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Volume 6 Number 6 February 6, 2009
The sports industry has a significant impact on Florida's economy, generating $36 billion annually and employing 400,000 Floridians around the state. This week's Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa was no exception: 100,000 visitors spent approximately $150 million on hospitality and other tourism-related activities.
That figure is actually $30 million less than what it was once predicted to be; more recent estimates were altered based on an overall decline in spending due to the nation's economy. However, it still provided a significant, much-needed economic boost to the Tampa Bay area, and it reaffirms the importance of our state's ability to attract such big-ticket events.
As we head into spring, we can also look forward to polo season, NASCAR, PGA tournaments, and spring training to stimulate local economies around the state. Next year, we can celebrate the good fortune of hosting yet another Super Bowl, this time in Miami. In these volatile economic times, it is good to know that Florida will always have one thing – ample sunshine – that continues to draw sporting events, and thus more tourism dollars, into our state.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink was honored during the Palm Beach Voters Coalition Annual Dinner at the Marriott West Palm Beach. Fellow Cabinet members Attorney General Bill McCollum and Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson were also recognized.
The Voters Coalition is a 26-year-old, non-partisan Palm Beach County citizens organization dedicated to reducing apathy and involving people in the political process. They are respected for their interest in good government and for their objectivity as they strive to make people familiar with their government, the issues and officials.
CFO Sink was presented with a plaque inscribed, "In grateful appreciation for your dedicated and devoted public service to the citizens of Florida. We salute the civic and financial leadership you demonstrate. Your diligence, expertise and integrity as a champion for fiscal responsibility and accountability have earned the respect of your peers."
On Tuesday, CFO Sink was the featured speaker for the Academy at FSU's Noon Lecture Series. The Academy is an academic program for mature learners in conjunction with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida State University.
Addressing the topic "Financial Challenges Facing Florida and Floridians," CFO Sink spoke to the crowd of about 70 attendees about the state of the state's economy. She noted the many challenges and tough decisions by state leaders in the wake of the 8.1 percent unemployment rate and plunging state revenues, and discussed the negative impact of draining trust funds as a means of balancing the budget.
CFO Sink also spoke about many of the consumer outreach programs happening in the Department of Financial Services that are especially important in times of economic downturn, including the Safeguard our Seniors (SOS) Task Force and the Florida Financial Action Team (FACT).
She encouraged attendees to check out www.FLTreasureHunt.org to see if they may have unclaimed property, which prompted one of the audience members to share her success story: after checking the Web site and discovering that she had unclaimed funds, the state mailed the woman a $1,000 check.
In the Q&A portion of the program, many of the attendees showed their concern for State Farm Florida's recent decision to discontinue writing homeowners policies to Floridians. CFO Sink answered their questions and also referred them to the Department of Financial Services' Web site for additional information.
State Fire Marshal Alex Sink would like you to know more about smoke alarms. Simply put, smoke alarms save lives and they should be in every home. They are instrumental in preventing injuries and minimizing property damage by detecting and alerting residents to fires early in their development. A person is twice as likely to die in a house fire if the home does not have working smoke alarms.
Here are some important smoke alarm safety measures to protect your home and family:
Recently, there have been questions as to whether ionization or photoelectric smoke alarms are more effective. Here is a list of the pros and cons of owning either type of smoke detector.
It is important to keep in mind that the best evidence has always indicated that either type of smoke alarm will provide sufficient time for escape for most people for most fires of either smoldering or flaming type.
(Source: www.nfpa.org/smokealarms)
James King, a Sarasota homeowner, is one of more than 26,000 Floridians whose home has been strengthened to better withstand hurricane damage with grant funds through the My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program. The MSFH program has provided nearly 400,000 free wind inspections and approved nearly 39,000 grants to help homeowners harden their homes against hurricanes.
"We feel fortunate to have this grant and to have established a safer residence which not only benefits us but everyone else living within our community and in the state," said King in a letter to Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, whose department oversees the program.
"State lawmakers created the MSFH program to help Floridians better protect their property and families against catastrophic storms and financial devastation," said CFO Sink. "In two years, we have achieved this goal and more by fostering a culture of mitigation in our state."
In 2007, the Florida Legislature directed the MSFH program to inspect at least 400,000 site-built, single-family, residential properties and provide grants to at least 35,000 qualified homeowners by June 30, 2009. The first-come, first-serve program received over 425,000 requests for the free wind inspection.
To date, over 391,000 Floridians have received a free wind inspection and report through the MSFH program. The free report suggests ways homeowners can harden their homes against storm damage and details if they are eligible to save money on their wind insurance premiums. Of homes inspected, approximately 56 percent of homeowners were eligible for an average savings of $220 on their hurricane insurance. The MSFH program expects to inspect 400,000 homes by March 1, 2009.
"We knew homeowners would be eligible for insurance discounts on their wind insurance premiums if they took steps to harden their homes," said CFO Sink. "But we were delighted to find more than $46.9 million in potential insurance savings for Floridians based on the current structure of their homes. During these difficult economic times, an extra $220 in your pocket can go a long way."
Chris Peeke, who lives in Lakeland, shared this comment about the inspection he received: "As a result of the My Safe Florida Home program, my more than $2,700 insurance premium was reduced . . . which will certainly help in our troubled economic times."
To date, the MSFH program, with assistance from local governments and non-profits, has approved nearly 39,000 homeowners for mitigation grants. Of those approved, 26,383 homes have been strengthened with grant funds totaling $88 million.
CFO Sink has detailed the results of the MSFH Program in an annual report submitted to the Legislature today. For more information about the program or to obtain a copy of the annual report, log on to www.MySafeFloridaHome.com/education.asp.
With the economy down, staged accidents may be on the rise as some Floridians are tempted by fraud scams promising extra bucks. But Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who oversees the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and Division of Insurance Fraud, warns that planning or participating in a staged accident can cost you more than you bargain for-- a minimum two-year prison sentence for starters.
CFO Sink on Friday reminded Floridians that they can actually earn more money reporting these scams than participating in them.
"If you are approached to participate in a staged accident, think before you act, and then call us," said CFO Sink. "Fraud drives up the cost of insurance for all of us, and Florida's families don't need any extra financial burdens. If you provide information that leads to an arrest and conviction, you could make up to $25,000 – a lot more than you could ever make in one of these dangerous schemes."
The department offers a reward of up $25,000, based on how much was or could have been stolen in a reported scheme, if the information leads directly to an arrest and conviction. Since the inception of the reward program in 1999, $201,000 has been paid in rewards, more than half of that for reported Personal Injury Protection (PIP) fraud schemes involving $10.5 million in potential insurance losses.
A typical scheme involves participants staging an accident to send "patients" to medical clinics in order to collect PIP insurance payments from insurance companies. CFO Sink's Division of Insurance Fraud, a statewide law enforcement agency, has made nearly 1,500 PIP fraud-related arrests since 2003 and won nearly 1,000 convictions.
In late January, four Palm Beach County men were arrested on eight counts each of Insurance Fraud, eight counts of Third-Degree Grand Theft, and one count of Staging an Accident, a second-degree felony. Nidal Jaber rented a U-Haul and is accused of enlisting three other men to participate in a 2006 staged accident. Jaber was charged on December 12, 2008, at the Dade County Jail, where he was already in custody. DFS Detective Vista Beasley arrested the other participants: Charles Camacho on January 22, 2009, William Resnick on January 26, 2009, and Alexander Garcia on January 27, 2009. More than $38,500 in insurance payments were issued on the fraudulent claims. If convicted on all charges, they each face a minimum of two years and as many as 15 years in prison. The investigation continues into other accidents Jaber allegedly organized.
Also late last month, DFS detectives arrested Gerardo Melenez for his involvement in a 2006 staged accident. Melenez, a paralegal, worked with a clinic owner who recruited participants for a staged accident. Melenez is accused of directing participants on how to discuss their injuries with the insurance company and clinic. More than $298,000 in false claims were filed for PIP, bodily injury and property damage. DFS detectives previously arrested Melenez in June 2007 as part of Operation TGIF, and he is still pending trial on those charges, which included conspiracy to commit racketeering. He now faces a minimum of two years and as many as 25 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Insurance fraud is estimated to cost the average Florida family as much as $1,400 a year. To report insurance fraud, Florida residents should call 1-800-378-0445, out-of-state residents should call 1-850-413-3261, or log onto https://secure.fldfs.com/fraud/nonIndustryRSF.asp.
DFS investigates various forms of fraud in insurance, including health, life, auto, property and workers' compensation insurance, and according to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, leads the nation in the recovery of insurance fraud-related losses through court-ordered restitution. In the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2008, cases presented for prosecution by DFS' Division of Insurance Fraud resulted in $94 million in court-ordered restitution, more than five times greater than the operating budget allocated for the division.
On January 29, CFO Sink spoke at the Urban land Institute Southwest Florida Chapter's 12th Annual Winter Institute. Approximately 250 professional and political leaders attended the half-day program, which featured trends and directions in real estate development as explored by experts from around the country.
In tune with the theme "Forward Steps to a Fantastic Future," CFO Sink suggested ideas including re-thinking land use policies as well as considering new affordable housing options. She also stressed the need for reducing the state's exposure to risk from the CAT fund and Citizens' property insurance.
Florida CFO Alex Sink, speaking to the Ft. Myers Chamber of Commerce at Florida Gulf Coast University, encouraged local leaders to continue making diversifying their economy a priority. CFO Sink congratulated Lee County's leaders for the strides they've made in moving away from a real estate and construction economy.
"Your recently announced Financial Incentives for Recruiting Strategic Targets, or FIRST program is evidence of the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit needed to reinvent Florida's economy and prepare our state for opportunity when the economy turns around, " CFO Sink told the audience.
The FIRST program is a $25 million investment in bringing high-tech, high wages jobs to Lee County and will complement the work being done at FGCU. The university recently brought online a solar farm large enough to provide nearly all of the electricity needed to run FGCU, a first in Florida's university system.
CFO Sink also congratulated the group on the news that the Boston Red Sox have selected the area for a summer training facility. "This is good for tourism and that means it's good for Lee County and good for Florida," CFO Sink added.
Senate Bill 44A requires the Chief Financial Officer "consider methods to ensure that state agencies receive the maximum amount of federal funds to which the state is entitled based on the services it currently provides" and also requires state agencies to review their operations to ensure that the state maximizes its receipt of federal funding.
An initial report is due to the Legislature by March 3, 2009. Click here to read the attached letter from CFO Sink to Florida's agency heads, asking for information regarding agency programs receiving federal funding.
Florida CFO Alex Sink joined Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez, Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Rundle, leaders of the South Florida Chambers of Commerce and local business leaders for an economic summit on bolstering the area's sluggish economy in the current economic downturn.
In remarks to the group, CFO Sink reinforced the contributions of entrepreneurs and people with dreams of building their own businesses, in the growth and development of Miami and all of South Florida.
"Miami and South Florida are Florida's gateway to international trade and investment," said CFO Sink. "This important part of our state has always drawn people here for its natural beauty, diverse culture and ability to support 'serial entrepreneurs.' The key to our recovery is reinventing Florida once again, and Florida's business leaders are just the folks for the job."
On left, Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Rundle and CFO Alex Sink.
