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Political Considerations Surround Decision to Deploy National Guard to Southwest Border
Amidst growing political pressure to strengthen border security, the Obama administration announced in late May that it will deploy up to 1,200 members of the National Guard to the Southwest border. The troops are intended to counter smuggling organizations and prevent border violence.
The last time a president deployed a significant number of National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border was in 2006, when President George W. Bush sent 6,000 as part of Operation Jump Start, a two-year "stop gap" measure while Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recruited and trained new Border Patrol agents. The operation ended in July 2008 once the number of agents had increased by almost 40 percent, from approximately 12,000 agents in May 2006 to 16,700 agents.
The recent decision to deploy the Guard came soon after President Barack Obama met with members of the Senate Republican Caucus, many of whom had backed a legislative measure introduced by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) to deploy up to 6,000 National Guard troops.
Despite the disparity in the number of troops needed, the decision has largely been seen as a political necessity by both parties. Democrats needed an alternative to the McCain-Kyl measure, and Republicans needed to renew their enforcement-first credentials.
The Obama administration said the deployment is intended as a temporary "bridge" measure to longer-term enhancements in law enforcement personnel from the departments of Homeland Security and Justice. However, the administration has not yet announced when or what kinds of personnel such enhancements will entail.
Purpose of the Deployment
The newly deployed troops will join more than 300 National Guard members already stationed on the Southwest border; those troops are currently participating in counternarcotics missions. The new Guard troops will not be authorized to arrest suspected unauthorized immigrants or drug or immigrant smugglers.
Rather, they are to support law enforcement officers by assisting with border surveillance and communications and intelligence operations, and analyzing traffic patterns to assist in the interception of illegal drugs.
According to media reports, the Guard troops will be stationed in the four border states of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California for up to one year.
The first time a president dispatched a substantial number of National Guard troops to the border was in 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson summoned more than 100,000 National Guardsmen to quell violence on the U.S. side of the border perpetrated by Mexican revolutionary Francisco "Pancho" Villa. No other president took a similar action until Bush in 2006.
In recent months, calls for redeploying the National Guard have come on the heels of violence along the Mexican side of the border due to the Mexican government's confrontations with powerful drug cartels and smuggling organizations. Reports estimate that more than 14,000 people have been killed in Mexico since January 2007. The violence has been most severe in Mexican border towns, as cartels struggle for control of smuggling routes into the United States.
While a recent report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) found no indication of "spillover" violence on the U.S. side of the border, and the Obama administration has emphasized that violent crime has decreased in many U.S. border cities, several recent events have escalated fears.
In March, a gunman in Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas, killed three employees of the U.S. consulate, prompting speculation that Mexican drug cartels would begin targeting U.S. interests or officials. One month later, an explosive device was thrown over the wall of the U.S. consulate in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.
But it was the March 27, 2010, murder of Arizona rancher Robert Krentz, Jr., that sharpened the focus on concerns of spillover violence. Soon after Krentz was killed on his property in southern Arizona, the police said they suspected a drug or immigrant smuggler was responsible for his death.
Arizona legislators and Governor Jan Brewer cited the Krentz murder as justification for toughened immigration enforcement measures. In April, Brewer signed the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (SB 1070), a controversial law that greatly expands the ability of state and local police officers to ask individuals about their immigration status.
Krentz's death also renewed calls to send National Guard troops to the border. In March 2010, Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano requesting their deployment. Lawmakers from several border states sent a similar request to Obama on April 28.
In early May, McCain and Kyl introduced the Border Security Enforcement Act of 2010 (S. 3332), which, among other provisions, would send 3,000 members of the National Guard to the Tucson and Yuma sections of the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill has been referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Meanwhile, McCain and Kyl introduced an amendment to a Department of Defense appropriations bill that requests 6,000 National Guard troops for the Southwest border. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved that measure on May 27.
In a letter to Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, White House National Security Adviser James Jones and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan objected to the McCain-Kyl amendment, arguing that "there is no modern precedent for Congress to direct the President to deploy troops in the manner sought by the Amendment."
Political Considerations for Deployment
Beyond giving Senate Democrats an alternative to the McCain-Kyl measure, deploying the National Guard was also seen as an attempt to forge a compromise with Brewer on SB 1070.
Obama, who has publicly opposed SB 1070, met with Brewer at the White House on June 3 to discuss the new Arizona law and federal efforts to secure the border. According to media reports, Obama also used the meeting to assure Brewer that the majority of the 1,200 National Guard troops would be deployed to Arizona.
Others viewed the president's decision as a "down payment" toward the passage of comprehensive immigration reform legislation that would include a pathway to legal status for unauthorized immigrants.
Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), the chairman of the Senate's immigration subcommittee and the likely author of a comprehensive immigration reform bill in the Senate, told reporters that deploying the National Guard could help move comprehensive immigration reform legislation through Congress because "it shows how Democrats are willing to fight for both parts of the issue."
Reaction to the Deployment
Some politicians have argued that the president's measure does not go far enough. McCain and Kyl, as well as Representative Harry Mitchell (D-AZ), released statements criticizing the Obama plan as being a "weak start" that would not utilize nearly enough National Guard troops to have a significant impact on the border.
Immigrant advocates, on the other hand, have heavily criticized the decision. They have expressed concern that the measure will amount to a "militarization" of the border states.
Some have also questioned Obama's strategy of supporting Republican measures to tighten border security without extracting a promise of support from Republicans for a legalization measure for unauthorized immigrants.
In previous years, bills for comprehensive immigration reform have been characterized as compromise measures for including both border security provisions and a path to legalization for unauthorized immigrants.
- Read the letter from Assistant to the President for Homeland Security Counterterrorism John Brennan and National Security Advisor General James Jones on the deployment of the National Guard.
- Read the February 2010 Congressional Research Service Report on Southwest Border Violence.
- Read the text of the Secure Border Enforcement Act of 2010 (S. 3332).
- Read more about Operation Jump Start in the June 2006 Policy Beat.
Debate Continues Over Arizona SB 1070
The controversy over Arizona's new immigration law has continued, with Arizona Governor Jan Brewer discussing the law with President Barack Obama earlier this month and tens of thousands of the law's supporters and opponents rallying in Phoenix over the Memorial Day weekend.
The Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (SB 1070), which Brewer signed on April 23, 2010, allows Arizona state and local law enforcement officers to ask about the immigration status of anyone the police stop for a state crime if an officer has a "reasonable suspicion" that the individual is an unauthorized immigrant. The law also makes it a state crime for noncitizens to fail to carry proof of their citizenship status.
During Brewer's Oval Office meeting with Obama on June 3, Obama said he would send White House staff to Arizona to discuss securing the U.S.-Mexico border. The president also said he would like Brewer to work with him to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Brewer said she thinks the border must first be secured.
That same day, Brewer responded to a letter from Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), rejecting Schumer's proposal that Arizona delay implementation of SB 1070 for one year in order to give Congress time to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Brewer emphasized that Arizona's border areas had become "lawless" because of the federal government's inability to secure the border and recommended a border "surge" in law enforcement agents.
Brewer indicated on May 28 that she would not allow Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard to defend the state in the various legal challenges being brought against SB 1070, because of Goddard's "consistent opposition to Arizona's new immigration laws" and his "curious coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice."
Earlier that day, Goddard had met with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to discuss the Arizona measure. Both Goddard and Holder have publicly stated that they oppose SB 1070.
