text:
There is more good news about HIV treatment pills used to prevent infection in people at high risk of getting the AIDS virus: Follow-up from a landmark study that proved the drug works now shows that it does not encourage risky sex and is effective even if people skip some doses.
The research was discussed Tuesday at the International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia, and was published by the British journal Lancet Infectious Diseases.
It involves 1,600 gay men and transgender women who took part in the original study showing that daily use of the drug Truvada (true-VAH'-duh) lowered the risk of getting HIV.
After the study ended, they were offered the chance to keep getting the pills for free, and three-quarters of them agreed. All were studied for another 17 months.
None who took the pills at least four days a week became infected. Even use two or three days a week lowered the risk of infection compared to taking the pills less often or not at all. Researchers could tell how often the drug was taken because they measured it in blood samples.
"We're encouraged," said study leader Dr. Robert Grant, an AIDS expert at the Gladstone Institutes, a foundation affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco. "There's a demand, there's some forgiveness for missed doses. And it's safe."
Mitchell Warren, who heads a nonprofit group that works on HIV prevention research, said in an email from Melbourne that "the story is now clear" that this approach "is real, it works, and it should be made available to people at risk now as part of high-impact combination prevention."
Condoms remain the best way to prevent HIV infection but not everyone uses them all the time, so health officials recommend other options for certain groups, such as gay men.
Some health officials had worried that taking Truvada might give a false sense of security and make men less likely to use condoms or to limit their partners. However, study participants reported no increase in these behaviors, and there was no rise in syphilis or herpes, other sexually spread diseases that might suggest risk-taking.
The study was done in the United States, South America, Africa and Thailand, and paid for by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Truvada already is sold for treating HIV. It's a combination of two drugs, tenofovir and emtricitabine, or FTC, made by California-based Gilead Sciences Inc. Its wholesale price is $800 a month in the U.S. but generic versions are available in other countries and they cost as little as 31 cents a day in Africa, Grant said.
"The main challenge is to find a way to make it more available," he said.
Date: July 22, 2014
Source: Associated Press


text:
August 25, 2008
Google Suggest, Enabled by Default
Launched in 2004 as part of the Labs, Google Suggest is an innovative feature that auto-completes a query using a dynamic list of popular queries. "As you type into the search box, Google Suggest guesses what you're typing and offers suggestions in real time. This is similar to Google's Did you mean? feature that offers alternative spellings for your query after you search, except that it works in real time. For example, if you type bass, Google Suggest might offer a list of refinements that include bass fishing or bass guitar. Similarly, if you type in only part of a word, like prog, Google Suggest might offer you refinements like programming, programming languages, progesterone, or progressive. You can choose one by scrolling up or down the list with the arrow keys or mouse."
The feature has been added to many Google services: Google Toolbar, YouTube, Google homepages for high-end mobile phones and for languages that use a non-Latin alphabet. Firefox users already have Google Suggest in the search box.
Other search engines tested similar features. After Ask.com introduced search suggestions last year, Yahoo refined the idea and launched the best interface for suggestions: Search Assist. Unlike Google Suggest, Yahoo's interface is more subtle and it's not limited to prefix-based suggestions.
Google Blog suggests three reasons why auto-complete can be useful: it helps you formulate queries, the feature shows alternative spellings for your query and it saves keystrokes. Despite the advantages, some users will find it annoying because it disables the auto-complete feature from their browsers and it might interfere with their typing. To permanently disable Google Suggest, click on "Do not provide query suggestions in the search box" at the bottom of Google's preferences page or use these advanced tips.
165 comments:
Google says this feature will be rolled out "over the next week". For now, you can still use http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousAugust 26, 2008 at 5:19 PM
I don't have a "query suggestions" section in my preferences page?
ReplyDelete - AnonymousAugust 26, 2008 at 6:40 PM
if the option is not there in firefox 2 (in my case), just block clients1.google.com in BlockSite (a firefox addon)
ReplyDelete From what I see, Google Suggest is only enabled for the homepage and its state is not correctly reflected in the preferences page. The option "Do not provide query suggestions in the search box" is activated even if Google Suggest is enabled. If you click on "Save Preferences", Google Suggest will be disabled.
If you don't see the "query suggestion" section, clear your browser's cache and cookies, then restart the browser and try again.Another solution: bookmark this URL http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0 and use it to access Google's homepage. The "complete" parameter enables/disables Google Suggest.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousAugust 28, 2008 at 3:27 PM
wow this feature sucks, I want it disabled on all systems within our company on any page that supports that nonsense!
ReplyDelete I couldn't agree more about how annoying this idiotic feature is. Problem is, I have my erase all my history, ect. feature enabled on Firefox, so now every single time I restart the browser, I have to go into Google preferences to disable this inane query suggestion feature. Any suggestions how to have it both ways, like I used to have in the good old days before the ruined the search page, the best thing about Google? If it ain't broke...
ReplyDelete- AnonymousAugust 29, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Challenge to Google
If you truly feel you're customer-centric, put a poll on the home page and see how people actually appreciate this addition. - AnonymousAugust 29, 2008 at 6:57 PM
I find this query suggest feature to be annoying, unhelpful, and manipulative. It's trying to steer me where I may not want to go. Google, make the default setting off. Like the user above I delete all my cache, history, cookies, etc. in Firefox, so there is no easy way to disable this unwanted, intrusive, and distracting "feature."
ReplyDelete Now that most browsers have a search box, you can simply bypass Google's homepage and use the built-in search box. Firefox also includes suggestions, but you can disable them by right-clicking in the search box and unchecking "Show suggestions".
At least for now, Google Suggest is enabled only for the (classic) homepage.- AnonymousAugust 30, 2008 at 6:19 AM
I really HATE this feature - it is intrusive and annoying. Why not have it disabled by default, and include an enable option on the start page for those (very few) who might want it. It is extremely inconvenient to have to navigate to the preferences page in order to disable it, in order to then return to the search page to try to conduct what should be a quick search. A truly obnoxious feature.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousAugust 30, 2008 at 4:08 PM
Just spent two hours searching for the virus responsible for this abhoration/abomination only to find out my buddies at Google did this? Get a clue...leave well enough alone! The biggest selling point of your search engine WAS its simplicity. Mucking it up with this unsolicited addition bodes the question, "Was Yahoo this bad"?
ReplyDelete - AnonymousAugust 31, 2008 at 8:15 AM
guess what google, this feature is the reason I stopped using yahoo search, and hmmm, yahoo isn't doing too good now. This is obnoxious big brother stuff. do they think we are so stupid we don't know what we are looking for? It's especially annoying to firefox users who set their browsers to dump cookies when closing.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousAugust 31, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Ditto, ditto, ditto. This feature is a pain in the butt...please get rid of it!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousAugust 31, 2008 at 7:57 PM
I almost went back to Firefox 2 thinking it was another "feature" of Firefox 3 tacked on by junior programmer with nothing better to do.
