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BreakPoint Blog
It's All about Power
"hate chicken"???!?
Fortunately, the PFM offices are outside the D.C. city limits.
And probably only those my age and trivia buffs will get the reference, but someone should tell Dan Cathy "You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred."
Actually that is uncharitable; we don't know it is ALL about power and in fact that would be highly unlikely in such a large grouping.
The curious paradox of supporting both gays and Moslems stems both from a laudable if rather twisted sympathy for the disadvantaged and a distaste for western civilization and it's supporters. The fact that Moslem's disapprove of homosexuality is to them less important then the fact that Westerners once did.
Also contempt for the past makes them more provincial then they think they are. A lot of leftists are in fact more "Eurocentric" then typical rightists. In point of fact they are really "Paris coffeehouse-centric" rather then Eurocentric.
Johnathan Haidt once pointed out that the outliers in moral philosophy are really Western intelligentsia; he called it Western Educated Industrial Rich Democratic(WEIRD) who take account of kindness and neglect other virtues.
Mona Charen has an interesting take on this issue:
"Burnt By the Sun" is in Russian, with English subtitles. The anniversary edition of "Doctor Zhivago" is in English with subtitles available for English (for hearing impaired), French and Spanish - but not Russian. Go figure. But since I may be stuck in a hotel room this weekend, I'll be watching both movies.
And for that trip, as yet another seditious act, I've already mapped out the locales of all Chick-fil-A restaurants near to where I'll be. I intend to patronize them as often as possible.
Plus, I'm almost done reading Rodney Stark's book _The Victory of Reason_. In it he argues that totalitarianism leads to decreased productivity. It appears that the exercise of power doesn't have to be total to cause financial problems:
But those in power live comfortable lives. The contrast is still striking: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."


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Summer fun times at the Ark
We have had so much fun this Summer at the Ark. Everything from water wars by the fountain, trips to Willis Tucker Park, the Game Truck making a visit and crazy hair day to get excited about. Only 3 weeks of our Awesome Summer Adventure Land left. So much more fun to be had in a short amount of time.
Eggstravaganza in Mill Creek
This Saturday April 19th is the Annual Egg Hunt put on by the Mill Creeks Parks and Recreation. This is a wonderful event. Fun for the whole family. Please bring a non-perishable food item to help support the Mill Creek Food Bank and/or donate a new or lightly used (freshly clean) blanket for Volunteers of America.
Spring Break 2014
Spring break at the Ark was so much fun! From pajama day to hula hooping in the lobby, the kids had a blast. Not only did the kids participate in fun theme days, they also had a "Just Dance" off. It was great seeing our little dancing queens and kings bust a move! Our school breaks are a lot like our summer program, so with all the fun we had this week Summer at the Ark is sure to be a success as well!
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Honeymoon Bay Coffee Roasters
At the Nancy's Noah's Ark Coffee stand, located inside Nancy's Noah's Ark preschool, baristas are serving up coffee purchased from Honeymoon Bay Coffee Roasters, a local Oak Harbor, Washington based coffee roasting company. To learn more about Honeymoon Bay Coffee Roasters, please visit their website at www.honeymoonbaycoffee.com.
Mill Creek Business Association
Nancy's Noah's Ark, Inc. is a member of the Mill Creek Business Association and a proud sponsor of the annual Mill Creek Festival and Street Fair. For more information, please visit the Mill Creek Business Association's website, millcreekbiz.com or millcreekfestival.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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fraudulent use of somebody else's money the illegal use of money by somebody who is not the owner but who has been trusted to look after it
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fraudulent use of somebody else's money the illegal use of money by somebody who is not the owner but who has been trusted to look after it
The sound business judgment and immunity from liability rule is very tricky to overturn and the courts will generally not interfere unless there is incontrovertible evidence of fraud or misappropriation.
Calorie can sue for injury to its confidential information, infringement of its unregistered trademark and its copyright, for misappropriation of its trade dress, and can force Fancy-Free to change or close—all without the assistance of any registered intellectual property rights.
By Jeremy Phillips
Forensic auditing strengthens control mechanisms, with the objective of protecting the business against financial crimes, be they potentially catastrophic one-off events that could threaten the viability of the business, or smaller-scale but repetitive misappropriations of company assets over a number
Similarly, assets are often overvalued in an attempt to bolster the company's financial position and net worth. Besides such overvaluation of assets, which is usually perpetrated by management, misappropriation of assets is one of the most common frauds committed against a company
By Zuraidah Mohd-Sanusi, Yusarina Mat-Isa
Definitions of 'misappropriation' and meaning of 'misappropriation' are from the book publication, QFINANCE – The Ultimate Resource, © 2009 Bloomsbury Information Ltd. Find definitions for 'misappropriation' and other financial terms with our online QFINANCE Financial Dictionary.


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July 11, 2002
July 11, 2002
Rating for this model: Total Votes: 427
Photographer Rating: Total Votes: 40
Age: 25
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Job: LifeGuard
Hobby: Boogie Boarding
Sport: Anything Outdoors
Food: Olive Garden
Music: Janet Jackson
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Job: LifeGuard
Hobby: Boogie Boarding
Sport: Anything Outdoors
Food: Olive Garden
Music: Janet Jackson
Latest Comments:
Soooooo suckable!
just wondering ... where could this gorgeous guy be now after 10 years ! would surely like to see him now. GOSH ! have i been a member of Badpuppy all these years ! MY ! OH ! MY ! I love you all at Badpuppy for all these sexy years i was with you !
Truly one of a kind. Great looks, body and an incredible cock. Where is he now? Bring him back now!
This model is a TEN ! awesome handsome MAN ! incredible gorgeous hard cock. Beautiful body. too bad theres no video. Badpuppy... is it possible to have him back? would be interesting to see him now after all those years ! AND NICK BETTS, congrats for the beautiful pictures.
WOULD BE VERY NICE IF HE CAN HAVE A PARTNER AND FUCK HIS BRAINS out IN A VIDEO ! IT MUST BE INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL ! WITH THAT TOOL ? GOSH ! I'd volunter to get fucked ! ANYONE ???
6/27/11 Yrs later, Brian still scores 10+ not only w/ that splendiferous cock but also in gen. blonde good looks and amiable model traits. Hey, BP staff, we shld ssee more of him & finally w/ a vid after nearly 10 yrs.
Fine looking man in every way but not even one pussy shot, not even close. What a jip!!!
unbelieveable cock ! WoW ! what a hunk ! beautiful photo shots. well, he could fuck me all nite w/ that length & size gosh ! ecstacy. amazingly handsome guy & nice body. to me this is a 10.
God would I luv Brian's beautufl cock up my ass, down my throat, where-ever he wants to put it!
What wouldn't I give to chock on Brian's magnificent cock????
wow.. wish i had this view from my window!!!
I dream about Brian slowly shoving every incredible inch of his gorgeous throbbing cock deep down my throat again and again until he can no longer contain himself and fills my mouth, throat and stomach with his creamy white load!! definately way more than a ten - and I'm not just talking inches!
Brian is so good looking and his cock is unbelieveable. Beautiful veining, beautiful cockhead and if size counts -- wow.
What a treat! Great looking guy--very well endowed. I love profile shots and I certainly wasn't disappointed with this photo set.
What a hunk !! This gentleman prefers blondes esp. w/ (some ?) fur left. A clear 10 for me; too bad no video--does anyone know of a comm.one ??
My congratulations to Brian and Nick Betts for providing such a provocative and erotic photo shoot! It unleashed a boyhood fantasy to see a man living next door expose himself through a window so I could see him naked. The fantasy was finally granted. Definitely a 10 for the photographer and a 10 + for Brian with his great looks, his body and his BFD!
One thing for sure Brian didn't get shorted in the dick department,
Brian is incredible - an overalll 10 in every aspect. I dream of the chance to chock on his amazing dick!!
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Melissa Data's Bankruptcy Lists are CASS Certified™ and NCOALink® move updated bimonthly – and are collected daily directly from courthouses nationwide.
Individuals filing or being discharged from bankruptcy are an attractive target for companies able to service them. These individuals are highly responsive to offers for the products and services they need, including credit repair, secured credit cards, home refinancing, debt consolidation, and asset protection.
Our Bankruptcy Lists feature:
For more information on total universe and base rates, click here.


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Shahid Khan (born 13 March 1985), often credited by his artist and production name Naughty Boy, is a British DJ, songwriter, record producer and musician. In 2012, Khan signed a three-year publishing deal with Sony ATV, as well as a recording contract to release one album under Virgin EMI Records. Khan launched himself as a record producer under the moniker "Naughty Boy" and runs his own production company called Naughty Boy Recordings.
Naughty Boy has produced two top-ten records for UK rappers Chipmunk and Wiley, both featuring Emeli Sandé. Naughty Boy and Sandé later formed a writing and production partnership, leading to Sandé landing her own record deal with Virgin and EMI. Sandé went on to be named the Critics Choice for the 2012 BRIT Awards, and release her debut album Our Version of Events (2012), a record co-written/produced with Naughty Boy. Khan spent 2011 and 2012 working on records for Leona Lewis, JLS, Cheryl Cole, Jennifer Hudson, Alesha Dixon and Tinie Tempah, among others.


