text:
|GDP growth (%)
|Inflation (yearly average) (%)
|Budget balance (% GDP)
|Current account balance (% GDP)
|Public debt (% GDP)
(e) Estimate (f) Forecast
- Natural resources (gas, phosphates) and agricultural and tourism resources
- Gradual political transition
- Diversification of the economy underway and reasonably skilled labour force
- Proximity to the European market and Association Agreement with the EU
- Strong social and geographic inequalities
- High unemployment, mainly amoung young people
- Economic importance of agriculture
- Tourism sector facing political and security issues and greater competition
Towards a gradual recovery in growth
Growth was fairly soft in 2016.The recovery in services and manufacturing was tempered by the negative contribution of the energy and extractive sectors. Tourism was encouraging with a net improvement in added value in the hotel sector which recorded an increase in the number of overnight stays. In 2017, the economic upswing is expected to continue, although at a slower than expected pace because of weak performances in the key activity sectors, such as energy, which continue to be hampered by weak oil prices and the normal decline on the main oil fields. Negotiations between the government and the unions should limit the continuing social unrest in the phosphate-producing areas which curbed theproduction in 2016. Tourism activity will pick up slightly following an increase in tourists from Eastern Europe. Finally, despite ongoing consolidation of the public finances, public investment is expected to sustain growth. Moreover, Tunisia 2020 Conference held in November 2016 enabled Tunisia to collect more than USD 15bn in pledges and promises of investment from the country's main international donors and partners. These investments will allow the government to kick off the first phase of the five-year development plan 2016-2020 presented in May 2016, which is expected to include a raft of infrastructure projects such as the extension of road and railway networks. After slowing slightly, inflation will be more dynamic in 2017. The slight rise in oil prices as well as persistent downward pressure on the dinar will lead to higher imported inflation. Higher prices for administered products are moreover expected to favour increases in domestic prices.
Slight decline in the twin deficits in 2017
The public deficit deepened in 2016. The savings resulting from spending cuts embarked on after the reform of oil subsidies were reallocated to the fight against terrorism and the reinforcement of security policies. The loss in revenue resulting from a fall in oil production also limited the level of taxes collected in 2016.
In 2017, the implementation of structural tax reforms under the IMF programme and the austerity policies driven by Prime Minister Youssef Chahed is expected to bring down the public deficit. Of the reforms recommended by the IMF, the authorities are likely to continue with changes to the civil service aimed at bringing down the costs of paying civil servants as well as reforming the civil service pension system. The freeze on public recruitment should limit the increase in current spending in the short term. Tax receipts are also expected to increase in 2017, thanks to better tax collection, which should facilitate tax remittances and combat tax evasion. Moreover, corporation tax will be increased. Despite this commitment to conducting a cautious fiscal policy, there are still considerable obstacles and the government is likely to continue to deal with the representatives of different trade unions and corporations so as to limit strikes and blockades in response to the austerity policy, as was the case in 2016 regarding the liberal professions and pharmacists.
The current account deficit will remain large in 2017 but will be significantly lower than in 2016. Exports are expected to increase moderately, enabling an improvement in the trade balance. A more marked slowdown in foreign demand could, however, dampen export momentum. The Tunisian dinar will continue to face downward pressure but it could firm up with the growth in FDIs.
The coalition government faces several challenges
After the Tunisian parliament ousted Prime Minister Habib Essida in a vote of no-confidence, the president named former minister for local affairs, Youssef Chahed, as prime minister. The challenges facing Youssef Chahed's government, with a cabinet of some thirty ministers, are many. The country continues to face many social and economic challenges, as well as popular expectations, which fuels strikes and protests. On top of this is the scale of the security threat in the territory, of which Tunisia became all too aware after the attacks which hit the country. Improving the business climate is still one of the government's main priorities, aimed at increasing the country's attractiveness for investors. To this end, the country implemented a new investment code in September 2016 to facilitate the placement of FDIs.
Last update: January 2017


