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Federal Panel: Dirty Bomb Cleanup Need Not Follow U.S. Cancer Rules
WASHINGTON – A new federally funded report is likely to recommend that contamination from a so-called "dirty bomb" should not have to be cleaned up as thoroughly as hundreds of existing radioactive sites throughout the United States, even though official estimates suggest this change would dramatically increase the risk of cancer in people living in the affected area.
In the event of such an attack, a new, more flexible approach to cleanup will be needed in order to deal with economic realities, the report, sponsored by the U.S. Homeland Security Department and expected sometime next year, will urge. Detractors, however, say the government's conventional approach already allows for such flexibility – without the expense to public health.
Since the 1980s, cleanup of the nation's most heavily contaminated properties -- including former nuclear weapons manufacturing and testing facilities owned by the Energy Department – has been governed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund program. Pursuant to Superfund guidelines, remediation is designed so that 1 out of 10,000 people exposed to a site for 30 years would be expected to develop cancer in a worst-case scenario. One in 1 million people would be expected to develop cancer in the best possible situation.
The head of the panel that is writing the new report says he and his colleagues do not believe these longstanding guidelines need to be followed in the event of an attack involving a dirty bomb or other illicit nuclear device, however.
Instead, they will suggest that a radiation dose to the human body of between 100 and 2,000 millirems per year be the target that officials keep in mind when deciding on cleanup actions, said S.Y. Chen, a senior environmental engineer at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois.
Roughly 1 in 23 people would be expected to develop cancer from receiving a 2,000 millirem dose of radiation annually for 30 years, based on estimates from the International Commission on Radiological Protection, a private, nongovernmental organization whose work Chen cites as the basis for his recommendations. Approximately 1 in 466 people would be expected to develop cancer from an annual dose of 100 millirems over the same time period, according to calculations Global Security Newswire conducted using ICRP projections.
"It is just ethically indefensible," Daniel Hirsch, a nuclear policy lecturer at the University of California-Santa Cruz told GSN. "Anyone proposing such a thing should go to jail."
Chen counters that EPA guidelines are not applicable to terrorist situations by arguing that the Superfund program was developed to deal with contamination that is more limited in scope. The experience of the Japanese in the wake of last year's earthquake- and tsunami-induced nuclear power plant meltdowns proves the need to consider economic factors in carrying out a massive cleanup, he said.
"Bring Superfund to Japan and see how it's going to work. It will fail miserably," Chen said in a recent interview with GSN. In the event of a dirty bomb or nuclear attack, "it won't just be a Superfund-like community where several acres are contaminated," he said. "Everywhere everybody will get disrupted big time. You have to worry about your jobs, you worry about business, you worry about your livelihood on a daily basis. So all of the sudden it's no longer a contamination issue, it's a bigger society issue that everyone has to cope with."
Many Superfund sites are actually larger than what federal officials and other experts typically describe when they talk about how much land they would expect a dirty bomb to contaminate, however. An existing DHS guide that the forthcoming report is meant to supplement describes the area likely affected by a dirty bomb as ranging between "a single building or city block" to "conceivably several square miles.
"However, most experts agree that the likelihood of impacting a very large area is low," the DHS guide says.
In 2002 testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Federation of American Scientists President Henry Kelley presented three hypothetical dirty bomb scenarios. The first two, which involved terrorists using TNT to explode a medical gauge containing radioactive cesium and a source of radioactive americium used in oil well surveying, contaminated areas slightly larger than one square mile. In the third, which Kelley said was less likely, a piece of radioactive cobalt from a food irradiation plant contaminated an area of about 386 square miles.
By comparison, the former nuclear weapons production facility at Hanford, Wash., that the Energy Department is cleaning up pursuant to Superfund is 586 square miles. The Savannah River Site in South Carolina, also undergoing Superfund cleaning, is 310 square miles.
"It's called Superfund for a reason – these are big sites with big problems, the nation's most contaminated sites," Hirsch said.
The existing DHS guide and the anticipated supplement confuse the issue by addressing dirty bombs together with improvised nuclear devices, the latter of which would be expected to cause a far greater degree of devastation, Hirsch contends.
"If you have an [improvised nuclear device] you're going to be missing a portion of your city. If you have a dirty bomb it's a tiny chemical explosion like a pipe bomb and you've got radiation that's been released over a few blocks," he said.
Chen argues that using the 100 to 2,000 millirem per year dose range as the target for remediation goals will give stakeholders the flexibility to prioritize the use of limited cleanup resources in the face of widespread contamination. While a schoolyard might be cleaned to a more stringent level, higher amounts of radiation could be tolerated elsewhere, he said.
"You only have so much technology, manpower, money and supply," Chen said. Prioritizing cleanup projects "will take a lot of effort and stakeholder involvement. It's not going to be a government prescribed approach like we had before."
The Superfund remedy selection process does involve stakeholder input, however. Cleanup plans are subject to public review and comment before they are finalized and Superfund rules dictate that cost-effectiveness, community acceptance and state government approval be among the criteria considered when deciding on how best to deal with contamination.
Superfund goals can also be adjusted depending on the expected use for a particular piece of land, in part because the amount of hours per week a person would be expected to spend at a location varies depending on its purpose. "Something you know is going to be used for agricultural [or residential] uses you clean up to a stricter standard than some place that's only going to be industrial," Hirsch said. "All that flexibility is in Superfund."
Carl Spreng, a project manager at the Colorado Public Health and the Environment Department, noted that under Superfund, the number of years regulators assume a person will be exposed to a site can also be adjusted to account for site specific circumstances, and cleanup goals adjusted accordingly. While 30 years is considered a conservative rule of thumb for how long Americans are likely to live in a particular location, at some sites people are expected to spend less time, and at others more, he said.
Spreng said that when DHS officials proposed in past years to set an acceptable post-dirty bomb dose range similar to what Chen is now suggesting, state officials throughout the country "were frankly shocked."
The dose range the new report is expected to suggest is "way outside the numbers that we would consider safe and have argued for many years," Spreng said. "We'd still have significant concerns with numbers like those."
Chen's panel is writing the report for the privately run National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements with funds from the U.S. Homeland Security Department. The report is intended to expand on a controversial document Homeland Security published in 2008.
Commonly referred to as a "protective action guide" or "planning guidance," the document was meant to advise responders at the federal, state and local levels in the event of a radiological attack.
Along with scenarios involving a dirty bomb -- a crude weapon terrorists would use to disperse radioactive material over a relatively small area through the detonation of conventional explosives – the DHS guide and the ensuing NCRP report are also intended to advise the response to improvised nuclear devices that could produce levels of destruction closer to that of a traditional atomic bomb.
In the initial aftermath of such attacks, the DHS guide recommends largely following previously established EPA guidelines for nuclear emergencies. During this time period – the days and weeks immediately following an incident -- responders would have to make quick decisions regarding sheltering, evacuation and contaminated food and water supplies.
When it comes to long-term efforts to clean up and reclaim areas affected by the radiological blast, however, the DHS guide parts ways with standard U.S. practice. Rather than follow Superfund protocol, it recommends interested stakeholders follow a process called "optimization" when making decisions about how contaminated areas should be cleaned up or otherwise managed. Optimization involves weighing factors such as human health and public welfare against cost and economic impact, the guide says.
However, the DHS guide provides little explanation as to how this optimization approach would actually work in the real world. Unlike Superfund, the system the DHS guide describes includes no numerical guidelines – such as a specific risk or dose range that a site should comply with when cleanup is complete.
To provide more detail on how optimization would work, Homeland Security in 2010 began providing funds for the NCRP panel to write the forthcoming report on remediation. In addition to Chen, the panel consists of experts on a wide range of topics, including health physics, economics and public communication.
The optimization approach was already attracting strong opposition from critics both in and outside of government. A coalition of more than 60 public health and nuclear watchdog groups signed a letter condemning the Bush administration's 2008 attempt to incorporate the DHS approach into an EPA guide on responding to a broader array of radiological incidents. The Obama administration ultimately delayed execution of the Bush plan.
Internal e-mail messages the agency later released under the Freedom of Information Act showed that some EPA staff and state government officials had also opposed the optimization concept and its potential inclusion in the EPA document. A revised version is pending review at the White House Management and Budget Office.
At the time, critics feared the lack of numerical cleanup guidelines in the DHS optimization guide would lead to decisions that the public can be exposed to levels of radiological contamination far above what EPA rules normally allow.
Indeed, the high end of the dose range that Chen is now suggesting – 2,000 millirems per year, a 1 in 23 cancer risk from 30 years of exposure to a remediated dirty bomb attack site -- is more than 400 times less stringent than the worst-case 1-in-10,000 cancer risk the government would normally accept. It is 43,000 times less stringent than Superfund's 1-in-1 million ideal.
National Academy of Sciences projections the Environmental Protection Agency adopted last year suggest an even greater cancer risk. A 2,000 millirem per year dose for 30 years would cause 1 in 15 people to develop cancer, using NAS figures.
Hirsch, who as president of the watchdog group Committee to Bridge the Gap led the opposition to including optimization in the EPA guide in 2008, likens receiving the high end of Chen's dose range for 30 years to getting 10,000 chest X-rays, "with no medical benefit."
Arjun Makhijani, president and senior engineer at the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, said the cancer risk could decline somewhat over the years due to radioactive decay and "various types of erosion." Even with this caveat, however, the risk at the upper end of the proposed dose range is still high, he said.
"Plus risks to children are higher than the average and for some radionuclides much higher," Makhijani added.
David Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University, noted, however, that the ICRP recommendations Chen is looking to adopt urge selecting cleanup targets from the lower end of the 100 to 2,000 millirem per year dose range. Even if exposures have already been reduced below the range, cleanup can continue "as long as there is room to reduce exposures further in conformity with the optimization process," the ICRP recommendations say.
"I think their picture is that one should get down below [100 millirems per year] as quickly as is reasonably achievable," Brenner added. "The scenario of [2,000 millirems per year] every year for 30 years … seems quite inconsistent with that picture."
Even at the low end, however, Chen's suggested dose of 100 millirems per year – a 1 in 466 risk over 30 years -- carries a cancer risk 20 times greater than the worst-case scenario for remediated Superfund sites. It is 2,000 times less stringent than the ideal.
In Colorado, state regulators consider the lower end of Chen's proposed range to be the upper end of what they would permit, according to Spreng, the state official. The state uses a 25 millirem per year dose as a target for residential cleanups, with 100 millirems per year considered the upper limit.
Chen argued the Superfund approach to cleanup is ill-equipped to deal with some of the long range problems that could follow a radiological attack, such as the problem of wildlife wandering into contaminated areas and then later entering the human food supply. He argued that the flexibility of the optimization approach makes it more adept to dealing with such continuous, long term issues than Superfund.
"It's different for Superfund because with Superfund you bring the bulldozer, you take away the contamination, you wash your hands and walk away and say I'm done," Chen said. "You will not get done with this."
At the Savannah River Site, however, the Energy Department has run a monitored deer and hog hunting program since 1965. Animal remains are scanned for cesium contamination before a hunter is allowed to take them off the property.
"Monitoring road kill is a standard approach at [Superfund] sites," added Hirsch. In addition, EPA officials review completed Superfund cleanups – which often take years or even decades to finish – every five years to ensure that they are still effectively protecting human health.
A major concern among watchdog groups is that the DHS guide, combined with the forthcoming NCRP report, will establish a precedent that will relax remediation standards not only for areas contaminated by dirty bombs, but also for the more routine cleanup of nuclear weapons facilities owned by the Energy Department and other sites with radioactive contamination.
The draft EPA guide put on hold by the Obama administration would have extended application of the optimization approach beyond just dirty bomb and improvised nuclear device attacks, watchdog groups complained. Under the document, optimization would have been the preferred approach to cleaning up after a wide range of incidents, including accidents and attacks at nuclear power plants and industrial facilities that use radioactive material.
The DHS and NCRP documents are the "camel's nose under the tent," according to Hirsch. Once federal reports on dirty bombs adopt the dose range Chen suggests, it becomes easier for government agencies and private parties responsible for decontaminating other types of radioactive residue to argue that they should not be held to higher standards, he said.
Further exacerbating activists' concern is the fact that last month, the NCRP panel dropped the phrase "terrorism events" from the title of its forthcoming report and replaced it with the word "incidents." Hirsch said this suggests the panel is looking to apply optimization to a broader range of scenarios. He noted that officials with the Energy Department, which is responsible for paying for the cleanup of nuclear weapons sites, also sit on the panel.
WASHINGTON – A new federally funded report is likely to recommend that contamination from a so-called "dirty bomb" should not have to be cleaned up as thoroughly as hundreds of existing radioactive sites throughout the United States, even though official estimates suggest this change would dramatically increase the risk of cancer in people living in the affected area.


