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Remarks by National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice At USAID's Saving Lives at Birth Event
Washington, D.C.
Good afternoon everyone. Thank you, Raj, for that kind introduction and for inviting me to be part of this wonderful event. You are doing an outstanding job as USAID Administrator. And I want especially to commend the dedicated staff of USAID for your commitment to our country and to our world. You've all done a remarkable job advancing the President's vision to elevate development alongside diplomacy and defense as an equal pillar of our national security strategy.
Of course, I also want to join Raj in thanking our partners who have worked with USAID over the past three years to make the Saving Lives at Birth initiative a real success. So thank you to the Government of Norway, Grand Challenges Canada, and the UK's Department for International Development, and of course the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
As Raj said, this is, in fact, my first public speaking engagement as National Security Advisor. When I was at the UN I had to speak almost every day, and in this job I don't get out much. (Laughter)
But I wanted to come here today because it's important that we underscore that economic development and saving lives matters greatly – it matters to the United States, it matters to President Obama, and it matters to me personally.
That's because right now, somewhere in sub-Saharan Africa, a young, probably terrified woman is going into labor. As any mother can tell you, and as I can tell you, it's never easy. And it's always at least a little bit scary—even when you're blessed to enjoy the wonders of modern medicine. But this woman is giving birth in a remote village with very limited resources. Electricity is spotty, if it exists at all. Any equipment is outdated and rudimentary. There are no trained doctors, nurses or even probably midwives to assist her delivery. Before she's even started to push, she's 136 times more likely to die giving birth than if she were living in a developed country.
So the crucial question is: how can we help her? How can we make sure that she isn't one of the 150,000 women who die each year in child birth? How can we make sure that her baby isn't one of the 1.6 million who die within 48 hours of birth or one of the 1.2 million still births that occur each year?
Thanks to the Saving Lives at Birth initiative, we now have some new answers.
If her labor becomes obstructed, a local attendant might soon be able to reach for an Odon device, making it easier for the baby's head to pass through the birth canal. I just took a look at the Odon device and I recalled my experience my first time giving birth, when I had to become familiar with the forceps. I was really looking at this thing, hoping that it would look better net-net (laughter) compared to the forceps. But the good news is, you can use it anywhere and it's inexpensive. It probably doesn't leave any damage to the head. But the bad news is, you still gotta work it in there. (Laughter). But, it's progress.
If the baby has trouble breathing once it's born, a clinic might be able to use a new kind of affordable C-PAP device that costs one-fortieth the amount of standard hospital equipment here in the west but is equally effective in pushing oxygen through the baby's airways.
And, in the future, if a mother knows she is HIV positive, as soon as she gives birth at home or somewhere away from a medical facility, she's able to rip open a Pratt pouch—just like you would rip open a fast-food packet of ketchup—and deliver a fresh dose of anti-retroviral drugs to her newborn baby so that she doesn't have to pass the disease on to her precious child.
These are just some examples. And they aren't just steps in the right direction; they are potential game-changers. And they started right here.
By the way, if you need proof that revolutionary ideas can come from anyone, anywhere, you should learn a little bit more about this Odon device that I was describing. It's the brain child of an Argentinean auto mechanic with no medical training who was trying to fish the cork out of a wine bottle using nothing but a plastic bag. Now, don't ask me how that's supposed to work. His "eureka" moment came in the middle of the night when he realized the same trick could help deliver babies. His wife told him to roll over and go back to sleep, but today, a major manufacturer is planning to collaborate to take the device to scale for use across the developing world.
So, we live in an era of furious change and unlimited technological potential. So we can't just keep doing the same things the way they've been done before. We need to harness our power for progress and put it to work improving the lives of people around the world. That's the spirit the Obama Administration has brought to all of our development work.
The United States leads the world when it comes to providing humanitarian assistance, but we've also shifted our efforts towards empowering countries to lead their own development. That is how to break the cycle of poverty and dependence that still holds so many nations back.
That's why American initiatives like Feed the Future and the New Alliance for Food Security aren't just about bringing food to hungry people. They're about building stronger agricultural systems so that countries can feed themselves.
President Obama's Global Health Initiative is working with an increasing number of partners and countries who have stepped up to join with us as equals, sharing the responsibility for building stronger, self-sustaining health systems.
Our 1,000 Days partnership seeks to improve maternal and child nutrition during that critical window from conception through a child's second birthday, because we know that early interventions can impact a child's growth and development for the rest of her life.
We've put a priority on ending preventable child and maternal deaths. And now, for the first time since the AIDS epidemic began ravaging populations all around the world, the treatments and interventions that we've employed—including preventing mother-to-child transmission—have put the dream of an AIDS-free world and an AIDS-free generation within our grasp.
Hunger and disease, poverty and desperation— these do more than destroy individual lives. They erode our common humanity, even as they threaten the security of our interconnected world. On the other hand, when we give more people the tools to succeed on their own, we're investing in a secure and prosperous future for all, at home and abroad.
That's why we host these kinds of competitions. In just three years, more than 1,500 innovators have answered our call for new ideas to help mothers give birth in rural or impoverished areas. Some of our past winners are already making a profound difference in countries where their projects are being piloted and scaled. But we need more eureka moments and more unorthodox partnerships to meet persistent global challenges.
We don't yet know who among this year's finalists will take home the grants—we'll find out in just a few minutes—but, I do hope that all of you will keep on innovating.
There's still too many women like that young mother in Africa and her baby who continue to need our help. They cannot wait for change to happen by chance or accident. They need students and designers, researchers and entrepreneurs like you to lead the change. And as you do, the United States will continue to stand with you, finding ways to support your success, so that we can keep saving lives together.
Thank you very much.


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Model Train Inventory SoftwarePosted by: Modulator in References & Software
Inventory software is a great idea for several reasons. It can help avoid buying duplicates, keeps an accurate want list, forms the basis for insurance valuations, keeps track of where your items are at and their condition. The following is a survey of model train inventory software. If you know of others, please add it in the comments below.
All Aboard Data Express by Tayden Design – "A new, innovative database software that was specially designed for Model Railroaders! This new inventory software is based on recent database technology, especially for model railroad equipment!" Adobe pdf Data Sheet. Tayden also offers separate programs to track maintenance, simulate layout operations and inventory literature and documents. Dowload or CD from retailers. USD: $30 includes 2 years of upgrades, OS Windows XP, Vista & 7.
Easy Model Railroad Inventory by RCL Software, Inc. – "is designed to inventory all of your model railroad rolling stock, locomotives and cars, the structures, electronic equipment, book collection . . . there are many ways to view, query, report, and graph . . . functions to operate your railroad using a variety of methods" General specs page. This EMRI is a complete, integrated solution. It tracks the locos, cars, MOW, including DCC info, structures, books, videos tools and does operations. Tip: turn on Maintance History for an item by checking the "Do Maintenance Check" box under the Routing/Operations tab. Update announcements and tutorials at MRH blog. Download USD: FREE – Donationware, OS: Windows. Current version 6.0 dated October 2012.
MiTrains by ShenSoft – "an inventory program specifically for model railroaders and rail fans. One that eased the burden of typing wherever possible" Includes database of N-scale Micro-Trains series. MiTrains is highly customizable and regularly updated. Integrates with Waybills program for switching and operations. Download – USD: $50. OS: Windows, Vista & Win7 with MS patch. Current version 6.5.0 dated March 2011.
RailFanExpress– "An easy way to keep an accurate record of your entire model railroad inventory. Catalog every item, with its cost and even include a photo. The numerous report options make Railfan Express excellent for insurance purposes." USD: $20. OS: Win95 to WinXP. Not compatible with Win7. Current version 5.1 dated July 2009. Website down Aug 24, 2011. Version 5.0, description and reviews available at download.com.
RRTrains 2000 – "is a small program used to create a detailed inventory of your model railroad collection." USD: FREE. OS: Win95 to Vista. Win7 unstated. Current version 2.7 dated July 2004.
SofTrack – "is the easiest to use and most complete solution for managing your collection of railroad equipment. It is designed for use on Macintosh or Windows computers with Filemaker Pro®." USD: $60, OS: Mac OSX and WinXP, also requires Filemaker Pro database. Current version 2.0 has can be run without Filemaker Pro. As of October 2012, this software is no longer available. They are providing support and updates for the Apple Lion OS.
TrackMyTrains – "is a comprehensive database system designed especially for model railroading enthusiasts and collectors. Our subscribers keep their collection databases on our website with complete control over how it is organized and who can see their information." USD: $30/year, Web Application.
TrainMinder – has optional paid modules adding Lionel and American Flyer images, data and prices. Price data is updated with eBay and other pricing. USD: $40-85, OS: Win98 to Win7. Current version and last update unknown.
TrainTracker – offers very extensive optional modules including, MTH, K-Line, Pre, Post and Modern Lionel and American Flyer data. USD: $29-130, OS: Win98 to WinXP. Vista and Win7 not stated as working. Latest version 5.5 last update not stated.
YardOffice -Tracks motive and rolling stock with custom notes, photos and DCC codes. Registered version allows printing of labels and reports. Free limited version or registerd USD: $27 w/ 1 year updates. OS: Win98 and up. Also works in iMac Windows partition. Latest version 3.08 dated August 2009.
In the comments that follow, I have made some suggestions and expressed some personal opinions. However, my likes and dislikes should not scare you off from looking at all the software. From looking over the software, I think all of the inventory programs are good. There are two programs that are no longer supported. One, the website is down, the other is supported, but no longer providing updates. I would choose a program that is currently supported and verify it has not been years since the last update.
Much of this is personal taste, interests and the look and feel of the software and your tastes are probably different than mine. Please use this post as a starting point, do the research and then pick out a couple of programs to try out, most offer a demo. Actually entering some of your collection into the programs will tell you if they do everything you need and want and if you like how the program operates and if it works well on your computer, operating system and printer.

