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Katie LaPotin, Red Alert Politics, June 12, 2013
Concerned about your Fourth Amendment Right to privacy and want to do something about it? Then joining a "Restore the Fourth" rally on Independence Day might be the perfect thing for you.
The rallies, which will be held nationwide, are being sponsored by supporters of the right to privacy who are upset with the government intruding on their everyday lives – particularly in light of the revelation that the NSA has seized the phone and Internet records of ordinary Americans in the name of national security.
Some of the cities in which rallies are being planned include Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. More information on the individual rallies and a list of the cities in which they are being planned can be found on the group's website.
According to the group's Facebook page, Restore the Fourth is "a non partisan group of concerned citizens dedicated to restoring our fourth amendment rights."
The group's leaders chose to focus specifically on the Fourth Amendment because they believe the people who would fight to protect the Fourth Amendment are the same people who would fight to protect the other rights given to us in the Bill of Rights.
"Indeed, if we cannot be secure in our persons from unlawful search and seizures, then how can we enjoy any of our other rights?," the group's Facebook page reads.
Restore the Fourth wasn't the first organization to plan a Bill of Rights-related rally on the mall this Independence day. Conservative talk radio host Adam Kokesh had originally planned his own gun-rights march on Washington for the 4th, but called it off late last month because of the march's legality.


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Books are a great source of information and entertainment. They can teach us things, they can make us laugh, they can let us see the world from different perspectives and so much more. Normally, when people think of books, what comes to mind are thick objects with multiple layers of paper and covers. Now, thanks to modern technology, books can be digital and interactive pieces of content which are informative and entertaining, without taking up much physical space. Allow me to share my experiences at a free training workshop conducted in Nanyang Poly's School of IT (NYP SIT), which taught me how to make interactive digital books for the iPad known as iBooks.
This workshop was part of the Singapore Science Festival, an annual festival on the latest scientific innovations, new technologies, cutting-edge research and engineering. The festival was jointly organised by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Science Centre Singapore.
Looking at Other People's Work
When I first reached the computer lab for the workshop, the trainer, Mr Lee Chit Boon, showed us some samples of iBooks that attendees from previous classes had created. They were really cool and looked professionally-made. The software used to create these digital books is called "iBooks Author" which lets Mac users create iBooks easily for free.
Some Sample iBooks
In order to boost our creativity, the trainer showed us some more examples of various iBooks that were fun and interactive. One is called "The Road and Me" which is an iBook that lets users, especially children, learn more about road safety. The iBook contained several elements of interactivity like quizzes which tests the users' knowledge on road safety along with a 3D model that allows users to rotate, zoom in and zoom out on a virtual street.
The other iBook that Mr Lee showed us was made specifically for special-needs students. It contains some interactive elements like embedded videos which allow users to envision the story through sign language. There were even games like crossword puzzles and 'picture scramble' for users to play with. iBooks are definitely a great way to let students learn, thanks to the interactive elements and the amazing visual aids. Imagine a time where all your textbooks and regular books will be in iBook format so all you do is just to carry an iPad with you.
Learning the Basics
I have been a Windows user ever since the year 2002 so using Apple's Mac OS X on the iMac was completely new to me. However, way back in secondary school I had used an iMac before although it was the old and small CRT model. Anyway, back to the story, Mr Lee showed us some basics on how to use Mac computers including some shortcuts. I realised that the Control button on the Mac is totally different from the Control button on the PC. Shortcuts like Ctrl-X, Ctrl-A, Ctrl-Z and the likes are mainly for the PC.
For the Mac, users will have to use the "Command" (or Cmd) button as a replacement for the Control button. So if you want to undo, use Cmd-Z. If you want to select all, use Cmd-A. Other basics that I learnt include "Spotlight" which is basically a universal search button, "the dock" which is like the Windows Taskbar and "Finder" which is like the Mac version of Windows Explorer. PC users who want to switch to Mac will definitely find all these basics useful.
Making My First iBook
After learning the basics of Mac OS X, watching videos about how iBooks can change the education landscape and looking at some iBook samples, it was time to finally create my very first iBook. This was the part I liked the most. All I had to do was to open up the iBooks Author software and I was good to go.
The first thing that popped up when I launched the iBooks Author software was the list of iBook templates that I could use to create my iBook. Just like Microsoft Word, you can actually choose a template and start working with that, or you can choose a blank one if you don't mind doing everything from scratch. Mr Lee mentioned that iBooks Author is basically like "Microsoft Word on steroids" which I pretty much agree with. The templates featured here were all very beautiful and they were great for beginners.
Filling up the Content
In order to make things much simpler, I decided to use the same template used by Mr Lee in his demonstration mainly because it's easier to follow and understand. Thanks to his simple and not too wordy presentation slides along with his live demonstrations, I managed to follow what he was doing. I have learnt to do tasks like changing the layouts, changing the title, adding some interactive elements like HTML, pictures, Keynote presentations and so much more. After a while, it started to look like this…
I know, I know. It wasn't as fancy as the ones shown in the examples. I'm still a beginner and this wasn't exactly finished because I still had to do more things but hey, it was good progress, wasn't it? After adding some more content to my iBook, I was able to finally use it and view it on the iPad. That's what I did and here are the fruits of my labour.
Enjoying the Fruits of my Labour
So this was how my iBook looked like on the actual device. It's totally interactive and simple. All I had to do was to connect the iPad to the computer, click 'Preview' in the iBooks Author software and my work was ready for me to enjoy on the device. Just like a regular PDF book, I just have to scroll to the left or to the right to enjoy my content but unlike PDF books, I can actually enjoy the interactive elements too. I added the picture slides so if a user wants to see them, what he or she can do is to tap on them and see each and every picture by scrolling left or right along with their descriptions. Oh and do take note that I didn't actually write all the text because I was given a text file to "copy and paste" onto the iBook. Of course, if you are making an actual iBook, don't ever do that. Write your own content.
