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PHOENIX – The Pacers had a simple goal as they embarked on their last major road trip of the 2012-2013 regular season: Try to get to .500 on the road.
Before this week Indiana was 15-19 in games away from Bankers Life Fieldhouse, but four games against Western Conference opponents gave them a chance to bring themselves back to even.
Right now, their three-quarters the way there.
Once again the Pacers showed moxie on the road as they pushed past the Suns 112-104 late Saturday night at the US Airways Center.
The team is now 18-19 on the road for the season but more importantly 47-27 on the season, putting them a half-game ahead of the Knicks for second place in the Eastern Conference.
Paul George led the Pacers with 25 points while Roy Hibbert contributed 20 along with a team-high seven rebounds.
Indiana had as much as a ten-point lead in the fourth quarter but the Suns rallied back to cut the deficit to three before the Pacers shut the door and put themselves just one win away from a road trip sweep.
That game will be the toughest, however, as the Pacers go to the Staples Center Monday night to visit the Clippers who are 49-29 on the season.


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Thanks for stopping by as I share with you my SOUL FICTION. You could be anywhere else right now, but you are here with me. I appreciate that. Enjoy and happy reading!
When a past desire, current temptation, and new passion are all vying for his attention, what's a Christian to do?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Apple's Old Standbys, iPods and Macs, Drive Profit
IPhone Sales Reassure Some Investors but Fail To Reach Blowout Level
Apple Inc.'s iPhone has been a magnet for hype. But the company's iPods and Macintosh computers were the stars of the quarter.
The Cupertino, Calif., company said record sales of iPods and Macs helped the company post a 73% increase in its fiscal third-quarter earnings and a 24% rise in revenue. Apple also said it sold 270,000 iPhones in the period and reiterated its goal of selling 10 million of the cellphones by the end of next year....


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I thought it might be helpful to drop a quick
note expressing the CCPR's support for the appeal from Trevor
Brooking for mini-playing fields (2,000 square metres) to be covered
by Sport England Statutory Consultation.
As Trevor pointed out, this would at least provide
some protection to the mini-pitches which form the basis of the
Football Association's junior development plans. This is particularly
important at a time when the new Football Foundation is investing
record sums in junior football.
In addition, this change from 4,000 square metres
would bring Sport England and the DTLR in line with the Department
for Education and Skills which classifies school playing fields
at 2,000 square metres. This would facilitate the production of
co-ordinated figures on playing fields, something that the DCMS
Monitoring Group has found to be a particular problem.
Any encouragement the Committee is able to offer
the Planning Minister to alter the size of Sport England Statutory
Consultations would be greatly appreciated.


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The Washington Post, whose editorial board limply endorsed Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe, gave three Pinocchios to a Mike Bloomberg pac sponsored attack ad going after Republican gubernatorial nominee Ken Cuccinelli on the issue of guns. WaPo's fact checker Glenn Kessler called the images in the ad "misleading" among other criticisms:
Voiceover of Independence USA PAC ad attacking Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli, as images flash of killers Seung-Hui Cho, Aaron Alexis, Adam Lanza and James Holmes
Independence USA PAC, the Super PAC backed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is reportedly spending $1.1 million on ads supporting Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the race for Virginia governor. This ad attacks Cuccinelli for his uncompromising stance on gun rights, such as not supporting proposals that would close the so-called "gun show loophole."
What's the loophole? Licensed dealers at gun shows must undertake a background check of potential purchasers, but non-dealers can skirt that requirement, as can those making sales in the parking lot.
We've previously noted that the data on guns purchased without background checks, including the often-repeated statistic that 40 percent of gun purchases lack a background check, is rather dated and often mischaracterized. When we dug into the data, some 20 years old, it turned out that the figure is actually between 14 to 22 percent. That's a big difference.
Kessler also notes that a 2004 study showed that "less than 2 percent of inmates incarcerated from crimes committed with handguns said they bought their gun at a gun show or a flea market." The WaPo fact checker remarks that "The biggest sources by far were friends/family or 'the street.'" After listing facts about where four of the most recent mass murderers, whom the ad flashes images of, got their weapons, Kessler writes:
In other words, none of these tragedies would have been prevented by closing the gun-show loophole, but a small case might be made that maintaining better records on mentally ill people might have made a difference.
The ad is also a bit confusing because when it mentions that Cuccinelli opposed closing the gun show loophole, it cites a 2008 Richmond Times-Dispatch article concerning a vote on a gun-control bill in the Virginia legislature — not the more recent federal legislation.
"The images of the killers is over the language that says 'the dangerously mentally ill, criminals,'" said Stu Loeser, a spokesman for Bloomberg and the PAC. "We never say those killers got their guns from gun shows and that the background check would have prevented them in particular. They are there as representatives of killers and mentally ill people, which is what the script is saying."
Kessler gives the attack ad three Pinocchios, saying that the emotional ad does not identify the familiar killers and viewers should be able to name at least one.
"We have a reasonable-person test here. Most viewers would assume the gun-show loophole would have thwarted all of these attacks, but that's not the case. Thus it is misleading to use these images in the ad," Kessler says.
McAuliffe re-iterated his gun control stance at the previous and final debate with Cuccinelli at Virgnia Tech on Thursday, stating, "I don't care what grade I got from the NRA."


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We are always interested in hearing from talented, qualified candidates and students in planning, engineering, and landscape architecture who are passionate about multimodal transportation. For those interested in future positions or internships please send letters of interest and qualifications to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Below are our current openings:
Toole Design Group, LLC is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, age, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law. For a copy of our equal employment opportunity policy send a request to firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Quick Reference
Ion channels that are selective for chloride ions. There are a range of different types including ligand-gated Cl-channels at synapses (the GABA- and glycine-activated channels), as well as voltage-gated Cl-channels. The voltage-gated channels have ten or twelve transmembrane helices and each protein forms a single pore. They are unrelated to known cation channels or other types of anion channels and there are three CLC subfamilies: CLC-1 is involved in setting and restoring the resting membrane potential of skeletal muscle, whereas other channels are important in solute concentration (mechanisms in the kidney. See also cystic fibrosis (CFTR), Mdr. Mutations in CLCN1 are associated with various forms of myotonia congenita. See chloride intracellular channel proteins. Chloride channels can be blocked by substitution of other anions (I−, Br−, or SO42−) or compounds such as 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB), indanyloxyacetic acid 94, niflumic acid, and 4,4-dinitrostilbene-2,2-disulphonic acid (DNDS) as well as some toxins (chlorotoxin, picrotoxin).
Subjects: Medicine and Health — Chemistry.
Related content in Oxford Index
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The clock is ticking until the annual ISA deadline on 5th April - so if you've not used your ISA allowance this year, now is definitely the time to start. more
A recent survey conducted by NS&I indicates that the demographic of ISA savers has undergone quite a few changes in recent years. A survey of over 1,200 UK adults revealed some interesting insights into the behavior of savers in the past few years. more
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text:
The Puerto Stool first debuted at the Standard Hotel in Miami and became so popular that Innit made it a permanent member of the collection.
Comfortable for cocktails and beyond, it's easy to clean and - for outdoor living - is designed to never blow over and dry quickly when wet. Proudly made in LA and Toronto.
Available with white, black, and copper base. Black and white base are suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Copper base is suitable for indoor use only.
Available in 2 heights to choose from:


text:
Status: Open
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first OregonLive.com user to add photos or videos of Provecho
Good food but limited menu. Primarily tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and tostadas, each acailable with grilled chicken, carne asada, ground beef, or vegetaian. Also has breakfast burritos (spicy sausage, ham, or vegetarian) until noon. Also nachos and a salad. Salsa was wonderful and fresh. Margarita was good. Burritos were good, but huge (consider sharing)
This is a great place to eat on Main St. in Vancouver. My favorite Mexican restaurant. I especially love the chicken and black bean tostados. It's a cozy place, like the décor. I have heard people complain about the staff, but I have never had a problem with anyone there. It's a great place to get in and out on...
Provecho is a Mexican restaurant where most Menuism users paid less than $10 and tipped more than 18%.


