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- Environmental Management
- Case studies
We took the initiative in the 1990s to make sustainability the heart of the Ricoh Group's corporate vision. Our efforts to solve such issues as global warming, natural resource depletion and ecosystem degradation begin with long-term perspectives, followed by mid- and short-term targets serving as mileposts. We then form action plans to hit those targets, carefully choosing our engagements not only by their impact on the environment but also by the risks and opportunities they present to our business according to the needs of customers who use Ricoh products, our future business growth, international environmental standards, our reputation and ratings for socially responsible investments.
Our vision for a sustainable society
The Ricoh Group sees a sustainable society as one that balances Planet (environment), People (society), and Profit (economic activities), reduces the environmental impact and maintains it at a level that the Earth's self-recovery capabilities can manage. To realize this vision, we strive to minimize our environmental impact from resource extraction, energy consumption, chemical discharges, emissions and other activities, and to conserve the Earth's precious resources. We are building a business model that minimizes the footprint of our activities while maximizing our economic value and contribution to society. We strongly believe that any enterprise without such a model will find it impossible to earn the support of its stakeholders and survive, let alone thrive, in the future.
Society with balanced relationship between Planet, People and Profit (Three Ps Balance)
Creating corporate value through sustainability
Our environmental conservation activities date
back to 1976, when we established our Environmental Promotion Office. Those activities evolved
into the Ricoh Group's "sustainable environmental management" concept, which we pioneered 15 years ago in 1998. The concept is often interpreted solely as a business strategy that seeks to balance activities that generate profit with greener practices. But our vision for sustainable environmental management goes deeper. We make organization-wide, continuous environmental conservation efforts integral to our business model.
We also recognize that we must carry out solid, continuous efforts toward the long-term objective of ensuring that our environmental performance is effective enough to make a difference . Our conservation activities will produce limited benefits if we conduct them only during prosperous times and neglect them to pursue profits in difficult times.
Sustainable environmental management from very long-term perspectives
At the Ricoh Group, we formulate our goals for sustainable environmental management activities using the back-casting method, developing ultimate goals first and then determining target values as mileposts on the journey toward these goals. Our initial step was to create our Year 2050 Long-Term Environmental Vision to realize an ideal society, the "Three Ps Balance," followed by our Mid- and Long-Term Environmental Impact Reduction Goals and detailed environmental action plans. We believe this approach delivers a higher success rate than the conventional buildup method.
Setting goals using the back-casting methodRicoh Group Mid- and Long-term Environmental Impact Reduction Goals
|Energy conservation and prevention of global warming
|Reduce the total lifecycle CO2 emissions by the Ricoh Group by 30% by 2020 and by 87.5% by 2050 from the 2000 level
|Resource conservation and recycling
1. Reduce the new input of resources by 25% by 2020 and by 87.5% by 2050 from the 2007 level
|Pollution prevention
|Minimize risks of chemical substances throughout the product lifecycle by 2020 in compliance with the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM)
Comet Circle™ : Concept of a sustainable society
If a corporation deals only with the environmental impact of its own business activities, its practices will never reduce the impact it has on society as a whole. Recognizing this, the Ricoh Group established the Comet Circle™ in 1994. This holistic framework is built upon an awareness that the greatest contribution to reducing the environmental burden of products can be made by those who themselves manufacture those products.
Manufacturers are therefore responsible for reducing environmental impact across the entire product life cycle, as well as in upstream and downstream development. The Comet Circle™ provides us with a guide to reducing the environmental impact of our products and operations, maximizing the value of resources across the lifecycle of our products, and substantially limiting the consumption of new resources.
Concept of a sustainable society: The Comet Circle™
Flow of the Comet Circle™
Each circle in the chart above represents Ricoh partners that can help develop a sustainable society. Moving from right to left along the upper path, natural resources provided by a supplier (upper right) are turned into products, and finally reach the users (customers). Used products travel in reverse, following the path below from left to right. The Ricoh Group emphasizes the reuse and recycling of products and parts, expressed as the inner loops of the Comet Circle™.
Goals set by analysis of materiality
At the Ricoh Group, our sustainability efforts revolve around priority issues identified in our materiality analysis.
To determine those issues, we first measure how much environmental impact our processes have. We then display the results in an Eco Balance* format and compile an inventory of possible environmental conservation issues. Then we estimate the impact — i.e., the risks and opportunities — of those issues on the global environment, society and our business, analyzing them from various aspects including the viewpoint of our customers, future business growth potential, global trends in environmental standards, and evaluation of companies by rating organizations and socially responsible investment funds. Finally, we select and prioritize findings and develop a detailed action plan.
Among the priority material issues identified, we see reducing the environmental impact from customers using our products and services as crucial. Accordingly, we are taking strategic actions to reduce CO2 emissions our products generate and to promote product recovery and recycling.
Issues of materiality for sustainable environmental management
The Ricoh Group's 17th Environmental Action Plan (FY 2012-2014)
The Ricoh Group's 17th Environmental Action Plan (FY 2012-2014)
New value creation and innovation for a sustainable society
Our longstanding, continuous work in sustainable environmental management leading to new value creation has been recognized around the world.
Ricoh is included in leading stock indices for sustainability investment such as the FTSE4Good Global Index and the Dow Jones Sustainability World Indices. In addition, Corporate Knights Inc. of Canada has listed us in their Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World for nine straight years, and oekom research AG, a leading German SRI rating agency, has awarded us their highest CSR ranking, Prime Status.
The Ricoh Group will continue to conduct and upgrade its sustainable environmental management and actively disclose related information. In this way, we can meet our social responsibility to create a sustainable world.
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Jump to "Sustainability Report" top of the selected language.


