text:
The Orlando Magic and Fox Sports Florida have finalized a 10-year contract extension that will make Fox Sports Florida the team's local television rights holder through the 2025-26 NBA season.
Officials from the Magic and Fox Sports Florida wouldn't release the financial details of their agreement, but an industry source said the Magic will rank among the top quarter of NBA teams in local television revenue.
According to Nielsen, the Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne market is the 18th-largest television market in the United States.
"Financially, it's an assurance — not that any assurance was needed — that we'll continue to invest in this franchise," Magic CEO Alex Martins said before the Magic hosted the New Orleans Pelicans in the teams' preseason finales Friday night.
"They're confident that we will again contend for an NBA championship in the near future, and they wanted to make sure that they were locked-in to be a big part of that."
The extension with Fox Sports Florida will begin with the 2016-17 season.
Magic officials never negotiated with other potential networks because they were still in their exclusive negotiating window with Fox Sports Florida. But Martins said the team considered forming its own regional sports network.
"We studied it extensively," Martins said. "But as we continued our extension negotiations, and as we continued to study that option, it was clear that the magnitude of which Fox was willing to make a commitment to us far exceeded the risk that we would take in forming our own network."
Making strides
Former Winter Park High star Austin Rivers is feeling more at ease these days after he struggled for much of his rookie season with the Pelicans in 2012-13.
"I feel a lot more comfortable," Rivers said after the Pelicans completed their shootaround. "I just don't think as much now [on the court]. I'm not worried about making mistakes. The game has slowed down. I can finally go out there and play and have fun.
"Last year, I felt like I was out there worrying too much to do the right things. Sometimes, when you play like that, you end up doing the wrong things. I think that's not how you play basketball. You're going to miss shots. You're going to make turnovers. It's an imperfect game. It's such a fast-paced game."
Pelicans coach Monty Williams said he's seen improvement in Rivers when Rivers attacks the basket, in close-game situations and on defense.
"I have to remind people that even though Austin has been on our mind since he was in the 7th grade, he's still just [21] years old," Williams said. "He has a ways to go, and he works his tail off."
Raising money
The Magic raised about $180,000 for the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation at their annual golf tournament, which was held Thursday.
The revenue figure includes a contribution from the McCormick Foundation of 50 cents on the dollar.
Special guest
During the season ahead, the Magic will host 25 children who have suffered from serious medical conditions or have lost a close family member.
On Friday night, the team hosted 10-year-old Caleb Dominguez and his parents. Caleb has cerebral palsy and has had a seizure disorder since he was 2 years old. The Dominguez family received courtside seats and a Magic jersey and met former Magic players Nick Anderson and Bo Outlaw.
Josh Robbins covers the Orlando Magic and the NBA for the Orlando Sentinel. You can reach him via e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com and connect with him on Facebook at facebook.com/JoshuaBRobbins. Follow him on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins.


text:
Sheriff's deputies raided a Needles marijuana dispensary and three homes Tuesday, seizing marijuana, concentrated cannabis, firearms and other items.
Victor Duran Hernandez, 29, of Needles was arrested during the investigation and booked into jail on suspicion of unauthorized possession of drugs, and possessing drugs with firearms, sheriff's officials said.
San Bernardino County sheriff's narcotics investigators came to the Delta 9 dispensary at 221 H St. about 8 a.m. Deputies had been investigating reports of illegal marijuana sales at the location for several weeks.
Deputies searched two homes in Needles, including Hernandez's. At his home, they found hallucinogenic mushrooms, illegal high-capacity firearm magazines, an SKS assault rifle with illegal modifications and other firearms, officials said.
More evidence was seized from a home in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Reach Melissa via email or call her at 909-386-3878.
Get the latest crime and public safety news on Twitter @IECrime.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Gain the tools and knowledge you need to introduce meaningful Enterprise Transformation
You can view the Proceedings from this event here.
The term Enterprise Transformation is increasingly being used by organizations of all types to represent the change processes they implement in response to internal and external business drivers. Enterprise Architecture (EA) can be a means to the end of Enterprise Transformation, but most enterprises transform themselves without the help of EA because the latter is largely limited in impact to the IT department, and transformation is about a lot more than just IT.
The Open Group Conference in San Francisco will focus on the role played by IT and EA within Enterprise Transformation. Through practical learning opportunities based on real-life experiences and case studies, attendees at the Conference will have the opportunity to gain a valuable insight into:
- The differences between EA and Enterprise Transformation, and how they relate to one another
- The use of EA to facilitate Enterprise Transformation
- How EA can be used to create a foundation for Enterprise Transformation that the board and business-line managers can understand and use to their advantage
- How EA facilitates transformation within IT, and how does such transformation support the transformation of the enterprise as whole
- How EA can help the enterprise successfully adapt to 'disruptive technologies' like Cloud Computing and ubiquitous mobile access.
These and other questions about Enterprise Transformation will be answered at The Open Group Conference in San Francisco.
Within the Enterprise Transformation theme, the Conference will focus on:
- Enterprise Architecture and the use of open architecture frameworks such as TOGAF®
- Service Orientated Architecture (SOA)
- Cloud Computing
- Security.
Enterprise Architecture
The debate about the role of EA in the development of high-level business strategy is a long running one. EA clearly contributes to business strategy, and as such, Enterprise Transformation, but does it formulate, plan or execute business strategy? However, if the scope of EA is limited to IT alone, it could have a diminutive role in the business strategy and Enterprise Transformation process going forward.
The Open Group Conference in San Francisco will provide EA professionals with an opportunity to debate these questions and gain valuable insight into the developing role of EA from organizations and peers with practical experience and lessons learned.
The Service-Orientation Architecture (SOA) principle is progressing and increasing in use within EA in major organizations in all business sectors. In conjunction with its membership, The Open Group has been actively involved in the development of the service-oriented approach to EA, and has delivered a range of artifacts that EA professionals can use to guide their use of SOA and maximize its business benefits.
The Open Group San Francisco Conference represents an ideal opportunity to learn more about these SOA artefacts and how organizations have used them on a practical, day-to-day basis to successfully implement a SOA approach. Subjects that will be covered include:
- Assessing your SOA Maturity
- SOA Governance
- SOA Reference Architecture
- Using TOGAF® for SOA.
Cloud Computing
Cloud Computing has been a high-profile technology issue now for a number of years. However, Cloud Computing is entering what Gartner calls the "trough of disillusionment" on its hype cycle. It's critical, therefore, that organizations better understand the practical business, operational and regulatory issues associated with the implementation of Cloud Computing in order to truly maximize its potential benefits.
At its Conference in San Francisco The Open Group will continue to provide practical learning opportunities based on real-life implementation experiences that delegates can take away in order to enhance their organizations' Cloud Computing strategies. Themes covered within the Cloud Computing track will include:
- How to use Cloud in your EA
- How to use TOGAF for cloud
- The business case for Cloud.
The role of IT security has always been one of change in order to adapt to new and developing threats. Traditionally, the focus has been on the protection of the IT infrastructure and the integrity of the data held within. However, in a rapidly changing world where hacktivism has emerged (the use and abuse of IT to drive social change), how is IT security going to respond?
The San Francisco Conference will provide an opportunity to investigate hacktivism and its potential impact on business strategy and Enterprise Transformation. How can IT security manage and protect IT infrastructure? What is the role of IT security in the minimization of the physical security threat that hacktivism can pose?


