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An exciting entertainment season is well underway for 2012 at Myer Hotels in Branson, Missouri with more than 100 shows, multiple attractions and our award-winning hotels and of course we offer great deals and Discount Branson Vacation Packages for our customers!.
When it comes to convenience, we have the tickets! Our ticket outlet is called iBranson Ticket Services. It's simple. We make your reservations for you; then you receive a voucher or ticket to the attraction or theater. You don't have to worry about picking up tickets two hours in advance, making countless phone calls or paying costly delivery or service fees. Let our local experts help you.
You can reach any of our iBranson Ticket Service ticket outlets directly at the numbers below.
Along with ticket services at each of our six hotels, Myer Hotels works closely with iBranson Ticket Services to create Branson vacation packages tailor made for each guest.
All packages include your choice of lodging at one of our six hotels (Best Western Center Pointe Inn, Best Western Music Capital Inn, Comfort Inn at Thousand Hills, Comfort Inn & Suites Branson Meadows, Comfort Inn West, and Holiday Inn Express Green Mountain Drive) as well as tickets to the shows and attractions you select. Pick from the packages to the right or create your own custom package and call our special package hotline at 877-ENTERTAIN.
Purchase show or attraction tickets and book your hotel hassle-free so you can spend more time having fun while on vacation!
All prices are based on double occupancy of adults. Children and extra adult prices will vary. Call for details. Not valid with other discounts or promotions. Prices will vary according to the time of year, lodging selection and arrival date. Lodging tax not included in prices listed. Shows and artist can change without notice. Prices subject to change.


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PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--If you believe in the old adage that "home is where the heart is," then why not show a little love for your abode this Valentine's Day? There are lots of ways to do it: You can rearrange the furniture, redecorate, or freshen things up with a colorful new coat of interior paint.
"Studies have shown that color can be a great mood-lifter, and one of the easiest and least expensive ways to introduce new color into a home is with paint."
"Spicing up your home with some new color is a great way to fight the winter blahs," says Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert for the Paint Quality Institute. "Studies have shown that color can be a great mood-lifter, and one of the easiest and least expensive ways to introduce new color into a home is with paint."
One approach is to tackle the room where you spend the most time – your family room or dining area, for example. That way, you'll get maximum enjoyment from your painting project.
If you're not quite so ambitious, think about painting only an accent wall in a different color that complements or contrasts with the other walls. This simple project can often be accomplished in just a couple of hours, but can completely change the appearance and "feel" of a room.
When choosing which wall to paint in your accent color, keep in mind that the eye will tend to be drawn there. As a result, you might want to favor the wall where your best artwork is displayed, or where your nicest furniture resides.
To better incorporate the accent wall's new hue into the room's overall color scheme, you might want to purchase a few inexpensive items that match the color and sprinkle them here and there. Possibilities include throw pillows, ceramics, a small area rug, even placemats.
Don't have the budget to buy anything other than paint? Then "create" some matching accents by applying leftover paint to one of your small furniture items, a couple of picture frames, or some old pots with interesting shapes. The objective is simply to inject a little more of the accent color to help pull together the look of the room.
Color selection is a personal matter, but if you want to stay in the spirit of the valentine season, what could be more appropriate than red? The fiery color just so happens to be a great color choice for dining rooms and eating areas, where it tends to stimulate appetite, according to color psychologists.
Being a psychologically "warm" color, red in any tint or shade will tend to make cold February days cozier no matter where you use it in the home. And if you feel warmer, you might even be able to lower your thermostat a degree or two, saving on energy bills.
If you think you might have a passion for painting as Valentine's Day approaches, Zimmer offers one final bit of advice: purchase the highest quality paint for the longest lasting results. As time goes by, you'll learn to love the way the color continues to look as bright and fresh as the very first time you laid eyes on it.
For more information on interior painting and color selection, visit blog.paintquality.com or paintquality.com. There, you'll discover many loving ways to improve the appearance of your home.
About the PAINT QUALITY INSTITUTE(SM)
The Paint Quality Institute was formed in 1989 to educate people on the advantages of using quality interior and exterior paints and coatings. The Paint Quality Institute's goal is to provide information on the virtues of quality paint as well as color trends and decorating with paint through a variety of vehicles, including television appearances, newspaper and magazine articles, and instructional literature. Please be sure to visit the Paint Quality Institute at www.paintquality.com. PAINT QUALITY INSTITUTE and PAINTQUALITY.COM are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow.

subset: commoncrawl


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West Bay Opera: 'The Elixir of Love'
Just in time for Valentine's Day, West Bay Opera will present "The Elixir of Love" ("L'elisir d'amore") by Gaetano Donizetti, a charming story of a country bumpkin who falls for the beautiful (and inaccessible) landowner. He wins her over with the help of an Italian-style snake-oil salesman.
The opera is sung in Italian the most romantic of Romance languages with English titles from a new translation prepared specifically for this production by general director and conductor José Luis Moscovich.
First presented by West Bay Opera in 1967, it's been reprised three times: in 1974, 1981 and 1992. This year's cast includes up-and-coming Venezuelan soprano Maria Fernanda Brea, making her company debut as Adina, tenor Chester Pidduck as Nemorino, baritone Igor Vieira as Dr. Dulcamara, Krassen Karagiozov as Belcore and Molly Mahoney as Giannetta.
The opera, with stage sets and projections recreating the Italian countryside setting, opens Friday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m. and continues on Sunday, Feb. 16, (followed by a post-performance discussion with cast and directors onstage) and Feb. 23 at 2 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m. Performances are at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Tickets are $40 to $75. Go to wbopera.org or call 650-424-9999.
Lamplighters: "Die Fledermaus"
A tale of revenge and adultery, with touches of mistaken identity, love and levity, "Die Fledermaus" ("The Bat Bites Back") by Johann Strauss is another nod to Valentine's weekend.
Lamplighters Music Theatre presents a lively tale of a couple, her besotted lover, a pert parlor maid and a wily doctor, in scenes ranging from an over-the-top ball to a night in jail on charges of disorderly conduct.
The Lamplighters troupe, based in San Francisco, is perhaps best known for its Gilbert and Sullivan productions, as well as its lavish costumes and sets and comic acting. This production features a new translation to English by David Scott Marley.
The opera will be presented Saturday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m. at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. Tickets are $53, $48 adults, $43 seniors, $25, $20 students/educations/children (12 and under). Go to mvcpa.com or call 650-903-6000.
World premiere: 'Oxford Companions'
Continuing in the romantic spirit is the world premiere of Giancarlo Aquilanti's three-act opera, "Oxford Companions," a story about young people in the wake of World War II torn between family, justice and love.
Featured performers include Christine Abraham, soprano; Buffy Baggott, mezzo soprano; Michael Desnoyers, tenor; Eugene Brancoveanu and Daniel Cilli, baritones; William O'Neill, bass; and voice students from Stanford's Department of Music.
With a libretto by Neil Van Leeuwen and directed by Rush Rehm, the opera features the Stanford Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Jindong Cai. The production is co-sponsored by Stanford Live, the Department of Music and ASSU.
"Oxford Companions" will be performed on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. in the Bing Concert Hall, Stanford University. Tickets are $20 general, $15 seniors, $10 students, free to Stanford students. Go to tickets.stanford.edu or call 725-2787.
Interactive opera at Stanford
"Death and the Powers," a sci-fi family drama, will be streamed live from Dallas' Winspear Opera House to Stanford's Bing Concert Hall on Sunday, Feb. 16, at noon.
In addition to viewing the opera by MIT Media LAB's Tod Machover, with libretto by poet Robert Pinsky, audience members will experience live, enhanced streaming (via HD cameras placed throughout the set) and interactive moments flashed to their mobile devices.
Named a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize in Music for its score and innovative technology, the opera tells the story of a powerful businessman who nearing death downloads his consciousness into his environment, creating a living version of his mind and spirit.
Admission is free. Downloading the Powers Live app prior to arrival is recommended. Go to http://live.stanford.edu/ or call 650-724-2464 (BING).


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Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Jessica Simpson Collection
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Jessica Simpson Collection
With Jessica Simpson reportedly pregnant again, will her gig as a Weight Watchers spokesperson now take a backseat to baby No. 2?
"Any questions related to Jessica's personal life can only be answered by her team," Stephanie Schulman, public relations manager at Weight Watchers, told E! News. "We do not disclose financial details about our relationships with any of our ambassadors."
In other words, it looks like we'll just have to wait and see if the Fashion Star mentor will continue working for the company or not.
Less than two weeks ago, Simpson showed off her slim figure while filming a Weight Watchers commercial, just six months after giving birth to Maxwell.
However, Simpson insisted back in June that she didn't feel rushed to rid herself of those post-pregnancy pounds.
"Just so everyone knows... Weight Watchers hasn't put ANY pressure on me!" she tweeted at the time. "I'm trying to be as healthy as I can be for myself and I feel great!"


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AMD announced at Computex today that its next-generation notebook platform is now available and features not only new chipsets, but new graphics options and new processor availability. AMD says that the next-generation notebook platform -- code named Puma -- will be the foundation for the new AMD Business class, AMD GAME! and AMD LIVE! notebook solutions.
The notebook platform utilizes the new AMD Turion X2 Ultra Dual-core mobile processor. The new processor has technology to make it more energy efficient including AMD Independent Dynamic Core technology, mobile-optimized memory controller and a new power-optimized HyperTransport 3.0.
The new mobile chipset also features integrated ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics and supports DirectX 10. Integrated graphics in a notebook usually means the inability to do anything requiring intense graphics like gaming. AMD says that its integrated HD 3200 graphics delivers up to three times the 3D performance of competitor's products and features built-in ATI Avivo HD technology for smooth HD video playback.
ATI announced a new Mobility Radeon 3800 series as well offering the highest performance of any Mobile Radeon HD part. The Mobility Radeon 3800 supports PCI Express 2.0, DirectX 10.1, integrated HDMI, DVI and DisplayPort as well as multi-monitor support. The 3800 can support up to 4 displays natively.
The Mobility 3800 also works with ATI's CrossFireX and Hybrid Graphics to provide more performance by running both the discrete and integrated graphics processors at the same time.
AMD says that notebooks running the next-generation Puma platform are now available from OEM suppliers like Acer, Asus, Clevo, HP and more.