text:
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Ortiz responds to positive test news
Slugger vows to get answers concerning 2003 PEDs list
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
Ortiz said he only confirmed the positive test result after contacting the Players Association on Thursday. The slugger added that he was blindsided when told of the positive result, which led to an initial no comment to the Times.
Ortiz, Ramirez namedComplete coverage
• Ortiz tested positive in '03; Manny named
• Ortiz: No steroids
• MLB, union cast doubt
• A-Rod understands
• Claire: Papi plays defense
• Manny mostly mum
• Ortiz responds
• Timeline of 'The List'
• Sox support Ortiz
• Baseball reacts
• News upsets Yankees
• Bodley: Reveal names
• Ortiz lifts Sox
• Ortiz's statement
• Drug Policy in Baseball
• Ortiz's bio/stats
• Ramirez's bio/stats
Sights and Sounds
Boston's left-handed slugger said he wants to find out exactly what he tested positive for, and once he does, he plans on dealing with the situation head on.
Ortiz stated emphatically -- both through a statement and in a brief session with reporters -- that he will be completely accountable and answer all the questions once he has all the facts, which he expects will be in a matter of days.
"Honestly, right now, I don't have [any] information about it," Ortiz said. "I'm going to get more info about the situation and I'm going to honestly tell you guys what's up. Right now, I don't have [any] answers. I've got no information. The next few days, I'm going to get some information about it."
Manny Ramirez, the superstar slugger who teamed with Ortiz for Boston's World Series titles in 2004 and '07, also tested positive in 2003, according to Thursday's story in the Times. Ramirez -- now with the Los Angeles Dodgers -- served a 50-game suspension earlier this season for use of a banned substance.
Ortiz was asked if he had any inkling what he could have tested positive for and when -- exactly -- it might have happened.
"Like I say, I have no answers right now. I'm going to get deeper on this and then you guys are going to find out what's up," Ortiz said.
Ortiz issued the following statement, which was released roughly 20 minutes after Boston beat the Athletics, 8-5, backed by a three-run homer by Ortiz in the bottom of the seventh.
"Today I was informed by a reporter that I was on the 2003 list of MLB players to test positive for performance-enhancing substances. This happened right before our game, and the news blindsided me. I said I had no comment because I wanted to get to the bottom of this.
"I want to talk about this situation and I will as soon as I have more answers. In the meantime I want to let you know how I am approaching this situation. One, I have already contacted the Players Association to confirm if this report is true. I have just been told that the report is true. Based on the way I have lived my life, I am surprised to learn I tested positive. Two, I will find out what I tested positive for. And, three, based on whatever I learn, I will share this information with my club and the public. You know me -- I will not hide and I will not make excuses.
"I want to thank my family, the Red Sox, my teammates, and the fans for their patience and support."
The Red Sox supported the way Ortiz, 33, is handling the situation.
"David felt all day a lot of caring from his teammates and hopefully us," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "He knows that we care about him. He has earned that from us. We will be very supportive as I hope we are with all our players and we will get to the bottom of whatever needs to be gotten to the bottom of. David will deal with this openly, but it's not going to happen in the next 10 minutes."
"He needs some time to get some answers and then he's going to stand up and answer every question. I admire that courage," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein.
In the past, Ortiz never shied away from speaking out against users of performance-enhancing drugs. Some of his most candid comments came back on Feb. 16, the first day he reported to Spring Training.
"I would suggest that everybody get tested, and not randomly," Ortiz said that day. "You go team by team and you test everybody, three, four times a year, and that's about it. You do what you've got to do ... ban them for the whole year [if they test positive]. You're going to get respect from the players when they know they're going to get tested. Let's test the whole team, three or four times a year. I know they can do that. Believe me, if someone was using steroids, it would show up. Because the way they test you, it's not a joke."
In the same interview, Ortiz mentioned that he didn't like allegations of past PED association coming to light. He thought that was counterproductive to the cleaning up of the game.
"All the drama of bringing guys to court and acting like they are serious criminals, it doesn't look good for the game. What is happening right now is about something that happened in the past. It's not something that is happening right now. Everything was banned in, what, 2004?"
A platoon player for the Twins prior to arriving in Boston for the start of the 2003 season, Ortiz became a beloved figure at Fenway. He finished fifth in the American League's Most Valuable Player voting that season.
But it was in 2004, when the Red Sox broke an 86-year World Series championship drought, that Ortiz reached iconic status. After belting 41 homers during the regular season, Ortiz produced a walk-off homer in the 12th inning of Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Yankees and ended Game 5 with an RBI single in the 14th. Those two hits helped the Red Sox become the first team in Major League history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a postseason series.
Ortiz raised his game to an even higher level in 2005, finishing second to Alex Rodriguez in the MVP race and clocking 47 homers. In '06, he established a franchise record with 54 home runs.
In 2008, Ortiz started having his first significant periods of adversity during his time with the Red Sox. He got off to a slow start to the season and on May 31, suffered a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist, forcing him to miss nearly two months.
Ortiz got off to the worst start of his career this season, going homerless until May 20 and not hitting his second homer until June 6.
From that point on, Ortiz started to hit for the type of power his fans have become accustomed to, including Thursday afternoon's three-run missile into the bleachers in right-center.
After his dramatic home run, Ortiz got such loud roars from the Fenway faithful that he came out of the dugout for a curtain call.
Ortiz was asked what he had to say to the fans based on all the events of Thursday.
"Thanks for everything. Like I say, my whole life, my whole career that I've been around here, I've been what I am," Ortiz said. "Like I say, honestly, I'm going to get to the bottom of this and you guys are going to hear from me in the next few days."
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, April 18, 2008, 11:00 AM
Town Square
Hetch Hetchy housing standoff
Original post made on Apr 18, 2008
Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, April 18, 2008, 11:00 AM
Comments (18)
a resident of another community
on Apr 18, 2008 at 11:26 am
Isn't Bruce Burman the same developer who made a big mess of that housing development up in Marin called "French Ranch"? Why would the City of Mountain View want anything to do with him?
a resident of North Whisman
on Apr 18, 2008 at 11:31 am
Here is the link to the petition that is mentioned in the story for those of you who might be interested in supporting a Quality Development at 450 N. Whisman:
Web Link
a resident of Old Mountain View
on Apr 18, 2008 at 7:35 pm
It is amazing that they are considering building 3-story rowhouses next to 1-story homes. Unless the design is done really really well, that be so imposing. From what I know, it is not designed very well. They should build something else there. It's too many homes in a small space.
a resident of another community
on Apr 18, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Yes, this IS the same Bruce Burman who made a huge mess of French Ranch up in Marin. Here are some articles from a Marin newspaper documenting the controversy:
Web Link August 1998
Web Link August 1999
Web Link February 2003
Basically, Mr. Burman's M.O. as a developer is this... He offers enticements that local residents and politicians can't refuse - promises of affordable housing units, donated land, trails, and parks, shared septic systems, etc. with the municipality in which he is proposing his development. In return, he gets accommodations from these municipalities such as development density increases, streamlined approval processes, etc. which allow him to build more units and thus line his pockets more. If he doesn't get these accommodations he holds the municipality hostage by withholding his end of the bargain until they give in. Finally, he pulls a bait and switch on them and, before you know it, walks away from the project without delivering what he initially promised.
In the case of French Ranch, Mr. Burman's septic drain field that was to be shared with the school next-door was shoddily built and ended up causing slope failures and leeching unacceptable amounts of contaminants into the nearby trails and golf course. The septic system was then discreetly repaired without the proper plans, permits and inspections. Mr. Burman also promised all sorts of affordable housing but in the end built only 3 units.
Mr. Burman has been accused of corrupting politicians/city planning officials whose jobs it is to approve or deny his developments. In the case of French Ranch, Mr. Burman's relationship with Marin County Supervisor Steve Kinsey was called into question. Curiously, some planning meetings were held without public notice/input so that opponents of Mr. Burman's development projects would not be able to protest.
Mr. Burman intimidates and threatens to sue any group that opposes him. Mr. Burman even sends people to spy on the meetings of his opponents and uses this information to strategize against them.
He also tries to pit neighbor against neighbor. In the case of the Hetch Hetchy development he is pitting local Sierra Club members against the neighborhood association and claiming he is an "environmentalist". In reality, Mr. Burman is no environmentalist but is just in it for the money. In the case of French Ranch, Mr. Burman decided to clear the land for development in the middle of winter/rainy season. Rainwater subsequently bled mud, dirt, and other construction contaminants down the slope into the creek below where fish and other wildlife lived.
The names of the companies Mr. Burman is associated with continually change (KMJ Urban Communities, Jazz Construction & Development, Vintage Faire LLC, French Ranch LLC, Honjo USA, Burman and Feldman, Inc., Elliott and Burman, Inc., etc.) making it difficult to check his track record. He is backed by foreign money which also makes it more difficult to track his history.
Since Mr. Burman has developed such a bad reputation in Marin he does not develop there anymore. That is why he now has to develop in areas where he is less well-known (Sunnyvale, Lake County, even in the state of New Mexico). His reputation is apparently not yet very well-known in Mountain View or to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (the landowner) which is why I am posting this comment up on the Voice.
a resident of another community
on Apr 20, 2008 at 11:26 am
Bruce Burman is being slandered by people who neither know him nor his reputation, and who have their own selfish agenda for doing so. This reminds me of the people saying Obama is a muslim. I am a Marin resident, living in Tiburon, and have follwed the career of Bruce Burman and his partners since 1986. He has been responsbile for the Old Belvedere School House townhome project, as well as the Chandler's Gate senior housing prjoject, both of which were joint ventures with those respective cities. Not only were the projects completed beautifully and met with terrific market acceptance, but Bruce and his team went the extra mile in working with those cities and their neighbors. French Ranch, the winner a a prestigious national award, resulted in the largest open space dedication in Marin history. I have been a member of the Urban Land Institute, a national organization promoting best practices in land use, for more than 25 years, including serving on its green building council and as Vice Chair of its residential council. Of the thousands of builders whose work I have become familar with in that capacity, I can truly say that Bruce and his partners are among the finest, the most caring and the most striaghtforward in the country. This nonsense about being backed by "foreign money" is just that, nonsense. The rantings of a few West Marin wackos, who remain cowardly anonymous because they know thay are slandering Mr. Burman, should be taken like the rantings of Bill O'Reilly--a lot of ignornant, self-serving lies. If the community of Moutnain View wants a character reference on Burman and his partners, then talk to Dean Macris, the planning chief of the city of San Francisco, who knows Bruce and lauds his work at French Ranch. It's time to grow up people and thank your lucky stars you have Bruce Burman knocking himself out to prodcue yet another extraordinary project in your town, rather than a mass-production builder who won't give a hoot about what you want. If you run Mr. Burman out of town, that's what you'll wuind up with, and you'll deserve what you get.
a resident of North Whisman
on Apr 20, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Bruce Burman misrepresented himself to the neighborhood and made it sound like the project he is proposing in Mountain View was a "done deal". He made it sound like he was doing the neighbors a favor by asking neighbors what kind of trees they wanted to see on the project.
In reality, the project has not been approved by the Mountain View City Council (it comes up for a vote on Tuesday) and has actually been rejected by both the City's Development Review Committee and the City's Zoning Administrator.
a resident of North Whisman
on Apr 20, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Mr. Stewart, did you attend the Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting on March 6? Did you read the minutes? The DRC described the architectural design as repetitious and monotonous. In response, Owen Byrd, representing Mr. Burman, said that we should just call it was it is ... "production housing". That certainly does not sound like yet another extraordinary project. That sounds like mass-production to me.
a resident of North Whisman
on Apr 21, 2008 at 10:16 am
I can't speak about what he did in Marin but in this case Bruce Burman is definitely not going "the extra mile" in working with neighbors and the City of Mountain View.
He's already lied to neighbors about his proposal being a "done deal" to suppress any public input/opposition against his proposal. Now he's still adamantly taking his proposal to the City Council despite denials by both the Development Review Committee, a committee of professional architects, and the Zoning Administrator, a professional community planner, who are both employed by the City of Mountain View.
a resident of North Whisman
on Apr 21, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I live in a townhome which backs up to the proposed project and do not look forward to having the peaceful area destroyed by a road with cars coming and going at all hours! It's too bad that this area might become a high density, trafficked housing development. What was once an attraction to live in Mountain View may soon be lost.
a resident of North Whisman
