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iDuck Floating Wireless Speaker
Listening to music in the bath is the ultimate way of relaxing. With the iDuck Floating Wireless Speaker, you can do just that without risking getting your MP3 player water damaged. The iDuck is a fantastically fun way of listening to your favourite songs at bathtime.
Simply hook your MP3 player up to the transmitter and your clever duck will magically pick up the signal and transmit your tunes while you soak away the stresses of the day.
The iDuck also features a radio if you fancy listening to something different. - L.M.
- The iDuck Floating Wireless Speaker is the ultimate rubber duck
- Allows you to play the songs on your MP3 player in the bath without soaking it
- Simply connect your MP3 player to the transmitter, press play and hop in the bath with the floating duck
- Transmitter range of 10 m approx
- Duck also features an FM radio
- Compatible with sound source that has 3.5mm headphone jack (cable included)
- Transmitter requires 3x AAA batteries (not included)
- Duck requires 2x AAA batteries (not included)
- Suitable for ages 4+
- Transmitter: 9 x 9 x 9.5cm
- Duck: 13 x 10.5 x 10cm
Product Details
Delivery & Returns
How long will it take to arrive?
Please remember to add postal time (2-3 working days) to obtain a complete estimate of delivery to your door.
How will I know it has been sent?
You will receive an email to confirm when your item has been sent.
You can also check the status of your order and individual items by accessing My Account details and following the prompts.
Please allow 10 working days from dispatch of your order before notifying us of any late deliveries.
It may be advisable to check with your neighbours to see if a parcel has been left with them, check any outhouses you might have where it may be left if it cannot fit through your letterbox and contact your local sorting office to see if the item has been returned to the depot as undelivered and awaiting collection.
If I'm not completely happy with my item?
Please see our returns policy.
Customer Reviews
(17 Reviews)
Write a review to be in with the chance to win a £100 voucher
Fun Duck
The duck speaker is a fun gadget for your bath time. My brother loves it as it was birthday present for him and my nephew (2) found new friend - as you can speak through the duck to him from another room ;-) Great fun!!!
A bit quiet but ok!
Not the loudest, so not suitable for a shower but for a bath would be fine. A bit muffled too but better than nothing. Fun anyway!
OK but not spectacular
The volume it emits is about the same level as my iPad and iPhone with no speakers attached. Its sole advantage seems to be the fact that it can be placed much closer to the bath than these devices. If you have a small bathroom (like me), aside from the novelty value, I'm not sure you'll find these of much use as speakers.
Great Gift Idea!
Purchased this as a stocking filler for my husband who likes to take his iPod into the bathroom to listen to while he is in the bath. It's perfect! Our toddler loves it in her bath too! The radio is a great little feature too.
Great product
This a great gift. Got for my boyfriend for Christmas and the whole family uses it even the kids.
This duck was bought a a present for my sister, she absolutely loves it and thinks it was a brilliant gift.
floating duck
Love it! plays nicely from I pod sounds good
All good. Bought as a gift, my sis was chuffed!
The iDuck Floating Wireless Speaker was well packed and looks as described.
iDuck Floating Wireless Speaker is an excellent product and very useful. Wanted a radio for the bath/shower, but this is even better.


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Grille Insert, Main Grille, Aluminum, Polished, Billet, Chevy, Kit
Order this item and get free delivery and handling on your entire order! Offer excludes truck freight fees. Valid on orders shipped in the contiguous United States.
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Our custom-fit grilles are made from aircraft-grade billet aluminum with your choice of a brushed or polished finish. These grilles use the same mounting points as your stock grille, so mounting is quick and easy.
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subset: commoncrawl


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hmmm.....Not sure if I am a fan, but if it causes stock to rise then I am all for it
Not a fan of bing, so I would just change it back to google but the majority of people are too lazy or just don't care enough to do so. I could see this as a big push for bing. I remember when yahoo was my main search engine and then for reasons I can't even remember I started using google.
NOOOO! I hate bing with passion! there better be an option to set the search bar as bing or google. Big mistake apple.....
Bing is great for online shopping. Bing gives you cashback rewards for many online retailers such as dell, Bestbuy, Sears.......some as much as 15%. Thats $300 cash back on a $2000 television.
Other than online shopping i would still stick to google.
Bing is actually pretty good. But it hard for people to change what they have been used to which is google.
Bing as the default search engine in my iPhone?..i don't like how that sounds
The logic of the argument is faulty. The idea that Apple would move away from Google is fine but why is it automatically assume they would move to Bing? It's not like they don't have choices, search engines aren't magic, just money. They could simply move to one of the other search engines which is not either Google or Bing but I think it's more likely they would simply create their own search engine. While it would cost a bit they certainly have the resources and it would be a new income stream so could even be profitable.
has anybody ever clicked on an ad on the iPhone?....How they get revenue from that I'll never know....I click on ads on web pages all the time on PC.
The Apple fanboy tears sustain me!
Don't worry guys, MS users actively include all users. We aren't elitist pricks, the water is fine here!
First fonts, now this? Curse you, Apple!!!! Your blaspheme knows no boundaries!!!!
Meh, I could care less about this. I still end up just going to the actual google.com page anyways - force of habit I suppose. Never used bing but have been tempted to with the recent push in advertisements.
Hey, maybe this could lead to the promiseland... a sanctioned hackint0sh.
... naw....
oh well time for Apple to make their own search engine
That being said, Bing takes a little trial and error. I think they do a lot of things right, and at the same time are working to improve the engine on a regular basis.
A little bird told me that MS dogfoods some newer versions of the engine that post both Bing and Google results next to one another. The users then report which site had more relevant results. These algorithms are growing constantly and MS has done a good job in making a new choice for search engines.
I agree 100% that going with Bing instead of Google would conflict with their advertising campaign. It'd a bad idea. Apple may switch gears and start attacking Google in their ads as well, but that's a pretty risky move. We'll see what happens.
Apple and Google should just merge and stick it to MS.
Goopple anyone?
if you haven't, download the bing app. it is SLICK
i dont know if this will work
i have never been to bing
and if i need something the first thing i think is google
So if we took a ride in the Wayback Machine, in a previous time you would have said something like this?
Seems as though your Google fanboy colors are showing through your hypocrisy covered tee-shirt.
i was born in the google age.
there was no b4 google for me.


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- Sam Ash Gift Guides
- Hot Deals
- Guitars
- Bass
- Accessories
- Live Sound
- Keyboards
- Microphones & Wireless
- Recording
- DJ & Lighting
- Drums
- Books/DVDs
- Band/Orchestra
To automatically re-order this item before you run out, select the recurring order option during checkout.
Tripp Lite's SMART500RT1U intelligent, line interactive rack/tower uninterruptible power supply prevents data loss, downtime and equipment damage due to power outages, voltage fluctuations and transient surges.
|SmartPro Rack/Tower UPS
Reviewed by 1 customer
Best Uses
Comments about Tripplite Smart 500 RT1U Rackmount UPS:
Saved my session during the last storm while I was putting guitar tracks and vocals down for my next gig. I had just enough time to save everything to my hard drive before power went out in the whole neighborhood. I think I'm gunna invest in one with a higher wattage and protect all my recording gear.
Smart 500 RT1U Rackmount UPS
2 Years on Single Phase UPS Systems (3-Phase UPS and other products are various)


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The Patriots defense has been destroyed by analysts for the better part of three years now for a myriad of specific reasons, and lately the big problem everyone wants to talk about is the back end of the defense.
There's no question the Pats have struggled against the deep ball, however another area that they've had problems in is their defense in third-and-long situations. For our purposes here we're defining "long" as 6 or more yards.
Here's a look at some Patriots teams in the past, and how they've fared on 3rd down with 6 or more yards to go. These numbers signify the percent of time the Pats defense failed and gave up a first down:
- 2001 - 30.2%
- 2003 - 29.1%
- 2004 - 28.4%
- 2007 - 24.8%
- 2008 - 35.7%
- 2009 - 28.2%
- 2010 - 34.5%
- 2011 - 30.9%
- 2012 (thru 7 games) - 41.7%
As you can see so far in 2012 getting off the field on third and long has been a problem. And even when you look at the Pats in situations where it's 3rd-and-7-plus yards they're still at a 41.0%.
Let's compare to a few other teams around the NFL this year for some more context:
- Ravens - 23.6%
- Saints - 27.9% (32nd in yards/game given up)
- Bills - 32.7% (32nd in yards allowed)
- Texans - 15.4% (what a match-up vs Pats O this will be)
- Jets - 41.1% (well that makes me feel slightly better)
- Dolphins - 22.0% (what?)
Ironically the Pats have had fewer 3rd-and-longs than any of the other teams mentioned above, which is clearly indicative of how many long balls they're giving up. But even when they do get teams in a favorable 3rd down situation, where they can force a punt and get the ball back to the offense, they're not delivering like they have in the past.
Of course for me this comes back to getting more pass rushers on the field in these situations, however at this time the Pats just don't have the personnel to be able to replace Vince Wilfork with a more up-the-field type.
It seems that Wilfork has been left out there for protection against the run, but it's not the run that's been the problem. Just once has a third-and-long been converted via run this year and that was a scramble by Jake Locker. Otherwise no team has even attempted a run when it's less than 10-yards to go.
Perhaps Myron Pryor is the answer, but who knows if/when he'll be back and at what capacity. This should surely be an area the Pats need to address during the bye week.
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- patspropaganda posted this