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The Official Website of the Louisiana Department of Revenue
BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Department of Revenue is providing tax assistance and electronic filing through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at sites in the Baton Rouge region.
"The VITA program greatly assists our older taxpayers and those with lower incomes who cannot afford to pay for tax assistance or to have their returns filed electronically," says Revenue Secretary Cynthia Bridges. She adds that representatives of Revenue will be on hand at various sites on certain days to assist taxpayers with the preparation of their federal 1040A and 1040EZ tax returns, as well as the state return.. "The completed tax returns will be filed electronically free of charge," Bridges points out.
Only the federal tax returns 1040A and 1040EZ are eligible under the VITA program, Bridges says. She points out that an appointment is necessary for VITA assistance at the Revenue Regional Office listed below, but no appointment is necessary for VITA assistance at the other sites listed.
Taxpayers seeking assistance with their tax returns will need to bring the following items: two forms of identification (one must be with a photo); Social Security cards for the taxpayers who are filing, as well as for all dependents claimed; copies of all W-2 forms for the year 2001; copies of all Form 1099s (notices of interest and dividends); proof that the Federal Advance Tax Credit was received (due to the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001); Form 1098-T if claiming a child care credit (must have the name, address, and identification number of the childcare provider); a copy of last year''s return (if possible); a voided check (for direct deposit purposes); and Federal Form 8453 (available at the site) signed by the taxpayer (and spouse if filing jointly).
The following is a listing of the Revenue Headquarters and Regional Office and their telephone numbers for appointment purposes, as well as regional VITA sites, dates of service, address, and hours of operation:
Baton Rouge HeadquartersBy appointment only617 N. Third StreetBaton Rouge225-219-2450
Baton Rouge Regional OfficeBy appointment only8549 United Plaza, Suite 110Baton Rouge225-922-2300
Iberville ParishEvery Wednesday February 13 - April 10, 2002Iberville Parish Library24605 J. Gerard Berret Blvd.Plaquemine 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
East Feliciana ParishFebruary 14 and 21, 2002Audubon Library12220 Woodville StreetClinton 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
February 15 and 22, 2002Audubon LibraryJackson Branch3312 College StMuseum BuildingJackson 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
West Feliciana ParishFebruary 19 and 26Audubon Library11865 Ferdinand StSt Francisville 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
St. Helena ParishFebruary 25 and March 4Audubon Regional LibraryHwy. 10 Oak Plaza Shopping CenterGreensburg 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Ascension ParishFebruary 22, 2002Ascension Parish LibraryGonzales Branch708 S Irma StGonzales 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
February 25, 2002Ascension Parish LibraryDonaldsonville Branch500 Mississippi StDonaldsonville 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Red River Colony
The Red River Colony (or Selkirk Settlement) was a colonization project set up by Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk in 1811 on 300,000 square kilometres (120,000 sq mi) of land granted to him by the Hudson's Bay Company under what is referred to as the Selkirk Concession. The colony along the Red River of the North was never very successful. Changes during the development of Canada in the 19th century led to the colony's forming the basis of what is today Manitoba, although much of its original territory is now part of the United States.
The Selkirk Concession, also known as Selkirk's Grant, included the portions of Rupert's Land, or the watershed of Hudson Bay, bounded on the north by the line of 52° N latitude roughly from the Assiniboine River east to Lake Winnipegosis, then by the line of 52° 30′ N latitude from Lake Winnipegosis to Lake Winnipeg, and then by the Winnipeg River, Lake of the Woods and Rainy River; on the west roughly by the current boundary between Saskatchewan and Manitoba; and on the south by the (mostly very slight) rise of land marking the extent of the watershed. This covered portions of present-day southern Manitoba, northern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota, in addition to small parts of eastern Saskatchewan, northwestern Ontario and northeastern South Dakota.[1][2]
Selkirk had become interested in the concept of settling the area after reading Alexander Mackenzie's 1801 book on his adventures in what is today the west of Canada. At the time, social upheaval in Scotland due to the introduction of sheep farming and the ensuing Highland and Lowland Clearances had left a number of Scots destitute. Selkirk was interested in giving them a chance at a better life in a new colony he called Assiniboia.[citation needed]
He purchased a controlling interest in the Hudson's Bay Company and set up the land grant. His idea was to gain control of the area to take control of the West from the company's rivals, the Montreal-based North West Company. With a colony in place, the Métis trappers' supplying the North West's fur traders, the Nor'Westers, would be displaced, cutting them off from areas further west.[citation needed]
He sent out a small group of Scots to the area in 1811, but they were forced to pause for the winter in York Factory. When they finally arrived in 1812, they built Fort Douglas, but by the time it was done, the growing season was over. The settlers hastily set about hunting buffalo for food.[citation needed]
When farming started the next spring, the results were less than expected. Selkirk had to ban anyone from taking food out of the colony. This may have been to ensure food for the colony, or a business move to cut off the Nor'Westers. Either way, the move touched off the Pemmican War. The Nor'Westers, who relied on pemmican supplied to them by local Métis, were so upset that they destroyed Fort Douglas and burned down all the buildings around it. The fort was later rebuilt and relations settled down for a time.[3]
Selkirk heard of the problems and sent out a new governor, Robert Semple, to take over. When he read a proclamation ordering the fighting to stop, the Battle of Seven Oaks broke out, Fort Douglas was destroyed for a second time, and the settlers were forced off their land. Selkirk then sent in a force of about 100 soldiers from the British Regiment de Meuron to enforce the peace and eventually become settlers themselves, while also capturing the Northwest outpost at Fort William. There, Selkirk arrested numerous significant managers of the North West Company including NWCo. Chief Director, William McGillvray. The actions left Selkirk almost bankrupt. The two companies were forced to merge in 1821, thus ending the problems for good.
The Treaty of 1818 set the boundary between the United States and British North America along the 49th parallel of north latitude from the Lake of the Woods to the "Stony Mountains" (now known as the Rocky Mountains). Thus, the southern portion of Selkirk's grant went to the United States.
The colony was never particularly successful agriculturally, but the lure of free land added new settlers every year.
In 1841 James Sinclair guided 200 settlers from the Red River Colony west in an attempt to retain the Columbia District for Britain. The party crossed the Rockies into the Columbia Valley, near present day Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia; then traveled south. Despite such efforts, Britain eventually ceded all claim to land south of the 49th parallel of latitude west of the Rockies to the United States as resolution to the Oregon boundary dispute.
By the 1850s, the Hudson's Bay Company lost interest in paying for the settlement. By the 1860s, the Métis outnumbered the Scots. This led to a second period of unrest in 1869 and 1870 called the Red River Rebellion, which led to the creation of Manitoba.[4]
Annexation proposed[edit]
At the end of the American Civil War, Americans were angry at the British support for the Confederacy, which Americans said had prolonged the war. One result was toleration of Fenian efforts to use the U.S. as a base to attack Canada. More serious was the demand for a huge payment to cover the damages caused, on the notion that British involvement had lengthened the war. Senator Charles Sumner, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, originally wanted to ask for $2 billion, or alternatively the ceding of all of Canada to the United States. When American Secretary of State William H. Seward negotiated the Alaska Purchase in 1867, he intended it as the first step in a comprehensive plan to gain control of the entire northwest Pacific Coast. Seward was a firm believer in Manifest Destiny, primarily for its commercial advantages to the U.S. Seward expected British Columbia to seek annexation to the U.S. and thought Britain might accept this in exchange for the Alabama claims. Soon other elements endorsed annexation; their plan was to annex British Columbia, the Red River Colony (Manitoba), and Nova Scotia, in exchange for the dropping the damage claims. The idea reached a peak in the spring and summer of 1870, with American expansionists, Canadian separatists, and British anti-imperialists seemingly combining forces. The plan was dropped for multiple reasons. London continued to stall, American commercial and financial groups pressed Washington for a quick settlement of the dispute on a cash basis, growing Canadian nationalist sentiment in British Columbia called for staying inside the British Empire, Congress became preoccupied with Reconstruction, and most Americans showed little interest in territorial expansion. The "Alabama Claims" dispute went to international arbitration. In one of the first major cases of arbitration, the tribunal in 1872 supported the American claims and ordered Britain to pay $15.5 million. Britain paid and the episode ended in peaceful relations.[5][6]
Governors of the Red River Colony[edit]
|August 1812 – June 1815
|Miles MacDonell
|June 1815 – June 1816
|Robert Semple
|August 1816 – June 1822
|Alexander MacDonell
|June 1822 – June 1823
|Andrew Bulger
|June 1823 – June 1825
|Robert Parker Pelly
|June 1825 – June 1833
|Donald McKenzie
|June 1833 – June 1839
|Alexander Christie
|June 1839 – June 1844
|Duncan Finlayson
|June 1844 – June 1846
|Alexander Christie
|June 1846 – June 1847
|John Folliott Crofton
|June 1847 – June 1848
|J. Griffiths
|June 1848 – June 1855
|William Bletterman Caldwell
|June 1855 – September 1859
|Francis Godschall Johnson
|September 1859 – July 1870
|William Mactavish
See also[edit]
- Former colonies and territories in Canada
- Territorial evolution of Canada after 1867
- Joseph James Hargrave
- Louis Riel
- Pembina, North Dakota
- Red River Academy
- Red River Trails
- Territorial era of Minnesota
- Métis buffalo hunt
- ^ The Canadian Encyclopedia
- ^ Morris, Alexander (1880) The Treaties of Canada with the Indians of Manitoba and the North-West Territories Including the Negotiations on Which They Were Based, and Other Information Relating Thereto, Chapter I
- ^ R. Douglas Francis, Richard Jones, and Donald B. Smith. "Origins: Canadian History to Confederation", 4th ed. (Toronto:Harcourt Canada ltd., 2000), at pp. 434–5.
- ^ Hargrave, Joseph James (1871). Red River. Montreal: Printed for the author by John Lovell. p. 506.
- ^ Doris W. Dashew, "The Story Of An Illusion: The Plan To Trade 'Alabama' Claims For Canada," Civil War History, Dec 1969, Vol. 15 Issue 4, pp 332-348
- ^ David E. Shi, "Seward'S Attempt to Annex British Columbia, 1865-1869," Pacific Historical Review, May 1978, Vol. 47 Issue 2, pp 217-238
- ^ Governors of the Red River Settlement, Manitoba Historical Society
External links[edit]
- The Journal of the Bishop of Montreal, during a Visit to the Church Missionary Society's North-West America Mission, by George Jehoshaphat Mountain, an early account of religious life in the Red River Colony.
- The Romantic Settlement of Lord Selkirk's Colonists at Project Gutenberg, by George Bryce 1909
Coordinates: 49°00′00″N 97°14′15″W / 49.00000°N 97.23750°W


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MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - The proposed Wisconsin budget would cut state taxes by a net of $677 million over the next two years.
That's what the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau has concluded.
The agency released its report Thursday, just a few days before the state Assembly starts acting on the two-year spending package.
The Fiscal Bureau said taxes would be cut by a total $685 million – and the net savings is reduced by $7.7 million, which is the amount of fees that the budget would increase.
Among other things, the budget includes an increase in enforcement efforts to collect overdue taxes.
The Fiscal Bureau says the effort will bring in an extra $92 million over the two-year budget period.
Democrats say the proposed tax cut favors the rich. Republican supporters say all income brackets would see reductions.