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richardsdma wrote:that is becaude cinnamon (and unity too) is crap, it is a waste of time and resources.
i cant underestend why people dont just use gnome 3. catalyst doesnt match with compiz.
cinnamon doesn't use compiz, same as gnome-shell.
and also you should refrain the absolute affirmations: what is not good for you may be wonderful for others.


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Don't let hard work kill you
There's one simple tip that may help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancers.
Celina Gregory-Phillips knows the health hazards of working too hard.
As the owner of a TV commercial production company, Gregory-Phillips was working very long hours until it all came crashing down when she was doing a shoot in New Zealand in 2009.
She contracted a virus and was confined to her hotel room rather than attending the shoot. And when she returned to Australia, she didn't recover. Her doctor diagnosed her with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, an illness which causes widespread pain.
"I was pretty much bedridden for a year, apart from taking my kids to school and doing the bare minimum," Gregory-Phillips says.
"Certainly the stress involved in my role and juggling that with being a mother was no doubt the cause of breaking down my immune system, and that's probably why I had that series of health issues and I got to the point where I was laid out."
The effects of working too hard have been come under the microscope following reports earlier this month that a 48-year-old Chinese banking official died on his desk while finishing a report due the next day. It was reported he worked himself to death.
Gregory-Phillips gave up production work and moved into something less stressful - she is now a qualified counsellor and family mediator, who specialises in helping people deal with stress and anxiety.
She now advises people to live more within their means, so they don't need to work so long and hard in the first place. Setting boundaries around when and how much you'll work is another tip. "We're all terrified of not doing a good enough job and competition and all those sorts of things, but I think we can all be a lot more efficient if we are healthy and well rested," she says.
Workplace health experts emphasise the importance of staying both physically and mentally healthy.
Sandra Fisher, the manager of injury prevention at workplace health and safely consultancy SRC Solutions, says that the most important tip for staying physically healthy at work is to avoid staying in the one posture for too long as office workers often do.
"They might exercise outside work, they might go to the gym, but often when they come into the office environment they're sitting for long periods of time," she says.
Several recent studies have linked sedentary behaviour to an increase in problems such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.
"It's about what simple basic steps you can build into your daily routine to encourage movement and posture changes," she says. For instance, use the stairs, use a printer further away from your desk so you have to get up to retrieve the documents or stand up during telephone conversations. Other ideas are to walk around the block when you want to discuss something with a colleague instead of sitting around a table or walking to a colleague's desk rather than emailing or ringing them.
Eating healthy is, of course, also part of staying healthy at work, but this isn't always easy when you're busy and there's a tempting vending machine nearby.
Staff at SRC are encouraged to plan ahead and ensure they bring in fruit and other healthy snacks.
Dermatologist Michael Rich says airconditioning can dry out skin, so workers who spend a long time in the office should use a good moisturiser.
More broadly, on mental health Rich says healthy relationships at work are crucial. "We must deal with any issues as they arise, just as in a marriage, and we should not let them linger," he says. "Setting boundaries at work is important for your mental health and for diminishing stress levels."
Rich also recommends mindfulness - being in the present moment. "By not allowing yourself to be distracted, workplace efficiency is improved and stress levels reduced, which helps all parts of our lives," he says.
Tracy Sheen used to work in a project team at a major telecommunications company, and was responsible for around 4000 people around the country, and working long hours and travelling a lot from her base in Brisbane to Melbourne. "I was living out of a suitcase, eating poorly and sitting on the laptop until 11 at night," she recalls.
Sheen started feeling rundown, but doctors were unable to pinpoint what was wrong with her. So she left her job to start two businesses – a coffee machine business and wellness coaching for stressed executives.
"I've put everything I learned from that experience and tailored programs to help companies create wellness programs," she says.
Time management is crucial. "If you're paid for 38 hours, figure out what is humanly possible to do within the timeframe that you have and prioritise things," she says.
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Two men were cited for indecent exposure and loitering Tuesday at Old Post Road Park in Russellville. According to a police report, a plainclothes police officer caught the men, a 33-year-old Russellville man and a 60-year-old Dardanelle man, in seperate incidents.
Both men allegedly propositioned the officer to perform lewd or idecent acts with them in the men's bathroom at the park that evening.
They were both cited and released.
Sexual assault
A Russellville woman told police officers she was sexually assualted by four males at her home late Tuesday night.
The 20-year-old victim said she was previously acquainted with the men, and she invited them back to her home after speaking with them while shopping. She told officers she fell asleep and was being sexually assualted by the four men when she woke up later than night.
The next morning, she allegedly woke to find $20 missing, along with a video cassette recorder and prescription drugs.
The victim was unable to provide names of the suspects or a vehicle description.
She was given a physical exam at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center, and police advised they would assist in pursuing prosecution if she wished.


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Red onion & chilli bhajis with mint & garlic raita
Nutrition and extra info
- Vegetarian
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal102
- fat7g
- saturates1g
- carbs7g
- sugars2g
- fibre1g
- protein3g
- salt0.09g
- 2 red onions
- 100g chickpea flour (gram flour)
Flour is a powdery ingredient usually made from grinding wheat, maize, rye, barley or rice. As…
- ½ tsp baking powder
Baking powderbay-king pow-dah
Baking powder is a raising agent that is commonly used in cake-making. It is made from an alkali…
- 2 tsp curry paste or powder
- 1 red or green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
Part of the capsicum family, chillies come in scores of varieties and colours (from green…
- vegetable oil, for frying
For the raita
Finely chop one onion and thinly slice the other. Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Add the curry paste or powder, chopped chilli and a good sprinkling of salt. Add about 150ml of cold water to make a thick batter. Stir in the chopped and sliced onions until they are well coated.
Mix together the raita ingredients with a little salt and pepper, then spoon into a small bowl. Heat about 5cm of oil in a wok or deep pan. Add a tiny speck of batter, if it rises to the surface surrounded by bubbles and starts to brown, then the oil is hot enough.
Add heaped tbsps of onion mix to the pan, a few at a time, and cook for a few mins, turning once, until they are evenly browned and crisp, about 3-4 mins. Drain on kitchen paper, sprinkle with a little salt and keep warm while you cook the remaining bhajis. Serve with the raita.
Recipe Tip
Chickpea flourYou can pick up a bag of chickpea flour in health food shops, Indian shops or supermarkets, where it is often called gram flour.
You may also like
Prawns & radishes with chilli mayo dip
Baked carrot & nigella seed bhajis with raita
Prawn cakes with cucumber peanut relish
Herb & spice paneer fritters
Broccoli soup with crispy croutons & goat's cheese
Warm salad of red cabbage, black pudding & apple
Coriander & mint raita
Salmon & prawns with dill & lime aïoli


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Selecting, Administering Joint Injection Drugs to Prevent Sepsis (AAEP 2012)
- Jan 24, 2013
- Topics:
Veterinarians must consider which drugs are most appropriate to inject and prevent needle contamination to minimize the horse's chances of developing a joint infection.
Photo: The Horse Staff
Of all the places a horse could develop an infection, a joint is one of the least favorable because it's difficult to treat and can have catastrophic consequences. Veterinarians commonly treat arthritic joints with injections, and even hands well-practiced in joint injection techniques run into the occasional infection due to bacterial contamination.
Stephen Adams, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, of Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine, recently described how to select and inject drugs to avoid injection, along with ways to recognize and treat joint sepsis at the 2012 American Association of Equine Practitioners' (AAEP) Convention, held Dec. 1-5 in Anaheim, Calif.
Veterinarians can infuse a variety of drugs into horses' intrasynovial cavities (joints, bursa, or tendon sheaths). Some medications are more likely to cause sepsis than others; the drug polysulfated glycosaminoglycans (PSGAGs), for example, enhances the infectivity of Staphylococcus aureus introduced via a needle in a synovial cavity.
Yet, Adams explained that if the veterinarian administers the antibiotic amikacin in combination with PSGAGs, he or she can all but eliminate the risk of infection. In a survey of equine practitioners who administer intra-articular injections, 46% said they add antimicrobial drugs to their joint injections and 30% add corticosteroids.
Adams suggested it is appropriate to use intrasynovial antibiotics with PSGAGs, for multiple injections in the same joint in one day (e.g., during medication therapy following joint anesthesia) and in immune-compromised individuals.
Another drug combination veterinarians commonly use in joints is corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid. Although researchers have shown this combination to pose a low infection risk, Adams cautioned, "Corticosteroids can delay the onset of septic clinical signs by 9 to 10 days due to its profound anti-inflammatory properties."
For joint anesthesia used during a lameness exam, Adams reported that the local anesthetic mepivacaine is less irritating or toxic to cartilage cells than lidocaine, though neither drug appeared to increase a horse's risk of developing sepsis. He cautioned against refrigerating these drugs, as the cold temperature might inactivate important preservatives that prevent S. aureus from growing.
Adams further warned veterinarians about the danger of using multiple-dose vials that are easily contaminated with bacteria, rubber, and metallic particles when needles are inserted multiple times. He urged practitioners to use only single-dose vials or a brand new vial anytime they inject a drug or anesthetic into a joint.
Adams then discussed how to differentiate a joint flare from sepsis. Some general rules apply: A joint flare usually occurs within 24 hours of injection, whereas sepsis (bacterial infection) usually takes three to nine days to develop. If the joint is sore on palpation and/or lameness is Grade 3-4 (the horse is lame at the trot on straight line or lame at the walk), sepsis has likely set in. "When in doubt, flush it out," Adams recommended.
For a favorable outcome, he suggested analyzing synovial fluid, taking radiographs of suspected septic joints, and aggressively treating septic joints with appropriate systemic antibiotics and with joint lavage. Adams advised continuing sepsis treatment for at least 14 days, but if the horse shows only limited improvement over 48 hours then arthroscopic surgery might be indicated.
Take-Home Message
As it is with many equine health conditions, the best cure for joint infections is prevention. Veterinarians must consider which drugs are most appropriate to inject and be diligent about preventing needle contamination to minimize the horse's chances of developing a joint infection.
About the Author
Nancy S. Loving, DVM
Nancy S. Loving, DVM, owns Loving Equine Clinic in Boulder, Colorado, and has a special interest in managing the care of sport horses. Her book, All Horse Systems Go, is a comprehensive veterinary care and conditioning resource in full color that covers all facets of horse care. She has also authored the books Go the Distance as a resource for endurance horse owners, Conformation and Performance, and First Aid for Horse and Rider in addition to many veterinary articles for both horse owner and professional audiences.
Related Content
Medications in Horse Racing
Infectious Disease: EPM (AAEP Convention 2012)
Gastrointestinal Tract (AAEP Convention 2012)
Managing Emergencies (AAEP Convention 2012)
Reproduction (AAEP Convention 2012)
Joint Injections (AAEP Convention 2012)
Equine Dental Care (AAEP Convention 2012)
Stem Cell Therapy (AAEP Convention 2012)
Top Equine Studies of 2012 (AAEP Convention 2012)
Veterinary Ethics (AAEP Convention 2012)