CFO Sink also told the assembled group that the challenges of the global economic slowdown and its impact on Florida make it imperative for them to work together and communicate with their elected officials at all levels about prioritizing how tax payer dollars are spent to stimulate the economy.
State Farm Florida risks insolvency if it continues writing property insurance here, according to what company executives told the House Insurance, Business & Financial Affairs Policy Committee on Tuesday.
The insurance company told Florida policyholders last month that it planned to leave the property market in Florida, canceling business with some 1.2 million customers over the next two years.
The attached letter from CFO Sink to State Farm Florida urges the company to let its insurance agents have the ability to place policyholders with any licensed property insurance company for which the agent has an appointment.
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) today released a report
In its simplest terms, STOLI is a plan to coax or entice someone to apply for a life insurance policy using fraudulent means for the benefit of speculators who seek to profit by purchasing a life insurance policy on a stranger. Most STOLI transactions involve seniors, who can be victimized by participating in these transactions.
"STOLI schemes often rely on misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts in the life insurance application," said Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty. "There are undisclosed risks to our seniors who participate in these transactions."
Three critical ways in which Florida seniors may be adversely impacted include the following:
In a traditional life insurance purchase, an "insurable interest" exists between the policyholder and the policy's named beneficiaries. For example, an individual has an insurable interest in his own life, in that of his spouse, and in that of his business partner.
To the contrary, in a STOLI transaction, there is no insurable interest. Seniors are induced to purchase the life insurance, usually receiving some incentive, often a cash payment for buying the policy. In most cases, the "stranger" even pays the premium for the policy. Under the STOLI agreement, the policy is later "sold" to the stranger, who is paid the proceeds of the policy upon the death of the insured.
STOLIs often are viewed as being similar to viatical settlements; and in many ways they are, except that in a viatical settlement, the policy is initially purchased in good faith. A legitimate insurable interest existed at the time the policy was purchased.
The Office held a public hearing Aug. 28 to solicit comments that served as an important foundation for this report and the legislative suggestions. A copy of the hearing transcript is included with the report.
For a complete look at the Office's efforts on the STOLI issue, please visit our Web site at: http://www.floir.com/stoli.aspx.
About the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) has primary responsibility for regulation, compliance and enforcement of statutes related to the business of insurance and the monitoring of industry markets. The Office protects Florida consumers through regulatory oversight of: insurance company solvency, policy forms and rates, market conduct performance and new company entrants to the Florida market. For more information about the Office, please visit www.floir.com
Buy your tickets early to save. Book at least two weeks ahead, preferably three, and at least 30 days for international flights.
Be flexible with your travel dates. A day or two leeway on each end of your trip can save you money. Booking services vary in the ability to consider flexible days, so check around.
Mid-week can find a cheaper fare. Weekend flights are usually more expensive because most people are flying on the weekends.
Using a nearby airport sometimes gets you cheaper airfares.
Check the round-trip price even if you're flying one-way. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy a round trip than a one-way. But make sure that the return leg is the one you may not use - your ticket may be cancelled if you no-show for the first flight.
Avoid busy holiday dates. When the most people are traveling, the fares are most expensive.
Web sites search and display in different ways. When the round-trip is bundled, it is more difficult to choose the time of day you would like to travel. Choosing each part of the trip on its own is an easier way to plan.
Look at all of the Web search sites to find your perfect plans. And remember that the airlines' own Web sites are competitive these days, which make frequent flier miles easy.
Last week's e-tip provided some basics on composting. This week's article addresses where to locate a pile and how to start a successful pile.
Remember, if you mix the right combination of 25 parts of "brown stuff" to one part of "green stuff" the organic matter will rot. However, a well-chosen and correctly sized site and will speed up the process. The main thing you should consider is finding a level, well-drained area. You want to build the pile over soil or lawn rather than concrete or asphalt . This will give you the advantage of earthworms and beneficial microbes that will migrate up and down the pile, depending on the season. Although most of Florida doesn't experience freezing temperatures, having a black bin can help trap solar radiation during any cold snap. Keeping your pile higher in the winter also helps retain the heat generated from decomposition.
Composting can range from passive, where you allow the materials to sit and rot on their own, to highly managed, where you intervene in the process to speed up decomposition. An eager gardener may choose to intervene to get good soils for the garden while a family wanting to get rid of kitchen scraps and be environmental may choose the passive approach. The eager gardener will want to turn the pile occasionally to provide air, will want a thermometer to determine whether the pile is too hot or cold, and will want to water the pile to keep the right amount of moisture. Tending to the compost pile in this way as well as adding new shredded organic materials regularly, can produce compost in as little as three to four weeks. On the other hand, a passively maintained compost pile can take between one to two years to create humus. But so long as new material is always being added, even with a passive pile, once you get the pile going you should produce a few cubic feet of compost yearly.
Irrespective of which method of composting is used, the composted material will be available at the bottom of the bin or pile. When it's ready, shovel the bottom section into a wheelbarrow and add it to your garden beds for a wonderful, free addition to your soil!
Some of America's most cash-strapped taxpayers – those from low- and moderate-income families – spent about $900 million in the latest year recorded for what is almost always an unnecessary product: the so-called "refund anticipation loan" at income tax time.
With the opening of another tax season, consumer advocates at the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and Consumer Federation of America (CFA) are warning taxpayers to steer clear of refund anticipation loans (RALs), one of the most avoidable tax-time expenses.
New figures reveal that RALs drained the refunds of 8.67 million American taxpayers in 2007, costing them $833 million in loan fees, plus over $68 million in other fees. In addition, another 11.2 million taxpayers spent $336 million on related financial products to receive their refunds.
RALs are bank loans secured by the taxpayer's expected refund -- loans that last about seven to 14 days until the actual IRS refund repays the loan. That's a good indication of just how needless most RALs are: Most taxpayers could have their refund in two weeks or less without the costly loan.
To get your refund fast, file electronically and have your refund direct deposited to your own bank account, Generally you will receive your refund this way within eight to 15 days.
Using the most recent data available from the IRS, NCLC and CFA calculate that about 8.67 million taxpayers received RALs in the 2007 tax filing season (for tax year 2006). For that year alone, about one in 15 tax returns involved a RAL.
In addition, 11.2 million taxpayers received a refund anticipation check (RAC) in 2007, at a cost of about $336 million. Taxpayers who have a bank account can avoid the expense of a RAC (generally about $30) by having their refunds direct deposited into their account, which is just as fast. H&R Block customers who received the Block Emerald Card in a prior year can have their refunds direct deposited onto those cards, and avoid a RAL or RAC.
With RACs, the bank opens a temporary bank account into which the IRS direct deposits the refund check. After the refund is deposited, the bank issues the consumer a check and closes the temporary account. Also, if a taxpayer's RAL application is rejected, the taxpayer is automatically given an RAC at a cost of $30 or so, even though the taxpayer may not have asked for it.
How much will taxpayers pay if they get a quickie tax loan? The price of a RAL includes several components –
A loan fee ranging from $34 to $130, which is usually broken down into a "Refund Account" fee and a "Bank Fee." Some tax preparers may charge one or more separate add-on fees, sometimes called "application," "administrative," "e-filing," "service bureau," "transmission," or "processing" fees. Add-on fees can range from $25 to several hundred dollars. Add-on fees are not charged by H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt or Liberty Tax.
In general, the effective annual interest rate (APR) for a RAL can range from about 50 percent to nearly 500 percent. If a $40 add-on fee is charged and included in the calculation, the effective APRs range from about 85 percent to nearly 1,300 percent.
RAL loan fees can vary significantly. H&R Block and JPMorgan Chase generally have lower RAL fees. In fact, they claim that these loans bear an effective APR of 36 percent, which is the traditional small loan rate cap in many states. However, these figures do not include the "Refund Account" fee, which they claim is for the temporary account into which the taxpayer's refund is later deposited to repay the RAL. If the Refund Account Fee is included, it more than doubles the APR.
Nonetheless, there are some real and significant price differences between various RAL outlets. For example, a RAL in the amount of $3000, which is typical, costs from $62 to $110. Taxpayers should avoid RALs in the first place; but if they insist on getting one, they should shop around for RAL costs before selecting a commercial preparer.
Tax preparers and their bank partners also offer an "instant" same day RAL for an additional fee, from $25 to $55. Some of the APRs for an instant RAL of around $1,500 are 185 percent (Block) and 211 percent (Chase).
Finally, consumers who do not use one of the commercial chains should also ask if the preparer charges any add-on fees. Mystery shopper testing conducted during the 2008 tax season revealed that some independent preparers charge several add-on fees for both RALs and RACs. One preparer charged $324 in add-on fees; several others charged $45.
Last year, we reported the demise of "pay stub" and "holiday" RALs. These were RALs made prior to the tax filing season, before taxpayers received their IRS Form W-2s and could file their returns. Unfortunately, this demise was short-lived. Both H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt are promoting loans made before the tax season based on anticipated refunds.
Jackson Hewitt's version is called the iPower Line of Credit, up to $500, issued by MetaBank. MetaBank charges a 1.5% fee for the first advance from the line, and a 10 percent charge per advance thereafter, plus 18 percent periodic interest. If a taxpayer borrows the entire $500 in the first advance, she would be charged a $57.65 fee. If the iPower loan is repaid in one month, the total fee would be $65.15. A one month, closed-end loan with the same loan amount and fee would have an APR of 177 percent.
H&R Block's version uses its Emerald Advance Line of Credit. This is a line of credit that Block had offered previously to its Emerald Card customers, and is available for some customers on a year-round basis, for up to $1,000. This year, however, Block explicitly promoted the Emerald Advance as a tax-related pre-season loan and made it available to new customers. The Emerald Line of Credit carries an interest rate of 36% plus an annual fee of $45. For a $500 advance repaid in one month, the total fee is $60. A one month, closed-end loan with the same loan amount and fee would have an APR of 158%, if the annual fee were to be included in the finance charge (which Truth in Lending does not require). If however, the borrower keeps the line open after tax season, the interest rate is lowered to 9 percent, but requires either payroll direct deposit to Block's Emerald Card or a savings account linked to the card.
RALs based on pay stubs present risks to taxpayers, because they are based on estimated tax returns before the taxpayer receives final tax information from a W-2. For example, before filing the tax return, the preparer will not have any information if the IRS is planning to seize all or part of the taxpayer's refund to pay a child support or student loan debt. H&R Block does state that it conducts underwriting for its loans based on considerations other than the estimated refunds.
In addition, Jackson Hewitt in the past appeared to force pay stub RAL borrowers to return to the same office to have their taxes prepared, preventing these taxpayers from going to competitors or seeking free volunteer assistance. The MetaBank agreement appears to assume the taxpayer will return to Jackson Hewitt for tax preparation and requires the borrower to have her RAL, RAC or tax refund loaded onto the iPower card. In addition, Jackson Hewitt may be charging a $25 or $35 "tax planning fee" for iPower loans.
NCLC and CFA issued a report on pay stub RALs in November 2006, entitled Pay Stub and Holiday RALs: Faster, Costlier, Riskier in the Race to the Bottom.
NCLC and CFA will be publishing their annual comprehensive report on the RAL industry, regulation, and litigation later in February 2009. The report will be available on NCLC's website at www.consumerlaw.org or on CFA's website at www.consumerfed.org.
National Consumer Law Center® is a non-profit organization specializing in consumer issues on behalf of low-income people. NCLC works with thousands of legal services, government and private attorneys, as well as organizations, who represent low-income and elderly individuals on consumer issues.
CFA is a nonprofit association of some 300 pro-consumer groups, with a combined membership of 50 million people. CFA was founded in 1968 to advance consumers' interests through advocacy and education.