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Trevor Wang
With over 10 years of international recruitment solutions service, responsible for the management of international recruitment services in Beijing and Shanghai.
United States
Summer Sun
Summer Sun is responsible for connecting and cooperate with local universities, governments and organizations in the U.S., she has also engaged in participating local Chinese students associations' recruiting fairs and executing social recruiting projects.
Jasmine Chang
Founder of MAX HRM, formed an alliance with HelloCareer and work on recruiting projects in The Netherlands, Belgium, UK and Italy, etc.
Aaron Arlott
Responsible for the British and European markets, as well as building relationships with universities while ensuring that we comply with British law as well as headhunting within the aforementioned markets. Also responsible for conducting market research to expand HelloCareer's UK talent pool.
Sissi Zhu
Being familiar with the local market and being responsible for business execution and resource integration.
Minna Ahlvik
Trilingual in Spainish/French/English , partnership with an Europe based recruitment company, coordination with the Chinese team to carry out business and resources integration in UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and other regions.
Evelyn Liu
Being responsible for recruiting local talents in Australia and cooperating with our recruitment team in China to provide customized business solutions.
Japan and South Korea
Kiki Xiong
Being familiar with employment policies and strategies in Japan and South Korea, and being responsible for local recruitment business.
Southeast Asia
Being responsible for managing our alliance company in Asia Pacific and cooperating with our Chinese team to integrate local resources and provide global recruitment solutions.
Our client: a most admired media organization in China
The Case: To help our client find foreign correspondents, reporters, hosts, and editors world wildly, HelloCareer developed the recruitment plan based on our expertise and assessment of the client's recruitment requests. By integrated our mature recruiting channels, we successfully ran a recruiting advertising campaign internationally, and received a total of 5,651 resumes from applicants across the world within 2 months. Upon assessment, 281 candidates were recommended by our senior consultants, and 106 of them were interviewed by the client.
Our Client: a leading airline in China, which has been listed in the World's 500 Most Influential Brands.
The Case: To improve the quality of flight experiences of global passengers, in January, 2017, HelloCareer successfully helped our client to held a customized job fair for flight attendants in Italy. With the support of HC's domestic and overseas recruiting team, more than 600 applications from Italian job seekers were received as a result of our targeted recruitment advertising. Upon assessment, 85 candidates got into the first-round interview, 55 candidates got into the second-round, and 43 candidates successfully finalized their offers.
Our Client: a major manufacturer of automobile components in China, a listed company which manufactures components for 80% of world passenger vehicles.
The Case: In 2016, HelloCareer ran a successful recruitment campaign to help our client hire Chinese overseas students, international students in China, and foreign experienced engineers in the United States, France, and Germany. Our senior international consultants worked together to provide customized recruitment solutions taking advantage of established global recruitment channels and their expertise. As a result, we helped our client achieved their recruitment objective within two months.
Our Client: a large internet group in China
The Case: To help our client recruit UI designers from top American internet companies and introduce them to work in China, HelloCareer searched for qualified candidates in the Chinese overseas talent pool using its intelligent matching function. 10 senior UI designers were recommended by us in 45 days, 1 senior Chinese designer took the job, and the recruitment process was completed in 60 days.
Our Client: a listed company in the new energy industry that does business in over 20 countries, currently it owns a total of 100 branches, subsidiaries, and holding companies, and has total assets of more than 43 billion Chinese Yuan. It has more than 27,000 employees worldwide.
The Case: To help our client recruit R&D professionals, such as new energy researchers specialized in graphene and fuel cell, HelloCareer provide recruiting linkage services to our clients supported by our domestic/overseas consultants. Several experts from USA, Germany and other countries were successfully introduced to China.
Our Client: an international comprehensive financial services company, also operates as a comprehensive enterprise in the Chinese insurance industry, it aimed to recruit 100+ Chinese students at Harvard University in 2015.
The Case: To help our client attract and retain global talents, we carried out a customized recruitment campaign at Harvard University in 2015. HelloCareer used its multi job posting channel and targeted universities promotions to received 1000+ desired applications in a very short time. In the end, there were more than 400 top candidates attend the offline job fair, and 22 of them signed the offer.
Focused on international talents recruiting
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UFO Sighting Report - Canada
December 2003 - February 2004 : Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon, British Columbia Strange UFO Sightings Continue In Vernon
Date: December 2003 - February 2004
Hi Brian, This was the winter when Venus was bright in the sky, and setting before the sun in an incandescing orange and white. I reported it to Brian, but the UFO fever had overtaken me and I would not believe that Venus could do so many things. It took quite a while before I realized the error of my ways. However, while I was riveted on Venus, I was also sighting other things.
I had entered the UFO time zone, which is to say, I was very focused on Venus's movements and forgot to eat, bundled up for the cold to stay outside on the balcony, and bruised my eyes with the binoculars. The nights were cold winter and dark, the sightings were usually over by eight at night. I did this for several weeks. This is when the orbs had begun to fly over Vernon, low over the airport and vicinity. I had also noticed many small aircraft flying up and down the lake heading to Kelowna, coming back, turning around and heading back to Kelowna.
One night an orb, rose over the hill from the lake, moving into town. It stopped mid air. Then the orb morphed into an orange ball, morphed back into a light orb, and then back to the orange ball and then two headlights appeared, I could not see anything other than these two headlights and a red light above and to the left of the headlights. This was very exciting! The headlights hovered there for a few moments, then turned in the direction of the lake, and flew that way. It was not like a plane flying, I noticed that this vehicle just glided and no noise.
Now the orbs had my full attention. So I bundled up warmer and stayed on the balcony for longer times. One night, I watched Venus set around six, and as it set, a moving shadow flowed down the hill from the exact spot that Venus had vacated. For some reason I could see the shape of this shadow, sort of like a Sting ray fish shape. The vehicle coasted down, over the lake, over the houses and into the valley to the left of the airport, or south in direction.
I began to sleep during the days now, as my full attention was on the sky and what was unfolding. From my post on the balcony, I now recognized what was actually flying up and down the lake, racing each other. There were about four that I could count for sure. One night, on the balcony waiting for something to show itself, my attention was drawn up and to my left. What I saw was a huge shadow, then people sitting in windows coasting by like a train in the dark, only this was a triple decker train and flying under three hundred feet. It coasted over head very slowly, went up to the Army Camp and down into the valley. While I was trying to rationalize this,(couldn't) two headlights appeared over the hill out of the valley. The headlights shone on me, they did not blind me like car headlights, there was no glare, only light. What I noticed was the headlights spanned a sixty foot house that it was flying over and the wings covered two blocks. It was about eighty feet over the neighborhood.
It suddenly, dropped its right wing, pivoted a 180 and coasted back to the valley behind. In the lights from the streets and houses, I could definitely make out the shape of this air ship. The body was black and no light reflected off the body. The body is shaped like an arrow, with the tip cut off. The body was smooth, and again the Sting ray fish shape and smoothness comes to mind. It made no sound. The headlights themselves appeared to be over twenty feet high and were placed on each side of the flat front before the wings. I had alot to reflect on. This was a serious upheaval in my reality, Venus had lost its appeal.
After that, I saw the small craft once in a while and things were quiet, with the light orbs coming around and close. This sighting was upstaged later by the same huge vehicle. It was a night when the small planes pilots were getting their night time license and there were a few in the air around six thirty pm a January night.
From the lake rose a ship that I described as lit up like a Christmas tree with golden lights. These were the three decks of windows from the front to the back. Because the body does not reflect light, it appeared that just strings of golden yellow lights were rising.
The ship rose less than a thousand feet and slowly floated over the airport. The upper lights could no longer be seen from the ground, but three huge flat white lights came on under the ship. Each oval light was forty feet in length, ( or something like that, I was beyond excitement ) The small ships also were gathering around this ship, as it moved again toward the Army Camp where I lost sight of the whole parade heading south. For a couple of weeks, I sighted a few more orbs, and one ship during the evening light and then things stopped. It did take me some time to integrate this, planes and cars held no interest for me anymore after seeing and experiencing these events.
It was around the summer when I began to dream of being in the small ships with others slumped over in their seats, and feeling lucky to be half conscious to be able to remember. The flight went straight up and came straight down, I braced my feet against the wall ahead of me coming down, and I was belted in for safety. But this is for another report. Take care Brian.
Thank you to the witness for the report.
Brian Vike, Director HBCC UFO Research.
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: http://www.hbccufo.org http://www.brianvike.com, http://www.hbccufo.com, http://www.hbccufo.net
HBCC UFO Research International: http://www.hbccufointernational.org/
HBCC UFO Research, Box 1091 Houston, British Columbia, Canada - VOJ 1ZO
[UFOINFO thanks Brian Vike for passing this report on.]