Holder also hosted a meeting with the police chiefs of several major U.S. cities to discuss their concerns about the Arizona law. According to media reports, police chiefs focused on the impact the law would have on immigrants cooperating with the police, and the fact that the law could divert police resources away from investigating more serious crimes.
- Read the text of the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (SB 1070), as amended by the Arizona state legislature on April 29.
- Read Governor Brewer's announcement in which she says her legal team will defend SB 1070.
- Read Governor Brewer's letter to Senator Schumer.
- Read more about the new Arizona law in the May 2010 Policy Beat.
Policy Beat in Brief
Supreme Court Ruling on Aggravated Felonies. The U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, ruled that an immigrant who pled guilty to two simple misdemeanor drug possession offenses should not have been found to have committed an "aggravated felony" for immigration purposes. Under current immigration law, lawful permanent residents found to have committed aggravated felonies are both deportable from the United States and barred from applying for cancellation of removal. In reversing a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Court held that for a second simple drug possession offense to be considered an aggravated felony, an immigrant would have to be charged and convicted as a "recidivist" drug offender under state or federal law.
- Read the Supreme Court's decision in Carachuri-Rosendo v. Holder.
Obama Administration and Arizona Employer Sanctions Law. The Obama administration has filed a brief recommending that the Supreme Court grant leave to review the legality of the 2007 Legal Arizona Workers Act. The act, which took effect in January 2008, allows the state to penalize employers that hire unauthorized immigrants by taking away their business licenses, and it requires all Arizona employers to use the federal E-Verify program to confirm that new employees are authorized to work. After a federal district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the law, the petitioners in the case requested review by the Supreme Court, which then sought the new administration's views on the appeal.
- Read the Ninth Circuit Court's opinion in Chicanos por la Causa, Inc. v. Napolitano.
- Read the new brief from the Solicitor General's office requesting that the Supreme Court consider the case.
- Read more about the Legal Arizona Workers Act in the January 2008 Policy Beat.
United States in the State Department's Annual Human Trafficking Report. In its 10th annual Trafficking in Persons Report, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) for the first time has included the United States in its rankings of individual countries' compliance with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), enacted in 2000. Previously, DOS had only included rankings for other countries. Thirteen countries earned a "tier 3" ranking in 2010, indicating that they do not fully comply with TVPA's minimum standards and are not making any significant efforts to do so. TVPA calls for the vigorous prosecution of human trafficking crimes and greater access to social services and legal protections for trafficking victims.
- Read the new Department of State report on human trafficking.
Generational Gap on Immigration. A New York Times and CBS News poll found that 41 percent of Americans ages 45 to 64 and 36 percent of Americans older than 64 feel that immigration levels in the United States should be decreased, while just 24 percent of those younger than 45 agree with this sentiment. The poll also found that older Americans are more likely than younger Americans to support laws like the new immigration enforcement law in Arizona. The New York Times attributed these findings to a recent surge in the foreign-born population, and the fact that younger Americans are likely to have had personal interactions with immigrants and with immigrant communities.
- Read the poll results.
- Read more about the size of the foreign-born population and historical levels of immigration in on the Spotlight on Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States.
Growing Backlog in Immigration Court Cases. The number of cases pending before the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) reached an all-time high of 242,776 in March 2010, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University. Wait times to see immigration judges have also increased, especially in certain states. Analysts at TRAC attribute the growing backlog to unfilled vacancies for EOIR judges and new requirements introduced as a result of recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court and various appellate courts.
- Read the TRAC report on the backlog in immigration court cases.
Bersin Confirmation Uncertain. Doubts have been raised about whether the Senate will confirm U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Alan Bersin, after Bersin faced tough questioning last month over his reported failure to prepare and maintain I-9 employment forms for 10 employees working at his home. At a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, several senators expressed concerns about the commissioner's ability to enforce federal immigration law if he himself had not previously complied with I-9 requirements. Obama appointed Bersin in March during a congressional recess.
- Read the written statements of witnesses during the Senate Finance Committee hearing.
- Read more about Obama's appointment of Commissioner Bersin in the April 2010 Policy Beat.
Fee Increase for Immigration Applications. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) plans to increase government fees for several immigration applications, including applications for lawful permanent residence and work authorization. According to USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas, the increase in fees is necessary because the agency is facing a budget shortfall. Notably, USCIS will not raise the citizenship-application fee, which jumped 69 percent in 2007 and currently stands at $675 (including the biometric fee). The agency has said this is because of the significant public benefit of naturalizing immigrants and "the nation's proud tradition of welcoming new citizens."
- Read the proposed new rule published by USCIS.
- Read more about the last increase in USCIS fees in the MPI Fact Sheet Immigration Fee Increases in Context.
H-1B Visas Still Available. USCIS has not yet reached its cap of 65,000 H-1B visas for high-skilled immigrants for fiscal year 2011, receiving just 22,200 eligible petitions as of June 11, 2010. In addition, 10,600 H-1B visas (of 20,000 allotted) remain available for those who have obtained advanced degrees in the United States.
- Read the USCIS update on the H-1B visa count.
- Read more about the H-1B visa program in the April 2008 Policy Beat.
Haitian TPS Count. USCIS had received just over 52,000 applications from Haitian nationals seeking Temporary Protected Status (TPS) as of early June 2010. USCIS agreed to grant TPS — which includes protection against deportation and work authorization — to certain Haitian nationals in the United States following the January 12, 2010, earthquake in Haiti. USCIS had initially estimated that between 100,000 and 200,000 Haitian nationals might be eligible to apply for TPS. Haitian nationals have until July 20, 2010, to register for TPS.
- Read more about TPS for Haitian nationals in the February 2010 Policy Beat.
State and Local Policy Beat in Brief
Secure Communities in San Francisco. San Francisco supervisors have overwhelmingly approved a nonbinding resolution urging the city's sheriff, police department, and juvenile probation department not to take part in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program Secure Communities. Through Secure Communities, local jails send the fingerprints of anyone arrested to ICE, which checks whether the arrested individuals are deportable aliens. In May, San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey requested state permission for San Francisco to opt out of the program. California Attorney General Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown denied this request, writing that the program "serves both public safety and the interest of justice." Brown, a Democrat, is currently running for governor of California.
- Read the text of the San Francisco resolution.
- Read the text of Brown's letter to Sheriff Hennessey.
- Read more about the Secure Communities program in the June 2009 Policy Beat.
- Visit the MPI Data Hub for the latest stats on immigrants in California.
Prosecutions in Maricopa County, Arizona. The new Maricopa County Attorney, Richard Romley, has opted not to file state criminal charges against 32 immigrants recently arrested by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, a decision that observers say may indicate a shift away from the policies of Romley's predecessor, Andrew Thomas. In recent years, Thomas's office garnered national attention for its practice of bringing criminal immigration charges against many of the immigrants the sheriff's office arrested. Romley, a Republican, served as the Maricopa County attorney between 1989 and 2004. Since being reappointed as the interim county attorney in April 2010, when Thomas resigned to run for Arizona attorney general, Romley has indicated that he plans to target criminal syndicates and drug cartels.
- Read the Maricopa County Attorney's Office press release on criminal charges for immigrants.
- Read more about immigration policies in Maricopa County in the September 2009 Policy Beat.
- Visit the MPI Data Hub for the latest stats on immigrants in Arizona.
Day Laborer Lawsuit in Oyster Bay, New York. A federal judge preliminarily barred implementation of an ordinance in Oyster Bay, New York, that prohibits the hiring of day laborers. The ordinance, which the Oyster Bay town board passed on March 31, 2009, also prohibits standing on the street and stopping or attempting to stop a car for employment purposes. According to the civil-liberties groups bringing suit against Oyster Bay, the ordinance violates the First and Fourteenth amendments to the U.S. constitution.