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- Sam Ash Gift Guides
- Hot Deals
- Guitars
- Bass
- Accessories
- Live Sound
- Keyboards
- Microphones & Wireless
- Recording
- DJ & Lighting
- Drums
- Books/DVDs
- Band/Orchestra
To automatically re-order this item before you run out, select the recurring order option during checkout.
Tripp Lite SMART 1500XL intelligent, line interactive UPS system protects servers, networking accessories and telecommunications equipment from blackouts, voltage fluctuations and transient surges.
Large internal batteries offer 20 minutes half load runtime and 7 minutes at full load during power failures. Runtime is expandable with the addition of BP36V15-2U (limit 1) or BP36V42-3U external battery packs. 1500VA/980 watt power handling capability supports a variety of networking, telecom and various other application types.
Includes a total of 6 outlets, 1 of which can be individually powered on and off via software interface to selectively reboot remote equipment or to shed less significant loads to extend battery runtime for more critical equipment. Supports remote monitoring of UPS and site power conditions via built-in USB and DB9 monitoring ports. Includes PowerAlert UPS monitoring and unattended shutdown software with complete cabling.
Notification of system status via 5 LEDs and multi-function audible alarms. Wall mountable with UPSWM wallmount bracket. Network-grade AC surge suppression protects equipment from damage and performance problems resulting from transient surges. Attractive, small-footprint tower housing uses less than 66 square inches of floor or desktop space. Two year warranty. $250,000 connected equipment insurance (USA & Canada Only).
Features:• 1500VA/980 watt power handling capability supports a variety of networking, telecom and various other application types
Applications:• Ideal for the protection of fileservers, network accessories and telecommunications equipment. Common applications include any mix of servers, workstations, hubs, routers, concentrators, IP telephony and traditional PBX switching systems.
|Other Features
|Typical battery lifespan: 3-6 years, depending on usage
SmartPro 1500XL Expandable Tower UPS System
2 Years on Single Phase UPS Systems (3-Phase UPS and other products are various)


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Favorite Things of Last Night: Helen Hong @ Cobb's Comedy Club.
Tags: Helen Hong sf san francisco comedy bay area stand-up cobb's comedy club Favorite Things of Last Night
Bay-Area, CA based comedy blog from Bay-Area, CA based comedian blogger. News, event reviews, room reviews, journals, highlights, videos, links, and anything else from the San Francisco/Bay-Area comedy community.
If you have any shows happening in the Bay-Area or photos or anything comedy related shoot it over to firstname.lastname@example.com
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Paint, Paint Shop Finish, Lacquer, Gloss, Jet Black, 1 qt., Each
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Dupli-Color's Paint Shop finish systems give you everything you need to create a high-quality DIY finish--primer, color, and clear coating. Paint Shop finish paints from Dupli-Color are high-quality lacquer systems designed for automotive and motorcycle applications. Paint Shop systems are easy to apply; they dry quickly and can be buffed to a brilliant, smooth finish. The Paint Shop systems are ready-to-spray, so no mixing or reducing is required, and with no re-coat window, additional coats can be applied at any time.
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FORT WAYNE – Just less than a year ago, Constance Anderson and Jeffrey Tourney were sentenced to prison on charges of criminal mischief stemming from a cat hoarding situation.
The pair were sentenced to 1 1/2 years each after they pleaded guilty to the felony charges, admitting to letting their colonies of cats overrun two rental properties.
To reach a felony level of criminal mischief, the damage caused must be in excess of $2,500. They also admitted to five Class A misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty.
But after being out on bond while they appealed their sentence, the pair now face a lesser sentence of house arrest after they cleared every hurdle set for them by Allen Superior Court Judge Wendy Davis.
In March 2012, city officials received a call about multiple cats abandoned inside a house on Elmer Avenue. When officers from Neighborhood Code Enforcement and Animal Care & Control arrived at the house, the odor of cat urine was detectable more than 15 feet from the house, and numerous cats were visible through the windows.
The house reeked of cat urine and decaying carcasses. It took days to capture all the living cats inside the Elmer Avenue house, and many were found in poor condition. As animal control officials and others investigated, they found the inside of the house was covered in cat feces and urine. Most metal surfaces were rusted, and the thermostat showed 58 degrees inside the house, which had no gas.
The body parts of cats were found throughout the house, and officials said a total of 98 cats were found inside – 84 living and 14 dead.
The couple's cat hoard at the Elmer Avenue house, which was ultimately condemned, caused $64,000 in damage. In a different house where the couple were was staying, a new cat colony caused $13,000 in damage, court documents said.
At the second location, 23 live cats and 21 dead cats were found, including dead cats in the freezer and bags and boxes of dead kittens were also found, with some of the kittens' bodies in pieces and others appearing to have been struck with a blunt object.
Though Davis initially sentenced Anderson and Tourney to prison, she allowed the couple to remain free on bond while they appealed their case to the Indiana Court of Appeals.
This year, the sentences were upheld by the higher court, so it was time for them to go to prison. But according to court documents, the couple's behavior and progress was such that Davis amended her sentence to allow them to serve their time with Allen County Community Corrections.
On Tuesday, Davis wrote in her orders that Anderson and Tourney will submit to additional psychological testing and evaluation, as well as receive counseling and report living conditions to court officials. Davis set another status hearing for early next month.


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David Ost, professor of political science, will discuss the Russian documentary, "On the Way Home," following its screening at the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival (FLEFF) at Ithaca College on Sunday, April 6. "In light of the fact that Russia has been in the news in the last month or so in such an extreme way, this provides a different, personal access to Russia, to people, to some of th... More >>
In light of Russian President Vladimir V. Putin's decision to reclaim the formerly Ukrainian region of Crimea and the resulting international relations conflict, members of the Hobart and William Smith and Cornell faculty will convene on Wednesday, April 2 at 7 p.m. in the Geneva Room of the Warren Huntington Smith Library for a discussion titled "Ukraine, Russia, and the Current Crisis." The for... More >>
This spring, students in Russian 102 will experience a "flipped" classroom, thanks to funding as part of the Mellon Presidential Discretionary Grant for the digital pedagogy project. The idea of "flipping" a classroom was developed by high school teachers Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams. Traditionally, time in class has been reserved for lectures while homework has been a time for exercises and ... More >>
Associate Professor of Russian Kristen Welsh participated in and presented at the National Endowment for the Humanities' summer institute "America's Russian-Speaking Immigrants and Refugees: Twentieth Century Migration and Memory." The conference, held at Columbia University, consisted of daily presentations and in-depth discussions, welcoming scholars from a variety of fields including history, ... More >>
Award-winning Russian author Mikhail Shishkin treated the audience to his interpretation of Russian society, literature, language, and politics in his recent talk on campus titled "In a Boat Scratched on the Wall: Language and Politics in Russia." Shishkin demonstrated how all of these elements are interconnected. He also read an excerpt from his novel "Maidenhair" and led a discussion. Visitin... More >>


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Is Group Documents safe on large sites? Can people upload malicious code/ viruses etc?
Hi guys,
I'm due to launch quite a substantial site soon and I'm planning on allowing users to use group documents. I have only allowed PDF, TXT and Word documents so far but I'm worried people could upload dodgy things. Is this possible and can I take any precautions?
What kind of things in general can you do to protect your site? Do sites easily get hacked etc?
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16 U.S. Code § 831dd - Liberal construction of chapter; sale of surplus lands
This chapter shall be liberally construed to carry out the purposes of Congress to provide for the disposition of and make needful rules and regulations respecting Government properties entrusted to the Authority, provide for the national defense, improve navigation, control destructive floods, and promote interstate commerce and the general welfare, but no real estate shall be held except what is necessary in the opinion of the Board to carry out plans and projects actually decided upon requiring the use of such land: Provided, That any land purchased by the Authority and not necessary to carry out plans and projects actually decided upon shall be sold by the Authority as agent of the United States, after due advertisement, at public auction to the highest bidder.
Source(May 18, 1933, ch. 32, § 31, as added Aug. 31, 1935, ch. 836, § 12,49 Stat. 1080.)
As originally enacted, the last sentence of this section contained, at the end thereof, the words "or at private sale as provided in section 3 of this amendatory Act." Section 3 of the amendatory act of Aug. 31, 1935, added subsec. (k) tosection 831c of this title.
The table below lists the classification updates, since Jan. 3, 2012, for this section. Updates to a broader range of sections may be found at the update page for containing chapter, title, etc.
The most recent Classification Table update that we have noticed was Tuesday, August 13, 2013
An empty table indicates that we see no relevant changes listed in the classification tables. If you suspect that our system may be missing something, please double-check with the Office of the Law Revision Counsel.
|Description of Change
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Any baseball purist who loves the game wants to see it played on natural grass. The Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays are the only two teams in the Majors now playing on artificial turf. Both teams play on AstroTurf. Thanks to a marketing agreement between the company and Major League Baseball, the Blue Jays were able to get an AstroTurf field installed virtually for free in 2010. There was a great, albeit brief, buzz that Rogers Centre might get a natural grass surface by 2015. Paul Beeston suggested as much to the fans and the media at the State of the Franchise evening. The club's president and CEO later backed off that statement somewhat. There simply isn't enough natural light getting into Rogers Centre to maintain a grass surface. Even if there was, having grass would reduce the multi-purpose versatility that makes Rogers Centre a viable entity. The Argos, for instance, would have been pushed out if Rogers Centre had become a baseball-only natural grass facility. However, last week on TSN Drive with Dave Naylor, Argos president Chris Rudge revealed the Double-Blue will be staying at Rogers Centre and in fact, he was in the process of negotiating a new long-term lease agreement. So, if the Boatmen aren't going anywhere, neither is the turf. There are a couple of stadia in the world where grass surfaces can be rolled in for sporting events and then moved back outside to get the nourishment of the sun and the rain. As far as I could discern, though, there is only one indoor stadium with a "fixed roof" that has natural grass growing inside of it. That would be the Forsyth Barr Stadium, in Dunedin, New Zealand. It opened on August 5 of 2011. It has a relatively light weight roof composed of ETFE, a transparent polymer (plastic). ETFA allows sunlight to pass through it and allows the grass inside to keep growing naturally. You might think the grass surface would inhibit the stadium from being used for other events but that's not the case. They used a special blend of three types of rye grass and then drove 20 million nylon strands into the ground to the depth of 18cm. Two centimetres of the nylon strands remained above the ground. The grass then grew up and twined itself around the nylon making it stronger and more tear resistant. That means the facility can host soccer and rugby, as well and concerts and trade shows. This can't be applied to Toronto, though, unless it was an entirely new facility. You can't just suddenly put a plastic roof on Rogers Centre. Even though this stadium in New Zealand appears to be growing concern, there have still been cries to put in artificial turf anyway due to the cost of maintaining the grass. It's pretty clear there won't be natural grass at Rogers Centre anytime soon. We'll probably have to wait for another generation to go by before Toronto gets a new ballpark; one the purists can embrace. Too bad Canada bowed out in the first round again at the World Baseball Classic. But after that humiliating 14-4 defeat at the hands of Italy, Ernie Whitt's crew did our country proud against Mexico and the US on Saturday and Sunday. If Brandon Phillips hadn't made that tremendous diving play to rob Adam Loewen of a base-hit Sunday, we might be talking about the greatest victory in Canadian International baseball history. I don't know if you caught it on TV, but when Justin Morneau of the Twins came up late in the US game, one of his teammates yelled to him something to the effect of "show the Blue Jays what you can still do" or something to that effect. It was probably just a bit of baseball humour but it made me wonder if there is a mutual interest. Morneau had a solid tournament, is a strong left hand bat and is revered in this country. He's also in the final year of his contract. Just might be something to keep an eye on as the season unfolds.
Keep up with the latest on Canada's national programs from the governing body for amateur baseball in Canada.
Baseball Canada Website
Scott MacArthur, Richard Griffin & Gregor Chisholm discuss quiet trade deadline for the Blue Jays, struggling rotation & potential Biogenesis fallout.
Scott MacArthur & Toronto Star's Richard Griffin preview the trade deadline, Blue Jays' needs & being on Boston as Jon Lester rumours ramp up.
LA Angels infielder, John McDonald joined Blue Lunch to discuss his career from the time he left Toronto to the present.


