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Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), 2003 (ICPSR 24382)
Principal Investigator(s): Hesse, Bradford, National Institutes of Health. National Cancer Institute; Moser, Richard, National Institutes of Health. National Cancer Institute
The Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) collects nationally representative data about the American public's access to and use of cancer-related information. This data collection consists of the 2003 survey which focused on the changing patterns, needs, and behavior in seeking and supplying cancer information, and explored how cancer risks are perceived. A series of questions specifically addressed colon and breast cancer and respondents' familiarity with cancer screening procedures such as mammogram, colonoscopy, and the PSA test. Information was also gathered on physical and mental health status, smoking history, how often respondents ate fruits and vegetables, and whether they had health insurance. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, employment status, marital status, household income, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), and whether respondents had children under the age of 18.
Series: Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) Series
Access Notes
Data in this collection are available only to users at ICPSR member institutions. Please log in so we can determine if you are with a member institution and have access to these data files.
This study is provided by ICPSR. ICPSR provides leadership and training in data access, curation, and methods of analysis for a diverse and expanding social science research community.
ASCII + SAS Setup SPSS Setup Stata Setup
Study Description
Hesse, Bradford, and Richard Moser. Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), 2003. ICPSR24382-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2009-03-27. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR24382.v1
Persistent URL: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR24382.v1
Export Citation:
- RIS (generic format for RefWorks, EndNote, etc.)
- EndNote XML (EndNote X4.0.1 or higher)
Scope of Study
Subject Terms: breast cancer, cancer, colon cancer, communication, communications systems, disease prevention, health, health attitudes, health behavior, information dissemination, information sources, Internet, mammography, mass media, public health, smoking, tobacco use
Smallest Geographic Unit: Census tract
Geographic Coverage: United States
- 2003
- 2003
Unit of Observation: individual
Universe: The civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States aged 18 years and older.
The data available for download are not weighted and users will need to weight the data prior to analysis.
Analyses of large HINTS domains usually produce reliable estimates, but analyses of small domains may yield unreliable estimates, as indicated by their large variances. Users should pay particular attention to the standard error and coefficient of variation (relative standard error) for estimates of means, proportions, and totals. Small sample sizes for particular analyses will tend to result in unstable estimates. Additional information about sampling, interviewing, sampling error, weighting, and the universe of each question may be found in the codebook documentation.
Variable names containing more than 16 characters were truncated in order to be compatible with current statistical programs. Therefore, variable names may differ slightly from those in the original documentation.
Each iteration of HINTS consists of a cross-sectional independent sample; however, there are several questions that are common across each iteration and thus the data could be combined by variable to test for changes over time or to obtain a larger sample size.
To protect respondent confidentiality, open-ended responses containing information on respondent's occupation in variables HC26GANYTHING_OS, HC11WHOSEEKCA_OS, and CK10CHANGEBE_1OS were blanked.
The formats of the variables FRUITS, FRUITJUICE, VEGETABLES, and POTATOES, as well as the weight and replicate weight variables, were adjusted to fit the width of the values present in these variables.
The CASEID variable was created for use with online analysis.
Sample: The sample design is a list-assisted RDD sample from all telephone exchanges in the United States, with oversampling of Blacks and Hispanics. This oversampling resulted in a nationally representative sample of households. During the household screening, one adult was sampled within each household and recruited for the extended interview. Please refer to the codebook documentation for more information on sample design.
Weight: Every sampled adult who completed a questionnaire received a sampling weight and a set of replicate sampling weights. These sampling weights should be used in aggregating any survey questionnaire answers for the purpose of computing nationally representative estimates. Please refer to the codebook documentation for more information on weights used in the data.
Mode of Data Collection: computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI)
Response Rates: The overall response rate was 33.05 percent. Please refer to the codebook documentation for more information on response rates.
Presence of Common Scales: Six-item version of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) Fact Sheet.
Extent of Processing: ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:
- Checked for undocumented or out-of-range codes.
Original ICPSR Release: 2009-03-27
Metadata Exports
- Citations exports are provided above.
Export Study-level metadata (does not include variable-level metadata)
If you're looking for collection-level metadata rather than an individual metadata record, please visit our Metadata Records page.


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Peter Gabriel will release a newly mixed version of "Courage," a single that he initially recorded over 25 years ago.
GRAMMY Award winning engineer Tchad Blake re-worked the song that contains new overdubs by Gabriel and long-term guitarist/collaborator David Rhodes (who has been part of Gabriel's band on his "Back To Front" tour, which sees him playing So in its entirety).
"Courage" was slated for Gabriel's 1986 album, So, however, Gabriel did not feel the song was appropriate to be included on the project.
"When So drew to a close I didn't feel the song was delivering in the way I had hoped, so I decided not to include it. When we were reviewing all the material from that time, we wanted to take a fresh look at it and get it finished. I always liked the track and very much enjoyed the playing on it, especially the energy of the drums," said the 63-year-old singer.
The bundle release also includes a remix by multi-platinum record producer Steve Osborne, who also remixed Gabriel's "The Tower That Ate People" and mixed/produced "Growing Up."
– Jude Dsouza / 98.5 WNCX

subset: commoncrawl


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Record 13,000 aged over 100 in UK
The number of people living over the age of 100 has reached a record high, figures show.
In 2012 there were 13,350 centenarians living in the UK, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
Over the last decade alone the number of people who live to 100 has increased by 73%.
During the last 30 years there has been a five-fold increase in the number of people who reach the milestone birthday, according to the ONS report Estimates of the Very Old.
In 2012, 660 people were estimated to be at least 105 years old - another record.
This means that the Queen will be spending more and more time writing birthday cards to centenarians.
At present, she sends a personal congratulatory message to anyone in the United Kingdom celebrating their 100th birthday, their 105th birthday and each year following their 105th birthday.
She can also send birthday messages to centenarians living in countries where she is the head of state.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said that in 2013 the Queen sent 10,975 messages to people celebrating their 100th birthdays, 486 messages to people celebrating their 105th birthdays and 454 messages to people celebrating their 106th or above birthdays.
She also sends celebratory messages to couples celebrating milestone wedding anniversaries. The tradition of sending messages started during the reign of the Queen's grandfather, George V.
The ONS report states that there were more than half a million people over the age of 90 in the UK in 2012.
For every 100 men aged 90 and over there were 264 women.
While there is a stark contrast between the number of "very old" men and women, the gap between the sexes has tightened - in 2002 there were 336 women aged 90 and over for every 100 men.
Another report from the official statistical body states that life expectancy at birth has increased by two and a half years per decade since 1980 for men and two years per decade for females.
However, UK women are still expected to live for longer than men.
But a third ONS report on healthy life expectancy suggests that even though people are living longer, they are not enjoying all of their years in good health.
Healthy life expectancy estimates the average lifespan spent in very good or good health based on a self-assessment taken from the Census.
The report suggests that baby girls born in 2010-12 can expect to live for 83 years, but just 64.8 of those years will be spent in good health.
Meanwhile, baby boys can expect to live for 79.2 years and feel healthy for 63.5 years, the report suggests.
The report found major regional differences between healthy life expectancies.
In Guildford and Waverley baby girls and boys could expect to live 71.3 and 70.3 years in good health respectively.
But in Bradford a healthy life expectancy for a man is just 52.5 years and 51.6 years for women.