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Okay, so maybe Napa Valley is not beer country yet. But over the past couple of years a number of brewing operations and brew houses have sprung up in the Valley and become instant go-to destinations. We previously wrote about one of our favorite beer spots, Carneros Brewing Company, which is in Sonoma County close … Continue reading Living in Beer Country
Tag: ale

subset: commoncrawl


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As PR agencies finally wake up to the new integrated marketing world. they are increasingly throwing about the term "PESO" to refer to Paid, Earned Shared and Owned" content. Why they would want to brag about their results using something that is currently worth less than a penny to be exact) is beyond me. Or perhaps that is exactly what its worth.
In reality the way most of the agencies (excepting of course those rarified few who have already modified their measurement practices to be in compliance with the Social Media Measurement Standards) throw about terms like engagement and influence they might as well be worth $0.07
As it happens, The Conclave spent quite a bit of time already debating whether "shared" content deserved its own category, and in fact debated it again two weeks ago when we met. And we still came to the same conclusion. When someone shares a piece of content, that share is "earned" because presumably someone felt the content was good enough to share. In other words it earned the right to be shared. So why do we need yet another category? In fact when a media outlet posts a piece of content it is designed to be shared, so the shared category is essentially redundant.
Every time The Conclave has had this discussion, we have concluded that the correct terminology should be POE, Paid, Owned and Earned. And why wouldn't you want an acronym that reminds one of one of America's greatest poets?, More importantly, this great poet already has some history in the field of measurement.
I refer of course to that greatest of American measurement creations, Measurement Maven Danielle Brigida's classic, the Return:
The Return
by Danielle Brigida, National Wildlife Federation
Once upon a non-profit theory, measurement was weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious meetings with little to account for,
While I nodded, nearly napping, an idea for a strategy came a tapping,
What if measurement could include social interactions and what they stand for?
I shall investigate - I muttered - to know what ROI could account for
Instantly I knew, this was something I must explore
Ah, distinctly I remember, I wanted the opinion of a member,
Because it is each separate inspiring member, That I do wildlife justice for
So I tweeted, questions and links, to see what each member thinks
But from my stats surcease of sorrow, I realized - some things you can't keep score
Aside from rare and radiant traffic spikes, there was nothing traditional to record
I thought this it is, and nothing more.
It was our executive VP who had unfounded belief in me,
Thrilled me filled me with fantastic insight I'd never known before;
So that now, to still the ADD of my moving mind, she stood repeating
"Remember at NWF it's revenue, reach and engagement that we push for
Keep this is mind for what you measure - for this is all I will implore
Only this and nothing more.
Suddenly, my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
You sure? said I, for Madam, truly it's a return hard to account for
But the fact was I kept tracking, never loafing, never slacking
And so slightly traffic came tapping, tapping on my website door,
I used listening to confirm I saw it - then I recorded to be sure
Not just linkbacks here but something more.
Deep into the analytics peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing
Listening, and dreaming dreams no marketer ever dared to dream before
Instead of traditional ROI abounding, I saw something even more astounding
And the only thing I could think was How can I measure engagement more?
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word "explore"
Merely this and nothing more.
Back into my cubicle turning, all the questions within me burning,
Soon again I started tweeting more strategically than before.
'Surely,' said I, 'surely there's a chance for program assistance;
Let me see then, a potential instance, and this mystery explore -
Let my mind be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis a test and nothing more!'
Wildlife watch - an idea release, it holds the key engagement piece,
For people who spot all from crickets to geese, can use twitter to tweet
With #NWF as the hash tag; Wildlife sightings perhaps would not lag; (for all to brag?)
Updates made by phones to twitter, are searched more easily than before -
Searched using Twitter Search with no URL to look for -
Perhaps with this we will engage more.
With the wildlife we're compiling, We could keep the scientists smiling,
And lose the grave and stern decorum that was our storytelling before,
'Though tweets are short and fitted,' I said, we'll increase the total submitted
Ghastly grim and empty forums we'll be faced with nevermore!
Tell me what thy wildlife name is on the twitter feed-but be sure!
Share the findings, 'forever more.'
Then, methought, the air grew denser, social media had no censor
There were still those unbelieving, even worse were those misperceiving
That Twitter was the answer to all their programs' problems evermore.
`At last,' they cried, `thy God hath lent thee -- social media -- the angel -- sent thee
Traffic, comments, tweets and other means of engagement to record.
Yet it is important to remember, that goals determine the ROI accounted for
Forget this, `Nevermore.'
So there I was, sitting lonely needing support, but thinking only,
For Social media change we needed to move past communication days of yore
A little birdy told the web team "We should use a twitter stream"
And the idea, instead of dying was kept alive and continued flying
Till I found myself crying `Wow this is much easier than before -
With Twitter, Facebook, Digg and Stumbleupon gone are the days forgotten lore.
Doubting social media, `Nevermore.'
Though I feel the time spent disputing could be better spent recruiting
On the social sites that are intuitively fantastic for good rapport
It is my job to continue thinking how to keep goals and return from sinking
But trying to pinpoint every intangible value is simply uncalled for
Though I love data, traditional numbers are so far from social media at it's core
It's the relationships I adore
As for complete measurement, we're still waiting, we're still waiting
And anxiously anticipating metrics that assign value even more;
And my hopes have all the seeming of a marketer still dreaming,
That my efforts not in vain, will yield intangibles and metrics all the same
And that all the hours invested carefully will open future media doors
This I hope and so much more.


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NPN's Look Back At 2011
Another year bites the dust... can you believe it? I almost can't, but with such an exciting 2012 ahead of us I'm willing to plunge ahead full speed! Before we get there, let's stop on this last day of the year and look back at the year ending.
An awful lot happened in 2011, as is true of each year. Instead of trying to recap the whole year I'm going to select a handful of stories from each month from NPN's archives, and editor's choice of sorts. Get in your time machine and let's get going!
through this story.
After many rumors and whispers, February brought the arrival of Invertigo trains from California's Great America to Dorney Park. This went hand in hand with rumors regarding the fate of CGA, which seem to have been resolved as I write this.
opened their new attraction Barnstormer in March, and Scott & Carol were there to check it out. The ride ended up being a nice prelude to next year's mega-attraction, Wild Eagle.
One of my favorite months, April, always marks the start of many parks' seasons and also the final test and adjust phase of many new rides. Such was true with the Wooden Warrior, Quassy's medium size wooden coaster. The ride proved to be a hit for the park, and who doesn't love a Gravity Group ride?
Green Lantern, Discovery Kingdom's SkyScreamer, Busch Gardens Tampa's Cheetah Hunt, and Wild Adventures' Buzzsaw Falls. Busy month!
Sunny June was a good month for taking to the skies at Cedar Fair parks. Both Cedar Point, Canada's Wonderland, and Kings Island opened their new WindSeeker family thrill rides this month, though Knott's Berry Farm had to wait a while longer.
design of the ride all the way to opening! Plus, visits from NPN to both Coney Island and to see the Zippin Pippin were on the schedule.
Even though the Summer wasn't over, it has become a tradition for parks to start announcing new rides in August. This year was no different. Mammoth, Skyrush, Leviathan, and Stinger were just a few of the announcements we saw. And did I mention I finally got to check Dollywood off my bucket list this year?
Wild Eagle, but Six Flags also made one heck of a massive set of announcements as well. I took a long look at Six Flags Over Georgia, and the industry also said goodbye to legend Ron Toomer, who passed away at the age of 81.
Halloween has fully infiltrated the amusement industry, forever changing what the month of October holds for fans. This past year we were able to visit several haunts, at each of which we had a good scare or two.
Stinger and Wild Eagle. IAAPA is also held this month, where the industry elite meet and more importantly, buy!
Ho, ho, ho, December seems like it just happened, perhaps because it did! Still, our stories continued on through the cold, such as our interview with Rick Bastrup. Universal parks made big announcements on both coasts, with the retirement of Jaws in Florida, and a certain Mr. Potter heading West in a few years time.
I'd like to thank all our readers for sticking with us in 2011, and we hope you have a fun and safe New Year's! 2012 is shaping up to be a remarkable year - we'll see you there!