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This section contains 691 words
(approx. 2 pages at 400 words per page)
Part 6: Chapter 20, Voyages to Tsiolkovskia Summary and Analysis
The flight of Apollo 8 took place in 1968 after a twenty-three month stand down following the deaths of Virgil Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee. The Soviets had also suffered fatalities in their space program when their Soyuz crashed, killing Vladimir M. Komarov. They were also launching Zond rockets and circling the moon. Thomas O. Paine was now heading NASA and on December 21, Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders made the historic trip in Apollo 8. Soon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the surface. The moon shot was pretty much of a dead end mission. Its purpose was science and prestige while most of space was about reconnaissance and communications satellites.
Johnson also believed that space exploration should only be for peaceful purposes and made plans for a U.N. treaty supporting...
(read more from the Part 6: Chapter 20, Voyages to Tsiolkovskia Summary)
This section contains 691 words
(approx. 2 pages at 400 words per page)


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Enterprise Network Testing Testing Throughout the Network Lifecycle to Maximize Availability and Performance Andy Sholomon, CCIEAr No. 15179 Tom Kunath, CCIE No. 1679 The complete guide to using testing to reduce risk and downtime in advanced enterprise networks Testing has become crucial to meeting enterprise expectations of near-zero network downtime. Enterprise Network Testing is the first comprehensive guide to all facets of enterprise network testing. Cisco enterprise consultants Andy Sholomon and Tom Kunath offer a complete blueprint and best-practice methodologies for testing any new network system, product, solution, or advanced technology. Sholomon and Kunath begin by explaining why it is important to test and how network professionals can leverage structured system testing to meet specific business goals. Then, drawing on their extensive experience with enterprise clients, they present several detailed case studies. Through real-world examples, you learn how to test architectural aproofs of concept, a specific network features, network readiness for use, migration processes, security, and more. Enterprise Network Testing contains easy-to-adapt reference test plans for branches, WANs/MANs, data centers, and campuses. The authors also offer specific guidance on testing many key network technologies, including MPLS/VPN, QoS, VoIP, video, IPsec VPNs, advanced routing (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP), and Data Center Fabrics. As Understand why, when, and how you should test your network As Use testing to discover critical network design flaws As Incorporate structured systems testing into enterprise architecture strategy As Utilize testing to improve decision-making throughout the network lifecycle As Develop an effective testing organization and lab facility As Choose and use test services providers As Scope, plan, and manage network test assignments As nLeverage the best commercial, free, and IOS test tools As Successfully execute test plans, including crucial low-level details As Minimize the equipment required to test large-scale networks As Identify gaps in network readiness As Validate and refine device configurations As Certify new hardware, operating systems, and software features As Test data center performance and scalability As Leverage test labs for hands-on technology training This book is part of the Networking Technology Series from Cisco PressAr, which offers networking professionals valuable information for constructing efficient networks, understanding new technologies, and building successful careers.The authors also offer specific guidance on testing many key network technologies, including MPLS/VPN, QoS, VoIP, video, IPsec VPNs, advanced routing (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP), and Data Center Fabrics. As Understand why, when, and how you should ...
|Enterprise Network Testing
|Andy Sholomon, Tom Kunath
|Pearson Education - 2011-04-14
You must register with us as either a Registered User before you can Download this Book. You'll be greeted by a simple sign-up page.
Once you have finished the sign-up process, you will be redirected to your download Book page.How it works:


text:
Singer Castle on Dark Island is accepting applications. Most positions are entry level and no experience is necessary; we will train for duties necessary. The following is a list of positions available at Singer Castle for the 2016 season. These positions are seasonal.
Interested individuals may apply for any of the positions available at Singer Castle. Print and fill out the two (2) page application. Mail the applications to Thomas Weldon, President, Singer Castle on Dark Island, P.O. Box 59, Chippewa Bay, NY 13623. You will be contacted as to the status of interviews, training and scheduling. If you require assistance in filling out the application, please e-mail your questions to Thomas Weldon at email@example.com. Thank you in your interest in a position!
Thank you in your interest in a position at the amazing Singer Castle on Dark Island.
Employment Application
Please download file here: employment.pdf (434 kb)
Once the application has been completed, please mail anytime to the above address.
Tour Guide: As a tour guide you would be escorting guests on a 45-minute guided walking narrative tours of the interior and parts of the exterior of this beautiful castle. This position does include some housekeeping and requires good communication skills.
Managers: As a Manager you will assist in the safety, security and timeliness of daily visitors and operations. You would be responsible for answering the phones, using the mobile paging system to track staff and visitors. You would also be responsible for checking the days' cash and credit receipts, timesheet tracking, some staff supervision and communications.
Gift and Ticket Cashier: As a gift cashier, you would be helping our guests in the purchase of tour tickets and souvenirs. This position does include light housekeeping in the gift shop area.
Janitorial: As part of our janitorial team you would be responsible for helping keep our facility clean. This includes daily cleaning of the restrooms, Castle greens, grounds, and offices.
Construction support staff: Join our construction team of restoration artisans and painters as they work to maintain this beautiful historical landmark. This position does require some experience.
Mr. Thomas Weldon
SINGER CASTLE on Dark Island
Box 59
Chippewa Bay, NY 13623
Tel.: (315) 324-3275
Fax: (315) 324-5543