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AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash.-- Medics rushed one person to the hospital early Friday after a wreck on Highway 2 near Airway Heights.
Authorities said two drivers were heading west on the highway when one car rear ended the other.
One driver suffered minor injuries in the wreck which cause some traffic delays.
Charges are pending.


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Just as everyone grieves in their own way, there were many different kinds of events in the Twin Cities to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on Tuesday
Even after 11 years, people still have vivid memories of the terrorist attacks that shook the nation -- especially those with personal connections to the victims.
"I was a fraternity brother with Tom Burnett, who was on Flight 93," recalled Ivan Silverman.
Burnett and nearly 3,000 other men and women never made it home on Sept. 11, 2001. Penny Clauson was in New York for work the week before the attacks. When the towers fell, she immediately went back to work at Ground Zero, giving food to firefighters and first responders.
"It was a great experience, but I don't want my kids to forget," she told FOX 9 News.
With that in mind, Clauson and her family continue to see Sept. 11 as a day of service. This year, they packed thousands of meals with Second Harvest Heartland West..
Over Highway 10 in Coon Rapids, a tribute as simple as flags and a wave to passing commuters served as a reminder that Americans are still keeping the victims and heroes of that day in their hearts.
Nearly every person who spoke with FOX 9 News agreed that all Americans need to take a moment to put aside their differences and come together.
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John Fonte Review of Minnesota Social Studies Standards
April 19, 2012
Review of Minnesota 2012 Social Studies Standards
To: Greg Marcus
Senate Education Committee
Minnesota State Senate
From John Fonte
John D. Fonte, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for American Common Culture
Hudson Institute
1015 15th Street, NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
202-974-2435 direct
Let me preface by stating that my experience includes examining and vetting history-social studies curricula for around 25 years:
- · as a member of the steering committee of the congressionally-mandated National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP), "the nation's report card" for content in civics;
- · as a senior researcher at the U.S. Department of Education for nine years, who worked on content issues in history and civics for NAEP;
- · as principal advisor for CIVITAS: A Framework for Civic Education funded the Pew Charitable Trust, and appointed by the general editor to write the chapter on The Federalist Papers;
- · as an educational consultant for the Texas Education Agency, the Virginia Department of Education, the California Academic Standards Commission, the American Federation of Teachers, and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania.
- ·as a history and social studies teacher in junior high school, high school, and college
In reviewing the 2004 Minnesota History and Social Studies Standards I wrote at the time, "Overall, I believe the Minnesota standards are outstanding, among the best that I have seen in reviewing many state documents." The most important task of social studies-civic education in American public schools is to prepare our children for citizenship in American liberal democracy. Therefore, standards should delineate what is most important for students to know in order to prepare them for citizenship in the United States in the Twenty-First Century.
Stop Imperial Governance!!
The education finance omnibus bills were taken up in conference committee beginning at 8AM today, April 19th. Before the House and Senate versions were even presented "side by side," the conference committee presented a draft of the proposed conference report that appears to have been pre-negotiated between the Department of Education (DOE) and the legislators in secret without a hint of public discussion. This draft was based on a letter from Commissioner Brenda Casselius to the chairpersons of the education committees listing eight items that she apparently would not tolerate. Chairman of the House Education Finance Committee and chairman of today's conference committee session proceeded to take testimony only from the commissioner and adopt only those sections of the draft with which she agreed. Other items about which she is "concerned" may be adopted later in the discussion.
One of the most important issues among those eight that was cut out due to this imperial steamrolling by the DOE is the legislature's important efforts to stand for legislative authority and separation of powers in the implementation of the early childhood scholarships. We explained here that the DOE is despite glaring lack of legislative authority implementing the early scholarships by requiring the administratively expanded quality rating system (QRS) at any program where these scholarships might be used. We had previously explained here that the QRS requires the radical and non-academic Early Childhood Indicators of Progress (a preschool version of the Profile of Learning) and many other expensive and bureaucratic hoops for private and religious providers with no real evidence of increased quality. Hopes for fidelity to the MN Constitution and the rule of law were buoyed when both the House and Senate education committees passed legislation spelling out the use of some of that money for a voluntary, high quality, home based, parent-led literacy program as well as the House language allowing parents to make their own choice as to what program their children will attend and ensuring equity between rural and metro program funding.
The omnibus bills left committee and passed their respective floor votes with the early childhood language unchanged, despite an effort by retiring early childhood maven, Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL – Maplewood) to strip out all of the new early childhood scholarship language. That effort was rejected not only by all of the Republicans but by 13 Democrats. [Anzelc, Eken, Falk, Fritz, Hosch, Kath, Melin, Morrow, Pelowski, Persell, Poppe, Rukavina, Simon]
Although Rep. Jennifer Loon, Senator Terri Bonoff, and Senator Gen Olson did ask the commissioner this morning about trying to find a way to fund this parent child home literacy program, it appears that now all of these efforts to provide parental choice, deal with regional fairness, & hold the executive branch accountable, as well as all of the grand words about the "legislature as a co-equal partner in government" and this expenditure being a "prerogative of the legislative branch" are now in danger of becoming irrelevant with barely a whimper from our elected representatives UNLESS YOU ACT.
MN Continues Fight Against Federal & Executive Overreach
As the state and federal controversies increase over the unconstitutional and illegal requirements of the No Child Left behind waivers and the equally unconstitutional and illegal implementation of the Common Core Standards via federal funding and requirements, Minnesota legislators continue to step up to the plate.
The House Education Reform Committee passed the companion to the bill that we described in our recent alert, MN Takes Center Stage in Academic Standards Battle this Week. The House bill authored by Rep. Sondra Erickson (R-Princeton), chairwoman of the House Education Reform Committee, simply requires that there be approval by the people's representatives in the legislature before the state department of education would adopt future Common Core Standards such as happened with the English language arts standards under the Pawlenty administration or the wholesale rewriting that is producing the very revisionist social studies standards being put in place by the Dayton administration. That bill passed the committee essentially on a party line voice vote (audio available here starting at about 27:28 with Dr. Effrem's testimony at about 1:07 A written version of her similar recent Senate testimony is available here).
The other big development is the introduction of a bill, HF 2905 by Representative Bob Barrett (R-Schafer), and SF 2928 by Senators Sean Nienow (R-Cambridge) and David Hann (R-Eden Prairie), to require the commissioner of education to seek Minnesota's own waiver to No Child Left Behind based on the state's needs and laws. This would be in place of the illegal, unconstitutional, conditional and temporary waiver that Minnesota received from the Obama administration, one that among its other problems, in essence requires the Common Core Standards. This bill enjoyed wide bipartisan support during the 2008 legislative session when the Democrats were in control of the legislature and passed the House floor unanimously as an amendment by Rep. Carolyn Laine (DFL- Columbia Heights) to the education finance omnibus bill. Sadly, it was removed from the omnibus bill after a veto threat by then Governor Tim Pawlenty.
These bills are closely related and very important, not only in Minnesota but around the nation to the whole essence of state's rights, separation of powers, the rule of law, and academic freedom. As Neil McCluskey of the Cato Institute correctly points out, although overshadowed by the health care reform debate at the US Supreme Court, these issues are analogous to and should be viewed as the "other, almost complete, federal takeover." Continue reading »
MN Legislature Schools Dayton DOE on Separation of Powers
In answer to our March 9th query," How Will Legislature Deal with Dayton DOE Lawlessness on QRS??," both the House and Senate education committees have responded forcefully and well. On March 27th, the House Education Finance Committee passed their omnibus education bill, HF 2949, containing language that deals specifically with the issue of the Department of Education's efforts to implement the early childhood scholarships by requiring that recipients attend a program that has been rated by the quality rating system (QRS). (Audio is available here).
The provision contains language from two different bills. One, HF 1828, by Rep. Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck) requires the scholarship funds to be evenly divided between metro and rural recipients. The other, HF 2729, by Rep. Jennifer Loon (R-Eden Prairie) after an excellent amendment by Rep. Sondra Erickson (R-Princeton), makes sure that parents can use the scholarship to attend the program of their choice and takes $250,000 of the scholarship funds for a voluntary, parent-involved, home-based literacy-only program that does not use or require the use of a QRS. Education Liberty Watch was willing to suspend its usual skepticism of home visiting programs for this one based on the facts that it was not a typical home visiting program and that it was accomplishing other important purposes.
The Senate bill, SF 2107, is authored by Senator Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka) and contains only the funding for the home based program without any other changes. The bill passed unanimously out of committee after some minor amendments and awaits action on the Senate floor.
During the committee process, both the House and Senate firmly instructed the Department of Education on the separation of powers when they objected to the funding and other changes in the scholarship program. House Education Finance Committee Chairman Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington) said during the initial March 14th hearing on the Loon bill:
"I stand up for the legislative branch as a coequal partner in government. If the department is of the opinion that they can get out the truck and drive over us on this issue, they are sadly mistaken and in a bad place to be" Continue reading »
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By Jeff Haden
Interview mistakes aren't limited to job candidates; interviewers make lots of mistakes, too.
The smaller your business the fewer employees you typically have … and the fewer interviews you have under your belt. But even experienced interviewers often make mistakes. Here are six of the most common mistakes interviewers make, and what to do instead:


