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Wherein no internet and no games makes Baka something-something. See how close humanity came to destruction, after the jump.Permalink
Some other things I have going on now include a plan to make a sophisticated RGB lighting solution for the figma Drossel figure from Max Factory. Until last week, I thought Drossel was just Hatsune Miku as a robot, lol.
Drossel— or Drossel Juno Vierzehntens Heizregister Fürstin von Flügel —is one of the characters in the short animation series 'Fireball', run on the Disney channel in Japan. The show itself is rather hilarious, being somewhat nonsensical and centered around jokes involving wordplay and the occasional non-sequitur, although towards the end hinting at some more serious story about an impending human invasion of the robot city. (Granted the series of 13 2-minute shorts spans like 200 years, but whatever.) It'll be interesting to see where it goes from here.
And there WILL be more. The show has a huge cult following, surprising given that the whole series adds up to less than a single episode of anime. It just so happens that Drossel is now one of the most popular figmas ever. Considering that earlier entries in the line include various versions of the casts of Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu and Lucky Star, that's saying something. (I want the goddamn Golgo 13 figma. Duke Togo is the baddest motherfucker in existence.)
This little project started when someone linked to a post on figure.fm about adding lights to a Drossel figure, and I made comments about how easy that would be and how cool it would be to do it with RGB LEDs and whatnot, and he immediately commissioned me to make a version of what we were looking at for his, for $20. Basically a 20mm coincell holder wired to an LED, and it's got a peg glued to it so Drossel can wear it like a backpack using the hole for attaching her to the figma stand. (Which is unnecessary most of the time as she can stand up pretty well on her own, hell I've seen people put her in unsupported hand-stands just fine.) It just occurred to me as I was writing this that I never took any pictures of it though… ^^;;
I took some wirewrap wire, bought some wide-angle white LEDs from eBay, took a battery holder and an SMD switch I already had, and went to town on it. Glued a small bit of gunpla polycap runner to it for the peg, and it was done. Oh well, I'll take pictures when I make a second one for myself. (I ordered a figure of my own with the help of his $20, from Otacute)Permalink
Just doing a little website housecleaning tonight…if only it were so easy to clean my apartment. ;[
I have pretty much all my obligations (Except re-paying Ed) out of the way, which means I'll be free to pursue my own idle projects. First thing, will probably be to wipe this site. Maintain this blog in a frozen state somewhere, and make a new Wordpress blog for GPMoD.Permalink
People often hassle me about all the random shit I acquire despite no clear need or desire. I continue to prove the necessity of such hoarding any time an unforeseen obstacle pops up.
Today, I finally received the EPROM programmer I bought from Hong Kong last month. Nothing fancy just a 'Willem' type parallel port burner that cost me all of $16…but it should be enough to burn BIOS ROMs for my NEO-GEO boards and things like that. I also bought a USB->Parallel adapter on the off chance that it would actually allow it to work, since none of my computers have Parallel Ports. (My older machine and my father's machine, which have the same motherboard, have a header for a parallel port at least)
Well, the adapter doesn't work, of course. So I knew I needed a DB25 at the end of a 26-pin IDC ribbon cable. That isn't a terribly common thing, except for this exact purpose. I went into the storage room where all my electronic junk will continue to stew down into a mulch for the next thousand years. There, sitting atop a box, is the stripped carcass of an old VTech IBM XT knockoff that someone offered me and I didn't see any reason not to take it. (And then they also gave me a hugef00k dotmatrix printer and a little CGA monitor) I had recently gutted it for a couple reasons; for one, I wanted to get some steppers and stuff from the floppy drives. I also wanted some random boards to work on with my soldering station.
Sitting in the middle of the mostly gutted skeletal remains of the computer, was an expansion card slot DB25 port with a 26-pin ribbon cable. However, when I removed it, it turned out the DB25 was male, and not female. This struck me as still being rather lucky, since a male DB25 suggests it was a Serial port, and DB25 serial ports hardly ever have all their pins hooked up… (In fact, only the same 9 pins as a DB9 serial port and an additional ground are needed.) Nonetheless, I needed a female connector for the parallel port. I have a DB25 F-F gender changer somewhere, but I haven't seen it in years… F-to-F cables? Don't think I have any. Hmm… That's when I remembered a lot of connectors I purchased off eBay several months ago. Mostly I jumped on it because it had nearly every conceivable type of USB board and cable connector (And lots of them) but it also had DB25 and DB9 male and female ports, both PCB connectors and solder-cup style with bolt-together housings. (Not bad for $25, since that's what a couple DB15s with housings cost me a while back from Digi-Key)
Now, all I need to do is snip the ribbon cable, and solder the wires to one of my solder-cup DB25 connectors to create the correct header cable for my ASUS M2N32 SLI mobo, and I'm up and running. (But first, breakfast!)
And there you have it, whenever something like this comes up, chances are I will find everything I need amongst the things I have collected with no particular need in mind.Permalink
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Cumulative Grade Point Averages
In calculating cumulative grade-point averages, grades behind CR, NC or NNG are not included. Summer school grades from Bryn Mawr earned on this campus are included, as are summer school grades earned from the Bryn Mawr programs at Avignon. No other summer school grades are included. Term-time grades from Haverford College, Swarthmore College and the University of Pennsylvania earned on the exchange are included. Term-time grades transferred from other institutions are not included.

subset: commoncrawl


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Bungalows, with plenty of natural light and privacy. Light, space and private patio with garden.
2 bedrooms
5 roomsLiveable floor area : 650 Sq.ft.
- View : Not overlooked, sea/ocean, country side, garden/park, prairie
- Kids welcome
- Setting : Ocean, Natural
- Sandy beach at 0.62mi.
- Pets friendly
- Exposure : South-west
Reviews about the Advert 24974
Advert details 24974
Bungalows, with plenty of natural light and privacy. Clear and clean! The spacious patio-terrace provides an optimal indoor/outdoor feeling. The smart switch mode of the bungalows offers optimal freedom, also on your patio. The centrally heated bungalows are decorated with care for four persons and a child up to 2 years. Your garden is surrounded by tree groups, grass and dunes. Pets are allowed (max. 2). Sandpits and playhouses for the children are always nearby. The surrounding area is car-free. Cars are to be parked on the nearby parking lots. Rest and security are guaranteed!
Assets Bungalow
Interior Bungalow with View: not overlooked, sea/ocean, country side, ...
Exterior Vacation rental in Setting: ocean, natural
Rates Calendar Availability Vacation rental in Sint Maartenszee
Seasons & Availability Bungalow in Sint Maartenszee
Rates Bungalow in Sint Maartenszee
For your guidance
Booking conditions
Leisure, Surroundings, Location Bungalow 24974
Leisure Sint Maartenszee - North Holland
The park borders a network of bicycle paths. The sea and nature reserve Het Zwanenwater are nearby. The city of Callantsoog is can be reached easily (5 km). Cycling along the Hondsbossche Zeewering is an experience. Cycle on a paved path along the sea! You can often see seals here. Countless trips are possible from Sint Maartenszee. It is so pleasant to come back in your own space afterwards. The beach at Sint Maartenszee belongs to one of the cleanest beaches of the Netherlands. A unique wide sandy beach with a real family atmosphere. You can rent beach beds, chairs and windshields. There are also 2 beach pavilions where you can enjoy a local beer and good food all day. Since years this beach has the blue flag; a guarantee of clean seawater, clean beach and good facilities. The lifeguards watching over your safety. At low tide you can see the piers. A unique experience to enjoy the sea. Your dog is welcome in the dunes and on the beach, on a lead. Between 19.00-09.00 hours your dog can run loose. Sint Maartenszee has a naturist beach. You can reach this beach from Beach entrance North and go 800 m to the North. Sint Maartenszee: Pavilion North and South Pavilion, can be reached by bike and on foot. Callantsoog: various pavilions, can also be reached by car.
SurroundingsOcean - North Holland
Location AccessBungalow Sint Maartenszee
The park is situated along the dunes between Camperduin and Callantsoog in North Holland.