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i tried to submit a fanfic here but the drop down catgory thing wasnt working which never happened. i wanted humor but the box kept coming up to select a subcategory, but humor doesnt have any. so then i did romance and selected one of the subcates and the box stillll came up telling me to select a subcat.
is this just a temporary malfunction like is it gna work 2mm or like..no. ahh wat shud i do??


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Mia Farrow's brother arrested
John Charles Villiers-Farrow, 66, was taken into custody on Wednesday (14Nov12). He is accused of sexually abusing several children over a number of years.
Two unnamed men claim they were sexually abused as children from 2000 until 2008 by a neighbour in Edgewater, Maryland. That man has been identified as Villiers-Farrow, according to TV network NBC 4 in Washington.
He surrendered to police on Wednesday and his bail was reduced from an initial $800,000 (£500,000) to $250,000 (£156,250), the Baltimore Sun reported.
He faces counts of perverted practice, child abuse, sex abuse of a minor and assault charges.
Villiers-Farrow is still in custody.


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Presents: Phuck Your Pace Indiana!
April 10th 2011
7:00p.m. EST
Conseco Fieldhouse
Music For 2day
Darren Collison
Paul George
Danny Granger
Tyler Hansbrough
Roy Hibbert
Chauncey Billups
Landry Fields
Carmelo Anthony
Shelden Williams
Jared Jeffries
ESPN Game Preview:
The [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] and [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] are postseason-bound, though New York's first-round opponent remains in doubt.
So does the status of [Only registered and activated users can see links. ].
The Knicks may not have Stoudemire for a second straight game when they visit the Pacers looking for their seventh consecutive victory Sunday night.
New York (41-38) has clinched its first playoff berth since 2003-04 and will face Boston or Miami, which are battling for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. With a victory over Indiana, the Knicks can move a game ahead of seventh-place Philadelphia with two to play and would clinch the conference record tiebreaker over the 76ers.
New York earned a split of the season series with Philadelphia by winning 97-92 on Monday.
Stoudemire, however, suffered a sprained ankle in that game and missed a 116-93 win over New Jersey on Friday. With the Knicks having wrapped up a playoff spot, coach Mike D'Antoni may elect to rest Stoudemire, who was on the bench in a walking boot, against Indiana.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] scored 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds versus the Nets, while [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] added 22 points. Anthony made two of the Knicks' 15 3-pointers and has 46 in 25 games for New York after making 42 in 50 games with Denver.
" ... I think (the fans are) excited about me shooting the 3-ball right now," Anthony said. "They see it's going in, my teammates are excited about that, I'm excited that I'm making that shot right now. So it's fun."
While the Knicks' playoff situation is unsettled, the Pacers' is set. Indiana (37-43) is locked into the eighth seed and will face Chicago in the first round.
Indiana is surging toward the postseason, winning five of six. [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] scored 16 points and added 10 assists in a 114-102 victory over Atlanta on Friday, a game after he had 15 points and 11 assists in a win over Washington.
The point guard has shot 71 percent from the field over the last six games.
"We're trying to head to the playoffs with a little more momentum," Collison said. "We're a young team. We just can't take games off and expect to turn it on."
Collison has played well against the Knicks this season, averaging 20.7 points -- 7.5 above his season average -- and 7.7 assists in the three meetings. He had 24 points and nine assists in the most recent matchup, a 119-117 victory March 15, and scored 22 in a 98-92 loss at New York on Jan. 2.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ], who scored a game-high 28 points against the Hawks, hit the winning shot with 0.3 seconds remaining March 15. Granger sat out a 106-93 win at New York two days earlier due to the flu.
The forward turned in his highest-scoring performance in more than two weeks Friday and gave Collison some of the credit.
"Darren has done a good job of being a pass-first point guard," Granger said. "He has an ability to score, so sometimes he'll look to score first. When he becomes that pass-first point guard, he can rack up 10 assists every night."
The Pacers have won five in a row and seven of eight at home.
Check This Out:
With 41 wins, the Knicks have clinched at least a .500 finish this season, which would be the first time the team was at least .500 since the 2000-01 season (48-34). The win over the Nets also completed the season sweep over the Hudson River rivals, which the Knicks haven't accomplished since the 1997-98 season.
When the Memphis Grizzlies clinched the final playoff berth in the West on Friday, thus eliminating the ninth-place Houston Rockets from playoff contention, it made the Knicks' salary cap-motivated trade for Tracy McGrady from Feb. 2010 look a lot better. Why? Along with trading their 2012 first round pick to the Rockets as part of the deal, the Knicks gave Houston the right to swap first round picks in 2011. But despite potentially finishing with a better record than the Knicks, the Rockets will be in the lottery while the playoff-bound Knicks will automatically get a later selection.
Knicks win 94-90
Knick Quote Of The Night
"I'm not used to being cheered on the road. It was great."
—Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, about the crowd at Newark's Prudential Center and yet another road game that included a large and boisterous contingent of Knicks fans.


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Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by Obiwanshinobi, Jan 30, 2011.
He saw Batman with a cape and thought it looked cool.
He's Superman...he has Super-hold-it-in powers.
The more I see of it the more I really dislike the costume redesign.
I'm mildly intrigued by the film itself, but that costume is lousy.
Super bladder and bowel control?
Well, nothing's more humiliating than being stripped down to your underwear in front of the victors.
Do the other Kryptonians in this versions have superpowers under a yellow sun as well, or only Kal-El because he's a naturally born Kryptonian?
Of course other Kryptonians will have superpowers, otherwise it would be a pretty short confrontation with the villains.
I'm not even sure I get why you have to ask. Has there ever been a story where having powers under a yellow sun was Clark specific and not a general kryptonian trait?
And Clark was born naturally? How are the others born? The way I see it Kal-El is just a random kryptonian baby who has extraordinary powers on earth.
Spoiler: Spoilers about Kal-El's birth
Kryptonians are breed in vats/machines/something and in this version, Kal-El is the first one born naturally in hundreds of years - at least that is what Empire and other magazines are stating.
Meh, I'm not a fan of that at all. Why do so many writer's insist on making Krypton some crappy, dystopian place with civil wars and stuff?
Spoiler: Kal-El's birth
Making Kal-El the first naturally born kryptonian in hundreds of years is a stupid idea in my opinion, it makes him special even on Krypton itself. I would prefer if he had been just another guy if Krypton was never destroyed. Some kind of Jesus Kryptonchrist who was born without his parents ever touching the baby-o-matic is not what I want the character to be.
The messianic aspect of Superman has always been part of the Superman mythos.
I can't remember any version - comics or otherwise where he is just 'another' guy - he is always the son of one of the most famous scientists who is saved because of the special foresight of said famous scientist.
If they are doing some new things with his birth I am alright with that. We got to change up the familiar story a little bit.
Yeah, the Christ allegory is kind of unavoidable with this character, considering what his origin story is.
Although I get the sense from the trailers that they're downplaying that a bit from the Donner movies, and making him more of just a regular, down to earth guy who only reluctantly become a hero. Unlike Reeve's Superman who seemed to be headed in that direction from the very start.
We even see a quick shot of Zod and Superman flying into each other in the trailer. So that right there would prove pretty clearly that at least Zod has powers. And I don't see why his followers wouldn't if he did.
Not really, that element only really sprang up after the Donner flicks. Prior, he was the thirties aggressive champion of the poor who fought wife beaters, child abusers and so on. Then the forties and fifties he was the smiling patriot( that's when the famous slogan "Truth, justice and the American way!" popped up) that wasn't afraid to choke fuhrer Hitler to the silver age's overpowered asshole who wasn't afraid to give Lois a spankin.' and could hold multiple planets. He's been through a long metamorphism, and the "extraterrestrial Christ" figure was an interpretation that was seeded and grew from the influence of the Donner movies. The hope and inspiration aspect of Superman has always been a cornerstone of the Superman mythos.
Does anyone else find it strange we have never seen any footage, leaked or otherwise, of Clark wearing glasses. Are they maybe doing away with the disguise? Or are they maybe going with the reverse of what Smallville did, and Daily Planet Clark isn't formed until the very end of the film?
That would be similar to John Byrne did in the miniseries of the same name. He first used his powers publicly in street clothes without glasses. Lois named him Superman in the Daily Planet. Clark and his parents create the costume and glasses disguise. He appeared in a costume a number of times. Than finally Clark Kent in glasses shows up at the Daily Planet with an interview with Superman. Thats how he was hired.
The movie seems to be using a lot of that as inspiration. Main difference is the suit being Kryptonian. In this films had been following reports of a mysterious "Guardian Angel" for years. That Clark was traveling the world and secretly helping people, before in costume, is right from John Byrne. There was references to this in the L&C Pilot too.
That's what I'm thinking.
I have no idea how they would work it in, but I'd think that by the end of the movie Clark wants to stay close to Lois. Taking on a "disguise" and working at the Planet would accomplish that.
That is the essence of character. He wants to have a normal life too.
I'm actually kind of hoping they turn the Clark & Lois relationship on its head and have Lois be the one to tell him that he needs a disguise to help live a normal life rather than Supermanning 24/7. I would much prefer them starting out with her knowing his whole story, I'm totally over the "hiding his secret from her" routine.
Thats not new, it would be ripping off Smallville. Which is the last place I hope it looked for ideas.
Separate names with a comma.