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August 14, 2013 | Volunteer Spotlight
Verizon's Mark Farley and his family have been volunteering to help homeless families for more than 20 years.
When Mark Farley moved to Chandler, Ariz., in 2006, he had no idea there were 5,000 homeless children in the area.
"Today there are many homeless families due to the economic downturn in America," Farley said. "They are not the typical person that we think of as homeless. Some are school teachers, firefighters and registered nurses. Children from homeless families who are living on the street or in their cars sit in the same classrooms with our kids, and we don't even know it."
Farley, who says "the Salvation Army saved my life," is 21 years clean and sober and has been working with homeless families for more than 20 years. It is a family affair with his wife, Tami, of 19 years and his 15 year old daughter, Kai, by his side.
"From the time she could walk, Kai would come with us on our volunteer work," he said.
Farley said he and his family found out about Family Promise Greater Phoenix through their church in 2010 when they started hosting homeless families, noting,"they get a meal and a place to stay and help in finding work. Whatever they need for the week, I am there for them to help in any way I can. My church hosts families eight times a year."
Cheryl Chewning, program coordinator of Family Promise Greater Phoenix said,"Mark has a heart of gold and is an amazing human being. He goes above and beyond and would do anything for anybody."
Family Promise Greater Phoenix is one of 159 Family Promise programs throughout the country temporarily meeting the needs of homeless families. Family Promise has affiliates in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Altogether there are more than 5,000 church congregations and more than 120,000 volunteers who have assisted 140,000 guests since 1988. The parent organization's website is found at FamilyPromise.org.
Farley started the nonprofit Furniture Bank website at furniturebank.us, which supplies everything from bedding to pots and pans to families to help make their house into a home, as well as starting the Ahwatukee Homeless Coalition in 2009. He is a licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor and is currently studying for his bachelor's degree in Business Management and will graduate from Strayer University in December of this year. And if that's not enough, he has been asked by his church to become a pastor.
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SPAIN 26S Protesters seek refugee from Police - Owner of Restaurant prevents Police from entering the Premises
- Kanaeta
- uploaded: Sep 27, 2012
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During police charges of September 25, 2012 a large group of protesters took refuge inside a restaurant.The owner, rather than expel them for not being customers, went outside with the intention of stop the riot Police should they attempt to enter the premises.
The next day crowd of protesters came to thank him and hug him powerless, in many cases, tears. The curious note is that not only demonstrators approaching if not that many people who had followed the unselfish courage of this man wanted to make themselves into networks applauding and shaking his hand.
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Published April of last year, Interbrand's Manfredi Ricca and Rebecca Robins' Meta-luxury: Brands and Culture of Excellence sets out to define a new lexicon in the world of luxury. A paradigm of "luxury beyond luxury," Meta-luxury explores it both as a cultural and business model.
Contending that the definition of luxury has been overexposed, evident in phrases such as "accessible luxury," "affordable luxury" and even "masstige" (a combination of "mass market" and "prestige"), the authors coin the term "meta-luxury" to define a new class of luxury. Through the concept of Unique Achievement and the pillars of Craftsmanship, Focus, History and Rarity, the authors examine what is at the heart of meta-luxury and its implications for brand and business management.
Since its release, Meta-luxury has received notable attention from top business press and trade publications alike, including The Financial Times, Branding Magazine, Popsop, WOBI (World of Business Ideas) among many others. I recently interviewed Ricca and Robins for a deeper outlook on the world of meta-luxury and what the global marketplace holds for the future of the luxury sector.
How would you articulate the difference between luxury and meta-luxury?
As we were talking with our clients and conducting research in the market, some key questions began to be raised in terms of how we articulate luxury and what the implications are for brands. Meta-luxury was born from the realities of recognising a space that is beyond luxury, as we have come to know it, one that has become so stretched and overused that it is practically devoid of meaning.
As such, we set out to define the world of excellence as a conviction rather than luxury as a convention. To define some tangible points of distinction: luxury is often a self-proclaimed status, whereas meta-luxury is always a restless pursuit. Luxury is often about showing, stretch and surface, whilst meta-luxury is invariably about knowing, focus and depth.
Through the concept of Unique Achievement and its corollary pillars of Craftsmanship, Focus, History and Rarity we look at what is at the heart of true luxury – and the implications for brand and business management. Brands that operate at the confluence of these four pillars, we identify as meta-luxury.
Since Meta-luxury launched one year ago, have you seen any luxury brands in the marketplace start to embody or embrace the characteristics of meta-luxury?
For some brands, meta-luxury has afforded a positive affirmation and reinforcement of who they are and the space that they occupy. We have had conversations with brands around what meta-luxury can mean for their business, looking specifically at one or more of the four pillars.
The core premise of our business at Interbrand is the creation and management of brand value and the challenges that brands face fall along every facet of that spectrum. Some of the dialogues, for example, that we're having with brands are around how we orchestrate the customer journey. With others, we are looking at establishing metrics for tracking the performance of the brand.
A number of acclaimed artists, musicians and intellectuals are featured in the book. What was your goal in featuring these thought leaders outside of the traditional or corporate brand space?
Because meta-luxury is inherently about what is beyond luxury, it's a natural consequence of our quest for excellence that we went beyond the accepted and expected codes in our conversations. It's a question of unique achievement, of excellence and, very crucially, a culture of excellence.
Perspectives from academics, to artists, to creators of excellence thereby afforded, naturally, a more comprehensive and textured dialogue. What are particularly poignant and fascinating to observe are some of the common threads and points of parallel that recur across a series of conversations, which span individuals from such a diversity of cultures and backgrounds.
What do you think the future of luxury holds? What trends or market changes will define the category?
That possibly merits another book in the making! Certainly the business models that luxury brands adopt will continue to be high on the agenda as they engage with the challenges and opportunities of diversification.
Are brands making decisions based on financial benefits in the short-term, which may otherwise have long-term ramifications for the health and longevity of the brand? How do brands retain their uniqueness while continuing to remain relevant for new generations and generations to come?
Certainly value, the notion of what we value and why, has never more been called into focus than in recent years. Post-crisis we have seen that the consumer desire for and value of the experience has become one of the most compelling drivers of demand.
What can brands, irrespective of sector or industry, learn from the model of meta-luxury?
In absolute terms, meta-luxury affords a platform for the management of meta-luxury brands. In relative terms, it provides a benchmark for the management of premium and luxury brands, with some compelling lessons that challenge our notions of sustainability, innovation, authenticity and storytelling.
Lindsay Beltzer is Senior Associate, Global Marketing & Communications for Interbrand.
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Category: Luxury
unique achievement
Over the past two years, a curious trend has emerged amongst luxury brands.
Across Italy, numerous high-end fashion brands have championed efforts to restore cultural landmarks. In January 2011, Tod's CEO Diego Della Valle pioneered the trend when he announced a $34 million donation to restore the Colosseum in exchange for advertising rights. More recently, Gucci and Prada have continued the trend by broadcasting their investments in historic landmarks across Venice in return for commercial retail rights.
Just as Italy's consumer protection agency, Codacons, publicly challenged Tod's role, many have responded to the brands' initiatives with skepticism - questioning if the brands' real intentions are purely "good" or rather calculated. Also, many wonder if this is a case of "good intentions gone bad" – especially if restoring cultural sites results in them being turned into high-end commercial stores that drive away local vendors.
Such attacks indicate multiple tensions; one amongst them is the inherent challenge that luxury brands face in undertaking corporate citizenship. How can brands predicated on premiums and status for the select few amongst us credibly give back to society at large? And does the exchange of funding for promotional rights undermine this effort after all?
Yet, the branded initiatives offer insight into how the luxury category can align corporate citizenship with the strategic objectives they have defined for their brands and business – as long as they take into account some critical considerations:
First, the brands need to be strategic in aligning themselves with such momentous real estate. By linking themselves to iconic cultural sites, brands like Tod's, Gucci and Prada can emphasize relevant associations such as tradition, sophistication or exclusivity. But they also need to be cautious in pinning down their messaging. Once consumers get the impression that these efforts are merely driven by commercial self-interest, advocacy can quickly turn into skepticism and distrust.
Second, in working to preserve Italian heritage, brands have a chance to demonstrate "authenticity." It is easy to identify the cultural and aesthetic synergies between such brands and their renovated sites. As Interbrand's recent publication Meta-luxury: Brands and the Culture of Excellence argues, "Brands that have created value across generations are a valuable part of our culture." Yet, even on a tactical level, such brands recognize their own stakes in maintaining their nation's architectural and cultural distinction, as "Made in Italy" claims and Italian roots in turn substantiate the brands' premiums.
Ultimately, luxury brands can step up to take on parts of the responsibility that public institutions can't always live up to in an age of public deficit and funding cuts.
If done right, luxury brands can demonstrate good Corporate Citizenship and close the gap between perception and performance. And they can venture beyond restoring important cultural heritage; they can restore consumers' trust in a brand's positive impact on society.
Eric Morrison is an Associate Strategy Consultant and Dominik Prinz is as an Associate Director of Strategy for Interbrand.
luxury brand
corporate citizenship
Diego Della Valle
December has arrived and I've opened the first doors on my advent calendar. The familiar flavour of chocolate can mean only one thing, Christmas has landed.This year, an exclusive few are in for a different experience when they pull back one of Porsche Design's million dollar calendar's advent doors: they might just find a speedboat. Not since Bullseye has such an extravagant prize been awarded. But this is just one of the delights in what has been billed as the worlds most exclusive advent calendar — one of just five available worldwide, one for each continent (a considerate foresight).
Other highlights hidden in the six foot tall tower include a Porsche designed rose gold watch, a pair of gold sunglasses, cufflinks and running shoes — not forgetting, of course, a designer kitchen (just how they fit it all in is not clear).The calendar has been on display for purchase at Harrods which, according to managing director Michael Ward, "has long been associated with unveiling innovative and highly exclusive products."Because Porsche has issued so few, they are all likely to be sold. And while some may be outraged at the blatant display of wealth, it may prove to be a smart (and playful) move for the luxury car brand to leverage its exclusivity. I'll have to resign myself to cheap chocolate this year, but I've high hopes for extraordinary treats in 2011.
million dollar
advent calendar
porsche design
Interview with Jean-Baptiste Danet, CEO Interbrand EuropePublished in La Tribune, May 31 2010(Lire en français ici.)
Over the past few years, the luxury category has been influenced by a phenomenon called "accessible luxury." How has this affected the luxury world?
"Accessible luxury" is an oxymoron enabling those brands with a weaker heritage and less anchorage in the tradition of luxury to proclaim themselves as icon brands.
This phenomenon has shrouded the luxury sector in a cloud of contradictions, made even denser by the economic crisis. It has shown how it is possible to either focus on dreams or on reality—but never simultaneously on both.
How have the luxury brands reacted to this?Some luxury brands, like Ferrari, have chosen to control their growth and even limit production in order to maintain their legendary status. Others, like Armani, have deliberately adopted a volume strategy and endeavored to enlarge their customer base, thereby relinquishing the traditional notion of luxury. These two contrasting strategies have both paid off. It is important to highlight that the way in which consumers have reacted to the crisis proves that luxury is not a category a company can decide to enter. Rather, luxury is born of product excellence. Myths are based on reality, not the contrary. Today, it would seem that "genuine" has become "the exception."
Is this why some brands have returned to their origins over the past few months? Genuine is the key factor of demand and therefore the factor that generates value. Those brands that have surfed on the "luxury for all" trend are no longer considered to be luxury brands per se. Well-established, historical brands have had to focus on their prestige/past glory—on what has made them legendary. Louis Vuitton has strengthened its "traditional" luxury status, notably with a well-inspired and successful advertising campaign highlighting its savoir-faire.
For other brands, demand for perfection and excellence has enabled them to reconstitute a coherent positioning. This is, for example, the case with Hermès (see video below), which has always clearly expressed its positioning based on craftsmanship and the pursuit of the highest quality for its perfectly structured product catalogue.
This endeavor to be genuine has also had an impact on distribution modes. All top brands—Gucci, Prada, Burberry, as well as Vuitton—have invested in expanding and/or realigning their distribution network. When it comes to preserving or communicating a brand image, sales outlets are just as crucial as the products themselves.
louis vuitton
jb danet
la tribune
China is without a doubt a pressing point on any CEO's agenda. Luxury brands, in particular, have an invested interest in the region.On a recent trip to Shanghai I was not only impressed by the number of luxury flagship stores, but by their size and the number of people shopping in them. Specifically, I was amazed that so many luxury stores have plans to open soon.With the World Expo in Shanghai set to start in May of this year, it appears that global luxury brands have kicked their China expansion plans into high gear.
There's impressive architecture all round. Just a few examples (all located within 20 meters of one another), include a temporary facade that resembles the iconic Tiffany's box, a pinstriped, four-story, architectural statement by Ermenegildo Zegna, and a LED technology facade for Cartier's upcoming store.
With projections that show that China is poised to show growth rates of over 10 percent for luxury goods (Bain & Company) in 2010, this expansion should not come as a surprise. However, while the careful first steps of several, iconic flagship stores might be expected, it now seems like a full-scale market rollout is in progress. And among the predictable, international players you can also find several up and coming brands with Asian roots such as Annabel Lee and Shanghai Tang.The next phase in China's luxury story, looks like it will not revolve around what is going into China, but what is coming out of it. With a credible heritage of exceptional tailoring and even more exceptional fabrics, Chinese luxury apparel brands will have fertile ground to build remarkably strong global brands.
Besides a strong heritage, Chinese aesthetics have always been attractive to the West—perhaps more so than the other way around. We will need to stay tuned to find out who the winners will be. It will take some time, and more importantly, it will take international brand building skills. But there will be winners, and they will likely come from China.
shanghai tang.
ermenegildo zegna
annabel lee
world expo
Welcome to the Interbrand blog! Read our thoughts and insights on branding.