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How R&D Is Paying Off for These Medical-Device Makers
Medtronic , St. Jude Medical , and Boston Scientific are three medical-device makers that pour hundreds of millions of dollars into research and development every year. What follows is a concrete example of how their technological devices save millions of lives.
At the recent mHealth Summit near Washington, D.C., the Fool's Max Macaluso and Rex Moore were able to speak with Robert McCray of the Wireless-Life Sciences Alliance. In this video, Rob explains how Medtronic, St. Jude, and Boston Scientific incorporate wireless technology in their defibrillators, and how it helps doctors and patients alike.
A full transcript follows the video.
The best stock for your portfolio in 2014
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Robert McCray: One example is the big med-device companies: Medtronic , St. Jude , and Boston Scientific . They all have competing defibrillators that are implanted, that collect information about the patient, and they save lives when there's a heart rhythm issue and they fire off.
Traditionally, a patient with a defibrillator -- an implant -- had to go into a doctor's office, who had a special device to pull information from that defibrillator and determine how the patient was doing, whether some adjustment to meds was required, whether the device itself had some defect.
Starting about eight years ago, all three of the companies put wireless systems in those defibrillators so that they could be read on a bedside monitor in the patient's home. As a result of that, based on one very large retrospective study, the life expectancy of patients with that connected health defibrillator was twice as good after five years as those that didn't have it. That's a concrete example.
They weren't paid for this, by the way. There's no extra reimbursement for this technology. It just made their product better.
The article How R&D Is Paying Off for These Medical-Device Makers originally appeared on Fool.com.Max Macaluso, Ph.D. has no position in any stocks mentioned. Rex Moore has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Medtronic. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2014 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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Open Thread: Everything You're Reading, Watching, Listening To and Looking At
This is your place to talk about the TV, movies, music, books and art that are thoroughly entertaining you.
I apologize for the lateness of this recap; its timing is a result of both my having been in Jamaica for the past ten days (more on that later) and the fact that this was a DOUBLE EPISODE. Our cups runneth over, you guys! Let's begin.
Hospital times are over, and everyone at Downton Abbey is semi-obsessed with how things have changed and whether they do/don't want them to go back to how they were. Sybil is especially restless having spent the past two years working, and poor Edith is back to her normal wallflower status, although as Sybil assures her: "You're much nicer now than you were before the war." I for one am really glad the payoff of a bazillion dudes getting killed or injured is that Edith is a less hateful person.
The war's end has taken the greatest toll on Lord Grantham, who is having some kind of early 20th century midlife crisis. When Cora suggests that he fire Bates because Bates' wife killed herself, he is irritated, but when she also suggests that it's time to give Matthew the boot, Lord G gets positively angry with her. There's a great deal of distance between Lord G and his wife at present, it seems. I'm sure THAT won't amount to anything.
Thomas has big plans of going into business on the black market, selling goods made difficult to find by the war at a huge markup. He got the idea from talking with Mrs. Patmore in last week's episode, who may or may not be resorting to black market goods to keep the Crawleys in cakes and puddings. O'Brien and Thomas discuss his plans in the servants' hall and O'Brien seems unimpressed -- or even opposed -- to his plan.
Upstairs, Sir Richard pulls Anna into a bedroom and, in a roundabout way, asks her to report on Lady Mary's activities. He says it differently, of course, trying to portray his request as an attempt to get to know his future wife better, but Anna sees right through his expressed desire to know more about Mary's "interests," including where she goes and whom she sees. He offers to pay Anna handsomely for this information, but Anna is loyal and true and says no. When Sir Richard then asks Anna to keep this conversation to herself, the creep factor gets turned up to 11. Because this guy wasn't unlikeable enough already!
The after-dinner conversation upstairs continues to dwell on how the war has changed everything. Mary mentions the "boy's haircuts" the women in Paris are wearing, and Matthew wryly comments that he hopes she won't be following suit; it's a comment that borders on the overfamiliar, and both Sir Richard and Lavinia shift uncomfortably in its wake. Lavinia observes that "I don't know how feminine they are," and Mary retorts, "I don't know how feminine I am." Sir Richard assures her the answer is "very," as though his word is the final say on the matter.
Downstairs, Carson and Mrs. Hughes are discussing his impending departure. Carson is nearly heartbroken to be leaving Downton Abbey, even if it is to follow his beloved Lady Mary, but is willing to make the sacrifice in order to help Mary's marriage "succeed." I am SO bloody tired of this successful marriage talk, folks, as it is basically code for "not being utterly miserable being tied to someone you kind of hate for the rest of your life" and frankly I don't think Sir Richard can be salvaged into a decent person. But hey, Carson wants to give it a shot, so bully for him.
Of course, Anna picks this moment to pop in and tell Mrs. Hughes about Sir Richard's offer of money for information, which naturally gives the super-honorable Carson something to think about.
Matthew has been tingling, although the tingle seems to be in his legs and not his peen, as many readers suggested last week. The doctors are telling him the tingle is imaginary. Matthew relates all of this to Bates, who is helping him prepare for bed, and who once had a war injury that left him with a gamby leg that seems to have magically healed quite a bit since the first series. I guess Matthew figures Bates knows about leg stuff.
The following day, Carson has decided to withdraw his pledge to come work for Mary and Sir Richard in their new house. When he tells Mary this, she is outraged. When she hears he came to his decision as a result of hearing Anna's experience, she is inexplicably angry with ANNA for not telling her first. Mary is being incredibly spoiled and selfish here, but it's also worth noting that she was probably relying on Carson to be an ally in her new household. There is a desperation in her reaction that belies more than simple disappointment; she seems to feel betrayed. When
Sir Richard enters and hears that plans have changed, he seems neither surprised nor interested. Mary dismisses Carson with an imperious tone clearly intended to underscore his position beneath her, and it's overall a very ugly moment for Mary.
Lord Grantham ventures downstairs to the butler's pantry in search of Carson, but finds Jane there instead. He goes to leave but she stops him, mentioning their meeting on one of the paths outside the house a day or two prior, in which Lord G got a little morose about the end of the war and his subsequent feelings of uselessness. Suddenly Lord G grabs Jane and kisses her, and she seems as shocked as anyone.
He recovers himself, begs her forgiveness, and leaves. Sheesh, poor Jane.
Matthew and Lavinia are alone together in the parlor upstairs before dinner, and Lavinia notices that the tea tray from earlier hasn't been moved. She picks it up to set it aside, in spite of Matthew's insistence that it's too heavy for her -- is Lavinia secretly made of jelly or what? -- when she stupidly trips over a footstool and nearly falls.
NEARLY falls, because Matthew stands up to catch her. Oh, it's a MIRACLE everybody! Heaven forfend that we should have a romantic hero who experiences a disability and yet retains his self-worth. It's not so much that I am opposed to Matthew getting his legs back as I am to the way in which this subplot was handled; it feels awfully like Matthew was hurt as a crude device, just so we could have this moment in which he is magically cured, and thus it did nothing for me.
And I LOVE MATTHEW, folks.
The whole household comes a-runnin' to see Matthew stand up, and while I'd like to share in their joy this too-tidy resolution of the Matthew-can't-walk story feels forced and unpleasant to me.
At dinner, Matthew and Lavinia announce their plans to marry. Again. Oh, yay. If that weren't enough joy for one evening, Lavinia -- who is seriously clueless -- wants to have the wedding at Downton Abbey, since the Crawleys have played such a role in Matthew's recovery. Mary looks bleak at the prospect, but Lord G -- who is almost as clueless as Lavinia -- thinks it's a swell idea.
Later, Sybil takes another walk out to the garage to tell Branson, finally, that she loves him and will go away with him. Branson is sort of shocked by it. That is a dude with PATIENCE. He asks her, "You won't mind burning your bridges?" Sybil replies, "Mind? Fetch me the matches." AND THEY KISS, and it's very sweet.
Back at the house, preparing for bed, Cora tells Lord G she's displeased with his approving Matthew and Lavinia's wedding without talking to her about it first. Her concern is primarily that their wedding will further delay Mary's wedding, and a disgusted Lord G calls her selfish, point-blank. Yikes.
Remember Major Moustache? His parents have come to Downton Abbey to see the place where their son spent his recovery prior to getting killed back at the front. Mrs. Hughes has been trying to angle a way to get a private word with Mrs.Moustache, to tell her about Ethel and the baby, but the senior Mr. Moustache is kind of a dick and doesn't want to spend more time than it takes to eat lunch and run.
Mrs. Hughes returns to the shed where Ethel is hiding and tells her it's not going to work out. Ethel, never one to back down, takes matters into her own hands and barges into the dining room to show the Moustaches their grandson, who will probably have a great moustache one day but currently being a baby is pretty clean-shaven. The senior Mr. Moustache demands proof of the baby's paternity, but this being the days before Maury Povich I'm not sure what proof he expects to get.
Once the sobbing Ethel has been driven out, MM's jerk dad says she's clearly some drudge lying about the baby's origins in hopes of wringing some money out of the the grieving Moustaches. While Mrs. Moustache seems less inclined to dismiss the idea, her husband decides lunch is over and demands they leave.
Thomas has taken up the task of supplying the ingredients for Matthew and Lavinia's wedding cake, which Daisy is going to bake. Mrs. Patmore is dubious of the success of both of these efforts but gamely allows them to proceed. Unfortunately, the resulting cake is inedible; Mrs. Patmore tastes the flour and declares it to be two-thirds plaster, and the other ingredients to be bad as well. Oh, I can't wait until they tell Thomas he has a shed full of this worthless junk.
Things are looking equally bad for Bates, who has recently realized he bought the arsenic (in the form of rat poison) that his wife used to kill herself, and her evil continues to reach out and play havoc with Bates' and Anna's happiness from beyond the grave, as a letter she wrote has surfaced in which she claims to be afraid that Bates is going to kill her, thereby implicating him in her "suicide." Hey Anna, way to back the most baggage-laden pony in the race, girl!
Sybil was missing at dinner, allegedly having complained of illness, but when Mary knocks on her door to say goodnight, she receives no response. She and Edith enter Sybil's bedroom to find it empty save for a note explaining that she has eloped with Branson.
Oh man, Edith take the wheel: she and Mary hop in the car on a search mission, discovering the lovers spending the most chaste night ever in a hotel, with Sybil in bed and Branson in a chair, both of them fully dressed. Mary demands that Sybil come home and do things properly, or better yet not at all. She asks that Sybil at least give her family a chance to accept her choice. Sybil bedrgudgingly agrees, to Branson's consternation, and on their way out Mary grotesquely offers Branson money to pay for the room, which he refuses in a manner more respectful than the suggestion deserves.
Thomas, having been told his storeroom of supplies are worth squat, visits his storage shed and trashes the place, crying. O'Brien discovers him and he explains that he has lost everything, having sunk every penny he had into this trash. Yeah, still having a hard time feeling badly for Thomas, but this is close.
After an indeterminate amount of time has passed (a few months?) preparations for Matthew and Lavinia's wedding are fully underway, with decorations being put up and gifts arriving. Lavinia is rosy-cheeked and happy in anticipation so you know something terrible is going to happen to her.
Branson, in the meantime, has secured a job as a journalist in Dublin, and he and Sybil intend to formally tell her parents about their plans to marry following dinner. When he turns up in the sitting room, Sybil wavers, but he insists that the time is nigh. As the realization dawns on the remaining family members who didn't know about it, the shared horror of Lord Grantham and Lady Cora borders on the comical. Surprisingly, only Violet seems to take the news in stride, even as she is vigorously opposed to it.
Downstairs, the response isn't much better, with Carson telling Branson to GTFO of the house immediately, and instructing the rest of the staff against speaking of the subject even in private.
Meanwhile, various members of the household are looking a little poorly; Cora leaves the dinner table to go to bed, Carson isn't feeling well, and even rosy-cheeked Lavinia is less vivacious than usual. Dr. Clarkson is sent for and upon his arrival he prescribes aspirin and rest for everyone taken ill, which means Lavinia must spend the night at Downton Abbey.
Downstairs following dinner, Anna corners Bates and tells him she wants to get married, right now, and that he's going to go get the registration and that's the end of it. Bates resists, worried as he is about possible legal implications of his wife's death, but eventually relents. I feel as though Bates and Anna's romance has taken a curiously businesslike turn in the second series, and that there's been very little interesting character development for either of them. They've become a little boring to me, I'm sorry to say. Even Bates' limp seems to have all but vanished, although possibly he has just loaned it to newly-mobile Matthew.
In the quiet of the Spanish-Flu-afflicted house, Mary finds Matthew alone, listening to the new gramophone, a wedding gift for him and Lavinia. Matthew invites her to dance, and when Mary asks, "Can you manage without your stick?" he replies, "You are my stick." In the course of their dancing, Matthew tells Mary of how Violet came to him and told him of Mary's enduring feelings, and admits he shares them, but how can he throw Lavinia over now, after she was willing to stick by him in sickness as in health?
This scene is a perfect example of what Downton Abbey does best, and when Mary and Matthew start kissing and then practically making out, it is all but a foregone conclusion that still-unwell Lavinia will happen along to interrupt them. She doesn't seem to have heard their conversation or seen them kissing... OR HAS SHE?
Making out is in the air, as further upstairs Lord Grantham and Jane are getting it on in Lord G's dressing room, when Bates almost walks in on them. Lord G blocks the door and a confused Bates goes on his way. Lord Grantham apologizes to Jane AGAIN and sends her away, and I have to wonder if his horror and disgust at Sybil's plans to marry Branson aren't him just projecting his anger at himself for getting all moony over a housemaid. It's all very hypocritical, is all I'm saying.
Cora is severely ill, and being nursed day in and day out by O'Brien, who is still wracked with guilt over semi-intentionally causing Lady Cora's miscarriage way back when. In a moment alone with her ailing mistress, a tearful O'Brien tries to confess and ask her forgiveness, but Cora is too out of it to understand or respond.
With Carson also down with the Spanish Flu, Thomas has stepped up to help in an effort to re-ingratiate himself to the staff. Thomas has been staying at Downton rent-free and was on the verge of being forcibly evicted when the illness struck, so yet again he is benefitting from the misfortune of others. Mrs. Hughes tells him she has no money to pay him with and he answers, "Call it rent." He is ALMOST likeable here. ALMOST.
In the midst of all the upheaval, the Moustaches suddenly write saying they'd like to meet with Ethel and the baby again. Mrs. Hughes orchestrates the meeting, and the senior Mr. Moustache announces that they are willing to take the baby and lie to him about his mother. On the up side, he will be raised as a gentleman, with all the privileges that entails. On the down side, Ethel will never see him again. They leave poor Ethel to make Sophie's Choice, assuming she'll submit to their wishes. Ugh.
Although still-in-bed Lavinia is not particularly ill herself, she and Matthew agree they'll have to postpone the wedding. Left alone together by Isobel, Matthew tries to broach the subject of a new date when Lavinia stops him and admits she not only overheard his comments to Mary the previous evening, but saw them kissing, AND she thought how wonderful they looked together. Oh Lavinia STOP IT. Of course she's not angry, she just wants Matthew to follow his heart, even if it leads to Mary, as she believes it will.
Matthew seems caught between relief at not having to pretend it isn't true, and despair at the prospect of having hurt Lavinia, the last thing he ever wanted to do. Lavinia says they'll discuss it later, but she wants to rest now, and he leaves her to it.
Sir Richard, having heard Lavinia was ill, has come running from London to guard his interests under the guise of offering "help." Nobody is glad to see him.
Cora has taken a turn for the worse and is gravely ill, with Dr. Clarkson seeming uncertain of whether she will survive the night. As if that weren't enough, dinner is interuppted (AGAIN!) by Sybil, who announces that Lavinia's gone from seeming slightly tired to being at death's door. Matthew races upstairs to be with her, and when Mary tries to follow, Sir Richard holds her back, demanding she let them be alone together. Mary shakes him off and goes anyway.
Upstairs in Lavinia's bedroom, Matthew clasps her poor sick hand and tells her he's there for her. Lavinia, pleasant and sacrificing to the very end, almost literally says "Hey Matthew, Imma die now so it makes your life easier!" And then she dies. No, really. She up and dies, just like that. REALLY, Downton Abbey? REALLY?
The following day, Cora is fine. Of course. Cora was the diversion! She apologizes to Lord Grantham for having been so distracted lately and asks if they're "OK", and he agrees they are. Naturally this means Jane is out of a job, and she gives her notice to Lord G first -- kissing him one last time -- and then Mrs. Hughes, who seems to suspect that something untoward has been going on between them, but reserves judgement.
Ethel returns to the mourning household to tell Mrs. Hughes that she's made up her mind, she's keeping her baby, oooh, she's gonna keep her baby. It'll be interesting to see how the Moustaches take that news.
Bates and Anna get married on a Friday afternoon and I don't mind telling you it is seriously anticlimactic after all the sickness and death and stuff. That evening, Anna confides in Mary about it, who leads her to an unused upstairs bedroom decorated with flowers and lit candles, all which was handled by the departing Jane. She says Anna and Bates can spend the night in there and no one with bother them. SEX, you guys! Hot married sex!
Of course, we don't see the sex, but move directly to the boring afterglow, in which Bates and Anna caress each other lovingly and seem really happy, which (ALL TOGETHER NOW) means something terrible is about to happen.
Lavinia's funeral is terribly sad, and Matthew is still devastated by her death. Though he has been avoiding Mary since that night, she finally gets him alone after the burial, and a crying Matthew explains that the two of them could NEVER EVER EVER be happy together now. Matthew blames himself for Lavinia's death, believing she "gave up" because she knew he was still in love with Mary, and she with him. He tells Mary, "We are cursed, you and I," and Mary seems as emotionally despondent as we've ever seen her, realizing that Matthew is really for real telling her for the umpteenth time that they are not going to be together.
Branson has also come to the funeral, to Lord Grantham's chagrin, and Sybil tells him that since the funeral is over, they plan to leave for Dublin soon, where Sybil will live with Branson's mother until they are married. Lord G is unyielding at first, but as they turn to go he stops them and gives his blessing, also promising to give them some money to help them get started. Aw, good on ya, Lord G. He and Branson share a wonderful manly handshake and Sybil is ecstatic; things actually look good for one of the Crawley sisters, for once.
The hammer still has to fall on Bates and Anna, however: upon returning from the funeral, Bates finds two police detectives waiting for him in the servants' hall. Sure enough, he is arrested on suspicion of having murdered his evil wife, and he and Anna must share an abrupt and tearful goodbye.
Next week: Will Bates swing for his wife's death? Will Daisy forgive herself for marrying William? Will Matthew ever climb down off that damn cross? Until then.You can read more of Lesley's overthinking about costume dramas and other things by following her on Twitter.


