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Free The Angola 3
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Facing the US Prison Problem 2.3 Million Strong: An Ex-Con's View of the Mistakes and the Solution
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The United States holds tens of thousands of inmates in long-term solitary confinement. Is this torture?
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- Report Shows Even More Evidence Of The Misuse Of Solitary Confinement
- Contra Costa County to End Solitary Confinement for Juveniles
- Thousands of American Prisoners Spend 23 Hours a Day in Solitary Confinement
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Wrongful Convictions
- The National Registry of Exonerations Releases 2019 Annual Report with Implications Heightened by COVID-19 Concerns March 31, 2020The National Registry of Exonerations 2019 Annual Report, a must-read for advocates of criminal justice reform, offers important insights on wrongful conviction at a particularly distressful time for our nation and the incarcerated. "Right now, there are likely thousands of … Continue reading →
- Ohio Chief Justice Convenes Wrongful Conviction Task Force February 15, 2020One small step. https://www.wcpo.com/news/crime/ohio-chief-justice-convenes-wrongful-conviction-task-force
- New exoneree Charles Jackson preps for life-saving mission September 7, 2019Absolved finally of taking a life, Charles Jackson now has his sights set on saving one. Charles received the life-changing news at the end of last week that prosecutors in Cuyahoga County had finally decided to dismiss the charges against … Continue reading →
- Genetic DNA analysis prompts likely exoneration in Idaho murder case July 13, 2019Christopher Tapp, who spent two decades behind bars for the 1996 rape and murder of Idaho Falls resident, Angie Dodge, is expected to be exonerated this week. As reported in the Post Register, unreliable evidence — a coerced confession and … Continue reading →
- OIP Fellows this summer feature international flavor July 9, 2019If you've followed the Ohio Innocence Project for an extended period of time, you are probably aware that summer is one of the busiest periods around the OIP offices. The break between the end of spring semester in May and … Continue reading →
- 'Blind Injustice' set to premiere to sold-out run at Cincinnati Opera July 9, 2019"Very rarely in life are we given a gift as precious as this one. It's humbling to tell a story from people who have suffered so much, rallied so much and given us so much to believe in, in terms … Continue reading →
- Amanda Knox Returns to Italy. June 15, 2019Since her initial acquittal in Italy and return to the US in 2011, Amanda Knox has never returned to Italy. She has remained busy getting along with her life, writing, and in supporting movements dedicated to the pursuit of true … Continue reading →
- Annual Exonerations Report: A record number of years lost by those exonerated in 2018 April 9, 2019A record 1,639 years were lost in prison by those wrongly convicted and exonerated in 2018, according to "Exonerations in 2018," the annual report of The National Registry of Exonerations (NRE). The 151 persons exonerated in 2018 spent an average … Continue reading →
- Two Florida Men Freed After 42 Years in Prison for a Murder They Didn't Commit March 29, 2019Clifford Williams and Hubert Myers were convicted of murdering a woman while they were at a party in Jacksonville, Florida. Two women were shot in a nearby apartment, one of them fatally. The men were quickly arrested, convicted and sentenced … Continue reading →
- Wrongfully Convicted; "Beatrice Six" Awarded $28.1 million March 6, 2019"Six people were convicted of a murder they didn't even remember. Now a county owes them $28 million." Six people convicted of brutally raping and killing an elderly woman, but none of them had any memory of the crime . … Continue reading →
- The National Registry of Exonerations Releases 2019 Annual Report with Implications Heightened by COVID-19 Concerns March 31, 2020
Unlikely Friends
- Can Forgiveness Help? October 16, 2014Talking about the latest shooting tragedy in Santa Barbara with Living Your Inspired Life host, Susan Burrell. I've learned from others I interviewed that rarely is forgiveness immediate. We need to grieve and anger and frustration often come along with that. But sometimes, thru the pain, we arrive at forgiveness as the choice that heals Continue ReadingUnlikely Friends
- Jackson Hole News & Guide – Crook, Cop He Shot Are Now Friends October 27, 2013"In the three decades after Jackson Hole resident Mark Farnham shot state trooper Stephen Watt five times the two have become fast friends. Now their story is making it to television. Farnham was living in Jackson in 1982 when, motivated by deep debt, he decided to rob a bank in Craig, Colo. During Farnham's escape, Continue ReadingUnlikely Friends
- Science of the Mind Coverage – Crossing the Chasm: Radical Forgiveness in Action October 21, 2013"When we go beyond ideas of right and wrong, as Rumi says, we enter a "field." That field is oneness. Its seeds of peace, renewal, and love find fertile ground in our souls. To forgive is to allow these seeds to grow. Unlikely Friends, a documentary film by acclaimed director leslie Neale, presents remarkable stories Continue ReadingUnlikely Friends
- Huffington Post Coverage – The Other F Word October 16, 2013Unlikely Friends director, Leslie Neale, write a blog on forgiveness in the Huffington Post: "No, not that F word! I'm talking about forgiveness — letting go, turning the other cheek. That thing our predominantly Judeo/Christian society teaches us to do but rarely means for us to practice, especially when we or our loved ones have Continue ReadingUnlikely Friends
- An Editor Reflects: Paul Westmacott September 9, 2013I have often wondered where my film career would take me. So many times, I feel that the project picks me rather than me picking the project. It's sometimes a vulnerable feeling, as an editor, to think that one is not necessarily in control of their career path. But I have been very fortunate thus Continue ReadingUnlikely Friends
- Shift Network Features Unlikely Friends August 28, 2013"I think it was selfishness that brought me to make films about criminal justice reform. I was eight months pregnant when I witnessed a program of transformational healing for inmates at a Louisiana State Penitentiary. While sitting in a circle with hardened criminals, I immediately realized that the "monsters" I sat with could have been Continue Reading […]Unlikely Friends
- Summer of Peace Interview August 12, 2013This interview is part of the Summer of Peace Summit a free global telesummit featuring interviews of many of the world's leading peace builders! The Summer of Peace is a call to action – inviting us all and providing specific actions and steps we can take to create both inner peace in our own lives Continue ReadingUnlikely Friends
- Reaction to San Francisco Screening July 17, 2013What an amazing film. It was my story. I was nearly killed 7 years ago in a robbery by 4 guys on the street, one of whom was most responsible and got the biggest rap, attempted murder. I spent four years trying to find a way to meet him when I finally met Rochelle Edwards Continue ReadingUnlikely Friends
- CBS Los Angeles April 30, 2013Andrea Fujii gives the full report on the L.A. Benefit screening of Unlikely Friends.Unlikely Friends
- LA Progressive April 30, 2013Unlikely Friends: When Victims and Perpetrators Meet A few years back, after I spent an evening at a halfway house for men on parole, Sister Mary Sean Hodges challenged me. She has worked tirelessly through the Office of Restorative Justice, LA Archdiocese, on behalf of incarcerated men and women and those seeking to reenter society. Continue ReadingUnlikely Friends
- Can Forgiveness Help? October 16, 2014
TopicsAbuse ACLU Activism Aging In Prison Angola 3 California Colorado Confined Kids Control Unit Ethics Herman Wallace History Human Rights Watch Hunger Strike Insanity Mental Health Pelican Bay Political Prisoners Private Prisons Race Sensory Deprivation SHU Solitary Confinement Solitary Watch State Prisons Super-Max Surviving Solitary Torture Torture for $$$ Uncategorized
Texas Prison Bid'ness
- Somali Refugees Beaten by ICE Speak OutAs an update to our previous story, "LaSalle Guards Beat, Pepper Sprayed African Asylum Seekers," The Intercept reported on the grave abuses suffered by 30 Somali refugees through the story of one of the survivors, Guled Muhumed, this month. Muhumed had spent six months in ICE custody in eleven different facilities. He arrived to the West Texas Detention Fac […]
- Laura Monterrosa Released from T. Don Hutto Detention CenterFollowing a four month campaign and mounting community pressure, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released Laura Monterrosa from T. Don Hutto Detention Center on Friday, March 16.This victory came after Monterrosa reported sexual assault by a CoreCivic (formerly CCA, or Corrections Corporation of America) guard in November. While ICE and the William […]
- LaSalle Guards Beat, Pepper Sprayed African Asylum SeekersIn a shocking report, advocates exposed that 80 African detainees were subjected to physical and psychological torture by guards employed by private prison company LaSalle Corrections at the West Texas Detention Facility in Sierra Blanca. The San Antonio Express-News reported that the evidence for the report came from interviews with 30 men from Somalia who […]
- Bats Attack Detainees in Rio Grande The Texas Tribune reported that two immigrants detained at Rio Grande Detention Center suffered bat bites earlier this month. The private immigrant prison, operated by GEO Group, At least one person was undergoing treatment in case the bat could infect with rabies. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed the bites while it stated the facility was under […]
- Sadat Ibrahim Files Lawsuit for Prolonged DetentionThis month, San Antonio Express-News covered the story of Sadat Ibrahim, a gay asylum seeker from Ghana, who has filed a lawsuit with several other immigrants against Immigration and Customs Enforcement for holding asylum seekers in "onerous conditions" to deter them from pursuing their claims.The lawsuit states that the government is subjecting immigrants " […]
- State Senator Bribery Trial DelayedThe bribery cases against State Senator Carlos Uresti and former Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo continue in their profiting from Reeves County Detention Complex. KSAT reported developments this month that Uresti was scheduled alongside businessman Vernon Farthing to be tried in May. As of March 19, according to San Antonio Express News, Uresti's trial has […]
- Audit Reveals ICE Failed to Follow Procurement Guidelines, High Cost for Texas Detention CenterThe Texas Monitor reported this month that an audit of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed financial irresponsibility that cost detainees and taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. The audit by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General states that ICE used the town of Eloy, Arizona as a middleman to contract wi […]
- Lawsuit against CoreCivic Condemns Forced LaborHutto Detention Center has been in the spotlight since three women came forward last November to report complaints of sexual assault at the hands of guards in the facility. Now, a class action lawsuit against Corecivic (formerly Corrections Corporation of America, or CCA) has been filed by Martha Gonzalez on behalf of detainees who have been forced to work i […]
- Congressional letter calls for investigation of T. Don HuttoOn Monday, February 26, a group of 43 Democratic representatives sent a letter urging Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to take immediate action to stop sexual assault in Texas detention facilities. The letter calls for a review of the agency's handling of sexual assault complaints and an expedited audit T. Don Hutto Detention Center following three […]
- Littlefield Revealed for In-Correct CareIn a damning exposé, the Texas Observer reported on the insufficient treatment and inhumane conditions at Texas Civil Commitment Center in Littlefield, Texas. The Texas Civil Commitment Center is a lockdown facility for men who have been convicted of sex offenses, operated by Correct Care Recovery Solutions in the former Bill Clayton Detention Center. The st […]
- Somali Refugees Beaten by ICE Speak Out
The Prison Enquirer
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Category Archives: Maine
Maine Officials Seeking Pepper-spray Video Leak
When one officer pinned his head to the chair, Schlosser struggled and spit at an officer. Welch sprayed him at close range with pepper spray, called OC spray, from a canister intended to be used on multiple people at a … Continue reading
Posted in Human Rights Watch, Maine, Pepper Spray 2 Comments
ACLU Releases Report on Solitary Confinement Reform in Maine
March 11, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; email@example.com Maine's Success Shows Reform is Both Necessary and Possible "Solitary confinement is dangerous, cruel and costly. Thankfully, a movement to reform solitary is growing quickly, and we are hopeful that … Continue reading
Posted in ACLU, Maine, Reform Tagged Maine, Solitary confinement 4 Comments