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Pavestone Lakeland Block Pavers are thinner than Stone Setts and look like small paving slabs. Each Paver has been rumbled to create a time worn effect and are predominantly used to construct pathways or border edgings.
The rich colours of these Pavers are often used to contrast large uniformly paved areas so as to add some intriguing pattern into a lifeless area.
Paver Size: 150x150mm
Pack Size: 17.66sqm, 735No. per pack
Thickness: 25-40mm

subset: commoncrawl


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Tests and Scans
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PC Pitstop VideosVista: 4 Months Later (3:10)
Rob's Vista Migration Update
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Video Contest Winner
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PC vs. Mac - Who wins?
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Is your PC feeling a bit bloated?
H.D. Freedom II (4:33)
When is the hard drive in your new PC not your own?
Hard Drive Freedom (5:22)
Rob documents his crusade to reclaim his hard drive space.Vista Migration (5:20)
Rob shares his experience migrating from XP to Vista.Firefox Conversion (2:10)
Rob outlines Firefox features that compelled him to stop using IE.Software Stocks (4:56)
An inside look at the software industry.Laptop Explosion (4:55)
What's a notebook battery fire? 6 foot flames, 1000 degree temperatures.
A Battle for Hard Drive Freedom
PC Pitstop research has shown that many PC vendors are making a practice of creating a separate partition on a system's primary hard drive in which to store the systems' original restoration information. Rob's new video documents his crusade to reclaim his hard drive space on his new PC. Thanks to Acronis Disk Director Suite he was able to accomplish his goal.
Join the Discussion
chengrob: A Battle for Hard Drive Freedom (Wed, 16 May 2007 02:11:12 GMT)
I believe that Partition Magic is incompatible with Vista.
merchanb: A Battle for Hard Drive Freedom (Tue, 15 May 2007 22:21:27 GMT)
QUOTE(Keith_L @ 1:07am Thu May 10 2007) [snapback]1364001[/snapback]
Boot Partition Magic from a floppy, CD, Thumb Drive, USB drive, etc.
Keith_L: A Battle for Hard Drive Freedom (Wed, 09 May 2007 15:07:28 GMT)
Note: It may take several minutes for new posts to appear here, and only the 20 most recent posts are shown. The complete thread is available on the forums.


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Forget the iPhone 4S -- the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is coming. The new leader of the Android gang, previously known as the Nexus Prime, is to be unveiled next week -- and the details are already starting to emerge.
The Galaxy Nexus will be the flagship Android device, packed with bleeding-edge features and the latest version of Google's software for mobile phones, codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich. That's stuffed into a 9mm thin, 4.6-inch curved phone.
Galaxy Nexus will be the official title of the phone rumoured as the Nexus Prime, Boy Genius Report claims. It sports a 4.65-inch, 720x1,280-pixel Super AMOLED HD. It has a whopping 32GB of built-in storage, with a main 5-megapixel camera and 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls. It also shoots high-definition 1080p video.
Inside the phone is a dual-core Texas Instruments OMAP 4460 Cortex A9 processor, clocked at 1.2GHz, with 1GB of RAM. Power comes from a 1,750mAh battery. In short, it's a monster.
As the flagship Android phone, it won't be adulterated with Samsung's TouchWiz interface. But it will bear the Samsung Galaxy name, rather than just the Nexus name -- its predecessors were called the Google Nexus One and Google Nexus S.
The phone also offers a couple of features that aren't entirely relevant to us Brits: it's a 4G phone, for next-generation Web connection, and boasts near-field communication (NFC). There are decent 4G networks in the US, but the technology hasn't advanced past the trial stage here in Blighty. NFC hasn't taken off yet either, but could one day see us paying for stuff by waving our phones at NFC-equipped tills.
Those US features could mean the phone comes to Europe in a different form. We'll find out on 11 October -- keep it CNET UK for all the up-to-the-minute news!
In the meantime, here's Samsung's teaser video. Check out that curve!
Will the Galaxy Nexus give the iPhone 4S a run for its money? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below, or on our Facebook page.
If you can't get the Huawei P30 Pro, get one of these phones: Some worthy options to the P30 Pro for photos and video.
iOS 13 could bring the health tools you need: Apple may finally be starting to improve its health insights.


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Gmail application has reached 1 Billion download? - Gmail has become one of the required application on Android phone or tablet, and so far the application has been downloaded more than one billion times. T...
5 years ago
here a place where you can enjoy reading !
About me | Complexion Magazine by Subagya © 2009 | Free Blogger Templates
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Sara Smile
If you follow me on Twitter, then you must know that I'm a fan of Hall & Oates. I absolutely LOVE Daryl Hall. I swear, his voice speaks to my soul.
While watching an episode of The Voice, I was pleasantly surprised when someone sang 'Sara Smile', one of my favorites from Hall & Oates. It wasn't bad (the guy actually passed the show's Blind Auditions), but I somehow feel like it's my responsibility to share the beauty of the song's original version and the story behind it, as well.
The song was actually written for Sara Allen, Daryl Hall's then partner. They were together for 30 years. They never married, though. They broke up in 2001 (according to Wikipedia), but every time Daryl sings the song live, you can still FEEL his love for Sara. Sigh.
Here he is singing it live back in 2008 for an episode of Live From Daryl's House, his online show (now also a TV show, I think).
(^proof that men get better with age^ God, he's super hot at 60-something!)
Going back to the song, here's what Daryl had to say (in an interview with http://americansongwriter.com) when asked to share some memories about the song (prepare to swoon!):
"Sara Allen was my life partner, a co-writer and, to some degree, a muse too-for many, many years. We're not together anymore, but she certainly was a very significant part of my life…and that song said what I wanted to say about her. That song came quick because it was such an easy and direct thing I was saying lyrically. I know the song means a lot to her now, although she's told me that she can't hear it anymore. It plagues her; it drives her out of the supermarket. When that song comes on, the reality hits that we're not together anymore, so it's a very poignant and hard thing for her to deal with.
I can still sing that song today and feel real about it-and always will-because emotions don't change even though circumstances change.
The song is about timelessness. As usual, we were stretching the boundaries of what we were doing, trying to find ourselves, and a song like "Sara Smile" is one of the more pure soul songs I've ever written."
Sigh. I wish I could be someone's Sara. </3
2 Responses to "Sara Smile"
I love 'em too. But I think I like One on One better than this one. BTW I love you and Cerah on WAW.


