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Army says no to more tanks, but Congress insists
Millions added by Congress for unwanted tanks highlights challenge of trimming military budget
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Built to dominate the enemy in combat, the Army's hulking Abrams tank is proving equally hard to beat in a budget battle.
Lawmakers from both parties have devoted nearly half a billion dollars in taxpayer money over the past two years to build improved versions of the 70-ton Abrams.
But senior Army officials have said repeatedly, "No thanks."
It's the inverse of the federal budget world these days, in which automatic spending cuts are leaving sought-after pet programs struggling or unpaid altogether. Republicans and Democrats for years have fought so bitterly that lawmaking in Washington ground to a near-halt.
Yet in the case of the Abrams tank, there's a bipartisan push to spend an extra $436 million on a weapon the experts explicitly say is not needed.
"If we had our choice, we would use that money in a different way," Gen. Ray Odierno, the Army's chief of staff, told The Associated Press this past week.
Why are the tank dollars still flowing? Politics.
Keeping the Abrams production line rolling protects businesses and good paying jobs in congressional districts where the tank's many suppliers are located.
If there's a home of the Abrams, it's politically important Ohio. The nation's only tank plant is in Lima. So it's no coincidence that the champions for more tanks are Rep. Jim Jordan and Sen. Rob Portman, two of Capitol's Hill most prominent deficit hawks, as well as Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. They said their support is rooted in protecting national security, not in pork-barrel politics.
"The one area where we are supposed to spend taxpayer money is in defense of the country," said Jordan, whose district in the northwest part of the state includes the tank plant.
The Abrams dilemma underscores the challenge that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel faces as he seeks to purge programs that the military considers unnecessary or too expensive in order to ensure there's enough money for essential operations, training and equipment.
Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska, faces a daunting task in persuading members of Congress to eliminate or scale back projects favored by constituents.
Federal budgets are always peppered with money for pet projects. What sets the Abrams example apart is the certainty of the Army's position.
Sean Kennedy, director of research for the nonpartisan Citizens Against Government Waste, said Congress should listen when one of the military services says no to more equipment.
"When an institution as risk averse as the Defense Department says they have enough tanks, we can probably believe them," Kennedy said.
Congressional backers of the Abrams upgrades view the vast network of companies, many of them small businesses, that manufacture the tanks' materials and parts as a critical asset that has to be preserved. The money, they say, is a modest investment that will keep important tooling and manufacturing skills from being lost if the Abrams line were to be shut down.
The Lima plant is a study in how federal dollars affect local communities, which in turn hold tight to the federal dollars. The facility is owned by the federal government but operated by the land systems division of General Dynamics, a major defense contractor that spent close to $11 million last year on lobbying, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
The plant is Lima's fifth-largest employer with close to 700 employees, down from about 1,100 just a few years ago, according to Mayor David Berger. But the facility is still crucial to the local economy. "All of those jobs and their spending activity in the community and the company's spending probably have about a $100 million impact annually," Berger said.
Jordan, a House conservative leader who has pushed for deep reductions in federal spending, supported the automatic cuts known as the sequester that require $42 billion to be shaved from the Pentagon's budget by the end of September. The military also has to absorb a $487 billion reduction in defense spending over the next 10 years, as required by the Budget Control Act passed in 2011.
Still, said Jordan, it would be a big mistake to stop producing tanks.
"Look, (the plant) is in the 4th Congressional District and my job is to represent the 4th Congressional District, so I understand that," he said. "But the fact remains, if it was not in the best interests of the national defense for the United States of America, then you would not see me supporting it like we do."
The tanks that Congress is requiring the Army to buy aren't brand new. Earlier models are being outfitted with a sophisticated suite of electronics that gives the vehicles better microprocessors, color flat panel displays, a more capable communications system, and other improvements. The upgraded tanks cost about $7.5 million each, according to the Army.
Out of a fleet of nearly 2,400 tanks, roughly two-thirds are the improved versions, which the Army refers to with a moniker that befits their heft: the M1A2SEPv2, and service officials said they have plenty of them. "The Army is on record saying we do not require any additional M1A2s," Davis Welch, deputy director of the Army budget office, said this month.
The tank fleet, on average, is less than 3 years old. The Abrams is named after Gen. Creighton Abrams, one of the top tank commanders during World War II and a former Army chief of staff.
The Army's plan was to stop buying tanks until 2017, when production of a newly designed Abrams would begin. Orders for Abrams tanks from U.S. allies help fill the gap created by the loss of tanks for the Army, according to service officials, but congressional proponents of the program feared there would not be enough international business to keep the Abrams line going.
This pause in tank production for the U.S. would allow the Army to spend its money on research and development work for the new and improved model, said Ashley Givens, a spokeswoman for the Army's Ground Combat Systems office.
The first editions of the Abrams tank were fielded in the early 1980s. Over the decades, the Abrams supply chain has become embedded in communities across the country.
General Dynamics estimated in 2011 that there were more than 560 subcontractors throughout the country involved in the Abrams program and that they employed as many as 18,000 people. More than 40 of the companies are in Pennsylvania, according to Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa., also a staunch backer of continued tank production.
A letter signed by 173 Democratic and Republican members of the House last year and sent to then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta demonstrated the depth of bipartisan support for the Abrams program on Capitol Hill. They chided the Obama administration for neglecting the industrial base and proposing to terminate tank production in the United States for the first time since World War II.
Portman, who served as President George W. Bush's budget director before being elected to the Senate, said allowing the line to wither and close would create a financial mess.
"People can't sit around for three years on unemployment insurance and wait for the government to come back," Portman said. "That supply chain is going to be much more costly and much more inefficient to create if you mothball the plant."
Pete Keating, a General Dynamics spokesman, said the money from Congress is allowing for a stable base of production for the Army, which receives about four tanks a month. With the line open, Lima also can fill international orders, bringing more work to Lima and preserving American jobs, he said.
Current foreign customers are Saudi Arabia, which is getting about five tanks a month, and Egypt, which is getting four. Each country pays all of their own costs. That's a "success story during a period of economic pain," Keating said.
Still, far fewer tanks are coming out of the Lima plant than in years past. The drop-off has affected companies such as Verhoff Machine and Welding in Continental, Ohio, which makes seats and other parts for the Abrams. Ed Verhoff, the company's president, said his sales have dropped from $20 million to $7 million over the past two years. He's also had to lay off about 25 skilled employees and he expects to be issuing more pink slips in the future.
"When we start to lose this base of people, what are we going to do? Buy our tanks from China?" Verhoff said.
Steven Grundman, a defense expert at the Atlantic Council in Washington, said the difficulty of reviving defense industrial capabilities tends to be overstated.
"From the fairly insular world in which the defense industry operates, these capabilities seem to be unique and in many cases extraordinarily high art," said Grundman, a former deputy undersecretary of defense for industrial affairs and installations during the Clinton administration. "But in the greater scope of the economy, they tend not to be."


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In a case closely watched by the intelligence community and the media, the Justice Department urged a federal appeals court on Monday to leave in place a court ruling that gives reporters little protection from testifying against their sources in criminal prosecutions.
Federal prosecutors told the Virginia-based U.S . Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that its ruling earlier this year in the case of former CIA operative Jeffrey Sterling should stand. Sterling's accused of leaking classified information to New York Times reporter James Risen, whom prosecutors describe as the "only eyewitness to the crimes charged in the indictment."
Risen's been compelled to testify under orders that began under George W. Bush and continued into the Barack Obama administration. But his lawyers, citing new Justice Department guidelines that give reporters more protection from subpoenas, have pressed both Attorney General Eric Holder and the full 4th Circuit Appeals court to take another look at the issue. Risen's position has attracted support and friend of the court briefs from media coalitions that include NPR.
But the Justice Department, for now at least, has refused to budge.
"Risen asserts that the Justice Department's recent revisions to its internal guidelines concerning investigations involving members of the press support a common law privilege," wrote U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride and Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman. "That is incorrect. Although the Department has made significant changes to parts of its internal guidelines—in particular, to the guidelines governing the notice that must be given to reporters before the government may obtain their business records through legal process—the basic requirements Risen cites (that the information is essential, unavailable from another source, and sought as a last resort) have been in place for decades and have not changed."
In recent weeks, Risen has told friends and colleagues that he would fight the subpoena and would go to jail rather than implicate his alleged source.
A Justice Department official predicted to NPR Monday that "the case would not end with Risen going to jail," but the official declined to offer additional details about how that might work in practice.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