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Click the link below to learn more about PayForIt.net and how you can load funds onto your students lunch account.
The District has engaged Pomptonian Food Service for the 2020-2021 school year. Since good nutrition is important for the learning process, the District's Food Service Department will continue to serve a nutritionally balanced breakfast and hot, nutritious lunches from the very first day of school. Our breakfast/lunch meal options comply with the most recent State and Federal guidelines for food groups, calories and nutrition. Recent changes to these guidelines reflect current research and emphasize lower fat products and more fruits, vegetables and grains. Our Food Services Department participates in the State and Federal lunch programs and acquires many subsidized or free commodities from the Department of Agriculture. This effort to use government programs has enabled the Food Services Department to provide breakfast/lunch at prices below Federal maximums. The cost for breakfast/lunch for the 2020-2021 school year is listed below:
We will continue to offer Prepaid Lunch, which will enable you to purchase lunches in advance. Payment may be made by check, payable to the West Milford School District Cafeteria, and should be placed in an envelope with the following information on it: your child's name, grade, teacher's name, and the amount of money in the envelope.
You can now apply ONLINE through the Parent Portal.
We look forward to serving your children nutritious meals to sustain them through the school day. For further information or if you have any questions, please contact Jeff Roepke, Supervisor of Food Services, at 973-697-1701, extension 7022.
If you need further assistance, please contact the Cook/Managers of your child's school listed below:
Here are some web links to get more information on diet and nutrition:

subset: commoncrawl


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If I am going to be away, or if I just do not have enough time I feed Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe adult dog food by Blue Buffalo and I would recommend it to anyone.
I feed the puppy version of this food. Any input on Blue Buffalo? I've been pretty impressed with it, myself.


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This is one of the best AMVs I have ever watched. It even has a remix of that Fireflies song that makes me like the song.
Filed under: AMV | Tagged: 2010, akuto, akuto sai, AMV, Angel Beats, anime, april, awesome, Bakemonogatari, band, blu ray, devil, devil king, drums, dvd, episode, fansub, fireflies, Giant Killing, girl, gourmet race, great, guitar, Hankuouki: Shinsengumi Kitan, hirasawa, hirasawa yui, Ichiban Ushiro no Dai Maou, Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaō, iron man, january, Japan, japanese, K-On, kadokawa, keyboard, Kirby, Kiss x Sis, mad, magic, mahou, majutsu, manga, matsuoka, mayoi neko overrun, mio, music, nico, nico nico douga, nippon, online, owl city, promo, RAINBOW - Nisha Rokubo no Shichinin, ritsu, sai, sai akuto, season, second season, shuzo, shuzo matsuoka, streaming, Sōta, Sōta Takanashi, takanashi, takanashi sota, trailer, tsumugi, video, what the fuck, why, working, wtf, YUI, yui hirasawa | Leave a comment »


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CIA World Factbook Photos, 8: American Samoa, French Polynesia, Guam, Fiji
Posted by Laurie Frost on December 5, 2009
On a cold winter's night we head to the South Seas for more public domain photos from the CIA World Factbook, starting with French Polynesia. To remind you, to download these photos, start with the homepage (see link above) and use the dropdown menu "Select a Country or Location," and that will take you to that country's page for maps, flags, photos (in some cases) and a lot of information.
Downtown Bora Bora
Moorea, French Polynesia
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Kuata, Yasawa Islands Group, Fiji
Two Lovers' Point, Guam
Below: Map of Oceania, and small maps in which squares denote relative locations of the four countries in this post. The maps, like the images are in the public domain and courtesy of the CIA World Factbook.
Clockwise: Locations of American Samoa, Guam, French Polynesia, and Fiji
The flag of French Polynesia
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text: Health & Medicine Mysterious kidney disease killing thousands of laborers in Central America The World December 13, 2011 In Central America's sugarcane field, more and more workers are coming down with a disease that shuts down their kidneys. Researchers are struggling for a cause. Chemicals on the fields? Heat? Overwork? No one knows, but it's a leading cause of death for men in El Salvador and Nicaragua.


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After a too-fun-for-words trip to Austin, Texas spent noshing on BBQ and tacos, tubing down the San Marcos river, and sampling the beers from a variety of outdoor bars, I am officially relieved that I don't have to squeeze into an swimsuit for the rest of the year. Summer, you had your moment. I think it's about time you go.
Now that that's out of the way, let's welcome fall: Apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, flaky pastry, and warm, delicious decadence. Oh, how I have longed for you.
This pastry, just like the lovely Pioneer Woman promises, is really both quick and easy. And it ain't half bad to look at either, huh?
All it calls for is one sheet of puffed pastry, a couple of apples, brown sugar, a dash of salt and my two best friends come fall: cinnamon and nutmeg. When you've stopped drooling over the picture and are ready to bake… Slice the apples, toss 'em with the sugar and spices, eat a few, and then lay them out on the thawed pastry all fancy-like, if you want. (Has it been scientifically proven yet that pretty, layered dishes always taste better, or is it just my opinion?) Then, stick 'er in the oven for 18-20 minutes, and you've got a gorgeous dessert.
This apple tart is casual enough to enjoy with someone special or by yourself wrapped up in your Snuggie, but it's also good lookin' enough to serve to guests. It's delicate, decadent and absolutely delicious, and I know you, or anyone lucky enough to enjoy it, will agree!
Craving more? Keep in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for new post updates and more. You can also check out my FAQ page, or contact me with any questions or inquiries!
Quick & Easy Apple Tart
Yield: Serves 4
Arrange apple slices on the pastry rectangles in a straight line, overlapping as you go. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until pastry is puffed and golden brown.
Remove from pan immediately and place on a serving platter. Serve plain, with caramel topping, whipped cream, or a sprinkling of powdered sugar.
Adapted from Pioneer Woman


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Locating snipers? Yep, there's an app for that
The smartphone system, called SOLOMON (for ShOoter LOcalization with SMartphONnes), needs several nodes to pinpoint a shooter's location
You're in the Labor Day crowd at the state fair with a group of friends. Suddenly, you hear gun shots. They sound close. Your group dives for cover behind a knackwurst stand. Several of you pull out your smartphones. Maps of the vicinity automatically pop up on their screens with large red arrows pointing in the location the shots came from.
Computer engineers at Vanderbilt University have made gunshot location scenarios like this possible by developing an inexpensive hardware module and related software that may one day transform Android smartphones into simple shooter location systems. The app, however, is yet to be released to app stores since the researchers are still looking for a company to make the hardware sensor modules required to make the system work.
The primary driver behind the idea is the military, which already has dedicated systems that locate gunshots, although they tend to be expensive.
"The smartphone-based approach saves cost and weight," said Akos Ledeczi, a Vanderbilt professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Also, Ledeczi said, most existing systems are not networked. The strength of his approach, he said, is the networking of multiple sensors.
The smartphone system, called SOLOMON (for ShOoter LOcalization with SMartpONnes), needs several nodes to pinpoint a shooter's location. Thus, as designed, the app is best suited for police or security teams.
Ledeczi said at least six sensors are necessary to perform accurate sniper localization.
Besides the smartphone, SOLOMON consists of an external sensor module about the size of a deck of cards that contains the microphones and the processing capability required to detect the acoustic signature of gunshots, log their time, and send that information to the smartphones via Bluetooth. The smartphones then transmit that information to the other smartphone modules, allowing them to obtain the origin of the gunshot by triangulation.
Ledeczi told Homeland1 the concept can be extended to first responders as well.
"In that case, the shooter's location may not be the most important, but giving an automatic warning to dispatch that shots were fired in the vicinity of an officer could potentially save lives," he said. Again, he said, a dedicated system would be much more costly than a smartphone that presumably most officers already carry.
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LONDON – Sometimes I just like to photograph this wonderful city. Here are just a few things that caught my eye.
Tag Archives: scones
I'm seeing red
LONDON – Red is London's colour. It's everywhere and I love it.
You're probably all familiar with this photo – the public telephone kiosk. It's everywhere you go and although you can't miss them – they were deliberately painted red for easy spotting – you'll never really see anyone using them.
This is because with the diaspora of mobile phones, people don't really need to use them any more. I will tell you one thing though. If you peer inside one of them, you'll see plenty of naughty pictures of women looking for clients!
But as I said, red is London's colour and I can prove it.
This is a red letter box. They're all red here.
So are the buses.
Even their food is red!
Their street signs and logos make use of the colour too.
And the men don't shy away from the colour either.
And neither does the postman. Here's his new mail cart. Although not everyone has been keen to use this upgrade.
I know a guy who likes the colour so much he even calls himself Red Ed.
Do you have any photos of Red London to share? Have I missed any important red objects?