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An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Appointed members serve four year terms or until their successors are appointed by the State Board of Elections. The County Clerk and Sheriff serve a four year term. The Henry County Board of Elections meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 1:00pm in the Office of The Henry County Clerk.
Currently serving on the Board of Elections:
Duties of the Members:
There are four election officers for each voting precinct.One serving as Clerk, one Sheriff, and two Judges representing the Democratic and two representing the Republican Party.
Responsibilities and Authority of All Precinct Officers:
Note: Any person appointed to serve as an election officer, who fails to serve, who was not excused shall be ineligible to serve as an election officer for five (5) years. If you did not at least call to notify the office, this will be enforced.
The Henry County Clerk's Office is always looking for dedicated persons to fill the paid position as election workers. If you would like to serve your county in such a way, contact us at 502-845-5705. We will be looking for volunteers very soon for next years elections. Please call us with questions, we would love to have you join us!


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What a fantastic idea and a great way to see so many artist interpretations of the challenge themes.
The first theme is Europe and you can check out everything HERE
Here is what l came up with using a canvas panel
My background consists of inks,stamping and stenciled numbers.
Layers have been added under the pics using newspaper, printed paper, lace, large numbers in black and a chipboard sticker.
The clocks, twine, lace and pictures represent the old continent.
The modern touch are the seed beads, prills and blue fragments.
I'm looking forward to the next challenge and seeing what the extremely talented team of artists/judges have come up with.
Some close ups
Thanks for looking !
Papers - Crate, Bo Bunny,
Stencil - Tim Holtz
Inks - Tim Holtz, Memories Mists, Tattered Angels
Words - Authentique
Fragments - Stampendous
Lace, twine, Prills, seed beads, sand texture paste


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Pasquale showing the old pictures I brought. (I received an email from Pasquale's neice and she said he was a DiFabio!) Thank you, Filomena... He really enjoyed taking us around...
We found them... Domenico Toppi, his wife and grandaughter Sophia. Domenico identified Philomena and Domenico as his Father and Mother in the old pictures. His wife was a Dimatteo! My son, Chris and I are on the far left and right of the picture.
Sophia and her big blue eyes.
Saying goodbye. Arrivederci
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The Public Contracts Regulations (2015) were enacted on 26th February this year.
Their intention is to cut red tape, ensuring consistency, promoting social value and increasing the amount of public sector spend with SME* and VCSEs**.
Exor's Technical Governance team also provides clarification regarding the regulations and what they mean for public sector buyers and suppliers.
Click here to download our whitepaper on the regulations
* Small medium size enterprises
** Voluntary Community and Social Enterprises


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Looking For Little People Disney Made By Fisher-price
The Little People Disney Princess Ariel is a nice item for the kids. It's about time to publish a review when my kids emails me how good something such as the Little People Disney Princess Ariel can be. I did research about it in comparison with equivalent products. This offered me a substantial amount of invaluable information and facts and testimonials for the Little Mermaid dolls.
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The maker of this doll is Fisher-price. Fisher-price released it on the 5th of September, 2013. The Little Mermaid dolls dimensions are 4.2″H by 5.2″L by 2.4″W. I'm sure you will love that the item comes with this feature, ariel sings songs and says phrases in the disney princess palace. Other highlights include things like open the treasure to play music. The warranty information from the manufacturer, is no warranty.
These Little Mermaid dolls are not a very well known product online nevertheless I can state that it'll in all probability be right for you. The lowest price I can identify on the Little People Disney Princess Ariel is about $28.49, however this is simply not constantly correct. Looking for Little People Disney Princess Ariel. Should you need a great deal on this doll, click on our partners via the add to shopping cart button on this page.


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2 Lexington juveniles arrested after chase involving sword, gun and club
Two juveniles are facing charges after chasing another juvenile with a sword, a gun and a club early Monday.
Lexington police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts said the victim was walking home near Baybrook and Mount Tabor roads when the two juveniles approached him with multiple weapons. The victim took off running down the 2800 block of Point Court and into a neighbor's house.The two juveniles followed and kicked down the door, then left quickly when they realized they had run into the wrong house; they got into a white or silver Hyundai occupied by three other juveniles, Roberts said.
Witnesses told police the two juveniles were students at Henry Clay High School and where they lived. They were arrested and charged with first-degree burglary, and taken to the juvenile detention facility on Spurr Road.


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Production Training and Support Staff | Contract Lecturer
Max Cotter (RTA '15) is a Toronto-based recording engineer, audio researcher, teacher, and writer. Max is the co-owner of Coach House Sound, a music recording studio and multi-disciplinary art space in Toronto's West End, and co-founder and executive producer of Brainchild, a podcast network.
He co-authored and presented Recreating Robb: The Sound of the World's First Electronic Organ at the 2014 Audio Engineering Society conference in Berlin, and presented a lecture on the same topic later that year at the Toronto International Electroacoustic Symposium. In 2016, he lectured on podcasting as a vehicle for social change at the Ashoka U Exchange in New Orleans.


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Announcing The Debut Album
Brad Stock goes after music the same way he paddles into big waves—all out!
For a long time Brad Stock wanted to make music, and he did ... in his basement. Where no one could hear him. Meanwhile, he raised a daughter and built a career that would provide for her. 20 something years later he emerged from the surf with a fully realized Magnum Opus. This man harnessed life, with all of its imperfections, disappointments, and self mastery.
The Atomic Clock tackles the mechanics of surf, loss, growth, and self realization so beautifully that I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Your trip starts here. Enjoy the ride.
—Alex Boynton: Writer, Artist, Musician


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Investor Relations
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|Cummins Announces Availability of X12™ With Autocar
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180418006296/en/
X12 (Photo: Business Wire)
"With its best-in-class power-to-weight ratio, Cummins believes that the
X12 engine will be well suited to address the needs of the refuse market
as well as other weight sensitive vocational applications," said
To meet customer needs, the Cummins X12 boasts a remarkably low engine weight of 2,050 pounds that doesn't compromise on durability or performance. Delivering up to 500 horsepower (373 kW), the X12 has the highest power-to-weight ratio of any comparable engine in the market. Haulers specifically with the Autocar ACX powered by the X12 engine will see a significant weight savings of 733 pounds versus Cummins' previous 12-liter engine. That's 733 pounds more payload available.
"Autocar is focused on bringing innovations to the market with real,
tangible benefits to our customers," said
The X12 uses the latest Single Module™ aftertreatment system, which takes up to 60 percent less space and weighs up to 40 percent less than prior aftertreatment configurations. Combined engine and aftertreatment weight for the X12 is around 2,240 pounds – considerably lower than that of any other heavy-duty system.
"Built around improved uptime and reliability, the X12 will be in prime position to support Autocar's vision of 'Always Up®,'" Merritt said.
The X12 will be available in Autocar's ACX starting in the fourth quarter of 2018.
About Autocar
Autocar® is the oldest motor vehicle brand in
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180418006296/en/
Cummins Inc.


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|€ 0.00
1 × delirium 69 650mAh Battery with Passthrough (you can vape while the battery is being charged)
1 × Complete delirium 69 eVod BCC Clearomizer
1 × Spare Atomizer Head
1 × USB Cable Charger (no adapter necessary, charge directly from any USB port)
1 × User Manual
Bottom Coil Clearomizer (BCC) technology
Keeps the wick wet and delivers cool vapor at low and stable temperatures.
Phenomenal flavour transmission
Vapour tastes like it's supposed to taste - no flavour loss during liquid to vapour transformation.
Changeable atomizer system
Change only the head, not the whole atomizer - easy to use and budget-friendly.
Passthrough battery
Allows you to vape while the battery is being charged.
1.6ml liquid capacity
Vape more, fill less.
Attractive and durable design
Specifically engineered for long usage with high quality materials; attraction-getter.


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Investments & Tax Planning Guides
Hopefully, your decision to become self-employed is not only liberating, but also financially beneficial. A considered tax-planning strategy will present yet more opportunities for investment in order to press home this advantageous status.
Setting regular small amounts aside is an important consideration. But this new financial awareness represents more than investing in your future.
The psychology behind becoming both über tax-efficient and knowing that your savings are multiplying daily is a huge spur to do more of it.
What investment strategy works best for contractors?
The problem most people face getting started is that there are so many ways to invest. This is especially true of contractors who operate through a limited company.
A good accountant will help you to minimise your income tax, national insurance, corporation tax and capital gains tax. But an IFA will advise you on tax efficient investment opportunities, such as ISAs, bonds, stocks, high interest deposit accounts.
Your attitude to risk, often determined by the stage you're at in your career, also plays a huge part in deciding what investment strategy is right for you.
With all these choices, the time never seems right to sit down and actually choose a way to make the most of your disposable income. So you don't and both the time and the income disappear, leaving you no better off than before.
Our guides are brief, no-nonsense overviews of the types of tax-planning and investment most suited to contractors and will soon ensure your savings are working for you.
Top Ten Tax-Saving Tips for 2014
There are many ways contractors can invest in their own future. Our guide details the options you can implement with sensible tax-planning to start building an investment platform today for a wealthier tomorrrow.
Author: John Yerou
John Yerou is the owner and founder of Freelancer Financials; a trading style & trade mark of the award winning Mortgage Quest Ltd. One of the most recognised names in providing mortgages for contractors and freelancers across the UK.
In 2004 John began his career in Financial Services as an independent mortgage adviser and broker. John has been instrumental in negotiating bespoke underwriting for contractors with high street lenders.
His presence in the industry as a go-to expert is growing by the day and he is regularly cited and writes in publications both locally and nationally.