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|2007-01-12, 10:26
|Link #46
Join Date: Apr 2003
I know it's been said before, but wow... some people sure can't come up with an original story for their life. Can see ghosts from a young age ... sudden meeting with a monster slayer named RUCHIA? ..................... Let me guess, there are 13 monster-slaying teams? ;p
And Bleach isn't even that good >.>
|2007-01-12, 10:28
|Link #47
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Tokyo, Japan
My summary and screencaps. I thought it reminded me more of Utena, D.Grayman and Bleach. It was nothing spectacular, but I guess we'll have to keep watching.
|2007-01-12, 15:01
|Link #48
Not dead. Yet.
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: UK
I tend to agree with Wrex's take on the first episode. Okay but nothing spectacular. I quite enjoyed it though, even it's not my usual sort of thing. However if they keep the fanservice (and the yuri) to a minimum as they have done I might end up following it. At the very least Lucia is quite fascinating with that eye-patch and revolver. Newcomer Ayahi Takagaki as Sumire impressed me considering it's her first major role. She reminds me considerably of Kaori Nazuka i.e. bundles of exurberance coupled with a decent range. I wondering how she would fare as she's also in Deltora Quest but has done little else to speak of. She handled the switch from bimbo to demonic quite well I thought.
As for the animation, well it was a bit ropey to begin with but improved toward the finale. I was interested to see what Studio Hibari would do with this and they didn't do a bad job all told. Same can be said of the music by Hikaru Nanase who people may know from the Noein's excellent sountrack; there was one or two nice tracks to be heard which is another plus. And I like the ED, by the same group that did the Innocent Venus OP.
|2007-01-12, 15:57
|Link #49
~ You're dead ^__^* ~
Graphic Designer
well well i was looking forward for this and it did quite well on first impressions okey so its a slow start but its clearly an intro for the characters and that is forgiven ^_^
have to say that yea the animation looks a bit "old" imo ~ unlike the OP i find that the colours are rather dull (in a sense the brightness isnt there) ~
about the plot ~ it has potential and things might go darker than what they first seem to be ~
good overall impression
|2007-01-12, 16:25
|Link #50
"Show it to me"
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: In solitude, where we are least alone
Hm, when I first watched it, I get the feeling I'm watching Rozen Maiden and D. Gray-man mixed together or something. Ah, that's probably just me. Anyway, the main character Lucia is cool especially her get up. Lol! I knew there's something special why she had that eyepatch on Happens always no? Well, wel'll see when the subs were out
|2007-01-12, 16:33
|Link #51
Yuuki Aoi
Join Date: Jul 2004
This is not the genre of show I will keep watching, but I thought the first episode was pretty good. I liked being thrown into the action and forced to figure things out as I went along. I liked the character design. The monsters were as well done as monsters can be (I don't do monsters).
And I liked the voice acting. I thought both Chihara Minori and the newcomer, Takagaki Ayahi, were good. I also liked Tsuji Ayumi (who plays Rose in Red Garden) as Lola, the apparent servant girl. The first victim, Mochizuki Hisao, a well-known second-tier seiyuu who played little Princess Valkyrie, was also pretty striking.
By the way, I double-checked the on-screen credits, and it's Minorin playing Sumire so well and the newcomer playing Lucia (also quite well).
|2007-01-12, 16:46
|Link #52
Not dead. Yet.
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: UK
|2007-01-12, 23:28
|Link #53
Join Date: Aug 2004
Age: 31
Nope, Ayahi's definitely Lucia. You can tell Minori's the one playing Sumire since she sounds a lot like her pre Yuki Nagato roles.
I think a lot of people might be mixing the two up, or getting it completely wrong for Lucia's seiyuu for the very fact that Ayahi Takagaki is so new, but at the same time, doesn't have that much of a "newbie" voice -- everyone's thinking that they've heard her somewhere, but in actuality, probably hasn't. I.. think that speaks good of her ability? (maybe. )
And on a totally unrelated note, Sonhex, I've been dying to know where your icon came from. You must tell me. It would make me happy.
|2007-01-13, 03:17
|Link #54
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Monterrey, México
Age: 37
Venus Versus Virus - First Impressions
I have to thank wrex_japan, since his blog for episode one came as a handy lifesaver because I watched the first episode without subtitles.
Episode 01 - Blue Invitation.
I'm very excited how the first episode gave just a little need to introduce all the main cast and supporter characters, and then taking off right into starting the plotline.
I do agree with wrex_japan, Lucia's eye pays a similar function as to Allen's cursed eye to detect Viruses residing within human hosts, and given that Lucia collapsed after using her eye that could mean that the using the eye pays a strain on her body.
The Virus do also function on a similar premise to the Hollows in Bleach and just as they're also souless spirits like the latter.
Sumire's wild mode when she's become an anti-Virus Vaccine draws some similarities with Ichigo's berserk Hollow self, since both quickly become obsessed with a penchant for bloodlust and violence. The climatic difference resides that in Sumire's case her wild self can only be triggered by the special vaccine bullets that Lucia shots at her whereas Ichigo's Hollow side manifests when he's at the verge of death. Additionally, Sumire can submit the wild side with relative ease whereas Ichigo has to put up a good warfight to regain control from his inner Hollow.
They are even more similarities to Bleach, because given Lucia's flashbacks she lost her mother to a Virus; same case with Ichigo that lost his mother to Grand Fisher Hollow.
Stopping with the Bleach slight parallels, I'm also pointing a bit of a parallel to Lucia's looks comparable to that of Barasuishou from Rozen Maiden Traümend.
The eyepatch on her left eye makes her very noticeable, and her left eye itself is greenish-golden in color.
As for the very first scene that starts the episode.
The Utena-esque elements that fill the opening theme fit with the gothic style for this series. As for the ending song, Shijun no Zankoku, both the tempo and tuning brings me memories to certain resemblance found in the ending theme to Why or Why Not for Higurashi Naku Koro Ni, as well as the soundtrack score to Shingetsutan Tsukihime.
|2007-01-13, 06:09
|Link #55
Not dead. Yet.
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: UK
|2007-01-13, 06:32
|Link #56
~ You're dead ^__^* ~
Graphic Designer
and oh yea...the end of the OP sequence where lucia has her hair down makes her look totally like bara
and i have to agree that the new comer for lucia's voice is really good O.o she sounds like quite the pro ^_^
|2007-01-13, 08:38
|Link #57
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Monterrey, México
Age: 37
Oh my! I've even drawn more similarities to Lucia and Sumire to other characters from other series.
When they were requested by the client to stop her shadow it gave me some remind of GetBackers.
I've even started to see comparisons between Lucia and Ban Mido through their looks. But how would even a slight bit of similitude between Sumire and Ginji Amano?
|2007-01-13, 15:50
|Link #58
I'm having a hard time seeing everyone's attraction to yuri. It's like something you would see on Spike TV only its in anime. Is it just for comedic value, does it turn people on, or is it something else I'm not getting. The concept is popular enough now to be identifiable as a genre and omnipresent as of now, so I must be missing something. To me what's important is the action element, but I really don't know about the yuri sub-genre being at all important. It doesn't bother me at all, but it doesn't click as something all that important either, its just there in the background like the loli's (Fun for my lolicon chicken game with a friend, think drinking game only more trying to one up each other with stories of the phenomenon getting people in trouble or crossing the line) and robots (Have a positive bias towards admittedly) and moe (okay in small doses but mind numbing if its all there is in a series). It looks like I need a policy on Yuri and fast because its coming like a deluge (poor choice of words).
|2007-01-13, 16:12
|Link #59
~ You're dead ^__^* ~
Graphic Designer
|2007-01-13, 16:23
|Link #60
Not dead. Yet.
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: UK
True, other than some imagery in the OP and ED there's no real indication of their being much yuri in this. Least for now. I'd be inclined to drop it if their were, because the story doesn't require it.
EDIT: BTW, Deathkillz well spotted about Sumire's eyes in the prologue.
Last edited by Sonhex; 2007-01-13 at 17:02.
|fantasy, shounen
|Thread Tools