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I'm currently running Zone Alarm Free Firewall version 8.0.065.000 on my Vista laptop.
What has started happening, is as soon as I start the pc up and zone alarm icon has appeared in the task bar, a nagging pop up appears titled Zone Alarm security options, giving me the option to buy the security suite.
have two options there, one is to click 'Tell me more' and the other is 'No thanks' - I have clicked both, but this still pops up EVERY time the computer is booted up.
I have gone into preferences and clicked to get updates manual instead of automatic, which I believe has worked for some people, but I still get it popping up.
I am told by others that it is because it is free, but I have had Zone Alarm free firewall for years and have never got this before.
Is there any solution, and does anyone else get it?
Operating System:Windows Vista Home Premium
Software Version:8.0
Product Name:ZoneAlarm (Free)


text:
Saturday, April 27th, 1-4 pm • Only 3 Spots Left, Book Now!
Class Description: Intimidated by cooking seafood? Don't know the difference between a Sea Scallop and Bay Scallop?
Come on over to A Taste of the Mountains Cooking School and attend a cooking class that's all about seafood. Join fun-loving, Certified Executive Chef, Gary Sheldon, in our Seafood cooking class where you will learn a variety of seafood preparations and cooking techniques, witness fish cooking at its finest, get all your questions answered and practice cooking with guidance from this experienced, award-winning chef.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor over a glass of wine in our laid back cooking school. Meet new friends and swap cooking tips. SIGN UP NOW before this class is sold out.
- Crab Cake, with micro greens tossed in a Maple Walnut Dressing
- Thai Shrimp Firecrackers
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- Grilled Maine Salmon with tourne' potatoes and grilled asparagus
Meet Chef Gary Sheldon


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The Cubs will look to get back in the win column sending Paul Maholm to the mound to face Randall Delgado and the Braves. Here's a look at the rest of the Cubs lineup. The game can be seen on WGN starting at 6:10 CT.
DeJesus – CF
Castro – SS
Rizzo – 1B
Soriano – LF
LaHair – RF
Soto – C
Barney – 2B
Valbuena – 3B
Maholm – P
Go Cubs!


text:
awesomejen1 wrote:mammadawg wrote:*wicked grin*
That's what I love about being a part-time WAHM. Flexible schedules.
Darn that 8:30am Friday conference call, tho - I might have to sneak in a nap after lunch!
I sure hope we do something fun here for the midnight showing - it's bad enough I won't be able to afford tickets to the premiere! $1,650 for the red carpet and access to the after party???
If I had $$$ to burn...
Chants to self ***put the credit card away Jen...Husband would kill me, put the credit card away***
LOL - you and I are on the same chant! I brought it up just to "test the waters" and he's all - "That's a long weekend in Vegas!"
Guess I got my answer, huh?


text: We have started a new podcast devoted to Star Trek in literature, comics and reference books. We were pleased to have Dayton Ward on for our first show to talk about his novella "In Tempest's Wake". Our second episode will feature Kirsten Beyer, talking all about Voyager and "The Eternal Tide". So look us up and let us know what you think. We have some great guests lined up for the future, so stay tuned! Check it our here


