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The FMLA permits eligible employees to take up to 12 work weeks of leave during a 12-month period if a "serious health condition . . . makes the employee unable to perform the functions of [his or her] position." Employers are prohibited from interfering with qualified employees' benefits or leave under the FMLA. However, the 3d U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that the FMLA does not shield an employee from discharge merely because an alleged misconduct occurred during an FMLA leave, nor does it prohibit termination of an employee who abuses the terms of an FMLA leave. Warwas v. City of Plainfield, 3d Circuit, No. 11-1736, July 25, 2012. Jadwiga Warwas, a licensed physician, was hired in 2003 by the City of Plainfield, New Jersey, as the City's Health Officer. In 2006, Warwas requested sick leave under the FMLA for several health issues. In order to determine Warwas's eligibility for leave, Plainfield required Warwas's treating doctor to complete a medical provider certification form. The doctor completed the form, indicating that Warwas "was restricted to home and could not work/attend school. Based on that information, Plainfield granted the leave request. In spite of the treating physician's assertion that Warwas was unable to work, Warwas continued to work at home on a part-time basis for the City of Paterson, New Jersey. When Plainfield learned about that work, it terminated Warwas's employment on September 30, 2006. Warwas appealed that termination to the Merit Systems Board, which ultimately reinstated her employment. However, during the month of April 2008, Warwas was expected to return to work, and was told that further absences would result in her termination. When she failed to return, her employment was again terminated. Warwas brought an action against Plainfield for interference with FMLA leave. At the close of discovery, Plainfield's motion for summary judgment was granted, and Warwas appealed. The Third Circuit upheld the district court's decision after finding that Plainfield terminated Warwas for reasons "entirely unrelated to the exercise of her rights under the FMLA." Plainfield believed that Warwas had failed to use her FMLA leave for the intended purpose when, in spite of her doctor's assertion that she was unable to work, Warwas continued to work for Paterson while on leave. According to the Third Circuit, "Warwas is not entitled to a greater degree of protection for violating Plainfield's Municipal Code merely because she was on FMLA leave when caught and terminated." The Court found that Warwas was terminated not for her use of FMLA leave, but for the perceived misuse of the leave and her subsequent failure to return to work. Because this opinion is non-precedential, the Court did not provide extensive factual or procedural detail which may have explained the more than five-year lapse of time between the initial termination action and the 2012 Third Circuit decision. However, the basic rationale is clear: the FMLA does not prohibit an employer from firing an employee who abuses FMLA leave, or who violates an employer's policy while on that leave, even if the employee is eligible and qualified for the leave. An employer can defeat an FMLA interference claim by providing evidence of an honest belief that either of those circumstances is present.
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DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.
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She certainly knows how to get attention, and Chelsea Handler used her womanly assets to drum up interest in her upcoming interview with Dave Grohl.
The former "Chelsea Lately" lady tweeted a photo with three friends, pulling down her bikini top to expose her entire left lady pillow.
Giving the fans what they want, the ladies and gentlemen of "Orange is the New Black" fielded questions during a panel discussion at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles last night (August 4).
Jason Biggs, Leverne Cox, Uzo Aduba, Taylor Schilling, Jenji Kohan and Natasha Lyonne all turned out for the event, posing for photos before heading inside.
She's made no secret of her desire to ditch her "Chelsea Lately" gig, and Chelsea Handler has a fun new project in the works to make sure she can still pay the bills.
Per a report, Handler has signed a contract with Netflix to create an all-new talk show that's slated to debut in early 2016.
She's been cracking us up for the past seven years on "Chelsea Lately," and Chelsea Handler will pull the plug on her E! series in August because she's tired of Justin Bieber.
The outspoken hostess joked about her decision to throw in the towel and said she's looking forward to trying a new gig.
With roles in "21 Jump Street" and "Now You See Me," Dave Franco is quickly climbing up the fame ladder and now he's talking about his latest part in the newly-released comedy "Neighbors."
Stopping by the set of "Chelsea Lately," James Franco's younger brother explained a "nerve-wracking" scene from the flick, which he stars in alongside Seth Rogen and Zac Efron.
Making for an interesting night out, Sandra Bullock joined Chris Evans and Chelsea Handler at Cecconi's in Los Angeles on Wednesday (May 7).
The talented trio enjoyed a delicious dinner together and made their way out of the Hollywood hotspot to a mob of awaiting shutterbugs.
She's spent the past seven years cracking up audiences on her hit show "Chelsea Lately," and now Chelsea Handler is ready for a change.
During her interview on "Conan" last night (April 28), the outspoken host seemed annoyed with O'Brien's questions regarding her next move.
Her contract with E! runs out this year, and Chelsea Handler may already have a new gig in the works.
The "Chelsea Lately" host has reportedly been talking with subscription streaming giant Netflix for a new show though it's still in the early stages.