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Highland Gammill buys and sells
new and used Gammill Longarm Quilting Machines!
Click HERE!
Sew Together Bag
"sewalong" with us!
I ordered my zippers!!! I've been meaning to make this bag!ReplyDelete
Yay I'm so excited for this!ReplyDelete
I'm excited to make another of these bags. The first one I made gave me fits so I'm happy to have help along the way!ReplyDelete
I've had this pattern for a couple of months now, but hadn't sat down to put it together. I'm looking forward to the sew-along....any chance for a blog button to make finding the posts easier?? {grin}ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
A button you wish? A Button there is! See the new "Sew Along" button at the top of our blog!ReplyDelete
I've had this pattern for months and haven't made it yet. Just started following your blog and I'm excited to participate in the sew along!!! Got the heads up from Corey at 'little miss shabby'!ReplyDelete
Oh I'm going to be in there like swimwear! A bit late, don't have any zips/fabric but better late than never right? Cannot wait to see the first installment!ReplyDelete
I'm super excited about starting this! I am 9 hours (I'm in the Middle East) ahead of Central time (back home in the Midwest) so waiting for all you sleepy heads to wake up!!! Have fun everyone! AliaReplyDelete
Hoping to join in this weekend! A bit of a novice sewer - question regarding zippers. I noticed there are all sorts of open ended, etc, and I just don't know what that means :) Any hints? I'm in the UK, so will be buying them (and my fabric) here this weekend :)ReplyDelete
Nylon coil zippers were used for this sewalong. Just single, closed ends. I've learned alot about zippers from Zipit's blog www.zipitzippers.blogspot.com - check it out!
Doing great thanks to your instructions!!!! Great tutorial!!!!ReplyDelete
Thanks so much for this info! I am needing to order zippers for my upcoming retreat & the girls are going to love my bag (assuming I get it made in time... :-))!ReplyDelete
Thanks so much for this great tutorial. I have just finished the bag and added some photos to the flickr gpage.ReplyDelete
I really wanted to sew this bag, but when I go to craftsy now the pattern is no longer available, anyone know why?ReplyDelete
Hi there, I'm really interested in sewing this bag now…but it's no longer showing the pattern available on craftsy now…any idea's why?ReplyDelete
I really wanted to sew this bag, but when I go to craftsy now the pattern is no longer available, anyone know why?ReplyDelete
You can still buy this pattern on Craftsy. $12Delete
This pattern no longer available on Craftsy! Oh no! Any ideas of another method of purchasing for download anyone?ReplyDelete
So, I'm not sure how to get in contact with Sew Demented, but maybe you know. Someone has stolen this design and is selling patterns of it on craftsy:
This comment has been removed by the author.Delete
Hi Heather! Thank you for this tutorial! As i can not buy The pattern, I am from Portugal, will you tell me measurements só that i can try to do it??? Thanks and kind regards
Telma, You can purchase a downloadable version of the pattern from the designer's website. www.sewdemented.com
I have the pattern, will get the zippers & other notions in a day or 2. Have been SO afraid of zippers that I've set myself up negatively. Not going to do that any longer! I want to master this & share the process at the quilt retreat. Thank you for making the tutorial available even if it's long past the March date!ReplyDelete
What a total sweetheart you are for doing this. I'm on Day 3 but it's now October. Your additional help with the pattern is invaluable. The work you have put in to assemble this tutorial is amazing. I will post a photo when I' m finished. Loving the process.
Annie from cold wet and windy England.
Thank you for those kind words! I had so much fun putting this sew-a-long together and am currently working on another fantastic pattern by Noodlehead... stay tuned! Can't wait to see your photo! Are you on Instagram?
Couldn't work out how to post on Instagram. Have managed to put photos on Craftsy tho. Good luck with your next project. I'll keep an eagle eye out for it. x
I'm about to venture into the Sew Together Bag and can't wait. Thank you so much for all the instructions. I know from reading other blogs that they will be extremely helpful! :)ReplyDelete
This is an amazing help for putting this bag together! Thanks for taking us through step by step, holding our hands, and encouraging us.ReplyDelete
I've made five sew together bags to date and continue to use your site as a resource. Thanks for posting pics.....it helps so much!!! 👍👍👍ReplyDelete
Could you suggest the exact interfacing you used? I'm either using one too thick or too thin. Hmmm!ReplyDelete
I like to use Pellon 931 or Pellon 911 - hope that helps!ReplyDelete
Thank you for your great Sew-A-Long and your great pictures and explanations! I just finished my first Sew together bag :-)
Thank you for this post! I can't tell you enough hoe helpful it was! I have made 5 of these bags!!!
Thanks for offering this wonderful tutorial. I was scared of zippers, now not. I would have never been able to make this with instructions alone. Now I want to make more.....thanks for the tip about the walking foot...my zipper foot was worthless. Thanks!!!ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for the SewTogether Bag Sew-A-Long. I just follow this to finish my bag :))ReplyDelete
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Without your detailed pictures and directions I couldn't have made the "Sew Together Bag" as the pattern itself has very few (no) pictures. Once again THANK YOU!ReplyDelete
I know I am on the sew together bag late train, I think I pinned this a year ago. Thank you for taking the time to make your tutorial. I could not have finished the bag without it. You have made my experience so pleasant, and I would make another, loved it. Thank you again....ReplyDelete
I want to thank you for your sew along - a friend asked me to make this bag for her and I ordered the pattern this morning - got it was reading it and I always get confused until I actually start making the things I do... but had seen something on the web when hunting for the pattern about a sew a thon - came back and found you and have read through the whole thing - bookmarked the pages so that I can find them easily as I will be making this bag this next week and I wish that all pattern writers would put the pictures that you have taken in their patterns - so much easier when you can see what they are describing - a big thank you and a Happy New Year to you!ReplyDelete
I'm about 2 years late to join the fun, the this Blog Series has helped tremendously! Thanks for all the pictures and breaking down the steps!ReplyDelete
I did it!!! I made the pouch!!! I have been saving your tutorial for like 6 months...not sure why I was so afraid of this project ...but it was just a huge giant hiding in my craft closet for some reason. Well...with your tutorial...I slayed it!!! YEah!!! It turned out awesome!!! Thank you so much!!! So, question...my friends are artsy people not quilters or sewers...and they all want one for their markers... I see on the pattern I need permission to make to sell. Is that possible or will she not let any one make and sell them? hoping you know the answer before I bother her. Thanks again for all the step by step pictures!!! My photos are on ig. under @sandielove2art the first photo is the last photo so you will have to look for the first in the series of the bag...there are not many.ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for this great tutorial! :D I bought the pattern and made a bag last week but I couldn't have done it without your step by step pictures!! well done! :DReplyDelete
Like others, I bought the pattern on Craftsy and just finished my bag this afternoon . . . I could not have done so without this tutorial, Heather - Thank you. I SO hope you see all of the gratitude here!! 🤗ReplyDelete
I've had this pattern for months and haven't made it yet. Just started following your blog and I'm excited to participate in the sew along!!!
Branding Agency Singapore | Custom Ecommerce Development Singapore
Thank you I am glad about the encouragement! I love your site, you post outstanding. forskolin
PLEASE, please don't ever get rid of this site. It has been so valuable to me and as I see on Comments, many, many others as well. Never could have done that pattern without your visuals. Thanks a bunch.ReplyDelete
Beautiful, clear and concise tutorial! Thank you so much! I enjoy these bags so much and they make wonderful gifts. I am so thankful for your helpful tutorial to make the process easy and fun!ReplyDelete
Thanks for such great tutorials. I finsihed two last night and using the walking foot for the zippers was a game changer for me.ReplyDelete
I'd like to make one but can't find the pattern pdf. The links don't really work. Greetings from GermanyReplyDelete
So glad you have this tutorial on your blog. I could not have figured it out without your pictures. Thank you!ReplyDelete
There is something addictive about this pouch and its multiple Zipper bags and its the perfect gift for the person who has everything!ReplyDelete
Thank for the excellent step by step! I purchased the pattern 4 years ago but I was so intimidated by all the cutting and binding so I never even started until, I found your website a few weeks ago. I am about to attach some panels and so far, truly, thanks to you, has been so smooth and easy! I am excited to finish it, hopefully tomorrow 😊ReplyDelete


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Wiki > Main > DocsIndex > UsefulTools > ICal2Memo
iCal2Memo is a Perl script that grabs all .ics files in a directory, parses the calendar information, finds the new and recurring entries, and saves them in the Rockbox Calendar format.
The data is placed in a text file, which can then be copied to your .memo file.
Since it's a Perl script, it should be cross-platform, however Windows users will need to download and install "ActivePerl"
How to Use
Download this text file, and save it with the extension .pl. Set execute permissions (chmod 0755) and the call it from the command prompt.(the file has a .txt extension on the wiki due to security limitations on the server)
Known Issues
It is not working perfectly at the time of this writing-- recurring weekly appointments appear on the wrong day. I would appreciate hearing from someone who is more familiar with the format of .memo files.-- JasonSilver - 24 May 2011
r5 - 02 Apr 2021 - 20:46:06 - UnknownUser
Copyright © by the contributing authors.


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Silly Singalong Collection
A 3-CD collection of "Toddler Tunes," "Silly Songs," and "Prechool Songs." Features 64 classic shildren's songs arranged and performed by the Cedarmont Kids. Lyrics and split-track versions are included for singalong. These enhanced CDs include printable activities and coloring pages for your active toddler!
NOTE: You may purchase actual CDs or the complete CD as downloads. Mp3 files are compressed at 256 Kbps for optimal sound quality and convenience. Downloads of the full CD include printable .pdf files of lyrics & any other printable files normally included with the regular CD.
You may also buy single songs as mp3 downloads. These include only the mp3 file for that song, & can be added to your cart by clicking the red button for each song you wish to purchase.