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(written from a Production point of view)
Alex Madison (formerly known as Gail Monian) is a stuntwoman and stunt actress who served as stunt double for Linda Park in the Star Trek: Enterprise third season episode "Extinction". She received no on-screen credit for her work.
Madison was married to fellow Star Trek stuntman Christopher Leps (2002-2005). In 2004 she has been nominated for two Taurus World Stunt Awards for best high work and best overall stunt by a stuntwoman in the film Once upon a time in Mexico (2003) where she doubled lead actress Salma Hayek.
Among her stunt resume are films such as Out of Sight (1998, with Wayne Pere, James Black, Joe Chrest, and stunts by Peewee Piemonte and Brian J. Williams), Wild Wild West (1999, with James Lashly, Ian Abercrombie, Musetta Vander, and stunts by Eddie Braun, Ann Chatterton, Gary Epper, Anita Hart, Diana Lee Inosanto, Lane Leavitt, Joyce McNeal, Derek Mears, Lincoln Simonds, and Scott Workman), Mission: Impossible II (2000, with stunts by Erik Stabenau), Spider-man (2002, with Kirsten Dunst, Jill Sayre, and Spice Williams-Crosby), Men in Black II (2002), Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002, with Clint Howard, Angela Meryl, and stunts by Kim Koscki, Charlie Brewer, and Alex Chansky), Spartan (2004, with Steven Culp), and After the Sunset (2004, with Robert Curtis Brown, Mark Moses, and stunts by Steve Kelso, Eddie Matthews, and Peewee Piemonte).
Madison has also appeared in television series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, V.I.P. (2001, with Dayo Ade, Tim Sitarz, Scott Workman, and Christopher Leps), Players, Charmed, Passions, Angel, Birds of Prey (starring Dina Meyer), Boston Public (starring Jeri Ryan), C.S.I. New York, Crossing Jordan, and She Spies (with Elle Alexander and Spice Williams-Crosby).
External linksEdit
- AlexMadisonOnline.com(X) – official site
- Alex Madison at the Internet Movie Database
- Alex Madison at Stuntplayers.com
- Alex Madison's stunt reel at Vimeo.com


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HollyMoms, We Watched The New Show 'The Talk' So That You Don't Have To!
The Talk made its premiere on CBS this afternoon. We settled in to watch the ladies dish the dirt on motherhood and parenting, but were left disappointed.
CBS' new hour-long chat show The Talk (which premiered today) is certainly not The View 2.0. Sure, the show starts with a lot of famous faces as hosts — Julie Chen, Leah Remini, Sharon Osbourne, Holly Robinson Peete and Sara Gilbert — sitting around a table (which is actually distracting because the table is a tad too high so it cuts their bodies off at an unflattering angle and seeing their legs below the table is equally distracting) but that's where the similarities with Barbara Walters' show end.
On The View, the women have real chemistry with each other and they're certainly not afraid to speak their minds or even walk off the set when they disagree with a guest. The women of The Talk are all mothers, but they don't seem comfortable enough with each other to truly disagree — perhaps that's only because it was their first show.
Leah Remini admits that she's a pushover parent.
Find out who else isn't strict with their kids
Strangely enough the topic that got the most reaction out of the ladies as well as the audience occurred during a discussion on the proper age to start talking to kids about sex. While experts informed their "reporter on the streets" Marissa Jaret Winokur, 37, that she should be using the proper anatomy terms when talking to her son, Zev, 2, she decided that it was just too creepy a conversation to have with her toddler.
Read what Marissa Jaret Winokur has to say about motherhood
Leah, 40, didn't like the expert's advice either and admitted that she refers to her 6-year-old daughter Sofia's privates as her "cupcake." That's when the audience went wild. Apparently, it is not OK to refer to a body part as a dessert, yet none of the woman, except Holly, 46, seemed to want to use words like penis and vagina around their offspring.
In fact, Julie said that sex education should be taught in schools so that kids can come home with questions. Yeah, that sounds like a great idea, doesn't it, HollyMoms? Just think about all the fun facts they could pick up on the school bus ride home.
What I also noticed is that the women go through the trouble of getting an expert's opinion, and then completely disregard their advice. I can't help but wonder, if the hosts don't care to listen, why should I?
Will the stars of Teen Mom ever be on The Talk? We hope so!
Former supermodel Christie Brinkley, 56, also stopped by to chat with the women on the couch (after they finally moved away from that horrible table). Besides sharing beauty tips (do squats while blowdrying your hair and eat only organic foods) she discussed the drawbacks that fame has had on her 24-year-old daughter, singer Alexa Ray Joel. "She's beautiful, gorgeous. Yet she gets picked on because she just doesn't look like me," says Christie. I'd like to tell you more about what Christie had to say about Alexa being bullied but Julie, 40, cut her off mid-sentence to go to a commercial break.
Marissa cried every night when she first became a mom
The Talk seems like it should work, but instead, I found that sitting through 60 minutes of their baby babble felt like work – a lot of work. Yes, I took one for the team, HollyMoms. And I suggest that if your kids are down for a nap around the time that The Talk is on, you'll feel better about yourself if you take a nap yourself instead of tuning into this dull gabfest.


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Pasta with tuna & tomato sauce
Nutrition and extra info
- kcal553
- fat10g
- saturates1g
- carbs102g
- sugars1g
- fibre5g
- protein21g
- salt0.52g
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Olive oilol-iv oyl
Probably the most widely-used oil in cooking, olive oil is pressed from fresh olives. It's…
- 1 onion, chopped
Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 400g can chopped tomatoes with herbs
- ½ tsp chilli powder
- 1 tsp sugar
Honey and syrups made from concentrated fruit juice were the earliest known sweeteners. Today,…
- 500g pkt pasta bows
Pasta is the Italian name for Italy's version of a basic foodstuff which is made in many…
- 100g can tuna, drained
A member of the mackerel family, tuna are mainly found in the world's warmer oceans. They…
- handful of basil leaves, optional
Heat the oil in a pan, throw in the onion and cook for a couple of minutes. Stir in the garlic, tomatoes, chilli and sugar. Season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Give it a good stir, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the pasta and cook according to packet instructions. Flake the tuna into the sauce and heat through. Drain the pasta, return to the pan and stir in the sauce and basil leaves if you have any. Serve with a generous grinding of pepper.


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Friday, March 14, 2014
Hola Amigas! It's time for another Sketch Frenzy Friday! I hope you will be inspired to use our sketch and share with us! Come by and see all the SFF Design Team inspiration and upload your artwork too!
I made two samples in MDS.
What I love about MDS is that I can make samples to show my clients and easily change any
elements that they don't like. It's also a great tool for me to play around with ideas myself before
I go make my own cards.
So for my second I flipped the sketch but as you can see it definitely changes the look of the card.
I felt I had more empty space to work with. We would all love to see your creations.
Please share them and come by and see the Design Team's artwork too.
Labels: SFF031414, Sketch Frenzy Friday | 0 comments
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Nathan's First Communion
Hola Amigas! I am happily making First Communion Invites.
Here is one I made for a client. I love it. And of course so doe she.
This is what we love about it. The way it opens. Not a big deal but its different.
I hope you like it too!
Paper: Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue (retired)
Stamp: Crosses of Hope
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Basic Pearls, Silver Embossing Powder, Corner Punch
Monday, March 10, 2014
Challenge 244-Wind Elements
Hola Amigas! For the next two weeks we would love to see your artwork that showcases wind elements. Kites, butterflies, clouds are just some examples. I hope you will join the LNS Design Team. We have great samples to inspire you and would also love for you to upload your inspiration.
I hope you like mine. Sometimes it feels good to do a CAS card.
Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Garden Green, Tempting Turquoise, Island Indigo, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango
Ribbon: Calypso Coral (retired)
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Solimar's 9th Birthday Wish Favors
Hola Amigas! I have been away too long. Joaquin has a ruptured ear drum and a double ear infection and Solimar and I had the stomach bug. I also am working on a 12 day migraine. I really need better weather. Although can't complain about yesterday, it was GORGEOUS!
Here is the favors I made for Solimar's 9th Birthday wish. I used the In-Colors to wrap all the paint cans and die cut the letters for their name. I used paint samples to write "Thank you for coming".
Paper: 13'-15' In-Color DSP, Baked Brown Sugar, Sunny Garden DSP (retired), Whisper White
Ribbon: Sycamore Street Ribbon and Button Pack (retired)
Accessories: Big Shot, Serif Essentials
Labels: Favors, Marisol Gutierrez, Solimar's 9th Birthday, Stampin' UP | 0 comments
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Paper Pumpkin
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ABC finally confirmed all of the Season 9 pairings for "Dancing With the Stars" on Monday.
The pairings set to compete for ballroom glory are:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 9: The Celebs & Their Partners
- Pop star Aaron Carter teams with Karina Smirnoff, who returns for her seventh season
- Olympic champion swimmer Natalie Coughlin teams with Season 1 champion Alec Mazo, who returns for his fifth season
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 9 Cast Revealed!
- "Iron Chef" actor Mark Dacascos joins Lacey Schwimmer, who returns for her third season
- Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay teams up with two-time champion Cheryl Burke, who returns for her eighth season
- Grammy winner Macy Gray teams with Jonathan Roberts, who returns for his seventh season
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing' Reality Darling Melissa Rycroft
- Actor and comedian Ashley Hamilton teams with Edyta Sliwinska, who is the only pro to compete in all nine seasons of "Dancing With the Stars."
- Actress Melissa Joan Hart teams up with reigning two-time "Dancing With the Stars" champ Mark Ballas, who returns for his fifth season.
- Model Kathy Ireland teams with Tony Dovolani, who returns for his eighth season.
- NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin teams with Season 8's professional dancer competition winner Anna Demidova, who makes her debut.
- Model Joanna Krupa teams with Season 7 champ Derek Hough, who returns for his fifth season.
- Ultimate Fighting champion Chuck Liddell teams with Anna Trebunskaya, who returns for her fourth season.
Season 9 of "Dancing With the Stars" will return with a three-night premiere on ABC on September 21 at 8 PM EST.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: Donny Osmond On Joining 'Dancing With The Stars' (August 16, 2009)
PLAY IT NOW: AUDIO: Kelly Osbourne On Joining 'Dancing With The Stars' (August 17, 2009)
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Dancing With the Stars - Lacey Schwimmer - Melissa Joan Hart - Derek Hough - Pop