on Apr 21, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I live in a townhome which backs up to the proposed project and do not look forward to having the peaceful area destroyed by a road with cars coming and going at all hours! It's too bad that this area might become a high density, trafficked housing development. What was once an attraction to live in Mountain View may soon be lost.
a resident of another community
on Apr 21, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Regarding Bruce Burman's "largest open space dedication in Marin history" at French Ranch... The open space was a requirement of ANY development anyway - it was mandated by the zoning and environmental constraints of the land! Also, there was NO way Burman wanted to pay the property taxes on the 300+ acres of open space.
a resident of North Whisman
on Apr 21, 2008 at 6:16 pm
One of Bruce Burman's business partners on the Hetch-Hetchy project, a developer/attorney named Owen Byrd, has been touting an award given to them for the project's design by the Greenbelt Aliance. They've been using this environmental group's sponsorship of the Hetch-Hetchy project to get backing from other environmental groups such as the Sierra Club.
Well, it turns out Owen Byrd was once director of policy and legal defense at the Greenbelt Aliance. Maybe I'm wrong but isn't that a gigantic conflict of interest that he stands to profit with the help of an award given to his project by his former organization?
Web Link
I'm not saying that Mr. Byrd as an environmentalist is not allowed to be a developer as well. I am saying however, that, similar to how the Mountain View City Council members recuse themselves and do not vote on projects that are located in their respective neighborhood, Mr. Byrd should not be using an award from his former organization to help his own business projects make money.
Bruce Burman, Owen Byrd, and others are very adept at cloaking themselves in "Green" and fooling people into thinking they are environmentalists. When the cloak comes off though, they are just like any other developer and the bottom line is still just about making money.
a resident of North Whisman
on Apr 22, 2008 at 11:47 am
In Autumn 2007, the Mountain View City Council signed the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. This means the city, a certified green business, has made a commitment to help stop global warming. Does it also mean Mountain View residents should do all they can to reduce greenhouse gas pollution? We can take pride in backyards that store carbon and reflect our social values. The Wagon Wheel association can consider putting in a tree where any view of the hills might become obstructed.
There are many ways to tackle global warming. One fundamental step, more powerful, and absolutely critical, is building cities in a greener way. Not simply using recycled materials but making it easy for people to get around without having to drive. Residents should embrace the creation of more vibrant, compact neighborhoods close to jobs, Caltrain, and Castro Street. The North Whisman development location is less than a mile to Light Rail! It will be good for people, good for the environment and good for business, in line with the city's ideals. We should be asking for more units, not less!
The single largest contributor to California's greenhouse gas emissions is transportation. Over the last several decades, sprawling patterns of development have put jobs and homes far apart, and made us dependent on our cars. Here in Mountain View, the number of jobs has grown, but the supply of affordable homes has fallen far behind. We are now dealing with the social, economic, and environmental consequences: traffic, unaffordable homes, and greenhouse gas pollution. We have to change. Car dependence no longer makes sense in a world whose climate is warming. Reducing the number of homes in the North Whisman plan while companies such as Google are expanding will worsen the imbalance.
Mountain View residents who truly care about the community can stand up and demand that the city build greener. We already have plenty of examples of sustainable development, an attractive downtown and compact neighborhoods near public transit. This new neighborhood association is effectively saying that providing housing is some other city's problem: "Let Morgan Hill build the homes for the people who work here!†I cannot go along with them. It makes no sense, and it sure is not green. The results of their actions would be more cars on the road- especially on Highway 101- and more greenhouse gas pollution. It will mean more traffic, longer commutes for everyone, and fewer homes that young people, seniors, and local workers can afford. It is time for residents to join their leaders in their pledge to fight global warming.
Let's see how green—how cool a city—Mountain View can be.
a resident of North Whisman
on Apr 22, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Has anyone thought about what might happen to these proposed homes, their inhabitants, and their property if the rusty, aging Hetch Hetchy pipelines underneath the site were to rupture, either due to wear and tear or due to an earthquake?
I've seen regular-sized municipal water supply pipelines break and cause huge sinkholes on TV. I can only imagine what might happen if these giant pipes that deliver around 300 million gallons of water daily to San Francisco and Silicon Valley were to fail.
Also, what happens when it comes time to fix or replace the pipes?
I'm all for reducing greenhouse gases but isn't there a reason why this lot has sat undeveloped for all these years?
a resident of another community
on Apr 22, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Rule of law or mob rule?
As an observer of many anti-development battles, it amuses me to see a vocal minority of NIMBYs in Mountain View attempt to take over the governemtnal process and turn Mountain View into another Berkeley.
The development process is controlled by laws adopted by the citizens, specifically the city's General Plan and Zoning Ordinance. These laws are put in place to give private sector participants a road map for complying with the city's requirements. The idea is that the city benefits by attracting private capital and talent to address its housing shortage. The City Council, as the representative of the ciitzens, oversees the application of the laws.
It is in no one's interest to allow a vocal minority, whose interests stop at their own backyards, to corrupt or delay the legally established process. When a private developer complies with all the laws, rules and requirements specified by a city, as Mr. Burman's group has with this project, the city is obligated to grant the approvals which its laws explicitly promise. To not do so would turn the city into just another socialist outpost wondering why no new housing is being built within its borders.
And it also ignores the wishes and support of the not-so-vocal majority. This project has attracted the endosement and support of legitimate and important organizations. These organizations include:
The Sierra Club
Greenbelt Alliance
The League of Women Voters
Friends of the Stevens Creek Trail
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Santa Clara Housing Coalition
Together, the members of these organizations represent thousands of votes, as opposed to the 50 or 60 signers of a NIMBY petition. The majority has made thier wishes known, and they support this project and want it built. The vocal minority doesn't like it.
Well, that's how democracy works, folks. That is, so long as the elected representatives understand their role is to act in the best long-term interests of the city, rather than reacting to the heckling of a mob. Let's hope the City Council understands that a small band of self-interested NIMBYs, no matter how shrill, is not the majority. The rule of law must take precedence over mob rule.
a resident of another community
on Apr 22, 2008 at 3:56 pm
This year, 2008, marks 50 years of Greenbelt Alliance's efforts to protect open space and promote livable communities around the Bay Area. We have protected over 1 million acres of open space around the region, and the success of this work depends upon making sure new homes, jobs, and shops end up where they should be. For more information on Greenbelt Alliance, go here: Web Link
For 20 of those 50 years, the Compact Development Team of Greenbelt Alliance has been endorsing and advocating for residential, mixed-use, and commercial development that is pedestrian-oriented and transit-accessible, uses land efficiently, and provides homes we can all afford.
The fact of the matter is, we have a choice in Mountain View and around the entire region. Whether we like it or not, the Bay Area is set to grow by 1 million people by 2020, so our choice is this: do we want these new homes and residents to worsen our quality of life, causing traffic jams and skyrocketing greenhouse gas emissions, or do we want to usher new growth to our existing cities and towns, into walkable, compact development so that people can use transit, bikes, or walking to get around?
In Mountain View, job growth continues, and so we should all support responsible housing growth so people can have the opportunity to live near work. Otherwise, we will all suffer when commuters clog our roadways, traveling in from as far away as Tracy where more homes are available. And when everyone has no choice but to travel by car, this will also have disastrous effects on climate change.
I manage the Compact Development Team, which has endorsed and advocated for over 60,000 homes, over 12,000 (18%) of those affordable for families of modest means. For more information on the program, including the guidelines we use to evaluate all developments, go here:
Web Link
In the case of 450 North Whisman, Greenbelt Alliance proudly offered its endorsement to the development because it met our stringent guidelines.
Fortunately, we don't need to pave over natural areas and farmland to accommodate new residents--by growing smartly, we can choose a climate-friendly future for Mountain View and for the region.
a resident of North Whisman
on Apr 23, 2008 at 1:15 pm
The Mountain View City Council was savvy enough to recognize that Bruce Burman's proposal was a bad design and voted unanimously to reject it last night!
a resident of another community
on Apr 23, 2008 at 3:34 pm
The criticism aimed here at Owen Byrd is unfounded. I dont know him except by reputation, but he has done a lot of good within the community.
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BLOG: Data migration is hard to do
Throughout the past decade, I've dealt with innumerable data munging (a bona fide technical term, folks) tasks. Whether it's migrating an ancient database into a modern database or dragging massive data sets through new processing tools or a myriad other tasks, taking data in one form and turning it into data in a new form happens with massive frequency, every single day. It's still magic to the vast majority of folks, IT included.
Let's take a few minutes and try to explain how this whole thing works, at least on a high level. You may find that referencing this helps communicate delicate back-end processes to those who are lightly technical.
It all started with Excel
Let's pick an unfortunately common situation: the dreaded Excel spreadsheet. Some time ago in a company far, far away, it was determined that data needed to be collected pertaining to a business process -- inventory, sales, customers, what have you. Lacking the proper tools, someone cooked up an Excel spreadsheet and went nuts with it. As time passed and thousands of records were amassed, the spreadsheet became less and less functional, and the decision was finally made to turn this intos a real database. A consulting group was hired or an internal resource defined, and someone was handed the task.
The first order of business is to inspect the cleanliness of the data itself. In a perfect world, the spreadsheet is laid out sort of like a database, with each common field in its own column -- say, First Name, Last Name, Street, City, and so forth. However, that's not always the way it works. There might be a top-down layout with the information contained in individual rows under the same column, such as a column Contact with separate rows for full name, company, address, phone number, and so forth. The next column over might be Last Order or Sales 2012 or other data. This presents a much more challenging problem.
Let's look at the first situation because it's definitely the easiest. The data is relatively clean and well organized, and it can be exported to CSV and run through a custom parser to translate it into a database. A good CSV parser will pull all of those records into an array that can be peeled apart record by record and inserted into the new database. Within that process, checks of the data can be made, and the data can be modified to better fit the format of the new database.
For instance, we might run regexes over a Phone Number field to turn various phone number formats into one standard. This requires tossing all the special characters and reformatting the resulting string before it gets inserted into the new database. The operation will turn numbers such as (212) 555-1212, 212-555-1212, 2125551212, 212 555 1212, or 212.555.1212 into the likes of (212) 555-1212 for each record, which will help with readability and searching later on.
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Saddam Returns! With Mysterious Satellite TV Channel that Alternately Terrorizes and Bores
Timed to the three-year anniversary of his execution, a Saddam Hussein-themed TV channel appeared on Iraqi airwaves this week and is basically a Baathist screensaver set to audio of late dictator's most famous speeches.
The Associated Press reports that the channel—alternately called "al-Arabi" ("the Arab") and "al-Latefa" ("the banner")—is run by one Damascus-based Mohammed Jarboua. Jarboua's keeping mum on his financiers and the location of his offices, which he says are spread across several nations, at least one which is in Europe. If that's true, then his start-up TV channel has bizarrely good resources for a network that broadcasts one long photo montage, on repeat:
It is mostly a montage of flattering, still images of Saddam—some of him dressed in military uniform, others in a suit, even one astride a white horse. One image shows his sons Odai and Qusai smiling with their father, and another their bodies after they and Saddam's grandson, Mustafa, were killed in a July 2003 gunfight with U.S. troops.
One prominently displayed image is that of a man burning an American flag. Another shows graves covered with Iraqi flags.
All the pictures are set against audio recordings of Saddam making speeches and reciting poetry. Patriotic songs urge listeners to "liberate our country." None of the pictures appear to be recent, and no announcers or commentators appear or speak.
Former members of Saddam's Baathist party, and current members of Baath offshoots, say outlawed group is behind this. SaddamTV's timing is ominous because
- 1. It is currently Eid, "the most important holiday of the Islamic calendar."
- 2. Three years ago, Saddam was executed during Eid.
- 3. Iraq's upcoming elections are falling apart and the country is at real risk of a Constitutional crisis.
Some say Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri—Saddam's former right-hand man who has been in hiding since the Iraq War and now leads the outlaw Baath party—is running the channel, which, though troubling, is also a bit pathetic. Saddam's No. 2 has been pooling his cronies' resources for years, and the most menacing act he could come up with was the equivalent of a YouTube video tribute to a war buddy? Even in America this wouldn't be particularly frightening. In Iraq, it's downright polite.