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LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Deutschland GmbH reserve the right to alter, close or remove details/exhibits without prior notice for technical, operational or other reasons and that no refunds can be given in these circumstances. Children must be accompanied by an adult. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Deutschland GmbH reserve the right to refuse entry without explanation.
1. Making your booking
The party leader must be authorised to make the booking on the basis of these booking conditions by all persons named on the booking and by their parent or guardian for all party members who are under 18 when the booking is made. The party leader is responsible for making all payments due to us. The party leader must be at least 18 when the booking is made. All bookings must be made online via the website. At the end of the booking process, you are asked to confirm that you have read and agree with our booking conditions. Your booking will be confirmed by a booking reference, we will reconfirm your booking by email. The confirmation is sent to the email address which you enter/provide at the time of making your booking. However if you have spam filtering on your email account, our email might not reach you. Your email voucher will serve as proof of payment for your attraction ticket. You will need to present this confirmation email at the appropriate entrance to gain entry. You must take the confirmation email with you or you may not gain entry. Please check your booking confirmation carefully as soon as you receive it. Contact us immediately if any information on the confirmation appears to be incorrect or incomplete as it may not be possible to make changes later.
2. Payment
Full payment is required at the time of booking.
3. Your contract
A binding contract with LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Deutschland GmbH comes into existence when the final page of the booking confirmation procedure gives you a booking reference. This contract and all matters arising out of it are governed by German law.
4. The cost of your ticket(s)
We are committed to providing great value offers on tickets; where possible offering discounts on entrance rates. There are likely to be some seasonal special offers and in some circumstances prices may go up or down. The price of your ticket(s) will be confirmed at the time of booking. We reserve the right to correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices. We will do so as soon as we become aware of the error. A total price of your ticket(s) will be given before you confirm your booking which you may accept or not. All prices are for pre-booking and include VAT.
5. Changes by you
Once a booking reference has been issued it will not be possible to amend or transfer your booking.
6. Cancellation by you
Should you or any member of your party need to cancel your booking once it has been confirmed, the party leader must immediately advise us. All cancellations must be made through the call centre. As soon as you cancel, your unique confirmation email voucher will become void and non-redeemable. We regret it is not possible to make refunds in respect of cancelled bookings.
7. Changes and cancellation by us
Occasionally, we have to make changes to and correct errors and other details both before and after bookings have been confirmed and cancel confirmed bookings and we must reserve the right to do so. If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we will tell you as soon as possible. If there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of the following options:
(a) accepting the changed arrangements or
(b) purchasing an alternative ticket offer from us. If the chosen alternative date is less expensive than your original one, we will refund the difference but if it is more expensive, we will not ask you to pay any more
(c) cancelling or accepting the cancellation in which case you will receive a full refund of all monies you have paid to us.
Please note, the above options are not available where any change made is a minor one. In all cases, our liability for significant changes and cancellations is limited to offering you the above mentioned options. We regret we cannot pay any expenses, costs or losses incurred by you as a result of any change or cancellation.
8. Force Majeure
Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions, we regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected by or you otherwise suffer any damage or loss (as more fully described in clause 9 (1) below) as a result of "force majeure". In these booking conditions, "force majeure" means any event which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events may include war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity or actual threatened terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events outside our control.
9. Our Liability to you
(1) We promise to make sure that the ticket arrangements we have agreed to make, perform or provide as applicable as part of our contract with you are made, performed or provided with reasonable skill and care. This means that, subject to these booking conditions, we will accept responsibility if, for example, you suffer death or personal injury or your contracted arrangements are not provided as promised or prove deficient as a result of the failure of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers to use reasonable skill and care in making, performing or providing, as applicable, your contracted arrangements. Please note it is your responsibility to show that reasonable skill and care has not been used if you wish to make a claim against us. In addition, we will only be responsible for what our employees, agents and suppliers do or do not do if they were at the time acting within the course of their employment (for employees) or carrying out work we had asked them to do (for agents and suppliers).
(2) We will not be responsible for any injury, illness, death, loss (for example loss of enjoyment), damage, expense, cost or other sum or claim of any description whatsoever which results from any of the following:
- the act(s) and/or omission(s) of the person(s) affected or any member(s) of their party or
- the act(s) and/or omission(s) of a third party not connected with the provision of visit and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable or
- 'force majeure' as defined in clause 8.
(3) Please note, we cannot accept responsibility for any services which do not form part of our contract. This includes, for example, any additional services or facilities which any supplier agrees to provide for you where the services or facilities are not advertised in our leaflet or website and we have not agreed to arrange them.
(4) The promises we make to you about the services we have agreed to provide or arrange as part of our contract will be used as the basis for deciding whether the services in question had been properly provided.
(5) Please note, we cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss, expense or other sum(s) of any description (1) which on the basis of the information given to us by you concerning your booking prior to our accepting it, we could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if we breached our contract with you or (2) which did not result from any breach of contract or other fault by ourselves or our employees or, where we are responsible for them, our suppliers. Additionally we cannot accept liability for any business losses.
(6) You must provide ourselves and our insurers with all assistance we may reasonably require. You must also tell us and the supplier concerned about your claim or complaint as set out in clause 12 below. If asked to do so, you must transfer to us or our insurers any rights you have against the supplier or whoever else is responsible for your claim or complaint (if the person concerned is under 18, their parent or guardian must do so). You must also agree to cooperate fully with us and our insurers if we or our insurers want to enforce any rights which are transferred".
10. Complaints and problems
In the unlikely event that you have any reason to complain or experience any problems with your visit to an attraction, you must immediately inform the supplier of the service(s) in question. Any verbal notification must be put in writing as soon as possible. Until we know about a problem or complaint, we cannot begin to resolve it. You must contact our Guest Services Team at the attraction you have visited on firstname.lastname@example.com, within 28 days of the end of the visit to the attraction giving your booking reference and full details of your complaint. For all complaints and claims which do not involve death, personal injury or illness, we regret we cannot accept liability if you fail to notify the complaint or claim entirely in accordance with this clause.
11. Your Responsibilities
Bookings are accepted on the understanding that all persons are normally in good health and able to fulfil the physical demands of the attraction visit. It is your responsibility to ensure all members of the party are in possession of all necessary travel and health documents before departure. We cannot accept any liability or associated costs if you are refused entry onto transport or into the attraction country as a result of failure to carry correct documentation.
12. Conditions of Suppliers
Many of the services which make up your visit are provided by independent suppliers. Those suppliers provide these services in accordance with their own terms and conditions. Some of these terms and conditions may limit or exclude the supplier's liability to you, usually in accordance with applicable International Conventions (see clause 9 (3)). Copies of the relevant parts of these terms and conditions are available on request from the supplier concerned.
13. Special Requests and Medical Problems
If you have any special request, you must advise us at the time of booking. Although we will endeavour to pass any reasonable requests on to the relevant supplier, we regret we cannot guarantee any request will be met. Failure to meet any special request will not be a breach of contract on our part. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed on to the supplier or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation is not confirmation that the request will be met. Unless and until specifically confirmed, all special requests are subject to availability.
14. Call Monitoring and Recording
As part of our continuing effort to ensure you receive the highest service standards, we may monitor and record your call for training purposes.
15. Directions
Please make sure you have directions to LEGOLAND Discovery Centre. Basic directions are available on our Plan Page. Directions should be used in conjunction with an up to date map.
16. Parking
Please check parking arrangements. Parking is always at the vehicle owner's risk.
17. Best Price Guarantee
Book more than 14 days in advance of your visit date and we guarantee that www.legolanddiscoverycentre.com will have the lowest priced priority entrance tickets available. If you find a cheaper price within 7 days of booking, we will match it and refund the difference!
The best price guarantee is subject to availability and times of date. The ticket must be the same in all respects including date, time of entry and admission priority. Excludes offers conditional on buying other products, group bookings or discounted membership schemes. We guarantee the best prices whether you make your purchase in Euros or Sterling, however, due to currency variations we will not consider price comparisons between products purchased in different currencies.
18. Covid-19
Safety measures
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have introduced specific safety measures at each of our Attractions in an effort to safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of persons visiting our Attractions.
A full list of safety measures being taken at our Attraction is available on the website.
Visitor requirements
The safety measures put in place in response to the Covid-19 pandemic are there to safeguard the safety and wellbeing of all guests visiting our Attraction. It is in the interest of everyone at our Attraction to comply with the safety measures that have been put in place. Therefore, should an individual not comply with these safety measures, we reserve the right to require that individual to leave the Attraction in accordance with these terms and conditions.
Acceptance of risk
The safety measures that are being and have been introduced are intended to minimise the risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus but this risk cannot be completely eradicated. Therefore, anyone visiting our Attractions acknowledge that they do so at their own risk
Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before using the Site.
By using this Site you signify your consent to these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to the Terms, please do not use the Site. The Site is owned and operated by Merlin Entertainments Group. Merlin Entertainments Group maintain the Site for your personal entertainment and information. Please feel free to browse the Site. You may download material displayed on the Site for non-commercial, home personal use only, provided you keep intact all copyright, trademark and other proprietary notices. You may not, however, copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit or distribute in any way the contents of this Site including the text, images, audio and video for public or commercial purposes, without written permission from Merlin Entertainments Group.
- You should assume that everything you see or read on this Site is protected by copyright unless otherwise stated and may only be used according to these Terms and Conditions. Merlin Entertainments Group do not warrant or represent that your use of materials displayed on this Site will not infringe rights of third parties not owned by or affiliated with Merlin Entertainments Group. Images are either the property of, or used with permission by, Merlin Entertainments Group. The use of these images by you, or anyone else authorized by you, is prohibited unless specifically permitted by these Terms and Conditions. Any unauthorized use of the images may violate copyright laws, trademark laws, the laws of privacy and publicity, and communications regulations and statutes.
- Merlin Entertainments Group use reasonable efforts to include accurate and up-to-date information on the Site. However, Merlin Entertainments Group make no warranties or representations as to the accuracy of the information. Merlin Entertainments Group assume no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in the contents of this Site.
- Furthermore, your use of and browsing in this Site is at your risk. Neither Merlin Entertainments Group nor any other party involved in creating, producing or delivering the Site is liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential or punitive damages arising out of your access to, or use of, the Site. Without limiting the foregoing, everything on the Site is provided to you "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. Please note that some the jurisdictions may not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so some of above exclusions may not apply to you. Check your local laws for any restrictions or limitations regarding the exclusion of implied warranties. Merlin Entertainments Group also assume no responsibility and shall not be liable for any damages to, or viruses that may infect, your computer equipment or other property on account of your access to, use of, or browsing in the Site or your downloading of any materials, data, text, images, video, or audio from the Site.