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A$AP Rocky Performs "Long Live A$AP" & "Wild For The Night" Live on David Letterman!
Long Live A$AP album in stores now
Posted by @Worldstarvids
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After sitting conspicuously empty for more than 21 months, the large retail location at the corner of U.S. 287 and Midway Boulevard, in the heart of Broomfield, last week welcomed a new tenant.
Home decor and crafting super store Garden Ridge quietly opened on Thursday, bringing more than 100,000 square feet of decorative merchandise to the building at 1660 W. Midway Blvd., which from 1995 to January 2012 was home to Target.
The Broomfield store is the Texas-based chain's 64th and first in Colorado. A Colorado Springs location, store No. 65, is coming soon, according to Garden Ridge officials.
"We've never been into Colorado before," Garden Ridge district manager Ted Minkevich said last week. "We're incredibly interested in coming to this market."
Minkevich said that in the ramp-up to opening, the store was attracting a lot of interest from consumers eager to see what was taking the spot of the prominently placed former Target.
"It's a good thing," he said. "Everyone was very curious when we were going to open and just find out what it is."
Garden Ridge is still making plans for a grand opening date that may be accompanied by sales, Minkevich said.
The store, which according to company officials will feature more than 500,000 home decor items, is expected to employ around 20 people.
Anne Lane, an economic development specialist with Broomfield, said Garden Ridge is a great fit for the centrally located site.
"What's nice about it is it fills the entire former Target," Lane said. "And it fills the need for specialty retail that our Broomfield residents are looking for, a unique retailer that is in Broomfield that maybe you can't get somewhere else."
The hope is that by being the only Garden Ridge in the north-metro area, the location might draw shoppers from outside the city as well, Lane said.
The Target closure came shortly after the 155,000-square-foot Great Indoors store in the Broomfield's FlatIron Marketplace closed and just a few months before the Kmart that long occupied the space at 5005 W. 120th Ave. shut its doors, magnifying concerns about the city's retail climate.
Deputy City and County Manager Kevin Standbridge said Garden Ridge's opening improves that climate in the immediate area and in Broomfield as a whole.
"I think personally the most important thing is the residents in the area and the other business people have an active, productive building … and it's bringing people in that will hopefully patronize other businesses," Standbridge said. "And for the larger community, driving in and seeing an active and robust use is really positive. We're just thrilled."
Broomfield's commercial vacancy rate fell from 13 percent to 10 percent between the second and third financial quarter this year, according to Lane. She said economic development officials are still looking for a tenant to fill the former Kmart.
"… Broomfield is unaware of any immediate plans for a new retailer to fill the former Kmart store on 120th," Lane said in an email. "We continue to seek retailers to activate vacant spaces and bring those brands who are new to the market to create a diverse shopping experience for residents and visitors of Broomfield."
In efforts to drive down vacancy rates and boost new development City Council on Tuesday voted to create a new urban renewal area that covers a sizeable portion of the city, including the lot that Garden Ridge now calls home.
The measure discontinued two existing urban renewal areas and created a new, single area with expanded borders. The area now stretches from 120th Avenue just east of Garden Ridge westward to include the Garden Center area, properties along Industrial Lane, where it runs parallel to U.S. 36, and a group of shopping centers on the south side of the highway, including FlatIron Marketplace.
The urban renewal area will provide tax increment financing for developments within its borders, using expected future gains in tax revenue to pay off debt incurred making improvements in the area. The biggest improvement the city is planning for the area is a pedestrian and bike connection — and eventually a roadway connection — linking Midway Boulevard on the north side of the train tracks the run through the area to Industrial Lane on the south, Standbridge said.
A majority of the 35-acre FlatIron Marketplace shopping center, which, in addition to losing the Great Indoors, also saw retailers such as Nordstrom Rack leave in recent years, was sold in August to Provident Realty Advisors, Inc. The Great Indoors building is owned by Sears Holding Corp. and was not purchased by Provident.
While the new owner's plans for the struggling center are not yet known, city officials are hopeful they will bring new life to the center located among many new multi-family housing developments along U.S. 36.
"They're really assessing the situation and further evaluating the market," Standbridge said. "We're scheduled to sit down with them in the next few weeks. We're looking forward to it."


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Press Release
Lemon Bay Playhouse
96 W. Dearborn St
Englewood, FL 34223
Upcoming Production of "Tuesdays with Morrie"
The Lemon Bay Playhouse announces its upcoming show, "Tuesdays with Morrie". The play, the fifth production of the season, was written by Mitch Albom and will be directed by Ric Goodwin. Ric is also the Artistic/Production Manager for Lemon Bay Playhouse. The performances will run from March 8 through April 2, 2017.
This strong and touching drama tells the autobiographical story of Mitch Albom, an accomplished journalist driven solely by his career, and Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor. After a 16 year separation, their rekindled relationship turned into one final 'class': lessons in how to live. The pair journey down a path in which the older man passes lessons of life to the younger man, who will always remember his Tuesdays with Morrie - an inspiring and unforgettable evening of theatre.
As a director, one of Ric's primary obligations is to attempt to get the audience to suspend their disbelief and draw them into "the world of the play." With most of the plays you see at LBP, the directors use "realism", such as realistic settings. Plays are presented as if you are looking through a fourth wall into the setting of the play. Realistic props such as telephones that ring and radios that play, etc. are examples that directors will use as visual reinforcement in telling the story.
Ric has chosen to go in a different direction with Tuesdays with Morrie. He would ask you instead to focus on the two characters and the inspiring and poignant words they are sharing with you. At times they will talk directly to you; at times to each other face-to-face. And at times, incorporating a theatrical technique called offstage focus, they will project the characters they are talking to out and above you. Some props you will see; others will be pantomimed and seen with your mind's eye. Places in the play will be suggested and through the dialogue become obvious.
So he asks you to join him on this less-is-more, minimalistic journey, as we share this beautiful story that Mitch Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher have given to us.
Be sure to get a good seat by booking early. Information and tickets are available online at www.lemonbayplayhouse.com or by visiting or calling the Box Office at (941) 475-6756 between 10:00am and 2:00pm weekdays and one hour prior to curtain time. Reserved seat tickets are $18. Student tickets are available at $12 each.
When: Wednesday, March 8 through Sunday, April 2, 2017. Curtain is at 7:30pm Wednesday through Saturday and 2:00pm on Sundays
Where: Lemon Bay Playhouse
96 W. Dearborn St.
Englewood, FL 34223
941-475-6756 (Box Office)
Cost: Reserved seat tickets: $18 each; students (with proper ID): $12


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No. 25 Kentucky survives Alabama 55-48
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky players looked unsure of themselves much of the time against Alabama, a nervousness resulting in a stat sheet and game film not worth looking at.
In spite of everything the 25th-ranked Wildcats won Tuesday night, an outcome that was beginning to look doubtful.
Julius Randle had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Kentucky rallied past the Crimson Tide 55-48 to end a two-game losing streak.
Needing a bounce after Saturday's loss at South Carolina and with a huge hurdle looming this weekend at No. 1 Florida, the Wildcats (22-8, 12-5 Southeastern Conference) used a 15-2 second-half run to build a 43-34 lead. They added several smaller runs to hold off the stubborn Crimson Tide (12-18, 6-11) in their regular season home finale.
Kentucky avoided its first three-game losing streak under coach John Calipari and clinched second place in the conference.
It wasn't easy or pretty for the Wildcats, whose 33 percent shooting (16 of 49) reflected their generally tentative play against the Crimson Tide's zone defense. But a couple of timely dunks by Dakari Johnson and 3-pointers by Aaron and Andrew Harrison keyed the run that helped put away Alabama.
"We shot (33) percent for the game and won. I'm happy," Calipari said. "We're still not all the way back. Guys were really tentative."
Trevor Releford had 13 points for Alabama.
Johnson made all four of his shots and had nine points with five rebounds. James Young also had nine points for Kentucky despite 1-of-11 shooting.
To Johnson, the ones he and his teammates made were all that mattered.
"We felt like we just needed to get back on that path of just winning," Johnson said. "Just the feeling of how it feels to win and I think it is a good start for us. Hopefully, we can just carry it on."
The Wildcats outrebounded Alabama 41-27 — including a 15-6 advantage on the offensive end — and made 18 of 24 free throws in the home finale for seniors Jarrod Polson and Jon Hood, members of the 2012 NCAA championship team.
They both contributed 3-pointers to start the game for Kentucky and chipped in valuable minutes that helped shake the Wildcats from their funk.
Alabama shot just 33 percent in the second half and 38 percent overall.
"I thought they did a really good job of attacking and taking care of our mistakes," Alabama coach Anthony Grant said, "especially in the (second) half taking away some momentum, getting energy back in the building and just benefiting off of those type of plays."
Though rough at times, Kentucky's win temporarily quelled anxiety among its fervent fan base over the late swoon. Certainly, there was cause for concern following Saturday's loss in which the Wildcats had to rally from a 16-point second-half deficit with Calipari in the locker room after being ejected.
And though Kentucky faced an Alabama squad that had won just three of its last 10 coming in, the Crimson Tide's 73-57 win over rival Auburn on Saturday symbolized what can happen when everything is working. Levi Randolph's 24 points led the way and the junior guard had scored 70 points in his last three games. He had eight points Tuesday night.
However, SEC player of the year candidate Releford provided the Crimson Tide's spark in a low-scoring first half by recording nine of their first 13 points to quiet cheers for fan favorites Hood and Polson.
The Wildcats regrouped to take a 21-20 lead on a free throw by Willie Cauley-Stein, an aspect that helped them trail just 28-25 at halftime despite 6-of-25 shooting. Kentucky took 15 free throws, three times as many as Alabama, making 11.
Then came the energy and ball movement Calipari had waited for all game from his players, just as they seemed resigned to just stay close. Trailing 32-28, Randle made consecutive baskets, the Harrisons added consecutive 3-pointers and Johnson sandwiched dunks around a free throw by Young.
The big run over 4:57 provided Kentucky's biggest lead at 43-34. Alabama got within 48-47 on Randolph's jumper with 5:11 left but only added a free throw by Releford after that.