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David Price………………From Draft Pick to Playoff Sensation
Www.TheScoutingBook.com said even before the Rays made him the first pick of the 2007 Amateur Draft, David Price had already run up a polished resume, beginning with the 0.43 ERA he posted as a high school senior. The Dodgers drafted him in the 19th round in 2004, but Price chose to attend Vanderbilt on scholarship instead, where he became a powerful (if overworked) anchor to the school's very strong rotation. When the Rays Price with the first pick in the 2007 Draft, the website. www.TheHardballTimes.com was gushing about the uber prospect from Vanderbilt University because of his aggressive finish to the plate. they also remarked that Price's slow tempo to the plate and they began to think that what I said above about his tempo may be a tad nitpicky. This dude is good, really good. Leave him alone and let him pitch. Now that is a great scouting report…………leave him alone and let him pitch!
Price went 11-1 with a 2.63 ERA and Division I-leading 194 strikeouts for the SEC Eastern Division Commodores. He is the fourth left hander taken with the top pick and first since Brien Taylor went to the New York Yankees in 1991. Price's dominant season came to a surprising end in the NCAA regionals when his top-ranked Commodores lost to Michigan. In that game, he came on in relief and took his first loss of the year after striking out 17 against Austin Peay three days earlier. Projected as a future staff ace in the majors, Price has a fastball measured in the mid-90s. He mixes it well with an outstanding slider and change up.
Price did not agree to an $ 11.25 million, 6-year contract with the Rays until August 15, just beating the newly imposed signing deadline. Price, a hard-throwing left hander from Vanderbilt, is guaranteed $8.5 million under the deal, which includes a $5.6 million signing bonus. after singing, the Rays quickly decided the send their new prospect straight to Class A Columbus Catfish in the South Atlantic League. It is unlikely that he will pitch in any games until the Instructional League this fall under the direction of pitching coach Bill Moloney. But getting the extra time to work on mechanics and get used to the grind of the minor leagues will be a good education for the young southpaw.
After throwing in the Rays Instructional League during the off season, the young prospect performed great and was rewarded with a trip to the big clubs camp in St. Petersburg, Florida. Price came on and pitched his heart out before finally getting have his professional debut against one of the best hitting teams in the American League East, the New York Yankees. With a group of excited teammates watching on TV from the visiting clubhouse and a Legends Field-record crowd of 10,869 watching in person, Price stepped onto the major-league stage Saturday for the first time. And wowed them all. Using a live fastball that was clocked unofficially as fast as 99 mph, Price hit the first batter he faced, Yankees C Francisco Cervelli, then struck out, in succession, Shelly Duncan, Jason Lane and Wilson Betemit.
Even Price, who last pitched competitively on June 1 for Vanderbilt, was a bit awed by the radar reading in his first spring game for the Rays, a 4-1 victory against the Yankees. "There's a lot of adrenaline, of course, being utilized," Rays manager Joe Maddon said to the Tampa Tribune. "I liked it. The delivery was good, the ball was down, it was alive at the end. And again, it's all about his composure. He walks in, this is his first professional moment, and he walks out there like he's pitching against Clemson on a Saturday."
Price, 22, said he felt a bit of nerves in the beginning during his morning warm up at Progress Energy Park but the butterflies were gone by the time the team arrived in Tampa. Once there, the baseball fan in Price came out. "Before the game starts, Johnny Damon comes over and shakes my hand and tells me good luck," Price said. "You don't think about that stuff and it happens. I'm standing out there down the left-field line kind of star-struck. I'm 300 feet away from Derek Jeter, A-Rod's hitting. It's definitely a lot of fun."
Price threw two sliders, the rest fastballs, as he recorded 11 strikes in 17 pitches. He caught Duncan looking and got Lane and Betemit swinging on fastballs. None of the four batters he faced so much as fouled off a pitch. "When I got that last strike three, I'm running off the field and I'm tearing up," Price said. "Because I hadn't done that in so long. That's easily, hands down, the greatest feeling ever."
But his dream of maybe making the major league roster out of Spring Training were quickly dashed on March 11th when he was assigned to the minor league camp for assignment for the 2008 season. Price had an impressive spring. After being hampered by tightness in his left shoulder, the hurler appeared in two spring games, garnering a 0.00 ERA and retiring six of the seven hitters he faced. Following Spring Training, Price experienced a minor strain in his left elbow, and the Rays cautiously placed him on rehab assignment in St. Petersburg.
But first they wanted Price to pitch in one more extended Spring Training game on May 18th against the Yankees extended spring squad. But there was a method to all this madness as the Yankees had a prolific hitter in Alex Rodriguez on that squad who was down in the minors trying to rehab a right quad muscle strain and would be playing that game. Price twice got the three-time American League MVP to strike out, allowing Rodriguez one hit — a solo homer over the right-center fence at the Al Naimoli Complex in St. Petersburg, the Rays' Minor League facility.
The young hurler said the fastball Rodriguez hit over the fence was something he would "make a mental note" of and learn from. "He's arguably one of the best players in baseball," Price told MILB.com. Rodriguez had similar praise for the Price, who tossed a blistering fastball with speeds around 95-97 mph for the majority of his five innings. The young hurler previously topped out at 100 mph, in a Spring Training game against the Yankees. "I wish he was on our team," Rodriguez said. "He has a very bright future. The Rays are doing a fantastic job of drafting these young guys." After the game Price was notified that he would be joining the Florida State League Vero Beach Devilrays in Clearwater, Florida to begin his professional career on May 22, 2008.
Price did not stay long in Vero Beach as he spent only a month in Vero Beach before being promoted to the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League. Price started 6 games with the Devilrays going 4-0, with a 1.82 ERA and 37 strikeout in 34.2 innings. He also was paired up with a pitching legend on May 27th when Pedro Martinez, who was down on a rehab assignment for the St Lucie Mets. Price dominated that game going 6 innings and giving up only 2 hits in the game with 9 strikeouts. Price gave up both hits to St. Lucie catcher Robinson Cancel in the contest.
Price quickly made his mark in Montgomery as he started 9 games for the Biscuits and went 7-0, with a 1.89 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 57 innings. He made a quick impact on the Biscuits pitching staff and made his Double-A debut against the Mobile Bay Bears on June 26th. In the contest he went 6 innings and gave up 4 hits and got 7 strikeouts in the game, winning his first start for the Biscuits. Price went to 5-0 on July 26th with his win over the Huntsville Stars. Price kept up his aggressive pitching until the Rays decided to promote him to the Triple-A Durham Bulls on August 11th.
Price got to work fast in Durham too starting his first game for the Bulls on August 13th, but came out on the losing end for the first time in his professional career in a 7-6 loss to the Norfolk Tides. In the contest, Price only lasted 4 inning and gave up 7 hits and 3 runs. But Price again took the mound on August 18th against the Indianapolis Indians and again had a rough outing as he went 5 innings and gave up 5 hits and 3 runs on the night. The International League was not giving the prized prospect of the Rays any respect for past efforts and Price quickly learned the distinctive differences of the minor league hierarchy.
Price took the mound for the August 23rd and again got rocked as he went 4 innings and gave up 6 hits and 3 runs and only got 3 strikeouts on the night against the same Indianapolis squad that beat him earlier in the week. % days later on August 28th, Price got his first Triple-A victory after going 5 innings and giving up 5 hits and only 2 runs to even his record at 1-1 in a 11-9 Bulls win over the Richmond Tides. Price then started the game against the Louisville Bats and posted his first post season win after going 5 innings and giving up 3 hits and shutout the Bats in the series opener.
In the International League finals against the Scranton-Wilkesboro Yankees on September 9th, Price was again roughed up a bit and lasted 6 innings, giving up 7 hits and 4 runs in the game, but he did post 9 strikeouts during his no-decision start that night. Price was on the bench on September 12th when Scranton finally got the better of the Bulls and took the International League crown with former Yankee starter Phil Hughes on the mound. But the sorry and disappointment was short lived as the pitcher was told after the game that he was being called up to the Rays while they were on their current road trip.
When the Rays finally brought up David Price on September 13th , he quickly got on a plane with Designated Hitter/Outfielder Jonny Gomes who also got called up to the big squad. You know that the conversation turned to what to expect for the young rookie, and Gomes might have been the right guy to sit near him and talk about this team. Gomes had been here from the beginning of the rebuilding process under Rays Manager Joe Maddon, but the Rays didn't go the usual route to rebuild, they only had to tweak the system because of the depth in their farm system.
But Price did not get to wallow in the defeat at Durham for long as he quickly found himself in his major league debut on September 14th in Yankee Stadium coming in to relieve Edwin Jackson who had gotten rocked for 6 runs in 2 innings of work. Price quickly got to work and got his first six batters 1-2-3 to end the 3rd and 4th innings. But in the bottom of 5th inning, Derek Jeter took an 2-2 pitch and deposited it in the right field bleachers for a solo lead-off home run. Price then regrouped and quickly got the next three batters in order to end the 5th inning. Price ended up throwing 5.1 innings and gave up 3 hits and 2 runs to the Yankees, but overall threw effectively and with power.
Over the course of the rest of the Rays regular season, Price was used exclusively out of the Bullpen as a hard throwing lefty alternative to the slow throwing J P Howell and the medium speed Trever Miller. Price could come in with his overpowering fastball and slider and take over a ball game for the Rays. In his time with the Rays in September, he made 5 appearances and went a total of 14 innings and produced 12 strikeouts for the Rays. He did not get a chance for a win in his short time up in September, but that was just a prelude to post season and his ability to showcase his talents.
Price would soon show that he had ice water in his veins on the mound as the Rays began their first playoff games in their history. With their rookie pitcher ready and willing to do anything for the team, Price was added to the post season roster for both the American League Divisional Series and the American League Championship Series. Price did not have to produce for the team in the short lived series against the Chicago White Sox, but he did have plenty in the tank when the Rays took on their American League East foes, the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS series.
Price was ready at a moments notice and got his first chance during game2 of the ALCS when Rays reliever Dan Wheeler walked Jed Lowrie in the top of the 11th inning. Price came on with 1 out in the inning and walked J D Drew before inducing Coco Crisp to hit into a double play to end the inning for the Rays. B J Upton hit a fluke sacrifice fly down the right field line, and the Rays took the contest 9-8 and evened the series at 1-game a piece. Price for his 2/3rds of an inning got his first Major League win. But the Rays did not need Price's services again until the top of the 8th inning when Chad Bradford ran into a little trouble and he came on to get J D Drew swinging to stop the Red Sox threat.
But it was in the top of the 9th inning that Price made his presence known inside Tropicana Field, when he came out to the mound full of fire and needing 3 outs to send the Rays to the World series for the first time. Jason Bay came up first for the Red Sox and worked the count to 2-2 before being issued a walk to start off the inning. Matk Kotsay and Jason Varitek both struck out on a total of 10 pitches to give the Red Sox one last out. Jed Lowrie then came up to pinch-hit for Alex Cora and hit into a fielder choice to second that Akinora Iwamura stepped on the bag and began the celebration for the Rays. Price was given his first career save for his actions and became the only rookie to post a win and a save in his first two post season appearances.
Price got his first taste of World series action in Game 2 at Tropicana Field in a mop-up duty for the Rays 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. That evened the series at 1-all and sent the series to Philadelphia for the next 3 games. Price went 2.1 innings giving up 2 hits, 2 runs and got 2 strikeouts on the night. Price did not get another chance in the series until the restart of Game 5 when he came on in the 8th inning for the Rays. Price went 1 inning and got 2 strikeouts on 20 pitches to get the Rays into position to maybe win the game. They could not convert in the top of the 9th and Price and the Rays ended their season while the Phillies celebrated out on the field.
The past years has shown the Rays faithful that this young left-hander will be here a long time. He has the composure and the talent to become a top fight starter in the major leagues for a long time. There is chatter that he will spend at least the first month back at Triple-A Durham to try and adjust to the Triple-A game before coming back up to stay in the majors. You can bet he will be here again by the All-Star break and this kid will not look back. He has the ability and the talent to alreay cement the number 4 slot in the rotation, and might be a number 1 or 2 within 3 years time.
Along with his maturity and confidence, the Rays got a true gem in this first round pick who boldly stated he would be back with the Rays hopefully by September. Little did they know that he has the stuff and the stamina to post one of the best post seasons by a rookie reliever. But when he finally gets to starting in this league, he will show his true colors and shine for a long time.
Photos included on this blog provided by Associated Press and RR private collections.
3 Comments
Thank you SO much for reminding me of game 7 of the ALCS! Really great blog – Price did a great job last season and I suspect he will do great things again this season. Do you think the Rays will use him as a starter or will he remain in the Pen?
He will be a starter, same as every start in the minors last year. The team just needed some power depth during the playoffs with Troy Percival out, and he fit the bill with his slick slider.
He will be a 1 or 2 starter within 3 years with this team……..you can put big money on that.
Rays Renegade
It just shows you that you can accomplish great things if you are dedicated and have a great attitude towards you goal.
The Manoman