Here is another page of my book. I have inserted two more interactive elements. One is a map of Nanyang Poly (NYP) while the other was a keynote presentation that talked more about NYP. If you are wondering why the element on the right is missing, that's because I forgot to put the Keynote presentation in. How silly of me! Anyway, for the interactive map, I was taught how to add speech bubbles so that when someone taps on them, they can see what block this is and what School it belongs to. Of course, I didn't actually map out all the blocks of NYP in the map due to time constraints but I did add some details like Block A, Block L and so on. Thanks to the 'widget' panel in iBooks Author, creators will find it easier to add in interactive elements into their iBook. Just drag and drop and you're good to go.
Enjoying the Fruits of Other People's Labour
Since the iPad was right in front of me, I took some time to see iBooks created by others. This is the road safety iBook that I was talking about earlier. It seriously looked very professional in my opinion and I cannot really believe this is not for sale. It was way more interactive than my iBook and it enabled me to have some fun at the same time through its quizzes about road safety and a crossword puzzle. There are so many possibilities when it comes to making your own iBook. All you need is a great idea and how you can implement that great idea.
Additional Resources to make use of
After one and a half hours, it was the end of the workshop and I was presented with a code to iTunes U (iTunes for education)- KWM-VSR-7H6 - where you can view content that has been created and published by Mr Lee, the trainer, for this workshop. He also did put up his contact details like his Email address and Google+ account so that we can contact him whenever we need help with iBook creation. Other than that, he also showed this web tool called Bookry (www.bookry.com) which enables you to add in more interactive elements to your iBook.
In summary, all I can say is that I totally had fun and learnt something new. Books are definitely a great way to consume information and it can also be a great way for people to know more and gain more knowledge. With iBooks, the whole experience has been taken one level higher with the help of interactive elements, portability and fun. Will this revolutionise or even change the way we read books or study in class? Only time will tell. If you are interested in creating your own iBook, all you need is a Mac computer and an iPad and you're set. One thing to note is that the iBookstore (like the App Store but for iBooks) is actually unavailable for iPad users in Singapore so if you want to access it, you may need a US or an Australian iTunes account. On that note, download the iBooks Author software, let your creative juices flow and start creating your very own iBook!
By Hanafi Bin Sedik, Year 1, Diploma in Engineering Informatics
I like to spend my free time and weekends exploring various places around Singapore, taking long walks at public parks and eating delicious food. Not only that, I also like to make videos, write on my personal blog and hang out with my awesome friends and family. I wish to work at a major software company and start my own production company in the future.

subset: commoncrawl


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Baltimore Sun
Terrell Suggs
A safe Thanksgiving for pets
November 1, 2011
Thanksgiving is a time for family and for sharing, but use caution when it comes to your family pet. The American Veterinary Medical Association offers the following tips: 1. Table scraps are never a good idea. Pets' digestive systems can't handle fatty foods. 2. Keep trash containers closed and secure so pets can't get into them. 3. Do not feed pets turkey bones. They can splinter and damage the animal's intestines. 4. Keep animals away from dessert tables as well, since these types of food -- especially chocolate -- can be harmful to animals.
What Labor Day needs is an official meal
Dan Rodricks
August 30, 2014
Like Thanksgiving, Labor Day is a national holiday. Unlike Thanksgiving, it does not have an official meal. One-hundred-and-twenty years on, it's time we had one. I'm nominating the peppers-and-eggs sandwich as the official meal of Labor Day, and I'll tell you why in a moment. First, some declarations. 1. Most people only think of Labor Day as a day off at the end of summer, or a good day to buy a dishwasher. Lost is its original meaning: a "national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.
Parkville grocer distributes 100 Thanksgiving meals
November 26, 2013
ShopRite of Parkville and its parent company, Klein's Family Markets, distributed items to provide 100 Thanksgiving dinners in the Parkville community during an event last week. The store had fielded nominations from customers for families that, due to economic challenges, might not otherwise be able to have a Thanksgiving meal this year. Names of families were entered and names were randomly selected for the Nov. 21 distribution.
Quarterback Rafi Montalvo won't return to Navy or seek to play elsewhere
By Don Markus and The Baltimore Sun
February 12, 2014
Rafi Montalvo, whose career as a Navy quarterback was put on hold when he was seriously hurt in a car accident on Thanksgiving night in 2012, said Wednesday that he has left the academy and will no longer try to play football. Montalvo, 21, returned to his family's home in South Florida last month and was told by doctors at the University of Miami last week that he would be at risk if he played football again because of the scarring he sustained on his brain as a result of the accident.
Needy families pick up Thanksgiving meal ingredients
By Larry Carson, The Baltimore Sun
November 24, 2010
Rayford Dean stood in a long, winding line of people waiting for Thanksgiving groceries at St. John Baptist Church in Columbia. The 48-year-old works as a truck driver, he said, but he was recently divorced and needed help to provide a holiday meal for his three children, so he took an early lunchtime and waited Tuesday with dozens of others. "It means I can actually do a Thanksgiving dinner," he said. "Without it, we'd just have spaghetti. " Hundreds of needy Howard County families got bags of Thanksgiving food and related products in two distribution programs Monday night and Tuesday in Columbia.
Thanksgiving traditions get canned
Susan Reimer
November 23, 2010
As I write this, Thanksgiving is only hours away, and I still have no idea what I am serving. There will be a turkey, of course. And potatoes and vegetables and stuffing and gravy. But exactly what form these basic elements will take is still under discussion with my daughter, who believes she was cruelly separated at birth from Ina Garten. I call it "Thanksgiving in the time of the Food Network: All bets are off. " These cooking shows — which are to college students what soap operas were to us when we were in school — have produced a generation of confident young cooks who don't think you have to have years of practice under your belt before you prepare your first truffle.
`Friendly' Thanksgiving
October 30, 2005
We're looking for Marylanders who've made a ritual of eating their turkey and trimmings with friends rather than family - perhaps the same ones every year. Or maybe you're the one who hosts a group of friends or co-workers. We'd like to interview you for a story about how friends create holiday rituals at a traditional "family" time. E-mail email@example.com with your name, phone number and a brief synopsis of your annual ritual by Friday. Please put "Thanksgiving with friends" in the subject line.