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Longest recorded streak of sunspot inactivity broken
Via Slashdot comes the report that The Sun has broken a 95 year old record. Quoting the Daily Tech: The sun has reached a milestone not seen for nearly 100 years: an entire month has passed without a single visible sunspot being noted. The event is significant as many climatologists now believe solar magnetic activity – which determines the number of sunspots — is an | Read More »


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12 April 2010
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Whether you are a designer or developer—or you're excited about mobile application development—the latest version of Adobe Flash has something for everyone. Flash Professional CS5 centers on expressiveness, coding improvements, and workflow enhancements while supporting our broader initiative to enable designers and developers to create content and applications across desktop and mobile platforms.
A lot of passion and effort from the Flash team and many Flash users went into this release—and the results are evident with the cool new features available in Creative Suite 5.
Web and interactive designers will appreciate the new ways you can work with text in Flash Professional CS5. The new text engine (known as Text Layout Framework or TLF), enables you to set and edit text with complete typographical control. With the new TLF, you can perform advanced text styling such as kerning, ligatures, tracking, and leading. Advanced text-layout controls such as threaded text blocks, flowing text across multiple columns, and inline images are now supported, making it possible to work with text fluidly and quickly (see Figure 1).
If you work with Adobe InDesign to do text layout, your life just got much easier. Using InDesign CS5, you can now export to FLA (the native file format for Flash Professional CS5) and retain the integrity of your design as you interchange elements across applications.
TLF also supports advanced multilingual typographic and layout features. It supports horizontal and vertical text and bi-directional text input to work with languages such as Arabic and Hebrew. East Asian typography, including an East Asian justifier, is now supported, as well as Tate-Chu-Yoko (blocks of horizontal text embedded into vertical runs of text). Flash users around the world can deliver more creativity with increased efficiency by using the Text Layout Framework in Flash Professional CS5.
Flash Professional CS5 offers an improved XML-based FLA file. This support enables new workflows and offers greater flexibility when working on large Flash projects. The new FLA is a set of XML files and other assets (JPEG, GIF, MP3, WAV, etc.) saved into either a compressed (*.fla) file or an uncompressed (*.xfl) folder. Teams can manage and modify projects using source-control systems while collaborating on files more easily because you have direct access to the assets in a Flash project. For example, you can edit an asset with Adobe Photoshop and it will update instantly on the Stage in Flash Professional CS5.
Adobe InDesign and Adobe After Effects can also export files in the new XFL format, so that you can start a project in another application first, and then continue building it in Flash CS5.
Since its inception, animation has always been the hallmark of Flash. The launch of Flash Professional CS4 was a breakthrough release in 2008, offering an iterative workflow approach to provide motion designers greater control and flexibility. In Flash Professional CS5, the Flash team took animation a step farther by integrating a physics engine into the inverse kinematics (IK) system. This offers an extraordinarily easy way to create lifelike animations at author time or runtime.
There are several new features for animation.
Spring is a property of an IK Bone element, and it has two new attributes:
Strength (the amount of Spring) and
Damping (the amount of resistance value to Strength). Whether you're animating arrows for a tour, bobbing heads in a crowd, a soaring flock of birds, or an instructional animated cross-section showing how parts slide in or out of a gadget, the Spring for bones feature enables you to tell a better story with animation that can be created quickly and realistically (see Figure 2).
Several new scripts have been added to the Decorative Drawing tool in Flash Professional CS5. The new Deco Brush tools and added functionality enable you to draw shapes and apply advanced animation effects easily. These include the Particle system, Decorated brush, 3D brush, Tree brush, Lightning brush, Fire animation, Smoke animation, Building brush, Flame brush, and Flower brush effects. The Particle system enables you to create the effect of rain, fog, smoke, steam or other dynamic phenomena using a range of controls and properties. The 3D and Building brushes and their associated properties make it easier than ever before to build a 3D environment. Trees, bushes, flowers and vines can be instantly drawn in and around objects to create a more natural environment. These scripts demonstrate the power of the Deco engine, which allows you to create your own custom brush (see Figure 3).
Onstage video scrubbing and an enhanced cue point workflow are key improvements to Flash Professional CS5. You can now scrub and preview video directly on the Stage to facilitate working with videos that have alpha transparency. When you select a video object on the Stage, you can now use the Property inspector to find and add (or delete) cue points from the video—including specifying the time by increasing or decreasing the timecode values. Because Flash Professional CS5 includes Adobe Media Encoder, you can convert just about any video file format to FLV or F4V (see Figure 4).
If you write code, you're really going to enjoy several new Flash Professional CS5 features, including the ability to easily add interactivity with ActionScript code snippets. The Code Snippets panel includes code for common features, such as timeline navigation, actions, animation, audio, video and event handlers. Newcomers to Flash Professional CS5 and the ActionScript language can reduce their learning curve because the code snippets include helpful comments and clear instructions right in the code. Advanced users can also take advantage of the code snippets extensibility by inserting and saving custom code snippets to support your own programming style or by archiving specialized or commonly used code (see Figure 5).
With Flash Professional CS5, you'll enjoy a more streamlined development environment using an improved ActionScript editor that supports custom class code hinting and code completion, as well as automatic writing of the import statement for libraries.
Flash Professional CS5 offers even more timesaving features when you are working on Flash projects with Adobe Flash Builder 4. Launch ActionScript 3 files from Flash Professional CS5 and edit them in Flash Builder 4, or edit ActionScript code directly within Flash Builder and then test, debug, and publish it in Flash. Both workflows save time, and together they provide a more cohesive development environment.
Mobile phones and popular handheld devices have not only caught the attention of consumers, but of Flash users who want to author and deliver content for these mobile platforms. Flash Professional CS5 has a new Packager for iPhone preview (which is also part of the Adobe AIR SDK) that enables you to create applications for the Apple iPhone*.
The truly exciting news here is that with the release of Adobe Flash Player 10.1, consumers can take advantage of the same Flash Player features on mobile devices as they do on the desktop. This allows designers and developers using Flash Professional CS5 to create content and applications that can be distributed across desktop and mobile platforms (see Figure 6).
For companies interested in web analytics, the Omniture Test & Target and SiteCatalyst extensions are now available as panels within Flash Professional CS5. The Test & Target downloadable extension enables you to easily create and manage Flash content variations for online marketing campaigns directly from your creative workflow. The Omniture SiteCatalyst extension provides real-time intelligence about online marketing initiatives, identifying the success criteria from active campaigns. In order to use these Flash Professional CS5 extensions properly, you must have Omniture installed at your site.
Flash Professional CS5 comes complete with features, enhancements, performance, and quality improvements that make it a must-have offering for designers and developers. The new tools enable you to design with expression, write code quickly and easily, and deliver in fewer steps to virtually any type of screen. The Flash team at Adobe hopes you'll take a closer look at the new CS5 release, and we welcome your continued input for future releases.
To learn more about this release, check out the following resources:


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Tatakai Sugite
Tatakai Sugite
First Asian Tour 1999 HK
LUNA SEA @ Zepp Tokyo
LUNA SEA The End of the Dream ZEPP TOUR 2012 -"Advent" "RISING ERA"
"Reports about LUNA SEA are continuing to grow. We wanted to remake LUNA SEA as a band, from square one. But, it's quite an elusive band, so make your preparations early if you want to see…
SUGIZO throws guitar. xD


