text:
|View Poll Results: Hanasaku Iroha - Episode 8 Rating
|Perfect 10
|9 out of 10 : Excellent
|8 out of 10 : Very Good
|7 out of 10 : Good
|6 out of 10 : Average
|5 out of 10 : Below Average
|4 out of 10 : Poor
|3 out of 10 : Bad
|2 out of 10 : Very Bad
|1 out of 10 : Painful
|Voters: 65. You may not vote on this poll
|Thread Tools
|2011-05-23, 08:41
|Link #81
Sensei, aishite imasu
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Hong Kong Shatterdome
In fact! I'm going to play this military analogy to it's fullest extent.
The Kissuisō is not an inn. It's a mighty fortress. The employees are actually platoons of soldiers tasked with defending it. The Grandmother is the general, but hse has been knocked out of commission. The customers are not customers at all, but a Panzergrenadier division equipped with tanks and self propelled guns! In order to prevent these mechanized barbarians from ravaging and annihilating the mighty Kissuiso fortress, the defenders must sally forth to battle to hold them off.
But the Kissuiso fortress defenders are undermanned. And their heavy weapons platoon armed with Bazooka's and Machine guns (Ren) is currently combat ineffective. Without heavy weapons, Mighty fortress Kissuiso will be overun, burned to the ground, and all it's defenders bayoneted and machine gunned to death. Nazis know no concept of mercy.
The only way to prevent disaster (or at least leaving the Fortress wrecked), is for them to link up with Tohru's unit, their second heavy weapons platoon. But they can't make radio comms with this unit, nor do they know exactly where it is. The only way to get it to reinforce the fortress, is to send a platoon out on recon to find them and get them to come back.
Ohana is actually a platoon of light infantry. Dedicated, but Lacking in heavy weapons. They're certainly useful point defense and stop gap for the defenders, but they as useful as the heavier armed platoons in this stand up war of attrition. Sending the Ohana platoon to link up with the Tohru platoon isn't necessarily a bad idea. Since they're dedicated enough that you could reasonably expect them to find the lost heavy weapons platoon, and bring them back to defend the Fort. The Ohana platoon might be less combat effective when it gets back, and the fort will be more undermanned while they're gone. But they'll be in a better position if the recon platoon can bring back reinforcements.
There are other platoons you could afford to send, but they're not as good options. Jiromaru platoon is certainly just a bunch of worthless barely armed conscripts. But it's questionable if they'd be able to retrieve the Tohru platoon (or even convince them that they should abandon their current mission to come back and defend the fort). The Takako platoon suffer a similar problem, in that they're an overpaid PMC platoon, and it's unlikely that Tohru platoon would abandon their current mission based on their word.
Now you COULD send the Minchi platoon. They're arguably only somewhat helpful to the currently incapacitated Ren heavy weapons platoon and the Ohana platoon could conceivably help them out (they lack heavy weapons, but they do have some training on them). But then there's the question if a meek, passive aggressive platoon like the Minchi platoon really has what it takes to go on force recon and retrieve the Tohru platoon.
|2011-05-23, 08:47
|Link #82
Seishu's Ace
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kobe, Japan
I confess I have no idea how much daily involvement Mari Okada has in the composition of this show or AnoHana. But it really seems to me that (so far) that show is getting the bulk of her attention. The different in consistency from week to week is startling. Where that series feels as if it's been on-point all the way and always knows where it's going, this one seems at times to have no plan at all. If I were to guess, the fact that HanaIro is two cour may be a factor - harder to go in with a specific roadmap to last for 24 eps than 11. It could also be that she just has more ongoing involvement with AnoHana. And, of course, that show could plotquake before it's all over.
One thing that really surprises me is seeing some folks defend Takako. To me, she's one of the most blatantly artificial and absurd characters to grace the cast of a relatively serious show in ages, and that's aside from the fact that she's incredibly annoying and seems totally out of synch with the rest of the series. For me, one of the worst characters of the year, easily.
|2011-05-23, 09:13
|Link #83
Monarch of Rughzenhaide
And of course the structure in Anohana's plot/story is much more defined and solid then HanaIro, which is somewhat all over the place.
Not to pull anything from this episode as I still hold my sentiment () as it was indeed a fantastic episode compared to what we've been given the past few weeks. However, AnoHana has been consistently delivering solid episodes, with this week being slightly weaker because it was a bit more lighthearted than usual (though it was still good).
|2011-05-23, 09:50
|Link #84
Me at work
It's much more frequent to have writers write all the script of a 1 cour show than it is for a two cour show.
edit:though remember,the scriptwriter is involved very early in the process,I'm not sure if Okada is still working on Gosick,Ano Hana or Hanasaku Iroha,just basing all my speculation from this blogpost
Last edited by totoum; 2011-05-23 at 10:17.
|2011-05-23, 09:53
|Link #85
Waiting for more taiyuki!
Join Date: Jan 2004
And when you think about it, he's one of the few shown riding a motorcycle, it implies that he's pulling in more income.
|2011-05-23, 10:21
|Link #86
Senior Member
In real life, I couldn't stand a person like Takako. But in this anime, she's setup as an antagonistic figure for Ohana to overcome, I think, and she works well in that role.
Last edited by Triple_R; 2011-05-23 at 10:37.
|2011-05-23, 12:57
|Link #87
Kana Hanazawa ♥
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: France
Age: 31
I loved this episode of course. I don't think there was that much drama in it, and what drama there was was handled in a very satisfying manner to me. Grandma didn't fall sick for the sake of creating drama, but to provide an opportunity for Ohana's character to grow even more. In other series, they would have made a huge deal out of that, and it may have even left characters depressed for a while. Instead, here, it increased Ohana's motivation to help the inn, and as a result, she's "sparkling" more than ever. She moped around for only a couple minutes before deciding to take matters into her own hands.
This is what I love in this show: it's uplifting, and not depressing one bit. I just want it to remain that way. I don't mind drama one bit, as long as it's not serious/depressing drama. I enjoy depressing drama in other shows (as long as it's not too melodramatic), but I don't think it'd fit the tone of HanaIro.
Sometimes I get the impression people want this anime to be another AnoHana, and that annoys me a bit. Let AnoHana be AnoHana, and let Hanasaku be HanaIro. I enjoy both, and I think it's a very good thing they're so different from one another. Variety is a wonderul thing.
|2011-05-23, 13:44
|Link #88
I disagree with you all.
Join Date: Dec 2005
And heck, you might as well point to Tomoe's place. It was pretty nice. And tells us nothing.
|2011-05-23, 14:10
|Link #89
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Folsom, CA, USA
Age: 32
I felt Takako's plan was flawed and risky. First off, they have no surefire way of knowing the mystery guest, even if they can have a good guess, if there actually IS one. Second, what if they give the mystery guest special treatment, but the talk with the other customers there (there's plenty of room for daily interaction) and find out the two are being treated differently. Either way that's bad for someone if not both. Worse off, what if they treat the wrong customer specially and the mystery guest(if there is one) finds out?
Unless someone is paying for a special room that nets special treatment I can't help but feel its a bad idea because in the case of one person finding out....there's other inns to visit int he future if your obviously just a second rate customer here. They'd probably tell others about it too.
|2011-05-23, 14:23
|Link #90
LOL, I like how Ohana is gonna crash a wedding just to get some help. I guess she sees how truly devoted her grandmother is to her work, and realizes that they must somehow succeed for the sake of everyone.
Indeed, she just rushes in to help; Ohana gains the title of "Befriender Therapist", something only held by Nanoha previously.
I also like how miss Greedy Villain did all that dramatic pointing and logic followups; I was hoping she'd pull some red text out, but whatever.
Minko was bearable this episode, and I lol'd when she did the -_- face.
This is definitely the best episode thus far, getting everything on track, and having subtle BGMs to highlight the mood. You can see some growth between Ohana and Grandma, and I was never bored. And also how is Kou gonna factor into this?
Stupid Jinomaru moment: Trolling rooms for "inspiration"
Rating: 9/10
|2011-05-23, 14:33
|Link #91
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
As for failing to get her someone to drive there. Many people have already put forth the reason why it is prudent for Oahna to go get Tooru herself, so her action seems to make sense.
Finally, it's unlikely people suddenly decided to change the place where they hold weddings.
Last edited by ipodi; 2011-05-23 at 15:43.
|2011-05-23, 17:35
|Link #92
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Either way, it seems like Ohana still walks the walk when it comes to making Tooru feel wanted and needed (and she also did this with Nako), or in this case, runs the run.
I don't think it's bad that she didn't change clothes, she's basically showcased Kissuiso's uniform to a whole bunch of people over a wide radius around the inn in a very short time, that could give them some PR points in recognizability (as long as she doesn't crash the wedding, and instead quietly retrieves Tooru, or the points will be negative). It's even better that she went to a place where ceremonies such as weddings are held, as potential honeymooners could be inspecting the spot for their wedding (furthermore, Takako should stop spouting English and think about hotspots where to hand out flyers and the likes, perhaps cultivating a relationship with places where potential travellers frequent).
The decision to not neglect the regulars and majority of new customers will probably pay off, as I have yet to find a national-level inspector/journalist specializing in something and not notice such obviously cut corners. Seriously, Takako is toxic in this episode. You can't cut out the corners on such a small cookie as Kissuiso, as you wont have any cookies left afterwards.
And I'm the only one who thinks that Nako was adorable with her "they really need me!"? I think that might have given her a confidence boost to perform better during such a crucial time (which might also make up for Ohana's absence).
|2011-05-23, 21:26
|Link #93
Guess what time it is?
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Age: 33
Loving this episode. There was absolutely no wasted motion, and I couldn't believe it was already over when the ED started playing. Ohana's little delusion spot near the beginning stands out because it got in all the cuteness that the characters are so good for without it interfering with the epic customer service as various characters try to fill in for the manager. Of course Ohana will not be denied. She is here to chew bubblegum, and serve dinner, and she's all out of bubblegum.
Aside from enjoying the power struggle in Sui's absence, I noticed as most of you did that Ohana is chasing after Tohru for the second time now. Even if it's just to drag him back to work the kitchen, they really are teasing them as a pair. Just as Ko is about to arrive, no less.
Naru's braids are adorable. Tohru looks spiffy in a suit. And was it just me, or did they put a LOT of work and detail into the city that Ohana literally races through in a few short seconds? This show is not fooling around with the animation.
Also, Jiromaru getting everyone riled up over mystery guests = 0% chance of there being any mystery guests.
|2011-05-23, 23:44
|Link #94
Criminal Unrequitor
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Jul 2010
Episode 8 Reaction
I'll repeat what I said. KOU'S FINALLY GOING TO SEE OHANA. IT WILL BE TEH SHIZZZ.
Last edited by ahelo; 2011-05-24 at 21:10.
|2011-05-24, 05:10
|Link #96
Awakened One
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Northern Italy
I share the sentiment that this episode was too short! I was on the edge of my seat when Ohana opened the door of the wedding hall and suddenly it was over.
However I have to subtract one point for the illogical decision of sending Ohana to fetch Tooru. They should have tried calling the place. Failing that, it would have been much faster to have Jiroumaru drive her to the hall with the inn's truck (if you don't trust Jiro to persuade Tooru to get back). They would've been short of two employees but what does Jiro do anyway?
Alternatively, Ohana could have taken Minko's place in the kitchen, since she is capable of cooking, while Minko rushed to Tooru. There were many better options to solve the situation but the writer choose to send Ohana for the sake of drama. Still a very nice episode, 9/10.
|2011-05-24, 05:25
|Link #97
Join Date: May 2009
It seems pretty obvious to me why Ohana went to get Tohru, other than the fact that she's the main character and the main character is always the one who does these things. She went to get Tohru because she had basically taken charge of the situation at that point and so being the person in charge now, she went to do it herself.
It's like she was saying earlier on, she still has a lot to learn about how to rely on others, it's a task that could easily have been delegated to someone else, but everyone knows the main character is the one who does these things, so she fulfills the Task of the Hero (Shujinko Obligation if you prefer) and does exactly as the script demands!
|2011-05-24, 07:49
|Link #98
Komrades of Kitamura Kou
Join Date: Jul 2004
Age: 33
Taking Charge.
I agree with everything Kanon said. The entire issue with granny's heart could have been milked for all the drama it's worth, but in the end it was used both for the drama and as a stepping stone for Ohana to step up and take charge of the situation. It highlights precisely what I love about the show and Ohana as a character: that for every bit of life's shittiness is a silver lining, and the silver lining is made by the characters themselves, and in this case Ohana. It became an opportunity for her to actually do something as opposed to simply falling into laconic despair. Rather than be depressed abut her granny's health and the state of the inn, she had the maturity and level-headedness to find a way. This is what sets her apart from other leads regardless of gender.
|2011-05-24, 08:40
|Link #99
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Australia
Did Ohana trigger Nako's flag this episode??
Anyway, unless Ko coming to notify that he's transferring to whatever place Kissuiso in. Otherwise this event may really gonna kill off his chance toward Ohana. A misunderstanding can do it, but is not a good development. It's more likely that Ko will see how much Ohana grew up within last few month(s) and found that she's no longer needs him...
Then we also have Tohru and Ohana on the spotlight along with any shipping between them...
Btw, Minko in the manga was actually quite reasonable and not as annoyed as in the anime
Last edited by risingstar3110; 2011-05-24 at 14:48.
|2011-05-24, 10:17
|Link #100
a random Indonesian otaku
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Xanadu
Age: 26
Ren-san!!! Calm down!!! lol...
Tatsuko always messed up everything.... ugh!!
I'm surprised about how Ohana come to the city with that outfit.... maybe she will be assisted by Ko~chan... (ah.. I missed him)
C'mon Kissuiso.... !!
|Thread Tools