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Looking for a special car? Let sellers know you're a serious buyer with a free Moto Roster listing.
Create a Moto Roster Account, add the car you're looking for to your roster and get a FREE, shareable, wanted page to help bring in leads.
Stay with us -- ignore the whole "boring" Toyota Sienna thing and just look at the stats. All Wheel Drive, pop up roof, Propex heater, heavy duty towing package, and an extra deep cycle battery for goodies. Throw in a factory Toyota warranty and suddenly our interest is piqued.
This Sienna started its life as a near top of the line AWD LE model and was then sent to GTRV builders in California where it was turned into this uniquely-reliable adventure rig. We're more familiar with GTRV's Mercedes-based work but the Sienna makes for an interesting platform.
Out West it received the full blown camper treatment with a pop up tent, a kitchen that's designed to be used from the tailgate (which is a clever way to do it), a stove, 12v fridge, and a 10 gallon freshwater tank.
Along with the Propex heater, there is an extra battery that's charged off of both the alternator and a 90W solar panel so you could easily operate for a long weekend purely out of this Toyota.
During the conversion the Sienna lost its ability to seat 7 passengers but it still retails 5 seat belts along with a nice swivel front passenger seat.
We're not sure what the factory towing stats are on a stock Sienna, but this one has a trailer hitch with an electric brake controller and adjustable air bladders in the rear shocks so it seems like this it's loaded for bear.
This conversion is subtle and well done and it won't come cheap. The opening bid is $25,000 with an unmet reserve. We like the overall low-key look with the Thule rack serving as a nod to what lies underneath. We'd be interested in a tiny lift and some beefier tires.
You don't have a lot of options if you're in the market for a "soft camper" like this. You can find a Syncro Westfalia and pay through the nose for a rig that, while undeniable cool, doesn't compare in terms of reliability, comfort, speed, etc. You can send your own van to an outfitter like GTRV, or you can buy this Toyota and be at home at the grocery store, and crawling down a fire road.
Find this Sleeper Sleeper on eBay in Toronto, Canada.
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Stop searching Craigslist, eBay, and AutoTrader - let sellers come to you with a free, custom Moto Roster posting.LET'S GO


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by Ashlyn
(Richmond, Virginia)
What would be the cost to make a new car in a factory?
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Cut the peach in half, remove the pit and dice the fruit. Put the peaches, Simple Syrup and lemon juice into a blender and puree until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer. Stir together the peach-simple syrup mixture with the peach iced tea. Pour half of the peach tea mixture into ice cube trays and freeze. Chill the remaining peach tea mixture.
To make the cocktails: Fill 4 tall iced tea glasses with the tea cubes. Divide the peach tea evenly among the glasses. Top each with Prosecco, garnish with a lemon slice and serve immediately.
Combine the sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Keep covered in the refrigerator up to 1 month.
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Duesseldorf* – Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq/Greenland, departure 14.00 hrs
Western coast of Greenland (Disko Bay, Storoen, Uummannaq)
Northwest Passage: the heart and soul of great explorers
Bizarre ice, wild animals and nautical challenges – one of the world's most famous sea routes combines fascinating history and thrilling natural experiences. When you trace your finger along the map, you are tracing the lifelines of numerous pioneers who have lent their names to many of the straits of water and islands in this region. At the beginning of the 20th century, Roald Amundsen completed the first full passage. To this day, various thrilling legends abound about this part of the Canadian Arctic, and you will follow in their path on this expedition. When ice determines the course, the pioneering spirit of times gone by will come to life on board the BREMEN. A challenge to which the ship rises with its highest ice class and experienced crew. Again and again, the captain and officers will decide which route to take. Look forward to a great adventure.
Disko Bay is an impressive precursor to the many natural spectacles on this cruise: ride in the Zodiacs between the drifting icebergs and watch the enormous ice formations that are released into the bay from the ice fjord. When the BREMEN sets sail for Storoen, the sudden appearance of humpback and fin whales always produces a wave of excitement. When you land on the "desert isle", you will almost feel like you have landed on the moon, while the experts explain the geological composition of the coastal landscape. Cultural insights will be provided by Uummannaq, one of the most beautiful settlements in Greenland with typically colourful wooden houses and "Santa's summer house". A museum recalls the expeditions of Alfred Wegener, a German who conducted research in Greenland.
Relaxation at sea
Pond Inlet/Baffin Island/Canada
The history of exploration in the Northwest Passage comes to life in Baffin Bay, named for the English seafarer William Baffin, who came here in the 16th century on the search for a possible passage. Once you have visited Pond Inlet on Baffin Island and gotten to know a small, hidden Inuit village, the BREMEN will travel to the Lancaster Sound, and the excitement will grow: your personal chapter in the history of exploration awaits you.
In the heart of the Northwest Passage
(including Devon Island, Somerset Island, cruising in the Victoria Strait, Jenny Lind Island, Cambridge Bay/Victoria Island, Prince of Wales Island, cruising in Peel Sound, Beechey Island)
The irrepressible feeling of adventure
In the wake of great pioneers, you will head to the heart of the legendary passage. Expeditionary territory perfect for the BREMEN and its Zodiacs. Explorations and trips ashore in this region – for example on Devon Island – are only possible with robust motorised rubber boats. Spectacular glaciers line the coast, where you will see musk oxen, Arctic hares and maybe even your first polar bears. The further the BREMEN goes into the labyrinth of islands and ice, the closer you will feel to the first explorers all those years ago. Follow in their footsteps on Somerset Island, for example. In 1848, James Clark Ross landed here on the search for the missing Franklin ships, which are said to be frozen in ice at the entrance to the Victoria Strait. The fascination on the water continues on land: keep an eye out for polar bears, owls and reindeer, and not just on Jenny Lind Island. Victoria Island is also ideal for wildlife sightings. In Cambridge Bay, the wreck of the Maud, one of Roald Amundsen's ships, bears silent witness to the bravery of seafarers in times gone by.
Depending on the ice, you will set out on a Zodiac ride on Peel Sound into the habitat of orcas, seals and walruses, and to Prince of Wales Island which is known for its natural treasures, the spherical geodes. The island was discovered in 1851 during the search for John Franklin's expedition. Aside from three sailors, whose graves were found on Beechey Island, the team remained missing. Your paths may perhaps cross with those of the polar bears, who roam the archipelago in search of food.
Baffin Island
Finally, the BREMEN will take some time to explore the magnificent fjords of Baffin Island. Mountains and ice shape the expansive home of the Inuit with an impressive landscape, including the majestic Kisimngiuqtuq glacier.
Relaxation at sea
Kangerlussuaq/Greenland, arrival 6.00 hrs
Charter flight Kangerlussuaq – Duesseldorf*
A change in itinerary may become necessary on this expedition. The captain will decide on the best possible alternative depending on weather and ice conditions.
* Depending on the flight schedule, it may be necessary to change the airports of departure and arrival.
Among the many interests of Dr Arne Kertelhein, historian and author of various specialist books, are the dramatic expeditions of the great polar explorers. His extremely captivating lectures focus on the challenges and nature of the polar world of extremes.


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Harold E. "Pete" Richards, 74, passed away Aug. 11, 2013, in White Salmon, Wash. Pete was born Oct. 29, 1938, in Newport, Wash., to Harold William and Margaret Huldah (Chappell) Richards. He grew up in Newport, and after high school he attended Eastern Washington University in Cheney and graduated in 1961. He continued his education at Oregon State University in Corvallis, where he graduated with a master's degree in education.
On Feb. 7, 1958, he married Judith Ann Krahmer in Newport, and they have celebrated a shared life together for the past 55 years and were blessed with four daughters.
Pete was an educator and he taught at Finley, Wash., and Richland, Wash., school districts, Chief Joseph Jr. High School, Hanford High School and Carson and Stevenson, Wash., just before retiring. He was currently attending Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Hood River but was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) ordained in 1985.
While living in Ketchikan, Alaska, he assisted and developed plans to repair many churches throughout Southwest Alaska.
Pete was also active in many extracurricular teaching associations including the TSA (Technical Student Association) of Washington, and a national leader in the TSA.
He enjoyed the Pacific Northwest and took an active interest in the environment. Pete also enjoyed gardening and working with wood; making many keepsake items that will be cherished (including his own urn).
Pete is survived and will be dearly missed by his wife, Judith Ann Richards, of Underwood, Wash.; daughters Gwendolyn Richards, of Underwood, Jacqueline Hodge (and husband, Rob), of Sammamish, Wash., Tracy Estrellado (and husband, Jose), of Moses Lake, Wash., and JoEllyn Richard Martel (and husband, Ron), of Mount Rose, Colo.; sister, Sylvia Richards of Newport, Wash.; and numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other distant family and many, many friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents; Richards, Chappells and Stoners, and parents; Harold and Margaret.
Services are planned for 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1140 Tucker Road, Hood River, Oregon.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000.
Memorials are encouraged to be made in Pete's name to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church for a special fund intended for the replacement of the pulpit and Lord's Table.
Please visit www.andersonstributecenter.com to leave a note of condolence for family.
Condolences are being received online.
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Five Mile Prairie Pie Night is April 19th
Meet new neighbors and ask questions about all the events, activities and issues
on Five Mile! All residents of Five Mile are welcome to attend this "open house".
Representatives from the Five Mile Prairie Grange, Five Mile Prairie Pathways,
SCOPE, Neighborhood Watch, City, County and more will be on hand to answer your
If you haven't seen our remodeled main floor stop by and check it out! It looks
fabulous. Thanks to your support, we were able to make this renovation possible!
Oh, and did we mention you can enjoy a slice (or two) of delicious pie?!
Join your neighbors at the Grange on Tuesday, April 19th for Pie Night!
** Do you love to bake pies? Share your delicious talents by donating a pie for
this event! You can drop off your donated pies at the Grange by 6 pm on April
19th or send an email to email@example.com
for more information. **
See you there!
- Five Mile Prairie Grange #905