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By Courtney E. Smith
It's hard to think of an idea that sounds worse than going to see a David Lynch film at age 14 with one of your parents. But that's exactly where Dan Smith, the singer of Bastille, found his lifelong fandom for Lynch's work — sitting next to his dad as a lesbian sex scene in Mulholland Drive played out on the big screen.
"I think for our videos, particularly early ones — like 'Bad Blood,' it's got a video that probably most people think makes absolutely no sense," Smith said. "But what I liked about that was the same thing I liked about when I saw Mullholland Drive with my dad. We walked out of the cinema and looked at each other and were like, 'What the hell just happened?' And then I was calling up people who'd seen it that I knew and going on the Internet — I found my way onto forums for the first time."
Lynch, a forward-thinking type who is particularly attuned to the Internet himself, reached out to Bastille for a remix of the track "Are You Sure" for a limited-edition Record Store Day vinyl release. After teasingly asking if we'd like to hear about the really boring chain of emails between managers and publicists that brought those events together, Smith recounted, "I remember there was a conversation about the fee for awhile. I was like, 'I literally, I could pay you for me to do this, please.'"


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The pitching numbers are hard to believe
KANSAS CITY — They are the kind of numbers that make you check your math twice.
Since last Sept. 1, the Red Sox have allowed an average of 6.05 runs per game. Their pitching staff has a 5.58 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.
The starters are 13-25 with a 6.41 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. Sox starters are averaging just over 5.1 innings per start over the last 56 games.
Jon Lester (2-5, 4.98) hasn't been immune. Josh Beckett (3-4, 4.88), either. Throw in the rest of the prospects, suspects and malcontents and you get a team that has won 19 of its last 56 games.
Obviously none of these numbers are new to you. But it's fairly amazing that a team like the Red Sox can give up six runs a game for that long of a time. This is not some sort of anomaly or statistical quirk. This is more than a third of a season.
Bobby Valentine didn't become the Red Sox manager, he became a tour guide at the minefield.
It makes you wonder whether the only solution is a shakeup like the Nomar Garciaparra trade in 2004.
It may sound like heresy to suggest it, but no player in the organization should be considered untouchable in an attempt to change the mix on the mound via trade. Nobody.
Would you consider something crazy like trading for Johan Santana? Or offering Seattle anything it wanted for King Felix? Maybe make a deal with Theo Epstein for Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster?
There comes a time to blow it up and that time is steadily approaching.
At the very least, there has to be a team out there that will give up a starting pitcher for Kevin Youkilis.
A 5.58 ERA over 56 games? Yep, checked the math. It's true.


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howdy found this on brighton beach- not a clue what it is though- any ideas??cheers
It is part of a regular (as opposed to irregular) sea urchin.
What you see are ambulacral plates. Each one has the ball part (tubercle) of a ball-and-socket joint, the socket being on the base of a spine (absent). Sea urchins use the spines for locomotion and to make themselves less vulnerable to predation.
- http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/echinoid-directory/morphology/regulars/ambmorph.html
- http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/echinoid-directory/morphology/regulars/spine.html
- http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/echinoid-directory/taxa/glossary.jsp?search=tubercle&showImageID=196


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Discussion in 'General Trek Discussion' started by LeadHead, Nov 20, 2011.
Got it!
Excellent! I was trying to think of times Worf was in ops, and his recrimination of Dax and the others for gossiping about Odo's overnight guest came to mind.
The Alternative Factor?
The Naked Time?
Charlie X?
No and no.
A Taste of Armageddon?
'Fraid not.
This Side of Paradise?
No Spock-altering spores in this episode.
No anti-matter Lazaruses either!
Operation: Annihilate!?
No Kirk family members (other than James T.) in this episode!
Space Seed?
Mudd's Women?
The Corbomite Maneuver?
No First Federation in this episode.
Separate names with a comma.


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Pence trade fills Phils' need for righty slugger
By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
This past offseason, the Phillies used the money they didn't spend on re-signing Jayson Werth to bring back Lee, giving them the star-studded staff that's mainly responsible for their first-place record, but depriving them of the right-handed power bat that was so critical to their offense.
Then, on Friday night, they added Hunter Pence -- the slugger that finally addresses the absence of that valuable piece that left for Washington last December.
You may argue that Pence isn't the all-around talent Werth is, but his bat is surely as dangerous.
And he's precisely what the Phillies needed to get their offense on par with their vaunted rotation.
"We tried to address a need we felt was a missing piece," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "I think we acquired in a lot of ways somebody that is extremely well-rounded; the type of player that we'd like to have here in Philadelphia."
And they didn't give up any can't-miss young players to do so.
Yes, the Phillies parted ways with their two best prospects in exchange for Pence -- slugger Jonathan Singleton and pitcher Jarred Cosart, who both played in high A ball this year -- but they held on to Domonic Brown and Vance Worley, they solidified their outfield for next season, they countered the Giants' trade for Carlos Beltran, they kept Pence away from the division-rival Braves, and they even got $1 million back to keep them under the luxury tax.
If you're scoring at home, that's a win, win, win, win, win.
Then you start thinking about how perfect Pence's right-handed bat is for this club.
The Phillies' offense ranked seventh in the National League in runs, but they were 14th in OPS against lefties and 13th in OPS from their ever-changing No. 5 spot.
With Pence hitting behind lefties Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, Charlie Manuel finally has a balanced lineup again.
His addition may mean Brown goes down to Triple-A, with veteran Raul Ibanez in left field on a guaranteed contract. But with Ibanez on the final year of his deal, the trade solidifies Manuel's outfield for at least next season, with Brown in left, Shane Victorino in center and Pence -- with two more arbitration years left -- in right.
Most importantly, though, it gives them an even more legitimate shot at a second World Series title in four years.
Pence has averaged 25 homers and 82 RBIs his last three seasons. In 2011, he sports a .308 batting average, 11 homers and -- most significant of all -- an .860 OPS in 123 plate appearances with runners in scoring position.
He'll get plenty more chances in that situation now.
"It's a new chapter for [the Astros] and a new chapter for me," Pence said. "I'm on board with a team that's got the best record in baseball and unbelievable talent. It's a wonderful thing for everybody."
In exchange for their biggest trade chip in quite some time, the Astros got Singleton, a promising lefty slugger who can play first base and the outfield corners; Cosart, a right-handed starter with a live arm; righty Josh Zeid, a former 10th-rounder who has a 5.65 ERA in Double-A but has looked better as a reliever; and a fourth, low-level Minor Leaguer who will be decided upon later.
Considering what they addressed and how perfect a fit Pence is for them, the Phillies didn't give up nearly that much.
They did gain more financial responsibilities, though.
Pence could reportedly make $10 million in arbitration this offseason, which means the Phillies will have $110.75 million committed to just eight players next year -- Pence, Victorino, Utley, Lee, Howard, Placido Polanco, Joe Blanton and Roy Halladay. That, in turn, makes the upcoming situations of Oswalt ($16 million club option), Brad Lidge ($12.5 million club option), Cole Hamels (final year of arbitration) and Jimmy Rollins (free agent) rather interesting.
But none of that should matter to Phillies fans right now.
Their first-place team now looks unbeatable.
Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his columns and his blog, listen to his podcast and follow him on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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A 22-year-old Ocala man has been charged in connection with the removal of several dogs from the backyard of a residence last week.
OCALA – A 22-year-old Ocala man has been charged in connection with the removal of several dogs from a residence last week.
Adrian Thomas Anderson was charged with burglary of a dwelling and grand theft.
On June 9, two adult female pit bulls and 15 puppies were taken from pens in the backyard of a home in the 7600 block of Northwest 49th Avenue. The dogs were valued at $950.
Three days later, the owner of the dogs and his 3-year-old son were asleep in the home when shots pierced the residence. The father and son were each hit by one bullet, in their arms. They were taken to a hospital and were treated and released.
Detective Thomas Tingue noted in his report that on the day of the shooting he received information that the dogs could be found at a residence in the 4000 block of Southeast 66th Street. He went there and saw a female pit bull dog and several puppies on the porch.
The detective had photographs of the stolen dogs, in which one of the female dogs was wearing an orange collar with white writing. The dog on the porch was wearing a similar collar, according to the report.
The homeowner told the detective that on June 10, a person known to her as "A" -- later identified as Anderson -- asked if he could bring some of his dogs to the home and she said OK. When she came home, she saw an adult female and nine puppies on the porch. Two days later, "A" returned and checked on the dogs for five minutes and left. She said she had not seen him since, reports state.
The owner of the canines went to the house and identified the dogs and took possession of them. The other seven dogs have not been found.
A warrant was obtained for Anderson's arrest. Authorities said a relative took him to a bail bondsman and arrangements were made Monday to pick him up. He was taken to the Marion County Jail, from which he was quickly released on $12,000 bond.
Detectives also are investigating the thefts of several other pit bulls recently. They said they do not know if Anderson had anything to do with those thefts, or the shooting incident on June 12.
Henry Baker, the father and grandfather of the injured duo, told the Star-Banner that they are recovering. He said the family knows Anderson, who grew up near their home.
Anyone with information about any of the missing dogs can call Tingue at 843-4302 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP.
Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or email@example.com.