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- Sarah Shewey
- Los Angeles, CA
- United States
CEO/Founder, Happily
This conversation is closed.
How can we empower kids to reshape the education system? *A TEDActive Education Project Question*
The TEDActive Education Project will explore how children can make an impact on the education system. We hope to come out of this project with fresh ideas for ways kids can start an education revolution.
At TEDActive2011 in Palm Springs, an amazing group of individuals came together as a group to come up with a simple micro-action solution for empowering kids to be a part of the education reform conversations. After a quick 36 hour period of time, the team made a website that allows students to upload videos of their ideas on education reform.
You can empower a student to share their voice at http://elev8ed.org.
Also, please share your own ideas here, or by starting a new conversation tagged with TEDActiveEDU so we can all follow.
Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.
Adora Svitak 500+Apr 21 2011: We need to embed student voice into how we make education decisions--educational service districts, school boards, lobbying organizations. For a start, why aren't there more students responding to this question? :) I often find myself being the only person under 25 at many of the education conferences which I attend. We need to start asking students about questions like project-based learning, balance of old-school vs. "new-school" methods, etc., instead of just presenting viewpoints saying "This is best for students" without getting any input from students themselves.
I really appreciate what the education ministry of Ontario is doing with student voice through its Speakup project: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/students/speakup/index.html --getting young people to actually contribute their ideas and feedback to the officials in charge. More and more organizations are becoming aware of the importance of student voice. I was lucky enough to write a blog for the Huffington Post on some large and small steps I think schools should take: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adora-svitak/changes-schools-should-ma_b_829406.html
Social networking--Facebook especially--can provide an excellent way to gauge opinions on new changes and proposed ideas. Asking quick short questions, for instance, and getting responses. A lot of my peers aren't on Twitter, but definitely love Facebook.
It starts with simple questions: what would you change about your school? What are you interested in learning? How do you learn best? If you were the teacher/principal/Secretary of Education, what steps would you take? At the all-youth organized and attended TEDxRedmond conference, which I'm organizing for the second time this year, we hear from speakers who are all under 18 about their opinions on a range of diverse issues like these (and others). Through mediums like TED Conversations, TEDx conferences, and school governance boards, I hope to see more students getting involved in education change.
Apr 21 2011: Hi Adora. I wonder if students are as conscious of the education process as you are. They will only recommend cosmetic changes to the schooling system, which will not bring about any substantial change and not deal with the pathologies that beset this system. Being a teacher I gave my students many alternative ideas, but only a handful responded. Others only thought about cosmetic changes to the schooling system. Like it or not, most of humanity conforms. Just because something is there, they feel inclined to consider it legitimate, and any changes to that order of things brings about anxiety.
There is a great book by Eric Fromm which talks about this: Fear of Freedom.
May 6 2011: True, true as a high school teacher I see this too. Perhaps students would first think of cosmetic changes to the educational system, ones that they could easily discuss without risk of adult censure or peer embarassment. If there was a permanent virtual or physical "suggestion box" I bet that the average intensity of student suggestions would increase. A common class president platform is changing the length of the lunch period, however, students have a hyper sense of fairness and very strong feelings on a variety of subjects. Like most behaviors, learning to speak up and provide input is one that will need encouragement and which may even have to be taught explicitly
May 6 2011: I am a current student in the Dutch schooling system, although currently in my last year and almost finished. Three years ago I started doing research on the topic of education, because I felt like the way our educational system worked was wrong.
Now I realize that there aren't many students that know and are capable of participating in that discussion with sufficient background knowledge, but I also know that they do exist. I have heard so many times that I cannot, may not and should not try to participate in debates on topics like these because of my age. In the meantime I see students around me that are suffering, literally suffering under the influence of bad education, including myself. I love to learn, but I have spend the last 6 years of my life working really hard to learn so little. I know that would I have been allowed to create my own way of educating 'me', I would have been capable of learning a lot more, both factual knowledge and 'skills'. School is not 'too hard', it's just not capable of challenging students. It frustrates me that I do not have enough time to learn as much as I could and want to because of school, the institution that should be learning me stuff. If I could, I would do anything to change the system. Not just make amends, 'cosmetic changes', but really change something, change the core. But if I am not allowed or if people do not want me to participate in the discussion, it becomes very hard for me to either try to make changes or even learn more about the subject.
To answer your question: yes, these students do exist. So before you exclude them from the debate, reconsider your premise that they do not want to. Maybe you ust need to find a way to interest them, to show them that they can make a change, that their opinion is actually valued, in contrary to what they get told or shown in schools everyday!
Apr 21 2011: Maybe more students aren't responding to this question because it's not being asked in a place where more students will see it. TED's great, but I think you're the exception to the TEDster rule, Adora. Most people having this conversation are out of school, or at least out of high school. If you want student engagement, then the conversation needs to be brought to the students - not just the ones we think will agree, but students who've never been given the opportunity to think about it before.
I also think that as long as we continue to talk about "reforming the *education system*" instead of looking at new ways to understand the *learning process," nothing is going to change. The problem with the education system is just that - it's a "system." We don't learn in systems. We learn from practice, from experiences, from one another.
May 8 2011: And there in a nutshell is the answer, thanks Theresa :)
I believe that allowing young people to participate in their own platform where they can exchange their own ideas will foster 'crowd induced innovation' of these ideas whatever the area of interest being discussed in a group. In an online scenario like this the cream will rise and support will garner around certain notions of percieved fairness, improvement and so on. The problem so often seems to be that education fails to educate and students have no voice, still labouring under the victorian era's ageistic perception that 'children should be seen and not heard'.
Young minds, as older minds, order information as a basic function. The information comes from the outside and so to expect them to have opinions that resonate with our informed and lofty ideas is somewhat short sighted. we need to value the contribution as it is made, making an effort to translate it into our own terms.
As for 'new ways to understand the learning process'...just how many ideas about education do we need before implementration of what is blazingly obvious. Children at home playing computer games are not stimulated by current modes of education. The teacher must become the conduit of information, not the source, and children should be educated through those means by which they percieve the world. Sticking to the intellect as the primary focus of education is ridiculable.
I remember when I finally learned how to learn in an event where it suddenly became clear to me (autodidactically) that I could create something, picture an outcome and work towards it, this was an actual experience of creativity without being told to create. How the education system had failed after 17 years in teaching me this I am at a loss to explain. More likely the case is closer to Ken Robinson's assertion that we have this creativity naturally but are educated out of it.
We also need community integration as part of education...
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Like its previous product launches, the excitement surround the release of Apple newest iPhones is boiling over.
At 3 a.m. (EST) Friday, Apple began selling its iPhone 5s and 5c online -- that's midnight Cupertino time, in case you weren't sure. But an online order doesn't put the device in your hands on Day One.
Several area retailers planned to open their doors two hours early for those longing for the newest gadget, and some of those stores even allow lines to form several hours before the key is turned.
But before you rush to pitch a tent outside a Best Buy store, consider which iPhone you plan to purchase.
Apart from new colors, the exterior of Apple's new iPhones doesn't look much different from last year's model. The iPhone 5s is identical to the iPhone 5 in size and weight, while the iPhone 5c is only slightly bigger and heavier. The 5c also uses plastic instead of aluminum and glass.
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So the huge mess in my sewing room finally broke me. Picture a dump truck plowing into a Joann's fabrics, and then the store gets hit by a tornado. That is what the room looked like. Seriously… I am not the neatest person but when it gets to a certain level of disorganization I can no longer function and I don't even want to sew or craft because there is crap everywhere.
Here's the before….
I should point out that this is only ONE of the rooms where all my sewing stuff it. It has managed to take over a whole other room (which would be a guest room if I ever had guests) and part of a tiny hall and part of a 3rd room. It's sad…so today I finally found the time to do something about it. And 8 hours later this is what I have…
And I would like to point out that my sewing stuff uses less area of the guest room and I have gotten it all out of the hall and the 3rd bedroom. Yay! And I like the giant cutting table in that location…I have been really challenged as to how to configure this room mainly because of that 4′ x 8′ table. But let's try this for a while…it just might work.
I still would like to do some decorating…it is pretty boring but at least I can sew again!
Until later, happy sewing!