text:
Guidelines for older adults aged 65 and over, for general health and fitness.
How much physical activity do older adults aged 65 and over need to do to keep healthy?
To stay healthy or to improve health, older adults need to do two types of physical activity each week: aerobic and strength exercises.
The amount of physical activity you need to do each week depends on your age. Click on links below for the recommendations for other age groups:
Adults aged 65 or older who are generally fit and have no health conditions that limit their mobility should try to be active daily and should do:
A rule of thumb is that one minute of vigorous activity provides the same health benefits as two minutes of moderate activity.
You should also try to break up long periods of sitting with light activity, as sedentary behaviour is now considered an independent risk factor for ill health, no matter how much exercise you do. Find out why sitting is bad for your health.
Older adults at risk of falls, such as people with weak legs, poor balance and some medical conditions, should do exercises to improve balance and co-ordination on at least two days a week. Examples include yoga, tai chi and dancing.
Examples of activities that require moderate effort for most people include:
Try the aerobic video workouts in the NHS Fitness Studio.
Moderate activity will raise your heart rate and make you breathe faster and feel warmer. One way to tell if you're exercising at a moderate level is if you can still talk but can't sing the words to a song.
Daily chores such as shopping, cooking or housework don't count towards your 150 minutes, because the effort isn't enough to raise your heart rate, but they are important nonetheless, as they break up periods of sitting.
Back to top
There is good evidence that vigorous activity can bring health benefits over and above that of moderate activity.
Examples of activities that require vigorous effort for most people include:
Try the aerobic workout videos in the NHS Fitness Studio.
Vigorous activity makes you breathe hard and fast. If you're working at this level, you won't be able to say more than a few words without pausing for breath.
In general, 75 minutes of vigorous activity can give similar health benefits to 150 minutes of moderate activity.
Muscle strength is necessary for:
Muscle-strengthening exercises are counted in repetitions and sets. A repetition is one complete movement of an activity, such as a bicep curl or a sit-up. A set is a group of repetitions.
For each strength exercise, try to do:
To gain health benefits from strength exercises, you should do them to the point where you find it hard to complete another repetition.
There are many ways you can strengthen your muscles, whether at home or in the gym. Examples of muscle-strengthening activities include:
Try the strength workout videos in the NHS Fitness Studio.
Try Strength and Flex, a five-week exercise plan for beginners, to improve your strength and flexibility.
You can do activities that strengthen your muscles on the same day or on different days as your aerobic activity – whatever's best for you.
Muscle-strengthening exercises are not an aerobic activity, so you'll need to do them in addition to your 150 minutes of aerobic activity.
Some vigorous activities count as both an aerobic activity and a muscle-strengthening activity.
Examples include:
Download a factsheet on physical activity guidelines for older adults (65+ years) (PDF, 462kb).
For a summary on the health benefits of being more active, check out this Department of Health infographic (PDF, 500kb).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Have a question about the 2012 MasterCraft V Series 245V?


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CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's gross domestic product grew 5.5 percent in 2012 compared to the previous year, consolidating an economic recovery that began in 2010.
The growth was fueled in part by government spending, especially on a program to construct low-income housing. Construction grew 16.8 percent.
Central Bank President Nelson Merentes announced the figures Thursday.
Private sector production grew 6.1 percent and the public sector production rose 5.2 percent. The all-important oil industry grew 1.4 percent.
The manufacturing sector grew a modest 2.1 percent. Industry leaders complain that currency exchange controls make it difficult to procure dollars that manufacturers need to import raw materials. They also say the overvalued Bolivar currency makes locally produced goods uncompetitive with imported ones.
Also mitigating the recovery is Venezuela's 18 percent inflation rate, the region's highest.


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Leaky Nominated in 2010 TotalFilm.com Movie Blog Awards
Jan 07, 2010
TotalFilm.com has published the nominations for their 2010 TotalFilm.com Movie Blog Awards, and have included a nod to The Leaky Cauldron in the Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Blog category. We at Leaky are greatly honored to receive this nomination, and to be among such other popular blog sites nominated by TotalFilm.com. The winners of the 2010 TotalFilm.com Movie Blog Awards are chosen by you, via the nomination page right here. Voting is now open and runs through Sunday, January 25th.
Leaky has been nominated along side such other popular Sci-Fi/Fantasy blogs as TheOneRing, Den of Geek, Team-Twilight, and io9 in our category. The other categories; which include Best Horror Blog, Best News Blog, Best Newcomer Blog, Best Cult Blog, and Best Gossip Blog; bring nominations to such other prominent sites as Coming Soon, Dark Horizons, Lost Highway, and Radiation Cinema. We — our volunteer staff of over 200 — are exceptionally honored to be considered among these fantastic newsblogs.
Remember, voting is open now, and runs through Sunday, January 25th via this link. The winners of the 2010 TotalFilm.com Movie Blog Awards will be announced on Monday, January 26th.