Thanksgiving, 1990
November 22, 1990
Thanksgiving comes poignantly. The all-American holiday that traditionally brings the gathering together of families will be saddened in many a hearth this year by thoughts of loved ones far away, facing danger in service to their country.How much the world has changed since Thanksgiving, 1989! President Bush was at snow-covered Camp David, reveling in news stories reporting how crowds in Prague were marching for democracy, led by a playwright and former political prisoner, Vaclav Havel, who was destined to become president of Czechoslovakia.
Depression Thanksgiving
By MIKE BOWLER
November 26, 1991
THANKSGIVING 1936.Fifty-five years ago, Nov. 26, 1936, Baltimore was reeling from the Depression. Unemployment was high. Across the Atlantic, Hitler's menace was sensed but not fully realized.Ruxton suits were reduced to $18 at Stewart's.Molly Picon was on stage at the Hippodrome. On the screen at the Hipp -- Irene Dunne, "who makes 'My Man Godfrey' and 'Mr. Deeds' both look like sissies," according to the Hipp ad. Dunne was starring in "Theodora Goes Wild."The Gas & Electric Co. was advertising the "1937" Zenith radio, "the radio a year ahead of its time," for $52.95.
Thanksgiving Thuggery
By DAVE BARRY
November 24, 1991
Thanksgiving is a time when we pause to gratefully eat large amounts of food in memory of the Pilgrims, a band of courageous and deeply devout people, unless it turns out that they were dirtbags.You never know anymore. Historians are constantly turning up shocking new evidence proving that everything you ever learned in school was wrong. For example, historians now tell us that the electric light bulb was not, in fact, invented by Alexander Graham Bell. It was invented 3,000 years ago by the Aztecs.
Red Maryland week in review
December 2, 2013
A Missed Opportunity Greg Kline writes that a resolution introduced at last weekend's Maryland Republican Party Convention was an opportunity to take a stand against bad apples within our ranks. Nuclear Politics The deal last weekend that was agreed upon between the Iranian regime and the west is a Nuclear Munich . Unveiling the Anonymous Blogger Mark Newgent solves the mystery of who is behind a local anonymous smear site.
Thanksgiving shopping not a cause for protest [Letter]
December 2, 2013
I mean no disrespect, but I expected better from Susan Reimer than her recent column on Thanksgiving shopping ("Thanks for not shopping," Nov. 25). Having read her previous columns, I felt she was of reasonable mind. She has since convinced me otherwise. Has it ever occurred to Ms. Reimer that the folks working on Thanksgiving are doing so of their own free will? They are doing so to better their families, perhaps give them a better holiday season. The pay is great and so are the discounts.
Navigating the holidays once you've got two families
By Jamie Bacon, For The Baltimore Sun and By Jamie Bacon, For The Baltimore Sun
December 2, 2013
Getting engaged or married means you will now be a part of two different families and have to coordinate how you will celebrate the holidays while trying to make everyone happy. My fiancé and I have been together for five years and at the start of our relationship we would do our own thing with our families because we didn't want to give our family traditions up. As the years went on and our relationship became more serious, we decided we...
Delays on southbound I-95 as travelers return from Thanksgiving holiday
By Jacques Kelly, The Baltimore Sun
December 1, 2013
State police reported that travelers will encounter delays on I-95 in Harford and Cecil counties Sunday afternoon. An accident about 2:30 p.m. near the Northeast exit closed all but one lane of the highway and produced delays throughout the afternoon. Police said that there were numerous small accidents Sunday morning on the highway, which is experiencing some of its heaviest usage of the year. "It's a busy day at the airport but things have gone well for travelers," said Jonathan Dean, a spokesman for BWI-Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Spare the turkey, pass the fruit [Letter]
December 1, 2013
President Obama will get a break from "Obamacare" when he pardons the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. Each of us can also set aside our cares by pardoning a turkey and choosing a nonviolent Thanksgiving observance - one that gives thanks for our good fortune, health and happiness with a life-affirming, cruelty-free feast of vegetables, fruits and grains. And here are more terrific reasons: •You will stay alert through the entire football game. •You are what you eat. Who wants to be a "butterball?"
Despite more time to shop, Black Friday weekend customers spend less
By Eileen Ambrose, The Baltimore Sun
December 1, 2013
Despite extra time to shop as more retailers opened for business on Thanksgiving Day, consumers spent less money this year during the first four days of the official start of the holiday shopping season, according to a survey released Sunday by the National Retail Federation. The group found that shoppers spent an average of $407.02 in stores and online from Thursday through Sunday, down from $423.55 a year ago. In all, shoppers spent an estimated $57.4 billion during the four days, down $1.7 billion compared with last year.
A very P.C. Thanksgiving
November 13, 2010
Somewhere along the way, Thanksgiving changed. Once a day of simple adoration of a supermarket turkey roasted in the oven, the cuisine and ethic of the holiday have grown complicated. Now there is societal pressure to buy a local bird and to inquire about the turkey's upbringing. There is a cacophony of expert advice on how to prepare the bird with recommendations ranging from bathing the raw bird in salt water, to smoking it in a barbecue cooker, to dropping it into a deep fat fryer.
Tight economy forces some to stay home for Thanksgiving
November 26, 2009
CHICAGO - Millions of Americans are spending the holiday at home, saying the poor economy has made it unaffordable to hit the road or board a plane. Nearly 38 million people are expected to take trips this year, slightly more than last year but 20 million fewer than in 2005 when the economy was better, according to AAA auto club. Air travel is expected to drop 6.7 percent this holiday compared with last year, AAA said. - Associated Press
After Thanksgiving, many Carroll families turn appetite to Christmas trees
Staff Reports
December 1, 2013
The weekend after Thanksgiving not only signals the official start of the Christmas season, but also the start of the Christmas tree hunting season. For many families, holiday traditions include a visit to a cut-your-own tree farm the weekend of Thanksgiving -- or soon afterward. In Carroll County, there are many options for farms where families can search for the perfect tree, cut it themselves and haul it home. In addition to fresh-cut trees, some farms offer baling, wreaths and greens. The 2013 version of Christmas Trees and Holiday Greens in Carroll County is available online HERE.