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it is such a pretty, cheerful quilt. It will be a welcome gift.
Welcome to the Quilting Board!
it is such a pretty, cheerful quilt. It will be a welcome gift.
What a lovely gift - so well done!
That is lovely.
When it seems like the world is falling to pieces remember that the pieces are falling into place...the End Times.
Heaven and Earth are full of His Glory!
what a lovely quilt! so bright and cheerful
Nancy in western NY
Ooooooo!! Love that quilt!! And thank you for mentioning the pattern name ---Just ordered it!! Have 2 new babies coming shortly and this will be perfect!!!
The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose. Life is a learning process and you have to try to learn what's best for you. Let me tell you, life is not fun when you're banging your head against a brick wall all the time.John McEnroe
very pretty great colors!!!
So cheery, perfect for a baby.
Lovely and fresh looking. Just perfect for a baby.
Aloha Karen
Adorable! Great job.
It's beautiful!! just beautiful!!
will quilt 4EVER


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- Orlando Hawkins
- La Verne, CA
- United States
This conversation is closed.
Is it time for philosophy to do away with metaphysics?
I love philosophy but one of the main issues that I hear about it is that its impractical and serves no suitable purpose to the world. Although I believe this claim to be somewhat false I understand the point that is being made from those who criticize it.
Philosophy is capable of being pragmatic but the reason why it appears as though its not is because it deals too much with the abstract and concerns itself with metaphysics. If you want a real brain teaser metaphysical talk is the way to go but metaphysics really serves no purpose to the world. For a family who constantly have to work to feed their children and provide an education, contemplating the nature of reality or postulating weather or not consciousness exists outside the brain is probably not going to help the situation. One of my professors say that if we sit in meditation, we'll understand the true harmonious nature and interconnectedness of the universe. We will understand how to act in each moment (similar to what Taoist believe). He may be right but we often forget that its a privilege to be able to do so. Nor are these concerns on everyone's mind.
The philosophy department at my school is great but it is too indulged in metaphysics. From an epistomological standpoint this is problematic because most of the claims that are made is either in conflict with the way the natural world really is (scientific discoveries) and they are essentially not able to be proved which means we should not waste our time with such claims. When it comes to epistemology, I think this is where philosophy could utilize the methodology of science.
I"m a philosopher at heart but it concerns me that philosophy would lose it value if it cannot indulge in more empiricism and naturalism when making claims about the way the world is.
are we so concerned with value to the point that we'll negate truth? is science capable of establishing values?
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May 22 2013: Ben: notification of your response did not show up in my email. I found this message of yours just by chance.
You can find some of the evidence in my website at www.roseandlotus.net. You can find more at www.victorzammit.com. But you can find more by doing your own searching, rather than requiring others to spoonfeed you.
Sceptics like to decry the evidence, but that is all that they can do. They are unable to discount it. Often they can speculate about alternative explanations for part of a phenomenon, and loudly trumpet that they have "debunked" the entire phenomenon, but offer no evidence that their speculation is what actually happened, Yet they demand absolute proof of the reality of the phenomena in question. Science very rarely offers absolute proof of anything. The sceptical decrying is based purely on the prejudice of the sceptics, and their emotional need to hang on to their own unprovable theories about how reality works. And it is the sceptics who do the cherry-picking of the evidence. They find only the cases that seem easy to explain away, and concentrate on those, claiming thus to have explained everything away. People who actually look at the whole of the evidence generally cease to be sceptics.
If you are sufficiently interested, there is an excellent 5-part series of talks about the nature of reality by the physicist Thomas Campbell, in which, among other things, he outlines the relationship between physics and metaphysics. Part 1 is found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruc83Vau1jc
Randi has not shown that he has the money. He sets himself up as the sole judge, jury and executioner, and he can, and does, shift the goalposts to suit himself, and ensure that he never has to pay out. He is a professional illusionist, he specialises in illusions, and is good at making things appear the way that he wants. His million-dollar offer is just part of his portfolio of illusions. Zammit's million dollar offer is much more solidly based.
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Irving, Texas – With only one practice in this bye week, the Cowboys appear to have received some good news.
-Rookie safety
"I don't think there's hesitancy," Garrett said. "We just have to see where he is. He hasn't practiced a lot for us. We want to make sure he's healthy and getting acclimated. I think there are different roles that he can step into, special teams guy then work his way up to a role on defense. More than anything we just have to see what his health is like and how he practices and make the necessary decisions from there."


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Police are hoping security cameras can help lead them to a man who fatally stabbed a bouncer outside a Detroit night club over the weekend.
Detroit police say 40-year-old Lou Ferrin was stabbed in the neck by a male patron he was ejecting from Club Pandemonium around 1 a.m. Sunday.
Family members say Ferrin was working at the club as a second job to support his family. The father of three owned his own security business.
Ferrin is the second person working security at the night club to die on the job in the past three months. Back in June, Marcel Jackson was gunned down outside the club. His killer remains on the loose.
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f Ag
riculture—Forest Service
Assistant Regional Forester, 0
File No. 6510
Floyd Iverson, Regional Forester, By
Dafe: July 1, 1965
SUBJECT: Appropriations and Funds
Your reference:
The direction given to Forest Supervisors in our 6520 memorandum
of June 25 concerning business management staffs on the Rational
Forests is generally good. I am hopeful, however, that when the
final allotment letter is developed that we can establish specific
guidelines for the Supervisors to use in developing their business
management units. In view of the fact that we are not getting an
increase in our operating budget, I would suggest that one of the
guidelines require the Forest Supervisors to obtain Regional Office
approval before adding to their business management organizations.
In my 6510 rough draft memorandum of March 22, I965, I set up some
tentative guidelines for financing District Rangers' clerks. You
expressed reservations against using certain of these guidelines.
You said, however, that you would give this matter further consideration and develop a policy statement for use by the Forest Supervisors
and District Rangers in financing the District Rangers' clerk positions.
Since our discussion in late March, I have received no further word
from you on this matter. I presume, however, that you are giving this
matter your attention and that it will be considered in the final
allotment letter.
As expressed by the Regional Forester on numerous occasions, the
objective in developing this policy statement should be to adequately
finance at least one clerk on each Ranger District in the Region.