subset: commoncrawl


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Meade's Glass White-Light Solar Filters are the perfect accessory to transform your telescope into a SAFE way to view the Sun! Available in 10 different sizes for viewing and imaging the sun in white-light. Our aluminum housing, reflective helios solar glass filters block 99.999% of incoming light for protection and are ISO certified, guaranteeing safety with correct use. Easy attachment with three screws (included).
This 5" (127mm) Glass White-Light Solar Filter is compatible with Meade's:
- Polaris 90
- Infinity 90
- StarNavigator NG90
- StarNavigator NG102
Made in USA.
Meade assures that all solar filters are tested at specialized labs that are accredited to verify compliance with the ISO 12312-2 safety specifications for solar viewing.
Warning: Meade White-Light Solar Filters are only intended for closed tube telescopes and should not be used with open truss designs such as the Meade 10, 12 and 16" LightBridge Dobsonians. Incident sunlight allowed in by the open tube design could cause damage to the telescope optics and on these designs will cause instant and irreversible eye damage potentially including permanent blindness. A light shroud is not sufficient protection from harmful solar rays.


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Barbara Walters is returning tp "The View" next week after an absence caused by a fall and a case of the chicken pox.
"Like it or not, I'm coming back on the show again," Walters said on "The View" Tuesday, calling in to her co-hosts. "No more chicken pox. … I haven't been contagious for a while, but they wanted me to have rest, and I've had enough rest and I'm ready to come back."
Also read: Barbara Walters Recovering From Head Injury
The 83-year-old was hospitalized in Washington D.C. on Jan. 19 after fainting at the British ambassador's residence and cutting her temple open. The following week, Whoopi Goldberg announced that Walters had been diagnosed with chicken pox, too.
"She'd never had it as a child," Goldberg explained. "So now she's been told to rest. She's not allowed any visitors. and we're telling you, Barbara, no scratching."
Walters, who created "The View" in 1997 and has been discussing hot topics on the all-female panel ever since, will resume moderating on March 4.


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Well, as it is very apparent, our blog is currently on a hiatus. (No kidding!) We really do hope to start up again, but do not have an idea as to when this would be. We certainly miss it!
We miss catching up with everybody's blogs, seeing what you all have been up to, food-wise and life-wise. We certainly miss being among people to whom food obsession is not only common, but encouraged. Who knew that this was not the norm in "the real world"?! ;)
We are still cooking, but not as often as we would like. (We do make time for our special events/parties, though.) I have even been taking some photos here and there. Actually, I still have photos from a year or so ago that have yet to be processed and used in the blog!
To new readers, we hope you browse the blog and find the dishes useful or the posts entertaining. There is quite a bit here!
To the remaining handful of readers left, 'til we post again...
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Well, as it is very apparent, our blog is currently on a hiatus. (No kidding!) We really do hope to start up again, but do not have an idea as to when this would be. We certainly miss it!
13 comments:
Good to know!! For the longest time we had not seen anything from TS and JS. Then the past two days I see comments from TS/JS popping up in the YVR food forums. So, the fire is still there huh? :-)ReplyDelete
They are indeed entertaining and interesting! I've been having a good time perusing your archives, you've done a great job so far. : jReplyDelete
At least you eat with me every now and then... So I know you exist...ReplyDelete
Welcome back! You can start by posting your Holiday food!ReplyDelete
I'm on hiatus too. ;pReplyDelete
Haven't updated for a while yet - but am still reading here and there around the blogs.
Miss your posts! Good luck on the comeback. :)
I was surprised to see your blog name show up in my reader today. Yes, you've been missed. Come back soon.ReplyDelete
Yes, come back! Although, I know what it is to be busy with real life.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJanuary 24, 2012 5:28 PM
What a relief to know that the two of you are ok and well. Looking forward for your return.ReplyDelete
I hope that your hiatus is not too long :-)ReplyDelete
I hope you all start posting again! :) I've always loved your site. You guys have been one of my blogging inspirations and are one of the ones that gave me the confidence to start me ownReplyDelete
I just read you whole blog and loved it! I really hope you will continue to write. / A new huge fan from Stockholm/SwedenReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 02, 2012 5:52 PM
"Till we post again..." next year.ReplyDelete
You guys are the best!!! Love you all! Mwah! =)ReplyDelete


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Supernatural Quiz for Fans Only! Answer all questions about Supernatural from this game. This game good for kill your time anywhere and anytime. Guess the questions from each categories with the three hints. Know your Supernatural more and more from this game. LEGAL NOTICE: This is unofficial game. It\'s made by fan for fans for entertainment purpose only. All the pictures from search engine. Copyright law guidelines of "fair use". All images their names and other aspects are trademarked by their respective owners.
Downloads: 504+ (for Android)Report app for spam or abuse!


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10 terrible solos by great guitarists
Blur - Country House
A baffling act of self-sabotage from Graham Coxon, who lumbers Blur's 1995 chart-topper with a lead break so twee you'll swear it's being played by a garden gnome.
At 2:16, following a genuinely painful top fret squeak, he finally knocks this bleak farce on the head, apparently satisfied that he's done enough to wreck the entire song.
Listen: Blur - Country House (offending solo at 1.53)
Warrant - Cherry Pie
It's bad enough regular Warrant guitarists Joey Allen and Erik Turner had to make room for 'guest star' CC DeVille.
Worse still is that the Poison hairball's atonal run up the neck has all the grace of a drunk man climbing a ladder to unblock a gutter.
Listen: Warrant - Cherry Pie (offending solo at 2.25)
The Libertines - Vertigo
Hats off to Pete Doherty and Carl Barât for having a go, but on an album that's a great advert for tuners and metronomes, the breakdown in Vertigo takes the biscuit, sounding like two barrow boys rolling a dustbin full of guitars through Dagenham Market.
Listen: The Libertines - Vertigo (offending solo at 1.49)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
Returning not quite match-fit from drugs hell, John Frusciante described the Californication album as "someone trying the best they can at that time".
He coped, except on the title track, where he sounds positively scared of his guitar, gingerly fretting notes like there's a scale book open on his lap.
Listen: RHCP - Californication (offending solo at 3.20)
Audioslave - Doesn't Remind Me
A lovely little sun-kissed strummer, this – until Tom Morello steams into a solo that's weirdly sloppy by his godlike standards.
Following a few alarming note choices, he tries to turn things around by just playing really, really fast… but it's too late.
Listen: Audioslave - Doesn't Remind Me (offending solo at 2.50)
Metallica - 2x4
Kirk Hammett dunks his hands in treacle for a solo that manages the seemingly impossible and makes the wah pedal sound sexless.
Slow, sad and desperate, you'd be forgiven for concluding Kirk sent his mum to the studio while he stayed in bed.
Listen: Metallica - 2x4 (offending solo at 3.20)
The Beatles - All You Need Is Love
George Martin's lush orchestral arrangement only manages to highlight the shrill twang of George Harrison's fumbled effort after the first chorus.
It's only about three seconds long, but enough to set your teeth on edge at every wedding disco ever.
Listen: The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (offending solo at 1.19)
Smashing Pumpkins - Zero
Nul points for this effort from Mellon Collie…, complete with a shrieking whammy pedal tone that recreates the sensation of being trapped in a jam jar with a castrated wasp - twice.
Listen: Smashing Pumpkins - Zero (offending solo at 1.48)
Van Halen - Jump (live)
Not the original from 1984, we're talking about the notorious, near-mythical live performance at the 2007 reunion show in Greensboro.
It saw a cheerful EVH play his heart out, unaware that his guitar was in an entirely different key to the rest of the band.
Listen: Van Halen - Jump (Live in Greensboro)
Derek And The Dominos - Layla
Specifically, the 'legendary' outro duel, in which Eric Clapton and Duane Allman compete to see who can do the best impression of a kitten being put through a mangle.
Mewling, schmaltzy and unforgivably long, by the time it's finished, you'll come to realise that 10 years have passed, you've grown a beard and your family have all died.


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When it comes to alleged insider trading in Heinz options ahead of last week's going-private announcement, the Securities and Exchange Commission needs more to go on than what was revealed in its bare-bones complaint freezing assets in a Zurich-based trading account. Otherwise, this may end up looking like a bad case of the securities regulator overreaching based on very thin evidence.
The SEC says a trader purchased 2,500 out-of-the-money call options on shares of Heinz for $95,000 on Feb. 13. The options give the purchasers the right to acquire 250,000 shares at $65 each until June. The stock was trading at just over $60 a share at the time. The out-of-the-money call options weren't very popular. On Feb. 12, only 14 $65 June call options were traded. On the day before, none at all.
When Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital Management announced a buyout, the stock rose to about $72. The price of the June 65 call options, now very much in the money, surged 1,700 percent. The $90,000 investment had been turned into $1.8 million.
The SEC describes this trading as "highly suspicious." The agency points out that the trading account used to acquire the options had not purchased Heinz securities for the past six months. It does seem like someone knew something before the deal was announced.