Not quite back to normal, Navy's Rafi Montalvo still plans return to football
By Don Markus, The Baltimore Sun
December 1, 2013
The conversation between father and son seemed like hundreds they had before. Ralph Montalvo can't remember the specifics of what he talked about with his 21-year-old son, only how Rafi Montalvo sounded on the other end of the cell phone. After getting off the phone one night a couple of weeks ago, the elder Montalvo recalled telling his wife, Ivette, words that he never thought he'd say again after what happened to their oldest child near their South Florida home a year ago on Thanksgiving night.
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Well in Portland, it's rained the past 25 of the past 26 days of March, and we're on track for not only high rain totals, but low temps! I've been wistfully looking back at out trip to Florida last month, and dreaming of Key West...although, come to think of it, it rained there too, although, fortunately not every day!
I love the Conch Style houses the make up most of Key West. The are so unique and quaint in their Caribbean style. I was surprised that most of the homes had metal roofs, and then I read about a big fire that destroyed many homes in the 1900's, causing wooded roofs to be outlawed.
The houses are so quaint. I love the ceiling fans and porches that you find so often in the South.
And secret garden hideaways. There's so little land, every inch of space is used
Oh, the flowers!
And quaint buildings.
and colorful,fun shops!
A lovely view to beat the winter blues!


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WikipediaRead full entry
Yangtze giant softshell turtle
The Yangtze giant softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) is an extremely rare species of softshell turtle found in Vietnam and China. It is also known as the Red River giant softshell turtle, Shanghai softshell turtle, or Swinhoe's softshell turtle. In Chinese, it is known as the speckled softshell turtle (Chinese: 斑鱉; Pinyin: bān bīe). Only four living individuals are known and it is listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List. It is hoped that a pair at Suzhou Zoo in China will breed.
The Yangtze giant softshell turtle is noted for its deep head with pig-like snout and eyes dorsally placed. This critically endangered species holds the title of being the largest freshwater turtle in the world.[3] It measures over 100 cm (39 in) in length and 70 cm (28 in) in width, and weighs about 70–100 kg (150–220 lb).[4] The specimen caught from Vietnam weighed over 200 kg (440 lb). Its carapace, or shell, can grow larger than 50 cm (20 in) in length and width. Its head can measure over 20 cm (7.9 in) in length and 10 cm (3.9 in) in width. The male is generally smaller than the female and has a longer, larger tail.[5]
The Yangtze giant softshell turtle has been known to inhabit the Yangtze River and Lake Taihu, situated on the border of Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces, in eastern China, and Gejiu, Yuanyang, Jianshui and Honghe in Yunnan Province in southern China.
The last known specimen caught in the wild in China was in 1998 in the Red River between Yuanyang and Jianshui; it was then released. Only four specimens are known to live in Vietnam and China, one each at Hoan Kiem Lake (taxonomy questioned) and Dong Mo Lake Son Tay in Hanoi, Vietnam, and two in Suzhou zoo in China.
A specimen at the Beijing Zoo died in 2005, and another one at the Shanghai Zoo died in 2006; both of them were caught at Gejiu in the 1970s.[6]
In 1999, 2000, and 2005, turtles have re-emerged from Hoan Kiem Lake on special occasions, when it was seen by a large audience and caught on film. Only a single turtle is believed to be left in the lake.[7] In April 2011, it was captured because it had open sores that needed to be treated.[8]
Ecology and behaviour[edit]
It eats fish, crabs, snails, water hyacinth, frogs, and leaves.
The Yangtze giant softshell turtle may lay from 60 to more than 100 eggs. It nests at night and during the morning.[5]
A fertile female from Changsha Zoo was introduced to the only known male in China, a 100-year-old individual in Suzhou Zoo, in 2008. The female, who is over 80 years old, was said to settle in well after her 600-mile move, and biologists were optimistic for breeding success. The move was coordinated by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Turtle Survival Alliance.[9] In July 2013 National Geographic reported that in the sixth breeding season for the Suzhou mating pair, 80 offspring had been reproduced in the river, but none survived.[10]
Relationship with humans[edit]
Scientific description and systematics[edit]
The species became known to Western science in 1873, when John Edward Gray, the turtle expert at the British Museum, described the specimen sent to him from Shanghai by Robert Swinhoe. He named the species Oscaria swinhoei, and described it as "the most beautiful species of Trionychidae that has yet occurred."[11]
In 1880, the Shanghai-based French Jesuit Pierre Marie Heude obtained several specimens of this turtle, from the Huangpu River (near Shanghai) and Lake Taihu (near Suzhou). He thought them sufficiently different from each other to describe them as five distinct species: Yuen leprosus, Yuen maculatus, Yuen elegans, Yuen viridis, and Yuen pallens.[12] The genus name, Yuen, presumably comes from the Chinese 鼋 (transcribed yüen in the Wade-Giles system, or yuan in the modern Hanyu Pinyin), which means a large turtle.
