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Brownies makes me nostalgic,reminds me of my college days!!!When I was in my final year,a coffee shop opened near our college-Coffee Beanz.It was an all in one shop with food,beverages,ice-creams-even appam & stew adorning their menus.Me and my best friend M started to haunt this shop almost daily,yes daily!!Our order was almost always the same-2 cold coffees&2 brownies with ice-cream.God,even thinking about that makes me drool.They were so rich and yummy that one had to struggle to stop at one.We were not so diet conscious then,unlike todays's college going girls[;-)],we sometimes gave in to our temptation and ordered another one.I mean,who can resist those yummies with chocolate chips oozing out of them and garnished with walnuts?We couldn't!!
I've always wanted to prepare them at home,but the list of ingredients it had always puts me off.And half of the ingredients were not available here too.So we always bought it from outside whenever we felt like eating it.I have written down quite a few number of brownie recipes in my cookbook and have bookmarked many more.But never actually thought of making it.I was looking for a recipe in my book and came across this lovely brownie recipe which I had written down from Srivalli's blog.It has two recipes,one with eggs and one eggless.Moreoever,it required use of 1/2 a tin of milkmaid and I had some ready in my fridge remaining from the Chocolate cake recipe.They came out wonderful,only thing,a little less sweeter than we had expected.So if you want it sweeter,increase the amount of sugar.So brownies it is!!!
Eggless Chocolate Brownie with Banana
Maida - 1 cup
Cocoa powder - 2 tbsp
Milkmaid- 200 gms (Half tin)
Butter - 1/2 cup
Baking powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt a pinch
Sugar - 2 tsp
Ripe Banana - 1 small one
Crushed Walnuts,Cashewnuts - about 2 tbsp
Melt the butter in Microwavefor 1 minute. Mix in the milkmaid, blend it to a smooth paste using a blender.
Mash the banana well and mix to the above butter & milkmaid mix.Add sugar and blend again to get a smooth paste.
In another bowl, sift the flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder. Then add to the butter mix and blend well.
Transfer the mix to a greased microwave safe dish.I used the wax paper which comes as the butter cover,so did not grease the pan.
Microwave this mix for 4 minutes. Let it rest in the microwave for a minute, then remove to the wire rack for another 2 minutes.
Brownies are ready to be savoured!!!
I had bookmarked this recipe on the day Sri had posted it(almost 2 months back) and also had written it down,just in case!!So this one goes to Bookmarked recipes event conducted by Ruth.Check out the round-up here!!


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Olaf Frozen Birthday Balloon Bouquet
Olaf Frozen Birthday Balloon Bouquet. Pick the bouquet of your choice uniquely match by Funlah. Great for all party themes if you require a change in colours please notify us. Stand out in birthday parties, pool parties and anniversaries. Match these with assorted balloon bouquets lastly please deflate them and reuse or discard accordingly. View our package themes for more ideas.
Bouquet: Floating Time: 16-20 hours
- (Inclusive of helium, string approx 1.8m long and water balloon weight). Recommend to opt for self collection/ delivery with us.
- Balloon comes with Self Seal Valve to prevent leaking of gas. Fast, easy and convenient
- High temperature, exposure under the sun, friction and force etc will cause the balloon to deflate or explode.
- Please discard defected balloons immediately.
- Beware of thermal expansion and contraction under different weather conditions.
- If there are small holes in the balloon and causes deflation, one could use tape to cover the holes and that should do the trick.
- Avoid any sharp objects and edges when placing the balloons.
Disclaimer: Product photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual colors may vary from the product photos, and may also vary from the PC/Mobile/Tablet's screen due to monitor color restrictions.

subset: commoncrawl


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A panel of judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Oct. 31 that a provision in a Texas law requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital can take effect.The panel made the ruling three days after Judge Lee Yeakel of the U.S. District Court in Austin said the provision was unconstitutional.The judges on the 5th Circuit said the provision can be carried out while a lawsuit challenging the abortion law's restrictions moves forward.The U.S. Supreme Court, they said, has held that having "the incidental effect of making it more difficult or more expensive to procure an abortion cannot be enough to invalidate" a law that serves a valid purpose, "one not designed to strike at the right itself."Yeakel argued that requiring admitting privileges would unreasonably limit a woman's access to abortion. The provision, he said in his ruling, was "without a rational basis and places a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion of a nonviable fetus."His decision was appealed by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who argued that the state Legislature was well within its constitutional rights to require admitting privileges."We were disappointed in part of (Yeakel's) ruling," said Jeff Patterson, executive director of the Texas Catholic Conference, in an Oct. 29 telephone interview with Catholic News Service."But the one thing I think the Catholic bishops would want to underscore to people is that most of the bill that was passed by the Legislature was upheld," Patterson said.Yeakel upheld a second provision that requires doctors to use a particular drug protocol in nonsurgical, medication-induced abortions.The Texas law requires doctors to use a protocol approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000, which allowed the use of higher doses of the medication through the seventh week of pregnancy. Yeakel ruled that requiring the protocol did not pose an unconstitutional obstacle, except in cases where the new regimen appeared necessary to save the life or health of the mother.The regimen calls for two drugs to be used to induce an abortion, and the Texas law requires they be administered in person by a doctor within the first 49 days of pregnancy as determined by the woman's last menstrual period.Yeakel did find — and the 5th Circuit did leave in place this finding — that an exception to the state-mandated use of abortion-inducing drugs would be allowable for a subset of women whose physicians' "sound medical opinion" say that a newer regimen would be the only viable option for women needing abortion between the 50th and 63rd days of pregnancy."Planned Parenthood and the pro-abortion community were quick to say (Yeakel's decision) was a huge overturning of the law when it was nothing of the sort," Patterson told CNS.The suit, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Planned Parenthood and the owners of abortion clinics in Texas, did not challenge a ban on nearly all abortions starting at 20 weeks after conception. The ban took effect Oct. 29.Also not challenged in the suit was a provision that all abortion clinics meet the standards of ambulatory surgery centers. The provision does not take effect until next September.Yeakel, in his ruling, said the ultimate decision on the law would not be reached by him, but "by either the (5th) Circuit or the Supreme Court of the United States."The 5th Circuit's Oct. 31 ruling means that up to 12 of Texas' 36 abortion clinics will not be able to perform abortions. The circuit court's order is temporary, however, until the full court can hold a hearing in January.Admitting-privileges provisions had been blocked earlier by courts in Alabama, Mississippi, North Dakota and Wisconsin.The drug-protocol provision is still legal in Ohio, but it was thrown out by courts in North Dakota and Oklahoma.The 20-weeks requirement has been adopted in 12 states, but it was rejected by the court in the three states where it was subject to a legal challenge.Supreme Court: Drug-protocol decision reversedThe U.S. Supreme Court Nov. 4 reversed its decision to consider an appeal of a ruling that tossed out Oklahoma's drug-protocol provision. The Oklahoma Supreme Court said Oct. 29 that the drug-protocol provision in the state's abortion law "effectively bans all medication abortions" and therefore is unconstitutional. Last December, it upheld a lower court's ruling that tossed out the protocol provision as unconstitutional for creating an "undue burden" on a woman's ability to obtain an abortion.The U.S. Supreme Court had agreed in June to hear the case, pending responses from the state Supreme Court to two questions, related to the use of mifepristone under a protocol approved by the FDA and to treat ectopic pregnancies. The high court put further proceedings on hold until the state court replied.In written orders, the Supreme Court said the Oklahoma case had been "improvidently granted," with no further comment.Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt said the state Supreme Court again misinterpreted the aim of the provision, which he said is to protect Oklahoma women from "harmful outcomes" that could result from off-label uses of abortion drugs.
Catholic News Service is a leading agency for religious news, with the mission to report fully, fairly and freely on the involvement of the church in the world today. It was founded in 1920 by the United States bishops.


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CIMB Group is ASEAN's leading universal banking franchise. We offer a full range of financial products and services covering consumer banking, corporate and investment banking, Islamic banking, asset management, wealth management, insurance and takaful, and private banking.
With over 37,000 employees, CIMB Group reaches 81% of the ASEAN population, representing 89% of the region's gross domestic product. Our retail network of over 1,000 branches is the widest in the region.
Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, CIMB Group's main markets are Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia. Our presence in 13 countries covers ASEAN and major global financial centres, as well as countries in which our customers have significant business and investment dealings.
In addition, we extend our reach and range of products and services through strategic partnerships. Our partners include the Principal Financial Group, Aviva plc, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Standard Bank plc, Daishin Securities and the Kanoo Group, among others.
No comment found.