text:
Image rights: Kathryn Markel Fine Arts, 2016
About Lisa Breslow
New York City is a constant source of inspiration for painter Lisa Breslow. The artist, who was raised on Long Island and studied at the Art Students League, creates impressionistic oil paintings of New York City streets, seeking out places and scenes that call to mind a psychological response. The images—which depict locations like Central Park through its changing seasons—blend realism and abstraction, with Breslow frequently turning the canvas as she works to gain new perspectives on the composition. When it comes to balancing subject and abstraction, Breslow says, "it is equally about paring the subject down to its visual essence, a visceral, intuitive process of working and reworking the surface and losing oneself in the paint."
American, Long Island, New York, based in New York, New York


text:
There are two big SQL Server learning opportunities I want to remind you about. First, DevTeach/SQLTeach will be held in Montreal May 14 - 18. I will be speaking there this year on beginning T-SQL and new T-SQL features of SQL Server 2005. The second talk will cover error trapping, row number and ranking functions, common table expressions and more. It sounds like it will be a great conference, and networking with other SQL Server professionals is always worthwhile.
In September, the PASS Summit moves to Denver, Steve Jones' neighborhood. If you sign up now, you can get a big discount off the price. I won't be speaking this year, but you will definately see me there!


text:
Calcohol - A real-time open source alcohol absorption and metabolism simulator for mobile phones. Can plot BAC graphs, predefined drinks, sobering-up time estimation and much more!
What's New in This Release:
· Fixed almost all resolution dependent code, now fonts and icons change their size depending on the resolution
· All keyboard input now has it's own function that handles what the key does, in preparation for touchscreen support
· Added complete touchscreen support. Still crashes from time to time on my emulator, no idea why. Also the "feel" of the interface might not be the best
· Added saving of custom drinks to external file (custom.xml)
· Automatic drink saving added to Model.touch()
· Loading of help data
· Loading and saving of currently drunk drinks
· Drinks are now loaded/saved in sessions, and a new session is started when the effects of the old one aren't visible at startup.
· Custom drinks are saved too
· Now uses pythons own xml parser
· Help data added
· Help layout added, options layout stuff
· Changed text format according to changes in util.py, now uses python's standard formatting
· Now uses pythons own xml parser
· Moved formatString from ui to util
· Replaced own formatString with python's string formatting operator.
· As a result, layout texts syntax is now changed: %,C%% -> %(BAC).2f for example
· Help system
· Text alignment support
· Large texts(>22) are now antialiased by default
· Moved all platform specific stuff here
· Replaces keyboard.py
· This is now the only file that should be changed when porting to other python platforms
· Now the only module that directly imports e32,appuifw,graphics,key_codes
· Drink system changes, now drinks can be added, all drinks are selectable etc.
· Moved some really repetitive code into a function where it should have been all along
· Removed
Calcohol - A real-time open source alcohol absorption and metabolism simulator for mobile phones. Can plot BAC graphs, predefined drinks, sobering-up time estimation and much more!


text:
Style # 205612
Pyramid Stud Leather Bracelet is rated out of 5 by 2.
Rated 5 out of 5 by NikkieGiovanni from Good Quality I love this bracelet. It's sturdy, thick and gorgeous. Its made with Genuine leather and it's adjustable as which is great for wearing it in the summer months when your wrist needs a little extra breeze :)
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Date published: 2013-01-30


text:
The yen advanced the most in more than three weeks against the dollar as a slump in China's currency and its stock market stoked concern growth in the world's second-biggest economy is slowing.
Japan's currency gained versus most of its 16 major peers on demand to unwind carry trades while the yuan tumbled the most in more than five years on bets the central bank wants an end to the currency's gains. Demand for the less-risky currencies rose after a Russian official said Ukraine faces a "high" chance of defaulting on its sovereign debt. South Africa's rand reached a six-week high as a report showed the economy grew more than forecast in the fourth quarter.
"Risk aversion continues to play a role in dollar-yen," Robert Sinche, a global strategist at Pierpont Securities Holdings LLC in Stamford, Connecticut, said in a phone interview. "It's a bit surprising, given there's been some big moves happening in China and other markets," that moves in the currencies market are limited, Sinche said.
The yen strengthened 0.3 percent to 102.16 per dollar as of 2:59 p.m. New York time, reaching the biggest advance on a closing basis since Feb. 3. The euro rose 0.1 percent to $1.3743. Japan's currency climbed 0.3 percent to 140.40 per euro.
Carry Trade
Carry-trade investors, who borrowed the Japanese currency at the end of 2013 to fund against all 16 major currencies, have incurred losses this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
"Coming into the year, there was a pretty strong consensus this is going to be a better year for the dollar, and there were some pretty sizable longs being put against the yen and those haven't worked out," Pierpont's Sinche said. "Foreign-exchange investors' willingness and ability to put on big positions really get squeezed out now." A long position is a bet that an asset will increase in value.
JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s volatility index for the currencies of the Group of Seven nations fell to 7.50 percentage points, touching the lowest since Oct. 28.
The yuan dropped for a sixth day on speculation the People's Bank of China is attempting to ward off speculators before a possible widening of the trading band. The Shanghai Composite Index slumped 5.1 percent in the past four days on speculation that a weaker housing market will erode demand for everything from electric appliances to cars.
Yuan Outlook
"Some investors may link the weakening of the yuan to a less optimistic outlook," said Zeng Xianzhao, an analyst at Everbright Securities Co. in Chongqing. "Property financing curbs will probably be prolonged and other banks will follow suit. The slowdown in the property sector will spill over to other industries."
The currency fell 0.5 percent to 6.2310 per dollar, according to China Foreign Exchange Trade System prices. That's the biggest drop since December 2008.
The spot rate ended the day weaker than the central bank's reference rate for the first time since September 2012. It can diverge by a maximum 1 percent from the fixing, which was set at 6.1184 today.
Volume in over-the-counter options on the dollar-yuan exchange rate amounted to $22 billion, the largest share of trades at 38 percent, according to data reported by U.S. banks to the Depository Trust Clearing Corp. and tracked by Bloomberg. Dollar-yuan options trading was 216 percent more than the average for the past five Tuesdays at a similar time in the day, according to Bloomberg analysis.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


text:
ModerNash ships IKEA® home furnishings to Nashville, TN and its surrounding cities. We're Nashville's trusted independent shipping, assembly and installation service for IKEA® products.
We've got {[{ selected_variant.in_stock_variant.inventory_quantity }]} of these in our showroom available for pickup today.
This product requires assembly, and we're really good at it.
Easy to refill as the dispenser has a wide opening.


text:
Do you have enough information to work out the area of the shaded quadrilateral?
Four jewellers share their stock. Can you work out the relative values of their gems?
Which is the biggest and which the smallest of $2000^{2002}, 2001^{2001} \text{and } 2002^{2000}$?
Follow the hints and prove Pick's Theorem.
Show that if you add 1 to the product of four consecutive numbers the answer is ALWAYS a perfect square.
Peter Zimmerman, a Year 13 student at Mill Hill County High School in Barnet, London wrote this account of modulus arithmetic.
An account of methods for finding whether or not a number can be written as the sum of two or more squares or as the sum of two or more cubes.
Suppose A always beats B and B always beats C, then would you expect A to beat C? Not always! What seems obvious is not always true. Results always need to be proved in mathematics.
Take a number, add its digits then multiply the digits together, then multiply these two results. If you get the same number it is an SP number.
An article which gives an account of some properties of magic squares.
Imagine two identical cylindrical pipes meeting at right angles and think about the shape of the space which belongs to both pipes. Early Chinese mathematicians call this shape the mouhefanggai.
Some puzzles requiring no knowledge of knot theory, just a careful inspection of the patterns. A glimpse of the classification of knots and a little about prime knots, crossing numbers and. . . .
This article discusses how every Pythagorean triple (a, b, c) can be illustrated by a square and an L shape within another square. You are invited to find some triples for yourself.
Tom writes about expressing numbers as the sums of three squares.
In this 7-sandwich: 7 1 3 1 6 4 3 5 7 2 4 6 2 5 there are 7 numbers between the 7s, 6 between the 6s etc. The article shows which values of n can make n-sandwiches and which cannot.
Can you discover whether this is a fair game?
This follows up the 'magic Squares for Special Occasions' article which tells you you to create a 4by4 magicsquare with a special date on the top line using no negative numbers and no repeats.
We continue the discussion given in Euclid's Algorithm I, and here we shall discover when an equation of the form ax+by=c has no solutions, and when it has infinitely many solutions.
In this article we show that every whole number can be written as a continued fraction of the form k/(1+k/(1+k/...)).
Peter Zimmerman from Mill Hill County High School in Barnet, London gives a neat proof that: 5^(2n+1) + 11^(2n+1) + 17^(2n+1) is divisible by 33 for every non negative integer n.
Solve this famous unsolved problem and win a prize. Take a positive integer N. If even, divide by 2; if odd, multiply by 3 and add 1. Iterate. Prove that the sequence always goes to 4,2,1,4,2,1...
Some diagrammatic 'proofs' of algebraic identities and inequalities.
Take a complicated fraction with the product of five quartics top and bottom and reduce this to a whole number. This is a numerical example involving some clever algebra.
We only need 7 numbers for modulus (or clock) arithmetic mod 7 including working with fractions. Explore how to divide numbers and write fractions in modulus arithemtic.
It is impossible to trisect an angle using only ruler and compasses but it can be done using a carpenter's square.
The first of two articles on Pythagorean Triples which asks how many right angled triangles can you find with the lengths of each side exactly a whole number measurement. Try it!
Find all real solutions of the equation (x^2-7x+11)^(x^2-11x+30) = 1.
The country Sixtania prints postage stamps with only three values 6 lucres, 10 lucres and 15 lucres (where the currency is in lucres).Which values cannot be made up with combinations of these postage. . . .
To find the integral of a polynomial, evaluate it at some special points and add multiples of these values.
Find all positive integers a and b for which the two equations: x^2-ax+b = 0 and x^2-bx+a = 0 both have positive integer solutions.
Prove that you cannot form a Magic W with a total of 12 or less or with a with a total of 18 or more.
This is the second article on right-angled triangles whose edge lengths are whole numbers.
When if ever do you get the right answer if you add two fractions by adding the numerators and adding the denominators?
Start with any whole number N, write N as a multiple of 10 plus a remainder R and produce a new whole number N'. Repeat. What happens?
The final of five articles which containe the proof of why the sequence introduced in article IV either reaches the fixed point 0 or the sequence enters a repeating cycle of four values.
Kyle and his teacher disagree about his test score - who is right?
This article looks at knight's moves on a chess board and introduces you to the idea of vectors and vector addition.
In this third of five articles we prove that whatever whole number we start with for the Happy Number sequence we will always end up with some set of numbers being repeated over and over again.
The first of five articles concentrating on whole number dynamics, ideas of general dynamical systems are introduced and seen in concrete cases.
This article extends the discussions in "Whole number dynamics I". Continuing the proof that, for all starting points, the Happy Number sequence goes into a loop or homes in on a fixed point.
Professor Korner has generously supported school mathematics for more than 30 years and has been a good friend to NRICH since it started.
ABCD is a square. P is the midpoint of AB and is joined to C. A line from D perpendicular to PC meets the line at the point Q. Prove AQ = AD.
This problem is a sequence of linked mini-challenges leading up to the proof of a difficult final challenge, encouraging you to think mathematically. Starting with one of the mini-challenges, how. . . .
Draw some quadrilaterals on a 9-point circle and work out the angles. Is there a theorem?
Explore what happens when you draw graphs of quadratic equations with coefficients based on a geometric sequence.
This article stems from research on the teaching of proof and offers guidance on how to move learners from focussing on experimental arguments to mathematical arguments and deductive reasoning.
Have a go at being mathematically negative, by negating these statements.
Can the pdfs and cdfs of an exponential distribution intersect?
What fractions can you divide the diagonal of a square into by simple folding?
Can you make sense of these three proofs of Pythagoras' Theorem?