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A surging tide of negative consumer sentiment has resulted in a sea change at Microsoft, who today said it would drop many restrictions announced for the upcoming Xbox One gaming console.
Multiple tech sites are reporting Microsoft is "heeding gamer feedback" and changing how the eighth-generation console, due to be released before Christmas, operates.
Gamers flooded the internet with complaints after the tech giant announced the $500 machine required an internet connection to play games, wouldn't play used games and even required the motion-detecting Kinect sensor to be connected.
Don Mattrick, president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment business, said in a blog post titled "Your Feedback Matters" that an internet connection will no longer be required to play games on the Xbox One after its initial setup, and users can share and play games like they have on the Xbox 360.
"You told us how much you
Continue reading Under fire, Microsoft dumps Xbox One restrictions »


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Photo with 1 note
#CAPTAINFALCON (Taken with Instagram)
Photo with 1 note
Sake bomb mishap (Taken with Cinemagram)
Photo with 2 notes
Cucumber and Lemon Water (Taken with Cinemagram)
Photo reblogged from epic4chan with 1,966 notes
"Mike Tyson has beaten every opponent he's ever faced - except the letter 'S.'" - Seth MacFarlane 画
(Taken with http://cinemagr.am)
Video with 15 notes
King Philip still rules over the Philippines. This is how Filipino-America felt
Link with 1 note
(Taken with http://cinemagr.am)
Video with 1 note
I just filmed a video "Tribute" @ Sacramento, CA, USA on #viddy
Photo with 7 notes
This is what every Aaron sees on tumblr.
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Virginia Pine
The Virginia Pine is sturdy and has long dark green needles. We
have these trees in every size, and they are excellent for
ornaments and
are priced $7
per foot, for example a 6ft tree is
Leyland Cypress
The Leyland Cypress is an excellent tree if you have small
children. The tree is very soft and does not have needles. This
is a long- lasting tree, expecially since it grown on the farm and
is freshly cut by you! Our Leyland Cypress' are priced $9 per
foot, for example a 6ft tree is $54.
Our wreaths are made here on the farm from live Fraser Fir cuttings
from North Carolina.


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STASH 86 has hit the virtual stands
November 21, 2011
STASH 86 has dropped. Get this month's top motion graphics picks in tv commercials, music videos, viral videos, short films, and more. Plus, download free music from "Warring States of Mind", and get this month's Digital Tutor's course Particle Integration with ICE and Lagoa in Softimage. STASH.


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Search by Categories e.g.Canon, Light Painting etc
OSP Twitter
- RT @PhotographyOx: Just five evenings left to see the wonderfully moving Paddy Summerfield garden installation at 337 Banbury Rd. http://t.… 17 hours ago
- RT @prophotomag: Camera bags of the more feminine variety! Bit different, we love them, do you? by @rekhagarton buff.ly/1pqnbxD http… 17 hours ago
- RT @annamcnay: Sticks and Stones: fantastic David Chipperfield installation at the Neue Nationalgalerie #Berlin @smbmuseum http://t.co/vkj2… 17 hours ago
- RT @PhotographyOx: Caught the Mark Laita's jewel-like snakes in Serpentine at @ArtsatOFS yet? photographyoxford.co.uk/mark-laita.html http://t.co/y8g9psjaI6 17 hours ago
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What you might have missed
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Commissioners please read this if not already done so - www.furaffinity.net/journal/59…
Pretty much all my commissions were based over on FA
For those who have not recieved an email it means I have no email contact for you. Please comment on either this journal or the one on FA with your email and the costume in question.
Please refrain from flooding me with flames and the like as not only will it be deleted but also ignored. I am trying to fix the situation I have got myself into. Angry posts and drama will not help.
Each costume is being completed in the order it is in the queue, only once no 1. is finished will I move on to the next.
Queue for Completion:
1. Jinxsis Houndoom Quadsuit
2. Feraligator Fursuit
3. Rena Kyu Quadsuit 98% - minor parts for completion and shipping
4. Quadsuit for Saia.Nyde
Queue for Refund:
1. Rena Kyu shipping
I'm just crazy in general... I shout tao [tah-oh] A LOT ... wear weird things and even sometimes normal clothes. Thinking is a forign concept for me XD Sarah's should not think... its bad for them XD
If you ever want to know more just PM me, I am also a comment whore... they make me happy ^o^
Current Residence: Fife
Favourite genre of music: Jrock
Favourite style of art: Manga
Operating System: XP Pro
Wallpaper of choice: My own...
Personal Quote: I HAVE TWO BANANA'S!!!! DDDD


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Judge: April Trial For Man Charged In Brutal Slayings Of Oscar-Winner Jennifer Hudson's Family
A judge says it's time for the man charged in the slayings of three members of Jennifer Hudson's family to face a jury.
Cook County Judge Charles Burns on Thursday set jury selection for April 9 in the trial of William Balfour.
Balfour is charged with first-degree murder in the October 2008 slayings of Hudson's mother, brother and nephew.
Balfour was the estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia. Prosecutors allege he shot her family in a jealous rage because Julia Hudson was dating another man.
The bodies of 57-year-old Darnell Hudson and 29-year-old Jason Hudson were found in the family's home on the city's South Side. The body of 7-year-old Julian King was found days later in a sport utility vehicle on the city's West Side.
Copyright 2014 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Delivering updates on black fashion all across the globe, black fashion history incentives and a few Reblogs here and there. Pictured above: Donyale Luna.
African-American Style Icons & Fashion Stars Past and Present
Check out these 20 fabulous and fierce women here!
Women pictured: Diana Ross (top), Eartha Kitt (middle), Josephine Baker (bottom)
78 notes
We Love ♥♥♥♥♥♥ Glam Dazzling Style
Class acts the lot of them!


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- Music
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- About
- The Weekender
We give FREE Infant CPR classes to expectant or new parents or grandparents.....Call us!We are fun and relaxed. A CPR Class you will finally enjoy!Free Key chain Barrier Device with class......American Heart Association CPR and First Aid classes for an individual or any size group tailored to your schedule. CPR $40, Private Class $50. First Aid and Pediatric First Aid classes $60, which includes CPR. Prices are per student. Respiratory Therapist teaches fun and informative classes for all professions since 1985......502 649-8874, phone or text, or emailhttp://cprchic.home.insightbb.com/cprchic.htmYou receive your card the day you take the classJoin us on Facebook @ Facebook.com/cprsolutionsoflouisvilleWe try to answer your calls between 9am and 8pm on weekdays, but leave a message any time and we will call you back soon.
|Five Reasons Louisville is a Great City for Bibliophiles
|13 Places to Take a Yoga Class for Five Bucks
|Six More Places to Take a Yoga Class for $5 in Louisville
|Friday Bourbon News Roundup: Old Forester Downtown, Bourbon 101, and a Knob Creek Campout
|Louisville Library Life: What's Going on in and Around Louisville (September 24-30)
|Legends Series Returns To Kentucky Derby Museum
|Louisville Library Life (September 17-22)


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Member Services Program
|Members networking at an NWRPCA conference
As a membership association, our members are our greatest asset and our first priority. All the services and programs we provide are for the benefit of community health centers in HRSA Region X (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington). We work on behalf of all health centers, but most directly with the health centers that are our members.
Nearly 90% of our members are health centers. Other NWRPCA members include individuals, associations, corporations and institutions that work with us regularly and share a common mission. One of our primary goals is to keep our members well connected:
- To each other
- To federal partners
- To resources that can benefit them


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Dear Friend,
I am honored to be running to represent the First District in Congress and to have the support of our current Representative, Wally Herger, who is retiring.
The First district is vast and unique. I consider it the real California. A place where family values, hard work and individual responsibility are still the norm. These are not the values of Washington, D.C., but they should be.
As a fourth generation farmer here in our district, I won't let Washington change my values. I will always fight for what I believe in and for the best interests of my district and our country.
As your new representative in Washington, D.C., I will work to: Stop the spending spree and the misguided bailouts; Repeal unnecessary regulations that are a roadblock to economic growth; Increase water storage and delivery; and Stand up for our conservative values and our Constitutional rights.
I would be honored to receive your vote.


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Next, you'll be asked to connect with Twitter. Rest assured, we will never send a tweet from your account
without your permission.
We will send you an email with an invite soon.
Bill Gurley: The sage of Silicon Valley - Fortune - [Not only Texas native, got his Texas MBA from UTAustin McCombs.]
Growing numbers of Silicon Valley startups are [currently valued at] more than a billion dollars - - Shush.
See what's Trending Now for @BobMetcalfe
Follow @BobMetcalfe on Twitter


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Welcome to The Jon Pugh Group's website. We are proud to be working at Coldwell Banker Previews International, the premier brokerage in Orange County and around the world. We are committed to professionalism and customer service, which remains the cornerstone of our business philosophy. We have helped make the dream of home-ownership a reality for many families.
Our team will provide you with a perfect blend of history, experience and admired work ethic. We look forward to providing quality information you can use to make informed decisions about your place in the market.
In 2012, we sold all our listings at or above their asking price with an average marketing time of 14 days. When you list your home with us, you might want to put your moving company on standby!