subset: commoncrawl


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Asylum seeker adviser quits
ONE of Australia's leading mental health experts has quit the Gillard government's advisory council on asylum seekers and detention after more than a decade, citing plans to indefinitely deny work rights to thousands of recent arrivals as ''the last straw''.
Professor Harry Minas says the gap between his own views on how Australia should honour its international obligations and the direction of policy in recent months has simply become too wide - and continues to widen.
''If I feel that my views are so divergent from the directions that we are heading that I obviously can't be of any real use, the only reasonable thing to do in those circumstances is to resign and say I can't serve in that way,'' Professor Minas said in an exclusive interview with The Age.
He was especially disappointed at the focus on implementing measures aimed at deterring boat arrivals without all the safeguards proposed by the government's expert panel.
''The thing that is so disheartening about it is that there is no really strong principle underlying decisions,'' he said.
''We know very clearly where the Coalition stands and what they're proposing to do and, in some of the things that have happened, particularly in recent months, the current government has accepted that they are going to be no different.''
Professor Minas said the intention to deny refugees work rights under the ''no advantage'' principle was worse than the Coalition's support for temporary protection visas. ''The kind of disregard that that represents for both the wellbeing of those directly affected and the long-term consequences for them and health system is astounding.''
Professor Minas, who is the director of the Centre for International Mental Health at the University of Melbourne, told Immigration Minister Chris Bowen of his decision this week. He has also told the chairman of the council, Paris Aristotle, a member of the expert panel. Mr Aristotle said Professor Minas had made ''an outstanding contribution throughout the most difficult periods in this policy area for more than a decade''.
Although he had considered resigning several times over the years, Professor Minas said he had resisted because he felt that ''on balance'' he was able to influence outcomes for the better.
After 20 years of mandatory detention, things had only got worse, with competition between the major parties to see ''who can be the more hard-arsed'' and no suggestion there was going to be ''any really creative thinking about how to deal with a big problem''.
He said one of his major frustrations was the inconsistency between the call for regional burden sharing and moves to avoid international obligations by excising the mainland from the migration zone.
''It's treating our neighbours as if they're idiots, as if they can't see what's happening, [but] the Indonesian leadership is pretty smart.
''It's a sophisticated country. They can see what's happening very clearly.''
Another was the cost of detention. ''We spend billions of dollars on building and running detention centres. If we had spent the last 20 years on actually putting that kind of money into working on the regional approach we are talking about now, we might be well down the track.''
He welcomed additional mental health support on Nauru and at other facilities, but said: ''You create a set of arrangements that tip already vulnerable people over the edge, and then say, 'No problem, we've got a mental health team here to look after you when that happens.' It's not a sensible way to go.''
He would continue to work on the mental health of asylum seekers and on developing mental health systems in places where they did not exist, and would ''explore other ways I might be able to make a contribution''.
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Database templates have a fresh, modern look in the new Visio. In our new approach, templates focus on the on-canvas experience, which makes them great for brainstorming, free-form diagramming and collaborating on ideas.
There are four database templates: Chen's, Crow's Foot, IDEF1X and UML. Each template can be used to model a database system in a different notation. We'll describe the components of a database diagram and then cover each of the notations.
Entity Relationship Diagrams
Visio's database templates allow you to model an entity relationship diagram. The key components are:
- Entity: The entity shape is a data object. In a database, an entity is normally represented by a table. Each row in the table represents an instance of the entity.
- Attribute: An attribute shape is a property of an entity. Attributes can be used to identify an instance of an entity (called a primary key). Attributes can also be part of a related table where the shared attribute is used to join the data.
Relationship: These shapes are used together to show the structure of a database and the relationship between tables. Database diagrams can be used to design database systems or show how to query the database.
Chen's notation is brand new to Visio. This notation is commonly taught in database modeling introductory courses and appears in most textbooks. Chen's is useful for modeling the basics of entities and relationships, because it presents an abstract view of the associations. These diagrams are a good entry step to understanding the database structure, especially for basic databases or examples. This notation is also well suited for brainstorming and quick diagraming.
Entities are represented by rectangles. Attributes are circular callouts to the entities. Relationships connect the entities with a diamond shape.
Crow's Foot
Crow's Foot is the most commonly used notation. It's good for a clean look when there are many attributes, such as a model of a complex database system. Attributes are encapsulated within the entity shapes.
Relationship connectors are used to show an association between entities. Arrowheads are used to describe the cardinality of the relationship. The cardinality can be set by right-clicking on the relationship and setting the Begin and End Symbols. You can also specify the multiplicity manually for further detail. Relationships can be attached to the entire entity or to a specific attribute (for example when specifying how a join would work with a foreign key). Primary Key and Foreign Key symbols can be shown for each attribute by using the right-click menu.
Tip: You can show the attribute type in Crow's Foot and IDEF1X notation by selecting "Show Type" in the right-click menu of the entity shape.
Crow's Foot uses the Visio list shapes to organize attributes within an entity. This method is also used in IDEF1X and UML database diagrams. For tips on how to use these shapes, check out the class diagram section of our article on professional, flexible and beautiful UML content.
The IDEF1X notation was developed as a result of the ICAM (integrated computer-aided manufacturing) studies. This ICAM DEFinition language is used by the U.S. Air Force as a manufacturing data-modeling tool. You can make diagrams in this notation in a similar manner as the Crow's Foot notation.
UML, the Unified Modeling Language, is a standard for object-oriented design, and it is gaining popularity as a notation for modeling databases. While UML does not have specifications for data modeling, it can be a useful tool for diagraming, especially since data from databases can be used in object-oriented programming. The UML database shapes are very similar to the UML class shapes that are used to model object-oriented classes. UML database shapes are a good way to have a consistent notation for an entire system.
Taking advantage of Visio Features
All of the database templates use core Visio features to their full potential. We have unlocked the shapes to improve the on-canvas experience as well as the extensibility options, and developers can programmatically access the shapes to build customized add-ons. It's easy to build, adjust and format directly on the canvas. You can collaborate on a design with your team using coauthoring and commenting in Visio and Visio Services.
The new Visio allows you to easily design professional looking diagrams, and the new database notations work great with our new themes. In particular, the Crow's Foot, IDEF1X and UML have embellishment levels that will change the look of the shapes with certain themes, which allows for many fresh, modern looking, customizable diagrams.


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What I'm trying to do is have a user enter a number
have the computer check to see if it is prime number. AND if it is not prime what is the next the next closest prime number. i got the figuring out the prime number part but don't know how to add in the additional info needed (the next closest prime number). Here is what I got so far
if ( n%2 == 0 ) {
# The number is even, so not prime.
else {
for ( i = 3; i < sqrt(n); 2++ ) { # Check odd divisors only
if ( n%i == 0 ) {
# The number is not prime.
# The number is prime.
Any ideas