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Military investigating death in brig at base
CAMP PENDLETON — The murder suspect who committed suicide Friday by choking himself with toilet paper in the Camp Pendleton brig had twice tried to end his life while in military custody, authorities said yesterday.
Military law-enforcement officials said they're investigating how Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Campos finally succeeded in killing himself while under suicide watch in a cell that was monitored with closed-circuit video.
Campos' death has spurred Marine Corps Installations West and Camp Pendleton to conduct an internal investigation on the brig's procedures for suicidal detainees and prisoners, a Marine spokeswoman said yesterday.
The military had charged Campos with fatally shooting and burning Seaman August Provost of Houston, a fellow sailor also based at Camp Pendleton, on June 30. The killing gained national attention after Provost's family and gay-rights groups questioned whether the victim was targeted because of his sexual orientation.
Navy officials have consistently said they lack any evidence of a hate crime or gang-related violence. They instead accused Campos of going on a crime spree that included driving under the influence, stealing valuables and a pistol from a home and soliciting a civilian to kill another sailor.
Investigators said Campos used the stolen pistol to shoot Provost as he tried to enter the Assault Craft Unit 5 property on Camp Pendleton, where Provost was standing watch in a guard shack. They believe he was planning to set a landing craft on fire in retaliation for an upcoming disciplinary hearing.
Authorities took Campos into custody about two days after the killing, then announced 16 charges against him – including murder, arson, unlawful entry and wrongful possession of a firearm – on July 23.
Campos, 32, of Lancaster, was discovered unconscious in his cell Friday morning, Marine officials said. He was pronounced dead that afternoon.
The analysis of how Campos managed to commit suicide is being handled by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
It's unclear whether the Camp Pendleton brig staff correctly followed policies for dealing with suicidal prisoners. A Navy regulation mandates that such individuals "shall be placed in special quarters under continuous observation."
Another section of the regulation says those prisoners need to be "physically checked every five minutes." It also requires the monitoring to be annotated on an operational report.
According to a Navy news release issued last week, guards checked on Campos at 11:45 a.m. Friday and found him well. At 12:21 p.m., they discovered that he was "unresponsive on his cot."
If accurate, it would mean that Campos might have gone 36 minutes between checks, seemingly in violation of the Navy's regulation for the handling of suicidal prisoners.
Yesterday, Navy spokesman Brian O'Rourke said the regulation doesn't specify what constitutes a physical check. He also said that according to the corrections manual, a physical check every five minutes constitutes continuous observation.
Maj. Kristen Lasica-Khaner, a spokeswoman at Camp Pendleton, said the brig's guard followed all suicide-watch protocols, including visually checking on Campos every five minutes and logging the information.
The 11:45 a.m. check included physical interaction as Campos set down his lunch tray and then laid down, Lasica-Khaner said. The 12:21 p.m. visit was the next time there was verbal interaction between the guard and Campos, with the guard trying to wake up the prisoner and determining that he was unresponsive, she added.
Navy and Marine officials didn't specify when, where or how Campos tried to kill himself on the two earlier occasions.
This is the first suicide at Camp Pendleton's brig in at least five years, base officials said.
Death by asphyxiation from toilet paper is rare but not unprecedented.
In a 2006 issue of The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, researchers presented the case of a 58-year-old schizophrenic man who died after ingesting a large amount of toilet paper.
Lt. Michael Stout, a spokesman for the state's Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa, said prisoners on suicide watch there remain under visual supervision 24 hours a day.
At one time, Stout said, the prison used a closed-circuit TV monitoring system, but found that "one-on-one observation" was more effective.
"We have not had any inmate suicides in the 19 years I've been here," he said.


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**** (out of 5)
March 7, 2008
Jason Statham as TERRY LEATHER
Saffron Burrows as MARTINE LOVE
Stephen Campbell Moore as KEVIN SWAIN
Daniel Mays as DAVE SHILING
James Faulkner as GUY SINGER
Studio: Lionsgate
Directed by: Roger Donaldson
Listen to Kevin's radio review…
I'm a real sucker for a good heist movie. I loved all the "Oceans" flicks, and I even liked Edward Norton in "The Italian Job." All filmmakers have to do is slap together a semi-complex plan, cast the film with somewhat likable characters and tie it together with a punchy soundtrack, and I'm hooked.
With that said, it's no big surprise that I really did enjoy "The Bank Job." And it wasn't too soon, with the competition this weekend being "10,000 BC" and "College Road Trip" for the top spots.
"The Bank Job" tells the true story of a band of small-time crooks who are lured into pulling off the heist of the decade. It seems that a Black Power leader named Michael X has been blackmailing the British government with sexually incriminating photos of Princess Margaret. A spook at MI-5 hooks a pretty criminal named Martine (Saffron Burrows) and gets her to bait Terry Leather (Jason Statham) into taking the job.
While "The Bank Job" does follow a general formula for heist films – the rag-tag group of crooks, the elaborate scheme to get into the bank, the wild goose chase by the authorities – it manages to stay fresh by pumping the story full of plenty of charge.
Statham holds his own as a leading man, melding his tough guy image with a sincere family man. His character has a strong heart, and he takes the job with the best interest of his gang in mind. They're not professional crooks, which gives them a certain amount of protection. However, when things start to turn sour, their amateur nature gets the best of them.
Things start off rather upbeat and lighthearted, similar to Statham's earlier crime dramady "Snatch." However, as the gang tries to get away with the goods, a whole heap of ugliness falls around them from all sides. This winding of the spring through the first two-thirds of the film pays off in the end with some shocking moments and a charge of suspense and action.
Because the film takes place in the early 1970s, the movie is given the look of that decade, with an earthy color saturation and slightly grainy film stock. However, with modern filmmaking techniques that don't get in the way (read as: no Paul Greengrass shakeycam here), the film grips the audience with its visceral style.
Part of the charm of this movie is that these criminals aren't the best around, and they make plenty of mistakes. In fact, they litter the sets with them. This actually works as a breath of fresh air in a marketplace where the "Oceans" movies support themselves on ridiculous foresight, unbelievable skill and completely scenarios.
Much like last year's art-house favorite, "The Lookout," "The Bank Job" revels in the characters' inadequacies. That's what makes things interesting, and you know when things are going so well that – as Kurt Vonnegut used to say – the proverbial excrement will hit the air conditioner soon enough.


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One such day recently presented itself, and I was not in a particular mood to contend with what the universe was dishing out. No matter what I did, it seemed to set off in a path to either keep me from doing what I needed to do or to sour what I was already doing. I really do try my best not to let the little things get to me, but there was something to the start of this day that was steering it in a bad direction.
Every little thing was getting under my skin. Our dogs, who are always a bit on the clingy side anyway, seemed to be determined to kill me by planting themselves just behind wherever I was standing so that when I took a step to turn around, I'd falter as I tried to keep myself upright. The morning's oatmeal was overcooked and hard as a rock. I had received a couple of messages first thing that had kind of set me into a tailspin. I couldn't find my favorite water bottle and I wanted to go for a ride as well... and so, the morning continued on in this fashion.
Determined to get to my ride though, I grabbed another water bottle and headed out to grab the bike. As I went to put on my helmet, it felt wrong. It just wasn't fitting my head properly for some reason and I felt as though the sides of my head were being squeezed in. Had my head grown overnight? I couldn't help but wonder. The gloves I went to put on were disgustingly dirty. Reminding myself to clean them up later, I grabbed an alternate pair that don't fit quite as well, but that would do the job for a quick ride.
Checking the tires, I opened the door and headed out. About 15 feet down the path out, I realized that the handlebars felt as though they'd slipped. They were tipped too far forward, so I pulled over to try to remedy the situation. Admittedly, I was muttering to myself at this point, wondering why nothing seemed to be easy. After fiddling with the tool in an attempt to find the proper size wrench, I couldn't seem to loosen the stem so that I could adjust the handlebars. Hmm, I thought. Perhaps it was in my imagination that they had moved? So, I got back on the bike and continued to ride a few more feet until the handlebars moved under the weight of my arms.
Off the bike again, I was determined to fix the problem. Without loosening the bolt, I pushed the handlebars with all my might until they were in the position I wanted and then attempted to tighten the bolt.
No luck with that either. My hands simply couldn't grip the tool tight enough to get a more secure spot to keep everything in place.
I wasn't thrilled about this because having a sliding handlebar while riding is definitely unnerving, but I wanted to move on. As long as I didn't put much weight on the handlebars, they seemed to stay in place, so I figured I'd continue on the ride anyway.
|At least I had pretty views!
I breathed a huge sigh of relief - which was perhaps my mistake.
The morning was still cool and even though the day was supposed to be quite warm, it was fantastic to feel the breeze on my face. Then, just as I was beginning to feel at ease, a cyclist coming from another T-intersection that joined the side I was riding suddenly darted out directly in front of me, shaking me from my fantasy land state of mind. I wanted to yell something at him, but I refrained. Perhaps I should have... it may have lightened my mood or at least made this day feel somewhat better... but instead, I grumbled to myself about the rudeness of others as he rode two feet in front of me, apparently oblivious to the fact that he'd just about caused a crash for us both.
Instantly, I remembered that I'd forgot to put on sunscreen. M*!%$*F#&@$#! I had been so good thus far about putting on sunscreen. The problem is I burn to a crisp quite easily after only a few minutes in the sun, especially when it's still somewhat early in the warm season and I haven't had a lot of sun exposure. I do keep a bottle of sunscreen in a bike bag, but it was unfortunately not in the one I was using at the moment. Wondering if I should keep riding, I decided it was worth the risk of a burn just to be able to get something out of this progressively irritating morning.
As I reached the first signal on the path to get me to some back roads, I was fussing with my jersey. For some reason, this one just didn't want to stay down and it kept creeping up to my waist. On any other day, this probably wouldn't have been as big of a deal as it seemed in the moment, but on this day, it felt like a final straw sort of moment. "You WILL stay down," I commanded the jersey aloud, as though it was somehow capable of independent thought and action.
I bent my neck down to firmly pull the hem into place and noticed something on my shorts. What is that? I wondered to myself, believing that it was a stray piece of fuzzy lint or something floating through the air. Running my fingers over it to pull whatever it was off of me, I realized suddenly that it was a hole in my shorts.
|I have no idea where these holes came from, or if I had acquired them on this short ride or prior to it.
With that, I turned and headed back home, about a half mile from where I'd begun a few minutes prior.
As I rode home, disappointed that I couldn't seem to overcome the start of this day, I understood that nothing really so horrible had happened and I knew I was being overly dramatic about things that were, for the most part, inconsequential, but I still couldn't let go of that feeling of being wronged by the universe somehow and I couldn't bring myself to continue the ride.
The stench of the morning clung to me and it was though I had to wallow in all of it in order to get through and on to better moments. When I got home, I took a few minutes to let myself have a pity party over what felt like, in the moment, a horrendous morning, and then ended up going for a walk instead. Slowly, I worked myself out of the funk and the cloud that had seemed to follow me all morning disappeared, but it was a morning that I would prefer not to repeat in the future.
It was not so much what had actually taken place. I've truly had far worse mornings and even entire days, but I realized that I didn't like myself and the way I was behaving - even if it was mostly an internal sort of temper-tantrum, nor did I care for my inability to pull myself out of it quicker. I guess there really is something to getting up on the wrong side of the bed though, and I suppose I just have to remember which side it is and keep from rising on that side in the future.
How do you pull yourself out of a bad day? Anything that works to lighten your mood? Usually a bike ride does this for me, but it seemed to be more of an irritant than of help on this particular day, but I find that activity of any sort generally helps with balancing things out.