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Michael Pollan:
A plant's-eye view
What if human consciousness isn't the end-all and be-all of Darwinism? What if we are all just pawns in corn's clever strategy game to rule the Earth? Author Michael Pollan asks us to see the world from a plant's-eye view.
pin This talk was presented at an official TED conference, and was featured by our editors on the home page.
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Here, the hit-making mastermind shows you how to dress like a style rebel—and get away with it... more >
Fall 2009
Emporio Armani
January 18, 2009
Location: Milan
Designer: Giorgio Armani
Owned By: Private
Founded: 1981, Milan
History: Emporio Armani may have been launched as a younger, more casual version of the main Armani collection, but it has had little trouble establishing its own identity, lately by pooling British, Eastern European, and Italian street influences under one roof. (EA boutiques also launched Armani's trendy cafés across the globe.)
The Look: Sporty and eclectic—and unmistakably Armani
News + Politics
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Food + Travel
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- Chart: The Family Tree of Bourbon Whiskey
- Recipe: Semi-Summer Salad - Chef Jeff Taibe of Oak + Almond
- The Great Franco-Italian Pasta Experiment
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This view shows Hardee, DeSoto, and Highlands counties, including Wauchula, Lake Placid, Sebring, and Arcadia on SkyTower, the most powerful commercial radar in the United States. Click on a region to zoom in.The images are large, so please allow time for them to load. The radar image will check for updates every two minutes. If your image appears old, hit refresh or clear the cache in your browser.
FOX 13 / WTVT-TV3213 West Kennedy Blvd.Tampa, Florida 33609Main: (813) 876-1313Newsroom: (813) 870-9630Fax: (813) 871-3135