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Gosselin: Jerry Jones has forgotten what a Super Bowl team looks like
That trip back to the Georgia Dome last weekend gave me a chance to reflect on the past.
I'm guessing it was a melancholic moment for Jerry Jones as well.
We were all in that building in January 1994 to see Jimmy Johnson win his final game as head coach of the Cowboys — a Super Bowl win against the Buffalo Bills.
The Cowboys fielded the youngest, fastest, deepest, healthiest, most talented team in all of football back then. They ranked in the league's top 10 in offense, defense and special teams. The NFL's best drafters, coaches and players all seemed to be on the Jones payroll.
Maybe that trip back to Atlanta last weekend jogged the memory of Jones as to what a championship team looks like. He could easily recall standing on that same Georgia Dome field on another Sunday night 18 years ago clutching a Lombardi Trophy.
How 'bout them Cowboys!
Was it that long ago? Eighteen years? Clearly, Jones has forgotten what a championship team looks like.
Jones said his 2012 Cowboys were a Super Bowl contender last February, repeated himself in August and again in October. I thought about the 1993 Cowboys the other night in the press box … then I watched the 2012 Cowboys on the field … and I didn't see it. Neither does reality. At the midway point of the season, the Cowboys are 3-5.
How 'bout these Cowboys?
If Jones is trying to build this team in the image of those that won Lombardi trophies for him in the past, he is failing.
Young legs delivered Jones those Lombardi trophies in the 1990s. The best players on the 1993 Cowboys were all in their 20s: Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Charles Haley. But Jones is relying on old legs in 2012. This star core is in its 30s: Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Jay Ratliff, DeMarcus Ware.
The strength of the Super Bowl champion Cowboys was the offensive line. Five different blockers went to Pro Bowls during that Super Bowl run. But offensive line is a weakness of the 2012 Cowboys. Only one starter has a possible Pro Bowl future — tackle Tyron Smith. Possible.
The Super Bowl Cowboys could run the ball. Emmitt Smith won an NFL rushing title each time the Cowboys won a Super Bowl in the 1990s. The 1993 Cowboys averaged 135 rushing yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry.
This current Cowboys team can't run the ball. On most Sundays, it hardly tries. Only four teams have called fewer handoffs than the Cowboys this season. The 2012 Cowboys average 83 rushing yards per game and 3.6 yards per carry.
The Super Bowl Cowboys had a quarterback who didn't beat himself. Aikman threw only six interceptions in 1993 and just 27 in those three championship seasons. Romo has thrown five interceptions in one game, four in another and already has 13 by this season's midway point.
The Super Bowl champion Cowboys were opportunistic on defense. Thirteen players combined for 28 takeaways in 1993. Then in the Super Bowl, safety James Washington scooped up a fumble in the opening minute of the second half and raced 46 yards for a touchdown to dramatically change the game's momentum and send the Cowboys off to that 30-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Seven defenders on the 2012 Cowboys have combined for eight takeaways by the midway point of this season. Two of them, though — Barry Church and Sean Lee — are on injured reserve.
But forget for a moment the names. Subtract the identities of those 11 Pro Bowlers and three Hall of Famers on the 1993 Cowboys from the paragraphs above. It's the style of play that matters. That team had an identity.
The Super Bowl Cowboys relied on a balanced offense that could win games either passing or running. Those were smart, disciplined teams that didn't beat themselves with penalties and turnovers. They were also opportunistic — quick to capitalize on the misfortune of an opponent.
The Super Bowl Cowboys were well-coached teams with a defensive coordinator who focused on the defense, an offensive coordinator who focused on the offense and a head coach who focused on managing the game. All three were full-time jobs and treated as such by Johnson and his staff.
There also were leaders in the locker room willing to hold their teammates accountable — the likes of a Michael Irvin, Russell Maryland and Darren Woodson. Strong accountability is the forerunner of strong performance.
When I look at the 2012 Cowboys, I see a team that lacks balance on offense with a quarterback who is too reckless with the football. I see an undisciplined team that takes too many penalties and lacks accountability. I see a team that lacks the playmaking ability late to close out games. I also see a head coach with too much on his plate.
When I look at the 2012 Cowboys, I don't see a championship team. I'm not sure what Jerry is seeing. The man who provides the vision for a franchise appears to have lost that vision.
Listen to Rick Gosselin at 10:50 a.m. Tuesdays on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310) with Norm Hitzges.
Follow Rick Gosselin on Twitter at @RickGosselinDMN


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By Chris Stults, Associate Curator of Film/Video
At any given moment between 9 am and midnight, you probably have about 30 different films to choose between at the Toronto International Film Festival. Only two days into the festival and I'm already overwhelmed. The festival is almost designed to make you feel like you should be watching something else instead of what you're watching. But, thankfully, I've already seen a number of terrific films, some of which we'll hopefully be able to bring to Columbus audiences in the coming year.
Instead of surveying the range of films I've seen so far (from documentations of cable car passengers in Nepal [lovely] to Ralph Fiennes as Charles Dickens [kind of a yawn]), I'll focus on one very special film that is one of the standouts so far.
Wexner Center visitors might recognize the name Liza Johnson. Over the past six years, we've shown her videos South of Ten, In the Air, and Karrabing! Low Tide Turning in The Box (the latter two were supported by our Film/Video Studio Program and In the Air was made in Johnson's hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio). Last year, we were proud to show her debut feature film Return as a Director's Dialogue on Art and Social Change program, with a panel featuring Johnson and moderated by WOSU's Ann Fisher.
Friday saw the world premiere of Johnson's latest film, Hateship Loveship, a sensitive adaptation of a short story by the great Canadian writer Alice Munro starring Kristen Wiig, Guy Pierce, Nick Nolte, Hailee Steinfeld, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Christine Lahti. The film deftly handles a range of complicated tones as a housekeeper, through a cruel misunderstanding, falls in love with a drug addict. It's so easy to imagine this material going wrong. It could avoid the darker aspects of the story and play everything for laughs. Or it could just revel in the humiliation of the central character (think of any random Austrian filmmaker and how wrong their treatment of this material would be). But Liza, as with Return, uses those darkest moments to revel aspects of human behavior and then passing through that to reach a place of great compassion and empathy. Johnson is telling humble stories of modest lives and imbuing them with great emotion. Her films are tributes to confused, unheroic lives that are neither the anti-heroes of the new American cinema of the 60s and 70s nor the quirky ordinary Joes of a generic Sundance film. These are people trying to make sense of how they got to where they are in their lives and where to go from there.
It's become clear that, with just two films, Johnson has become one of the most vital directors of actresses working in independent cinema today. Both of her features have offered phenomenal actresses (Linda Cardellini in Return and Kristen Wiig in Hateship Loveship) the opportunity to play the richest roles of their career to date. Wiig makes the most of her first dramatic part. Initially, she appears to be playing a more tragic version of a quintessential Kristen Wiig character, but by the end of the film, she becomes a fully realized character and woman. The film allows us to watch a character and an actress come into her own.
Johnson's talents are crafting her leading actresses' roles and performances is most notable and welcome mainly because there are so few fully realized characters for actresses. But this shouldn't cause viewers to overlook the remarkable casting that Johnson is able to create for her entire ensemble. With Michael Shannon and John Slattery in Return and now Nick Nolte, Guy Pierce, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hailee Steinfeld, and Christine Lahti in Hateship Loveship, Johnson is able to draw out lesser-seen aspects of her actors. Special notice should be made of the gentle performance that Johnson gets from Nolte. It's a type of masculinity that he can play so well but rarely gets the chance (Olivier Assayas' Clean is one of the only other examples I can think of).
It's hard to tell the trajectory of a filmmaker's career after only two films, but it's fun to let your mind wander imagining Johnson developing projects with other talented actresses who are too often typecast in limiting roles. There are so many talented comedic actresses who haven't had a chance to expand their range. How great would it be to see a future collaboration with the underappreciated Kathryn Hahn? Christina Applegate? Alia Shawkat? Maya Rudolph? Oh, how welcome would a Liza Johnson/Amy Poehler film be! Or how about dramatic actresses who still haven't been given the well-rounded part that they deserve? Jennifer Ehle is one of the most interesting and underused actresses working today. Rosemary DeWitt needs the defining role of her career. Or Melanie Lynskey.
The list could go on and on. This type of parlor game is the type of conversation prompted by the Toronto International Film Festival, where you're constantly imagining what the films you didn't see are like. Here's a toast to hypothetical films! But even more importantly, here's a toast to the wonderful films that you're so happy got made… like Hateship Loveship!


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Get in touch
| email@example.com | +44 1425 626501
Published/updated: January 2014
By Dale Vile
A great deal of attention is focused on the quality of service and risk aspects of cloud computing. But with hosted offerings still only accounting for a relatively small part of IT delivery, a bigger concern for most organisations should be the way in which application performance, availability and security challenges are quietly creeping up in the context of internal systems, sometimes without anyone even noticing.
This report is free of charge. Click above to download the PDF or view the interactive e-document.
If you experience any problems during this process please contact us at;
firstname.lastname@example.com or call +44 (0)1425 626501 / 620008
By Richard Edwards
This Temperature Check of 330 IT professionals reveals that attackers are regularly impersonating senior managers and targeting specific business departments. So, whats to be done? ...more
By Dale Vile
Over three quarters of those surveyed in a recent multi-national study said the pressure on operational processes is increasing. Is it time to step up a gear on datacentre automation? ...more
By Bryan Betts and Dale Vile
Yesterdays software delivery processes are not up to dealing with todays demands, but modernising you approach is not just about implementing Agile, even creating a DevOps culture. You need to focus on some specific, hard-core principles. ...more
By Dale Vile & Jack Vile
Cloud services are increasingly becoming part of the IT delivery mix, but a recent study of 378 senior IT professionals suggests a parallel commitment to ongoing investment in the datacentre. This in turn shines a light on the key role of modern application platforms. ...more
By Tony Lock & Dale Vile
Despite the advent to cloud computing the datacentre remains central to corporate IT. But with demands continuing to escalate, how do you ensure your infrastructure is powered robustly and efficiently? ...more
By Bryan Betts
Many are exploiting cloud computing to drive business advantage, while others are enjoying the flexibility and efficiency of DevOps. But what happens if you use both together in a coordinated manner? The answer is a significant amplification of the benefits of each. ...more