Later zoologists classified these turtles as belonging to the Trionyx, Pelodiscus, and Pelochelys genera; in 1987, Meylan categorized this species under the Rafetus genus.[12]
The placement of the related or conspecific Hoan Kiem turtle, Rafetus leloii, remains poorly known and controversial. Through work by Farkas et al., it is generally accepted that R. leloii is a junior synonym of the Yangtze giant softshell turtle,[13] though some Vietnamese biologists, such as Ha Dinh Duc, who first described R. leloii, and Le Tran Binh, insist the two turtles are not the same species. Le points out genetic differences, as well as differences in morphology.[14] However, Farkas et al. repeated their 2003 conclusion in 2011, citing the differences between specimens may be due to age and the genetic sequences used were never sent to GenBank. They also criticized the fact that Le et al. violated ICZN Code by renaming the species from R. leloii to R. vietnamensis on the grounds of "appropriateness".[15]
Key threats[edit]
The Yangtze giant softshell turtle is on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, hunting for subsistence and local consumption, and the use of the carapace and bones in alternative medicine. Skulls are often kept as trophies.[5] A recent plan to build hydropower cascade of 12 dams on the Red River in China may flood all of its habitat and change the ecosystem of lower Vietnam.[16]
Conservation efforts[edit]
Conservation efforts are concentrated on breeding captive turtles in China and searching for live specimens in the wild. An agreement was made to transfer the only known remaining female specimen located at the Changsha Zoo to the Suzhou Zoo to breed with the male specimen there. Also, efforts are being made to improve conditions for breeding at both the Suzhou Zoo and Western Temple in Suzhou. A workshop on the Rafetus Conservation at Yunnan was held by CI-Shanshui. Local Chinese scientists are searching for the last existent individuals.[17] The two specimens were able to produce two clutches of eggs, with over half of them being fertile, though unfortunately all of them perished before hatching.[18] The Turtle Survival Alliance released a statement saying, "A number of the eggs had very thin shells, suggesting that the diet of the animals prior to breeding was not optimal.".[19] The two turtle are now being prepared for another round of mating, while being fed a high-calcium diet in an effort to strengthen the eggs. Liu Jinde, the director of the zoo said, "We've worked very hard on this, We ought to succeed. The turtles are very healthy."
The scientists began preparing to mate the two once again in May 2009, which fell within this species' breeding season,[20] but in the fall of 2009, the zoo announced that despite laying 188 eggs, the eggs were infertile and would not hatch.[21] The Turtle Survival Alliance issued a statement explaining the infertility was due in part to the turtle's poor diet and the group expressed concern that the zoo's patrons had thrown trash into the turtle's enclosure that, if eaten, could endanger the health of the turtles.[21] On June 15, 2010, the female laid a total of 63 eggs. Half of the eggs were left in the sand to incubate naturally, while the other half were moved incubate at varying temperatures and humidities. Once again, they were infertile.
The legend of Kim Qui[edit]
The specimen (which may be a distinct species R. leloii) located in Hoan Kiem Lake, in Hanoi is thought to be the legendary Kim Qui (金龜), or Golden Turtle God, who has appeared at opportune moments throughout Vietnamese history. The golden turtle first appeared during the reign of King An Dương Vương (257-207 BC) and assisted the king in the construction of defenses for the ancient capital of Co Loa. When Co Loa was attacked, Kim Qui assisted the king in making a magical cross-bow that massively rained arrows upon the invaders in only a single shot. When the King's daughter conspired against her father, Kim Qui emerged again to inform An Duong Vuong of the betrayal; the king consequently killed his daughter and drowned himself in the sea.[7]
In the 15th century, a peasant named Lê Lợi obtained a magical sword named Heaven's Will that a fisherman had pulled out of the lake. Lê Lợi used this sword to lead a rebellion against the Chinese armies that were in occupation of Vietnam. After overthrowing the Chinese rule and establishing the Lê Dynasty, the now-emperor Lê Lợi returned to the lake and Kim Qui emerged, then asked Lê Lợi to return the sword. The King drew the sword and hurled it toward Kim Qui. Kim Qui quickly caught the sword by his teeth, then submerged. Lê Lợi afterwards named the lake 'Lake of Returning Sword', or Hoan Kiem.[7]
- ^ Asian Turtle Trade Working Group (2000). Rafetus swinhoei. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
- ^ Fritz, Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology 57 (2): 321–322. ISSN 18640-5755. Archived from the original on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ "Almost Extinct Turtle Discovered Living In Wild In Northern Vietnam". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
- ^ "World's Largest Freshwater Turtle Nearly Extinct". National Geographic. 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
- ^ a b c "Species: Rafetus swinhoei". Asian Turtle Conservation Network. Retrieved 2006-12-09.
- ^ "Draft Action Plan- Rafetus swinhoei" (PDF). Turtle Survival Alliance. Retrieved 2006-12-09.[dead link]
- ^ a b c "Hoan Kiem Lake Turtle: from myth to reality". VietNamNet Bridge. 2005. Archived from the original on 2006-12-07. Retrieved 2006-12-09.
- ^ "Vietnam hauls in beloved turtle for medical treatment". BBC. 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
- ^ "Relocation of endangered Chinese turtle may save species". Newswise. Retrieved on June 30, 2008.
- ^ "World's Largest Freshwater Turtle Nearly Extinct". News.nationalgeographic.com. 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
- ^ Gray, J. E. (1873), "Notes on Chinese Mud-Tortoises (Trionychidae), with the Description of a new Species sent to the British Museum by Mr. Swinhoe, and Observations on the Male Organ of this Family", Annals and Magazine of Natural History, series 4, vol. XII, 1873. Pp. 156-161, and plate V.
- ^ a b "Rafetus swinhoei" in: UWE FRITZ and PETER HAVAŠ, Checklist of Chelonians of the World, p. 182.
- ^ Farkas, B.; Webb, R.G. (2003). "Rafetus leloii Hà Dinh Dúc, 2000—an invalid species of softshell turtle from Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam (Reptilia, Testudines, Trionychidae).". Zool. Abhandl. 53: 107–112.
- ^ Le, Tran Binh. "COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGICAL AND DNA ANALYSIS OF SPECIMENS OF GIANT FRESHWATER SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE IN VIETNAM RELATED TO HOAN KIEM TURTLE". Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ Farkas, Balázs; Minh Duc Le; Truong Quang Nguyen (2011). "Rafetus vietnamensis Le, Le, Tran, Phan, Phan, Tran, Pham, Nguyen, Nong, Phan, Dinh, Truong and Ha, 2010 – another invalid name for an invalid species of softshell turtle (Reptilia: Testudines: Trionychidae)". Russian Journal of Herpetology. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ "红河干流梯级综合规划报告通过评审". Yunnan Channel, Xinhua Net. 2003-04-04. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
- ^ "Workshop on Rafetus Conservation in the Honghe (Red River) Drainage Area". Asian Turtle News. 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
- ^ Moore, Malcolm (2008-10-06). "Bid to save world's rarest turtles fails". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 2010-05-22.
- ^ http://www.turtlesurvival.org/news/attempt-to-breed-rafetus-in-captivity-ends-in-disappointment/
- ^ [1] NY Times, retrieved on October 9, 2008.