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SOMERS — A firsthand look Friday at Somers prison confirmed a legislative committee's belief that the six guard towers there should be reopened.
"I want to make sure that the residents of this area are safe," said state Sen. Frank D. Barrows, D-Hartford, co-chairman of the General Assembly's Public Safety Committee. "No one can guarantee that there won't be an escape again."


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With so many emails being received today you really need to be specific and treat your list with respect.
- Do you have good practices?
- Are you trying to sell to them in every email ?
- Are you trying to sell the same product over and over again
- Worse are you trying to sell to them even when they have bought the product already? !
- Are you trying to give them information that they haven't signed up for ..marketing to your entire list rather than just a specific group?
- Are you marketing the same everyone?
- Would you market your product differently to a man than a woman?
- When was the last time you emailed them – was it 6 months ago & once last week!
We tend to open emails that we recognise as likely to contain useful, timely information
Top Tips:
Be consistent and predictable
Send follow up letters when someone has purchased – good customer service
Send details of relevant events
Send emails with great top tips ..give value
Give them product choices ..if they would like the product but in a different colour offer it to them but do so quickly send a monthly newsletter
Reply to any enquires quickly
Always give value
What to record on your database:
- Name
- Gender
- Location
- Married
- Career
Build your database & use an autoresponder that can record who is opening your emails and what is being clicked on, who is buying what >>>>record, record, record >>>>>>
Then you can write better, more focused emails to your customers giving them the products and services that suit them
Hope this is useful


text: EDGE - You're in the zombie nightmare of DayZ and about to be eaten by one of the charging undead when suddenly a helicopter appears. Its pilots – and simply owning a helicopter lets you know they're big shots – gun down your pursuer and offer you a lift. What you don't know is that instead of flying you to safety, your destination is the tiny, featureless Schadenfreude Island some 15km off the main coast of Chernarus. The only reason they've saved you is for the amusement of knowing you're condemned to stand there until you waste away, and that they were smart enough to fool you.