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BEAUTY BOOM IN MIDTOWN ... There is no reason for anyone to have a bad hair day in Midtown Palo Alto. With the recent opening of two new hair salons, there are now a total of five salons, all on Middlefield Road, and all within one block of each other. SoHo Salon, which opened in mid-August, is the newest entry, tucked into a 500-square-foot space in a building at 2799 Middlefield Road. Owner Kim Keyak, who has been in hair design for 22 years, specializes in coloring and Japanese hair straightening, and says she does not view the nearby salons as competition. "I have my own clientele and I give individual attention to my customers." The other newcomer, appropriately named Midtown Hair Studio, is at 2786 Middlefield Road and owned by veteran hair stylist Dziem (pronounced Zim) Le, a Palo Alto resident. "I had always dreamed of having my own business, so when this opportunity came up, my dream came true," she said, adding, "You need competition to survive." In addition to offering hair cutting and color, Le's salon provides nail, makeup and waxing services. These two salons join the remaining three: Classy Salon, Monica Foster and TL's Hair Salon.
Meanwhile another Palo Alto hair salon, which offers a blow-dry for a flat $35, is expanding. "We're more than doubling our space," said Halo Blow Dry Bar owner Rosemary Camposano. The 2-year-old blow-dry bar in Town & Country Village is moving from its current spot facing Embarcadero Road to the interior of the shopping center in the former location of Williams Cutlery. "People were squashing into our tiny 450-square-foot spot," Camposano said. The move is scheduled for Dec. 1. Camposano has two other Halo shops, in Menlo Park and Burlingame, with three more in the works in the next few months. The success of the Palo Alto store, the first Halo, has not surprised Camposano, she said. "This is a huge, growing market."
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It's Time – Bill Stoneman for Executive of the Year
It's time for Bill Stoneman to be named Executive of the Year. (That's original Angels farm and scouting director Roland Hemond in the background.)
He's not glib, he doesn't swap gossip, he doesn't seek headlines by making short-sighted convoluted trades.
Those may be among the reasons why neither The Sporting News or Baseball America has yet to name Angels General Manager Bill Stoneman their Executive of the Year.
But with the Angels headed for another post-season appearance, while protecting one of the deepest farm systems in the business, it's time to give Stoneman his due.
Stoneman's contract allows him to retire at the end of this season. His run as the Angels' GM is the most successful in the organization's history. Not only did he deliver their first world championship in 2002, but in eight years he's sent four teams to the post-season and built a highly respected minor league system.
When he took the job in November 1999, Baseball America was about to rank the Angels the worst organization in baseball. Stoneman took flak when he hired former Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia to be the Angels' new manager. And the local media flamed him when he failed to blow up the roster, choosing instead to build upon a talent base that was better than what the pundits claimed.
In July 2000, I wrote the below passage in a column on FutureAngels.com:
Baseball America last October ranked the Anaheim Angels organization the worst in baseball. According to urban legend, it was the reading of this article by Anaheim Sports Inc. President Tony Tavares that led to a total overhaul of the Angels' front office and field management during the winter.
While the Angels were ranked last, the Oakland A's were ranked #1.
Sportswriters and media pundits enjoyed kicking the Angels while they were down. The columnists for The Orange County Register unanimously picked the Angels to finish last in the American League West this year. Some so-called "experts" predicted the Angels would lose 100 games.
Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times wrote that "the Angels have done virtually nothing to shake up their roster this winter" and claimed "someone forgot to hand [General Manager Bill] Stoneman a broom, because the former Expo executive has seemed paralyzed in his efforts to bring change." Of the new manager, DiGiovanna wrote, "It appears [Mike] Scioscia, unproven and untested with only one year of minor-league managing experience, will begin his first major-league managing job with the same core — some would say rotten core — of players that forced [Terry] Collins and [Bill] Bavasi to depart."
The Angels are playing exciting baseball. The team is being led by players produced by the supposed worst farm system in baseball. Darin Erstad and Troy Glaus were sure-fire major leaguers when they were selected a few years ago. But what about Brian Cooper and Bengie Molina and Scott Schoeneweis and Jarrod Washburn and Seth Etherton? Veterans like Tim Salmon, Garret Anderson, and Troy Percival came out of this farm system. Speaking of Percy, Bob Clear and Frank Reberger were smart enough in 1991 to convert him from catcher to pitcher, creating one of the most dominant closers in the game.
DiGiovanna's "rotten core" has been led by "unproven and untested" Scioscia into contention for a division title and wild-card spot. DiGiovanna, so far, has yet to admit he was wrong.
Here we are seven years later, and to my knowledge DiGiovanna still hasn't admitted his error, but it's been a long time since he's written a similar cheap shot, so I suspect he realizes he got it wrong.
Part of the problem is that Stoneman isn't colorful. He speaks quietly, and measures his words. Some people interpret that as meaning Bill is slow-witted. Quite to the contrary. You don't get a job as a banking executive, followed by executive positions with two major league organizations, if you don't know what you're doing.
For years, media pundits and impatient fans have demanded Stoneman flush his minor league talent for a feel-good quick fix that would make a headline and be quickly forgotten days later. He ignored them, and kept top prospects that are now in the majors taking the Angels to the playoffs — John Lackey, Casey Kotchman, Jeff Mathis, Howie Kendrick, and many more.
That depth also protected the Angels this year when the inevitable injuries depleted the roster planned out of spring training. Remember when people complained that Stoneman wouldn't trade away top pitchers to get a "big bat"? But when Bartolo Colon and Jered Weaver were hurt, and when Ervin Santana faltered, Dustin Moseley and Joe Saunders were there to step in. When Casey Kotchman got hurt, Kendry Morales was available. Garret Anderson? Reggie Willits. Chone Figgins? Maicer Izturis. And when Izturis was hurt, Erick Aybar stepped in.
Jeff Mathis, dismissed as a "bust" by some, progressed to the point where Stoneman could trade Jose Molina to the Yankees for minor league reliever Jeff Kennard. When Mike Napoli got hurt, Mathis stepped into the starting catcher role and may have a lock on the job for the rest of the decade.
Over the last five years, the Angels' average minor league talent ranking by Baseball America was 3.4, the best of any organization. The Boston Red Sox, who are the Angels' likely challenger for the A.L. crown, averaged 17.6. The Oakland A's, the darling of the stathead crowd, averaged 20, and with their 2007 season in the toilet it's becoming harder and harder for the Moneyball zealots to credibly argue that Billy Beane is some sort of baseball god.
But Beane is often described as a "genius" by the baseball media, while Stoneman is never mentioned.
My theory is that it's because Beane is glib, swaps gossip with reporters, and makes short-sighted convoluted trades that give sportwriters something to fill a column with. That makes a GM popular with the people who vote for Executive of the Year.
While the A's system is increasingly devoid of top prospect talent, the Angels have re-armed with a new wave. Brandon Wood should be a regular within the next year or two, and not far behind him is young pitching ace Nick Adenhart. On the horizon are the talented group who were at Cedar Rapids this year, evoking memories of the group from the early 2000s that included Kotchman, Mathis, Santana, Dallas McPherson and more. This new group includes Hank Conger, Sean O'Sullivan, Mark Trumbo, Matt Sweeney, Chris Pettit, Trevor Bell, and Warner Madrigal. Orem ace Jordan Walden might catch up to them with a superlative spring training.
So if there's any time for Stoneman to get the award, it's now. And if not … name one other GM with a better track record — major league win-loss record, post-season appearances, farm system productivity — over the last five years. I don't think anyone can.