text: Hot Springs Farmers Market WEBSITE ADD TO Trip Planner Homegrown, homemade, and handmade! Providing access to sustainable, local agricultural products, baked goods, prepared foods, local artisans, and live music. May-October: Tuesdays 5-8 p.m., Saturdays 7 a.m.-Noon. November-April: Saturday 9-11 a.m. Get Directions Gas Calculator Details Dates: July 8, 2014 Venue: Downtown Hot Springs Address: 121 Orange StreetHot Springs, AR 71901 Admission: Free Website: www.hotspringsfarmersmarket.com Phone: 501-624-0489 Contact: Jay Lee Email: email@example.com


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DPMI Plus: Stopping Child Labor in Namibia
January 4, 2012
Emily Patrick is pursing her Master's in Public Administration at the Monterey Institute. This past summer, Emily interned in Namibia as part of the Development Project Management Institute Plus (DPMI Plus) program.
Through DPMI Plus, Emily was connected with Root Change, a social change organization based in Washington, D.C. Root Change found work for Emily with the Legal Assistance Centre, a human rights organization in Namibia. She worked on an international child labor project aimed at eliminating the worst types of child labor in Namibia, such as prostitution and human trafficking.
Part of Emily's job was working with community monitors who were looking for children in child labor or at risk of falling into it. When the monitors found these children, they had to fill out forms that were complicated and hard to understand. Emily developed a "wheel" that made it easier for the monitors to get the relevant, accurate information that was needed from the children so they could get them out of child labor and into school.
Emily says it was a great experience because she got to use the skills she learned in the classroom out in the field. She feels that she is now better prepared to go out into the real-world and make a difference.
Emily says that she would recommend DPMI Plus to anyone interested in working in developing countries.


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(The author is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own.)
By Gerard Wynn
LONDON, July 5 (Reuters) - Biodiesel could in future ease so-called ethanol "blend wall" concerns facing the U.S. transportation fuel industry, whose capacity to blend corn ethanol in gasoline is nearing its physical limit.
The biodiesel industry has ample production capacity and has considerable feedstock flexibility while diesel fuel faces no looming blending limits.
Those advantages seem to assure a growing role for U.S. biodiesel in the long-term.
The debate on how to solve the near-term ethanol blend wall problem is polarised between continuing as normal (as supported by corn growers and ethanol producers) or temporarily waiving all or part of the ethanol mandate (supported by the refining industry).
It is unclear whether the implementing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to use biodiesel to head off the present problem, by substituting for corn ethanol.
Certainly it used biodiesel this year to make up for a shortfall in advanced, cellulosic ethanol.
And in the longer term, EPA has projected a rapidly rising role for biodiesel.
That may head off, or at least delay, a recurrence of future gasoline blending walls.
The expanded targets for biodiesel this year will represent about 2.9 percent of all U.S. diesel fuel, according to EPA, while all engine warranties allow at least 5 percent blends, and non-road uses allow much more.
The United States is nearing the point where the law requires the use of more ethanol than can be physically blended into gasoline at the most prevalent level of 10 percent ethanol.
A recent run-up in the price of compliance credits, or renewable identification numbers (RINs), suggests that a blend wall is nearing.
Refiners concerned that they will be unable to blend physical product can buy RINs instead on a secondary market to meet their obligation.
The RIN price spike has also increased the urgency to address the problem, because of possible knock-on impacts on refining costs and gasoline prices. ID:nL1N0C6AJ2]
The medium-term solution is to supply a 15 percent blend, as authorised by EPA for vehicle models manufactured since 2001, but that will take time given industry resistance and an infrastructure lead-time.
The Energy Independence and Security Act in 2007 created expanded mandates for particular types of biofuel within a more general target, to drive a shift away from corn ethanol to less carbon-emitting alternatives which did not compete with food.
The main sub-category is "advanced biofuel" which excludes corn ethanol but includes almost everything else.
There are two further carveouts within advanced biofuels. (See Chart 1)
First, there is a mandate for cellulosic biofuel, defined as "renewable fuel derived from any cellulose, hemicellulose, or lignin that is derived from renewable biomass".
Second, there is a target for biomass-based biodiesel made from soy oil, algal oils, waste oils and animal fats.
EPA sees a rapidly growing share of biodiesel (under its "primary control case"), accounting for nearly two fifths of all biofuel by volume by 2022 from about a tenth now. (Chart 2)
That assumes biodiesel in future accounts for a big share of the rapidly rising cellulosic biofuel category.
Biodiesel would qualify as cellulosic biofuel if manufactured through a biomass-to-liquid conversion process called Fischer-Tropsch. (Chart 2)
Chart 1: (page 6) goo.gl/2ixRP
Chart 2: (page 95) goo.gl/2ixRP
Chart 3: (page 73) goo.gl/2ixRP
Chart 4: goo.gl/JJF6i
EPA has already used its authority to cut the cellulosic ethanol mandate (because of under-supply) and increase biodiesel, while keeping the overall advanced biofuel target unchanged.
That has directly substituted biodiesel for ethanol.
This year EPA cut the cellulosic target to 14 million gallons from 1 billion gallons as required in the 2007 act, and increased biodiesel to 1.28 billion gallons, also from 1 billion.
The U.S. National Biodiesel Board estimates record output of more than 1.2 billion gallons this year, roughly half of which will be made from soyoil with the rest a mix of recycled cooking oil, animal fats and other products.
EPA talked up the ability of the U.S. biodiesel industry to take an increasing role, in its ruling last year setting the biodiesel target.
"We believe that it is appropriate that biomass-based diesel play an increasing role in supplying advanced biofuels to the market between 2012 and 2022," it said. ("2013 Biomass-Based Diesel Renewable Fuel Volume; Final Rule")
"Production capacity as well as more recent data on actual production volumes does in fact demonstrate that the industry is capable of significant increases in production when demand for it exists," it said, reporting U.S. production capacity nearly double the new 2013 target.
Regarding substituting biodiesel for corn ethanol, to ease the immediate blend wall problem, EPA has no authority to increase the advanced biofuel category beyond the target stated in the 2007 act.
However it does have the authority to waive the total volume of renewable fuel, on the basis of inadequate renewable fuel supply or expected severe harm to the economy - a power it has not yet wielded.
It is unclear whether it could reduce the overall renewable fuel target (mostly corn ethanol), using such a waiver, while maintaining the advanced biofuel carveout, and by implication raise the share of biodiesel.
Biodiesel does have some concerns, some of which it shares with the corn ethanol it would replace, including price compared with conventional diesel (presently pure biodiesel has a 20 percent premium - Chart 4); as well as its possible impact on carbon emissions and food prices.
But it offers a possible, partial solution to mitigate the blend wall worries facing gasoline. (Editing by David Cowell)


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Second Unit + STAT prepare yourself for a Magic run
Second Unit + STAT prepare yourself for a Magic run
Does anyone else feel like there's no way that Jeffries is 6'11?
Just voted for Anderson on the all-star ballot......oh forget it, he's playing a antoni coached team.Does this guy ever make any adjustments?
Lookin at Larry Hughes I just realized LeBron James ruined his career
Go up Fields,SMH.
Fields is terrible. Just terrible. From leaving his feet on a 3-1 fast break to airballing wide open shots. He needs not see the court anymore and should have to EARN his playtime. He's just plain bad. On top of that he defense has been nothing but horrible.
I feel like all of our players lose confidence near the end of the game and are scared to take shots.
Just look at all of the passing away of open shots.
I can feel the heat under Dumbtoni's seat...


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THE Lennox Head community will soon participate in a coastal charity walk in a bid to raise more than $10,000 for a local family.
Dave and Lyndal Whitfield have struggled in recent years.
Three years ago, Dave was diagnosed with Grade 4 brain cancer and was told it was terminal. He has since had three operations and fears the tumour will return.
"I live two months at a time, as the average life span for someone diagnosed with this form of cancer is nine months," he said.
With regular MRIs and early detection, he hopes he can continue to be there for his two children, son Caleb, 7, and daughter Asha, 6.
In January this year his wife, Lyndal, suffered a stroke, paralysing half of her body and she was taken to a nursing home. Determined to regain her mobility, she returned home and is gradually improving.
But with ongoing medical costs, the family has been forced to sell their home.
This is when the community stepped in - Elders sold their home for no commission, and a group of mothers from Lennox Primary School have organised a weekly fruit box drop.
Now Chad Hamblin of Lennox Fitness Matters has decided to host a fundraising event.
"I hope you will put on your walking shoes and bring your wallets in support," he said.
"The Whitfields have been very grateful and overwhelmed by the community support."
Walkers will meet at Lennox Fitness Matters on Saturday, October 20, at 10am and venture over the headland to Sharpes Beach and back, finishing with an auction at the Lennox Cultural and Community Centre.
Help by selling or buying tickets at the Lennox Head market, donating to the raffle/auction, and by attending the walk and/or auction.
For more information, phone Lennox Fitness Matters on 6687 7468.