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Discover splitboarding
Choosing a splitboard is an important decision. Your splitboard will be an extension of your body in undeniably committing situations. No matter what terrain you ride, when you head into the backcountry it's imperative that you execute your tour and make it back to the trailhead efficiently.
Everything you need to know to get you started: adjusting tip, tail and split clips and helpful videos to help you set up your new splitboard.
Climbing skin performance can make or break your day in the backcountry. If your skins do not fit your splitboard, or they are not properly maintained, you are asking for trouble. Find out how to adjust and take care of your skins.
Collapsible poles are the four-wheel drive of your backcountry ascent gear. They keep you from slipping and sliding as you shuffle up the skintrack and give you balance in the bootpack. For best pole performance it's important to set your poles to the proper length for your height.
High Performance, Sustainably Made Gear
We design gear that balances performance, durability and sustainability. We strive to make equipment you can trust with the most eco-conscious materials possible. New for 2020, all our snowboards and splitboards are molded with Super Sap Bio-Resin.
Proud member of 1% For The Planet, we donate 1% of sales to fight climate change by supporting our non-profit partners Protect Our Winters and Community Carbon Trees.


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LONDON, March 1 (UPI) -- Ricky Gervais, creator of the original British version of the comedy series "The Office," has taped a mini-episode of the show to air on the BBC.
Gervais reprises his role of office manager David Brent in "The Office Revisited," which will air March 15 as part of the British network's annual Red Nose Day fundraiser for Comic Relief. It will also be posted on YouTube that day, EW.com reported.
"It has been 10 years since we last saw David Brent," Gervais said in a statement. "I thought it was time to revisit my most famous comedy creation to find out what he's been up to for the last decade and most importantly what he's up to now. ... He is passing on his wisdom to younger would-be rock stars now and is living vicariously through a young performer, Dom Johnson. Well, really he is trying to worm his way back into rock 'n' roll. Fans of 'The Office' will be excited to know we finally get to hear the whole of 'The Serpent Who Guards the Gates of Hell' and an amazing Brent self-funded video, 'Equality Street.' Horrendous."
The celebrated British version of "The Office" ran for two seasons (2001-03) and included 14 episodes. A U.S. adaptation of the workplace comedy is wrapping up its 8th season this spring.


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YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - Counting the cost of anti-Japanese protests in a territorial dispute with China, Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) cut its full-year net profit forecast by a fifth to $3.99 billion, and said it had lost share in its biggest market.
Nissan joins Honda Motor (7267.T) in revising down its forecasts for the year - Honda also lopped a fifth off its guidance - but bigger rival Toyota Motor (7203.T) on Monday nudged up its forecast as it is less exposed to a China market where growth is slowing and Japanese goods have been boycotted.
Demand for Nissan, Honda and Toyota cars in China, the world's biggest auto market, was virtually halved due to the protests in September and October sparked by a row over disputed islets in the East China Sea. Nissan is the most exposed of the three to China, where it has 27 percent of its vehicle sales.
July-September net profit rose 7.7 percent to 106 billion yen ($1.32 billion), Nissan said on Tuesday, despite lower than expected car sales in the United States and Europe. That was well ahead of an average estimate for 91.4 billion yen by seven analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The full impact of the China damage will come through in the current second half.
The company said that over the first half of its financial year, a stronger yen against Russian and Brazilian currencies, and higher selling costs, ate into operating profit.
The new full-year net profit forecast of 320 billion yen is some way below an estimate of 360 billion yen by Thomson Reuters StarMine's SmartEstimate, which places greater emphasis on timely forecasts by top-rated analysts.
"Given the share price performance, I suspect a lot of the bad news is priced in already," said Christopher Richter, senior analyst at CLSA Asia-Pacific markets in Tokyo. "The one silver lining, their first-half dividend - which they hiked 25 percent - maybe that's something that will make the market feel a little better when it comes to looking at the reduced earnings."
Nissan and its China joint venture with Dongfeng Automobile Group (0489.HK) sold 64,300 vehicles in China in October, down 41 percent from a year earlier. January-October sales slipped 0.4 percent to 1.01 million vehicles.
The company trimmed its 2012 China sales forecast to 1.175 million vehicles from a previous 1.35 million. Globally, it said it now expects to sell 5.08 million vehicles in the year to end-March, down from a previous estimate for 5.35 million.
Nissan's Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga told reporters that the cut in the firm's full-year operating profit forecast - to 575 billion yen from 700 billion yen - took into account a 60 billion yen hit from falling sales in China.
"We are gradually seeing signs of recovery (in China). Customers are gradually coming back to dealerships," Shiga said, adding that Nissan's China market share dipped to 6.3 percent in July-September from 7.5 percent in January-June.
He said visitors to the company's China dealerships were back to around 80 percent of pre-dispute levels, and orders were running at about 70 percent.
Earlier, BMW (BMWG.DE), the world's largest premium carmaker, beat expectations with its quarterly profits, driven in part by rampant demand in China.
In the United States, Nissan's second-biggest market - and one that has proved too much for Japan's 4th-largest car maker Suzuki Motor Corp (7269.T) - the automaker faced production delays around July for its top-selling Altima mid-sized sedan, which faces intense competition in a crowded mid-size family sedan market from Toyota's Camry, the Honda Accord, Ford's (F.N) Fusion, and models from GM (GM.N), Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) and Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE).
Nissan's U.S. sales skidded 3.2 percent in October from a year ago, to 79,685 vehicles.
Shiga said Nissan trimmed its U.S. sales forecast for the year to March to 1.175 million vehicles from a previous forecast of 1.2 million, due to a local supply crunch.
Nissan, 43.4 percent-held by Renault SA (RENA.PA), is one of the frontrunners in the auto industry's push into electric cars, but Nissan has sold only 42,700 of its Leaf EV since its launch almost two years ago, underperforming initial expectations as drivers have been put off by the short distances EVs can run without re-charging the battery. With the air conditioner on, the Leaf can run for about 120 km (75 miles).
"We are gradually grasping why customers are hestitant to buy EVs, what troubles them after their purchase, or what makes them happy. We are coming up with measures," Shiga said.
Seeking to grow in emerging markets - where some analysts have criticized its late entry - Nissan last week said it would spend $358 million to build a second assembly plant in Thailand, due to open in mid-2014 with annual capacity of 75,000 vehicles, later rising to 150,000. Nissan's existing Thai plant can produce 220,000 cars and pickup trucks a year.
Japanese investment has surged into Southeast Asia on hopes for sustained growth in the region and as China's appeal is undermined by rising wage costs and spiking tensions over the territorial disputes.
Shares in Nissan, valued at close to $39 billion, have slipped 2 percent so far this year, trailing Toyota's 26 percent gain and Honda's 3 percent rise. Nissan shares, which last month touched a 13-month low, closed down 2 percent on Tuesday ahead of the earnings.
Additional reporting by James Topham and Linda Sieg; Editing by Ian Geoghegan


