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"It is now more dangerous to be a woman than to be a soldier in modern conflict." Major General Patrick Cammaert, former UN Peacekeeping Operation Commander in DRC.
Enraged by this, one delegate challenged the NGO to collate this evidence to build a criminal case against the perpetrators and hold them accountable. This would prevent further horrors. The NGOs response was that their funding had been cut to such an extent that this was simply not possible. Mary Robinson and many others are convinced that holding perpetrators accountable for such actions is far more affective in addressing and eradicating gender based violence in conflict than simply fire-fighting and living with the consequences of shattered societies.
According to the Irish Joint Consortium on Gender based Violence, up to 90% of causalities in contemporary conflict are civilians, most of them women and children. Violence against them is often sexualised. Peace brings scant relief. Crime rates and violence against women and girls soars after war as returning combatants inflict their trauma and frustration on them. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, it is estimated by the UN that over 200,000 women have been raped since the beginning of the war.
Dr. Thelma Awori is a consultant on gender and development and a board member of a number of prominent African civil society organizations. She says, "Women continue to pay a heavy price in both conflicts and post-conflict situations around the world. Too many women have become shocking statistics of one horror or another, be it rape in Eastern Congo; acid thrown in the faces of girls walking to school in Afghanistan; impunity for crimes against women in conflict-affected countries. When women stand up and make their voices heard in peace negotiations and post-conflict reconciliation they often face security risks, they are denied seats at the table, and are excluded from planning and resources that determine their futures."
Women, so often the victims of conflict, have little input into its resolution. One in forty peace negotiations have a woman present and, according to www.unifem.org, just 2.5% of signatories to peace agreements have been women. Although many post-conflict countries now have much improved female representation in government, unequal participation in parliament, civil society and business means that women's voices are largely absent.
After listening to the experiences and perspectives of women from conflict zones, the UN unanimously adopted Security Council Resolution 1325 in October 2000. This resolution addresses the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women and recognizes that the contribution women make to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peace-building is significantly undervalued. The UN has called for equal and full participation from women as active agents in achieving peace and security and has officially endorsed the active participation of civil society groups, in particular woman's organizations, in peace processes and peace talks. A key element is the call for an end to impunity in relation to conflict-related violence against women.
All nation states, including Ireland, whether they are affected by conflict or attempting to resolve it, must now implement the resolution and are legally obliged to take responsibility in four key areas in relation to women, peace and security.
- The protection of women and girls during conflict
- The participation of women in decision making in relation to prevention, management and resolution of conflict.
- The inclusion of gender perspectives in conflict analysis and training of military and civilian personnel in peacekeeping. (Women account for just 5.7% of the Irish permanent defence forces and just 2.5% of peacekeepers serving in conflict regions worldwide are women according to the UN. Yet, these women perform a vital role in winning the trust of local civilian women who are more likely to report gender based violence to them)
- Gender mainstreaming in the UN implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions 1820, 1888 and 1889
A high level task force of UN heads of agencies is progressing the implementation of resolution 1325 along with the Civil Society Advisory Group, co-chaired by Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative and Bineta Drop, Executive Director, Femmes Africa Solidarité.
Mary Robinson was in Dublin in her role as special advisor to the Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence. The consortium is comprised of 16 bodies, including human rights, humanitarian and development organisations, together with Irish Aid and the Defence Forces and is charged with formulating Ireland's implementation plan (due by March 2011). In the midst of our deepening crisis it may seem that Ireland has little to offer the rest of the world in any respect. Yet there are areas in which we are still well regarded and one of these is conflict resolution. Ireland has a role to play in a wider EU context as one of a handful of countries developing an implementation plan.
As a northern European nation with a recent history of conflict, a close connection with NGOs operating in the worst conflict zones and a respected peace-keeping role we are uniquely placed to help rebuild some of the most damaged societies on the planet. The focus in achieving this has now been place firmly on the experience and role of women in the process. Joint Consortium Chairperson and Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland, Colm O' Gorman, is certain that "Ireland can play a key role in working to eliminate gender-based violence". Our plan will be the result of a long, complex and "unique globally" process requiring "civil society and the state to work together." The final stage involves consultations with women living in Ireland who have been affected by conflict and whose experiences and opinions will feed into our final plan.
The Irish plan is not being developed in isolation. We have a unique opportunity to learn from the experiences of others and avoid the pitfall of implementation deficit disorder. Mary Robinson believes that, "Ireland is well positioned to prepare an exemplary plan". We are in a position to draw on our recent experience of conflict on the island of Ireland. But, in addition, there is now a strong working relationship between a number of government departments and NGOs on the issue of gender-based violence. This can be leveraged to produce a strong and effective plan that protects women in conflict and gives them a meaningful role in conflict resolution", she adds. A strong plan alone is not sufficient. Colm O'Gorman stresses the importance of incorporating an effective mechanism for monitoring and evaluation into the process.
Sitting alongside Mary Robinson yesterday was Margot Wallström, UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. She spoke of the role of Resolution 1325 in "establishing a context to put women into the picture for peace and security issues" and views the initiative as an integral part of a wider plan to tackle sexual violence. The adoption of the resolution amounts to a clear admission that not enough was being done to eradicate what is still "a tactic in most areas of conflict". Margot Wallström stresses that, "this is not a women's issue rather a security and human rights issue and one relevant to wider society". She believes that, "It is vitally important that Ireland gets its plan right. Having a plan would greatly bolster Ireland's human rights record and, by involving the widest range of stakeholders and putting in place strong monitoring, the plan would be very significant in advancing the protection of women in conflict."
The five point agenda adopted by the UN in this respect and reflected in any plan focuses on: fighting impunity; empowering and supporting women to move from being victims to becoming agents for change; mobilising leaders; deepening our knowledge of the incidence and effects of sexual violence in conflict; and co-ordinating and harmonising UN efforts to tackle and prevent such actions. Mary Robinson wants to see the Security Council "use all of the tools available to it – naming & shaming, freezing assets, sanctions, visa bans – to implement policy".
This is a two-way process and Ireland can benefit hugely from participation. As Colm O'Gorman eloquently puts it, "Ireland is very progressive when we are out in the wider world. What is it that stops us translating those values back into our own society?" Mary Robinson emphasises the importance of treating our involvement as a "cross-learning process". Ireland has already participated in a ground-breaking cross learning initiative on women, peace and security with representatives from Liberia and Timor–Leste, chaired by Baroness Nuala O'Loan, first Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland.
Ireland should look to Liberia and other African nations such as Rwanda when it comes to gender representation in government too. Mary Robinson passionately describes a meeting in the Angie Brooks centre in Liberia where she witnessed "the expectant enthusiastic faces of young women who wanted desperately to be involved in the political process". Their participation makes a difference. Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has pledged to tackle the scourge of rape using new legislation that came into force the day after her inauguration in 2006. "I know of the struggle because I have been a part of it," she said. "I recall the inhumanity of confinement, the terror of attempted rape."
Little value is placed on women in many conflict and post-conflict zones. Rape and sexual violence are often treated as the lowest crime on a scale of war horrors that puts death and torture at the top. There is no link made between the perpetration of these acts and the way in which they impede the building of a working, healthy society. Any economic consequences are disregarded. When soldiers in DRC were asked what they felt the cost of raping a woman was they answered perhaps the loss of a goat or a few days in prison. For this reason Margot Wallström is keen to measure the economic impact of intergenerational rape and sexual violence. Women, often the backbone of an economy, become totally depressed and are impeded from assuming their traditional coping role. Peacekeepers are now advised to assume rape and be watchful for the early warning signals. Although prepared to report the rape of children, many women are still too ashamed or disillusioned to report their own experiences. Resources can also be thin on the ground. Liberia has asked for help in developing an anti-rape campaign. Finally, attitudes have to change. In the past "enticement" was too often considered a legitimate defence.
This shift in focus has already produced results and Margot Wallström attributes the arrests of a number of players on charges of perpetrating and facilitating such crimes to the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions. Change is essential. Dr Thelma Awori is adamant that "communities rebuilding after conflict cannot afford to omit more than 50% of their population in these efforts. To do so would mean institutionalizing inequality and that is a recipe for further conflict and instability." There is still a long road to travel but by developing and implementing a strong, workable and measurable plan Ireland has an opportunity to help create a better and fairer world.


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I have long envied my friends who could afford a collection of Panerai watches that are equipped with the company's in-house movements. These Paneristi, as the watch world calls the brand's diehard fans, paid for their pieces in troy ounces and would then gather in places like Hong Kong to enthuse over them while spewing a foreign language of caliber and model numbers as if they were trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Now, those of us with thinner wallets may join the privileged set.
At the beginning of the year, Panerai, the watch manufacturer with its origins in Florence, Italy, but now based in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, introduced its automatic mechanical P.9001 calibre, with a three-day power reserve, using an in-house movement, for a more affordable price: $9,800. Panerai had started using its own movements seven years ago, but the watches with the company's proprietary movements—from a sturdy hand-wound caliber with an eight-day power reserve to a subtle tourbillon movement that could be seen only from the back of the case—were far more expensive than the pieces it made with third-party movements.
The new watch, with its Luminor 1950 case, marks the beginning of a much more accessible in-house watch from the sought-after brand. The stainless-steel dial Luminor 1950 3 Days GMT Automatic with its bold 44mm-sized case is masculine and muscular without appearing too military or high tech. Despite its origins as a watch for the Royal Italian Navy, you don't have to be a seafarer or a diver to appreciate it. It's chic and hip in a minimalist way.
This said, the watch, with its see-through sapphire crystal back, is good in water to 300 meters deep. But most of us will probably find its GMT feature, which allows you to set the watch to two different time zones, more useful. It comes with a brown alligator strap or brushed stainless steel bracelet.
The factory at Neuchâtel is an impressive combination of traditional watch making and high-tech manufacturing. The precision watches undergo thorough shock and water-resistance tests before ever ending up on a customer's wrist.
For years, the bold, fashion-forward watch—no matter the model—has been one of the hardest to buy, particularly in the United States and Far East. Perhaps, Panerai's latest development will make it more accessible and I won't have to be so jealous.
Visit panerai.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Music was out in full force Sunday night at the Grammys, but for some viewers, it's what they didn't get to hear that was the problem.
Grammy audiences and critics are complaining because CBS censored large portions of performances by rap artists Eminem, Drake and Lil' Wayne during the Grammys on Sunday night, the Associated Press reported Monday.
Although the songs "Forever" and "Drop the World" by the rappers contain profanity in their original form, many think the silences were unnecessarily long.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
CBS is also being criticized for asking artists to perform then censoring the very songs that warranted their invites, according to the AP.
"Don't have performers on the show if you're going to bleep...their performance," said Paul Levinson, professor of communication and media studies at Fordham University.
The music, as well as the singers' microphones, were cut off numerous times during the show. The silences lasted for so long some thought CBS was having technical difficulties. Meanwhile, the singers reverted to miming the words.
Dissatisfaction was expressed on Twitter too. One disgruntled viewer's opinion: "If you are going to bleep out more than half of the song then don't put it on!"
New York Magazine has the uncensored lyrics to the songs here.