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>Off the Beaten Path>Michael Phelps
In Vietnam, the currency is called the 'dong'. Seriously.
Imminent Catastrophe
"Able to function despite imminent catastrophe"
"To obtain the air that angels breathe you must come to Tahoe"--Mark Twain
"The most common question from potential entrants is 'I do not know if I can do this' to which I usually answer, 'that's the whole point'.--Paul Charteris, Tarawera Ultramarathon RD.
√ Javelina Jundred Jalloween 2015
Cruel Jewel 50 mile May 2016
Western States 100 June 2016
Gotta Flee Em All
4th ≠ gold.
I'm running somewhere tomorrow. It's going to be beautiful. I can't wait.
Poor baby
Feeling the growl again
"If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does. There's your pep talk for today. Go Run." -- Slo_Hand
I am spaniel - Crusher of Treadmills
weed no good for swimmers?
Get off my porch
weed no good for swimmers?
The guy who trained with more heart won the gold, methinks.
Shoulda laid off the subway.
The guy who trained with more heart won the gold, methinks.
Looked to me like Lochte out-trained him.
It should be mathematical, but it's not.
All I could tell was that L outswam MP.
But I don't know that much about swimming these days.
Shoulda laid off the subway.
Should've taken the subway.
Hard to say. RL is reportedly a skateboarder and surfer whose favorite movie is Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke.
At least that's what it says in the Merc, so it must be true.


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MP1st - While it still has yet to be officially announced by Activision or Treyarch, Call of Duty's mobile website seems to have mistakenly confirmed the DLC earlier today. For a brief period of time, the title "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Revolution" was on display on the front page.
I hate the current zombie maps/modes they have now. With the annoying little gremlins that jump on your head to the fire that's f'ing everywhere to the extra small maps and space you have to run around in it feels more like a chore than a game.
I don't think he is lying, the guy described thae map pretty good and why would he write so much if he was lying? i think it is legit.
how much of this crap are u idiots going to buy before you know your being ripped off?


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The Tale of an Antarctica Octopus
Dr Jan Strugnell is the lead author of a new international study that reveals how the genes of a fairly sedentary Antarctic octopus provide a clue to the risk of sea-level rise if world temperatures keep climbing. Published in the journal Molecular Ecology and reported on Britain's Natural Environment Research Council Planet Earth website, the study found that the genetic make up of Turquet's octopus was startlingly similar in both the Weddell and Ross Seas. The only problem is that the two seas are on opposite sides of Antarctica and have no direct sea link. So what happened?
As these two bodies of water are some 10,000 kilometers apart, on opposite sides of Antarctica separated by the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, researchers think such strong genetic similarity is only possible if there had been a previous collapse of the ice sheet, maybe as recently as 200,000 years ago.
The Ross Sea is a deep bay of the Southern Ocean in Antarctica between Victoria Land and Marie Byrd Land. The Weddell Sea is part of the Southern Ocean and contains the Weddell Gyre. Its land boundaries are defined by the bay formed from the coasts of Coats Land and the Antarctic Peninsula.
This suggests that scientists' concerns about the state of today's ice sheet could well be justified. Planet Earth says while a previous study, in 2010, provided the first evidence of a trans-Antarctic seaway connecting the Ross and Weddell Seas, the findings by Dr Strugnell's team are the first genetic evidence of such a connection.
A former Rhodes Scholar, Dr Strugnell has made world headlines with the results of her research into the evolution of deep-sea octopuses. She says modern molecular studies have revealed that the Southern Ocean is teeming with a huge diversity of previously unknown marine life.
Her work revealed that all octopuses found in deep oceans world-wide originated in the waters around the South Pole about 33 million years ago. They spread into other oceans around 15 million years ago, as the Antarctic cooled and eventually froze over. There are around 300 recognized octopus species, which is over one-third of the total number of known cephalopod species.
As a result long ago, there was an outflow from Antarctica of cold, nutrient-rich water with high levels of salt and oxygen, creating a north-bound freeway along which octopuses travelled to their new habitats.
"We think that if octopuses colonized the deep sea by this route, it's very likely that other organisms did so as well," says Dr Strugnell.
She says her research also demonstrates that climate change can have profound effects on biodiversity, with impacts extending into habitats as remote as our deep oceans.
For further information see Octopus.
Megaleledone Octopus image via La Trobe University.


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Said another way, we are what you will be... . ..LOL We are what you thought we areQuote Originally Posted by ka5ysy View Post
Jeez.... what a bunch of old farts
Said another way, we are what you will be... . ..LOL We are what you thought we areQuote Originally Posted by ka5ysy View Post
Jeez.... what a bunch of old farts
"It is what you discover, after you know it all, that counts." _ John Wooden
Lew Morris
1973 R75/5 - original owner
1963 Dnepr
Yeah well, this "old fart" races Ice Bikes, downhill skiis, and busts 100mph a good many times each riding season.
A life not challenged is a life not lived.
Get trained! The best "performance" upgrade you can get is YOU. Visit msf-usa.org for training info.
Last edited by ka5ysy; 01-12-2013 at 10:51 PM.
Doug, 2011 R1200RT Polar Metallic
MSF #127350, Instructor, Louisiana Dept of Public Safety
Motorcycle Safety, Awareness & Operator Training Program
NAUI Instructor #36288, Board Member, Divers Alert Network
Looks like you're having lots of fun, Doug.
"When you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there."
I do not know what all the concern about the"fourth quarter" is. You go until you can't go anymore then you find something you can keep going at. I have been riding for sixty one years, still fly my own airplane, and play Handball three times a week. I work out all other days. When I am unable to do any of these things I will find something else I can do. This is life!
Two other riders I ride with are in their eightys. Some of the guys are in their fortys and fifties. We also do a good bit of dirt biking. The two guys in their eightys also have their own planes and still fly. If there are any worries it would be what will I be doing after the fourth quarter, or one hundred plus!
"All my life I wanted to be somebody. Now I realize I should have been more specific."
I'll be 65 next month and have enjoyed my 2010 RT for the past two years (purchased from Sierra BMW, Sparks, Nevada in August 2010). I've got 25K on her so far, with 22 states west of the Mississippi & 2 Canadian provinces under my belt. Planning a trip this summer to ride the additional 26 states east of the river to complete my goal of all 48. Would like some advice on physical conditioning routines used by some of you 'old guys' in preperation for a long jaunt on 2 wheels. Any recommendations are appreciated.
I think the core work is the most important aspect of getting conditioned for riding.
Good luck with your super ride!
Last edited by Rinty; 01-13-2013 at 11:11 PM.
"When you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there."
Anything hips & back. Light weight squats, Frog squats Lunges, and a side-to-side lunge like skiers do, anything that pushes the joints past the normal range of motion. Heavy weight is not needed, just a bit of resistance. Most days a week, combined about 100 reps per/day.
Throw in a little indoor,or outdoor bike,...is about it. {IMO} anything that reduces sitting around time is good.
Someone once asked me what I thought is the best workout for?? is. My answer was & is anything you will do is best. It can be added to/modified from there,depending on your goals, energy etc.
I realized this weekend that it is not always a physical condition that may cut short our riding days. I have a friend who is nearing 80 that is very healthy and in good condition. He called me Saturday and said he couldn't get the oil to drain out of his motorcycle after he removed the filter. I told him I would search for forum to see if anyone else had encountered the problem. After no luck, I called him back to see if he had stuck anything in the drain plug hole after he removed the drain. After changing oil for over 60 years, he had forgotten to remove the drain plug. I visited him yesterday and he asked me if I had seen an old car he had had work done on. I reminded him that I had gone with him to pick it up a couple of months ago.
'You can say what you want about the South, but I almost never hear of anyone wanting to retire to the North.
I started this thread not so much a concern or dread that I am just barely starting the later phase of my riding days, but more so that I realize it and appreciate and enjoy all the pleasures, joys, challenges and fulfillment that motorcycling gives me. I don't plan to slow down any decade soon. Ride on!
Just didn't think this thread would already generate four pages of responses.
Get trained! The best "performance" upgrade you can get is YOU. Visit msf-usa.org for training info.
If not for knee and hip replacement I would be done with a lot that I do. Still can throw a leg over my GSA, couple of 700 plus days last summer, train Labs daily, duck hunt, fish and long walks. I like to say, "if I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself".
Tom Running, 51141 Greenville, WI
"Love is when you like something as much as your motorcylce." Sonny Barger in Hells Angels
by Hunter S. Thompson 1966