subset: commoncrawl


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In this issue: Moving Renewables Beyond Cap and Trade; RENEWABLE ENERGY FOCUS: EPA issues carbon guidance to help states enforce rules; Interest in Los Angeles CleanTech Corridor Revived with CRA RFP; FERC moves ahead with campaign to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy; CalPERS to invest $500 million in green portfolio; Outlook for clean energy jobs in the U.S. beating the trend; The energy dilemma: cheap or clean; Salazar approves billion-dollar solar thermal plant in California; CEC staff still opposed to solar project; Getting solar policy right in California; Mid-term election results positive for geothermal energy; Notable Renewable Energy Projects and Deals: SDG&E adds more Imperial Valley renewable energy to portfolio; Sempra Generation receives approval to build Southern California solar plant; DTE to convert California coal plant to biomass fuel; and Fuel cell to turn California sewage gas into renewable energy.
Moving Renewables Beyond Cap and Trade
Although a major push to pass a Renewable Energy Standard or a Cap and Trade program is unlikely this year, that doesn't preclude greener energy. A new report from the Clean Energy Group (CEG) highlights steps that can be taken to maximize existing federal policies toward renewables. Report author and CEG president Lewis Milford calls it "Clean Energy Pragmatism." Lewis outlines five key short-term strategies that could have a substantial impact on the industry without having to wait for sweeping legislation.
Please see full article below for more information.
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The book, edited by former yank magazine art director Art Weithas, featured visual art from the war and was a best seller.
As for disloyal Democrats, you need to yank the carpet out from under them.
A caveat: the networks have been known to yank a few before they even make it on the air.
I was conscious of my uncomfortable thong riding up, but resisted the urge to yank it bank into place.
He slammed open my bedroom door and tried to yank me out from my hiding place.
Way out there ahead were two yank aircraft carriers waiting to take them aboard.
Some one has managed to yank the mule back on her hind quarters.
I had to yank you up here, you little devil, or you'd have cooked the whole show by laughing.
He figured he had plenty of time because the yank was crippled.
Stan suspected some other yank had spotted it and laid a stick of bombs on the track, blocking it.
1822, Scottish, of unknown origin. Related: Yanked; yanking. The noun is 1818 in sense of "sudden blow, cuff."
To victimize or harass; dupe; mislead: The detective uses expressions like ''You gotta be yankin' me''
[1970s+; an alteration and shortening of yank someone's chain or jerk someone around or jack someone around]
[a shortening fr Yankee for both senses]
(From the colloquial meaning "to pull suddenly") To insert a copy of some saved text at the current position in a document being edited.
The term is used in the Unix text editors GNU Emacs and vi but "paste" is more common elsewhere.
[Used elsewhere?]