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Maxi dresses plus size are the kinds of dresses; they can be long dresses or baby dolls which come with the big size, the bigger size than the normal size; s, m, l, and xl. Since the size is extraordinary, these kinds of dresses are belonged for women with the pretty different size of body. Only, here we are going to talk about these kinds of dresses for the pregnant women. Yes, even the skinniest women, when they are pregnant mostly they get more chubby and this condition insist them to take the bigger size for the clothes. Thus, these kinds of dresses are really really recommended for them.
Comfortable Maxi Dresses Plus Size
We all know that by the time the pregnancy gets older, the tummy of women will also get bigger and bigger as well. Thus, these maxi dresses are all they need. Moreover, the women who are going to be mother soon are no longer allowed to wear something tight like pants, skirt, moreover mini dresses or jeans. Wearing these kinds of dresses will comfort them and their baby inside their wombs very much. To keep the pregnant women comfort with suitable and appropriate dress is important to support the development of every cells of the baby itself. In order word, wearing the right clothes for mother who are pregnant are important.
Beautiful Big Maxi Dresses
Several women are grumping why do most of pregnancy dresses come with very out of date model that make them can dress beautifully during their pregnancy. That struggle should no longer exist nowadays since now, there are lots of maxi dresses for pregnant women with the very fashionable mode, comfortable material that are so much recommended for women who want to dress beautifully during their pregnancy. Or if they find the difficulties to get those kind of dresses, they can custom the dress by the Tailor and bring the design.


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Dehradun Tourism
Dehradun is still a great place to spend a couple of days (in spite of all the traffic that has burgeoned since it became a capital). The climate of the city is temperate.
Read More
Winter Packages
Winter Bonanza
2 Nights and 3 days package
Valid from 1st October 2016 to 15th March 2017
- Accommodation on Double occupancy in a Club Class Room
- 20% discount on Airport / Railways Station pickup charges
- Welcome drink on arrival
- Buffet Breakfast
- 20% discount on A-La-Carte Food
- 15% discount on all Beverages
- 20% discount on all SPA treatments
- Free Wi fi internet
- Free use of the Health-club and Gymnasium


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Higher consumer confidence and disposable incomes will drive demand for cars.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 21, 2013
Following years of volatile revenue, the New Car Dealers industry is set to contract. The industry is vulnerable to economic shifts due to its dependence on employment rates, overall consumer spending, financing rates and home values. In 2011, the tsunami and earthquake in Japan hurt the New Car Dealers industry by reducing dealers' supply of vehicles and vehicle parts made in Japan. Limited supply coupled with growing demand inhibited growth, until supply levels returned to normal in 2012.
In the five years to 2013, industry revenue is expected to decrease at an annualized rate of 1.9% to $565.1 billion. Revenue dropped in 2008 and 2009, when the recession lowered employment and consumer confidence levels. This situation resulted in sharply lower vehicle sales, despite a federal trade-in rebate program that drove more than 700,000 new vehicle sales. In 2009, General Motors (GM) and Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy; this move contributed to a 4.4% decline in the number of establishments in 2010, including the closure of more than 2,000 of GM's 6,000 dealership locations in the United States. But in 2010, industry revenue and profit turned the corner as the economy began to recover and disposable incomes rose. According to IBISWorld Industry Analyst Brandon Ruiz, "With increased discretionary spending and elevated confidence, consumers will once again pursue big-ticket items, including new vehicles." Consequently, revenue is expected to jump 0.6% in 2013. New fuel-efficient vehicles and greater access to credit will further support growth. Still, residential housing price depreciation and financing difficulties in some states will pose a threat to the industry.
"In the five years to 2018, IBISWorld expects industry revenue to grow, due to higher consumer confidence and disposable income, which will drive increased demand for cars and trucks," says Ruiz. Furthermore, industry players are anticipated to expand their higher-margin parts and repair service segments. The introduction of new energy-efficient vehicle models will boost sales as consumers move away from gas-guzzling vehicles. These new models will face stricter government regulations regarding emission and fuel standards, which will raise selling prices.
For more information, visit IBISWorld's New Car Dealers in the US industry report page.
Follow IBISWorld on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/IBISWorld.
Friend IBISWorld on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/IBISWorld/121347533189.
IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics
The New Car Dealers industry sells new and used passenger vehicles. Vehicles include passenger cars, light trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and passenger vans. New car dealers also sell parts and provide repair services.
Industry Performance
Executive Summary
Key External Drivers
Current Performance
Industry Outlook
Industry Life Cycle
Products & Markets
Supply Chain
Products & Services
Major Markets
Globalization & Trade
Business Locations
Competitive Landscape
Market Share Concentration
Key Success Factors
Cost Structure Benchmarks
Barriers to Entry
Major Companies
Operating Conditions
Capital Intensity
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Annual Change
Key Ratios
About IBISWorld Inc.
Recognized as the nation's most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on every US industry. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772.


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12 Lunar New Year cookies you need to eat
It's time for the Lunar New Year again, and for some, that means snacks galore. Here's a little guide to help your mouth explore!
It's time for the Lunar New Year again, and for some, that means snacks galore. Here's a little guide to help your mouth explore!
Whipping up delicious treats is a great way to impress a date without busting the bank balance. Microwave cooking can be ridiculously...
Manja at Old Malaya aims to pamper and reinvent fusion cuisine and executes it perfectly, down to the very last bite.
If you're planning a Halloween party, you definitely want to add this Punch into your menu. It's guaranteed to be the talk of the party!
Deepavali is merriment in the company of delicious food. Here's a guide to help you navigate through your gastronomic adventures on this day.
Being Malaysians, food is naturally one of our deepest passions. We live to eat, and we do not eat to live, as many would say.
Located within their flagship DC Comics Store @ Pavilion, this DC Comics Super Heroes Café definitely won't be hard for fans to find.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So one must indulge in a nice, heavy breakfast for the sake of good health. Head on to the Good Batch for that scrumptious breakfast.
The perfect place to get your spice on, Bali & Spice will (figuratively) fly you to Bali on an awesome gastronomical trip.