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Bali & Java Cultural Experience
(13 nights / 14 days)
Yogjakarta, Nusa Dua, Ubud
The name Indonesia was derived from indos nesos, meaning islands near India, The country is in fact the largest archipelago in the world with a thousand islands, 17,508 to be precise, spread in an area between the Asian continent and Australia, and between the Pacific and the Indian oceans. The islands are inhabited by many tribes with diverse cultures and languages, although there is a national language spoken throughout the country, namely Bahasa Indonesia. It is thus appropriate, that the country's motto is Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, menaing "Unity in Diversity".
(13 nights / 14 days)
Yogjakarta, Nusa Dua, Ubud
(7 nights / 8 days)
Ubud, Nusa Dua
(4 nights / 5 days)
Lombok, Gili Terawangan
(4 Days / 3 Nights)
Sumatra's Bukit Lawang Gunung Leuser Camp
(6 nights / 7 days)
Labuan Bajo, Ruteng, Bajawa, Moni, Maumere
(2 nights / 3 days)
Labuan Bajo
(6 nights / 7 days)
Lesser Sunda Island
(4 nights / 5 days)
Lovina, Candidasa, Ubud


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Sunday, January 1, 2017
Hennepin County judge: Body-cam footage is off-limits to public
James Eli Shiffer at the Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Ivy Bernhardson, the chief judge in Hennepin County, laid down the rules in December on how prosecutors and defense attorneys should handle video footage from police body cameras before criminal trials.
The bottom line: Don't go sharing the videos with the public.
Despite Bernhardson's order, state law requires any investigative data, including video from body cameras, to become public if it's formally entered into evidence in a trial. Most cases never go to trial, however.


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James Beard Award-winning Chef Suzanne Goin looks naturally relaxed per usual in her kitchen at Lucques on Melrose. Why stress? She has only just created more than 30 new "flavor focused" California-inspired dishes for the in-flight first- and business-class passenger menus on Singapore Airlines. Simultaneously, Goin also seems to effortlessly run three of the most successful restaurants in town — A.O.C. on 3rd Street, Tavern in Brentwood and this very spot where she is carefully placing plump seared scallops on a fragrant bed of coconut black rice. This succulent dish, along with a lobster salad and one of her most popular beef short ribs creations are part of the "luxury comfort food" that top-tier flyers will be served in the swanky cabins while flying from LAX to Singapore (and other selected routes worldwide) on the airline this fall.
To read more…
Get a Print Subscription
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A Mobile Application Testing Community
This is a zone to discuss the over all challenges and issues faced during testing a mobile app
Members: 172
Latest Activity: Oct 7, 2016
Started by Vivek Tiwari. Last reply by siri Mar 12, 2015. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Hi,I want to know that ,What are the Common challanges while doing testing Application on iPhone/iPad devices ?Thanks Vivek TiwariContinue
Started by Anand Kumar Amaravadhi. Last reply by Alexandra Titova Nov 28, 2013. 5 Replies 6 Likes
Hi All,I wanted to share my exp reg the challenges when testing mobile apps.Testing a mobile app is very similar yet different from testing any web based application. At the heart of it, testing the…Continue
Tags: Challenges, testing, app, Mobile
Started by Nishant Ginnalwar. Last reply by Anoop Sharma Dec 4, 2012. 1 Reply 1 Like
Hello sir,Can u please tell me what are the major differences between Mobile game testing and application testing.. ! Is game testing is more challenging over application testing???? Continue
Started by naveen. Last reply by Neha Jain Aug 22, 2012. 5 Replies 0 Likes
sir please let me know that what is field testing,how is it performed and how to select users that can test in field.on which ground we select users for field testing ,how is it possible that we can…Continue
Hi Anand,
Can you tell how to check the domain pointing build for iphone.
I would like to compile a list of cities in the US/World that have no airport in their close vicinity, for negative testing I am currently performing on my App - appreciate your input.
Here are two that I have right now for the list:
- Acton, MT, USA
- Johannesburg, AK, USA
Tnx Anand and Apoorva for sharing the information
1 We Can interrupt the App by Calling and Sending the messages
2 We Can do multiple activity like Click on Both buttons at same instances
3 Force close the application and Open
4 Network OFF and ON if App depend on Message.
5 Foreground like Sending the Application Back ground and Do some actions (Iphone 4g)
© 2019 Created by Anurag Khode. Powered by


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Tell us what you are looking for
Orchestras like to have a home base. And they preferably like it to be pretty prestigious. Even glitzy. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) is no exception.
This Saturday we'll be doing something just a little different with our late night series The Night Shift, and popping up at the legendary Vauxhall club Duckie.