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Summaries of EU Legislation
Summaries of EU legislation: direct access to the main summaries page.
- Archived: true
Turkey – Research and new technologies
Candidate countries conduct negotiations with the European Union (EU) in order to prepare themselves for accession. The accession negotiations cover the adoption and implementation of European legislation (acquis) and, more specifically, the priorities identified jointly by the Commission and the candidate countries in the analytical assessment (or 'screening') of the EU's political and legislative acquis. Each year, the Commission reviews the progress made by candidates and evaluates the efforts required before their accession. This monitoring is the subject of annual reports presented to the Council and the European Parliament.
Commission Report [COM(2011) 666 final – SEC(2011) 1201 - Not published in the Official Journal].
The 2011 Report identifies satisfactory progress concerning the future integration of Turkey into the European Research Area and its preparations for the Innovation Union.
EUROPEAN UNION ACQUIS (according to the Commission's words)
Due to its specificity, the acquis in the field of science and research does not require any transposition in the national legal order. Implementation capacity does not relate to the application and enforcement of legal provisions but rather to the existence of the necessary conditions for effective participation in the framework programmes. In order to ensure the successful implementation of the acquis in this domain, notably successful association to the framework programmes, Turkey will need to create the necessary implementing capacities in the field of research and technological development including an increase of the personnel assigned to framework programme activities.
The acquis in the field of telecommunications is aimed at the elimination of obstacles to the effective operation of the single market in telecommunications services and networks, and the deployment of universally available modern services. A new regulatory framework on electronic communications was adopted by the European Union (EU) in 2002. As regards postal services, the objective is to implement the single market by opening up the sector to competition in a gradual and controlled way, within a regulatory framework which assures a universal service.
EVALUATION (according to the Commission's words)
Turkey is well prepared for accession in the area of science and research. Good progress has been made towards integration into the European Research Area and preparations for the Innovation Union. Overall, Turkey's participation and success rate in the EU Seventh Framework Programme are growing, but further efforts are needed in order to meet the excellence requirement and competitive participation in the EU research programmes.
Commission Report [COM(2010) 660 final – SEC(2010) 1327 - Not published in the Official Journal].
The 2010 Report noted the country's good level of preparation in the field of research, particularly through its participation in European Union (EU) programmes. In addition, progress had been made towards its future integration into the European Research Area.
Commission Report [COM(2009) 533 final – SEC(2009) 1334 – Not published in the Official Journal].
Commission Report [COM(2008) 674 final - SEC(2008) 2699 final - Not published in the Official Journal].
The 2008 Report noted progress made in the field of electronic communications, in particular the adoption of competitive safeguards imposed on dominant operators on the mobile telephony and broadband market. However, alignment with the Community legislative framework remained limited.
Commission Report [COM(2007) 663 final - SEC(2007) 1436 final - Not published in the Official Journal]. The 2007 Report welcomed the progress made by Turkey in science and research. However, the Report emphasised the small number of researchers and the lack of involvement of the private sector and small and medium-sized enterprises in research.
Turkey has made some progress in the area of electronic communications, particularly as regards the implementing legislation. However, the country has only partly aligned with the Community framework.
Commission Report [COM(2006) 649 final - SEC(2006) 1390 - Not published in the Official Journal]. The October 2006 Report noted real progress in the two areas of activity. In science and research, Turkey appeared to be well prepared concerning participation in the EU programmes and the allocation of national budget appropriations. Thanks to increased collaboration with the EU, many measures had been taken to make the research environment more favourable. In general, Turkey had made good progress overall in the design and application of an integrated research strategy. In terms of the information society, the country had acquired a good base for continuing alignment with the Community acquis in the field of electronic communications and information technology.
Commission Report [COM(2005) 561 final - SEC(2005) 1426 - Not published in the Official Journal]. The 2005 Report noted some progress on research with, in particular, greater participation by Turkey in the Sixth Framework Programme on Research and Technological Development (FP6) and a number of developments regarding legal and administrative structures. Progress had also been made on the information society mainly through further alignment with the acquis in order to liberalise the electronic communications and information technologies sector.
Commission Report [COM(2004) 656 final - SEC(2004) 1201 - Not published in the Official Journal]. The 2004 Report noted that Turkey's capacity in the area of science and research remained limited, but that it was maintaining efforts to increase its participation in the research and development programmes and activities. The report also noted that further efforts were essential to complete the regulatory framework in the telecommunications sector and to effectively enforce the rules vis-à-vis the large powerful companies that dominated the market.
Commission Report [COM(2003) 676 final - SEC(2003) 1212 – Not published in the Official Journal]. The November 2003 Report pointed out that alignment with the telecommunications acquis was still insufficient. Moreover, no progress had been made as regards postal services. In the sphere of science and research, Turkey's full association with the Sixth Framework Programme was a significant step forward, but its effectiveness still remained to be assessed.
Commission Report [COM(2002) 700 final - SEC(2002) 1412 – Not published in the Official Journal]. The October 2002 Report emphasised that Turkey had made some progress in the field of science and research. However, with regard to telecommunications, the report noted that little progress had been made since the previous report.
Commission Report [COM(2001) 700 final - SEC(2001) 1756 – Not published in the Official Journal].
Commission Report [COM(2000) 713 final – Not published in the Official Journal]. In its November 2000 Report, the Commission noted that progress had been made in the field of research. Noticeable progress was reported in the field of telecommunications, particularly regarding competition.
Commission Report [COM(1999) 513 final – Not published in the Official Journal].
Commission Report [COM(1998) 711 final – Not published in the Official Journal].
Last updated: 30.12.2011


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Talk to your local Valley dealer about irrigation systems today!
Sign up now for your free PivotPoint magazine subscription!
We want to hear from you!
It's time for a change. Traditionally, farmers use flood irrigation to grow rice, a method that requires a huge amount of water. While this practice has proven successful for centuries, growers like you are continuously looking for ways to become more profitable in crop production.
In 2007, we began our rice irrigation program. Research by Valley® Irrigation and our various partners focused on two distinct groups of farmers looking for more profitable rice production through center pivots and linears: (1) traditional rice growers who want to conserve water and decrease flood costs, and (2) first-time rice growers looking for a profitable rotational crop that can be grown on a non-traditional rice field.
We've gathered the benefits, research, and other information here to help you make the transition to more efficient and profitable rice production.
Benefits to the Traditional Grower
Benefits to the Non-Traditional Grower
Benefits to Society
Your Cost Value
Average Cost Savings When Producing Rice with a Center Pivot
Values illustrate the percentage difference between flood and center pivot irrigation costs.
Identifying rice characteristics is an important part of the Valley Irrigation production process for growing rice under mechanized irrigation.
Properly selecting your rice, either variety or hybrid, is a critical step in maximizing potential with mechanized irrigation. So far, we have focused on long-grain hybrids and some aromatic varieties. Research on variety and hybrid performance under mechanized irrigation is currently being conducted by RiceTec, the University of Missouri Delta Research Center, EMBRAPA, and IRGA.
Researchers suggest that growers look for the following key characteristics in rice:
Other important characteristics include:
Meeting crop nutrient needs is an important part of the production process for growing rice under mechanized irrigation, which was developed by Valley irrigation.
We recommend periodic soil sampling and testing to determine crop nutrient needs. Because mechanized irrigation minimizes the potential for runoff and/or leaching, it is superior to traditional rice management methods. You have the ability to supply crop inputs (dry or liquid) through a center pivot or linear, saving the expense of aerial fertigation. If needed, phosphorus and potassium are typically applied by ground application prior to planting.
Current research focuses on supplying crop nitrogen needs through a center pivot or linear. By using mechanized irrigation, nitrogen can be applied frequently to achieve maximum efficiency of its use.
Irrigation Management
Irrigation management is a key factor the Valley Irrigation rice production process. We are conducting research to develop a commercially-viable solution. Both field-plot and field-scale trials are being overseen.
How is irrigation management with mechanized irrigation different from flood?
How is mechanized irrigation management for rice different than typical row crop irrigation?
Irrigation Scheduling Methods
Wheel Track Solutions
Wheel track solutions are an integral part of the Valley Irrigation production process for growing rice under mechanized irrigation. Wheel track issues cannot be completely resolved with just hardware or just management; it requires a combination of the two. A correct solution is dependent upon the soil texture and field topography. Valley Irrigation can provide recommendations for a specific situation.
Drive unit:
Sprinkler package:
You need to balance crop water needs with drying wheel tracks between applications
For more than 20 years, several growers across the world have tried producing rice under center pivots and linears. However, the net return from the field did not meet expectations. Valley Irrigation conducted extensive research to identify and develop production guidelines to help farmers meet their economic expectations and provide a secure, efficient, and cost-saving option for growing rice under mechanized irrigation.
About the Project
In 2008, a team of dedicated personnel was created. This team conducted research, multiple worldwide trials and field-scale studies; provided technical information to growers; and developed educational and marketing materials, such as the Valley Irrigation Rice Production Guide.
Mechanized Irrigation and Management
Rice Varieties and Hybrids
Pests and Diseases
The pests commonly experienced with flooded rice may also be an issue in mechanized irrigated fields. In our experience in Brazil, USA, and Pakistan, no pest differences have been seen between flood and pivot-irrigated rice. There are some diseases, however, that will require attention, such as rice blast, brown spot, and sheaf blight. Typically, there is a higher potential for blast to develop in a rice field under mechanized irrigation and less potential for sheaf blight. In field experience, the brown spot has been about the same. Choosing the right seed with resistance, as well as being prepared to apply a preventative fungicide application at the appropriate time will greatly assist in disease management.
The goal of the Valley Irrigation rice program is to try to ensure the crop canopy has a chance to dry out between applications, including the soil surface. The micro climate in the rice may actually be less humid using mechanized irrigation than in a flooded field.
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text:
Well, 0.20 is stable and works fine if you don't need Devel::DProf (there may be other issues with Devel modules, I don't know). Also, if you don't need $class->does($class) to return true, than 0.20 should be fine.
That being said, if you have any issues with it, let me know!
I just went ahead and integrated it. Since there aren't any "binary" issues being a pure Perl module.