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I have zero problem with paying 68 cents more for a Big Mac. Provided they make it taste of something.
Then you shouldn't have a problem with increasing the minimum wage to, say, $30, should you? After all, that would only result in a measly increase of $1.36 in the cost of a big mac - and just imagine how much more economic activity there would be with all those service industry employees flush with all that new-found cash! It would be a virtuous cycle that lifted all boats!!!
Bit of a jump I just wish they'd make Big Macs taste of something. They have a thing they call a Big Tasty here at the moment. Basically a bacon cheeseburger. I tried one and seriously thought about calling Trading Standards about false advertising.You know as well as I that raising wages raises prices and you inevitably wind up with less spending power than you had before the wage increase. You are roughly my age - if I recall correctly - and have lived through at least 4 of those cycles so far, with the next one on the horizon.
At any rate, this is all about the unions finally (they hope) getting a foothold in the food industry.. they need this because their numbers keep dropping as more and more of their former jobs are being sent overseas for cheaper labor.
Plus.....doubling the minimum wage doesn't translate into ALL that increase going into the employee's pocket as additional discretionary spending.The withholding taxes and FICA taxes and state taxes will grab 'their share'.
Do any of these people realize what unions have done to the automobile industry or Detroit? Econ 101 should be taught in junior high school -- if such a thing still exists.
The other thing I notice about this "study" is that it assumes everything in the supply chain stays the same as well, which I doubt is the case. The meatpackers and farm hands that process the food before it gets sent to McD's and other fast-food chains are also relatively low-wage labor who would also be affected, thus driving prices upward even further.
NUMMI proved otherwise.
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I would like to know how to make a scultpie unicorn.
I did ask a person in Second Life if they could make it for me and they said they could but have not got back to me about it. I really need this for a custom build I have been asked to build in Second Life, as it is part of the theme, and the sculpties I have found on the market place for unicorns do not suit what I need.
I have a picture of the unicorn I want to turn into a sculptie but I have no idea how to do so as I am new to this program.
If any one can help me or wants to see the picture of the unicorn I want to make into a sculptie I can either upload a picture of it or paste the link to it.
If i can find out how to make the unicorn into a sculptie then I am more then likely to buy curvy 3d as at the moment I am on a 30 day free trail.
hope you can help.


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Long Island Marathon road closures
The Long Island Marathon brings thousands of runners, fans and volunteers to the area, which inevitably means traffic for those driving nearby.
The event, which begins at 8 a.m. Sunday, May 5 at Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, across from the Nassau Coliseum, will close several roadways into the late morning.
The latest closing is scheduled for Carman Avenue, between Old Country and Nottingham roads, which lasts until 2 p.m.
Here is a listing of the road closings, including approximate times, which are subject to change:
Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, from 5:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Merrick Avenue (north of Hempstead Turnpike), from 7:30 to 9:45 a.m.
Old Country Road (Post Avenue to School Street), from 7:45 to 10 a.m.
School Street (Old Country Road to Railroad Avenue), from 7:45 to 10 a.m.
Salisbury Park Drive (closed to southbound traffic only), from 7:45 to 10:30 a.m.
Railroad Avenue, from 7:45 to 10 a.m.
Post Avenue (Railroad Avenue to Jericho Turnpike), from 8 to 10:30 a.m.
Jericho Turnpike (Post Avenue to Brush Hollow Road), from 8 to 11 a.m.; westbound Jericho Turnpike will remain open.
Brush Hollow Road, from 8:15 to 11:30 a.m.; Brush Hollow Road south of Wantagh State Parkway will remain open.
Carman Avenue (Old Country Road to Nottingham Road), from 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wantagh State Parkway closed from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Northern State Parkway exits to Post Avenue and Wantagh Parkway from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
All exits and entrances to and from Wantagh Parkway from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Meadowbrook Parkway exits and entrances to and from Charles Lindbergh Boulevard (Nassau Community College) and Eisenhower Park exits (M4), from 5:30 to 10 a.m.
Eisenhower Park Boulevard Merrick Avenue Entrance from 7:30 to 10 a.m., subject to earlier closure


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President of Honduras Calls for Drug Legalization
It seems that there is a growing trend in Latin America to openly challenge Washington's war on drugs. Yesterday, Manuel Zelaya, president of Honduras, openly called for the legalization of drugs as a way to tackle drug‐trafficking violence. The venue for Zelaya's plea couldn't be less welcoming: a ministerial summit of the UN Office of Drugs and Crime.
However, Zelaya is not alone in Latin America. In Argentina, the current government of Cristina Fernández is promoting the decriminalization of drug consumption. In Mexico, where drug related violence is tearing the country apart, the PRD, the biggest opposition party, has also openly called to legalize drugs. And this is not just a left‐leaning phenomenon. Felipe Calderón, Mexico's conservative president, has recently proposed decriminalizing small amounts of some drugs, including cocaine and marijuana.
There are several factors that explain why Latin American leaders are now calling for a different approach to the U.S. international war on drugs. First, the left‐leaning governments that don't enjoy good relations with Washington are less concerned with upsetting it. Second, drug‐related violence and corruption are reaching highly disturbing levels, especially in Mexico and Central America and are overwhelming law enforcement authorities. In Guatemala the local army recently admitted that there are portions of the country's territory under the control of local cartels. Washington's war on drugs is threatening the stability of these democracies.
However, another important factor is that many Latin American countries are now less susceptible to punishment from the United States, thanks in part to free trade agreements. A decade ago, all Latin American countries but Mexico depended on unilateral trade preferences to export to the U.S. market. Upsetting Washington could represent losing these preferences. Today, 11 Latin American countries have implemented (or are in the process of implementing) permanent trade agreements with the United States that ironically gives them more stability in their relationship with Washington.
As Ted Galen Carpenter recently explained in an op‐ed, the stakes are too high for stability and security not only for Latin American countries but also for the U.S. Let's hope that more leaders in the region raise their voices against the failed international war on drugs, and call for sensible policies such as drug legalization.


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GraphPad Prisim
UAB has a bulk purchase agreement in place with GraphPad that provides their Prism software to UAB faculty/staff at a discounted price.
GraphPad Prism is a commercial scientific 2D graphing and statistics software published by GraphPad Software, Inc., a privately held California corporation. Prism is available for both Windows and Macintosh computers.
- Provides statistical guidance for novices.
- Analysis checklists review if an appropriate analysis was performed.
- Nonlinear regression with many options (remove outliers, compare models, compare curves, interpolate standard curves, etc.).
- Live links. When data are edited or replaced, Prism automatically updates the results and graphs.
- Analysis choices can be reviewed, and changed, at any time.
- Automatic error bars. Raw data (replicates) can be entered, and then plotted as mean with SD, SEM or confidence interval.
For more information click here to visit the GraphPad Prism website:
Click here to place an order NOW with AskIT
What is the cost and how do I get started?To get started, request a subscription for each computer on which the software will be installed. Pricing is $60 per license/per computer/per year (originally planned to be $47 but actual orders were less than anticipated so pricing was modified to $60). Each computer requires a separate license. Licenses are assigned/installed by email address, so for users installing GraphPad on multiple systems, your email address will be assigned the ability to install the software for a unique/specific number of times and billed for the number of installations you request.
To request a subscription send an email to AskIT using the link/green box below and indicate


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This was really an enjoyable read! I really mean it! Normally, I lower my expectations when it comes to fan created material but this latest installment was top notch. I actually found it more entertaining than some of the comics I normally buy.
Really like what you did with Rio Blast. His dialogue and background are very close to how I imagined the character. In my personal canon, I have him as intergalactic law man whose ship crashed on Eternia. I even have a couple of Bravestar elements tied to his background.
I'm going to miss Longhorn. Great character who went out a hero. That said, don't bring him back! This is war. We've got to have some casaulties including characters we care about.
I sorta like what you're doing with Jitsu but I'm a little wary about his sense of honor. I don't mind Jitsu being an honorable warrior or even a good guy at one time. I'm just concerned that you're following the MOTUC bio about him being corrupted by evil magic. I'm hoping your Jitsu willingly decided to follow the path that led him to the man he is today.