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By Kim Cook
There are stores full of exquisite bedding. But fancy sheets, duvets and mattresses can sometimes fall short of our wish lists, in style, price, comfort or all three.
What if you could make your own?
You don't need to be a professional designer, or even much of a sewer, to create one-of-a-kind bedding that looks as nice as the stuff of dreams.
First, your existing bedding can be embellished with sew-on or iron-on appliqués, available in craft and stitchery supply stores.
Writer and crafter Kim Ray offers suggestions on the website Doityourself.com. Trim the edges of sheets with flowers or butterflies for a feminine touch. Monogrammed initials give a smart, tailored and custom look. Ray also recommends edging a sheet with lace, making simple ruffles out of rayon seam binding, and embellishing coverlets with flowers made of various-size buttons.
Allison Hepworth of Austin, Texas, chronicles her efforts to creatively and affordably decorate her "cookie-cutter" home on her blog, House of Hepworth. When shopping for a bedding ensemble for her daughter's room, she found what she liked at PB Teen but didn't want to spend $400. Instead, she bought a couple of basic sheet sets from Wal-Mart, cut one up to make a pretty pink band on the sheets, and used heat bonding to attach a contrasting grosgrain ribbon trim on a comforter and sham. Her final cost was under $70.
"I rarely sew and couldn't make a dress if my life depended on it," Hepworth said. "I can, however, sew bedding sets and curtains, because it only involves a straight line and patience."
If you'd rather have someone else put your bedding together, check out Inmod's Design Studio at inmod.com. The online option page lets you pick a pattern from a selection of nature and graphic themes. You then move on to fabric choices — cotton, linen/cotton blend or Dupioni silk, then embroidery colors. You're given the opportunity to see your final design in a virtual room before purchasing.
Got specific colors in mind? You can customize duvets and sheet sets in any color combination at www.custom-bedding.com.
If you want to really customize, you can make your own mattress. Former Manhattan interior designer Lynne Cimino started having back problems and found that the marketplace had options, but pricey ones. Working out of her Marbletown, N.Y., home, she came up with a no-sew buckwheat mattress that's similar to a Japanese futon.
Sections of cotton canvas are filled with the hulls, then twisted and tied in sections for a custom-size finished product that looks like a big billowy cloud. Since the hulls have no nutritional value, she said, pests aren't a problem. The hulls are virtually non-flammable so no harsh retardants are needed, nor is buckwheat typically farmed with pesticides. The cotton covers are machine-washable. You buy both elements separately and do the assembling yourself. Visit www.openyoureyesbedding.com
Nest Bedding of Albany, Calif., offers a range of DIY mattress components including natural latex cores, vegan or cotton and wool covers, kapok and wool comfort layers and toppers at nestbedding.com. — AP


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For my first use of the garam masala that I had just made I wanted something that showed off the garam masala. Many recipes that use garam masala look like it might get lost in all of the other flavours so I wanted something pretty simple. I remembered seeing Jaden's recipe for green beans with garam masala butter and toasted hazelnuts which sounded like a nice way to fully experience the flavour of the garam masala. There was still a bit of local asparagus at the farmers market and I decided to swap out the green beans for asparagus. The asparagus with garam masala, butter and toasted hazel nuts turned out pretty good. I also liked the crunch that the hazelnuts added to the dish. I really like that such simple dishes can turn out so good. The garam masala had an amazing aroma and tasted just as good. With the first experiment with garam masala a success I am looking forward to trying it in a more complex dish.
Asparagus with Garam Masala, Butter and Toasted Hazelnuts
- 1/4 cup hazelnuts
- 1 pound asparagus (trimmed)
- 1 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Toast the nuts in a hot pan until golden brown.
- Remove the nuts from the pan and rub them between towels to remove the skins.
- Chop the nuts and set aside.
- Steam the asparagus until tender.
- Rinse the asparagus under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Melt the butter in a pan.
- When the butter is slightly browned add the garam masala and saute until fragrant.
- Add the asparagus and salt and toss to coat.
- Serve topped with the chopped nuts.


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Good morning. I'm David Greene. What the mayor of Dorset, Minnesota lacks in experience he makes up for with youthful enthusiasm. Mayor Bobby Tufts is four years old. He won his seat by having his name picked out of a hat. That's an annual tradition for the small town of 22. Mayor Tufts is celebrated in town as a singer, a dancer, and a fisherman.
At a big fishing event over the weekend, Mayor Bobby Tufts gave this advice: leeches and worms definitely make the best bait. You're listening to MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Now, listen: Easter is coming. That means a lot of long hours, hard work, and painstaking effort on your part to ensure we make some of the most beautif...BWAHAHAHA!!
[wiping eyes] Sorry, sorry! I really thought I'd get through that with a straight face this year. Heehee!
Right: start your airbrushes! I'll see you back here in five.
And speaking of plastic, here's a great recycling tip:
And remember, bakers: the more plastic, the less time, skill, and hassle!
I made this one in 15 seconds.
With my feet.
(Aaaand that'll be $14.99, please. Cha-ching!)
And lastly, I don't actually know what this is...
Thanks to Stephanie J., Angela M., Alexandra M., Shay K., Tony D., Diana Y., & Stephanie R., who think that's supposed to be a bunny rabbit.
[staring in stunned silence]
Well, one thing's for sure: You're not getting a Peep out of me.


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Advanced Organizing Workshop: Washington, D.C.
The curriculum for this Organizing Institute training was developed in collaboration with senior staff from partner unions. It's designed to give organizers a chance to step back from the day-to-day responsibilities and think about strategic planning and long-term goals to win power for the working class. This training will help organizers with field experience take on greater responsibility for planning, leading—and winning—successful campaigns.
The workshop focuses on:
- Critical thinking skills;
- Creating plans that build momentum;
- Articulating plans to justify choices;
- Strategies for leading teams through decision making and planning.
There is a special focus on thinking through community allies and strategies outside the workplace and applying core organizing principles to different ground models.
The cost is $150, and attendees must be selected and sponsored by their union. For more information, contact Lynn Rodenhuis, director of the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute.


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I have been enjoying using quinoa since I first discovered it and my favorite way to use it is in salads. I am always on the lookout for new quinoa salad recipes and I recently came across this one for a quinoa salad with roasted vegetables in my bookmarks. This salad sounded almost perfect. I really like roasting vegetables and this salad is full of roasted vegetables. It also called for marinated artichoke hearts and I had a jar that I had just been itching to try. I did not have any sun dried tomatoes and since we were roasting all of the other vegetables I thought that there was no reason to not roast the red pepper as well. I also decided to add a simple balsamic vinaigrette for even more flavour. The roasted vegetable quinoa salad was nice and easy to make and it was super tasty and good! It was a nice light and healthy change after all of the heavy meals that I had been having lately.
Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Salad
- 1 cup zucchini (cut into bite sized pieces)
- 1 cup eggplant (cut into bite sized pieces)
- 1 cup butternut squash (cut into bite sized pieces)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 roasted red pepper (cut into bite sized pieces)
- 1 cup marinated artichoke hearts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons feta (crumbled)
- Toss the zucchini, eggplant and butternut squash in the olive oil salt and pepper.
- Place onto a baking sheet in a single layer and bake in a preheated 400F/200C over for 30 minutes flipping once in the middle.
- Cook the quinoa as directed on the package.
- Mix the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Mix the roasted zucchini, eggplant and butternut squash, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, baby spinach and feta.
- Toss the dressing into the salad.