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How do I add a friend request for my camper?
- You can log onto your account & in the MyY section, select Programs.
- This will display a list of everything your family is registered for.
- You can find the Camp, Week and Child, and click on View/Edit Additional Information to update their answers for that week.
- Contact customer service if you have any issues.
How do I update my campers' approved pickups?
- You can log onto your account & in the MyY section, select Programs.
- This will display a list of everything your family is registered for.
- You can find the Camp, Week and Child, and click on View/Edit Additional Information to update their answers for that week.
- Contact customer service if you have any issues.
How are staff selected?
- Each staff member goes through an extensive hiring process including a criminal history background check, reference checks and an interview.
- Staff receive over 40 hours of training including training in camp program areas, relating to children, health and safety skills and are First Aid and CPR certified.
- All staff are committed to being positive role models for campers.
Where is the lost and found?
- Lost items will be held for two weeks, and after that they will be given away to a local charity. Please check with the Camp Staff AND the branch for lost items. The lost and found is located in the office building. All families will have an opportunity to look for lost items on family night.
- We will do our best to help campers remember their things, however, the YMCA is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
What about rainy days and severe heat?
- Camp is held rain or shine. We have many fun-filled activities planned for rainy days. CAMPERS MUST DRESS ACCORDINGLY FOR THE WEATHER WITH APPROPRIATE RAIN GEAR!
- Your child may come home wet and muddy. Activities are modified outside to fit rainy days and will continue as long as it is not lightning or thundering. Some of the best camp memories for children can be had on rainy days!
- To keep campers safe during extremely hot days, we will occasionally cancel certain activities. We always encourage campers to drink lots of water and will play more water games and stay in the shade.
Is camp prepared for severe weather?
- All of our staff have been trained in emergency procedures.
- If a tornado warning has been issued while the children are at camp, they will be instructed to go to the Tornado Shelter.
- The camp director will notify the YMCA immediately if the bus will be delayed.
What about Air Quality Concerns?
- In times of Air Quality Alerts, we carefully follow the guidance from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, National Weather Service, CDC, and Minnesota Department of Health.
- We monitor and adjust programming as needed to ensure children safely can participate in our outdoor programs.
- Adjustments include slowing down physical activity and emphasizing hydration.
- For campers with specific health concerns, sensitivity to air quality or other concerns, we encourage guardians to send a N95 mask and speak with a camp leader for accommodations.
- Your child's safety and welfare is our top priority.
What should I do if someone else is picking up my camper?
- If you are arranging for persons who are not on your authorized to transport list to pick up your child from camp, you must send a written permission slip.
- We will not accept phone calls.
- Authorized individuals will be responsible for signing your child in and/or out.
- VERY IMPORTANT: you and all authorized persons need a picture ID to pick up your camper(s)!
What if I'm late for pick up?
- We will try and reach you.
- If we do not reach you, we will call persons listed as emergency contacts.
- Campers will be transported to the Before and After Care site.
- After 1 hour we will call authorities to ensure the safety of your child.
I'm nervous about swimming. What can you tell me about it?
- All children at camp will have the opportunity to swim.
- Counselors are required to be engaged with the campers when their group is in the pool.
- Children will never be forced to swim if they don't want to.
- Campers are required to take a swim test to ensure their safety.
- Campers may be required to wear a lifejacket depending on swim ability.
What are the safety guidelines followed for boating?
- Our boating program is an introductory opportunity for children to learn basic boating and safety skills.
- All children and staff wear life jackets while in the boats and a Certified Lifeguard is always present and in sight of all boats while children are boating.
What if my child(ren) is ill or will not be able to attend Day Camp during the week?
Please call camp. If no one is available to take your call, please leave a message.
What if my child is injured during the program?
If your child is injured YMCA staff will notify you.
In case of an emergency, YMCA staff will:
1. Call 911, perform immediate First Aid and contact you. After 911 has been called, it is then up to the emergency response team to decide what actions will be taken.
2. Staff will accompany the child to the hospital and stay until the parent/guardian arrives, if emergency transport is required.
3. If a parent/guardian is not able to be reached, we will continue to call through your designated emergency contact list until contact is made.
My child needs care before and after the bus stop times. What is available?
- Before and after care provides the camper with supervised activities prior to and following the end of the program day.
- A late fee of $1.00 per minute must be paid at the time of pick-up.
- Select Dates & Rates for specific before and after care information.
My child mentioned something about emergency procedure drills. What exactly are these?
- To ensure the continued safety of all campers in case of an emergency, we will hold emergency procedure (waterfront emergency, lost camper, tornado warning, bus evacuation) drills on a regular basis.
- It is important that your child participate in these drills, just like they participate in fire and tornado drills at school.
- Your assistance and understanding in this matter is greatly appreciated. Is your question not listed above? Find more answers or submit a question to YMCA Customer Service!


text: 05_Bridge.jpg MIAMI - JUNE 19: 'The Bridge'. On the Miami / Miami Beach border about 75 sexual offenders live under the Julia Tuttle causeway bridge due to zoning restrictions that leave them nowhere else to go June 19, 2009 in Miami, Florida. 'Albert' has his last smoke beffore bedding down in his space in the rafters of the bridge. (Photo by Charles Ommanney/Getty Images)


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Take control over DEX 3 or DEX 3 RE DJ programs with the Hercules DJControl Instinct P8 controller.
Fresh out of the PCDJ Batcave comes zero-configure DEX 3 and DEX 3 RE support for the Hercules DJControl Instinct P8. All included features are mapped for your plug-and-play pleasure.
The Hercules DJControl Instinct P8 is a portable, inexpensive controller designed for casual DJing. A colorful, entry-level option for beginner DJs and bedroom jocks that you can throw in a backpack and setup with DEX 3 or DEX 3 RE at a birthday or house party. It's also fairly rugged for the price, with most sites listing it at only $129 (USD).
The Hercules DJControl Instinct line has been around for over 5 years now and the the DJControl Instinct P8 returns in "supercharged form", offering a nice array of mixing and remixing features along with a built in 2 stereo output audio interface (for pre-fade listening) that will help a Beginner DJ learn the Digital DJ basics:
The map for Hercules DJControl Instinct P8 is already included with the installation of DEX 3 or DEX 3 RE version 3.7.5 (or higher) – so all DJs need to do in order to connect is open up the DJ program while the DJControl Instinct P8 is connected.
Contact: Ryan Sherr
Compact, tough and full-featured, the DJControl Instinct P8 allows you to mix and remix with unrivalled ease!After 5 years of success, the DJControl Instinct returns in supercharged form, offering a vast array of mixing and remixing features:
Combined with the latest version of DJUCEDTM 40°, the DJControl Instinct P8 provides a complete experience, from mixing to performance! Its 8 ergonomic and responsive pads, combined with DJUCEDTM 40°'s multilayer sampler, let you remix according to your creativity, while offering precise performance and high-quality feel.The intelligence of the DJUCEDTM 40° DJing software lets you keep the rhythm and the structure of tracks intact, no matter what you're doing.All the mixing and remixing features are right at your fingertips.
Unique, highly intuitive all-in-one controller
Dual-deck MIDI controller + mixer with built-in sound cardPowerful remix features at your fingertips
3-color pads
Complete and intuitive professional DJ software included
Sample packs by Loopmasters also included!
Other Compatible DJ Software (Not Included)
The Traktor mapping file is available for download on Hercules support websiteThe DJControl Instinct P8 is also compatible with all DJ software open to MIDI mapping as VirtualDJ Pro, Cross & Cross DJ, DJAY Pro, etc..
2-deck DJ controller- Built-in audio interface (master + preview outputs)- 2 sets of 4 performance pads
Included software: DJUCEDTM 40° for Mac®/PC
Box contents
DJControl Instinct P8Printed Quick Start GuideUSB cable
(For DJUCEDTM 40° PC / MAC)2 GHz CPU or faster2 GB RAM or moreWindows 7 and higher (32 and 64-bit)Mac OS X 10.8 and higher (32 and 64-bit)
Drivers are available for download on Hercules support website (to add ASIO compatibility and control panel)
Naija video mash up July/Aug.2013 feat.Threat king, Timaya, selebobo, j martins , lola rae toni tones from DJ headquake.
See DJ Headquake video mixes here.