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As a reporter, Charles Fishman has tried to get inside organizations, both familiar and secret, and explain how they work.
In the course of reporting about water to write The Big Thirst, Fishman has stood at the bottom of a half-million-gallon sewage tank, sampled water directly from the springs in San Pellegrino, Italy, and Poland Spring, Maine, and carried water on his head for 3 km with a group of Indian villagers.
Fishman's previous book, the New York Times bestseller The Wal-Mart Effect, was the first to crack open Wal-Mart's wall of secrecy, and has become the standard for understanding Wal-Mart's impact on our economy and on how we live. The Economist named it a "book of the year."
Fishman is a former metro and national reporter for the Washington Post, and was a reporter and editor at the Orlando Sentinel and the News & Observer in Raleigh, NC. Since 1996, he has worked for the innovative business magazine Fast Company. Fishman has won numerous awards, including three times receiving UCLA's Gerald Loeb Award, the most prestigious award in business journalism.
Fishman grew up in Miami, Florida, and went to Harvard. He lives outside Philadelphia with his wife, also a journalist, their two children, their two Labradors, and their two parakeets. He likes his water from the refrigerator spigot, with ice, or splashing across the bow of a Sunfish.


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Pepsi and Twitter have signed a year-long partnership that will watch as Pepsi curates and gives away free song downloads to followers of its brand via the social network.
Pepsi has branded the event the "Live for Now Music" initiative which is part of the company's "Live for Now" campaign which features cans barring a silhouette of Michael Jackson.
Through the Twitter campaign Pepsi will offer free music downloads, music videos and pop-up concerts that will occur throughout the summer and fall.
Every Wednesday Pepsi will then use the Twitter platform to present an overview of artists, music and music news trending.
Music downloads through @pepsi will be taken care of through the Amazon MP3 store and followers can check out announcements using #PepsiMusicNOW and that hashtag will be used for communication with the campaign. [Read more…]


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Just in yesterday's post we were puzzled about how exactly JPMC is foreclosing on WAMU loans without finalizing the deal. This case is a perfect example.
2010 NY Slip Op 32126(U)
23 EAST 39th STREET DEVELOPERS LLC, FARZANEH YEROUSHALMI, and BEHROUZ BENYAMINPOUR, Plaintiffs,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as successor to WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK, ALLEN GUTTERMAN, 23 EAST 39th STREET MANAGEMENT CORP. JOSEPH J. BLAKE & ASSOCIATES, INC., MARIE RIOS, "JOHN DOE," "ROBERT DOE" and "JANE DOE NO. 1 to 50," the last being fictitious names, Defendants.
603703/09, Motion seq. No 001.
Supreme Court, New York County.
July 30, 2010
MARCY S. FRIEDMAN, Judge.
This action arises out of plaintiffs' purchase of a $10.4 million townhouse located at 23 East 39th Street in Manhattan. Plaintiffs sue for rescission of the purchase and mortgage agreements based on fraud and misrepresentation of the value of the property. By separate motions, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as successor to Washington Mutual Bank ("Chase") and Joseph J. Blake & Associates ("J.J. Blake") move, pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(1) and (7), to dismiss the complaint based on documentary evidence and for failure to state a cause of action.[1]
The relevant facts are as follows: Plaintiffs purchased the townhouse pursuant to a five-year "lease back" agreement in which the sellers of the property agreed to rent the space from plaintiffs for $700,000 annually with an option to terminate after one year. Although the $7.25 million mortgage on the property was issued by Washington Mutual Bank ("Wamu"), Chase acquired the mortgage from the FDIC after the FDIC took over Wamu in late 2008. JJ. Blake prepared an appraisal of the property for Wamu. Within a few months after plaintiffs closed title, the sellers ceased paying rent to plaintiffs. Plaintiffs then defaulted on the mortgage and Chase commenced an action to foreclose on the property entitled JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v 23 E. 39th St. Devs. LLC, et. al., (Sup Ct, New York County, Index No. 104639/09). By order in the foreclosure action dated February 11, 2010, this court granted Chase's motion for summary judgment to foreclose, issued an order of reference to compute, and appointed a receiver to manage the property.
It is well settled that on a motion to dismiss addressed to the face of the pleading, "the pleading is to be afforded a liberal construction (see, CPLR 3026). Wc accept the facts as alleged in the complaint as true, accord plaintiffs the benefit of every possible favorable inference, and determine only whether the facts as alleged fit within any cognizable legal theory." (Leon v Martinez, 84 NY2d 83. 87-88 [1994]. See 511 W. 232nd Owners Corp. v Jennifer Realty Co., 98 NY2d 144 [2002].) However, "the court is not required to accept factual allegations that are plainly contradicted by the documentary evidence or legal conclusions that are unsupportable based upon the undisputed facts." (Robinson v Robinson, 303 AD2d 234, 235 [1st Dept 2003]. See also Water St. Leasehold LLC v Deloitte & Touche LLP, 19 AD3d 183 [1st Dept 2005], lv denied 6 NY3d 706 [2006].) When documentary evidence under CPLR 3211 (a)(1) is considered, "a dismissal is warranted only if the documentary evidence submitted conclusively establishes a defense to the asserted claims as a matter of law." (Leon v Martinez, 84 NY2d at 88; Arnav Indus., Inc. Retirement Trust v Brown, Raysman, Millstein, Felder & Steiner, L.L.P., 96 NY2d 300 [2001].)
In order to plead a claim for fraud, plaintiff must allege "a material misstatement, known by the perpetrator to be false, made with an intent to deceive, upon which the plaintiff reasonably relies and as a result of which he sustains damages." (Megaris Furs. Inc. v Gimbel Bros., Inc., 172 AD2d 209, 213 [1st Dept 1991] [emphasis omitted].) Moreover, "each element must be pleaded with particularity" and "the circumstances constituting the wrong shall be stated in detail." (LaSalle Nat. Bank v Ernst & Young L.L.P., 285 AD2d 101, 109 [1st Dept 2001] [internal citation omitted]; CPLR 3016[b].) A cause of action seeking rescission based on fraud must be plead "with the specificity required by CPLR 3016(b)" (Accurate Copy Serv. of Am. v Fisk Bldg. Assocs. L.L.C., 72 AD3d 456 [1st Dept 2010]), and "is to be invoked only when there is lacking complete and adequate remedy at law." Rudman v Cowels Communications. Inc., 30 NY2d 1, 13 [1972].)
Plaintiffs' sole cause of action against Chase is to rescind the mortgage, mortgage note, and guarantee "[d]ue to the inflated appraised value and/or the 5-year lease." (Ps.' Amended Compl., Fourth Cause of Action, ¶ 61 [Ex. 3 to Supp. Aff. of Joseph Muccia].) However, plaintiffs fail to allege with any particularity that Chase engaged in any fraudulent acts that would provide a basis for rescission of the mortgage. Further, plaintiffs do not claim that, when Wamu issued the mortgage to them, Wamu (as opposed to the seller) made misrepresentations on which they relied that would constitute a fraud. Even if plaintiffs adequately plead a cause of action that would permit them to rescind the mortgage agreement, the specific language of the Purchase and Assumption Agreement between the FDIC and Chase states that Chase specifically does not assume "any liability associated with borrower claims for payment of or liability to any borrower for monetary relief, or that provide for any other form of relief to any borrower . . ., related in any way to any loan or commitment to lend made by [Wamu] prior to failure . . ., or otherwise arising in connection with [Wamu's] lending or loan purchase activities." (Muccia Aff., Ex. ¶ 2.5.) Thus, pursuant to the express terms of the Purchase and Assumption Agreement, any potential liability by Wamu to plaintiffs was not transferred to Chase. (See Cassesc v Washington Mut., Inc., 2008 WL 7022845, *3 [ED NY 2008].) Accordingly, plaintiffs' fourth cause of action will be dismissed.
Plaintiffs' sole cause of action against J.J. Blake appears to allege fraudulent misrepresentation. Specifically, plaintiffs claim that JJBlake "inflated the value of the property so WAMU will underwrite the Mortgage," "exaggerated the square footage of the Property," and "knew that there was no 5-year lease with one-year option to renew." (Ps.' Amended Compl., Fifth Cause of Action, ¶¶ 38a, 38f, 38g.) Plaintiffs fail, however, to allege any facts demonstrating that they relied on any of the alleged misrepresentations in the appraisal when they purchased the property. Moreover, J.J. Blake conclusively shows, based on the affidavit of plaintiff Behrouz Benyaminpour, that plaintiffs did not receive the appraisal until after they closed on the property. (Aff. of Jonathan Bruno, Ex. H., ¶ 26.) Contrary to plaintiffs' apparent suggestion, this large-scale commercial transaction docs not implicate a consumer fraud. Plaintiffs' fifth cause of action against J.J. Blake will accordingly be dismissed.
In light of plaintiffs' complete failure to set forth any misrepresentations to them by Chase or J.J. Blake, or otherwise to adequately plead causes of action against Chase and J.J. Blake, plaintiffs' claimed need for discovery is not a basis for denying the instant motions.
It is hereby ORDERED that the motions of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as successor to Washington Mutual Bank, and Joseph J. Blake & Associates to dismiss the complaint is granted to the extent of dismissing the complaint as against them; and it is further
ORDERED that the remaining claims are severed and shall continue; and it is further
ORDERED that the remaining parties are directed to appear in Part 57 (60 Centre Street, Room 335) for a preliminary conference on Thursday, September 30, 2010, at 11:00 a.m.
This constitutes the decision and order of the court.
[1] Although Chase moved to dismiss plaintiffs' original complaint (Chase's Motion, Ex. A), in its supplemental reply, Chase addresses the allegations in plaintiffs' amended complaint (Supp. Aff. of Joseph Muccia, ¶ 3). Accordingly, the court will consider Chase's motion as to plaintiffs' amended complaint. (Sec Sage Realty Corp. v Proskauer Rose LLP, 251 AD2d 35, 38 [1st Dept 1998].)© 2010-19 FORECLOSURE FRAUD | by DinSFLA. All rights reserved.


text: We have a variety of white gold wedding bands to choose from. All of our white gold wedding bands shown are available in 14K, 18K and platinum. You also have a choice of 6mm, 7mm and 8mm band width. Sizes are available from 5 to 9, sizes smaller than 5 and larger than 9 are considered a special order, additional charges apply. Need assistance, call us at 213-291-0503