subset: commoncrawl


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AMD is announcing today three new families of chips that it hopes will dominate the market of high-end tablets, low-end laptops, and converged hybrid devices. The chips—which will come to market variously as the A4 and A6 Elite Mobility series; the A4, A6, and E series; and the A6 and A10 Elite series—are close siblings to the processors found in both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles.
Most of the processors are built around the same building blocks: two or four Jaguar CPU cores, paired with AMD's Graphics Core Next (GCN) GPU. They support AMD's heterogeneous uniform memory access technology, too, designed to make it easier to share data and computation between the CPU and GPU. The differences are their power usage, clock speeds, and number of GPU cores.
Formerly codenamed Temash, the A4 and A6 Elite Mobility series are full systems-on-chip, adding PCI express, SATA, USB, and other I/O controllers to the CPU and GPU. SKUs range from a 3.9W dual-core 1GHz part with a 225MHz GPU to an 8W quad-core 1.4GHz (maximum)/1GHz (base) part with a 400/300MHz (maximum/base) GPU, the A6-1450.
AMD is positioning these three chips up against Intel's Clover Trail and low-end Ivy Bridge Core i3 processors, hoping to ship them into what it calls "performance tablets": tablet devices with better performance than ARM chips currently offer, and capable of running the full range of traditional x86 software.
Performance comparisons are thus far hard to come by. AMD's publicity materials include many, but due to their selective nature, it's difficult to make any direct comparisons. AMD believes that the Elite Mobility parts fill a hole in Intel's tablet line-up between the Atom and Core i3. They're a little more power-hungry than the Atom but less so than the Core i3, with performance that's more or less in between the two.
The GPU and gaming performance of the Temash parts will pull significantly ahead of the Clover Trails, with AMD claiming a Left 4 Dead 2 frame rate of 6.7fps for the dual-core, quad-thread 1.5 GHz Atom Z2760, compared to 15.6fps for the A4-1200, 16.4fps for the A4-1250, and 22.8fps for the A6-1450 at a screen resolution not actually specified, but presumed to be 1366×768. Benchmarks on a leaked A6-1450 suggest a performance in the SunSpider browser benchmark that's approximately twice that of the Clover Trail.
The A4, A6, and E series, formerly codenamed Kabini, share the design and integration of Temash but with higher power envelopes and higher clock speeds. There are three dual-core E-series parts, from 9W to 15W, and a pair of A-series parts, one at 15W, the other at 25W.
AMD is aiming these chips at the mainstream laptop segment, putting them against Intel's Celeron, Pentium, and Core i3 branded parts. There aren't (yet) any good performance comparisons, with AMD's own numbers again focusing on GPU and gaming performance, claiming that an A4-5000 system achieves 120 percent of the frame rate in Batman Arkham City that a comparable Pentium 2117U system achieves (with the Pentium being a marginally more power-hungry 17W chip), and an A6-5200 system achieving 140 percent of the performance of the Pentium system.
Finally, AMD is introducing some SKUs codenamed Richland. They range from a 17W dual-core 2.6/2.0GHz part with a 554/424MHz GPU, the A4-5145M, to a 35W quad-core 3.5/2.5GHz chip with a 720/600MHz GPU, the A10-5757M. These are not full systems-on-chips, but rather what AMD calls "APUs;" accelerated processing units. Rather than the Jaguar CPU cores, they use the more powerful Steamroller cores, and their GPUs are a previous generation design.
AMD is pitting these against Intel's Core i3 and i5 processors, and aiming them at the performance laptop market. Again its performance comparisons are GPU-focused, claiming a frame rate in Batman Arkham City of 27fps for the A10-5757M, compared to 16fps for a Core i5-3210M.
In spite of the lack of concrete performance information, it's reasonable to believe these are all likely to be decent chips that will fill the needs of most computer users perfectly effectively. The Temash/Kaveri design is a flexible one; though the console processors double the number of cores to eight and likely have more substantial GPU resources (believed to be 12 GPU cores in the Xbox One and 18 in the PlayStation 4), they're fundamentally built from the same architecture with very similar performance profiles.
The problem for AMD is one of positioning. While AMD is positioning them directly against various Intel models, the reality is that especially for the Elite Mobility parts, they fall between the gaps. Their major strength is their graphics performance, but while this is superior to Intel's GPU performance, sometimes by quite some margin, it rarely falls into the category of "good enough for actual gaming." And if you're not gaming, the GPU just doesn't matter that much; Intel's GPUs are perfectly adequate for desktop graphics and motion video.
As such, AMD may struggle to turn that GPU superiority into something that buyers actually care about. To make a real success of these processors, AMD doesn't just need a few design wins: it needs to carve out an entirely new category of machines, where its performance profile provides tangible benefits to end-users. If the company can't do this, it may yet find some wins due to lower pricing, but it's difficult to see AMD upsetting Intel.


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Where Did the Night Fall
Surrender All
Everything about this album is cool; from the stylish cover to the impressive array of guest vocalists. Released on their own label, this is the London-based UNKLE's fourth full-length album. It is a fantastic collection of joyful soundscapes, comprising electronica, live drums, strings and percussion from The Heritage Orchestra. Mark Lanegan, formerly of Queens of the Stone Age, contributes vocals to the album, along with other artists drawn from a range of idiosyncratic genres from folk-rock to psych and cabaret punk.
It is an album to party to; recorded in locations around the world including Ibiza and Los Angeles the music is infused with energy and inspires the desire to dance right up to the final down-tempo Another Night Out. From the Kings of Leon inspired underlay on Natural Selection to the luminescent melodies and frenetic drumbeats of On a Wire, this is an exciting album. It is an incredibly varied set of songs with an infectious dynamic and a great beat that persists throughout. Turn it up and listen to it loud. More information can be found at:
Bryony Byrne


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Paint your own artwork with Kirby Fighters paint by numbers and unleash your inner artist even if you don't have the required skills to paint your masterpiece, with our Paint By Numbers collection, you can paint whatever image you ever dreamed to paint and no previous artistic knowledge is required, just grab the paintbrushes that come with the kit and start painting, You will end up with creating your first wall art.
What's In A Paint By Numbers kit:
- 1 x numbered acrylic-based (No Mixing Required) paint set.
- 1 x pre-printed numbered high-quality linen canvas.
- 3 x paint brushes (1x small, 1x medium, 1x large).
- 1 x reference paper
- 1 x copy paper
Why You Should Start Kirby Fighters Painting by numbers:
- A great way to take your mind off of the daily stress and dive into your own world of creativity.
- You will create your own piece of art and it can be hanged on your wall for decoration.
- It will be the perfect gift for your beloved ones, imagine telling the person how many hours you've invested in making the gift for him, astonishing right.
How Paint by Numbers Works:
Step 1:
- Lay your canvas out on a well-lit area flat surface.
- Organize your acrylic paint.
- Prepare a small container of warm water to clean your brushes when changing colors.
- Keep a cloth or paper towel to dry your brushes in between washes.
Step 2:
- Match the numbers of paint containers to their corresponding number on the canvas.
- Start Painting your work of art
Step 3:
- Stand back and admire your beautiful work! Feel free to post your final artwork on social media.