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Saddle up and bring out your inner cowboy on your vacation! Trot, canter, and gallop your way through miles of riding trails on one of our Wyoming horseback tours. Horseback riding is a great adventure for families, couples, and solo travelers. Our Wyoming trail rides are fun for people of all ages and all riding levels. Enjoy the scenery on one of our horse riding tours and get back in touch with nature. Browse our Wyoming horseback riding and plan your vacation today!
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Rapid City, South Dakota, Wyoming Horseback Riding - Gunsel Horse Adventures will take you to areas of Awesome Rugged Beauty in Yellowstone or So. Dak's. Black Hills & Badlands. "There's nothing better than riding a good horse into new country" says Gus in Lonesome Dove.Turn your Spirit Free. Join us !
Pinedale, Wyoming Horseback Riding - Western Wyoming Outfitters offers horseback riding pack trips, hunting trips, fishing, river float trips, cabin rentals, hiking and more family fun vacations.
Dubois, Wyoming Horseback Riding - Wilderness Base Camp accessed by horseback. Providing full suvice pack trips for fishing, sightseeing and hunting. We also provide gear drops for climbers into the Gannett Peak area.
United States, Wyoming Horseback Riding - Wyoming Active: Horseback Riding
Dubois, Wyoming Dude Ranch - Guest Ranch, horseback riding, hiking, pool, fishing, rifelry, surrounded by 80,000 acers of forest, wilderness and game & fish land. A true western experiance among nature and this spectacular country
Dubois, Wyoming Horseback Riding - For the adventurers wanting a hands-on camping and horse riding experience, we offer horse packing and fishing trips near beautiful Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. We offer progressive pack trips as well as a luxurious base camp.
Ten Sleep, Wyoming Dude Ranch - There's magic knowing you can participate in something that is completely natural. In the quest for authentic, off the beaten track experiences, the Red Reflet Ranch offers a truly unique adventure in one of the West's most spectacular settings.
Dubois, Wyoming Dude Ranch - CM Ranch in Dubois Wyoming- Historic Dude Ranch located near Yellowstone Park specializing in family vacations for over 100 years. Enjoy horseback riding, fishing, hiking, rodeos, square dancing, much more. Beautiful log cabins, excellent meals.
Lander, Wyoming Dude Ranch - Wilderness Dude Ranch offering guided family vacations for riding, fishing, camping, climbing and hunting in the Wind River Range of Wyoming. Cozy rustic cabins, alpine lakes, pine forests, glaciers and solitude.
Cody, Wyoming Horseback Riding - Enjoy Horseback camping and fishing in Northwest Wyoming. By the day or week.


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Posts tagged with 'censorship'
Ian Crouch, The Inconvenient Image Of Dzohokhar Tsarnaev
The vitriol and closed-mindedness of the Web response to the Rolling Stone cover, before anyone had the chance to read the article itself, is an example of two of the ugly public outcomes of terrorism: hostility toward free expression, and to the collection and examination of factual evidence; and a kind of culture-wide self-censorship encouraged by tragedy, in which certain responses are deemed correct and anything else is dismissed as tasteless or out of bounds. The victims of the Boston Marathon bombing deserve our attention, and will continue to teach us about perseverance and the best parts of our common nature. But the dark stories of the bombing need to be told, too. And we need to hear them.
The debate about tools like Twitter Trends is, I believe, a debate we will be having more and more often. As more and more of our online public discourse takes place on a select set of private content platforms and communication networks, and these providers turn to complex algorithms to manage, curate, and organize these massive collections, there is an important tension emerging between what we expect these algorithms to be, and what they in fact are. Not only must we recognize that these algorithms are not neutral, and that they encode political choices, and that they frame information in a particular way. We must also understand what it means that we are coming to rely on these algorithms, that we want them to be neutral, we want them to be reliable, we want them to be the effective ways in which we come to know what is most important.
Twitter Trends is only the most visible of these tools. The search engine itself, whether Google or the search bar on your favorite content site (often the same engine, under the hood), is an algorithm that promises to provide a logical set of results in response to a query, but is in fact the result of an algorithm designed to take a range of criteria into account so as to serve up results that satisfy, not just the user, but the aims of the provider, their vision of relevance or newsworthiness or public import, and the particular demands of their business model. As James Grimmelmann observed, "Search engines pride themselves on being automated, except when they aren't." When Amazon, or YouTube, or Facebook, offer to algorithmically and in real time report on what is "most popular" or "liked" or "most viewed" or "best selling" or "most commented" or "highest rated," it is curating a list whose legitimacy is based on the presumption that it has not been curated. And we want them to feel that way, even to the point that we are unwilling to ask about the choices and implications of the algorithms we use every day.
Peel back the algorithms, and this becomes quite apparent. Yes, a casual visit to Twitter's home page may present Trends as an unproblematic list of terms, that might appear a simple calculation. But a cursory look at Twitter's explanation of how Trends works – in its policies and help pages, in its company blog, in tweets, in response to press queries, even in the comment threads of the censorship discussions - Twitter lays bare the variety of weighted factors Trends takes into account, and cops to the occasional and unfortunate consequences of these algorithms.
- Tarleton Gillespie, Can an algorithm be wrong? Twitter Trends, the specter of censorship, and our faith in the algorithms around us
Gillespie pulls back the curtain and shows the little man working the levers and knobs that control the public face of the great impartial oracle that we seem to want the web to be. However, the 'reality' that Twitter's trending topics or Tumblr's Explore shows is the result of conscious algorithmic and curatorial decisions that shape the results. And that shaping is not just one of emphasis, but of exclusion and censorship.
We are confronting a serious issue of public discourse, one that has been with us for hundreds of years, since Gutenberg: those that control the presses, control public discourse.
Increasingly, as we move out of the industrial, modern era, that control is shifting from corporate media companies — TV, magazine, and newspaper companies — into a web-based, post-modern, post industrial time. The rise of search and social tools has raised up companies like Twitter, Facebook, and Google, and our notions of relevance — and our beliefs and values — are directly influenced by the mazes that these companies have built.
Our social discourse has migrated online: first, in the early '00s, to a constellation of blogs, but now we have migrated into social territorial explicitly owned and managed by web companies.
This is a direct analogue of the growing ownership of US public space by retailers, landlords, and developers. We live in a world of malls, private parks (like Zucotti Park, strangely enough), and other semi-public, privately controlled environments. These are not places solely under the jurisdiction of our civil laws: they are subject to arbitrary controls by their owners. (Paradoxically, it is the fact that Zuccotti Park is not a New York City park that allows protestors to sleep their over night.)
Can we rely on the corporation interests — or whims — of entrepreneurs to control public discourse?
Or more centrally: Is there actually an alternative? If I am interested in seeing what is most relevant to me when I turn on my device, some software has to run, some agency is needed to filter through petabytes of blurbage to pick out the snippets I can read over breakfast. If not this system of Twitter, Flipboard, News.me, and Summify, then what? Are all curation and algorithmic filtering inherently censorship?
I think the answer is yes and no. Yes, any system to filter — either by social curation or algorithmic analysis — will impose some worldview to determine what factors should go into excluding some stories and surfacing others. But, no, that worldview should not be intentionally ideological, imposing an extremist viewpoint. Or perhaps, in the perfect world, we could imagine that the worldview would be something like our own, and potentially even accessible to users.
When a long list of complex factors are smooshed together, and these companies have to decide how things will be filtered and float, the last thing any user wants is a system skewed to sell more soap. The interests of the individual and the public should predominate.
Just as the government has stepped in to stop unscrupulous advertising in the industrial era (like claims that cigarettes aren't dangerous) we will likely have to regulate the degree to which web media services factor in commercial interests to their inner machinery.
Just because a restaurant is private property does not mean the laws of the land don't apply. This is why the challenge against Jim Crow laws started with lunch counters: to challenge the notion that owners could pick their clientele, and make their own laws.
We are likely to see a new sort of rights movement: not a civil rights movement, but a social rights movement.
Davos Dispatches: Brin defends Google's China move
Sergey Brin equates Google's acquiescence to China's request for censorship about democracy and freedom to blocking Nazi content in Germany and child pornography in the US. Please.
[Davos Dispatches: Brin defends Google's China move - Jan. 25, 2006]
Brin: […] We ultimately made a difficult decision, but we felt that by participating there, and making our services more available, even if not to the 100 percent that we ideally would like, that it will be better for Chinese Web users, because ultimately they would get more information, though not quite all of it.
And we also by the way have to do similar things in the U.S. and Germany. We also have to block certain material based on law. The U.S., child pornography, for example, and also DMCA
Fortune: You actually actively block child pornography?
Brin: No, but if we got a specific government request. If a third party makes a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) claim that another party is violating copyright, and that party is not able to counter, then we are obligated to block that.
In France and Germany there are Nazi material laws. One thing we do, and which we are implementing in China as well, is that if there's any kind of material blocked by local regulations we put a message to that effect at the bottom of the search engine. "Local regulations prevent us from showing all the results." And we're doing that in China also, and that makes us transparent.
Oh. By saying that you are censoring something, that makes it alright?
[Update: Noticed that Businessweek is running a poll about Google's actions: it's very close, pro v con.
Dont bother searching for Tianenmen Square
As I drove across San Francisco Bay this morning, I heard via NPR the news about Google joining the ranks of MSN and Yahoo, caving to pressure from the fascist Chinese government to support censorship:
[from Version of Google in China Won't Offer E-Mail or Blogs - New York Times by David Barboza]
In an effort to cope with China's increasingly pervasive Internet controls, Google said Tuesday that it would introduce a search engine here this week that excludes e-mail messaging and the ability to create blogs.
Google officials said the new search engine, Google.cn, was created partly as a way to avoid potential legal conflicts with the Chinese government, which has become much more sophisticated at policing and monitoring material appearing on the Internet.
Web sites have exploded in popularity in a country eager for freer flow of information. But Web portals and search engines trying to win Chinese users face a significant balancing act: they do not want to flout government rules and guidelines that restrict the spread of sensitive content, but they want to attract users with interesting content.
One result has been that search engines and Web portals have censored their sites and cooperated with Chinese authorities. Indeed, the move to create a new site comes after Google itself, as well as Yahoo and Microsoft, have come under scrutiny over the last few years for cooperating with the Chinese government to censor or block online content.
We should ostracize from the world community those governments who don't want to allow basic human rights for their citizens. But players like Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo are afraid of losing market share, so they go along with repression. This is a black day. Google is not on the side of the angels in this.
I expect that overly pragmatic fatalists will tell me that I am being too idealistic, that Google is merely bowing to the inevitable, that China is a sovereign country, blah blah, woof woof. But I just don't care. It's wrong, and going along with it for money is simply appeasing the Chinese. If we are willing to threaten sanctions against Iran — they are a sovereign country aren't they? — why can't we do the same with China? Low-cost underwear? Or are we just so jaded that we don't care?
Tom Zeller on China Still Winning Against The Web
The hue and cry about Microsoft's acquiesence to China's censorship of blogs will not die down, and Tom Zeller's piece in the Sunday NYTimes attempts to present a balanced view, but ultimately, that falls apart:
[from China, Still Winning Against the Web - New York Times by Tom Zeller]
The company said it was simply facing reality. "Microsoft does business in many countries around the world," said Brooke Richardson, a group product manager for its MSN division, in an e-mailed statement. "While different countries have different standards, Microsoft and other multinational companies have to ensure that our products and services comply with local laws, norms and industry practices." Microsoft was only the latest technology company to be criticized for cooperating with the Chinese government. Yahoo, Cisco and Google have all been accused of helping to maintain what the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a Congressional investigatory body, has called "the most sophisticated Internet control system in the world."
The reality is that these companies are more interested in profits and future competitiveness than they are in human rights.
In the spirit of Martin Luther King Day, we should use non-violent protest — such as withholding access to tools like MSN Spaces — so that China moves toward a better human rights stance. If the mega companies are not willing to use their leverage to do so, we should protest until they do. So I continue to call for a boycott of Microsoft until they stop doing the work of the censors.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Verizon Communications Inc. VZ, +0.66% said Thursday morning that it activated about 3.9 million iPhones in the third quarter, accounting for about 51% of total smartphone activations for the period. The disclosure was made in the company's earnings call before the opening bell. Apple Inc. AAPL, +0.43% shares rose by a fraction to $502.95 in early trades after the open. Verizon CFO Fran Shammo said on the call that "We did encounter iPhone supply constraints that created a backlog at the end of September, which resulted in some carryover to the fourth quarter." Apple launched both the iPhone 5S and 5C models in late September; analysts say the 5S remains supply constrained, while demand is reportedly weaker than expected for the 5C model.
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Verizon activates 3.9M iPhones; cites tight supply
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Dorayaki including Gyuhi – Japanese snack
I planned to trip Sendai this weekend but I could not make it because I got sick
I should write here sendai trip but it cant be helped.
Gyuhi – is is a softer variety of mochi (餅), and both are made from either glutinous rice or from mochiko (餅粉), which is glutinous rice flour (Wikipedia)
Dorayaki, introduced today, include Gyuhi inside^^
Can you white things in last picture?
this is Gyuhi.
To be honest, I would like it to be whole of anko (beans paste) instead of Gyuhi^^
Arigato and matane