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Do you have a question or concern?
Email us and we'll be sure to respond.
- Cerival Spine Surgical Treatment
- Thoracic Spine Treatment
- Minimally Invasive TLIF
- Minimally Invasive XLIF
- Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF)
Cervical Spine Surgical Treatment
If the cervical spine condition cannot be treated by conservative measures (e.g. anti-inflammatory medications), oral steroids (e.g. Predisone) can be prescribed for greater pain relief. Patients however are discouraged from taking oral steroids for long term use.
If cervical spine pain lasts more than 8 weeks and the patient's quality of life is compromised, surgery may be an option. Cervical spine surgery has a high success rate. The success rate of surgery for a cervical herniated disc, for example, is 95-98%.
There are three types of cervical spine surgery:
- The first is the anterior cervical discectomy and spine fusion. For cervical herniated discs, this surgery is the most popular and is preferred by spine surgeons. The surgeon makes a one-inch incision in the front of the neck. The disc is removed and the space where the disc used to be undergoes fusion. The surgeon will add a plate over the operated area to stabilize it.
- The second type is anterior discectomy without spine fusion. It is the same procedure as the first except that no fusion takes place, because when the disc is removed, the space remains open. The space will eventually fuse although the healing process is longer, and a deformation might occur.
- The third type is called posterior cervical discectomy. It resembles a lumbar discectomy and it is the approach recommended when the discs are in lateral position in the foramen. Surgeons agree that this is a more difficult procedure due to numerous veins in this area. Bleeding can occur, and the spinal cord also needs to be manipulated.
Thoracic Spine Treatment
Most thoracic disc conditions can be treated without surgery. Some of the more popular approaches include a prolonged period of rest, strengthening exercises, anti-inflammatory agents, spine manipulation, medications and analgesics. Thoracic surgery is recommended only when there's a strong possibility of a spinal cord dysfunction or acute chronic pain.
Depending on the location and position of the herniated disc, one procedure is an open thoracotomy which is done using a front approach crossing into the thoracic spine. This means the spine is reached via the chest. Minimal invasive surgery is possible; the surgeon makes small incisions.
Another procedure is called costotransversectomy usually recommended for lateral herniated discs. The spine is reached from behind or from the side, and involves the removal of a rib.
Based on a study carried out among surgery patients, most surgeons now agree that the trans-thoracic approach appears to be the preferred method.
Back to top
Lumbar Spine Treatment
Lower back pain is common and in many cases, people obtain relief by adopting one or a combination of these conservative approaches:
- Rest
- Anti-inflammatory agents
- Exercise
- Narcotic or non-narcotic medication (discouraged for long term use)
- Heat application
- Muscle relaxers
Lumbar spine surgery is, of course, an option but only if conservative treatments have been exhausted and lower back pain persists to a point that it begins to erode the patient's quality of life.
There are at least five known types of surgeries for chronic and severe low back pain but only your doctor and specialist can help you decide which is the most suitable surgery for you, taking into account certain factors.
The following is a general description of lumbar spine surgeries:
- Discectomy – this procedure involves removing part of the affected disc. The most common problem is a herniated disc, a condition that puts extreme pressure on the nerves, causing pain.
- Foramenotomy – this procedure is used when pressure on the nerve is being caused not just by a herniated disc but also by bone or tissue that pinches or pushes the nerve.
- Laminectomy – this procedure is aimed to provide relief for the spinal cord. It is a common surgery to correct conditions like spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis. Parts of the bone is removed, and may require spinal fushion to stabilize the spine.
- Spine Fusion – this procedure is intended to prevent movement between vertebrae. It is performed to treat an unstable spine (a condition called spondylolisthesis).
- Spinal Disc Replacement – this is a relatively new type of surgery and its purpose is to treat specific cases of lumbar pain.
Minimally Invasive TLIF
Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (or TLIF for short) is a type of procedure performed on the spine. It covers four fundamental aspects:
- The surgery is done through the foramen (a foramen is an opening that allows a nerve to pass in between bones);
- It involves the lower back (lumbar);
- Bone grafts are placed between two vertebrae;
- Fusion is carried out to stabilize the spine
As the name of the procedure suggests, it is a surgery that is not invasive. This means that the surgeon makes tiny incisions and dilates the muscles that surround the spine and gently separates them. In aTraditional TLIF, the surgeon has to cut or remove the muscles from the spine. This can cause scarring and other complications. Minimally invasive TLIF, however, keeps the muscles and the vascular function intact.
How it's Done
The surgeon makes a 3-cm incision in the skin of the back directly over the vertebra(e) requiring treatment. Muscles around the spine are then dilated so that the spine can be reached and stabilized. After the spine is reached, the lamina (or vertebral "roof") is taken out so that the nerve roots become visible.
The nerve roots are moved to one side while the surgeon lifts the disc material from the front of the spine, after which he inserts a bone graft into the space formerly occupied by the disk. This bone graft stimulates bone growth. To stabilize the spine, screws and rods will be inserted, until fusion takes place. The purpose of the surgery is for the spine to be stable again.
Is Minimally Invasive TLIF for You?
If you have been diagnosed with spinal instability in the lower back (e.g. degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis or spinal stenosis) and your body has not responded well to conservative treatment (e.g. rest, physical rehabilitation, or prescription medication), you may be a candidate for minimally invasive TLIF. Discuss this matter with your doctor as he will determine the suitability of this surgery for you. He will need to consider the condition requiring treatment, your lifestyle, age, and overall health.
Post Surgery
Most people can leave the hospital the next day following the procedure. Some need to stay in the hospital for a few days. Patients will notice improvements after surgery while others will notice a gradual improvement of symptoms.
The desired outcomes will depend on the patient's attitude, compliance with doctor's instructions, and realistic expectations. People can usually assume their daily routines after several weeks.
Please Note: The information provided here serve only as guidelines and must not replace your doctor's advice. If you need more information on any of the surgeries related to the neck, mid back and lower back, please contact us.
Minimally Invasive XLIF
The XLIF Procedure; Turning Spine Surgery on Its Side
When performing XLIF back surgery, your surgeon will approach your spine from the side of your body. You will be positioned on your side on the surgical table and two small incisions will be made. One of the incisions will be made on your side – this is the incision from which most of the surgery will be performed. Another incision will be made slightly behind the first, toward your back.
After you have been positioned, an x-ray will be taken to help your doctor precisely locate the operative space. Next, your skin will be marked at the site where the two small incisions will be made. Your surgeon will use the latest instrumentation to access the spine in a minimally disruptive manner. Disc preparation is the next step. This is done by removing the disc tissue, an action which allows the bones to be fused together. Several x-rays will be taken during this stage to ensure the preparation is correct. Once the disc has been prepared, the surgeon will then place a stabilizing implant into the space to restore the disc height and enable the spine to once again support necessary loads. Once in position, a final x-ray will be taken to confirm correct implant placement. In the event that further stabilization is necessary, the surgeon may choose to insert additional screws, rods, or plates into the vertebrae.cells that bridge the space between the vertebrae and allow the bone to grow together. Increased stability and restoration of disc height often result in significant pain relief.
Back to top
Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF)
ACDF is a surgical procedure intended to remove a herniated or diseased disc which provides relief to neck and arm pain. The pain is caused by the disc pressing on nerve roots.
How it's Done
The word "discectomy" means cutting out the disc. By removing the disc, pressure on the nerves is eliminated. The surgery is a four step process: the surgeon makes an incision on the front of the neck, removes the diseased disc, creates a clearing above and below the removed disc, and then prepares it for a bone graft. The bone graft is placed between the vertebrae. To hold it in place, the surgeon screws in a metal plate over the treated area to hold the bones in place. During the healing process, the bone graft forms a new bone mass called a fusion.
Is ACDF for You?
ACDF is recommended to individuals who:
- Have a herniated or damaged disk
- Suffer from chronic weakness of the neck and arm
- Feel more intense pain in the arm than in the neck
- Have not improved despite traditional treatment and medication
ACDF can provide relief for herniated and protruding discs and degenerative disc disease (resulting from the formation of bone spurs and inflammation of facet joints).
If you are seriously considering the ACDF procedure, speak to your neurosurgeon. He will examine you and make the necessary assessments and discuss the different types of bone grafts.
Post Surgery
Some patients can go home right after surgery, but if any significant pain or discomfort is felt, or if any medical complications arise (e.g. difficulty in breathing), they may have to stay in the hospital for a few days. The doctor will provide clear and detailed instructions regarding prescription medication. Patients may also need assistance in walking or bathing during the first few days.
Recovery time takes 4-6 weeks, but patients must consult with their physician two weeks after the surgery. They may be asked to increase their physical activity (like walking for longer distances).Back to top


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To celebrate the 90th anniversary of Graceworks Lutheran Services, these videos were created to tell a story from each service line. Please enjoy.
90 Years of Faithful Caring
Day Programs at Graceworks Enhanced Living
Working for Graceworks at Home
Walking for Fitness at Bethany Village
Consumer Credit Counseling Service Helps Female Inmates Learn About Budgeting
Graceworks Housing Services Helps Adult Resident Learn To Read
Graceworks Lutheran Services Value – Faithfulness to Christ


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Dabble db is brilliant. Rejoice, all you database haters, for all the pre-work you have to do to even get started with a traditional web/database environmnet. They have a blog as well. It's currently in beta. I don't have an account there yet, but I've seen some videos and demos.
I would love to get my hands on a beta account. Google base pales by comparison. Maybe they should just acquire dabbledb (if they're willing to be acquired). Rails is generic enough to let a developer write any sort of database application quick enough. I take that back. Cross out the word database. It's got too many relational database connotations. It's semi-structured information, any kind. You build structures and views with the information you have, as you need it.
With dabble, you don't have to be a developer. You don't have to know java, perl, ruby, python (or smalltalk). You don't have to know html, xml, rss. Best of all, you don't have to worry about sql and foreign keys, inner joins and data integrity. Any mom and pop could build a database, starting with the information they already have. Recipes, anecdotes, jokes you name it. This is pervasive technology of a different kind.
Good luck, you all at dabble. You've got a gem on your hands.
They have a blog that's interesting reading.


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Remember in the first Batman movie when Joker is watching Batman do his superhero thing, and Jack Nicholson famously quipped, "Where does he get all those wonderful toys?" I kind of feel like that every time I read interviews with Valve, who are just so good at what they do that it astounds me. Whether you like their games or not, you have to admit that they're at the very least smart, and good at talking about games.
To me, the most respectable thing about Valve is the drive to always one up themselves, and to continue delivering experiences that will give the most value to their customer base and build up community around games. Take their recent interview with Game Developer Magazine, where project manager Erik Johnson talked primarily about Portal 2 and what it means to create a sequel for a much anticipated title.
Reading over the article, it seems like Valve really understands what made the first Portal click so well for such a huge audience. Check out some awesome quotes after the jump.
In general, we try to be the servants of their opinion. We try to build the kind of game that they want, and one of the ways to engage with customers is to point out knowledge that they have, like "Hey, we know that you guys played Portal 1," to give them something to hold on to.
For many people, it was this perfect experience. It was the game that, far and away, more people finished than any game we've made — we can see in Steam if the game gets finished, and it was huge in that respect.
We looked back to find the core things players liked about Portal. We felt it was the story and the tone, the type of story it was, and the delivery mechanism of the story. We felt like for a lot of people, their reaction was surprise about the gameplay.
Johnson goes on to talk about the issue of single player vs. multiplayer, and how not every game needs a multiplayer component. This is a common misconception that's going on around the culture of gaming right now, so it's cool to see that a developer thinks that additional value can be added without mundane game modes.
I think there is an interesting question in how many projects should be offline products and how long that is going to be viable. Half-Life 1 was a really offline product. I think customers want to find ways to talk about the thing that they are a big fan of with other people, and ideally experience it the same way.
That doesn't mean every game needs to be multiplayer. With single player games that were completely in a box, and there was no way to experience anything else, I think there are things that customers want that those games don't take advantage of.
That could just mean that you want to be able to chat with other people who are playing through the same part of the game as you, or the fans can write commentary nodes in the game and everyone can experience those to take advantage of the fact that there is a huge community of people that want to interact with each other.
I still think the analysis that every product needs to be a competitor in multiplayer, or an MMO, is incorrect; there are a lot of people who want an experience without the stress, so I don't see that changing.
I think these are some great quotes, and the interview itself is an interesting read for sure. But then again, that could just be my fanboy showing. Where is your excitement level for Portal 2? Do you think Valve will make a worthy successor, or will it try to do too many things? Also, what do you think of the assessment that not every game needs multiplayer?
Source – Gamasutra