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Good morning, I'm Renee Montagne with an economic indicator found under children's pillows.
The latest Tooth Fairy survey shows the average rate for lost teeth went up 15 percent last year. Illinois based provider Delta Dental says the gain is similar to the jump the S&P 500 saw last year. The average Tooth Fairy gift was just over $2.40. The real moneymaker is the first lost tooth, worth a full dollar more.
It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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By ROBERT BURNS
This image made from AP video shows Afghan National Army soldiers rushing to the scene moments after a car bomb exploded in front the PRT, Provincial Reconstruction Team, in Qalat, Zabul province, southern Afghanistan, Saturday, April 6, 2013. Six American troops and civilians and an Afghan doctor were killed in attacks on Saturday in southern and eastern Afghanistan as the U.S. military's top officer began a weekend visit to the country, officials said. (AP Photo via AP video)
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (AP) — The United States accepts that a diminished but resilient Taliban is likely to remain a military threat in some parts of Afghanistan long after U.S. troops complete their combat mission next year, the top U.S. military officer says.
In an Associated Press interview at this air field north of Kabul, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Sunday he is cautiously optimistic that the Afghan army will hold its own against the insurgency as Western troops pull back and Afghans assume the lead combat role. He said that by May or June, the Afghans will be in the lead throughout the country.
Asked whether some parts of the country will remain contested by the Taliban, he replied, "Yes, of course there will be."
"And if we were having this conversation 10 years from now, I suspect there would (still) be contested areas because the history of Afghanistan suggests that there will always be contested areas," he said.
He and other U.S. commanders have said that ultimately the Afghans must reach some sort of political accommodation with the insurgents, and that a reconciliation process needs to be led by Afghans, not Americans. Thus the No. 1 priority for the U.S. military in its final months of combat in Afghanistan is to do all that is possible to boost the strength and confidence of Afghan forces.
Shortly after Dempsey arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday, the Taliban demonstrated its ability to strike.
It claimed responsibility for a suicide car bombing that killed five Americans — three soldiers and two civilians, including Anne Smedinghoff, a foreign service officer and the first American diplomat killed overseas since the terrorist attack Sept. 11 in Benghazi, Libya.
A fierce battle between U.S.-backed Afghan forces and Taliban militants in a remote corner of eastern Afghanistan left nearly 20 people dead, including 11 Afghan children killed in an airstrike, Afghan officials said Sunday.
There are now about 66,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. That number is to drop to about 32,000 by February 2014, and the combat mission is to end in December 2014. Whether some number — perhaps 9,000 or 10,000 — remain into 2015 as military trainers and counterinsurgents is yet to be decided.
Dempsey spent two days talking to senior Afghan officials, including his counterpart, Gen. Sher Mohammad Karimi, as well as top U.S. and allied commanders.
He also visited a U.S. base in the volatile eastern province of Paktika for an update on how U.S. troops are balancing the twin missions of advising Afghan forces and withdrawing tons of U.S. equipment as the war effort winds down.
Paktika is an example of a sector of Afghanistan that is likely to face Taliban resistance for years to come.
Bordering areas of Pakistan that provide haven for the Taliban and its affiliated Haqqani network, Paktika has been among the more important insurgent avenues into the Afghan interior.
While the province has a functioning government, Taliban influence remains significant in less populated areas, as it has since U.S. forces first invaded the country more than 11 years ago.
"There will be contested areas, and it will be the Afghans' choice whether to allow those contested areas to persist, or, when necessary, take action to exert themselves into those contested area," he said.
Dempsey said he is encouraged by the recent development of coordination centers, including one in Paktika, where a wide range of Afghan government agencies work together on security issues. He called it a "quilt" of government structures that links Kabul, the capital, to ordinary Afghans in distant villages.
In some parts of the country, Afghan villagers have shown their dissatisfaction with Taliban influence by taking up arms against the insurgents, even without being pushed by the U.S. or by Kabul. This has happened in recent weeks in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province, a traditional stronghold of the Taliban. The Andar district of Ghazni province has seen a similar uprising.
"We should encourage it, but we shouldn't be seen as hijacking" these local movements, he said.
Dempsey said he discussed the uprisings with Karimi, the army chief, and the Afghan defense minister, Bismullah Khan Mohammadi. They told him they "appreciated that they should allow this to occur (and) they should probably nurture it. They don't necessarily feel at this point as if they should tangibly support it."
The Afghan government's concern, Dempsey said, is that influential warlords could embrace these local movements and eventually leverage them to threaten the armed forces of the central government.
In a separate interview Sunday with al-Hurra, the Arabic-language satellite TV channel funded by the U.S. government, Dempsey was asked whether he worries that Syria, in the midst of a civil war, could become another Afghanistan.
"I do. I have grave concerns that Syria could become an extended conflict" that drags on for many years, he said.


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Next, each of 2407 European subjects was assigned into one of 10 groups based on geographic region: South:Italy, Swiss-Italian; Southeast: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia,Slovenia, Yugoslavia; Southwest: Portugal, Spain; East: CzechRepublic, Hungary; East-Southeast: Cyprus, Turkey; Central:Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Swiss-German; West: Belgium,France, Swiss-French, Switzerland; North: Denmark, Norway,Sweden; Northeast: Finland, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Ukraine;Northwest: Ireland, Scotland, UK.
Admixture with local populations, including Khazars and Slavs, may have occurred subsequently during the 1000 year (2nd millennium) history of the European Jews. Based on analysis of Y chromosomal polymorphisms, Hammer estimated that the rate might have been as high as 0.5% per generation or 12.5% cumulatively (a figure derived from Motulsky), although this calculation might have underestimated the influx of European Y chromosomes during the initial formation of European Jewry. Notably, up to 50% of Ashkenazi Jewish Y chromosomal haplogroups (E3b, G, J1, and Q) are of Middle Eastern origin,15 whereas the other prevalent haplogroups (J2, R1a1, R1b) may be representative of the early European admixture. The 7.5% prevalence of the R1a1 haplogroup among Ashkenazi Jews has been interpreted as a possible marker for Slavic or Khazar admixture because this haplogroup is very common among Ukrainians (where it was thought to have originated), Russians, and Sorbs, as well as among Central Asian populations, although the admixture may have occurred with Ukrainians, Poles, or Russians, rather than Khazars. In support of the ancestry observations reported in the current study, the major distinguishing feature between Ashkenazi and Middle Eastern Jewish Y chromosomes was the absence of European haplogroups in Middle Eastern Jewish populations.
AJHG doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.04.015
Abraham's Children in the Genome Era: Major Jewish Diaspora Populations Comprise Distinct Genetic Clusters with Shared Middle Eastern Ancestry
Gil Atzmon et al.
For more than a century, Jews and non-Jews alike have tried to define the relatedness of contemporary Jewish people. Previous genetic studies of blood group and serum markers suggested that Jewish groups had Middle Eastern origin with greater genetic similarity between paired Jewish populations. However, these and successor studies of monoallelic Y chromosomal and mitochondrial genetic markers did not resolve the issues of within and between-group Jewish genetic identity. Here, genome-wide analysis of seven Jewish groups (Iranian, Iraqi, Syrian, Italian, Turkish, Greek, and Ashkenazi) and comparison with non-Jewish groups demonstrated distinctive Jewish population clusters, each with shared Middle Eastern ancestry, proximity to contemporary Middle Eastern populations, and variable degrees of European and North African admixture. Two major groups were identified by principal component, phylogenetic, and identity by descent (IBD) analysis: Middle Eastern Jews and European/Syrian Jews. The IBD segment sharing and the proximity of European Jews to each other and to southern European populations suggested similar origins for European Jewry and refuted large-scale genetic contributions of Central and Eastern European and Slavic populations to the formation of Ashkenazi Jewry. Rapid decay of IBD in Ashkenazi Jewish genomes was consistent with a severe bottleneck followed by large expansion, such as occurred with the so-called demographic miracle of population expansion from 50,000 people at the beginning of the 15th century to 5,000,000 people at the beginning of the 19th century. Thus, this study demonstrates that European/Syrian and Middle Eastern Jews represent a series of geographical isolates or clusters woven together by shared IBD genetic threads.


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Upcoming Flex Seasons:
Summer Season - June 19th to Aug. 11th - $34.95 if you sign up before kickoff
Fall Season - Aug. 20th to Oct. 13th - $34.95 if you sign up through July
Fall Season #2 - Oct. 15th to Dec. 8th
Kickoff Day
The start day of the season, players are sent a kickoff email that contains important information about the league, the link where your league standings and players contact information. We guarantee 6 or more playing partners between levels 3.0 to 4.0, but have been averaging closer to 15+ partners in most cities. The number of different levels we run is solely based upon the number of players enrolled for the league kickoff. Typically we are running a Skilled-3.0, Competitive-3.5 and Advanced-4.0 in most cities. We only have a couple of cities with 4.5 level or higher divisions.
Your Task - "Flexible Scheduling"
After this kickoff email is sent, it is the player's task to communicate with other players. Players should work with their partners to find an agreeable time and location to play the match. While TennisSF.com doesn't mandate your playing schedule, it is recommended that players schedule at least one match per week. By request of the players, we started to allow players to play 1 rematch per season. The regular season is all about playing as much as you can. As of Jan. 11th, 2021 we've had an amazing 1,033 players play more than 20 matches in a season.
Where to Play?
Play at your local free tennis courts, tennis parks, condo courts or tennis clubs. The
league strongly suggests that
players jointly try to pick a tennis court location convenient to
both. We provide an extensive list of tennis courts, including
# of courts, lighting, hitting walls, etc.We strive
to keep this list up-to-date.
TennisSF.com sets up a must play dates to push players out on the courts. The final deadline
is the date marking the end of the season, at which point players
with 3-5 wins (Actually total is specified on the division page) will qualify for a post-season playoff to determine the
league champion.
How to Play?
Players can use three mostly standard playing formats: 2 out of 3 sets, 2 sets with 10 point super tie-breaker or the 10-game pro set (First to 10, used when court time is limited). On Feb. 2018, we added Fast Tennis 4 game pro set format as a valid format.
Each season concludes with a playoffs where players with anywhere from 3 to 5 season wins qualifies for a single elimination tourney. The champion is awarded based upon the league Prize Pool. Each singles league champion also receives a playing entry into one of two national championships we run.
Full price is $39.95 to play in a season. The earlier you sign up we typically offer discounts during these tough economic times. Just go to the Join Page and complete the short form. We'd be happy to find you dedicated tennis playing partners.