text:
Brain-Based Aspects of Cognitive Learning Approaches in Second Language Learning
Language learning process is one of the complicated behaviors of human beings which has called many scholars and experts 'attention especially after the middle of last century by the advent of cognitive psychology that later on we see its implication to education. Unlike previous thought of schools, cognitive psychology deals with the way in which the human mind controls learning. Although it was great development on the way of understanding the nature of learning, cognitive psychologists were criticized by other approaches that this caused mush evolution in cognitivism. On the other hand by the rapid growth of technology our understanding of brain has increased, therefore we know its functions and structures even while working. Neuroscience and its implications to educational domain has been increasing time to time, it means neuroscience and education never were so close to each other. Meanwhile, Brain-based researchers can confirm many learning theories that introduced during the educational great efforts of cognitive and non-cognitive approaches. This paper argues in favor of application of those approaches to language classrooms utilizing as guarantee some of the main perception from brain-based learning theories.
Full Text:
PDFDOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v6n5p55
Copyright (c) 2013 Alireza Navid Moghaddam, Seyed Mahdi Araghi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
English Language Teaching ISSN 1916-4742 (Print) ISSN 1916-4750 (Online)
Copyright © Canadian Center of Science and Education
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Slumber Party Hostel
Welcome to the Slumber Party Group, the largest chain of party hostels in Thailand (Slumber Party Ao Nang, Slumber Party Krabi, Slumber Party Koh Phangan). With a 90%+ hostelworld review rating across all locations (with an average of 250+ reviews per property), its not hard to see why we people chose Slumber Party. SLUMBER PARTY KOH PHANGAN .... Please note: In order to maximize your fun and time on Koh Phangan, we strongly recommend that you tailor your travel plan to arrive on the island at least 3 days prior to the date of fullmoon. This way you will hit all the major parties leading to the main event. The basis of the following information centers around two main questions ... DO YOU WANT US and DO WE WANT YOU. In an age where hostels can buy reviews or even worse write them themselves, we encourage you to conduct all necessary due diligence on your choice of hostel prior to your arrival on Koh Phangan to avoid huge disappointment. If you are visiting this page it's highly likely that you are one of the numerous travelers that has heard about a ''Slumber party party''. We are proud that around 48% of our customers arrive through returning guests and referrals (a big thank you to those who have spread the word!). So let's get to it …. DO YOU WANT US? We make no excuses or apologies for the fact that we are the loudest and busiest party hostel on the island, our parties are famous and this is who we are. We strongly believe our commitment to this cause is the reason we are the busiest hostel on the island. Simply put, we give people what they want... 1. An unforgettable party 2. Clean and safe living conditions 3. A friendly and warm environment This simple formula has built the foundations of our success! Slumber Party is an established backpacker party hostel that has been running for years, it is NOT one of the numerous pop up, quick fix hostels on the island that promise the world but are under resourced, have poor hygiene levels and are poorly run...you know the kind we are talking about! DO WE WANT YOU? By not attempting to hide our reputation as the premier party hostel in South East Asia we are no doubt missing out on a few bookings here and there. However, make no mistake about it, this is deliberate! The reason? We are only looking to attract a certain type of person to our hostel, someone that fits the unique DNA of our owners, our staff and most importantly our other guests. Do you have the Slumber party DNA? Here is what we are after: · A willingness to mix with others regardless of gender or nationality · A burning desire to have fun and smile · A respectful, open personality · A strong liver to cope with our head barman! Time and time again Slumber Party is the crowd pulling machine of Ban Tai, when everywhere is dead Slumber Party is pumping which has quickly led to an enormous reputation and a whole lot of envy from other hostels in the area who try but fail to recreate our business model. So before you book your accommodation on the island here is a bit of advice from us… don't let yourself be one of the numerous travelers who drink with us at night having been left disappointed at the unfulfilled promises of other hostels on the island promising some sort of 'atmosphere'. Instead, get it right first time to avoid trying to change hostels half way through your trip! GENERAL PROPERTY INFORMATION You may have been warned by other travelers that Slumber Party is regularly at capacity so early bookings are often ESSENTIAL. We offer 4 types of different rooms for your convenience. You can choose from an 8 bed dorm with individual fans for each bed. You also have the option to choose from a 4, 6, and 12-bed dorm all with an air conditioning unit. Our central location offers a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, bars, parties and shops right on our doorstep. You are a mere eighty meters from one of Thailand's premiere beaches not to mention being on the door step of most of the major parties on the island including the half moon, black moon, waterfall parties, and the famous full moon party. OTHER STUFF… · Nightly events including the largest beer pong tournament on the island, wet-t-shirt / short competition, International Shot Challenge · Motorbike and jeep rentals. · The best Wi-Fi (in all rooms) on the island · Access to Muay Thai training gym and swimming pools · No curfew · Shower gel in bathroom · Key coded swipe system for entire building ensuring your belongings are safe. Finally, cleanliness and safety is of paramount importance to our business. We are committed to being the cleanest hostel in Thailand and all dorms and bathrooms are cleaned daily with all beds made with fresh linen. Join us for the fun!! PLEASE NOTE: 1: Due to our popularity we are always pushing the boundaries of capacity. Early booking is essential. On occasion we may be over booked, in which case customers may be moved to our sister hostel (1min walk) where you will experience the exact same (if not improved) housing conditions whilst continuing to enjoy the famous Slumber Party parties. 2: We are a party hostel: we do our best to control the dorms at all time, but at times there are drunk people, naked people, loud people, make sure you're cool with this before booking. 3: Due to a high demand of bookings over Full Moon and Peak Season Periods, we require full payment of the remaining balance in advance in order to guarantee your stay. Invoices will be sent the month prior to your arrival. 4: Please note We do not accept anyone over 35 |
Verfügbarkeit & Preise
Wähle bitte die Termine aus und klicke auf "Daten aktualisieren", um die Verfügbarkeit zu sehenHostels Ausstattungen & Richtlinien
- Altersbegrenzung
- Klimaanlage
- Bar
- Brettspiele
- Büchertausch
- Kabelfernsehen
- Deckenventilator
- Gemeinschaftsraum
- Zahlung per Kreditkarte möglich
- Kostenlose Stadtpläne
- Kostenloser Internet-Zugang
- Kostenloses Parken
- Kostenloses WLAN
- Fitnessraum
- Warmwasser-Duschen
- Reinigung
- Internet-Zugang
- Bettwäsche im Preis inbegriffen
- Schließfächer
- Gepäckraum
- Kein Rezeptionsschluss
- Außenterrasse
- Parken
- Dampfsauna
- Ausflugsschalter
- Handtücher im Preis inbegriffen
Diese Unterkunft hat eine 3 Tage Stornierungsfrist. Ergeht innerhalb dieser Zeit keine Stornierung, wird eine Stornogebühr in Höhe der ersten Nacht des Aufenthalts in Rechnung gestellt.AnfahrtKarte anzeigenKarte verbergen
Thongsala Pier: Ask any taxi driver to take you to Ringside and they will no exactly where it is. If you prefer to walk it is only 1.5 km from the pier. When you exit the pier turn right and continue walking down the main road. Ringside Guest House will be on your left side between Big C and Outlaws Saloon.
From Haadrin pier: Tell the taxi driver to take you to Slumber Party Hostel by Kobra muay thai stadium.


text:
A beautiful façade acts as an impermeable container that keeps inner beauty from escaping, just as a Hot Pocket's flaky outer crust acts as a vessel that makes its molten innards edible while skateboarding. Heat up your inner glow with this Groupon.
Choose from Four Options
- $129 for six laser hair-removal treatments on a small area (a $780 value)
- $249 for six treatments on a medium area (a $1,500 value)
- $349 for six treatments on a large area (a $2,400 value)
- $449 for six treatments on an extra-large area (a $3,300 value)
Skin Envy
Dr. Daniel McGrath leads a trained medical staff who combat skin damage and signs of aging with noninvasive laser skin resurfacing, Botox, and laser hair-removal treatments. Dr. McGrath exploits the beauty industry's technological developments to the utmost, wielding Fraxel lasers that create thousands of tiny holes in the skin to stimulate the body's natural healing process to create a brand-new surface, and laser hair removal that can vanquish unwanted hair from any part of the body. LipoLaser treatments aim to shrink circumferences with cold lasers that circumvent skin tissue entirely, leaving it undamaged as the energy bereaves fat cells of their triglycerides and stores of water balloons. The staff welcome clients for a free skin evaluation, during which a clinician listens to concerns and helps devise an effective treatment plan.