text:
Review Group Week 208 - 4th ANNIVERSARY FREE4ALL
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by john lewis hawk » Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:53 amTo wall #2 Written from the art of Bendis of Michael of Brian for Olivier Copiel
"It obscures the books of the premium one-hero. Always to pull me in".
This is that I said while I ended to read this cómico. She sees, I the flavor of the different one a, I the flavor of the small things, and therefore excited while I age for the dark kingdom after the private invasion, one of half of the year after, I was deprived. I have given above in Avenging novelties, the darkness of Avenging, the private warriors, Deadpool, etc. that the night pierced also most of myself blackens.
To the unexpected, alone one the handle and reserve the rule of the carousels of panting I age the reading was my Spider-dear Man and my favorite person or my thing of two big ones, the batman. In the end of this book, is it a the other the certificate. It is the rage of Nick that groups again his troops and to the unexpected one I led to good end that I was lacking for I am on to give the of above of the phantom in the edition four.
That it ages some excrement me of the ass! And there the weren' some t images. The approval, to the actual cómico. Badassery abunda. The airs appaiono for I am that played it to the Norman and is the mijado, but oh the cagou that' the sentry of the mold of s that the actua while a pair grew. FINALLY.
The large yellow começ individual for low to the business and to the tears Airs a novelty, literally. The meanwhile, Jarvis experiences to receive in returns the band together another time. The thorn of channel has some novelties warlike and some Avenging. Oh itself and the Thor goes to the relegates some ass. The hell itself.
To joke' the gloves of s I am, breaks the action of some witness. The hook. The things that I am confused alone on… a that the pinches I was the man aged that says Airs on Asgard that is not there for a mistake and for what does of the half that Thor' the paizinho of s is alive? After that, that' s the Ares' the caçoe than Nick says to leave, the right hand? Itself I assume taken of I to the pegarar of the private commerce or something of warrior it.
And it was pleasant to see the page correctly printed some certificate of the last edition and in contrast of the marvel that stops for I am a novelty to put right the mistake. They show almost of the hall. It is easy to understand that this edition after because Bendis has working with the hickman in the private warriors, simply the question is because is the switch that do not go through himself on with this.
Unhappily, my question (these on this book) the aren' t answered in the page as soon as I give to this book that the I continue count: the story - 8 Art - 9 8,5 totals
A good idea is always an idea worth stealing and butchering.
by john lewis hawk » Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:17 amBlackest Night: Wonder Woman #3 Preview
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Nicola Scott
http://www.theouthousers.com/forum/view ... hp?t=36527
I can't help but think that wouldn't WW and Carol Ferris both have the bodies of 40 year-olds because those are some pretty slutty costumes they're wearing.
Anyways, not a bad set-up and gives readers a some catching up on what's happening in the main series, Blackest Night. Art-wise, probably the weakest I've seen from Scott, a normally good artist.
by john lewis hawk » Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:38 amFlash: Rebirth #6 Variant cover
By Ethan Van Sciver
Nicely drawn but the lightning leaving the Flash strikes me as more Wally than Barry. Kinda dull too.
by thefourthman » Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:39 amZorro Mantanzas #1
Written by Don McGregor
Art by Mike Mayhew
A lost tale by Don McGregor the comic god of Zorro. With pencils by Mike Mayhew.
This reads like an adapted novel. McGregor is not afraid to be verbose and his prose is as good as any novelist. This story is a tale between a father and son at a crossroads. The father, unbeknowningly, has befriended his son's enemy. And everything is threatening to fall down around Diego's ankles.
Machete is cool, a kind of Captain Hook. What is nice about this book is the duality of Zorro and his villain.
There is also a great deal of insight into the hero's world, from how his cave came to be, to his artistic pursuits. It is interesting to note the comparisons to Batman, who is a noted character influenced by this one. More noteworthy is the parallels to Superman, if not in power set in the nature of Diego's secret life versus his public life. As such, Machete is a perfect foil and the seeking of Alejandro's approval is all the more dramatic as a result.
A note about the book, the main book is on hiatus as of this week and this is the perfect way to fill the gap while it is on break. I wish DC and Marvel would note that this is the proper way to use a mini.
Story 8
Art 8
Overall 8
by thefourthman » Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:34 pmRed Sonja Wrath of the Gods #1
Written by Luke Lieberman
Art by Walter Geovani
A little back story never hurt anybody and we get that for the Budini and it all seems very interesting, especially when the book that contains the story is known more for Cheesecake then compelling story.
Then there is the lying and deceit and one wonders if it was all real or not. It is an interesting start, but almost a false start, is this an insight into the history of the character or a ploy to get her to do something distasteful?
The questing work here is solid, it recalls Tolkien and Red Sonja speaks a bit too much like Conan, not being that familiar with the red headed warrior, I wonder if that is a mistake or apt characterization.
The art is a mixed bag as well. When everyone is standing around talking, it is all a bit awkward. However, when the action starts it is glorious, just like the title character's breasts. Details in bars and villages are also spot on as are some monster designs.
An okay read, this book does little to make me feel that this character is not a weird misogynistic version of Conan. Especially when she speaks like a Geico spokesperson and the story robs me of an emotional investment so early on.
Story 5
Art 6
Overall 5.5
by guitarsmashley » Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:31 pm
Thank you, I did start the trend of the trains running on time and that's all I can take credit for. I also would like to say good on you for keeping things going when Sire thought he could.
by Windom URL » Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:47 pmDemando pri ordo: Estas hieroglyphs permesis, kaj se jes kiom da vortoj ili kalkulas kiel?
P.S. Saluton, pugo ĉapeloj.
by Eric Ratcliffe » Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:59 pmjesus christ! lee will be on the top of the list by the end of this.
by ****** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:14 pm
Se vi poto fari hieroglyph revuo tio estas preter simpla pellet revuo, gxi will estas permesita.
by S.F. Jude Terror » Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:23 pmKion pri bildoj de mia koko private mesaĝoj? Kiom da vortoj far tiuj kalkulo por?
by ****** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:33 pmSiege #2
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Olivier Coipel
Have I mentioned lately how much I hate Dark Reign and the last 12-18 months of Bendis written Avengers books?
Yeah, I guess I have.
I bought this anyway in spite of hating the first issue. The last page with Cap just kind of left me cringing at what Bendis might do with him. Mostly though, I think Bendis handled it okay in this as long as I don't let myself try to reconcile anything going on in the Marvel Universe with Brubaker's Cap-verse. I'm sure if you make some giant continuity timeline map they reconcile, but fuck it. Bru's Cap is the only Cap that matters and the rest is just for funsies.
Ramble much? Yes, yes I do.
Other than the big Cap makes a speech scene, I'm not really sure what I think about the rest of the book. I really like the character on the receiving end of the big character death, but it's comics so he'll be back so whatever. As a catalyst for making Sentry into a character to be feared though, I think after years of floundering Bendis finally seems to have done something with the character that wasn't in the infinite loop of repeating Sentry stories. Holy shit. That. Was. Awesome. I soooooo want to see Thor utterly destroy Bob now and I guess that means I'm in for reading the next two issues.
Coipel draws the shit out of the big splash pages in this. The book looks great, but I gotta say there were a few instances in the storytelling where I wasn't exactly sure what happened. Whether that was intentional to convey the chaos of war or just a convenient side effect of a couple of misteps on Coipel's part I have no idea. Either way, it's hard to go wrong when there's a giant splash page of blood in the climax of the book.
Story: 8.5
Art: 8
Overall: 8.25
by Windom URL » Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:41 pm
Diable, kiu speco de Esperanto vi nigrulaĉoj est uz?
by S.F. Jude Terror » Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:52 pm
Mi havas LOLtron traduki por mi dum plezuro mi voĉe. Malkiel la Apple iPad, LOLtron povas multitask.
by ****** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 5:20 pmUltimate Comics X #1
by Jeph Loeb and Art Adams
It's kind of funny how much shit Jeph Loeb gets within this community. If you asked people here what creator they hated more and made them pick between Loeb and Liefeld a fair chunk of them would probably need some time to think about it.
This makes me like Jeph Loeb.
A lot.
Nevermind the fact that his work with Tim Sale is some of the best comic booking of the last 20 years, in general I find that his super-hero work is just plain old fashioned fun. Isn't that kind of the point to all these floppy pamphlets we've grown up reading? Now I'm not saying Loeb comics are always good, I'm just saying they're not worthy of the vitrol that gets thrown his way... except for Ultimatum. That was one giant turd of a book. (Except for the Blob eating people, of course.)
Coming straight out of Ultimatum we have Ultimate Comics X. I read a decent chunk of Ultimate X-Men and I have to say as far as books that need a total relaunch go, it was a pretty good candidate. Some of the biggest names in the industry (Millar, Bendis, Kirkman, BKV) worked on that book and none of them were able to do much beyond making it readable.
As far as wiping the slate clean and starting over with UCX, this seems to do that. No Cyclops or Jean or Beast or Colossus or Ice-Man or any of those characters you probably like and want to read about. Kitty Pryde is here though, so I'm good. Maybe somewhere down the line those done to death X-Men characters can come back in Mark Millar's Ultimate X-Men Forever or something.
So we've got Kitty Pryde, right? Why? Well, someone had to tell yet another one of Wolverine's kids who their daddy was. It's kind of a played out story and UCX definitely needs a little Ultimate Hulk to spice it up. This was just your standard introduction issue to a character you don't really care about yet. Maybe a Wolverine fan would get all excited about a younger version of the character, but it didn't do anything for me.
Art Adams is a freaking legend. I hope he gets to draw some cool stuff in this book eventually. A talking heads book like this issue isn't exactly making the most of his talents. Still, what's there looks great.
Story: 6
Art: 8
Overall: 7