- ^ a b "World's Last Yangtze Turtle Pair Fails to Reproduce, Again". EcoWorldly. 2009-10-15. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
Further reading[edit]
- Meylan, P.A. Rafetus swinhoei. in Pritchard, P.C.H., and A. Rhodin eds., The conservation biology of freshwater turtles. IUCN publications.
- Meylan, P. A. and R. G. Webb. 1988. Rafetus swinhoei (Gray) 1873, a valid species of living soft-shelled turtle (family Trionychidae) from China. Journal of Herpetology. 22:118-119.


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By Zuryna Smith, System Communications Intern
National Children's Dental Health Month was introduced by the American Dental Association as a way to provide crucial information regarding oral health in children.
It started as a one-day event in Cleveland. As the importance of the issue of oral health became more prevalent, the one-day event spanned across a week and eventually became a month-long event that garnered global attention.
The ADA provides health fairs, free dental screenings, and other activities that promote the adoption of healthy oral health techniques. This year's campaign slogan is entitled "Sugar Wars," a spin on the sci-fiction film Star Wars.
Tooth decay and loss is one of the main oral health issues that affect children. Preventative care is the only way to deter the loss of teeth. The rule of thumb is to brush two times a day for two minutes each time. In addition to proper brushing techniques, parents should be vigilant in their efforts to keep their children's teeth shiny and healthy.
Here are a few tips that will encourage healthy dental habits:
- Emphasize the importance of fluoride. Fluoride is a natural chemical that prevents decay and strengthens the enamel of teeth. It can be found in tap water and is also available as a supplement.
- A healthy and balanced diet is a necessity in order to prevent tooth decay. While starches and fruits are essential to a child's diet, certain foods need to be given in moderation. Starchy and sticky foods tend to stay on the child's teeth and cause cavities as well as decay.
- Daily cleaning should take place as soon as the child develops their first tooth. A small piece of gauze or a damp cloth can be used to clean the tooth. As the child gets older a toothbrush with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste should be used.
Dental sealants are another method of prevention for young children. Dental sealants are small, plastic coatings that cover the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. It helps to prevent excess food and germs from getting caught in the crevices of the teeth.
University of Maryland School of Dentistry students participated in an outreach program where they provided free sealant treatments to children in need at the Perryville Clinic. The overall purpose of the event was to provide assistance and education to those who would not normally have access to proper dental care providers.
For more information about an upcoming Sealant Saturday event please contact the Perryville Clinic at 410-706-4900.
Pediatric Dental Appointments are available at the University of Maryland Pediatric Dental Clinic by calling 410-706-4213. You can also search for a Dental Health provider by using our website.


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Salvation is the saving of our lives by being resurrected from the dead and given eternal life. Man is uncontious in the grave and without baptism will never come out of the grave.
1 Cor 2:9 Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:...
Psalms 15:1 (Read the entire chapter) ...who shall abide in thy tabernacle
Heb 9:28 Appear the second time without sin to salvation
Phi 2:12 Work out your salvation with trembling and fear
1 Thess 5:8 For a helmet the hope of salvation
Heb 1:14 We are the heirs of salvation – not the current owners of
Heb 9:28 If faithful unto the end
1 Cor 15:1-2 Saved by the gospel IF they kept in mind what he preached to them
Rom 13:11 Now is our salvation closer than what we believed – (showing it is approaching – not a present blessing
1 Peter 1:5 Salvation…Kept…to be revealed at the last time
Rev 12:10 Now is come salvation (at kingdom)
Isaiah 25:9 It shall be said in that day…we will rejoice in his salvation
1 Peter 1:13 Salvation that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
Gal 6:8 He that soweth to the spirit shall reap life everlasting
Romans 1:16 ...I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation...
His reward is with him, not already dispersed - When do we get this salvation?
Rev 22:12
Isa 40:10
Salvation – not guaranteed (notice the Ifs in many of these verses)
Heb 9:28 If faithful unto the end
Heb 3:14 If we hold – confidence steadfast to the end
1 Cor 15:1-2 Saved by the gospel IF they kept in mind what he preached to them
1 Cor 9:27 keep – body - into subjection: lest - I should be a castaway.
Gal 5:19-21 They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God
Eph 5:3-6 Filthiness – idolater – hath no inheritance in the kingdom of God, let no man deceive you.
Phi 3:11 I might attain unto the ressurection of the dead
Heb 10:26-31 If we sin willfully after we have received a knowledge of the truth
Col 1:21 reconciled...if ye continue in the faith...grounded and settled
2 Peter 1:10 Make your calling and election sure...not fail
Gal 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain?
Phil 2:16 Lest I have not run...labor in vain
Salvation - is not universal, it is only for those baptized (covenanted)
Psa 50:5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.


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The parents of a woman accused of picking up men at South Florida nightspots and stealing their wallets and Rolexes say their daughter fell into the clutches of a pimp who turned her into someone they no longer recognize.
"We don't hear from her too often. When I do, it's always bad news," Jeff Elkins, of Staten Island, said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "I always expect the worst."
Ryan Elkins, 23, was publicly identified by police a week ago as one of four women operating within a thieving band, who spend their nights at bars and clubs in search of their next victims.
Police quickly arrested two of the four, but Elkins and Johnnina Miller, 25, remain at large.
The bar-hopping women's seductions spanned from Miami Beach to Tampa and include a New York Giants player who was taken for nearly $450,000 in jewelry. Several of the men believe they were drugged into unconsciousness.
Jeff and Pamela Elkins say they are heartbroken and distraught over their daughter's descent from a high school graduate eyeing a nursing degree to a wanted woman with a rap sheet for prostitution and larceny arrests.
"She had a good upbringing," said Jeff Elkins, 60, a retired New York City police detective. "We'll never understand what happened. It's a parent's worst nightmare."
Elkins said he and his wife last saw their only daughter in April when she briefly visited with her son, Prince. She texted photos when the boy turned 1 in June. They say they haven't heard from her since.