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"Managing equine growth is a balance between producing a desirable individual for a particular purpose without creating skeletal problems that will reduce a horse's athletic ability," said Clarissa Brown-Douglas, PhD, a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research Australia.
She noted that managers should be familiar with equine growth patterns, and she guided attendees through the first few years of a horse's life, discussing ideal feeding techniques and key points to remember.
Equine Growth Patterns
Study results have shown that when the average horse is born, he weighs about 10% of his mature weight, Brown-Douglas said. She explained that horses grow quickly during the first year of life, reaching 43% of mature body weight by 6 months of age and 61% of mature weight at 12 months. By the time the average horse turns 2, he weighs about 96% of his mature weight.
Researchers have also revealed that growth rate can be influenced by factors including birth month (foals born earlier in January were significantly smaller at birth than foals born later in the spring, but gained more weight than the latter group at 3 months of age), weaning (growth rates slowed at weaning time, but increased the following spring), and sales preparation (growth rates can increase when young horses are being prepared for sales, depending on the animal's diet).
Feeding Young Horses
At each stage of a growing horse's life, he'll require different feed sources and nutrients to help him stay strong and healthy.
Brown-Douglas said foals receive 100% of their nutritional requirements from their dams' colostrum and then milk during the first month or so of life. An average Thoroughbred foal, she said, will consume about 15 kilograms (about 33 pounds) of milk daily. After the first few days, foals will likely start nibbling on grass, she said, after watching and learning from their mothers.
A foal will sometimes nibble on the dam's grain rations if she allows and, as mentioned, will consume grass and hay, but he won't require supplementary feed rations until he reaches about 2 months of age. At this point, Brown-Douglas suggested providing the foal with creep feed, which provides additional nutrients needed for growth.
Select a creep feed designed for growing horses, feed according to label instructions, and ensure the calcium:phosphorus ratio is appropriate, she stressed. Additional keys to creep feeding success, Brown-Douglas said, include:
- Good feeder placement: Ensure the mare can't access the foal's feeding bin, but select a location that's easily accessible for the growing horse.
- Allow time to eat: Foals will consume their creep feed at different rates. Ensure each foal has adequate time to consume the nutrient-dense feed.
- Try the 'Buddy System': Brown-Douglas noted that foals might be more apt to eat well if accompanied by other foals. If possible, let foals creep feed in company.
Researchers have also determined that creep feeding is associated with lower weaning stress in foals, Brown-Douglas said.
When foals reach weaning age, nutrition becomes of paramount importance as this is the age when the skeleton is most vulnerable to developing disease or disorders, Brown-Douglas relayed.
At weaning age, horses are most prone to developing developmental orthopedic diseases (DOD), such as osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) or wobbler syndrome. While these disorders might have a genetic component, Brown-Douglas said that nutrition does play a role in DOD development. Feeding to prevent and manage DOD was discussed in a subsequent lecture, but Brown-Douglas provided some tips for feeding the weanling:
- Ensure the weanling is consuming an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals, and ensure mineral ratios (such as calcium:phosphorus) are balanced properly. She said the best way to achieve this is through a ration evaluation, as blood, hair, and hoof analysis won't be useful in evaluating mineral levels.
- Avoid feeding weanlings too many calories. Studies have shown that heavier foals have a higher incidence of OCD than thinner foals. Brown-Douglas said there's no simple rule that dictates how much a weanling should be fed, but suggested weighing and determining body condition score of weanlings on a regular basis to ensure they're not gaining too much weight.
- For overweight weanlings, choose grass hay over alfalfa.
- Choose a concentrate designed for growing horses, and feed according to label directions to ensure the weanling consumes the appropriate amount of nutrients from the grain. Avoid feeding straight cereal grains or food designed for mature horses.
- Choose a feed with lower glycemic energy sources (high fiber and oil, rather than high starch from cereal grains) as a high glycemic response to a meal has been implicated in the pathogenesis of DOD.
Brown-Douglas said protein does not appear to play a role in DOD development and, in fact, is vital for sound growth and development. If horses are showing signs of excess body condition and DOD, reduce the energy in the diet but not the protein.
By the time foals reach 12 months of age, the are less likely to develop DOD, Brown-Douglas said. Continue monitoring growth carefully and avoid overfeeding. Conduct ration evaluations to determine correct nutrient and mineral balance and to ensure the yearling's nutritional needs are being met.
Brown-Douglas advised basing the yearling's diet on forage and supplement with a concentrate designed for growing horses. She recommended designing a feeding schedule for each individual yearling. For example, "easy keeper" yearlings shouldn't be allowed to become too overweight, as mentioned previously. Brown-Douglas recommended a low calorie balancer with concentrated levels of essential protein, vitamins and minerals for these horses. On the other hand, yearlings that still have room to grow should consume "normal amounts" of fortified feed, she said.
Take-Home Message
Although it can be a challenging balancing act, feeding growing horses can be successfully achieved by remembering to aim for steady growth rates, to avoid overfeeding, provide horses with low glycemic energy sources, feed adequate protein, and base the diet on forage. If questions or concerns arise, consult an equine nutritionist or veterinarian.


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Next time someone asks if you prefer red or white, say, "How about green?" If you had to choose between wine and the environment… But what if you didn't? Oenophiles and tree huggers, unite and raise a glass to sustainability! A carbon neutral wine is now available in Ontario and British Columbia. Santa Margherita's Pinot Grigio is not only Carbonzero Certified, but also for every 750ml bottle sold from April 1st to 26th, 50 cents will be donated to Tree Canada in support of creating sustainable forests across Canada.
Ideally, environmentally and ethically, everything we buy would be sustainably produced down the road at eco-friendly outfits by well-paid workers who loved their jobs. But most things we buy come with an ecological cost. I happen to like Italian wines (and Spanish, French, Chilean, Argentine…), so while I enjoy a number of wines produced in nearby Niagara and though I am conscious of the environmental expense of transporting wine and other products across the ocean and the continent, I sometimes want—okay, often want a wine from some excellent but distant wine producer.
In the past, I've had wines marketed as eco-friendly, with names like "Happy Frog" or whatever, some of which taste like what their names imply. But Santa Margherita's Pinot Grigio (apparently the top selling Italian wine in Canada) I will drink again.
Okay, so I like the wine, but what is its environmental status? At Canada Blooms (on at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, until March 23rd), I spoke with the instigators of this initiative. Federico Trost, Santa Margherita's sommelier and export manager, spoke of his company's sustainable production practices "from grape to shelf." They not only control the growth of the grapes, they even make their own bottles. When I asked Carbonzero CEO Dan Fraleigh how Santa Margherita earned carbon neutral status for their Pinot, he praised Santa Margherita's ongoing initiatives, which include emissions reductions and renewable energy production (for details, see http://www.carbonzero.ca/news) and then described three of the projects undertaken with the carbon offsets the winery purchased to make a difference beyond their own efforts and be certified carbon neutral: projects with Bison Transport in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, turning landfill emissions into fuel in Niagara, and repurposing methane emissions in Quebec. He said these aren't the "excuse to pollute" variety of carbon offsets; they are "buying offsets that wouldn't otherwise have existed."
Michael Rosen, president of Tree Canada, which plants 600,000 trees a year, told me the cost, from germination to planting, is $4 per tree. Less than the cost of a glass of house wine, but still an expense. Fortunately, on top of the 50 cents for each bottle sold, Santa Margherita will donate another 50 cents every time you use the hashtag #sm_pinotgrigio. So, give a tweet, and if you want to enjoy a wine with no fossil fuel aftertaste, go to an LCBO or BC Liquor store (by foot, bicycle, public transit, or carpool) and stock up for Earth Day with Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, the one with the plantable basil-seed tag around the neck (750ml LCBO $17.95; BC Liquor $19.99 ). Sustainable wine? I'll drink to that!


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Designer, Photographer, Printmaker. Clients: Boston Museum of Art, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, Eastman Kodak Company, IBM and Nylon magazine. Published books: Temple Treasury and The New Joy of Photography. Exhibitions: Photography Salon 2003 Polish Consulate, NYCArts.com Website Gallery, The New Americans Art Show, Tweed Gallery, City Hall.
Graphic Design and Silkscreen
Graphic Design and Silkscreen (Spring 2020)


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A sex offender faces up to two years in prison following accusations that he didn't report a legislative lobbying job to Iowa authorities.
The Des Moines Register says 24-year-old Michael Byars has been pushing legislation that would let sex offenders have lifetime parole sentences lifted under certain circumstances.
Byars was convicted in 2008 of lascivious acts with a child because he'd had what he described as a consensual relationship with a 13-year-old when he was 18. His parole curbs his interaction with children, including his son.
Byars tried to register as a lobbyist but was told he didn't need to because he wasn't advocating for another person or any group. But a police affidavit says Byars "obtained employment" as a lobbyist but didn't report that to authorities as required.


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Fozzy Unveil Release Date and Cover Art for New Album 'Sin and Bones'
Fozzy's fifth studio album 'Sin and Bones' will be released Aug. 14 via their new label, Century Media Records. The band is fronted by wrestler and 'Dancing With the Stars' contestant Chris Jericho, who also hosted the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards earlier this week.
Jericho says 'Sin and Bones' is Fozzy's hardest hitting effort to-date. "It's the typical cliché, but 'Sin and Bones' really is the best thing we've ever done. We've taken the heavy yet ultra-melodic style that has become Fozzy's trademark to the next level and I guarantee these songs will blow all of you away!"
Guitarist Rich Ward is excited that Fozzy has signed with Century Media. "Shortly after my 12th birthday, while air-guitaring to Iron Maiden, I decided that when I grew up, I wanted to 'pay my bills' by playing guitar. In 1995, Century Media Records allowed this seemingly unreachable goal to become a reality with my band Stuck Mojo. When that relationship came to an end in 2001, I continued making and releasing music with several different bands, through several different record companies. There was only one common thread in all my experiences with these other organizations – I wished they were more like Century Media."
Fozzy has toured extensively in Europe, but still haven't done a proper U.S. tour in their 12 year career. That will change this summer as they are on the bill of the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival along with bands such as Godsmack, Shinedown, Staind, Papa Roach and Adelitas Way.


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Indiana is No. 1 for a sixth straight week in The Associated Press college basketball poll.
The Hoosiers are again followed in the Top 25 by Duke, Michigan and Syracuse. The only changes in Monday's poll is the order, not who's ranked.
The Hoosiers (9-0) received 44 first-place votes from the 64-member national media panel. Duke (9-0) again drew the other No. 1 votes.
Florida and Louisville switched places at fifth and sixth. They were followed by Ohio State, Arizona, Kansas and Illinois. The Illini (10-0) beat fellow unbeaten Gonzaga on Saturday, moving into the top 10 for the first time since the next-to-last poll of 2005-06. Gonzaga dropped to 14th.
The Big Ten has the most ranked teams with six. The Big East has five and the Atlantic Coast Conference and Mountain West three each.


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By clicking "Read More," I understand that I am reviewing GROSS CHARGES and this does not reflect what I may actually pay out of pocket.
HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital, Highland - Charge Description Master (CDM)
Last updated on 7/21/2020
COVID-19 Price Information
Medicare and some insurance companies use diagnosis related groups - or DRGs - to assess hospital-related costs based on condition. Use the link below to access a list of average GROSS charges per inpatient DRG for HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital, Highland. The GROSS charges does not reflect what Medicare or the insurance company will pay.
HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital, Highland - Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG)
To learn more about charges and additional price transparency resources, click the links below.