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Animation create freelance jobs
We are currently looking for a freelance animator that can create an infographic animation for us in thes same style as this: [login to view URL] Infographic should be 30 sec long, is about the accomplishments of our city (increasing income,subsidies etc). If first job is good, we would like to have a second one with
We are a digital media technology company in need of freelance remote workers on a specific task. For this project, we looking for an animation expert to create a short story for a client brand.
...for 2-3 flexible and experienced video animators to join our current team of freelance animators. This is for a long term ongoing project. Below you'll find the videos we're interested in: - Custom made 2D or 3D animation videos - Fully hand drawn whiteboard animation videos Our requirements/terms: - Custom graphics based on specific client instructions:
We are looking for talented freelance artists with good experience of Toomboom to help complete an exciting children's animation project. We need artists with clean and accurate lines who can create smooth animation whilst maintaining the original designs of the characters.
We are looking for a freelance artist to create custom whiteboard style animated explainer videos 30-60 seconds in length specifically for describing practice drills. We have scripts prepared as well is basic diagram images for reference. No voice-over or background music required. We are looking for the animation only.
...looking to create a graphic animation wedding invitation e-card. My fiancé's from Ayacucho, Peru, which is known for its "retablos" or portable boxes depicting religious events. It has doors on the front that open to reveal the contents inside. We're looking to create a digital e-card that works in the same way. In addition, we're wanting ...
We are looking for an artistic graphic designer that can create logos, website designs, icons, printed material and anything else you can do with graphics. 3D and animation will be a plus. A professional portfolio is a must. We are only looking for ONE freelance graphic designer and we are seriously not looking for any companies or teams.
We are looking for freelance graphic designers (multimedia) available to work project based and able to edit, create content and design (animation videos, web banners, flyers, and other pieces for social networks, advertising designs and material related to audiovisual media). You need to have experience with Adobe Design suite management: - Illustrator
...together a 3d animation of an drill tool. The animation will show the various stages of function of the ball valve tool. I would like text over to, and maybe some basic background music. It should last about 1 or 2 minutes. I have the .obj files of the tool, and .obj files for each part. I am looking for a freelance 3d animator to create the animation
Need a short video intro for youtube and facebook video clips. Some cool animation on the logo. sound effect and music optional. Im a freelance personal trainer wanting to create home workouts and content for clients and the general public. business name: NPR PT. slogan: Nutrition, Performance Results. (optional) maybe a sine through or
Hello talented freelance designers! We've got an exciting contest for you... ** We'd like you to create a compelling visual campaign for the Freelancer brand. We're searching for a campaign showcasing an emotional connection to the amazing opportunities we provide to people across the globe. We believe that customers are not just driven by
...is designed to create a pitch video for a large organization that is a believer in this model and wants to leverage freelancer talent to complement its existing workforce. The winner of this contest will work with the sponsoring organization to design a 90-second video to help demonstrate the benefits associated with utilizing freelance resources in how
We Create Adventure Story Concepts for Television and Film. We currently have Mid-to-Long Term Freelance Opportunities for Character Illustration Artists. Illustrations will include Humanoid, Animal and Robotic Characters. Animation and Story Board Skills are a plus. We prefer Illustrators who are based in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan area
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Tim Roth is "Knifeman." According to Deadline.com, Roth has signed on to star in the series as John Tattersall, a self-educated surgeon who isn't afraid of breaking boundaries to unravel secrets.
David Cronenberg will direct the pilot and serve as an executive producer on the series. Sam Raimi also serves as an executive producer.
The series comes from Media Rights Capital, but no network has been named yet. Rolin Jones, woh is known for his work on "Friday Night Lights" and "Boardwalk Empire," wrote the pilot. For more on "Knifeman," click over to Deadline.com.
In other casting news ...
"Friends" veteran Maggie Wheeler -- Janice, Chandler's one-time girlfriend -- is heading to "Californication." Wheeler will play a self-help guru in several episodes of the Showtime series. [TVLine]
Charisma Carpenter could get a "Lying Game" promotion. The "Buffy" and "Angel" veteran is in talks to join the ABC Family series as a regular for Season 2. [Variety]
Joel David Moore is going to "Work." Moore will guest star on TBS's "Men at Work" as Doug, a magazine editor. [TVLine]
Lauren London is moving from "90210" to "The Game." London will be a series regular on the BET comedy as Kiera, a former child star. [TVLine]


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U.S., other powers may kick Russia out of G8
President Barack Obama and other world leaders will discuss ending Russia's role in the group of leading industrialized nations, a senior White House official said Monday.
The move to suspend membership in the G8 would be the latest direct response from major countries allied against Russia's annexation of Crimea. Administration officials said there is no reason for Russia to remain in the group at this point.
"Our view is simply that if Russia is flagrantly violating international law and the order that the G7 has hoped to build since the end of the Cold War, there's no need to engage with Russia," Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, told reporters in The Netherlands where the President attended a nuclear security summit.
In a nod to political and economic reforms, the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Italy added Russia to their group in 1998 — transforming it from the G7 to the G8.
A spokesperson for British Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed to CNN that a group summit initially planned for June in Sochi, Russia, where the Winter Olympics were just held, is now off.
The United States and its allies in Europe are "united in imposing a cost on Russia for its actions so far," Obama said earlier in the Netherlands.
So far western powers have imposed sanctions and other penalties against specific people in Russia close to Putin, and Obama has warned the United States would target key sectors of the economy if Moscow escalates the Ukrainian crisis.
But Obama has said a military incursion in Ukraine is off the table, and his advisers are hesitant to even frame the crisis in Ukraine as a bad '80s flashback — Obama in one corner, Putin in the other. It's not "Rocky IV," as Secretary of State John Kerry said.
Nor do White House officials care to publicly muse about Putin's intentions.
National Security Adviser Susan Rice said the Russian President's actions speak for themselves.
"I'm not going to get into speculating about President Putin's motives," Rice told reporters Friday.
The White House emphasis throughout the Russian occupation of Crimea has been "de-escalation."
Asked whether the United States will provide military aid to Ukraine's woefully underfunded armed forces, administration officials cautioned that such assistance could inflame tensions.
"Our focus has been and remains on the economic and diplomatic instruments at this point," Rice said. "Our interest is not in seeing the situation escalate and devolve into hot conflict."
While Democratic and Republican lawmakers are stepping up their calls to provide Ukraine with light arms and other military aid, administration officials have argued that the sanctions put in place by the United States and the European Union must be given time to take hold.
With an estimated 20,000 Russian troops on Ukraine's border, the question is whether Obama's use of soft power will deter Putin.
With little resistance, the Russian president could easily move into Eastern Ukraine even as Obama seeks to isolate Moscow in meetings with European allies. It's a possibility not lost on senior administration officials.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, a Michigan Republican, argued the Russian leader is likely eyeing more opportunities in the coming days.
"(Putin) has put all the military units he would need to move into Ukraine on its eastern border and is doing exercises. We see him moving forces in the south in a position where they could take the southern region over to Moldova," Rogers said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
There are other approaches. Obama's former ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, urged the administration to intensify its policy of isolating Putin.
"Mr. Putin's Russia has no real allies. We must keep it that way," McFaul wrote in an op-ed in the New York Times.
But the White House is determined to ensure that the President's trip to Europe and Saudi Arabia will be more than just another showdown with Putin.
Hours after Obama landed in The Netherlands for the Nuclear Security Summit, the White House announced a deal to dispose of huge quantifies of nuclear material from Japan.
It's the kind of achievement Obama hoped to spotlight, had this trip not become so complicated.
By Jim Acosta
CNN's Victoria Eastwood contributed to this report.


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Friday, July 26, 2013
Cheapy mini haul
I went out to buy some face masks or something to make my pores smoother. I bought one peeling mask and nose strips. I will get back with details, if they're any good.
After months of wearing lipstick exclusively, i missed a lipgloss so much that i got a miss sporty one, that smells like bubble gum (thing i hated about it years back) and i chose a peachy, non-glittery color.
Have a great day!
Now, please excuse me, the cat is waiting for me...
Posted by Alexandra Serdan at 12:48 PM
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January 31 - 433 Eros, the second-largest Near Earth Object on record (size 13x13x33 km) will pass Earth at 0.1790 astronomical units (26,778,019 km/16,639,090 mi). NASA studied Eros with the NEAR Shoemaker probe launched on 1996-02-17.[1]


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Hear the Magnetic Fields' New Single, 'Andrew in Drag'
Hear "Andrew in Drag."
On March 6, the Magnetic Fields will release Love at the Bottom of the Sea, their tenth full-length album and the first with Merge records since the classic 69 Love Songs. But if you are feeling particularly impatient and refuse to wait until March for new, quality music, then you'll be glad to hear that Vulture is streaming the album's lead single today. Right now! The jaunty "Andrew in Drag," which suggest that "-ag" words might be the most enjoyable rhymes in the English language, is available for your listening pleasure below. Check it out, and let us know if you come up with any more rhymes.


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Autonomous underwater robots that can make decisions in real time based on their surroundings could unlock the key to deep-sea exploration.
Scientists have long used robots that can travel unguided in underwater environments when exploring the oceans.
But the data collected by them takes time to analyse and interpret, meaning that the ability to use the information in real time is lost.
A team from the University of Delaware has been experimenting with programming robots to allow them to change their behaviour in response to what is going on around them.
They ran a test experiment after code alterations to a modular deep-sea robot called REMUS600 to see whether new data could trigger different behaviours based on biological information, such as the appearance of squid at a certain size or concentration.
"We knew the vehicle had more capabilities than we previously had applied," said Mark Moline, director of the School of Marine Science at Delaware University.
Creating artificial intelligence that can respond to the dynamic ocean environment proved challenging. Varying currents cause the marine organisms to be in constant motion, resulting in mass migration, swimming and behavioural changes that can be difficult to predict.
"What you see at any given instance is going to change a moment later," Moline said.
The researchers pre-programmed the computers on-board the REMUS to make certain decisions. While surveying the ocean 500 to 900 metres below the surface, the on-board computers were analysing the sonar data of marine organisms in the water based on size and density.
When acoustic sensors aboard the vehicle detected the right size and concentration of squid, it triggered a second mission to report the robot's position in the water and then run a pre-programmed grid to map the area in finer detail.
The higher-level scan revealed a very concentrated collection of squid in one area and a second less tightly woven mass of similarly sized squid as the scan moved north to south.
According to Moline, these are details that might have been missed if the REMUS was only programmed to keep travelling on a straight line.
"It was a really simple test that demonstrated that it's possible to use acoustics to find a species, to have an AUV target specific sizes of that species, and to follow the species, all without having to retrieve and reprogram the vehicle to hunt for something that will probably be long gone by the time you are ready," he said.
Combining available robotics technologies to explore the water in this way can help fill information gaps and may illuminate scales of prey distribution that scientists don't know exist.
Meanwhile, Boston Dynamics, the robot developer owned by Google, has unveiled the latest version of its Atlas robot, a humanoid machine that is designed to function in a variety of scenarios.
In a video, the developers demonstrate how the robot could traverse rough terrain, including snow and gravel, and navigate the interior of buildings.
The robot can even open doors for itself and withstand 'bullying' from its developers, as shown when one of the team pushed the robot to the floor and it lifted itself back up again.
Atlas is electrically powered and hydraulically actuated to maximise its range of movement and allow it to move and carry objects.
It uses sensors in its body and legs to balance itself and LIDAR and stereo sensors in its head to avoid obstacles, assess the terrain, help with navigation and manipulate objects.
An update on an older model, the new version of Atlas stands approximately 175cm tall and weighs 80kg.


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Jane Nash is an Internationally qualified NLP Master Practitioner/Trainer and Clinical and Forensic Investigative Hypnotherapist/Trainer who moves and works between various locations within Australia and the UK. She is also an accomplished teacher and author and harbours a vast number of other talents and interests. She combines her training, life experience and insightful (and often playful) perspective into all of her work and into her connection with the people she works with. I'm very pleased that she took the time to answer some questions about an area of therapy that I have never really explored before.
Upasana: How did you happen upon hypnosis?
Jane: I knew about hypnosis as a party trick if you like, but I hadn't really considered it in a serious way until I saw people experiencing trance as part of a therapy session on a TV program.
Upasana: Did you have your own misconceptions about hypnosis?
Jane: I'm very aware of mind control from having had very dysfunctional relationships in my own life. Also, when I worked in schools I saw how possible it was to persuade and influence. I knew a fair bit about how advertising and subliminal messaging worked but I had no idea how hypnosis could be used in a therapeutic sense.
Upasana: What work did you do before pursuing hypnosis and NLP?
Jane: I was a teacher and a lecturer. I have worked in all sectors – primary, secondary and tertiary. I ended up teaching teachers how to teach. I have always written poetry and short stories but the money-work was in education. I did work for a short while as an academic therapist – I was the teacher of last option for kids who were school refusers, many of them either autistic, or with learning impairments such as ADHD or dyspraxia. Now that I know more about it, I can see that I was using NLP and hypnosis then but I didn't know enough to see how it was working.
Upasana: How did you know that you wanted to pursue this work in your own career? What attracted you to it?
Jane: One summer, as I spiraled into depression: over 100 kgs, drinking, smoking, self medicating, sinking in a history of years of unhappiness and internal unquiet, I saw a program that changed my life. Now, I had known something of Neuro Linguistic Programming in its early stages and had read some papers on it years before when I was a young teacher, but one night, from the bottom of a bottle of port and after a whole packet of cigarettes, I saw a program called 'I can change your life' featuring Paul McKenna. He was known as a hypnotist and used to be considered a bit of a joke, but here he was changing people's perceptions of themselves within hours. He was releasing phobias and helping people see strategies for an improved life.
I was in such emotional pain – and just getting worse. I had an amazing chap in my life and I thought to myself: 'if I don't fix me, I will not only destroy myself, but I will destroy this relationship too', and for the first time in my life I wanted something different. I learned the skills that I had seen on that tv program and got some NLP and Trance guidance to facilitate my own work on myself – and I got better quickly. I really did let go of so many awful things that I had been carrying around. And as soon as I had a handle on myself, a light-bulb went on in my head and I wanted to help others reach their potential and be brave enough to move forward as fast as I had. I got better, I started retraining and I never looked back. And by the way, that 'chap' and I are now married and he's an amazing man and I feel loved, valued and at liberty to be myself.
I do my best to walk the walk – not just talk the talk. I went from size 20/22 to size 8/10, I have become a vegan and a committed fitness enthusiast, I have used my own techniques to give up drinking, binge eating and smoking. Life is just too bloody gorgeous to damage myself any more – and that's part of what i want to demonstrate to my clients .
Upasana: How does hypnosis work on the mind and body?
Jane: It works by getting message-units to bi-pass the critical/analytical part of the brain and finally nestle into the subconscious. I can't make you do something you don't want to do but hypnosis can enhance desires.
Upasana: What kinds of desires?
Jane: The desire to be able to sleep with a spider in the room, fly in an aeroplane, reach orgasm, lose weight, give up smoking and so on. If the brain controls it, hypnosis can affect it. There are lots of really groovy studies about the psychobiology of Hypnosis and Trance and we can now prove how Trance affects the limbic system, the nervous system, the digestive system – it's just amazing. Once we have this kind of control, we can be more responsible for our own holistic health. I'm all about educating my clients about how they can take control using these skills.
Upasana: Is there a theory of mind that hypnosis is guided by?
Jane: I am an Emotional & Physical Behaviourist. Which means I believe in the theories of John Kappas. So I am a 'Kappasinian Hypnotist'. Although I have trained with different organisations, the primary and best hypnosis education I have received is through the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in Tarzana, USA. There they teach the 'Theory of Mind'. I generally teach my clients this theory in a condensed version before I hypnotise them. I am also proficient in Eriksonian and Elman hypnosis but those styles are not suitable for everyone all the time.
Kappasinian Hypnosis and its 'theory of mind' is a great way to make sure that no matter how deep or light the trance, the hypnotist talks to the 88% of the brain that is subconscious. (For more information on this, watch a video made by one of the college lecturers here)
Upasana: What is the process of hypnosis like for the client?
Jane: The feeling is different for everyone – but it's not like meditation in which you quieten the inner voices. In hypnosis it's like an overload of information that forces a trance state. Their eyelids flicker a bit like they are in REM but they can hear everything. Ultimately it's very relaxing and you're quite safe, you can't spill all your secrets for example – unless you want to! It's fun and not spooky – but I will leave the description for each individual to experience.
Upasana: What issues do clients bring into your sessions?
Jane: That's a great question but I don't have enough space here to answer it! After all these years it would be difficult to list every ailment or issue I have dealt with. Weight loss and smoking are popular, but so are sleep issues, fears and phobias (they are really different by the way). I have done a lot of work, in tandem with other therapists, with war veterans suffering from post traumatic stress. I have helped many people to get over abuse, let go of the past, build confidence… My favourite has to be encopresis and enuresis: helping kids to stop pooping and peeing at the wrong time is amazingly satisfying. It's great when kids learn that they have control in their own lives. I do a lot of work with generalized anxiety and I have a great 10 week program for people diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (using NLP not hypnosis) they need longer because they like to repeat things! Recently I trained a consultant anesthetist in hypnosis not only to train his own brain but also to use with his patients so that they need less medication…
Upasana: I have heard that hypnosis can be of benefit to control addictive behaviours and tendencies. What have you learnt about addiction through this work? Will we always replace one addiction with another?
Jane: There are so many different ideas and therapies for addiction – how to manage addictions depends largely on the value set of the client. If the client believes that they can get rid of it and be free of it – then it's possible. If a client believes that they will be addicted to something regardless of what it is – then I work with them to create a behavior that replaces the problem. To be addicted to healthy food, yoga and a balance in life is a possible scenario. It begins with how the clients see themselves. It also depends upon the addiction.
No Hypnotherapist or NLP Master Practitioner should work with an addict without being part of a larger support network. I always tell my clients that I need them to be part of a support group like AA or NA and to liaise with some form of medical support such as a gp before beginning hypnosis. Addiction is often linked to other problems – and going cold- turkey, for everything except cigarettes and sugar, can be really damaging and in some cases fatal. Hypnosis and NLP are a great key to aid concentration and self control and can be very useful in detox. They work well in assisting people to get through and out of the addictive patterns.
Upasana: Has your way of working evolved through time and experience?
Jane: Of course it has. I have gone from a very awkward and formulaic (but still effective) approach, to more subtle approaches and I'm better at it – I can hypnotize now without words. I'm a bit sneaky. My NLP has morphed into the Design Human Engineering Branch of neuro-persuasion and I am steeped in Logo-therapeutic concepts that help me bring a sense of purpose to my work. Perhaps I end up being more of an existential therapist at the end of the day – but it's worth it – I'm here to aid passage for whomsoever asks.
Upasana: What strengths do you bring to this work?
Jane: I'm a bit obsessive myself, so when I start something I like to finish it. So there aren't many stones left unturned. I guess the old protestant work ethic doesn't do me any harm either – I'll always go the extra mile. And I'm not afraid to find the best person to train me. I have travelled all over the world to train: the USA, to the UK and here in Australia. I believe everyone has the ability to change and I will always do my best.
Upasana: Why are you suited to this work?
Jane: I see myself as an educator and a story teller – and both skills are essential not only to do this type of work but to help my clients acquire the skills they need to realize their own strengths and capabilities.
Upasana: Has this role changed how you are in other areas of your life?
Jane: Yes, I think so – partially because it led me to study micro expressions, more of the forensic side of the brain. I'm interested in the study of deception. I feel like a bullshit meter and I am calibrating everyone I meet for truth or deception – self deception mainly. My friendship groups have changed as I have become more proficient in NLP. As the changes in my own perception have become more radical, the way I deal with everyone else has changed. I'm also much more confident and as I'm no longer playing the victim card – those rescuers and oppressors that were part of my circle, no longer have any impact on my life.
Upasana: What has been the greatest joy of this work for you?
Jane: Of course it's great to see old clients who have permanently changed their lives for the better. However, I live much more in the present to be honest with you. Every time the light- bulb goes on in the eyes of a client and they get that 'aha!' moment – that's a good moment for me.
Upasana: Has this work opened up new doors for you?
Jane: My writing is better and I've been published more (in both fiction and in the self help area) since my language skills changed. That's a bonus. I was really keen to study psychology but I don't fancy going back to university to start again from the beginning so I'm working my way through university book lists right now. I'm fascinated by Paul Ekman's work as well as neurology and forensic psychology so if anything, the doors are in personal learning.
I'm nearly 44, I'm always excited with what life brings. Do I see new doors opening? Every day. Luckily I've also got a huge bunch of keys so I'm busy working through those too!
Find out more about Jane's work here.


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Remember that time we asked where in the world Josh Mandel was? Well, we can add another destination to the list – according to the Plain Dealer last Friday Mandel flew to the Bahamas for a fundraiser and to address the pay day lending industry.
That's the same pay day lending industry that not that long ago was attacked for charging interest rates as high as 391 percent that cause their clients to fall into a cycle of never ending debt.
Payday lenders typically provide loans for people who need cash before their paychecks arrive and cannot get or wait for traditional credit. Payday lenders say they provide a valuable service for some of the neediest Americans. Critics say their tactics and fees are predatory, assuring that customers wind up with deeper debt and much higher interest than borrowers ever envisioned.
Shilling for the payday industry is nothing new to Mandel though. According to the PD article Mandel took $4,500 from Advance America Cash Advance Centers, a payday lender based in South Carolina, and $5,000 from CheckSmart, a Columbus area payday lender.
Just let this sink in for a moment. This is the man we elected to be our State Treasurer who can't find time in his busy schedule to attend a single Board of Deposits meeting since taking office. A meeting that is held, literally, blocks away from his office. He can't find time to make it to that meeting but he can find time to fly to the Bahamas on a Friday in March? Not only to fly to the Bahamas but to raise money from, how do I say this politely, a bunch of loan sharks.
It was clear from day one, and it is even clearer now, that Mandel has zero interest in doing the job Ohioans elected him to do. He can't find time to attend Board of Deposits meetings where billions of dollars of Ohio's assets are discussed but he has time to fly to another country to raise money for his Senate campaign.
It's like he is the real life version of political fat cat – he's uses his political position to reach his own goals without ever even attempting to serve the people who elected him. He will do anything to pursue his next position but won't lift a finger to do the job he was elected to do.
Debbie Rudy-Lack
Keep up the game, "where in the world is josh mandel"…..i keep postin' em' to my FB page…and hopefully my friends and family post them as well…FYI…I read another article about the campaign contributions from payday lenders…the article stated that Sherrod also received some contributions…anyway to verify that PB?
This is the same payday lending industry that the voters of Ohio decided was so wildly out of control, they went to the polls and rejected the industry's effort to remove an interest rate cap imposed by the legislature? Way to get on the right side of the issue, Josh.


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Read this: BBC News - Elisabeth Murdoch declares support for BBC licence fee
Summary: The TV producer sought to distance herself from brother James, an executive at News Corp, which has been embroiled in the phone hacking scandal. Ms Murdoch delivered the keynote speech at the Edinburgh TV Festival. Ms Murdoch is chair of the Shine Group and is only the fourth woman to deliver the speech since the festival's inception in 1976. - bbc.co.ukRead full article: BBC News - Elisabeth Murdoch declares su…
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AHCA picks PointRight metric for group's quality initiative
"The partnership with PointRight will help give our members access to the right information to make a difference in their performance," said AHCA President and CEO Mark Parkinson.
"As we continue to strive to meet the goals of the AHCA Quality Initiative, PointRight's OnPoint-30 risk-adjusted hospital readmission measure is an important tool to help us build the foundation for a professional benchmark," he added.
PointRight combines Minimum Data Set 3.0 data and unique analytics to calculate case-mix adjusted hospital readmission rates. The information can help providers differentiate between areas of excellence and improvement opportunities, according to Steven Littlehale, executive vice president and chief clinical officer with PointRight.
"Having access to the right information is the first step in making solid, quality improving decisions," Littlehale added.
"These analyses help skilled nursing centers focus on improving care for their residents. They also help centers demonstrate their value to hospitals, insurers and physician groups," said David Gifford, M.D., Senior Vice President of Quality and Regulatory Affairs at AHCA. "Having timely, risk-adjusted information is key for our members, so they know how they are performing compared to others and how effective their efforts are in preventing hospital readmissions from occurring."
Launched earlier this year, the AHCA Quality Initiative is an effort that builds upon the existing work in the long-term and post-acute care field by setting specific, measurable targets to further improve the quality of care in skilled nursing centers. AHCA members goals include safely reducing hospital readmissions within 30 days during a SNF stay by 15% by March 2015.


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A common accourance where a person (male or female), constantly runs out of breath. The cause of this very trajic disease is having one's head to far up their ass.
My third cousin nearly died of anal asphyxiation today, when he asked a large woman when she was due. She unfortunately for my cousin was just overly plump.
by KyleJ March 23, 2006


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The War on Wings continues. At Qatar, the Grand Prix Commission agreed to ban winglets in the Moto2 and Moto3.
The aerodynamic devices are banned immediately in Moto2, while they will be banned in Moto3 from 2017 onward, as Mahindra have already fitted small winglets to their Moto3 machine to be used at some races this season.
However, the ban on winglets for 2017 should stop development of them immediately.
The ban has no effect on MotoGP, however. There are powerful moves to try to ban the winglets in MotoGP, but they face resistance from the manufacturers.
This is because one of the conditions under which the factories accepted the switch to the common software was that the technical regulations would remain stable for the coming five years, the usual time period for technical regulations to last.
However, the appearance of winglets and strakes on the MotoGP bikes has triggered fears of a spending war on aerodynamics between the factories.