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The Green Bay Packers and Sam Shields will not get a deal done by March 8, and the cornerback will test the free agent market, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com.
The Packers, however, have at their disposal, the use of the transition tag worth approximately $10.1 million (per OverTheCap.com) to ensure Shields is a member of the Packers through at least 2014, or at least have the right to match any deal Shields receives.
Athough the use of the transition tag has become increasingly rare in the NFL, the Packers would probably be safe to use it instead of the franchise tag (worth approximately $11.8 million) in the case of Shields because he's not likely to receive a deal averaging more than $10 million on the open market.
Shields is reportedly seeking a deal in the realm of the one signed by Bears cornerback Tim Jennings for four years and $22.4 million, more than half in guaranteed money, according to Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel. But he also has the right to see if bidding on the open market escalates.
There are risks involved in using a tag of any sort, such as alienating a player that desires to sign a long-term contract. However, either tag would represent a significant raise for Shields.
The question for the Packers is, do they want to absolutely ensure they have Shields' services at a cost of nearly $10 million for one season or do they think those dollars are better spent elsewhere? The team has 16 other unrestricted free agents, including defensive lineman B.J. Raji, tight end Jermichael Finley, wide receiver James Jones, center Evan Dietrich-Smith, fullback John Kuhn and several more.
The Packers are roughly $35 million under the salary cap in 2014.
For the cost of less than $10 per season, the Packers could make a competitive offer to one of the top free agent safeties on the market, although they'd have to offer a deal of probably at least four years to land one of them.
There are several options the Packers could go at the cornerback position, including taking one of the top players in this year's draft class in the first round, either Michigan State's Darqueze Dennard of Oklahoma State's Justin Gilbert.
There's also sufficient depth at the position currently on the Packers' roster assuming all players are healthy, including Tramon Williams, Casey Hayward, Davon House, Micah Hyde, Jumal Rolle, Jarrett Bush and James Nixon.
Not entirely out of the realm of possibility is the rare tag-and-trade maneuver, by which the Packers could come to a long-term agreement with Shields and subsequently trade him to another team.
It's perhaps likely the Packers have offered Shields and agent Drew Rosenhaus what they consider a competitive offer. Should Shields choose not to accept, the Packers have the right to take such an offer off the table.
The risk in said approach, however, is potentially losing Shields to another team in free agency.
- Like Like
- -1 points


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Duke starting forward Ryan Kelly has been resting his right foot for four weeks now, and coach Mike Krzyzewski still doesn't know when — or if — he'll return.
"It's almost been a month now, and there is no new news," Krzyzewski told ESPN on Tuesday night. "He's getting better, but he still can't do anything weight-bearing yet."
Kelly attempted to play through the pain but could go only 18 minutes against Wake Forest on Jan. 5 and 19 minutes against Clemson on Jan. 8. He's been in a walking boot since.
Kelly's absence has had a profound effect on the Blue Devils. Duke was undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country with him playing power forward, stretching defenses by shooting 52.1 percent from 3-point range and scoring 13.4 points per game.
Without Kelly, Duke has lost its only two games against ranked opponents -- by eight at N.C. State on Jan. 12 and a humbling 27 points at Miami on Jan. 23.
Duke's next challenge is a rematch against N.C. State on Thursday night.
The Linemakers: Wednesday's lines and leans
The Blue Devils are 4-2 without Kelly and have won three straight, including a 20-point win vs. Maryland and a 19-point road win at Florida State last weekend.
All-American candidate Mason Plumlee is confident that Kelly will return at some point this season, even if he doesn't know when.
"The Maryland game was the first one that we hit our stride without Ryan," Plumlee said Tuesday on SiriusXM's Inside College Basketball. "Since then, we've been playing well. It took us a little bit, but I think now we're in a good place.
"We've seen (Kelly) without his air-sock cast on and doing a little more rehab. But we don't know when we're going to have him back. I would hope we'd have him back by the end of the ACC season, but with these kind of injuries, you never really know."


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The Problem With Infosys' Revolving Door
N.R. Narayana Murthy's return to Infosys as executive chairman appears to be a hit with investors. At the company's annual general meeting in June, shareholders praised Infosys for bringing back one of the company's most iconic leaders. It's a slightly different story within the higher echelons of the company.
Analysts say the recent string of high-profile executive exits from the company points to a power struggle at India's second largest software exporter by sales and poses a threat to the future of the beleaguered Indian outsourcing company.
In the last two months, three major executives have left the company. Most notable among them was Ashok Vemuri, a member of the board and the face of Infosys' business in North America, the company's largest revenue generating market. Infosys announced Mr. Vemuri's resignation on Aug. 28.
He followed Basab Pradhan, head of global sales operations, who stepped down in July.
Mr. Vemuri wasn't immediately available for a comment. A tweet on Mr. Pradhan's verified account at the time of his departure said that he was leaving Infosys to get back to the "startup world."
Mr. Vemuri followed closely on the heels of Sudhir Chaturvedi, head of the company's financial services business in the U.S., who left the company last month. The company didn't immediately give reasons for his resignation. Mr. Chaturvedi has since joined a medium-sized Noida-based software firm NIIT Technologies Ltd. as its chief operating officer.
Mr. Vemuri's resignation surprised many as he was one of the main contenders for the coveted chief executive post once S.D. Shibulal retires in 2015.
"Given the deep client relationships of these business heads, their exits can delay the turnaround at Infosys," Sandeep Muthangi, an analyst with Mumbai-based brokerage IIFL Capital, said in a note to clients last week.
Two years ago, Infosys shifted its focus more toward consulting work from lower-margin outsourcing contracts. Unfortunately, the market for consulting contracts has shrunk as global economic growth has slowed. Mr. Murthy is expected to return the company to its successful roots. Mr. Murthy said in June that it would take at least three years to revive the sagging fortunes of the company.
For Sudin Apte, CEO of Maharashtra-based advisory and research firm Offshore Insights, the concern is more to do with the impact of the management changes on clients.
"Clients need consistency in relationships," Mr. Apte said.
These high profile resignations could even skew the proportion of work that a client assigns in a particular deal in favor of Infosys' competitors, he warned. "That's a bigger concern for Infosys," he added.
"We have undertaken certain reorganization within the company to further improve our client focus and competitiveness," Infosys said in an emailed statement.
"Infosys has been arrogant, overconfident and self-absorbed by its success of the past and hence in many ways has not advanced organizationally and culturally as some of its peers," says Peter Schumacher, president and chief executive of Germany-based management consulting firm Value Leadership.
According to him, changing direction is "very difficult and painful" for any company and the recent high-profile executive exits at Infosys are typical of such change. "The dynamics that Mr. Murthy has unleashed are likely to trigger even more senior staff exits," he added.
Prior to Mr. Murthy's return, senior management maintained that Infosys's underperformance was just a temporary phenomenon, triggered by external factors beyond the control of management, Mr. Schumacher said. There was also a disagreement among executives over what strategies would best boost growth, he said.
"Mr. Murthy's main challenge is to align top management around a shared vision for what the new Infosys should be in future. This involves overcoming serious disagreements, establishing commitment and creating a sense of urgency," Mr. Schumacher said.
The churn at Infosys started just ahead of Mr. Murthy's retirement as non-executive chairman in August, 2011.
In April 2011, T.V. Mohandas Pai, a member of the board and director of human resources left the company, followed by Subhash Dhar, a member of executive council and head of sales and marketing .
Last year, another CEO contender, V. Balakrishnan the financial chief, stepped down to focus on the company's India business. Mr. Balakrishnan was tapped to head up the company's utility and resources software services business in North America.
Mr. Murthy has reorganized this chairman's office since his return, creating potential confusion and leadership clashes, the Swiss brokerage UBS said in a recent note to clients.
The string of senior management departures at Infosys since then could be seen as symptomatic of organizational upheaval in the company and add to investor concern, Swiss brokerage UBS said in a note to clients.
"With the recent exit of Mr. Vemuri, there are bound to be concerns that Mr. Murthy's return could see CEO-hopefuls leave Infosys," UBS warned. "Further, there could be concerns that the chairman's office could wield greater authority over the business in the months to come."
Mr. Murthy, on his return to the company, set up a new chairman's office and made his son Rohan Murty the first member as an executive assistant.
According to brokerage JP Morgan, the chairman's office has four members, two of whom are newly appointed members of Infosys's executive council, the highest-ranked executive body at the company.
"We are not clear about how these two groups' responsibilities are demarcated and distinguished from each other," JP Morgan said in a note to clients late last week. "How does the executive council co-exist without conflict with the newly created chairman's office?" the brokerage asked.
Mr. Murthy and Mr. Murty were not immediately reachable for a comment.
A report in The Economic Times suggests that the company is set to promote Mr. Murty, to vice president, a role usually assigned to employees with over 15 years of work experience.
Analysts are watching to see if he will pole-vault over Infosys veterans in the race for top job.
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Globalists hell-bent on reducing the living standards of westerners by jacking up oil prices to a whopping $200 dollars a barrel took a step closer to their target yesterday after JPMorgan Chase & Co announced that they will begin trading oil by the end of the year.
"JPMorgan Chase & Co will begin trading physical oil by year-end, increasing its exposure in a market that could rise to $200 a barrel, the bank's global head of commodities said on Wednesday," reports Reuters.
"The bank plans to expand in commodities and energy trading, Blythe Masters said, despite expectations of job cuts in other areas as it prepares to take on staff from Bear Stearns at the same time it deals with turbulent financial markets."
"Oil rising to $200? It could happen. This year? You could see it, although it would take a further shock to expectations," Masters said.
(Article continues below)
"Supply disruptions, geopolitical events, increased demand for refined products, weather, additional investor inflows driven by shifting inflation expectations -- they could all contribute to high oil prices," she added.
In a related story, Bank of England Governor Mervyn King warned that families should expect "a sharp fall in living standards" as rising food prices and inflation squeeze whatever disposable income Britons have left in the wake of crippling debts and a housing market in crisis.
A report by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. earlier this month forecasted that oil prices will reach $150 to $200 dollars a barrel within 2 years, a figure in line with the ultra-elite Bilderberg's plans to squeeze the middle class and lower the living standards of westerners.
As we previously reported, The ultra-secretive Bilderberg Group, a consortium of power brokers from banking, business, politics, academia and oil, met in Munich Germany in May 2005 when crude oil prices were around the $40 a barrel mark.
During the conference, Henry Kissinger told his fellow attendees that the elite had resolved to ensure that oil prices would double over the course of the next 12-24 months, which is exactly what happened.
During their 2006 meeting in Ottawa Canada, Bilderberg agreed to push for $105 a barrel before the end of 2008. This information was gleaned from sources inside Bilderberg who have proven reliable in the past. That figure has already been surpassed by $21 dollars as oil shot up past $126 dollars a barrel this week.
If anything, the plan to hike oil prices up to $200 is on an accelerated course. Far from having a crystal ball that allows us to divine the future, we were able to accurately predict the soaring cost of oil by simply listening to what the power brokers themselves were saying, albeit through moles that managed to infiltrate Bilderberg meetings and obtain the information.
As we have documented, Bilderberg have sworn to bring about what Jose Barroso, President of the European Commission and a Bilderberg member, refers to as the "post-industrial revolution," which in layman's terms translates as a global economic crash, another great depression and the total evisceration of the middle class by means of a drastic hike in the cost of living.
The fact that oil prices have tracked Bilderberg's targets almost precisely over the past three years offers further proof to debunk the notion that the annual Bilderberg conference is a mere talking shop where no policy is set, as former Kissinger and Associates managing director David J. Rothkopf claimed on the Alex Jones Show earlier this month.
Get your exclusive Prison Planet.tv membership today and enjoy a plethora of multimedia content as well as access to live video streaming of The Alex Jones Show - click here to subscribe.