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In the Garden:
Western Mountains and High Plains
December, 2009
Regional Report
Flowering holiday plants can last well beyond the season.
Success with Holiday Plants
The holiday season comes alive with many flowering and fruiting plants, and many of them will last long after the holidays have become a memory if you are willing to give them some sensible care.
Available in shades of red, pink, white, and marbled, these are traditional favorites. Plant breeders continually develop new varieties with desirable traits, like lots of side branches and long-lasting color. Commercial growers plant these as cuttings, pinch them to encourage bushiness, treat them with growth regulators, and give them a photoperiod treatment so they're at their prime by early December.
With the proper care these new poinsettias will hold their colorful bracts into summer, well beyond their primary period of enjoyment. Keep your plant away from freezing temperatures, avoid placing it in overheated or drafty rooms, and don't allow it to become bone dry, as these conditions will shorten the poinsettia's life.
If you receive or purchase a plant with decorative foil wrap enclosing the container, poke holes in it to expose the drainage holes and allow water to drain out. Poinsettias won't tolerate wet feet.
Locate the plant where it will receive as much bright winter light as possible. A sunny window with bright, indirect light is ideal, but avoid direct sun that may fade the bracts. Keep the foliage from touching cold glass panes. Place the plant away from doors that open frequently, heating registers, fireplaces, and wood-burning stoves.
The best temperature range for the poinsettia is 65 to 70 degrees F. Water when the soil surface turns a lighter color or feels dry to the touch. After watering, remove any excess water that stands in the drainage saucer.
Cyclamen is an old-fashioned favorite that likes cool temperatures. Choose a plant with lots of buds instead of many open flowers. To prolong flowering, give the plant bright, filtered light and temperatures of about 50 to 55 degrees F. at night and 60 to 65 degrees F. during the day. Make sure the plant has good drainage and is kept uniformly moist. These plants do best with some extra humidity, so it's a good idea to place the pot on a pebble tray.
When the cyclamen has finished flowering, place it in a shady spot and allow the leaves to die back naturally. Dead stems and leaves can be gently pulled off. Keep the soil barely moist during this transition period, and don't fertilize.
In mid-June the cyclamen should be carefully re-potted in a sterilized potting mixture. Make sure to leave the upper half of the small corm above the soil level to prevent rotting. Keep the newly potted plant out of direct sunlight. Start fertilizing with a flowering plant food on a monthly basis, and keep the soil moist. In mid-September make sure the plant has cool night temperatures between 50 to 55 degrees F. to induce flowering. You can remove flower buds that form before October.
Care to share your gardening thoughts, insights, triumphs, or disappointments with your fellow gardening enthusiasts? Join the lively discussions on our FaceBook page and receive free daily tips!


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February 20, 1947: Upgraded 1947- 1/2 Crosley models are introduced., 2/20/2013, 12:00 am
Expand Messages
Reminder from: Crosley Yahoo! Group Title: February 20, 1947: Upgraded 1947- 1/2 Crosley models are introduced. Date: Wednesday February 20, 2013 Time: 12:00 am - 12:00 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time - Dublin / Edinburgh / Lisbon / London Location: Cincinnati, Ohio., CROSLEY CAR OWNERS CLUB (CCOC) - 4526 29th Avenue, Kenosha, Wisconsin 53140-3044, (262) 652-3034 Notes: A running model-year change introduces three new body colors, the jeweled 'cross' emblems in front and back, improved upholstery, and bright stainless-steel beltline trim strips. Get reminders on your mobile, Yahoo! Messenger, and email.
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Baller Boos: Meet Cam Newton's Skripperific Piece
- By Bossip Staff
3 of 9
Meet Cam Newton's New Girlfriend
If you watched the Kentucky Derby over the weekend (because, of course who wouldn't), you saw Cam Newton in the crowd enjoying the festivities. And we were also enjoying what we saw, namely his boo on his side.
Well, due to some Internet digging, it turns out the lady in question is a woman named Hazel. And guess what, she's apparently a skripper and "vixen" out of DC. And she's thickly thick thickticious. Cam sure got one. We'll see if they end up like Tyga and Chyna or Yeezy and Amber. Only time will tell.


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We have some pretty exciting news to share! We have listened to your suggestions and requests with regard to advance registration, and we are happy to announce that we have expanded Enrollment Appointments FROM 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday TO 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. seven days a week!
This means that advance registration for the Spring 2014 semester will take place over a two week period as opposed to over a four-week period, and everyone will have an opportunity to register for courses before they go home for Thanksgiving Break! Pretty cool, huh?!
If it goes well for Spring 2014 registration, we will carry this new process forward for Summer 2014 and Fall 2014 registration as well. Below are the days and times for Enrollment Appointments:
- November 4: Graduate Students and Seniors
- November 5: Seniors
- November 6-8: Juniors
- November 9-12: Sophomores
- November 13-16: Freshman
- November 16: Unclassified
For information on how to locate your Enrollment Appointment, please click here. We also encourage you to check out the Registration Information page and Schedule of Classes page for information about Spring 2014 registration.


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I've been thinking a lot about Ragu and the "crisis" it created by tweeting a video to social dads in a very offensive and spam-like way.
Having read what C.C. Chapman wrote here, here and here, as well as Adam Singer, Arik Hanson and Michael Schechter, I think everyone is missing the biggest lesson of all: Twitter is not a promotion and publicity tool. It's not a sales tool, either. It is a social tool.
Granted, I'm not sitting in the room with Ragu and its agency while they decide their strategy, but based on experience, I can make an educated guess that they likely used Klout to determine who to target with their tweets.
And what do we all know about Klout? That it is a great first step in determining influencers if you don't already know who they are. But if you're in PR and don't know who your client's or company's influencers are, shame on you! Klout is not the way to develop your list and begin to send links to those perceived influencers.
Let me show you what I mean.
This is Ragu's tweet stream the night everything broke loose:
For those of you who use Twitter, do you see the problem? For those of you who don't use Twitter, how does this make you feel?
This is akin to standing in the grocery store, seeing a man walk in—with or without kids, or even with or without a wedding ring—and saying, "Who makes dinner in your house? Mom or dad?" and then throwing a jar of Ragu at him.
Now let's say you're standing in the grocery store and you ask every man who walks in the same question while throwing a jar of Ragu at him. The first man you did this to happens to be leaving the grocery store at the same time.
How do you think he feels about you and your jar of Ragu as he hurries to his car, fearing you will accost him again? Not good. In fact, he's probably hurrying home to tell his wife, girlfriend or partner what a weird experience he and every man in the grocery store had with the people from Ragu.
Multiply that by one thousand.
Adam Singer said it best during a speech he gave this past spring: If you aren't using the tools yourself, you won't understand how to use them effectively for your client or company.
The moral of this story for businesses around the globe is that if you want to use social tools to build awareness and increase your sales, make sure you work with people who understand their use. It's easy to discover whether or not they're using the tools themselves because it's all online.
Don't just take someone's word for it. Be diligent. Find out what successes and failures he or she has had.
Companies used to hire PR firms for the relationships they had—or could easily create—with journalists. Now companies hire them for their expertise, not only in the digital world and integrating it with traditional tactics, but also in creating relationships with bloggers and influencers to match those they have with journalists.
Please make sure the experts you work with understand and have relationships with the influencers you're targeting. Also make sure they understand how to use each tool differently, but in an integrated way. That will help you avoid some of these issues.
Gini Dietrich is founder and CEO of Arment Dietrich, Inc. A version of this post originally ran on Spin Sucks.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Celiac Disease 09/30/2015This Celiac.com FAQ on celiac disease will guide you to all of the basic information you will need to know about the disease, its diagnosis, testing methods, a gluten-free diet, etc. Subscribe to Celiac.com's FREE weekly eNewsletter What are the major symptoms of celiac disease? Celiac Disease Symptoms What testing is available for celiac disease? Celiac Disease Screening Interpretation of Celiac Disease Blood Test Results Can I be tested even though I am eating gluten free? How long must gluten be taken for the serological tests to be meaningful? The Gluten-Free Diet 101 - A Beginner's Guide to Going Gluten-Free Is celiac inherited? Should my children be tested? Ten Facts About Celiac Disease Genetic Testing Is there a link between celiac and other autoimmune diseases? Celiac Disease Research: Associated Diseases and Disorders Is there a list of gluten foods to avoid? Unsafe Gluten-Free Food List (Unsafe Ingredients) Is there a list of gluten free foods? Safe Gluten-Free Food List (Safe Ingredients) Gluten-Free Alcoholic Beverages Distilled Spirits (Grain Alcohols) and Vinegar: Are they Gluten-Free? Where does gluten hide? Additional Things to Beware of to Maintain a 100% Gluten-Free Diet What if my doctor won't listen to me? An Open Letter to Skeptical Health Care Practitioners Gluten-Free recipes: Gluten-Free Recipes
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Well it was eating gluten until last Wed. Now my biggest interest is finding gluten free foods. Oh and my husband and 2 sons are quite a big interest as well.
Raleigh NC
Study For Vaccine.......help
valeriek posted a topic in Celiac Disease - Coping WithHello I have not been on for a long time so I am hoping you all can help me. I have a chance to do a study for a vaccine so I can eat normal again. I was diagnosed with blood and endoscopy. I really didn't have any symptoms. I found out by accident in 09 and have been gluten-free since. Any way....this study is for a vaccine and I would have to eat gluten cookies every other day for 4 days, then get a vaccine. Thats pretty much the gist of it. ......I think. And I get $800.00 for doing it. Can any one please tell me if this is a bad thing to do or safe or unsafe. Thank you so much for reading. Valerie
Thank you every one so much. You have all given some GREAT IDEAS and hope. Is there really a diet that will cure this? Valerie
valeriek started following GlutenFreeManna
Hi I just am a night owl. I eat the cool ranch doritos that are gluten-free. And the candy I eat is gluten-free. So the bread really is good? I bought some bread 1 time that weighed 5 pounds and horrible. I will try it. Thanks so much
My god....can i come to your house to eat? Thank you so much. You are great. Valerie
love2travel started following valeriek
valeriek started following love2travel
Thanks every one. Ok why I only eat 1 meal a day??? I am tired of eating the same crap. I want to go make a grilled cheese like normal people. When I said I dont feel any better I meant I dont feel any different. Nothing was wrong with me before. I would get occasional naus. But that is it. No symptoms. I had a endoscopy twice and blood work. I got it. I weigh 107. I want to be back at 115. But im only 5'4. I have a tiny boned family. Finish genes I guess. So here is what I eat per day..... Dinner around 10 or 11 pm..---salmon and rice, or pork chop and can of pintos, or meat patty and can of baked beans. That is my rotation. Then I eat a bowl of chex, doritos, candy bars and or chips with dip. I do take nightly walks late. ok so I am ready for help that I can really live with. Thanks so much every one for understanding.
Hey there. I had a biopsy and blood work done. What I meant was I didnt even know I this till vit. d was low. I dont feel any different is what I meant to say. Never runny poops, never any thing weird except naus. sometimes. Every thing in my house id gluten-free except my sons stuff. What healing diets are talking about? I want to do that. Do they really work? I only eat 1 meal because im tired of eating the same thing over and over.
Having A Celiac Break Down
valeriek posted a topic in Celiac Disease - Coping WithI am not out for sympathy first of all. I am having a break down. I cant do this any longer. I made a gluten-free strawberry short cake and was crap. I eat 1 meal a day. And dinner is either pork chop, salmon, or hamburger patty. I want real food. AND WHAT I DONT GET IS THE DR SAID I HAD THE WORST CASE HE HAD EVER SEEN 2 YEARS AGO. I DONT FEEL ANY BETTER!!!! What would happen if i just said screw it and ate what i wanted? My husband has no sympathy for me at all. My friends and family dont get it so they just say eat what I want. My mom was finish and always had something wrong with her stomach. She was never diagnosed. Now she has passed away. Please give me ideas someone about what the worst that could happen if I ate normal . I have dreams of eating gluten all the time. Help I cant cope any more.
Happy birthday and may God bless you today!
valeriek started following GlutenWrangler
Just letting you know I added you as a friend...now you have to add me!
GlutenWrangler started following valeriek
How To Start Gluten-free Living
valeriek replied to nikki55's topic in Celiac Disease - Coping WithHi I was diagnosed in feb and was at a loss as well. I cant believe how many foods are naturally gluten-free. Here is what I eat... home made french fries boarshead meat rooled up with cheese any veggie any REAL meat from the butcher fruits a lot of candy edys ice cream I have a whole mess of stuff i could send you. I thought I was going to die when I had to do this but it is really easy. You will get used to it. I havent made any thing out of a gluten-free cook book and dont plan on it. If you need any more help please just ask Valerie
My Neice Is Two Years Old And 20lbs...
valeriek replied to hannahp57's topic in Celiac Disease - Parents of Kids or Babies With Celiac DiseaseMy son is 5 and weighs 40 pounds which is right where he should be according to the Dr. There are so many over weight kids out there because there parents let them watch tv and eat all day instead of playing out side so when people see a child at a healthy weight it is weird to them. Her weight is fine.
Does Anyone Here Count Calories?
valeriek replied to msmini14's topic in Gluten-Free Diet & Weight IssuesI eat what ever I want..not gluten though...And I dont gain weight at all. i want to because I only weigh 118 but the dr says that is a healthy weight so that is fine with me.
What Do You Tell Them?
valeriek replied to latteda's topic in Celiac Disease - Coping WithI am sorry I am not going to be able to really help you with this because I do not eat at peoples house. I was just diagnosed in feb so I am still new to this but I am not going to chance it good luck
valeriek posted a topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & MedicationsCan any one tell me which kind of flour is most like normal flour? I am looking to make fried chicken and need a flour to coat it. What kind is best for baking. Does it taste bad or will i know a difference when I use it? Thank you
Gluten Free And Having Some Strange Symptoms
valeriek replied to hannahp57's topic in Celiac Disease - Teenagers & Young Adults OnlyCould you be pregnant?


