affect our everyday lives in the years ahead.
If the results of early studies are any indication, the digital era may be turbulent.
Amanda Forest, a graduate student in the department of psychology at the University of Waterloo, has been studying how people use the site.
"We thought people with low self-esteem may find Facebook a more appealing place to connect with people because they don't have to have that awkwardness of in-person interaction," she says.
"But, what we found was people with low self-esteem tend to express a lot of negative emotion and not so much positive emotion. The reactions they got wasn't so great. People with low self-esteem were liked less."
Similarly, Forest said people with high self-esteem posting positive status updates were rewarded with more comments and "likes" by their friends.
Her research, which has been published in the Association for Psychological Science's journal Psychological Science, hasn't yet examined how being ignored affects people with low self-esteem. However, she said it isn't unreasonable to believe that it only further damages that individual's perception of themselves, creating a slippery slope.
Boston-area pediatrician Gwenn O'Keeffe has coined the phrase "Facebook depression," which she included in the newly revised American Academy of Pediatrics social media guidelines. The document is a guide for parents raising children growing up in the electronic world. Facebook acts as a type of magnifier for people who are susceptible to depression, O'Keeffe says.
In a speech delivered to the American Psychological Association in August, Larry Rosen, professor of psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills, outlined the results of some recent research, which also points to the darker side of social media.
He found:
- Teens using Facebook have more narcissistic tendencies while young adults who have a strong Facebook presence show more signs of other psychological disorders, including anti-social behaviours;
- Daily overuse of media and technology has a negative effect on the health of all children, preteens and teenagers by making them more prone to anxiety, depression and other psychological disorders;
- Facebook can be distracting and can negatively impact learning. Studies found that middle school, high school and college students who checked Facebook at least once during a 15-minute study period achieved lower grades.
Rosen suggested that parents monitor their children's use of social media but warned against trying to police their activity. He said policing a child's online activity will only push the child to conduct that activity in a place or at a time when a parent can't watch them.
Rosen suggested open communication about the benefits and dangers of social media and the importance of setting limits on the amount of time spent on social media websites.
Rosen's warnings about monitoring the time spent on services like Facebook are timely given the steady increase in what some psychologists are calling Facebook Addiction Disorder - when people are afraid to disconnect from social media services because they think they're going to missing something important.
The disorder, which is not a clinical diagnosis and is not yet recognized by the broader medical community, is attracting attention. In a paper that will soon be published in the journal Psychological Science, a team of researchers from Chicago University's Booth Business School, led by Wilhelm Hofmann, has found that Facebook and social media websites may be as addictive as alcohol or cigarettes.
The researchers gave BlackBerrys to 205 people between the ages of 18 and 85 in the German city of Wurzburg and then tracked how much they wanted to use social media. The study found that their desire to participate in social media websites, such checking Facebook or Twitter, was only surpassed by their desires to sleep and have sex.
The desire to stay connected "actually plagues us," says Sydneyeve Matrix, a media professor at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont.
"There is a genuine fear of missing out, and you aren't paranoid. You are actually missing out on a lot of stuff that goes on - if you are not online, on Facebook specifically," she said. "It's becoming the destination. The default. For many people it's the beginning and the end of their web experience."
Matrix, whose field of expertise is online trends, says different generations are using social media in different ways. While older groups may be using it to see pictures of family members or brag about their latest accomplishments, younger generations are using it to gossip.
"They want to know who is dating who, where the next big party is and whether they can get notes from a lecture they missed," she said. "The more we use our mobile phones, the more they become an extension of ourselves. I do see students quitting Facebook for exams because they feel the pressure to be on it and be distracted is so great that the only way they can deal with that is to take a big break."
The urge to stay connected is a key component of the research that CHEO's Goldfield plans to begin shortly.
"It's a very real phenomena that happening. I see it in my clinical practice," he said. "I've had three new (referrals) in the past two weeks from mothers saying, 'I want to get my kids off Facebook.'"
As the research outlining the dangers of social media continues to pile up, none of the researchers are willing to completely write off websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Social media services have many good points, they say, but it's important to understand their dangers as they become a greater part of our everyday lives.
"We need way more research in this area before we can make any definitive conclusions about the psychological risks or benefits of using social media," said Goldfield.
The research that has been released so far has also attracted a fair share of critics who say the studies don't identify whether Facebook and other social media services are the trigger for mental-health issues or if the online services attract people who had issues before they signed up.
Goldfield and Murray's study hopes to help answer some of those questions by monitoring the social media behaviour of 500 students at the University of Ottawa. The study, which will be the largest of its kind to date, will begin in the coming weeks and it should be completed by the end of the summer.
Ottawa Citizen


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i wish i could understand french
anyone can help translating this and the video ?
http://www.ouest-france.fr/normandie/ca ... go-4953578
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donato wrote:It has all become so weird. JB is prolific and to most, boring (not to me), and Nicolas does very little.
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Finally, a universal wakeboard tower that combines all of the best ingredients. This wakeboard tower fits almost any boat, is extremely rigid and silent, utilizes fat 2 3/8 inch diameter aircraft grade tubing with an aggressive swoop design, is very easy to install, and collapses lower than the windshield without tools utilizing "Heim" joints and turn knob design.
A telescoping top section is the secret that lets this top performing wakeboard tower fit boats that are 79 to 105 inches wide. With simple tools, this wakeboard tower can be installed in less than one hour. For those with a standard garage, this tower will collapse down below the windshield level in less than a minute without tools.


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National Metropolis Conference Pre-Conference Session on Francophone Immigration to Canada
Call for Papers:
13th International Association for Intercultural Research (ARIC) Conference - Diversities at the Heart of Intercultural Research: Harmony and Dissonance
Engaging the Migrant Community Outside of Canada's Main
Metropolitan Centres. Community Engagement—the Welcoming Community Initiative and the Case of Greater Victoria
by: Oliver Schmidtke, Jean Monnet Chair in European History and Politics and
Domain Leader Metropolis BC, Department of Political Science, University of
Victoria Steffen Neumann, Doctoral student, Department of Political Science,
University of Victoria
MBC WP Number: 10-13
This recent paper from Metropolis BC Centre examines what the opportunities and constraints are in implementing a community engagement strategy in smaller urban centres, such as Victoria, that often have few well established community organizations representing immigrant and ethno-cultural minorities. The authors argue that a meaningful community engagement process relies on a political-discursive and institutional context that is locally specific. The case of Victoria demonstrates that the relative small size of ethno-cultural groups, the severe financial constraints faced by settlement agencies, and the relative indifference in particular by municipal authorities regarding issues of migration and integration create a challenging environment for the political engagement of the community.
The authors argue that a genuine political engagement process is critically dependent on the ongoing fostering of trust among community stakeholders, as well as the facilitation of community involvement through the provision of necessary organizational resources. They add that smaller urban centres require a long-term strategy designed to engage community stakeholders as well as to foster exchanges between those stakeholders and representatives in the municipal and provincial policy community.
Policy Brief
Complete document
How Could Canadian Communities
Be More Welcoming?
"Welcoming Communities"
Priority Seminar
January 25 2010
Memorandum of understanding
Priority overview & research questions
Last updated:
December 21, 2010


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April 29, 2014
Spring Hill, FL – May is National Stroke Awareness month. In order to help the community understand the risk factors and symptoms of stroke, a leading cause of death and serious long-term disability in the United States, Oak Hill Hospital continues to make the community aware of the risk factors and signs of stroke.
"Time is crucial in the treatment of stroke, as on average, every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke and roughly every four minutes someone dies from a stroke,1" said Cathy Edmisten, hospital ER Director. "The earlier a stroke is recognized and the patient receives medical attention, the greater chance of recovery."2
Strokes occur when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and vital nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When this occurs, part of the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen, destroying millions of valuable nerve cells within minutes. 3
Oak Hill Hospital says that if you suspect a stroke, remember the word FAST – F-A-S-T.
- F is for Face - is your face drooping?
- A is for Arms – can you lift both arms?
- S is for Speech – are you slurring your words?
- T is for Time, CALL 9-1-1 immediately because with stroke, time is brain.
The primary stroke symptoms include:
- Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the face or facial drooping
- Sudden numbness or weakness in an arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
About Stroke
Stroke is a leading cause of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States.1 According to the American Stroke Association, approximately 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke each year, and 87 percent of these are ischemic strokes.1 An acute ischemic stroke occurs when an obstruction, such as a blood clot, blocks blood flow to the brain. The obstruction deprives the brain of blood and oxygen, destroying valuable nerve cells in the affected area within minutes. The resulting damage can lead to significant disability including paralysis, speech problems and emotional difficulties.
Treatment may be available if you get to the emergency room immediately upon recognition of stroke symptoms. Leading a healthy lifestyle, including lowering risk factors like high blood pressure and weight, can also help reduce your stroke risk.
For more information about stroke, visit www.strokeawareness.com.