text:
Gutierrez Energy Management Institute
Energy and Sustainability Initiative
The Energy and Sustainability Initiative (ESI) offers an interdisciplinary minor for students interested in these twin fields. ESI also promotes speakers, brings in visiting scholars, and provides links to resources about the energy industries and economic, environmental, and public policy issues related to energy and sustainability. It sponsors the UH Energy Exchange, which brings together students, faculty, and experts from off-campus to discuss key issues.
Learn more about this exciting new curriculum!Contact Us
Gutierrez Energy Management Institute
UCBB Suite 302
The University of Houston
4742 Calhoun Rd.
Houston, TX 77204
Undergraduate Program Inquiries:
Vanessa Fellers: 713-743-4936
e-mail: email@example.com
Graduate Program Inquiries:
Office of Graduate and Professional Programs: 713-743-0700
Related Links
- UH Energy
- UH Energy Blog
- Distinguished Leaders Series
- We Are Energy. We Are Bauer. (Flipbook | PDF)


text:
What it Could Be, What I Hope It'll Be -- A thought on Black Ops
By Oldirtybearon 5 Comments
Picture this, if you will:
The sun boils your skin, fresh with mosquito bites. It's 196X and you're riding gunner seat against the humid breeze in South Vietnam. Your brow is caked with dirt and sweat. You've been running on empty since the last fortnight, and only now that you're due some R&R, you're thrust back out into the jungle to meet Charlie head on.
You take a long look at the rest of the Hueys with their blades cutting against the thick, muggy air. You're not quite sure, but you think maybe this day in Hell, more than all the others, has finally broken the thermostat.
This is where the adventure begins. Or at least, it's what I hope to find in Treyarch's fourth foray into the Call of Duty line, entitled Black Ops.
The reason I try to paint this picture in so many words is quite simple: I seem to find that I'm having more and more faith in Treyarch not only as a developer, but as a narrative-driven studio.
Their previous works were confined to the straight and simple "good versus evil" approach to World War II. While this is common and many would agree that it's just fine to chest-thump and flag-wave over the single greatest victory in the 20th Century, one also has to wonder--just what could the boys and girls at Treyarch do without the confinement of a pre-determined narrative?
It's a question I ask because while many lament Call of Duty 3 and World at War as buggy and inferior to the Golden Child offerings from Infinity Ward, I can't help but find that, underneath the graphics and the FPS gameplay, World at War was, perhaps, the better game. And if not the better game, perhaps the most meditative of the series.
I know, blasphemous. Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2 featured tighter controls, better weapons, and a more fast-paced, frantic story (much to the chagrin of narrative enthusiasts for MW2). However, I can't help but remember that Treyarch were not chest-beating or flag-waving with World at War--they were trying to tell a coherent narrative about war itself. About how alien and brutal the Japanese soldiers were (and not without respect for their warrior mentality), but they also touched upon the true gravity of the war and just what the cost of it was (ergo: Stalingrad/Russian missions). It is with these nagging little thoughts that I can't help but wonder if, maybe, given a theater of war with more loosely defined morals and more grey area to explore, just what could they show us that we haven't seen before?
A lot of people are quick to dismiss Treyarch as the bastard child of the Call of Duty family, but I don't think that is the case. If anything, I think of Infinity Ward and Treyarch in the following analogy:
Infinity Ward - The handsome frat boy who knows how to show you a good time. The experience is a dizzying haze of instant gratification and disorienting, heaping helpings of Awesome. The next morning, you awaken sore and achy, with a headache threatening to go USS Ishimura on your pure skull, and the faint recollection that what you went through was a lot of fun, but if only you could remember what made it so special.
Treyarch - The poet. He's clumsy and awkward, and while he rambles in what he tries to say, what he tries to preach, he stumbles over his words because he's not used to an audience. By himself, in his own little world, he can tell sweeping, grandiose tales full of adventure and thoughtful platitudes... but in a crowd, his message and story is lost in the white noise of a house party. In essence, he's hanging out with the handsome frat boy, and if he ever hopes to grow, he needs to realize he's got a future if only he reaches out to take it.
I mean it when I say this: World at War was the most provocative stance on World War II in our medium. It wasn't in the cutscenes, and there were no heavy-handed "messages" distilled through dialogue from faceless NPCs. Everything you saw, every climactic battle and every scary-as-shit Spider Jap hanging in the trees was a comment on not only the Pacific Theater, but on the nature of war itself.
Please, feel free to tell me I'm smoking crack and I'm seeing things--but I can't help but feel that the reason "Giant Zippos" were included in World at War was not because "it'd be fun", but to show you what it was to burn a man tied to a tree alive was like. Better yet, they wanted to put you in the shoes of that poor bastard who had to take the Giant Zippo and burn other men alive. In any language, the screams of anguish and suffering are universally understood.
So why is it that I believe Black Ops will wind up being a thoughtful, narrative-driven experience? It's not the FPS gameplay, or the no doubt Tom Clancy-inspired plot they will saddle it with. No, it's the experience. It's the little moments, it's seeing the Fall of Saigon not in pictures, but through the eyes of a soldier who was there. Seeing the faces of helpless Vietnamese civilians fleeing to the rooftops for Air-Evac and being told "only eight at a time" would be a harrowing experience in our medium. Especially if it was us who had to pick who to save, and who to leave behind.
And yet, Vietnam will be just one facet of a much larger war. The Cold War as it is commonly known, will no doubt be the focus of this epic. From what little can be gleaned (from leaks last year to rumours and speculation), there is a theory out there that you will play the role of one soldier, and will be following his career from the Cuban Missile Crisis all the way to the Iranian Embassy in the 1980's.
It needn't be said, but I will say it anyhow: This is extremely fertile ground to explore. Not just for the nature of the conflict between the Soviets and the Americans, but also instrumental to perhaps understanding the deeper threat behind M.A.D.--Mutually Assured Destruction.
To date, there have been only three Nuclear disasters in the world (that this author is aware of), the two bombs dropped on Japan, and the Chernobyl Incident. Many gamers were not even alive during Chernobyl, let alone around to really understand the nature of just how fucking scary it was to live during the Cold War.
Duck and Cover: it's a joke now, but it was serious back then. Nuclear fire was a very real possibility, and it was the covert as well as the diplomatic background shenanigans that almost brought the world to an end--and also saved it.
Perhaps Black Ops will be just another shooter with an intriguing setting. It's a very real possibility. However, this author cannot help but think that Treyarch is aiming for a higher watermark. I think, personally, that we're going to become very acquainted with just how close the world came to ending during the Cold War. And while it may be wrapped up in a harrowing single-player experience--I believe, if handled properly, it can prove to be an educational one. One to teach the gamers who didn't have to live in fear of Nuclear Fire, or of an irrational fear of Communism infecting the Great America. It could educate as well as validate the unsung heroes who saved our collective bacon. And without them, we wouldn't be here.
And of course, Black Ops could turn into a really shitty game that has no redeeming qualities whatsoever--but where's the fun in thinking that?


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These novelty prints range from baby designs in soft pastel colors to sports designs in bright colors. Click on individual items for width, content and pricing.
Description: Designed by Studio RK for Robert Kaufman, this double-napped (brushed on both sides) flannel is perfect for quilting, apparel and home decor accents.
go to product
Description: From Kaufman comes "Cozy Cotton", this soft double-napped (brushed on both sides) flannel fabric is perfect for apparel, quilting and home décor accents. The colors include aqua, turquoise, yellow, grey and white.


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SAN FRANCISCO -- Google Inc.'s latest deal aims to help people find the best daily deals on the Web.
In its latest acquisition of talent and technology, Google has bought Dealmap. It's a 15-month-old startup that compiles discount offers from local merchants scattered in markets across the nation.
Financial terms of the acquisition announced Tuesday weren't disclosed. It's the latest in a flurry of acquisitions that Google has made to expand its Internet empire into promising new markets. Since the end of 2009, Google has spent more than $2.7 billion buying more than 70 companies.
In this case, Google is trying to become a bigger player in the rapidly growing specialty of distributing daily bargains from local merchants around the country. Groupon and LivingSocial have emerged as early leaders, but hundreds of competitors are now vying for a share. Google, as the owner of the Internet's most popular search engine and most lucrative ad network, looms as one of the most imposing entrants.
Google is adding Dealmap to its arsenal just a few weeks after starting its own daily deal service. Its version, called Offers, currently confines its bargains to New York, the San Francisco Bay area and Portland, Ore., but Google plans to add more cities. The company developed its service after Groupon turned down a $6 billion takeover offer last year.
"We've been thrilled with the early success of our commerce offerings, and we think (Dealmap) can help us build even better products and services for consumers and merchants," Google spokeswoman Katelin Todhunter-Gerberg said.
Groupon, which is based in Chicago, is now pursuing an initial public offering of stock that's expected to be completed in September or October. Although it's only three years old, Groupon already is on pace to generate more than $2 billion in annual revenue -- a threshold Google didn't eclipse until its sixth year in business.
Both Groupon and LivingSocial have been aggressively expanding in an attempt to build on their early lead in the daily deal market. LivingSocial broadened its reach in Asia on Tuesday with its own acquisition of a South Korean deal site called TicketMonster.
Dealmap, which based in Menlo Park, Calif., has built a database that lists deals from more than 450 different sources. It says it has more than 2 million users.


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Vortex Point 8
The gang needs to perform an exorcism in an abandoned lighthouse. Care to join?
4.13 / 5.00 5,531 ViewsTwo movies for the price of one! My first (proper) game, and a Clay/Stick combo stop-motion movie.
«««««« • • • »»»»»»
The Game: Thrown together for the preloader, I'm really pleased with it as my first game. If you can hit more than 3 tanks on level 20 you're doing better than me 8 )
The Movie: Has taken over a month to complete from conception to submission. It was originally going to be longer, but I got fed up with it. If it's well-recieved then I'll work on another episode, with scene changes and more action.
I hadn't done a claymation or stick movie yet so I thought I'd throw the two together and see what happened... and, once again, made life very difficult for myself. As far as I know, this is the first & only movie on NG which combines sticks & clay, and, after spending countless hours trying to synchronise the buggers, I can understand why. Still, it's possibly my best animation yet.
«««««« • • • »»»»»»
Apologies for the file size, I did my utmost to optimise everything... I don't think I could squeeze it any more. The stick figure (George) was created using Swift 3D. The clay figure (Brian) was created using.... ermm... Plasticene. And lead split-shot.
«««««« • • • »»»»»»
Hope you enjoy this, please vote fairly (you KNOW it deserves 5 =). Thanks. Oh yeah, and check out my other submissions, I'm going for NG's most varied artist... suppose I should do sprites next...
I thought that the game was pretty entertaining. It's a simple game, yet it's still fun to play for a little while. It's challenging to reach the max score, which is always changing, and the graphics in the game are very good, as well as the sound effects. In the movie, I liked how you added a stick figure into your movie instead of doing everything with flash. That was a cool combination. I liked your voice overs and music, and also the play bar at the bottom is a nice addition.
to bad my name is clay
To bad my name is clay& To bad you got a 4.08 lol that must of really sucked balls :O
That was awesome
that was seriously so sweet, the stick beatdown plus clay guy is an instant win
that was great
good use of voice editing and good animation. ihave one question wtf is up w the wizard


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"Why did you choose this product?"
I cannot fix my hair without this, it smells delicious and works like a dream. Never greasy and always just what my hair needs.
Tame dry or frizzy hair with Kerastase Nutritive Oleo-Relax serum. This hair styling product from the Nutritive line of hair products features a formulation designed to treat dry and unmanageable hair while imbuing softness and shine. Safe for all hair types, Kerastase Nutritive Oleo-Relax Serum de-tangles hair while it reduces volume, making it perfect for use before work or a big night out. This product comes in a 4.2-ounce bottle, so you have plenty on hand for frequent use.- Brand: Kerastase
- Collection: Nutritive
- Size: 4.2 ounces
- Tames and silkens dry hair, as well as, hair prone to frizz
- Formulated to give you sleek, frizz-free and manageable hair
Due to the personal nature of this product we do not accept returns.
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Type | Hair Serums |
Hair Type | Any |
Dimensions | 6x3x3 |
Model Number | 250050 |
Country of Origin | United States |
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Leaves hair soft and gives it a shine Great product - especially love the scent. Would buy again.
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Since I retired at the beach my hair is always a frizzy mess. Between the humidity and turning gray it sticks out and looks like a horse's tail. My hair dresser used this on my hair one day and I had to have it. It makes it manageable, barely frizzy and soft. I have been using it for over a year.
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According to twitter, Kaboly is reporting that Sean Spence will come off the PUP list next week and practice with the team.
Some good news in an otherwise bleak season so far.
According to twitter, Kaboly is reporting that Sean Spence will come off the PUP list next week and practice with the team.
Some good news in an otherwise bleak season so far.
Silly question but does this mean he might actually play this year? Who gets cut to make room??
Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, hear the lamentations of their women.
This kid better be worth all the hype. I dont see that tweet from Kaboly....You sure?
Last edited by SteelCrazy; 10-11-2013 at 06:38 PM.
2017 Mock
1. T.J Watt, OLB/DE, Wisconsin - will be a huge mistake if available and we pass
2. Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut
3. Kevin King, CB, Washington
3. Adam Shaheen, TE, Ashland
4. Trey Hendrickson, DE, Florida Atlantic
5. Josh Reynolds, WR, Texas A&M
6. Barry Sanders, RB, Oklahoma State (How can you go wrong with that name, however the sample size is so small that his dad may be better even in his 50's)
7. Alec Torgersen, QB, Pennsylvania
I think the Steelers have 3 weeks to either add him to the 53 or put him on IR...Time will tell if he is ready to play football this year. Hopefully he can make a full recovery and finally start his NFL career...
I don't know who gets cut (guess would be the LB they brought back, Sylvester), but I think he has to be able to play. This team isn't in a position to give roster spots out to spectators... besides Whimper.
I'm happy to hear it. And lord knows we need as many young, fast bodies as we can get.
Spence has been hyped on this board and that's about it...
What hype?
Even if Bill Belichick was getting an atomic wedgie, his face would look exactly the same.
IMO, he wouldn't have to be that great to be an improvement over what we have.
That said, it would be amazing if he were truly ready to play in the next few weeks. Even if he's physically recovered, I would think it would take a number of weeks for him to get into "playing shape." And we need to remember that he's basically a rookie...there will no doubt be a learning curve.
Report: Steelers LB Sean Spence To Begin Practicing Next Wednesday
Starting next week, Pittsburgh Steelers second-year linebacker Sean Spence will be eligible to begin practicing with the team if deemed healthy enough to do so. According to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in a Friday interview on the David Todd Show, Spence will indeed begin practicing next week and will be removed from the PUP list.
"He is going to practice Wednesday," said Kaboly of Spence. "They have three weeks to be able to activate him."
Hype? I think there was hope that his speed would compensate for his size but thats it.... I dont think anyone hyped him up.