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Kennebunk, Maine – May 30, 2014
New Choice For Parents to Offer Healthy Brushing Habits with No Artificial Sweeteners, Colors or Preservatives
KENNEBUNK, Maine – May 30, 2014 – A baby's first smile is a moment to treasure. Keeping that grin healthy makes parents smile, too. Tom's of Maine, the leading natural oral care brand, is offering parents a new natural Toddler Training Toothpaste to help start good brushing habits with no artificial flavors, sweeteners, preservatives or dyes.
Tom's of Maine Toddler Training Toothpaste gently and effectively cleans tiny teeth and gums with ingredients derived solely from plants and minerals. Safe if swallowed and fluoride-free, the formula also contains no gluten, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate.
"As a new parent, the amount of choices you need to make about what goes in or on your baby's body can be overwhelming," said Lindsey Seavey, brand manager at Tom's of Maine. "But it's also a time filled with possibility where even the smallest of decisions can make a difference, especially in the early years when you want to give your child the best start. We believe a natural toothpaste can be one step towards creating a healthy daily routine."
A baby's daily oral care routine begins sooner than you may think. The Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives recommends beginning brushing as soon as a child's baby teeth begin to appear through the gum surface. To help make brushing easier, Tom's of Maine Toddler Training Toothpaste has a mild fruit flavor to please babies and toddlers and a no-mess nozzle parents will appreciate.
Tom's of Maine natural Toddler Training Toothpaste is available now at retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $3.99. The new introduction rounds out the Tom's of Maine children's natural oral care portfolio, which includes options that evolve with the needs of growing families such as Silly Strawberry toothpaste (ages 3-7 years), Juicy Mint anticavity rinse (ages 6 years and up) and the recently introduced Wicked Cool! toothpaste (ages 8 years and up).
The Tom's of Maine Toddler Training Toothpaste tube is recyclable through the Tom's of Maine TerraCycle collection Program, which gathers toothpaste tubes as well as a wide array of personal care product packaging and recycles them into useful products like picnic tables and park benches to prevent waste from reaching landfills.
Tom's of Maine gives 10% of profits back to helping communities across the country and supports access to oral care for children across the nation.
About Tom's of Maine
Tom's of Maine is a leading natural products company focused on oral and personal care, offering high quality toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, deodorant and bar soap products. The company has a long-standing commitment to supporting people, communities and the planet. For nearly 45 years, Tom's of Maine has sponsored hundreds of nonprofit efforts by giving 10% of its profits back to organizations that support human and environmental goodness and by encouraging employees to use 5% (12 days) of employee time to volunteer. Tom's of Maine employees regularly contribute suggestions for improving the company's high sustainability standards. Their ideas - from wind power to recyclable packaging options --are critical to the company's sensitive way of doing business. Most Tom's of Maine products are vegan, kosher, halal-certified and gluten-free. All packaging is recyclable through a partnership with upcycling leader TerraCycle or participating municipalities. Visit us online at https://www.tomsofmaine.com or at https://www.facebook.com/TomsofMaine.
Susan Dewhirst
(207) 467-2406
Dain Percifield
(415) 365-8548
If you need any additional information about Tom's of Maine, please contact Susan Dewhirst, Media and Public Relations Leader. The best way to reach Susan is by email at firstname.lastname@example.com. She can also be reached by phone at 207-467-2406.
For all other questions comments, please contact our Consumer Dialogue Department by email or at 800-367-8667.


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Jewish groups join coalition against anti-Muslim subway ads in D.C.
Published October 16, 2012
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Some national Jewish organizations joined a coalition of religious groups calling on the Washington Metro system to donate profits from an anti-Islam ad to charity.
"The placing of offensive, anti-Muslim ads in the D.C. Metro system is an important opportunity to affirm our commitment both to free speech and to a society that deplores hate and hate speech," said Rabbi Batya Steinlauf, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington's director of social justice and interfaith initiatives, and president of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington.
"We are all part of one community," she said.
The ad, currently running in four train stations throughout the Washington area, reads, "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad." It was sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative.
Monday's news conference was organized by the 28-member Shoulder-to-Shoulder: Standing with American Muslims, Upholding American Values and United Methodist Women. The coalition of Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups released a letter signed by 168 religious clergy members.
The letter states that the "ads espouse inaccurate and inflammatory stereotypes about American Muslims. These ads equate generalized 'savages' with 'jihad,' dangerously painting all Muslims as savages and suggesting that these generalized 'savages' must be defeated."
Major Jewish organizations participating include Rabbis for Human Rights-North America, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and the Union for Reform Judaism.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority had sought to delay posting the four ads, calling for a one-month cooling-off period following the worldwide violence that followed the showing of the film "Innocence of Muslims."
However, a U.S. District Court Judge in Washington cited the First Amendment's right to free speech in denying Metro's request.
Click here for complete coverage on the 2012 elections from JTA.
Click to write a letter to the editor.
This article was made possible by the support of readers like you. Donate to JTA now.


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Jonathan Demme, Matt Reeves, Mike White, Phil Lord And Chris Miller Also Up For 'Pride & Prejudice & Zombies'
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Yesterday it was reported that Neil Marshall, Mike Newell and David Slade are on the short list of filmmakers being considered to direct Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and Scarlett Johansson and Bradley Cooper circling the lead roles. The Wrap now adds a couple more interesting names to the list:
Jonathan Demme has read the script and wants to direct the movie, but he's not the only one interested in the job, as TheWrap has learned that Matt Reeves ("Cloverfield"), Mike White ("Year of the Dog") and the "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" team of Phil Lord and Chris Miller are also in the mix.
I can understand Demme's interest, but Matt Reeves seems like a more natural fit coming off of Let Me In. Mike White's humor seems like an odd match for this property, and his directorial debut Year of the Dog left me thinking he should stick to screenwriting. I have yet to see Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, despite constant encouragement to do so from friends. I've heard it's hilarious. I really liked Lord/Miller's animated television series Clone High U.S.A., but does their cartoon-like sensibility fit this period zombie film (even if it is a ridiculous comic take?).
Before he left, David O. Russell had apparently lined up Scarlett Johansson to play Elizabeth Bennett and Bradley Cooper to play Mr. Darcy in Seth Grahame-Smith's zombie-addled take on Jane Austen's classic novel. In addion to the Johansson / Cooper pairing, Bloody Disgusting says that an offer has been out to Mia Wasikowska, with 'strong interest' in Tilda Swinton to appear as well. David O. Russell wrote the current draft of the script, and we assume that when a new director comes on board he will be involved in a rewrite.
Here is the official plot description from the book:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains." So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Can she vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you'd actually want to read.
The 320-page softcover book can be purchased on Amazon for around $9.


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The health and safety of our employees, customers and distribution partners is our top priority. Hearst Newspapers are committed to providing our communities accurate, reliable and critical news at times of crisis including the current coronavirus outbreak.
Because of the trust you place in us, we wanted to share with you some of the actions we are taking to keep our customers, employees and our distribution partners as safe as possible amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.


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The Pike Brothers 1923 Buccanoy Shirt is based on a 1920s European Dress Shirt. Just like the original the Buccanoy Shirt has an additional button for attaching the detachable collar. It is made of a lightweight finely woven fabric which makes it an ideal summer shirt when you want to show that you are not going for the standard shirt, but that you know how to sport something slightly different yet very stylish. We have several different prints of this shirt.
- 100% cotton- Buttoned Front- Collar button for attaching separate collar- Slim fit- Made in Portugal
Pike Brothers was founded in 1930 by brother George and Joseph Pike. Their small yet high-quality clothing store was located in the famous Portobello Road, Notting Hill, in the heart of London. Custom clothing for men was their specialty. During the Second World War they produced uniforms for American military forces. This was the time when American soldiers came over to England. Pike Brothers managed to combine the best materials with European craftsmanship and create the unmistakable clothing you see today. They simply struck a brilliant balance between American workwear and European expertise. A legacy that defines Pick Brothers to this very day.
Pike Brothers distinguishes itself by respecting and celebrating the original functionality of its clothing instead of simply aiming for superficial succes. All clothing is made in Europe and produced the old-fashioned way. Pure craftsmanship and the best materials add up to this stylish and timeless clothing. Pike Brothers is that perfect combination of style and functionality.
- The Netherlands: EUR 5,- Free over EUR 50,- (Free returns)- Europe: EUR 11,- to EUR 22,50 Free over EUR 150.-- Rest of the World: EUR 25,- Free over EUR 200,-Please follow this link for full shipping and return info and for estimated delivery times. Or pick up in one of our stores.