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A spokesman for the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office says authorities are looking for the suspects and trying to determine a motive for the shooting around 11 p.m. Tuesday in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township.
Spokesman Joel Bewley says the name of the victim, who was in his late 30s, will be released later Wednesday.
Bewley says children were among those at the home when the man was shot. They were not injured.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Complete Mobile World Congress 2012 coverage from Barcelona, including new phones, tablets, apps and
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People's Opium? Religion and Economic Attitudes
AbstractSince Max Weber, there has been an active debate on the impact of religion on people's economic attitudes. Much of the existing evidence, however, is based on cross-country studies in which this impact is confounded by differences in other institutional factors. We use the World Values Surveys to identify the relationship between intensity of religious beliefs and economic attitudes, controlling for country fixed effects. We study several economic attitudes toward cooperation, the government, working women, legal rules, thriftiness, and the market economy. We also distinguish across religious denominations, differentiating on whether a religion is dominant in a country. We find that on average, religious beliefs are associated with 'good' economic attitudes, where 'good' is defined as conducive to higher per capita income and growth. Yet religious people tend to be more racist and less favorable with respect to working women. These effects differ across religious denominations. Overall, we find that Christian religions are more positively associated with attitudes conducive to economic growth.
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Bibliographic InfoPaper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number 3588.
Date of creation: Oct 2002
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:3588
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Postal: Centre for Economic Policy Research, 77 Bastwick Street, London EC1V 3PZ.
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Related researchKeywords: economic growth; institutions; preferences; religion;
Other versions of this item:
- Guiso, Luigi & Sapienza, Paola & Zingales, Luigi, 2003. "People's opium? Religion and economic attitudes," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 225-282, January.
- Luigi Guiso & Paola Sapienza & Luigi Zingales, 2002. "People's Opium? Religion and Economic Attitudes," NBER Working Papers 9237, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- A10 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - General
- E00 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - General
- N4 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation
This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:
- NEP-ALL-2003-02-18 (All new papers)
- NEP-PKE-2003-02-18 (Post Keynesian Economics)
ReferencesReferences listed on IDEAS
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- Barro, Robert J, 1991.
"Economic Growth in a Cross Section of Countries,"
The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press,
MIT Press, vol. 106(2), pages 407-43, May.
- Robert J. Barro, 1989. "Economic Growth in a Cross Section of Countries," NBER Working Papers 3120, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Barro, R.J., 1989. "Economic Growth In A Cross Section Of Countries," RCER Working Papers 201, University of Rochester - Center for Economic Research (RCER).
- Rafael LaPorta & Florencio Lopez-de-Silanes & Andrei Shleifer & Robert Vishny, .
"The Quality of Government,"
Working Paper
19452, Harvard University OpenScholar.
- La Porta, Rafael & Lopez-de-Silanes, Florencio & Shleifer, Andrei & Vishny, Robert, 1999. "The Quality of Government," Journal of Law, Economics and Organization, Oxford University Press, Oxford University Press, vol. 15(1), pages 222-79, April.
- Rafael La Porta & Florencio Lopez-de-Silanes & Andrei Shleifer & Robert Vishny, 1998. "The Quality of Goverment," NBER Working Papers 6727, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Andrei Shleifer & Robert W. Vishny, 1998. "The Quality of Government," Harvard Institute of Economic Research Working Papers 1847, Harvard - Institute of Economic Research.
- Stulz, Rene M. & Williamson, Rohan, 2003.
"Culture, openness, and finance,"
Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier,
Elsevier, vol. 70(3), pages 313-349, December.
- Rene M. Stulz & Rohan Williamson, 2001. "Culture, Openness, and Finance," NBER Working Papers 8222, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Robert J. Barro & Rachel M. McCleary, 2002.
"Religion and Political Economy in an International Panel,"
NBER Working Papers
8931, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- McCleary, Rachel & Barro, Robert, 2002. "Religion and Political Economy in an International Panel," Scholarly Articles 3221170, Harvard University Department of Economics.
- Levin, Jeffrey S., 1994. "Religion and health: Is there an association, is it valid, and is it causal?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 1475-1482, June.
- Alesina, Alberto & Perotti, Roberto, 1995. "Taxation and redistribution in an open economy," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 961-979, May.
- Levin, Jeffrey S. & Vanderpool, Harold Y., 1987. "Is frequent religious attendance really conducive to better health?: Toward an epidemiology of religion," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 24(7), pages 589-600, January.
- Ulrich Blum & Leonard Dudley, 2001.
"Religion and economic growth: was Weber right?,"
Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer,
Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 207-230, February.
- BLUM, Ulrich & DUDLEY, Leonard, 2001. "Religion and Economic Growth: Was Weber Right?," Cahiers de recherche, Universite de Montreal, Departement de sciences economiques 2001-05, Universite de Montreal, Departement de sciences economiques.
- Blum, U. & Dudley, L., 2001. "Religion and Economic Growth: Was Weber Right?," Cahiers de recherche, Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en économie quantitative, CIREQ 2001-05, Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en économie quantitative, CIREQ.
- Laurence R. Iannaccone, 1998. "Introduction to the Economics of Religion," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 36(3), pages 1465-1495, September.
- Knack, Stephen & Keefer, Philip, 1997. "Does Social Capital Have an Economic Payoff? A Cross-Country Investigation," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, MIT Press, vol. 112(4), pages 1251-88, November.
- Richard B. Freeman, 1985. "Who Escapes? The Relation of Church-Going & Other Background Factors to the Socio-Economic Performance of Blk. Male Yths. from Inner-City Pvrty Tracts," NBER Working Papers 1656, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Rafael La Porta & Florencio Lopez-de-Silane & Andrei Shleifer & Robert W. Vishny, 1996.
"Trust in Large Organizations,"
NBER Working Papers
5864, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- La Porta, Rafael, et al, 1997. "Trust in Large Organizations," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 87(2), pages 333-38, May.
- Grier, Robin, 1997. "The Effect of Religion on Economic Development: A Cross National Study of Sixty-three Former Colonies," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1), pages 47-62.
- Mauro, Paolo, 1995. "Corruption and Growth," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, MIT Press, vol. 110(3), pages 681-712, August.
- Barry R. Chiswick, 1983. "The Earnings and Human Capital of American Jews," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 18(3), pages 313-336.
- Zak, Paul J & Knack, Stephen, 2001. "Trust and Growth," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, Royal Economic Society, vol. 111(470), pages 295-321, April.
- Easton, Stephen T & Walker, Michael A, 1997. "Income, Growth, and Economic Freedom," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 87(2), pages 328-32, May.
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Microsoft has been delivering the world's most utilized productivity tools for over two decades. We know you need the best tools to stay ahead of your competition, and one size does not fit all of your needs. Your business demands no compromise. Learn why Microsoft Office 365 is the better solution for your business than Google Apps.
County Chooses Office 365 over Google to Lower Costs, Enhances Service Delivery
Construction Group Finds Microsoft Solution Better for Business Than Google Apps


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At Six Wags, you never need to worry about your dog being bored or lonely while you are away. Your dog will spend his/her day playing in one of our daycare playrooms, and will be tucked in to a comfortable private kennel each night. Our kennels are clean, spacious, and climate-controlled, with a comfortable bed on which your dog can get a good night of sleep after a busy day of playing.
Our boarding space is limited, and first priority is given to our regular daycare clients. We do accept a limited number of boarding-only clients as long as they are exceptionally well-socialized with other dogs. Our facility is not set up to board dogs who cannot get along with other dogs in an active daycare environment.
Overnight stays are $40/night for the first dog, and $36/night for additional dogs from the same family. Boarding dropoff time is between 6:30 and 9 AM, and boarding pickup time is by 10 AM. You are welcome to pick up your dog after 10 AM - pickups after 10 will be charged for a day of daycare. We also offer a 10% discount for boarding stays of 7 or more nights in a row.
Your dog will sleep in a private kennel on a comfortable Kuranda bed. You are welcome to send along a personal bed or blanket if you like but it is not necessary. We do ask that you send enough of your dog's regular food for your dog to last through his/her stay (plus extra in case you are delayed in returning), as that will keep your dog the most comfortable. Please discuss any medications or special care your dog may need when you make your boarding reservation.
We do not charge higher rates for holiday boarding, but we do have the following conditions for holidays:
Specific dates of holidays may change from year to year. Holidays subject to these conditions include:
*Prices quoted on this page are subject to change and do not include MN sales tax


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Back Draft 1979
The day the Edmonton Oilers selected Kevin Lowe, Mark Messier and Glenn Anderson there were other names in play. Names like Duane Sutter and Dale Hunter were in play and the Oilers were locked in, but other NHL teams plucked them before Edmonton could call their names.
Edmonton Journal writers Jim Matheson and Terry Jones tear down the historic draft here. It's a stunning step into the past and is a terrific read these many years later.
Among the quotes I enjoyed most were Sather's comments on Messier ("he has unlimited potential") and Terry Jones comment that the odds of picking a blue chipper were "50-50 at best."
Pretty cool item.
Nation Radio goes today at noon on Team 1260 radio. Among the scheduled guests:
- Dustin Nielson, Team 1260 host and fellow draft nut.
- Matt Bugg, Senior Prospects writer for dobber hockey.
- Kirk Luedeke, Writer for New England Hockey Journal, New York Hockey Journal and the man behind the best draft source available on the internet.
- Matt Fenwick, Mr. Battle of Alberta and the closest I'll ever come to meeting Fibonacci.
I'll also be talking NHL equivalencies and we'll spotlight Adam Larsson. Emails, questions for our guests and comments are welcome at firstname.lastname@example.com and hope you'll tune in. We also have some surprises up our sleeves.


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Dear Mr.Sullivan
Hi there! My name is Elizabeth and welcome to my Tumblr!! Don't expect any sort of consistency, but lots of fun! My biggest fandoms are Harry Potter, Avatar and MLP, my OTPs include Quirrelmort, Dramione, RogerXJim, Mikoe(MikeyXJoe) and SophieXHowl, and I cry when I watch the scene in Happy Feet 2 when Eric finally sings. So that's all about me, how about you??Ask me anything Submit
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Weights & Dimensions
Additional Weights & Dimensions
|Size: 25"
|Product Type: Full Body
|Age Start: 3 Years
|Age End: And Up
|Country of Manufacture: China
Questions & Answers
Silly Puppets 25" Granny Full Body Puppet
Granny Full Body Puppet
chaddad from Berea, KY
I am involved with the Youth Puppet Ministry at our Church and this Puppet is a great addition to our set. Very well made and durable. We are looking forward to a lot of "Grandma" skits.
Silly Puppets believes that there is something truly magical about owning one of their puppets, and for good reason. They incorporate a great deal of creativity, innovation and quality craftsmanship goes into the design and production of each of our products. Their items spark the imagination, allowing you to be creative while having fun! With retailers in both the United States and Canada, Silly Puppets is quickly becoming a popular brand in the puppet world.
With an array of characters including "parent", animal and "kid" puppets, there is sure to be a new friend for everyone. Silly Puppets also currently offers three main product lines: Glove / Hand puppets, Full Body, and Professional Full / Half Body Performance puppets with removable legs. Now anyone can own a high quality puppet thanks to their vast selection styles!


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Friday, 26 Aug 2011 09:32 AM
By Andra Varin
© 2014 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, 17 Sep 2014 15:48 PM
There are no drilling rigs in Holland, Mich., but the local economy is still feeling the effects of America's natural ga . . .
Wednesday, 17 Sep 2014 15:39 PM
An American doctor who survived Ebola said there's no time to waste as President Barack Obama outlined his plan to ramp . . .
Wednesday, 17 Sep 2014 15:35 PM
Crews were battling about a dozen major wildfires across California on Tuesday that have forced thousands of people to f . . .
So will Obama be known in history as the man responsible for World War 3?
Poor old Democrats; shaking in their boots over the midterm elections. Just...
The only way to end this is to kill every last one of these Muslims. They will...
And still Catholics vote for Democrats. Dem imposed taxes pay for abortions....
" Anyone knows who follows more than fake talking points and headlines
Newsmax, Moneynews, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, NewsmaxWorld, NewsmaxHealth, are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.