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How Do I Keep My Puppy From Chewing Everything in My House?
Published on December 05, 2011
Q: Ever since I got a new puppy, my house has been a disaster zone! How do I keep him from chewing everything in sight?
A: Although puppies epitomize cuteness, they can also symbolize destruction, particularly when they are teething.
In the same way that teething is painful for babies, it's also uncomfortable for puppies, who respond by doing anything they can to alleviate the discomfort with chewing. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to curb inappropriate chewing while still providing your puppy with some relief.
Provide Appropriate Chews
Puppy toys are designed to be a little softer than adult dog toys, but they are tough enough to withstand the needle-like teeth of puppies. Toys that can be stuffed with food work well to encourage them to chew on appropriate toys instead of items in the home. To further soothe gums, many toys can be filled with water and then frozen.
My favorites are puppy Kong toys (they can be stuffed and frozen), Orbee-Tuff toys for puppies, Premier's puppy toys (Biscuit block, Puppy Waggle, Squirrel Dude), the freezable Pet Stages Puppy Cool Teether, Nylabone puppy toys designed for teething and the Multipet Chilly bone dog toy, which can be filled with water and frozen to relieve aching teeth and gums. You can also use dog-friendly frozen foods, like apples, carrots, green beans and blueberries. Ideally, you should keep an eye on your puppy when he's chewing toys or food items, especially if large pieces can be broken off or swallowed and cause choking.
Be Vigilant About Supervision
Whenever your puppy is free in the home, direct him to play with approved chew toys. If you catch your puppy chewing on the furniture, avoid harsh verbal or physical punishment, which can cause a puppy to hide from you and make the habit even harder to break. Instead, interrupt your dog with an "oops" and immediately show him an appropriate toy. And be sure to reward your puppy with praise and treats when he chews on the correct toys.
Dog-Proof the Premises
When your puppy can't be supervised, he should be in a dog-proofed area. Crates, baby or dog fencing and baby gates are all essential tools to protect your house from destruction. When you leave your puppy, be sure to give him a stuffed Kong and a variety of food puzzles for him to work on while you're away.
Teething doesn't last forever — the process should be over when your puppy is 7 to 8 months old — although it can last a couple of months longer for some dogs. By using enticing dog chews, supervision and dog proofing, you can survive the teething time frame.