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Well folks, another year and another Reader Survey – now the 3rd annual – has gone by. Before formally announcing this year's winners, let me thank all those who sent in nominations and took part in the voting.
My intention in starting the Reader Survey three years ago was to hear about what Washington wines my readers thought were most exciting from the year gone by and what wines they were most excited about in the coming year. This goal remains.
Of course, it is unfortunately nearly impossible to maintain the integrity of the survey, as some readers and wineries marshal forces to support specific wines (which is of course perfectly fine), and some people inevitably determine ways to vote multiple times. Despite this, many readers have told me they enjoy the survey, and this remains a reader survey – a survey for you.
Each year the most interesting thing for me is to see is the list of wines nominated – what people have liked and have been excited enough about to pick above others. This year, as in previous years, the list of nominated wines comprises an excellent list of the best of the best in Washington. See the complete list of nominees here.
This year, two wineries rose to the top in the survey – with the same wineries coming in first and second in both the 2010 Wine of the Year and 2011 Wine to Watch voting. I will first list the winners and then talk a bit about each winery and wine. See the final voting tally at the bottom of the post.
2010 Washington Wine Report Reader Survey Wine of the Year
Adams Bench Cabernet Sauvignon Red Willow Vineyard Yakima Valley 2007
2010 Washington Wine Report Reader Survey Wine of the Year Runner-up
Reynvaan Family Vineyards In the Rocks Syrah Walla Walla Valley 2008
2011 Washington Wine Report Reader Survey Wine to Watch
Adams Bench Reckoning Red Wine 2008
2011 Washington Wine Report Reader Survey Wine to Watch Runner Up
Reynvaan Family Vineyards Stonessence Syrah Walla Walla Valley 2009
First, a bit about Adams Bench.
Adams Bench, located in Woodinville, Washington, was founded by Tim and Erica Blue. The winery is named after the school bench where students were sent as punishment when Tim was a boy in Indiana.
Adams Bench displays a consistent style of big, dense, tannin-filled wines. The winery makes a very small production of about 1,000 cases and focuses on a limited number of wines. While Chris Camarda of Andrew Will Winery consulted for the winery when the Blues started out, Tim has winemaker responsibilities and has shown a skilled touch with these wines.
Perhaps most impressive, the Adams Bench wines continue to get better and better with each vintage. This type of continual improvement and focus is a rarity and is a tribute to Blue's focus on what he wants to do stylistically and his quest for excellence.
While the Adams Bench wines have always been very well made, the 2007 vintage releases are a revelation, squarely putting the winery into the upper echelon of wineries in the state. In no case is this clearer than with the 2007 Red Willow Cabernet Sauvignon – the 2010 Reader Survey Wine of the Year.
Red Willow stands among Washington's finest vineyards, and the 2007 Adams Bench Red Willow Cabernet Sauvignon a beautiful expression of this site. Tim and Erica Blue described this wine best in their release letter back in February:
"Are all wines improved by blending? No. Sometimes a vineyard delivers something perfect, a jewel, complete unto itself—and so special there is no improving it with blending. In 2007, one block in one vineyard—Red Willow Vineyard–became for us a most wonderful 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a wine so special we've preserved it utterly pure and untouched."
While I have not reviewed this wine in this space (I have elsewhere), I can say that it is nothing short of an exceptional expression of Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon and is certainly among the best wines to come out of the excellent 2007 Vintage.
The 2011 Reader Survey Wine to Watch – the 2008 Adams Bench Reckoning – is one of the winery's Bordeaux-style blends. More information on this wine and its expected release date shortly.
On to Reynvaan Family Vineyards…
Reynvaan Family Vineyards made an extremely impressive entrance onto the Washington wine scene almost exactly one year ago. The winery, located in Walla Walla, was founded in 2004. In the ensuing years, the Reynvaan family planted their estate vineyards and waited patiently for their first fruit.
One of these vineyards, called In the Rocks, is located (no surprise here) in the Rocks region of the Walla Walla Valley. Vigneron Christophe Baron of Cayuse Vineyards put the Rocks region of the valley on the map with his standout Syrahs – consistently among the most highly rated in the world.
In recent years, dozens of other wineries such as Reynvaan have followed suit, planting numerous vineyards in this area. While many have shown impressive results, none have the advantage that winemaker Matt Reynvaan at Reynvaan Family Vineyards does – having Baron as consulting viticulturalist and enologist. Baron has worked with the Reynvaan family at every step.
The results are nothing short of extraordinary, easily among the best wines in the state. Though the Reynvaan wines are reminiscent of the Cayuse style – certainly more so than any other Washington wines out there – they also bear the unique stamp of the of winery and the vineyards they come from.
The 2007 vintage wines, released in November of 2009, were all standouts. However, the wines from the 2008 vintage, released in November, were a gigantic leap forward. These wines, including the 2008 Reynvaan Family Vineyards In the Rocks Syrah – the 2010 Reader Survey Wine of the Year Runner-up – were each among the most exciting wines I tasted this year (see review here).
In 2011, Reynvaan Family Vineyards will be adding a fourth wine to its lineup – the 2009 Stonessence Syrah, which is our 2011 Reader Survey Wine to Watch Runner-up. This wine is 100% Syrah from a single clone from the In the Rocks Vineyard. Tasting this wine in November, it is again another significant advancement for the winery – bold and quite stylistically unique from their previous offerings. This wine is currently available via futures and will be released in November of 2011.
Again, thanks to all who took the time to vote in this year's survey and happy holidays!
Final Voting – 2010 Wine of the Year
Adams Bench RW Cab 07 | 127 | (45%) |
Reynvaan In The Rocks 08 | 112 | (40%) |
Adams Bench V 07 | 39 | (14%) |
Votes: 278 |
Final Voting – 2011 Wine to Watch
Adams Bench Reckoning 08 | 107 | (41%) |
Reynvaan Stonesscence 09 | 85 | (32%) |
Grand Reve V 08 | 43 | (16%) |
Efeste Tough Guy 08 | 24 | (9%) |
Votes: 259 |
Note: Several readers brought to my attention that the Grand Reve Collaboration Series V 2008 was released in November of this year. My apologies for its inclusion in the voting.


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Feb 24, 2015 | Carpet One Floor & Home
By Kim Kiner
Hunter Douglas Vice President of Product Design
The overall ambience of any space sets the tone for how you feel more so than select decorative items. And what directly affects that mood might surprise you: more often than not, it's the lighting coming through the window.
Whether it's soft, filtered light or bright sunshine cascading through your shades, the way light enters a room can change everything. With so much at stake at the window, below are a few of the popular design trends we recommend to get the most out of your window dressings.
Consumers today want a "connected home" with Internet-ready products that can be operated with the convenience of mobile devices. Hunter Douglas has a Platinum™ App, for example, which allows users to create personalized scenes from morning light to movie night. You can control all the shades in your home with one click and time a scene with your alarm clock for a refreshing morning. The App is even available with a sunrise/sunset timer feature that uses GPS data to calculate the exact times to a specific location.
Everyone wants to live more responsibly. Products that offer enhanced energy efficiency to keep homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer are very popular. Energy-efficient window treatments are a smart way to conserve energy in your home.
Hunter Douglas Duette® Architella® honeycomb shades, for example, can help reduce heat loss through windows by up to 40 percent and solar heat gain by up to 80 percent, And, the way the light filters into the room is beautiful. New Duette Architella Trielle™ honeycomb shades have five insulating air pockets to go the extra mile and can help reduce heat transfer at the window by up to 20 percent more.
By conserving energy at the window, you can rest assured your cooling and heating systems won't have to work as hard The superior UV protection offered by soft, sheer Silhouette® window shadings is trending with consumers as well.
Window treatments are not just about function: they make a style statement. And the beauty and sophistication that textures add at the window is getting increased recognition. From natural textures to exquisite textile weaves such as linens and raw silks, they create a distinctive look that transforms an ordinary window to extraordinary. New Alustra® Pirouette window shadings, for example, which features soft fabric folds that open and close against a sheer backing, come in a luscious new fabric, Charmeuse, which has the essence of raw silk with a refined texture and subtle sheen.
Whether you're living in a new space and starting from scratch or wantto update your window décor, these trends will modernize your home and add unique style.
For more information, visit www.hunterdouglas.com


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Feinstein, Conn. Senators Set To Propose Assault Weapons Ban
WASHINGTON (CBS / AP) -- Connecticut's two U.S. senators are joining forces with California Sen. Dianne Feinstein and other key senators, proposing a retooled federal ban on assault weapons in the wake of the deadly Newtown school shooting.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the proposed legislation, to be unveiled Thursday in Washington, D.C., will more narrowly define what's considered an assault weapon under a resurrected ban. The bill, he said, will also prohibit high-capacity magazines, limiting them to a capacity of up to nine rounds of ammunition.
Blumenthal said the legislation is "one of the most significant" bills to be introduced following the Dec. 14 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It also marks the first bill that Blumenthal and Sen. Chris Murphy have worked on together as senators.
"This bill will be a signature moment in providing a profoundly significant step in the legislative strategy," said Blumenthal, adding how final language of the bill was still being drafted on Wednesday. "But it is only a first step and we need to build on it with a comprehensive program" that includes expanded background checks and mental health care.
President Barack Obama has also proposed reinstating the federal assault weapons ban, which Congress failed to renew in 2004. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said such a ban might clear the Senate but doubts it could pass the House of Representatives. Obama has also proposed renewing a 10-round limit the size of magazines.
Robert Crook, a state gun rights advocate and executive director of the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen, said assault weapons bans, such as the one in Connecticut, have not accomplished anything.
"All it does is impact the legitimate citizen and has no relevance to crime control and atrocious incidents like Sandy Hook," he said, adding how American gun manufacturers "know how to innovate" and have been able to get around the state's ban.
"What legislators should do -- if they're going to do something -- they ought to come up with something innovative that both benefits the citizen and doesn't impact the citizen, and benefits crime control," Crook said.
Murphy, whose former House district includes Newtown, contends that a tougher assault weapons ban will save lives. He said the revised ban that's being introduced Thursday will be difficult for manufacturers to skirt and would ban the type of AR-15 rifle used by the shooter in Newtown.
"If this bill had been in effect, there would be little girls and boys still alive today in Newtown," said Murphy, adding how the only inconvenience to sportsmen would be reloading more frequently at shooting ranges because of the smaller magazines.
"This bill is the bread and butter of gun reform," Murphy said. "If you get military rifles and high-capacity clips off the streets, there are going to be less people killed in mass shootings going forward. It's as simple as that."
Blumenthal said the bill defines rapid fire assault weapons in terms of a single feature, such as having a pistol grip or a flash suppressor. Connecticut's ban defines the weapons in terms of having two features.
Murphy and Blumenthal are scheduled to unveil the details of the bill with Feinstein and Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Chuck Schumer of New York during a news conference. Also, U.S. Reps. Carolyn McCarthy of New York, a leading voice in Congress in favor of gun control, and Ed Perlmutter who represents Aurora, Colo., where a gunman opened fire in a movie theater last year, are scheduled to be on hand, along with gun safety advocates, law enforcement and teacher organizations, Blumenthal said.
The Dec. 14 shooting in Newtown left 20 first graders and six educators at the elementary school dead. The gunman also killed his mother at the home they shared and eventually took his own life as police arrived at the school.
(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)