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MORE– Rioting in Denmark… Mosque Urges Youths to Quit Torchings
Another night of rioting in Denmark…
Some observers say social unrest among young Muslims has been made worse by the re-printing on Wednesday by several Danish newspapers of controversial cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed- EuroNews.
Firemen put out the fire in a burning car in Noerrebro, Copenhagen late February 15, 2008. Seventeen youths were arrested after four nights of rioting in a number of largely immigrant neighbourhoods of Copenhagen, police said. Picture taken February 15, 2008. (REUTERS/Nils Meilvang)
The authorities say they are at a loss explain this year's rioting that involved immigrant youths torching cars and schools in the major cities.
The AFP wonders:
Hundreds of youths have taken to the streets in riots across Denmark this week with racism and police harassment suggested as the cause of the discontent as the youngsters remained silent on the motive.
The government stressed Friday it had zero tolerance for the troublemakers, less than a year after violent riots raged for days in Copenhagen over the closure of a youth centre.
Small groups of youths have set dozens of cars and dumpsters ablaze. Police officers and fire brigades have been met with stonethrowing and molotov cocktails in five consecutive nights of violence in the capital that have gradually spread to other Danish towns.
Some 50 people aged 15 to 25 have been arrested during the past week, charged with arson and violence against police officers.
While last year's riots were caused by youths angry over the closure of the youth centre, this time around authorities were at a loss to explain the violence.
"We don't know exactly what's behind it," Copenhagen police spokesman Flemming Steen Munch told AFP.
The riots began at the weekend in Copenhagen's heavily immigrant populated neighbourhoods of Noerrebro and Vesterbro, but have since spread to several other areas, including Denmark's second biggest city Aarhus and other regions have no significant numbers of immigrants.
According to media reports, some of those taking part in the riots were aged 10 to 12 years old, though police said no one that young had been arrested.
A local imam urged his flock to quit the car torchings during Friday prayers.
Muslims pray at the Islamic Faith Community Center in Copenhagen, Denmark Friday Feb. 15, 2008. Imam Mostafa Chendid urged during the prayers for youths to calm down and stop the recent burning of cars and property, saying it was hurting the image of Islam. (AP Photo/John McConnico)
The disenfranchised Muslim youths torched at least one elementary school this week.
Vaerebro elementary school burns after being set on fire by demonstrators in Vaerloese north of Copenhagen, Thursday, in the fifth consecutive night of rioting. (Mogens Flindt, AFP)
RIOTS IN DENMARK! Muslim Youths Go On Torching Rampage
UPDATE: Danish lawmakers cancelled a trip to Iran today after the regime demanded an apology for the recent postings of the Mohammad cartoons.
UPDATE 2: Lawhawk has more on the latest torchings.
UPDATE 3: Roger Kimball offers analysis of the Danish dilemma at Pajamas Media.
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An adaptable "invisibility cloak" that hides objects even as they change shape has been unveiled by researchers in the US and South Korea. The metamaterial-based design works within a range of microwave frequencies and remains insensitive to changes in shape of up to 8 mm. This marks a significant departure from traditional cloaks, which have to be redesigned to compensate for even small changes in the shape of an object. In addition, the new device covers a larger relative range of frequencies than has been achieved with previous cloaks.
Most invisibility cloaks take advantage of the strange properties of metamaterials – collections of structures that are assembled so that they interact with electromagnetic radiation in very specific ways. One useful property of some metamaterials is that they can be used to guide radiation smoothly around an object in much the same way that water flows around a stone in the middle of a river. For a cloak working in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, our eyes would only detect light that appears to have travelled in a straight line from the space behind the cloaked object, rather than as having travelled around it. Therefore the object would appear invisible.
The practical challenge is designing a cloak with optical properties that change as a function of position so that the device guides a ray of light in precisely the correct way. To do this, physicists have developed a mathematical tool called transformation optics, which "transforms" space in such a way as to make an object disappear in a manner analogous to the coordinate transformations that occur under gravity in general relativity. Using transformation optics and metamaterials, scientists have made real cloaks the work under certain conditions – and mostly in the microwave part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Shape-shifting design
Existing cloaks are designed to hide an object with a specific shape. If the shape changes, then the coordinate transformation – and therefore the electromagnetic properties – of the cloak must also change. One solution to this problem is to make a "smart" metamaterial that changes its electromagnetic properties in just the right way when its shape changes. That is just what researchers at Yonsei University in Seoul and Duke University in North Carolina have done.
The team's elastic metamaterial deforms around the object to be cloaked and alters its electromagnetic properties so that even if the object changed shape slightly, it would still remain cloaked. This imposes an extra constraint on the metamaterial – in addition to having the appropriate electromagnetic properties, it must also have favourable mechanical properties.
Computer modelling done by the team revealed that the ideal material would have a negative Poisson's ratio, which would mean that it gets thicker instead of thinner when stretched. However, "such materials are very rare", explains team member Kyoungsik Kim. Indeed, the researchers were not able to create the ideal metamaterial with the requisite mechanical and electromagnetic properties.
Elegant compromise
Kim and colleagues did, however, find an elegant compromise. They fabricated a lattice of flexible silicon rubber tubes filled with air. The tubes had outer diameters of 10 mm and walls 1 mm thick, and they were closely packed to form a square-lattice structure. The team found that this metamaterial came very close to having the desired properties and was able to cloak objects from microwaves in the 10–12 GHz frequency range. In addition, such a structure would be cheap to produce on a large scale.
Ortwin Hess at Imperial College London is impressed, commenting that the broadband nature of the cloak alone would be newsworthy. "The fact that one has a broadband cloak is a very remarkable and good demonstration," he says. "Recently there have been some demonstrations that are more broadband than the initial ones, but here the bandwidth [10–12 GHz] is quite remarkable. The second remarkable element is the fact that the cloaking was achieved while moving the structure."
Kim's group is hoping to try to use the innovations to develop a more broadband, flexible cloak for optical frequencies. He says, however, that he is under no illusions that this will be easy.
The research is published in Nature Communications.


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Here we are, ready or not – it's kitchen remodel time. It's our first time doing something like this, but since we [we = Dan] are doing pretty much everything ourselves I thought I would write a bit about what the process has looked like so far.
How do you even start? I wish I would have taken out a library book or listened to a dang podcast about ripping apart your house. Side note: read things.
First thing for us was figuring out our motivation and goal for the kitchen remodel. We knew we wanted to sell the house relatively soon, i.e. "flip it." And deciding on how much we would like to sell it for given the market is helpful. If you want to sell a house in the $250,000 – $350,000 range then what look usually goes along with that? Obviously that's a large range, don't worry that's to keep up the mystery of just how awesome our house is!!
Hint, look at other houses selling in the area at your given price point via Zillow or whatever the non-existent competition to Zillow is. Get nice and nosy and click through pictures of the houses. Someone will be doing it to your house soon. Try to picture your buyer and what this imaginary person will want their kitchen to look like. Trust me, it's very natural and easy.
OR if your motivation is to renovate for your own pleasure, then congrats millionaire is this kitchen number one or four? But seriously, how fun! Then you get to design everything for you!!
OK so now you've looked on Pinterest for so long that you're crocheting booties for your friend's friend's sister's niece. DAMMIT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DECIDE ON KITCHEN CABINETS. Look through Pinterest or Houzz and get a better idea of what you want to do. Look at prices for materials online and realize the said Pinterest pictures are a false reality you will never inhabit.
Now you've decided on what you kinda-sorta want the kitchen to look like. Great! Now just marry an engineer so that they can plan everything.
I'm serious, I would be in a cardboard box if Dan wasn't in on this.
Here is where I try to describe what
we he did. Step one, decide on a budget. Our goal is to flip the house so we are trying to balance the cost of materials with the potential increases to profit. Does anyone know a formula for this? Because it remains a mystery to me.
If you start the process early enough keep an eye on Home Depot for sales, a scratch and dent store, or Craigslist. We got our fridge at Home Depot since the house didn't come with one and we needed it quickly. Dan found a new stove on Craigslist for much cheaper than we would have bought in Home Depot. It helps to have a trailer if you go down the Craigslist route.
Step two, find a cabinet company within said budget and figure out what pieces you will need to put in the kitchen. Then put a very large order on your credit card (that you intend to pay off immediately, duh!). At least we get Amazon points – this totally lessens the anxiety. Cry that it costs hundreds of dollars to ship the cabinets. WHAT ABOUT PRIME FREE SHIPPING THRU AMAZON??
Step three, assemble cabinets. This took Dan about 1.5 days and he made it look relatively easy (I say that as I was sipping tea watching him). The only hiccup that I saw was assembling the pantry. As in, it spans the height of the room but you can only easily assemble it when it's down on the ground. So trying to stand it up after assembly means it doesn't fit and you have to take it through two sets of doors and down the stairwell to the basement to fully rotate it.
Step four, be an engineer (or anyone with patience) and figure out how much counter top you will need. Submit requests for quotes. Wait.
Step five while waiting for quotes to come back: destroy kitchen. Leave yourself a bare, unusable room and ponder the philosophy of the stove. Why did you take it for granted? It was beautiful in its own, three decades old way. You never appreciate what you have until it's gone.
Step six: fix the wall where the stupid drop down ceiling boxes were. This takes a lot more work than you would think. Especially since the ceiling drywall size doesn't match the drywall size that you can easily buy. Dan did many mudding layers and it was not fun. Texture to match the weird ceiling texture. Also not fun.
Step seven: paint. Drink beer while you paint, it improves your skill!
Step seven: lay down whatever floor you have. Hopefully it's not carpet – I know that was a thing but just let it go. We were between tile and wood floor (equally as ridiculous as carpet? Perhaps.) but were swayed by all the trendy people on Houzz. As long as we can make it six months and don't spill a gigantic pot of soup on the floor then we can count our lucky stars, it's for the next sucker to deal with!
Step eight: install your cabinets. That's about the extent to which I know how cabinets work.
That's where we are now with the kitchen remodel, I will post once everything is up and running!