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I am always a little nervous on the bus because the drivers just don't care about speed. This one incident didn't involve speed however, but was just as vicious. You know the middle part of the bus? Well I guess that material isn't very strong. It started making a funny noise, it kinda sounded like a million people all screaming at once. Everyone was looking at each other concerned, when all of a sudden, it ripped apart. The 4 people sitting in those middle seats were gone in seconds, unheard from again. The front of the bus kept on going, but the back of the bus went on a journey to hell. The sparks burnt the first 4 rows of people to a crisp, and the rest of us had to jump out the back onto oncoming traffic. Some people made it....and some didn't.
One time Granny brought us sledding. We thought it was weird when she woke us up in the middle of the night to do it, but what ever, we were kids. Of course, Granny was on her usual Scotch and Gin at the time, so we weren't surprised to see Granny go down on the the GT Snow Racer backwards. She yelled "Watch and learn you pussies", but that is the last thing she yelled that night. She had to be going at least 80mph when she hit a rut, and she completely rag-dolled. It took them 4 hours to dig her out and they had to amputate the leg that night. Oh Granny!
My dad was a carpenter. One summer he decided to fix the roof of our house. So, he bolted the ladder onto the deck so that he could go up and down many times during the day. Well, me and my brother would always get up there and a few times we almost fell off. So, like any good dad, he took the bolts out. Well one day he was up there and it started to rain. He quickly ran to the ladder to get down. My mom was inside on the phone and happened to glance out the window just in time to see my dad go down. He took out the whole deck with his body. I ran out and yelled "DAD??" and all he said was "Just get me my fucking smokes". HE funny :)
Of course, I made all of this up, and its really just the script to Final Destination part 14....or is it? HAPPY HALLOWEEN.....wait
Saturday, August 20, 2011
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- November 15, 2011 at 9:27 AM
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Liber Bookshop
Yes you can get Yeats at this fabulous bookshop that has been run by the same family for over 80 years. It's also the place to get recommendatiuons on the best local authors.
Yes you can get Yeats at this fabulous bookshop that has been run by the same family for over 80 years. It's also the place to get recommendatiuons on the best local authors.
Produces knitting yarns, blankets, tweed and winter woollies; ask for an informal, behind-the-scenes peek at the mill's century-old machinery in action.
Some of the most interesting - and wackiest - shopping is done along Francis Street in the Liberties, the home of antiquarians and, in recent years, art dealers of every hue. Although you mightn't fancy transporting the hand luggage, you can have that original Edwardian fireplace you've always wanted, shipped to you by the shop.
Dolls, doll houses and toys stock the shelves of this lovely shop on the second floor of the Powerscourt Centre, but our favourite bit is the wonderful dolls hospital and teddy bear clinic, where children whose dolls or teddies have had the misfortune to fall 'ill' can be treated with a little TLC (and maybe even a stitch).
Fine furniture and furnishings from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian eras are the speciality of this respected antiques shop, where a rummage might also reveal some distinctive bits of ceramic and crystal, not to mention medals and uniforms from a bygone era that will win you first prize at the costume ball.
Nestled amid the top-end antique stores of the Liberties, Cross is an open-plan gallery in a terraced house designed to be unintimidating (in both design and price) to first-time buyers. Contemporary and abstract artists such as Clea Van der Grijn, Simon English and Laurent Mellet are represented.
If you want to create that 'heritage' look in your own home (with a stylised, contemporary twist), check out the unusual glassware, fabrics, ceramics and ironwork at this gallery-style shop. It also sells handmade jewellery, and has an aromatic cafe and bakery onsite (dishes €4.75 to €11).
This is Dublin's best outdoors store, with gear for hiking, camping, surfing, mountaineering, swimming and more. Fleeces, tents, inflatable dinghies, boots and gas cookers – they're all here as well as an info-laden noticeboard and superbly patient staff.
This blue-fronted antiques shop does a steady connoisseur's trade in all manner of oil paintings (there's something for virtually every taste), vases, candelabras, silverware, porcelain and decorative pieces from the 18th century right up to the 1930s.
It's like a farmers market every day at this organic deli and health food store. The fairtrade provenance of goods on sale is explained in detail. The biggest problem with the picnics prepared-to-go is waiting to get to your picnic spot.
In a vast converted factory, the family-run outdoors store Padmore & Barnes has an unbeatable selection of well-priced camping equipment, hiking boots, wet-weather clothing and sports gear.
The Whitewater Farmers Market is held in the Whitewater Shopping Centre twice a week and has a wide range of local produce, including cheese, organic fruit and veg, organic meats and local crafts.


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Psychiatry and Psychological Services: Partial Hospitalization
Children's offers two partial hospitalization programs. The general psychiatry partial hospitalization program provides a step down program for patients from our inpatient programs. The Eating Disorders partial hospitalization program provides care for patient's entering the program and also for patient's stepping down from the inpatient level of care. Both programs offer comprehensive care that allow patients to gradually and effectively reduce their care while maximizing the likelihood of a successful transition back home.
These programs allow patients, who may require additional support and structure, access to more extensive care than what is provided through outpatient treatment.


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Sci-Tech Council Programming
Discover the fascinating science and technology behind moviemaking, from the earliest cinematic experiments to the latest cutting-edge digital processes and equipment. The Science & Technology Council's Public Programs and Education Subcommittee presents intriguing events and exhibitions to teach industry professionals and the general public about how technology serves the art of motion pictures.
Recent Programs
Like Magic
"Like Magic" explored cinema's roots in stage magic and sleight of hand.
Real To Reel: The Art of Action
"Real to Reel" explores how stunt artists collaborate with creative teams and utilize emerging technologies to help create complex movie stunts that would have never before been possible.
Turning the Page: Storytelling in the Digital Age
A look at how emerging technologies can influence the craft of screenwriting.
Deconstructing Pi
A look at breakthrough visual effects work that went into crafting the film "Life of Pi."
VFX Convergence
A cross-disciplinary look at the constantly evolving craft of visual effects.
Beyond the Infinite: Science Fiction After Kubrick
A LACMA Exhibition Film Series featuring Academy Film Archive prints of two Saul Bass films.
"Jurassic Park"
A special screening of "Jurassic Park" in 3D and an onstage discussion with crew members.
"White Christmas" (Bay Area)
Rob Hummel and Craig Barron explore the widescreen VistaVision format.
Mysteries of the Krell: Making "Forbidden Planet" (Bay Area)
Craig Barron and Ben Burtt discuss special effects and sound design secrets.
Prime Tech: "Bram Stoker's Dracula"
A 20th anniversary screening of Francis Ford Coppola's Oscar-winning film.
"E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" (Bay Area)
A 30th anniversary screening of Steven Spielberg's classic film.
The Innovative Genius of Jerry Lewis
The Innovative Genius of Jerry Lewis.
Bigger, Faster, Stronger, Stranger
The science behind superhero movies with host Adam Weiner and the films' creative teams.
Capturing the Final Frontier
A special evening of space exploration with NASA and the Academy.
Gene Kelly: Choreography and the Camera
A special gala evening of film clips, stories and personal remembrances of motion picture legend Gene Kelly.
Inside the Booth - A Journey Through Projection
An in-depth look at the evolution of motion picture projection, exploring advances from early cinema through digital technology.
40 Years of Sound for Film
Chris Newman and Tom Fleischman demonstrated how the raw tracks recorded on set become the finished soundtrack.
Making the Holiday Classic "It's a Wonderful Life"
Craig Barron and Ben Burtt hosted an evening exploring the technology behind a beloved holiday classic
Out of This World: The Science of Space Movies
Adam Weiner hosted an evening that examined the "real" physics behind many of your favorite science fiction films.
A Celebration of Takuo "Tak" Miyagishima
This special evening celebrated the life and accomplishments of Takuo "Tak" Miyagishima, one of the most esteemed design engineers in the motion picture industry.
Mysteries of the Krell: Making the Sci-Fi Epic "Forbidden Planet"
An evening celebrating the technology behind this 1956 sci-fi classic, hosted by Oscar winners Craig Barron and Ben Burtt.
Prime Tech Series: "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
A 30th anniversary screening featuring an onstage discussion with members of the film's crew.
Cinematography in the Digital Age
Exploring how current skills and techniques of cinematographers have evolved from traditional methodologies used when working with celluloid film.
Optical Architect: An Evening with Pat O'Neill
An onstage conversation with experimental filmmaker and optical effects artist Pat O'Neill.
Hollywood & Vines: The Movie Magic of Tarzan (Bay Area)
Exploring some of the secrets behind the making of "Tarzan and His Mate"(1934) and "Tarzan Finds a Son!"(1939).
"Where Do We Go from Here?"
Writer-director-producer Jerry Zucker hosted an evening exploring what could be in the future for motion pictures. The program examined topics ranging from artificial intelligence to performance capture, 3D and non-traditional theatrical venues.
"Visualize This: Previs in the Making of "Star Trek" (2009)"
Previsualization (previs) in the digital age is an evolving pre-production process that incorporates 3D animation tools and virtual environments, enabling filmmakers to fully explore their creative visions by creating visual references for complicated film shots and sequences long before production begins.
"Monsters in the Movies"
Special effects makeup artist and on-set animatronic effects supervisor Shane Mahan took the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn stage to host an evening exploring the evolution of creature technology in feature films and the role it plays in shaping monster movies.
"Me Tarzan, You Technology: The Magic of Tarzan in the Movies"
A week-long celebration of the technology behind "Tarzan" with screenings and a temporary display highlighting the production methods used to create the classic film series.
"Out of this World: The Science of Space Movies"
This three-part program starts with a night analyzing famous scenes from "space" movies, followed by a Friday screening of Fritz Lang's 1929 silent epic "Woman in the Moon" and a Saturday screening at the Silent Movie Theatre of "Project Apollo" and "For All Mankind."
"Getting Perspective III: Exploring the Craft of 3D Movie Technology"
A three-part program exploring 3D techniques for animated and live action movies.
Illuminating the Future: The Arrival of Solid State Lighting
Cinematographer Daryn Okada and panelists representing several filmmaking disciplines discussed the challenges and advantages of solid state lighting, a new type of light source with the potential to alter how movies are made and seen.
Acting in the Digital Age
Cast and crew members from "Avatar" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" discussed how acting has been impacted by performance-capture technology, digital doubles, digital makeup, photorealism, image manipulation and other developments.
The Hunt for Red October
A 20th anniversary screening of John McTiernan's Cold War thriller, featuring a newly struck 35mm print and an onstage discussion with members of the film's crew.
The Prisoner of Zenda
In commemoration of what would have been Douglas Fairbanks Jr.'s 100th birthday, Oscar-winning visual effects artist Craig Barron led an examination of the innovative photographic and sound effects used in creating 1937's "The Prisoner of Zenda."
The Sound behind the Image: Real Horrorshow!
The extraordinary role sound plays in shaping horror films will be showcased through film clips, demonstrations and discussion, including a behind-the-scenes look at how the sound effects for "Poltergeist" were created.
When Worlds Collide: The Science of Movies
Could a bus really jump over a 50-foot gap in the highway? Would Spider-Man survive an 80-story plummet without so much as a broken bone? Why did the Titanic actually sink? Adam Weiner hosted an interactive evening that examined the "real" physics behind many of your favorite action, science fiction and superhero films.
Astronaut as Filmmaker
"Astronaut as Filmmaker" explored the close-knit relationship between NASA and motion pictures. The presentation featured astronauts, including Commander Scott Altman, who recently returned from the STS-125 shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. They talked about the challenges and revelations of filming in outer space.
Costume Design in the Digital Age
Hosted by costume designer and historian Dr. Deborah Nadoolman Landis and visual effects supervisor and cinematographer Bill Taylor, this program featured a panel of costume designers, who discussed the challenges of designing for digital technology, and where costume design may be headed.