The child's father, they say, is a pimp whom they hold responsible for their daughter's downward spiral. She cowers to him, can't visit without his permission and retreats when her parents question her choices, they say.


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DJI's Mavic Pro made waves for its portability: It was the very first drone to have arms that folded up versus its body, making it supercompact. Since it released, lots of others have fielded duplicates with a comparable design, however it looks like only DJI could knock the Mavic Pro off its perch as our favorite electronic camera drone. And it has, with the Mavic Air.
Smaller (and $200 less) than the Pro, the $799 Air additionally has folding arms as well as the exact same 4K video camera and also gimbal as the Pro. However the most recent model additionally includes a brand-new object-avoidance mode that makes it also easier to pilot in slim rooms. It's the very best cam drone yet.
It resembles the Mavic Pro, just smaller sized. The Mavic Air has a smooth appearance with stroking contours that make it appear like it's flying, also when it gets on the ground. Like the Pro, the Air's 4 arms turn exterior from the text for flight mode.
When folded, the Mavic Air has to do with 3.5 inches wide and also 6.5 inches long. With the arms extended, the drone increases to concerning 7 inches wide, not including its blades.
The Mavic Air has a smooth look with stroking contours that make it resemble it's flying, even when it gets on the ground.
The front of the drone houses its 4K cam and also three-axis gimbal, which coincides as on the a lot more expensive Mavic Pro. Here, though, the electronic camera is protected on 2 sides by the drone's body. On the Pro, the camera was much more subjected, so a clear plastic shadow was needed to shield it during transport. Dji Drone Review
The Air is studded with sensors that assist it browse its environment: Over the primary electronic camera are two forward-looking sensing units, while the underside as well as back include 2 more sensors each.
The mass of all-time low of the Air is occupied by its detachable battery, which has 4 lights to indicate how much charge it has.
Just like the controller for the DJI Spark, the Mavic Air's controller has two arms that expand from the main body to hold your smartphone in place. I like that the Air's controller makes use of a physical cable to attach it with your phone (there are adapters for Android and iOS devices); with the Spark, you needed to initial set your phone wirelessly with the controller, and then with the drone– a minor however annoying added action.
Or else, the Air's controller is much the same: 2 joysticks manage elevation and activity, while shoulder switches turn the cam, take pictures and also video clip. Other buttons on the face land the Air, engage Sport setting and also power the controller on and off. Whatever is set out well. Any person that's utilized a PS4 or Xbox controller in the last years will have not a problem identifying how to use the Air's variation.
An additional great touch: The controller sticks for the Air unscrew and also can be stowed in the body of controller, which makes it a lot easier to bring around. I seemed to constantly forget this, though, and also had to unravel the controller's arms, store the sticks and fold up the arms back up again.
Gesture Control
If you intend to miss the controller completely, the Mavic Air, like the Spark, could be controlled utilizing absolutely nothing more than hand activities. You could launch the Air, move it up, down, right and also left, and also take pictures and video clips.
These motions all functioned rather well, however in some cases, I would certainly need to try a couple of times before the Air's cam would recognize my hand movement. The Air's variety is likewise restricted to regarding 20 feet in this setting, because the camera has to have a clear sight of your palm. Dji Drone Review
Trip Efficiency
Just like every one of DJI's drones, the Mavic Air was an exceptionally simple drone to fly. It hovers well in all yet extremely solid wind gusts (the app will advise you if it's too windy) and also whizs around effortlessly.
A brand-new feature called Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS) will cause the Air to immediately fly about things, such as trees and also bushes. When that attribute is triggered, the Air flies a bit slower than common, however APAS functions well. I discovered it was particularly useful when I flew the drone via wooded areas. Nonetheless, the Air does not return to its initial program after evading a things; you'll have to reorient it manually.
In Sport mode, the Mavic Air moves. Inning accordance with DJI, it could strike speeds of as much as 48 miles each hr. While I don't have a radar weapon, the drone covered the approximate length of a football area in concerning 3 seconds, and also sounded like a bat out of hell doing so.
Video and also Picture High Quality
As it has the same 4K cam and also three-axis gimbal as the extra expensive Mavic Pro, video clips as well as photos taken with the Mavic Air were exceptional.
The camera did a great job adapting to different illumination problems. In one situation, I introduced the drone at dusk, encountering the setup sun. As it increased right into the air, the Mavic Air was able to maintain your houses in the darker foreground effectively lit, while still flaunting the glowing hues of the sunlight. I did see a little bit of noise in the darker areas, yet that's to be anticipated.
On a clear winter season's day, the Mavic Air's video camera was sharp enough so that I might make out the high-rises in Manhattan, regarding 15 miles away.
Conserving 4K videos takes a little bit longer compared to lower-res data. After I quit a recording, the Air would certainly often take around 10 to 15 secs to finish refining exactly what it had simply tape-recorded.
In HDR setting, the Mavic Air could take a collection of three photos at different direct exposures and integrate them right into a single shot. I also such as that the drone shops each image separately, so you could use a photo editor to tweak the HDR on your own.
It became a bit annoying to dig with food selections on DJI's app to discover points such as the scenic view or spherical mode for the Mavic Air electronic camera.
Just like the Spark, the Air has a couple of self-governing flight modes, called QuickShots, that allow you catch some quite remarkable video clip. The two latest, Asteroid as well as Boomerang, are very wild; Asteroid has the drone fly as much as a preset altitude and take a 360-degree picture. Then it incorporates that with a video as it flies down to you. Dji Drone Review
Via the DJI application, you get very granular controls over the camera, allowing you adjust exposure, shutter rate and more. Nonetheless, it became a little bit frustrating to dig with menus to find points such as the scenic view or round setting for the video camera.
An additional nitpick: When I changed from video to picture setting, the app's interface resized and also diminished to account for the different element ratio of still shots. Nonetheless, this likewise compressed all of the on-screen controls.
Trip Time
DJI says that the Mavic Air ought to stay up for about 20 mins, and also I found that to be close to precise. That's just a few mins less compared to the Mavic Pro, and also definitely a practical compromise, provided the lower cost of the Air. The drone ships with a single battery, which can easily be switched out; additionals set you back $79 each.