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Hello blogger readers. And ellebang fans! <3
So excited we can now meet here as well, and not only in a 10 minute video on youtube :)
Well my name is Silvia, as some of you may know, I am the shy face you see on our ellebangs videos.
Now with this little addition of having a blog I can explain more about the videos, name product I use, prices and so on. Lord knows I am really bad at remembering to say what it is i am using. Also it would be nice to ramble on anything hair make up and beauty fun! Ok enough about me now ellebangs!
What is ellebangs??
ellebangs was born early 2011. A creative fun experimentive collaborative project among three artistic creative friends. Adam Oestrergaard, cute, talented, producer/camera operator /editor and my fiancee <3 Tina Mclean adorable, fun, make up/hair stylist, I met in school. And me shy gir,l passionate about everything hair. cut, style, color, and volume. Lots of volume! So we put all our talents together and came up with this...
Silvia & Tina
So as you may have noticed Tina has not been in the latest videos. We are hoping to have her back in some of our videos when she is ready to say hello once again. So for now it is Just Adam and I. Adam is responsible for editing, all the pretty titles and sounds. Until I learn to use finalcut pro.
Now I leave you with one of our latest videos. Adam attempting to do my make up. Warm hugs and mugs full of coffeefrom our apartment in san francisco.


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Seeing the growing demand for compact sedans, car manufacturers are aiming to launch their vehicles in the segment. At the 2014 Indian Auto Expo, we witnessed the unveiling of several new compact sedan cars. Ford India too premiered the sub-4 metre Figo sedan concept a day before the start of Delhi Motor Show. It is expected that the compact sedan will be launched by the early 2015 and will be manufactured at the company's new Sanand factory in Gujarat, which is scheduled to start production by the end of this year.
Based on the new generation Ford Ka aka Figo platform, the new sedan has been spotted during its test rounds on Brazilian roads. However, this model is a longer version of the sedan and is named as Ka sedan. The Indian spec model will be a sub-4 metre sedan which will directly compete against the likes of Maruti Swift Dzire, Honda Amaze, Hyundai Xcent and upcoming Tata Zest. [READ MORE- Upcoming compact sedan cars in India]
The Ka sedan and Figo compact sedan are developed on the same platform, which is basically the updated version of the previous generation Fiesta platform. The company has used higher strength and lighter steel structures to keep the body weight down.
The exterior styling of the Figo concept looks identical to the Ford Ka hatchback concept showcased in Brazil last year. The vehicle looks aggressive and sports aerodynamic creases running all around the sedan. In simple words, we can say that Ford's Kinetic design philosophy works really well. The front fascia of the compact sedan gets trapezoidal grille (Aston-Martin like grille) which is also visible on Fiesta facelift, swept back large headlamps, large bumper with wide air dam and a pair of fog lamps. The styling elements are 8-spoke alloy wheels, outside rear view mirrors (ORVMs) with integrated turn indicators, large doors with a huge glass area, Boomerang shaped rear-taillight design and silver diffuser on the rear bumper.
At the show, the company didn't showcase the interiors of the sedan. However, it is expected that the vehicle will get features like a mobile phone, satellite navigation and MP3 holder (media dock) which complements the car's entertainment system. Ford claims it to offer best-in segment interior space and safety technologies.
Under the hood, it is speculated that Ford Figo concept sedan will get the renowned 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine that produces 123bhp and 170Nm of top torque. However, we expect it to feature the naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engine producing 70bhp and a 1.4-litre Duratorq diesel engine. The company might also introduce the 1.5-litre petrol and diesel variants of the sedan. While the diesel version will be coupled to a five-speed manual transmission gearbox, the petrol variant will be mated to five-speed manual or CVT gearbox.
The exact pricing details for the Ford Figo compact sedan is yet to be announced, but we expect it to be priced in the range of Rs. 5-8 lakh.


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Most people head to Hollywood to stroll star-paved sidewalks or visit old movie palaces like El Capitan and the Egyptian. Chowhound lil mikey has another destination for those willing to leave the glitz behind: Western Chicken, a Middle Eastern hole in the wall just south of Hollywood Boulevard. The family-run shop serves good falafel, creamy hummus, and tasty arayes (pictured)—lamb-and-beef-stuffed pitas that look like quesadillas, served with hummus and turnip pickles. "The food is consistently well made," says lil mikey, who's awarded Western Chicken a gold star for Middle Eastern fast food.
Western Chicken [Hollywood]
1546 N. Western Avenue, Los Angeles
Discuss: Western Chicken – Still Going in Hollywood
Western Chicken in Hollywood
Photo from Western Chicken


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Just as nervous commuters here in Orange County, Los Angeles, and all over California brave their way back onto public transportation this week, another train collides, this time with a bus. This time it was not a Metrolink train, but a "light rail" train. The accident is still under investigation but early facts are emerging that the driver of the bus was a mechanic that was "test driving" the empty bus and ran a red light. 15 people were sent to the hospital with personal injuries.
The light rail system is run in the state of California by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority or MTA. Los Angeles's rail system includes multi-colored above rail lines that stretch across L.A. County. The train that crashed was the blue line that connects Long Beach with downtown L.A. Since 1990, there have been 821 accidents on this blue line and 90 fatalities. 652 of the incidents have been with other vehicles and 169 have been with pedestrians.
Most of the accidents have been due to human error of some kind; either from the vehicles trying to beat the train, pedestrians not looking both ways and train operators that were distracted. Since cell phone usage is now such a large factor in last week's metrolink crash, investigators will be looking into this theory as well. In July of this year another California light rail incident in Sacramento involved another operator texting; this time with deadly results. This week the California Public Utilities Commission has banned all train operators from using their cell phone and texting while on the job.
Why does California have the deadliest train accident rate in the country? Generally there is not one reason that causes these types of accidents. Experts agree that it is normally is a breakdown of many operational processes; long work hours, improper training procedures, dysfunctional organizational systems and unreasonable workloads can all be factors. The National Transportation Safety Board will go through these accidents and ultimately come up with causes and recommendations. Hopefully the management in charge will comply and create better safety procedures for the public at large.
Besides trains, California also has the highest bus accident rate, with fatalities and personal injuries. Bus accidents have been steadily growing as more and more people move to public transportation for business and pleasure. Bus transportation, compared with driving an automobile is still safer than fighting the freeways, but it still has its risks. Last year there were over 1300 injury crashes involving buses in California.
Another popular trend for bus tourism is the "casino bus". People from all over Orange County opt for less stress while travelling to Las Vegas and the California casinos. However, earlier this year there was a tour bus that overturned on the way to Vegas. Four people had to be airlifted because of serious personal injuries, but all had injuries. The bus driver had drifted to side of the road and somehow lost control of the bus.
If you have experienced any injury accident on a metrolink train, light rail, bus or casino tour bus, don't hesitate to call an experienced personal injury attorney. These types of accidents can be very difficult to go through and settle, especially when you are recovering. Talk to the experts and let them handle the details while you get better.


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Hello, people!
I've come to the realization recently that I am a loser.
I know, I know. Strong word.
My children helped me to realize this about myself. Not deliberately, they've simply grown up enough that their memories and opinions about their childhoods have become a topic of conversation and I can see things from their points of view.
Obviously, there are things they don't know about and, therefore, are unable to appreciate. Things I gave up, things I did that I didn't want to do. Maybe, someday, I will share everything with them, but I doubt it.
For now, it is just enlightening to me to see what things looked like from the outside.
I thought I was doing my best.
How to be a loser?
Do what everyone else thinks is the right thing to do, even when it bites you in the ass repeatedly.
You'll get no credit for anything and you'll take the fall for everything.
Alright, enough of that.
Time to do what I think is best.
Wish me luck!
Much love to all of you!
Mother Tory


text: Hello! This is new patch for bug: http://bugs.winehq.org/show_bug.cgi?id=23750 I have tested color key processing for SURFACE_OPENGL and SURFACE_GDI surfaces with alpha channel in Windows.The color key has been processed for both surface types. I don't know how to write correct Wine test for this problem. Can anybody help me? Is this Wine test realy needed? -- Best regards, Ilya Shpigor. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 0001-wined3d-Allow-color-key-processing-for-surfaces-with.patch Type: text/x-diff Size: 747 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://www.winehq.org/pipermail/wine-patches/attachments/20101124/7b630f47/attachment.patch>


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from flickr user ibikempls
A biker catches some wicked air during Saturday's wicked snowfall. Alright, the snowfall wasn't exactly wicked but it was unexpected as we experienced a record high temperature of 68 degrees just three days earlier.
MN Cyclocross Championships
at 1:46 PM | Monday, November 15, 2010
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I'm cutting and cutting, my back is hurting a lot...but I'm close to the finish and my own creations keep me going on. This viking turned out even more sympathic then I wanted, soon I fall in love with him :) Love the proces...colouring is so much fun!
October 22, 2011
ABC - book in progress
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Once in a while I will prepare breakfast in bed for my partner in the weekend to repay him for the sins i've committed during the week. Usually, I am only awake and alert during the weekends, i breeze through my weekdays in a zombie-like state.
Eggs are the most important breakfast ingredient for me. Bacon comes second, and mushroom third.
Pretty healthy, not totally fat free...but still a must.
I love my eggs scrambled or omelette style.
To make the omelette, i just add a pinch of salt, pepper, lots of button mushrooms and cheese. The smell of the eggs will fill up the entire room, and this is the best start to a Saturday morning! This big turner i bought from ikea is very useful. I can turn omelette/pancakes/any round shape food without breaking them. Such a good investment!
I served the eggs with some bread roll, oven-crisp bacon, together with apple and orange slices.
When i was young, my mother would forbid me for eating in bed.
For this breakfast, i went under the quilt, play some Will and Grace and enjoyed my breakfast with no dramas. I almost drifted back to sleep after breakfast. This is the way i like my weekend morning to start, the lazy way.
Now I have kids of my own who have never tried breakfast in bed before. soo...
They barked happily in approval.
The first dogs to ever try breakfast in bed.
Yes i know i didn't give birth to them yada yada... but they do respond to 'mama' when anyone is referring to me so i am their mother. i love my children!!!