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New Belgium fans in Ohio can start to rejoice. The brewery, known for its best-selling Fat Tire Amber Ale, will expand distribution to the Buckeye State later this year, likely in December. The Fort Collins, Colo., brewery is the third largest craft operation in the U.S., behind only Boston Beer Co. and Sierra Nevada, according to the Brewers Association.
"We've been hearing from folks in Florida and in Ohio for probably the longest and loudest," New Belgium spokesman Bryan Simpson said Tuesday. "And we were fortunate enough to open Florida this year and Ohio is coming soon. We're excited to come there and be part of that craft beer community."
So what took so long?
"It's something we've long wanted to do," Simpson said. "The reason it's taken awhile is we have to keep adding on capacity at the brewery in Fort Collins. We did just add on about 70,000 barrels and in doing so we created a situation where we can start filling in some states. Ohio should be our 35th state of distribution."
New Belgium is meeting with potential distributors now, he said. Further details about the move into Ohio haven't been finalized yet and will be released later, he added.
Scene Magazine reported last week that industry sources indicated that the brewery had plans to come to the state.


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From jewelry to a baby bib to an iPhone case, Dia de los Muertos has inspired a slew of new products. Whether you're heading to a Day of the Dead party, plan to spend it at home, or want to get your kids (even your pup) in on the fun, these festive products help you celebrate.
View All Slides:
Venus Ocean Dia de Los Muertos Skull Makeup Tutorial
There are tons of Dia de los Muertos how-to videos on You Tube, but if you don't have much time, make sure to watch this one by VenusOcean! The look is gorgeous and (with some practice) easy enough to do yourself. She also has a cool video on how to paint sugar skulls on your nails, here.
Tarina Tarantino Jewelry
L.A.-based jewelry designer Tarina Tarantino created her Sugar Skull Collection as "a tribute to the brilliant colors and motifs of Dia de los Muertos celebrations." The designs are perfect to accessorize your Muertos look—but also gorgeous to wear year-round, too.
Lucite, crystal and silk Sugar Skull Daisy Anywhere Clip, $55, tarinatarantino.com
LUSH Calaveras Bath Bomb
Although LUSH confirms that this Calavera Bath Bomb ($5.95, lush.com) "does not contain tequila," it does have lime oil and marigold petals that fill your bath with color and mood-brightening scent as the ball dissolves.
Sugar Skull Doggie T-Shirt
Your dog might not be bad to the bone, but he can still look it! ($23.40, zazzle.com)
Dia De Los Muertos Kiddie Backpack
Send your kid to school in style with this cool backpack that serves the double purpose of educating the little ones about Dia de los Muertos. ($24.99, digsshowroom.com)
Sugar Skellies Plush Toys
Hit up Etsy.com to pick up some scary cute sugar skull plush toys for the little ones. ($10, sugarskellies.tumblr.com)
Dia De Los Muertos iPhone 3 Case
For the techies, this cool Dia de los Muertos themed iPhone case should do the trick and it comes in multiple designs to pick from! ($47.95, zazzle.com)
Dia de Los Muertos Pop Art Book
For a great overview of the influence this Mexican holiday has had on artists the world over, pick up The Day of the Dead: El Dia De Los Muertos ($23.10, amazon.com)
Sugar Booger Baby Bibs
Keep your baby booger and food free with these awesome skull decorated bibs. ($30, diapers.com)
Revolucha: Dia de Los Muertos DVD
For the rough and tumble boys, this Lucha Libre DVD, themed to coincide with the Day of the Dead, should be a hit (pun intended). ($9.30, barnesandnoble.com)


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I have been playing around with my version of a lariat necklace. Inspired by a necklace created by Tish McDermott entitled "Harmony"(Bead Trends). I of course have way too many keys so wanted to find more uses for them.
We have been passing this one around the office
to check out it's "wearability"
(new tech term)
Helper Foo was bribed with a bowl of food........need I say more?