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45 Charles Ltd. is headed by Jason Fane, the international real estate developer and landlord. He has over 40 years of successful projects in Canada and the U.S with dozens of apartment and commercial buildings in Toronto and New York State. He has a keen eye for selecting excellent locations that will increase in value, including blocks of Park Avenue, New York. He has been active in central Toronto real estate for well over 30 years. The visionary acumen that sets this company apart is the result of extensive experience and careful study of long-term market trends, cycles and ventures and the detailed design of apartment residences with the special features their occupants crave. With a commitment to delivering top-quality homes in urban communities, Edenshaw Homes delivers expertise in all aspects of residential design, development, marketing, sales, construction and customer service. Its founder and CEO, David McComb, has over 30 years of real estate development experience, 10 years of which was spent with the Concord Pacific Group, where he oversaw their Toronto operations including the downtown $3 billion CityPlace, Toronto's largest urban master-planned community with over 20 high-rise towers, and the $2 billion ParkPlace development in North York. Together, 45 Charles Ltd. and Edenshaw Homes encompass sensibilities to everything from design functionality and aesthetics to quality construction and exemplary customer service. The blending of these prestigious firms is creating a whole at CHAZ that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Workout Facilities | Games Room | Her Sauna | Yoga/Aerobics Centre | His Sauna | Outdoor Fireplace lounge | Pet Grooming Room | Guest Suites | Movie Screen Room
At grade, Chaz on Charles is an elegant five-storey limestone-clad pavilion with a series of punched recessed windows that give the composition a visually distinct dramatic look. Being neighbourly-fitting contextually into the Charles streetscape-was also imperative to the Chaz design team, so the podium syncs up brilliantly with the Casa, next door, adding significantly to the street wall. Stepping back from the pavilion on the sixth, Chaz, the tower, soars thirty- nine stories into the sky. And this is when the architectural spirit of Chaz achieves "lift-off." Its sleek aerodynamic shape gives it initial propulsion. But other elements provide additional energy--and elegance--to the overall design. Unlike most condominiums whose balconies are tacked onto the building, at Chaz they're an integral part of the building, literally recessed into the alcoves created by Chaz's unique shape. Still, the architectural "piece de resistance" at Chaz is a series of dramatic gestures on the skin of the building that will instantly make it a downtown Toronto landmark. Jutting out from the 31st and 32nd levels on the south side of the building is a two-storey cantilevered box, framed in white concrete and illuminated at night. This is the Chaz Club, a lounge and dining space for the building's residents, and it is a dazzling architectural gesture. From miles around, Torontonians will look up to see residents of Chaz, and their guests, enjoying cocktails on the club's spacious terrace or relaxing inside this glass box in the sky.


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The village is located in Mohe County in the northern part of the province. Dubbed as "China's North Pole", Mohe is widely believed to be the coldest place in China, as the temperature there falls to as low as -45 C degrees during the winter. the Arctic Village, faces Ignasino, a small town in Federal Russia, just across Heilongjiang River.it is where the aurora borealis can be observed during the summer solstice. ... A rock which caved four words"SHEN ZHOU BEI JI"in the square reminds us ... This is mark of the North Pole village.
Heilongjiang is China's most northeastern province, an area of 46 square kilometers, the provincial capital Harbin. As early as three to four million years ago during the Paleolithic, there is human activity here. Heilongjiang Province is located in east longitude 121 ° 11'-135 ° 05 ', latitude 43 ° 25'-53 ° 33 '. The northern, eastern Heilongjiang, Ussuri River as the boundary, and the Russian River; adjacent to the western Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; the southern border of Jilin Province.


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Introducing the Bapron! aka the "baby apron". I hope the name doesn't turn you off (I know it's hopelessly cheesy), but this bib is really cool! It provides a ton of coverage in the front, much like an adult apron, and ties in back with bias tape! It's easy to make-I can whip one out in less than 1/2 hour (I've made a dozen or so, so I'm getting pretty quick!), even with making the bias tape myself.
A HUGE thank you to Melissa from Melly Sews, for digitizing and grading the pattern for me. |


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I recently came across this recipe for a seafood lasagna on Confections of a Foodie Bride which sounded so good that I had to make it right away. How could I not make it right away? It contains so many of my favorite foods including cheesy baked pasta, shrimp, king crab and scallops. I also liked that it contained an entire package of spinach for that green vegetable that I like to try to include in my meals. This lasagna starts with a layer of cheese and spinach followed by a layer stuffed with yummy seafood followed by another layer of cheese and spinach and of course it is topped of with a layer of golden brown bubbling cheese. The layers of cheese and spinach reminded my of the green pastitsio that I had made a while ago and that made me think of dill and I decided to add some dill to cheese and spinach layer. One of my favorite ways to enjoy shrimp is to cook them in a buttery garlic and lemon sauce with a bit of wine to deglaze the pan and I figured why not cook the seafood like that and pour the sauce into the lasagna as well?
With my slightly modified version of the recipe done I was ready to go. As with most lasagnas this one took a bit of effort and time to make but it was well worth it. The seafood lasagna turned out great! Bubbling hot cheesy baked pasta with seafood is such a great combo. It smelled amazing while baking and it tasted just as good. Luckily there was a lot of leftovers and I will get to enjoy the rest of it for lunches throughout the week.
Seafood Lasagna
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 pound seafood (king crab, shrimp and scallops)
- 1 teaspoon garlic (chopped)
- 1/4 cup white wine (or chicken stock)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons garlic (chopped)
- 4 tablespoons flour (rice flour or masa harina for gluten free)
- 3 cups milk
- 1/2 cup parmigiano reggiano (grated)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup dill (chopped)
- 1 (16 ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 1 (10 ounce) package spinach (thawed and drained)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup parmigiano reggiano (grated)
- 1 cup mozzarella (grated)
- 1/2 pound lasagna noodles (cooked) (gluten free for gluten free)
- 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (grated)
- 1/2 cup mozzarella (grated)
- Heat the butter in a pan.
- Add the seafood and saute until cooked, just a few minutes and set the seafood aside.
- Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about a minutes.
- Add the white wine and lemon juice, deglaze the pan, and simmer to reduce by half.
- Add the seafood and toss to coat.
- Melt the butter in a large sauce pan.
- Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about a minute.
- Add the flour and stir while cooking for a few minutes.
- Slowly whisk in the milk and simmer until it thickens.
- Remove from the heat and mix in the parmigiano reggiano, salt and pepper and dill.
- Mix the ricotta, spinach, egg, parmigiano reggiano, mozzarella and a cup of the white sauce.
- Pour 1/4 cup of the white sauce over the bottom of an 8 inch square baking dish.
- Add a layer of noodles.
- Add a layer of half of the cheese mixture.
- Add a layer of noodles.
- Add a layer of all of the seafood and pour a cup of the white sauce over it.
- Add a layer of noodles.
- Add a layer of the remaining cheese mixture.
- Add a final layer of noodles.
- Pour 1/2 cup of the white sauce over the noodles and top with the parmigiano reggiano and mozzarella.
- Bake in a preheated 350F/180C oven until bubbling on the sides and golden brown on top, about 45-60 minutes.


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Stand up paddleboarding Atlantis
Live Your
Experience the magic, the beauty and adventure of Cape Town with breathtaking views from the Atlantis Dunes on a quad biking adventure.
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We are proud that our tours are more than just a quick quad bike ride and we try to add as much value as we possibly can. Our experiences includes quad biking, stand-up paddle boarding, sandboarding as well as our 4×4 off-road experience. Enjoy all this while you learn about the various endangered species of flora, the fauna and the massive underground Aquifer at the Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve. Stop searching for Stand up paddleboarding Atlantis and book an adventure today.
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Our incredible team are dedicated to ensuring that your adventures with us are something you'll remember for the rest of your life! We want your experience to be positive, whether it's Quad Bike Riding In Cape Town, enjoying our Bouncy Bumper Ball experience, or just the general tour experience altogether.
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Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) stock managed performance 2.84% over the last week and switched with performance of -2.95% throughout past one month period. The stock price exposed a move of 9.82% so far this year and uncovered flow of -32.50% in recent year. The shares price displayed -2.39% return during the recent quarter while it has presented performance of -12.01% over the past six months. The stock exhibited 14.61% change to a low over the previous 12 months and manifested move of -33.11% to a high over the same period.
Moving toward the technical facts, its current distance from 20-Day Simple Moving Average is 5.51% and standing -1.12% away from 50-Day Simple Moving Average while traded -10.31% away from 200-Day Simple Moving Average.
A moving average is the average price of a contract over the previous n-period closes. For example, a 20-period moving average is the average of the closing prices for the past 20 periods, including the current period. For intra-day data the current price is used in place of the closing price. The moving average is used to observe price changes. The effect of the moving average is to smooth the price movement so that the longer-term trend becomes less volatile and therefore more obvious.
When the price rises above the moving average, it indicates that investors are becoming bullish on the commodity. When the prices fall below, it indicates a bearish commodity. As well, when a moving average crosses below a longer-term moving average, the study indicates a down turn in the market. When a short-term moving average crosses above a longer term moving average, this indicates an upswing in the market. The longer the period of the moving average, the smoother the price movement is. Longer moving averages are used to isolate long-term trends.
Analyst's Rating Opinion:
Analysts have a mean rating score of 2.2 on this stock. Analyst opinion is very important in valuing stocks. They analyze the different factor and after that analysis they issue rating regarding stock whether it is time to buy the stock or sell the stock or even hold the stock based on analyzing factors.
Do investors think to respond accordingly to new analyst's rating and change a position based on the analyst's rating opinion without any further research? Of course not. Rating varies from one analyst to other analyst. One may say buy while other recommend sell. This research report and rating ought to be used to complement individual research and plans. Realize that research reports and ratings are not meant to advise you personally. You'd think that the meanings of terms such as buy or sell are straightforward. Actually, firms emphasize that ratings are not advice and that investment decisions should not be made solely on an analyst rating.
Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) moved -1.52% to 42.06 on Tuesday. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. received interesting focus from Active Investors and it has been trading on front line as seeing to it recent volume. Considering that the stock recent volume of 757081 shares, this represents a noteworthy trading in volume size. This trading sentiment put the stock on Investors spotlight. SQM maintained activity of relative volume at 0.92.
When analyzing volume, determine the strength or weakness of a move. As traders, we are more interested to take part in strong moves and don't join moves that show weakness – or we may even watch for an entry in the opposite direction of a weak move. These guidelines do not hold true in all situations, but they are a good general aid in trading decisions.
Currently, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) reading is at 55.32. As you can see RSI calculation is fairly simple. The objective of using RSI is to help the trader identify over sold and overbought price areas. Overbought implies that the positive momentum in the stock is so high that it may not be sustainable for long and hence there could be a correction. Likewise, an oversold position indicates that the negative momentum is high leading to a possible reversal.
When the RSI reading is between 30 and 0, the security is supposed to be oversold and ready for an upward correction. When the security reading is between 70 and 100, the security is supposed to be heavily bought and is ready for a downward correction.
The Average True Range was recorded at 1.47. The volatility in the previous week has experienced by 3.08% and observed of 3.86% in the previous month. Institutional owners hold 25.90% stake while Insiders ownership held at 72.40% in the company. The stock price value Change from Open was at -1.38% with a Gap of -0.14%. The stock's short float is around of 27.99% and short ratio is 15.07. The stock has a beta value of 1.27. It sustained ROA (TTM) at 10.40%.


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Market Value
Before you put your home up for sale, you must set the price. And before you can do that, you must know what the house is worth. That doesn't mean what you paid for it, or how you upgraded it. Determining worth is simply finding out what someone would pay for it.
The real estate market is in constant flux, not only as a whole but in particular areas as well. Knowing what is going on in the overall and local real estate markets will help you understand how these conditions can affect the sale of your home.
Understand Market Conditions
Buyers Market: The supply of homes on the market exceeds demand. Prices stable or perhaps dropping. Sellers Market: The number of potential buyers exceeds the supply of homes on the market. Homes sell quickly, prices usually increase. Balanced Market: The number of homes on the market is roughly equal to the demand.
Major Factors Affecting Market Value
Mortgage rates. Price. Condition of property. Location. Supply and demand. Seasonal markets.
Asking Price
Once you and your RE/MAX Hallmark agent have determined your home's worth, you will determine the asking price. Our goal is a price that will attract a willing and able buyer, in a reasonable time, at the best price. The price should not exceed market value by more than 5%. If the price is set too high, it may deter prospective buyers. If the price is set too low, buyers may be skeptical and may offer less than asking price.
Competitive Market Analysis
You receive a written estimate of value based on the analysis of: Similar Homes for Sale Now – this shows what homes we are competing against. Buyers compare your home to these homes. Similar Home Recently Sold – these tell what buyers are willing to pay for this kind of home, in this area, at this time. Expired Listings and Similar Homes unsold for 90 days or more – illustrates problems of overpricing.


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Nintendo seeks to shake up gaming again with Wii U
In the six years since the last major video game system launched, Apple unveiled the iPhone and the iPad, "Angry Birds" invaded smartphones and Facebook reached a billion users. In the process, scores of video game consoles were left to languish in living rooms alongside dusty VC₹and disc players.
In the six years since the last major video game system launched, Apple unveiled the iPhone and the iPad, 'Angry Birds' invaded smartphones and Facebook reached a billion users. In the process, scores of video game consoles were left to languish in living rooms alongside dusty VC₹and disc players.
On Sunday, Nintendo Co. is launching the Wii U, a game machine designed to appeal both to the original Wii's casual audience and the hardcore gamers who skip work to be among the first to play the latest 'Call of Duty' release. Just like the Wii U's predecessor, the Wii, which has sold nearly 100 million units worldwide since 2006, the new console's intended audience 'truly is 5 to 95,' says Reggie Fils-Aime, the president of Nintendo of America, the Japanese company's U.S. arm.
But the Wii U arrives in a new world. Video game console sales have been falling, largely because it's been so long since a new system has launched. Most people who wanted an Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or a Wii already have one. Another reason: People in the broad 5-to-95 age range have shifted their attention to games on Facebook, tablet computers and mobile phones.
U.S. video game sales last month, including hardware, software and accessories, totaled $755.5 million, according to the research firm NPD Group. In October 2007, the figure stood at $1.1 billion.
The Wii U is likely to do well during the holiday shopping season, analysts believe -so well that shoppers may see shortages. But the surge could peter out in 2013. The Wii U is not expected to be the juggernaut that the Wii was in its heyday, according to research firm IHS iSuppli. The Wii outsold its competitors, the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, in its first four years on sale, logging some 79 million units by the end of 2010. By comparison, IHS expects the Wii U to sell 56.7 million in its first four years.
In the age of a million gadgets and lean wallets, the storied game company faces a new challenge: convincing people that they need a new video game system rather than, say, a new iPad.
The Wii U, which starts at $300, isn't lacking in appeal. It allows for 'asymmetrical game play,' meaning two people playing the same game can have entirely different experiences depending on whether they use a new tablet-like controller called the GamePad or the traditional Wii remote. The GamePad can also be used to play games without using a TV set, as you would on a regular tablet. And it serves as a fancy remote controller to navigate a TV-watching feature called TVii, which will be available in December.
Nintendo, known for iconic game characters such as Mario, Donkey Kong and Zelda, is expected to sell the consoles quickly in the weeks leading up to the holidays. After all, it's been six long years and sons, daughters, brothers and sisters are demanding presents. GameStop Corp., the world's No. 1 video game retailer, said last week that advance orders sold out and it has nearly 500,000 people on its Wii U waitlist.
Even so, it's a 'very, very crowded space in consumer electronics' this holiday season, notes Ben Bajarin, a principal analyst at Creative Strategies who covers gaming.
Apple's duo of iPads, the full-size model and a smaller version called the Mini, will be competing for shoppers' attention. Not to be outdone, Amazon.com Inc. has launched a trove of Kindle tablets and e-readers in time for the holidays. These range from the Paperwhite, a touch-screen e-reader, to the Kindle Fire HD, which features a color screen and can work with a cellular data plan. Then there are the new laptops and cheaper, thinner 'ultrabooks' featuring Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system -not to mention smartphones from Apple Inc., Samsung and other manufacturers.
'Nintendo has to be a cut above the noise here,' Bajarin says.
The Wii U is the first major game console to launch in years, but in some ways Nintendo is merely catching up with the HD trend. Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp. began selling their own powerful, high-definition consoles six and seven years ago, respectively. Both Sony and Microsoft are expected to unveil new game consoles in 2013.
Baird analyst Colin Sebastian thinks the question is not how well the Wii U will do during the holidays, but how it will fare three and six months later.
Gaming has changed significantly in the past six years, especially when it comes to the type of mass-audience experiences that serve as Nintendo's bread and butter. Zynga Inc., the online game company behind Facebook games such as 'FarmVille' and 'Texas HoldEm Poker,' was founded in 2007. The first 'Angry Birds' game, that addictive, quirky distraction that has players flinging cartoon birds at structures hiding smug green pigs launched in late 2009. The first iPad, of course, came out in 2010 -three years after the first iPhone.
Fils-Aime acknowledges that Nintendo competes in the broad entertainment landscape, 'minute-by-minute,' for consumers' time.
'That's true today and that was true 20 years ago,' he says, adding that Nintendo's challenge is communicating to people 'what is so fun and appealing about the new system.'
Analysts expect Wii U sales to be brisk over the holidays. Nintendo's loyal -some would say, fanatical- fan base has been placing advance orders and will likely keep the systems flying off store shelves well into next year. The classic Mario and Zelda games are a huge part of the appeal, since they can't be played on any gaming system but Nintendo's.
Research firm IHS iSuppli estimates that by the end of the year, people will have snapped up 3.5 million Wii U consoles worldwide, compared with 3.1 million Wii units in the same period through the end of 2006.
After the Wii went on sale, shortages persisted for months. Stores were met with long lines of shoppers trying to get their hands on a Wii as late as July 2007, more than seven months after the system's launch.
Though supply constraints are expected this time around, Fils-Aime says Nintendo will have more hardware available in the Americas than it had for the Wii's initial months on the market. The company says it will also replenish retailers more frequently than it did six years ago.
An initial sell-out doesn't mean the Wii U will be successful over the long term, IHS notes, citing its estimate that the Wii U won't match the Wii's sales over time.
Bajarin believes it's going to take 'a little bit of time' for the Wii U's dual-screen gaming concept to sink in with people. If it proves popular, Nintendo could see even more competition at its hands.
'Technologically, it's not a leap of the imagination to see Apple, Google, Microsoft do something like this,' he says.
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text: Sports / 2014 World Cup 5 World Cup Facts for Non-Soccer Lovers A primer so you can sound moderately in-the-know By Newser Editors, Newser Staff Posted Jun 12, 2014 6:36 AM CDT Updated Jun 12, 2014 7:49 AM CDT Copied Portugal's player Cristiano Ronaldo ... trouble for the US? (AP Photo/Paulo Duarte) The World Cup begins today. If those five words have your eyes glazing over, hang on—and read on. We've pulled together five things to know about the games (which FIFA calls matches, but which the media refer to interchangeably as games and matches) that'll have you in the loop and, we hope, thinking "huh, kind of interesting." How it all works: We'll assume you're already aware that Brazil is hosting; it'll play the inaugural game, against Croatia, at 4pm ET today. That's game one of 64, which has CNN painting the games as "like March Madness, but not." Today has just that single game, but the next two weeks will see the 32 participating teams (who had to qualify) each play three games. A team gets three points for winning and one for tying, and two teams from each of eight groups will advance, with a "do-or-die knockout round" beginning June 28. It all ends July 13. In the US, the matches will air on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. The games are really far apart: This is far from a centralized tournament. As Vox explains, the 12 stadiums are peppered throughout Brazil, which is about 87% the size of the US. The US team's first two games are about 1,700 miles apart. The BBC adds that the games are spread over two of Brazil's three time zones. How the US is expected to fare: Meh. We're in the "group of death," which Vox reports is the nickname given to the one group (of eight, remember?) whose four teams are all pretty solid. The US' group will have it playing Ghana (which eliminated us in 2010), Germany (ranked No. 2) and Portugal (ranked No. 4, and starring the you-may-have-heard-of-this-player Cristiano Ronaldo). As an ESPN analyst puts it, "The US may play an exceptional World Cup, and it still might not be good enough to get past Portugal, Germany, or even Ghana." So who is favored to win? Brazil or Spain, per Vox. The former is No. 3 and has hometown advantage; the latter won in 2010, and is ranked No. 1. As CNN notes, only eight countries have actually ever won it. One of the juiciest facts: A number of teams (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mexico) have been banned by their coaches from having sex during the games. Brazilian players can have "normal," non-"acrobatic" sex. FiveThirtyEight took a look at whether such a move is likely to help their on-field performance. Bonus reading: Adidas promises this year's soccer ball will suck less. (More 2014 World Cup stories.) Report an error


text: We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.


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Global banking system injects liquidity in to Brockley
Just in time for the end of the world's financial system come the words we thought we would never read. The missing Link in Brockley's commercial eco-system may be on its way.
From reader Colin:
"I live on Brockley road and yesterday had a letter through from Lewisham planning advising us that planning permission had been sought for a cash machine outside Brockley post office. Certainly won't be any objections from me, it's about time we had had our own cash point, let's just hope they aren't going to charge for withdrawals like the one in costcutter."
What this means when we all have to rely on barter is anyone's guess.


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Leaflet Printing – 250 A5 Full Colour Sided Flyers on 135gsm Glossy Paper
April 8, 2015 A5 Colour Leaflet Printing,Leaflets,On 135GSM Glossy Paper,Paper Printing
A5 Leaflet Printing – Full Colour Single Sided Flyers
With our premium quality Leaflet Printing service you can create your very own quality flyers.
Great for advertising your business and special sales that you have going on.
» 300 DPI Leaflet Printing.
» Full Colour Printing.
» Finished with the greatest print quality.
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The United States and Europe both condemn the vote in Crimea. President Obama announced measures he says will increase the cost on Russia. They include the freezing of U.S. assets of certain Russian officials. The president warned there would be more to come, quote, "if Russia continues to interfere in Ukraine." The European Union is also issuing sanctions.
Foreign ministers met in Brussels today and NPR's Ari Shapiro tells us what they did.
ARI SHAPIRO, BYLINE: In a flurry of written statements last night, Western leaders rejected Crimea's independence vote. Some of those statements even put the word referendum in quotes. European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton took the same approach speaking to reporters at the start of today's meeting in Brussels.
CATHERINE ASHTON: Look, we've been looking today at what we do about this so-called referendum in Crimea.
SHAPIRO: The West sees this so-called referendum as unconstitutional and illegal, but Ashton knows it's not easy to get 28 member states to agree on a specific set of consequences.
ASHTON: Well, you can't simply sit back and say this situation can't be allowed to happen. So first of all, we have to think very carefully about what the response ought to be and there should be a response.
SHAPIRO: A few hours later, the foreign ministers produced their response: narrowly targeted sanctions against 21 high level officials in Ukraine and Russia. The U.S. passed a similar round of sanctions. Some are describing the American approach as harder-hitting. In Brussels, the EU's Catherine Ashton said it's not a contest.
ASHTON: I don't believe this has anything to do with softer or harder approaches. We've taken our decision based on the best information and work that we've done to establish what we believe is the right approach for the European Union.
SHAPIRO: Few people believe this punishment will actually change Russian President Vladimir Putin's behavior. Professor Gwendolyn Sasse is a political scientist at Oxford University who calls this more of a gesture.
GWENDOLYN SASSE: The hope is by targeting individuals, elites around Putin, you can bring about a push towards a more negotiated solution to the crisis, but I'm doubtful that this will have this immediate effect.
SHAPIRO: Even British foreign minister William Hague seemed to try to lower people's short term expectations.
WILLIAM HAGUE: The important thing is that we're also prepared to move to further measures and that there will be long term costs and consequences for Russia if they continue to approach things in this way.
SHAPIRO: The options are limited because Russian's economy is deeply intertwined with Europe's financial health. Russia supplies about a third of Europe's natural gas. Countries like Britain and Germany hold a lot of Russian business assets so if the EU cuts Russia too deeply, Europe itself may bleed. After today's meeting, German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Europe is trying to stay flexible.
FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER: (Through interpreter) This is still what I call a menacing situation and we are, unfortunately, not so far along that we have overcome what's been written about again and again in the past days and weeks: the threat of a divided Europe.
SHAPIRO: Russia is certainly aware that tough sanctions could backfire on Western Europe. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov spoke through an interpreter in London a few days ago.
SERGEI LAVROV: (Through interpreter) It's a counterproductive measure and if such sanctions or decisions of this kind is taken, it would not contribute to mutual interest of the businesses, the mutual interest of our partnership being developed. I think it's a fact.
SHAPIRO: But European leaders say they are still considering greater consequences for Russia. EU leaders are meeting in Brussels Thursday and depending on what Putin does next, a new round of sanctions could come before the end of the week. Ari Shapiro, NPR News, London. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text: NCM Fathom and FIFA are teaming up to present the final four games of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ LIVE in 3D from South Africa in select movie theaters. Experience all the thrills of the semi-finals, match for third place and final match LIVE in 3-D in 15 select U.S. movie theaters on July 6, 7, 10, and 11. With digital sound and 3-D picture, the experience will be the next best thing to actually sitting in the stands in South Africa and will add 3-D elements exclusive to those attending in participating U.S. movie theaters. Limited seats available - buy your tickets now to avoid a shut out! This event is not rated but should be treated as PG13.


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As an entrepreneur/programmer who makes a good living from writing and selling software, I'm dumbfounded as to why developers write applications and then put them up on the Internet for free. You've found yourself in one of the most lucrative fields in the world. A business with 99% profit margin, where you have no physical product but can name your price; a business where you can ship a buggy product and the customer will still buy it.
Occasionally some of our software will get a free competitor, and I think, this guy is crazy. He could be making a good living off of this but instead chose to make it free.
- Do you not like giant piles of money?
- Are you not confident that people would pay for it?
- Are you afraid of having to support it?
It's bad for the business of programming because now customers expect to be able to find a free solution to every problem. (I see tweets like "is there any good FREE software for XYZ? or do I need to pay $20 for that".) It's also bad for customers because the free solutions eventually break (because of a new OS or what have you) and since it's free, the developer has no reason to fix it. Customers end up with free but stale software that no longer works and never gets updated. Customer cries. Developer still working day job cries in their cubicle. What gives?
PS: I'm not looking to start an open-source/software should be free kind of debate. I'm talking about when developers make a closed source application and make it free.


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When I was younger I did not care for mangoes but I recently discovered that I like them… a lot. I have really been enjoying the mangoes lately, especially the mango crumble that I made a while ago. It was so good that I wanted to make it again. I had also been thinking about a strawberry and rhubarb crumble . After thinking for a while I decided to try combining mangoes and rhubarb in a mango and rhubarb crumble. I figured that the sweet mangoes would go well with the tart rhubarb. I went with a pretty basic recipe and added some grated ginger and coconut to make it a bit more exotic. The mango and rhubarb crisp turned out really well! The sweet mango and tart rhubarb and the hint of coconut was a really tasty flavour combination. Of course melting vanilla ice went really well with it!
Mango and Rhubarb Crumble
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 cups mango (diced)
- 2 cups rhubarb (cut into 1 inch pieces)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
- 2/3 cup flour
- 1/3 cup rolled oats
- 1/3 cup coconut (unsweetened)
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup butter (melted)
- Mix the sugar and cornstarch in a large bowl.
- Add the mango, rhubarb, lemon juice and ginger and toss to coat.
- Mix the flour, rolled oats, coconut, brown sugar and butter in a large bowl.
- Place the mango and rhubarb mixture into an 8×8 inch baking dish and pour the topping on.
- Bake in a preheated 350F/180C oven until it is bubbling and the top is golden brown, about 45 minutes.


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With Valentines Day just around the corner it was time to start coming up with a meal plan and to test it out ahead of time. You can do pretty much anything that you want for a Valentines Day dinner and I like to try to make it a little bit special whether by indulging on quality ingredients or even just by making a meal that takes a bit of extra effort. For some reason, while I was contemplating the menu, I kept coming back to the idea of steak and if I am going to do steak for a Valentines day dinner then it is going to be a nice cut of steak like a filet mignon.
Filet mignon is a really tender cut of beef but it can dry out really quickly if you over cook it so technique is pretty important when preparing it. One way to help keep that steak nice and juicy is to wrap it in a layer of fat. Bacon is a great source of fat and it has the added bonus of adding a bit of flavour and if you use a smoked bacon the smokiness adds another dimension to it. Cooking on the grill would be nice but with it being winter the combination of the stove top and the oven can be just as good. You want to start by quickly searing both sides of the steak at medium-high heat and this caramelizes the outside which in addition to adding flavour it helps seal in the juices. After searing the filet in the pan you finish cooking the it in the oven. Once you pull the filet out of the oven you want to make sure that you let it rest for a while so that the juices trapped inside can redistribute and this way they will not all come pouring out with the first cut. While you let your filet rest it is the perfect opportunity to make a pan sauce taking advantage of all of those caramelized bits of meat left in the pan.
Mushrooms go really well with steak and it is a combination that I find hard to resist. I like to do a simple saute of onions and mushrooms and since it takes some time to properly caramelize the mushrooms, I start cooking them before I start on the steak. The only problem with this approach is that now I have two pans to deglaze! The simple solution is to deglaze the pan that the filet mignon was cooked in and then pour the sauce into the mushrooms and deglaze that pan as well. This time I kept things simple and I simply deglazed the pan with red wine that along with a ab of butter, made an excellent sauce for the mushrooms.
Speaking of red wine, it recently occurred to me that although I like to try to eat locally I had not been paying much attention to local wines. Since then, I have been trying to pick up an Ontario or Canadian wine every once in a while and this was the perfect chance. Red wines go really well with steak and for this dinner I went with a merlot-cabernet that was made on the Niagra pennisula, which is just a short distance south of Toronto. In addition to enjoying a glass with the meal I used the red wine to deglaze the pans and to make the sauce for the mushrooms. (If you are interested in learning more about Ontario wines the Wine Country Ontario site is a good place to look.)
The flavour and texture combinations in this meal are simply amazing! When you fist bite into the filet mignon you get the saltiness and smokiness of the bacon followed by the warm, juicy, melt in your mouth tenderness of the fillet mignon itself. Combine that with just a touch of a creamy and mellow blue cheese and its like heaven in your mouth. Just be sure to try to fit some caramelized mushrooms and onions on your fork to complete the fantastic flavour combinations.
Tip: When buying your filet mignon, go for a the ones with some nice marbling as that marbling is full of flavour and it helps keep the meat nice and juicy and tender.
Double Smoked Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon with Caramelized Mushrooms topped with Blue Cheese
Salty double smoked bacon wrapped fillet mignon seared perfectly medium-rare and served on a bed of caramelized onions and mushrooms with a garnish of tangy blue cheese.
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 onion, diced
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 teaspoon thyme, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 strips double smoked bacon
- 2 (6 ounce) 1 1/2 inch thick filet mignon, room temperature
- 1/2 cup red wine
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 handful parsley, (optional)
- 1 tablespoon blue cheese, crumbled (optional)
- Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat.
- Add the onion and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the garlic and thyme and saute until fragrant, about a minute.
- Add the mushrooms and saute until they turn golden brown and caramelize, about 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile heat the oil in an oven safe pan over medium high heat.
- Season both sides of the filet mignon with salt and pepper and wrap the bacon around holding it together with a toothpick.
- Sear both sides of the filet mignon in the pan until slightly caramelized, about 2 minutes per side.
- Transfer the pan to a preheated 375F/190C oven and cook for 4-6 minutes for medium rare., If your filets are 2 inches thick cook for a minute or two longer.
- Set the filet mignon aside to rest for 5 minutes.
- Add the wine to the pan that the filet mignon was cooked in and deglaze it.
- Transfer the wine to the pan with the mushrooms and deglaze it.
- Add the butter and simmer to reduce the sauce by half.
- Season with salt and pepper, remove from heat and mix in the parsley.
- Serve the filet mignon on the mushrooms and top it with the blue cheese.
Bacon Wrapped, Mushroom and Spinach Stuffed Pork Tenderloin in a Creamy Dijon Goat Cheese Sauce
Beef Wellington Tarts with Mushroom Blue Cheese Sauce
Steak Tenderloin in a Mushroom and Blue Cheese Sauce
Steak Tenderloin in Pink Peppercorn Sauce
Steak Tenderloin in a Green Peppercorn Sauce
Ribeye Steak in Red Wine Sauce
Steak Diane
Slow Cooker Bacon Wrapped Apple BBQ Chicken
Grilled Apple BBQ Pork Medallions
Bacon Wrapped Guacamole Stuffed Chicken
Mushroom and Peppercorn Crusted Steak in a Creamy Brie Mushroom Sauce
Bacon Wrapped Guacamole Stuffed Burgers
Pan Seared Steaks with Sauteed Mushrooms and Roasted Garlic Gorgonzola Butter
Pan Seared Steaks with Balsamic Red Onions and Roasted Garlic and Porcini Mushroom Goat Cheese Butter
Garlic Butter Skillet Steak Bites and Potatoes
Cocoa Crusted Steak with Shishito Peppers
Cajun Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Pan Seared Steak in Creamy Peppercorn Sauce
Pan Seared Steak in Blue Cheese Sauce