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The Empathy Project is a collaborative, participatory art project initiated by Paul Rucker and Curated by Marcus Civin at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) Baltimore. It invites participants to explore their experiences with empathy through visual art, writing, installations, performances etc. Many classes added an assignment for the students in the institute to participate in the project where a wide variety of work was created, from collaborative installations to anonymous written posts. The project itself is a sum of all these parts and serves to celebrate the diversity that exists among any community of people.
When i was brought on the team to design the identity and collateral for the project I was faced with a few specific problems that I must try to solve:
Most people don't differentiate between empathy and sympathy. This was evident when I asked people what they think something called "The Empathy Project" would be about. Many responded by asking if it was a social project to help people in low living conditions or so. I knew I had to confront this with the identity, to take the project out of the connotations attached to it because of a simple but widespread misunderstanding of the meaning of the title.
The exhibition space will be divided into 7 sections based on the nature of submissions - Engage, Collaborate, Write, Listen, Perform, Meditate and Install. The identity must somehow incorporate these sections within it as well.
I tried to visualize the many attributes of the project itself instead of try to follow the usual road of trying to give form to "Empathy." The way the project works and was positioned could be the base for its identity, after all. The most important aspect of the project was its diversity: The exhibition itself is not the work of one artist alone but many. It will feature a wide spectrum of work with no bar on the form of the final piece. The concept of diversity is explored through diversity itself. The other aspect is how the exhibition is a sum of many parts, contributed by people with different tastes, styles, backgrounds and skills but all exploring one common theme.
To express all the above in the identity, I chose Peter Bilak's History type system. Released by his type foundry Typotheque in 2008, it contains 21 fonts, all based on the same skeleton but each exploring a different style. These can then be layered on top of one another to create more variants.
This system was perfect for the empathy project, as it worked on similar principles of parts creating a different whole. The typeface is extremely challenging to use, with so many options and its impeccable design, it tests one's skill. After hundreds of variations, the final logotype was chosen.
A black and white version was created for some of the other collaterals. This was another interesting challenge: I did not want to just make a greyscale version of the existing logo (Which would lose many of the qualities) and decided to design a slightly modified version made with the constraints of monochrome in mind.
Once the final logotype was approved, I had to tackle the second problem in the brief, the extensions. To remain with the visual language, i chose shapes from the existing logo to represent each individual sub division. Working with only one or two layers helped me explore the nature of the sub divisions separately and thanks to the typeface, they will all follow the same visual language.
As i mentioned, i tried to express the idea behind the sub division through their individual type treatments (two styles of History collaborating to create the word "Collaborate" etc.) These were essentially signage for the exhibition hall.
Since this was my first exhibition design project, there were several pitfalls in my way in terms of execution and production. After the larger challenge of the wall graphics was taken care of, I could get into the fun stuff - posters and collaterals. For the body text, I chose Fedra Serif A another typeface by the same designer. History and Fedra complimented each other beautifully and completed the typographic palette of the project.
The Empathy Project by Paul Rucker.
Curated by Marcus Civin.
History and Fedra Serif A designed by Peter Bilak, Released by Typotheque.
Design guided by Jennifer Cole Phillips with valuable feedback from Ellen Lupton, Abbott Miller, Juhi Vishnani, Gwynne Keathley and Young Sun Compton.
Designed and executed in MICA, 2014.


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Ola Shuttle now allows users to suggest a route
New Delhi, Jan 7 (ANI): Ola, India's leading mobile app for transportation today announced the launch of a new 'Suggest a Route' feature on its app in Delhi NCR for its Shuttle services. Using this feature, users will be able to suggest routes that they want Ola Shuttle to service within Delhi NCR.
These crowd sourced route suggestions will allow Ola to identify areas where there is a strong need for commute options for users and roll-out its Shuttle services accordingly. This first of its kind feature is available on the Ola app under the Shuttle category and will help bring mobility access to a wider base of users across cities.
Powered by Ola's technology, Ola Shuttle is equipped with facilities like 4G Wi-Fi, on-demand entertainment with Press Play, real-time GPS tracking, reserved push-back seating and cashless payments through Ola Money. Ola Shuttle service is already running on 100 routes across Delhi NCR and ferrying over 10,000 consumers daily.
With more than 500 shuttles on Ola platform in the region, users can get an Ola Shuttle every five to ten minutes between eight am to nine pm on working days.
Crowd sourced routes as a concept will not only help Ola identify and fill the void that the current transportation options are unable to address, but will also ensure shared mobility for users headed on the same route, leading to a lower carbon footprint. With the odd-even experiment in effect in the state of Delhi from January one, Ola Shuttle comes as a reliable and convenient mode of commute to citizens in Delhi NCR.
"The first of its kind crowd sourced routes feature on Ola Shuttle has been designed to serve users better, unlocking immense efficiencies for sustainable transportation," Vice President, New Initiatives, Ola, Sundeep Sahni.
"Shared Mobility will have a long term impact on lowering pollution levels and on-road congestion, with a potential to serve more users than ever before. Ola Shuttle services will complement the public transportation infrastructure, by bringing mobility in areas that lack connectivity to major business centre's and corporate hubs," added Sundeep.
He also said that the company expects Ola Shuttle and the crowd sourced routes feature to result in reduced usage of personal vehicles, contributing to the success of the odd-even experiment in Delhi NCR.
Ola has also recently come up with more shared mobility options like Ola Share and CarPool to enable sharing of its cabs as well as pooling of private vehicles using technology powered by the Ola app in Delhi NCR. (ANI)


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UAE is famous for her gold markets. Collections of the gold souks are really mind blowing. If you spend little time and do some homework then you can end up doing good shopping.
I went to UAE and stayed there in April and May 2011 for implementation of our Health Care ERP. During the tour I visited some of the most interesting parts of Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman.
Here I am sharing some tips if you are planning to visit Dubai to buy some gold.
Buying Gold for the shoppers from Indian Sub-Continent (Specially those from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal etc) can be little confusing as we are used to of measuring gold in 'Vori', 'Tola' etc. I have never had any idea about them but when I needed to compare the price I had to learn what they are.
Buying gold in Dubai is really profitable because the gold is pure. It is at least 10% cheaper than the rate in Bangladesh. You can find variety and designs that is almost impossible to find anywhere in the sub-continent. Shoppers will find beautiful designs not only from the European designers but also from south-India, Kolkata, China, South-East Asia and of course different countries of Arab. If you are in a bit of tough budgeting, never even think about taking your girlfriend or wife there.
- Gold markets are called Gold Souk. Because Souk is the Arabic of Market!
- There are number of gold souks in Dubai and one big one in Sharjah. But the biggest gold souk is in Deira, Dubai. It is also the cheapest.
- They sell gold in grams. Mind it 11.1 grams= 1 Vari (Vori).
- There are different types of golds such as 24k, 22k, 18k etc.
- You can hardly find ornaments of 24k gold. Most of the stores sell 24k gold only in Biskits that you can take home with you and then make whatever you want to.
- The price remains same for all types of gold. However, making-cost differs. And this is where you can do hard bargaining.
- You can pre-determine the price by checking online like in the following links: here and here and etc.
- For example today I found that price of 22carat gold is AED 170.75. That means 1 Vori would be AED (170.75*11.1) = AED 1895.325 or (1895.325*20.25)= 38380 BDT.
- This is relatively very cheap as now-a-days gold is almost BDT 43000 per vori in Bangladesh and there is no guarantee of pureness.
- You can find all types of ornaments. But neckless with at least 50gm are good. But there is neckless of only 10gms available as well.
- White gold is another good attraction. They are mostly decorated with diamonds.
- Most of the ornaments of white gold are made of 18k gold but because of the diamonds that they come with are almost always costly. But you have to do really good bargain.


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I've just written this blog with Giles Hutchins, author of The Nature of Business, a good read for anyone who wants a more innovative and agile way of staying in business.
Here's the intro, follow the link to his site for the full blog.
In 1986 the average knowledge worker carried in their heads 75% of the knowledge they needed to do their job. By 2006 the average had dropped to 8%, today it's around 5%, and within 10 years the average will be 1%. (ref. Carnegie-Mellon rolling study by Robert Kelley).