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Services provided: Brand identity, website design and development, graphic design and ongoing SEO campaigns.
Services provided: Website design and development, eCommerce design and development, email marketing, graphic design.
Services provided: Website design and development, eCommerce design and development, email newsletters, graphic design.
Get in touch for some friendly advice for your next project today! Call 01794 399 800 or make a quick enquiry below.
Innovative Consultancy have provided the IT support for the whole Help for Heroes campaign. I really can not praise their team highly enough. They have helped transform an idea into a massive national brand and much of that success has come from their innovative use of technology. The website is appealing, beautifully designed, easy and fun to use. I honestly can not recommend them highly enough.
Innovative Consultancy has helped us to develop a newsletter mailing strategy, which allows us to communicate with our customers in a positive and proactive way. It is also very easy to use – many thanks for your advice and assistance.
I wanted to write to be able to thank you for all your hard work in support of the Help for Heroes campaign. Your efforts in putting together the most excellent website are really very much appreciated, not only by Help for Heroes but by all those who have offered their help and money to the charity – the website is undoubtedly one of the main strengths of the campaign.
The team at Innovative Consultancy has worked tirelessly to design and deliver a great website that has increased our client base substantially, and puts the ASL and the Army in a positive light. We are looking forward to working together on future projects including smartphone applications.
Innovative Consultancy have delivered a professional site we can be proud of, on a very tight budget.Members are starting to engage with the site and everyone is especially delighted with the new logo – thanks for all your hard work.
I just wanted to say thank you for the excellent website you created for our company, I was really impressed and still am, every time I look at it. We've already begun benefiting from your suggestions and have seen an increase in the quality and the amount of business it generates in just a couple of months. You have created us a tremendous marketing tool and we cannot recommend your company enough.
From our initial meeting it was very apparent that you put your customers as your highest priority and everything you have produced since then has been to our total satisfaction. You are no doubt backed by a highly talented team with a wealth of experience in web design.


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Welcome to NAMI of Collier County, Florida
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Collier County membership is comprised of people with serious and persistent mental illnesses, as well as their parents, children, spouses, siblings and friends. Our mission is to improve the quality of life of the 1 in 4 families affected by serious and persistent mental illness, through education, support and advocacy. We believe that persons with severe and persistent mental illness can recover and lead productive and meaningful lives within their community of choice.
This site will highlight the services, programs, support and resources available to you through NAMI Collier County and the national organization, NAMI.org.
Latest News & Events
Check out the success of our HUGS program!
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Collier County
Health Under Guided Systems (HUGS)
The primary […]
Anderson takes part in an experiment to help understand how people live with mental illness – Anderson Cooper 360 – CNN.com Blogs
Help Understand How People Live with Mental Illness
Youth Mental Health First Aid on Saturday, August 23rd from 8am – 4pm
NAMI will offer Youth Mental Health First Aid on Saturday, August 23rd from 8am […]
Naples Auto Donation Center & #NAMI of Collier County
NAMI was very blessed to receive the proceeds from a donated car to Naples […]


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10.7 Miles
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111 S Highland St #127, Memphis, TN 38111
Services: Drug Rehab Treatment, Alcohol Rehab Treatment, Detox, Detoxification
Latest review: "I began to get very worried when my wife started drinking too much and taking prescription m..."
10.4 Miles
(901) 726-5001
1203 Peabody Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
Latest review: "The staff here is caring and concerned for you, your health and well being. Always cheerful..."
10.0 Miles
(901) 432-1426
2192 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
Latest review: "My pets have been clients at Central Animal Hospital for 19 years. My most recent visit was ..."
9.4 Miles
(901) 276-5822
1032 S Cooper St, Memphis, TN 38104
Latest review: "I love this dental office. The staff is always professional and courteous, providing individ..."
10.6 Miles
(901) 726-6655
1455 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
Services: Mohs Micrographic Surgery, Skin Cancer-skin Surgery-laser Surgery, American College Of Mohs Sur...
Latest review: "If it had not been for Dr. Friedman, I might not be alive today. She was able to "pick up on..."
11.3 Miles
(662) 470-4608
928 E Goodman Rd, HERNANDO, MS 38632
Latest review: "I have been a patient of Dr. Michael C.Doran for years and glad for it. He is amazing and re..."
2.6 Miles
(662) 342-6677
3102 Goodman Rd W, Horn Lake, MS 38637
Services: Immunizations Shots & Vaccines, Pap Smears, Sports Physicals, Ultrasound, X-rays
Latest review: "This place is horrible! Do not go there. I do not care if it was the last place on earth, I ..."
11.4 Miles
(901) 522-2000
59 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103
Latest review: "Really a terrible experience. My girlfriend made an appointment to get a heart problem chec..."
10.1 Miles
(662) 893-1160
8990 Germantown Rd, Olive Branch, MS 38654
Services: Most Insurance Plans Accepted, Adults & Children Treated (12 Mos & Older)
Latest review: "This was the worst medical experience I have ever had. The front office staff was rude, the..."
13.9 Miles
(901) 432-1305
2075 Exeter Rd, Germantown, TN 38138
Latest review: "I will never go back to this office again! the service sucks! and the office staff are horr..."
10.9 Miles
(901) 746-9764
1120 Hayne Rd, Memphis, TN 38119
Latest review: "HORRIBLE SERVICE!! I can not get over how badly my experience with Show Clean Memphis has b..."
18.6 Miles
(901) 373-9496
6963 US Highway 70, Memphis, TN 38133
Latest review: "YOUR RATING IS A NEGATIVE FIVE in my eyes. TOLD ME TO PUT MY CANE CORSO TO SLEEP. I will nev..."
29.1 Miles
(901) 867-8717
11891 Highway 70, Arlington, TN 38002
Services: Cats & Dogs, Medicine Surgery Dentistry, Walk-ins Welcome
Latest review: "I worked for them grooming. I was fired because I NEEDED electricity. When I was drying the ..."
.7 Miles
(662) 280-1202
1277 Main St Stateline Rd, Southaven, MS 38671
.7 Miles
(662) 280-1202
1277 Main St Stateline Rd, Southaven, MS 38671


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Narrow your search
CNET covers the new models and concept cars shown off at the 2014 Geneva Auto Show.
The Belkin tablet case provides a firm fit and basic protection, but its design conforms better to midsize tablets than 7-inchers.
You can't beat the price of Anker's thin keyboard for the iPad Air, but serious typists should invest in a better option.
For sheer typing responsiveness, the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad Air is still a pro. But, even with its new tilt-angle design, it's no longer quite as unique as it used to be.
Channeling Saul Bass, one of the world's greatest movie credit creators, a YouTuber produces an entrancing cover of the HBO show's opening tune.
Marvel will release a variant cover for the first issue of its Spider-Woman series which is designed to incite annoyance.
To celebrate the release of Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, DC Comics will be releasing a range of Lego variant covers in November.
The Boska Petit Paris Cheese Board features an integrated wire cutter. The cheese serving platter also comes with a lid.
To honor the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing, a singer adds sounds of Neil Armstrong's heart, plus "sounds of Venus" recorded by Voyager, to a John Lennon song.
The new video follows the leak of photos earlier this week of a similar display for the next generation of the Apple smartphone.
Along with the Galaxy Tab S, Samsung took the wraps off the tablet's two covers and Bluetooth keyboard.


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Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the home-invasion robbery and beating of a woman in her home in Millburn, N.J., the Essex County Prosecutor's Office announced.
Authorities charged Shawn Custis, 42, with first-degree attempted murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree burglary, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
A "nanny cam" captured video of the brutal attack.
Custis broken into the woman's Cypress Street home last Friday night, authorities said. He punched, kicked, and tossed her down stairs, authorities said. The woman's 3-year-old daughter watched the attack from just a few feet away.
Custis's last known address was in Newark, authorities said.
If you have any information about this case, call the Essex County Prosecutor's Office at 877-847-7432.