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MUSCAT, Oman (AP) — Oman says an Iranian scientist held by the U.S. since late 2011 has arrived in Oman.
Friday's report on Oman state TV gave no further details. Oman has served as a mediator between Washington and Tehran before.
The scientist, Mojtaba Atarodi, was in U.S. custody since December 2011 over allegations he bought advanced technological equipment in violation of U.S. sanctions on Iran.
Iran's official IRNA news agency said this week that the U.S. released Atarodi, a microchip expert at Tehran's Sharif University.
In September 2011, two Americans convicted of espionage by Iran were freed and traveled to Oman, which also briefly hosted a third member of the group after her release a year earlier. The three Americans said they were hiking in northern Iraq and strayed across the Iranian border.


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The Louisiana Lottery Corporation says nobody won the two major jackpots in the Louisiana Lotto and multistate Powerball drawings on Wednesday night.
Louisiana Lotto players matching all six numbers drawn would have won or shared a $1.05 million prize, which will rise to an estimated $1.1 million for Saturday.
Players matching all five numbers and the Powerball would have won or shared the $80 million jackpot. The prize goes to an estimated $90 million for Saturday.
The Easy 5 drawing rises to an estimated $70,000 after none of the tickets matched all five numbers drawn for Wednesday's $60,000 jackpot.


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Zayre Corp.
List of Deals
Zayre Corporation, parent of the Zayre Store chain of discount department stores, was incorporated in 1962. The first Zayre (Yiddish for "very good") store opened in Hyannis, Massachusetts, in 1956. Its founders were two cousins, Stanley and Sumner Feldberg. With sales doubling every second or third year, the Feldbergs were quick to add stores, which numbered more than 200 by the early 1970s. By then, the company had diversified into specialty retailing.
Hit or Miss opened its first store in Natick, Massachusetts, in 1965. The store thrived and grew into a chain so quickly that within four years it attracted the attention of a giant by comparison, Zayre. In 1969 Zayre bought the Hit or Miss chain and began its exploration of the upscale off-priced fashion market. Zayre's timing could not have been better. During the recession of the 1970s, Hit or Miss' results climbed so rapidly that Zayre began to think of expanding its off-priced upscale apparel merchandising.


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Kilroy Realty Corp. purchased two office properties in the Lake Union submarket of Seattle and plans to acquire a third property in Bellevue, Wash. in the third quarter, for a total purchase price of approximately $330 million. The properties total 837,000 sq. ft. of space.
The Lake Union acquisitions include Fremont Lake Union Center and Fremont Lake View, a three-building, 420,000-sq.-ft. office campus located at 701, 801 and 837 N. 34th Street. Kilroy will pay $145 million for the properties, representing a significant discount to replacement cost. It will assume approximately $34 million in debt as part of the acquisition.
The campus is 100 percent leased to tenants including Adobe Inc., Tableau Software and Ubermind. In Bellevue, Kilroy is in escrow to acquire Skyline Tower, a 417,000-sq.-ft. class-A office building for $186 million. It will assume an $84 million in-place loan as part of the transaction.
The LEED Silver-certified property is currently 92 percent leased. Tenants include Expedia and Valve Corp.


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I've never been the biggest fan of protests, even though I like the creativity of some people making signs. The protest at Comic-Con in San Diego a few years back when I was there did make me smile.
But most of the time, I'm not such a big fan of protests I've seen because the very idea seems too easy to me. Yeah, you're pissed. So am I. Do you know how many things I could get righteously angry about right now?
For one thing, I'm allergic to milk. which means I can't eat cheese. My first word was "cheese." No, I'm not exaggerating. That's how much I love cheese. And I can't eat it. Gaaaaawd!!!
It's easy to get mad and bitch about it. But what's more difficult? Actually figuring out a solution and then following through. I found out I can eat goat cheese, which rules because now I can have pizza again, but when I go to a restaurant with friends I still have to decline dessert because it's not made with goat's milk. Jerks.
The reason I bring all this up is because of Occupy Wall Street. It's not that I disagree with the fact that corporations and banks have, in many cases, destroyed the middle class' hopes and dreams. It's more that I think there should be some suggestions or guidelines that should be outlined by this movement, aside from "reassert our sovereign control of our land."
Even though I'm sure somewhere out there, there might be something written within their meeting minutes, I've decided that I'll outline a few things that I think any everyday person could do to help fight for the power of the middle class and make our dreams reality.
Be the change.
- Take your money out of a large bank and put it into a local credit union. I know you've only got $43.72 in there, and it's a big pain in the ass to actually go close your account and open a new one, but remember: Money is the language banks speak. Vote with your dollar. Credit unions are local, non-profit banks that guarantee your deposits. Find one now.
- Refinance any existing loans you have with a local credit union. See No.1 above. Sante and I moved our money and the rep was telling me about the low interest the credit union offered and I was tuning her out based on years of being sold to by Wells Fargo. Turns out our rate was almost half and the only fee we paid was a $16 title transfer. Score!
- Participate in the 3/50 project. I love the Internet as much as anyone. I adore that I can get ink cartridges for my printer for $3 and order a yoga video at the same time. But you know what I love even more than that? Santa Cruz. This place is paradise. Seriously.And I know many people feel the same way about where they live. So support your local brick and mortar establishment: Spend $50 each month at three establishments you love in your community. Mine: grocery, liquor, yarn. Easy, peasy. Keep your money local.
- Don't run a balance on your credit card. Ever. If you didn't paid the full balance on your credit card last month, throw that card in a drawer. If you didn't pay the full balance for the past year, cut that thing up. Credit card companies are making a fortune on our debt, even with the new credit laws. Quit paying credit card companies. If you can't stop, get help.
- Drive less. You know what group has a more disturbing reputation than the banks? Oil companies. And that's only when you look at economic impact. I can't un-see the oil covered dolphins from the past few years. If it's under a mile, walk, bike or take transit. Better yet: commit to one day every week where your car doesn't move.
I'm not pretending to know everything about economics, but I do know this. Small changes over long periods of time mean big changes. Commit to making your own changes and you commit to changing the world. Cheers to everyone occupying their lives!
UPDATE: Just for funsies, here's what I was for Halloween.