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Apex Epidemiology LLC is dedicated to fulfilling the epidemiological and biostatistical needs of public and private organizations.
We specialize in the utilization of modern methodology and analysis tools. Our epidemiologists possess exemplary academic credentials and maintain strong ties to both academic and private research communities.
Apex Epidemiology offers expert study design and data analysis support for businesses, government agencies, academic institutions, law firms, clinicians and researchers in private practice as well as training in modern epidemiological and biostatistical methods. Our training workshops include comprehensive instruction in introductory, intermediate, and advanced epidemiologic methods.
We are eager to share our expertise. If you would like to learn more about Apex Epidemiology and the services we offer, please write or give us a call.
Home | Services | Contact Us | Bios | Tools | Publications
Copyright 2005 Apex Epidemiology Research LLC. All rights reserved


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Tyranny Of The Offence-Takers
Via Steve Sailer, here's a really interesting analysis of competing modes of argument in contemporary culture. The author is Alastair Roberts, an exceptionally intelligent and articulate Englishman who usually writes about Christian topics (and I'm grateful to Steve for introducing me to Roberts's blog). Roberts writes. In the post, Roberts examines why our argumentation is so often highly personal, and fruitless. Excerpt:
A discussion that may be largely academic for many participants can be of great personal import and impact for others. It is considerably more difficult for such individuals to establish the distance between person and issue that is demanded for conventional disputation. Establishing this distance becomes all the harder when they feel that their personal stake in the issue is threatened by the other voices in the conversation.
The fact that some people are incapable of establishing such distance is worth reflecting upon. While this alone proves nothing about the legitimacy of either side's case, problems in this area are generally a symptom of the absence or decay of trust between the parties in the debate. When trust is lacking, even the smallest sense of vulnerability can develop into full blown paranoia, encouraging highly reactive forms of discourse.
In many of our cultural and political debates today, the absence of mutual trust produces paranoia on both sides. When all parties feel vulnerable to other parties that they don't trust, a paranoid victim mind-set takes hold on all sides, as do reactive modes of interaction. This is quite evident in the 'culture wars', for instance, where most parties seem to act as if their existence and identity were on the line, and the discourse plays out like the interactions between two animals that have simultaneously cornered each other. While I will argue that the distrust that prevails in many of our cultural debates is actually a carefully manufactured distrust, this manufactured distrust is seldom a sufficient explanation for the actual distrust that exists between most parties.
As Western society has become progressively more sensitized to victims, the unempowered, and the disenfranchised, and has desired to give a voice to them, we have tended to truncate or limit public discourse in various ways to ensure that such groups don't feel threatened. While well-meaning, this reformation of public discourse has come at considerable cost. It has rendered the taking of offence or the playing of the victim or underdog card incredibly powerful ploys within debate. In many cases these ploys overwhelm the debate, making challenging debate next to impossible. These ploys, as they are often open to only one party in the debate, establish their own secondary power differential, a differential that can frequently provide more influence on the course of a conversation for those willing and able to leverage it than the primary differential would provide to those advantaged by it. I will discuss this in more depth later in this post.
The retailoring of public discourse around these power differentials and the negotiation of the limited amount of trust between parties has resulted in a significant transformation of that discourse in a manner that jeopardizes certain values that are integral to a free society. Within this transformed public discourse, values such as 'tolerance', 'nonjudgmentalism', and 'reasonableness' are paramount – all values that result in the restriction of reason and the claims of challenging discourse from realms in which they formerly operated. 'Tolerance' is perceived to deny any right to subject individuals and their core beliefs and identities to the claims of any greater truth or the challenge of a broader conversation. 'Nonjudgmentalism' denies the right to be rigorous in forming and applying considered judgments, particularly moral ones. 'Reasonableness' denies us the right to introduce our deepest convictions into public discourse. To be 'reasonable' is to expect much less from rational discourse and the power of persuasion, reining in the socially unsettling force of challenging debate, seeking rather to settle matters using the decidedly limited resources of consensus principles.
However, each of these commitments entails the closing down of the sort of challenging and searching public discourse that can secure a free and open society. Discourse is increasingly truncated, to the point that it is no longer able to say much that is meaningful, and is unlikely to be able to settle many of our differences without our deeper convictions being smuggled into the debate under vague terms such as 'equality', 'freedom', and 'reciprocity'. With the loss of trust in the power of rational discourse, the unifying power of a shared pursuit of truth, and the effectiveness of persuasion, public discourse provides a slender basis for intellectual community, and core convictions tend to become ghettoized. As this truncated discourse is unable either to resolve or clearly to expose the source of our differences, parties end up talking past each other and the temperature of debates swiftly rise.
And this:
In observing the interaction between Pastor Wilson and his critics in the recent debate, I believe that we were witnessing a collision of two radically contrasting modes of discourse. The first mode of discourse, represented by Pastor Wilson's critics, was one in which sensitivity, inclusivity, and inoffensiveness are key values, and in which persons and positions are ordinarily closely related. The second mode of discourse, displayed by Pastor Wilson and his daughters, is one characterized and enabled by personal detachment from the issues under discussion, involving highly disputational and oppositional forms of rhetoric, scathing satire, and ideological combativeness.
When these two forms of discourse collide they are frequently unable to understand each other and tend to bring out the worst in each other. The first form of discourse seems lacking in rationality and ideological challenge to the second; the second can appear cruel and devoid of sensitivity to the first. To those accustomed to the second mode of discourse, the cries of protest at supposedly offensive statements may appear to be little more than a dirty and underhand ploy intentionally adopted to derail the discussion by those whose ideological position can't sustain critical challenge. However, these protests are probably less a ploy than the normal functioning of the particular mode of discourse characteristic of that community, often the only mode of discourse that those involved are proficient in.
To those accustomed to the first mode of discourse, the scathing satire and sharp criticism of the second appears to be a vicious and personal attack, driven by a hateful animus, when those who adopt such modes of discourse are typically neither personally hurt nor aiming to cause such hurt. Rather, as this second form of discourse demands personal detachment from issues under discussion, ridicule does not aim to cause hurt, but to up the ante of the debate, exposing the weakness of the response to challenge, pushing opponents to come back with more substantial arguments or betray their lack of convincing support for their position. Within the first form of discourse, if you take offence, you can close down the discourse in your favour; in the second form of discourse, if all you can do is to take offence, you have conceded the argument to your opponent, as offence is not meaningful currency within such discourse.
There's much, much more to this post, and I hope you'll read the whole thing. Roberts's conclusion is that while it is right to expect people to be sensitive to how their discourse is heard by others, we cannot allow our argumentation to be limited by the kind of people Roberts describes as "offence-takers." Excerpt:
One routine tactic employed by offence-takers is to accuse anyone who opposes their (typically radical) positions of waging a 'culture war'. Offence-takers win by society's choice of appeasement as its response to their unreasonable demands and incessant agitation. The agitators will generally present themselves as people of peace. They have no desire to start a culture war. All that society has to do is to accede to their – perfectly reasonable! – demands and peace will prevail. Whenever people choose to resist the demands of the agitators they will be presented as beastly bullies and belligerent culture warriors. While they are pressing to achieve their goals, and even more so when they have achieved and wish to consolidate their gains, offence-takers will present themselves as proactive about peace. Any attempt to regain lost ground will be presented as unprovoked aggression. Offence-takers consistently lament the belligerence and intractability of their opponents.
Exactly right. Exactly. And I hope you'll forgive me for quoting one more passage:
One of the immediate effects of the culture of offence is to encourage the thinning of skins, and the raising of sensitivities. Persons are trained to be suspicious to the point of paranoia of all differing viewpoints, a suspicion that enables them to put the worst possible construction on the words and actions of their opponents and critics. Far from representing a triumph of critical thinking, these hermeneutics of suspicion tend to reproduce the same threadbare analyses that have been applied on a myriad previous occasions and create a sterile groupthink…
Here's the entire essay. Steve Sailer reads it, and says that intellectual decline is the fruit of the offence-takers' tyranny:
In general, the contemporary mode of emotionalism and herding is the human default. The great ages of intellectual progress via debate were rare social constructs, and it's not surprising that they easily break down.


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Toya Wright -- Lil Wayne's Baby Mama ARRESTED in Georgia
Lil Wayne's baby mama/ex-wife Toya Wright was arrested Tuesday in Georgia ... TMZ has learned.
The details surrounding the arrest are sketchy at best -- with one law enforcement official telling us Wright was pulled over in College Park, GA yesterday ... and during the stop, the cop noticed a warrant out for her arrest.
We're told ... the warrant was issued after Wright failed to appear at a recent court date -- though it's unclear why she was supposed to be in court to begin with.
Toya was hauled to a nearby station, where she was booked and posed for an "Are you frickin' serious?" mug shot.
Toya, who starred in the reality show "Tiny and Toya," was eventually released from jail Wednesday morning at 1:30 AM on a $290 bond.
The story was first published by MediaTakeOut.


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As we continue to update our home values survey data, we realize that it's getting a little tough to track the information if you're looking for past data. We'll be doing a series of posts over the next few days that make things a whole lot easier to read and navigate. Here is all of the Texas home values survey data that we have accumulated so far to date:
REALTOR® Views on the Direction of Home Values in Texas
Homeowner Views on the Direction of Home Values in Texas
More Home Values Survey Data
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- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- Washington