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conversation starting jewelry
conversation starting jewelry
"Sweet Oasis"
Dirt encrusted, dry and bone tired weary, a lone caravan plies the depths of an ancient desert, camels plodding one slow step at a time. Animals and humans stretched to their limits, an incessant howling of strange winds assaults every ear. Ever-lurking bandits hordes hover, thanks to a silent shrouded princess - and rich dowry - destined for a distant Khan's heir. Mirage or beckoning oasis? In the midst of the shimmer, sturdy groves of hardy dates, figs, olives, and apricots. And water, precious water. Sweet salvation.
An Australian boulder opal with restful reservoirs of cool blue stretching into infinity. On round, charmingly unsophisticated beads of azurite interspersed with 18K gold beads. Pendant drop 1".
Pantone Spring 2015:Classic Blue


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When the world was dark
and the city was quiet,
you came.
You crept in beside us.
And no one knew.
Only the few
who dared to believe
that God might do something different.
Will you do the same this Christmas, Lord?
Will you come into the darkness of tonight's world;
not the friendly darkness
as when sleep rescues us from tiredness
but the fearful darkness,
in which people have stopped believing
that war will end
or that food will come
or that a government will change
or that the Church cares?
Will you come into that darkness
and do something different
to save your people from death and despair?
Will you come into the quietness of this city,
not the friendly quietness
as when lovers hold hands,
but the fearful silence when
the phone has not rung,
the letter has not come
the friendly voice no longer speaks,
the doctor's face says it all?
Will you come into that darkness,
and do something different,
not to distract, but to embrace your people?
And will you come into the dark corners
and the quiet places of our lives?
We ask this not because we are guilt ridden
or want to be,
but because the fullness of our lives long for
depends on us being as open and vulnerable to you
as you were to us,
when you came,
wearing no more than diapers,
and trusting human hands
to hold their maker.
Will you come into our lives
if we open them to you
and do something different?
When the world was dark
and the city quiet
you came.
You crept in beside us.
Do the same this Christmas, Lord.
Do the same this Christmas.
from Cloth for the Cradle


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Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) said Thursday that he was "excited" about the possibility of Mitt Romney becoming the GOP presidential nominee, and suggested that the best thing for his rivals to do would be to drop out and swing their support behind the former Massachusetts governor.
"I can tell conservatives from my perspective is that, I'm not only comfortable with Romney, I'm excited about the possibility of him possibly being our nominee," DeMint said. "Again, this is not a formal endorsement and I do not intend to do that right now but I just think we just need to look at where we are."
Romney met with DeMint earlier on Capitol Hill Thursday as part of a trip to see other Republicans in Congress.
"I don't have any immediate plans to do an endorsement but I think we all need to look at this presidential primary and encourage the candidates to do a little self-reflection here -- what's good for our country," said DeMint. "The sooner we can make a decision, I think the sooner we can focus on the real problem which is Obama."
DeMint also cautioned Romney's rivals against taking the race to the convention. "They can drag it out to the convention if they want, but I think if some of them look at where they are the best thing they can do is maybe look at throwing their support behind the one who might be our nominee and that's beginning to look like Romney."
DeMint's show of support for Romney is notable since the senator has influence among conservatives, whom Romney has sometimes struggled to win over. The South Carolina senator runs a powerful PAC, the Senate Conservatives Fund, that backs conservative candidates in senate primaries.
DeMint endorsed Romney in the 2008 Republican primary, but has withheld an endorsement in the 2012 primary.
DeMint's comments came one day after former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) endorsed Romney and urged Republicans to unite behind him.


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Published: 2009/04/12
by Rudi Greenberg
Umphrey's McGee, North Mississippi All Stars and Hill Country Review, Rams Head Live!, Baltimore, MD – 4/4
When Luther Dickinson stepped out at the end of Umphreys McGees first set at Rams Head Live! in Baltimore on April 4 for an appropriately chosen Rolling Stones cover, he fittingly took the lead in the three man axe attack.
Dickinsons North Mississippi All Stars opened the show along with brother and band mate Cody Dickinsons Hill Country Revue. On Cant You Hear Me Knocking, Dickinson ripped some classic, bluesy licks, leading the charge. Then, Umphreys McGees Jake Cinninger got his chance to show off his own Floydian space blues. Finally, all three guitarists converged on Brendan Bayliss side, sending out a swirl of sound, bringing the song and the set to an appropriate climax.
A bit later, Cody Dickinson got his turn. Early in Umphreys McGees second set, Dickinson emerged during the Cemetery Walk II jam with his signature washboard in tow. The band settled into a hip-hop groove, before delving into a dark reggae trance the washboard setting an eerie mood. Cinningers pinch harmonics proved the perfect compliment to Dickinsons washed-out, atmospheric sound.
Of course, Umphreys couldnt leave out NMAS biggest, and funkiest member: bassist Chris Chew. Along with Beyonces touring drummer Nikki Glaspie, Chew settled in nicely for Der Bluten Kats jam section. Youd think the band would have adjusted to suit Chew and presumably Glaspies more funky side, but it was the other way around both added their expertise to a hard-edged piece of improv.
But wait, this was an Umphreys McGee show not Umphreys McGee featuring the North Mississippi All Stars. Though, it somewhat felt that way especially when you take into account NMAS and Hill Country Reviews opening set.
The two bands shared the stage for about 90 minutes prior to Umphreys, with a mini-Hill Country Review set featuring all of NMAS that eventually gave way to a mini-NMAS set, before both bands joined again. NMAS plus Hill Country Review had a much fuller sound than standard NMAS, perhaps with an even better sense of psychedelic blues, with hints of Cream and Jimi Hendrix during its set. At one point, Cody Dickinson broke out the washboard while Luther Dickinson moved to drums, with a spacey washboard intro eventually leading to a down-home, funky groove.
Still, Umphreys McGee was the star of the night. The band made up for a somewhat lackluster if only for its lack of cohesion first set with a stellar second set. If anything, the band showed it can now settle more comfortably into certain grooves maintaining a more constant ebb and flow. This was apparent both in the bands more fluid than normal jamming and in the contrast between the first and second sets.
Where set one jumped back and forth between styles, from the crunchy prog rock opener JaJunk to the poppy, but jazzy Intentions Clear, set two flowed smoothly, each song seemingly complimenting the last. Not to say the first set wasnt without its moments.
Aside from the Dickinson sit-in highlight, there was some fantastic jamming from the core band. Many times Umphreys McGee is guilty of the stop-start transition, where the band ends a song without any theatrics, quickly launching into the next a sharp sort of transition. But this was not evident as Intentions Clear slowly morphed into Dump City, perhaps showing the bands maturity as it glides through its second decade. A subtle, industrial-like jam gave way super smoothly to the hard, funky and video game-sounding Dump City.
Eventually, some heavy synthesizer work by Joel Cummins gave way to a Jimmy Stewart which included lyrics from Bayliss. As the band settled into a groove very reminiscent of the songs on Mantis, the bands latest album, Bayliss started throwing out lines like, winter turning to fall and finger splits in two/ what else can I do? A commendable effort as its not every singer who has the balls to test out working lyrics, on-the-spot, live, in the middle of a completely improvised piece.
But it was the second set where the band found its stride.
Divisions is welcome at any time nearly perfect as an opener, with Cinninger at one point shooting out notes like they came from a machine gun. Cemetery Walk II, which featured the aforementioned washboard jam, is a perfect excuse to mention Umphreys McGees new lighting man, Jeff Waful. The former moe. employees lights add a new dimension to the bands stage show. Wafuls new toy, the Mac 3 the same style of lighting rig Phish used in Hampton last month produces brilliant cone-shaped beams of light. When you add Wafuls work on the projection screen behind the band, you get one visually stimulating show. The purple and white disco balls projected behind Umphreys as it tore through Cemetery Walk II was a perfect match.
Mantiss Turn and Run didnt pack the same improvisational punch as the bands lived-in material, but it was an incredibly tight take, barely decipherable from the studio recording. It served as a nice lead-in to the end of Divisions, bringing the set full-circle, and to what would have been a reflective close. As the Bayliss belted out the songs refrain and the soaring guitars began to ease it seemed the band would call it a night. But two Mantis songs just werent enough, so 1348 was tacked on for good measure ending the set on a guitar-heavy electronica note.
As the band left for an encore, there was still an unfinished guitar battle. As Kris Meyers banged on an electronic drum, the rest of the band emerged for Umphreys McGees self-referential theme song of sorts, Pay The Snucka. With the songs latter sections basically an excuse for Cinninger and Bayliss to shred, it was no surprise to see Luther Dickinson reemerge for a final showdown.
All three guitarists riffed in a swirl of sounds with Cinninger ripping Van Halen at times as the song hit its heavy peak.
While no winner was declared, it didnt matter. Umphreys McGee, with a little help from their friends, had put on a party of a show. After all, the best party on a Saturday night might as well be a rock show.