text:
FLuD Watches Delivers Classic Timepieces In Their Holiday 2012 Collection
FLuD Watches is back again with some "timeless" wrist pieces, just in time for the holiday season.
For the Holiday 2012 capsule, FLuD is offering styles like their sophisticated Frost and the stunningly understated Eclipse. Make sure you also check for a variety of colored bands—from metallic, leather, silicone, and mesh—to mix up your watch steez and really show off your individual style.
The newest addition to the FLuD fam is the Rucksack, which is pretty spacious bag to say the least.
Upgrade your wrist with FLuD's Holiday '12 collection by clicking [HERE]


text:
Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Voting now open on CBS.com via Facebook and Twitter for the 12 fan-favorite Super Bowl commercials
Social media voting on the top three will continue live during the broadcast for the best of all-time
"Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials 2013" is an interactive countdown special where viewers will be able to vote live on CBS.com via Facebook and Twitter for their favorite Super Bowl commercials. The special, hosted by Boomer Esiason, analyst for CBS Sports' NFL pre-game show "The NFL Today," and Aisha Tyler, co-host of "The Talk," will be broadcast Wednesday, Jan. 30 (8 p.m.), on the CBS Television Network.
Sponsors present their best commercials during the Super Bowl, and the big game wouldn't be quite the same without them. For the advertising community, the Super Bowl is their Super Bowl, and often creates commercials specifically for the enormous viewership that the game provides. For many, watching the commercials is the most entertaining part of the Super Bowl. Advertisers try to get their money's worth by rolling out their most creative and innovative spots.
This one-hour special, now in its 13th year, will originate from Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans, home of "Super Bowl XLVII."
Viewers once again will get to vote for their favorite Super Bowl commercial of all time. Beginning Friday, the top 12 vote-getters from the past decade of "Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials" will go head-to-head on www.cbs.com/superbowl, where fans will be able to vote via Facebook and Twitter to determine the top three Super Bowl commercials of all time. Those three top Super Bowl commercials will advance to the live vote during the broadcast, where viewers will decide the outcome and the winner will be revealed at the end of the show.
Will a spot from a super-stalwart like Budweiser, Coke or Fed Ex take the prize ... or will it be an edgy newcomer like Doritos, Bridgestone or Tide? It's old school vs. new school, classics vs. fan favorites - the ultimate showdown of Super Bowl commercials, the pop culture phenomena that has become almost as big as the game itself.


text:
The Recipe: A chicken curry reminiscent of London's curbside curry take-away, one of my very favorite things to go-crazy for in London. (It's been too-too long!) Cashew Chicken Curry is surprisingly healthy and oh-so satisfying. Best of all? It's made with pantry ingredients, check you just might have all the ingredients on hand this very minute!
True Story: One day my neighbor reported that when he and his wife were at the grocery getting ingredients for Cashew Chicken Curry, someone else was also pulling cashews from the shelf. In a flash, they realized they were planning the same supper – because they both were holding the recipe, both had clipped it from the local newspaper!
"... So good!" ~ Meryl
"It is SOO GOOD!!" ~ Rass
"... so yummy...one of the best curries I have ever had!!" ~ Pixie
"The flavors perfectly complemented each other with no one taste overpowering the other. " ~ Lynessa
"[my dad] ... really liked it!" ~ Anonymous
"... fantastic!" ~ Carolyn
Every job has its hazards.
Teachers risk burn-out. Sales folks brave cold calls. Lawyers swallow scorn. Moms and Dads suffer car-pool cut-offs. Even coal-mine canaries have been pink-slipped by technology.
Food writing has its own kitchen quicksand.
You fear that beady eyes and coarse whiskers will appear on the family, friends and neighbors so frequently enlisted as guinea pigs.
You slavishly follow the camera-before-consumption rule, so only leftovers are eaten while actually hot.
You become obsessive-compulsive about roasting chickens with unexpected ingredients (I dunno, how 'bout Jim Beam?) and vegetables from okra to cabbage and spices from oregano to curry.
Curry? Yes, curried chicken was last year's food obsession, thanks to an inspirational starter recipe. This CASHEW CHICKEN CURRY is the dozenth version and darned close to the curbside take-aways that make London the curry capital of the world.
As for 2006, anyone for lamb? You know, lamb curry?
Time-to-table: 90 minutes
Makes 11 cups
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 1 – 3 tablespoons curry powder (see ALANNA's TIPS)
- 1/2 - 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 pound chicken thighs or breasts, cut in bite-size pieces (see TIPS)
- 29 ounces canned diced tomato
- 1 pound carrots, diced
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup ground cashews
- 1 cup nonfat yogurt
- 1/2 cup light coconut milk
- 8 ounces frozen peas
- Additional fresh cilantro, for garnish
Melt the butter in a Dutch oven on medium high. Add the onion, garlic and ginger and cook until soft. Stir in the spices and cook briefly. Add the meat in batches, cooking each one through. Add the tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms and cilantro and bring to a boil.
Cover, reduce heat to maintain a slow simmer and cook for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Stop here if you're cooking ahead.) Stir in remaining ingredients and heat through but do not boil, about 5 minutes.
To serve, sprinkle with fresh cilantro and serve over rice.
Wintry Comfort Food
Shop Your Pantry First
~ tomato recipes ~
~ carrot recipes ~
~ mushroom recipes ~
~ cashew recipes ~
~ yogurt recipes ~
~ coconut milk ~
~ pea recipes ~
~ All Recipes, By Ingredient ~
~ How to Save Money on Groceries ~
© Copyright Kitchen Parade 2006, 2007, 2015 (republish) & 2016
This dish looks lovely (I'm a huge fan of curry).
This looks delicious, especially for this time of year in the midwest! Any way to omit the dairy from this recipe? I'm guessing I can sub an oil for the butter, but what about the yogurt? Could I use 1 or 1.5 cups (instead of .5 cups) of coconut milk, or maybe use the full-fat coconut milk instead of the lite version? Thanks!
PS This is such a great recipe, M, if it appeals to you, it really is working on a dairy-free version that works for you. I'm hungry for it NOW!
But for more ideas, I'm going to check with Facebook folks. If there's a good answer, I'll chime back in.
I love to make all kinds of stews and I know your recipes will be thoroughly enjoyed.
My plan is to cook a few recipes and freeze for work and enjoy them as I need them. I'm a 12 hour worker as a RN in ICU so this will make life much easier!
Post a Comment
Thank you for taking a moment to write! I read each and every comment, for each and every recipe. If you have a specific question, it's nearly always answered quick-quick. But I also love hearing your reactions, your curiosity, even your concerns! When you've made a recipe, I especially love to know how it turned out, what variations you made, what you'll do differently the next time. ~ Alanna


text:
New Car Review
2014 Volvo S80: New Car Review
The 2014 Volvo S80 is Volvo's flagship sedan, yet it keeps a low profile. Although the S80 is attractive, it doesn't scream "look at me!" like some flashier rivals. But if you spend time with Volvo's finest, you'll likely come to appreciate its smooth, refined character. For folks who just want a car that quietly does most things well, the S80 could hit the spot.
Volvo has adopted an aggressive strategy with the S80, offering its top-of-the-line sedan at prices you'd expect to pay for, say, a new BMW 3 Series. Notably, the S80 also faces internal competition from Volvo's own S60 sport-luxury sedan, which was more recently redesigned and has met with wide acclaim. So what value does the S80 add? Well, it has a bigger back seat, for one thing, and it conveys more elegance in that understated Swedish way. There's a maturity to the S80 that sets it apart from many offerings at this price.
On the other hand, the S80 is getting on in years, and its performance and technology are correspondingly behind the curve. This isn't a car that's going to win a comparison test against its rivals. Still, the S80 deserves more consideration than it gets. If you find its looks appealing, take one for a spin; you may be pleasantly surprised by Volvo's flagship that isn't priced like one.
What's New for 2014?
The S80 gets revised exterior styling, LED running lights, a 3-mode TFT instrument cluster, quicker shifts (T6 only), a new steering wheel and shift knob, and a few additional standard features and options across trim levels.
What We Like
Surprisingly affordable; strong optional turbocharged inline 6-cylinder; high-quality cabin; stellar seat comfort
What We Don't
Weak base engine; generally feels outclassed by newer rivals
How Much?
Fuel Economy
The S80 3.2 comes with front-wheel drive and a 3.2-liter inline 6-cylinder good for 240 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. The S80 T6 AWD steps up to a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder rated at 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard in every S80.
The Environmental Protection Agency rates the 3.2 at 20 miles per gallon city/29 mpg hwy, while the T6 gets 18 mpg city/26 mpg hwy.
Standard Features & Options
The 2014 Volvo S80 is offered as either the 3.2 or the T6 AWD, each of which comes in base, Premier Plus and Platinum trim levels.
Standard features on the base 3.2 ($40,815) trim include 17-inch wheels, leather upholstery, power front seats, automatic climate control, a 7-in information and entertainment display screen and an 8-speaker audio system with iPod/USB and Bluetooth connectivity.
The 3.2 Premier Plus ($42,315) nets front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, keyless entry/ignition, a quick-fold front passenger seat and a grocery bag holder in the trunk.
The 3.2 Platinum ($45,015) adds enhanced interior accent lighting, a 650-watt Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound stereo and a voice-activated navigation system.
The base T6 AWD ($44,865), T6 AWD Premier Plus ($46,365) and T6 AWD Platinum ($49,065) follow the same general equipment strategy as their 3.2-model counterparts. They add a sunroof (optional on the 3.2) and 18-in wheels, and can be equipped with a sport chassis that includes special 19-in wheels.
The T6 also offers a fancy Inscription appearance package with upscale interior touches, such as wood interior trim, a leather-covered dashboard and softer leather seats with ventilation.
All S80s can be equipped with the Technology package, which adds pedestrian/cyclist detection, automatic high beams, speed-limit display, adaptive cruise control, a collision-mitigation system with full braking capability, a driver drowsiness monitor and lane-departure warning. There's also a Climate package that includes a heated windshield, heated windshield washer nozzles, a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, and an interior air quality system.
Trunk capacity is 14.9 cu ft, which is about average for a luxury sedan of this size.
As the flagship of a company famous for its safety, the Volvo S80 is a safety superstar. It has standard stability control, six airbags and an optional suite of computer-driven safety features (the aforementioned Technology package), including an available collision/pedestrian avoidance system that can bring the car to a full stop if an impact is deemed imminent.
The government hasn't crash-tested an S80 using its new methodology, but the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the S80 its top rating of Good in every category, not surprisingly.
Behind the Wheel
The S80's interior is understated and classy, with top-notch materials all around, a sleek center panel with sensible controls (including Volvo's unique humanoid diagram for airflow control) and a generally luxurious vibe that speaks well of Volvo's attention to detail. The new-for-2014 TFT instrument cluster adds driver-selectable Elegance, Eco and Performance themes. The front seats are wonderful, providing drive-all-day comfort to a degree that few others can match. While the back seat isn't as huge as that of other flagship sedans, there's considerably more rear passenger space than in the S60 and its rivals.
Under the hood, the 3.2-liter inline 6-cylinder disappoints with its mediocre acceleration and unrefined noises at high rpm. This isn't a flagship-worthy engine. Much more satisfying is the twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder, which delivers authoritative power on demand.
On the road, the S80 has a nose for the fast lane, hunkering down at high speeds the way a good European luxury sedan should. Otherwise, though, it drives like a big luxury sedan, which means it's well isolated from the elements but not remotely engaging. If you're looking for a comfortable commuter with room for four adults, you could do much worse than the S80; just don't expect much in the way of driver involvement. This Volvo is a throwback to the days when luxury meant soft, smooth and straight ahead -- and we can see the appeal in that.
Other Cars to Consider
BMW 3 Series -- The S80's pricing is so moderate that the 5 Series is too expensive to compare, so if you're interested in a BMW, see if you find the 3 Series suitably sized. It certainly spanks the S80 in performance, fuel economy and tech, but styling and quality? Those are tough ones.
Cadillac CTS-- The CTS is much like the S80: It's the brand's de facto flagship because there's nothing above it. Expect engaging performance but a firmer ride.
Infiniti Q50 -- The new Q can't touch the Volvo for stateliness, but it adds a healthy dose of sport, courtesy of its rowdy V6 and its 370Z-derived platform. If the S80 kind of puts you to sleep, the Q50 is guaranteed to snap you out of it.
AutoTrader's Advice
Skip the 3.2 and look at one of the T6 models. The twin-turbo motor is well worth the upgrade.


text:
Our Major Holdings
The major categories of records held in the Australian Museum's Archives include:
- Trust Minutes & other papers from 1836 including: Trust committee and sub-committee records; meeting attendance books; and curator's, general and secretary's reports to the Trustees
- Correspondence series: including outward letter books 1837-1923; inward letters from 1853; and Curator's and Secretary's private letter books 1875-1919
- Collection records: including historic collection registers and documentation regarding the purchase, donation and exchange of specimens and artefacts including; accession schedules 1879-1956, purchase schedules1883-1924, exchange registers and schedules c.1874-1926
- Public Program records: including exhibition files; education files; public relations and marketing files; and audience research surveys and reports
- Financial Records: including general account ledgers1875-1968; balance sheets 1881-1926; and cash journals 1914-1966
- National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife Records: the NPI was established in 1969 to compile a photograph of every Australian bird species. In 1977 it was expanded to include Australian mammals and in 1984 reptiles and frogs. These records are now held by the AM Archives
- Personal papers: of Museum trustees and staff
- Staff records: including lists of employees and social club papers
- Newscuttings and other publications: including annual reports from 1853; Australian Museum Magazine 1921-1961; Australian Natural History, Nature Australia and Explore Magazine from 1962; Records of the Australian Museum from 1890; Guides and Handbooks to the Australian Museum; Catalogues of the collections from 1837
- Photographs: including Museum photos of staff and events; and significant ethnographic collections of George Brown, Frank Hurley, Thomas Dick and Walter Roth
The Archives also holds some acquired papers and photographs of individuals who have been associated with the Museum or worked in closely related fields.
For a more comprehensive listing of material held in the Archives or for enquiries regarding specific records please contact Archives and Records.
Rose Docker , Archivist
Last Updated:
Tags archives and records, holdings,


text:
Validation of an Exercise DVD for Maintenance After Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01235481
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : November 5, 2010
Last Update Posted : May 13, 2015
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that over 3.5 million Canadians live with chronic respiratory diseases, such as COPD (chronic bronchitis and emphysema), asthma, sleep apnea, and lung cancer. Nova Scotia has been reported to have one of the highest rates of chronic lung disease among Canadian provinces, likely a reflection of both the age of the population and high rates of exposures to occupational dusts and smoking. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary intervention, involving exercise and education for patients with chronic lung disease. Pulmonary rehabilitation has been demonstrated to improve patient symptoms, exercise capacity, and quality of life while reducing health resource utilization. Many studies have shown that the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation tend to diminish over time after program completion. The best interventions to maintain the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation remain unclear.
The purpose of this study is to validate incorporation of an exercise DVD into a maintenance program after pulmonary rehabilitation. 100 subjects will be recruited over 2-years from pulmonary rehabilitation programs at Capital Health, with 50 individuals randomized to usual care following PR and 50 individuals randomized to usual care plus the exercise DVD. Study subjects will be evaluated at time of enrolment in pulmonary rehabilitation, at completion of pulmonary rehabilitation and 6-months post- pulmonary rehabilitation. Study outcome measures will include exercise capacity, exercise compliance, health-related quality of life, confidence with performing exercise, and satisfaction with the exercise DVD. The primary outcome measure will be a change in functional exercise capacity as determined by the distance walked in 6-minutes, a commonly used and validated assessment tool for patients with chronic lung disease.
|Condition or disease
|Lung Diseases
|Device: Exercise DVD Behavioral: Usual Care
|Phase 3
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Actual Enrollment :
|90 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Parallel Assignment
|Single (Outcomes Assessor)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|Validation of an Exercise DVD for Maintenance After 12-week Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program: a Randomized Clinical Trial.
|Study Start Date :
|December 2010
|Actual Primary Completion Date :
|June 2014
|Actual Study Completion Date :
|June 2014
Experimental: Exercise DVD
Exercise DVD to be used by participants 30-60 minutes, once daily to facilitate maintenance exercise training
Device: Exercise DVD
Exercise DVD added to usual care during maintenance phase of pulmonary rehabilitation
Other Name: Home exercise training
Behavioral: Usual Care
Usual care during maintenance phase post pulmonary rehabilitation
Other Name: No exercise DVD provided
Usual Care
Participants advised to perform maintenance exercise training 30-60 minutes, once daily without benefit of exercise DVD
Behavioral: Usual Care
Usual care during maintenance phase post pulmonary rehabilitation
Other Name: No exercise DVD provided
- 6MWD [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
- disease-specific quality of life (CRQ) [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
- exercise compliance [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
- exercise self-efficacy [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
- subject satisfaction [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- any participant enrolled in pulmonary rehabilitation program
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients who do not have access to a DVD player.
- Inability to commit to the study plan.
- Cognitive or language barriers interfering with completion of the study procedures
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01235481
|Canada, Nova Scotia
|QEII Health Sciences Centre
|Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 3A7
|Cobequid Community Health Centre
|Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada, B4C 0A2
|Principal Investigator:
|Paul Hernandez, MDCM, FRCPC
|Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
|Responsible Party:
|Paul Hernandez, Principle Investigator, Nova Scotia Health Authority
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01235481 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|November 5, 2010 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|May 13, 2015
|Last Verified:
|May 2015
Keywords provided by Paul Hernandez, Nova Scotia Health Authority:
pulmonary rehabilitation
exercise therapy
chronic lung disease
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Lung Diseases
Respiratory Tract Diseases


text:
32 Players 32 Days 2013
Sponsored By
Marcell Dareus & Bills New Defensive Scheme Will Prove Buffalo Can Compete With BradyThe AFC East has been simply known as Tom Brady's playground. A new defensive scheme installed by Defensive Coordinator Mike Pettine will help defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and his teammates prove to everyone that they won't be pushed around anymore.
Kevin Walter Hopes To Continue His Career In TennesseeWide receivers in the NFL can either prosper greatly and make a big-time name for themselves or sit quietly in the background and move around from team to team. Kevin Walter is one of the few that has done both, and hopes to excel now with the Titans, since this may be his last chance.
The Redskins May Have The Steal Of The Draft With Rookie CB David AmersonThe Redskins organization is hopeful that rookie CB David Amerson will soon become the remedy to a secondary that last season ranked 30th in pass defense. Team officials understand that a cornerback with elite talent can easily mask the deficiencies of an inept secondary.
Cordarrelle Patterson Out To Prove He's Worth The Steep Price The Vikings PaidThe Minnesota Vikings traded away four draft picks to move to select Cordarrelle Patterson in the first round. Patterson has already impressed the Vikings coaching staff with his learning ability, speed, size and athleticism. The former Tennessee Volunteer could play a few different roles for the Vikings as a rookie in 2013.
Steven Jackson Provides The Falcons With A Much Needed BoostQuarterback Matt Ryan set five Falcons single-season passing records. While impressive, it made the Falcons one-dimensional, relying too much on their aerial attack. With the addition of All-Pro running back Steven Jackson, the Falcons can now be dangerous both through the air and on the ground.
Matt Flynn Hopes His NFL Travels End In OaklandFans of the Oakland Raiders know the phrase "quarterback competition" almost more than any other in the English language. That is no different for the 2013 season, but Matt Flynn hopes that the competition ends his well-traveled career and ends with him.
Marshawn Lynch Running Toward Seahawks HistoryEver since high school, Marshawn Lynch has been compared to another running back. Lynch has been covered by the glory of someone else, will this be the year that he ultimately radiates his dominance on the gridiron?
Rookie Linebacker Manti Te'o Hopes To Jump Start A Dull Chargers DefenseFinally in the NFL, Manti Te'o is looking to give football fans everywhere reasons to forget about his fake girlfriend scandal. His performance with the San Diego Chargers may be just the thing to jolt his name back to football relevance.
Rookie Running Back Giovani Bernard Captivating CrowdsGiovani "Gio" Bernard is creating monster waves during training camp for the Cincinnati Bengals that may prove to be a "Haitian Hurricane" on the NFL field.
The Quiet Leader – Paul Posluszny Leads The Jaguars' DefenseMost players in the NFL like to talk a good bit and let the world know just how great they are. Then there are those that sit back, do their job, and lead their team from the inside.
Offensive Tackle Riley Reiff Looks To Protect The Lions Record-Breaking OffenseRiley Reiff, a former first round pick, is stepping into the starting lineup to replace a stalwart Lion. Is he up to the task? The entire team and fans certainly hope so.
Arthur Brown Could Become The Next Great Ravens DefenderThe Ravens will have to get used to not having Ray Lewis in the locker room. Though his leadership will never be fully replaced, the Ravens hope rookie Arthur Brown can pick up some of the slack left by Lewis' departure.


text:
My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James likes to keep himself busy.
In addition to his work with the Louisville, Ky., rockers, who released their sixth album, "Circuital," last year, James has evolved into an in-demand collaborator, recording with everyone from Son Volt singer Jay Farrar (the recent Woody Guthrie tribute "New Multitudes") to his Monsters of Folk partners Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis and M. Ward.
"I've been fortunate to have the best of both worlds," said James, 34, in a phone interview. "We get to have the familiarity and family of My Morning Jacket, but then we all also collaborate as much as we can with other people, which brings in the new spark and the new blood."
Reached on the road in Detroit, James opened up about the band's earliest visits to Chicago, his infatuation with the Muppets and what listeners can expect from his solo debut, which is expected out early in 2013.
Do you remember the first place you guys ever played in Chicago?
Yeah, a couple of 'em. Phyllis' Musical Inn. Is that place still around? We played there. Fireside Bowl was another of the early ones.
Is it surreal to have started out playing those kind of dives and now be performing in Millennium Park in the heart of downtown?
It's amazing. We've worked our [bleep] off, but we also feel very fortunate.
Do you have to take a different approach to outdoor shows? Is it more of a challenge to pull off some of that mellower material?
A lot of it is out of your control. It depends on the spirits and the vibe in the air. A lot of outdoor shows are just as quiet and peaceful as indoor shows. I'm excited about the Pritzker [Pavilion], though. I've walked through there as a visitor several times, and it's a beautiful place.
Do you still write out set lists? Or do you let those spirits dictate the directions the music takes?
We make a set list in advance, but we're doing this spontaneous curation series on this tour where fans can email and tweet in their requests for the set and we try and make the set list based on what people are requesting.
I read a quote from a past interview where you said, "When I look back over the records, I remember eras from life." In that spirit, what first comes to mind when you think back to an album like "At Dawn?"
I try to stay focused on today, so I'm not really thinking about those records or times on a regular basis. But when you have to relearn songs from those records it really does put you in that time machine, and then you kind of see it all. You see things you were happy with. You see things you wish you could have done better. You think back to what you were doing at the time and who you were in love with and where you were going and all the things that were happening back then. It's a very strange process.
You worked with a handful of childhood friends on your first solo album, which is set to be released early next year. How do you think they would have described you as a kid?
[Laughs] I don't know. The guy who played drums on the album is my buddy Dave, who I've been friends with since fourth grade. We're really good friends, so hopefully [he'd describe me] positively.
Working with someone you've known since childhood, did you find forgotten bits from your musical past surfacing in the songs you were writing?
Yeah, in some ways I guess. There's a lot of childhood still there in our connection. And a lot of it is present in the people we are now. I feel we carry certain parts of our past with us all the time. Music is weird. I feel it's this big, long chain of events that is always connected. You're always carrying these lessons with you that you've learned over the course of your life.
A number of years back you covered "The Rainbow Connection" at the Lollapalooza kids stage, and I remember being struck by how much you sounded like a Muppet.
[Laughs] Yeah, that was fun. I love the Muppets. They're one of my biggest influences.
What about the show did you connect with as a child?
I just feel like it encapsulates so much of what is possible with art. It seems like nowadays people want to put art into all these boxes. If you're a band, you're a band that's only supposed to do this one thing, and if you're a kids TV show, you're supposed to be so dumbed-down adults won't care about it. With "The Muppet Show" it's like they were trying to reach everybody. I remember watching it with my parents and everyone enjoying it. It's a goal more people should shoot for: making something that can reach any person from any walk of life.
My Morning Jacket, 6:30 p.m. Wed. at Millennium Park, $20-$64.50


text:
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) - It's no secret that the new starters on Atlanta's offensive line, especially right tackle Lamar Holmes, will be targeted by the Saints in Sunday's opening game.
The Falcons have only two linemen in the same starting positions as last season.
The new-look line must adjust to the departures of center Todd McClure, who retired, and right tackle Tyson Clabo, who was not re-signed. Holmes, who has played in only one game, was rushed into the starting unit when Mike Johnson dislocated his left ankle and broke his left leg this summer.
Peter Konz, a part-time starter at right guard last season, has moved to center. The only starters at the same spots as last year are left tackle Sam Baker and left guard Justin Blalock.
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


text:
By Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto, Fred Backus and Lucy Madison
On the heels of last week's presidential debate, Mitt Romney has emerged with a one-point edge over President Obama in Colorado and has cut the president's lead in half in Wisconsin, according to a new Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times poll.
In Wisconsin, where Mr. Obama led Romney by six percent last month, the president now holds just a three-point advantage, with 50 percent to Romney's 47 percent support. Last month, the president led Romney 51 to 45 percent.
In Colorado, the two remain locked in a dead heat, with Romney leading Mr. Obama 48 percent to 47 percent, within the poll's margin of error. Last month, also within that margin, Mr. Obama had the one-point edge, with 48 percent to Romney's 47 percent.
In Virginia, the presidential race remains essentially unchanged, with Mr. Obama holding on to a small lead over Romney, with 51 percent support to Romney's 46. In September, the president led Romney 50 percent to 46 percent there.
All three polls, conducted from October 4-9, began surveying voters after the first presidential debate.
By about four to one, voters in all three of these battleground states say Romney won last week's presidential debate, and sizable numbers say the debate made them think better of him. But majorities say the debate did not affect their vote.
In Colorado, only 16 percent of likely voters said Mr. Obama won the debate, while 72 percent chose Romney. In Virginia, the breakdown was similar, with 70 percent choosing Romney and 17 percent selecting the president. In Wisconsin, 65 percent said Romney won and 17 percent said Mr. Obama did.
The debate had a positive impact on voters' impressions of Romney. More than four in ten voters in these states who watched the first presidential debate (and 51 percent in Colorado) say it made them feel better about Romney. Fewer than one in 10 said that about Mr. Obama; more say it made them think worse of him.
Among voters who say the debate will impact their vote, the advantage goes to Romney. Even though majorities in these battlegrounds say the debate will have no effect on their vote, twice as many voters said the debate would make them more likely to vote for Romney than said so of Mr. Obama. Among independent voters, about half in these battleground states say the debate gave them a better impression of Romney, and about a quarter in each state say it made them more likely to vote for him.
- Romney takes slight lead in new Gallup poll
- New polls suggest positive signs for Romney
- Opinions of Biden low before VP debate
Romney made gains among voters who are paying a lot of attention to the presidential campaign. Among these voters, Romney leads in Colorado by 53 percent to 44 percent, and in Wisconsin he leads by a smaller margin (51 percent to 47 percent). When measuring voters who have been paying close attention, the race becomes even in Virginia, 49 percent to 49 percent.
Republicans continue to be more enthusiastic than Democrats about voting this year in general. More than half of Republicans in Colorado and Wisconsin are more enthusiastic about voting in this election; this is true of just over a third of Democrats. In Virginia, the enthusiasm gap is narrower, with 48 percent of Republicans and 40 percent of Democrats identifying as more enthusiastic about voting this year.
Heading into tonight's vice presidential debate, voters in these three battleground states expect Paul Ryan to emerge the victor over Vice President Joe Biden. In Colorado, 47 percent of voters picked Ryan as the likely winner, while 30 percent picked Biden and 22 percent said they didn't know. In Wisconsin, Ryan bested Biden 49 percent to 32 percent. In Virginia, the gap was more narrow: 36 percent said Biden would likely win the debate, 41 percent chose Ryan, and 21 percent said they didn't know.
Most Republicans and Democrats think their own party's vice presidential candidate will win the debate, though Republicans are more confident than Democrats. More independents are predicting a Ryan victory.
Joe Biden has a net favorable rating in Virginia, but he is viewed more unfavorably in Colorado and Wisconsin. Paul Ryan is viewed more favorably than unfavorably by voters in all three states, though more than one in four voters Colorado and Virginia said they don't know enough about him yet.


text:
Soccer-mad West Africa tries out distance running
MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — Prince Weah had no experience with distance-running when he signed up on a whim for a 10-kilometer race in Monrovia four years ago. Like many West African boys, he grew up with dreams of soccer stardom, though he quickly set those aside after unexpectedly placing first in the running event.
On Sunday, 20-year-old Weah joined more than 1,000 other runners who took to the streets of this dilapidated seaside capital for the Liberia Marathon and 10-kilometer race, cheered on by hundreds of spectators lining the streets and even a military brass band.
Star participant was President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Joined by U.S. Ambassador Deborah Malac, Sirleaf donned jeans and sneakers and ran a short stretch of the 10-kilometer race, stopping early on when the course ran past her house. The 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner has previously said that "praying for the other runners" is a more effective use of her time than trying to reach the finish line.
In remarks to organizers two days before the marathon, Sirleaf described the symbolic importance of the race for a country still recovering from a brutal 14-year civil war in which 250,000 were killed. Liberia is celebrating 10 years of peace this month.
"Liberia, too, is in a marathon, a race of sustained peace," she said. "With victory, you will reap the dividends that come from being a nation at peace with itself. Our goal for Liberia is to get to the finish line, to be a winner."
While Sirleaf alluded to the past, many runners were looking to a future when West Africa might emerge as a force in the distance-running world. The marathon event is one of a few to have sprung up in the region in the last few years. Like Liberia, Sierra Leone held its second marathon earlier this year, and Gabon will host its first in November.
East African countries Kenya and Ethiopia are the world's undisputed marathon leaders, with their high-altitude training camps and their runners' longstanding dominance of major races. But on the other side of the continent, organizers and participants increasingly believe they can make distance-running a West African sport.
"West Africans, we are talented," Weah said. "We have the endurance to compete with the best in the world."
Holding a marathon in the region comes with its share of challenges, not least of which is the climate. Monrovia, often stiflingly hot, is also one of the world's wettest cities, and parts of Sunday's race took place under a heavy downpour.
The concept of long-distance running is also somewhat foreign. Mark Maughan, race director for the Sierra Leone Marathon, recalled spending the night before the 2012 race taping signs and distance markers on trees and billboards in the northern town of Makeni, where the race is held. By the time the race began the next day, however, many had been taken down, with some residents deeming them "bad luck" and others putting them to use as firewood.
Maughan expressed confidence these kinks could be worked out. "People in West Africa love their sport, so once they've established what the idea is, what the concept is all about, people over here get really excited about being part of a large-scale event," he said.
The differences between Liberia's first marathon in 2011 and this year's race show that distance running is viable in the region, said Liberia race director Robert Brinckman.
"There were a lot of people that ran in 2011 that didn't really understand what a marathon was, that were in a little bit over their head and weren't able to complete the race," he said. This year, weekly training sessions have regularly drawn over 100 runners.
The race is registered by world athletics body the IAAF, allowing it to attract 10 elite runners from Ethiopia and Kenya, up from just two in 2011. Organizers also introduced electronic chip-timing technology this year to increase accuracy and combat cheating.
Liberians' ownership of the race sets it apart from others in the region. The Sierra Leone marathon is run by the British charity Street Child, with a focus on bringing participants in from other countries. Gabon's marathon is being billed as a weekend event intended to provide an international showcase for the capital city, Libreville, and the country's forests.
By contrast, more than 90 percent of Sunday's race participants were Liberian.
The winner of the race was 26-year-old Nathan Naipei, who hails from Kenya's famed Rift Valley — a hotbed for running talent — and finished in just under 2 hours, 34 minutes. The time was more than 20 minutes slower than his personal best, something he blamed on the weather and on the lack of top runners at the head of the pack. "There was no competition," he said.
But Naipei said he was certain West Africa could produce a marathon champion "in two to three years."
For much of the race, he ran with, and fetched water for, the second-place finisher, a 22-year old from Sierra Leone named Idrissa Kargbo.
"I was pushing him. I can push that guy and make him the best guy here in West Africa," Naipei said. "I'll give him my email, he will mail me, and I'll send him the program for how I'm training myself. So when I come next year, I'll see him very strong."


text:
Baxter to Acquire Gambro for $4 Billion
Baxter International Inc. agreed to buy Swedish medical-equipment maker Gambro for 26.5 billion Swedish kronor ($4 billion), in what would be the biggest acquisition in the U.S. company's history, as it aims to bolster its position in the growing market for kidney-dialysis products.
The deal, if completed, would combine Baxter, the world's No. 2 maker of dialysis equipment by revenue, with Gambro, the third-largest.


text:
Feel "Fine" at the Blackbird Lofts
Three of this year's Pittsburgh's 50 Finest took an artsy approach to raising money for a good cause. Beth Cullinan, Samantha Daniels, and Kim Jones hosted approximately 200 guests at Lawrenceville's newly constructed Blackbird Artist Studios, helping to raise $3,500 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Photography by Megan Wylie.Read More


text:
Text Size Large SizeMedium SizeSmall Size Color Scheme Black SchemeWhite SchemeGrey SchemePaper Scheme
Clair De Lune
A story about bella being apart the family of the volturi. She is a daughter of Aro and a mysterious vamp woman. Bella meets edward at her 107th birthday. How will things turn out differently in this (one of my many) story.VOLTERRA!!!!
This story is sorta in a bit old fashion, so they speak different and have bad grammer... sorry...Hope you like this story.
1. Party
Rating 4.5/5 Word Count 694 Review this Chapter
I sat down on the stool as Haley tightened the laces in the back of my dress. I silently waited for her to finish. I hit the side of the table in front of me, gasping for air when Haley tightened harder than necessary. "Oh relax you baby." She mocked at my reaction. "May I remind you that I need air, unlike you full breeds..." I said in my defense. "Well if you would stop arguing and just let someone bite you, we wouldn't have this problem, now would we?" She hissed and turned me around roughly. She put my curly brown hair up in a bun and topped off my dew with a white ribbon. "Perfect. You look Beautiful Bella." I barley heard her mumble, Baffled by my reflection in the mirror.
Haley and I walked down the spiral stairs in the beautiful castle of Voltera. Aro was at the bottom, along with one of the guards. Felix, I think was his name. Haley and Felix were having a little 'thing' together. She called it love, I called it lust. Sooner or later he would take advantage of her and she would want it. I sighed at the thought of the horrible truth that was going to be bestowed upon my sister. But, what could I do? I already warned her, but being the stubborn goat she was she didn't believe my 'vial' words. As she quoted them to be, thought they were more truthful than vial. *sigh* Oh well...
Aro smiled brightly at us as we came to the end of the long stair case. "Isabella. Haley." He greeted us, Felix simply nodded his head. They both, at the same time, bowed down and reached for our arms. We both smiled and took their arms, which at the movement; they both quickly wound around theirs and lead us into the middle of the ballroom. The guard with the very lovely pale blue dress on opened the large entry doors for us.
The large applause filled the large, very large, room with a trumpet introduction for the guest's attention. I felt like a princess and of course started to blush at the large crowd. I felt my father's hold tighten around my arm and I looked up to find him smiling down at me. I took a deep breath and nodded for us to proceed forward. I was after all the birthday girl today and this was my party. Haley sighed and the guys chuckled. I threw Haley a glance that said 'after this, you're dead.' Her eyes grew wide in fear and I smirked and stuck out my tongue. Felix coughed to hide another chuckle and Aro clapped his hand lightly. "That's enough, my daughters." He whispered.
The party was light and not as exciting as I would have hoped and full of embarrassments. It was custom that the royal family and birthday girl to dance first. (Even though I was both so it didn't really matter.) I was dancing with my father, so that was the first embarrassment. He didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with that. *sigh* I couldn't stand him babying me all the time. I 'was' now 107 years old. I know what you're thinking; I'm the oldest thing ever. Well I'm NOT!! God...
I danced two times with my dad and had to prepare myself for a dance with every eligible man at this party. That is the second and last embarrassment... *sigh* I've never sighed this much in all my 107 years. But really I'm 16, for your information. And I AM really Aro's daughter. I was his 10th daughter to be exact. My mother gave birth to me and I was dead, but they tried to bring me to life and sent shocks through my body and my heart started. So that's how I became a half vampire. Yea, my life was complicated as a child. And once I hit 16, I stopped aging. Thank god for that...
- Author
- Bella_Edward13
- Rating
1 2 3 4 5
- Reviews
- 162
- Words
- 13004
- Views
- 1
- Published
- 17 Jul 07
- Updated
- 17 Mar 09
- Status
- Complete


text:
Car Deals
Coupe Deals: May 2013
For many shoppers, the allure of a sleek, 2-door coupe is stronger than the need for a practical 4-door sedan. If that's you, our list of coupe deals will help you find the right model in May -- regardless of whether you're looking to buy or lease your next car.
BMW 1-Series
The BMW 1-Series is a compact, rear-drive BMW available as a coupe or convertible. The best lease deals available in May are on 1-Series coupe models. For shoppers interested in a 230-horsepower 128i, BMW is offering a 36-month lease with payments starting from $319 per month. Drivers who want more power will have to upgrade to the 300-hp 135i, which starts at $379 per month. In both cases, drivers will have to put down around $3,500 to start the lease on their sporty new 1-Series coupe. BMW also is offering low-interest deals this month to qualified shoppers. Through the end of the month, the 1-Series is available with 3.05 percent interest for up to 36 months.
Chevrolet Corvette
The high-performance Chevrolet Corvette offers V8 power and coupe or convertible body styles. Several great offers are available in May on the Corvette Coupe. For qualified shoppers looking to finance, the Corvette is available with interest rates as low as 1.9 percent for up to 60 months. For those paying in cash, Chevrolet is offering up to $2,000 back on the 2013 Corvette. Best of all, those deals apply to all models, from the base-level Corvette to the high-performance ZR1.
Find a Chevrolet Corvette for sale
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is a sporty, rear-drive 2-door available as a coupe or a convertible. In May, it offers incentives for shoppers who are looking to lease, finance or buy with cash. For buyers looking to finance their next car, the Mustang is available with zero percent interest for up to 60 months. That deal increases to 1.9 percent for shoppers who want to spread out their payments over 72 months. Either way, it includes $1,000 cash back, as well. For drivers paying in full, Ford is offering up to $2,000 cash back. And for those looking to lease a Mustang, Ford is offering a 24-month lease with payments from $269 per month after $2,669 down at lease signing.
Honda Accord Coupe
The Honda Accord Coupe is a sporty, 2-door version of the popular Honda Accord sedan. In May, it's available with one special interest rate offer for qualified shoppers looking to finance their next coupe. That deal is 0.9 percent interest for up to 36 months, or 1.9 percent interest for up to 60 months. If your car-shopping needs send you looking for a 4-door sedan this May, as well, Honda is offering the same low-interest deal on its Accord sedan.
Mercedes-Benz C250 Coupe
The Mercedes-Benz C250 is available in sedan or 2-door, 4-seat coupe body styles. In May, the C250 Coupe is offered with an impressive lease deal. Through the end of the month, shoppers interested in leasing the coupe can get a 36-month lease with payments starting at $379 per month. While that offer requires putting down nearly $3,800, it also includes the C-Class's recently updated design and a spry 201-hp turbocharged 4-cylinder engine.
Nissan Altima Coupe
The Nissan Altima Coupe is a 5-seat, 2-door version of the 2008-2012 Nissan Altima sedan. In May, it offers incentives for shoppers looking to finance, lease or buy outright. For finance shoppers, Nissan is offering the all-important zero percent interest rate for up to 36 months, plus up to $500 cash back. Shoppers looking to lease a new Altima can get a 39-month lease with payments as low as $249 per month after $2,999 at lease signing. And for buyers paying in full, Nissan is offering up to $1,500 cash back on all trim levels of the Altima throughout the month.
What it means to you: Our list of coupe deals gives shoppers a look at some of the top incentives on sleek new 2-door cars.
Incentives can vary based on where you live, so residency restrictions may apply. Also, only buyers with very good credit will qualify for most of these deals. Not all incentives are available to all customers.


text:
Gov. Jack Markell and his top financial advisors unveiled the $3.712 billion 2014 fiscal year budget that would increase spending by 3.49 percent over 2013 during a press conference held Thursday in the Tatnall Building in Dover.
Gov. Jack Markell proposed a small reduction in the personal income tax increase of 2009 for the 2014 fiscal year budget as opposed to allowing that increase and others to expire under the sunset provisions placed in the legislation from a couple of years ago.
Delaware's personal income tax was increased from 5.95 percent to 6.95 percent in 2009, Markell said. But, effective January 2012, that increase was reduced to 6.75 percent, he said.
Markell proposed another reduction of the tax to 6.6 percent, which would take effect in January 2014.
He said that would keep Delaware very competitive compared to other states in the region.
Markell's budget proposal answered some of the questions that were raised last week in the Delaware General Assembly when he said he would not push for tax cuts the state could not afford.
Markell and his top financial advisors unveiled the $3.712 billion 2014 fiscal year budget that would increase spending by 3.49 percent over 2013 during a press conference held Thursday in the Tatnall Building in Dover.
Delaware Office of Management & Budget Director Ann Visalli said the state faced a $56 million shortfall in this budget proposal for 2014, which begins July 1, 2013. So, the state cut $28.7 million amongst its agencies, leaving a hole still of $27.3 million.
That was among the reasons why Markell's tax proposal for 2014 was essential, Delaware Secretary of Finance Tom Cook said. In essence, it was important to avoid tax sunsets because the nonpartisan DEFAC had predicted that state revenues would fall from $3.727 billion in fiscal year 2013 to $3.663 billion in fiscal year 2014.
"The tax proposals are aimed at stabilizing our revenue situation this fiscal year while being mindful of the need to consider challenges we face beyond the upcoming fiscal year," Cook said.
Looking ahead to 2015, Visalli said the state could face a $266.4 million deficit if nothing were done.
It was also important to look ahead to the $155 million shortfall projected for the 2015 fiscal year.
Markell's 2014 budget proposal included $6.9 million in new spending to expand behavioral health service counselors tenfold within schools to 30; create prevention programs for at risk youth, provide care for youths aging out of foster care, fund the Delaware National Guard Youth Challenge and to hire six new Delaware State Police troopers.
He said the new initiatives represented 0.194 percent of the budget's growth.
Markell delegated the duty of finding ways to help schools to Lt. Gov. Matt Denn, who recommended expanding in-school behavior health services at a cost of $3.3 million because that was the top service requested at wellness centers amongst the state's high schools.
"The lieutenant governor and I visit a lot of schools," Markell said. "They're seeing more and more kids with mental health issues and they're getting younger. I am told that the No. 1 request at the high school's wellness services is for mental health services. We have three behavioral health professionals on the front lines. That's not getting the job done."
As for $2.2 million worth of prevention programs for youth, Markell said he visited a crime scene in the city of Wilmington, where a 10-year-old boy told him he had nothing to do.
"Unfortunately, he was right," Markell said. "In a more perfect world, it wouldn't be up to state government to fix that but we don't live in a perfect world."
As such, Markell proposed prevention programs for youth worth $2.2 million.
Markell said he realized some in the General Assembly would oppose some of his budget proposals. But he said Delaware had a good system in place to vet the budget, namely the budget hearings to be conducted for the next six weeks.
The 2014 budget listed no general salary increases, but Markell and Visalli acknowledged that pay increases would be forthcoming due to agreements in place with union workers, including Delaware teachers, who receive increase in pay based on experience and levels of education completed.
Markell's budget also did not include any proposed funding to revise such teachers' pay structure as noted in his State of the State in order to cut down on attrition amongst young teachers and teachers in some of the state's toughest, high poverty schools. But, Markell said he wanted to at least start the conversation this legislative session with the possibility that his proposal be included in the 2015 fiscal year budget.


text:
On June 29, 2011, news broke that Tiger Woods had secured an endorsement deal with Kowa Company Ltd., the Japanese manufacturer of Valentin Kowa pain relieving heat rub. It's his first deal since the very embarrassing sex scandal that broke in December 2009 and cost him his marriage, his squeaky-clean image and four of his sponsors. When news of his personal troubles spilled into the public eye, Accenture, AT&T and Gatorade terminated their sponsorship deals with him, and Gillette allowed their agreement with him to lapse, hitting the athlete's $90 million endorsement portfolio hard. The new deal is a three-year agreement that includes advertisements online, in print and on television, and although the price of the deal has not been disclosed, it nonetheless represents sorely needed good news for the golfer. However, it remains to be seen whether or not it's the beginning of a comeback.
Comebacks are by no means guaranteed. The list of athletes who have retired and then returned with disappointing results is long. Swimming legend Mark Spitz won nine gold medals at the 1972 Olympics, but when he attempted a comeback 20 years later he failed to meet the minimum qualifying time. Tennis great Bjorn Borg won 11 Grand Slam titles before retiring at the age of 26, but when he attempted a comeback eight years later he was beaten effortlessly by 52nd place holder Jordi Arrese. Even Muhammad Ali wasn't exempt. When "The Greatest" attempted a comeback in 1980, he was defeated by Larry Holmes, and it wasn't long before he was forced to face reality and walk away.
If this is, in fact, a comeback for Woods, it be remarkable, as it would be the second time his career has rebounded from a potentially fatal blow. In 2008, just two days after winning the US Open, he announced that he was scheduled to undergo knee surgery for a damaged anterior cruciate ligament. The timing would cause him to miss the Open Championship and the PGA Championship, but more worrisome was the effect that it could have on his career. A damaged ACL is a common athletic injury that has taken many pros off the field permanently. However, Woods came back to the links in 2009 and finished in second place in the PGA championship. Whether his luck holds out a second time is an open question. But if he does, he would rejoin an assortment of athletes who recaptured their former glory after physical injuries, messy scandals and even jail time.
Click ahead to see the athletes who defied logic and came back to their respective sports after conventional wisdom pronounced their careers dead and buried.
By Daniel Bukszpan
Posted 30 June 2011


text:
Sugar Bowl Postgame Transcript: Virginia Tech
THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with our official postgame press conference. We'll begin with Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer, also being joined by quarterback Logan Thomas and cornerback Kyle Fuller.
We'll begin with Coach Beamer.
COACH BEAMER: I'm really proud of our football team. I thought we battled back, great heart. Did some -- you know, it's tough when you give Michigan the ball on the fumble kickoff return, an interception, go for it on the punt, it was an option, run or kick it, and thought we might be there to pick up the first, or not, kick 'em deep.
And the field position too many times we gave a good football team, and that's tough to overcome. But our guys did their best to try to do it and hung in there great.
A couple of close calls, probably the difference in the ballgame. And so I'm proud of our football team and the effort and how they hung in there and battled when things didn't look great.
They kept battling. Proud of that.
THE MODERATOR: Questions?
Q. The fourth and one where you had the fake punt with Danny, what was the thought process behind that play?
COACH BEAMER: Like I said, it was an option: run or kick. And I thought it was a good -- it was a short -- it was a yard. And if they dropped off, had a little seam, we were going to go for the first.
If not, we're going to kick it and try and pin them down deep. So we had that option going. And their guy did a nice job. He looked like he was going to go outside and all of a sudden jumped back in underneath and got us.
So it was an option there whether he's going to kick it or not.
Q. Coach, on that, you don't typically do a lot of rugby-style punting. Have you all worked on that play a lot in practice?
COACH BEAMER: We've been working on it for the last three weeks, really, the situation. And if it's going to be less than five, we really planned to do that, and so -- but the situation hadn't come up in the last three games until that situation.
So, yeah, we've worked on it quite a bit.
Q. Coach and Kyle, can you talk about the job you guys did on Denard Robinson? For the most part you contained them. A couple of big penalties, really, set up both their touchdowns.
COACH BEAMER: Yeah, you know, I think field position and penalties, you know, kind of helped them out, but I thought our defense did a great job of containing Robinson.
And, you know, it's just tough giving a good football team that many good field positions.
KYLE FULLER: I think our goal was coming to the game was contain Robinson on that run and pass. And I felt throughout the game we did that. A couple of times he used his athleticism to get out of the pocket and make some good throws down field. And their players, you know, they made some big plays.
But other than that, I mean, I like the way all our guys played together.
Q. Frank, just a comment on what Justin did tonight. Never made a field goal in a college game. To go out there and make his first four, and then in overtime ??
COACH BEAMER: Yeah, I just talked to him. I told him he did a heck of a job. He said he didn't quite get through that last one. But he did a nice job for us. And I liked to have seen him make the last one.
And it's so close. Danny's play is so close, and it seemed like there was just quite a few of those there tonight, so close but just didn't quite have it go our way.
Q. Logan, in that first half, how frustrating was it that you guys were moving the ball as well as you were but couldn't punch it in? What do you think was going wrong there with your inability to kind of punch it in there for touchdowns?
LOGAN THOMAS: Well, I heard a stat that ?? something like they're seventh in red zone defense, so gotta give them credit in that aspect.
They did a great job defending us. Just couldn't pick up the short yardage when we needed to.
But, yeah, all the credit goes to them for stopping us.
Q. Frank, were you planning ?? you sort of mentioned how you guys had been practicing the rugby bump. Were you guys planning on taking more chances? You went for it on that fourth and one in the first half. Did you have a different mindset going into this game, you wanted to sort of catch them by surprise a little bit?
COACH BEAMER: Well, we talked about before the ballgame that it was going to be more likely to go for it on fourth down. That we got a new kicker, hadn't been in those situations. You know, your percentages go with you going for it.
And then on that one we got there and we didn't know exactly how close it was or how far away it was. And so we got in a little bit of a situation where we didn't know exactly where the ball was. And then they were -- for our sneak, they were in a good defense, too.
Q. Logan, on that one play where you threw the interception to ?? the defensive lineman kind of got in front of you, can you describe what happened on that play, please?
LOGAN THOMAS: He saw me rolling out. I was just trying to dump it over his head. He timed his jump perfectly and got his hands on it and came down with it.
All the credit to him. He made a great play. Great athlete.
Q. Frank, we always talk and you're always asked about representing the ACC. From your perspective, how do you feel you guys did in that regard tonight?
COACH BEAMER: How we did in what regard?
Q. Representing the ACC.
COACH BEAMER: I still didn't hear you.
Q. In representing the ACC.
COACH BEAMER: Representing the ACC. Well, we didn't get a win. We need wins. And, again, it wasn't because of lack of effort by these guys. It wasn't because we didn't prepare. I thought we worked hard for this game. The kids made great preparation.
And just in the big picture, you know, we gave them the ball on our side of the 50 too many times.
And if you could go back, I'd take a couple of decisions back. But knowing how things worked out. But they are what they are.
I think everybody in Virginia Tech football put a lot into this ballgame, I can tell you. And we wanted to get a win for the ACC and wanted to get a win for Virginia Tech.
We haven't done as well as we want to in these BCS games. But you give Michigan credit. I mean, they hung in there and battled and hung on, and they certainly never slowed down.
I mean, they gave effort throughout and hung on and got a win.
Q. Logan, you've seen a BCS game from the sideline before, but to get into one to cap off your first season as a starter, how far did you come this season and how did it help you grow working towards the future for you?
LOGAN THOMAS: I think it helped me grow a whole lot. Especially coming from never playing, never playing in a real game that mattered last year, and being able to grow throughout the season, I think I made ?? I think I matured pretty well and I'm happy with my maturity.
Yeah, playing in a BCS game, it's something that everybody dreams about. It doesn't come around every year. Thankfully for us we've been able to play ourselves into that situation the past couple of years. And I'm very thankful to be here.
Q. Logan, you guys talk about the Danny Coale and how close that was. What was that like for you? Seems like you think you probably have a touchdown. And what was that whole ?? what was that whole, I guess, scenario like?
LOGAN THOMAS: When I first saw it, Danny made a great play to even get a hand on it. I think I left it a little bit wide. I could have left it straight up ?? I guess right down the numbers, and he probably would have had an easy touchdown catch.
But the play is designed to hit the corner. I threw it out to the corner. He got a hand on it. He made a great play. From the two angles we saw, I guess we thought it was a touchdown. And we couldn't see any other way, because inconclusive evidence or whatever it was, but I guess the official saw something.
So, I mean, it's tough. But just to know that we were that close.
Q. Logan, you guys had 3:53 left starting on the 9?yard line. Driving to tie it up there, you guys ended up getting Myer's field goal there. Take me through your mindset there, kind of somewhat of a two?minute drill where you guys needed to score?
LOGAN THOMAS: We've been there before against Miami. We had to do it twice the end of the first half and then at the end of the second half to go win that one. But we've done it a couple of times all year and we came out with points on a lot of them.
So, I mean, it was nothing. The offense had been clicking all night. They weren't stopping us. We were stopping ourselves.
So I knew we could take it right on down the field, not a problem. And we did so. Had that false start, or else we might have had another shot at a touchdown.
But it's past tense now. I'm proud of the guys. They battled up front all night long. We heard for the past 30 days they're so dominant up front, but I think our guys showed they're just as dominant. So I'm very proud of the guys.
We battled on the outside, and we made big plays when we could.
Q. Frank, I know last year the Stanford loss was ?? you guys took it hard because things kind of unravelled in the second half. I wonder, does this one feel worse because you were so close? And how do you move ?? how do you get over it moving forward heading into the off?season? How do you move past something like this?
COACH BEAMER: Last year against Stanford, we just -- you know, we didn't get it done in the second half. But, again, I think a couple plays starting that half, had they gone our way, maybe it would have gone different. But it didn't. And walking away from that one, it wasn't very good.
And I'm about half sick right now. But I'm proud as can be of our players. I'm proud of how we battled back. I'm proud of what we are as a football team. It wasn't lack of effort here at all. It wasn't, again, lack of preparation. It wasn't -- our guys played their heart out. Just some kind of fluke plays right before the half, a couple of fluke plays.
And, I mean, just, you know -- but, again, our guys never stopped themselves. So I feel a lot better walking out of here tonight than I did against how we played against Stanford. But also knowing that we kind of -- we let them have the ball too many times in great field position.
And too many mistakes, what Logan said. We get down there, what was it, third and one, and we jump -- we jump and now it's third and six. And all of a sudden just roughing the kicker penalty. It was just some stuff there that wasn't in our best interests.
Q. Coach and Kyle, you talked about Denard, but the play of Hemingway, can you elaborate on Hemingway and his performance tonight?
KYLE FULLER: Hemingway, we knew that they also had other guys, their running back, a lot of good receivers that we had to focus on as well. And, you know, just like we saw on film, those guys, they'll make some plays.
And they did that tonight.
Q. Logan, Michigan threw a lot of looks at you on its defensive line. What were you able to do that made you so successful against what they were trying to do defensively?
LOGAN THOMAS: Great preparation. Coach got me prepared right. We kind of went over this week what they were planning on doing. And they did exactly as we thought.
They actually played a little bit more two safeties than they had previously. But I've been studying, been trying to get ready for this game after our last outing, knew we couldn't have another one like that.
And I thought we did a great job offensively. Of course we didn't get points when we got in the red zone. We didn't get all the points we could. But I think we played a good game. We played our hearts out.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports (Ed-Heiko: Thank YOU.)