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Merry & Bright Free Digital Cutting File
23 comments
These cut files are so cute Juliana! Thanks for sharing!ReplyDelete
Thanks for the great files!ReplyDelete
Thanks for the great files!ReplyDelete
Looks beautiful, Juliana! I sooo love those big gold letters and the festive papers!ReplyDelete
That banner is gorgeous!!! And these cut files are just fab...thanks for the freebie!!!ReplyDelete
I loveeeeeeeee this!! I saw it on LSS the other day and just WOW!!!!!!ReplyDelete
I popped over to see your fabulous banner Juliana! Thanks for sharing the cut file....it's awesome!ReplyDelete
Thank you!!!ReplyDelete
Soooooooooooooooooo sweet! Love these files. Wonderful project!ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing! Love them! You rock!ReplyDelete
Love these! Thank you so much for sharingReplyDelete
Gorgeous as always Juliana. Thanks so much for the cut files.ReplyDelete
Thank you for the download - love each and every one of them.ReplyDelete
You are so sweet to share these! Thanks!ReplyDelete
This is so fun - thank you for sharing your amazing talent! :)ReplyDelete
These are so much fun! Thanks so much for sharing them!ReplyDelete
Adorable cut files!! Thank you so much!!!!ReplyDelete
Love the files! Thank you!ReplyDelete
What an awesome banner! It's gorgeous! And thanks so much for sharing the cut files! They are fabulous!ReplyDelete
Another Fabulous set of files, love them. Thank you, my favourite of yours so far was the Nautical by Nature, I put it to good use on a layout of mine here. http://lidibids-scrapnotions.blogspot.ca/2013/12/all-over-place.html Merry Christmas!ReplyDelete
You're awesome! Thanks! :)ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for always sharing your cut files for free. I love this set and look forward to using it.ReplyDelete
Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. ~Mother Teresa


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Amazon – Alexa Echo Spot
Echo Spot brings you everything you love about Alexa, in an all-new stylish and compact design that can show you things. Just ask to see the weather, get the news with a video flash briefing, set an alarm, see lyrics with Amazon Music, see your calendar, browse and listen to Audible audiobooks, and more. Personalize your Spot with a collection of clock faces to suit your style or set a photo background from Prime Photos. Plus, make calls to friends and family or make video calls to anyone with an Echo Spot, Echo Show, or the Alexa App.
Only 1 left in stock
Echo Spot features 2nd generation far-field technology with four microphones, beamforming technology, and enhanced noise cancellation, so it can hear you from across the room—even while music is playing. If you have more than one Echo, Alexa responds intelligently from the Echo you're closest to with ESP (Echo Spatial Perception).
Echo Spot is small and compact, and fits easily into any room of your home. The compact size and viewing angle of the screen make Echo Spot ideal for use on a nightstand or desk as a smart alarm clock that can also turn your lights on and off, show your commute time, get the weather, or show your calendar. Or use Spot in the kitchen to easily set and see timers, call friends and family, see shopping and to do lists, and more.
Echo Spot can connect directly to speakers using a 3.5 mm stereo cable, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi for compatible wireless speakers to add voice control to your home stereo system in the living room or den. Learn more about Bluetooth speakers and devices that work well with Echo Spot. Plus, with multi-room music, play your favorites throughout your home across multiple Echo devices (Bluetooth not supported for multi-room music). Learn more.
For news and information you can see and hear, just ask Alexa for your video flash briefing from CNN, Bloomberg, and more. Curious about the latest movie trailers or need a how-to video? Just ask.
Echo Spot helps keep you organized at home. Start a timer in the kitchen and watch as it counts down, or easily see and manage your family's calendar. Sign in to the Alexa App to take your to-do and shopping lists with you. Just add an item to the list from home, and whoever is out shopping will see it added instantly on their Alexa App.
Echo Spot provides hands-free voice control for your music. Watch as the display comes alive to show song lyrics, custom stations, curated playlists, and album art with Amazon Music. Set a music alarm to wake up to your favorite song or playlist. Listen to tens of millions of songs with Amazon Music Unlimited.
Echo Spot also connects to Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn—giving you voice control for all of your music. Echo Spot is Bluetooth-enabled so you can stream other popular music services like Apple Music from your phone or tablet.
Use Echo Spot to see a live camera feed from the nursery or your front door. Turn on the fan or dim the lights from the couch—all without lifting a finger. Control multiple devices at scheduled times or with a single voice command, like locking the doors and turning off the lights when you go to bed.
Echo Spot works with smart home devices such as cameras, lights, TVs, fans, thermostats, garages, sprinklers, and more. Learn more about compatible smart home connected devices, including starter kits for easy setup from brands such as Ring, WeMo, Philips Hue, SmartThings, ecobee, Wink, and others.
Make hands-free voice calls to any of your contacts, or video calls to friends and family who have an Echo Spot, Echo Show, or the Alexa App. Set up your voice profile and teach Alexa to recognize your voice. When you say, "Alexa, call Mom", Alexa will call your mom, even if you have multiple users in your home. When you're busy making dinner, just ask Alexa to place a call from your Echo Spot to almost anyone. You can also enable the Drop In feature for when you want to connect instantly with other Echo devices in your home or closest family and friends. For example, you can drop in to ask what time dinner will be ready, see the baby's nursery, or check in with a close relative. Learn more
With the Alexa App, conversations and contacts go where you go. When you're away from home, use the app to make a quick call or send a message to your family's Echo. Alexa calling and messaging is free—to get started, download the latest version of the Alexa App on a smart phone with iOS 9.0 or higher, or Android 5.0 or higher, and verify your mobile number.
Echo Spot can use tens of thousands of skills and counting. Skills add even more capabilities like ordering a pizza from Domino's, requesting a ride from Uber, tracking your fitness with Fitbit, controlling your TV with Dish, and more. To enable new skills, just ask Alexa.
New skills are being added all the time. You can also see ratings and reviews to learn what other customers are saying about the thousands of skills available in the Alexa App. Discover and enable skills.
Echo Spot is even better with Prime. Order millions of products using only your voice and gain access to weekly Alexa shopping deals. All voice orders include fast, free shipping, and Alexa can even track your delivery for you.
Prime members can also use their Echo Spot to stream over 2 million songs with Prime Music, view their Prime Photos, and play movies and shows from Prime Video. Learn more
Alexa is always getting smarter— the more you use Echo Spot, the more Alexa adapts to your speech patterns, vocabulary, and personal preferences. And because Echo is always connected, updates are delivered automatically.
Just in the last few months we've added Alexa calling and messaging, multi-room music, voice profiles, and reminders, along with skills from third-party developers. Explore more things to try with Alexa.
Technical Details
|4.1" x 3.8" x 3.6" (104 mm x 97 mm x 91 mm)
|14.8 oz. (419 grams) Actual size and weight may vary by manufacturing process
|Alexa App
|The Alexa App is compatible with Fire OS, Android, and iOS devices and also accessible via your web browser. Certain skills and services may require subscription or other fees.
|Wi-Fi Connectivity
|Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz) networks. Does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks.
|Bluetooth Connectivity
|Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) support for audio streaming from your mobile device to Echo Spot or from Echo Spot to your Bluetooth speaker. Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) for voice control of connected mobile devices. Hands-free voice control is not supported for Mac OS X devices. Bluetooth speakers requiring PIN codes are not supported.
|Built-in speaker. 3.5 mm stereo audio output for use with external speakers (audio cable not included).
|Warranty and Service
|1-year limited warranty and service included. Use of Echo Spot is subject to the terms found here.
|Included in the Box
|Echo Spot, power adapter/cable (6 ft.), and quick start guide.
Vendor Information
- Store Name: MAI
- Vendor: MAI
- No ratings found yet!