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Administration Warns Of Budget Cuts' Impact
Widespread flight delays and shuttered airports, off-limit seashores and unprotected parks.
The Obama administration is painting a dire portrait of the many ways the public will feel the effects of automatic federal spending cuts due to begin March 1.
The grim picture is emerging as the White House and lawmakers count down the days until the government is forced to trim $85 billion in domestic and defense spending with hardly any leeway to save some programs from the budget knife.
In detailing the costs of the cuts, President Barack Obama is seeking to raise the public's awareness while also applying pressure on congressional Republicans who oppose his blend of targeted savings and tax increases to tackle federal deficits.
"I've been very clear that these kinds of arbitrary, automatic cuts would have an adverse impact on families, on teachers, on parents who are reliant on Head Start programs, on our military readiness, on mental health services, on medical research," Obama said Friday. "This is not a smart way for us to reduce the deficit."
Just in case those consequences didn't capture the public's attention, the White House also had Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood spell out the impact on travelers, a frequent-flier nightmare of 90-minute airport waits, limited flights and closed regional airports. Republican lawmakers dismissed LaHood's warnings as "exaggerations."
But LaHood said the cuts would require slicing more than $600 million from the Federal Aviation Administration, resulting in furloughs of one day per pay period for a majority of the agency's 47,000 employees.
"Once airlines see the potential impact of these furloughs, we expect that they will change their schedules and cancel flights," LaHood said.
Moreover, he said, the Transportation Department is looking "to likely close" air traffic control towers at 100 airports that have fewer than 150,000 flight operations per year.
"We're talking about places like Boca Raton, Fla.; Joplin, Mo.; Hilton Head, S.C.; and San Marcos, Texas," he said. All in all, nearly two-thirds of the airports are concentrated in three states - California, Florida and Texas.
But in a statement, Airlines for America, an industry group, said the organization, the FAA and airline carriers would be meeting soon to plan for potential cutbacks. "Air transportation is a key driver of our economy, and should not be used as a political football," the statement said.
Paul Rinaldi, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said the reductions will not just inconvenience passengers, it will also affect local economies and result in more lost jobs. "The fact that they will not just be furloughing critical FAA personnel but closing air traffic control towers means the system will be even more compromised than anticipated," he added.
Still, top Republicans on congressional transportation and aviation panels accused the administration of unnecessary alarm.
"Before jumping to the conclusion that furloughs must be implemented, the administration and the agency need to sharpen their pencils and consider all the options," the lawmakers said in a joint statement issued by Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; Sen. John Thune, the top Republican on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; and Frank LoBiondo, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Aviation.
Throughout the administration, agency heads have been depicting an onerous after-effect to the cuts. The federal government is required to spell out the consequences to federal workers, but the details are also designed to warn lawmakers that the cuts could have a fearsome result: angry constituents. Some of the warnings:
- Defense Secretary Leon Panetta last week said that automatic cuts, known in Washington budget language as a sequester, would harm the readiness of U.S. fighting forces and he said the "vast majority" of the Defense Department's 800,000 civilian workers would have to lose one day of work per week, or 20 percent of their pay, for up to 22 weeks, probably starting in late April. The biggest potential losses, in term of total civilian payroll dollars, would be in Virginia, California, Maryland, Texas and Georgia, according to figures provided by the Pentagon.
- On Friday, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said cuts of more than $300 million to his agency would mean less money to solve outbreaks, fight hospital infections and keep illnesses overseas from making their way here. For instance, Dr. Tom Frieden said, the cuts could limit the agency's investigation of a tuberculosis outbreak in Los Angeles.
- At the National Park Service, employees would be furloughed, hours would be cut and sensitive areas would be blocked off to the public when there are staff shortages, according to a park service memo obtained by The Associated Press.
The giant sequoias at Yosemite National Park in California would go unprotected from visitors who might trample their shallow roots. At Cape Cod National Seashore, large sections of the Great Beach would close to keep eggs from being destroyed if natural resource managers are cut. Programs on the chopping block include invasive species eradication in Yosemite and comfort stations on the Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi.
Gettysburg would decrease by one-fifth the number of school children who learn about the historic battle that was a turning point in the Civil War. And in Yosemite, park administrators fear that less frequent trash pickup would potentially attract bears into campgrounds.
Over the years, budget threats have inevitably resulted in grim warnings, no matter which administration, about calamitous consequences. Many have been avoided; others have been short-lived. But Obama administration officials say they are not exaggerating or bluffing.
The cuts, with few exceptions, are designed to hit all accounts equally. The law gives Obama little leeway to ease the pain.
Even if granted flexibility to apply the cuts with more discretion - a legislative step Republicans say they might pursue - White House officials say that would still require severe reductions.
"It's essentially rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic," Obama senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer said of such a proposal in a recent interview.
LaHood, in response to a question, denied that he was simply describing a worst-case scenario that would scare the public and put pressure on Republican lawmakers.
"What I'm trying to do," he said, "is wake up members of the Congress with the idea that they need to come to the table so we don't have to have this kind of calamity in air services in America."
This program aired on February 22, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.


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Act IV, Scene 2 The same. A room in the palace. |
[Enter, from one side, AARON, DEMETRIUS, and] [p]CHIRON; from the other side, Young LUCIUS, and an [p]Attendant, with a bundle of weapons, and verses [p]writ upon them]
[Exeunt Young LUCIUS, and Attendant]
[Enter a Nurse, with a blackamoor Child in her arms]
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When the original Aaux was introduced in 2002, I intended to go back and expand the family to offer more versatility. Years went by before I was willing to pick it up again and invest the proper time into building a viable and useful recut. Just putting a new designation and tweaking a few glyphs here and there would not do the designer or the typeface justice; instead, I chose to redraw each glyph's skeleton from scratch for the four main subsets of the super family along with their italics. Each glyph across the super family is 'connected at the hip' with each style—each character carries the no frills, simple architecture that endeared so many users to it.
The new recut expands the family to an enormous 72 typefaces! The original has spawned Compressed, Condensed and Wide subsets—all with corresponding weights—for complete flexibility. Additionally, all of the original weight variants have all been incorporated within the OpenType shell: Small Caps and Old Style Figures are there along with new tabular figures, numerators and denominators, expanded f-ligatures and a complete Central European character set.


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Dr. Sriram Chellappan, an assistant professor of computer science at Missouri University of Science and Technology, has been chosen to receive the National Science Foundation's most prestigious award for young faculty members for his work on understanding human behavior through Internet usage patterns.
Chellappan has received the NSF's Faculty Early Career Development CAREER Award. The NSF describes the CAREER Awards as the agency's "most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations."
Chellappan, a member of the Missouri S&T faculty since 2008, will use the CAREER Award funding to continue his research on Internet data processing techniques and classification algorithms in his efforts to determine how Internet usage patterns can lead to a better understanding of human behavior. In a recent study of how Missouri S&T students use the Internet, Chellappan and his fellow researchers found that students who show signs of depression tend to use the Internet differently than those who show no symptoms of depression.
In that study, published in the December 2012 issue of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, Chellappan and his colleagues found that students who showed signs of depression tend to use file-sharing services, send email and chat online more than the other students. Depressed students also tended to use higher "packets per flow" applications, those high-bandwidth applications often associated with online videos and games, than their counterparts.
Chellappan is now interested in using these findings to develop software that could be installed on home computers to help individuals determine whether their Internet usage patterns may indicate depression. The software would unobtrusively monitor Internet usage and alert individuals if their usage patterns indicate symptoms of depression. He also believes the method used to connect Internet use and depression could help diagnose other mental disorders like anorexia, bulimia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or schizophrenia.
Chellappan will receive $428,409 in CAREER funding over three years to continue his research. The award takes effect on Feb. 1, 2013.
Chellappan's research interests also include security and privacy in wireless sensor networks, localization with wireless sensor networks, data management and security in vehicular networks, and social computing.
His professional affiliations include IEEE, where he has served as finance and publicity chair for the organization's Symposium on Reliable Distributed Systems and as a member of the IEEE Advanced Information Networking and Applications. He also served as a member of the International Conference on Mobile Ad-Hoc and Sensor Networks.


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Would-be air travelers sitting at home may be frustrated about their canceled plans. But most likely, they are happier than they would have been had they gotten trapped on an icy tarmac.
And that used to happen many hundreds of times a year before the Department of Transportation stepped in to reduce the frequency of passenger incarcerations.
DOT was responding to a fliers' revolt that kicked into high gear back on Valentine's Day 2007. That's when snow and ice led to JetBlue Airways' decision to strand hundreds of passengers on planes on the tarmac at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport for up to 10 1/2 hours.
The infamous incident — along with many similar ones involving passengers trapped amid overflowing toilets and screaming babies — led DOT to act. In December 2009, the deparment instituted a landmark rule, setting a three-hour limit on such tarmac delays. Violators would get hit with fines of up to $27,500 per passenger.
The number of stranded flights plummeted because the new rule made it an easier financial decision for airlines to cancel flights. In the first year it took effect, airlines reported 20 tarmac delays of more than three hours, compared with 693 tarmac delays in the previous year.
Daniel Baker, CEO of the air-travel tracking website FlightAware.com, said this week's massive snowstorm caused major airports from Atlanta to New York to close runways, and airlines had to cancel more than 6,500 flights just Thursday.
"Atlanta saw 70 percent of flights cancelled," he said. That had "a really huge impact, not just on folks who were traveling to and from Atlanta, but people traveling through Atlanta to go to other cities."
Still, Baker said it's easier on passengers to have flights canceled these days because smartphones and computers can make it so much easier to adjust and make new travel plans.
"The travelers can go online and re-accommodate themselves on the airline web site, which is a huge improvement for the consumer experience," Baker said.
NPR's Chris Arnold reported on the cancellations for All Things Considered. Listen to his report:
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