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text:
This study is provided by ICPSR. ICPSR provides leadership and training in data access, curation, and methods of analysis for a diverse and expanding social science research community.
National Nursing Home Survey, 1969 (ICPSR 9780)
Principal Investigator(s): United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Center for Health Statistics
This data collection is one of the earlier "resident places" surveys in the National Nursing Home Survey series. Basic information about nursing homes and their residents and discharges is included in this survey. The Facility Questionnaire contains variables on number of patients, number receiving nursing care, inpatient days of care, admissions, live discharges, place of discharge, deceased discharges, number of beds, total number of employees, and services provided. The Resident Questionnaire includes information about the resident's age, sex, race, marital status, date of admission, diagnoses, services received, aids used, mobility, hearing, vision, charges for care, and sources of payment.
Access Notes
Data in this collection are available only to users at ICPSR member institutions. Please log in so we can determine if you are with a member institution and have access to these data files.
Study Description
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics. NATIONAL NURSING HOME SURVEY, 1969. Hyattsville, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics [producer], 1992. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 1993. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR09780.v1
Persistent URL: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR09780.v1
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Scope of Study
Subject Terms: administrative costs, assisted living, assisted living facilities, disabilities, health care costs, health care facilities, health services utilization, health status, institutional care, labor costs, long term care, mortality rates, nursing homes, older adults, patient care, personnel
Geographic Coverage: United States
- 1969
- 1969-06--1969-08
Universe: Nursing homes and their residents in the coterminous United States.
Per agreement with NCHS, ICPSR distributes the data file(s) and technical documentation in this collection in their original form as prepared by NCHS.
Sample: Two-stage, stratified probability sample. The first stage was a selection of facilities and the second stage was a selection of residents of the sampled facilities.
personal interviews
Restrictions: In preparing the data tape(s) for this collection, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has removed direct identifiers and characteristics that might lead to identification of data subjects. As an additional precaution, NCHS requires, under section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242m), that data collected by NCHS not be used for any purpose other than statistical analysis and reporting. NCHS further requires that analysts not use the data to learn the identity of any persons or establishments and that the director of NCHS be notified if any identities are inadvertently discovered. ICPSR member institutions and other users ordering data from ICPSR are expected to adhere to these restrictions.
Original ICPSR Release: 1993-10-11
- 2006-01-18 File CB9780.PDF was removed from any previous datasets and flagged as a study-level file, so that it will accompany all downloads.
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© 2012 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Worth giving Harper look in center field
Could be prospect's best chance to break camp with Nats
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The original lineup sheets handed out before Wednesday's game between the Nationals and Braves had Bryce Harper, making his return from a calf injury, listed as a right fielder. Nothing strange about that. Harper is, after all, considered the Nats' right fielder of the future, what with that bazooka moonlighting as a right arm. Except the lineup cards in question were incorrect. Washington manager Davey Johnson had actually penciled Harper in for center field. And suddenly, just when Harper's odds of breaking camp with the Nats seemed in serious doubt, his bid to become a big leaguer just became a bit more complex and, perhaps, a bit more realistic.
"Outfield is still fairly new for Bryce," Johnson said of Harper, who converted from catcher after the Nats made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 Draft. "He's taken to it very well. But just because he's got a strong arm doesn't mean I have to just play him in right field." No, it doesn't. And if Harper truly believes he's ready for prime time, he might as well stand up in the Nats' clubhouse and sing, "Look at me, I can be center field!" Yes, right field is the predominant spot for strong-armed kids like Harper, but if your life depended on a prediction as to which guy could more seamlessly make the transition from right to center, who would you pick: the 19-year-old Harper, or the 32-year-old Jayson Werth? Thought so. "He's a gifted athlete," Johnson said of Harper. "As far as I'm concerned, anybody that can throw and run like he can should have experience at all the outfield positions." By now, you know the storyline at play here. Johnson wants Harper on his Opening Day roster. He believes a club should break camp with its 25 best players, regardless of experience, and he firmly believes Harper is ready to contribute in a meaningful way. The calf injury that held Harper up for a few days didn't help the kid's cause. But the beauty of being 19 is the ability to bounce back from such ailments pretty quickly, and Harper spent his entire time on the pine begging to get back on the field. Now, when it comes to getting Harper on the field for Opening Day, there are serious financial ramifications in play that can't be ignored. As I've written before, the Nats would be wise to give Harper more Triple-A seasoning, not just for his own development (he's logged just 37 games above the Class A level, all at Double-A) but for their own future. As fans of the game, we may not like to hear about service time and arbitration clocks gumming up the timeline at which the game's premier prospects push their way toward the Major League scene, but such is a fact of life in front offices. That said, the Nats have every expectation of contending in a loaded National League East this season, and they have a gaping hole in their outfield. Werth and Michael Morse are, if healthy, locked in, and the presumption has been that if Harper doesn't make the roster, Werth will stay in right and either Rick Ankiel or Roger Bernadina will man center. Werth, it has been assumed, will slide to center whenever Harper arrives. Of course, it's not that simple. For one, Ankiel, considered by some to be the favorite for the center-field spot, has been out all week because of hamstring tightness. More to the point, Werth will be 33 this season, and the Nats are on the hook to pay him another $116 million through 2017. We can probably all agree that the Nats are not going to get $116 million worth of value out of Werth in that span, but if they move him to center at this juncture of his career and his body breaks down from the added wear and tear, they'll get less value out of him. For now, Johnson said Werth "passed the test" (not exactly glowing praise, but praise enough) for his limited play in center field last year. "But when you're putting a team together," Johnson said, "you like to take into consideration ... are you weakening two spots or just one?" And if the Nats have both Werth and Harper in the lineup, it might make more sense for them to have Werth in a place where he's comfortable, because Harper's acclimation to the big leagues is going to be a big step no matter which position he plays. Even with limited experience in center (he played center in 20 of his 108 games last year), Harper wouldn't have much competition for the title of "Greatest Center Fielder In Nationals History." From Brad Wilkerson on, it's been a gruesome group. For his part, Harper finds center field to be easier than right, anyway. "Reading the ball off the bat is a lot easier," he said, "and being up the middle makes it a lot easier to play out there. I think some of the angles you have to take in left field or right field, diving this way or that way, makes it tougher. In center field, you just have a better feel for good routes." Again, the primary point here is that Harper is athletically gifted and 19. He is, therefore, malleable to the Nats' needs -- provided, of course, they're not asking him to make the double-play pivot or start throwing bullpen sessions. Could Johnson envision Harper playing center field at the Major League level this season? "I mean, I wrote him in the lineup [Wednesday], and he's in there," Johnson said. "I consider this the Major League level." Exactly. Consider this Johnson's latest step in seeing if there's any way he can get Harper on his Opening Day lineup. And even if that doesn't work out because of that aforementioned service-time situation, consider this a distinct possibility for Harper's debut, whenever it happens to be. Harper could well be the Nats' primary center fielder when all is said and done this season. And when you consider the composition of this Nats roster, that could be the best place for him. "Who knows what the configuration is going to be tomorrow, much less Opening Day and next season," Johnson said. "I'm just giving [the players] an opportunity to express their talent and see how far along they are." Harper in center is worth a long look.
Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his columns and his blog, CastroTurf, and follow him on Twitter at @Castrovince. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Europe 'a crouton away from barbarism'
04 Jan 2013 00:00 | Not the Mail & Guardian
Europeans are being faced with hardship unprecedented since the Pan-European Croissant Shortage of the third weekend of June 2006.
"The problems facing Europeans are unlike anything they've ever experienced," said a Red Cross official.
"To have to explain to young families that they're going to have erratic wireless network coverage in their flat, well, it breaks your heart."
Professional skateboarder and hip-hop graffiti artist Heinz-Gunther Luxusprobleme said he was fast reaching breaking point.
"First I broke a nail at Christmas trying to get all the chocolates out of the advent calendar," he said.
"And now the fascist pigs in Berlin want to reduce the monthly grant I get for spraypainting 'Anarchy!' on the safety barrier next to the Autobahn."
One long nightmare
Inge Binge-Borg, a flat-pack model from Sweden, said that her life had become "one long nightmare".
"This morning my foot went to sleep during yoga class," she sobbed. "When will this end?"
French student Ennui le Frommage, who is studying interior design in the hope of one day becoming an accessory in an expensive house, said she had heard her grandparents' stories of bombings and reprisals in World War II, but felt that her own experiences were "probably a bit worse" than theirs.
"This morning the butter was too cold to spread and it ripped my bread," she said. "I was too tired to walk to the bakery to get more bread, because I had been kept awake all night by the recharging light on my Macbook, and then just as I was nodding off, the stupid recycling trucks came."
Fellatia Narcissistia, a shopper from Milan, said that Europe was one soggy crouton away from a return to barbarism.
"Yesterday my car remote died, and I had to use the key. The key! What am I? An animal?"
View the original online publication here