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While on raid hiatus, I've been looking around, trying to figure out what I want to do in the game. Which means- and I apologize to any guildies reading this who haven't been talking with me recently and may be shocked, nothing's been decided so please don't go jumping to conclusions – reading a lot of guild websites and recruitment adds. And what really amazes me is that some of these guilds manage to find members at all. Several of the guilds were impossible to contact, others confused the heck out of me and some downright made my eyes bleed. In the era of smallish guilds and accessible raiding, there is a lot of competition for good players. So unless you're fortunate enough to be a guild of considerable fame, you'll need high quality potential applicants to 1)find you, 2)decide if you have what they're looking for, 3) apply. If you're trying to attract players from other servers via sites like wowheadhunter, this is even more important because you can't rely on server reputation and trade chat to advertise yourself. So here, as a guild recruitment add browser, are the things I wish all recruiting guilds did:
Have a website and link to it
Seems straightforward enough. Guild bank, tabard and website, no? Apparently not! I came across a few guilds who flat out indicated they didn't have a website(!!!), others just didn't have a link. There are a million guild adds to browse and so little time. If there's no link to reach more info about you, you're not getting a second thought.
Update your website
If your last news update was from 3 months ago, people will assume the guild no longer exists. Next please.
Clearly state your raid times
It's heartbreaking to find a guild that seems so perfect, only to realize that they raid at 3 am. Also, if it takes too long to find information on raid times, potential applicants will stop looking. Next please.
[Edit]Want to add that "server time" means nothing to someone from a different server. Use actual time zones.
State whether you do 10 mans, 25 mans or both
That ugly widget on free guild websites is hard to read and not always accurate. Just flat out say what your focus is in your add and on your front page.
Its ok to be different
Just because you're not 4/5 HToGC doesn't mean you can't advertise. Not everyone who reads guild recruitment boards wants a competitive guild. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find guilds that are somewhere between progression oriented and ultra casual? Apparently they're all over WoW but they never advertise! And even if you are a guild that's 4/5 into HToGC, what makes you different from the 10 other 4/5 HToGC guilds that posted an add today? I also have a dream of finding a serious raiding guild that doesn't believe in reading up on boss fights beforehand (I love my current guild and all, but a dream is a dream). I *know* they exist, but I can't find one anywhere. (If someone from such a guild reads this, bossypally at gmail dot com please and thank you)
Make your policies/guild charter/loot rules are up to date and easy to find
Guilds want applicants that make a good fit. Applicants want a guild that is a good fit for them. Applicants considering paying money to server transfer especially don't want to screw up. Make sure all the nitty griddies about your guild are easy to find and easy to read. Again, there are a million guilds out there and so little time. Having to sort through 15 stickies on your recruitment forums to figure out what you're all about = next please!
Be careful about how you word warnings to your members
So so so many guilds have stuff like "please be on time", "please don't go afk during raids" on their websites. This translates to : "our members are unreliable", "we don't start on time", "there's a lot of downtime during our raids". Wording like "we start our raids on time, if you're not there, you will be replaced" gives a much better impression to someone looking for a reliable raiding team.
Have a "contact us" page
Not many guilds have this, but someone considering a server transfer may have some private questions to ask the GM or recruitment officer before applying. Rolling a level 1 toon on your server to send out an in-game email is just weird. Have some contact info on your webpage.
Make your general chat forum public
Most guilds don't do this and I hate it. You can set security so that only known guild members can post or something, but general chat forums contain a precious sample of guild atmosphere which is so important to applicants wondering they'll be a good fit. By reading the forums, applicants find the answers to: "how active are members outside of raids?", "what kind of language do members use when typing?", "what kind of conflicts occur and how are they handled?", "how much familiarity is there among members?". People shouldn't be posting personal stuff on forums anyway, so I don't get the secrecy. To me, it just looks like your guild has something to hide.
Have a website that doesn't cause eye bleeds
Most guild websites are so friggin ugly! I know that not all guilds can afford self hosting and stuff, but there's got to be way to configure free websites in a way that makes them less hideous. You don't need to be a graphic artist either. Tidiness, accessibility and matching colours go a long way. And those addons that show your progression, say who's on your vent channel and more? Ditch them if you can. They're ugly. Also, if you can't be bothered to update your recruitment addon thingy, ditch that too.
Like any type of communication, when recruiting, you need to speak to your audience. If the message you're trying to transmit isn't accessible to your audience, no ones going to hear it. In the sea of guild recruitment adds, you want people reading yours to learn all about you in a matter of seconds. It would also be in everyone's best interest that you preserve their eyesight as much as possible. In the name of recruitment add readers everywhere, I thank you. And with that, happy recruiting!


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One Central Park East
One Central Park East is the first new high-rise spec office building built in Downtown Phoenix in more than eight years. The $175M development contains 495,000 SF of Class A office space on 16 floors, resting atop a 9-level parking garage. The design philosophy took a functional and efficient office floor plate and articulated it with shading devices on each façade in response to the harsh environment. This enabled the team to take a typical developer-driven office model and create a building with a sophisticated layer of shade fins to make it appropriate for Phoenix's desert climate. The project is adjacent to the light rail system, making it one of the first transit-oriented developments in Downtown Phoenix.
Developer: Mesirow Financial
Honorable Mention: Orbital Sciences Corp.
Developer: Gilbane Development Company


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Mark Howard Egner
McFarland-Mark H. "Mark-Mark" Egner, age 50, passed away on December 4, 2012 at his home surrounded by his loving family after a very courageous battle with rectal cancer for the past two years. Mark was born on July 24, 1962 to Jeanette and the late Howard Egner. He was a lifelong resident of McFarland. Mark graduated from McFarland High School, Class of 1980 and went on to receive his degree in Auto Mechanics. He changed careers and went into Heating & Air Conditioning. He worked for Air Temp in McFarland for 26 ½ years until his health declined. Mark was a member of Steamfitters Union #601. His greatest love was trap shooting for which he won many first place trophies and awards. He also participated in the Badger State Games in trap shooting. Mark was a member of the Hope Rod & Gun Club and of the Sons of the American Legion.
He is survived by his loving mother, Jeanette; his brother, Daniel; his sisters, Nancye (Bob) Trapino, Barbara (Tom) Sawyer, Shirley (Amy Schnitzler) Egner, Anne (Penny Bonner) Buol and Diane Egner; his aunts, Elizabeth McConnell and Jo Ann (George) Bernhagen; his cousins, Dean and Dwight Bernhagen; his best friends, Tommy & Dave; his beloved dog, Mattie; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Howard, infant brother, Keith, niece Amy Egner, maternal and paternal grandparents, uncles, Willard Egner & Edwin McConnell, aunt, Lorraine Egner and cousin, David Bernhagen.
A celebration of his life will be held on SUNDAY, December 9, 2012 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at American Legion Post, 534 Burma Road, McFarland . In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Carbone Cancer Center, Agrace HospiceCare Center, Madison or to the Hope Rod & Gun Club.
We wish to thank Dr. Michael Huie and nurse Sandi for keeping him with us for 2 extra years and a special thank you to Kathy at UW Health and the staff at Heartland Credit Union.
We love you Mark Mark.


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Job Search / 2.9 at a high T2, is biglaw completely out of the question?« on: December 12, 2008, 12:42:33 PM »
I don't necessarily want to work at a white shoe firm, but making at least 6 figures would be nice. Is this possible after a 1-yr state clerkship? I'm a 3L with mostly B's but God-willing this last year I will get some A's in there in classes like bankruptcy and commercial law. Do firms really look at individual grades or do they consider the whole package?


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How Did I Find Myself Here? LP (Black)
More Information
The Dream Syndicate – How Did I Find Myself Here? LP (Black)
Comes with a signed LP cover while supplies last
Track list:
Side A
- Filter Me Through You
- Glide
- Out of My Head
- 80 West
- Like Mary
Side B
- The Circle
- How Did I Find Myself Here
- ?Kendra's Dream
This purchase includes a digital download of the album. You will be emailed a link to access your download shortly after purchase.


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I agree Aaron. The most important thing about painting is the experience. I always say – the process is more important than the result.
Love this work by Aaron Smith. So much life and color and yet also so still. Beautiful. See more of his work here.
(via Booooooom: http://www.booooooom.com/2012/09/04/aaron-smith/)


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Fox, broadcasters of tonight's Emmy Awards, have cut an Alec Baldwin bit about their parent company's phone hacking scandal, claiming they don't want anyone to think that News Corp and owner Rupert Murdoch would make light of the situation which has left countless people outraged..
"Fox did kill my News Corp hacking joke, which sucks bc I think it would have made them look better. A little," tweeted Baldwin after Deadline broke the story.
The sketch was filmed earlier in the week, and when Fox had second thoughts about Baldwin's hacking joke, the "30 Rock" star first teased things on Twitter, "I did a short Emmy pretape a few days ago. Now they tell me News Corp may cut the funniest line." Baldwin ultimately told the network that if they were going to cut the line, he'd prefer they not use any of the footage. The network complied, scrambling to get Leonard Nimoy to sub in for Baldwin
U.S. & World
People close to Baldwin claim he didn't take exception to the content of the joke being cut, rather that the edit jeopardize the broader comedic flow of the whole piece. Now, of course, it's inevitable that we'll view Nimoy's version with a jaundiced eye, wondering just how much funnier it might've been.
The real shame about this whole thing is that considering Baldwin's own tortured history with cellphone scandals, this could've been a truly great bit.