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Monday, February 9, 2009
Dev D - Grade B
37 comments:
poor dear Shobhaa,
we really seem to be pushing you too much these days! You really are posting far too many blogs these days, hoping that readers will not read the previous comments about the Devil's Advocate interview:
(http://ibnlive.in.com/news/devils-advocate-shobhaa-de-on-mumbai-vs-bombay/76806-3.html) - February 9, 2009 at 1:09 PM
- khushboo said...
Agree with the repeatability, but i think you missed a important part here and that is movie is about the old devdas situation in today's time. If the same kind of character is alive in today's time what his story would be like. We have MMS and
Car accident having like this. Where at time we don't see the whole picture. Such incidents are imbibed innovation.
this is today's story. - February 9, 2009 at 1:17 PM
- mystiquedew said...
Gawd! Am having a headache..
Even while i echo ur thots abt an over-used idea..this is definitely getting a bit too much..every once in a while i pop in and every time its the same stowwy..
Is it that nothing makes ye happy? or this whining makes ye happy?
Smile :) :) :) - February 9, 2009 at 1:35 PM
- Subhajit said...
Agreed...not an outstanding movie...
But one which U should go and have a look....it's different and it's not typical masala. - February 9, 2009 at 2:01 PM
The only thing not required in the movie was the BMW angle,was unnecessary.
Otherwise you have missed the mark by a lot Mrs De or may be not your fault,you need to be on the right side of 30(or the wrong side,whatever is the your way of looking at it!) to appreciate it.
I can watch this movie just for the music. It rocked. Period - February 9, 2009 at 3:04 PM
- Vee said...
Yea, Hello? We have not seen this kind of thing made in our country. Never. The story is indeed gheesa peeta and Bhansali totally screwed it. Anurag has made a mockery of Bhansali's version and not the original one (two references for that; in original Dev doesn't go abroad, he goes to Calcutta(then) and Bhansali sends him to London and other is Paro n Chandramukhi never meet in original).
Mahie and Kalki indeed mauled Deol cuz that was the intention of Anurag. He has shown the ladies who are rational, doesn't-take-a-shit and decide things on their own. So, what's wrong in that? Dev belongs to today's youth and when he gets screwed up in love he leaves a shabby life. Not all of today's youth but I would say few do too and Dev is one such. Oh, look around and you will see so many examples. There wasn't a requirement of showing waxed chest and Jockey underwear. And BMW and MMS scandal is ghuasoed cuz for no reasons.. It just carries the story forward. Shouldn't have grouse with that.
Please read my review if time permits. http://shobhaade.blogspot.com/2009/02/dev-d-grade-b.html I am really interested in knowing your take. Am I being too cocky there? - February 9, 2009 at 4:59 PM
- Harish said...
o! de. i would call this movie a masterpiece. I loved every frame, every dialogue... this is how a today's adaptation of a novel should be. yes yes.
i loved both the heroines. fantastic is not the word. i could shower many superlatives on them... i hope they get some meaningful roles in bollywood.. and dont end up being branded as a slutty bimbo.
regarding abhay's character, i dont feel it romanticizes the character.. infact i feel it doesnt pass any jjudgement.. leaves that to the viewer.
I toh am in love with the movie... and i think it is oscar material... but guess the committee would have billo barber or some otehr movie for the oscar race... - February 9, 2009 at 5:04 PM
- anshul bhardwaj said...
Dear Mrs De,
I appreciate your intelligence. But please explain:
1 Could you concentrate on the movie while sitting in between those any two delhi guys?
2. Could you appreciate the music of the film while enjoying their lecherous moves?
3. Why should nt the BMW/MMS be made part of the film considering the director never had a hit in his career and these are sure shot means to secure a hit?
4. if a great celebrity like recommends watching a ghisa pita story of devdas again, does that mean the interpretation is beyond brilliant this time. Are you not contradicting yourself?
5. Are you giving it less stars because you want to make your blog sensational?
6. Is it not female chauvinism that makes you say that the heroines overshadowed the hero? Wont you agree its was Abhay who came with this brilliant idea and actually did justice with it?
7. What made you expect MUCH from a director who has always delivered duds? Is that not your over-expectations? [its like I expecting you to be as interesting, intelligent and courageous as Mallika Sherawat] - February 9, 2009 at 5:17 PM
hey ya everyone, it takes a special kinda gal to go to a movie proudly alone.I love going to the movie by myself but there are people who think that's freaky behaviour.But there are few people who give a damn about judgement.Also,I'm 24 and I perfectly relate to this lady's writing.For those who think being on the 'right' side of 30 matters,they are surely on the wrong side of nowhere.Name another celeb blogger whose writing is as vibrant and delightful.C'mon guys, she shares stuff ranging from Ambani's hospital to the latest movies to travel anecdotes.Give the lady due credit.I was a big fan of Carrie Bradshaw until I read SD's blog. Afterall, Carrie is fictional, Shobhaa is a real observer, unconventional despite the comfortable trappings of conventionality.
- February 9, 2009 at 5:18 PM
- Nikita said...
Dear Shobhaa,
Although we have seen it all with Jodie Foster, Natalie Portman and the likes but something like this is radical for bollywood. I kept exclaiming throughout the movie, "Is this really bollywood!" The movie should be appluaded just for sheer courage, for the daring to show the heroine carrying a mattress to the fields for an amorous tete-a-tete. And what's wrong with the f-word anyway?
Why do you call the story of Devdas gheesa peeta, it's anything but that. Aren't there too many irresponsible, indecisive, and smitten youngsters around who can relate closely to Dev D? Aren't there so many girls and women around who have known at least one such eccentric person and dealt with him? How can the story of such a person be gheesa peeta? The character of Dev has not been romanticised, if anything, the youth is learning lessons from it.
I disagree that the ladies have outshown Abhay Deol in the movie. His character was meant to be that way.
It is so unlike you to not appreciate any expression of art that is true and bold. I wonder whether the couples on either side of you were distracting!! :-) - February 9, 2009 at 6:15 PM
- Another Kiran In NYC said...
I think this Deol fella is quite delectable. Unexpectedly I met him amongst friends and he is very, very, very bright and very endearing all wrapped up in lassi-praatha muscles.Thats right I wrote praatha not parantha. Big difference there.
And you know what else? He listens extremely carefully and reserves judgement which is more than many young men of his age.
Excuse me a minute while I wipe the drool off my wrinkly chin!
Havent seen Dev D so cannot comment on the movie, but he was pretty good in Honeymoon travels.
Perhaps a trip to the desi theatre is in order! - February 9, 2009 at 8:58 PM
- Sidhusaaheb said...
Doesn't sound like a movie I'd want to watch...Thanks for the review!
:) - February 9, 2009 at 9:35 PM
- Shobhaa De said...
Delectable Deol, Kiran?? U shld have met his uncle Garam Dharam during his prime. Now that's delectable. But Abhay is supposed to be really cerebral, witty and serious about his work.
The one good thing about the film was its original take on a stale subject. Plus, the inspired casting, especially of the two girls - can't imagine Kareena or Katrina coming anywhere close to these two. - February 9, 2009 at 10:38 PM
The movie was great! The underwear scenes etc are deliberate...typical of all bachelors - in fact, it's briiliant coz it spoofs john abraham's u/wear scene in dostana...the movie is twisted and amazing - maybe Shobhaa, you are just too old for this sorta stuff now
Films like Dev D make me v excited for Hindi cinema...i think it beats the pants off Slumdog M
Kalki (amazing vulnerability), Mahi (all fire) and Abhay - all amazing. - February 10, 2009 at 12:12 AM
Please stop mixing Hindi and English. Stick to what you know best English or Hindi. Don't murder both of them. Its not cool, its irritating - to say the least.
BTW, you don't even get the usual phrases right - like ghasa peeta should be ghi(ee)sa peeta .
OK. I am not sure why I m writing this because neither do I read your columns nor do I care about your books or blogs. I was just passing by and couldn't resist commenting on the junk you have written.
Next time - just post your pictures. Thats all I need to see (if I drop by again). - February 10, 2009 at 1:32 AM
- Piper .. said...
Just wondering how you react to retarded morons, who think they are God`s gift to mankind(and err womankind!) and hence take it upon themselves to denigrate your opinions by trying to thrust their imbecile ones upon the world! Do you just ignore?
- February 10, 2009 at 2:46 AM
- ek-ladki-anjaani-si said...
Nahi re De' kya baat you talking about... after speaking to *aham this morning, I took "time off" from work and rushed to Devon... only to look for Dev D.
Yaar come'on.... you have to love this movie. *Aham said I must absolutely watch this movie immediately, so I did - LEAVING DR GILL'S WORK aside. Yes google him... the cardiologist in Chi-Town... only to see Abhay. I agree with Aham... no way... this is Oscar material... and AKNYC... yaar dekho yeh movie... you will be shocked. Sorry De iss baar toh me and you don't see it parallely! Meri sorry hai! - February 10, 2009 at 4:24 AM
Shobha, I am not sure if you have been able to make up your mind about the movie. The title says Grade B ...but most of body of your blog has nice things to say about the movie !!
- February 10, 2009 at 8:13 AM
- Harish said...
Thankx re Ek ladki... You really bhaggoed to devon. I knew u will toh love ths phillum... Thr r so many dialogues like remember 'Ran#* word out of fashion hai, log abhi commercial sex worker bolte hai'... And that scene where paro asks for the room chabi saying 'tereko mil gaya na, ab mainu chabi de' and whr the scandel girl calls her dad a bastard for watchng the oral sex vdo of hs daughter... Or 'saare logo ne download karke mazze loote and they call me a slut' wow. Wow. Wow. Ths is a movie that shows women as not sex objects... But treats them at par with man even in libido. Gr8! Dê merko toh yeh film classic lagga. Jai anurag kashyap, jai ho!
- February 10, 2009 at 10:18 AM
good review.
- February 10, 2009 at 12:15 PM
What's your take on The Pink Chaddi Campaign n the Pub Bharo Andolan?
I personally think it is awesome.
Way to go lasses!! - February 10, 2009 at 1:00 PM
- Priyanka said...
Dear Shobhaa,
I have always been a great fan of your columns. I have been reading them since I was in school. I remember how I used to rush every Sunday to the get the Sunday TOI to be able to read your column..! Well that was years ago..! Now I read your blog as often as time permits me too.
I will have to agree with you that the '4/5 star rating' for Dev D is unjustified (even though the movie was well directed, the actors did a great job...and more..)
I loved reading your review. I too went to watch the movie Sunday evening at a multiplex, albeit with a girl friend!
I do not know if I have not gotten the essence of the movie or is it just some other thing in my subconscience that has made me write the review that I wrote. I seem to be having a totally different take on the movie/concept... If you do the time, Do check it out - http://specklessmind.blogspot.com/
Keep writing..! Good luck..!
PS: @ anonymous
If you do not care as much about her columns or books or whatever she has to write why do you even bother reading what she has written on her blog(even if you claim that you randomly came across the review). You think she writes junk – I think you should just mind your own business. Everyone has the freedom of speech /thought / and to express their views….
Now that I have said in many words what I could have in few, I will stop rambling..! - February 10, 2009 at 1:17 PM
I have not got to see the movie, but i have heard it is not worth all the stars. But I really liked Abhay deol in Socha na tha.
- February 10, 2009 at 1:34 PM
- Harish said...
lina since you have brought up the topic of the Pink Chaddi... i would like to inform all De's BlogDost's I have managed to collect 13 chaddi's as of now...
Guys do you know i have heard that the ram sena is going to roam around with sindoor, mangalsutra and rakhi around on valentines day. They will get any couple they find married or if they arnt a couple couple... they will be made bhai behen...
wow. how creative.
and we can oppose a creative expression with a creative punch.. wow.
for all those who feel appalled by teh way women are treated in this country... you could protest by sending soiled dirty dirt cheap pink cheddi's to ram sene.
for collection points you could visit http://thepinkchaddicampaign.blogspot.com/
LAST DATE OF COLLECTION FOR MUMBAI: 11 February
Please participate only and only if you feel that women shouldn't be molested and raped.
Harish - February 10, 2009 at 1:58 PM
- sheel said...
Common Sobha
It seems you are loosing your critical skills. You just cant criticize a story because its an old one.
Tell me.. Is this really an old story?
If you have seen the same Devdas, as and when it was made. or for that matter several hollywood movies that is made again and again. It seems people have learnt to appreciate hollywood movies just bcoz its exotic and criticize very good hindi movies just Bcoz.. "ghar ki murgi, dal barabar"
It seems you were occupied more towards what was happening towards your left and right in the theatre.
Watch it once again to appreciate the way movie is made. I can tell you enough reasons, why it is one of the best.. but go find it urself. - February 10, 2009 at 3:00 PM
- Pranaadhika Sinha Devburman - Bat said...
Dear Shobhaa
Youre smart, and rich. Youre also outspoken about things because you can afford to be , as a Mumbaiikar [which most people aren't aware of].
I loved reading Superstar India because it showed the truly smart side of you, the one that thinks.
Please, for the sake of the real love and respect that people like myself have for your smartness and proper writing, do not bother with film reviews.
Anurag Kashyap is a fantastic film maker and there will never be another quite like him.
Much love
PRANAADHIKA - February 10, 2009 at 3:46 PM
- @GirishMallya said...
Am reading your blog after a long time, it was losing its edge. This post was lot better, and have to agree with most of your views. But I would personally rate it as one of the best hindi films (definitely among modern hindi films, read 30 odd years).
- February 10, 2009 at 4:43 PM
- Piper .. said...
I was wondering about your take on the 'Pink Chaddi" campaign as well. And here`s another petition link to stop moral policing. Do sign it as well, if you think its right.
http://www.petitiononline.com/SMP12345/petition.html - February 10, 2009 at 10:13 PM
- Pritesh Patel said...
I thought 'Dev D' was text book perfect.
- February 10, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Guys, leave Shobhaaaaa-di alone :o)!
If she writes about socio-political issues, she is asked to shut up, because she destroyed her credibility by supporting Raj Thackeray.
If she writes a film review, you all lambast her!
What CAN she do now? - February 11, 2009 at 10:43 AM
- Kush said...
Well, I believe that Dev D is a story of today's youth. And a first of its kind and it rocks. Let me explain it this way:
There are some who are unable to appreciate the classic novel, The Catcher in the Rye. It takes a certain amount of waywardness and screwed-up-ness in life to understand and appreciate that book. Similar it is with Dev D.
Yes, we didn't need those angles and could-a done without them.
It is pointless to compare it with western classics. They are great movies, but this one coming from a Bollywood director and targetting Indian audiences certainly needs to be lauded. Now you can't compare Kashyap's Dev D with Martin Scorsese' Taxi Driver!?
This movie also in its mockery of Bhansali's Devdas says out loud that we don't need the likes of them and Karan-fucking-Johars and any of SRK's cult; that what today's youth would rave for is not three hours of bullshit melodrama but a visually stunning, psychedelic, megalomaniacal, colourful film noir based not in New York but in saddi dilli.
Seriously, I think its time for SRK to make a movie on similar lines as Sunset Boulevard. He is a more subdued and controlled version of the protagonist of this classic, Norma Desmond. - February 11, 2009 at 1:05 PM
- Bindu Nayar said...
At the onset..gr88 fan of your writing and thot u had this awesome goddammit persona...it hurts to say...that ibn interview screwed it up for ya somehow..not a good feeling..is it ?
commin to Dev D...The world knows Devdas was a loser but the director wanted to showcase the movie in today's perspective...what's wrong with that ? i think the movie was good.. n Abhay deol has set a genre for himself..cheers to that - February 12, 2009 at 6:24 AM
- rupak said...
Ms De,
The movie was great. The scandals were not necessary but only added the extra angle to it.
When Mr. SRK came out with the devdas couple years ago... no one called it an overused idea. when an adaptation is made in a much better way, the concept is called overused. An altogether great watch. Not to be dared with family.
And people even dared bring their younger children to the halls even though the rating is a clear A. Grow up People. - February 12, 2009 at 9:12 PM
- Isha said...
I believe the movie was inspired from the english, mock up of shakespearean drama - Othello .. to just 'O'. Devdas migt be ghasaa peeta or whatever u said in hindi, but its still special its iconic. And its always thrilling to see a sexy indian dude like Imraan hasmi, scarred in the melodramas of lurveee. ;)
- February 14, 2009 at 7:01 PM
- Fenil Seta said...
Hello! A very nice take on DEV D! My views almost matches yours! :) If possible, do read my take on DEV D as well: http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Dev_D-161290-1.html
FENIL - February 17, 2009 at 4:13 PM
- Sujoy Bhattacharjee said...
Jodie Foster in Taxidriver is a totally different character with not even a remote connect with Kalki. And surely you were referring to Natalie Portman in Leon not "Lyon", where she DOES NOT play a slut.
And Mahie and Kalki overshadow Abhay Deol....this takes the cake.
Ms. De (or whoever ghost-wrote it for you), this is what happens with armchair-intellectualism and a tin-can for a brain. - February 19, 2009 at 11:09 PM
- |Ashwini Shenoy| |Advocatus Diaboli| |Rusty Writing| said...
I just bummped into your blog. i liked your review though i disagree with a couple of things. Here's where you can check my post on the same [http://les-jours-de-ma-vie.blogspot.com/2009/02/dev-d.html]
- February 26, 2009 at 4:26 PM