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Be the first to learn about new tours & upcoming events. Get inside info on destinations, preparing for your tour, training and nutrition - plus get in on special pricing on select tour dates! *Bicycle Adventures does not sell or give out your personal information.
Pedal from the limestone spires of Bryce Canyon National Park to the high plateaus and hanging gardens of Zion National Park – plus Kolob Canyon, Brian Head, Red Canyon, and stunning Kodachrome Basin. We've crafted this tour for stronger cyclists, and routes range up to 85 miles on most days. When you combine that with a plethora of options for exploring the chasms and hoodoos on foot, plus lodging nestled at the parks' entrances, you'll find yourself on a most intimate basis with the canyonlands.
Meet in the former cotton town of St. George. Ride from Kolob to Cedar City, Brian Head and Cedar Breaks National Monument.
The trip starts from the former cotton settlement of St. George, Utah (public shuttle is available from Las Vegas). We'll meet you there on Sunday morning, heading directly to the Kolob Canyons in the northern section of Zion National Park to begin riding. Quiet and peaceful, these radiant red-walled canyons are missed by most car travelers and make the perfect place to start our week. We'll ride through the canyons of Dixie National Forest, then into Cedar Breaks, once called the "Circle of Painted Cliffs" by the indigenous peoples, and finally to the resort town of Brian Head and our home for the night at Cedar Breaks Lodge.
Ride from Brian Head to Red Canyon, then the Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel. Hike the hoodoos of the Queen's Garden and Navajo Loop.
Day Two finds us biking through the orange sandstone canyons and dense pine forests of Brian Head into Red Canyon, a glowing oasis of rock tucked into the heart of Dixie National Forest. That afternoon, hike down inside Bryce Canyon, exploring the Navajo Loop and Queen's Garden – a wonderland of sculpted spires and pinnacles painted in brilliant desert hues. Our lodging for the next two nights is the Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel, a brand-new lodge perched at the entrance to the canyon.
Ride to panoramic Rainbow Point and Kodachrome Basin. Take an afternoon hike to Mossy Cave.
On Tuesday, ride from our lodge out to Rainbow Point, where expansive views stretch all the way to Navajo Mountain and the Kaibab Plateau 90 miles away in Arizona. On the clearest days, the view extends even into New Mexico! Continue cycling on to Kodachrome Basin, a wonder of massive sandstone chimneys shaded in hues of gray, white or red depending on Mother Nature's mood.
Ride from Bryce Canyon to Zion National Park; add on Coral Pink Sand Dunes to take you over the 100-mile mark.
Wednesday, wake up early to catch an unforgettable sight: the sunrise illuminating Bryce's hoodoos and bringing them to glowing life. Today's ride, should you choose to do all of it, is an 85-miler from Bryce Canyon into Zion National Park. (For those who want to put in 100 miles and make it a century ride, you can top it off with a gorgeous out-and-back pedal to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.)
Hailed by Bicycling Magazine as "one of the world's most beautiful places to ride," Zion is a visual feast of stunning vistas, soaring red walls and high mesas. The park service does not allow cars into all sections of Zion National Park, though cyclists are welcome. There are frequent (free) shuttle buses for both guest and bicycle from our inn, through town, to the visitor center, and to the valley floor of Zion itself, making it easy to customize your Zion experience to suit your personal desires. Spend two nights here at Zion Park Inn, a handsome lodge just outside the park entrance in Springdale. You'll enjoy exploring the town, cycling and hiking in the park - and at the end of the day, marvelous views from the inn's outdoor hot tub and pool.
Hike the dizzying switchbacks of Angels Landing or the cool canyons of the Narrows. Ride to Kolob Canyon.
Thursday brings a bevy of options: conditions permitting, take a river hike (walking sticks and wading boots provided) up the Virgin River and into the famed Narrows slot canyon with its 1000-foot walls and hanging gardens; alternatively, hike up the West Rim Trail to Angels Landing, a rigorous jaunt that rewards visitors with stunning panoramas. Prefer to ride? Explore the rainbow-painted Kolob Canyons, on roads we weren't able to take in on Day 1. In the afternoon we're happy to help you schedule a well-earned massage.
Ride from Zion to the dunes of Sand Hollow State Park.
On Friday, take a roundabout route out of Zion National Park, cycling west into the tranquil burgh of Hurricane with its tall trees and small-town feel, to the sparkling waters and red dunes of Sand Hollow State Park, then into St. George. Spend tonight at the historic Seven Wives Inn, original home of one Benjamin F. Johnson, whose seven wives each had their own rooms on the property. Our final celebration dinner is at the Painted Pony, rated Excellent by Zagat's and hailed by the reviewer as 'a jewel in the desert.'
Ride a spectacular bike path to picture-perfect Snow Canyon; finish the week with a congratulatory picnic.
Saturday, take a loop ride from our inn out to Snow Canyon – a distinctive valley whose entrance is guarded by two volcanoes. Jet-black lava coats the red Navajo sandstone, making it a photographer's feast. After a final celebratory lunch, skirt the edge of Dixie National Forest via the glittering waters of Gunlock State Park Reservoir, then shuttle back to St. George for your journey home.
Make your reservation now or (800) 443-6060.
As an optional extra, a person traveling solo on any inn-to-inn trip may reserve a room for his or her exclusive use. This will guarantee you a private room and private bath every night. If you're willing to share a room, there is no extra charge for coming solo, no matter when you sign up for the tour - even if you wind up with a private room by default.


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Comment: Re:I may have mentioned this before but... (Score 1) 127
(how's that global warming working out for ya?)
Unfortunately, it is working out exactly as most people thought it would. Summers are getting hotter, storms more violent and weather patterns more unpredictable.
But don't worry, someone will mention that it was cold in the US this past winter, so it's all good, you know, ignoring the global part.


text: Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reports that Polygon Pictures has walked away from the 41st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards with four awards, two for Transformers Prime Beast Hunters. The other two were for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and between the two series Polygon has taken the Outstanding Special Class Animated Program award for the past three years running. We'll see if Robots In Disguise 2015 will help them maintain their lock on the category, but for now keep reading for an excerpt from the article and a link to full details!


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The authors of "Double Down: Game Change 2012", Mark Halperin and John Heilemann take the time to discuss what the book could actually mean for Governor Chris Christie.
While campaigning, Governor Christie was not worried about the content of Halperin and Heilemann's book. "Nobody in New Jersey cares about that book. And in the end, there's nothing in that book that the people of New Jersey don't already know about me," he said. However, the authors don't think he should brush their book off so easily.
The book details the role that Christie had during the last presidential campaign that people probably don't know about. The book has made headlines lately for saying that Governor Romney did not pick Christie as his running mate due to his weight. The authors say the book doesn't only talk about the decision to not pick Christie, but also when Christie was thinking for running for president himself.
Now that the governor has been re-elected many people speculate that he'll run in the 2016 presidential race. Halperin and Heilemann believe that their book will help the people of New Jersey figure out if they actually want their governor to run for president. "If the people of New Jersey want to censor their governor and what kind of national figure he'll be, I think reading "Double Down" will give them as good a sense as anything else," Halperin said.
"Double Down" explores why Romney made the decision to not pick Christie as a running mate, especially when Christie seemed to be a good candidate. "He thought about putting Governor Christie on the ticket, decided against it, and then was urged by one of his top advisors in the summer of 2012 to reconsider because the Republicans and Governor Romney's campaign got pummeled by negative ads from the Obama campaign. Stewart Stephens, the chief strategist of the Romney campaign, said to Govenor Romney look this is a street fight, we need the best street brawler out there, and Chris Christie is that guy," Heilemann said.
The book describes, in detail, the process the Romney team went through in looking at Christie and the public record that shows some of the controversies that Governor Christie says have already been aired out, but may still be a surprise to some New Jersey residents.
The book also says that Romney's campaign team said that if Christie opposed them in the Republican nomination, they would have been able to destroy him to the point where he couldn't even run for Governor again. The contents of this book may be something that could ruin Christie's political future.
"Maybe some of you guys know that Governor Christie at one point worked as a lobbyist for the Securities Industries Association when it was headed by Bernie Madoff. That's something that most people in national politics and national media don't know about," Heilemann said. This was something that Romney's team saw as hurtful to them in their race for the presidency.
Halperin and Heilemann are currently interested in talking to people about "Double Down", but once that's over they'll be moving on to new political figures. "As soon as we get through that, we'll move forward, and if Senator Booker decides he wants to run for president, I bet we write about him quite a bit going forward," Halperin said.