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General Comments: Futures closed mixed to higher in light volume trading. Weather remains good in Florida. Temperatures remain mild in the state, and conditions are mostly dry. Forecasts call for mostly dry conditions and mild temperatures to continue for now, but a cold front is expected to bring a chill to the state by next week. Forecasts do not call for any threatening temperatures, but the talk of colder weather created some buying in the nearby months. Fruit is holding for now, and irrigation is being used by producers to hold crop condition. Harvest in Florida of mid and early oranges is continuing, and the Valencia harvest is underway. Demand for domestically produced Juice remains down from last year. Weather in Brazil is reported to be good. Brazil is seeing normal temperatures and scattered showers. Harvest is continuing, so an increase in supplies should be expected at this time of year.
Overnight News: Florida weather forecasts call for mostly dry conditions, but showers are likely on Wednesday. Temperatures will average above normal.
Chart Trends: Trends in FCOJ are mixed. Support is at 113.00, 110.00, and 109.00 March, with resistance at 118.00, 122.00, and 126.00 March.
General Comments: Futures closed higher and charts assumed a more bullish look on what appeared to be speculative buying called short covering by traders. Some stops were hit when futures took out the highs from last week in early trading. The fundamental situation still appears negative. Most traders still note that big supplies appear to be available to the market. Demand is there, but not in big amounts as most buyers are not worried about prices. Most statistical organizations continue to look for a big surplus production for the year. Production has been strong in Brazil so far this year, and reports say that the new crop production looks to be strong as well. Exports from Brazil continue to be very strong after the delayed start to the program. Futures trends are down. Big Brazil production remains negative to prices, and traders know that Indian and Thai production is in the market, too. The Thai crushing season is underway with good production expected, but the crushing pace remains slow. Traders wonder if and when India will cut offers to the market due to the lower prices and perhaps less than expected production due to some dry weather at the beginning of the growing season.
Overnight News: Scattered and light showers are expected in Brazil this week. Temperatures should be near normal.
Chart Trends: Trends in New York are mixed to up with objectives of 1910, 1950, and 1965 March. Support is at 1855, 1825, and 1805 March, and resistance is at 1905, 1920, and 1960 March. Trends in London are mixed to up with objectives of 500.00 and 510.00 March. Support is at 490.00, 480.00, and 475.00 March, and resistance is at 501.00, 503.00, and 515.00 March.
General Comments: Futures closed lower. Good arrivals in Africa are negative and are continuing. Ivory Coast arrivals are strong, and weak demand ideas are still around. Malaysia and Indonesia crops appear to be in good condition and weather is called favorable. Overall weather patterns in West Africa production areas are good for harvest progress and for the mid-crop and next crop. Demand is reported weaker from the US and Europe, in part due to current economics and in part due to changes forced by the World Bank that encouraged forward marketing of the crops. Traders are starting to look ahead and past the midcrop harvest and note that the market could move to a production déficit next year. Ivory Cost growing conditions are reported good right now as the Harmattan winds are subsiding without causing any real damage to crops. Some showers have been reported as well. The better weather is needed as it was too dry last year.
Overnight News: Mostly dry conditions are expected in West Africa, but some showers are expected. Temperatures will average mostly above normal. Malaysia and Indonesia should see episodes of scattered showers, but Malaysia will be drier this weekend. Temperatures should average near normal. Brazil will get scattered showers and warm temperatures. ICE certified stocks are sharply higher today at 3.830 million bags.
Chart Trends: Trends in New York are down with objectives of 2100 March. Support is at 2155, 2145, and 2115 March, with resistance at 2210, 2230, and 2250 March. Trends in London are mixed to down with no objectives. Support is at 1410, 1405, and 1380 March, with resistance at 1440, 1455, and 1465 March.


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Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg apologized on Wednesday for the company's undisclosed psychological experimentation on Facebook users and acknowledged that the research effort was "poorly" communicated, a word which here means "not."
According to the Wall Street Journal, Sandberg, while in New Delhi, remarked, "We never meant to upset you," echoing Facebook researcher Adam Kramer's claim that "our goal was never to upset anyone."
In fact, the study at issue, published recently by researchers from Facebook, the University of California, and Cornell University, looks a lot like it was designed to test the social network's ability to upset (and excite) people. In January 2012, it exposed some 700,000 people to News Feeds weighted with either positive or negative posts and images to test whether users' emotions could be swayed.
[Protect your data. See 4 Facebook Privacy Intrusion Fixes.]
The researchers concluded that emotional states can indeed be influenced by what people see and read. This is more or less what marketers, artists, and politicians have known since forever. But Facebook users were upset, evidently because this is different from Facebook's publicly disclosed manipulation of users' News Feeds.
Beyond Cornell's curious repudiation of a previous statement that the Army Research Office contributed funding to the research -- let's test Facebook as a tool for regime change! -- the controversy surrounding the study consists of debates about ethics and informed consent.
The study certainly looks to be ethically dubious, but social media itself is ethically dubious. It's based on an asymmetrical exchange: something of known value -- a communications service -- for something of unknown value -- personal data, privacy, and user-generated content. The asymmetry is magnified because Facebook has some idea of the value each user brings to its network.
Yet those seeking to complain about Facebook's failure to disclose its experiment without doing the obvious -- quitting Facebook -- would do better to protest more substantive issues. Here's a 10-course tasting menu of more worthy concerns.
1. Technical paternalism Technology companies make choices that limit how you can use their software, hardware, and services. Facebook insists on filtering users' News Feeds when it could put users in control of the filter. Apple insists on judging apps by different standards than books, in terms of what kind of content is allowed. Google won't allow ad blocking software in Google Play. Technology companies treat customers like children.
2. Changeable contracts Technology companies, along with banks, utilities, and a host of companies in other industries, frequently claim the right to unilaterally change terms-of-service agreements at their discretion, sometimes with and sometimes without notice. Imagine that in the context of a landlord renting to a tenant. After signing a lease for $1,000 a month, the landlord could say the contract has changed and the rent is now $10,000 a month. Simply put, unilateral contractual changes should not be allowed.
3. Corporations are more than people The Supreme Court's decision to treat corporations as people in the context of political funding elicited a fair amount of resentment among those who believe America is a nation governed by people rather than companies. But corporations can do things people cannot, like create shell companies to conceal information and to shift revenue abroad. Firms like Apple, Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn have been criticized for their ostensibly lawful tax mitigation schemes, which can move money away from regions where the companies actually consume considerable resources. Taxes that don't get paid matter more than consent that hasn't been obtained.
4. Farcical privacy policies You would think that companies with privacy policies would provide privacy. But you would be wrong. Facebook at least has the decency to offer a Data Use Policy. Right up front, you know you will be used. But such documents are really a farce because so few people read them and truly understand them.
5. Cloud insecurity Between 446 and 662 data breaches have occurred every year since 2007, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center. Meanwhile, law enforcement organizations and intelligence services like the NSA have the power to grab just about any data from anywhere. Online security is a pipe dream, yet companies insist, "We take security very seriously." They'll take your money, but can't take care of your data with any certainty. Trust no one; store your own data encrypted on a local machine.
6. Cloud impermanence Google may be the poster child for capricious termination of cloud services, but it's far from the only company to withdraw offerings from the market in a way that inconveniences consumers. Back when software ran on local machines, this was less of a problem; today, with so many server-resident applications, important services can simply vanish. The cloud erodes the power that comes with ownership. Welcome to the cloud, serf.
7. Cloud filth How many shared links does it take to sink an island country beneath the rising sea? Stay tuned for the viral video about the impact of
Next Page


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The fact that intercontinental air travel with acceptable flight times is an everyday occurrence today is due to an apparently simple idea: the swept wing. Seventy years ago, the advantages of a swept wing in comparison to an unswept or straight one was experimentally demonstrated for the first time at the Aerodynamics Research Institute (Aerodynamische Versuchsanstalt; AVA) in Göttingen, the precursor of today's German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR).
In the 1930s, the fastest aircraft of the time hit an invisible limit: the sound barrier. As soon as aircraft came anywhere near this barrier, they became increasingly difficult to control. The rudders stopped responding, the wings began to vibrate and the whole aircraft was thoroughly shaken up. Aircraft frequently crashed as a consequence. Because of this, many researchers believed that sustained flight speeds of 800 to 900 kilometres per hour, commonplace today, were impossible.
Significance only recognised in Germany
In 1935, Adolf Busemann, who studied under the Göttingen aeronautics research pioneer Ludwig Prandtl, presented the idea of the swept wing at a congress in Italy. However, the suggestion of this 34-year-old, unknown in the scientific community, was ignored: "He was very young for a scientist and his idea of supersonic flight was considered to be impossible, even by leading researchers," explains Prof. Hans-Ulrich Meier, for many years a Head of Department in today's DLR facility at Göttingen.
In his book 'Die Pfeilflügelentwicklung in Deutschland bis 1945' (The Development of the Swept Wing in Germany until 1945), Meier describes how the significance of the new invention as the basis for high-speed flight was only recognised in Germany. "One reason for this was undoubtedly the search for superior weapons systems for the impending war," Meier says. The new wing promised German fighter aircraft a speed advantage in comparison to their opponents.
Faster with swept wings
In late 1939, Hubert Ludwieg carried out the first swept-wing measurements at AVA. Busemann had, in the meantime, become head of the new German Institute of Aviation Research (Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Luftfahrt; DFL) in Braunschweig. Ludwieg's measurements confirmed the correctness of Busemann's theory for the first time. A swept wing allows an aircraft to fly faster because the drag is reduced.
If, then, the swept wing was the prerequisite for high-speed and supersonic flight, the jet engine provided the necessary power. In 1939, the first jet aircraft in the world took to the skies in the shape of the Heinkel 178. Swept wings and jet propulsion were combined in an aircraft for the first time in 1944, in the Junkers 287, based on the research undertaken at Göttingen. Interestingly, the latter had wings that were swept forward – a concept that has only been recently revived, due to its difficult flight characteristics.
An old concept revisited: the swept-forward wing
DLR has been conducting research into swept-forward wings at its Braunschweig facility as part of the EU New Aircraft Concepts REsearch (NACRE) project. Aerodynamic drag is to be reduced using what is known as 'laminar technology'. For long-distance aircraft in particular, the swept-forward wing combined with laminar technology produces a clear fuel saving: "Such an aircraft could fly just as fast but use less fuel, and thus fly more cleanly, than conventional aircraft," says Dr Heiko Geyr von Schweppenburg from the DLR Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology (Institut für Aerodynamik und Strömungstechnik; IAS) at Braunschweig. As a result of this potential, such a configuration is now being investigated in the DLR LamAir project.
Knowledge-transfer to the USA
In contrast to jet propulsion, the swept wing was not used during the Second World War. Models such as the legendary first operational jet aircraft, the Messerschmitt 262, did not have swept wings. This was because this new wing shape also produced many problems. Lift and stability are worse than for unswept wings.
At the end of the War, the Allies secured the knowledge acquired in Germany for themselves: thousands of tons of documents were shipped to the USA, Britain and the Soviet Union. The German researchers were obliged to commit everything they knew to paper. This knowledge is documented in the 'Göttingen Monographs', still of significance today, and has been translated into English. "A thousand pages, dealing only with the best possible way to integrate the engine into the swept wing, went from Göttingen to the USA and Britain," says author Meier. Many researchers emigrated to the victorious powers. Adolf Busemann, the inventor of the swept wing, went to the USA, where he continued his research, first at NASA and then as a professor at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Basis of modern aviation
The discoveries made in Germany became the basis of modern aviation. The Americans combined the results in the B47 jet bomber. This in turn was the precursor of the Boeing 707, which introduced the age of civilian jet travel. All of today's giant civilian airliners are based on the B707. A direct line can be drawn from Busemann's swept wing idea via the Junkers 287 to modern aircraft such as the Airbus 380.
Today, the former wartime enemies are working together in the field of swept-wing research. In an international project to test modern computational techniques, the aerospace research institutions of the USA, France and Germany (NASA, ONERA and DLR) have recently created a comprehensive experimental database for a wind tunnel model of a commercial airliner. The aim of the database is to help enable the development of further improvements in wing shape in the future.