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Lovely Complex is a story of a boy and a girl. The girl, Koizumi Risa, is much taller than the average Japanese girl; and the boy, Atsushi Otani, is much shorter than the average Japanese boy. Due to their immense difference in size and constant bickering with each other, the duo is unwillingly the school's comic relief. As Risa and Otani continue to provide endless laughter for the masses, their friendship develops; and with that, so does Risa's feelings for Otani...
26 votes
22 votes
19 votes
13 votes
Listening to several of my female friends over the years complain that they could never go out with a guy shorter than them just because, I get the impression that the 'short guy: no go area' has become one of those unspoken rules for which there is no rational explanation. Let's be frank, it just doesn't fit the ideal image of a heart-stopping romance; how will the guy carry the girl over... read more
The Story: Well I guess you could say that it's your standard love story with the usual not so usual couple. In the case of Lovely Complex the young couple to be is Risa & Otani and what might be so unusual about them well Risa is taller than your average girl and Otani is shorter than your average guy. The difference of their height leads them constantly bickering between the two of them. ... read more
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Back to Conditions & Treatments Index
Prostate seed implants, also known as brachytherapy, is a cancer treatment where radioactive seeds are implanted directly near the tumor to kill cancer cells. The technique spares surrounding healthy tissue from more of the side effects associated with standard therapies. Prostate seed implants are performed on an outpatient basis by a radiation oncologist, urologist and diagnostic technician.
Prior to surgery, patients undergo a prostate volume study which generates a 3-D computerized plan of the implant. Later, during surgery, the surgeon places the small radioactive seeds – about the size of a grain of rice – into the prostate via small needles and guided by ultrasound imaging. The seeds remain permanently in the prostate and deliver targeted, low-dose radiation for several months.
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and takes about an hour to complete. The final step for the patient involves a CT scan of the pelvic region one to two months after surgery.
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Mixing the familiar sounds of Dick Dale, Duane Eddy, and the Ventures, Los Straitjackets create their own version of energetic surf guitar twang complete with Mexican wrestling masks. Los Straitjackets began in the summer of 1988. Eddie Angel (guitar), L.J. "Jimmy" Lester (drums), and Danny Amis (guitar) formed an instrumental trio called the Straitjackets, which played local Nashville shows throughout the summer. After a six-year hiatus, the Straitjackets reunited, added E. Scott Esbeck on bass, and changed their name to Los Straitjackets. In November 1994, the band signed with Upstart Records. They released their first single, "Gatecrasher" b/w "Lonely Apache," on Sympathy for the Record Industry in February 1995. In March 1995, the band's first album, The Utterly Fantastic and Totally Unbelievable Sound of los Straitjackets, was released on Upstart. That summer the band went on its first major U.S. tour. In June 1996, the band released its second album, ¡Viva!; The Velvet Touch of los Straitjackets followed in 1999 and Damas y Caballeros! surfaced two years later. The mysterious musos decided to move on to holiday music the next year, and tackled several Christmas favorites on the fun 'Tis the Season for los Straitjackets! Supersonic Guitars in 3-D arrived in 2003, followed by a collection of outtakes, live tracks, and rarities called Vivos y los Raros in 2004. Twist Part dropped in 2006, followed by the all-star Rock en Español, Vol. 1 in 2007. In 2009, Los Straitjackets returned with The Further Adventures of Los Straitjackets -- a back-to-basics album that nixed guest vocalists and horns in favor of the Straitjackets core rocking guitar sound. 2012's Jet Set, which marked the return of Amis to the band after recovering from a difficult illness, was recorded at the Pow Wow Fun Room Studios in Los Angeles, produced by Janne Haavisto, and featured guest spots from the Basic Cable Horns (best-known for their work on the Conan television show) and Finnish actress and musician Irina Bjorklund. ~ Tracy Frey & Steve Leggett, Rovi
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Nov 21 FridaySeattle, WA, US The Tractor Tavern
Nov 22 SaturdayPortland, OR, US Dante's


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Raddy Shack - Golfing Fun
Radisson Plaza Kalamazoo Center welcomes golfers!
Enjoy 18 holes of golf with Gull Lake View and stay Downtown at the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites!
Package includes:
- Accommodations in one of our standard guest rooms
- A round of golf for two golfers (18 holes plus cart)
- Valet parking
- In-room amenity
The hotel will contact you to set up tee times.Terms and Conditions
- Offer subject to availability
- Additional restrictions may apply
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The North Carolina Senate
doesn't plan to consider dog-breeding regulations later this year after
its leaders took offense about the disclosure of a conversation recorded
by community activists with a senator, who gave frank comments about
the legislation.
Senate Rules Committee Chairman Tom Apodaca
alleged Monday that the participants of a private conversation with Sen.
Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick, were using their recording to try to force
senators into passing the bill that passed the House last year. Apodaca
said the conversation was secretly recorded, but a person in the meeting
Gov. Pat McCrory and his wife, Ann, have both pushed
for the legislation, which is designed to set minimum standards for
people who keep at least 10 female dogs primarily to breed and sell the
offspring as pets. McCrory said last week the "puppy mill" measure was
on his 2014 agenda, and urged its passage again Monday. The General
Assembly reconvenes in May.
"Just because someone uses foolish
tactics, there is no reason to stop good legislation which needs to be
passed here in North Carolina," McCrory said, his office citing a
comment he made to reporters in Wilmington.
Rabon, a veterinarian,
didn't return a phone call at his Raleigh office and an email message
Monday seeking comment. But Apodaca said in an interview that Rabon
talked in the recorded conversation in part about changing the bill.
is wrong to secretly record private conversations with members of the
General Assembly and then threaten to expose those conversations to the
media to force legislators to meet specific demands," Apodaca said in a
prepared statement, adding "to dignify those actions by moving ahead on
this issue would set a dangerous precedent while condoning and
encouraging these unethical tactics."
House bill sets specific standards to ensure that dogs have daily
exercise, fresh food and water, shelter and veterinary care. Some
opponents have said the measure encroaches upon the rights of
responsible dog owners, and would be the next step toward the regulation
of hunting and farm animals.
But McCrory, a dog owner, said last
week that without adequate regulation, North Carolina will continue to
allow puppy mills to operate.
3221 South Evans StreetGreenville N.C. 27834
Telephone: 252.355.8500
Fax: 252.355.8568
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Design Services
When it comes to design there is more than meets the eye. It's not just about making a stunning visual anymore, it's about creating a brand and capturing people. Whether it be a website, your social media page, or an album's artwork; every design is a chance to capture an audience and direct them to your message. Desoulbel can be your mail-courier and help you deliver a pixel-perfect message from anywhere in the world.
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At the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Boston - Cambridge, there are no excuses needed to sleep in and stay in. Why you might ask? We've got four good reasons. Whether you're catching dinner and a show in the world-renowned Scullers Jazz Club; dining overlooking the Boston skyline and Charles River in our Green Room Restaurant; grabbing a late-night snack or early morning coffee at the 24-hour Made Market Pantry or catching the game in our modern lounge - Fusion - our culinary team has you covered with enticing dishes you won't find anywhere else in Boston..
Plug-in and get energized at our newly renovated, all-day lounge "Fusion". Modernized fixtures, complimentary high-speed Internet access and personalized LCD TVs await you as you enjoy a variety of lite fare perfect for breakfast, lunch or on the go. We also proudly brew your favorite Starbucks® coffee options including cappuccinos and espressos. Later in the evening, relax with a cocktail and watch your favorite sports team on our two large LCD TVs.
Located on the Lobby Level, you can check-in and then check out the convenient to-go options at our new Made Market Pantry, 24 hours a day! Whether you've got an early-morning flight or a Midnight snack-attack, our pantry stocks a variety of snacks, drinks and to-go meals, from a fresh-brewed cup of coffee, to single-serve meals and sandwiches you can enjoy in the comfort of your guest room.
If you feel the comfort of your two room suite would make a great backdrop for your next meal, no problem, let us bring the delights of our Green Room Restaurant to you. Our suite service menu is available for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
For nearly 20 years, the legendary Scullers Jazz Club has presented the biggest names in straight ahead, Latin and Contemporary Jazz, as well as Blues, Soul, R&B, Cabaret and World Music and has recently been voted Boston's #1 Live Music Venue and Most Romantic Night Spot by Citysearch.com & The Boston Phoenix.
Scullers Jazz Club has hosted some of the very best musical artists in the business including; Harry Connick Jr., Chris Botti, Jamie Cullam, David Sanborn, The Rippingtons, Tower of Power, Michael Bublé, Arturo Sandoval, Tony Bennett, Wynton Marsalis and Dave Koz to name just a few.
Led by Jazz impresario Fred Taylor, the 200-seat Scullers Jazz Club has become a true Boston landmark. Offering spectacular views of the Boston skyline and the Charles River, Scullers serves as the perfect backdrop for world-class entertainment you won't see anywhere else in Boston. Join us for our Dinner and Show package and enjoy preferred seating in the club.
Scullers Jazz Club is located on the second floor of the Doubletree Guest Suites-Boston and is open when shows are scheduled, generally Tuesday-Saturday. We offer a dinner & show package in conjunction with The Green Room and also offer an extensive in club menu. For show reservations or more information call 617-562-4111 or online at www.scullersjazz.com. Schedule varies.
The DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Boston - Cambridge is already home to one of the nation's legendary night spots, Scullers Jazz Club, so when it comes to the hotel's restaurant you don't have to look far for a fantastic culinary experience. Much like the music Scullers presents, the Green Room tips a hat to the classics and overlooks the Charles River and the Boston skyline.
Indulge in our hearty, full American breakfast buffet with made-to-order omelets, daily Chef Feature, house-baked cinnamon buns and more. If you are looking for something on the lighter side, treat yourself to our Continental Breakfast Buffet with fresh fruits and yogurts, hot and cold cereals, meats and cheeses, homemade granola, breads and morning pastries, plus make-your-own waffles. Feel free to customize your breakfast from our a la carte options.
As night falls, jazz up your evening with a taste of our Chef's seasonal menu. Compliment your evening dining experience with a fine glass of wine and don't forget to save room for dessert.
Breakfast:Monday – Friday: 6:00am – 10:30amSaturday & Sunday: 7:00am – 11:00am
LunchDaily: 11:30am – 2:00pm
DinnerMonday – Saturday: 5:30pm – 9:30pmSunday: Closed for dinner