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Some tips from a CEO who nearly lost his job. (Hint: crying helps.)
Picture of the Cocoon, please.
Hello Marilou, you can see the "Cocoon" on the Steelcase homepage:www.steelcase.com/gesture.
'this seems to be a paid ad by steelcase…thn a general awarness. sucks.
If it were a paid ad, don't you think there would be a picture of the chair! I can't wait to see what this chair is alll about. I know I am guilty of sitting in all these "not so ergonomic" postures!
At 66, I am fortunate to have found a physical therapist/strength coach who's helping me correct the effects of desk sitting. It's a long way back to proper posture and muscle rebuilding.
the next useless chair. get a $5 stool and you're fine.


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Dr. TJ Farler will continue to serve Pine Tree ISD as the schools superintendent, thanks to unanimous support Monday by school board members at a special meeting held Tuesday, January 21st. "The board approved a three-year contract that is extended by a year after the first year served," said Farler. Her extension will ensure …
Tag Archive: EOC
Permanent link to this article: http://www.easttexasreview.com/pine-tree-isd-approves-contract-extension-for-superintendent/
Mar 17 2011
EOC reaches out to college students
The Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) of the Texas Association of Developing Colleges (TADC) will be holding weekend seminars to prepare upcoming college students for the challenges awaiting them in higher education when they start classes in the autumn of 2011. Director of Programs Marilyn Richardson reports that the busy, income tax period of mid-February through …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.easttexasreview.com/eoc-reaches-out-to-college-students/


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It was less than two weeks ago that Angelina Jolie made the shocking announcement that she had a preventative double mastectomy to lower her risk of breast cancer. At the time, she said her own mother's death from cancer was part of her motivation, but she made no mention of her aunt, Debbie Martin, who passed away today at the age of 61. The cause: Breast cancer.
Martin is the younger sister of Jolie's mom, Marcheline Bertrand, who died of the disease in 2007 at the age of 56. Debbie's husband, Ron Martin, told E! News that Debbie died around 1:30 a.m. today, and that Angelina has "been in touch throughout the week."
He told the Associated Press that Debbie was diagnosed in 2004 with cancer, and didn't know she had the BRCA1 gene until that time. "Had we known, we certainly would have done exactly what Angelina did." He said Debbie did have her ovaries removed once she knew, and that and they were proud of Angelina's decision:
We have seen Angelina a number of times since Debbie was diagnosed with breast cancer and Debbie and I were both very proud of her recent decision to have the double mastectomy, and to do everything she can to keep her family from having to go through what we've been through.
You have to wonder how much her aunt's diagnosis played a part in Angelina's decision. I have to imagine it was not small. To see two women in your family ravaged by cancer at such an early age has got to be terrifying. In the midst of her mourning for her aunt surely this makes Angelina more confident in her decision than ever.
I also have to wonder if this news won't cause those who questioned and even criticized Angelina's decision to think again. I hope so. She clearly has some cards stacked against her -- dangerous, deadly cards -- and she made the brave decision to do what she could to play them in her favor for her family. She deserves nothing but support, admiration, and at this time, our sympathies.
Does this news change how you feel about Angelina Jolie's decision to get a preventative double mastectomy?
Image via Splash
No it's its as decision made out of fear, if she Is ment to die young she will no matter what
No, it doesn't change my opinion.
I beleive she made the most educated choice she could and I applaud her for it. Wishing her longevity and best wishes.
Best decision under very hard and sad circumstances. I am a survivor, but while waiting for my genetic test results, I had already made the decision to have a double mastectomy and hysterectomy if they came back positive. Thank God, they didn't and I did a lumpectomy, chemo, radiation, and tamoxifen treatments. My kids were 3 & 5 at the time... you better believe fear was the motivating factor. Good for her!!


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wired 2.0
Wired, pronounced as "wiredy" because of its evil nature, is a daemon program that runs a Wired 2.0 server on most of the famous UNIX distributions.
Wired is an UNIX server program that provides a set of BBS features like chat, message, boards, file transfers, etc. Wired fully implement the Wired 2.0 protocol, it is written in C and designed to be compliant with most of the known UNIX-like operating systems. Wired is a very simple way to safely share information with other people; it inherits of more than twenty years of experience with BBS.
Both the program and the specification are built with security in mind. Using strong SSL/TLS ciphers, Wired server provides secure communications over the network, while the Wired specification itself was built to limit edge effects of this kind of protocol and to boost users privacy.
Wired server only uses open-source third-party software:
- OpenSSL Library: http://www.openssl.org/source/
- libxml2: http://xmlsoft.org/
- zlib: http://zlib.net/
- git: http://git-scm.com/
Wired is entirely free and distributed under BSD License. If you are interested in installing and running Wired, please have a look to the wiki:
Wired wants to restore the well-know-famous-old-scholl Bulletin Boards System from the 90s. Wired mainly inheriting its design from Hotline and its descendants.
Strong Encryption
Wired uses OpenSSL and CommonCrypto libraries to secure its network communications. Connections between the server and the clients use AES/256 bits cipher for encryption.
Wired is light and fast. Written in C language against the libwired library, it use a multi-thread architecture to speed-up operations and aims to have a low memory footprint.
UNIX Power
Wired is written respecting the ANSI-C standard and is portable on most of the known UNIX-like operating system. It uses library and components that are generally available on these platforms.
Wired provides a multi-clients environment where everybody can interact in real-time. Each user have his own account and his own identity.
Open Standards
Wired is built using open standards, and is an open standard itself. The protocol specification and the source code are open for all to see, allowing developers to create their own versions, ports or improvements.
The wired documentation is available on the Wired Wiki. The Wired Wiki is a place designed as a knowledge base for the Wired project. Use the button below in order to browse the wired wiki page.
wired Documentation


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Some of Vermont's up-and-coming young professionals were the stars of the show Thursday in South Burlington.
Vermont Business Magazine honored 40 new Rising Stars from around the state at a ceremony at the DoubleTree Hotel.
They were selected from 150 applicants for their commitment to business growth -- professional excellence and community involvement. Organizers say the goal is to ensure Vermont keeps its young talent right here at home.
"The youth of this state are leaving at an alarming rate and we need to show the younger generation -- the kids in high school, the kids in college -- that we have some great young people that work in this state. That are doing great things not only in their businesses but in the communities where they live," John Boutin, Vermont Business Magazine said.
WCAX photographer Robynn Beams was among the honorees at the ceremony. She attended with her dad and brother.
PO Box 4508
Burlington, VT 05406-4508
Primary Phone: 802-652-6300
Primary email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Advanced Clinical Assessment for Healthcare Professionals (NRT181)
Module Code:
Suitable for emergency/urgent care practitioners including paramedics, ENPs, APs, practice nurses and extended scope physiotherapists.
This module will focus on enabling students working within emergency and unscheduled care environments to develop their clinical patient assessment and diagnostic skills within their specific area of practice. It is aimed at healthcare professionals (nurses, paramedics and allied healthcare professionals) working at or towards advanced levels of practice. It has been designed to build on their current physical assessment knowledge, understanding and skills and take these to an advanced level within their specific area of practice.
The module will be delivered over 12 weeks (dates below)
The module will be assessed via a 3000 word reflection and a summative Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
Eastgate House, Newport Road, Cardiff and Ty Dewi Sant, Heath Park Campus, Cardiff.
Module Leaders
Mr Neil Thomas
Ms Liz Williams
Module Dates 2013-2014:
There will be a DSM information session on April 10th.
May 1 2 8 15 22 29
June 5 12 19 26
July 3 7 8
Module Dates 2014-2015:
April 30
May 1 7 14 21 28
June 4 11 18 28
July 2
OSCE's week beginning 6 July
How to Apply
Applicants will be expected to provide two references and a personal statement reflecting their clinical and personal developmental requirements. They must have the support of their line manager and Designated Supervisory Mentor. You will be expected to submit a supplementary application form to the School – click here to download.
To find out more about applying for standalone modules, please email the Admissions Team:
Email: email@example.com
Telephone: +44 (0)29 2068 7537