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Literatures in English, 1600-1800
11:15a-12:05 MWF (30) 3 CR.
This course strives to introduce students to important authors, influential texts, and historical and cultural contexts of English and American literatures from the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries. To that end, we will identify and practice strategies for reading and writing about literature that represents a variety of genres, conventions, and techniques as we strive to acquire a greater understanding and appreciation of works by Sidney, Donne, Herbert, Jonson, Milton, Dryden, Swift, Pope, and Johnson on the one side of the Atlantic, and Bradstreet, Wigglesworth, Taylor, and Franklin, among others, on the other side. Receiving special attention in this section of the course will be issues related to the various conceptions of the function of poetry and the role of the poet that emerge and develop throughout our period.
Because much of the work of this course will be carried on through class discussion and other class activities, regular attendance and participation will be required. Also required will be a number of "first pass" exercises, three formal essays, and a final exam.
Required text: The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol. 1, 6th ed.


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Drawing on decades of experience as a market leader and innovator, Flambeau is proud to introduce Storm Front Decoys as its newest line of waterfowl decoys. Every ounce of Flambeau knowledge and experience was put to the test in pioneering these extraordinary creations. There is not a product on the market today that can guarantee a successful hunt although, Storm Front Decoys, boasting the laundry list of features and benefits below, sure can come close! Depth adjusting eyelet allows for hunters to change water depths without excess decoy line. Secure strap weight location ensures an easy set up and tear down. The paint schemes were also developed utilizing Patent Pending UVision Technology matching the reflectance of real feathers in the full range of light visible to waterfowl, including Ultra-Violet.
Technical Information
Keel: Weighted
- Blue Winged Teal: 10.5"
- Black Duck: 14"
- Green Winged Teal: 10.5"
- Mallard: 14"
- Pintail: 14"
- Wood Duck: 14"
Pack Quantities:
- Blue Winged Teal: 4 drakes, 2 hens
- Black Duck: 6 drakes, 6 hens
- Green Winged Teal: 4 drakes, 2 hens
- Mallard: 6 drakes, 6 hens
- Pintail: 4 drakes, 2 hens
- Wood Duck: 4 drakes, 2 hens
Head Position:
- Blue Winged Teal: 2 active drakes, 2 skimmer drakes, 1 resting hen, 1 dabbler hen
- Black Duck: 6 semi-resting drakes, 6 semi-resting hens
- Green Winged Teal: 2 active drakes, 2 skimmer drakes, 1 resting hen, 1 dabbler hen
- Mallard: 3 active drakes, 3 semi-resting drakes, 6 semi-resting hens
- Pintail: 2 active drakes, 2 semi-resting drakes, 2 semi-resting hens
- Wood Duck: 2 active drakes, 2 skimmer drakes, 2 semi-active hens


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Skip to content
Key resources
Department of Health and Ageing
Canberra, ACT
This resource contains a DVD and handbook produced by MindMatters, a mental health promotion program for secondary schools. The DVD and handbook focus on key issues related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students' health and wellbeing, including:
There are six sections in the DVD, four of which include films based on real life stories from Australian schools. The handbook aims to encourage discussion on each of the sections of the DVD.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract
This resource is for teachers or other professionals involved with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. It was designed as a professional development tool. It can help teachers and health promotion professionals to show students and families the school and classroom behaviours that value cultural diversity.
PO Box 112
Hindmarsh SA 5007
Ph: (08) 8245 9816
Email: email@example.com
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← Public Relations
By Duncan |
Published February 16, 2017 | Full size is 341 × 682 pixels
Copyright The Startup Expert ® 2009-2017
Disclaimer: The information and services provided by the Startup Expert, and its service providers are not provided by licensed legal, accounting, or tax professionals. There is no attorney-client or accountant-client relationship between you and the Startup Expert, Inc. or any of its service providers. Reliance on the information and services is strictly at your own risk. We do not warrant the accuracy or appropriateness of the information or services for you and your business nor compliance with applicable laws and regulations.


text: The stepper is back up. Vendor troubleshot X/Y stage sub-system. After unplugging and reseating the position bus controller PCB, the X/Y stage started functioning normally. Vendor ran many performance and repro tests to confirm operation. IQC, Uniformity and hotspot tests OK. System ready for use. If there are any problems with the tool, please report them in Coral.


text:
Are Grand Slams the Toughest Tennis Test?
It's a common debate among sports fans: What's harder to win, a tennis major or a golf major? The arguments are familiar by now. Golf winners must beat everyone in the field, tennis winners just the seven players they'll face in the draw. Tennis players have to contend with the challenges posed by their opponents' games, though, while golfers are playing against the course.
As the wacky Wimbledon tournament so far shows, though, there's another open question within tennis: Are Grand Slam tournaments the hardest tournaments to win? For those top-ranked players who have managed to advance through the first, upset-filled week of this year's Wimbledon, the second week's field is easier than many other tournaments below Grand Slam-level that they've entered in recent years.