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Reports & Research
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth: An epidemic of homelessness
Download the full publication.
Download fact sheets for Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Florida, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.
Iván Díaz and Angelika Torres seek services at the Ali Forney Center, which provides shelter, housing and social services to homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.
Of the estimated 1.6 million homeless American youth, between 20 and 40 percent identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).
Why do LGBT youth become homeless? In one study, 26 percent of gay teens who came out to their parents/guardians were told they must leave home; LGBT youth also leave home due to physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Homeless LGBT youth are more likely to: use drugs, participate in sex work, and attempt suicide. Also, LGBT youth report they are threatened, belittled and abused at shelters by staff as well as other residents.
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"A sweet, superficial, but attractive effort, the 2000 La Fleur-Gazin reveals chalky tannin in the finish. A dark ruby/purple color is accompanied by ripe plum, prune, and berry fruit, medium body, and plenty of structure as well as tough tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2014." - Wine Advocate
Farmed by Ets Jean-Pierre Moueix since 1976, on the northern slope of the plateau of Pomerol, between Chateau Lafleur and Château Gazin, as indicated by its name.
Small and Seductive
It's a tiny region, and it has no classification system. But the wines produced from Pomerol can be sensuous and life-changing. Here lies Chateau Petrus, one of the most expensive and sought-after wines of the world - many vintages commanding prices higher than the first-growth chateaux of the Medoc. The area is all vines, with no real town...Read More About Pomerol
Bordeaux Blends The Fab Five With so much history under its belt, it's no wonder that Bordeaux has figured out the recipe to produce amazing wines. Centuries of making (and drinking) wine led to the blend that has become synonomous with Bordeaux. Winemakers in the New World replicate this formula to create successful blends in their respective regions - you may see Bordeaux blends...Read More About Bordeaux Red Blends
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Dustin Smith
Pro-democracy activists took their fight Thursday to the doorstep of Hong Kong's chief executive, sitting down outside his office gates to express their dissatisfaction with him and the central government in Beijing.
Some demonstrators say the next st...
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Wales Rugby League have confirmed the departure of general manager Mark Rowley
Last Updated: 11/02/13 2:27pm
Mark Rowley has confirmed he will leave his post with Wales Rugby League
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Wales Rugby League have confirmed the departure of general manager Mark Rowley after 10 years in charge.
Rowley became the organisation's first full-time chairman before taking on the role of general manager in 2011 - but is leaving the post due to personal reasons.
He said: "I am very saddened to be leaving the Wales Rugby League. I am passionate about rugby league and its development in Wales and, in that respect, I have dedicated 10 years to the cause.
"However, due to personal and business reasons, I now have to move on."
WRL chairman Brian Juliff added: "Mark has been an integral part of Wales Rugby League that has seen us achieve many great things, including our senior team playing in the Four Nations against England, Australia and New Zealand in 2011 that helped us rise up the global rankings to sixth in the world.
"It is a sad day to see somebody who has rugby league in his heart having to move on to other things."


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By Samantha Joseph
Staff writer
STUART - An upswing in business in the last year is proof to administrators of Miracle Jewelry Exchange that the Stuart company is on the right track.
Known for its low prices, and specials such as 99 cent watch batteries, the store revamped its staff in recent months to gain in-house expertise and set itself apart from competitors.
On board is a jeweler with more than three decades of experience. There's also a diamond setter on premises.
"It's definitely an advantage to be able to do clients' work as they wait," said Frank Bianco, who owns the store with his wife, Christina. "Our business has really taken off this year."
The changes in staff are strategic investments for the nearly 5-year-old company that specializes in custom work and jewelry design.
When one customer wanted a ring with the yin-yang symbol on its outer edges and a solitaire in the center, staff did the work in-house. Another who wanted a piece inspired by a traditional Irish design didn't have to go further than the local store.
"We can take their idea and turn it into whatever their imagination can conceive," Mr. Bianco said.
"We've done more custom work this year than we did the previous four years, and we make it affordable whereas most places don't."
With the store's diverse customer base, orders range from engagement and wedding rings, charms, anniversary presents and an array of hand-made pieces that complement the store's line of watches, gems and brand-name jewelry.
"We try to cherry pick so we always have special pieces," said Mrs. Bianco.
Miracle Jewelry Exchange is also building its purchasing business, developing a reputation for paying high prices for gold and silver.
"People aren't selling their jewelry as an investment windfall. They're doing it because they've had some sort of hardship," Mr. Bianco said. "To take advantage of that would be a terrible thing to do."
But Miracle Jewelry Exchange excels at maintaining low overhead expenditures, and paying close attention to its pricing structure.
"One of my slogans is 'low overhead equals low prices,'" Mr. Bianco said. "Times are tough. You can't charge people what you used to charge in the 1990s. Jewelry is still a luxury item."
The approach is paying off. Come Christmas, the Biancos plan to expand into Port St. Lucie with a store at 1012 S.W. St. Lucie West Blvd.
"I come from a background in the hospitality business, so I try to incorporate that into our business," said Mr. Bianco, who once operated two Stuart night clubs.
"It's in the way you treat the customer, treating them like your guest and offering them advice and service."
Customers recently returned the favor, voting Miracle Jewelry Exchange the leader in several categories, during a Hometown News reader poll.
The company won the awards for best jewelry store in Palm City and Martin and St. Lucie counties, as well as best jewelry design/artist in St. Lucie County.
"It was pretty great because of all the other jewelry stores we went up against," Mr. Bianco said. "To come out on top is a pretty big deal."
Miracle Jewelry Exchange is located at 2763 N.W. Federal Highway, Stuart. For more information, call (772) 692-0888.
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Ann Taylor saw the light and is now disclosing web sales. Any other takers?
Give Ann Taylor Stores Corp. a big thumbs up for finally breaking out e-commerce sales in their latest quarterly earnings release. They were nice numbers—in the first quarter ended May 1 total e-commerce sales were $42.3 million, a 52% increase from $27.8 million in the first quarter of 2009. Ann Taylor CEO Kay Krill says the company is now disclosing web sales as one way to make important internal operations more transparent to investors, customers and employees. Other chain retailers should be watching and listening. Even better I hope they follow Ann Taylor's example and begin to break out their own e-commerce figures. Chain retailers are notorious for hiding their e-commerce numbers deep in press releases, public financial reports and earnings calls. And many chains still won't report their e-commerce sales, even though for many it's the only channel that's growing. The shift by consumers from stores to online shopping is accelerating. It's only a matter of time before investors demand that chain retailers produce more quarterly information on e-commerce. The metrics on clicks, conversions and online sales are just as important as the figures on comparable-stores sales, lease rates and sales per square foot. Ann Taylor saw this trend pretty clearly and took action. It's about time other chains followed. Any takers?


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Related Links
The U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) works collaboratively with a number nonprofit organizations, national laboratories and other groups whose aims often complement AMO's mission. These organizations and others offer industrial- and efficiency-related resources and events.
The following are links to some of these organizations:
- Alliance to Save Energy
- American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
- Consortium for Energy Efficiency
- Energy Solutions Center
- Idaho National Laboratory
- International Energy Agency
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
- National Association of State Energy Officials
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Northeast Energy Efficiency Council
- Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
- Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Renewable and Energy Efficiency Partnership
- State Energy Efficiency Action Network
- Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
- Southwest Energy Efficiency Project