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Search for a Prescriber, City or Zip Code
South jordan | Utah | 84095
(801) 253-5900
Incorrect Info?
Search this name in Dollars for Docs »
See this provider's services »
At A Glance: This Prescriber in 2011
Self-Reported Primary Specialty
Rank: 329 out of 573
Rank: 312 out of 573
How Does This Prescriber Compare to Peers?
this specialty
in Utah
23% of this provider's 164 patients filled at least one prescription for a narcotic painkiller, compared to an average of 21%.
Antipsychotics to Seniors
Risky Drugs to Seniors
9% of this provider's 1,826 prescriptions for patients 65 and older were for "potentially dangerous" drugs, compared to an average of 1%.
Brand Name Drugs
17% of this provider's prescriptions were for brand-name drugs, compared to an average of 19%.
Prescription Price
$59 was the average price of a prescription from this provider, compared to $58 among peers.
Prescriptions per Patient
14 is the average number of prescriptions (including refills) per patient, compared to an average of 17.
Another View
This chart shows a different comparison of all providers in this specialty based on their mix of drugs and volume. Providers are grouped by similarity; those least like their peers are farthest to the right. Hover over the bars to see names of other prescribers.
KEY: How to read this
Fewer Prescribers
More Prescribers
This Prescriber
Hover to see more prescribers
This Prescriber's Drugs
The table below list this provider's drugs, the number of prescriptions and how many went to seniors. Drugs are ranked by volume and compared with the rank for all providers in the same specialty and state.
Search for a Drug
5 questions to ask about a new drug »
via Consumer Health Choices
Compare different prescription drugs »
via Consumer Reports
Click to Filter by Category
Clear Filter
An antipsychotic drug. More » Antipsychotics are frequently given to dementia patients, though it increases their risk of death.
A risky drug for seniors. More » The American Geriatrics Society has said this drug is "potentially dangerous" for seniors and might be inappropriate.
A narcotic drug. More » Misuse and abuse of narcotics led to some 16,000 overdose deaths in 2010.
This provider is among the top 10 prescribers of
this drug in the country.
This provider's prescriptions for this drug were for more days than those of peers. More » Because of this, his or her prescription count may be lower.
This provider's prescriptions for this drug were for fewer days than those of peers. More » Because of this, his or her prescription count may be higher.
This Drug's Rank
|Drug Name
Total Prescriptions Filled
Including Refills
to 65+
|For this Prescriber
For All Prescribers in
This Specialty in Utah
Used to relieve moderate to... +
Used to relieve moderate to severe pain. More info »
Treats heartburn, stomach u... +
Treats heartburn, stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and conditions that cause your stomach to make too much acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, endocrine tumors, and systemic mastocytosis. Also helps heal a damaged esophagus, and helps prevent stomach bleeding in patients who have a serious illness. This medicine may be used in combination with antibiotics to treat ulcers. This medicine is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). More info »
Fluoxetine (Prozac) is used... +
Fluoxetine (Prozac) is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (bothersome thoughts that won't go away and the need to perform certain actions over and over), some eating disorders, and panic attacks (sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks). Fluoxetine (Sarafem) is used to relieve the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, including mood swings, irritability, bloating, and breast tenderness. Fluoxetine is in a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance. More info »
Zolpidem is used to treat i... +
Zolpidem is used to treat insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep). Zolpidem belongs to a class of medications called sedative-hypnotics. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow sleep. More info »
Levothyroxine, a thyroid ho... +
Levothyroxine, a thyroid hormone, is used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Without this hormone, the body cannot function properly, resulting in: poor growth; slow speech; lack of energy; weight gain; hair loss; dry, thick skin; and increased sensitivity to cold. When taken correctly, levothyroxine reverses these symptoms. Levothyroxine is also used to treat congenital hypothyroidism (cretinism) and goiter (enlarged thyroid gland). More info »
Treats high blood pressure ... +
Treats high blood pressure and heart failure. A lower blood pressure will reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. Also used in the first few days after a heart attack to help reduce the risk of death. This medicine is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. More info »
Alendronate is used to trea... +
Alendronate is used to treat and prevent osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily) in women who have undergone menopause (''change of life,'' end of menstrual periods) and to treat osteoporosis in men. Alendronate is also used to treat osteoporosis in men and women who are taking corticosteroids (a type of medication that may cause osteoporosis in some patients). Alendronate is also used to treat Paget's disease of bone (a condition in which the bones are soft and weak and may be deformed, painful, or easily broken). Alendronate is in a class of medications called bisphosphonates. It works by preventing bone breakdown and increasing bone density (thickness). More info »
The combination of glyburid... +
The combination of glyburide and metformin is used to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) in people whose diabetes cannot be controlled by diet and exercise alone. Glyburide belongs to a class of drugs called sulfonylureas, and metformin is in a class of drugs called biguanides. Glyburide lowers blood sugar by causing the pancreas to produce insulin (a natural substance that is needed to break down sugar in the body) and helping the body use insulin efficiently. This medication will only help lower blood sugar in people whose bodies produce insulin naturally. Metformin helps your body control the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. It decreases the amount of glucose you absorb from your food and the amount of glucose made by your liver. It also helps your body use its own insulin more effectively. Glyburide and metformin are not used to treat type 1 diabetes (condition in which the body does not produce insulin and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) or diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious condition that may occur if high blood sugar is not treated). More info »
About This Data
ProPublica obtained prescribing data from Medicare's prescription drug benefit, known as Part D, under the Freedom of Information Act. The data for 2011 includes nearly 1.2 billion prescriptions written by 1.6 million doctors, nurses and other providers. This database lists about 364,000 of those providers who wrote 50 or more prescriptions for at least one drug that year. About three-fourths went to patients 65 and older; the rest were for disabled patients. Methodology »
- No comparisons are shown if 10 or fewer prescribers in the state share this specialty.
- The list of top drugs includes only those for which this provider wrote 50 or more prescriptions, but all prescriptions are counted in the summary totals at the top.
- The calculation of "Risky Drugs to Seniors" does not include drugs for which a provider wrote 11 or fewer prescriptions because Medicare redacted the information to protect patient privacy.
- Comparisons do not take into account the medical conditions of patients. Medications for certain conditions do not have generic alternatives, so patients would receive more expensive brand name drugs.
- This provider's address and specialty information was last updated on July 8, 2007.
- Comparisons are based on each provider's current address, not necessarily where he or she worked during the time period covered in this database.
Incorrect Info?
If you are a provider and you believe your address is incorrect, check the listing you created on the National Provider Identifier registry. If you change your listing, send a note to email@example.com and we will update your information. If you have other questions about this data, send a note to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Poland Basic Data
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Market commentary
Decline in beer market continues in 2010
It is estimated that spending on beer will fall by 5% to PLN 20bn (€4.9bn) in Poland in 2010, according to Euromonitor. Demand for beer is also expected to continue to decline in 2011, when it is to reach PLN 19.7bn (€4.8m). In addition, in terms of volume there is to be a 4% reduction in beer consumption in 2010 and a 1.3% reduction in 2011.
As a result of the 13.6% increase in excise duty on beer in March 2009, market saturation, cold summer, and, in general, negative economic situation, demand for beer declined by 8% in 2009, and the first half of 2009 saw the weakest sales since 1989, worth 12.5% less than those of H1 2008, as Danuta Gut of the Union of the Brewing Industry Employers in Poland Browary Polskie (ZPPP Browary Polskie) told
Retail Update Poland
. On average, Poles drink 92 litres of beer every year, which leaves Poland in third place in Europe, after Germany and the Czech Republic. However, only 87 litres per capita were consumed in 2009.
According to preliminary estimates, the largest beer producers that control some 90% of the beer market in Poland,
Kompania Piwowarska, Grupa Zywiec
Carlsberg Polska,
reported reductions in turnover in 2009. At the same time, the regional and small breweries which produce natural and flavoured beers reported an increase in sales, as they offer niche products on the Polish market. By way of example, producers such as Ciechan, Jagiello and Van Pur reported increases in sales in 2009.
We already know that 2009 brought a drop in beer sales in Poland. We estimate the decline at as much as 5-7%. I can safely say that forecasting the level of sales in the current year and next has not been so hard in years. The year 2010 will be a difficult one for the industry, so a bottoming out of the downward trend would be welcomed as a success.
It should be noted that weather conditions – in addition to macroeconomic factors, fiscal policy and potential restrictions on marketing communications with adult consumers – may have a significant impact on the level of beer consumption. Without a doubt, an extended period of good weather (May-October) could drive sales higher.
Danuta Gut
Director of the Management Board Office – ZPPP Browary Polskie
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text:
Texas Plant Protection Conference Scheduled
25th Annual Texas Plant Protection Conference
"A Vision for Texas Agriculture"
December 10 & 11. 2013
Brazos Center
Bryan - College Station, Texas
Save the dates and plan to attend the 25th Annual Texas Plant Protection Conference on December 10-11 !
Wow...25 Years Old! Can you believe that the Texas Plant Protection Conference was organized in the Fall of 1988. Its initial propose was to promote the safe, effective use of crop protection techniques and to serve as a forum for communications and exchange of ideas.
The conference continues to bring together Texas's top agricultural leaders, researchers, consultants, farmers, ag industry and extension personnel. Regarded as the top crop protection conference in the Texas, this two day, action packed event continues to focus on education, training , and information exchange. To learn more about TPPA and the 2013 Conference or to register click here.
Southwest Farm Press is co-sponsor of the 2013 Texas Plant Protection Conference.
Over 250 attended last year's conference and we expect an increase in attendance this year as we celebrate our 25th !
Conference Registration: Click here to register for the conference with your check or credit card.
Other Conference Highlights
To review the special 25th annual conference opening general session agenda as well as the information on the concurrent crop sessions click here.
Other Conference Events
TPPA Awards Luncheon and Business Meeting- Be sure to attend the luncheon at noon on December 11. The TPPA Awards will be presented and some of the original organizers of the conference will be honored.
Poster Section- Researchers, including graduate students will display information about their research work. Graduate students complete for cash prizes.
Pest ID Contest -Dr. Barron Rector presents an excellent Pest ID Contest. Cash prizes are presented to the top 3 winners.
CEU's -Both TDA & CCA ceu's will be offered.
Exhibition Hall- The industry displays will be in the high traffic area along with the Posters and coffee breaks.