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Posts Tagged 'computing'
This past Monday I passed the CCIE Data Center Lab Exam in San Jose CA, making me four time Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) #8593 in Routing & Switching, Service Provider, Security, and Data Center, as well as Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) #20130013. This was my first – and thankfully last – attempt at the DC lab exam, and also my first experience in the San Jose CCIE Lab location. In this post I'm going to outline my preparation process for CCIE Data Center, as well as to talk about my experience with the actual day of the lab.
Tags: ccie, cloud, computing, dc, lan, nexus, nx-os, SAN, Storage, strategy, UCS


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Hyannis Construction Reviews
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Infinity Homes Reviews
We purchased our Infinity home in November of 2015 and moved in June 2016. The entire experience with the builder representatives was positive from the start t...
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Marshall gets 5 star, he got the job done and had cool house again at 8:30 at night, Made ours house cool again. With both of us having medical problems (husba...
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When we had to get the house "de smelled" before moving back home, the Paul Davis team was the logic choice. Dennis and Chad took the reins, and along...


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Just a heads up to everyone: Jordan and I will be gone on vacation through the 18th. We are completing my life long dream of going to Egypt. It is also a bit of a homecoming for Jordan who lived there for 7 years, graduated high school there, and hasn't been back since. I think we are both feeling the strain and drain of trying to get the new Pixel Scrapper off the ground, and could really use some time away from the internets. Luckily, Egypt is only an hour away and the trip is all planned, so this looks to be like the first real vacation we've been on in a long time. We usually travel, which is a rather different thing (see Jordan's post here).
So, you won't be hearing from us while we're away, but we have our lovely moderators to answer any basic questions you have (thanks guys!). Please leave any problems or feature requests in the usual places and we'll attend to them when we return.
While We're Away
- There will still be new assets and templates every day. So just because I'm not here doesn't mean I'm not here, if you know what I mean.
- Take part in a challenge to boost your creativity.
- Be a part of the conversation. Leave a thought in one our great forums.
- Please continue to share what you love about Pixel Scrapper wherever you can: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. Every little bit helps.
- If you haven't already joined our growing club of supporters, take a minute to donate. This is our only job. So it's up to you (a lots of other yous) to make this a success.
Upon Our Return
We are counting on this vacation to renew our spirits, because there are about a million and one things we want to get done. Some things you have to look forward to after our return:
- New Designers. That's right, it won't just be me anymore. Variety is the spice of life and it's time we got some spiciness in here!
- Kits. I know some of you are already looking forward to this, but we're hoping to get kits up, so you can download it all at once if you prefer.
- Spring cleaning...in December. It may not really be spring, but I have a whole lot of stuff I need to get organized and uploaded to the site. If you've been wishing there were more templates available, get ready. Your dreams are about to come true.
- Winter Birds Kit and December Pixel Scrapper Blog Train. This may be the best kit I've ever made (IMHO ). It's hard to say. I really liked Bedouin Nights. But this one has glitter snowflakes...
- 30 Days of Christmas Giveway. I thought, gosh, we haven't had enough freebies happening here, we'd better give something away at Christmas .
Hopefully that's enough excitement to keep us going to the new year. Who knows what surprises there will be after that...


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BlackBerry Theme Builder features
You can use the BlackBerry Theme Builder to design unique looks for all screens on the BlackBerry device by changing items such as the banner icons, fonts, backgrounds, and buttons.
|Customizable banners
You can use this feature to customize banners. You can create full-screen banners and hide individual banner items. You can position, size, and add new banner icons.
|Customizable backgrounds for the Home screen
You can change the background of the Home screen. Depending on the theme layout type, the following screens can have a different background:
|Customizable Application list
You can change the icon and the icon with focus for each application on the device.
You can add links to webpages from the Application list screen. When aBlackBerry device user clicks the application icon, the webpage opens.
|Customizable menus, buttons, title bars, lists, and search fields
You can change the appearance of the UI controls that display on the device, including the following:
|Customizable Message list
You can change the font, background, and icons for messages. You can also change the color of messages that are sent with high priority.
|Customizable phone screens
You can change font color, icons, and buttons for the Phone Hotlist.
|Customizable Lock screen
You can change the font, background, and image for the lock icon on the Lock screen. You can also add an animation to the screen, move items around on the screen, and layer the Lock screen over the banner.
|Customizable indicators for global items
You can customize the following indicators that can appear on all device screens:
|Animation for screens
You can add an animation to the Home screen and Lock screen using .svg files.
|Screen transitions
You can add screen transitions such as zooms, slides, wipes, and fades.
|Catalogs for images and colors
You can save images and colors that you can use again in any theme.
|Customizable cursor navigation
You can specify the order that the cursor moves from item to item on the Home screen in custom theme layouts.
|Quickstart screen
You can open a recent theme that you worked on or another saved theme, create a new theme, or access learning resources and the BlackBerry Theme Builder community. The Quickstart screen also indicates when a new version of the BlackBerry Theme Builder is available for you to download.
|Theme management
You can install or preview themes directly on a device. You can also remove themes from the device using the BlackBerry Theme Builder.
|Integration with the BlackBerry Smartphone Simulator
You can see how your theme appears on a specific device model before you distribute the theme.
|Adobe Photoshop file compatibility
You can import Adobe Photoshop .psd files directly into the BlackBerry Theme Builder.


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Police look for man who held up Subway
Police look for man who held up Subway
OMAHA, Neb. —
Crime Stoppers needs your help catching an armed robber who hit a fast-food restaurant during a rush hour.
Police said the man walked into the Subway at 108th and M streets on Oct. 25.
Witnesses said he pulled out a black handgun, ordered one employee to get on the ground and told to other one to "put the money in the bag."
Surveillance video shows him crouched down, seemingly trying to stay out of the camera's view.
The robber is described as being in his 20s, 6 feet tall and about 250 pounds.
Anyone with information on the robbery should contact Crime Stoppers at 402-444-7867.