We definitely need a way to turn this junk off company wide. - AnonymousSeptember 1, 2008 at 7:33 AM
Google Suggest is one of your worst ideas--thank goodness I was able to disable it.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 1, 2008 at 4:03 PM
I vote NO on Google Suggest and want it off by default. I don't care what other people pick when I'm looking for something. My choices are often not popular, and this just ads tracking cookies that you require me to keep! I always erase all cookies after sessions. It is also annoying and an invasion of privacy which I expect from Google. I JUST LOVE GIGABLAST SEARCH which has none of that nonsense!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 1, 2008 at 6:47 PM
To avoid the google crapware suggest, use the "i feel lucky" page http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=&btnI=I%27m+Feeling+Lucky&aq=f&oq=
You get all the old functionality minus the "i feel lucky" button and suggest crap feature. - AnonymousSeptember 1, 2008 at 6:58 PM
Please tell me exactly what to do to get rid of Google Suggest!!! Save Preferences doesn't
work!! - AnonymousSeptember 2, 2008 at 8:04 AM
This thing is really irritating. I'm finding that even after disabling it the preferences page it comes back on future sessions for some reason. It should be disabled by default.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 2, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Please turn suggest off! Time to find another search engine until you do.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 2, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Wow, so many folks, myself as well, hate this "helpful" feature. At the very least, Google should make disabled the default. Of course the best is to get rid of that junk feature completely. Why do they have to screw with a good thing. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 2, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Query suggestions is the most annoying thing Google has ever come up with. Kill it. We're not stupid, it doesn't save time, it is just like a pop up ad.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 3, 2008 at 5:26 AM
This is not a helpful feature but very annoying when trying to complete a quick search!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 5, 2008 at 8:01 PM
I HATE this feature and it never stays unchecked in my preferences. I did however find a fix you can apply. Make your homepage this
I hate the way they force us to use crap like in
Vista, Google and firefox 3 now even sucks - AnonymousSeptember 8, 2008 at 5:20 PM
This is just another annoying "feature" designed by Google to help the few idiots that cannot think for themselves. This is very annoying. I agree with others, time to find a new search engine that leaves me the hell alone so I can do my work in peace. At least set this abomination to disabled by default!!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 8, 2008 at 9:36 PM
I hate Google. They've destroyed their own originally GOOD piece of software.
Least they could do is to TURN THE "FEATURE" *OFF BY DEFAULT*!
The Net is going down the sewer; time to develop something really new. Back to the BBS-world in a new
way, maybe.
Too much people on the net -> can anyone remember when it was still possible to get DECENT SEARCH RESULTS without bot-shit, for example in G$$GL3? - AnonymousSeptember 9, 2008 at 2:48 PM
An extreme distraction on the screen. I'm not a novice. I'm typing fast and I don't want @#$% popping up all over the screen. Get clue you narrow minded liberals at google. It should be OFF BY DEFAULT. Idiots. Clearing cookies resets the autosuggest OFF setting. Clearing cookies is potentially a frequent operation. Again, idiots. No usability testing.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 10, 2008 at 12:12 PM
It's not "innovative", it's driven more by novice marketing concepts, and it's an extreme distraction on the screen for advanced and power users that type fast anyway. I supposed now we're going to need "suggestion blockers" and new apps written to block and constantly turn OFF all the bandwagon novice suggestion CR@P that is coming out of the woodwork.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 12, 2008 at 5:47 AM
This feature should be off by default.. its annoying as hell!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 12, 2008 at 10:26 AM
I agree with most of the comments regarding this annoying feature. Get rid of it. I'm a C++ developer, and the "helpful" topics are never even close to what I'm wanting to type.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 12, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Google Suggest is bad. Preferences should allow it to be turned off, but that doesn't work. Why not? Who knows....it's impossible to get anyone at Google to respond with real help.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 12, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Why does this preference refuse to stick? Every couple of days it resets to popping up suggestions even though my PREF cookie from Google is still there. It is really pissing me off.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 13, 2008 at 9:29 AM
Google Suggest turns on automatically. I don't want it on!!! It's annoying to keep turning it off. I can see it could be useful on occasion, so if I want it, I will turn it on -- manually.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 14, 2008 at 7:13 PM
Seems to me google keeps p1ssing off a myriad of IT professionals who have to manage 100s of PCs. Google 'suggest' will keep coming back no matter how hard they try to keep turning it 'off' - I predict there will be apps or services written to block and constantly turn off google's 1/2 a$$ed present and future 'innovations'.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 18, 2008 at 9:14 AM
This query suggestion feature is crap.
I miss my clean and simple Google page.
While we're on the subject, they should drop the "cute" pictures they now add around the banner. - AnonymousSeptember 19, 2008 at 1:42 PM
This feature serves two purposes. It fills in the blanks according to what Google desires. It's also for people who can't type or spell very well.
I can type. I can spell. I could care less what the CEO's at Google want to suggest. I find I'm using search engines less and less. I know what web sites I'm interested in, and I tend to stick to those. All the Flash whore and pop-up sites are also a major drag. My home page is homemade. It has homade banners to all the sites I regularly go to. If I need to do a search - I use Internet Explorer's search bar. Screw the Google page all together.
If I've misspelled anything, disregard my earlier statement claiming the ability to spell. I refuse to proofread! Har har. - AnonymousSeptember 20, 2008 at 2:04 PM
Wow! This does work! No more suggest BS! - AnonymousSeptember 30, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Google Suggest is keeps becoming enabled automatically.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I do research for a living. I used to use Google all the time. But I often type into the search box while I'm thinking, while I'm figuring what search terms I should use to get best result. This feature is so distracting & annoying I frequently lose my train of thought, my eye is being pulled to words that have nothing to do with my needs. For security purposes, I clear my history, cookies, etc. several times a day. So every time I have to go into the Google preferences & change it. Why not have it the other way? If someone WANTS query suggestions, let them ask for it. I'm sure they added this to make more money, it pulls up a lot of paying customers, and God knows Google execs don't make enough money yet. I would encourage all other search sites to gear up & take advantage, now is a great time to steal Google eyeballs.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousOctober 21, 2008 at 5:27 PM
I'm new to the internet and computers. I like the google toolbar but don't want suggest on the search. Every time I remove it it pops back on. Now with trying to get rid of it I've made a suggest box come up under the address bar that I'll have to find how to remove. Grrrr!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousOctober 22, 2008 at 5:06 PM
I agree with the majority here – that the Google Query Suggest feature is terrible. It should be eliminated as a default feature. When I reset Safari each day, several times, as a matter of habit, I always then have to go to Google preferences to turn it off. What an irritating imposition on users!
ReplyDelete I agree too - I have two google sign in names on a shared family iMac running safari; I often work with my kids searching homework stuff through one of these accounts, but I also do research on human sexual culture and sexual diversity and without the filters on: the site prompts that come up are not always ones I want them to see! Plus I know where I am going! The really bad problem is that Safari (or google) doesnt seem to accept the 'do not provide query suggestions in search box' even when clicked and saved as a preference. Its driving me mad.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousOctober 24, 2008 at 3:08 PM
PLEASE make this query suggestion "feature" default to OFF!!! I hate it. The whole appeal of the Google search page is that it is clean and quiet, free from advertising.
This totally goes against the brand image of unbiased search. Search results are also seemingly getting more commercial in nature. maybe the two are not unrelated. Make this disabled by default!
This is a terrible idea and can very easily lead younger individuals to search results they have no reason to be shown. Just try searching for "how to eat a starfruit" and just look at the garbage you get when you get as far as "how to eat".
This is trash and needs to be disabled by default.- AnonymousNovember 2, 2008 at 4:58 PM
I have to turn this feature off day after day! wtf, google?
Don't be evil. - AnonymousNovember 17, 2008 at 1:59 PM
I'd very much like to have the option to turn this feature of. My kids use my computer too, they also use google and youtube. I would very much like being able to tell a program what it should & shouldn't remember. I don't want google or any other firm in control.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousNovember 18, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Having this feature default to "ON" is offensive. This is a form of negative billing - where we will send & bill you every month unless you decline in advance every month.