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Lord St. John of Bletso: My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in this most interesting debate. I also thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. I congratulate especially the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Southwell on his outstanding maiden speech. I wholeheartedly support his view that success in southern Africa must be based on a culture of reconciliation. I echo his call for a ban on the use of landmines as weapons of war and his call for continued international support for the southern African region and its stability for the future.
I should have liked to thank each of today's speakers individually. Each has spoken from his or her own experience and expertise, with personal experience of having been in South Africa. I am delighted that almost all of the key issues have been covered, from democratisation of the region to education, political reconciliation, unemployment, regional transport links, security and crime, housing, landmines, the free trade agreement and what Her Majesty's Government and the European Union are doing to assist the region for the future.
I certainly believe that it is the hope and prayer of all noble Lords that southern Africa will be seen in the future as the beacon of success and stability in Africa. I repeat my noble friend's call: N'Knosi sikelel' IAfrika.
I take this opportunity, at this late hour, to wish all noble Lords a pleasant and enjoyable Easter Recess, and beg leave to withdraw my Motion for Papers.
Motion for Papers, by leave, withdrawn.
Lord Avebury: My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time.
This morning we read that the G7 summit had a slight argument about the best methods of detecting the use of slave labour in developing countries, with Britain and Germany on one side of the argument and America and France on the other. However, I think that there was universal agreement that we had to find better means of detecting the use of slave labour in developing countries and, from there, to move to the kind of steps that we need to take to prevent the import into our own countries of goods made by slave labour or child labour.
The Foreign Prison-made Goods Act has been on the statute book for 99 years and in all that time not a single case has been successfully brought in the courts under it. For most of that time it may not have been very important whether the goods made in foreign prisons were excluded from the British market because they represented no significant threat to our industries, and there was no evidence of human rights violations associated with large scale production in foreign prisons for export.
However, in the past few years there has been a flow of information from China about the Laogai, a prison system in which forced labour is used as a punishment.
In Harry Wu's most remarkable and moving book, he describes the reality of life in the Laogai. He and other prisoners endured the most appalling cruelty. He was lucky to survive at all when so many of his companions died. At the Qinghe Farm prisoners were roused at 5.30 in the morning. After a ladleful of porridge, a salted turnip and small dumpling they were sent off to the fields where they laboured for four hours without a break. They had a half-hour lunch consisting of two dumplings and a bowl of thin soup, and that was followed by another stint until the work quota had been fulfilled. When they returned to the compound there were two more dumplings and another ladleful of soup, followed by two hours of communist indoctrination.
At the Wangzhuang coal mine, conditions were little better. Torture and beatings were common. Occasionally, prisoners were executed. During the Cultural Revolution prisoners were made verbally to lynch suspected deviants, and sometimes to attack them violently. Harry Wu described a scene where he was tortured at one such meeting and his arm broken by the study leader, who hit him with a spade. Amnesty International, in its latest report on China published last month says that torture and ill-treatment of prisoners in China's penal institutions largely result from official penal policy. It targets particularly any prisoners who refuse to admit their guilt, such as 11 political prisoners who arrived in the Lingyuan No. 2 labour reform detachment in Liaoning Province in May 1991. These inmates were severely beaten, and four who were sent to the correction unit were stripped naked and given high-voltage shocks. Prisoners at a labour camp in Nuomuhong, Qinghai Province, said they were treated like slaves, working up to 12 hours a day and getting beaten if they complained. Chen Pokong, a pro-democracy activist who was in the Guangzhou No. 1 re-education through labour centre in Guangdong Province, said he worked for up to 14 hours in a stone quarry during the day and made artificial flowers at night. He said that inmates who did not work hard enough were often beaten until they were bloodstained all over. Nigel Rodley, the UN Rapporteur on Torture, singles out this establishment for special mention in his current report to the UN Human Rights Commission, but he says that, more generally, he continued frequently to receive information concerning torture and ill-treatment of detainees, including those in labour camps.
In the Human Rights Watch World report 1996, China is accused of continuing to round up, imprison and physically abuse peaceful dissenters. The cases of Wei Jingsheng, Chen Ziming and other well-known prisoners are highlighted. The report says that Chinese courts impose sentences of up to 20 years on those who oppose the one-party system, and that where the evidence is weak they substitute bogus criminal charges or impose administrative labour re-education terms, a form of punishment which is condemned by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
Harry Wu now works from the United States, where he highlights the abuses of the Laogai, and is concerned about the West's indirect support for the system, through the purchase of goods made by prison labour. He has published abundant details of the places where forced labour of prisoners is used to produce or grow things for sale, and has also identified products which are exported. He is not alone in the campaign. Glenn Calderwood, the current Clerk to the Parliamentary Human Rights Group, says in a report he wrote for the International Society for Human Rights:
The ISHR put the number of inmates in the Laogai at anything from 10 million upwards. The Laogai Research Foundation says 10 million to 14 million. Harry Wu says that he has collected information on about 1,000 "labour reform camps", and estimates the total number at between 3,000 and 4,000. In evidence to the Congressional Subcommittee on Human Rights in 1991, he said that the current population of the camps was between 12 million and 16 million, including many political prisoners. The so-called "counter-revolutionaries" were estimated at 10 per cent. of the total in a 1980 internal document of the Public Security Ministry.
According to the US State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1995, some prisons contract with regular industries to perform light manufacturing and assembly work, so disguising the use of slave labour. Another device is to use names appearing to be ordinary companies, and to resell goods through the state-run import export organisations. An example was the Shanghai Laodong Machinery Plant, which made hand tools, including monkey wrenches, under the name "Laodong Brand Monkey Wrench" and "Elephant Brand Monkey Wrench". At one point in 1991, the US Customs withheld release of these products, as being in suspected violation of US laws which prohibit the entry of all,
So far as I can ascertain, the "withhold release" orders have never been followed by court decisions, because, in the US as in Britain, the standard of proof required is too high. The Americans realised that, although there were grounds for suspicion that goods produced under inhuman conditions were slipping through the net, they were unlikely to stop this trade by legislation alone, so in 1992 they signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese, prohibiting trade in prison labour products. Then in March 1994 they agreed on a "statement of co-operation" detailing specific working procedures for implementation of the memorandum. That was supposed to allow inspection of prison facilities where it was suspected that goods were being produced for export, but the State Department, in the last report that I mentioned, states:
In Britain, there was an attempt by the Laogai Research Foundation and Sue Lloyd-Roberts, the TV journalist, to mobilise the Customs against the importation of chain hoists made by the Wulin prison factory. The cost of manufacturing these products in the UK was about £100 per item, whereas they were being imported from China by a firm in Coventry, boxed and ready for sale, for £6.50. The Customs looked into the matter, but decided not to proceed, I believe on the grounds that the factory in question employed both free and prison labour and it was not possible to say with any certainty that prison labour had been used in manufacturing the chain hoists.
This illustrates two problems with the present legislation. The first is that, where production or manufacture occurs in establishments of this kind, the only sure way of establishing a case would be unscheduled on-site visits by teams of inspectors. Since the Chinese are not for the time being prepared to allow any visits at all, let alone unscheduled ones, there is no way of proving a case. If, therefore, we relaxed the burden of proof so that the Customs can act when they have reasonable grounds to believe that the goods do come into the prohibited category, then it would be up to the Chinese authorities to satisfy us by allowing unrestricted inspection.
The second problem is that the Customs are not under an obligation to look for evidence themselves, but only to consider evidence presented to them by individuals or NGOs. Obviously, there is no organisation with the resources to do this job, or with the clout to gain access to the 3,000 locations in China where these goods are produced, when even the State Department cannot do so.
At least with the American system there is a government to government mechanism which, however imperfect, allows the question to be raised in the Congress, and it becomes clear when the Chinese are not acting in good faith. If they had nothing to hide they would have no reason to block the visits by inspectors to their prisons.
Neither the onus of responsibility for taking the initiative to stop goods entering nor the question of inspection at the point of origin, is dealt with in the present Bill. It was intended, rather, as a peg on which to hang a much wider discussion about what we mean to do about the Laogai. If we are serious about the matter, we would have to deal with it at the level of the European Union, since goods in free circulation within any member state can pass into Britain immune from the provisions in the parent Act. A Customs official described it to me by saying that for the purpose of Customs moving from Holland to Britain is no different from moving from Liverpool to Manchester. Are the Government prepared to enter into discussions with other EU states to see what measures could be taken by Europe as a whole to stop goods made by forced labour in the prisons of China entering the Union? Would they consider asking the Chinese to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding and agreeing a Statement of Co-operation on the US model and, if so, could we also talk to the Americans about joint teams of inspection and put that to the Chinese as a way forward?
It may be said that if Beijing can stop co-operating with the US, they could follow that unfortunate precedent with the EU. A mechanism as loose as the SOC, which did not have the status of a treaty, was not likely to be effective when, at the same time, as Human Rights Watch put it,
The European Union, in examining the model, would have to consider what the fall-back position would be if we were no more successful than the Americans in gaining access to the sites. Best of all would be for the EU and the US to agree on a joint approach, and, if it proved impossible to get China's agreement, to consider what leverage we might have consistent with our obligations under the GATT against the flow into all our countries of goods produced at very little cost in money but a great deal of blood and suffering. I beg to move.
Moved, That the Bill be now read a second time.--(Lord Avebury.)
Lord Graham of Edmonton: My Lords, this evening we are discussing a wretched, miserable and despicable situation. It does not exist in this country and we tend to think that it is not our responsibility. But I listen with incredulity at times to what we are told. In this country we have a humane system which is a
The great difficulty which the noble Lord, Lord Avebury has, which other people share, is being able to bring forward incontrovertible proof of what he alleges. It is also difficult to know what action is open to us and how much can be achieved. I shall listen, as I am sure will the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, with care to what the Minister has to say; but I am certain that he will be sympathetic to the aims of the noble Lord, Lord Avebury.