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PRINCETON, N.J. – Former Cincinnati Cyclones forward Cory Conacher became the 491st player to play in the National Hockey League after the ECHL when he made his debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 6-3 win against the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
The 23-year-old tallied two points (1g-1a), was a +1 and registered two shots on goal in 13:50 of ice time for the Lightning, whose line-up also included former ECHL players B.J. Crombeen, Tom Pyatt and Nate Thompson. Former ECHL player Daniel Lacroix is an assistant coach with the Lightning.
The Florida Everblades are the ECHL affiliate of the Lightning and the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League.
Conacher tallied seven points (5g-2a) in three games with the Cyclones in 2010-11 while adding one goal in two games with Rochester of the American Hockey League. Last season, he was named both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the AHL after posting 80 points (39g-41a) in 75 regular-season games. He added 15 points (2g-13a) in 18 postseason contests, helping the Admirals to their first Calder Cup championship.
The ECHL had a record 87 players on NHL opening-day rosters, surpassing the 81 from a year ago and marking the 10th year in a row that there have been over 50 former ECHL players on opening-day rosters. The ECHL has affiliations with 25 of the 30 NHL teams, marking the 16th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL.
There have been 491 players who have played in the NHL after playing in the ECHL including 23 in 2011-12. The ECHL has had 299 players reach the NHL since 2002-03 when it changed its focus to become the primary developmental league for the NHL and the AHL. The ECHL had 97 players reach the NHL in its first 10 seasons and 215 in the first 15 years. There have been 235 ECHL players who have played their first game in the last eight seasons for an average of more than 29 per year.
There are 30 coaches with an ECHL background working behind the benches of teams in the NHL including Anaheim Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau, Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma, New York Islanders head coach Jack Capuano, Dallas Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan, Philadelphia Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette and Winnipeg Jets head coach Claude Noel. It is the eighth consecutive season that there have been 11 or more coaches with an ECHL background working in the NHL. Boudreau, who coached Mississippi for three seasons winning the Kelly Cup championship in 1999, was named NHL Coach of the Year in 2007-08 becoming the first former ECHL coach to receive the award. Bylsma, who played in the ECHL with Greensboro from 1992-94, was named NHL Coach of the Year in 2010-11.
There are 26 former ECHL officials scheduled to work as part of the NHL officiating team in 2012-13 with referees Darcy Burchell, Francis Charron, Ghislain Hebert, Jean Hebert, Marc Joannette, Trent Knorr, Mike Leggo, Dave Lewis, T.J. Luxmore, Wes McCauley, Jon McIsaac, Dean Morton, Dan O'Rourke, Brian Pochmara, Kevin Pollock, Kyle Rehman, Chris Rooney, Graham Skilliter, Justin St. Pierre and Ian Walsh, and linesmen Steve Barton, Matt MacPherson, Brian Mach, Tim Nowak, Bryan Pancich and Jay Sharrers.
The ECHL was represented for the 12th year in a row on the Stanley Cup champion in 2012 with Los Angeles Kings assistant coach Jamie Kompon, players Dwight King, Jordan Nolan and Jonathan Quick, manager of communications/broadcasting Jeremy Zager and scouts Steve Greeley, Mark Mullen and Mark Yannetti. Quick was named recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy as Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, marking the second consecutive year a former ECHL player won the award. There were 43 former players and 13 coaches on the 16 teams competing in the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup Playoffs, marking the seventh year in a row that there have been at least 30 former ECHL players and the ninth consecutive season that over 25 players with ECHL experience have competed in the NHL postseason.
The first ECHL player to play in the NHL was Johnstown Chiefs goaltender and current Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach Scott Gordon, who played his first game with the Quebec Nordiques against Buffalo on Jan. 30, 1990. The 100th player honor is shared by Jean Sebastien Aubin and Manny Legace, who both made their debut on Oct. 21, 1998 with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings, respectively. The 200th player was Brett McLean with the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 10, 2002 while the 300th was David Liffiton with the New York Rangers on Apr. 11, 2006 and the 400th was Phil Oreskovic on Mar. 9, 2009 with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Former ECHL broadcasters working in the National Hockey League include John Ahlers and Steve Carroll of the Anaheim Ducks, Tom Callahan of the Nashville Predators, Dave Goucher of the Boston Bruins, Chris Kerber of the St. Louis Blues, Jack Michaels of the Edmonton Oilers, Dave Mishkin of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Bob McElligott of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Ryan Stanzel and Jeremy Zager, who were both recipients of the ECHL Media Relations Director of the Year award, are working in the communications department for the Minnesota Wild and the Los Angeles Kings, respectively. Former ECHL assistant director of communications Joe Siville works in the communications department for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Premier 'AA' Hockey League Fast Facts
• Watch games live on America One, the "Official Broadband & Mobile Broadcaster" of the ECHL.
• The ECHL celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2012-13 and is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.
• ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league with 23 teams in 16 states in 2011-12.
• The league officially changed its name from East Coast Hockey League to ECHL on May 19, 2003.
• ECHL has affiliations with 25 of the 30 teams in the American Hockey League and for the past 23 years there has been an ECHL player on the Calder Cup champion.
• In the last eight seasons the ECHL has had more call-ups to the AHL than all other professional leagues combined with over 3,500 call-ups involving more than 1,800 players and in 2011-12 there were 10 times as many call-ups from the ECHL to the AHL than all other professional leagues.
• The ECHL averaged 4,281 fans per game in 2011-12, marking the eighth consecutive season and the 20th time in the last 22 years that the ECHL has averaged over 4,000 fans.
• Further information on the ECHL is available from its website at ECHL.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter.


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Social media can sometimes provide a colossal opportunity to fritter away time that could better be used to accomplish a bit of work. It can suck you into a swirling vortex of mindless chatter, rumor-mongering and political back and forth that solves nothing, enlightens no one and produces no intellectual illumination.
It can be a black hole from which escape seems both impossible and undesired. One enters at one's own risk. Travelers beware.
On the other hand, it can, occasionally, perhaps even often, offer unexpected insights that give us new perspectives on many and diverse subjects. I've picked up some writing tips, for instance. I've discovered new sources for trout flies—but that would come under the topic of frittering, I suppose. I've kept abreast of agricultural calamities and bounties across the country and have even been able to communicate with individual farmer/friends about how they are faring during drought, flood or favorable weather.
One of the latest pearls of wisdom I picked up from social media provided some new insight on what has become an unnecessary conflict between conventional and organic agriculture. My friend Daren Williams, executive director, communications at National Cattlemen's Beef Association, recently posted a link to a Scientific American blog by Christie Wilcox that debunks many of the myths surrounding organic agriculture.
Specifically, the article deals with the assumptions that organic farmers use no pesticides, that organic products are more nutritious and taste better, organic farming is more sustainable and that organic and conventional agriculture must be mutually exclusive.
Wilcox shows that none of those assumptions can be substantiated. Research studies support the article's contention that organic is not necessarily healthier, safer, greener or tastier than conventional produce.
As I've said before, I have no bone to pick with organic agriculture. It's a good idea for some producers. Markets exist for organic products and producers may get more per pound for organic than they can for conventionally-grown items.
I interviewed a peanut farmer once who said he could get about twice as much per ton for organic peanuts as he did for those he grew conventionally (using pesticides and synthetic fertilizers). But they were harder to grow, required more labor—weeds were especially hard to deal with—and yields were lower. But he had a market that offered him a better profit margin than he could get with just conventional production. It was a good option for him.
But organic is not the answer to meeting the needs of a rapidly growing population. If organic were economically feasible for large-scale agriculture, farmers would have adopted it. If organic agriculture could produce quantities of food and fiber equal to what farmers can make using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, more folks would be interested.
And organic is not greener. Producing enough food and fiber to meet demand would require significantly more land to produce what farmers grow now. So, we'd have to cut more trees, drain more wetlands, break out more grasslands to accomplish what we do more efficiently by using judicious amounts of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Note: judicious use.
Another point Wilcox made is that organic agriculture's refusal to consider transgenic varieties smacks of hypocrisy since bacillus thuringiensis is one of the natural pesticides approved for organic use. GMO simply puts Bt into the plant, genetically, instead of spraying it on top.
The thing that impressed me most, however, was that the article was not from one of us, the ag media, but from a scientific magazine. We make these points all the time and often feel like we're tossing out lifelines to folks already in the boat.
It's refreshing to see someone else make these points. And it's also good to know that social media can do more than show me where to find the best buy on # 14 olive wooly buggers.


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Letters to the University Community UH Joins the Texas Med Center
Oct. 8, 2009
Dear UH Faculty and Staff,
The Texas Medical Center has some exciting news and I'd like to share it with you.
DATE: October 8, 2009
TO: Texas Medical Center Member Institutions and University of Houston System
FROM: Richard E. Wainerdi, Ph.D
President, CEO and COO, Texas Medical Center
Renu Khator
Chancellor, UH System and President, University of Houston
SUBJECT: University of Houston joins the Texas Medical Center as its newest member institution
It is our distinct pleasure to announce that the University of Houston is now a full member institution of the Texas Medical Center. This decision is the culmination of several years of discussion between Texas Medical Center and the university, and the next logical step in developing this important partnership that will benefit both organizations and the entire community. The University of Houston College of Pharmacy has been a valued member institution since 1980.
This partnership is a critical part of the strategic direction of the university and its UH Health Initiative, and supports the goal to reach tier one status in the foreseeable future.
The University of Houston makes up the twelfth university or system of education and research to become a part of the Texas Medical Center.
This membership is an important step as UH faculty, education and research programs across the colleges and departments partner with institutions in the Texas Medical Center. This year, UH received more than $61 million in health-related research in many colleges and programs, from biomedical engineering to health law. We expect that the interactions between these outstanding UH researchers and their peers within the Texas Medical Center member institutions will grow dramatically as we move forward.
For example, the University of Houston recently recruited Dr. Jan-Ake Gustafsson, a world-renowned physician, scientist and member of the National Academy of Science, to head the new UH Center for Hormone Receptors and Cell Signaling. Dr. Gustafsson and his research team are developing innovative, cross-disciplinary approaches to understanding the root causes and potential interventions for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and a host of other complex health problems. The opportunity for multi-institution collaboration of minds, resources and research in these areas could make a material difference in improving the quality of care delivered to patients.
We will be working closely together in the coming months to explore additional ways all of our member institutions and the University of Houston can learn more about each other and begin to develop mutually beneficial relationships at an accelerated rate and collaborations. We look forward to the many exciting opportunities ahead!
Thank you.