text:
I've just finished reading A Passion for Souls: The Life of D. L. Moody, an account of the life of the famous evangelist. I found myself surprisingly moved by his life.
DL Moody was born in Northfield, Massachusetts. His father died when he was only four years old and his mother was left caring for a large family, including twins that were born after her husband's death. She had to send some of her children out to work at a very early age in order to survive. Barely literate in his early years, Dwight worked as a shoe salesman for his uncle in Chicago.
Following a conversation with his Sunday school teacher, Dwight became a Christian in 1855. He initially worked with poor children off the streets, starting a Sunday school for them, and then began a church in Chicago which was burned down in the Great Chicago Fire. He was very involved with the YMCA.
His early years as an evangelist, both in the UK and in this country were very effective in terms of soul winning, mostly because of the huge amount of personal effort that he put in. He emphasized the "inquiry room," where people received personal counseling in how to follow Jesus. After several years of intense striving, when he was near burnout, DL became convinced of his need of the Holy Spirit. Following an experience that he called "the baptism in the Holy Spirit" he became even more effective as an evangelist, preaching sometimes to crowds of tens of thousands, speaking with great power and authority and with increasing results in terms of people finding Christ. The striving that had marked his early days was gone as he trusted the Holy Spirit to work through him. He emphasized the Holy Spirit in all his teaching from this time on.
Here are some quotes from Moody's book Secret power: or, The secret of success in Christian life and work:
"I think it is clearly taught in Scripture that every believer has the Holy Ghost dwelling in him. He may be quenching the Spirit of God, and he may not glorify God as he should, but if he is a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost dwells in him… Though Christian men and women have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, yet He is not dwelling within them in power; in other words, God has a great many sons and daughters without power."
"The Holy Spirit in us is one thing, and the Holy Spirit on us is another."
"We all need it [the filling of the Holy Spirit] together, and let us not rest day nor night until we possess it; if that is the uppermost thought in our hearts, God will give it to us if we just hunger and thirst for it and say, 'God helping me, I will not rest until endued with power from on high.'"
"The disciples of Jesus were all filled with the Spirit, and the Word was published; and when the Spirit of God comes down upon the church, and we are anointed, the Word will be published in the streets, in the lanes and in the alleys; there will not be a dark cellar nor a dark attic, nor a home where the Gospel will not be carried by some loving heart, if the Spirit comes upon God's people in demonstration and in power."
DL Moody's later years were occupied in providing education, particularly for women. He founded or helped to found four schools including what is now known as the Moody Bible Institute. He died at home in 1899.
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text:
No. 11 Creighton beats Marquette 85-70
MILWAUKEE (AP) Doug McDermott continued his climb up the all-time scoring list with a strong second half and Ethan Wragge dialed in from long distance.
That was enough to lift No. 11 Creighton past Marquette 85-70 on Wednesday night in a foul-plagued Big East game.
McDermott, who entered as the nation's leading scorer at 25.9 points per game, scored 17 of his 25 points in the second half, pushing his career total to 2,888 and moving him past Houston's Elvin Hayes (2,884) and North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough (2,872) into 11th place on the career list.
''I had to take what the defense gave me,'' McDermott said. ''They were physical, making it tough for me. I thought I forced a couple early that were probably bad shots. Kind of just relaxed, and in the second half really just let the game come to me, and was able to get good shots.''
McDermott scored seven points to trigger a deciding 10-2 run after Marquette had pulled within 64-59. McDermott's jumper from the free throw line put the Bluejays (22-4, 12-2 Big East) up 74-61 with 4:39 left.
Creighton did not trail over the final 20 minutes after leading 42-35 at halftime.
''It goes without saying, with the way Marquette was playing, we were scared to death of this game,'' said Creighton coach Greg McDermott, Doug's father. ''I thought their level of confidence and intensity was in a different place than it was when we played them on New Year's Eve. For that reason, I thought the start of the game was really important.''
Wragge had 22 points, making 6 of 8 3-point attempts, and Austin Chatman added 10 points, despite being limited to 20 minutes because of foul trouble.
Todd Mayo had 13 points for the Golden Eagles (15-11, 7-6), who had won three straight, while Deonte Burton added 11.
''We tried a lot of different things, weren't very successful at many,'' Marquette coach Buzz Williams said. ''(No.) 3 (McDermott) shot 75 percent from the field, 34 (Wragge) had 18 points from 3, and they shot 63 percent for the game. That is really good offense and subpar defense, as it relates to us giving ourselves a chance to win.''
Marquette, which had made 24 of 27 free throws in an 81-72 victory over Xavier on Saturday, was just 20 of 36 from the line. The Bluejays were called for 30 fouls and Marquette 22.
''I'm not sure we've had 30 fouls called on us in my four years at Creighton,'' Greg McDermott said. ''It was just one of those games that was physical and they tried to control it; just two teams playing hard.''
Led by Wragge, Creighton finished 12 of 23 from beyond the arc, while Marquette was 2 for 11.
''We got loose in transition a few times for some 3s and were able to knock some done,'' Greg McDermott said. ''In a half where they did a good job of making Doug's touches tough, we were able to use some guys and Doug was able to pass out of double-teams for open 3s. We were able to get Doug on the move a little more in the second half.''
Creighton hit five of its first six 3-point attempts, including three straight by Wragge, to take a 17-13 lead with 14:07 left in the half.
The Bluejays extended the lead to 26-16 on an easy layup by McDermott, but Marquette chipped away, pulling within 35-31 on two free throws by Burton.
Creighton pushed the lead back to 42-32 on two free throws by McDermott, but Jamil Wilson's three-point play cut the lead to 42-35 at halftime.
Marquette successfully denied McDermott the ball, limiting him to just four shots, none from beyond the arc.
The Golden Eagles offset Creighton's 7-to-1 advantage in 3-point field goals by turning six offensive rebounds into 10 second-chance points. The Bluejays outrebounded Marquette 17-15 in the first half, but had no offensive rebounds.
''A huge win. (Marquette) is a really good team, especially at home,'' Doug McDermott said. ''To come away with a win is huge. They are a really tough team. This is big for us, because now we get a couple days off and play a tough Seton Hall team at home.''


text:
Disgruntled Maid Puts Period Blood in Boss's Coffee
A domestic worker in the western Singapore town of Choa Chu Kang pleaded guilty in court today to mixing her menstrual blood into a cup of coffee she had prepared for her employer.
The incident reportedly occurred last year; no motive for the crime was given. The 24-year-old Indonesian woman who goes by the name Jumiah had been working as a maid for a year prior to the coffee "mischief."
She now faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison, as well as a large fine. Her employer, meanwhile, faces a lifetime of making his own coffee.
[image via Shutterstock]


text:
How do healthy cells work?
What is a cell?
Cells are the most basic units of life. Each cell is a complex structure that could theoretically survive, grow, reproduce and die on its own. The cells in our bodies, however, work together with similar cells to form structures called tissues. Tissues make up the different organs and functional material in our bodies.
Each cell is composed of many smaller units called organelles. An organelle in a cell is analogous to an organ in the human body. Important organelles include: the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, lysosomes, ribosomes, and the nucleus. The organelles each perform different functions to keep the cell alive and healthy.
The cell with labeled organelles.
The most important organelle is the nucleus. The nucleus is like the brain of a cell. It controls all actions that the cell undertakes. The nucleus can do this because it contains DNA. DNA is the genetic blueprint for the cell that contains all the necessary information for cells to live, grow, reproduce, and die. It is inherited from the cell's parent and is passed down to the daughter cell when it reproduces. DNA exists as a double-stranded helix made up of four randomly repeating nucleotides, which form a code that tells the cell how to produce all necessary proteins.
DNA double helix with labeled nucleotide base pairs.
ÓU.S. National Library of Medicine
How are cells regulated?
The cell possesses enough genetic material to produce almost 100,000 different proteins, each with a different function. How does a cell know when to produce a protein and how much of it to produce? This is decided by a process called gene expression. Certain genes are expressed (meaning the code is read and used to make a protein) depending on signals from inside or outside the cell. For example, when a cell becomes too large, certain signals are produced to tell the nucleus to make proteins needed for cell division. The nucleus then expresses those specific genes. In this manner, cells regulate themselves and each other, maintaining balance and order in the body.
How do cells divide?
Cells grow and divide in a highly regulated system called the cell cycle. During most of the cell cycle, the cell grows at a normal pace and performs its normal functions. When a cell gets too large, the cell must divide. The process by which a cell divides in half to create two identical copies of itself is known as mitosis. The two new cells are called daughter cells. For this two occur, the DNA must replicate itself to provide a complete genome for each daughter cell. The organelles must also equally distribute themselves so each daughter cell receives an adequate amount to function. The cell must then physically divide, separating the contents of the cytoplasm into the two new cells. This process is highly regulated through gene expression.
The stages of mitosis.
© 2000, W. H. Freeman and Company
Biology of cells from Discovery Channel
Learn More
CancerQuest: Cell Structure
CancerQuest: The Cell Cycle
CancerQuest: Mitosis