ReplyDelete The Query Suggestion feature is impossibly aggravating: the fact that I have to disable it every two (or so) weeks is infuriating. It's the equivalent of a pop-up ad, and is distracting. If this feature persists, I will look into other search engines, and homepages. It's one thing to offer an optional feature, another thing to force it on users. It's mad me angry enough to hunt down ways to let the 'Do No Evil' company know exactly how much I despise this feature.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousNovember 25, 2008 at 10:19 AM
I want the query suggestions OFF, disabled and PERMANENTLY. Google won't let me do this. it keeps defaulting to providing suggestions. It's embarassing to have a client at my computer see everything that I've searched on ... including sometimes the client himself!!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousNovember 25, 2008 at 3:22 PM
This feature is awful, hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it!!!!!!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousNovember 26, 2008 at 7:20 PM
how do you turn this off in safari - agree that auto suggest is a terrible idea. it's annyoing more than anything
ReplyDelete - AnonymousDecember 4, 2008 at 1:09 AM
I found the answer! At least for Safari on MacOX.
First, there are two different problems here, one is the auto query suggest drop down menu, the one that has the number of searches that appear next to the search term. Those are "courtesy" of the Google guys. The other one is where it automatically enters a search term you have used in the past.
The first one is easy -- just go to Google Preferences and scroll down to Query Suggestions and select "Do not". (Note the cookie enable requirements)
It's the second problem that was harder to figure out . I tried removing history, clearing cache, and a few other things, but here's what worked:
I went to the Safari menu, and to Reset Safari. I selected Remove Other Autoform fill text and hit Reset.
I was afraid that it would have removed the function of filling in certain online forms for me, but it didn't. What it did was stop filling in past search terms before I could even finish typing them. Problem solved! - AnonymousDecember 10, 2008 at 12:40 PM
I hate this auto suggest. half the time It makes me go to a page's I DON'T want. leave things alone or I'll have to find another search
ReplyDelete - AnonymousDecember 11, 2008 at 3:09 AM
This "feature" really sucks. I clean my cookies every time I close the browser, so it's going to be a really tiresome effort to turn the suggest off everytime...
I thought you guys are cool, but you're not. This setting is saved in a cookie so it will reset if you delete your cookies. Some browsers have an option to clear the cookies when you close them, but they also have the option to define exceptions (for example, in Firefox click on Tools/Options/Privacy tab/Exceptions button, while in Opera you can define site-level preferences by going to google.com, right-clicking and selecting "Edit site preferences").
ReplyDelete- AnonymousDecember 30, 2008 at 9:57 AM
I clean all my cookies, so I can't remove permanently this annoing feature. Google is my favourite search engine, I use it from many years and I don't want change, but query suggestions makes me nervous.
Please turn off by default. - AnonymousDecember 30, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Sorry, I have not read every post before. I resolved with URL http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0. In any case I think is better default "turn off"
ReplyDelete - AnonymousDecember 30, 2008 at 2:16 PM
This "feature" sucks, almost made me quit using Google. The main problem for me is that it drops down OVER the "Search" button! Who thought of that? I used to type then hit search with the mouse; with this "feature" I could no longer do it. Turning it off would not turn it off!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousJanuary 5, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Thanks to Ionut Alex Chitu (way up towards the top of this page) it looks like I can also get the original, better (IMHO) search by default.
IE never remembers my Google preferences and no matter how many times I reset the preferences, the stupid drop-down suggestion list reappears.
I don't bookmark as much as I used to, since it takes awhile to organize the bookmarks and the list becomes unruly. I like typing something in the Google search box and letting autofill suggest things that I've previously searched for and selecting from that list.
-Adam - AnonymousJanuary 12, 2009 at 10:19 PM
I agree with everything said. It is really a pain that you can't email Google and let them know, but I spent 30 minutes trying to find how to complain and couldn't. Google sucks big time.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousJanuary 14, 2009 at 10:49 PM
Sweden, here. I'm dropping Google as well. This search suggest feature is counterproductive and annoying. What smartass(es) att Guu(r)gle are guilty of letting this stupid idea all the way to implementation.
It kinda reveals what they think of the average person on this planet.
Bye, you Google Morons! At least make it OFF by default. I'm cleaning cookies and history after each surfsession like many others. - AnonymousJanuary 15, 2009 at 7:34 PM
I hate the google suggest feature. it suddenly appeared abut a month ago and I CANNOT turn it off. None of the above suggestions work. I thought it was me and something crazy with my computer so at least I now have the comfort of knowing it's all of us. We've been worked over by Google. Time to go back to yahoo.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousJanuary 18, 2009 at 11:29 AM
>>The feature can be deactivated in the preferences page by changing a value in a cookie. <<
Yes, but it won't STAY turned off. Google keeps returning to its default preferences, including "safesearch' filtering. I think the verb 'to google' should now include connotations of overbearing, repressive, thought police. A la "the preferred search enginge of the Communist Replublic of China"
If we all start using 'google' with a negative connotation, prehaps they will get the message. - AnonymousFebruary 1, 2009 at 5:40 PM
what makes the google suggestions annoying is that they prevent your past search query terms from popping up. If I commonly search for "scientology kills" for example and I start typing sci.. then firefox will suggest "scientology kills" because I've searched it in the past. And I like that. But now with google overriding that, all these other unrelated searches pop up instead.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousFebruary 12, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Enter Key no longer works on searches which do not offer suggestions. This problem has just popped up recently.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousFebruary 13, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Today I noticed I cannot turn off "google search" from the Search Preferences any longer. Is there now a new method to do so? If not, it looks like I will be using "google search" to find a new search browser. ANNOYING!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousFebruary 15, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Very few like this auto-complete and I have read all of the complaints. So far I haven't seen anyone with an answer on how to get rid of it permanently.
ReplyDelete To summarize, here are some options to remove Google Suggest:
1. (The official way) The feature can be disabled in the "preferences" page (the "query suggestions" section) and it will stay disabled until you delete the Google "PREF" cookie. If you automatically delete your cookies when you close a browser, there's an option to add exceptions for google.com (Firefox has a button titled "Exceptions" in the Options/Privacy/Cookies section).
2. Directly link to Google without auto-complete: http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0 (bookmark it)
3. Install AdBlock Plus in Firefox and add this filter:
http://*.google.*/complete/search?*- AnonymousFebruary 21, 2009 at 4:19 PM
How do we get rid of this annoying, distracting thing?
ReplyDelete - AnonymousMarch 2, 2009 at 5:02 AM
This feature is about as useful as a warning label on a toaster telling us not to use it in a bathtub while bathing.
I use IE7 -- how can I eliminate it premanently?? Thanks. - AnonymousMarch 14, 2009 at 10:32 PM
This feature is a blaent invasion of privacy. If it cannot be disabled then goodbye google!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousMarch 19, 2009 at 12:23 PM
I rather enjoy this feature, it sometimes helps me form a more coherent search term that yields more results, and it also reduces the number of keystrokes (since it finishes words for me even if I've never searched them before)). If you're "distracted" by a simple list of suggestions then I think you have ADD.
If you google a website every time you go to it (and thus are annoyed because google doesn't suggest the website name like it used to), shouldn't you just have that website bookmarked anyway? - AnonymousMarch 25, 2009 at 3:28 PM
This is horrible.. why do we want to know what some 14 year old boys are typing into google... DO NOT TYPE IN 'HOW DO I....' AND SEE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE TYPING IN...
It's not very professional, we don't want to see what everyone else in the world is asking about. ... - AnonymousMarch 28, 2009 at 10:36 AM
same i cannot find the option in the preferences with firefox but with ie it works fine wierd...
ReplyDelete - AnonymousMarch 31, 2009 at 3:25 PM
That's it, done.
Stop crying now... - AnonymousApril 1, 2009 at 1:41 AM
I'm getting sick of Google altogether, the bundling of the toolbar, the ad for the toolbar on the homepage, and now this Suggest option. Yes, we can circumvent it by using the amended homepage, but the fact is, Google has become another massive corporation and I simply don't trust them anymore. Plus, Google assumes that because our web server is in a certain country, that me and my PC are in that country (I'm not), so things like Facebook default to the wrong locale.
Plus, if I'm shopping online, it can be very awkward to specify that I only want results from a specified country or in a specified currency. Searching for items from British stores *only* always brings up tons of results from US stores. And searching for only US stores is even worse.
Yahoo's no better, of course, part of another conglomerate, and they have their own horrible toolbar covertly bundled into all kinds of software.
I'm off to look for a new search engine right now.
Oh, for any UK users, the amended Google link works for us too. Instead of using
you can use
http://www.google.co.uk/webhp?complete=0 i need help, i try to disable this suggestion feature. i do this, save preferences but then again every time i search something on google i get all possible suggestions (things i ever searched on my pc). i tried to enable the cookies in all possible ways, restarted my pc several times but still i receive all suggestions
what can i do?!@Anamaria:
Don't confuse Google Suggest with autocomplete, a feature of your browser that stores previous entries from web pages. I don't know what browser you use, but this feature can usually be disabled from the options/preferences dialog. Use Google to search for [disable autocomplete internet explorer] or something similar.- AnonymousApril 1, 2009 at 2:42 PM
I truly hate this unwelcome 'feature'. I've used Google for many years, even coining the phrase "Google knows everything" in my home and office but unless Google change it so it's DISABLED by default then I'll be using a different search engine in the future.
I have cookies disabled on my PCs as a privacy and security measure and to stop the machines getting clogged with unwanted files, yet the only way I can keep this useless, irritating, feature turned OFF is if I have cookies turned ON! What sort of weird logic came up with that?
Kill it Google! Before it kills you! - StupidConsumerApril 2, 2009 at 4:38 AM
I`ve used Google for years and this is the first time Query Suggestions has turned up. I can really see how this can be useful if we ever stop thinking for ourselves. Everyone is saying, "Oh gee, this is so annoying and irritating." Do you think Google doesn`t know that? Do you think Google cares? It`s just more advertising folks. Companies pay Google so that their junk shows up in your searches. The fact that query suggestions is on by default is a good clue this is an advertising tactic and not a service. We are so bombarded by ads everyday it has become part of our culture. What surprises me though, is we still have the option to turn query suggestions off.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousApril 2, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Google sucks. Got too big for its own feet
The following works. http://www.google.co.uk/webhp?complete=0
but if Google decide to change things again, it's time for all good men to change search engine. Goodbyall (Oops ! google for short) - HermanApril 3, 2009 at 3:13 AM
Google has described Google Suggest as a feature. A feature is something good. This "Suggest" is a pain. You can't disable it, every time you open your browser it's there. The auto-complete option is much better. Time to use a different search engine.......
ReplyDelete - AnonymousApril 3, 2009 at 3:43 AM
I hate this. Sometimes even the option section is omitted from page and you cannot deselect. I spent an hour yesterday messing about trying to get a page to load with the option still there. I'm finding this whole scenario increasingly irritating. Google get a grip!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousApril 4, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Me too, it's insane. Time to "search" for another search provider. The first post on this matter was 26 August 2008 and as of today, 05 April 2009, the annoying "suggestion" function of is still "defaulted" by Google, nothing has been fixed. I use IE8. This is a sign that Google does not listen to users.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousApril 4, 2009 at 3:20 PM
#StupidConsumer, if what you said is true, that Google keeps using "auto suggestion" on purpose, there is no other good reason than this for users to move to another search provider. As someone said Google is too big and too ignorant to listen to users. In any case, there is only one Google and billions of users in the world. Can Google keep frustating users from leaving in droves? Google has it hay days, now it probably time for a new players or re-emmerging players to stand up!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousApril 5, 2009 at 9:49 AM
I think it's an extremely annoying feature and I will be searching for a new search engine if Google does not listen to the people using it.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousApril 5, 2009 at 10:18 AM
I tried contacting them to tell them to get rid of it, cant find an address so complained through the google groups feedback.
I have taken to using the "im feeling lucky" button when I type the name in and know it is the first result, cant do that now because that hideous drop down box blocks it.
ridiculous feature, get rid, now, please for the love of god, please dont try and guess what Im searching for just leave me do it by myself, please. thank you - AnonymousApril 6, 2009 at 8:27 AM
I hate it!!! It is commercialization in the worst form. But as usual, Google could care less what the public is crying for, whatever maximizes profits is their only goal, period. Don't look for this to go away, it is here to stay forever or until we can all find another search outfit that listens to its users and tries to satisfy their needs. I don't want your advise, Google, keep your inane suggestions off my screen!! Yeah, right, like you care, hunh?
ReplyDelete - AnonymousApril 6, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Hey, people, I reread Alex Chitu's comment in April (see above)and set his url to my homepage in internet preferences and it works, hoo rah, no more Google suggest! What a relief.
2. Directly link to Google without auto-complete: http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0 (bookmark it) - AnonymousApril 6, 2009 at 12:21 PM
The worst "feature" I've ever seen. For God's sake, and for the sanity of the MAJORITY, keep the feature turned off by default. As for its apologist "Alex Chitu" - I've got various browsers and various settings. You suggesting the various ways to "avoid" this feature just proves the point. They have no business imposing it on EVERYONE by default. Unless, of course, they are just trying to persuade people to LEAVE GOOGLE altogether.
ReplyDelete I was just trying to help those who don't like the feature. Obviously, most of the people who comment don't like the change, since those who like it don't feel the need to provide feedback. Google Suggest has been launched in 2005 and Google had enough time to collect feedback from its various incarnations: Google Toolbar, Google Suggest extension etc. I'm not its apologist, but I find it useful in many cases and this kind of search is quickly becoming a common place: you'll find suggestions in Firefox, Internet Explorer 8, Yahoo Search, Live Search, Ask.com, Facebook, Amazon, eBay, Wikipedia, YouTube.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousApril 7, 2009 at 3:14 PM
@ alex chitu - but will you accept that if its such a useful feature they should let people opt IN ?
ReplyDelete - AnonymousApril 9, 2009 at 10:30 AM
I agree that it's an intrusive pain. Like a few have suggested, I've set my homepage to the following to disable the feature without bothering with Google's annoying tracking cookie. Just substitute the ".co.uk" part according to the country you're working from. Works for me.
http://www.google.co.uk/webhp?complete=0 - AnonymousApril 9, 2009 at 4:47 PM
I also agree, very very annoying. I have also used the same http://www.google.co.uk/webhp?complete=0 as default
Oh Google what have you done - AnonymousApril 10, 2009 at 5:20 AM
Has anyone at google considered how inappropriate 'suggest' is for children. The idiot who came up with the idea that the default setting for 'suggest' should be enabled should be sacked. He obviously has no idea how much damage this is doing to Google's reputation.
ReplyDelete @Anon:
Google Suggest already filters some "inappropriate" queries. Type "fuc", "por", "xx" and you'll notice that Google doesn't display the most popular words that start with those characters. Google doesn't always do a good job at filtering queries, but it's difficult to decide what to remove.
As I mentioned in a previous comment, this is already a standard feature in most browsers and search engines, but you can always disable it if you don't think it's useful enough. Typing Volkswagen, deoxyribonucleic, Antananarivo, spectrophotofluorometrically is pretty difficult without autocomplete.- AnonymousApril 13, 2009 at 3:15 PM
I hope Google doesn't change it's classic look. I really like the plane Google home page, nice and clean easy on the eyes,with no bells and whistles.I have tried other search engines, like Y*****; but keep coming back to Google. One of my Programing professors said it very well, "K I S S" (keep it simple stupid). The Google Suggest is a nice function, works well with a search, by saving a few key strokes.
Tim Z. - AnonymousApril 14, 2009 at 6:20 PM
I dont like the change of google query suggestion Hope they go back to the way it was . It was getting anoying to go back every time i clean my cookies I suggest to go to a diffrent search engine like maybe http://www.dogpile.com/ is not bad . I use IE and i dont clean the cookies with in the browser no more i use a free program call (ccleaner) http://www.ccleaner.com/ Went instaling program dont install yahoo toolbar . Go to the last icon at the bottom right option then open the cookies tab . move google to cookies to keep work very good it wont delete that cookie. Good luck Boys and girls
By the way yahoo search its doing the samething has google in the seach box suggestion of word with results poping up i hate it - AnonymousApril 16, 2009 at 2:39 AM
This is the first mistake Google has made. I disable the Google suggest feature and then next time I log on, its back again. It is extremely annoying and the sort of thing that will make me look elsewhere. I loved Google's simplicity, until now. If they still have their finger on the pulse of their customers, they will make "disable" the default very soon. If not, I'll be moving to another search engine.
When a company thinks they know what their customers want, better than the customer, they are on the slippery road of decline.
Reuben - AnonymousApril 18, 2009 at 8:33 PM
Alex, yes it may be true that people who like this feature are not posting. But it could also be true that people who don't understand the implications of this feature in terms of allowing people see what you searched, are also not posting. This leaves the 100+ posts here against the feature. When you have people feeling compelled to take the time to complain about a feature, a product, a service, whatever,you know there is a problem. this is marketing 101. Google is just not listening.
ReplyDelete - lannie pattersonApril 20, 2009 at 1:32 PM
i think this is the worst thing google could have done i am switching back to yahoo for my home page i hate the query suggestion it drives me crazy
ReplyDelete - AnonymousMay 2, 2009 at 5:13 PM
i hate it, make it go away. Don't you test market people before you add dumb features. I can't make it go away.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousMay 4, 2009 at 10:29 AM
As many mentioned, "http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0" will work to avoid the annoying google autocomplete. But note, it doesn't actually change your preferences and save them in a cookie. This means that afterwards, if you go back to "http://www.google.com", say, maybe because it's easier to just type it sometimes, the annoying autocomplete is still there. So, the proposed solution is partial or temporary at best.
Hey, here's another thought. Google has become the new 800 lb gorilla. Google and Microsoft, the other 800 lb gorilla have been slugging it out lately. I would suggest that the Google autocomplete is interfering with the proper functioning of the Microsoft browser. Instead of complaining here, you should all be e-mailing Microsoft and prodding them to come up with a solution. Maybe a little old fashioned competition would be good for both of them, and us, the consumers. What better way to remind both of them that they're not the only game in town. It doesn't work for me anymore too, what's going on? Everytime when I type a letter it does say Loading from client1.google.com in left bottom of my browser (firefox) for a little moment but I don't get any dropdown @ the input..
I've tested it on multiple pcs and browsers and all gone?
@ preferences I got suggestions enabled.- AnonymousMay 24, 2009 at 9:25 AM
This is a terrible feature; it should be disabled by default!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousJune 3, 2009 at 1:33 PM
I vote for quiet computing!!
It goes against the Google brand image to:
1) Default on (impose their will to have cookies enabled or suffer)
2) Respectful computing environment free of Flash, etc. - AnonymousJune 5, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Time to give up on Google.
I've moved to: http://www.dogpile.com/ - AnonymousJune 16, 2009 at 9:58 PM
$100 in your paypal account to the first person who can tell me how to disable this disease on the internet that is search suggestion. Now they have that piece of crap on ebay too.
I dont EVER want ANY suggestions on any website and i want them ALL disabled by default, im not so stupid like you people who like it, i know what im searching for, or so lazy that i cant type the rest of my search words. - AnonymousJune 16, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Im not kidding people, i hate these "helpful" features.
I have:
Adblock plus
JT flash manager
No script
And a whopping mile long hosts file. - AnonymousJune 19, 2009 at 4:35 AM
This suggestion feature absolutely sucks!! The problem is: does anyone think the programmers at Goodle actually read our posts? It's like talking to the wall. And, I'm not going to use http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0 as my home page. I have a homepage I like and I'm not going to have Google or anyone else dictate to me what I should or should not use. If I want my toddlers to learn about sexual positions, I'll just let the suggestion feature continue. They should be sued for this!!!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousJune 27, 2009 at 4:24 PM
FINALLY found out how to turn off Google Suggest. Searched for many hours and it's really simple after all. I'm, using FF browser and not iGoogle as homepage but not sure if that matters. I tried going to google.com webhelp complete but that did nothing. I just found that if you RIGHT click on the big letter G in the google search box than unclick show suggestions and IT WORKS!!!!!! Hope this helps everyone and Anonymous who posted on June 16, I will take the $100 if this works! Just kidding, only too glad to try to help keep the internet free from tyranny. Would still like to get away from Google though. Any ideas for a better search engine?
ReplyDelete - AnonymousJuly 7, 2009 at 10:54 PM
The MAJORITY of people from online polls want this kind of search suggestion crap turned OFF. Do you like Google's search suggestion - yet it persists and keeps coming back. Can't turn search suggestions off by any option in youtube. What does that tell you about the mentality of that place (google).
ReplyDelete - AnonymousJuly 22, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Just block the "CLIENTS1.GOOGLE.COM" in your hosts file.
seems it takes a while to load "CLIENTS1.GOOGLE.COM" too, so I blocked it.. - AnonymousJuly 23, 2009 at 11:06 PM
I think it is awful especially for children alot of "adult" stuff comes up so then they are forced to read that stuff etc.
ReplyDelete - Jerry BurnockJuly 23, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Yes, I have to agree, more than just adults use google and some of the suggestions that pop down are very adult!!!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousAugust 13, 2009 at 4:22 PM
It keeps coming back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on. I turn it off and after several months of happy surfing, it comes back on.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousAugust 31, 2009 at 2:20 PM
This is worst piece of junk I have ever seen in my life. It took me an hour to turn if off for the Google search; but I can not turn if off for google news.
Bing here I come!! - AnonymousSeptember 1, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Search suggestions cannot be turned off for google news, search suggestions cannot be turned off for youtube. Socialism, one size fits all.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 17, 2009 at 3:19 PM
I can't turn it back on. DO SOMETHING GOOGLE I wanted this feature.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousNovember 18, 2009 at 4:58 PM
This auto suggest was also driving me nuts. I'd set the preferences not to have it then it would go back again. But one of the suggestions above did solve it. http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0
Set this as your home page. So far it has worked great. Just never type www.google.com or you will have the auto suggest again. - AnonymousNovember 24, 2009 at 9:52 PM
I will try this. I think GOOGLE is violating their own rules by making my web browser show their advertising customers!
If one of us broke a silly adsense rule, they would be all OVER us, but THEY can keep forcing us to read business ads in our basic searches., - AnonymousDecember 5, 2009 at 8:11 AM
I liked the Google suggestions, but for some reason the feature stopped working. I have checked and unchecked the "do not provide query suggestions in the search box." What else can I do?
ReplyDelete - AnonymousJanuary 12, 2010 at 10:48 AM
Same situation as Larry above. This happens about 3-4 times per year. Does Google think people won't notice? or will passively eventually just be worn down and accept it if they Google keeps switching YOUR preferences to THEIR preferences? It feel creepy, intrusive, and aggressive to me. I'll USE them until I find something superior then drop them with less thought than they give their users. Here's to squandering brand loyalty, Google - cheers!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousFebruary 14, 2010 at 2:01 AM
IE8 autocomplete is now not working for google.com/uk search box (ie8 / win 7) Other search engines are fine and apparently all is ok using firefox
ReplyDelete This just happened to me today (5/8/10), although I have been using http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0 for some time now. How I escaped the wrath and was a golden child up to now is beyond me but MANY, MANY THANKS TO:
Blogger Alex Chitu said on February 16, 2009 12:03 AM PDT:
To summarize, here are some options to remove Google Suggest:
3. Install AdBlock Plus in Firefox and add this filter:
THIS DOES IT FOLKS! I tried each and every suggestion here, plus many, many more from other searches. I tried several Add-ons to Firefox, editing the HOSTS file (scary for some), and several script alterations, but in the end I simply added the filter http://*.google.*/complete/search?* to my existing Adblock Plus Add-on (doesn't everyone have Adblock Plus?) Isn't Adblock Plus the one main reason we ditched IE in the first place???!!! Don't have it? Get it! After all, are you still using a rotary dial phone?
All in all, a "Happy Ending". No, not that type of "Happy Ending" but the more and more I think about it, beating G$$GLE at their own game is, in a way, almost better! :) Well.....almost.
Happy trails my fearless, and now Valium free, G$$GLE surfers...
P.S. My "Preferences", "Query Suggestions" still reverts back to: "Provide query suggestions in the search box." but this filter OVERRIDES IT!!! Gotta love it.- AnonymousOctober 29, 2011 at 6:52 PM
i hate the new search assist because i can't see what i'm typing when I'm typing it
ReplyDelete - AnonymousNovember 21, 2011 at 7:09 PM
If google's cpu-intensive mouseover-landmine user interface "inventions", which are an annoying result of rich, bored developers and managers sitting around with nothing to do, and not by user request, if such "inventions" were turned OFF by default, then no-one would use them. What does that tell you about the arrogant mentality of that place. Let-alone the FACT that there are scarce UI LAYOUT and POSITION options with any google product.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousDecember 10, 2011 at 5:56 PM
Fortunately in older versions of Safari prior to 5.0 the autosuggest service can be disabled via the Preferences menu. Too bad this option no longer available in versions 5.0 and higher
ReplyDelete - AnonymousJanuary 13, 2012 at 3:49 AM
Opera users who delete cookies on exit:
As an alternative to Alex Chitu's suggestion to Edit Site Preferences to allow Google cookies to persist, you can Edit Site Preferences to turn off Javascript. This turns off Search Suggest and lots of other annoyances, reduces load times and generally returns Google to a fast and simple search engine that does only what you tell it to do.
You need to do this for www.google.com and for your local country-specific variant (mine is www.google.co.uk). By specifying the "www." you only disable script for searches, not for Google Maps or Gmail.
and click link "search settings" under:
Turn on Google Instant
You can turn on or enable Google Instant by accessing your search settings under the gear icon on any search results page; it gives 404 error. I have also saved its screenshot but no option to upload the file.- AnonymousMarch 14, 2012 at 10:54 PM
After taking 6 months to learn how, wiping out google from working at all and disabling this horrid feature on yahoo, ask and bing, having to fully reboot my computer after a MTBF event. All I or anyone else wants is a simple browser auto updated add-on that rips this annoying and useless feature from every search engine by default. Without the need to re-write script, change about:config files and using cookies that disappear on log off.
I personally don't feel like doing the work all over again to modify on by default to off by script. So...Anyone up to doing the world a favor, earn the accolades of the masses and becoming the Hero of all by creating a multi browser add-on to kill auto suggest? Or version that doesn't have the "Idiot" features yet retains the capabilities?
You will be loved by millions. - AnonymousMarch 16, 2012 at 1:18 AM
I've been a Googler since 1999. I, along with many others, helped Google become the giant it is today. As an expression of their gratitude, Google has decided to stray from its most prized strength... simplicity. Instead they now inundate us with 3 features that drive us insane: Suggest, Preview and Instant. The only users who benefit from these forced features are the lazy, the unimaginative, the indecisive, poor spellers and the chronically bored. We don't need to be told what we're looking for. If I want to see a page, I will click to visit it. Moreover, many of us are on expensive and limited data plans through our net providers so not only do we not care to waste bandwidth, we also are working at slower speeds which makes these bullshit features glitch too. Unlike the few people who enjoy your idiotic features, I have sh*t to do and these annoyances prevent me from getting it done. Enough is enough. Google has apparently forgotten about us... I'll be using alternatives so I can forget about them and their stress-inducing services.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousApril 24, 2012 at 3:01 AM
Luckily there is a permanent option to turn these annoying 'features' off once and for all. Just google: "google alternatives". DuckDuckGo is a good one. It respects your privacy too.
Let the decaying monster die on its own.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Decorating Cookies: 60+ Designs for Holidays, Celebrations & Everyday
Well guys, today is the day. The official release date for Decorating Cookies. I know Amazon and Barnes & Noble shipped a bit early, so some of you have it already. YAY!!!This book is for you. You, who have never decorated a cookie. You, who have attempted and want to try again. You, who love decorating cookies and are looking for some new ideas.
This book is FOR you and because of you. All of you...whether you've been reading Bake at 350 for 5 years (ok, that would just be me), or 5 seconds. YOU.
Here's a little peek of the inside: (PS...my pictures do not do the book pics justice.)
EVERY project has a step-by-step photo tutorial. Most of the cookie designs are new, but there are a handful of favorites that we just had to include...most with a new twist.
Shouts-out (shout-outs?) to Amy, Melissa, and Kate for letting me use some of their fabulous artwork for a couple of projects...and to Amanda of Everyday Elements for making yours truly presentable in the author pics.
Wanna see a little behind-the-scenes from our 6-day photoshoot for the step-by-step cookies?
Are you still here? Oh, good. Guess what...I have something for you to celebrate!
- 1 lucky person will win a KitchenAid 5-quart, tilt-head, stand mixer in Aqua Sky (US only)
- 5 people will win signed & personalized copies of Decorating Cookies (anywhere)
- enter through 11:59pm CST, October 9, 2012
To enter for a signed book, leave a SEPARATE comment telling me where you live (city, state, country...whatever).
Curious about where to buy the book? Check with your local bookstore or order here:
I really, truly hope you love the book as much as I loved eating the cookies that are in it.
thank you.
Winners!!! KitchenAid Mixer:
Brandie: "That mixer would look fab in my kitchen... and get TONS of use!"
Signed books:
Allison Jordan: "I am a seemingly hopeless cookie decorator (better with cakes) but am determined to learn - your book looks amazing! I am a transplanted both-coaster now living in Greensboro, North Carolina... Congratulations! Cookie on"
Nane Şekeri: "Congradulations for the book.In Europe it is still pre-order :( I live in Netherlands."
Mrs Cosper: "Because of your blog everyone in my family will be getting personalized cookies for Christmas! NC LOVES you!!"
Kristen M.: "Hi from San Diego. I'd love to win a copy of your book!"
James: "Rural Illinois is getting cookies this holiday season!"


text:
#3657, 3" Tall
Stars and Stripes was introduced in 1994 by Inge-Glas of Germany® for Old World Christmas® as part of the Miscellaneous Forms Collection and features the exclusive 5-Point Star Crown.
This unique glass Christmas ornament has been lovingly handcrafted by the talented Inge-Glas® artisans in Neustadt near Coburg in Northern Bavaria using centuries-old glassblowing techniques. Stars and Stripes was mouth-blown with clear crystal glass, coated inside with a layer of fine sterling silver, and hand painted using only the finest lead-free paints, glitters, and decorative materials.
Stars and Stripes was retired in 1997 so availability is limited.
Old World Christmas® was the exclusive distributor for Inge-Glas® ornaments until 2000.
Customers who bought this product also purchased...


text:
persistence - noun
Not persistance.
Example: The persistence of the salesman began to irritate us.
"persistence - correct spelling." Grammar.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Jun 2024. <https://www.grammar.com/persistence-correct-spelling>.
Improve your grammar, vocabulary, and writing -- and it's FREE!
It's now more important than ever to develop a powerful writing style. After all, most communication takes place in reports, emails, and instant messages.


text:
Logistics Quality Management Systems
Ensuring the quality of your services and products is essential, whatever your industry or sector, to maintain customer loyalty.
Additionally, your organization needs to be able to deliver quality services and products in a reliable and sustainable manner to maintain and increase its market share. At SGS, we know that quality management is a continuous process, involving implementation, maintenance and improvement. Whatever your sector or industry, your business will benefit from a quality management system that brings you into line with international standards.
We offer audit, certification and training in management systems such as ISO 9001 and targeted training in the application of Lean techniques to improve your operations and optimize the flow of products and services through entire value streams.
We have the largest network of highly skilled and experienced auditors and trainers in the world. We can provide you with a clear assessment of your quality management systems, enabling you and your staff to continuously improve quality and performance.
Enhancing people and businesses with SGS Academy
As the global leader in professional training, we offer worldwide centers of excellence, providing the very best learning and development solutions customized to your exact needs.
We have a proven track record, delivering public, in-house and online courses for the world's largest companies and government organizations. Plus, with expert trainers that are experienced practitioners in their field, our training moves beyond theory, giving you valuable real-world insights. As a result, you can trust us to provide high-quality consistent training and development at every level of your organization – anywhere in the world.
Whatever your industry, whatever the subject, contact us to find out how SGS Academy can help you.


text:
"A powerful earthquake jolted China's Sichuan province Saturday near where a devastating quake struck five years ago," The Associated Press writes. According to CNN, early estimates put the death toll around 100. More than 1,000 other people were reportedly injured. Both figures could change substantially as more information comes in. Reuters, for example, is already reporting that the number of injured may top 2,000.
The U.S. Geological Survey puts the estimated magnitude of the temblor at a strong 6.6. There's been a series of aftershocks since the initial quake.
As the AP reminds readers, "the area lies near the same Longmenshan fault where the devastating 7.9-magnitude quake struck May 12, 2008, leaving more than 90,000 people dead or missing and presumed dead."
All Things Considered was on assignment in Chengdu, China, when that devastating quake hit in 2008. It's coverage is collected here.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
In The Beginning There Were Coins by Jay Noblezada
- Regular Price
- $30.00
- Sale Price
- $30.00
- Regular Price
- Unit Price
- per
Many magicians go their whole lives without ever unlocking the raw power of coin magic.
Some are intimidated because it's pure sleight-of-hand. Some try to learn and get bogged down in complex illustrations. And some just don't know where to start.
This DVD changes all that.
In the Beginning There Were Coins contains THE moves and sleights you NEED to know, taught in the most clear, direct, and simple way possible.
If you're looking for every single variation and every move imaginable, you're in the wrong place. If you want to get the BIGGEST return on your investment of time and hard work, you've found the training DVD for you.
But, before you start, know this: Noblezada isn't on this earth to put together a beginner course that's gonna leave you looking like a beginner.
This course will take you from beginner to pro in coin magic.
First you'll learn the essentials. These are the fundamental techniques behind all sleight-of-hand coin magic. Next, you'll learn how coin pros put the essentials to work in hard-hitting tricks. You'll learn to build upon these tricks to create professional and memorable routines. And finally, you'll polish it off with pro tips that will leave you looking and feeling like a pro as you perform.
You will walk away with the power to entertain any group of spectators, at a moment's notice, with only the spare change in your pocket. And you'll grow as an all-around magician as you focus on misdirection, audience management, and other important general skills that are vital to coin magic.
Master the simple, direct, and hard-hitting material on this DVD, and you will be able to step into the spotlight and deliver a professional coin set at a moment's notice for the rest of your life.
This is THE audience-tested, high-impact coin magic Noblezada uses in his professional repertoire.
Edge Grip -
Classic Vanish
Finger Palm Vanish
Thumb Palm Vanish
Slide Vanish -
Take Vanish
French Drop
Pro Bonus: Retention Vanish -
Push Out - Wipe Clean
- Shuttle Pass
Ramsey Subtlety
Malini Subtlety
- Coin From Thin Air
- Cranium Vanish
- Coin Through Hand
- Coin Through Table
- Tenkai Pennies
Coin From Pen Cap
Strike Vanish
Edge Grip - Coin Through Pocket
- One Coin Routine
- Coins Across
- Copper/Silver Transpo "You and Me"
- Three Coin Routine
Pro Tips
- Breaking the wrist
- Coordination of Actions
- Under foot vanish / recovery
- Wipe Clean
- Coin Roll
Running Time Approximately 2hr 32min


text:
Former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf's bodyguards spirited him out of an Islamabad courtroom Thursday to avoid his arrest on treason charges after a judge revoked bail.
Police in the courtroom made no attempt to detain Musharraf, 69, who was whisked away by his security detail to his residence in a suburb of the capital.
The BBC's Orla Guerin described the scene at the courthouse as "a moment of high drama and farce."
For Musharraf, a former general who toppled a civilian government in 1999 and held onto power for the next nine years, it was a major blow. Barely a month ago, he returned to Pakistan after four years in self-imposed exile, hoping to clear his name in court and make a political comeback in May elections.
The Associated Press said local TV showed Musharraf "[jumping] into a black SUV and [escaping] as a member of his security team hung to the side of the vehicle."
The situation carries more than a tinge of irony for the former general, because the charges against him stem from his order to place dozens of judges under house arrest in 2007.
On Thursday, a representative of Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League party told Reuters that he thought that if an arrest was necessary, "the authorities will declare the farmhouse a sub-jail."
"Musharraf did not flee the court. Actually there was no police official to arrest him and nobody tried to arrest him," Dr. Muhammad Amjad added.
A statement from Musharraf's office described the court's decision as "ill-conceived and unwarranted judicial activism ... seemingly motivated by personal vendettas," according to Pakistan's Dawn newspaper.
In addition to the treason charges, Judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui said he would tack on additional unspecified charges related to Musharraf's flight from the courtroom on Thursday. According to Pakistan's Express News, the court has also ordered Musharraf's guards and the on-duty police personnel who failed to arrest him in court to be held accountable.
Dawn reports that Musharraf's lawyers had filed a "pre-arrest bail application" with the country's Supreme Court to avoid his having to surrender to police.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
I spent yesterday affirming that, indeed, there are no Cinderellas in this year's Sweet 16.
7-seed UNLV? Not with that Top 10 RPI. 6-seed Vandy? I have a hard time with a 6-seed who finished second in a high-major conference being thought of as a "Cinderella." How about "name" Cinderellas like
It's like a statistical correction from last year's run by George Mason. The Tournament has a way of evening itself out, and this year's result only shows how vital Cinderellas are to the process.
All-Tournament (So Far): Meanwhile, I quickly came to some conclusions about my All-Tournament Team from the First Weekend: Acie Law, Derrick Byars, Tyler Hansbrough, Al Horford, Julian Wright.
NFL: Joey Porter faces battery charge after cutting Bengals OT Levi Jones. Two points here: (1) Yet another embarrassing off-field incident for the NFL; (2) Finally, a Bengals player is on the OTHER side of an arrest.
More NFL Blotter: Police are investigating a rape report from the home of Patrick Kerney, who just signed a free-agent deal with the Seahawks. Kerney has not been named as a suspect. (Well... yet.)
NBA: Dirk says he gets nerves. "I think everybody who says they don't get tense, they're lying." Yes, but they don't TALK about it.
Meanwhile, don't look now, but the Hawks are only 4 games out of the playoffs in the East. Every game they win is putting more distance between the Suns and that Hawks' Lottery pick that PHX owns.
NAIA Tournament: Four OTs later, Concordia (CA) KO'ed top-seeded Robert Morris in the semis. Can you imagine what the reaction would be if a game like that happened in the D1 Final Four?
Women's Tournament:
NIT: I guess it WAS a good idea to put
MLB Notes: David Wells has diabetes. Does that really surprise you?... Ken Griffey moves to RF. That will seem kind of strange actually... Dontrelle Willis (my favorite pitcher -- and perhaps player -- in baseball) will be the Marlins' Opening Day starter. Again: Does that really surprise you?
Varsity Dad: Gilbert Arenas joins the club! ("Daddy Zero?") His new baby boy already has a nickname, and it might not surprise you to learn Gilbert had endorsement deals in mind. Here's the post.


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(Andy Carvin, NPR's senior strategist for social media, sends us this dispatch about a Twitter account that may hold clues in understanding the surviving Boston bombing suspect.)
Social media became a large part of the story last week as amateur sleuths scoured the Internet for clues about the Boston Marathon bombing suspects. After several fake Twitter accounts supposedly connected with the suspects were discounted, NPR and other news organizations identified one account, @J_tsar, as being connected with the surviving bombing suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. He followed less than 100 people on Twitter, and one of the most recent accounts he followed is one called @Al_FirdausiA. In fact, Tsarnaev was the first to follow that account, which in the Twitter world usually signals a strong personal connection. Using a Storify, we detailed the connections and possible significance of the account:
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Wood flooring adds an altogether new dimension to a regular looking room or area. Though it was considered to be expensive options but with the foray of substitutes such as vinyl and PVC, it has become the hottest trend in the flooring arena.
Vinyl flooring is quite easy on pocket as compared to the authentic wood floor. The next question that pops up: is vinyl wood plank flooring easy to install? Well yes, with increased awareness and new techniques of flooring, installing wood based tiles and floors is more of a cakewalk. It just takes a few hours and some professional help to renovate the floor of your house with vinyl wood flooring.
The greatest advantage of Vinyl based floors over the authentic wood planks is that the former is waterproof, is available in planks (therefore numerous designs and patterns can be carved to lend an illusionary look) unlike the latter, that gets stained each time a liquid spills on it. Vinyl planks are not only scratch resistant but are quite durable in the long run, hence a great option to be used in bathrooms and kitchen of your house. It is quite easy to clean and inhibits the growth of mildew and moth
Here are a few tips that can help you in easy installation of your vinyl plank flooring
* Always start placing from the wall which is the line of sight for the room
* Highlight the boundaries using a chalk as it will help in getting a neat finish
* Start from one corner, peel off the paper backing and simultaneously place the plank on the floor
* It is advised to use the adhesive recommended by the vinyl manufacturer for better results
* Preferably use a floor roller to smooth the surface once the planks have been placed on the floor
Vinyl planks can be purchased in different designs and sizes; In fact there is an array of color available in the market such as maple, mahogany and oak that you can lay your hands on. And a lot of manufactures sell the self sticking planks that have an inbuilt adhesive and are quite hassle free to install.


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Reykjavik District Court ruled on Thursday that the name "Blaer" can be used. It means "light breeze".
The decision overturns an earlier rejection by Icelandic authorities who declared it was not a proper feminine name. Until now, Blaer Bjarkardottir had been identified simply as "Girl" in communications with officials.
"I'm very happy," she said after the ruling. "I'm glad this is over. Now I expect I'll have to get new identity papers. Finally I'll have the name Blaer in my passport."
Like a handful of other countries, including Germany and Denmark, Iceland has official rules about what a baby can be named. Names are supposed to fit Icelandic grammar and pronunciation rules – choices like Carolina and Christa are not allowed because the letter "c" is not part of Iceland's alphabet.
Blaer's mother, Bjork Eidsdottir, had fought for the right for the name to be recognised. The court ruling means that other girls will be also allowed to use the name in Iceland.
In an interview earlier this year, Eidsdottir said she did not know the name "Blaer" was not on the list of accepted female names when she gave it to her daughter. The name was rejected because the panel viewed it as a masculine name that was inappropriate for a girl.
Blaer had told the court she was very happy with her name and only had problems with it when she was dealing with state authorities who rejected it.
The court did not grant her any damages. The government has not indicated whether it will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
Source: AP


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It's been more than two decades since the former Soviet Union broke apart, and to the dismay of Russia, many of the 15 former Soviet republics have spun away from Moscow's orbit.
Now Ukraine — with 46 million people — has a chance to say goodbye to its Soviet past and align itself both economically and culturally with the European Union.
Outside the former Karl Marx Chocolate Works, semi-trucks are ready to deliver loads of candy sold throughout Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The factory, in a shabby industrial neighborhood of Kiev, now belongs to Roshen, a giant Ukrainian company with about 3,000 workers and more than $1 billion in business a year.
Inside the factory it is bright, modern and scrupulously clean. Workers in lab coats and hospital-style hair bonnets monitor machines that wrap individual chocolates in foil, with a neat twist at each end.
The glittering treats that tumble off the assembly line were popular in Russia, accounting for 5 percent of the market. That is until Russia's consumer protection agency banned them. The Russians claim they found a hazardous chemical in the chocolate, but no other country has reported any problem.
The timing of the ban has raised suspicions. Ukraine must decide whether to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union this month. Roshen's owner, Petro Poroshenko, is a strong supporter.
"Our opportunity to sign an association agreement with the European Union is just the gate of possibilities, and [it happens] once in several decades," Poroshenko says.
Poroshenko is a billionaire who holds an independent seat in Ukraine's Parliament. He says association with the EU would force Ukraine to make democratic reforms, fight corruption and bring its manufacturing up to European standards. This, in turn, would attract investment.
But Russia wants Ukraine to join a Moscow-led customs union, together with Belarus and Kazakhstan, and it is playing hardball. Besides the chocolate ban, Russia has imposed new customs rules on trucks crossing from Ukraine, backing them up at the border and driving up costs.
Even if Ukraine can resist the pressure, association with the EU is not guaranteed. The EU has laid down a condition — freedom for the jailed former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko — the heroine of Ukraine's 2004 revolution.
Tymoshenko was an icon with her fiery rhetoric, beauty and blond braid coiled on her head like a tiara. She's been in prison since 2011 on charges of abuse of power, for signing a gas deal with Russia that proved costly for Ukraine.
The EU sees her prosecution as politically motivated revenge for her bitter rivalry with President Viktor Yanukovych.
The Orange Revolution that Tymoshenko led derailed Yanukovych's first attempt to win the presidency. It overturned the results of an election international observers said was rigged.
Tymoshenko, now 52, is suffering from severe back problems.
"When I see her, you know, I have to pick her up, move her, help her to stand up, and it's evidence that any sharp movement causes very sharp pain," says Tymoshenko's daughter, Yevhenia.
German doctors who've treated her in prison say she needs surgery. EU negotiators have been shuttling to Kiev, hoping to persuade Yanukovych to pardon Tymoshenko and free her, to seek treatment abroad.
This is not likely, according to political science professor Oleksiy Haran at Kiev Mohila University. He says a freed Tymoshenko could challenge Yanukovych in 2015.
"Actually this is one of the reasons why President Yanukovych is not going to free Tymoshenko, because he is afraid of her during presidential elections," Haran says.
And that fear is borne out by some opinion polls.
Ukraine doesn't have much time to decide whether to sign the agreement with the European Union. EU mediators are preparing to report within the next few days on whether Ukraine has complied with the demands to free Tymoshenko.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.