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PARIS (Reuters) - Warner Music and a joint venture led by British impresario Simon Fuller are among nine groups interested in buying Parlophone from Vivendi's Universal Music Group, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
Universal has received nine preliminary non-binding proposals for the label, the Financial Times website reported, citing industry sources.
Universal is being forced to sell the business to satisfy regulators' concerns about its $1.9 billion takeover of the recorded music business of EMI.
Apart from Warner, Universal has also received proposals from Blackwell Fuller, a venture backed by Lord Jacob Rothschild's RIT Capital Partners that includes Fuller, the entertainment entrepreneur, and Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records as well as one from Ronald Perelman's investment company MacAndrews & Forbes, the FT said.
BMG, a joint venture between Bertelsmann and KKR, and Sony Music were also expected to take part in the bidding process, the paper said. They have signed non-disclosure agreements but have not submitted non-binding proposals
Citing the sources, the FT said Warner, Blackwell Fuller and Perelman were interested in other Universal assets on the block, including the Sanctuary and Mute labels and the Now compilations.
Universal Music could not be immediately reached for comment.
(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)


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Legislative Session proceedings
Welcome to the official site of Indiana State Senate District 2. State Senator Lonnie Randolph represents the district in the Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Senate District 2 encompasses portions of Lake County. District 2 communities include East Chicago, Whiting, and portions of Gary, Griffith, Hammond, Hobart and Merrillville.
Nov. 19, 2013: The 118th General Assembly convenes for Organization Day.
Jan. 6, 2014: The 2014 legislative session begins.
Jan. 10, 2014: Bill filing deadline for the 2014 session.
Mar. 14, 2014: Sine Die. The 2014 session ends.


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FRIES — Fries resident Terry Akers and Fries Town Council have held lengthy discussions at each of the town's last three meetings about the possibility of hosting a fishing tournament and festival in June.
Akers originally introduced his idea during the town's September 2012 meeting, and since that time he has been working with the town to put together all the pieces and build on the idea.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the The Gazette, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
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LOS ANGELES --Governor Jerry Brown has put his signature on a bill that will hike California's minimum wage to $10 an hour within three years.
The legislation signed Wednesday will raise the current minimum of $8 an hour to $9 on July 1, 2014, and then to $10 on Jan. 1, 2016. It's the first increase in California's minimum wage in six years.
Brown has called the bill an overdue piece of legislation that will help working-class families.


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Odilon Redon, February, 2 - May 18, 2014, Fondation Beyeler Basel/Switzerland
Fondation Beyeler
Image rights: Photo: Collection Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo
Odilon Redon, Fondation Beyeler, February 2 - May 18, 2014.
Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo
Known for his unique blend of artistic naturalism and symbolic subject matter, Odilon Redon was highly influential among the late 19th century French avant-garde circle. Working in charcoal, pastel, oil, and lithography, Redon created imaginative scenes that, while often based in the supernatural, were nonetheless executed in a highly representational manner. Redon considered this descriptive accuracy essential, writing "every time that a human figure does not give the illusion that it is … about to come out of the picture frame to walk, act or think, the drawing is not a truly modern one." Redon was influenced by the poetry of Charles Baudelaire and Stéphane Mallarmé and admired by the painters Gustave Moreau and Gustave Klimt—as such he is often remembered as a Symbolist, though Redon preferred autonomy and never actually considered himself part of the group.
French, 1840-1916, Bordeaux, France, based in Paris, France


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[caption id="attachment_7001" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The Conley family (Ashley, Andrew and Shane) at the Eiffel Tower while on a day tour to Paris, arranged by USO Stuttgart in Germany."][/caption]
Every month it was a different adventure—Luxembourg, Belgium, Italy and France. To Normandy, where nearly 5,000 Americans gave their lives for European freedom. To Belleau Wood, where the Marines earned the nickname "Devil Dogs" during World War II.
High school teacher Ashley Conley and her 4-year-old son, Shayne, made a veritable history lesson out of Europe over the past two years.
As each new Saturday trip approached, her son's anticipation for the next trip would become palpable.
"Are you ready to see Paris?" Ashley playfully asked her son before a day-trip they took last year.
"Is daddy coming?"
"Yes, baby, he is."
Shayne's smile nearly breached his cheeks. His dad, Andrew, is a Sergeant First Class in the Army stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. Occasionally he was home long enough to join Ashley and Shayne on their tours of Europe booked through the USO.
"All I had to do is come prepared with my son, get on the bus at the designated time, sit back and relax," said Ashley, "and then ride back on the bus to Stuttgart. The USO takes care of everything."
The USO "Express Tour" to Paris leaves Germany about midnight and arrives in the French capital around eight the next morning. As the bus pulls into the city, tour guide Jiri begins pointing out places of interest.
"Military Academy is there, Hotel des Invalides is there," he announced – volume increased – as if to wake his guests gently.
When the bus finally came to a stop, the Conley's grabbed their subway passes and hit the streets.
Overall, the city was clean but extremely busy, reported Ashley, for both car and pedestrian traffic.
"There weren't any of the tall buildings that are typical in American cities or even other European cities," she said. "Really it seemed like the tallest buildings we saw were the landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre-Dame."
After walking half way to their first landmark, little Shayne complained he was already tired. His parents knew it would happen, and his dad capitulated early this time.
"C'mon and hop on," he said, boosting Shayne up to his shoulders. "Where are we going first?"
Shayne pointed to a spot on the map, and the Conley's headed to the subway, a fairly new experience for Ashley and her son. For Shayne it was like being on a train, the stuff of dreams for a 4-year-old boy.
After grabbing a souvenir for Shayne and taking a family photo at the Eiffel Tower, it was already time to head back to the bus.
"I always have a feeling of disbelief after getting back from one of the USO trips, especially the express trips to another country," said Ashley. "I just can't believe that in the course of 24 hours I traveled to another city, in another country, that I previously had only dreamed about."
It was just what the Conley's needed right before a seven month deployment.
"We love the USO for helping us capitalize on what liitle family time we get," said Andrew. "It literally means the world to us." – By Joseph Andrew Lee, USO Staff Writer
Their journey is everyone's responsibility. From the moment they enlist, through their assignments and deployments, and as they transition back to their communities, they can rely on your support.


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Robert Pattinson's prison
These Twi-Hards…they've turned him into a goddamn fugitive.
Every day they line the streets, waiting for a glimpse. And as soon as the glimpse comes, they start screaming. As you can see in this video taken today - they scream simply because he's walking to his car, head dipped down, desperate to get the f-ck away from them.
Twi-Hard lunacy has become so extreme that OK! Magazine reports that the crew has now constructed some sort of cage, 7ft high, for him to hide inside when he needs to be alone on set. We had something like this for Marcus when he was a puppy. Like a pen we'd leave him in when we went out. We'd give him a few cookies, and put the water dish in there, to train him to be independent.
Robert Pattinson is now living like my puppy.
Awesome Twi-Hards!
What drives this?
Oh it's that dream. The same unique dream they all have: "I know that if I could just meet him, if I could just have that chance, he'd see that I'm different from the rest. And we could be together."
As for those of you who think that it's just the young ones…
Please. It's not just the young ones. You've read the hate mail. It's also the middle aged ones. With children. It's all ages f-cking crazy!
Speaking of hate mail – you ready for another one? This comes from Wendy in Michigan.
Hi Lamey bitch! Don't you dare join in with those tabloids and trying to spread rumors that Rob is with that Emilie fat ass. YOU ARE a JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She's too fat for him anyway, look at her ass in those jeans and until you accept that Robsten is the real deal no one will be reading your site so give it up you dumpy ass whore!
For those of you who don't speak Stephenie Meyer crazy, "Robsten" is what they call Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
Attached – "Rob" on set today and also joined by Pierce Brosnan.
Photos from Wenn.com and Jackson Lee/Splashnewsonline.com and Bauergriffinonline.com


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States are going "retro" to kill their citizens
It's getting more and more difficult to kill people these days.
What I mean by that is that the standard method of execution--death by lethal injection--is becoming a rather fraught method these days. This is because the drugs that are used in lethal injection are becoming difficult, nigh unto impossible, to get. Sodium thiopental had been the preferred drug in lethal injections, but it is no longer manufactured in the U.S., and the European Union has banned the export for the purposes of lethal injection. Pentobarbital is another drug that can be used in lethal injections, but it, too, is becoming difficult for states to access. Pharmacies and manufacturers are feeling skittish about selling their drugs for the purpose of execution. So states have been getting the drugs through other means: compounding pharmacies or some such. (We don't necessarily know where exactly the states are getting their drugs, because many of them refuse to disclose the sources.)
Because the drugs have become scarce, however, we've seen some experimentation with executions as of late. In Ohio, Dennis McGuire was executed an experimental drug cocktail that has not been used before, and he took 25 agonizing minutes to die. After reviewing that execution, Ohio decided that the next time, they would just use a higher dose. Likewise, in Oklahoma three weeks ago, Clayton Lockett died of an alleged heart attack 43 minutes after the execution began, and ten minutes after the execution was called off because something was wrong.
So now we find ourselves in limbo. It's becoming increasingly apparent that lethal injection is not the humane way to kill people that we thought it was. Furthermore, even if states want to continue to use lethal injection, the drug shortage is making it difficult and nearly impossible. So this seems like it would be an excellent time for us to stop and to reflect. We might call this an opportunity. A chance to push the "pause" button on executions and think about whether this is in fact the nation that we want to be.
Except that does not seem to be happening. Instead, there are some states who, in light of the lethal injection crisis, are grasping for whatever is within their reach to make sure that they have the tools at their disposal to kill people. Wyoming and Utah are considering a return to death by firing squad, and yesterday, Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee signed a law that would make the electric chair mandatory when lethal injection drugs become unavailable.
This scrambling to reclaim older methods of execution has left me bewildered. Why the mad dash to assure the capacity to execute? Why not take a beat, take a breath, and ask ourselves whether this is the kind of nation that we want to be?
I understand the visceral and gut-wrenching response to murder. Clayton Lockett and Dennis McGuire were guilty of their crimes, which were horrific. But the death penalty says so much more about us as a nation and as a society than it says about those we choose to put to death. What would it mean for us if we chose to believe that no human being is beyond redemption, that no one is beyond reconciliation?