text: I know... during the AO we should be damn serious and not talking about gossips... but you know human nature... I found it quite telling this interview reported by a couple of sources. (it's the same). Sharapova seems to be embarrassed and she does not deny the relationship... http://www.tennistonic.com/video_detail/?p_id=559 http://www.tennis-x.com/blog/2013-01-14/11291.php So, if she react like this....It might be true. ps. By the way, Dimitrov would be better to focus a bit more on his tennis results especially after losing to Benneteau (his tennis was so poor).


text:
Jo Beth Mullens
Dr. Jo Beth Mullens joined the Keene State College Geography Department in 1995 after completing a Ph.D. in Geosciences with a specialization in water resources from Oregon State University.
While at Keene State College, she has designed and taught numerous courses including Global Water Resources, Recreation Geography and Environmental Geography. Her research focuses on various physical and political aspects of water, with projects ranging from a water quality perception study of the Connecticut River, to an assessment of policies promoting the removal of dams in New England, to the discipline of geography's involvement with international programs.
As a professional geographer, Dr. Mullens has traveled to and studied environmental impacts associated with China's Three Gorges Dam as well as climate change in Australia. She was a Fulbright Scholar to the Czech Republic in 2002 and the recipient of the KSC Distinguished Teacher Award in 2006.
In addition, Dr. Mullens has developed and led several international field courses. These experiences gave rise to the text, Foster Global Citizenship through Faculty-led International Field Programs, which she co-authored in 2012.
Contact Geography
Contact Admissions
Geography Science (Sciences)
Emma Wilson
Administrative Assistant
Admissions Office
229 Main Street
Keene, New Hampshire 03435


text:
I will soon be building a workstation with 4 processors. Each processor will have 4 cores, totaling 16 cores. I will have 4 distributed shared memory slots - 1 processor (ie. 4 cores) per shared memory slot.
Can OpenMP run on more than 1 processor, or would the operating system choose to run all the threads on 1 processor shared between the 4 cores?
If I want to take full advantage of this architecture, would I have to write an MPI program embedded with OpenMP? For example, would I have to specify to use 4 processors in MPI and 4 threads in OpenMP to achieve full usage of the 16 cores? How else can this be done?
Thank you for your time and help.


text:
I'm not the first one writing about it. I have randomly blank windows which appear with ZA's logo at top.
It's happened since I've switched to v10, suggested by auto-update ZA.
vsmon version: 10.0.250.000
Driver version: 10.0.217.000
ZoneAlarm Browser Security: 1.5.322.0
ZoneAlarm ForceField Spyware Scanner: 1.5.322.0
ZoneAlarm ForceField Anti-Phishing Database: 22.214.171.124
ZoneAlarm ForceField Spyware Sites Database: 04.155
On the web, your last version is 9.2.106. So when you suggest to dl last version, I have to go back to v9 ? If yes, why auto-update suggests to update ?
Sorry for my bad english and thx for answering.
Florent from Quebec.


text: hey i guess in my bio i should tell you about me ok well here goes my name is liz i am 13 and as my mom says i have an un-healthy (not in my words) obbession with harry potter LOL my favorit person in harry potter is Luna Lovegood if I went to hogwarts I would be in ravenclaw because I am very smart and if I could play quiditch i would be a beater because 1 it is a difficult and 2 it is like baseball and 3 i would get to fly around on a broomstick most of the game any way i don't wanna go on forever so I won't later the reason. i got 2 names is cause my friend kristina gose on my account as well as me. liz u stink. Ya I know I do. Hey I don't suffer for insanity i enjoy every minute of it! and to continue with our arguement from the other day about the story DID NOT DID NOT DID NOT DID NOT DID NOT DID NOT! see ya at school lol


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Plouffe activated from disabled list
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins activated Trevor Plouffe from the 15-day disabled list after their 4-0 loss to the Tigers on Friday night. To make room for Plouffe on the active roster, the Twins optioned catcher Chris Herrmann to Triple-A Rochester.
Plouffe, who was on the DL retroactive to May 28 with a strained left calf, played in his fourth rehab game with Triple-A Rochester on Friday night. He went 2-for-5 to finish his rehab assignment 5-for-15 with a homer.
Plouffe hasn't played with the Twins since May 21, when he suffered a concussion after being kneed in the head by Braves second baseman Dan Uggla while trying to break up a double play. He was subsequently placed on the 7-day concussion disabled list and was activated on May 29 but suffered a strained left calf while warming up before the game.
Plouffe will take over regular duties at third base, as Jamey Carroll and Eduardo Escobar saw time there in his absence.
Herrmann played in seven games, hitting .462 (6-for-13) with one homer and a double in just his second career stint in the big leagues.
Guardado, Mee inducted into Twins Hall of Fame
MINNEAPOLIS -- Former closer Eddie Guardado and former director of public relations Tom Mee were officially inducted into the Twins' Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony before Friday's game against the Tigers at Target Field.
Guardado, 42, pitched in the Majors for 17 years, including 12 with the Twins. The left-hander had a 4.53 ERA with Minnesota and registered 116 saves, including a career-high 45 in 2002, when he led the American League.
"I've been nervous for about a month, to be honest with you," Guardado said. "It's a great honor. There's no question about that. I think it's 26 that are inducted, and the names that are inducted -- it's pretty special. It doesn't get any better than that."
Guardado is the Twins' all-time leader in games, appearing in 648, while recording at least 60 appearances in eight different seasons. The two-time All-Star became the Twins' closer from 2001-03 and helped lead the club to two AL Central titles.
Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter played alongside Guardado in Minnesota and was happy to see his former teammate join the Twins Hall of Fame.
"His arm was strong and he wanted to take the ball anytime they gave him a chance and that's why we called him 'Everyday Eddie,'" Hunter said. "He was always ready to go."
Guardado was elected by a 56-member committee consisting of local and national media, club officials, fans and past elected members, using rules similar to those necessary for election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
"He had no fear and we always made a lot of jokes that if you're throwing 87-88 mph you should have fear, especially closing out games," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "But he was so competitive."
Mee was elected through the Veterans Committee ballot, which consists of 18 voters. He began his career in 1957 -- four years before the Twins moved to Minnesota -- and is widely regarded as the organization's first employee.
He had many roles within the organization, including serving as the club's backup radio and television announcer and public address speaker. He was most well-known for his role as Director of Media Relations, a position he held for 30 years. The St. Paul native received the Robert O. Fischel award for Public Relations excellence in 1988 before retiring in '91.
"It means a great deal," Mee said. "It's good to be alive, but it's even better to know people know you're still alive. I just had a job. I didn't go to work every day, I went to my hobby. That's what was great."
Ramirez continues recovery from concussion
MINNEAPOLIS -- Outfielder Wilkin Ramirez, who is on the 7-day concussion disabled list, has progressed to baseball activities and said Friday he's feeling much better.
Ramirez, who suffered his concussion in a collision with fellow outfielder Josh Willingham on May 25, has been taking batting practice with the team. He's also been doing running drills and said he's making good progress.
"I'm feeling good," Ramirez said. "I took BP on the field already and I'll do some baserunning and some stretching."
Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Ramirez will head out on a rehab assignment once he feels good enough to play in a game. But Ryan said the Twins still haven't decided when or where Ramirez will go.
Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Bollinger Beat, and follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
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The End of William Higgins Newsletter