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Timelapse from June 1st, 2023
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Dewalt has come out with a new 20V Max brushless cordless oscillating multi-tool, DSC356. Before we talk about this new model, I want to point out that the previous model, DCS355, is back on sale as part of a basic kit for $99.
Additionally, there is also a new Dewalt Atomic oscillating multi-tool, DCS354. I have seen the DCS354 in stores as a bare tool (DCS354B), but not online yet. Compared to the DCS355, the DCS354 has slightly lower max speeds (18,000 OPM vs. 20,000 OPM), and a black blade change lever vs. silver.
Keep in mind, DCS355 is the previous model, DCS354 is the new Atomic model, and DCS356 is the new model we're focusing on here. Talking about all three models might be a little confusing, but it's important to put everything into proper context.
The Dewalt Atomic cordless oscillating multi-tool, DCS354, will be replacing the DCS355, and this other new model, DCS356, will be positioned as the more premium unit.
In talking with Dewalt, we learned that the DCS356 brushless oscillating multi-tool features updated software and a new 3-speed control at its base, and it also still has a variable speed trigger.
The new 3-speed controller allows for users to limit the maximum speed of the oscillating multi-tool without having to maintain constant pressure on the variable speed trigger. Dewalt still equipped the DCS356 cordless multi-tool with a variable speed trigger, which does still give users the ability to adjust cutting, sanding, grinding, or scraping speeds to their liking.
- Brushless motor
- Tool-free blade change system
- 3-speed selector
- Low: 0 to 13,000 OPM
- Medium: 0 to 17,000 OPM
- High: 0 to 20,000 OPM
- 1.6° oscillation angle
- Dual-Grip variable speed trigger
- LED worklight
The DCS354 and DCS355 are 11.2″ long and weigh 2.33 lbs, and the new DCS356 likely shares similar specs.
One retailer says that the DCS356 features reduced vibration (10.5 m/s², more than 10%) compared to DCS355 when paired with a wood-cutting blade. We're confirming this with Dewalt. (Thank you to @biggiethegreatdane for the heads-up!) Update: Dewalt says that this is not accurate.
Price: $219 for the kit, and the bare tool will launch at $149 later in the year
DCS356D1 kit comes with the tool, a 2.0Ah battery, charger, carrying bag, and 28 oscillating multi-tool accessories.
Included accessories: (1) blade for cutting wood with nails, (1) fast-cutting wood blade, universal accessory adapter, sanding pad, (25) sheets of sand paper, accessory storage box. A removable cutting depth guide is also included.
Buy Now(New DCS356D1 kit via Lowes)
Compare(DCS355C1 Kit via Acme Tools, a basic starter kit featuring the previous version)
Compare(DCS355C1 Kit via Amazon, a basic starter kit featuring the previous version)
Compare(DCS355D1 Kit via Amazon, a full starter kit featuring the previous version)
The new DCS356D1 kit is priced the same as the full kit featuring the outgoing model, DCS355D1.
First Thoughts
I was a little confused as to why Dewalt released a 20V Max Atomic cordless oscillating multi-tool that was so close in specs to their existing DCS355, but upon learning about the new DCS356, everything makes a lot more sense. The DCS355 is an outgoing model, replaced by the DCS354 Atomic, and the DCS356 is going to be a step-up model for users who want a little more speed and the 3-speed functionality.
It's incredibly useful to have speed-limiting controls on tools such as brushless impact drivers and wrenches, and it seems like it'll be just as beneficial on a tool like this. Yes, you can control the speed via the trigger switch, but for longer cutting operations, it will easier to be able to set the switch to low, medium, or high, and then just fully squeeze the trigger.
I am tempted to say I'm surprised Dewalt did not update the design beyond just changing the software and introducing a 3-setting speed controller, but what could they really have done more to further improve this tool?
I do wish that you could use the tool-free blade change mechanism with full-ring multi-tool accessories instead of requiring the included universal adapter, but it does work quite well with Dewalt, Imperial Tool, and Rockwell split-ring multi-tool accessories. This isn't a big deal these days, given the greatly expanded selection and availability of tool-free-compatible split-ring multi-tool accessories.
MSRP for the Dewalt Atomic multi-tool bare tool, DCS354B, is $129, and will be $149 for the DCS356B. At the time of this posting, Dewalt has said that there is no kit featuring the Atomic version. My feeling is that we will see the Atomic multi-tool in a basic "C1" starter kit that's similar to the $99 DCS355C1 kit featuring the DCS355, and although we might see some flexibility in the DCS356D1 kit pricing, it will likely be maintained as a premium kit.


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BRACELETS IN MINNESOTABracelets are a classic item of jewelry, dating as far back as ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China. In the early days, they were made of glass, pieces of trees, and shells. As time passed, bracelets were then manufactured of more resistant material, such as copper, bronze, silver, and gold.
With undeniable beauty, bracelets become even more dazzling when encrusted with diamonds or other gemstones, and they come in different styles, such as bangles, which are non-flexible, more resistant bracelets. Either way, this charming piece conveys different meanings, such as representing a treasured friendship, or a loving romantic relationship.
Bracelets tell a story, they are a way to show how much you care about someone.
At Wedding Day Diamonds, we have a beautiful selection of bracelets, made with the utmost attention to detail. We offer a collection of exquisite high-end bracelets that are both innovative and unique.
You can choose from sterling silver, and 14k yellow, white, or rose gold options that come either plain or adorned with diamonds and other gemstones.
Whatever your style is, one of our bracelets will surely make your heartbeat a little faster with excitement. Classic or romantic, encrusted with the beauty and symbolism of a precious stone, in any shape you desire, we can turn your dream into reality. Check some of our special choices for you.
If classic is what you're looking for, yellow gold bracelets are an excellent choice to explore. A beautiful option is our 14K gold diamond bracelet. This delicate bangle with pave set Eco 4 lab-grown diamonds has a beautiful curve to the design and lays beautifully on your wrist. In all its elegance, it's a perfect complement to any outfit.
For those who prefer a more romantic quality, there is a stunning 14K rose gold diamond bracelet. It's a charming twisted bangle bracelet encrusted with diamonds at the ends. Its eye-catching design is to die for.
If you're looking for a contemporary piece, we also have a gorgeous 14K two-tone bracelet. It features a double band: a thin one in white gold and encrusted with diamonds, and another one that is a modern and geometric rose gold row of metal.
Full of appeal, the stunning design of the bracelets we offer at Wedding Day Diamonds will take anyone's breath away. In any shape, studded with diamonds or plain, made with gold or sterling silver, our selection has the ideal match waiting for you.
If you're not sure about which model to choose, we have a friendly and experienced staff ready to assist you through a stress-free experience.
Individual taste, styling, and design matter to us as much as they matter to you. We take our time to listen to you, so we can offer you a piece that represents your story.
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A visit to Wedding Day Diamonds is much more than shopping; it's a personalized jewelry experience.
Delve into our online display, and whenever you have the time, come visit us at one of our stores in Minnesota, we assure you will have a memorable experience!


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Clues about mystery payload emerge soon after launch
Posted: September 8, 2009
A mysterious spacecraft whose mission is cloaked in secrecy left Cape Canaveral atop the hard-to-miss roar of its Atlas 5 rocket and then revealed a major clue about itself while cruising above a satellite-tracking hobbyist a short time later.
The rocket's nose cone, adorned with Lockheed Martin's corporate logo, shrouded the payload as it climbed through the atmosphere and out of sight.
The company acknowledged that it had built the communications satellite -- dubbed "PAN" -- under a commercial arrangement with the government. Yet few other details were released, such as what agency was behind the project or what it would do in orbit.
"Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the PAN mission, which includes a commercial-based satellite and launch system solution for the U.S. government," a Lockheed Martin statement released to Spaceflight Now said.
Within 18 minutes, the Centaur upper stage turned off its main engine and settled into an initial parking orbit where it would coast away from the planet for 98 minutes.
A group of respected sky-watchers around the world who track satellites with remarkable precision and communicate their findings amongst each other online eagerly awaited Tuesday's launch and a chance to test their pre-flight guesses against reality.
The leading theory suggested PAN was a quick-build satellite that would serve as a communications gap-filler between the aging constellation of Ultra-High Frequency Follow-On (UFO) spacecraft and the sophisticated next-generation Mobile User Objective System that's still being developed.
Some 34 minutes after the Atlas launched from Florida, observer Greg Roberts, a retired astronomer living in Cape Town, South Africa, detected "a strong beacon signal" being emitted from the PAN satellite as it crossed his sky.
"The time, general location of the signal in the sky, and its Doppler shift were consistent with the expected parking orbit," said Ted Molczan, a noted member of the trackers.
For 14 minutes, Roberts heard the passing satellite transmitting a frequency unique to the UFO spacecraft. He had to cut the session short due to bad weather, but the hobbyists immediately knew their speculation was proving well founded.
"We know of no other U.S. satellites in geostationary orbit that use that frequency, so Greg's observation tends to support the UFO-MUOS gap-filler hypothesis," Molczan said.
Roberts, like others in the small international group of hobbyists who find and watch satellites in secret orbits, does his observing using telescopic still and video cameras, and radio receivers.
The east-bound trajectory sent the Atlas into an elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit, though the power provided by the rocket coupled with the payload's relatively slim weight, estimated by the observers to be approximately 7,700 pounds, enabled a higher perigee, or low point, than other such launches.
A second firing of the Centaur propelled PAN into its targeted deployment orbit with an apogee of 22,230 miles and a perigee of 4,550 miles. The payload's release an hour and 59 minutes after liftoff successfully completed the ascent.
"The secrecy surrounding PAN may be a clue to the identity of its sponsoring agency. It appears not to belong to the DoD, given that its UFO and MUOS are open programs, as was the U.S. Navy's 'UHF Hosted Payload' gap-filler solution, which it briefly considered in 2008," Molczan said.
"The most likely remaining possibility is that a civilian intelligence agency, perhaps the CIA, decided much earlier, about 2005-06, that it could not risk a coverage gap, and obtained approval to rapidly procure and launch a satellite compatible with the UFO satellites," Molczan added.
An article in a Lockheed Martin newsletter, entitled "A small and persistent team turns a great idea into an important new U.S. program" and published in the spring of 2007, said its Special Programs had started the PAN mission, also known as the P360 project.
"The team's innovative turnkey commercial-based satellite, ground and launch system solution established the foundation for a new government architecture. The team functions across time zones from Space Systems Company in Sunnyvale, Calif., to Commercial Space in Newtown, Pa., Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Services in San Jose, Calif., Integral Systems in Lanham, Md., as well as Lockheed Martin divisions abroad. United Launch Alliance in Denver, Colo., rounds out the contributors with the Atlas 5 launch vehicle," the article continued.
"Following several years of concept development, market analysis, and finally proposal submittal, the contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin in October 2006. The team has had successful system and preliminary design reviews and is on schedule for launch in 30 months from contract start."
The observers plan to continue monitoring the moves of the satellite in the coming weeks as it maneuvers into a circular geostationary orbit. Its destination could further bolster their guess.
"If it occupies one of the established UFO orbital slots, and transmits on the established UFO UHF-band frequencies, that will fully confirm the present hypothesis. That will take at least several weeks," Molczan said.
A later newsletter from December 2007 quoted the PAN program manager as saying: "Our PAN P360 team just celebrated our first anniversary since contract award. As program manager, I am very proud of the extraordinary effort and excellent team that has been leading this endeavor. We have successfully hit every milestone on a 30-month firm-fixed-price program that will change the future of how government programs will be contracted and run.
"This opportunity is a great challenge to build a government satellite that uses the A2100 spacecraft bus and commercial off-the-shelf components and processes. There are numerous future Lockheed Martin opportunities that hinge on the success of this program."