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When T.C. Williams senior T.J. Huggins' teammates need him the most, the forward delivered the strongest performance of his career, carrying the Titans to an opening win in the Patriot District tournament.
Staring down a relentless West Potomac squad with his season on the line, Huggins delivered 29 points — a lifetime high for the 6-foot-6 forward. Huggins, if pressed, admits he adapted to the role of a team leader slowly, but with the Titans already guaranteed a spot in the regional tournament he's relishing the spotlight.
"It gives me a lot of adrenaline," he said. "You get a lot of energy — you're jumping higher."
After the Wolverines surged to retake the lead in the first quarter's final minutes, including a cinematic buzzer-beater, Huggins and company dug in their heels.
The two squads traded baskets until the three-minute mark of the second quarter. Huggins nailed a field goal to give the Titans a 16-14 advantage and despite valiant efforts, the Wolverines never clawed their way back.
T.C. left the court with a 57-42 victory and a repeat trip — no matter what happens throughout the remainder of the Patriot District tournament — to the regional competition.
Though the Titans came into the game as a middle-of-the-road team, going 9-5 in conference action, the win wasn't an unexpected surprise, said junior Landon Moss.
"Of course we're happy," he said. "But we came in with the goal of winning a state championship. This is just a stepping stone."
The Titans' early season struggles came as a shock to players used to the celebrated program's winning ways. After disappointing losses to conference rivals, including West Potomac, T.C. rebounded in the second half of the 2011-12 campaign. After a four game losing streak early in January, the Titans won seven of their final 10 games heading into the postseason. One of those losses included a 72-49 drubbing at the hands of nationally ranked Montrose Christian.
Coach Julian King, who shepherded the Titans to the state championship semifinal round a year ago, said the solid win against West Potomac was just what his squad needed.
"It's a confidence booster," he said. "Just knowing we can go out and do exactly what we talked about. We had some guys [where] this was their first time being in this kind of environment, but we had other guys step up."
King credited Huggins and senior point guard Daquan Kerman with coming up big for the team. King notes Hggins' transition from a role player to a team leader hasn't been easy, especially as he gets courted college programs.
"He's accepting it," King said. "He's finally growing into the role we envisioned for him. I think he can be dominate on some nights — nights like this one."
The Titans headed to Lake Braddock Wednesday night, after the Times' deadline, for the Patriot District semifinal game against W.T. Woodson, a team with a 2-0 regular season record against T.C.
For the Titans to enjoy continued postseason success, Tuesday's performance must be come the norm, according to Moss.
"[What it takes] is playing the right way and T.J. is doing what he's doing," he said.


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Group Exercise
Visit the Official Montgomery NY Forward Website
Launched in 2022, New York State's NY Forward program builds on the success of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) program. NY Forward focuses on invigorating and revitalizing the downtowns in smaller and rural communities—villages, hamlets, and other small, neighborhood-scale municipal centers. The State has allocated $100 million for the second round of NY Forward. Each of the State's ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) selected two communities per region to receive $4.5 million, bringing the total amount of funding allocated for all rounds of DRI and NY Forward to $1 billion.