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Tech opened play with a 14-7 win over Northwest Missouri State and then concluded its trip in Oklahoma with a 15-9 victory over Northeastern State.
In the win over Northwest Missouri State, Tech (8-6) opened the scoring in the first inning with a lead-off home run by senior second baseman Chris Reese off of NWMSU hurler Chase Anderson.
The Wonder Boys pushed their lead to 6-0 in the third inning when they plated five runs on an RBI double by Reese, a three-run homer by senior third baseman Nate Wilder and a wild pitch by Anderson.
Anderson (0-2) took the loss after he threw 31⁄3 innings, allowed five hits and six runs, while he walked three and struck out three.
NWMSU (1-7) scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI double by Travis Green and a two-run triple by Ryan Abernathy off of junior pitcher Blake Baldarez.
The Bearcats pulled within 6-5 in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly and a triple by Green.
Tech added three runs to its lead in the fifth on three hits and two Bearcat errors to push out to an 8-5 lead.
NWMSU added a run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Eric Swain.
The Wonder Boys plated two more runs in the sixth inning on solo home runs from junior centerfielder Madison Beaird of Russellville and junior Jonathan Finnegan. NWMSU pulled within 10-7 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a run-scoring single by Abernathy off of Wonder Boy senior reliever Cody Hatman.
Tech added to its lead in the seventh on an RBI double by redshirt freshman leftfielder Kenny Spencer and completed the scoring in the ninth inning thanks to an RBI double by Spencer and an RBI single by Reese.
Hatman (1-1), who relieved Baldarez in the fifth inning, picked up the win as he threw five innings, allowed 10 hits and one run, walked one and struck out one. Baldarez pitched four innings and allowed seven hits and six runs. The starter walked three and struck out one.
Tech's offense collected 15 hits off of five Bearcat pitchers as Reese and Finnegan each had three hits, while Wilder, Spencer and junior shortstop Drew Stanton each had two hits in the win. Reese and Wilder each had three RBI and Finnegan scored three runs.
NWMSU was paced by four hits and three RBI from Abernathy, while Green and Nathaniel Horton each had two hits in the loss.
In its game against Northeastern State, Tech jumped in front 3-0 in the first inning on an RBI double by Wilder and a two-run homer by Finnegan.
The RiverHawks, though, answered with five runs on four hits and an error in the bottom of the first inning to take a 5-3 lead. The big hits in the inning were a 2-run homer by Dan Skelly and a two-run double by Trent Wilkins.
NSU increased its lead to 8-3 in the second inning thanks to three hits off of sophomore hurler Danny Parker of Pottsville.
The Wonder Boys began chipping away at NSU's lead in the third inning and plated two runs on back-to-back homers from Wilder and Finnegan, and added two more runs on a two-run homer by senior rightfielder Zach Thomas in the fourth to pull within 8-7.
Tech took the lead in the sixth and plated three runs on two hits and a RiverHawks error.
NSU (4-7) added a run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a solo homer by Mike Stone to pull within 10-9.
The Wonder Boys added four runs in the eighth and completed the scoring in the ninth on an RBI single by Finnegan.
Tech's offense recorded a season-high 19 hits against four RiverHawks pitchers. Leading the way for the Wonder Boys offensively was Beaird, who was 4-for-6 and Finnegan, who finished 4-for-5 with six RBI. Junior designated hitter Thomas Biocic added three hits in the win.
Junior Zak Anstine (1-0) earned the win in relief as he pitched eight innings and allowed four hits and one run against two walks and 11 strikeouts. The 11 strikeouts are a season-high by a Wonder Boy pitcher.
Trevor Walch (2-2) took the loss for the RiverHawks as he pitched three innings and allowed six hits and five runs (four earned), he walked two and fanned three.
Greg Jackson, Chris Gallegos and Stone each had two hits for NSU in the loss.
The Wonder Boys will return to action today as they host Southern Arkansas in a single nine-inning non-conference game. The first pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Tech Field.
Suns sweep SAU
The Golden Suns rounded out their six-game home stand with a pair of wins over Southern Arkansas on Sunday at Chartwell's Women's Sports Complex.
Tech (7-5, 3-1 GAC) posted a come-from-behind 2-1 win in nine innings in the first game and then concluded the doubleheader with a 5-1 win in the nightcap.
In Sunday's first game, the Lady Muleriders (6-12, 1-3) got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning thanks to a double, a passed ball and an RBI single by Ashlyn Rybiski off freshman pitcher Victoria Huie of Pottsville.
Tech tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, loaded the bases and scored a run to force extra innings. The run came on an error by SAU leftfielder Mackenzie Spanko on a fly ball hit off the bat of freshman rightfielder Ashton Long. Hanna Gill, pitching her third consecutive game in the series for the Lady Muleriders, prevented any more runs from scoring as she forced senior centerfielder Maddie Roncketto to pop out and junior leftfielder Cassady Haworth ended the inning by lining out.
In the bottom of the eighth, Tech had a chance to win the game with two runners on base and one out, but Gill retired the next two Golden Suns in order to send the game to the ninth.
Tech finally came through with a run in the ninth to earn the win as Long was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Junior Amy Kilpatrick pinch-ran for Long and scored the game-winning run on a single by Roncketto and a throwing error by SAU centerfielder Kylee Crosek.
Tech collected just four hits and left nine runners on base in the game.
Huie (2-2) picked up the win as she pitched all nine innings and allowed seven hits and one run. The freshman walked three and struck out seven.
Gill (5-6) took the loss in the circle as she threw 81⁄3 innings and allowed four hits and one earned run, while walking two and fanning four.
Taelor Wheeler and Macie Tillery each recorded two hits for the Lady Muleriders in the loss.
Tech jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning of the nightcap on a bases-loaded double by freshman Siarra Gomez, and added its fourth run on an RBI groundout by sophomore catcher Maurie Lewis.
SAU got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning on a pair of singles and a wild pitch by junior pitcher Rachel Keeton.
The Golden Suns completed the game's scoring in the bottom of the fifth as sophomore third baseman Hayley Hudson led off with a double, moved to third on a fielder's choice by Gomez and scored on an RBI groundout by Huie.
In the sixth inning, SAU put runners on second and third with one out, but Keeton got out of the jam without allowing a run to score.
Keeton (4-3) picked up the complete game win in the circle as she allowed six hits and one run, while striking out four and walking none.
Zack led the way offensively for Tech in the nightcap as she recorded two of her team's five hits.
Candice Collier (1-4) took the loss for SAU as she pitched six innings and allowed five hits and five runs (four earned), while walking two and striking out three.
Tech will return to action next weekend as they travel to Arkadelphia for a four-game series against Henderson State. The teams will open the series with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and another doubleheader Sunday beginning at 11 a.m.


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The world's largest 'waste dump' is found in the Pacific Ocean
If you were to travel from the United States of America to Japan, you would most likely encounter what could be described as the worl''s largest waste dump: a 100,000 tonne expanse of debris floating around a large region of the Pacific Ocean. The total area of this phenomenon has been said to equal the size of continental U.S., but the truth about its true size remains unknown.
Captain Charles Moore first discovered the 'Pacific garbage patch' in 1997. The area in which rubbish gets caught up is known as a gyre, which can be described as a large-scale circular feature made up of ocean currents that ultimately traps waste and moves it around the region.
Plastics constitute 90 percent of all trash in the world's oceans with 20 percent of this waste being dumped from ships and oil platforms. The rest comes from land.
Plastic is of course, a very useful product; durable and stable, yet it is these very properties that deem it troublesome in marine environments.
"The polypropylene and the polyethylene that make up the majority of floater plastics and consumer plastics are just a little bit lighter than water. So if it's rough they get pushed down under. When it's really calm, all these bits and pieces can float to the surface," Charles Moore told the Earth Island Journal.
To Moore, it is clearly a land-based problem and he believes that what drives the market and what subsequently runs off the streets into our oceans is all part of the same problem.
A one-liter plastic bottle, when in seawater, can reduce to so many small pieces that it is possible a single fragment could be found on every beach in the world. The entire marine food-web is suffering as a result. The breakdown of plastics into small pieces allows them to mimic the prey of all marine animals, from zooplankton to whales. When plastic is so prevalent that it fills up a creature's stomach, it turns off the desire to feed. If an organism doesn't put on fat stores for reproduction and migration, its population will crash. Floating plastic will even act as transport for some organisms, introducing them to areas where they could be problematic to resident species.
Seventy percent of the plastic waste sinks to the ocean floor and this mass of waste causes considerable damage to bed-dwelling organisms. In the worst case scenario—suffocation.
Plastics are also very good sponges, as such they are often used in oil clean-ups. But Moore explains that "petroleum-derivative toxins are sticking to these plastics, delivering these toxicants to marine creatures from the very base of the food-web to the top, in addition to killing millions by entanglement".
Read More at Mongobay.com
Trash Earth Via Shutterstock


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Article Post
Former Editor-in-Chief
Intelligent Utility, Energy Central
Member since 2012
Former Editor-in-Chief, Intelligent Utility, Energy Central
San Diego Gas & Electric
THE THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM, OR SO THE OLD SAYING GOES. FOR San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), all three times have been magical, actually. Last year marked the third year the California utility captured the UtiliQ crown as the most intelligent U.S. utility.
Sempra Energy-owned SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides energy service to 3.5 million people through 1.4 million electric meters and 850,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. Its service area spreads across 4,100 square miles and spans 25 separate communities. The utility employs approximately 5,000 people who work daily to deliver power in intuitive and intelligent ways, according to Jim Avery, senior vice president of power supply with SDG&E.
And one of the most intelligent ways to deliver power these days is through a smart meter.
Smart meter, smart grid
SDG&E replaced both its gas and electric meters with the smarter versions in 2011, allowing for remote measurements, in-depth communications and more interactive customer applications.
Avery said that the biggest hurdle of the metering program was "dealing with externalities," things that couldn't be anticipated beforehand. But good communication before, during and after the installation helped customers "feel like they were a part of the overall deployment process."
In fact, the deployment went so well that the California Public Utilities Commission highlighted the utility's meter plan as a type of "gold standard." Avery was quick to point out that the utility didn't work so hard to get the praise, rather that the praise was a bonus from the hard work, which the utility does because of a passion for power and the consumer.
"We don't do this for the accolades; it's merely in our DNA," he said. This desire to serve the customer well has led to a number of technological deployments to help keep SDG&E's consumers content and well-informed while the system itself has become increasingly more reliable. The utility has had the highest reliability numbers in the western U.S. for the past six years. SDG&E isn't resting, however; there's always more to do to prepare for the future.
Glimpses of the future
"In the electric industry today, as we modernize our grid here in the San Diego region and around the U.S., we have not begun to dream of what our future will be," Avery added.
But there are a few glimpses into that future. The learning curve for SDG&E reliability will likely be defined at technology hot spots like the utility's Borrego Springs microgrid project.
SDG&E's been experimenting with microgrid options such as the $15 million Borrego Springs project to reduce feeder peak load by 15 percent, examine volt-amps-reactive (VAR) management and to continue to enhance system reliability. Located in a small desert town east of Escondido, the project is currently on track to becoming one of the first fully functioning utility-sponsored microgrids in the country.
The community's isolation and related system problems made it ideal to host a microgrid pilot project, allowing SDG&E to dramatically increase reliability for the small community while investing in a "living laboratory," as Avery called it, to work on the power industry's future issues, from renewables integration to customer participation.
"By the end of this year, we'll have a large part of the Borrego Springs equation up and running, but the project doesn't have an end date. We will learn from it, grow and make changes as the variables change," Avery said.
From grid to renewables
The Borrego Springs microgrid project isn't the only smart concept on tap for SDG&E; it's a leader in this smart grid evolution. In fact, the utility has 60 initiatives in the smart grid arena in which many average U.S. utilities clock in at four or five.
And projects like Borrego Springs have multiple applications beyond the smart grid. It will add managing renewables knowledge as well as smart grid concepts to the SDG&E portfolio because the variables required to manage a microgrid are similar to the variables required to manage renewable energy.
Additionally, SDG&E has cleared a number of renewable energy goals this year along with work at Borrego Springs, including hitting short-term generation numbers of 20 percent renewable generation, which the utility achieved in just the past few months despite having a larger renewables gap than any other California utility under that same directive and time frame.
Additionally, the utility's Sunrise Powerlink transmission line project is well into the construction phase, allowing a variety of renewable energy initiatives from the Imperial Valley-wind, solar and even biomass-to be accessible by the smarter San Diego grid in the near future.
At the fore on many fronts
SDG&E leads in many arenas: smart grid, smart meters and renewables. Its metering deployment may have set the standard for customer interaction kudos, but the latest customer-centric project on that list is Green Button.
Green Button allows customers to access their smart meter usage information. SDG&E is one of three utilities-all in California-launching the new tool, which puts up to 13 months of consumption data at the digital fingertips of the utility's consumer. The consumer can then export that data in a simple format to other applications.
Green Button developed from a White House call to action, asking utilities to develop consumption tools for consumers similar to Blue Button that delivers simple-to-understand health care data. Avery loves Green Button because it's a nationwide push for a standard platform that can be utilized by everyone, as cooperation and collaboration are two of SDG&E's cultural touchstones for smart grid efforts and the utility's overall plans for a brighter energy future.
That mindset of collaborations and bringing everyone to the table is key to making SDG&E the most intelligent UtiliQ utility, according to Avery. SDG&E wants to deploy the best ideas from anyone, not play it close the vest with its own plans and ideas to the detriment of customer service. After all, part of the SDG&E DNA is built on customer service.
In SDG&E lore, five San Diegans met in the parlor of the Consolidated Bank on April 18, 1881, to incorporate the San Diego Gas Company. In the nearly 131 years since that meeting, SDG&E has become more than a simple supplier of gas and electricity. It has grown into a leader serving the seventh largest city in the U.S. in both traditional and cutting-edge ways-the traditional mindset of customer service paired with more intelligent technology and devices, making it the leading UtiliQ utility in 2011.
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Marketplace Morning Report for Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Tomorrow in London, there's going to be a major conference organized by the British government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that aims to bring the focus back to family planning. We speak to Melinda Gates on why it is such an important cause for her and the foundation. The struggling maker of BlackBerry smartphones holds its annual shareholders meeting today in the Canadian town of Waterloo. Shareholders are hoping to hear some reassuring news. And Pepsi gets into the yogurt business.