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Convergent evolution
In evolutionary biology, convergent evolution is the process by which two organisms or taxonomic groups have a character in common due to independently adapting to a similar environment or niche, not by homology.
An example of this would be the similarities in behavior and morphology between bats and birds. Although superficially very similar, the two groups are considered by evolutionists to be only very distantly related (being grouped only within the clade Reptilia). Their similarities are therefore considered to be a result of evolution in response to nearly identical ecological niches and pressures. A more prominent example is the similarity in morphology of large flightless birds in savanna environments across the globe, including the ostrich, rhea, emu, and to a lesser extent cassowary.
Convergent evolution is a theory and has not been observed in action. Also, it presents the following conceptual problems. First, it requires that random chance produce the same outcome in at least two independently occurring instances, which is substantially less likely even than doing so once.[1] Such evolutionary coincidence is a less plausble explanation than one that evolutionists assume away, namely, a common Designer.[2] Second, because convergent evolution would work by random chance rather than by being intelligently guided, simple probability indicates that even if it produced a good result in a particular structure (e.g., an eye) in one organism, it might well produce a suboptimal result in that same structure in another organism. No such result has been observed.


text: During the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Tuesday we swung by Sony's booth to get an up-close look at the Sony Xperia ion, an Android smartphone soon headed to AT&T. The Xperia ion is the first 4G LTE device from Sony and it's equipped with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 4.6-inch reality display with a 720p HD resolution and Sony's Bravia Engine, a 12-megapixel camera capable of recording 1080p HD video, a 720p front-facing camera for video chat and an HDMI-out port. We love the thin form factor and faux metal accents, which give it a more premium look and feel. The device currently runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) but will be upgraded to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) in the future. The Xperia ion is also PlayStation Certified, which means it can run gaming titles specifically approved by Sony that may not be available on other handsets. AT&T will offer the Xperia ion during the second quarter of this year but pricing still hasn't been announced. We're looking forward to seeing if Sony can get back in the U.S. smartphone game, and the Xperia ion certainly looks like it could be a good start.


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Inside Amazon Go: The Store of the Future
Originally published on
Long lines at checkout are common at grocery stores. But at Amazon's new cashier-free store, you'll only need to worry about clumps of tourists.
Originally published January 26, 2018The small test store in Seattle, which opened to the public for the first time on Monday, could be what automated shopping spaces will look like in the future. It uses cameras and sensors to detect what food you've taken from a shelf, then automatically charges you when you walk out. I stopped by to try out the store, located in the base of Amazon's corporate skyscraper, on Thursday morning. Three days after its grand opening, the massive lines had mostly disappeared. There were only a handful of shoppers inside at 10:15 a.m., but business picked up at lunchtime and there was a short line to enter. To walk in, you need a few things: an Amazon account, a recent smartphone, and the Amazon Go app.
You enter the 1800-square-foot space through six high-tech turnstiles. Open the app and wave a code on your screen above a gate to open it. It's a familiar experience to anyone who has ridden a subway or used a mobile boarding pass at the airport.The second you're inside, Amazon begins tracking your movements. Every kombucha drink or bag of taro chips you take off a shelf is added to a "virtual" shopping cart. The store's system knows if you pick something up and put it back. The shelves are primarily stocked with packaged and pre-made foods. There are Amazon meal kits, sandwiches, snacks and basics like flour and coffee beans. You can grab a souvenir mug with the store's motto, "Just walk out shopping." There is not much fresh produce, probably because tracking loose apples and other items sold by weight is tricky without a scale. Personal items are also limited — if you were hoping to avoid the awkwardness of buying condoms from a human, you are out of luck. I settled on a package of blueberries, string cheese, an Amazon Go chocolate bar and a slightly soggy burrata sandwich.
I used one of Amazon's orange shopping bags, but you can also shove the items directly into your own pockets or purse. Walking out through the turnstiles is even easier and faster than coming in. The store knows you've left and tallies up what items it's seen you take, charging your account.There's the brief sensation of feeling like you got away with something, but then Amazon sends a push notification about your receipt. Even though the store's done away with cashiers and baggers, there are plenty of human employees milling around in bright Amazon Orange. Stockers regularly refill shelves and one person checks IDs near the alcohol. Outside, greeters hand out reusable shopping bags and answer questions. The store's design feels familiar if generic, like a miniaturized Whole Foods. That is, until you look up. The ceiling is a dark crisscross of wires and metal beams holding around 100 square black cameras.
Amazon isn't sharing too many details about how its technology works, but it has denied using facial recognition for people tracking. The shelves have sensors and know when something is removed. You can pick things up and put them back, and you won't be charged.The store has been open to Amazon employees for the past year. A number of them quickly ducked in for lunch and snack supplies before heading back upstairs. But more shoppers were there to check out the store itself. There were tourists from around the world, including France and Japan. One family visiting from Taipei, Taiwan, came to the store after seeing a story about it on TV at home. Their next Seattle sightseeing destination was the original Starbucks. Juliette Imhof and Michelle LaRocca were in town from New York City and decided to pick up some wine, water, coffee and chocolate. "I was curious to see it. I assume in a short time there's going to be a million of them taking over the world," said LaRocca. For now, the novelty of Amazon's first automated grocery store is eclipsing potential issues that may come up. Because it requires an account and smartphone, it could be inaccessible to many lower-income shoppers. The tracking technology may raise privacy and data collection concerns. And then there's the in the U.S. making around $9.70 an hour who could eventually lose their jobs to automation. Bassem Bejjani, a local who stopped into the store, said he knows the employees at his usual market and regularly makes small talk with one of his favorites, John. "I think I would miss that," said Bejjani. "At the end of the day, the people who are shaping the world work in technology, and they are more comfortable with [automation] instead of small talk."


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text:
Happy Halloween everyone!
I'm stoked that the SQL PASS Summit is just one week from now! You are already registered, have your flights and hotel booked, and amped, right? The sessions are going to be incredible. The camaraderie will be life-changing. The weather might be damp! Plus, my former employer's SQL Server on VMware Boot Camp that we are holding the Tuesday before the Summit should be very enlightening if you are not planning to attend any pre-con sessions.
You are going to the Summit, right? If not, make plans now to attend next year and every year afterwards. It's the best thing you can do as a SQL Server professional.


text:
MASSACHUSETTS IS reaping the benefits of a far-sighted decision by iRobot, a Bedford robotics firm, which has adopted a light touch in enforcing its employee non-compete agreements. Instead of calling out the legal cavalry when employees quit the firm, which manufactures the Roomba vacuum-cleaner robot, the company has allowed many to leave for related ventures. The result, according to an analysis in Wired magazine, is that several new robotics firms founded by iRobot alumni have sprung up in the Boston area.
Unfortunately, too many other workers in Massachusetts would be vulnerable to a crippling lawsuit if they tried the same thing. State law allows firms to enforce non-compete clauses, which are restrictive terms in some contracts that prohibit ex-employees from working for competitors. The clauses are meant to protect the investment employers make in training, but in practice they hurt workers, stifle competition, and can lead to bizarre outcomes. In one absurd example last year, a regional sales manager for a beer company was sued after he went to work for another brewer.
By contrast, in California state law does not recognize non-compete clauses, and the state has a far more entrepreneurial start-up culture to show for it. Employees can leave for better offers, or to start their own business, without fear of retribution. Constant employee turnover has been one of the pillars of Silicon Valley's success: Good ideas are more likely to gain traction, and workers are more likely to take jobs there in the first place knowing they can't be shackled to employers. Ultimately, the whole state has benefited.
The same dynamics should apply in Massachusetts. In theory, the new robotics companies in the Boston area could become iRobot's rivals in the future. Yet the presence of numerous firms should also make the whole region more attractive to robotics experts — and make it easier for each company to attract new talent.
Supporters of non-compete clauses sometimes claim they prevent intellectual property theft, and stop workers from taking business secrets to a competitor. Such concerns are overblown: patent and copyright laws aren't affected by California's system. A KFC manager in Modesto would be free to defect to Popeye's, but still wouldn't be allowed to share the secret fried chicken recipe. If Massachusetts were to join California in ignoring non-compete clauses, it would not be a carte blanche for piracy. It would simply allow specialized employees to move jobs without as much legal friction as they may encounter now.
There's no magic bullet that will transform Massachusetts into Silicon Valley. But iRobot has shown how relaxing the agreements can help make the state friendlier to one high-tech industry. Other Massachusetts companies — and state legislators — should take note.


text:
|Page tools: Print Page
A wide range of economic data is available to analyse the performance of various components of the Australian economy over time. For example, data are regularly published on the number of houses being built, the number of cars produced, whether employment is rising or falling, the composition of exports and imports, and so on. While these and other statistical series are important in their own right, none of them in isolation can provide an overall picture of the state of the economy.