text:
|System: Xbox 360, PS3*
|Dev: Team Ninja
|Pub: Capcom
|Release: January 15, 2012
|Players: 1
|Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p
|Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language
The graphics in DmC are worth mentioning, as they're done in a style that we haven't really seen before. They sort of combine the gory elements you'd see in Silent Hill's nightmare world with a neon-colored Escher painting. Level design is brilliant, hammering home the idea of a living city that hates you. Levels will change underneath your feet as you go through them, while brightly colored words will show up on surfaces when you look at them the right way, calling out their hatred for you while simultaneously mocking the sloth, stupidity, and obesity of the human race. It sure makes you think about the foibles of human society more than previous Devil May Cry games ever did.
But the game does have some faults, admittedly. First off, it's kind of hard to dial in the difficulty to the exact level you like. One notch up or down can make the difference between enemies dying far too easily and failing in just about every battle.
Additionally, the controls feel like finger-twisters at times. I'll just come out and say it: Action games should never tie primary functions to pushing in the analog sticks. And while the game's camera works well in most circumstances, there are times when you'll find it settling into a position where you lose sight of some of the enemies around you. This leads you to blindly whiff attacks in a general direction in an attempt to make contact with enemies that you can't see. However, all of this really just nitpicking, as none of these issues hold the game back from being fun.
Overall, I really enjoyed DmC. Yes, it's darker, grittier, and deals with more relevant issues, but it's still everything I want from a Devil May Cry game. It tells the tale of a cocky demon-hunting protagonist that saves the day through fast-paced, combo-centric action gameplay. If Capcom and Ninja Theory were trying to make a brand new Devil May Cry for a new generation, then they've certainly succeeded. I'd wholeheartedly recommend this game to any fan of the Devil May Cry series, or of action games in general.
Angelo M. D'Argenio
Lead Contributor
Date: January 15, 2013
Game Features:


text:
People-to-People journeys to Cuba now available
Cuba: A Bridge Between CulturesThis 12-day cultural exchange program visits Havana, Trinidad, and Cienfuegos, and focuses on meaningful interactions with the people of Cuba. Learn more >>
The most valuable gifts we can make to a village are those with a lasting return. By investing in our projects now, you'll help sustain these communities for generations to come.
A Chorus of ApprovalGrand Circle Foundation gives music students in Ecuador a major key to the future.Learn more >>
Composing a Computer CenterGrand Circle Foundation continues its harmonious partnership with the St. Petersburg Music Boarding School.Learn more >>
Donations made to Grand Circle Foundation are tax deductible (Federal Tax Number is 04-3175434). The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Private Nonoperating Foundation.
Enter your email address below to receive updates from Grand Circle Foundation, and we'll send you a free copy of At the End of the Day, a collection of inspirational readings compiled by Alan & Harriet Lewis.
Current Edition:July E-News »
View Archives »
We want to hear from you! "Like" us on Facebook and share your experiences with Grand Circle Foundation. This month, we're asking:
Have you visited a school sponsored by the Foundation recently? Tell us about it!
We're looking forward to hearing from you!


text:
by Adem Saricaoglu
Schools from Melbourne's west, including St Albans Primary School and Sunshine Harvester Primary School, took over the Whitten Oval on Wednesday.
More than 300 kids from several schools around Melbourne took part in AFL Victoria's Multicultural Schools State Cup round robin competition to help attract new followers to the game.
AFL stars, North Melbourne's Majak Daw and St Kilda's Ahmed Saad were on hand for the event as seven boys teams and seven girls teams took battle at the Western Bulldogs training base.
Saad, of Egyptian descent, never played in the TAC Cup but impressed in the VFL before the Saints drafted him.
He said he is living proof anybody from any background can succeed at the highest level of the sport.
"Everyone should just hope for the best and do what they can do and if theyre committed and dedicated and that's what they want, then they can definitely go for it," Saad said.
"There are a lot of opportunities these days for multicultural kids of different backgrounds and nationalities - just as long as youre good and you work hard for it."
The Sudanese-born Daw said there remains a lot of potential talent that has yet to be seen.
"At the moment it's a pretty exciting prospect that theres a lot of talent out there thats still untouched," Daw said.
"It's a challenge and a big risk bringing people from overseas and AFL footy's not an easy environment, but it's also exciting to see what they bring to AFL."