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Just Stay In The House: Celebrities Who Have Embarrassed Their Boo Thangs In Public
Celebrities Who Have Embarrassed Their Partners In Public
It's been said that money can't buy everything, and in the world of the rich and
famous shameless, it certainly can't buy home training.
Everyone gets the urge to act a fool at least once in a lifetime……and if you're human, sometimes it even happens.
But while it's one thing to embarrass yourself and let someone get the best of you in public while you're alone, it's a whole separate thing to lose your cool and embarrass the person that you're with too.
Here are a handful of celebs who got buck in public and have probably enjoyed a lot more dates in doors ever since…
Erica Mena and Rich Dollaz
She's cursed him out in public and even b*thced him in front of his boys because she was ready to leave the club. Not to mention karate kicking her babydaddy while they were out in the streets arguing. Classy.
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon
When Barbara Walters asked how their marriage was going during a televised interview, Mariah dropped an obvious hint that Nick might have had some trouble keeping it in his pants. He wasn't too happy about that.
Chris Brown and Rihanna
Well, we all know what happened with these two shortly after this pic was taken. He went to work on her face and then left her in the car in a residential neighborhood in the middle of the night. Now that's love.
Scott Disick and Kourtney Kardashian
Among other things, he stuffed money in a waiter's mouth in front of a table full of business associates during a birthday dinner meeting for Kim while Kourtney was 8 months pregnant. Glad he got it together.
Selita Ebanks and Terrence J
She lost it in the club and caught a case for putting her pretty lil paws on a chick that was all up on Terrence. She can fight for us any day though.
Coco and Ice T
She was caught on camera kissin' it up in the club with a random rapper while Ice was no where in sight. Messy.com.
Continue Slideshow
Amber Rose and Kanye West
She never admitted to being embarrassed, but she couldn't have been cool with all the crazy ish he did in public. Good luck Kim.
More Stories From Bossip


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Dr. Richard Lebeaux
Richard Lebeaux is Professor of English and American Studies and (from 1998 to 2007) Coordinator of the American Studies Program. He has been at Keene State since 1985. He grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts and received his A.B. from Middlebury College in 1968, an M.A.T. in English from Harvard in 1970, and his Ph.D. in American and New England Studies from Boston University in 1975. Prior to Keene State he taught in the Department of American Thought and Language at Michigan State from 1976 to 1985, and in 1975-76 he taught American Civilization and English at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. Professor Lebeaux is the author of two books, Young Man Thoreau (1977) and Thoreau's Seasons (1984), both published by the University of Massachusetts Press. He has also written several articles and essays, and presented numerous papers on, Thoreau, Emerson, Whitman, psychobiography, pedagogy, Phil Ochs, and Fred Small. At Keene State he has taught, in addition to English 101, a wide range of courses in 19th century American literature and l9th and 20th century American Studies, including introductory American Studies courses on the l930s and 1960s; popular culture; the folk music revival; Phil Ochs; folk, rock, and American culture; 20th cedntury Jewish American and culture; surveys of l9th century American literature; Transcendentalism; 19th century American fiction; and seminars on Thoreau and on Hawthorne, Melville, and Dickinson.


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Evgeny Vlasov
[Illinois] Interdisciplinary Symposium on Advanced Nano/Biosystems (Design, Fabrication, and Characterization)
17 Dec 2013 | Workshops
The Interdisciplinary Symposium on Advanced Nano/Biosystems: Design, Fabrication, and Characterization aims to provide a stimulating discussing forum for recent advances in material design,...
BioInspired Solutions to Engineering Problems
18 Feb 2011 | Online Presentations | Contributor(s): Carlo Montemagno
Carlo Montemagno presented a research seminar to the BioEnegineering and MEMS programs at the University of Louisville on February 16, 2011. The talk is available as steaming video...
Nano-enabled Biological Tissues
11 Oct 2010 | Online Presentations | Contributor(s): Bradly Alicea
Tissue engineering is a new and vast frontier. Nanotechnology, along with other disciplines, can contribute to the development of novel innovations not previously possible. This slideshow is one...
New Dimension in Performance: Harnessing 3D Integration Technology
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29 Nov 2007 | Online Presentations | Contributor(s): Kerry Bernstein
Despite generation on generation of scaling, computer chips have remained essentially 2-dimensional. Improvements in on-chip wire delay, and in the total number of inputs and outputs has not been...
Charge Transfer Across an Energy Transducing Integral Membrane Protein Complex
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31 May 2007 | Online Presentations | Contributor(s): William A. Cramer
The cytochrome bc complexes of the mitochondrial respiratory and photosynthetic electron transport chains are hetero-oligomeric integral membrane proteins. These proteins are responsible for most...
Introduction to X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and to XPS Applications
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17 May 2007 | Online Presentations | Contributor(s): Dmitry Zemlyanov
X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), which is known as
Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA), is a powerful
research tool for the study of the surface of solids. The...
Kamen N. Nedev


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"We don't officially have a drought in the state yet but that may be coming soon," John Lewis, Little Rock National Weather Service meteorologist, said. "We haven't had a lot of rain lately and it doesn't look like we have a lot of rain coming."
Lewis said the lack of rain has caused vegetation to dry out, which leads to an increase in the number of wildfires.
"We get wildfire numbers every day," Lewis said. "There weren't very many in May when we were getting rain. Now we've definitely noticed more incidents of wildfires."
Lee Williams, with the Arkansas Forestry Commission, said the state isn't in a really bad place with fires yet, but that it's headed that way if the lack of rain continues.
"We are at the lowest number of fires for the first six months of a year than we have been for a long, long time," Williams said. "The fire danger is picking up. If we don't get rain we will probably be in high fire danger by late July."
Williams said the state is currently in moderate category of fire danger.
One look at the forecast will confirm that the heat will remain for the foreseeable future.
"For the next couple of days it's going to be hot," Lewis said. "But we have a front coming through so we'll be cooling off a little, if you call 90 degrees cool."
Even though the days are hot, Lewis said that the cooler temperatures in comparison to last year are what have saved the area from drought so far.
"This year, we're drying out more slowly," he said.
Despite the rate, drying is still occurring and a drought isn't far away if the area doesn't receive rain soon.