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Charleston, WV - West Virginia Senate Majority Leader John Unger, (D-Berkeley), announced passage by the Senate of Senate Bill 353 Establishing First Informer Broadcasters Act.
"Senate Bill 353 would allow certification of certain media sources as First Informer Broadcasters, so that they would have access to adequate fuel supplies and electricity generation during a disaster," said Senator John Unger, the sole sponsor of the bill, "The media plays a vital role in providing information to the public during emergency situations, and this bill would assist in providing for the uninterrupted transmission of that much needed information."
The legislation, now in the House of Delegates, calls for coordinated plans dealing with the preparation for and response to an emergency or disaster to be developed between the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the West Virginia Broadcasters Association. The legislation also requires programs for training and certifying First Informer Broadcasters.


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I can't wait to send those DVDs in. They've been sitting around for a couple of years getting dusty. I'm gonna have to used a few different addresses though. Momma's gettin a new pair of shoes!
A few months ago I wrote that I thought that "educational" DVDs for babies such as Baby Einstein were a waste of money because their educational benefits were quite dubious. It seems that a group of lawyers threatened a class action lawsuit last year against Disney for deceptive practices since the videos are heavily marketed as educational but research showed that television could actually be detrimental for very young children. Now Disney is offering a refund of up to $15.99 for each Baby Einstein DVD. Here are some details on how you can trade in your old Baby Einstein videos for some cash or a different product.
First you should print out an official mail-in certificate from the Baby Einstein DVD Upgrade / Money Back Guarantee website. Each household can return or exchange up to four DVDs that were purchased between June 5, 2004 and September 4, 2009. You do not need to send in any receipts, but you need to fill out a claim form for each DVD you are sending in. The offer allows you to trade your DVD for a different Baby Einstein product, a 25% off coupon code for Little Einstein products at DisneyStore.com, or $15.99 cash. If you return the maximum of four DVDs then you can get a check for $63.96.
All submissions must be postmarked by March 4, 2010 and mailed to:
The Baby Einstein DVD Guarantee/Upgrade Offer
P.O. Box 3200
Neenah, WI 54957-3200
If you just happen to have these DVDs lying around and no longer have a need for them then taking this offer would definitely yield more cash than selling the DVDs at a garage sale or online.
Photo Credit: Baby Einstein DVD image is from the Amazon.com Associates Program.
Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors.
Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
I can't wait to send those DVDs in. They've been sitting around for a couple of years getting dusty. I'm gonna have to used a few different addresses though. Momma's gettin a new pair of shoes!
So, how unethical would it be to buy four of these DVDs on ebay or half.com for the express purpose of making a couple of bucks off the rebate? Or getting some new DVDs to give as shower/baby gifts?
I was on Ebay last night with the same question in my mind. For around $6 a piece, you stand to make a bit of cash on the deal.
I already have one's I already purchased long ago. But I would see no problem with someone else going the ebay route. I don't see much of an ethics problem. Sending in fake dvds, that would be unethical.
I can't believe someone would have the audacity to send the videos back for cash based on this. They are a form of entertainment and I'm sure everyone who had them had children who enjoyed watching them. If a person had their children watching TV in excess that is there fault. Unbelievable!


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Gitanjali 95
I was not aware of the moment when
I first crossed the threshold of this life.
What was the power that made me
open out into this vast mystery like a
bud in the forest at midnight!
When in the morning I looked upon
the light I felt in a moment that I was
no stranger in this world, that the in-
scrutable without name and form had
taken me in its arms in the form of my
own mother.
Even so, in death the same unknown
will appear as ever known to me. And
because I love this life, I know I shall
love death as well.
The child cries out when from the
right breast the mother takes it away,
in the very next moment to find in the
left one its consolation.
From Gitanjali (Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1913) by Rabindranath Tagore. This poem is in the public domain.


text: As a result of the confluence of disruptors such as cloud technology, mobile, social media, and big data and analytics, organizations today are rethinking their IT infrastructure from the ground up \u2014 and it's not just IT architects and data center leaders involved.\nBusiness leaders across the C-suite are looking to IT infrastructure as fundamental to driving competitive advantage and helping them optimize revenue and profit, and they are paying close attention, according to a new study by the IBM Institute for Business Value and Oxford Economics. In the study, 40 percent of companies indicated that non-IT functions will be involved in making infrastructure decisions in areas such as end-user devices, security and cloud computing.\n"You don't often see the foundation of a building, but we all know it's critically important," says Jacqueline Woods, co-author of the report and global vice president for Growth Solutions in the Systems and Technology Group at IBM. "IT infrastructure has that same intrinsic value."\n"The biggest takeaway was the recognition that IT infrastructure enables competitive advantage," she adds. "It allows us to lean into workloads and the trends for analytics, mobile and social. When we're able to fully leverage those trends through technology, we get an advantage."\nEven so, less than one-third of IT executives said they are effectively collaborating with line-of-business leaders to provide IT infrastructure solutions to support their business.\nThe study surveyed 750 IT executives \u2014 CIOs, CTOs and other senior IT leaders \u2014 in 19 industries and 18 countries.\nThe study found that more than 70 percent of senior IT executives perceive IT infrastructure as essential to enabling competitive advantage or optimizing revenue and profit. But even with that recognition, only about one-third of respondents felt their IT infrastructure was prepared to address the demands imposed by mobile technology, social media, big data and cloud computing. Fewer than 10 percent of companies reported that their IT infrastructure was fully prepared to meet the demands.\nBut a small cadre of companies told a different story. Dubbed "Strategic IT Connector" organizations in the study, these organizations rated themselves as excelling in at least three of five leading practices identified by IBM:\n\nEstablishing a well-defined enterprise IT infrastructure strategy and roadmap.\nCollaborating effectively with the business to provide IT infrastructure solutions to support business needs (such as improving one-to-one customer engagement).\nUsing the IT function as a broker of technology services for the organization (for example, providing expertise to the business in selecting software-as-a-service and other cloud computing opportunities).\nSupporting cross-functional teams of infrastructure domain experts to identify, source and implement IT infrastructure solutions.\nCollecting, analyzing and documenting performance measures.\n\nTheir industry peers, who did not rate themselves as excelling in any of the areas, were dubbed "Siloed Operators" in the report.\nThe 17 percent of companies deemed Strategic IT Connectors in the study were significantly more prepared to address infrastructure requirements than Siloed Operators, including greater preparedness in the areas of cloud (52 percent versus 10 percent), mobility (36 percent versus 28 percent) and analytics and big data (44 percent versus 39 percent).\nStrategic IT Connectors were also significantly more likely to identify themselves as outperforming their industry peers in revenue growth (30 percent versus 10 percent) and profitability (45 percent versus 25 percent). They were also more likely to have a higher than average industry net profit margin compared with their industry peers (62 percent versus 26 percent).\n"They took a position and point of view on IT infrastructure that was not tactical but more strategic in nature," Woods says. "They also tended to be more collaborative at the enterprise level, focused on utilizing infrastructure as a catalyst to drive business results."\nStill, two-thirds of respondents to the survey said they will be increasing their spending on IT infrastructure over the next several years (though the Strategic IT Connectors were significantly more likely to increase infrastructure spending by more than 10 percent). Among all parties, Strategic IT Connector or not, reducing overall infrastructure costs was the primary driver for increasing investment in infrastructure: 33 percent of all respondents said they will spend more today to reduce future operating costs.\nBut after that, drivers diverge. Strategic IT Connectors rated "achieving greater competitive differentiation" at essentially the same importance as reducing infrastructure costs, whereas Siloed IT Operators rated it much lower on their list of top drivers. Siloed IT Operators rated "improved operational efficiencies" as about on par with reduced infrastructure costs, followed by dynamic pricing, new or enhanced revenue opportunities, achieving greater standardization, more effective disaster recovery and faster application development\/deployment. Only after that did achieving greater competitive differentiation come into the picture.\n"When you think about infrastructure, it's not one thing," Woods says. "It's many things. You have to think about optimizing all the various components to optimize your overall business value. Think about infrastructure as a strategic vehicle to improve your overall results."\nWhen considering how IT infrastructure can deliver competitive advantage for their businesses, IBM recommends IT leaders ask themselves the following questions:\n\nIn what ways can your organization use IT infrastructure as a tool to achieve competitive differentiation in the marketplace? What examples show that this is already happening to some degree?\nTo what extent is your IT infrastructure equipped to handle new workloads associated with mobile, social and analytic applications?\nTo what extent are your infrastructure choices determined by line of business requirements?\nHow will you prepare your existing IT infrastructure to address emerging issues and disaster recovery scenarios?\nWhat is your organization's strategy for incorporating various forms of cloud technology (for example, private, hybrid, public) into the larger, existing IT infrastructure? What challenges has this posed for the IT organization?\n\nFollow Thor on Google+


text:
Done viewing results, go back to VoteFair's American Idol page
VoteFair Ranking Results calculated at
www.VoteFair.org 2007-March-22 10:28
American Idol Season 6 Poll, Top 11
Question (number
1) title:
Who is your favorite, second-favorite, etc., American Idol singer?
The most preferred and most representative choice is:
Melinda Doolittle
Additional levels of representation were not calculated.
(There may be too many questions, too many choices for this question,
or too many votes, or no further calculations were requested.)
ranking results should be used when more than one choice is to be selected.
Why? When there are 100 voters, 51 of them can choose the first winner,
so the other 49 voters deserve extra influence in choosing the second winner
(instead of letting the 51 voters also choose the second winner).
When should representation results be used?
When a second candidate is elected to a second equivalent seat in a state legislature,
or when an organization pursues a simultaneous second activity in addition to the most popular activity.
Comparison of VoteFair Ranking with other voting methods
Details of plurality results
Notice that the choice with the most plurality votes is not necessarily the most popular.
Similarly the choice with the fewest plurality votes is not necessarily the least popular.
Detailed ballot information
(The numbers indicate the choices
as listed in "First sequence" above,
a comma indicates the next lower preference level,
"&" joins choices at the same preference level,
and "x" precedes the vote count.)
Copyright 2006 Solutions Through Innovation at www.VoteFair.org
Top of Page
© Copyright 2007 Solutions Through Innovation at www.VoteFair.org


text:
Sulky thread list
Nile Green
Ivy Green
Stitch out 6 sides and 1 bottom on 1 or 2 pieces of heavy solvy.
For the best result, use the same thread for top and bobbin.
Rinse the pieces, or leave them to soak, in hot water. Leave a little solvy in for starch.
Flat dry.
Zig zag the pieces together.