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About THL > Participation & Support > Scholarly Participation In THL > Why Should I Participate In THL?
Why Should I Participate In THL?
Value to individual scholars. Given the limits of time and the plurality of publishing options scholars have available to them, an important question is just why one should invest one's time and energies in submitting scholarly products to THL. Firstly, we would point to the traditional reasons why scholars publish in standard academic formats. THL provides refereed, academic credit to scholars that can be used for promotion and tenure in their professional careers. We currently offer traditional, refereed credit for journal articles through our hosting of the Journal of the International Association of Tibetan Studies. In addition, our Encyclopedias of Tibet and the Himalayas publishes essays on a wide variety of topics and also provides refereed academic credit. We are also in the process of creating a system for the review of larger projects, once they are completed, so that these too can be formally listed on resumes and used for professional reports. Finally, we are also exploring a long term system of providing participants annual reports detailing in statistical form the full nature and scope of their participation, such as number of dictionary words, images, gazetteer entries and so forth submitted. In contrast to traditional publishers, however, THL provides permanent and free dissemination, such that your materials potentially have broader availability than they would in traditional publication formats. In addition, THL's evolving high profile guarantees people will know and find your work, in contrast to the possibility of being lost on a small, local Web site.
In addition, THL also provides a publishing venue for materials that otherwise might languish without publication due the constraints of traditional publishing venues. This includes materials that are extremely granular, such as the study of a single word, place, or summary of a chapter, and materials that are quite extensive and highly technical such that their audiences are limited. Thus, THL enables scholars to get credit for work which otherwise could never be formally disseminated, as well as enables that work to be made accessible to others. In addition, THL allows flexible publishing formats, so that the same item can be displayed in different forms for different audiences.
Another new publishing possibility is the ability for scholars to incorporate new media into their work beyond the printed text, such as photos, audio, video, three-dimensional resources and other materials. THL also enables scholars to embed reference resources into their publications, such that lexical studies, bibliographies, biographical studies, and other such resources can be linked to directly from a reference, whether or not the author of the essay created those reference resources personally.
This points to another benefit of THL publication, namely the synergy of being able to refer to and incorporate THL components created by other THL participants. Likewise, the structure of THL promotes implicit and explicit relationships between scholarship from other disciplines. This interdisciplinary orientation provides exciting intellectual possibilities and practices that are stifled by the present institutional arrangements of the Academy. THL's standards and communication procedures also enable greater collaboration in scholarship.
Finally, all of the above benefits are dependent upon the flexible, intelligent, and powerful use of new digital technologies. However, the creation of such technologies is expensive and time consuming. Thus, one of the great advantages of THL is that it provides powerful, integrated, and standards-based technology to its participants so they can concentrate on scholarship and content.
Value to Tibetan and Himalayan Studies and the Academy. As detailed in the section on the value to individual scholars, THL encourages new interdisciplinary and collaborative relationships, thereby addressing one of the major challenges to any field of area studies, and indeed to the Academy overall. In addition, its provision of publishing venues for work that otherwise languishes on private hard drives and vanishes upon a scholar's death greatly expands the public access to high-quality scholarly knowledge and thus advances the field more rapidly. Its flexible and pluralistic publishing formats allow the Academy to publish both more specialized materials and more publicly accessible works, often in the same resource (through showing/concealing various components).
THL also enables scholarship to increasingly reach beyond strictly textual presentations to incorporate rich visual materials, audio-video, statistical data sets, and other types of resources. These types of materials allow for greater forms of accessible content, integration of content, and other positive benefits.
Value to Tibetans and Himalayans THL was founded by scholars with a strong sense of ethical commitment to the residents of the areas they study, namely Tibet and the Himalayas. Our goal was to build a project which meets that responsibility in concrete ways, such that our scholarly activity could benefit residents of Tibet and the Himalayas. The following represent the positive benefits that we believe THL can help accomplish in partnership with other organizations:
- enable the active participation of Tibetan and Himalayan scholars in international partnerships
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We are presently in the process of developing a new site that documents in detail our suggested procedures and actual projects in relationship to accomplishing these aims.


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Maxi Skirt Tutorial
But for around $100, why not make 5 of your own? My very stylish little sister Audy asked me to make a Maxi Skirt tutorial (she's one of those people we all hate that can rock horizontal stripes). And since I might not have been cool enough to think of it on my own otherwise, I'm glad she did so I can share it with all of you! I hope you make a few of your own — I can't wait to make another skirt in a print!
Materials Needed:
(affiliate links below)
1.5-2 yards 60″ wide knit fabric (hip measurements greater than 38″ will need closer to 2 yards)
2″ wide elastic (for measurement see below)
Ballpoint needle
The bottom panel will be 1″ longer than the top two to allow for a 1.5″ hem allowance.
To determine the width of each panel, take your hip measurement and add 2-4″ for ease and seam allowance, depending on how tight you want the skirt to sit on your hips. I only added 2″ to my hip measurement because my fabric was very slinky had quite a bit of stretch. If your fabric has less stretch, you may want to add up to 4″ for ease and seam allowance. That will be the width of your top panel.
For the middle panel, add 10″ to the width of the top panel, and add another 10″ in width to the middle panel for the bottom panel (bottom panel will be 20″ wider than top panel). If the width of your bottom panel needs to be greater than 60″, just divide the width you need by two, add 1″ to that measurement for seam allowance, and cut two pieces that size. Right sides together, stitch the two pieces together along one short end of each, and treat it as one piece from here on.
Note: This skirt is VERY forgiving, so if your fabric allows to only add 8″ in width for each panel without piecing the bottom panel, or you want a more flared skirt and want to add a couple extra inches, go ahead. This is one of those few projects where you can alter the measurements a bit (excluding the length, of course!) and your skirt will still turn out great.
Here's an example of what a person with 38″ hips and a desired length of 36″ from the bottom of the waistband would need to cut for the panels:
A Few Notes Before You Begin:
- All Seam allowances are 1/2″.
- When sewing with knits, always use a ballpoint needle.
- I would normally use a serger when sewing knits, but wrote this tutorial with the assumption that you don't have one. If you have a serger — use it! It will work great. If not, the great thing about knits is that the edges don't fray, so finishing seam allowances isn't necessary.
- If not using a serger, set your stitch length a bit longer than normal (2.5-3 on my machine), or use a very narrow zig zag stitch with a medium stitch length. A lot of machines also have a "stretch stitch" setting which also works great.
1. Overlap ends of elastic 1/2″ and stitch together using a zig zag stitch, forming a loop.


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It's that time of the year, boys and girls. Santa has made his rounds, delivered his presents (or… Um… "Presents"), and it's time for him to head back to the North Pole for a well-deserved break. There will be plenty more inappropriate touching and creepy grins next year though, just you wait!
We hope you've had a very scary holiday season, from all of us at FAIL Blog to you!


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This week on the podcast we're talking about future-proofing your job, automatic extreme couponing, and rooting your Android. We're also answering your questions about the purpose of 4G cellular data, building or buying a new computer, and recording phone calls.
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News and Top Stories
The DHMO Threat: Last week we solicited your information on the threat of dihydrogen monoxide. This week we report back with our findings.
iOS 6.1 Released, Jailbreak Imminent: iOS 6.1 came out, bringing LTE to many more countries and allowing US users of Siri to buy tickets with Fandango. More importantly, however, the iOS 6.1 jailbreak is finally coming. We're hoping it'll be next week, and we can update our always up-to-date jailbreak guide.
XBMC 12 "Frodo" Brings Live TV, Android Support, and Much More to Our Favorite Media Center: The latest version of XBMC brings a lot of killer features, plus full-on support for the building an XBMC media center with the Raspberry Pi.
How To Futureproof Your Job with a Career Insurance Policy: Jobs come and go, but hopefully your career is bit more solid. If it's not, your skills, goals, and personal career plan can guide you, but it's never a bad time to prepare for a future layoff, job change, or even promotion. They can be tricky to handle, but a strong career "insurance policy" can give you the confidence to make the right choice no matter what life throws at you. Here's how to build one.
How to Automate Your Discounts and Always Get the Best Price: Clipping coupons can save a lot of money, but it can also waste a lot of time. You don't have to join the ranks of extreme couponers to ensure you get a great deal. With a few tips and tools, you can automate those discounts and save yourself money without any of the work.
Do Computer Glasses Really Work? Yes, they do. The marketing is just ridiculous.
Questions and Answers
Each week we answer five questions from readers and listeners. Here's what we tackled this week.
Do you know of any good apps that can record phone calls for Android phones? Google Voice allows you to record calls by pressing the number 4 during one. When it comes to apps, we really like Sanity. Of course, there are many others like Auto Call Recorder, Call Recorder, and Record My Call. Just make sure that recording calls is legal in your state.
What's the point of 4G? It's faster. You may burn through your data faster if you use more, but if you just use the same amount of data as you did on 3G you'll just wait less. It's a shame that carriers don't offer massive amounts of data in a cellular plan but faster is better than slower. In terms of it being worthwhile when considering a phone purchase, a lot of us feel it is but it might not be for you. Read this for more on the subject.
How do I root my Samsung Galaxy Note and flash a custom ROM? Our always up-to-date guide to rooting your Android phone actually contains a guide on rooting the Samsung Galaxy Note (and 14 other popular Android devices). As for flashing, it's a pretty similar process on most devices. We sort of have a guide for flashing, but if you search the XDA Developer Forums you should have no trouble finding instructions.
I need a new desktop PC. I don't care it it's a Mac or Windows PC. I'm a little wary of building, but don't know what to buy. What should I do? If you're going to buy a desktop, get an iMac because you can run Windows or OS X on it and the hardware's really great. We really think you should build a computer, however, as it's a lot cheaper and much easier than you probably think. We have a PC Building Guide and a Hackintosh Guide to get you through the basics. When it comes to picking hardware, just consult these $600 and $1200 PC builds, our Hackintosh Pro guide, or this awesome all-in-one build.
Tips of the Week
Alan's Pick: MovieCron Notifies You When A Movie Premieres
Whitson's Pick: Hide Embarrassing Likes on Facebook
Dachis' Pick: Never Lose a Lens Cap with the Help of a Lego Brick
Downloads of the Week
Alan's Pick: Carbon (Android)
Whitson's Pick: A Windows Bundle!
Dachis' Pick: Airmail (OS X) and Fleksy (iOS, Android version forthcoming)
How Do I Submit a Question?
There are two ways to send in your question:
Call (347) 687-8109 and record a question. Calls are awesome! We like them!
Email your question to [email protected].
Please keep your questions as brief as possible. This means about 3-5 sentences for emails and 30-60 seconds for calls and videos. Your questions can be specific, but broader questions are generally better because they'll apply to more people. For example, "how can I breathe new life into my old PDA?" is much better than "what can I do with an old HP iPAQ 210?" Either way, we look forward to hearing from you!
Newspaper, Computer, Clock (by Brandon Hopkins), and Alert (by Dima Yagnyuk) provided by the Noun Project.


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African Economic Outlook 2009
The international financial crisis increases the relevance of this annual publication jointly published by the African Development Bank, the OECD Development Centre and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Decision makers in African and OECD countries, such as aid agencies, investors, NGOs and government officials of aid-recipient countries, will all find the analysis critical to their activities.
The African Economic Outlook 2009 reviews the recent economic situation and predicts the short-term evolution of 47 African countries which account for 99% of the continent's economic output and 97% of its population. The Outlook is drawn from a country-by-country analysis based on a unique analytical design. This common framework includes a forecasting exercise for the current and the two following years, using a simple macroeconomic model, together with an analysis of the social and political context. It also contains a comparative synthesis of African country prospects, placing the evolution of African economies in the world economic context.
The 2009 edition focuses on innovation and information and communication technologies (ICT) in Africa, presenting a comprehensive review of their proliferation and use on the African continent. A statistical appendix completes the volume.
The AEO project is generously supported by the European Commission and combines the knowledge of the African Development Bank and the UNECA on African economies with the expertise accumulated by the OECD, which produces the OECD Economic Outlook twice yearly.
This publication provides dynamic links (StatLinks) for graphs and tables. These StatLinks direct the user to a web page where the corresponding data are available in Excel® format.
Also available in: French
- Click to access:
Click to download PDF - 26.13MBPDF
Click to Read online and shareREAD
Lesotho: Stock of Total External Debt (percentage of GDP) and Debt Service (percentage of exports of goods and services)
OECD Development Centre
Lesotho: Stock of Total External Debt (percentage of GDP) and Debt Service (percentage of exports of goods and services) appears in African Economic Outlook 2009.
- Click to access:
Click to download XLSXLS


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A recent study from the Pew Forum on Religion and Life reveals that for the first time in our history, more people in the United States claim no religious affiliation than those who do. There are now more than 13 million self-described atheists and agnostics (nearly 6 percent of the U.S. public), as well as nearly 33 million people who say they have no particular religious affiliation. Why is that?
Overwhelmingly, the unaffiliated say they think religious organizations are too concerned with money and power, too focused on rules and too involved in politics. For that, we — Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Presbyterians and you-name-it — can all take the blame. We are the church. If people are getting turned off by organized religion, we are the ones doing the turning. At least those of us who think our way is the only way. When I hear people ranting about prayer in schools, I wonder if they pray at home. When people demand the Ten Commandments be placed in government buildings, I wonder if those same people faithfully live the Commandments.
Religion is under attack and we have no one to blame but ourselves. Most of us don't walk our religious talk and it shows in a younger generation that seems to want no part of us for that reason.
While mulling these developments over in my mind, I have been involved in a work assignment with some outstanding Methodists ministers — male and female, black and white — from across north Georgia sprinkled with an impressive array of lay people for good measure. A finer bunch you won't find.
What we were doing was some important work for the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church regarding our next generation of leadership. I don't need to go into a lot of detail but I am honored to be a part of the group and I think I got more out of the assignment than I put into it.
After I left the meetings, I understand better that the ministry is a calling. Just as is education, medicine and public safety. What makes these professions unique is that each touches some part of our lives. Ministry deals with the soul, medicine with the body, education with the mind and public safety with our whole being.
Be half-hearted in any of the above and you will fail miserably and hurt a lot of people in the process. You do these jobs because you are called to do it.
I learned a lot about what it takes to be a Methodist minister during my time with them. Even after two days of close contact, I still don't know how they do it. Ministers are human beings like you and me and yet the expectations on them seem unreal at times. They see the very best and very worst of us.
On Sundays, they have to keep us engaged during worship services while they try to pound a bit of love and grace into our hard heads and be sure not to offend anyone in the process. When we leave the sanctuary, store our halos and get back to business as usual, their work is just beginning. It could be anything from consoling the bereaved to counseling the confused to uniting a pair of lovebirds to feeding and clothing the poor to getting us off our duffs and out in the community to serve others to listening to whiny members complain about the hymn selection last week.
And their leaders don't make it any easier. The United Methodist Church's Council of Bishops were part of a letter to Congress — along with leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — accusing the Israeli government of human rights violations. I don't know much about the thought processes of the Council of Bishops but I know a bit about politics. That letter won't amount to a hill of beans.
Maybe that crowd didn't get the memo about people being turned off by religious organizations that get involved in politics. Maybe they need to read the Pew Study again.
Mainline churches are experiencing membership losses. That is a fact. I can't lay the problem at the feet of the good and decent ministers I have come to know and appreciate in my work with them. They are doing the best they can. The problem lies with the rest of us. After all, we are all the church. This is our fault.
You can reach Dick Yarbrough at firstname.lastname@example.com or P.O. Box 725373, Atlanta, GA 31139.


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{{Welcome|Invite} to OCRV Center!|{Welcome|Invite} to OCRV!} With over 35 years of experience, we {have|have actually} been {voted|elected} The Premier RV {Repair Shop|Service Center} in Southern California! OCRV Center is {here|right here|below} to {help|assist|aid} you with all your RV Service & RV Remodel {needs|requires}. If you are {shopping for|looking for|purchasing|buying} RV Parts or {need|require} RV Upgrades, we can {help|assist|aid}! With our RV craftsmanship {and|as well as|and also} certified RV Technicians, we {get the job done|finish the job|do the job} right, the {first time|very first time}! We can {help|assist|aid} you with {everything|whatever|every little thing} from RV AC Repair, RV Generator Repair, RV Tires, RV Roof Repair, RV Leak Repair, RV Body Repair, RV Fiberglass Repair, RV Fabrication, RV Windshield Replacement, RV Maintenance, RV Furniture, RV Upholstery, RV Seats, RV Mattresses, RV Refrigerators, {RV|Recreational Vehicle|Motor Home} {Plumbing|Pipes}, RV Flooring, RV Bathroom Remodel, RV Window Shades, RV Cabinets, RV Countertops, RV LED Lights, RV Batteries, RV TV Mount Outside, RV Awning Repair, RV Solar Panels, RV Restoration, RV Wraps & RV Detailing {to name a few|among others}! {So if you are {looking for|searching for|trying to find|seeking} an RV Paint Shop or {need|require} RV Repair Near Me, we can {help|assist|aid} make your motorcoach look {new|brand-new} {again|once again|once more}!|If you are looking for an RV Paint Shop or {need|require} RV Repair Near Me, we can {help|assist|aid} make your motorcoach look {new|brand-new} {again|once again|once more}!}
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Our Mission; Provide appreciative solutions to all in need of RV Collision Repair, Paint, Body, Interior, & Upgrades, at a single Commercial Collision Repair Facility in Southern California! At OCRV Center, we take pride in providing everlasting, meaningful solutions for all commercial chassis owners. The moment you enter the facility, you will be acknowledged, heard & respected throughout the whole process of fulfilling & completing your requests. If you are seeking a competent, knowledgeable team of craftsmen & experts, OCRV Center proudly provides valuable solutions for all commercial chassis owners in Southern California! OCRV Center's facility can help you repair, paint, remodel & upgrade anything on your RV, Trailer, Camper, Bus & Commercial Vehicles. We are here to help! Give us a call today!.