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Family Room & Den Window Treatments
- Reduce heat gain and block UV rays
- Control light and cut down on glare
- Go cordless for increased child and pet safety
- Motorized shades for hard to reach spots
- Cellulars maintain comfortable temperatures
Family rooms are where we spend much of our time relaxing, entertaining, and gathering together to laugh and play. Depending on your light control and privacy needs, there are a variety of family room window treatments that can provide the functionality you need and the look you want. Consider cordless window treatments to keep this family gathering space safe from the dangers of dangling cords. For windows that are very tall or difficult to reach, you may consider a motorized window treatment that can be remote controlled.
Blindsgalore® Natural Woven Shades
retail $65.67 $44.00 + an extra 10% off
Blindsgalore® Premium 2" Wood Blinds: Paints, Stains, Specialty Grains
retail $77.61 $52.00 + an extra 10% off
Bali® DiamondCell® Cellular Shades: Light Filtering Double Cell
retail $86.57 $58.00 + an extra 10% off
Certified Best for Kids
Products with this label meet or exceed safety recommendations approved by the Window Covering Manufactures Association (WCMA) and have undergone rigorous third-party testing.
Levolor® Accordia™ Room Darkening Designer Cellular Shades
retail $95.52 $64.00 + an extra 20% off
Certified Best for Kids
Products with this label meet or exceed safety recommendations approved by the Window Covering Manufactures Association (WCMA) and have undergone rigorous third-party testing.
Bali® DiamondCell® Cellular Shades: Blackout Midnight and Legacy
retail $100.00 $67.00 + an extra 10% off
Certified Best for Kids
Products with this label meet or exceed safety recommendations approved by the Window Covering Manufactures Association (WCMA) and have undergone rigorous third-party testing.
Bali® Natural Shades
retail $105.97 $71.00 + an extra 10% off
Certified Best for Kids
Products with this label meet or exceed safety recommendations approved by the Window Covering Manufactures Association (WCMA) and have undergone rigorous third-party testing.
Cellular / Honeycomb (3)
Energy-efficient, insulating. Lift and light control options.
Venetian Blinds (1)
Blindsgalore venetian blinds are easy to clean, long lasting, and provide excellent privacy.
Wood Blinds (1)
Warm, timeless look. Durable, built to last.
Woven Wood Shades (2)
Made with renewable materials. Intriguing, textured look.
- Cellular / Honeycomb (3)
- Venetian Blinds (1)
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- refine
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Opaque window treatments are made from fabrics or materials that block light.
Semi-Opaque (1)
Although light is substantially blocked, some vague shadows may be visible.
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- refine
2" Slats (1)
This traditional size is the most popular and fits most window sizes
Double Cell (2)
Multi-cell construction provides excellent insulation
Single Cell (1)
Provides great insulation in a wide variety of pleat sizes
- Double Cell (2)
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- refine
3/8" Pleat (2)
.375 inch (3/8 of an inch), are the thinnest available, and equivalent to 32 pleats per foot.
9/16" Pleat (1)
.5625 inch (5/8 of an inch), are the thickness of a deck of cards and equivalent to 21 pleats per foot.
- 3/8" Pleat (2)
- 9/16" Pleat (1)
- refine
Blackout (4)
Blackout blinds and shades can eliminate glare on TVs and monitors, make sleeping easier or simply used to darken a room.
Cordless (5)
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Cordless top down bottom up shades allows you to lower the shade from the top, raise it from the bottom, or both.
Easy Cleaning (2)
Remote Control / Motorized (5)
Take a look at our wide selection of motorized blinds and window treatments
Routeless (1)
Top Down/Bottom Up (5)
Top down bottom up is ultimate privacy and light control option - raise the shade from the bottom, the top, or both
- Blackout (4)
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- Graber Comparable (5)
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- refine
Bali (3)
Since 1939, Bali has been providing beautiful, quality window treatments to customers around the world. Choose from a comprehensive selection of Bali blinds and shades.
Blindsgalore (2)
Save money without sacrificing quality. Choose from Blindsgalore's signature line of custom window treatments and coverings.
Levolor (1)
Levolor, one of the most recognized names in custom blinds and shades, has set the standard in window fashion, design innovation and product quality since 1914.
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Horizontal (3)
Horizontal blinds and shades operate up and down instead of side to side. These types of blinds work well on nearly all windows except sliding doors.
Horizontal Blinds (1)
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- Horizontal (3)
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Flattened pieces of bamboo in various colors are the star of these window treatments
Cellular (3)
Take a look at our cellular window treatments.
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Offering a variety of natural textures, fabric is featured in a number of shades and vertical blinds.
Matchsticks (2)
Whether a simple design or a complex weave, matchsticks make the shade.
Wood (1)
Wood is the classic natural material and is available in a variety products, colors and sizes to fit your rooms needs.
Wood Planks (1)
Stained or painted narrow slats of wood are featured in these shades.
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Take a look at our wide selection of French Door Window Treatments.
Hard-to-Reach (5)
Take a look at all of our blinds and shades for hard-to-reach windows
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customer reviews for family room den
"Quality at a great price"
By Denice from California
Purchased Daybreak II - 3/8" Cell Butter Creme top down bottom up to replace expensive motorized Hunter Douglas cellulars that kept malfunctioning. No regrets.View this product
"Great new look!"
By ginger from Hopkinton MA
Our new blinds have added a great new look to our living room and dining area. I thought that having only the blinds on the window would look bareView this product


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Huawei Ascend Y540 can be unlocked by an unlock code if it asks for NCK or SIM unlock code after changing the SIM card. Means, if your phone is asking for unlock code, then it can be easily unlocked. This unlocking method is the fastest and risk-free to make your device network-free. Unlocking by code does not involve any hardware or firmware change, means you are not going to lose the warranty of your phone.
To generate the correct SIMlock code of Huawei Ascend Y540, we need only 15-digit IMEI. You can find out the correct 15-digit unique IMEI by dialing *06# as a phone number or you can also check in the settings.
Since the factory unlock code directly comes from Huawei server, we don't need any another information except IMEI. The code will be 100% genuine and will work fine.
Order Unlock Code of Huawei Ascend Y540
Once order placed, you will get the following types of codes:
NCK – NCK or Network Code will remove the main network restriction from your Huawei Ascend Y540 phone.
SPCK – Service Provider Code or Subset Unlock PIN will remove the network restriction from the subset network (e.g. Tesco in the U.K.).
SIMLock Block Unlock Reset Key – "SIMLock Block Unlock Reset Key" will be used to reset the code counter if you have already tried with so many wrong codes on your Huawei Ascend Y540.
Note: In a few cases, you may get only NCK or Unlock Code, if in the database only one set of codes will be available. There will be no refund in such case.
How to Unlock Huawei Ascend Y540 by Code?
You may get up to 4 codes, depending on the network provider.
1. Switch Off the Huawei Ascend Y540.
2. Insert another operator SIM card.
3. Switch On.
4. When the device asks for the code, enter the first code which is provided by mysimunlock.net.
6. If the first code doesn't work then you can try with the second or the third code.
Now your Huawei Ascend Y540 should be network-free and can be used with all the SIM cards worldwide.
If the above-mentioned steps don't work for you, then enter the last code. You should see "confirm unsuccessful" message. Now again enter the previous codes.


text: That is the thing, it is a total steal for the price. I wish I could buy reels like our friends overseas. I really like the softness and have no issues with overhitting even at 40#s... but I am a heavy spin hitter. What I love is that I can flatten out the ball when needed as well.