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Picture by Ishaan Nair.
Screen actress Tillotama Shome is best known for her acclaimed portrayal of Alice in Mira Nair's
Monsoon Wedding
. She played a pivotal role as Deepa in director Florian Gallenberger's epic
Shadows of Time
(Schatten der Zeit) and appeared as Lara in Meneka Das's
Little Box of Sweets
; Jaya in Afia Nathaniel's short film
Long After
; and Miraal in Tanuj Chopra's
She is currently based in Mumbai.
In addition to her on-screen acting accomplishments, Tillotama has worked as a teaching artist at CREATIVE ARTS TEAM/CUNY, an organization that uses theatre as a medium to promote social, emotional and intellectual growth in communities throughout New York City to explore a wide range of issues including peer pressure, violence, sexuality, substance abuse, parenting, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Her work also involved working with prison inmates at Rikers Island and women in domestic shelters. Shome has bachelors and masters degrees in English literature from India and a second masters from NYU in Educational Theatre. She has been involved in innovative pedagogy for the last seven years in India.
Sometimes credited as: Tilotama Shome.
IMDb profile for Tillotama Shome
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:: contact:
© 2008-2010 Tillotama Shome | www.tillotamashome.com


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Take 5 for Heart Health with Salsa Dancing
All month, Lexington Medical Center has partnered with Midlands businesses to offer free stress relief activities around the Midlands as part of our "Take 5 for Heart Health" campaign. Here are some pictures of a group enjoying a salsa dancing class at Vista Ballroom.
And, here's some more video of salsa dancing from Vista Ballroom, showing how the moves look when they all come together. It's heart-healthy fun!


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Lavish Home Solid Color Bed Quilt - King - Burgundy
33 Loves
This lightweight quilted blanket is great for keeping cool during the warm summer nights. Suitable for cool winter nights as it gives you comfort by adding attractive texture and depth to your bedroom with the versatility of a solid color. The classic stitch will go with any decor this quilt will certainly add a whole new decorative element to your bedroom!Size: KingColor: BurgundyPerfect Addition to Any DecorIncludes the Interest of a Print and Versatility of a Solid ColorPerfect for Warm Summer NightsBack Material: 100% PolyesterFace Material: 100% PolyesterFill Material: 100% PolyesterWashing Instructions: Wash in cold water, Tumble dry on low heat.Product Dimensions: 102 inches x 86 inches
Weight (lbs.):4.4
Length (in.):5.5
Width (in.):16
Height (in.):16.75
Ships To
Additional Item
Continental United States
This product usually ships in 4 business days and should be delivered in 15 business days.
Shop worry free! If you're not 100% happy with your purchase, you can return this item within 14 days of receiving it.
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text: Your home is an important part of your home. The food that you cook for the family comes from the kitchen. You utilize utensils and equipment in the kitchen most of the time. The various tools that you have vary depending on the type of cooking that you simply commonly http://www.articles.studio9xb.com/Articles-of-2020/factors-you-need-consider-buying-kitchen-tools


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Photos, stories and advice about Sosua and local Dominican women you can meet when you are here. Read the latest news in Sosua. If you love Dominican girls, this is the website to visit until you get back here. Dominican Republic women rule!
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Please login below or register an account with TAKE ME BACK TO SOSUA - For Men Who Love Dominican Women and the Town of Sosua .
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We just mentioned that HSBC has a big, new report out on the "Greek Shoots, and Weak Roots" of the global economy, arguing that while there were signs of an economic rebound, the underpinnings of western growth were not impressive, and were indeed Japan-like.
This table from the report is pretty remarkable.
If you look at this latest decade, the per capita rate of growth in the Western world has been slower than Japan's per capita growth during the infamous lost decade of the '90s.
Click to enlarge.


text: Personalities Ray Bunney Ray was born in South Dakota. He was introduced to archery at the age of eight by his father. Between 15 and 24 he worked in the retail gun, ammo, sporting goods business. During those days, archery was on the back burner as Ray shot trap, skeet and competed heavily in practical pistol, pistol & rifle silhouette. At 21 he finished third in the world in the unlimited class of pistol silhouette at Farragut State Park in north Idaho. After changing careers, Ray reclaimed his love of archery and became heavily involved in the sport. His first big game animal taken with bow was a Pope & Young mountain goat taken in Washington state. Ray has bow hunted four continents and hunted Africa eight times. He's bow hunted New Zealand, Australia, eight states in North America and two provinces in Canada (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, British Columbia, NW Territories).Ray and his wife Jo and their three children reside on a ranch north of Spokane, Washington. Related Shows Adventures Abroad Choose Your Weapon


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In my version the victim can't prepare new Spells, but It still can cast Spells it has prepared.Dimirag wrote:But, on the original proposition its not similar, its worst, the victim suffers from similar penalties but can't be avoided (no ST allowed), can't use any spell (instead of just one of his higher level ones), plus can's recover HP and, unless he stays out of activity, suffers damage.
Using Energy Drain in a weakened form helps with using know effects and saves description space, plus, getting your energies drained by a disease is not a weird mechanic.
If you look at it hard enough it's little more than a fireball delayed over time, and potentially It can cause no damage if you rest.
The things you get no Save again are the attack, Save and AC penalties, no natural healing, no running, no preparino new Spells. But the cleric still needs to hit you.


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Peyton Manning has done it again.
The star Indianapolis Colts quarterback took home the Associated Press' NFL Most Valuable Player Award Saturday, making him the first professional football player to win the honor four times, the Associated Press reported.
Manning broke Brett Favre's record of three MVPs as he collected his fourth win in nine years, adding this year's award to the 2003, 2004 and 2008 MVP prizes.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Manning threw for 4,500 yards and 33 touchdowns and led the Colts to seven fourth-quarter comeback wins, according to the AP. He earned 39 1/2 votes in the ballots, cast by 50 NFL sports writers and broadcasters.
"It's been a different season," Manning told the AP. "Like I've said all along, it's been a challenge, it's been a grind at times, but guys have stepped up and played well."
The Colts will play next week for the divisional round and keep home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Manning, the 2007 Super Bowl MTV, has started every game in his career.


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Master of Arts in Music
The Master of Arts in Music degree is intended to allow talented musicians, who have completed an undergraduate degree in music and to pursue intensive graduate studies in performance. The Master of Arts in Music degree is offered with applied concentrations on piano, organ, voice, orchestral instruments, composition, and choral conducting, and church music.
Students who graduate from the Master of Arts in Music will:
develop exceptional skills in and knowledge of piano, organ, voice, instrument, composition, choral conducting, or church music.
be held to a professional standard of technical ability, artistry, and difficulty.
be prepared to continue their musical education at the doctoral level.
be prepared for a professional career in music, as both performer and teacher.
Admissions to the Department of Music
Admission for graduate studies in the School of Music is contingent upon formal application and an audition in a performance area (piano, organ, voice, instrument, composition, or conducting). The graduate studies program requires that all applicants have a Bachelor's degree in Music. Prior to acceptance to the graduate music degree program, the applicant is required to complete an application to the School of Music and to present an audition in their principal area of concentration, and to demonstrate a musical background sufficient for the understanding of advanced musicianship studies. In addition, interviews are required of church music majors. Auditions and interviews are conducted by School of Music faculty. Applicants may schedule auditions and interviews by contacting the office of the School of Music.
D. Components and Requirements
(1) Audition Requirements:
works of J. S. Bach and a romantic or a modern composition of the student's choice,
- Piano Audition requires performance of three memorized pieces from three contrasting stylistic periods
- Organ Audition requires performance of a major work of J. S. Bach and a romantic or a modern composition of the student's choice
- Voice Audition requires performance of four songs from memory, one in each of the following languages: French, German, English, and Italian
- Instruments Auditions require performance of at least two compositions of contrasting styles drawn from the standard solo repertoire of the student's selected instrument
Composition major must submit scores and tapes of a recital for the bachelor's degree in composition to the head of School of Music.
Choral Conducting major applicants must submit concert programs and an audio/video recording of at least thirty minutes of music that provides examples of the applicant's conducting ability. The applicant will be asked to rehearse and conduct a university chorus. Following the conducting audition, applicants will be interviewed by the admissions committee. The interview will include questions concerning the literature rehearsed, rehearsal techniques, repertoire, and personal goals.
(2) Diagnostic Examinations:
At the time of the audition, the applicant will be required to take diagnostic examinations in functional keyboard skills and music theory. The results of these two examinations will be factors in considering admission to the program. One week prior to the start of the applicant's first semester of study, the applicant will take a music history diagnostic examination, covering the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Twentieth Century periods. The results of the test will be used for advisement, and may require remediation.
(3) General Requirements:
To qualify for the Master of Arts in Music degree programs, a graduate student must achieve a grade point average at least 3.0. Successful completion of graduate course requires a grade of "B" or higher.
(4) University Core (2 courses, 6 credits):
GCU requires all non-theology major students (BABM, BAM, MBA & MAM) to take two University Core courses (6 credits) during their course of study. Music majors may choose two of the following courses:
OT501 The Introduction to the Old Testament
NT501 The Introduction to the New Testament
TH501 Systematic Theology I
CH501 History of Christianity
MAM with church music majors must complete all 4 courses (12 credits) of the University Core.
(5) Requirements for Graduations:
To qualify for the MAMUS degree, a student must successfully complete the required course work, give a successful recital in the student's area of concentration, and successfully complete comprehensive oral examinations coordinated by the director of graduate studies and evaluated by a three-person faculty committee. All students need to complete 48 total credits, including University Core plus WS501 Institutional Requirement.
(6) Institutional Requirement:
GCU requires all students to attend WS501 Institutional Requirement (chapel) every semester through graduation. Students will receive a Pass/Fail grade on Institutional Requirement.
The curriculum is available in the catalog on page 169, you can download it here


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I have this strange habit. I sign up for a challenge, accomplish it, and then stop. Cold turkey.
On Memorial Day weekend, I ran a marathon. A FULL marathon. My FIRST marathon. That was FOUR months ago. I haven't run outside since crossing that finish line…well, except to see who just fell off the monkey bars at recess. Three years ago, I finished anOlympic length triathlon. I swam, I biked, I ran. But after finishing that event, the bike sat in the garage, and I don't think I've entered a lap pool since. While I haven't miss the pool, I felt badly for my poor bike.
I even loaned it out to a few people for a few races. It's a great bike, and it seemed such a shame to have it sit collecting cobwebs. But me? I was content to teach spin classes. Inside.
I have no idea why a finish line holds such a sense of finality for me. Not just for the day. Not just for the season. But for quite a long time. I tell myself that it's because I pour myself into my training. By the time the event arrives, I'm ready to be done, and I'm ready for something else. During the last few weeks of training, I dream of yoga or lying on a beach somewhere. Maybe I just don't have the drive of a true athlete.
But I'm happy to say that I'm finally back to riding my bike. And I owe it all to my friend, Julie. Julie is an inspiration to me. She is currently training for her second century ride. (Yes, that's 100 miles. My butt bones can't even imagine 100 miles in a saddle.) And she has sweetly put on the brakes to allow me to keep up with her for portions of her training rides. I am LOVING it! Despite the soreness, I love riding in the cool of the early morning, knocking off 30-40 miles before church on a Sunday. It has become the highlight of my week.
What does this have to do with acorn squash?
Nothing really, but as Julie and I ride the rolling hills of the Nachez Trace, I find that our conversation always seems to come back to food. Recently, Julie asked me if I liked acorn squash. My mind instantly went back to the squash memories of my childhood. The kind that involved the phrase "you will not leave the table until…" But while grocery shopping later that afternoon, the pile of acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash just looked so fresh and inviting. The gourds smiled at me and said, "This is Fall. Enjoy me." Okay, maybe I needed a little sugar after that long ride.
But I loved the acorn squash. And I think you will too. Stuffed with a sweet apple and spinach filling, this squash dish ushered in the season of Fall.
Stuffed Acorn Squash
by Heather
- 2 acorn squashes
- 1 green apple
- juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 T. olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 c. chopped onion
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- 4 c. spinach
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- 2 T. grade B maple syrup
- 1/2 c. pine nuts
1. Preheat the oven to 375.
2. Cut 2 acorn squashes in half, remove the seeds, and place the squash face down on a jelly roll pan covered with foil. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes. Then turn them over and cook for another 30 minutes.
3. Core and chop apples and toss the apple pieces in lemon juice to keep them from browning.
4. Heat olive oil in a large pan on medium heat. Add minced garlic and stir for 2 minutes.
5. Add onions and apples and sprinkle with nutmeg. Cook for 5 minutes.
6. Add spinach, and cook until the spinach wilts.
7. Season with sea salt, add maple syrup, and remove from heat.
8. Toast pinenuts in a toaster oven, or wait until the squash is cooked and toast them in the oven.
9. Remove squash after it's cooked, stuff each half with apple spinach mixture, and sprinkle with pinenuts.
Serves 4
Thanks, Julie, for your inspiration! Both physically and in the kitchen!
Readers, dish!
- Do you like acorn squash?
- How do you deal with physical challenges?
- Do you enjoy running or biking?
- What's your favorite finish line memory?
- Fat Tuesday hosted by Jill of Real Food Forager
- Slightly Indulgent Tuesday hosted by Amy of Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free
- Gluten-Free Wednesdays hosted by Linda of The Gluten-Free Homemaker
- Real Food Wednesdays hosted by Kelly the Kitchen Kop
- Allergy Free Wednesdays hosted by Tessa the Domestic Diva , Amber of The Tasty Alternative, and friends.
- Wellness Weekends hosted by Ricki of Diet, Dessert & Dogs
- Healthy Vegan Friday hosted by Gabby of The Veggie Nook
Author Information Heather, Nashville, TN
Heather is a gluten-free blogger by night and a Kindergarten teacher and fitness instructor by day. She writes about healthy, gluten-free living and shares gluten-free recipes, product reviews, and restaurant reviews on her blog.
Website: www.glutenfreecat.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/GlutenFreeCat
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/glutenfreecat


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England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | Ireland
Get the latest NHS information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19).
Check if you or your child has coronavirus symptoms
Find out about the main symptoms of coronavirus and what to do if you have them.
Self-isolation and treatment if you have coronavirus symptoms
Advice about staying at home (self-isolation) and treatment for you and anyone you live with.
Testing and tracing
Information about testing for coronavirus and what to do if you're contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service.
People at high risk
Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus, including older people, people with health conditions and pregnant women.
Social distancing and changes to everyday life
Advice about avoiding close contact with other people (social distancing), looking after your wellbeing and using the NHS and other services during coronavirus.
GOV.UK: coronavirus – guidance and support
Government information and advice.
Christmas Maltings Surgery Tel: 01440 841 300
Clements SurgeryTel: 01440 841 300
Kedington SurgeryTel: 01440 841 300
Forgotten your pill or had unprotected sex? Maybe you're worried about something? Here's what to do and where to go if you need help urgently.
Click on the links listed here to go directly to the answer:
If you've had unprotected sex (without a condom), there's a chance you could have caught an STI.
Arrange to get tested if:
If you're currently having sex with someone, either stop or make sure you use a condom until you know for sure whether or not you have an STI. Your partner should get tested, too.
You can get free, confidential advice and treatment from your GP or specialist clinics in your area, even if you're under 16.
Most hospitals have special clinics called genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, which give tests and treatment for STIs. There are also lots of places that are set up especially for young people.
Most STIs can be treated easily, so don't be scared of having a test and getting a positive result.
Find sexual health services near you.
The first thing to do is find out for certain by taking a pregnancy test. The sooner you do this, the better.
There are lots of places where you can have a free pregnancy test and get confidential advice, even if you're under 16, including:
Find your nearest sexual health services.
You can also buy a pregnancy test from pharmacies or some supermarkets, which you can do yourself at home.
Find out more about doing a pregnancy test.
If you're pregnant and it's unplanned, you may be faced with a decision about whether to continue with the pregnancy or end the pregnancy by having an abortion.
The sooner an abortion is done, the easier and safer it is. But you might want to take time to make your decision. This is why it's important to know if you're pregnant as soon as possible.
Nobody needs to know you're pregnant until you're ready to tell them. You can ask to see a female doctor if that would make you feel more comfortable.
If you decide to continue with the pregnancy, start your pregnancy (antenatal) care as soon as possible. This includes health checks for you and your baby. Your GP can talk to you about this.
Find out more about antenatal care.
If you've had unprotected sex, there's a risk of both pregnancy and STIs. The best thing to do is act quickly. The sooner you act, the more likely it is that you can prevent a pregnancy and get treatment for an STI.
To avoid pregnancy, you can either:
If your next period doesn't arrive when you expect it to, take a pregnancy test.
If you have sex without a condom or the condom splits or comes off, you're also at risk of getting an STI.
If this happens and you're worried you have caught an STI, you can get confidential help and advice in your local area, as well as free testing for STIs, at:
Find sexual health services near you.
If you're having sex, don't rely on emergency contraception to stop you getting pregnant. There are lots of contraceptive options you can choose from.
Talk to a nurse or doctor at a clinic or GP surgery about what contraception is right for you.
Condoms are the only method that can protect you from both STIs and pregnancy. Use them along with your chosen method of contraception.
Find out how to use a condom.
If someone has forced or persuaded you into a sexual situation you are uncomfortable with, there is help available.
You can call the national sexual health helpline free on 0300 123 7123. Your call will be treated with sensitivity and in strict confidence.
You can also contact a sexual assault referral centre (SARC), where you can get specialist support and medical care if you have been sexually assaulted.
A sexual assault can happen anywhere, including in your home, and is more likely to be done by someone you know than a stranger.
Find rape and sexual assault support services, including SARCs. You can also ask at your GP surgery, contraceptive clinic or sexual health clinic.
Find out more about what to do if you have been sexually assaulted or it has happened to someone you know.
If you take it correctly, at the right time on the right day, the contraceptive pill is 99% effective. However, certain things, such as being sick, can stop it working properly. Always read the leaflet inside the packet so you know what might affect it.
Find out more about what changes could occur with the pill when you're sick or have diarrhoea.
Some medicines can prevent the pill working properly. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist to advise you on this if they're giving you any medicines.
If you have any doubt about whether your contraceptive pill is affected, use condoms while taking medication and for seven days afterwards.
If you vomit within two hours of taking the pill, it might not work properly and you'll need to use condoms as well for seven days.
If you have diarrhoea, keep taking the pill as usual. But make sure to use condoms as well while you're unwell and for seven days afterwards.
You may not be protected against pregnancy if you've forgotten to take your pill. This depends on the type you're taking, how many doses you missed already, and how many pills are left in the packet.
Keep taking the pill and see your doctor, nurse or pharmacist as soon as possible for advice. Use condoms to make sure you're still fully protected.
Find out what to do if you miss a combined pill and what to do if you miss a progestogen-only pill.
If you have trouble remembering to take a pill every day, you could consider using another method of contraception, such as the contraceptive implant, contraceptive injection or IUD. This means you don't have to think about your contraception every day or every time you have sex.
Find out more about the different contraceptive methods.
You can go to:
For helpful information and guides to a healthy sexual life please follow this link: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Sexualhealthtopics/Pages/Sexual-health-hub.aspx
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Padres claim outfielder Castellanos off waivers
PEORIA, Ariz. -- A day after the Padres discovered outfielder Cameron Maybin will miss four to six weeks with a ruptured biceps tendon, the team claimed outfielder Alex Castellanos off waivers from Texas.
Castellanos could very well be in the running for a reserve outfield job with the team, as he's capable of playing three outfield spots. He could report to big league camp as soon as Saturday.
The 27-year-old has appeared in 24 Major League games over the last two seasons with the Dodgers, hitting .171 in 41 at-bats with two home runs.
Castellanos hit .257 with 19 home runs, 61 RBIs and 19 steals in 105 games in 2013 with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque.
He was originally drafted in the 10th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft by the Cardinals as an infielder but has since moved to the outfield.
Castellanos has now been a part of four organizations since the end of last season -- Dodgers, Red Sox, Rangers and now the Padres.
In order to make room on the 40-man roster, the Padres placed left-handed pitcher Cory Luebke on the 60-day disabled list. Luebke had his second Tommy John surgery last month after having the same surgery in May of 2012.


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So, I got this idea in the "Arthas' actor"-thread and thought "why not?"
Alternative lore people! It's like alternative history, just with lore - You ask a lore-related question (example: What if Kel'thuzad had failed summoning Archimonde?) and then you can try to answer it yourself, or wait for someone else to do it.
And please do it good. Unless it's impossible, try to make it more than one sentence with a lot of commas - we needz teh drama.
So I'll ask again: What would've happened if Uther had gone with Arthas in, first purging Stratholme, but later also to Northrend?


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'Teen Mom 2′ Star Kailyn Lowry Shares Sneak Peek of Wedding Decor [PHOTO]
Kailyn Lowry, who you may know from 'Teen Mom 2,' is getting re-married to her husband, Javi Marroquin, in a little over a week -- and the details are all finally coming into place.
"Table numbers are done! #downtothewire #10days," Lowry wrote in a photo caption on her Instagram account, alongside an image of the table numbers she had been working on.
The numbers themselves are on framed black and white photos with romantic pictures of Kailyn and Javi inside them. The table numbers are in the corners of the photos.
As for what else the wedding day will hold? According to Wetpaint, 170 guests will attend the event and Javi will walk down the aisle in his Air Force uniform, while a special surprise reception is being planned by Lowry's bridesmaids. Lowry herself will be in a maternity gown, as she's eight months pregnant.
'Teen Mom 2' is currently in the process of filming its fifth season.


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Twitter Suspends Four Accounts Critical of Sarkozy: Is This What He Meant By 'Civilizing' The Net?
from the what's-going-on-here? dept
Nicolas Sarkozy, who hopes to be re-elected as French President this year, seems to have little love for the Internet. At best, he regards it as a "Wild West" that needs taming. Despite that, Sarkozy joined Twitter last week -- you can follow him @NicolasSarkozy. Posts are mainly written by his re-election team, although there seem to be a handful of personal tweets (marked "NS"). But at least he's finally engaging with the new medium on its own terms.
Or maybe not:
The morning after French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced he will run for a second term, several parodic Twitter accounts have mysteriously been suspended.
@_nicolassarkozy , an account created in September 2010 and clearly labeled as a satirical Sarkozy impersonation, was suspended on Feburary 16th.
The account was run by the French website kaboul.fr:
According to Kaboul.fr, which, after complaining, received an answer from Twitter, @_nicolassarkozy was "suspended after being reported." Twitter also told Kabul.fr that to be granted such priviledge, the suspension had to be made by Sarkozy, or someone acting on his authority.
Twitter's official response has been leaked:
We have received a valid report that your account, @_NicolasSarkozy, is engaged in non-parody impersonation. Although Twitter firmly believes in the freedom of expression, impersonation that misleads, confuses, or deceives others is against the Twitter Rules (http://twitter.com/rules). Your account has been temporarily suspended due to violation of our impersonation policy.
The key issue here seems to be possible confusion, since Twitter's guidelines on Parody, Commentary, and Fan Accounts state:
In order to avoid impersonation, an account's profile information should make it clear that the creator of the account is not actually the same person or entity as the subject of the parody/commentary. Here are some suggestions for marking your account:
Maybe the account @_NicolasSarkozy has fallen foul of those rules, although it's hard to believe anyone would mistake a parody of Sarkozy for the real thing - it was not an "impersonation". But what about the other accounts that were suspended?
Username: The username should not be the exact name of the subject of the parody, commentary, or fandom; to make it clearer, you should distinguish the account with a qualifier such as "not," "fake," or "fan."
Name: The profile name should not list the exact name of the subject without some other distinguishing word, such as "not," "fake," or "fan."
three other accounts, all clearly opposing Sarkozy's political views, were suspended at the same time: @mafranceforte, @fortefrance and @SarkozyCaSuffit. Those accounts where not related to Kaboul.fr, nor impersonating local politician, but straight-ahead, and recently-created, politically-oriented Twitter accounts.
"La France Forte" -- "Strong France" -- is the slogan for Sarkozy's campaign, prominently displayed on his Twitter page, so the use of the phrase for Twitter accounts might be seen as confusing. But again, the content would surely tip people off that it was a parody. The last of the four accounts that were suspended recently is @SarkozyCaSuffit -- roughly translated as "Sarkozy, That's Enough". It's clearly what Twitter calls a "Commentary" account, making a very obvious comment about a political figure - no question of "impersonation". Unless there are any other grounds for doing so (and so far there don't seem to be any), removing it looks like pure political censorship in favor of Sarkozy.
We don't know at this stage exactly who asked for these four accounts to be removed, only that according to Twitter's rules it must have been done "by Sarkozy, or someone acting on his authority". We asked Twitter about this and it refused to provide specifics on why the accounts were closed or the timing, other than to say that just because the accounts were suspended in the same general time frame, it wasn't necessarily for the same reason.
Be that as it may, the near-simultaneous closure of four accounts all critical of a powerful national politician inevitably reminds us that for many countries, "civilizing" the Internet often comes down to censoring it. It's worrying to see France apparently starting to go down that route -- and for Twitter to be helping it.
Update @_NicolasSarkozy has been unblocked, but the other three are still suspended.
Follow me @glynmoody on Twitter or identi.ca, and on Google+
Filed Under: france, free speech, nicolas sarkozy, satire, terms of service, twitter
Companies: twitter


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SYNOPSIS:Nim (Abigail Breslin) lives an isolated life on a remote island with her widowed scientist father (Gerard Butler), her animal friends - lizards, sea lions, a pelican - and favourite fictional literary hero Alex Rover. Alex's creator Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster) also leads an isolated life, but a totally different one, having locked herself away in her city apartment. When Nim's island is threatened with the arrival of a buccaneer-themed cruise ship, she reaches out to her hero for help, forcing the agoraphobic Alexandra to venture nervously into the world.
Review by Louise Keller:Fantasy and reality collide when a fiction writer and a scientist, both escaping from the world, are forced to take control of their destiny. The catalyst is Abigail Breslin's Nim, to whom both are her heroes. Just like the rope that catapults Nim through the trees of her tropical island home, we are uplifted into an idyllic, sun-drenched world, in which a sea-lion, bearded dragon lizard and pelican are the 11 year's old's confidantes while storybooks act as passport for her fertile imagination. Based on Wendy Orr's children's novel, Nim's Island is the perfect family film, a congenial, heart-warming story whose endearing characters are a pleasure to join, as they journey to find the hero within.It is easy to be envious of Nim's carefree existence as she shimmies up palm trees, dances with her sea-lion Selkie and is transported through storybooks to exotic destinations with her fiction-hero Alex Rover. It is no coincidence that Alex bears the face of her real-life hero - her scientist father Jack (Gerard Butler), whose passion, since the death of his wife, is simply and wholly, plankton. A world away, in rain-drenched San Francisco, Jodie Foster's agoraphobic fiction writer Alex obsessively smothers her hands with hand sanitiser as she sits at the keyboard, waiting for inspiration. Her confidante is considerably more bizarre than Nim's animal friends; her only ally is her fictional namesake who tells her 'Courage has to be learned and re-learned; be the hero of your own life story, for once.' It takes as much courage for Alex to open her front door as it does for fearless Nim to climb the sheer heights of the island's volcano. It is fear and courage that brings them together; while Nim fears for her father lost at sea, Alex struggles to cope, boarding taxis, planes, helicopters and boats, as she responds to the little girl's plea for help.Directors Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett get the film's tone just right, with a nice mix of comedy and pathos. Foster is a hoot as her Alex faces the rigours of airport security, the dreaded 'middle' seat and motion sickness, while Breslin (who basically talks to herself and her animals throughout the film) is a breath of fresh air as the wide-eyed protagonist, who concocts and executes a delicious plan in which flying lizards are used to bombard fat (Brisbane) tourists. The climax is handled with great sensitivity, leaving us not only with a lump in our throat, but uplifted by this delightful tale.Review by Andrew L. Urban:With its spirit of fantasy and adventure, Nim's Island is targeting the 8 - 12 year old girls who will place themselves centre stage of this charming and thrilling story, where the worlds of a writer's imagination and her reader's imagination fuse into a rollicking good time.Abigail Bresnan does a splendid job as the plucky heroine who is left alone when her scientist father goes missing during a storm at sea. She is able to deliver even some rather lame lines with conviction and her feelings all register on her cute face. Jodie Foster pumps up the acting volume for her role, believing she needs to match the oversize boots of the fantasy, but she is nevertheless entertaining as the challenged writer who sets out, reluctantly, to help Nim, only to have Nim doing the rescuing.Gerard Butler gets the fun part - parts, actually, as both dad Jack and as imaginary adventurer Alex Rover, who materialises to his creator to egg her on - and sometimes cajole or berate her. The device works a treat, but of course it requires us to enter into a pact with the film that we will not apply grown up, real world values to any of the material. This includes the fabulously satirised cruise ship passengers, all loud, overweight and overbearing. One admits to being from Brisbane.The small Pacific island home where Nim and Jack live is so wonderfully designed I am ready to move in tomorrow; it even has its own sound proofed generator, and fast broadband connection.
CRITICAL COUNTFavourable: 2Unfavourable: 0Mixed: 0
CAST: Abigail Breslin, Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, Rhonda Doyle, Peter Callan, Michael Carman
PRODUCER: Paula Mazur
DIRECTOR: Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin
SCRIPT: Joseph Kwong, Paula Mazur, Mark Levin, Jennifer Flackett
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Stuart Dryburgh
EDITOR: Stuart Levy
MUSIC: Patrick Doyle
PRODUCTION DESIGN: Barry Robison
RUNNING TIME: 96 minutes
AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR: Universal
AUSTRALIAN RELEASE: April 3, 2008 (Melbourne, Brisbane); April 10, 2008 (Adelaide, Sydney, Perth, Canberra)


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Proof Positive
In the past 15 years, drug testing in the U.S. workplace has gone from ground zero to widespread employer acceptance. In 1983, less than 1 percent of employees were subject to drug testing. Today, about 49 percent of full-time workers are subject to some form of workplace drug testing, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
A major contributor to this increase is the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991, which requires drug and alcohol testing of safety-sensitive transportation employees in aviation, trucking, railroads, mass transit, pipelines and other transportation industries. Testing of landscape construction workers has been an outgrowth.
"Screening on a pre-employment basis would be a very wise thing to do for a business owner, particularly in grounds maintenance where heavy equipment use is involved as well as working on other people's property," says Joseph Reilly, chairman of the board for the Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry Association. "You want to make sure you have an employee coming on board who is free of drugs and not a substance abuser."
David Snodgrass, president and co-owner of Dennis' Seven Dees Landscaping in Portland, Ore., notes that easy entry into the green industry is a wide-open gate. "Studies have shown that those who abuse drugs tend to switch employers often, sometimes three or more times a year. Those companies that hire on the spot are perfect targets for these types of employees."
Dennis' Seven Dees Landscaping has had a drug-testing program in place for more than 10 years and, according to Snodgrass, it has served them well. The company's program tests all pre-hire candidates and tests employees when there is suspicion of drug use, usually at the time of an accident. Snodgrass's company has worked closely with a local hospital that administers the drug testing. That procedure may be changing soon, however, as an onsite saliva test is currently being researched. Snodgrass says that the saliva test may save his company half or more of the costs of using the hospital's resources.
Even without random testing, Snodgrass notes that no "tests for suspicion" have ever come up positive. He attributes this success to a top-quality workforce that approaches his company for a job.
"Because we test, word is on the street that we're not a company that condones drug abuse on the job. And so, we attract clean employees," says Snodgrass, who is also chairman of the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) safety and risk management committee. "For the company that thinks it's too small, or that if they tested they would end up with no employees, that company's reputation works against them. In fact, they're better off not having any employees at all."
Comments like, "I can't institute a drug-free policy because I'll lose all my employees" are, according to Reilly, "mythical statements."
"They might lose about 5 to 10 percent of their employees, but those were the ones that they needed to lose anyway," says Reilly. "In a small business, one employee who is involved in substance abuse can have devastating effects on that business."
"The fact that you're a drug-free workplace works well in any recruitment ads," says Mel Kleiman, principal at Houston-based Humetrics, a human resources consultant group. "When you run the ads, you'll get fewer people responding to it. But they'll be less likely to be drug users."
Kleiman suggests that, if you have a drug-free workplace, you should strive to weed out applicants before there's even a need for "testing for cause."
"One of the interview questions you should ask is, 'Did your last employer require a drug test?'" says Kleiman. "The other question is, 'Are you willing to take a drug test today?' If you simply ask whether they're willing to take a drug test, you'll find that almost all will answer 'yes.' But if you ask if they're willing to take it today or tomorrow, the 'yes' answers will drop."
The high cost of employing such workers can be enough to close a business. And out-of-pocket expense is just the beginning.
"With lowered morale, high absenteeism, the risk of lawsuits because of at-fault accidents, the endangerment of others, and increased premiums due to higher rates of accidents can easily add up to four times the out-of-pocket costs," says Snodgrass. "In addition, a company without a drug-testing policy and a high accident rate risks not being able to even get insured. Insurance companies are getting smarter about this."
According to a 2001 Cornell University study titled "Evaluation of Drug Testing in the Workplace: Study of the Construction Industry," the average company in the study sample experienced a 51-percent reduction in its injury rate within two years of implementing a drug-testing program. As a result, workers' comp costs dropped by more than 10 percent.
Preventing drug abuse while on the job goes beyond the pre-employment screening. "It should be a comprehensive program that includes a policy that outlines what a company will do as far as screening, as well as additional testing for existing employees," says Reilly. "So it's not just get clean, get a job and that's the end of it."
For companies setting out to initiate a new program, Reilly recommends three primary resources. The first being companies like Florida Drug Screening, Inc., of which Reilly is president, which are commonly referred to as third-party administrators. "We help small businesses set up drug-free workplaces, including policies and procedures, as well as a mechanism for the testing to occur in their local area."
Secondary resources can be found online, such as the U.S. Department of Labor's "working partners" Web site (www.dol.gov/workingpartners), with an interactive policy maker, a quick-and-dirty program that allows visitors to create their own drug-free workplace policy.
"Finally," says Reilly, "there are attorneys and consultants who help people make policy and get procedures together."
Rosenberg, Texas-based Turfgrass America, with approximately 800 employees at peak season, began its drug-free program in March. Kathy Romero, human resources manager, says that her company chose to begin drug testing "for the safety of all of our employees, as well as to keep our workers' comp costs down. We have to do that for our drivers for DOT anyway, so we decided to do it for all employees."
Even Turfgrass America co-founder Arthur Milberger comes under the new policy: "Now, if we have a fender bender — even if it's me, going home today — we have to go to the nearest clinic and have a blood test and be screened for drugs. And it's a good thing, because it clears up any misunderstanding. If we get sued, and an incident is brought up, we can say we got tested and it was perfectly fine. We're covered."
Turfgrass America gives employees at least a 60-day notice before conducting random drug testing, which is administered by trained personnel. All of the company's managers will eventually be trained how to look for suspicious drug-related offenses.
"The most proven drug-testing method is a urine test collected by a trained collector and sent to a laboratory for both an initial screen and, if positive, what's called a GCMS confirmation," says Reilly. "Then that result is reviewed and verified by a medical review officer to rule out any legitimate medical explanation or legally prescribed medication. This method is the predominate method of drug testing that's been in place for the last 20 years. When everything is done properly, those tests always hold up in court."
Other onsite tests, such as saliva and breath tests, are becoming more popular due to convenience, low costs and less invasive procedures.
Some civil rights groups have voiced concerns over presumed rights violations. But, according to Reilly, drug testing is legal in every U.S. state. Rights can only be violated when policies are lax or inconsistently administered.
"The most important thing is to have a policy in place and to follow that policy consistently," says Reilly. "That keeps the business owner out of court. The third-party administrator will have programs in place in a particular state that comply with that state's laws, because that's the administrator's specialty — that's their business. Most administrators have already had attorneys review their policies; they're basically using a template policy for the small business. That said, any policy that a company implements should first be run by their attorney for that final seal of approval."
Reilly advises having a policy created by a third-party administrator, then having an attorney review it. "You don't want to pay your attorney all the money involved in writing the policy, something that's been written before. There's plenty of sample policies out there, even on the Internet, that a person could tweak for his or her own use."
PLANET has produced a safety program CD that includes a model safety program, part of which includes a replicable drug-testing policy. For PLANET, says Snodgrass, addressing the drug issue "has been on our list of best practices."
"In our industry, with the trucks and other machinery that we operate, there's a big risk not testing for drugs," adds Snodgrass. "It's risky enough in our business with employees who have all their faculties about them. You just multiply that risk when drugs are involved."
Tracy Powell is a freelance writer who resides in Charlestown, Ind.
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No talks today at the Expo – but we will be filming an interview in the Pavilion at around 4pm SLT for next week's edition of Happy Hunting! – and you are very welcome to come in, take a seat and watch.
We'll be back tomorrow with two talks – at 3pm we'll be talking to Auryn Beorn, the amazing scripter who will be showing us some sames of her incredible work – and at 5pm Isla Gealach, the owner of Cheeky Pea and the Nest.
Full details tomorrow!


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A day after voters approved an expansion of gambling in Maryland, the state's largest casino said it would hire 1,200 new employees for table games – even as the ballot question's leading opponent suggested that it will turn to the courts.
David Cordish, developer of the Maryland Live Casino at Arundel Mills, said Wednesday that his Cordish Cos. would begin the process of hiring and training the new workers – mainly dealers – immediately. He said the company would also begin purchasing table games and other equipment in order to offer alternatives to slot machines as quickly as possible.
Maryland's top gambling regulator said his agency has already begun drafting regulations for table games. Stephen L. Martino, director of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, said the agency will still have to conduct background checks on employees and equipment manufacturers, but he said Maryland Live could be able to offer table games as early as spring.
Cordish said he thought the approval could come through sooner than that.
A potential obstacle remains, however. Penn National Gaming, dealt a blow by voter approval Tuesday of a Prince George's County casino, signaled that it would not give up its fight and would back a lawsuit challenging the legality of the referendum. Penn National operates a casino in Charles Town, W. Va., that could see a significant loss of business if a casino opens in Prince George's.
The campaign for approval of the plan was largely financed by MGM Resorts International, which hopes to operate a casino at the National Harbor development in the county.
Kevin McLaughlin, spokesman for the ballot committee set up by Penn National to fight the gambling referendum, said the company was disappointed in the results. Voters approved the plan — which includes the new casino and allowing table games at all the state's gambling sites — 52 percent to 48 percent after a campaign whose final costs were likely to come in at more than $90 million.
McLaughlin said Penn National has "serious reservations" about whether the referendum process set up by the General Assembly was legal under Maryland's Constitution.
"We continue to believe that the Constitution requires a majority of qualified voters approve any expansion of gaming. [Tuesday's] vote fell far short of a majority of qualified voters. A lawsuit has been filed to this end, on behalf of the citizens of Maryland, and we intend to explore all of our legal avenues as well," McLaughlin said.
The lawsuit was filed last week in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court by former Prince George's County Councilman Tom Dernoga and former Del. Gerron Levi. It contends that the Constitution requires a majority of all registered voters — not just a majority of those who turned out for the election — to pass an expansion of gambling. That interpretation was rejected by the state attorney general's office, which has issued an opinion saying that a majority of votes cast on a referendum question is sufficient.
Martino said the commission will push ahead with the tasks of writing rules and conducting background checks regardless of the lawsuit.
"We're going to move ahead, and if someone tells us we need to stop, then we will," he said.
Jon Peterson, a principal in the company that developed National Harbor, said he's aware of the lawsuit. He said it was too early to say whether it causes much concern.
Peterson said construction of an MGM casino – at an estimated cost of $800 million – would bring added credibility to the sprawling National Harbor complex on the Potomac River.
"It will change the perception of Prince George's County as a place where people can go and be entertained and have retail and restaurants and do it all in one spot," he said. "It really becomes the destination location of the East Coast."
Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat who called a special legislative session to pass the gambling plan and campaigned for its approval by voters, was unavailable for comment Wednesday. Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown and House Speaker Michael Busch, both Democrats, said they believe further gambling expansion will not be an issue in Maryland for the foreseeable future.
"I don't think there will be any expansion of machines or locations for quite a while," Busch said.
Brown said the next step will be the selection of a casino site in Prince George's. That will be the task of the state's Video Lottery Facility Location Commission.
Donald Fry, chairman of the panel, said he believes the commission will be able to put out a request for bids early next year and select a location before the end of 2013. Under the law, the earliest a Prince George's casino could open is 2016.
Penn National operates Rosecroft Raceway, another Prince George's site that is eligible for consideration for a casino. But Penn National, which has complained that the process is stacked in favor of National Harbor, made clear it would consider a legal challenge first.
As a result of the referendum, Penn National is now eligible to install table games at its Hollywood Casino in Perryville. McLaughlin declined to discuss the company's plan for that facility, which is much smaller than its mega-casino in Charles Town.
Officials from Caesar's Entertainment, which has a license to open a casino on Russell Street in Baltimore, were not available to discuss how expanded gaming would change their plans. They have previously said that the introduction of table games would allow them to consider using their premier Horseshoe brand — aimed at serious gamblers – instead of the second-tier Harrah's name that had been planned for Baltimore.
At a news conference in Silver Spring, county executives Rushern L. Baker III of Prince George's County, Isiah Leggett of Montgomery County and Ken Ulman of Howard County criticized what they called a campaign of misinformation by opponents of the measure.
Those working to defeat the ballot question had pointed out that nothing in the bill would guarantee increased spending on schools.
"Money will go toward education," Baker said.
Any Prince George's casino will face multiple levels of local review. Baker said his county is improving its permitting process for all developments to make it "as smooth and quick as possible while still following all the laws."
The referendum outcome is likely to have an impact on the gambling industry – both regionally and nationally.
Brian McGill, an analyst with Janney Montgomery Scott in Philadelphia, said that both MGM and Penn National stocks were down slightly Wednesday as the market fell after the election. But he said passage of Question 7 had little to do with the drop because the full brunt of expanded gambling won't be felt for at least four years.
"That's just an eternity," McGill said. "We know this is probably going to hurt Penn National eventually, but this is the company that will have a billion dollars in cash flow before 2016."
In addition to the lawsuit already filed over the legality of the referendum, McGill said Penn National would likely file suit if, as most expect, National Harbor is awarded a license. The company has already expressed concerns about the fairness of the process for selecting the site.
Another lawsuit could mean more delay.
"Table games won't make much of a change, but obviously the new casino will," McGill said. "But that doesn't mean a whole lot now. There are too many players and too many moving parts and too much time."
- Politics and Government
- Crime, Law and Justice
- Laws and Legislation
- Casino and Gambling Industry
- Elections
- Lifestyle and Leisure
- Justice System
- Movies
- Entertainment
- Executive Branch
- Anthony Brown
- Michael E. Busch
- Cordish Cos.
- MGM Resorts International
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- Ken Ulman
- Rushern L. Baker III
- Martin O'Malley


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Building Speech-Enabling IVR application Using Microsoft Speech Server 2004: Grammar and Prompts
The Microsoft Speech Server (MSS) 2004 was launched in March of this year. MSS 2004 is a Web-based, flexible, and integrated solution of both speech-enabled interactive voice responsive (IVR) and Web applications, used in conjunction with the Microsoft Speech Application Software Development Kit (SASDK) that could be integrated seamlessly and directly with the MS Visual Studio .Net development environment. The Microsoft Speech Server enables enterprises to cost-effectively deploy speech applications and allows enterprises to merge their Web and voice/speech infrastructure to create unified applications with both speech and visual access.
This article is the first in a two-part series that provides a discussion about how to build interactive voice responsive (IVR) systems using both MSS and SASDK. In this first installment, the focus will be on grammar and prompts design when building a speech application.
Normally, the life cylce of building a speech-enabling IVR application would be contained in four stages: design, development, deployment and turning. All of the stages would work around the three key elements of speech-enabled applications: dialog, grammar and prompts.
If you have any IVR development experience, you want to think about whether you need to set up a development environment with telephony hardware first. When you start to develop a speech-enabling IVR application (voice-only application) using MS SASDK and working on the development and test stages, you do not need to install a telephony hardware interface immediately. There was a telephony simulator within the SASDK and Windows IIS within your Windows 2000/XP/2003. As soon as you complete coding and unit testing, you want to deploy your speech IVR application on MSS 2004. You must install and configure a TIM (Telephony Interface Manager) and telephony boards in the TAS Server of MSS.
The grammars are intended for use by speech application recognizers. In a speech-enabled application, a grammar is a set of structured rules that identify words or phrases as well as specify valid selections in response to a prompt when collecting spoken input.
The syntax of the grammar format is presented in two forms, an Augmented BNF (ABNF) Form and an XML Form in the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Speech Recognition Grammar Specification Version 1.0. The ABNF is a plain-text (non-XML) representation that is similar to traditional BNF grammar. The JSpeech Grammar Format (JSGF) is derived from ABNF that is used in some VoiceXML-based speech application development environments. Another form is to use XML elements to represent the grammar constructs, called Speech Recognition Grammar Specification (SRGS). The Microsoft Speech Application SDK Version 1.0 (SASDK) currently supports XML-based grammar format.
The Microsoft Speech Application SDK Version 1.0 (SASDK) provides the Speech Grammar Editor tool. This tool presents a graphical approach to creating grammars in the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 development environment. The tool also provides syntax validation to assist the developer with grammar debugging.
The rule is the basic unit of a grammar in in the SASDK. A Grammar must contain at least one rule that defines a pattern of words and/or phrases. If the caller's input matches that pattern, the rule is matched by the IVR application.
On the MS speech platform, the Grammar has two forms: a grammar file or an inline (static) script. Grammar files can be either XML files or compiled binary files with .grxml (XML) and .cfg (compiled) extensions. Inline grammars exist entirely within the code of a speech-enabled Web application; the QA control supports both a grammar file and an inline grammar at the same time. You can use the Grammar Editor tool to graphically set up grammar files.
In a real-world speech application, if you use too strict a grammar, it may result in no flexibility from the caller's perspective in regards to what the caller can say. Otherwise, designing too many unnecessary grammar items may lead to lower effective speech recognition. The following is a grammar example that transfers a call from a speech-enabling IVR to either an appropriate phone queue or a call center agent.
<grammar xmlns:sapi="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Speech/2002/06/ SRGSExtensions" xml:lang="en-US" tag-format="semantics-ms/1.0" version="1.0" mode="voice" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/06/grammar"> <!--This is transfer grammar using in speech-enabled IVR--> <rule id="Transfer" scope="public"> <one-of> <item>Transfer to agent please</item> <item>Transfer</item> </one-of> <tag>$.Transfer = $recognized.text</tag> </rule> </grammar>
Because grammar files are simply XML format files, the MS SASDK can create grammars programmatically. The MS SASDK is SALT based; even if you do not have any SALT language skills, you can perform a speech-enabling application in an MS Speech box. Actually, if you like, you can use the SALT language to implement a speech IVR over MS Speech Server.
A prompt is a question or information spoken by a speech application. Typically, a prompt is a question, such as "To what extension do you want to transfer?" It can also be a greeting, such as "Hello, this is the ABC Corporation customer service line" or provide multi-choice direction, such as "Sales, press one or say sales; Marketing, press two or say marketing; Technical Support, press three or say technical support."
In an MS Speech Server-based speech-enabling application, prompts are the only interface in which a voice-only application (speech-enabled IVR) interacts with the user. The multimodal applications do not have prompts. Prompts serve a number of functions in an application. Prompt functions can contain JScript code that allows an application to generate dynamic prompts at run time. Use the Prompt Function Editor to create and edit prompt functions.
The Speech Prompt Editor, included in the Microsoft Speech Application SDK Version 1.0 (SASDK), provides an interface for creating prompts. Use the Speech Prompt Editor to create, edit, maintain, and manage every aspect of a prompt database; each prompt project contains one or more prompt databases. A prompt database contains all the audio and data that define the application's prompts. The prompts database contains recorded prompts (.wav files) and their transcriptions.
The Wave Editor is another useful tool within the MS SASDK; it is used to improve prompt quality. The prompts database stores prompts as .wav files. It displays a graphical view of .wav file data. It allows you to edit the word boundaries within a .wav file, and to cut, copy, and paste wave segments both between and within .wav files.
When used in voice-only applications, the Controls, QA, Command, and Application Speech Controls can include prompts in the property of controls. You can add a prompt to a control in one of the inline prompts and prompt functions.
Page 1 of 2
This article was originally published on December 27, 2004
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