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Hbo Go
You can now watch Game of Thrones on your Xbox One with HBO Now
And other fine HBO programming.
Hbo Go headlines
HBO Go app now available on PlayStation 4
Sony has announced the HBO Go app will be made available for download later today for PlayStation 4.
HBO Go finally arriving on Xbox One consoles today
Good news Game of Thrones, Veep, Newsroom and Boardwalk Empire fans HBO Go is finally rolling out on Xbox One today.
Looks like the HBO Go app is currently being tested on Xbox One - report
HBO Go is one of the apps eventually landing on Xbox One, and according to images which appeared online this week, the app is currently in beta. Time to binge on Game of Thrones!
Apps, apps and more apps coming to an Xbox near you
Microsoft has announced that its app catalog will increase by nearly 25%, with the release of Twitter, Vine, HBO GO, and more.
HBO GO will be made available for US PlayStation 3 users later today
HBO GO will be made available for PlayStation 3 users starting later today.
PS3 getting HBO GO app, PS4 version to follow
Sony and HBO have teamed up to offer the HBO GO app, first on PlayStation 3 and later on PS4. This, of course, means you can watch Game of Thrones via your console without hooking a cable box to your telly – assuming you have an HBO subscription. HBO announced the app at the Buzzfeed […]
Nintendo hosting pre-E3 Wii U presentation tomorrow
Nintendo has announced it will broadcast a special Nintendo Direct pre-E3 presentation tomorrow night at 6.00pm EDT/11.00pm UK.
HBO GO now available to Gold members on XBL in the US
Starting today, Xbox Live Gold members who are also Time Warner Cable and Bright House customers will be able to access HBO GO through the console. Those in the US can now watch the entire HBO catalogue of live and on demand original content from newer shows such as Game of Thrones to old favorites […]
HBO, MLB.tv, Comcast arriving on US 360s later today
Microsoft will launch HBO Go, MLB.tv and Comcast Xfinity TV as the latest TV apps for Xbox 360 in the US, according to several reports picked up by Engadget. The catchup content apps will enable you to watch shows like Entourage, Game of Thrones and others through HBO, as well as baseball on MLB. HBO […]
HBO Go to launch on Xbox 360 from April 1 in US
HBO's announced at a San Francisco event overnight it's to debut its HBO Go service on Xbox 360 from April 1 in the US.
Warner: HBO Go a success, planning a launch on consoles
Time Warner announced during its call to investors today it would be launching its mobile and browser-based HBO Go on consoles.
Hbo Go latest
You can now watch Game of Thrones on your Xbox One with HBO Now
Looks like the HBO Go app is currently being tested on Xbox One – report
HBO GO will be made available for US PlayStation 3 users later today


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Welcome to MSA University:
MSA University provides students with the best of British Higher Education in Egypt and the Middle-East Region. It also helps them acquire creative abilities and commitments to lifelong learning. We believe that our students graduate with developed writing, analytical and communication skills essential for them. MSA graduates prosper not just on their first job but through their entire career.
MSA University stresses on three vital traits to help develop the students' map of thinking to gain a competitive edge. Complexities in today's business environment are accelerated and amplified by digital media and tools.
At MSA you'll learn how to utilize the triple "A" advantage, i-e, Agility, Adaptiveness and Alignment, to give your educational path a competitive edge in the digital age which is adopted by MSA Faculty members and the entire staff of administration.
We hope you find the prospect of studying at MSA exciting as we do, feel free to explore this website to learn more about us.
2. Vision of MSA University:
To be renowned as a world-class academic establishment.
To become the regional university of the first choice.
To seek opportunities for expanding our academic model regionally.
3. Mission of MSA University:
MSA University is committed to provide its graduates with the ability to compete and excel in an ever-changing dynamic world and to stand on equal footing with their peers, nationally and internationally, through its dedication to the pursuit of excellence in curricula, facilities, staff and students.
MSA placed a significant emphasis on staff development and on creating opportunities for them to expand their knowledge and satisfy their needs. MSA is always keen to contribute and assist in the overall advancement and growth of the community in which it operates.