I wish to express my appreciation, and, indeed, that of the whole House, to the noble Lord, Lord Avebury. It is not the first time that we are indebted to him for doing the spade work on the kind of issues about which we all feel guilty when they are exposed but which, in our busy lives, we do not have time to delve into. This Bill raises an issue which is well worth the time of the House, even on a very busy day such as today.
I have listened with horror to the details of the situation. But there are other horrors of which we have heard this week and of which we are conscious. One thinks of the horror in Rwanda. That is not as a result of inhumane treatment of prisoners but rather the inhumanity of one race or sect against another in the same country. In this House, we discuss regularly the problems of Bosnia, and we have all seen the television pictures of the terrible events there. It is a miserable situation which we cannot duck.
The noble Lord, Lord Avebury, has painted a picture of the fears, fantasies and facts which surround this situation. I am very grateful to him for doing that. At one time, I had the privilege of representing the Prison Officers' Association and I visited about 30-odd prisons. I was always critical of our prison estate, not least when the industrial work which was available seemed to be diminished. But one cannot compare the situation which exists here with that which exists elsewhere, not just in China but in other countries of the world--and not always in prisons. I saw a recent television programme about Indian serfs, peasants, those of a lower class. They were not political prisoners, and I know that it is political prisoners to whom the noble Lord, Lord Avebury refers this evening. But there are people in this world whose lot in life is very miserable because they are suborned and subjected to terrible treatment.
When my wife visited Srinagar a few years ago, she returned proudly with a small marble table which had been made by children. That was fine. We thought we were assisting the poor people to have a better life. But we realised also that they were being dreadfully exploited.
The size of the problem is enormous. I certainly hope that the Minister will be helpful and respond to the suggestions made. The core of this Bill is Clause 1(2). That seeks to help Customs and British civil servants. I am not sure that even if the Bill were passed, that would solve the problem. The noble Lord put forward a number of ways of doing so. For example, consultation with the TUC. It must have a say in the matter because it is very concerned about working conditions.
We are discussing a tiny issue in the totality of what we have dealt with in this House today; but such issues mark out the spirit and humanity of the society in which we live. Anything that we can do or say which exposes or gives courage and hope should be said; and, indeed, it has been very well said by the noble Lord, Lord Avebury. We should all be grateful to him for reminding us of how fortunate we are to live in this country in comparison with the unfortunate lot of so many millions of people who live in other parts of the world and who suffer under regimes which are light years away from what the British people seek to achieve. I thank the noble Lord for doing what he has done, and like him I look forward to hearing the Minister's response in the hope that he can say something helpful.
Viscount Goschen: My Lords, we have had a short but important debate. I share the horror that has been expressed as regards any inhumane practices; indeed, we heard considerable evidence. I believe that the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, eloquently and thoughtfully argued his case for the prevention of inhumane treatment and the exploitation of prisoners overseas. The noble Lord, Lord Graham, had his own concerns and I hope that I shall be able to comment on those as well as those expressed by the noble Lord, Lord Avebury. It goes without saying that the Government are also deeply concerned about the violations of fundamental human rights wherever they occur.
However, neither the proposed amendment nor the Foreign Prison-made Goods Act are really effective vehicles with which to tackle the issue. Perhaps I may explain the various points which are fundamental to those arguments. As a starting point, it is very important to recognise that not all prison-made goods are the product of oppressive or cruel practices. Of course, that fact has already been acknowledged. If conditions are right and satisfactory, on the whole prisoners welcome being given the opportunity to work. Indeed, the UN standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners recommend that,
Our approach fits within one of the corner-stones of the Government's foreign policy. That policy is to work for a stable and peaceful international order
I believe it is broadly recognised that linking trade and human rights rarely achieves much in terms of persuading other governments to treat their people properly. Any action that we might take on imports could have no effect at all on the production of goods and services which are consumed domestically in the country concerned or exported to other countries apart from ourselves. Generally the effect of trade restrictions would merely be to impoverish developing countries and to depress their social standards. In other words, free trade is not inconsistent with helping to improve human rights.
That, I understand, is basically the background to the Bill which the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, brings before us this evening to amend the 1897 Act. I shall say a few words about the original Act. History shows that it was originally introduced for the purposes of trade protection and not to benefit the rights of workers in overseas prisons. I would in no way suggest that the reasons of the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, for bringing his amendment Bill to the House are not entirely humanitarian. I understand that the noble Lord, Lord Graham, also spoke this evening because of his strength of feeling on these issues.
There are problems with the Act. I have to tell the House that it may not sit happily with our international trading obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. While there is an exception to the rules which allows measures to be taken by a contracting party in relation to the products of prison labour, any such measures must observe the overriding rules of non-discrimination and equivalence of treatment between domestic and imported goods.
In particular, since the 1897 Act does not apply to all foreign prison-made goods--only to those of a kind manufactured in the UK, and when they are not imported from or through other EU countries as a result of an amendment--and since UK prison-made goods are made and sold without corresponding restrictions, the Act might be held to be discriminatory and so open to challenge. This last problem would remain even if the EU acted on a collective basis.
We are committed to the success of the multilateral trading system and to encouraging others to implement and to observe their WTO obligations. We certainly would not wish to do anything which might result in the UK being challenged under the rules which we firmly believe must be fully upheld by all those countries concerned. However, these arguments are to some extent beside the point. The simple fact is that the
The Act provides that goods may only be seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on the basis of evidence proving that they have been made in a foreign prison. In practice, that evidence would have to be specific to the consignment concerned. There are two good reasons for that: first, to ensure that any proceedings are viable, and, secondly, because of the potential disruption to perfectly legitimate trade in non-prison made goods that could otherwise arise. Because they are generally indistinguishable from other goods and because of the complex routes of production and delivery, there are severe practical difficulties in identifying goods, especially at the port of entry, which have allegedly been produced using prison labour. That was a point emphasised by the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, in his opening remarks. Of course it is important to note that the likelihood of receiving any co-operation from an oppressive regime would be slim indeed. Against the backcloth of the difficulties I have highlighted I am sure that it comes as no surprise to the House to learn that there is no record of any goods having ever been seized or prosecutions made under the 1897 Act. The proposed amendment, besides doing nothing to render the Act consistent with our international trading obligations, would not address these fundamental enforcement problems. That, I understand, is also very much the view of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. In reality it would not make easier the basic requirement that Her Majesty's Customs must be able, if required to do so, to satisfy a court of law as to the grounds for seizure.
The noble Lord, Lord Avebury, asked me about European action. All the practical difficulties that I have highlighted would apply just as much to European-wide action as to UK action.
I am sure the House might wonder, if the Act was unenforceable and ineffective, as I have detailed, why it is still on the statute book. The answer is simply that we have not before now regarded the possible repeal of the Act as a priority issue with which to take up parliamentary time. However, this debate today has been extremely helpful in examining the issues. As a result, the Government may well give further consideration to the case for retaining the 1897 Act, or indeed otherwise.
As we have heard this evening, the plain fact is that the Act, with or without the proposed amendment, is anything but comprehensive; it is probably not consistent with our international trading obligations; it does not make the distinction between, on the one hand, exploited prison labour and, on the other, voluntary prison labour; it does not help to protect prisoners whose rights are not being respected; and, last but by no means least, it is in practice unenforceable.
Perhaps I may address the wider points that the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, so passionately made about the issues of slave labour and of sub-standard social standards. We in the UK are, of course, fully committed to the elimination of slavery and such equivalent practices. We believe that this is best achieved through
Lord Avebury: My Lords, I am extremely grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Graham, for his encouraging words. I accept from him the doubts which he voiced about whether the Bill before your Lordships would solve the problem.
The Minister explained in detail not only why the Bill would not solve the problem but that the parent Act on which it is based may not be consistent with our international obligations. I had rather foreseen that. That is the reason that I venture to propose some alternative ways forward which I hope the noble Viscount will take back to the department for further consideration.
We should look at the American methods and consider whether in the European Union we should have a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese providing that they will not attempt to export goods from the Laogai into the European Union; and accompanying the memorandum of understanding we should have some system of inspection which allows us to go into the Chinese prisons and make sure that the goods are not identical with those being exported by their export/import companies.
It is common ground from the statement that emerged from the G7 meeting this morning that we want to do something about slave labour. The only difference between the members of the G7 was whether that should be accomplished through the World Trade Organisation or, as Britain would prefer, through the ILO or the OECD. However, the principle seemed to be agreed by all members of the G7: that we should attempt to tackle the wicked practice of using slave labour to produce goods, whether for home consumption or for export. I accept what the Minister said about the 10 million or 12 million people in the Laogai continuing to be used as slave labour for the domestic markets, even if we were able to stop the goods from entering this country. We might be able to salve our consciences but we would not have cured the problem.
I ask the Minister whether he will consider the proposal I made that we discuss the matter with our European partners and preferably go on from that to look at the American experience. We could then see whether it would be consonant with the European approach to matters and with the obligations of both the United States and Europe under GATT. I believe it must be because the American discussions with China have been conducted fully within the framework of US obligations under GATT. That is why it would be a useful model for us in Europe to consider. It might save us a great deal in trying to work out the problem from scratch when others have already been through it
I suggest that if the European Union and the United States could get together and have a common approach to Beijing, then the combined forces of two big trading blocs might persuade the Chinese that it was in their interests to allow whatever limited amount of inspection was consistent with their ideas of sovereignty. Having made that point and in the hope that the Minister will take it away and consider it, I fully accept all--
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