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You're lying flat on your stomach. The open rear doors of the van you're lying in offer a continuous view of a disappearing ribbon of asphalt… in this case, the high banks of the World Center of Racing, Daytona International Speedway. Trust me, at 60+ mph, your chin less than 18" off the pavement, the view from this perspective is daunting.
Rolling car-to-car shots offer up multiple challenges for the still photographer. While it's imperative you approach the project with a solid plan of action, your plan typically unravels about the time you're rolling off pit road.
First, you want to have a mental vision of the look you want to create. Typically, the track steward is going to allow you one lap, maybe two if your client is a major stakeholder in the racing series you're covering. So you have to have a good idea of how you're going to use your time. Consider these variables:
The light.
What time of day is the shoot? The light will go around your camera 360 degrees in the time it takes to do the lap. Where will you be when the light is optimum? Where will you be when it's back lit? Where are the shadows? What about the shadows from the vehicle you're in? And when the light is optimum, what shows up in your background?
The Subject.
What type of vehicle are you shooting? Are you shooting more than one car? Is it an open or closed cockpit car? If open, does the helmet matter? Does the driver know what is expected of him? Is he/she aware of what your goals are… and when you'll be hitting the target locations? How close does he/she follow you?
Does the driver of the host vehicle (the vehicle carrying you) know where and when to speed up or slow down? Does he know what line to take… go high, go low? The same applies if you're using a spotter (and you should). Does he know what you want… from him, from your driver, from the driver of the subject vehicle? Do you have radio contact? Are you using proper safety harnesses and wearing a helmet?
Have you thought about composition, lens selection, shutter speed selection? Do you need neutral density filters? Do you have enough memory on your cards? Do you have back up cameras and additional camera/lens combinations to change perspective?
Remember… you have three to five minutes to nail a look you want. You're tying up a major racing facility, employing track officials, emergency crews, drivers, car crews… there are no do-overs.
The list above is similar to the old saying, "you don't want to see how they make the sausage … it's better just to enjoy it." So I won't go back and touch on each detail, but I will go into the shooting and creative choices.
I've done dozens of these shoots. I'd be lying if I didn't admit, with some of them I only succeeded by the skin of my teeth. The final shot usually generates lots of ooohs and aaahs… after all, the point of view and perspective is way cool and not an everyday look you get to see. But as any good photographer will tell you… I''m sure there are things I could have done better. You can't beat yourself up… it's the type of shoot that's conducted in crisis management mode. Sure, you have a plan. But what is going to make the difference is how well you can adjust and manage all the things that don't go as planned.
The first change I made for this shoot was to get a variance from the Daytona and IMSA track officials. We were here for the 2016 ROAR Before the 24, the official test session for the 54th Rolex 24 at Daytona. The practice (and race) is run on Daytona's infield road course while incorporating the banked turns referred to as NASCAR 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the front stretch known as the tri-oval. I requested permission to stay on the oval. My reasoning came from drawing on previous experience. First, staying on the oval offered easier management of car to driver positioning. Second, transitioning through the road course turns is extremely disruptive inside the vehicle you're shooting from. Lastly, the backgrounds are far less predictable as you navigate through the infield… especially at Daytona. I just felt staying on the oval would give me more bang in the allotted time frame.
I chose to shoot with the Canon 7D and a 24-105 L Series lens. Though in the back of my mind, I created an alternate strategy of using the DXO One camera attached to my iPhone 6S+. The lens on the DXO is 32mm, perfect for this situation. If everything worked out, it was my hope to get some frames with the One and see how the results held up.
In a rolling car-to-car shoot, you're looking to show motion, retain the energy… and an in-your-face point of view. I mentioned earlier about differences shooting an open cockpit car or closed cockpit. There's a huge wow factor in having the subject car pull in close and getting a low point of view. With an open cockpit car, you need to stay aware of not loosing sight of the driver's head. When you shoot a closed cockpit car, your high and low positions are much more forgiving. For me… I want to remain in eye contact with the driver for the final photo.
The morning's weather was a misty low ceiling and threatening light rain. The track was somewhere between damp and wet. Don't forget, one part of the track can be two miles away from another. It's two and a half miles around on the low line. It can be raining on one end and not the other. With the Canon I set the ISO at 200. I set the DXO One on Automatic ISO. Post shoot EXIF indicated the One stayed at 100 and 125 ISO. With the Canon, I shot shutter preferred at 1/50 sec. and he DXO at 1/60 … I wasn't sure of my ability to hold the DXO One as steady as I could the Canon locked in against my forehead. Your goal is to find a shutter speed that will blur the ground below you, but not show shake or vibration from the vehicle you're riding in. You've got to find that happy medium. Interestingly, both cameras moved between f/5 and f/5.6 aperture and both were on Auto Focus with constant tracking.
I spoke with my van driver, my spotter and the drivers of the subject cars. We talked about what I needed in terms of positioning on the track (high or low) and that they be sure tobrake and accelerate smoothly. I took a static test frame (using the DXO One) at the approximate distance the subject car would be following us. I had everyone note where I was standing… the distance between me and the subject car… and showed them the result on my phone. This gave everyone a better idea of what we expected of them. I had my spotter in the van wearing a radio in order to pass on any instructions to all the drivers. While that is helpful, you'll still lose ground and shooting time due to the communication lag. Even though you can't afford wasted frames, you're going to waste a lot anyway.
We rolled out of pit lane shooting the green Southwest Realty Advisors Prototype car. I was wearing a full body harness anchored to the floor of the van… as was my spotter. I also wore a helmet. I first shot with the 7D. Within 30 seconds of shooting, the lens was covered in mist and the car's apex lights were throwing flares across the image. I'm losing shot opportunities due to having to wipe the lens with my sweatshirt. For the second half of the lap we killed the lights. Still frustrated with the spray on my lens, I grabbed the DXO One.
The first thing I noticed with the DXO One was how composing the shot on my iPhone screen was far more easier than in the viewfinder of the 7D. Lying flat on your stomach and, for all intents and purposes, looking up and through the viewfinder, makes it extremely difficult to check the entire frame. You're bouncing around, your neck is killing you and your shooting opportunities are disappearing at 70mph. With the DXO One, though I was concerned about dropping it, at 32mm I was able to keep it a bit more inside the van. Hence, I was dealing with less spray and composing the frame was off the charts. The DOX One's touch screen focus point selection was just a huge bonus. Boom! There was the shot in all it's glory on the iPhone's retina display. A near perfect representation of what I was shooting. It was stunning. So much so, when we pulled in the pits and picked up the blue Southwest Funding Prototype car, I decided to shoot the majority of the lap using the DXO One. To be honest, I think I'd be hard pressed to choose anything else.
Don't get me wrong… it's not that I know more than anyone else. But I did know that if I could hold the DXO One securely and not have the van doors encroach the frame of my composition, it would give me a good file. Well, it gave me a great file. Within 5 minutes of crawling out of the van and doing a quick perusal of the previews on my phone, I was back at the media center downloading cards. The DXO One kicked ass. The look of the images, the quality of RAW files, the overall composition… it was nothing short of amazing.
Thanks to Brian Alder and BAR1 Motorsports for providing the cars and crew, Don Yount at Southwest Funding, Marc Drumwright at Southwest Realty Advisors and Daytona International Speedway for the track coordination.
Finally, thanks to the team at DXO One. I didn't tell them I was going to try this. Their confidence and trust in me has been unwavering and I was thrilled to send them images that they probably had never imagined. They've got such a great support team in place… it's great and I can't thank them enough.
You can view additional real world images (both personal and professional) shot with my DXO One on my Flickr Photostream.


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Like most firms, we offer free consultations to new clients to discuss legal needs and how we might be able to help. In addition, we offer a $49 paid initial consultation (up to a half hour) to discuss general legal principles and answer general legal questions. This kind of initial consultation is appropriate for folks that may have initial questions about intellectual property or our other areas of law, but don't want or need to go much further at the moment.
Our normal hourly fees are as follows:
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Cardilio, a new app for iPhone and iPad developed by Harvard and MIT researchers, can calculate heart rate by merely gazing at your face. It uses your device's camera to measure tiny changes in blood flow in your face that occurs when your heart beats.
Simply line up your image with the displayed target, and the app reports your heart rate in seconds; when used in a well- lit environment, its accurate to within three beats per minute of devices used by doctors. You can track heart rate over time and get info about your fitness level and estimated life expectancy. The is available now on iTunes.


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SOHO — Hours after a story on DNAinfo.com New York revealed new insights into the killing of 6-year-old Etan Patz, police descended onto the scene of a former SoHo bodega where the boy's confessed killer, Pedro Hernandez, once worked.
Police spent two hours taking pictures of the building's basement in an attempt to line up images with Hernandez's confession in May to murdering the SoHo boy, according to a police source. Etan was reported missing on May 25, 1979.
Three or four police trucks were stationed outside the 448 West Broadway location at about 3:45 p.m, according to local dog walker Laura Bong, who said she can still remember the news stories about Etan's disappearance more than 30 years ago.
"They were just all parked along the street," she said, adding that there were no police officers visible at the scene when she was there.
Police were seen carrying out bags, but a law enforcement source said "there was nothing new."
Among the evidence that has left police "absolutely certain" that Hernandez is guilty is the startling new discovery that Hernandez supposedly kept a photo of Etan grouped with his own personal belongings for years, law enforcement sources said.
The image, apparently a cutout of Etan's famous missing persons poster seen all over the city, was discovered by Hernandez's first wife in the mid-1980s.
While cops hold little hope of finding the picture, sources said the wife's testimony could be used as evidence in a grand jury.
Sources said another strong element in the case is Hernandez's sudden move from SoHo just weeks after Etan disappeared, without ever being questioned by the NYPD, sources revealed.
Since Hernandez's arrest this year, detectives have poured through a mountain of NYPD reports and found that his name surfaced early after Etan went missing.
However, some doubts have been cast over the confession from Hernandez, who has a strong history of schizophrenia and hallucinations. And some believe he deluded himself into the confession.
Police have also previously pinned the crime on convicted pedophile Jose Ramos, who was dating Etan's babysitter when the child vanished.
Hernandez was recently moved to Rikers Island after being held at Bellevue Hospital for weeks of psychological evaluation.
His next court appearance is in October.


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