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1) He stated that he would handle the repair under warranty, except that the failure was due to "micro fine ear wax". He then backed off that promised when confronted with the fact that there is no such thing as ear wax.
2) He attempted to deceive with the promise of honoring his warranty, by making up a condition unknown to my audiologist. With a masters degree in audiology and over 10 years experience with hearing aids, she has never heard of micro fine ear wax. She implied that wax wouldn't damage a hearing aid that fast. My hearing aid has received the same care as the Big Ear, and they are 10 years old.
3) While he received the ear buds ~3 weeks after the warranty period expired, they stopped working nearer the warranty expiration date, but they couldn't be returned because we were traveling.
4) My impression from the way I was treated was that this could easily become an $80 annual cost, with the purchase price of $350 being just the down payment, based on the abusive and insulting way in which Glen Hood communicated with me while coming to him with a problem regarding his product.
So what am I complaining about? A review of the above should speak for itself.
Big Ear extended its warranty by stating that it would honor their original warranty except that the problem was ear wax. There was no ear wax in the device, and subsequently the "micro fine ear wax" was discovered to be a hoax.
So the complaint to the BBB is valid and justified. When a company, Big Ear in this case, is dishonest, and then invents problems to avoid honoring their promises.
For example, Glen Hood stated that the device was at his laboratory for repair. When I asked what laboratory he used, he was evasive and responded that he used three, requiring another email to ask the name and location of the laboratory that has my device, so that I can ask about the damage.
Mr Hood refused to allow communication with the laboratory. These devices are not rocket science, it is a speaker in an ear mold. Speaking to the laboratory to find out what the issue is is a reasonable request. Being refused the opportunity to speak to the technician raises all kinds of integrity issues about the condition of the device, considering the previous claims of "micro fine ear wax".
The treatment dealt out by Big Ear constitutes a valid claim within the BBB system. I am open to changing my mind, but haven't heard a basis for change yet.
big ear has certainly shown they don't care about customer service (kind of reminds me of BMW) and are only concerned about the sale, not what happens after the sale. i think if it were me i would pay the $80.00 and have them repaired, provided you were 100% happy with the product to begin with, and then if they fail again within a year trash them and look elsewhere for a product from a company that understands the meaning of customer service. i know this doesn't help you much and i'm sorry but it's all the advise i have to offer.
So I or someone else will get the thing going, without being extorted by Big Ear.
BTW, reviewing their website in the reviews section, it is impossible to post a review of less than 4 stars. Makes me wonder if the reviews posted are even legitimate, since legitimate comments of a more factual nature cannot be posted.
Just a few random thoughts....I was looking at earphones at one of the rally's, I think it was in Johnson City, anyway I stopped by the booth of Big Ear and talked with them briefly. Just my thoughts, but I did not like their attitude, seems like they never gave a straight answer to my questions, and and acted like they were the experts on everything, and I was a fool for asking questions, and I was an idiot if I purchased anything else. I guess I should mention that I'm a salesman, so I may be a little sensitive to poor sales tactics. Well to say the least, I did not buy Big Ears. My suggestion would be to forgot about them, chalk it up to experience, and buy some earphones from Arizona Al. Al does a great job, stands behind his product, and is less money.
performs about like the rest of the company. Big Ear, Inc CEO Glenn Hood stated on Oct 8 that the unrepaired ear plugs would be returned to me. Several emails to Glenn Hood have not been responded to, despite his solicitous responses when he thought he was getting ~$80 for a "repair". A note was sent to the "customer service" department, and I will wait a few days to see if there is any response there.
Anyway, three weeks later, they haven't arrived. Unfortunately, for ~$350 this is devolving into a small claims court case. The joys of caveat emptor.
Greg on a borrowed computer.
Any thoughts on how to get Big Ear to return the plugs? Any recommendations appreciated.
I read these posts with interest as me and my husband had nothing but problems with Big Ear. The first set they sent me simply did not fit. Even though they were custom molded at one of their vendor sites the set they sent me were obviously made for someone else, they didn't fit my husband either, so who knows who they were made for. Also, this was after 3 months of waiting for them. Then when I finally got a remolded set that fit, the connector cord would cut out, and only work if I physically held it tight against the plug-in on the tank (this was on my Harley, that I had prior to my BMW). Big Ear was out of the connection piece, but kindly told me where I could go buy one like it online. That cost me $50. Finally sent a replacement six months later. So, now I was 9 months into this and still did not have a working unit. It would cause a near migraine with the cutting in and out. Left ear never did work well. Calls and emails ignored. Oh well, no more Harley, no more Big Ear. VERY satisfied with our Scala G4 com systems!
I too have had nothing but problems with static in the left ear. I bought the ones (more money) that were supposed to be more quite. What a joke. Every ralley I have been to, including the BMWMOA in Redmond Or. I walk up to the Big Ear booth to state my problem and they say to call a different number because Big Ear has reorganized and a different company is now handling complaints/repairs????? This was also the case at the Big Ear booth at the Bavarian Mountain Bash in Sipapoo New Mexico.
I am sure these are manufactured and repaired some where in the Orient. Hence the reason for such costly repair. Do I think this company is a ripoff. Your damn right I do.
found this on ADV, maybe try contacting him and see if he can help you
I realize this thread is about ear buds, but will interject that my experience with the BBB is , that you are wasting your time! It is an inbreed organization , funded by the people that participate and if you have reached the point of using them, having tried all the ways a reasonable person might try, then you are better served by a small claims court effort or(I hate to say this-it really pains me and is against every fiber of my existence!) but you might need a lawyer. The tendency is, that the business,acting as the "expert" in all matter pertaining to them has all the knowledge of what is the right way to serve you and that the consumers ignorant approach is just plain wrong. The experience of two separate occassions in two different cities has taught me to not waste my time with them.
The BBB works, period. Several years ago, I had my house (built in 1930) insulated with the latest and greatest, cellulosic material. Attic, walls, under the crawl space, everywhere that could be insulated.
The material curled (crowned is the word the floor guy used) the red pine floor boards. I was worried that the original floors were ruined, and took the insulator to the BBB for not warning me of this possibility after repeated assurances that they had done similar homes, and for correcting the damage they caused.
They refused to accept the responsibility for the floors, but did refund the full cost of the insulating work, which was enough to have the floors repaired.
Similarly, Big Ear was not budging on my devices prior to the intervention of the BBB. They were not returning the devices repaired or not repaired. They had stated that they would return the devices unrepaired, but they hadn't done so after 3 weeks. Asking after the status of the devices, they refused to respond to or acknowledge any communication from me at all.
On the day that I reported Big Ear, Inc to the Colorado Springs, CO police department for theft, they responded to the BBB notification with a proposal to send me the repaired devices for $25. While this sounded like a ransom since they had refused to communicate with me after having promised to return them unrepaired and not doing so. But I have them back, and in 2.4 years, or sooner since they only lasted a year this time, I will try someone else.
But the BBB (or maybe a call from the police?) came through again. They work if you keep up with them.
But I sent the $25 to get the devices back, which I did thanks to the BBB.
Interesting thread. I've no dog in the Big Ear fight, but can vouch for the service of Westone. Had some custom earphones made through an audiologist several years ago, twice one or the other phone has gotten clogged with ear goo. Sent 'em back to Westone, they replaced the whatsits (filters?) and sent the phones back overnight, no charge.
Am now using a pair of Arizona Al phones. They work fine. I switched because the Westone right phone kept falling out after I bought a new helmet. Al carved out a bit of foam which freed up my ears inside the helmet...he explained that if the helmet flattens the ear, it changes the shape of the ear canal...in other words, I could have just modified the helmet foam very slightly and the Westones would not have fallen out. I had no issue with paying Al for his phones, given he solved my problem.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is Al and Westone are both quality customer service acts.
I've had no issues with Big Ear, in fact I just bought a 2nd pair. I don't expect my current pair to last forever, motorcycling is hard on things. I bought the 2nd pair so I'd never be without a pair when I eventually have to send my current pair in for service. These are flat out the most comfortable ear buds I've ever had. I've spoken with the owner, hard to believe you're dealing with the same company.


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CHATTANOOGA (UTC/The Loop) — A lawsuit seeking a million dollars in damages alleges a former pledge of a UTC fraternity was left severely injured in an alleged hazing incident.
The suit filed in Hamilton County Circuit Court lists Jamaal Strickland as the plaintiff. The suit also names Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. which is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the Chattanooga alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi and its directors; the Lambda Iota chapter of the fraternity at UTC with eight fraternity members individually named as defendants.
The suit claims that Strickland suffered serious injury to his left leg during an alleged hazing incident on September 29, 2008. In the suit, Strickland says he was beaten, paddled and hit during that evening. Strickland says as a result he suffered a deep venous thrombosis or a blood clot inside a blood vessel resulting in medical expenses.
The suit filed by Nashville attorney John Whitfield, Jr asks for $500,000 in punitive damages and $500,000 in compensatory damages.