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At noon today (Friday, Aug. 30), Beloit College officials will perform a regularly scheduled test of the college's emergency alert system.
Students, faculty, and staff should receive phone, email, and text messages from the system beginning at noon and in the minutes afterward. All messages will be clearly identified as "TEST" alerts. There is no need to register for this test—contact information is automatically populated.
If you experience any problems (such as incomplete or missed messages) please email firstname.lastname@example.com with your name and a short message detailing those issues.


text:
I reckon they should copyright the mini idea and then smak apples hand as soon as they release a small iphone :)
But sounds like they did decent job !
but dont they blow up ???
While rumours of an iPhone Nano abound, anyone knocking about China or South-East Asia with a few quid spare can buy one right now. Well, up to a point. While the 'iPhone Mini' looks and feels like a Nano-style two-thirds scale iPhone -and even comes complete with an almost-Mac icon on the back - it has absolutely sod-all to do …
I reckon they should copyright the mini idea and then smak apples hand as soon as they release a small iphone :)
But sounds like they did decent job !
but dont they blow up ???
Are you watching??
A very good copy, I especially like the user-upgradable battery and the micro-SD card. With a larger screen to help keyboarding, or a palm-like pen area it could be worth it's money.
What's it like as a phone?
UK availability?
but dual sim, micro SD and replaceable battery?! Not bad. I wouldn't mind those on my iphone. It might have a slightly crappy OS, but if they delivery a software update that allows, for instance, Opera mobile and a flash plugin, they might be cooking on gas.
Come on Jobs, where's my f***ing Flash plugin?!
and all without a massive ripoff contract
Or a case mod.
Phoney phone and a phoney friend. Superb lateral thinking there in the product demonstration dept. I love it!
Ladyboys in Bangkok, what a surprise.
...are THEY real?
Paris, because I can't be sure if _hers_ are real, either.
The most important question that I can think of, that "friend" in the first picture, is that a guy or a ladyboy? Its not female it is?!
than the shit jobs has pushed out
Yay for blatant copyright infringement. All power to people who do little more than rip off someone else's idea to make a quick buck. Hooray for shoddy productry wrapped up to look like another companies product in the hope of conning some money out of the unwary.
Wait, what? You say that's supposed to be a bad thing? Oh I see, it's a bad thing /unless you're doing it to the iPhone, which we don't like/. Hmm.
Looks like a ladyboy version of Myleene Klass.
well, a fake woman anyway. oh yeah, the phones junk too...
"According to the back panel, the Mini comes with 8GB of storage but we couldn't find any way of accessing it - only the supplied 1GB SD card showing up in File Explorer"
Reminds me of a iPod I got from a street vendor while in China. Said 4GB on the box and player but was only 512MB. It was built well enough but they felt the need to falsely advertise it. Still worth the $5 though.
Maybe it was a typo or just chinglish. Like the Las Vegas DVD set, "Fast paged and sext!"
...they'd be away. Aside from the b'llocks looking UI it seems an 'ok' bit of hardware.
Does the "friend"come as an accessory ? And if so, how many of her slots are accessible ?
What about electromagnetic emissions?
The chinese do not has the same regulations (and they do not care either) we have in Europe and US.
" Come on Jobs, where's my f***ing Flash plugin?! "
Maybe it's Adobe's fault - there's no Flash plugin for any 64bit browser yet...
"after some practice we managed to finger-type with around a 60 per cent chance of getting the right letter the first time."
Sixty percent of the time - it works EVERY time!
I couldn't see one, and I gazed and gazed at it until...
To all those people speculating on the true nature of the person holding the phone.....
Read the sub-heading :)
Well a genuine Adam's Apple, anway.
It's a generic GSM phone (probably not even EDGE) with entry-level multi-meeja and a WAP browser, that's been given a nice (if somewhat derivative) UI.
Quick guys, take a patent on "a phone that looks somewhat like the iPhone, only smaller". Given the state of the US patent system, it would probably be granted. Then move your lawyers to Texas and wait.
Would get one if it didn't look like the iPhone (ugly design).


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Feed the Babies
Susan C. Nicholson, MD and
Mark S. Schreiner, MD, Associate Professors of Anesthesiology University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine,
Senior Anesthesiologists The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Breastfeeding Abstracts, August 1995, Volume 15, Number 1, pp. 3-4.
Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents is a potentially life-threatening complication of general anesthesia. In an attempt to minimize the volume of the gastric residual, a preoperative fast for eight or more hours prior to induction of anesthesia was adopted. Infants are a subgroup of children for whom objective hemodynamic or metabolic benefit is likely to be demonstrated by shortening the duration of the preoperative fast. For aspiration to occur, gastric contents capable of producing parenchymal lung damage must be regurgitated and then aspirated. Vomiting is a complex physiologic process that is often preceded by reflux of small intestinal contents back into the stomach by a process known as retrograde giant contraction. Patients with little or no gastric fluid in their stomach at the time of induction of anesthesia may vomit a considerable volume, and patients with an initial acidic gastric pH may vomit fluid which has been neutralized by the addition of small bowel contents. Conditions which increase the likelihood of regurgitation include pregnancy, obesity, gastrointestinal motility problems, emergency surgery, and full stomach.
Patients have been defined as at risk if they have a residual gastric fluid volume which exceeds 0.4 mL/kg with a pH below 2.5 units at the time of the aspiration. These risk factors were extrapolated from unpublished data obtained in a study of rhesus monkeys where an aliquot of acidic fluid was instilled directly into the right bronchus of the subject.1 A subsequent study in the same model showed that a minimum of 0.8 mL/kg of acidified gastric fluid was required to produce pneumonia resulting in mortality.2 Both volumes represent the amount of fluid instilled into the lung, and not the fluid contained in the stomach.
Although the association of low pH gastric fluid with development of acid pneumonitis syndrome can be documented in humans, there are no data to validate the residual gastric fluid volume cited. It is not possible to define the minimum volume that a patient must aspirate before manifesting sequelae of aspiration. This, coupled with the fact that residual gastric fluid is but one component of the potential volume available for regurgitation/aspiration, makes suspect the custom of declaring patients at risk of developing aspiration pneumonia based, all or in part, on their residual gastric fluid volume.
In pediatric patients, the low incidence of acid aspiration syndrome,3 despite the fact that most children, even after a prolonged fast, exhibit a large acidic residual gastric fluid volume4 casts further doubt on the utility of these criteria. The understanding that, unlike solids which are emptied slowly from the stomach in a linear fashion, clear liquids are emptied exponentially with a half-time of 10-20 minutes,5 prompted anesthesiologists to reappraise the preoperative feeding practices in children. Between the late 1980s and early 1990s, a series of studies compared the acidity and volume of the residual gastric fluid in children who were either fasted in a conventional fashion or mandated to ingest clear liquids as close as 2 hours prior to induction of anesthesia. A limited number of children with a wide range in age, physical status, and in-patient status were studied. No attempt was made to correlate residual volume or pH with the incidence of aspiration. The data showed no evidence that clear liquids consumed up to 2 hours before induction of anesthesia adversely affect either the volume or acidity of residual gastric fluid compared with the gastric content of those fasted for longer intervals. Despite the study limitations, these findings resulted in many anesthesiologists liberalizing the preoperative feeding guidelines to allow children to drink clear liquids up to 2 hours prior to induction.6
In general, this change appears to be safe, with no increase in the incidence of aspiration and a more pleasant preoperative experience for both patients and their families. However, many infants refuse clear liquids when offered for the first time, especially those who are exclusively breastfed. In addition, little data exists on the rate of gastric emptying of breast milk in infants.
Assessing gastric emptying by repeated measure of intracastric volume reported that gastric emptying was more rapid when infants were fed with human milk than when they were fed infant formula.7 Other data showed that three hours after the test meal, 75 percent of infants fed breast milk had entered the fasting state compared with only 17 percent of those ingesting formula.8 Litman, et al. compared the volume and acidity of residual gastric fluid volume in patients under 1 year of age who were either fed clear liquids or nursed in close proximity to induction of anesthesia.9 No differences between the clear-liquid and breast-fed groups were demonstrated for either residual volume or pH.
The authors tracked the number of infants with a residual gastric fluid volume of >1 mL/kg. Significantly more of the breastfed infants met this arbitrary criterion, prompting the investigators to terminate the study. Litman recommended that breastfeeding should be terminated 3 hours prior to induction, compared to 2 hours prior for clear liquids. This study, like those preceding it, suffers from conclusions which are not drawn from the incidence of aspiration pneumonitis, but from the measurable variables of volume and acidity. The study poses two additional questions. First, are we prepared to adopt a new arbitrary gastric volume which places a child at risk without coexisting conditions that predispose the child to pulmonary aspiration? Second, are there sufficient data to define the safe fasting interval for breast milk? The incidence of both risk factors were the same for both groups of infants in Litman's study. If one agrees with previous studies, it is possible to conclude that infants should be allowed to ingest either clear liquids or breast milk up to 2 hours prior to induction of anesthesia.
Considering the small sample size, a more conservative approach might be to recommend cessation of breastfeeding sooner until more data are available. Once sufficient clinical experience has been accumulated for each fasting interval, then it will be possible to determine whether this practice is safe. However, the failure to show a change in the incidence of aspiration pneumonitis in children allowed clear liquids ad libitum as close as 2 hours prior to induction of anesthesia suggests that even less restriction in feeding guidelines may be possible. To precisely define the safe duration of fast for children, it is important not only to focus on gastric volume, but also to pay close attention to the factors known to be related to pneumonitis.
1. Roberts, R. B. and Shirley, M. A. Reducing the risk of acid aspiration during Cesarean section. Anesth Analg 1974; 53:859-68.
2. Raidoo, D. M., Rocke, D. A., Brock-Utne, J. G. et al. Critical volume for pulmonary acid aspiration: reappraisal in a primate model. Br J Anaesth 1990,65:248-50.
3. Tiret, L., Nivoche, Y., Halton, F. et al. Complications related to anaesthesia in infants and children. Br J Anaesth 1988; 61:263-69.
4. Cote, C. J., Goudsouzian, N. G., Liu, L. M. P. et al. Assessment of risk factors related to the aspiration syndrome in pediatric patients' gastric pH and residual volume. Anesthesiology 1982; 56:70-2.
5. McClelland, G. R., Sutton. J. A. Epigastric impedance: a non-invasive method for the assessment of gastric emptying and motility. Gut 1985; 26:607-14.
6. Martin. T. M. and Zagnoev, M. B. NPO guidelines at twenty-four North American pediatric hospitals [abstract]. Anesth Analg 1993; 76:S244.
7. Cavell, B. Gastric emptying in infants fed human milk or infant formula. Acta Paediatr Scand 1981; 70:639-41.
8. Tomomasa, T., Hyman, P. E., Itoh, K. et al. Gastrointestinal motility in neonates: response to human milk compared with cows milk formula. Pediatrics 1987; 80:434-38.
9. Litman, R. S., Wu, C. L., Quinlivan, J. K. Gastric volume and pH in infants fed clear liquids and breast milk prior to surgery. Anesth Analg 1994; 79:482-85.