text:
E. Lee Smith
Writer return to Soda Bar on Tuesday to prove they haven't forgotten their S.D. roots.
San Diego bands often start out here, then move out of town. One of the great ones to do this in recent history is Writer, whom packed up to move to Brooklyn for music and art pursuits. Also known as the Brothers Ralph, the duo are back into town to pack the Soda Bar with their adoring fans and great friends alike. Joined by Mrs. Magician and Illuminauts -- this is going to be a night of awesome music and good people. I give you permission to make as many Brooklyn hipster jokes throughout the night.
Tuesday July 30:
Rosemary Bystrak writes about the San Diego music scene, events and general musings about life in San Diego on San Diego: Dialed In. Follow her updates on Twitter or contact her directly.


text:
oh you
Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory.
Favourite Emma Watson tweets
Such a beautiful place to call home
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
"The wand chooses the wizard… it's not always clear why."
i'm going home


text:
Archive for February, 2009« Previous Entries
Here Digger, Digger, Digger…A tribute to FoxFriday, February 27th, 2009
By Richard Allen
I'm not sure who makes the executive decisions at Fox for NASCAR coverage but some of those decisions are questionable, at best. If the Hollywood brass at the television network are trying to anger and insult race fans, they are succeeding.
Here are some not so serious(or maybe they are serious) observations about Fox's […]
Busch should stay away from F1, but Danica should go for itThursday, February 26th, 2009
By Richard Allen
Here is some 'for what it's worth' advice for Kyle Busch and Danica Patrick; one should stay out of Formula 1 and the other should go.
Plans have been announced that a United States based Formula 1 effort is going to be made by Ken Anderson and racing commentator Peter Windsor. Even as these […]
Race Preview and Fantasy Predictions: Shelby 427Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
By Richard Allen
Track and Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada
Track Layout: 1.5 Mile D-shaped oval with 20 degrees of banking in the turns and 9 degrees of banking on the straights.
Date of Race: Sunday(March 1, 2009)
Radio Coverage: PRN(3:30 Eastern)
Television Coverage: Fox(3:30 Eastern)
Start Time: 4:45(Eastern)
Last Year's Winner: Carl Edwards
Much like the Auto Club […]
First four weeks a pivotal stretch in NASCARWednesday, February 25th, 2009
By Richard Allen
The first four races of the NASCAR season are run on consecutive Sundays. This stretch of races are always very important in establishing the tone of the upcoming season, but this year, that may be more true than ever.
The first four races will reveal a great deal about the teams in the NASCAR […]
Three in a row for Kenseth…It's possibleTuesday, February 24th, 2009
By Richard Allen
By winning Sunday's Auto Club 500 in Fontana, California Matt Kenseth became the fifth driver in NASCAR history to win the season's first two races. He had won the Daytona 500 the previous week.
No driver in the modern era has ever started a season with three consecutive wins. This weekend Kenseth has a […]
Kenseth's California run is the pitsSunday, February 22nd, 2009
By Richard Allen
Matt Kenseth had a fast car for Sunday's Auto Club 500, but he had an even faster pit crew.
After a lap 141 caution period the #17 'Killer Bees' got their driver out first. They continued to do so for every pit stop thereafter and that proved to be the difference in the race.
As […]
Logano bringing out the best in Kyle BuschSunday, February 22nd, 2009
By Richard Allen
The mere mention of Kyle Busch's name to many NASCAR fans can cause a scowl to appear and not so nice words to be uttered in response. However, the brash young driver has shown a side that many may have not known existed.
The struggles of Busch's even younger teammate, Joey Logano, have brought […]
Kyle Busch didn't do California track any favorsSaturday, February 21st, 2009
By Richard Allen
Kyle Busch did not do the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California any favors on Saturday. The young driver had his way with the fields of two separate races.
In the afternoon, Busch totally dominated the Camping World Truck Series race on his way to victory. He led 95 of the 100 laps to […]
NASCAR Kart Racing for Nintendo Wii is a blastSaturday, February 21st, 2009
By Richard Allen
Have you ever wished your favorite driver could drop an oil slick on the track to give his opponents the slip? Or, for more devastating effect maybe you would like your driver to have rockets, dynamite and shock waves at his disposal.
Well, now that's all possible…on the Nintendo Wii NASCAR Kart game that […]
The California race could be embarrassing for NASCAR…and that may be a good thingFriday, February 20th, 2009
Click the link below to listen to my lateat pod cast in which I make the arguement that an empty grandstand this Sunday in California may be the thing to finally get NASCAR attention in regard to the direction they are taking.
Kahne looking to build on RPM successFriday, February 20th, 2009
By Richard Allen
Richard Petty Motorsports placed three of its four cars in the Top 10 of the Daytona 500. Surprisingly, the one car not to score a good finish was the team's star driver, Kasey Kahne. After being involved in a late race incident the driver of car #9 finished 29th in the 'Great American […]
Roush-Yates Engines branching into NHRA?Thursday, February 19th, 2009
By Richard Allen
The world of racing is known as a hotbed of rumors. Among the various forms of racing and the numbers of drivers, crew members and other employees involved in the industry it is difficult to keep secrets.
One rumor to have recently made the rounds in drag racing circles is that Roush-Yates Engines, better […]


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A Community prayer vigil will be held at Community Clubhouse in Crisp County on Sunday, September 14,2014 at 7pm.
June 2, 2003
Albany - Whether sitting on the bank of a river or casting from an outfitted boat, fisherman continue to flock to Georgia's waterways each year. This is National Fishing Week. And, the Department of Natural Resources wants you to take advantage of a pastime everyone can enjoy.
Ronny Coston is a regular fisherman at the Lake Chehaw Dam. "I'm still a pole fisherman. I keep it simple. I just like to relax and enjoy the day." His love for fishing started year ago. "My dad taught me how to fish when I was a young boy. I've been going ever since."
"I enjoying spending time with my friends. This is my therapy for me," said Coston.
"Fishing is very popular in South Georgia and throughout the state," said Fisheries Biologist Rob Weller. Weller says fish are one of Georgia's most precious resources with bass, crappie, bream, and catfish thriving in state waters. "Fishing is important for the ecosystem. It allows surviving fish to spawn, grow larger, and healthier."
A fishing license cost $9 a year. There are more than 1,000,000 licensed anglers in the state, so Georgia is reeling in some big bucks. "Fishing generates nearly a billion dollars each year," said Weller.
Money well spent for a few good fish stories. "I don't have any good stories, but I do have a few lies."
You can fish without a license this Saturday, June 7th, as part of a statewide free fishing day.
P.O. Box 3130
Albany, GA 31706
(229) 446-1010
FCC Public File
(229) 446-4005
EEO Report
Closed Captioning


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GAME 1: Friday, Feb. 7 • 3:15 p.m. | Texas State vs. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
GAME 2: Saturday, Feb. 8 • 2:30 p.m. | Texas A&M - Corpus Christi vs. Ball State
GAME 3: Saturday, Feb. 8 • 7:00 p.m. | Southern Illinois vs. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
GAME 4: Sunday, Feb. 9 • 3:00 p.m. | Texas A&M - Corpus Christi vs. Stephen F. Austin
GAME 5: Sunday, Feb. 9 • 5:00 p.m. | Texas State vs. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team will open the 2014 season in San Marcos, Texas this weekend in the CenturyLink Classic, hosted by Texas State. The Islanders are scheduled to take on the Bobcats on Friday, Feb. 7, at 3:15 pm. at the Bobcat Softball Stadium. A&M - Corpus Christi was originally scheduled to take on Texas State at 2:30 p.m., but due to inclement weather and change of schedule the game has been pushed back and the Islanders will play just a single game on Friday.
The Islanders welcome seven newcomers this season, including six freshmen and one junior transfer. Freshmen Liz Carter (Austin, Texas) and Katie Blanar (Pearland, Texas) will join senior Constance Brandenburg in the circle this season while Brittney Morse (Yuma, Ariz.) will split duties with senior Laura Phillips and junior Michelle Sorenson behind the plate. Freshmen Mackinzee Griebel (Lockhart, Texas) and utility player Jessica Mendez (Corpus Christi, Texas) will add speed to the Islanders' offense and outfield. Rounding out the freshman class is Emma Stipe (Round Rock, Texas) who will redshirt this season. Joining the junior class is Cassidy Ivy (Huntington, Texas). She comes to the Island University after playing two seasons at Angelina JC. Ivy will look to split time with senior J.J. Jackson at first base.
TEXAS STATE: The Bobcats finished the 2013 season with an 18-38 record while tallying a 10-11 record in the WAC. Texas State is selected to finish fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in the Preseason polls. Returning for her senior season is leading pitcher Rayn House, who tallied a 3.09 ERA last season while registering 86 strikeouts. Sophomore Kelli Baker also returns after finishing third on the team last season with a .283 batting average. She led the team with 53 hits and 20 stolen bases while starting in all 56 games.
BALL STATE: The Cardinals finished the 2013 season with a 37-17 record while clinching its fourth MAC regular-season title with an 18-3 record. The squad returns 14 letterwinners including two-time MAC Player of the Year and outfielder Jennifer Gilbert. She led the team with a .451 batting average while recording a team-best 56 runs, 78 hits, 23 home runs and 70 RBIs. Returning to the circle is last season's MAC Freshman of the Year Nicole Steinbach. As a freshman she tallied an impressive 2.28 ERA while recording 114 strikeouts in 160 innings pitched. The Islanders will meet the Cardinals for the first time in program history.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: After registering a 25-27 record a year ago, the Salukis return 14 letterwinners, including seven starters. Southern Illinois finished fourth in the MVC after posting a 13-10 record. Returning for the Salukis is senior Jayna Spivey, who led the team last season with 11 home runs, 44 RBIs and started in 50 of the 52 games. In the circle, junior Katie Bertelsen returns after posting a 3.54 ERA last season. Hurler Alyssa Wunderlich also returns to the circle after tallying 73 strikeouts in 133 innings pitched. The Islanders and Salukis will meet for just the second time in program history on Saturday.
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN: Fellow Southland foe Stephen F. Austin returns 11 letterwinners from a team that finished 16-32 last season including 9-17 in the conference. This season the Ladyjacks are projected to finish ninth in the Preseason Southland poll. Returning for the Ladyjacks is Preseason First Team player Elizabeth Arana. She led SFA with a 3.99 batting average last season while adding a team-high 57 hits and 25 RBIs. Returning to the circle is senior Carlie Thomas, who led the team with a 2.86 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 137 innings.
The Islanders open the 2014 season with the first 21 games away from Chapman Field. Following the CenturyLink Classic the Islanders trek to Las Cruces, N.M. to compete in the three-day Troy Cox Classic starting on Feb. 14. Northern Colorado, Texas Tech, Weber State and host New Mexico State are all on tap to compete. A&M - Corpus Christi will follow with the UTSA Mid-Major Classic and the Texas A&M Invitational before returning home to open Southland Conference play on Friday, March 7, in a doubleheader against Central Arkansas at Chapman Field. The three-game series will continue on Saturday, March 8, with a single game.
For the latest information, follow Islanders Softball on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersSball) and Facebook (Islanders Softball).


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WOW! What a great deal! Right now get this Disney Princess Cinderella Transforming Pumpkin Carriage normally priced at $54.99 now for only $20.24 with FREE 2-day Shipping when you spend $25 or have Amazon Prime!
Grab this Disney Princess Cinderella Transforming Pumpkin Carriage while available at this great price!
Product Features
- Inspired by the classic Disney animated film, Cinderella
- Girls will love recreating their favorite scenes from the movie
- Help Cinderella turn this pumpkin into something magical
- All it takes are 3 easy steps to change this pumpkin into a carriage
- A great gift that any Cinderella fan is sure to love
You can also check the other Amazon Deals I've posted recently and also the:
Stocking Stuffers for Girls Starting at $1!
Stocking Stuffers for Boys $6 and Less!
Like all prices at Amazon, these can fluctuate quickly so get the deal and check the price before purchasing as soon as possible. Valid as of the time of posting.
Want to know how to save more at Amazon. Read the post on 8 Tips to Save on Amazon.com.
Prices at Amazon can change at any time and are subject to availability. This price is valid as of 12/17/12, so you'll want to check the price before purchasing.
Don't forget to check out the Coupon Database for all available coupons. This site uses affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.


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Underwater Archaeology
M.A. - Anthropology;M.S. - Anthropology;, Ph.D. - Anthropology
Format: Campus
Florida State University's Program in Underwater Archaeology (PUA) offers undergraduate courses and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees, providing students with a balanced approach to the study of submerged cultural resources, taking into consideration both historic shipwrecks and submerged prehistoric sites.
Financial Aid Offered: No
Classification: Doctoral/Research Universities - Extensive
Institution Sector: Public
Locale: Midsize City
Size & Settings: 20,000 and above


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We are nearly half way thru the 2014 growing season. It's not too late to join for the summer season and definitely time to start signing up for the 8 week long winter CSA season (mid-October thru December)!
Welcome to Happy Hollow Farm
Happy Hollow Farm is nestled among the rolling hills along the Missouri River. The primary growing fields border the Little Splice Creek bottom and thus benefit from beautiful silt loam soils that are rich in organic matter. The farming techniques used on this farm are a combination of highly managed cover cropping, crop rotations, the application of compost, mulch and small quantities of minerals and nutrients. My goal is to give back more to the soil than I take.
What is Happy Hollow Farm Community Supported Agriculture?
Happy Hollow Farm welcomes all who are interested in supporting local sustainable agriculture to become a CSA member. Each member receives a box of seasonal produce every week during the 25 week growing season (mid-May thru the end of October). In exchange, members help with some of the harvesting and distribution of the weekly boxes. The farmer and the consumer thus provide mutual support and share in the risks and rewards of local food production.


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Congressional SOPA hearings: no opponents of the bill allowed
Read and Reblog please!!
"As the House of Representatives opens hearings on SOPA, the worst piece of Internet legislation in American history, it has rejected all submissions and testimony from public interest groups and others who oppose the bill.
Irony Alert: The House is holding hearings on sweeping Internet censorship legislation this week — and it's censoring the opposition! The bill is backed by Hollywood, Big Pharma, and the Chamber of Commerce, and all of them are going to get to testify at the hearing.
But the bill's opponents — tech companies, free speech and human rights activists, and hundreds of thousands of Internet users — won't have a voice."
[Copy & Pasted from the link to make things clearer]
How can you make informed decisins if you don't hear both sides of an argument?
You CAN'T.
A few other articles on the subject since after reading this I sure as heck wanted to know more:
• Washington Post: SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) lawmaker opposition grows as debate heats up
• Mobiledia: Piracy Bill Opposition Increases As Legislators Ready Vote
• Ars Technica: Strange bedfellows: Nancy Pelosi, Ron Paul join SOPA opposition
• CBS News: SOPA opposition from tech heavyweights Google, Facebook
• OS News: SOPA Hearing Rigged to Attack Google, SOPA Opponents


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My last picture from Sweden with the Scottish flag covered in goodbyes! Gonna miss them all and this place, what a city! Hej då Stockholm :)
Vaxholm, Sweden
Vaxholm, an island near Stockholm
The sunset at Ulriksdal Palace tonight
The Gröna Lund theme park in Stockholm
the park at Bergshamra in January and again in May.
Kräftriket, the campus for the School of Business at Stockholm University


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Chevrolet has not received an official request from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to swap race cars with Honda driver Graham Rahal.
Earnhardt and Rahal are both sponsored this year by Army National Guard, and Rahal reached out to Earnhardt last week via Twitter to see if NASCAR's most popular driver was interested in swapping cars.
The Twitter conversation sparked tons of fan interest, and the guard said it wants to be part of a swap. But Earnhardt quieted the talk two days later when he said he could not drive a Honda. Chevrolet and Honda are direct competitors in the IndyCar Series.
Chevrolet's Jim Campbell said Saturday the manufacturer would look at any proposal to drive an Indy car from Earnhardt with "an open set of eyes."
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crit note: device prototype
By mixing, overlapping, connecting, mapping, etc. the "6 splices" could produce 30 likly results or more. I am then becoming the narrator of the narrative, the cotroller of the event by utilising my visions.
It makes me to think sometimes when client say: "I don't like the garden to be there", maybe that is because he/she was looking at the opening window through the garden first. Then probably it is the problem of the opening, not the garden.
- Would it be possible to locate the sequence of the others' vision by simply tracking their eye movement, we can therefore easily learn what they are truly looking at?
- Would it be possible to let the others learn what we are truly thinking through the same process, how much commons we can therefore conduct the occupants within the same space to tell the same story?
Eye Movement Tracking Technique
- absentminded02g likes this
- alexanderok59 likes this
- vandiverok3 likes this
- video--capture--device likes this
- myarchifiction posted this


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Ask SmallBiz: Financing a Business Startup
Q. My son wants to start a business but doesn't know how to go about it. Where should he get started? He is most concerned about financing.
Raveen Rama, accounting,
Hawaii Reserves Inc
A. While financing is very important, there are steps your son should take before he launches his small business or seeks financing. Pre-venture planning will test his readiness and map a path to a viable business. Planning early in the startup process increases the likelihood of creating a successful business.
Do you like what you read? Subscribe to Hawaii Business Magazine »


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A Bloody Good Time 03.29.12: Defending The Horror Genre
Posted by
Joseph Lee
on 03.29.2012
From unrealistic monsters and gratuitous violence to dumb characters, plot recycling and more, the horror genre has a lot of criticism levied at it. 411's Joseph Lee takes a look at the criticisms and provides his own defense!
Opening Logo courtesy of Benjamin J. Colón (
Soul Exodus
Welcome to A Bloody Good Time.
Last week I gave you my favorite ten horror movie fights. Let's see your feedback.
Im confused on how you reach that Predator is a horror movie.
I'll let
answer this for me, as he helpfully did in comments section. He replied:
Group get killed off one by one by monster. final person does battle with monster. sounds like a horror movie to me.
lol .. king kong vs godzilla.. sigh.. ya i love how they magically made king kong from having to climb the empire state building to actually being bigger than it in this film just to fight godzilla.. man. godzilla would of just stomped him.. movie over!
Yeah, and when you get into the history of that movie it's even more confusing. It was originally
King Kong vs Frankenstein
Dr. Toboggan
Good list. Sucks that they don't make more horror movie mash-ups like Jason v. Freddy more often. Seems like a perfect idea for these sort of franchises. I remember a rumor going around for a while about a Jason/Freddy/Ash movie which would have been great.
It got turned into two comic series that are pretty great, although I prefer
The Nightmare Warriors
for managing to get as much continuity as possible into the story. It would never fly as a film, but it was fun to read.
I'd be inclined to let you have your opinion about Jason "winning," but when the director of the movie himself has stated that Freddy was the real winner, it's hard to argue.
I'm a fan of Ronny Yu, but he also thought it was a good idea to replace Kane Hodder. Jason's in one piece and walking around at the end, Freddy's just a head. I can't fathom how one could say he won.
Two people complained that I didn't like Jason's fear of water in
Freddy vs Jason
, and rightfully pointed out that it was in his subconscious. I get that, really. It just rubs me the wrong way to have him all badass, ready to strike and some falling water (not even that much, mind you), stop him cold. If it was a rushing geyser, or even a lake that suddenly formed, that would make sense. I think had the way it played out looked dumb (and the writers agree in the
His Name Was Jason
documentary). Freddy taking Jason into his worst memory and drowning the child version, that was a much better way to get that into the movie, and I thought that was well handled. The fear of water could have been handled better, and probably would have made sense to more people if it was.
This week, I've decided to defend the horror genre against some common criticism that the mainstream world seems to have against it. This is no real set list, just things I've heard when I ask people why they don't want to watch the next
Friday the 13th
or why they have never seen
The Exorcist
. I asked friends, I looked up intellectual articles, etc. I'm don't have any kind of film degree, and I'm obviously not a professional critic. I'm just a lifelong horror fan who always feels dismayed when people look down on something I love.
Horror has always been the red-headed stepchild of film, and I've never understood why. I'd put some of the very best horror films (and I'm talking movies like
The Fly
) against any of the Best Picture winners in terms of quality. But I'm not going to generalize and say that the only reason people hate the genre is because it makes them feel icky when someone dies in a violent manner. What I will say is that I'd rather watch a Chucky movie than an obvious Oscar bait film like
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
. Whatever that says about me, I don't care.
Let's look at some criticisms and I'll try to defend them as best I can.
Characters act stupid because it's a storytelling necessity to put them in danger.
This happens a lot in slasher movies. It is a necessity because the killer is out there, and you have to put that person out there in order to have them be the next victim. But not all horror is like this, as much as people would have you believe. Sometimes the evil event just happens to a nice, smart, well-meaning group of people. Take
The Exorcist
. Nothing that happens to Reagan or the Freeling family is a result of their own actions, but malevolent forces that choose to attack them. Granted, those are considered some of the best of the genre, but I think it fits my point.
Not only that, but there are stupid character decisions in any genre. In the action film, the woman in distress almost always does something dumb to get captured, and the hero has to save her. In the romantic comedy, one of the leads (usually the male) does something stupid to endanger the relationship. I'd argue that it's human to be stupid once in a while, and there's a lot of stupid people who die as a result of their dumb decisions. Plus, being scared often doesn't lead to the most rational thinking anyway. You can say "I'd never crawl under the bed to get away from the killer" but you never know what you'd do in that situation until it happens.
Trust me, horror fans know that rules are always broken, and that's why there are constant lists and articles about horror rules. It's why
was a big hit with many.
Horror fans get enjoyment from senseless/meaningless/pointless violence and/or torture.
This is a little harder to defend because it's more a matter of taste. But I can say that it's unfair to generalize an entire genre because of a popular trend or movie style. Yes, there are films that are nothing but torture/killing. The
series comes to mind. But there are just as many good horror films that do not rely on violence or torture at all. There's not a drop of blood to be found in Robert Wise's
The Haunting
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
isn't even about actual death, it's about the fear of losing who you are, and that's
Most people don't watch horror films to see gratuitous violence. There are some who do, and I'll admit to enjoying a good beheading every now and again (in fact, my favorite film of 2011,
I Saw The Devil
, has one of these). But most people watch to be scared. Now why would someone want to be scared? It's a release. If you have anxiety about something in your life, getting scared then laughing it off is a good release. So is watching something blow up, if action movies are your thing. I happen to enjoy both.
Everything's the same (plots, characters, scenarios).
I could get really pretentious and point out the same basic story plots that have always existed, but it seems trivial and pointless to do so. I will go elsewhere, in other genres, to defend horror of this complaint. Yes, there are the usual same plots and scenarios that set up these horror films. But the best horror films, or the ones that are just really good, usually try to play with these conventions just a little. Horror fans don't blindly love the entire genre, and if a horror movie is lazy we will call it out for being so. I praised
last year because when Rose Byrne wants to move out, instead of having the husband refuse because he thinks she's crazy (something that happens a lot), they do move out. It's a nice twist on a common convention.
But there are similar story types in countless other genres. Let's go back to the Best Pictures. Do you know how many war films won Best Picture? They may have been about different topics but they are all about war, and definitely fit those plot devices. The biopic is another genre that has the same basic plot points: the beginning, the early success, the rise to fame, troubles, redemption and/or tragic death. And that's just for the people that were in entertainment. Basically if you're going to criticize horror, you'd better be ready to criticize every other film genre, ever.
Loud noises tell when you should be scared.
I've never been a fan of the jump scare. This is the horror convention when the music gets really loud or there's a sudden crash to let you know that something is about to happen or something just happened. It's just there to make the person jump and it's not an actual scare. The actual scares come as a result of suspense and build to one terrifying moment that you either see or is implied off-screen. Anyone can throw a cat into frame and play a loud note on a piano, but it takes talent to make that actually work.
This is an odd criticism, like others on the list, because it's usually reserved as a blanket complaint for the genre when it really only applies to the films that are of lesser quality. Sure, even
has the score kick in when Michael lunges out of the closet. But not only is that not the scariest moment in the film, it's really one once or twice that it happens in that movie. There are moments when there is no noise, at all, that are very scary. Another example is
(the musical moment happens after, in fact). The scariest moment in the film has nothing to let you know it's about to happen. That shark just pops out of the water. It's possible to scare without loud noises, it's just that some filmmakers like to use the easier route. Don't blame an entire genre of film for something that's unfortunately common (especially in Hollywood), but not the rule.
Every horror movie ends with the villain winning or set-up for a sequel.
Okay, a friend suggested this one and I have to call him out on it because it's ridiculous. Yes, a lot of horror movies do this. But there's also a lot that don't. Horror fans don't like the happy ending for the most part, but usually will if it makes sense within the context of the story. Some of my favorite horror films end with a relatively happy ending with no indication that there will be a sequel:
The Exorcist
Near Dark
The Shining
, just to name a few of the obvious choices. The endings aren't what you'd call happy (although some movies do have them), but they are definitive with good prevailing in the end. Although I would say that
Near Dark
is positively cheerful at the end, even though it earns it.
For a lot of horror movies employing the nihilistic ending, yeah, they do. But if the movie doesn't deserve it, it's just as bad as a movie ending happily that didn't deserve that and fans will call the film out on it.
The Thing
ends pretty ambiguously as to who is a
or not, but you're pretty sure that MacReady and Childs are both going to die. But that is the way it has to happen in regards to the story. As for the films that hope to become franchises...that's the makings of Hollywood and the studios usually push for that. That's because these films are marketable and obviously the filmmakers want to keep making money if successful. But it happens in other genres too, like action movies...and especially superhero films. It's the nature of the beast.
Horror movies today show too much.
This goes back to the violence thing above in a way, but it is true. There are a lot of horror films that rely on gore and showing the CGi monsters when it should be kept in shadow. This complaint is really more of my own as I like a good chiller that leaves it to your imagination as well. But I think this is more a complaint that is suited to film in general than the horror genre alone. Remember when romantic films didn't have sex scenes? Remember when comedies were about slapstick and puns and not dick and fart jokes?
There is something to be said for subtlety and the idea that "less is more". I agree wholeheartedly with that. But again, this is a problem with all genres of film and not just horror. Even then, there are still horror films that do not rely on showing everything just as there are comedy films that rely on smart humor and not poop jokes. Some of them have even come out recently, like the
Paranormal Activity
series. Do they show things? Yes, it would be a lie to say they didn't. But it is mostly confined to what you don't see. Some call that boring, but it's a means of building suspense.
Horror movies aren't scary because zombies/vampires/werewolves/ghosts aren't realistic.
If you think that supernatural horror is not scary, then that is your opinion and there's nothing I can say to change your mind. There are some horror films with these creatures that I do find scary, but if you don't, you don't. If you can't possibly get scared of something that can never and will next exist, then I can see how this is a valid complaint of those types of movies. But just because Freddy and Jason aren't real doesn't mean the genre as a whole isn't credible.
Not all horror relies on a movie monster to scare its audience or something that isn't real.
, from last year, uses a very real fear (child abduction) to kick-start its story about a very real type of fear (a psychopath). Both
Silence of the Lambs
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
are loosely based on a real man that killed women and cut off their skin. The world has some very real monsters out there, and horror will exploit these stories when it can. If you think all horror is about the imaginary, you're not looking in the right places.
That's it for me. Heard any other complaints or have some of your own? I'll try my best to defend them. Leave some comments here on or my
. Next week we will rank another horror series, as I tackle the
Amityville Horror
series. Trust me, that's harder than it sounds.
Closing Logo courtesy of Kyle Morton (get your own custom artwork and commissions at his
Etsy account
A Bloody Good Time: The Store is now officially open! Like this design? You can now find it on most of my merchandise! Click
to find shirts, posters and more!
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