text:
John Lannan shuts down Mets as Nationals inch closer to postseason
NEW YORK -- John Lannan knows he can't pitch like Stephen Strasburg. What he can do is compete like the Washington Nationals' ace.
Lannan pitched five-hit ball over 5 2/3 innings in his first start since replacing Strasburg in Washington's starting rotation, and the Nationals lowered their magic number for clinching a playoff berth to six with a 2-0 win over the punchless New York Mets on Wednesday night.
"It's definitely strange. There's a lot of strange things going on," Lannan said. "What's going on with Stras, it just hasn't happened before."
Ryan Zimmerman homered in the fourth off rookie Matt Harvey (3-5) and Ian Desmond connected off Jon Rauch in the eighth, helping the NL East leaders complete a three-game sweep and open an 8 1/2-game lead over the second-place Braves heading into a three-game series at Atlanta starting Friday. The Nationals are closing in on the capital's first postseason baseball berth since the original Washington Senators in 1933.
"This was a big series," manager Davey Johnson said. "We need to kind of drive the nail in their coffin over here and come into Atlanta in a good frame of mind."
A native of nearby Long Beach, Lannan (3-0) struck out two and walked one in an 81-pitch outing. Lannan, Washington's opening-day starter in 2009 and 2010, was 9-11 with a 4.30 ERA at Triple-A Syracuse and asked the Nationals to trade him when he was demoted at the end of spring training.
"It all happened for a reason, I guess," he said. "I just don't look back on it with anger or anything. It just is what it is. It happened, and we've just got to move on."
Pitching before about 20 family members and friends, he made his first appearance since a minor league outing on Aug. 30 and improved to 4-1 with a 1.69 ERA against the Mets in his last five starts. Without Strasburg's dominant fastball, the left-handed Lannan relies on changing speeds and control.
"He earned a lot of respect in this clubhouse," said reliever Sean Burnett, who gave up two hits and got two outs in the ninth -- his first appearance since Sept. 2 following a layoff caused by an irritated nerve in his pitching elbow.
Drew Storen came in and retired pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy on a game-ending flyout with runners at the corners for his second save. The surging Nationals have won nine of 11 and 12 of 15.
Harvey struck out 10 in five-plus innings, his latest impressive performance. New York, however, finished an 0-6 homestand and dropped to 65-78, falling 13 games under .500 for the first time since finishing 2009 at 70-92. The Mets have lost eight of nine overall.
They also extended their club-record streak of scoring three runs or fewer to 13 straight home games. They have lost 22 of their last 26 in Queens and have just four wins at Citi Field since the All-Star break -- two fewer than the Nationals.
"It's frustrating for all 35 guys in that clubhouse, besides the players, and the coaches and the front office," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We set the bar pretty high in April and May. Our club wasn't picked to be very good and we set the bar up there.
"Right now, we just cannot seem to recreate what happened in April."
Washington cut short Strasburg's season last weekend, wanting to protect the 24-year-old right-hander's arm following ligament-replacement surgery on Sept. 3, 2010.
While the Nationals initially intended to make Wednesday's game his final start of the year, they moved up their timetable because they said the limit was weighing on his mind. Strasburg finished 15-6 with a 3.16 ERA in 28 starts with 197 strikeouts in 159 1/3 innings.
Johnson said he might use Strasburg as a pinch-hitter down the stretch. Strasburg is hitting .277 with one homer, four doubles and seven RBIs.
"If I can't use your arm, I'll use your bat," Johnson said. "He's pretty bad now but he's going to get worse because he's going to be chomping."
Johnson said Strasburg keeps asking pitching coach Steve McCatty about what his routine should be.
"Of course, he's been pestering Cat about what he can do," Johnson added. "Can I keep throwing off the mound? No. Can I play catch in the outfield? Yes."
Game notes
Washington has won eight in a row in Queens and 12 of 13. ... Nationals LF Michael Morse missed the game after he was diagnosed with a torn cuff and a bone bruise in his left wrist. ... Players' association head Michael Weiner, undergoing treatment for a brain tumor, was in the Mets' clubhouse speaking with players before the game. ... Zimmerman extended his hitting streak to 16 games and set a franchise record by driving in a run for the ninth straight game, one more than Larry Walker (1993), Moises Alou ('93 and `94) and Vladimir Guerrero ('98). Zimmerman also made several sparkling plays with his glove at third.
WSH Wins 3-0
Game Information
- Umpires:
- Home Plate Umpire - Joe West
- First Base Umpire - Mike Muchlinski
- Second Base Umpire - Sam Holbrook
- Third Base Umpire - Rob Drake
2023 National League East Standings
|New York


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Plastic, a high octane movie from start to finish is set to unfold in cinemas August 26. The movie is based on the real jewel heist during the nineties by reformed con-aritst Saq Mumtaz, What will make this movie interesting for everyone out there is to find out how greed and karma plays along in things that we often took for granted.
It was a perfect credit card scam until his crew did it on the wrong man. What seems to be a simple heist turns out to be something that their lives would totally be in danges as they have two weeks to repay Marcel, who is a ruthless gangster. How much do they owe? A whooping two million dollars and if not paid they would end up dead.
Sam things of a plan to get out of this predicament and they devise a scheme to clear their debt by heading to Miami to poach enough cash and merchandise. But they come up short. So Sam and his gang set their sights on a daring jewelry heist that could make them hugely wealthy for life. Their plan turns sour, however, when the team members start turning on each other. Now it's up to Sam to finish the brazen heist and turn the tables on Marcel before they all go down.
The film stars Ed Speleers (Sam), Alfie Allen (Yatesy), Sebastian De Souza (Rafa), Will Poulter (Fordy), and Emma Rigby (Frankie).
Producers Terry Stone and Dan Toland wanted to use the premise of the real story, but decided to change the characters and setting in order to make it more stylish and modern. It meant finding the right people for the characters was even more important to fit in with the Gilbey brother's vision.
We have a MOVIE REVIEW for Plastic at THIS LINK.
We have a MOVIE REVIEW for Plastic at THIS LINK.
Plastic Crew Background Check
So let us know a little bit about the cast and how they ended up to be part of this awesome true to life movie.
When they approached Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones, Attonement) the crew were thrilled that he was interested in the script. Julian says: "I was in Miami when I got the call that Alfie really wanted to play the role and we just jumped about. He was perfect. Yatesy is a great role; he's a dreadful, wonderful, spiteful and conflicted character and Alfie puts on a very honest performance. Although the character is very vain, Alfie isn't at all." Alfie himself said he loved playing the cheeky rogue and that the entire cast got on really well. "[The producers] got the dynamics of the characters so right," he says.
The character of Rafa, who is seemlingly closer to Yatesy than any of the other boys, is played by Sebastian De Souza (The Borgias, Skins). Plastic is his first feature film after a background in television and he was very "pleased and grateful" to be offered the role after hearing about it through his agency. When speaking about the character, De Souza says "initially you'd read him as a joke of the four boys, but eventually he earns his keep by coming up with the idea that in theory will save them from death by Marcel."
Last, but not least, is the character of Frankie, played by Emma Rigby (Hollyoaks) who's also new to the film scene, this being her first lead role in a feature film. "When we originally looked at Emma we just thought well here's someone really glamorous, she's got the look of a great Hollywood starlet. The camera absolutely loves her plus she's a great actress so her central performance is amazing along with Ed's and there's that real vibe between them" says Dan Toland.
When talking about the script, Emma says: "I was really interested in it being based on a true story. I also liked the aspect of it being a heist and that the cast were really young."
When discussing the main cast, Toland says there's a real vibe and dynamic that really centres all performances. "They all play off each other which really brings the story to life."
So what's different with Plastic from other heist movies?
As Julian Gilbey puts it, Plastic is "not another film where a bunch of cockney geezers are blowing people's heads off in Range Rovers!" What it is is an emotive story about five students, who get out of their depth in the shady world of credit card fraud. Toland describes it as hugely entertaining with "Robin Hood themes" running throughout. It's British film-making at its best and features an amazing up-and-coming young cast that is set to wow audiences aged from teenagers to adults.
PLASTIC OPENS IN CINEMAS August 26, 2015 (Wednesday) AND IS RELEASED BY SOLAR PICTURES
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