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — As taxpayers crunch the numbers to see how much they'll owe to Uncle Sam this year, some may be overlooking a key area: their mutual funds.
Analysts and advisers say it may pay for fund investors to take a closer look at how much of their returns are going to the tax man — especially at a time when Americans are adjusting to higher tax rates and when taxable payouts from mutual funds are likely to become more common.
Payroll tax boost crimps consumers, retailers
Wal-Mart and other retailers, restaurants and supermarkets are starting to feel the effects of the restored payroll tax as frugal shoppers cut back on purchases. Shelly Banjo has details on The News Hub.
"People tend to just pay attention to their total return but that's not really the bottom line," says Russel Kinnel, director of mutual fund research at investment researcher Morningstar Inc. "The bottom line is after the fund company and Uncle Sam take their share."
Taxes haven't been a major concern for fund investors in recent years because many fund managers have been offsetting any taxable gains with losses carried over from the financial crisis.
But now that the market is hovering near five-year highs and many funds are back to their pre-crisis levels, fund managers are running out of losses to offset those gains, forcing them to pass along the distribution — and associated tax bill — to investors. (Mutual funds are required to pass on their gains to investors each year, and investors have to pay taxes on that distribution when they receive it.)
Tax consequences
Some investors will see a bigger tax hit from their mutual funds — and other income — because of new taxes being introduced this year. For instance, a new 39.6% top tax bracket applies to earnings above $400,000 for single payers and above $450,000 for married couples. And a new 3.8% Medicare surtax on investment income will affect individuals making more than $200,000 and married couples earning above $250,000.
While some managers try to minimize the tax consequences of their investment decisions by avoiding dividend-paying stocks, holding shares for more than a year to capture the long-term capital gains rate, or offsetting stock gains with losses, it's not a mandate all managers keep in mind. Indeed, for funds with terrific returns, a higher tax bill may not be enough to send investors running.
Still, seeing taxes are taking a big bite out of a fund that is already disappointing could be reason enough to get out. Some people may be better off switching to index funds, which tend to be more tax efficient than actively managed funds because stocks are bought or sold less often, says Leslie Thompson, a financial adviser at Spectrum Management Group in Indianapolis.
Exchange-traded funds can also be more tax efficient because they don't have to buy and sell stocks in order to make allocation changes the way mutual fund managers do, Thompson adds.
Actively managed funds, however, can have more taxable income depending on a manager's trading activity. That's why some investing pros gauge the tax efficiency of a fund by looking at its portfolio turnover, or the rate at which a manager replaces the holdings in the fund.
A turnover of 100%, for instance, means that the manager sold enough stocks to replace every holding in the fund at least once; 200% means each stock could have been replaced twice, and so on. The more a manger sells stocks, the more likely investors will have to pay taxes on holdings that have risen in value, says Todd Rosenbluth, a mutual fund analyst with S&P Capital IQ.
Keep what you make
When returns are low, taxes can make all the difference between a positive and negative return. Take the $1.3 billion JP Morgan International Equity Fund VSIEX, +0.51% which invests primarily in companies in Europe and Japan. The fund returned an average 0.6% annually over the past five years, beating other foreign large blend funds in Morningstar's category by almost two percentage points. But after taxes, an investor in the 35% tax bracket would have lost an average 1.6% a year over that same period, according to Morningstar. JP Morgan declined to comment.
Other times, tax woes could be associated with a seemingly positive trait — high income. While the income stream produced by dividend paying stocks can appeal to retirees or other yield hungry investors, it also means those investors have more taxable income.
Consider the $1.6 billion Henderson Global Equity Income Fund HFQAX, -1.07% , which invests in dividend paying stocks and sports a 6.3% yield. Before taxes, the fund returned 1.9% a year annualized over the past five years. But after taxes are taken into account, those returns become an average yearly loss of 1.8%. Henderson did not respond to requests for comment.
That's not to say investors should shun funds paying attractive yields or dump a fund because it isn't tax efficient. Analysts point out that the tax hit will vary depending on your individual situation, and the impact could be less for people in lower tax brackets. Plus, investors in tax-deferred retirement accounts have no reason to be alarmed.
"You don't want taxes to necessarily dictate what you're going to do," Thompson says. "But you want to be aware of what you're getting into."


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Heading to California's Annual Organic-Farming Woodstock
At California's annual Eco-Farm conference, some 1,400-1,500 organic farmers, farmhands, Big Organic marketers, and sundry sustainable-ag enthusiasts pack into a rustic, beautiful seaside conference center an hour-and-a-half south of San Francisco to talk seeds, weeds, and agribiz misdeeds amid the dunes. I loved it when I attended in 2008. At the Asilomar center overlooking Monterery Bay—incidentally, the site of a seminal meeting of scientists and lawyers about how to proceed with GMO research way back in 1975—there's no brain-sucking hotel auditorium, no day upon day of artificial light and processed air. Break-out sessions take place in scattered bungalows, linked by trails through rolling dunes. The low roar in the background isn't some infernal highway; rather, waves lashing up against a rocky shore. It's a bit like summer camp for sustainable-ag nerds: You wind up outdoors a lot, wandering from activity to activity, often pelted by rain.
I'll be there for the next several days, filing dispatches as possible. I'm also giving a talk on how it's up to communities to create alternative food systems in an era of outright industry capture of regulation and food policy. Here is the schedule.


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Oxford Bound - Twaggies Episode No. 2
We've teamed up with Dailymotion and will be bringing you a new, animated Twaggies short cartoon each month. Some will feature a few tweets by one hilarious Tweeter, others will use tweets by different folks, unified around a theme.
And last month's premiere episode, cooked up special for all you Grammar Nazis, featuring a tweet by Steve Martin, is right down below:
Please take a moment to follow us over on Dailymotion, too! They're like YouTube, only East! :-) (reference anyone? anyone?)


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Men's Nike Air Max 90 Ice Running Shoes
Select a size above
Size Chart
Buy Online & Pick Up In-Store
Check Availability at stores near you.
Introduced in 1990, the Air Max 90 (initially known as the Air Max III) brought clean lines, supreme cushion, and a ultra-breathable mesh upper that collectors today still prefer. This "Ice" edition takes the head-turning "icy" sole treatment and brings it to the iconic Air Max 90's midsole. An allover geometrically shaped "ice" shards are spotted on the Hyperfuse upper to bring home the chill factor.
- UPPER: Leather and synthetic materials
- MIDSOLE: Foam midsole with a Max Air unit in the heel
- OUTSOLE: Rubber with Waffle traction pattern