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Norfolk-based Group Lotus announces new chief executive officer
PUBLISHED: 09:53 04 May 2014
Proton has announced the appointment of Jean-Marc Gales as the new chief executive officer of Hethel-based Group Lotus.
Gales, a Luxembourgian, holds a MSc in management from London's Imperial College, and a MSc in mechanical engineering from the University of Karlsruhe in Germany.
A known industry player, Gales has held several significant positions with numerous global automotive manufacturers.
Prior to his appointment at Lotus, a wholly owned subsidiary of Proton, Gales was CEO of the European Association of Automotive Suppliers where he played a key role in turning around the association through various strategic initiatives.
These included streamlining the working processes and increasing corporate members from 82 to 112. Gales also established a lobbying strategy with the European Parliament and European Commission.
Previously, Gales, who is married with one daughter, was president of Automobiles Citroen and Automobiles Peugeot between 2009 and 2012.
His achievements there included implementing a new brand strategy for the DS Line and introducing the Citroen DS in major markets around the world. During his tenure, the company delivered record retail sales in 2009 and 2010.
Gales' other appointments include several senior positions in Daimler AG, General Motors and Volkswagen AG.
Aslam Farikullah, current chief operating officer of Group Lotus plc, remains as member of the board of Lotus Cars Limited and will continue to contribute to the growth of the business in the future.
Proton CEO Dato' Abdul Harith Abdullah said: "This is an exciting time for Lotus, and Jean-Marc's appointment could not have come at a more appropriate time, especially taking into account our plans for Lotus. We believe that with his strong technical and managerial expertise and leadership, Jean-Marc will be able to drive the Lotus transformation plan and further enhance Lotus' business and capabilities."


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Preparation is key with potatoes
by Leanne Ely CNC
Related Articles
How to Store Potatoes
Did you know Americans eat about 140 lbs. of potatoes each year? And not just in French fries either. The truth is like almost any other food, whether a potato is healthy or not depends on how it's prepared. A hearty veggie, potatoes are high in vitamin C, potassium and are a good source of vitamin B6, fiber and antioxidants. Additionally, some promising research is showing the possibility of potato starch having prebiotic health benefits.
With all the varieties of potatoes and the many ways they can be cooked, it's easy to find a healthy way to prepare this inexpensive root veggie. To make sure you select the best potatoes, check for clean, smooth potatoes that are firm to the touch with no cuts, bruises or discolorations. Storing potatoes is simple. Just use the paper bag method; put unwashed potatoes in a brown paper bag and store in a cool, dark, dry place. But skip the fridge, this will increase their starchiness and cause a slightly sweet, off taste.
When preparing potatoes, make sure to cut away any green areas. It's still safe to eat but the green part tastes bad and can make you ill. Also cut away any sprouting areas or potato eyes before cooking. Using a veggie scrubber to wash your tater under cool running water will get it scrupulously clean.
While the most nutrition is preserved if you cook with the skin on, unless you buy organic, you might want to consider peeling it. Potatoes are on the EWP's Dirty Dozen list for most heavily sprayed produce.
As the weather gets warmer, you can bake your potatoes in a slow cooker; simply stab all over with a fork, wrap in foil and cook on high/low for 8 hours (depends on your slow cooker, which temp you choose and how heavily you load your machine!).
And after your potatoes are baked in the slow cooker, why not clean out the fridge and have a Tater Bar for dinner? You can chop those leftover veggies up, put out the remnants of sour cream, cheese and even marinated artichoke hearts. Use your imagination and enjoy!
Leanne Ely is a New York Times best selling author of Body Clutter and the popular Saving Dinner cookbook series. According to Woman's Day Magazine, she is the expert on family cooking.
Leanne's syndicated newspaper column, The Dinner Diva can be found in 250 newspapers nationwide and in Canada. Her vast broadcast experience includes media satellite tours, QVC several times as well as guesting on several national television shows, including HGTV's Simple Solutions, ABC Family's Living the Life, Ivanhoe's Smart Woman, Small Talk for Parents and Talk of the Town. She has guest chef-ed on the cooking show, Carolina Cooks and has taught cooking classes all over the country for Bloomingdale's.
In addition, she is a seasoned radio personality. Leanne's own radio show, Heart of A Woman aired during drive time in two major California markets, Los Angeles and San Diego. Her current show, The Dinner Diva is one of the top Blog Talk Radio shows on the Internet.
On the Internet, she pens the Food for Thought column for the immensely popular, FlyLady.net, with over half a million readers weekly. She has been featured in Woman's Day magazine, the Chicago Tribune, St. Petersburg Times, Orange County Register - to name a few. Additionally, she is a sought after speaker and has spoken all over the country, with keynote addresses to corporate and non-profit entities. SavingDinner.com. Visit Leanne Ely on Google+.
© 2010 Leanne Ely. Used by permission in this publication.
Share your thoughts about this article with the editor: Click Here


text: I've been extremely busy this season, and haven't been out on the motos as much as in previous years. The rides i have run, i didn't bother to write up, man, there just ain't enough time to make everything happen. When an opportunity arose to do a fly-ride-fly trip, hey, this manic adventure suits my travel style perfectly, let's do this thing. This ride entails ferrying an inmate's moto, complete with all normal travel gear, from Denver to Anchorage, an unusual assignment for sure. I fly into Denver from the Mid-Atlantic with my riding gear and a handful of personal items, pick up the bike at the airport, ride north. The bike owner will fly into Anchorage in July, then ride the same bike on a scheduled trip back down to Colorado. The bike is fully prepped and waitin' on me...except that the bike owner dude has all his own gear already strapped on the back of that thing, ain't no room for my Nespresso and Funk Chubbie. That's cool, I'm a Zen dude anyway, and Zen is number 7 on the Top Ten list of conversational subjects in Colorado. Elk hunting is number 6. 420 has been numero uno for around a hundred years. Coming soon, here we go again... RIDING TO THE MOON JUNE 2013 (to be continued...)


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Justin Timberlake has been added to the star-studded performance roster for this year's MTV Video Music Awards, alongside such previously announced acts as Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Robin Thicke and according to Stephen Colbert, Daft Punk. The show is scheduled for Aug. 25 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.
MTV News also reports that Timberlake will be honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award in recognition of his history of memorable music videos, including "Rock Your Body," "SexyBack" and "Mirrors," the latter being nominated for this year's Video of the Year (he's up for six Moonmen this year, tied with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis for the most 2013 nods). Other artists to receive the award in previous years include Britney Spears, the Beastie Boys and Duran Duran. Timberlake's videos (solo and with N'SYNC) have earned the singer a combined 14 VMAs, second only to Madonna.
Timberlake, who wraps up his Legends of the Summer Tour with Jay Z this week in Miami, took to Instagram this week (August 14) to painstakingly reveal the track list for The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2, due for release Sept. 30.
The album serves as the follow-up to his current blockbuster album, The 20/20 Experience, which debuted at No. 1 with 968,000 copies sold in its first week back in March, giving Timberlake the best opening sales week of 2013.


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DEVELOPERS behind the £70 million Arndale Centre extension this week threatened to scrap the plans if a new shopping complex at Sovereign Harbour goes ahead.
Legal and General, which owns the centre and is hoping its town centre refurbishment will get the green light later this year, told Eastbourne Borough Council planners on Tuesday night it would "pull out" if the multi million facelift at the harbour was given permission.
The row centres on Legal and General trying to impose conditions which would restrict fashion, sportswear and other popular stores from opening at the Harbour.
L&G head Simon Russian said the Harbour plans would have a "significant adverse impact" on planned investment in the town centre and predicted it "would not go forward".
• What do you think? Should it be a choice between the two? Can Eastbourne sustain two major shopping outlets? If you have to choose one, which would it be?
Comment below.


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Some Confusion Around New St. Louis Bridge
ST. LOUIS (AP) - The new Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge is open for traffic in St. Louis, but signage on the Illinois side causes some confusion.
The new bridge carrying Interstate 70 traffic opened over the weekend. It is expected to carry about 40,000 vehicles per day and reduce traffic on the Poplar Street Bridge by about 20 percent.
KMOV-TV reports that drivers trying to access the bridge on the Illinois side using the I-70 West exit noticed a "closed" sign early Monday, even though the bridge was open. The Illinois Department of Transportation said it would remove the "closed" signs.
Drivers using GPS units were also have trouble because the new bridge does not yet show up on most GPS programs.
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