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SATURDAY, Sept. 5, 2009 (HealthDay News) -- Chemicals with the tongue-twisting name of phthalates (pronounced THAL ates) are nearly ubiquitous in consumer products, found in items from soaps, lotion and cosmetics to plastics and toys.
A little over a decade ago, environmental organizations such as the Environmental Working Group began to focus on phthalates and have been working ever since for tighter regulation or, in some cases, bans.
On the other side are groups such as the American Chemistry Council, representing the industries that produce phthalate-containing products. It says it supports "science-based product safety decisions."
If you're a consumer, chances are extremely high that you've been exposed to phthalates, said Sonya Lunder, a senior analyst with the Environmental Working Group. "About 95 percent of people have measurable levels of these chemicals, the phthalates, in them," she said. Often younger women, partly because of cosmetic use, have higher levels, she said.
Over the past few years, researchers have uncovered multiple health hazards, either in animal or human studies, linked to phthalates. For instance, the chemicals have been found to lower sperm quality in men as well as testosterone levels, in turn perhaps setting them up for unhealthy abdominal obesity.
Pregnant women working in the beauty industry have been found at higher risk for giving birth to boys with birth defects.
Exposure to the chemicals also has been linked with early-onset puberty and with a higher risk of breast cancer later on in adulthood.
And a study released in late June suggested that low birth weight in babies was linked to their mothers' exposure to phthalates while pregnant.
To date, the strongest links between phthalates and health have focused on reproductive problems, said Shanna Swan, a professor and director of the Center for Reproductive Epidemiology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in New York.
"The next wave is asthma and allergy," predicted Swan, a veteran researcher in the field. That link, between the chemicals and the asthma and allergy problems, she said, is getting stronger.
As the findings of potential health hazards have unfolded, environmentalists have pushed for stronger regulation, and in some cases they've succeeded.
Under a recent law, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, children's toys and child-care articles cannot contain more than 0.1 percent of six different phthalates. The regulation took effect Feb. 10 of this year.
In addition, a report from the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences issued in late 2008 concluded that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should examine whether combined exposure to phthalates can cause an adverse health effect. The council experts called for a cumulative risk assessment and suggested looking at other chemicals as well, not just chemicals within the phthalate family.
Lunder agreed with that recommendation. "We can't do this one chemical at a time," she said. What's crucial is to look at all chemicals in use, she said, adding that that's a task much easier said than done.
But looking at cumulative risk is important, Swan agreed. "We are getting multiple hits not only from phthalates [exposure] but other chemicals," she said.
On its Web site, the American Chemistry Council emphasizes the importance of first proving a hazard before removing chemicals from products.
For instance, in a statement issued April 2, Sharon Kneiss, a council vice president, protested decisions by some manufacturers to remove phthalates from some fragrance applications "without any scientific or regulatory basis." She contended that their use in fragrances does not present a hazard.
Chris Bryant, managing director of the council's chemical products and technology division, said that the organization welcomes reviews and more science on the effects of phthalates. And it supports the call for cumulative risk assessment and the study of the chemicals also underway by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, he said.
"These reviews will reaffirm the findings of scores of studies conducted by governmental agencies around the world that phthalates are safe for their intended uses," Bryant said.
More information
The Environmental Working Group has more on phthalates.


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2009 Informational Briefings
This page consists of testimony presented at informational briefings during the 2009 Legislative Session by the University of Hawaii.
Download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF files.
House Committee on Finance Budget Briefing (January 15, 2009 at 9:00am)
- Briefing Testimony 3.98 MB PDF
Senate Committee on Ways and Means Budget Briefing (January 15, 2009 at 1:30pm)
- Briefing Testimony 3.88 MB PDF
House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection and Senate Committee on Energy and Environment briefing on current issues in energy policy (January 22, 2009 at 1:00pm)
Senate Committee on Economic, Development and Technology (EDT) Budget Briefing to familiarize members with budget programs that fall under EDT's purview (January 23, 2009)
Informational briefing to update the Committee on Health and Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection by providing an overview of the history of the existing state water quality standards and current condition of the City and County of Honolulu's treatment facilities at the Sand Island and Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plants. (January 26, 2009)
- Dr. Hans Krock, Professor of Ocean Engineering 16 KB PDF
- Dr. Roger Fujioka, Professor of Water Resources 9 KB PDF
Senate Committee on Higher Education & House Committee on Higher Education Briefing on Act 188, SLH 2008; status of Capitol Improvement Projects and Repair and Maintenance; and University of Hawaii President Selection Process (rescheduled to January 27, 2009)
- Act 188, SLH 2008 31 KB PDF
- Status of Capital Improvement Projects and Repair and Maintenance Schedule 2 MB PDF
- University of Hawaii President Selection Process by Al Landon 43 KB PDF
- University of Hawaii President Selection Process by Donna Tanoue 80 KB PDF
Senate Committees on Economic, Development and Technology (EDT) and Higher Education (HRE) overview and update on the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration System (PISCES). (January 28, 2009)
- Presentation by Dr. Frank Schowengerdt 2.73 MB PDF
Senate Committee on Higher Education and Committee on Health Briefing to discuss the status of the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii and the Regional Biosafety Laboratory in Kakaako (January 29, 2009 at 1:15pm)
- President David McClain 19 KB PDF
- Michele Carbone, Interim Director of the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii 64 KB PDF
- Jerris Hedges, Dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine 18 KB PDF
- Brian Minaai, Assoc. VP for Capital Improvements 20 KB PDF
- James R. Gaines, VP for Research 24 KB PDF
Senate Committee on Higher Education and House Committee on Higher Education informational briefing to obtain information and provide comments on the university's financial outlook and fiscal plans as a result of additional funding restrictions proposed by Governor Lingle. (June 30, 2009 at 10:00am)
- President David McClain 225 KB PDF
House Committee on Human Services and Senate Committee on Human Services informational briefing to review services for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind under the Department of Human Services. (October 23, 2009 at 2:00pm)
- John Morton, VP for Community Colleges 22 KB PDF


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I write music criticism with the hopeful assumption that it still matters. I want to believe a positive review can turn people on to a good album, thereby enriching their lives and giving the band or solo performer the attention they deserve, if not also the money they need to keep making great music.
By the same token, I hope negative reviews can steer people away from rote, mediocre albums, thereby saving them a few bucks and prodding musicians to write more interesting, original songs. What's at stake is nothing short of the quality of Maine's art and culture.
Recent press coverage of the new album by one of my favorite local bands, Metal Feathers, illustrates how difficult it is to keep this hope alive.
Metal Feathers is an indie-rock band in Portland that put out a really good album in 2008 ("Statistically Marred") and an even better record in 2011 ("Contrast Eats the Slimey Green"), both of which you can hear online via their Bandcamp page. I was so excited and encouraged by their second album that I made Metal Feathers the subject of a cover story in The Bollard in April of that year.
The band knew it was onto something, too. "Contrast" was a step toward even greater rock glory. "I feel like we're gaining momentum," said Jay Lobley, the band's notoriously self-effacing singer, guitarist and songwriter. "I think a lot could happen this year, hopefully."
A lot did happen to the band, but it wasn't what Lobley or anyone else wanted. Metal Feathers' drummer was also Lobley's wife. She's not in the band anymore, and the bleak, angry, ugly album the three remaining members released last month, "Handful of Fog," reflects the miserable circumstances that produced it.
As I note in the review that appears in this month's issue of The Bollard, all the creative energy and fun have been drained from Metal Feathers' music. Lobley sings like he's being forced to do so against his will. The lyrics are exceedingly dark and often hard to discern in the noisy, lo-fi mix. About half of the 12 tracks manage to transcend the gloom by delivering a great riff or a catchy chorus, but the rest is a mess.
So I was profoundly discouraged to read the review of "Fog" in the Feb. 22 Portland Phoenix. Music and arts writer Nicholas Schroeder calls this Metal Feathers' "best album." He presents the drummer's departure as if it were a creative decision the band made to improve its sound. The playing of the three remaining members is "tighter than ever," we're told, on this "excellent and fantastically deep" record. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Schroeder's writing is atrocious, riddled with incomprehensible sentences, unsupported assertions and ridiculous comparisons. For example, the lethargic and lyrically impenetrable song "In the Moon and Still" is called "a dizzying, rapturous composition as affecting and yearningly psychedelic as anything … Dinosaur Jr. or My Bloody Valentine has ever done." Fans of those bands who buy "Fog" on that basis would be justified in demanding Schroeder give them their money back.
Unfortunately, this baseless hyperbole is typical of the alt-weekly's music coverage. It's a critical framework in which bad music is good, mediocre music is good, and great music is merely good. The teens, college kids and hipsters the Phoenix strives to reach become jaded and apathetic about local music, which undermines the whole scene.
So-called "alternative" weeklies like the Phoenix gained traction in part because the mainstream press has been so tone deaf to popular music for so long. The Portland Press Herald's coverage of "Fog" is a hilarious case in point.
News assistant Aimsel Ponti covered the release of "Fog" by emailing a set of softball questions to Derek Lobley, Jay's brother and bandmate.
Q: "How do you, as a band, like to describe your sound?"
A: "We usually just tell people we play rock music." (Gee, that's insightful.)
Q: "Any recurring themes on the album?"
A: "No, not really." (Other than loneliness, despair, rage…)
Q: "How has the band's sound evolved over time?"
A: "We had to get rid of our keyboard player a year ago, so that helped us move away from the jazzy stuff he wanted to play."
Derek Lobley was the keyboard player. Now he's trying to learn how to play drums (see earlier comment re: "tighter than ever"). Ponti's been punked and is as oblivious to the gag as most of her readers.
Perhaps the only thing more depressing than listening to "Handful of Fog" is reading about it.


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WOW: Man Takes A Beating For Rocking An Obama Shirt In Louisiana!
KSLA reports" âA 32-year-old Shreveport man is now recovering at home after he says he was badly beaten at a west Shreveport gas station for wearing a Barack Obama t-shirt.âť âKaylon Johnson says he now has a broken nose and eye socket after the brutal attack that he says was racially motivated and brought on by the t-shirt. âThey were screaming âfâ Obama, f***. Obama something about a n**** president, basically you know I was hit.ââť"
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