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Life Sciences»Pharmaceuticals»Prescription Drugs
DelveInsight Drug Report, "Stelara- Drug Insights, 2016" highlights the Stelara marketed details, pipeline status and the Global API Manufacturers along with the location. The DelveInsight's report covers the Global Market Assessment of the Stelara covering the total sales estimation and also provides the Stelara sales performance during the historical period and forecast period to 2018. DelveInsight's Report also covers the detailed clinical assessment of Stelara, patents information and exclusivity data, route of synthesis, competitive landscape, and generic players. In addition to this, DelveInsight's Report provides the SWOT analysis for the Stelara.Please note:This report requires certain updates. We have all the information available but require 3 business days to complete the process and ensure it is as up-to-date as possible. Certain sections in the report may be removed or altered based on the availability and relevance of data for the indicated drug.ScopeA review of the Stelara based on information derived from company and industry-specific sourcesCoverage of the Marketed data of the Stelara on the basis of MOA, target, dosage, route of administration, molecule type, strength, Chemical type and ATC ClassificationCoverage of the United States Drug Master File (US DMF), Active Substance Master File/EU DMF and API Manufactures in China & India for Stelara with location detailsPatent Expiry Timeline and Exclusivity DetailsRoute of Synthesis of the APIGlobal Forecasted Sales Figure to 2018Qualitative and quantitative assessment of market spaceSWOT AnalysisReasons to buyEvaluate the marketing status and exclusivity details of Stelara to exploit opportunities for generic drug development opportunities.Design effective counter-strategies to gain competitive advantage by identifying the key patent expiry details and exclusivity with respect to Stelara.API intelligence over Stelara and gaining primary intelligence over Active Ingredients manufacturers across the globe.Understanding the chemical route of synthesis of Stelara.Uncovering opportunities in the rapidly growing the US marketStay ahead of competition by understanding the changing competitive landscapeEffectively plan your M&A and partnership strategies by identifying drugs with the most promising sales potentialMake more informed business decisions from insightful and in-depth analysis of the drug's performanceObtain sales forecast for currently marketed drug for to 2018
Learn how to effectively navigate the market research process to help guide your organization on the journey to success.


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Eating to Live on the Outside: Carmelita
Hooray! The week's finally over, time to eat. And this week Eating to Live on the Outside is heads to Carmelita Vegetarian Restaurant in Seattle, Washington. It looks good, lots of unique creations.
Okay, I'm staring at the online menu right now. Well, there's not a ton of food to choose from, but definitely some interesting and creative options. Here's what caught my eye:
Roasted pear salad, arugula, candied pistachios, Point Reyes bleu cheese and lemon-pistachio vinaigrette; I'm ditching the cheese.
Baby lettuces, Trampetti extra virgin olive oil, lemon and sea salt; I'm nixing the salt. The olive isn't great. But I can deal with it.
White bean-quinoa cakes, Tagglasca olive tapenade, tomato relish, tomato gastrique and fried basil; the fried basil is a little iffy.
Grilled baby potato salad, green beans, smoked paprika vinaigrette and oil poached egg; no egg for me.
Butternut squash puree, Gruyere, candied pumpkin seeds, arugula and sage pesto; I'll pass on the Gruyere, i.e. cheese.
Artisanal polenta cake, apple/sweet potato hash, foraged mushroom sauce and fried parsnip; the fried parsnip isn't great. But I love mushrooms.
Farro Tagine, spicy walnut pesto, braised squash, Swiss chard and pomegranate molasses; greens and pomegranate, fantastic!
Wow, lots of exotic-sounding food at Carmelita's! But if I had to pick, I'd go for the baby lettuce, olive oil, lemon salad or the butternut squash puree with arugula. Both look cool!
Carmelita's might be slim-picking, but it still works! I dig it, but what about you? Check out Carmelita's menu and tell me what you'd order. Until then, eat wisely. Peace.Continue Reading...


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San Diego mayoral candidate Kevin Faulconer accepted nearly 20 gifts in the past year, some from organizations with members doing business with the city, according to financial disclosures filed this week.
For example, San Diego Gas & Electric Co. provided Faulconer an entry fee valued at $375 for the San Diego Chamber of Commerce annual golf tournament. The Building Industry Association provided a $151 ticket to Faulconer for its officer installation ceremony. And lobbying firm California Strategies bought him a $300 ticket to the Alonzo Awards hosted by the city's downtown business interests.
Faulconer also received meals from labor interests, such as the Sheet Metal Workers Local 206 and the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council.
Spokesman Tony Manolatos said Faulconer is careful and "by the book" when accepting gifts, and that they do not affect his policymaking.
"He routinely does not accept many gifts," Manolatos said.
State and local officials and employees, as well as candidates for mayor, are prohibited from receiving a gift or gifts totaling more than $440 in a calendar year from most sources. The gifts that are accepted must be disclosed.
Special interests giving gifts to elected officials such as Faulconer, a San Diego City Council member, is routine in California and San Diego. Those gifts are largely in the form of tickets to award dinners, fruit baskets and entry fees to golf tourneys — and largely given by those who want to bend the ear of incumbents.
Mayoral candidate and Qualcomm executive Nathan Fletcher reported two gifts.
Debby Jacobs provided Fletcher a $1,000 gift of two tickets for Fletcher and his wife, Mindy, to attend a charity event benefiting the La Jolla Playhouse, according to the disclosure forms and campaign spokeswoman Rachel Laing.
The other gift was in the form of baseball tickets valued at $283 provided by real estate developer Dennis Cruzan. The team was not specified on the form.
Both gifts were given to Fletcher before there was any indication former Mayor Bob Filner would resign, triggering a Nov. 19 special election to replace him.
Candidate David Alvarez reported one gift, from the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund. The value of the gift to the San Diego City Council member, was $540 for airfare for a speaking engagement he had its Los Angeles-based conference in June.
Gifts from nonprofits, like the one that paid for Alvarez's flight, can exceed the the $440 gift limit for public officials speaking at their events.
Former City Attorney Mike Aguirre, also a candidate for mayor, reported no gifts.
Trent Seibert | 619-293-1725 | Email | Twitter @TrentSeibertCopyright © 2018, The San Diego Union-Tribune


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This study is maintained and distributed by the National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging (NACDA), the aging program within ICPSR. NACDA is sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Heath (NIH).
National Survey of the Japanese Elderly, 1990 (ICPSR 3407)
Principal Investigator(s): Liang, Jersey, University of Michigan. Institute of Gerontology; Maeda, Daisaku, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology
This survey, a follow-up to the original Wave I survey undertaken in 1987 (ICPSR 6842), was designed to create a panel dataset for use in cross-cultural analyses of aging in Japan and the United States. It was created to match as closely as possible with Wave I, while also allowing for growth in specific areas of interest. In addition, the survey was designed to be partially comparable in content with AMERICANS' CHANGING LIVES: WAVES I, II, III, AND IV, 1986, 1989, 1994, AND 2006 (ICPSR 4690) and the NATIONAL HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEY, 1984: SUPPLEMENT ON AGING (ICPSR 8659). The survey has nine sections: demographics (age, sex, marital status, education, employment), social integration (interpersonal contacts, social supports), health status (limitations on daily life and activities, health conditions, level of physical activity), subjective well-being and mental health status (life satisfaction, morale), psychological indicators (life events, locus of control, self-esteem), financial situation (financial status), memory (measures of cognitive functioning), and interviewer observations (assessments of respondents).
Access Notes
The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public. Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.
ASCII + SAS Setup SPSS Setup Stata Setup
Study Description
Liang, Jersey, and Daisaku Maeda. NATIONAL SURVEY OF THE JAPANESE ELDERLY, 1990. ICPSR03407-v1. Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo Central Research Services [producer], 1992. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2002. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR03407.v1
Persistent URL: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR03407.v1
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This study was funded by:
- United States Department of Heath and Human Services. National Institute on Aging (AG06643)
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology
Scope of Study
Subject Terms: aging, demographic characteristics, financial assets, health status, mental health, older adults, psychological wellbeing, social integration
Geographic Coverage: Japan, Global
- 1990-11
- 1990-11
Universe: Noninstitutionalized persons 60 years of age and older as of November 1987 who were residing in Japan.
Sample: This is a three-year follow-up of the original 1987 survey, which was a national two-stage probability sample of census enumeration districts and of persons within them.
personal interviews
Original ICPSR Release: 2002-05-14
- 2005-11-04 On 2005-03-14 new files were added to one or more datasets. These files included additional setup files as well as one or more of the following: SAS program, SAS transport, SPSS portable, and Stata system files. The metadata record was revised 2005-11-04 to reflect these additions.
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PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 29, 2011 Contact: Janet Elliott (512) 463-0112
Committee Passes Bills to Improve Health Care Efficiency, Outcomes
AUSTIN — The Senate Health & Human Services Committee today passed Senate Bills 7 and 8, legislation authored by Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, to contain costs associated with health care waste and inefficiency and to reduce preventable medical errors. The bills now go to the full Senate.
"Our current Medicaid payment system unfortunately provides an incentive for overutilization. This legislation re-aligns the financial gains with what should be the true objective of our health care system -- to ensure healthy outcomes for patients and responsible use of the public's health care dollars," said Senator Nelson.
Key Provisions of SB 7:
Key Provisions of SB 8:
Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, represents Senate District 12, which includes portions of Denton and Tarrant counties. She is Chairman of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee.