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Our Amenities
Each suite is distinctively different and appointed with art and collectibles from all over the world. They include color cable TV, compact sound systems, private telephones, wifi and efficiency kitchens, "all the comforts of home".
For your leisure, we have a heated swimming pool, private gardens and gazebo to enjoy one of Dunedin's many festivals or simply watch the world go by.
Click for Swimming Pool Virtual Tour
Click for A Gazebo Virtual Tour
Each morning guests awake to the aroma of fresh coffee, a daily newspaper, and a tantalizing breakfast!
you are on holiday or traveling on business, the Meranova's renowned
chef, will prepare a gourmet
breakfast daily that will meet your dietary and scheduling needs.
guests staying 7 days or longer who have smaller appetites, may
be dieting, or simply
lighter eaters, we offer a "Sunday Brunch Plan". This
plan omits breakfast except on Sundays, includes a stocked pantry of
whole breakfast foods ($50.00 value), and a 10% discount on the unit
The Meranova Guest Inn is a perfect place to take romantic sunset walks or bird watch from the shell filled shores of Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands, rated among the best beaches in the U.S. as well as Clearwater Beach, both only a ten minute drive! Golfers can enjoy one of the three courses located within five miles of the Inn. Bicyclists, joggers, and skaters can lose themselves on the 46 mile scenic Pinellas Trail just one block from the Inn. Recreational Activities also include the Sponge Docks and an abundance of antique shops in Tarpon Springs, the winter home of the Toronto Blue Jays champion baseball team, and water sports rentals on St. Josephs Sound.


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Call Us At 1.800.377.0617
Argosy University Online Programs builds on our heritage of academic excellence and individual attention in a format that can fit your busy lifestyle.
It's not too late to get started. Classes begin October 27th.
Argosy University offers a variety of degree programs in flexible learning formats including blended or campus learning.
Argosy University, Orange County
The Argosy University, Orange County library provides a variety of printed resources to support campus curricula and encourage life-long learning. It maintains a specialized collection of books, scholarly journals, audiovisuals, reference materials, dissertations, theses, and more. There is also access to electronic full-text journals, books, and other content specific to our program offerings.
Argosy University, Orange County Library adjusts its hours to accommodate student needs. If there are no classes on campus, the hours are reduced.
Argosy University, Orange County601 South Lewis StreetOrange, CA 92868
Rebecca S. RussellLearner Support email@example.com
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Argosy University's libraries and resource facilities participate in an intra-institutional library loan program that offers you access to a greater body of educational resources, tools, and support.
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Two Argosy University, Sarasota Counseling Programs Receive Continued Grant of Accreditation From CACREP
The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, has granted eight years continued accreditation to the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Doctor of Education in Counselor Education & Supervision programs at Argosy University, Sarasota
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subset: commoncrawl


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Stuttgart. In March 2008, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, held its ground well in a market environment characterized by recession fears in the US and Canada. At 2,624, the number of vehicles delivered to customers was down by 24% on the figure for the previous year. As before, the second generation of the sport utility Cayenne with its reduced consumption engines resonated strongly with customers. The most recent proof of this is the successful market launch of the particularly sporty Cayenne GTS, 396 units of which were sold on the North American market in the first month following its launch.
Overall, deliveries of the Cayenne increased by 33 percent to 1,227 in the month under review. The 911 sold 825 vehicles in the US and Canada in March 2008, down 42 percent from last year. 572 units of the Boxster model series were delivered to customers, a decline of 49 percent. Within the series, the Cayman and the Cayman S accounted for a total of 285 units.
© 2014 Porsche Cars North America, Inc. Legal notice. Privacy Policy.


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NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Hornets forward Chris Kaman is a late scratch for Friday night's game against Portland after the 7-foot center sprained his left ankle during pre-game warmups.
Kaman had 17 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in a loss Wednesday night to Chicago.
His absence from the lineup only further decimated a Hornets team already missing guards Eric Gordon and Jarrett Jack, and forwards Carl Landry and Jason Smith.
Kaman has been averaging close to 10 points and seven rebounds in primarily a reserve role this season.


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14 U.S. Code § 822 - Purpose of the Coast Guard Auxiliary
Source(Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 555; Pub. L. 104–324, title IV, § 402(a),Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3923.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 261 (Feb. 19, 1941, ch. 8, title I, § 2,55 Stat. 9; Sept. 30, 1944, ch. 453, § 1,58 Stat. 759).
Changes were made in phraseology. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.
1996—Pub. L. 104–324inserted "of the Coast Guard Auxiliary" after "Purpose" in section catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "The purpose of the Auxiliary is to assist the Coast Guard:
"(a) to promote safety and to effect rescues on and over the high seas and on navigable waters;
"(b) to promote efficiency in the operation of motorboats and yachts;
"(c) to foster a wider knowledge of, and better compliance with, the laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of motorboats and yachts; and
"(d) to facilitate other operations of the Coast Guard."
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.
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|Statutes at Large
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Spruce Hits The Slopes With A Second Restaurant in Park City, Utah
Looking for Spruce chef Mark Sullivan? You better check Utah. Sullivan and his family have decamped to Park City for the summer while he works on opening—wait for it—Spruce Park City! Yes, it's officially a trend—San Francisco chefs are taking their restaurants to the slopes. First, news of Traci des Jardins Tahoe project, Manzanita, hit the wires. Now, we have the news that come July, when the Dakota Mountain Lodge opens to the public, Spruce will be the headlining dining option.
I caught up with Sullivan this weekend at the CUESA burger cook-off, where he was one of four chefs vying for the championship (he won). In town for a brief 16 hours, the good sport spent three of them flipping burgers. He described the Park City project as crazy, over the top and huge—indeed, the restaurant is 5,000 square feet with 140 seats, and will be serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and room service. Will Spruce's food translate to the high altitude? Only time will tell—Sullivan, along with chef de cuisine Saundra Middleton, has been busy finding a network of ranchers and growers in Utah, since they won't have the luxury of farm-fresh ingredients from SMIP Ranch (the farm that supplies both Village Pub and Spruce in SF). And while the Spruce here is known for its wine list, some 1,400 bottles deep, the list at the Utah location won't be nearly as sizeable, owing to Utah's many and inconvenient liquor laws. Sullivan will be out in Utah until late August, then returning to SF in late August, just in time for another big opening. The Bacchus Group's long-awaited brasserie, Cafe Des Amis (2000 Union St. at Buchanan), is on track to open in November—provided the chef doesn't choose to have another dalliance with some other city before then.
The Big Drink 2014: 50 Cocktails to Try Before You Die
The Big Eat 2014: 100 Things to Try Before You Die
The 2012 Big To-Do SF: 100 Things To Do Before You Die
The Big Veg 2011: 50 Vegetarian (Or Vegan) Things to Eat Before You Die
The Big Sweet SF: 50 Treats to Eat Before You Die
50 Things to Do in Wine Country Before You Die


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Jackson's public schools could lose state accreditation Thursday, after district board members rejected a deal that would have given the system longer to comply with rules regarding special education.
Read more »
A two year-old overhaul of city special education programs has produced disappointing results, a new analysis shows.
Brookline-based Beaver Country Day School has been awarded a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam grant of $10,000 to create an automated robotic vehicular independence system that can carry up to 50 pounds for wheelchair-bound individuals or those needing hands-free help to transport cargo. Called JARVIS, students will showcase their prototype at EurekaFest at MIT in June.
In this study, the District Management Council's Nate Levenson uses the largest database of information on special-education spending and staffing ever assembled to uncover significant variance in how districts staff for special education.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill on Tuesday that would have made school districts responsible for funding the placement of special education students in the private school of their family's choice.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will veto a bill requiring school officials to consider religion and other family beliefs when approving taxpayer-funded tuition for special-education students at private schools, an administration official said.
Special education students seem to be disappearing in Texas.
The type of clothing worn in a family's home, the language spoken and other cultural markers could influence whether special-education students receive taxpayer-funded private-school tuition, under a bill passed last month by the New York state Legislature.
Charter schools in most states continue to enroll proportionately fewer students with disabilities than traditional public schools, a new government report shows.


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Peter and the Starcatcher Tony nominee Christian Borle revealed his inner spirit animal, love of steak and boubon and obsession with Star Wars when he answered readers' questions.
When he's not scheming onstage as Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher, Matthew Saldivar goofs off inside his dressing room at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, where he proudly shows off his ukulele and at least one pair of smelting glasses.September 19, 2012
The two-time Tony-nominated actress shares her five favorite dressing room items.May 16, 2012
Did the panelists enjoy Peter and the Starcatcher?April 16, 2012
It was a starry night on May 13 at the 2012 Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards and Best Actor in a Play nominee Adam Chanler-Berat was ready to capture all the vodka-tonic fueled antics for his Broadway.com video blog Boy's Life. With his trusty camera in tow, the Peter and the Starcatcher star had one thing on his mind: to prove the Broadway.com Awards are hands-down the "most important night in theater!" From the uber-cute finger-sized cannolis to the life-sized and equally delectable Darren Criss, Chanler-Berat filmed it all for your viewing pleasure. Click on below to watch highlights from the red carpet, ceremony and super exclusive afterparty at the Allen Room. But that's not all. Be on the look-out for cute cameos from Jackie Hoffman, Nick Adams, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Andrew Kober, Broadway.com staffers Beth Stevens, Jenny Anderson and Bruce Glikas and the candid "drunk confessions" of Ghost star Caissie Levy! Cheers!May 15, 2012
Get to know the cast of Broadway's new take on a classic tale.March 13, 2012
In the latest episode of Side by Side, Susan Blackwell takes Peter and the Starcatcher's Celia Keenan-Bolger on a trip to the Central Park Zoo! See fuzzy animals (including a...muntjac?), home videos of Celia singing showtunes and more.August 2, 2012
The star of the new play celebrates opening night.April 18, 2012
The cast celebrates opening night on Broadway.April 18, 2012
Matthew Saldivar and Kevin Del Aguila tear up the high seas (and provide plenty of laughs) as pirates Black Stache and Smee in the Tony-winning play Peter and the Starcatcher. In this funny new commercial, see why every captain needs a first mate.September 5, 2012
Peter and the Starcatcher star Adam Chanler-Berat takes us backstage at Broadway's new hit play.April 23, 2012
Get the skinny on pre-show rituals!April 30, 2012
Get an inside look at the intricate scenic design of the new play.May 7, 2012


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This IA-Series Art Profolio Digital Printer Album keeps photos, artwork or documents safe from harmful elements and is essential for artists, photographers and memorabilia collectors.
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About This Article
Thirty years ago, the United States Supreme Court handed down its first major decision interpreting the nation's special education law, now commonly called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley, the U.S. Supreme Court interpreted the IDEA requirement that schools provide a "free and appropriate public education" (FAPE) to students with disabilities to mean that schools should provide services necessary for children "to benefit" from instruction. However, the Court limited the FAPE standard, stating that "the intent of the Act was more to open the door of public education … than to guarantee any particular level of education once inside." In the years since the Rowley decision, the meaning of FAPE has continued to evolve, and this article examines that evolution.
This article revisits the significance of past decisions in the case of Board of Education v. Rowley, which can help reframe current policies in the U.S. or clear the way for new ones. It also considers how complex issues of accountability require educators to be more diligent, and parents to be more vigilant, in using student-centered data and scientifically-based instructional practices when designing and assessing an appropriately individualized public education. The article then offers principles derived from revisiting this landmark case as a means for restoring the promise of the individualized education program (IEP) as the tool for demonstrating the effectiveness of specially designed instruction.
General Information
Read the article: http://nichcy.org/wp-
Full APA Citation:
Crockett, J. B., & Yell, M. L. (2008). Without data all we have are assumptions: Revisiting the meaning of a free appropriate public education. Journal of Law & Education, 37(3), 381-392.
Authors: Crockett, Jean B., & Yell, Mitchell L.
Title: Without Data All We Have Are Assumptions: Revisiting the Meaning of a Free Appropriate Public Education.
Year: 2008
Journal: Journal of Law & Education
Publisher: Jefferson Law Book Company and the University of South Carolina School of Law
Volume: 37
Issue: 3
Pages: 381-392
Is this article copyrighted?
Yes. NICHCY expresses its appreciation to the Journal of Law & Education for its generous permission to post this article on our website.
While material produced by NICHCY is copyright free, this article is not. The original publisher of this article, the Journal of Law & Education holds the copyright to the article, whether in print or electronic form. You may view, download, print, or save the article's content for the purposes of research, teaching, and/or private study. Please do not reproduce, post, redistribute, sell, modify, or create a derivative work of this content without prior, express written permission of the publisher.
For permission to reprint or copy this article, contact the Journal of Law & Education, 2100 Huntingdon Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21211. Phone: 410-727-7300, ext 3409.


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Do you like snowboarding? What about Travis Rice? What about a Travis Rice signed snowboard? Well then, vote for the Quiksilver Superpark Showdown video on snowboardermag.com by clicking the like button directly under the Quik video here. Then leave a comment on the "Win A Travis Rice Signed Snowboard" Facebook post telling us that you voted.
Voting will end Today, Friday July 29th, at 5PM PST…VOTE NOW!
No purchase necessary to enter or win. Void where prohibited by law. Entrants must be 13 years of age or older to enter. By submitting your entry you agree to the Official Rules. Please see Official Rules for details.


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Coleman® Converta Suspension Cot
Sale price: Clearance price: Starting at: Sale starting at: Clearance starting at: Reg. price:
- Flexible bungee suspension system delivers incredible support
- Four back and two foot positions for customized reclining
- Heavy-duty polyester fabric
- Powder-coated, rust-resistant steel frame
Manufacturer model #: 2000012287.
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Imagine what you life would be like if you could lose unwanted weight from problem areas including your abdomen, hips, thighs, arms chest, buttocks, double chin and lower back. Just think how much easier life would be and how much more confidence and self-esteem you'd have if you met your weight loss goal and kept off those stubborn pounds once and for all. In today's cruel world, first impressions count and according to extensive socialological research your appearance really impacts how you feel about yourself and how others respect and treat you. Whether you've gained a few extra pounds that won't budge or you've been burned in the past by lousy diets that don't work, Gold Star Nutrition can help.
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Take it to the rack in this men's Tek Gear sleeveless performance basketball tee.
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All dads know the best ingredients for making a good sandwich. Mustard is always a fine option, but we're guessing Mike would also add several layers of bacon.
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N. Summit Street, between Cherry and Adams Streets is now open.
Drivers in downtown Toledo had to follow a detour to get around construction work over the weekend.
Crews say the closure was in place to allow a crane to remove equipment from the roof of the One Seagate building.
Mobile users, click on the "Video" button in the app to watch this story. Download our app here.
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Nominate your favorite teacher to be Teacher of the Week
UPDATED 9:15 AM EDT Sep 04, 2013
News 5 and Warm 98 want to honor the Tri-State's best teachers! We'll surprise a new teacher every week throughout the school year.
The winning teacher will receive a gift from Modern Office Methods, a $150 gift card to Bond Furniture, tickets to see the Cincinnati Pops, and a class pizza party from Westshore Pizza!
So nominate your favorite K through 8th grade teacher and tell us why he or she is the best. We'll honor our first winner September 6th, so start your nominations now. Then join us each Friday after September 6th on News 5 Today, as we surprise the week's winner.


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Frank Wildhorn and Don Black's Bonnie & Clyde score uses blues, rockabilly and gospel flavors to tell the tale of Depression-era American outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.
Alan Menken and Jack Feldman supplement their Newsies film score with new lyrics, counterpoints and arrangements, along with six entirely new songs written for the Newsboy Strike-inspired stage musical.
Grant Olding's songs for the slapstick comedy One Man, Two Guvnors are played onstage before the show and during scene changes, sometimes incorporating cast members by the 60s-style Brit pop foursome The Craze.
Wayne Barker and Rick Elice supplemented the Peter Pan prequel Peter and the Starcatcher with two full British musical-hall-style songs, plus underscoring and transition music.
To see the full list of 2012 Tony nominations, click here.


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Ranked teams went 43-7 in the first round of the girls state tournament this week. Three of the losses were by AAAAAA teams and three were by AAAAA teams (No. 1 Kell being one of them). That means the ranked teams in AAAA, AAA and AA were a combined 29-1.
Here are some of the best games and story lines for the second round of the girls tournament:
Best game: No. 3 Norcross at No. 2 Parkview
Story lines: The Norcross-Parkview game is a classic, with Norcross' roster of blue-chip recruits led by Diamond DeShields against undefeated Parkview's deep but unspectacular roster. … Region 1 sent three teams to the round of 16 in Valdosta, Colquitt County and Tift County. That's a shock considering that the region they beat – Cobb County's Region 4 – sent four teams to the final eight last season. Biggest shocker was Colquitt County over 2012 champion McEachern.
Best game: No. 10 Allatoona at No. 3 Miller Grove
Story lines: No. 1-ranked Kell is done, beaten by seventh-ranked Stephenson in the first round. DeKalb County teams are going to be hard to stop as No. 2 Tucker, No. 3 Miller Grove and No. 4 Southwest DeKalb are now the highest-ranked teams remaining. Tucker goes on the road to Region 8 champion Salem, and 2012 champion Miller Grove plays at Region 5 champion Allatoona.
Best games: No. 3 Redan at No. 7 Fayette County, No. 5 Woodland-Stockbridge at No. 2 Cross Creek, No. 10 South Effingham at No. 4 Jonesboro; No. 9 LaGrange at No. 1 Columbia
Story lines: There are four games matching Top 10 opponents. No other class has quite that list of blockbusters.
Best games: No. 10 Dodge County at No. 7 Chapel Hill, No. 9 Dawson County at No. 4 North Oconee, No. 8 Decatur at No. 5 Sonoraville
Story lines: All eight region champions advanced in the first round. All are favored again, although three off them must get through Top 10 opponents (above) that didn't win their regions.
Best game: No. 7 Greater Atlanta Christian at No. 3 Kendrick, No. 10 Bremen at No. 1 Wesleyan
Story lines: As in AAA, all eight region champions advanced in the first round. Unbeaten Kendrick got a tough draw with GAC in the second round.
A public –
Best game: Calhoun County at Towns County
Story lines: No. 3 Randolph-Clay, 6 Towns County, No. 8 Gordon Lee and No. 10 Turner County are the favorites in this first public state tournament. The last public school champion in Class A was Hawkinsville in 2007.
A private –
Best game: Pace Academy at Paideia
Story lines: The top four teams – Southwest Atlanta Christian, St. Francis, Holy Innocents' and Darlington – appear to have separated themselves from the field. None should be pushed in the first round.
February 22nd, 2013
1:28 pm
Norcross at Parkview in 2nd round? The playoffs need seeding to keep this from happening.
February 22nd, 2013
1:32 pm
But 2 of them, Darlington and St Francis will meet in the 2nd round due to the GHSA elevating Holy Innocence over both on appeal – a team Darlington beat on HI's home court. If we continue to have a split playoff system in A, the seeding process needs overhaul.
February 22nd, 2013
10:04 pm
@Weasel, Holy Innocents' didn't appeal anything. I think they were elevated because they won their region. All region champs go to the top of the bracket. If SACA would have beaten St. Francis, then they would have been the number 1 Seed. HIES beat St. Francis, St. Francis beat Darlington, Darlington beat Holy Innocents' and SACA, etc. This is an imperfect system
February 23rd, 2013
8:58 am
Guru you are correct. The rules say Region Champs get #1 seed. At this point in the season, just win baby!
February 24th, 2013
2:29 pm
KENDRICK…..great job in defeating G.A.C. I recall the AJC. saying you had a bad draw in playing them in the second round……look`s like to me ,THEY had a bad draw in facing you. Wonderful job! The only problem now is that you have to face another private school in a row in Lovett. I`m so sorry! It should`nt have to be this tough for a public school that had to follow all the rules of NOT recruiting! Good luck!


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The Best Android Phones
If you're considering a new Android phone on contract, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is the best choice for most people. It's the most balanced in size and power, without flaws that could be dealbreakers, unlike most of the competition. It has all the features you'd expect from a major Android phone release: the fastest processors, a 16 MP camera, a gorgeous 1080p screen, the ability to shoot full 4K video, and a battery that lasts longer than a day. It's also the first widely available flagship smartphone that has real water-resistance out of the box. The Galaxy S5's IP67 rating means it can survive a dunking in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. Oh, and you can use it with one hand—an increasingly common problem among smartphones that keep getting bigger and bigger.
Samsung just announced the Galaxy S5, which, barring unforeseen events, will be the best-selling Android phone of 2014. The biggest change is that the S5 is water-resistant (!). Other than that, it's more of Samsung's more-is-more philosophy: the home button is now a fingerprint sensor, the back has a pulse sensor, the 16 megapixel camera has a faster auto-focus and fancier HDR mode, the microUSB connection is now USB 3.0, and the CPU is now a 2.5GHz quad-core. It also has multi-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi. The S5 runs Android 4.4.2 (the latest version) with what looks like Samsung's usual barrage of extra software on top of it. It keeps the same basic size and shape of the Galaxy S4, and the same plasticky build quality, but with a more textured back. The screen is still 1080p, there's still 2GB of RAM, and it still has 16GB and 32GB options, a microSD slot, and a removable battery--now slightly more powerful, at 2800mAh.
It comes to all carriers April 11th, and we'll update this piece once reviews start coming out.
Last year's Moto X was our favorite phone at the time. The new one looks fantastic, and it may end up being our new pick when it's released later in September. See more info in our What to look forward to section below.
If you need an even cheaper phone, get the Moto E. It's even more stripped down than the Moto G, but it's only $130 and it's better than any other phone at that price.
Tablet of Contents
- Should I upgrade?
- Our pick: Samsung Galaxy S5
- Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Who else likes it?
- Runner up: HTC One M8
- Google Play Editions
- Unsubsidized option: Nexus 5
- What's an unlocked phone?
- Cheap option: Moto G
- The competition
- What to look forward to
- Wrapping up
Should I upgrade?
You don't need a new phone if you bought a good phone in 2013 or later, like the Moto X, Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy S4, or HTC One. And you don't need a new phone if you're satisfied with your current phone. There's no reason to buy a new phone just because new phones are available, and there are plenty of good reasons to wait. Sure, these phones are faster and have longer battery lives than last year's crop, but there are no game-changing improvements, just iterations.
If you rely on your phone to last all day, it doesn't, and you can't get an aftermarket battery pack for it (like you can for most Samsung phones), you should upgrade.
When you do, you should get the best phone you can afford. Two years (the standard cell phone contract length in the US) is a long time to be tied to a phone, and the faster a phone is now, the better the chance that it'll last to the end of your contract. There are dozens (if not hundreds) of crappy Android phones that suffer from some combination of bad UI, outdated software, bad specs, and poor build quality. The few that are worth buying tend to be on the upper end of the price spectrum, though there are some exceptions. The difference between a "free" phone from your carrier and a $200 phone will be felt daily over the next few years, while $200 difference pales in comparison to the price of your phone service over that period.
If you want to buy an unsubsidized, unlocked phone, we recommend waiting until the new Moto X and (maybe) Nexus phones come out later this year. But if you can't wait and don't want to sign a two-year contract for either of those, you're better off getting a cheaper phone now with the expectation of replacing it sooner than later.
Why the Samsung Galaxy S5 is our pick
The S5 has a 5.1-inch 1920×1080 AMOLED screen, a 2.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage, and a microSD slot. It also has an NFC chip, an IR blaster for controlling your TV, wireless charging capability (via a backplate that's sold separately), a fingerprint sensor (that doesn't really work), a heart rate monitor (useless), a removable battery, two-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0. It has a 16 MP rear camera and 2 MP front camera.
CNET gives it 4.5 stars, PCMag gives 4.5 stars and an Editors' Choice award, The Verge gives it 7.8, Greenbot gives it 4 stars, and AnandTech views it favorably, while Ars Technica calls it "a perfectly serviceable upgrade."
As with the HTC One M8, the Samsung Galaxy S5 has much better battery life than any of last year's major Android phones, which were hard-pressed to last a full day. AnandTech got over 10 hours of screen-on Wi-Fi browsing on the S5. That's almost double what the S4 scored on the same test. PCMag observes that an 11-hour call only took the battery life to 41% and "in a week's worth of use, it lasted out the day every time."
It's also fast. Alongside the HTC One M8 (which uses the same Snapdragon CPU and same amount of RAM), it's one of the fastest phones you can buy. Benchmark numbers don't matter a whole lot, but the S5 feels snappy and you won't be held back by the hardware.
The Galaxy S5's 16 MP rear camera is good in most lighting conditions. Florence Ion at Greenbot calls it "the best camera Samsung has ever packed with a flagship device," while PCMag's Sascha Segan says it's "one big reason why this phone is an Editor's Choice." It's great outdoors and is fast to focus, and it can shoot 1080p and even 4K video. Here's a CNET comparison of the GS5, HTC One M8, and iPhone 5s, and here's AnandTech's even more exhaustive comparison.
Those are the coolest things about the S5. There are other cool features, but they aren't make-or-break for most people. It's the first phone with a MIMO 802.11ac antenna, so if you have a router that can support dual-stream 802.11ac, you'll get better in-home streaming than other phones with 802.11ac, but probably not by enough to be noticeable in real life.
The S5 uses USB 3.0, rather than USB 2.0 like most other phones, so transferring files between your phone and computer will be faster, and it can also recharge faster if you use a USB 3.0 cable. The USB 3.0 connector is backwards-compatible, so you can use the same microUSB cable that works for your other Android phones; it'll just be slower. The IR blaster is neat and lets you use your phone as a remote for your TV setup. The fingerprint sensor is a bit finicky but it's a cool idea that you might even use.
It's not as big a deal now that the phone has good battery life, but the Galaxy S5 has a removable battery, which means you can carry a spare or replace it with a new one if yours dies, rather than replace the whole phone. The HTC One M8 doesn't have that, and neither do the Nexus 5, Moto X, or iPhone.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The Galaxy S5 is far from perfect. Many of the same complaints about the S4 still apply to the S5. Build quality could be better. Samsung tries to cram too many features in, sometimes at the expense of basic usability. (We discuss this later on.) It's a bit on the larger side, and there are prettier phones out there. None of these are dealbreakers for most people, but it's worth spelling out.
Its build quality can't compare to that of the M8 either. The S5 has a dimpled plastic back and a fake-chrome side. The S5 is easier to hold and feels much better than last year's S4, but compared to the all-metal HTC One M8 it looks cheap. PCMag's Segan says bluntly that "Samsung simply can't figure out premium design."
The S5's external speakers are no match for the M8's, and the heart rate sensor is a gimmick that doesn't work well.
The TouchWiz software, while better than last year's, is still a mess. Ars Technica's Ron Amadeo: "At any given time, you'll be jumping between apps with three different design styles. About half of Samsung's software still looks like old-style Touchwiz, and the other half is more in tune with the company's still-in-development Tizen OS. The third design style is Google's apps, which Samsung must include but isn't allowed to skin."
Amadeo rips into the included software, too: "Besides the three clashing design styles, the Galaxy S5 app selection includes multiples of everything. Samsung wants to push its own software, but the company has a contractual obligation to include all of the Google apps. As a result, the device ships with two browsers, two voice assistant apps, two galleries, two app stores, three music players, and four texting apps. We really don't understand how smartphone newbies deal with this." This is before you get into the software installed by your carrier.
Fortunately, there are now guides to help you decrapify your Galaxy S5, like this one from Greenbot.
Finally, Samsung confirms that a "small number" of Galaxy S5s are shipping with a faulty camera. If your S5 gets a message saying "Warning: Camera Failed," you should call Samsung at 1-888-987-4357 or contact your carrier. You're covered under Samsung's warranty, so exchanging your phone should not be a problem.
Who else likes it
Pretty much everyone agrees that the S5 is a great phone, but not everyone seems very enthusiastic about it.
PCMag's Sascha Segan gives the S5 4.5 stars and an Editors' Choice award. He loves the screen and the water resistance. He says "There's a lot less Samsung bloatware than there used to be," but the fingerprint sensor is dismissed as "a good try," and "the heart rate monitor is awkward and a little pointless."
Via email, both Sascha and Eugene Kim, who reviewed the HTC One M8, told me that they'd choose the Galaxy S5 over the M8. Sascha says, "I'd have to pick the Galaxy S5 entirely because of the camera. The HTC One is more beautiful. I love the sound out of the headphone amp. It feels good in the hand. The software is elegant. But I use my phone's camera a lot – enough that I'm a little sad that the Moto X's camera isn't industry-leading – and the HTC One's issues with dynamic range would just tip the scales for me in favor of the Galaxy S5's superior shooter. I suspect the S5's superior Wi-Fi performance would also be a big pleaser in the long run." Like me, though, he's hanging on to his Moto X for personal use.
Eugene adds: "Neither really excites me, but I'd personally prefer the GS5 as well. Aside from the improvements in overall quality of the display, I think AMOLED as a technology has a lot more potential for interesting uses than traditional LCD (e.g. Moto X Active Display and GS5 Ultra Power Saving). I'm also partial to the removable battery —I expect my next phone to last beyond my 2-year upgrade cycle and the battery has always been the first thing to go in my experience."
CNET's Jessica Dolcourt: "The Galaxy S5 absolutely is a premium, fast phone that I would buy and use every day. Its improvements over the Galaxy S4 are small, but they add up to a smoother experience. The phone's high-quality camera won't let you down, there are plenty of features to keep you occupied, and the display is bright and beautiful. And even though it is plastic, the water-resistant seals are an extra perk if you often head to the pool, hot tub, or beach."
David Pierce, at The Verge: "Make no mistake: this is a very good phone. And Samsung did nearly all the important things well. With a great screen, great battery life, and a good camera, the S5 leaves me with few reasons not to recommend it — and the waterproof body is a fantastic bonus. But I don't love anything about this device. It's not beautiful like the One, not polished like the iPhone, not full of cool new software like the Moto X. The S5 is a very good phone, but it leaves me wanting more."
Florence Ion, Greenbot (IDG's new Android site; sister site to PCWorld and Macworld): "While I give the edge to the HTC One (M8), they're both excellent phones and the one that's right for you will depend on what you use your phone for. While the Galaxy S5 is an improvement over the GS4, it's not the same big leap that the Galaxy S4 was over the Galaxy S III, and Samsung's competitors have stepped up their game over the last year. If it's an all-around great phone that you're after, and you can stomach some of the shortcomings we covered here, there's no reason not to consider the Galaxy S5."
AnandTech: "Overall the Galaxy S5 is a solid replacement to the GS4 (and definitely to any previous Samsung device). I find that pretty much all the flagships offer some set of tradeoffs that prevent any one from being the perfect device (iPhone's screen size, GS5's materials, M8's camera). It's unfortunate because I'd really like to crown a single device the king of them all, but instead we're faced with a handful of differing optimization points. Samsung got it almost perfect with the GS5. With a metal body, a rear facing camera with larger pixels (perhaps with some tweaks to camera output processing), a better NAND controller, and stereo front facing speakers, the GS5 would probably be perfect."
The Galaxy S5 is a great phone, but it has one serious rival that makes more sense for some people: the HTC One M8.
Why we also like the HTC One M8
The HTC One M8's all-metal chassis is absolutely stunning, and every reviewer agrees that the build quality of the M8 is superior to the plastic Galaxy S5. It also has the best speakers ever to grace a smartphone, and its interface is slightly less bloated than the Galaxy's. Its rear camera is the same 4 MP one found in last year's model, except now it has a secondary camera to add depth information to your photos for better postprocessing. The M8's camera isn't as good as the S5's in most situations, but it is peerless in low-light photography. And the 5 MP front camera received near-universal praise. So if your snaps tend more toward nightclub selfies than flowers in the park, the M8 is better for you. But only if you can live with some pretty glaring flaws.
The biggest problem with the HTC One M8 is that it's, well, too big. At 5.8 inches tall, 2.8 inches wide, and .37 inches thick, it's just too tall to be used one-handed by most people. Because of the (excellent) front stereo speakers, the distance between the bottom of the HTC One M8 and the top of its screen—the area you'd have to reach with your thumb to swipe down the notifications shade—is nearly 5.25 inches, huge compared to 4.95 for the Galaxy S5, 4.9 for the Nexus 5, and 4.45 for the Moto X. The power button is on the top edge, too, though HTC includes several gestures, like knocking and swiping, that let you wake your phone without hitting the power button. Of course, they wouldn't need these gestures if the phone was sized for normal people. I say this as a 6'4″ guy with pretty big hands. If you like big phones, though, you'll like the HTC One.
As far as other specs go, it's virtually the same as the S5. the One M8 has a 5-inch, 1920×1080 Super LCD Screen, a 2.3 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 2 GB of LPDDR3 RAM, 16 or 32 GB of internal storage, and a microSD slot. Last year's One didn't have MicroSD, and we're not convinced it's necessary, but apparently enough people complained about its absence that they stuck one in. It also has (single-stream) 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, an IR blaster, and NFC.
PCMag's Eugene Kim also gives it 4.5 stars and an Editors' Choice award, though he doesn't love all the bloatware of the AT&T version. "[T]he new One (M8) is everything we've come to expect from HTC. It's a jewel of a phone, one that deserves every bit of praise for its high-end design and immaculate execution. There's no real killer feature here aside from the design, though, and the lack of meaningful progress on camera performance is disappointing."
CNET's Brian Bennett gives it 4.5 stars and says, "Samsung's Galaxy handsets aim to please the greatest number of customers by packing in the most features and performance for the lowest price. HTC on the other hand targets handset connoisseurs with painstakingly constructed devices running slick and efficient Android skins. Honestly it's a combination I'm particularly defenseless against — sorry Samsung but TouchWiz and plastic materials don't feed my soul."
Anand Lal Shimpi and Joshua Ho at AnandTech put the HTC One M8 through the wringer with a ten-page review. You should really read the whole thing if you want the best, most comprehensive look at the M8.
The HTC One M8 is a great phone, and if the size doesn't bother you, you'll find a lot to like. Many reviewers prefer it to the Galaxy S5.
In a head-to-head comparison, Greenbot gave the nod to the HTC One M8. Says Jason Cross: "I would be happy carrying around either phone in my pocket. Both are a lot faster than last year's models, with much longer battery life, and refined software. But I simply enjoy using the HTC One (M8) more. It has a tangible premium high-quality feel, and software that seems deliberately and carefully crafted. With the Galaxy S5, I constantly run into something that seems half-baked, or included just for the sake of adding features (like the heart rate monitor). HTC's menus, settings, lock screens, dialers, keyboards—the regular stuff that doesn't get headlines but is used every day—looks and feels better than Samsung's. And I can't get past the fact that a $600+ phone shouldn't feel as plasticy and cheap as the GS5."
LaptopMag's comparison, on the other hand, gave the nod to the GS5. "The HTC One M8 has a sleeker design, much better audio and a more streamlined and user-friendly interface. The Duo Camera feature is clever, too, if a bit gimmicky. And if you care about speed and responsiveness, the One M8 is the smartphone to get. However, the Galaxy S5 boasts a brighter and richer display and markedly better camera performance. We also appreciate the S5′s more accurate keyboard (with dedicated number row), removable battery and water-resistant design."
Google Play Editions
If you like the hardware of the One M8 but don't dig all the add-ons HTC and Samsung slathered onto Android, consider getting the Google Play Edition of the phone directly from Google. It's unlocked (so it'll work on AT&T or T-Mobile, not Sprint or Verizon) and unsubsidized, so you'll pay full price, but if you want the most modern hardware and stock Android, you can pay $700 for the 32 GB HTC One M8 Google Play Edition. The Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition is MIA so far.
However, it's hard to justify paying for the Google Play Edition of either phone when the Nexus 5 is half the price and almost the same amount of phone.
Why we like the Nexus 5 as an unsubsidized option
It works on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint (but not Verizon). The best part of the Nexus 5, though, is the price; most flagship phones of this caliber cost over $600 unsubsidized. You don't get the carrier subsidy like you would if you were paying $200 for a new phone through the carrier, but you also don't have to sign a two-year contract. Alongside the first-gen Moto X and OnePlus One, it's the best dollar-for-dollar phone deal around.
Full disclosure: I love the first-gen Moto X. I loved it when I tested it last fall for the last version of this piece, and I love it today. When my Verizon contract ended in February I bought a wood-backed, unlocked Moto X, switched to T-Mobile's SimpleChoice plan, and didn't look back. It was a hard choice between the Moto X and the Nexus 5, but the Moto X won me over with its better one-handed usability, Active Display, and Touchless Control. It's cheap (you can get it for free with a new contract on most carriers, or $350 unlocked) but it's just too old to recommend as our primary pick. The second-gen Moto X was announced in September and will be available later this month; see What to look forward to for more.
I also love the OnePlus One (more on that later), but it's almost impossible to get, so there's no point recommending it.
Wait, what's an unlocked phone?
Unlocked GSM phones are also great for use with T-Mobile's contract-free SimpleChoice plans, which offer unlimited 2G data and texting in a bunch of countries worldwide, along with unlimited everything and LTE in the U.S., for $80/month. That's pretty tempting, though T-Mobile's stateside LTE network isn't as widespread as Verizon's or AT&T's yet.
Personally, I'm sick of two-year contracts and carrier lock-in, so when my Verizon contract ended I bought an unlocked Moto X and the T-Mobile SimpleChoice plan. The only thing I miss about Verizon is the network; I lose T-Mobile's LTE pretty quickly when I head out of the city.
Cheap and okay: the Moto G
As Andrew Cunningham at Ars Technica says, "This handset obviously isn't meant to compete with $600-and-up flagships, but it's trying to redefine a part of the market that's now served by years-old phones and barely-usable garbage."
It's your best bet for a cheap, unsubsidized phone if you can't afford a Nexus 5, but it has a lot of things that would be considered dealbreakers if it wasn't for the price. We recommend the 16 GB version for $200.
CNET's Brian Bennett says, "Motorola made some big compromises to help the Moto G reach its extremely low price, specifically a slow processor, an unimpressive camera, no 4G LTE, and a screen that won't wow anybody."
Brent Rose at Gizmodo is a little more forgiving, given the competition at the $200 price point, despite agreeing overall with Brian's assessment. "In terms of bang for $200 bucks, this thing can't be beat. It feels so much better than you'd expect for a phone this cheap (and unlocked). The software is recent enough, and should be caught up to Android 4.4 (KitKat) in the very near future, which is more than you can say for a lot of current-gen high-end phones. Speed is generally very good, and the screen is extremely sharp compared to its closest competitors." Granted, he only actually recommends it if you can't get a subsidized phone and don't want to spend more than $200. "If you're on a carrier contract, then no. get the Nexus 5 instead, which is $350 off-contract and is better in absolutely every way."
The Moto G is better than any other smartphone you can get for the price, but if even that price is too steep, get the Moto E. Its camera is even worse than the G, it has no LTE, and only 4GB of internal storage. The build quality, battery life, and screen are nothing special. It is absolutely the best phone you can get for $130. It gets high marks from Engadget, The Next Web, CNET, PCMag, and The Verge, though the near-universal consensus is that you should get the Moto G instead if you can. As CNET's Andrew Hoyle puts it, "Unless you're shopping on a very tight budget, the Moto G is still the best value phone around."
The rest of the field
LG's latest phablet, the G3, is now available. It's a very good phone, and combines a lot of the best features of the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the HTC One M8. The specs on this thing are insane: 2560×1440 IPS screen, 13 MP front camera, up to 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and a friggin' laser autofocus on the camera. It also has a removable 3000 mAh battery and a microSD slot. Its plastic back has a fake-metal finish that looks better than it feels.
In our testing, we really liked the screen, and the fact that its interface is less bloated, more consistently designed, and cleaner than Samsung's. The rear-mounted power and volume buttons actually make a lot of sense on a phone this size and are easy to get used to, especially because you can knock on the phone's front to wake it up. The camera is good, there are lots of smart interface addons, and it has an IR blaster for controlling AV gear. There are a few annoyances–the app tray isn't sorted alphabetically by default, the speakers are wimpy, and despite the G3's specs it often lagged while opening apps.
Vlad Savov at The Verge gives it an 8.3 (out of 10) and calls it "a phone worth waiting for." Engadget's James Trew gives it a 91 (out of 100) and says that if you can get used to the faux-metal finish, the size, and the fact that the physical buttons are on the back, it "should be one of the best Android phones you can buy right now." CNET gives it 4.5 stars and loves almost everything about it, except the battery life: "The high-resolution QHD display is a power-hog; I wasn't able to get the phone to last a full day between charges."
Florence Ion at Greenbot says, "In a direct comparison of the Galaxy S5 and the G3, the LG phone wins, if only by the slimmest of margins." She loved the screen, camera, interface, build quality, and battery life, though her battery life results aren't directly comparable because the review unit Greenbot got, like many of the ones LG sent out, didn't have a U.S. cell connection.
Strangely, PCMag says the battery life is "very good," and gives it an Editors' Choice award. Sascha Segan says, "You will or won't buy the LG G3 for its screen. The Samsung Galaxy S5 has comparable performance in a slightly smaller form factor, with a brighter, more emphatic AMOLED screen and better Wi-Fi performance. But nothing is like the LG G3′s 538-ppi screen. Can you appreciate that level of sharpness? I can't, and the darn phone won't fit in my hand, either. But lots of other people can. Maybe you're one of them."
I agree with Sascha and Florence (except about the battery life, which was consistently bad on my T-Mobile review unit). It's a great phone, but there are lots of great phones now. I'd rather have the Galaxy S5's water resistance, the HTC One M8's build quality, or the OnePlus One's price, and they all have better battery life than the LG G3. But it's not a bad phone, and if you've gotta have the screen, get it. Honestly, if the battery life was better I'd probably pick this over the Galaxy S5. I just think the Galaxy S5 is a better choice for most people. It's $200 on contract on Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T, and $600 off-contract at T-Mobile.
The OnePlus One is a fantastic monster. It's huge, with a 5.5-inch 1080p screen, 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, 16 or 64GB of storage, and a 13MP camera. Its guts match those of the Galaxy S5, but with a $300 price tag ($350 for the 64GB version).It runs CyanogenMod 11S, a very customizable Android spinoff, and works on AT&T and T-Mobile's LTE networks. It's getting great reviews, and if you don't mind the size it's definitely the unlocked phone to get. I used the OnePlus One for three weeks straight and, once I got used to the size, I loved it. It's fast and capable, close to stock Android but tweakable in a way power users will appreciate. The sandstone backplate is grippy and awesome, the speakers are loud, the screen is gorgeous, and the battery lasts all day. I'm not the only one who likes it. PCMag's Eugene Kim gives it an Editors' Choice award and says the 1080p IPS screen is one of the best he's ever seen in a phone. Engadget's Brad Molen has a lot of good things to say about it despite its size, non-removable battery, and lack of external storage. Time's Jared Newman says "it's hard to imagine a better phone for Android geeks."
The catch? You probably can't get one. Because this is OnePlus' first phone, supplies are limited. You need an invite to order one, and they're hard to come by. The other catch–and it's a big one–is that the OnePlus One is huge. We put a big emphasis on one-handed usability here, and this thing is definitely a phablet. If the HTC One M8 is too big for your hands, the OnePlus One is out of the question. Still, it only took me a few days to get used to the size when I tested it. It's definitely the best phablet for the price, but we can't actually recommend something you can't buy.
Amazon's first foray into smartphones is the Fire Phone, a 4.7-inch 720p device running a customized version of Android, like the Kindle Fire tablets. It's available on AT&T only, and the 32GB version is $200 on-contract ($650 off) and the 64GB version is $300 ($750 off-contract). The first round of reviews paints a picture of a phone that has some interesting software not executed very well, packaged inside somewhat basic hardware. The big deal about the Fire Phone when it was announced in June was Firefly service, which uses machine vision to identify things around you, from food labels, to gadgets, to songs, to phone numbers on business cards. This sounded great, of course, but early reviews show its performance is a little buggy. The Verge's David Pierce said it "can recognize lots of things, but it's incredibly, hilariously inconsistent." The other big thing is its motion-tracking screen, which uses four cameras to detect your face and where it is in relation to the phone. You can use this for scrolling through web pages, navigating 3D pictures, and whatever else people program it to do. CNET's Jessica Dolcourt calls this is a gimmick: "You certainly don't need it, but parts of it look really cool." It also has the Mayday live customer support service from the Fire tablets, which is useful for the less technically savvy.
Our two biggest concerns are the app ecosystem and availability. The Fire is limited to the Amazon App Store; without the Google Play Store it can't compete with mainline Android or iOS devices on apps. The second problem is its AT&T exclusivity. The iPhone was AT&T-only (in 2007), but this is 2014, and all the other flagship phones are available on all major carriers, so carrier exclusivity isn't going to do the Fire Phone any favors. According to a comment on Ars Technica's liveblog of the phone's unveiling, it looks like the Fire Phone supports plenty of cellular and LTE networks. So the carrier exclusivity may be temporary, and it's possible unlocked phones will be able to be used on other networks, but we don't know yet.
The Fire has a 2400mAh battery, but with four always-on front-facing cameras it's not really a surprise that the battery life is pretty bad; The WSJ's Geoffrey Fowler said he couldn't get the device to last an entire day once during his five days of testing.
The Fire Phone seems like it'll be most useful to people who are already bought in heavily to Amazon's ecosystem, from shopping to Prime music and video to Kindle books and Comixology comics to Amazon Cloud Drive storage. (It also comes with unlimited Cloud Drive storage for photos and videos and a year of free Amazon Prime.) But for most people, this is not the best phone right now.
The Sony Xperia Z2 promises the build quality of the HTC One M8 and the water-resistance and camera of the Galaxy S5, with the speed and battery life of both. CNET gives it 4.5 stars. Unfortunately, The Verge says the display is "practically unusable on a sunny day" and the camera is hindered by its software, which CNET also mentioned. It's not clear whether it'll be picked up by US carriers, and it's hard to justify an unsubsidized phone more expensive than the Nexus 5 for most people.
Huawei is putting a small foot into the U.S. market with the Ascend Mate2, a 6.1-screen phablet. It's just $300 and has excellent battery life, but it's hard to love: it's huge, the screen is only 720p, the stock launcher has no app tray and is confusing by American standards, the notification sounds are atrocious, and my review unit's white plastic back felt very slippery in the hands and managed to attract a lot of dust. PCMag's Eugene Kim gives it 4 stars, despite calling it "comically large and an ergonomic nightmare," both statements I'd agree with. In my testing the Mate2 was consistently unpleasant to use. There's no way I'd pick it over the OnePlus One (or even the Nexus 5) given the choice. The OnePlus One is the same price, but slightly smaller and faster, with a higher-res screen, better software, and better build quality. But then again most people can't even get their hands on a OnePlus One, so Huawei has that going for them. Which is nice.
Given this year's improvements in battery life and quality, we don't think it's worth buying a Galaxy S4 or last year's HTC One unless you can get one for almost no money. Same goes with most phones older than a year or so—in general, the money you save will not be worth the annoyance of having an outdated phone a year or so down the line.
What to look forward to
Motorola just announced the new Moto X, and it looks amazing. The first Moto X was our favorite Android phone of last fall, and the new one could be our favorite of this fall.
We loved the one-handed usability of the first Moto X, but the smartphone market is going bigger and so's the Moto X. The new one has a 5.2-inch 1080p screen instead of the 4.7-inch 720p screen of the first one. It also has the same CPU as the Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8, 2GB of RAM, and up to 32GB storage. It has a 13MP camera.
The first one had a metal and plastic frame and plastic or wood backplates. The new one has an aluminum bezel and plastic, wood, or even leather backplates. It looks amazing. The most exciting parts of the Moto X, though, are the things that made the first one great: always-on Touchless Control ("Okay, Google Now"), Active Display (now called Moto Display), and Moto Assist, which has contextual actions to make your phone smarter. Greenbot says it has new gesture controls, which you can use even with the screen off. Motorola phones have a very sleek, unbloated interface that's very close to stock Android, so there's none of the crud we didn't like about the Galaxy S5. CNET says it's even water-resistant, though we don't know the details yet.
The Moto X will be $500 unlocked and $100 on-contract at AT&T and Verizon; we don't know about the other carriers yet. We also don't know how good its battery life is. We'll update this piece once reviews hit and we've had a chance to use the phone ourselves.
The new Moto G is also larger than the old version, at 5 inches and 720p. It now has a microSD slot and some models will be dual-SIM. It's $180 unlocked, available now.
Samsung announced two new phablets, the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge. The Note 4 looks like the thing to get if you like very large phone-tablet hybrids with styluses, as it turns out lots of people do. The Note 4 has a 5.7-inch 2560×1440 AMOLED screen, 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805 CPU, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, and comes with Android 4.4.4. It'll come out in October and Samsung will likely sell a ton of them. (You'll also be able to buy an Oculus-Rift-style VR headset that you can slot the Note 4 into. For some reason.)
The Note Edge is pretty similar, but the right edge of the screen curves toward the back, leaving a sloped strip of screen that Samsung apps will be able to put content on. It looks cooler than the Note 4, but more gimmicky, so we'll see if it's any good. The Verge has a hands-on. Relevant: Not good for left-handed people.
Sony also announced new phones at IFA: the Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact, and E3. The Z3 is a 5.2-inch water-resistant phone with a 1080p screen, quad-core CPU, and the usual specs for a phone of this generation. Its coolest trick is that it supports streaming from the PlayStation 4: You'll run the games on the PS4, but you'll be able to control and view them from your phone's screen. It's a similar trick to what the Nvidia Shield can do for your gaming PC. So this is pretty cool for a phone.
The Verge thinks the Z3 Compact is the real star. It's about the size of a Moto X, but has the Z3's features, including a powerful processor and camera and better water-resistance than the Samsung Galaxy S5. The one problem with Sony's phones is that they're usually only available unlocked in the US for the full ~$600 price.
At Google's I/O conference in June, the company showed off a preview of the next version of Android, known for now only as Android L. Most of what they showed is an emphasis on a new design aesthetic, one with more visual touch feedback, transitional animations, and an overarching card-like (but not flat) design. The L release will also include a new, more interactive notifications pane. There's also better integration with wearables: For example, if your phone detects that you're wearing your smartwatch, it won't prompt you for an unlock PIN. Other under-the-hood improvements include a new built-in 3D graphics engine, faster performing apps, better battery life, and more ways for apps to share data with each other on your phone. The new version won't be out until the fall, but a developer preview will be available on some Nexus devices before then.
Google will probably announce a new Nexus phone in November. If you prefer your phones stock and unsubsidized, that'll be the new phone to beat.
Wrapping it up
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is the best new phone to get if you need a carrier-subsidized phone right now. It's fast and has a beautiful screen, long-lasting battery, and a great camera, plus it probably won't die if you drop it in the sink. The software is a little bit bloated and its plastic chassis isn't as nice as the competition, but it's still good. If you want better speakers and build quality, get the HTC One M8; if you need an unsubsidized phone free of bloat get the Nexus 5. Otherwise, consider waiting to see what comes next.
High five: Samsung's best phone gets better, CNET, April 7th, 2014,
Samsung Galaxy S5 (T-Mobile), PCMag, April 8th, 2014,
Samsung Galaxy S5 review, The Verge, April 14th, 2014,
Samsung Galaxy S5 review: Better, but not the best, Greenbot, April 14th, 2014,
Samsung Galaxy S5 Review, Anand Tech, April 8th, 2014,
Samsung's Galaxy S5 has plenty of upgrades--so why does it feel so meh?, Ars Technica, April 10th, 2014,
Samsung Galaxy S5 camera shootout versus HTC One M8, iPhone 5S, CNET, April 10th, 2014,
HTC One M8 Review, LaptopMag, March 25th, 2014,
Mobile phones analyst for PCMag, Interview,
Mobile phones lead analyst for PCMag, Interview,
HTC's stunning sequel steals the show , CNET, March 25th, 2014,
The HTC One (M8) Review, Anand Tech, March 26th, 2014,
Samsung Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8): Which phone reigns supreme?, Greenbot, April 21st, 2014,
Samsung Galaxy S5 vs HTC One M8: Ultimate Android Battle , LaptopMag, April 15th, 2014,
Review: Google's $179 Moto G puts every single cheap Android phone to shame, ArsTechnica, December 7th, 2013,
The price you want, but not the power you crave, CNET, December 4th, 2013,
Moto G Review: The Best Cheap Phone, But Still a Cheap Phone, Gizmodo, December 9th, 2013,
Sleek luxury meets lightning performance, CNET, April 14th, 2014,
Xperia Z2 and Z2 Tablet review: One Sony, two devices, The Verge, April 21st, 2014,


text:
Black Friday is highly overrated
Myths about the day after Thanksgiving have been exposed. And, no, it's not the biggest shopping day of the year.
When you're born without the shopping gene, Black Friday is nothing to get excited about. But, according to a new post at dealnews.com, even if you love to shop, it's not all it's been cracked up to be -- certainly not a reason to fight crowds at 4 in the morning.
In fact, the benefit of camping out is No. 3 on dealnews' list of 15 Black Friday myths that don't match the facts:
These days, more and more Black Friday deals are available online as well as in-store. Couple that with the fact that many Black Friday doorbusters are either matched or beaten later in the season, and you can only conclude that it's not worth camping out for Black Friday specials. At most stores, being first in line to go in at 5 a.m. only guarantees that you'll get shoved around as the 500 people behind you are also let in.
Among other Black Friday myths that are busted:
- Black Friday starts on Black Friday. Actually, you can find many Black Friday deals online on Turkey Day, and some are quickly sold out. You'll also find BF deals online that don't appear in the sales circulars.
- BF is the busiest shopping day of the year. No. That would be the Saturday before Christmas.
- BF prices are always sale prices. Dealnews says: "In the past several years, retailers have been caught red-handed jacking up prices before Black Friday, then lowering them with supposed discounts that leave the price higher than it was before." Shocking, we know. You can avoid this trap by knowing what stuff really costs. Start tracking prices now. They may very well go down after Black Friday has come and gone.
- BF is the best day to buy a new TV. It may be the best day to buy a TV made by some company you've never heard of, but the top brands likely won't be at their lowest price that day, dealnews says.
- If you want to return BF purchases, the store is OK with that. Numerous sources report that stores are tightening their return policies and demanding personal information like an e-mail address, phone number or credit card information so they can track "serial returners" -- SmartMoney says fraudulent returns cost stores $9.6 billion last year -- and also send you ads and sell your info to marketers.
Also, SmartMoney tried to return items to numerous stores and rarely got cash. Store credit is more common.
The strangest myth on dealnews' list: BF doorbusters are free. Not so. "If you find a free TV on Black Friday, please send us a photo of it alongside your pet unicorn," dealnews said.
What are your Black Friday plans? Will you be home in bed or standing in line, waiting to get through the doors?
More from MSN Money:
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text:
Listen to Dr. Michael Cunningham as he discusses how you can protect yourself from sports injuries.
With locations in Perth Amboy and Old Bridge, New Jersey, Raritan Bay Medical Center delivers critical world-class healthcare services care to Monmouth and Middlesex County residents. As providers of first-class healthcare in the areas of stroke, cardiology, cancer, physical rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation, pediatric medicine, Raritan Bay Medical Center continues to stay on the forefront of medicine.
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A former backing vocalist for Adele became one of the first contestants to be subject to the new "steal" rule as NBC's The Voice reached the first of its battle rounds on Monday night.
Hopefuls Collin McLoughlin and Amanda Brown, a former backup singer for Adele and Alicia Keys , both had lifelines thrown to them and they switched teams to stay in the contest. Meanwhile, Terry McDermott , Bryan Keith , De'borah , Diego Val , Trevin Hunte and Gracia Harrison were all picked by their mentors to advance to the live solo rounds.
"The Steal" is a new feature this season, whereby coaches can scoop up a certain number of contestants who have been rejected by rival coaches. If two coaches want the same person, it reverts back to the contestant's choice just like in the blind auditions.
In the battle rounds, the coaches pit two of their own team members against each other to sing the same song together in front of a studio audience. After the vocal duel, the coach must choose which of his or her singers will advance. At the end of the battle rounds, only the strongest members of each coach's roster remain and proceed to the live stage shows.
The coaches are now joined be joined by guest mentors. Adam Levine's team will be co-mentored by Mary J Blige ; Cee Lo Green is joined by Rob Thomas ; Michael Bublé helps to coach Blake Shelton' s team; and Green Day 's Billie Joe Armstrong is on duty to help guide Christina Aguilera's contestants.
Here are some of Monday's highlights:
-- For Team Blake, country singer Casey Muessigman was up against Scottish rocker Terry McDermott on the song "Carry On Wayward Son," by Kansas . They were assisted in rehearsals by Michael Bublé. The song reflected both men's singing styles and tough attitudes. Christina said they both showed off their range and dynamics. Blake decided that, as Terry "already knows what his voice is," he should advance.
-- Adam enlisted the help of Mary J Blige to help coach Bryan Keith and Collin McLoughlin. They took on the song "Santeria," by Sublime . Colin needed to put some "danger" into his vocal, Bryan was told to hone his technique on certain notes. Blake thought the battle was "a lot of fun." Adam thought Bryan deserved to move forward. However, Cee Lo and Blake both used their "steal" option, giving Colin a lifeline. Colin decided to join Team Blake.
-- Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day is helping to mentor Team Christina. De'borah was chosen to sing-off against teammate Nelly's Echo . Their song was "Message in a Bottle," by The Police . De'borah did not know the song and had to work hard to learn it in rehearsals. Cee Lo thought Nelly's Echo had a great voice but De'borah put soul into the song. Christina picked De'borah to advance.
-- Amanda Brown and Trevin Hunte were representing team Cee Lo. They were helped in rehearsals by Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 . Amanda is a former backup singer for Adele and Alicia Keys. They took on the power ballad, "Vision of Love," by Mariah Carey . The battle had the audience and judges on their feet. Adam immediately committed to trying to steal whomever Cee Lo did not pick. Christina said the performance was outstanding and also took a leap on the steal process. Blake chose to use his steal option, too. Cee Lo chose Trevin to advance on his team, leaving Amanda the luxury to join Team Adam.
-- Also advancing were Diego Val for Team Cee Lo and Gracia Harrison for Team Blake.
The Voice returns to NBC on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio


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Cap & Tassel
Kindergarten Graduation Caps and Tassels Pack
Are you looking for kindergarten graduation caps and tassels for your little graduates to wear on their big day? Here at GraduationSource, we have a complete line of kindergarten graduation caps and tassels which will make your graduate look perfect on their special day. When you purchase kids graduation caps from our online store, you can see how they are trimmed to perfection.
The firm fitting graduation cap has an elastic head portion and a mortarboard top construction to make sure that it is a perfect fit around your child's head. The fabric of the cap is made from shiny, silk-like fabric while the kinder grad tassels are made from a Poly/Rayon blend material. Naturally, you should select a kinder cap and tassels color combination that matches and suites what the school requires. No matter what your requirements are when it comes to your kindergartner's graduation day, you can find it here.


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|Good - 520 reviews
A stay at Hotel De Anza places you in the heart of San Jose, walking distance from San Pedro Square and Peralta Adobe and Fallon House Historic Site. This 4-star hotel is within close proximity of St. Joseph Cathedral Basilica and San Jose Museum of Art. Make yourself at home in one of the 100 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and minibars. Your...
Overall Rating - Good - 520 reviews
Good 7.0
Great location in Downtown San Jose
Management doesn't seem to be keeping up with maintenance issues. My TV and phone didn't work when I got into the room. They came and fixed them but at 4 stars I expect the room will be right and I don't have to spend my time contacting maintenance.
Okay 5.0
Restaurant and lounge located in lobby. Staff was great. Food was good.
Broken DVD player in room, climate control in rooms needs updating, was very hot. ' raid the pantry' option needs attention, was out of food both times we went to get a snack. Was hard to find parking at times.Overall I'd rate this as a 3 star hotel, no comparison between the nearby Fairmont or Marriot hotels.
|no reviews
|Excellent - 5 reviews
With the meteoric growth of the computer industry- Silicon Valley has become one of the world*s busiest hubs- and the capital of this high-tech mecca is San Jose. The Fairmont San Jose combines technological innovation with timeless elegance. A short drive will take you to 30 wineries and the famous Monterey Peninsula golf courses. In the heart of northern C...
Overall Rating - Excellent - 5 reviews
Excellent 10.0
I liked that it was downtown close to bars, clubs and restaurants.
Excellent 10.0
Great hotel, room and staff! Got free upgrade upon arrival and an extra 1/2 hour checkout time so we could go to the next door art museum without a hassle.
|Good - 3 reviews
With a stay at Four Points by Sheraton San Jose, you'll be centrally located in San Jose, steps from San Jose Repertory Theater and Plaza de Cesar Chavez. This family-friendly hotel is within close proximity of Montgomery Theater and Tech Museum. Make yourself at home in one of the 84 guestrooms featuring minibars. Complimentary wireless Internet access is a...
Overall Rating - Good - 3 reviews
Excellent 10.0
Front desk staff was very personable. I called ahead to find out about parking since I was driving a van and wasn't sure about parking clearance. He advised it was an open air parking lot. When I got to the front desk to check in, he remembered my name. Gave us free waters, asked me about my day, why I was there. Said I went hiking that day and gave recommendations for other hiking spots. Was very pleasant. Was refreshing actually such nice people and great service. Maids in the hall were very nice with smiles. Coffee downstairs was great. I will definitely be back if I am in San jose.
Mediocre 3.3
No fridge, spit all over the elevator doors, dirty comforter with stains on it. ghetto young adults fighting in the front entrance, Ghetto people screaming in the hallways at 4 am. When I asked the front desk staff if the hotel is always full of ghetto people. They said mostly just ghetto people on the weekends. My room also looked straight across into another guests room giving you no privacy. Also $23 a night for uncovered self parking is a lot. The room was extremely small.
|Good - 1 reviews
This Hyatt Place hotel features 234 guestrooms and suites as well as nearly 7,000 square feet of flexible meeting/banquet space. We also offer a Complimentary a.m. Kitchen Skillet, featuring freshly prepared breakfast sandwiches, waffles, French toast, pancakes and steel cut oatmeal, available daily along with free wifi throughout the hotel and guestrooms...
Overall Rating - Good - 1 reviews
Good 7.3
Small room, no pool or spa
|Excellent - 4 reviews
With a stay at The Sainte Claire Hotel, you'll be centrally located in San Jose, steps from San Jose Convention Center and San Jose Civic Auditorium. This 4-star hotel is within close proximity of American Musical Theater and Montgomery Theater. Make yourself at home in one of the 171 guestrooms. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, an...
Overall Rating - Excellent - 4 reviews
Excellent 9.0
The rooms were very nice and if you get one with a view all the better.
There is literally no free parking in the area. Valet is $29/night, across the street is 20/night, the convention center is ~$25/night... You can't park in a meter, you will get a ticket. So much for the deal on Priceline. The difference was the parking.. I just ended up valeting the car because trying to lug all my stuff from the parking lot wasn't an option.
Good 6.6
The location was good, because I had reservations at Mortons. I asked for corkscrew, toothbrush and toothpaste at the front desk which they offered for free. They alarm clock that had a iPhone 5 dock and usb plug to charge both of our phones, since I brought one iPhone 5 cable. They had a flat screen tv and a few channels to choose from. Checkout was at 12pm.
The hallways and room smelled a little sour (good thing I brought flowers to liven up the smell). Room was a little small and since or room was on the back side of the hotel, we only had a view of the roof. I feel the price was a little much for the size of the room. There was a deep stain in the rug of the hallway in front of my room. Looked liked someone threw up on the rug. The alarm clock's display was broken, so I couldn't tell the time. The tub's floor was a little chipped, felt weird when we stepped on it. The hot and cold on the shower was backwards. Overnight valet was a little much for $29 when the guy taking my car said they only do street parking.
|Excellent - 6 reviews
Overall Rating - Excellent - 6 reviews
Excellent 9.0
Pay WiFi with speed tiers.
Excellent 9.6
Excellent location, top choice for San Jose. Walking distance to major attractions and night life in the area. Excellent VTA transit access as well. Also consider the Hilton and Fairmont nearby. Valet parking is $29 with in/out privileges. This is a reasonable price for the area.
|Good - 2 reviews
The Hilton San Jose hotel is set in an excellent central location in the heart of Silicon Valley. Connected to the San Jose McEnery Convention Center and situated at the hub of a city flourishing with industry, this San Jose hotel is an ideal choice for business travelers. Discover many top companies nearby as well as popular attractions including museums, t...
Overall Rating - Good - 2 reviews
|Good - 8 reviews
Business or pleasure - the Ramada San Jose Downtown Near Convention Center hotel can be your center point for everything. Centrally located in Downtown San Jose, you are within walking distance to fine dining, specialty shopping and the San Jose Convention Center. Our hotel provides the perfect location for the extended stay guest as well as the guest who is...
Overall Rating - Good - 8 reviews
Excellent 10.0
Easy parking. Walking distance to convention center
Good 7.6
The breakfast was a good Idea, as well as the microwave, and fridge.
Maybe a smile or two from the front desk personel
|Good - 3 reviews
With a stay at Arena Hotel in San Jose, you'll be minutes from SAP Center at San Jose and close to Santa Clara University. This hotel is within close proximity of J. Lohr Winery and Peralta Adobe and Fallon House Historic Site. Make yourself at home in one of the 89 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Your room comes with a pillowto...
Overall Rating - Good - 3 reviews
Excellent 10.0
It was very nice and people were great. Beautiful grounds. Close to the sap center where we went to the Cher concert, which was also wonderful. We will be staying there again.
Okay 5.6
. Fast check in and check out.
There was no safe for our money or personal items. No electrical outlets readily available. I had to move furniture to get to an electrical outlet. AC unit was very loud and annoying which made it difficult to sleep. We could here all of the footsteps above our room/right above our bed in room 104. I tossed and turned until 4 am. More towels were needed. Limited parking.
|Good - 38 reviews
With a stay at Flamingo Motel in San Jose, you'll be minutes from J. Lohr Winery and close to Santa Clara University. This motel is within close proximity of SAP Center at San Jose and Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. Make yourself at home in one of the guestrooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected...
Overall Rating - Good - 38 reviews
|Good - 29 reviews
The Comfort Inn hotel is conveniently located off Highway 101 in the heart of Silicon Valley, within minutes from downtown and the San Jose International Airport. This San Jose hotel is minutes from Paramount's Great America, the San Jose Convention and Cultural Center, San Jose State University, theWinchester Mystery House and Santa Clara University. There...
Overall Rating - Good - 29 reviews
|Good - 70 reviews
Motel 6 San Jose Convention Center is located off I-880 at The Alameda/SR 82, and close to the convention center, sports arena, and a short distance from the airport. Enjoy our modern rooms, seasonal outdoor pool, and free Wi-Fi
Overall Rating - Good - 70 reviews
|Okay - 264 reviews
AAA approved 3 Diamonds, 1 1/2 miles from San Jose Convention Center, 1/2 mile from Santa Clara University, 1 mile from San Jose Intl Airport, Egyptian Museum and Rose Gardens Park nearby. Close to Valley Medical, OConnor Hospital San Jose State University. Award Winning Newly renovated property features High Speed Internet, SuperStart Breakfast, outdoor poo...
Overall Rating - Okay - 264 reviews
Okay 6.0
The rooms were clean and typical Super 8 decor. We always enjoy having the continental breakfast in the morning. However, we were disappointed that there is no elevator to the second floor. The pool was out of order - which was a huge disappointment considering the weather was almost 100 degrees and we had two small children. Also, people should be aware that there is a restaurant/bar attached to the motel. The smoking area for the bar is on the second floor level and patrons left by way of the motel corridors. The noise of talking and music was bad, especially at 2:00 a.m. when the bar was closing. The location is good when flying out of San Jose, but I would not stay there again.
Poor 2.0
I was surprised to find that the Super 8 appeared to be a Mexican Restaurant first, and a motel second. The lounge was noisy and kept me up most of the night. The lounge crowd moved to the parking lot until the early morning hours and I was not pleased. For such a lovely neighborhood, I was disappointed.
|no reviews
Landmarks in San Jose
- San Jose Convention Center (20)
- Santana Row (20)
- HP Pavilion (20)
- San Jose State University (20)
- Winchester Mystery House (20)
- Civic Auditorium (20)
- SAP Center at San Jose (20)
- Raging Waters (20)
- Almaden Plaza (20)
- Alum Rock Park (20)
- Morgan Hill (20)
- Tech Museum (20)
- San Jose Museum of Art (20)
- San Jose Municipal Rose Garden (20)


text:
All Diabetes Programs are Recognized by the American Association of Diabetes Educators as Meeting the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education
Instructional Team: Registered Nurse - Pat Cochrane, BS, RN, CDE and Registered Dietitian - Amanda Tourtellotte, BS, RD, CDN
Professional members of: American Diabetes Association; American Association of Diabetes Educators; American Dietetic Association; and Rochester Area Diabetes Educators. To speak with an educator, please call 315-787-4006.
Individual Diabetes Education & Counseling: Available for: Adults, Children, Individuals with Gestational Diabetes, Individuals needing Insulin Pump Therapy Training and/or Continuous Glucose Monitoring (Personal & Professional).
Comprehensive Diabetes Education Course "Living With Diabetes": An 8-hour course for adults with diabetes, their families, caregivers and support persons. Lunch and all class materials supplied at no charge. Pre-registration is required. Call Central Scheduling at 315-787-4555 or register online at Calendar of Events. Medicare insurance requires physician referral which can be handled by the diabetes office. Program cost is covered by most insurances.
Diabetes Support Groups: Free monthly (except December) meetings held at Geneva General Hospital and in Penn Yan at St. Mark's Senior Living Apartments. Meetings are open to the public, walk-ins welcome - no registration required. Monthly topic film, discusssion, recipe and food tasting. See Calendar of Events for date/time and topic schedule.
Diabetes Awareness Community Outreach: Instructional staff are available for community and industrial worksite group presentations upon request. Call 315-787-4006 for information or to schedule your event.


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Sounds like this kid is ready to jump to the NFL. All they need to know is that he is beating up his girlfriend and the Bengals would sign him in a minute.
Sophomore cornerback David Gordon was one of two Arkansas players arrested Monday by police on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. According to a University of Arkansas police report, Gordon and walk-on defensive back Hunter Miller were lying in the back seat of a car Monday night when an officer approached the vehicle and could smell a strong odor of burnt marijuana.
A cloud of smoke rolled out of the vehicle when Miller opened the door and a plastic bag containing a "green leafy substance" was found inside the driver's side door panel, according to the report. One of the odd things about the arrest was that Gordon was listed as David Lopez on the police report because he has an Oklahoma license that identifies him as David Lopez. Gordon is from Tulsa, Okla.
SOURCE: Hogs' Gordon arrested on drug charge – SEC Blog – ESPN
Want to Lose 9 lbs in Only 11 Days? – Try the Idiot Proof Diet, risk free for 90 days.


text:
The name ESHOWE has an onomatopoeic Zulu derivation, evoking the sound of the wind blowing through the trees. Though visitors generally give the town a miss on the way to the more obvious drama of Ondini and the Battlefields, the place offers a gentle introduction to the Zulu heartland and deserves more than just a passing glance. Apart from its attractive setting, interlacing with the Dlinza Forest, the town is home to one of the world's finest collections of Zulu crafts and has a tour operator offering excellent excursions that take you out to experience some authentic Zulu culture and other aspects of life in Zululand that you would otherwise most likely miss.
Vukani Zulu Cultural Museum
Vukani Zulu Cultural Museum
Containing more than three thousand examples of traditional Zulu arts and crafts, the brilliant Vukani Zulu Cultural Museum is housed in a purpose-built structure on the grounds of Fort Nongqayi. Guided tours take you through the huge range of baskets (a craft at which Zulu culture excels), each made for a specific purpose, the finest of which are the ones by Reuben Ndwandwe, arguably the greatest Zulu basket weaver. There are also carvings, beadwork, tapestries and some outstanding ceramics, including works by Nesta Nala, one of the leading proponents of the form. Both Ndwandwe and Nala died a few years ago of AIDS. The benchmark examples here allow you to form an idea of the quality of basketry and crafts you'll see for sale as you work your way around Zululand. The museum itself sells baskets and pottery by local artists, which far surpass what's on offer at the on-site crafts shop.


text:
If your business has lost money or assets due to fraud, or if you have been accused of committing business fraud, it is important to have experienced legal representation on your side. Failure to act decisively could be a costly mistake, and open you to unnecessary risk and liability.
At Brown & Charbonneau, LLP, our Orange County fraud dispute attorneys have extensive experience handling civil fraud litigation cases for businesses and professionals throughout California. We offer the services of a civil trial specialist who will work to protect your legal and financial interests.
Resolving Fraud Issues
We are a solution-oriented firm that is focused on helping businesses and professionals solve their disputes and obtain successful legal results. Our Irvine business litigation attorneys handle a wide range of business fraud lawsuits, including those involving:
- Fraud, misrepresentation and failure to disclose
- Commercial litigation and UCC actions
- Merchant and vendor disputes
As former and current business owners, our attorneys understand the impact that fraud can have on the life of your business. We will work to reach a quick and efficient resolution so that the financial impact of your dispute can be mitigated.
Call for a Consultation With an Irvine Business Law Attorney
If your business has been harmed due to internal or external fraud, or if you have been accused of defrauding another business or individual, we are here to help you explore your legal options, including handling matters involving punitive damages. Contact our Orange County fraud dispute lawyers online or call 888-809-1235 or 1-714-881-4286 to schedule a consultation to discuss your situation. We offer competitive rates, and for your convenience, evening and weekend consultations by appointment. Se habla español.


text:
|HAL: in2p3-00700377, version 1
|DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2011.08.025
|Detailed view
|Export this paper
|Nuclear Engineering and Design 246 (2012) 157-162
|Ruthenium release modelling in air and steam atmospheres under severe accident conditions using the MAAP4 code
|E. Beuzet1J.S. Lamy1H. Perron2E. Simoni3G. Ducros4
|In a nuclear power plant (NPP), a severe accident is a low probability sequence that can lead to core fusion and fission product (FP) release to the environment (source term). For instance during a loss-of-coolant accident, water vaporization and core uncovery can occur due to decay heat. These phenomena enhance core degradation and, subsequently, molten materials can relocate to the lower head of the vessel. Heat exchange between the debris and the vessel may cause its rupture and air ingress. After lower head failure, steam and air entering in the vessel can lead to degradation and oxidation of materials that are still intact in the core. Indeed, Zircaloy-4 cladding oxidation is very exothermic and fuel interaction with the cladding material can decrease its melting temperature by several hundred of Kelvin. FP release can thus be increased, noticeably that of ruthenium under oxidizing conditions. Ruthenium is of particular interest because of its high radio-toxicity due to 103Ru and 106Ru isotopes and its ability to form highly volatile compounds, even at room temperature, such as gaseous ruthenium tetra-oxide (RuO4). It is consequently of great need to understand phenomena governing steam and air oxidation of the fuel and ruthenium release as prerequisites for the source term issues. A review of existing data on these phenomena shows relatively good understanding. In terms of oxygen affinity, the fuel is oxidized before ruthenium, from UO2 to UO2+x. Its oxidation is a rate-controlling surface exchange reaction with the atmosphere, so that the stoichiometric deviation and oxygen partial pressure increase. High temperatures combined with the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere lead to fuel expansion and formation of cracks. In these conditions, intra- and inter-granular diffusions of ruthenium in the fuel matrix are so enhanced that it is possible to consider an instantaneous volatilisation of ruthenium oxides at the fuel surface. Based on these considerations, a completely new model has been implemented in the EDF local version of the MAAP4.07 severe accident code (Modular Accident Analysis Program), owned by EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute). The fuel oxidation modelling takes into account many kinds of atmospheres (steam and/or air and/or hydrogen), the stoichiometric evolution and the oxygen partial pressure of the fuel matrix. The release of ruthenium oxides is calculated considering their particular reaction constants. The model was assessed by the simulation of different CEA-VERCORS experiments in air, steam and mixed atmospheres. These experiments are specifically designed to study FP release from fuel under different atmospheres and temperatures. This paper deals with the main results obtained with MAAP4.07 when simulating these tests.
|IPNO - Institut de Physique Nucléaire d'Orsay
|Physics/Physics/Chemical Physics
|in2p3-00700377, version 1
|From: Sophie Heurteau
|Submitted on: Tuesday, 22 May 2012 17:32:25
|Updated on: Tuesday, 22 May 2012 17:34:34


text:
Book Club Kits
Girls in White Dresses
by Close, Jennifer
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1. Which character did you relate to most closely, and why?
2. Ambivalence --- toward jobs, men, apartments, and children --- is a recurring theme in Girls in White Dresses. Why do you think that is?
3. Several of the characters keep some pretty big secrets, such as the way Abby keeps her friends away from her hippy parents. How does this affect Abbys life? How do the books other secrets affect the characters?
4. Mary wonders why nobody warned her that during her first year as a lawyer, You will be constantly afraid. (page 120) What role does fear play in the womens lives?
5. Throughout the book, questions of identity pop up. For example, when a friend gets divorced and decides to keep her married name, Isabella thinks it may be because, Shes afraid no one will remember who she is. (page 249) How do these characters determine who they are? By the end, who seems to have created the strongest sense of self?
6. Where do you imagine Isabella, Mary, and Lauren will be in five years?
|Additional discussion questions from:
Reading Group Guides


text:
No Escape
Edit Page Last Edit: 1 year ago
No Escape is one of the main story missions in The Incredibles Play Set.
- Rewards: Ice Cream Truck unlocked, Newspaper Stand Unlocked, 100 coins, 25 sparks.
Speak to Rick Dicker at HQ. He'll tell the Incredible that the SuperMax Prison needs to be built. Purchase it from the Toy Store and place it on one of the empty pads in front of HQ to finish the mission.
What Links HereThe Incredibles | The Incredibles Toys | Newspaper Stand
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