On its own, the Mavic Air sets you back $799, and can be found in white, black or red. It consists of a controller, 2 sets of props, prop guards, a charger for a single battery and also an instance for the drone itself.
The Fly More Combination ($ 999) includes the controller, three collections of propellers, three batteries, a battery charger that can fit 4 batteries, plus a carrier bag-style bring case that could accomodate the drone, batteries as well as controller, along with an extra set of props. The bag itself is really appealing and made it extremely hassle-free to carry everything.
A 3rd bundle, which cost $1,299, includes whatever in the Fly More package and includes a collection of DJI goggles, for a first-person sight from the drone.
When the Mavic Pro came out, I believed DJI had made the most effective drone ever before. With the Mavic Air, it's again made a drone that's the envy of all others. The Mavic Air is mobile, manoeuvrable, takes great pictures as well as video, and comes packed with a variety of goodies, such as the automatic electronic camera modes as well as item evasion. At $799, it's $200 less compared to the Mavic Pro, yet supplies almost all of the same functions. (I 'd spring for the $999 Fly More plan to get two added batteries, the bring instance as well as the battery charger.) If you're searching for the very best well-rounded consumer drone, the Mavic Air will fly you right.
Visit this site to get your personal DJI Mavic Air. Dji Drone Review


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Andrew PearceRegistered Psychotherapist
- Prydale Farm, Rookhope, Bishop Auckland, DL13 2DF
- 34% of enquirers became verified clients
What to ExpectA preliminary assessment session helps you to discover if you feel comfortable with me, share what concerns you, ask questions, clarify confidentiality, and determine if therapy could help you. Please use a contact option on the right to arrange an initial assessment appointment in Rookhope, Bishop Auckland, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland, Durham or Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Psychotherapy focuses on you, and you obtaining insight into the problems you confront. It explores your thoughts, emotions and significant events in your history. Psychotherapy intends to help you change or discover suitable ways of managing.
- Abuse
- Anger
- Anorexia
- Bereavement
- Binge Eating
- Bipolar
- Bulimia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic
- Relationship Problems
- Self Esteem
- Self Harm
- Sexual Problems
- Stress
Private Health Insurance Registrations
- Aviva Health
Dr Susi Strang and Associates (UK)
|UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Registered Psychotherapist
Andrew abides by the Code of Ethics of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).
Articles by Andrew
Escape to the North Pennines
Stressed? Escape the City for a break. Relax in the North Pennines, an area of...
Stressed? Escape the City for a break. Relax in the North Pennines, an area of...
Location Detail
My Consulting Address is in easy reach ofRookhope, Eastgate, Westgate, Daddry Shield, Townfield, Saint John's Chapel, Hunstanworth, Crawleyside, Ireshopeburn, Allenheads, Hill End, Frosterley, White Kirkley, Wolsingham, Saint John's Hall, Diptonmill, Satley, Tow Law, Consett, Fellside
Nearest Train Stations
- Haydon Bridge (10.6 miles)
- Riding Mill (13 miles)
- Corbridge (13.4 miles)
- Hexham (13.4 miles)
- Stocksfield (13.9 miles)
- Prudhoe (16.2 miles)
- Bardon Mill (16.5 miles)
- Wylam (18 miles)
- Haltwhistle (19.2 miles)
- Bishop Auckland (19.2 miles)
Wheelchair access: No
Consulting Room Photo
Updated 19 March 2018


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Library book sales make me happy...
High heels are a necessity when I am 4ft10...even though the snow was ankle deep...
3 kids all reading while standing in line....yes they are just like mom!
My kids in the library reading to service dogs.
Enjoy every minute my friends!
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Gary Burton's Vibe
I met with the legendary vibraphonist Gary Burton last night to put together a video piece on his upcoming Mack Ave recording Common Ground. From what I heard this looks to be a truly great album and showcases Gary's newly formed quartet featuring Julian Lage (guitar), Scott Colley (bass) and Antonio Sanchez (drums). While we were hanging out we flashed back to his 1973 ECM label debut album The New Quartet, which is a personal favorite of mine, and which I consider to be required listening for any serious jazz fan. We'll be sharing that resulting video with you soon as well. In the meantime, your homework is to fully digest this recording and report back. – JV
Here's a little appetizer: The New Quartet
Gary Burton
Photo credit: Roberto Polillo


text:
- March 24, 2015
- Vineland, New Jersey
of Richard's Passing
Share This Obituary
Make a Memorial Donation
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Richard passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2015.
Richard was a resident of Vineland, New Jersey at the time of passing.
His funeral liturgy will be celebrated at 11 AM on Monday March 30, 2015 in the Christ the Good Shepherd Parish-Church of St. Isidore's, 1655 Magnolia Rd., Vineland, NJ. There will be no visiting hours. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Mass Cards would be appreciated.


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(She's a witch! Burn her! BURRRRRRN HERRRRRRRRRRR!!! / Photo via Fight! Magazine)
So here's a weird little tidbit: The UFC's next women's bantamweight fight between Miesha Tate and Cat Zingano was originally supposed to serve as the co-main event for UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Mousasi (April 6th; Stockholm, Sweden), but it was reportedly sunk due to political concerns, and the matchup was moved to the TUF 17 Finale. After Ariel Helwani first mentioned the date-switch, Fighters Only followed up with more details:
The fight was pulled because it was felt by Garry Cook, the UFC VP in charge of UK and European operations, that it wasn't suited to the Swedish audience.
Sweden is a new market and there is still some considerable opposition to the UFC among that infamously liberal and 'progressive' nation's press. Politically it is a very left-wing country and it was only in 2007 that a 1970 ban on professional boxing was lifted.
Alexander Gustafsson has spearheaded the charge into what has proven to be an unexpectedly lucrative market for the UFC, but the potential for the national press to dislike or misinterpret a women's fight was felt to be too high to risk.
For the fight to turn out to be a bloodbath would have been especially damaging…A new co-main has not been announced for the Stockholm card, but the mood on the messageboards among Swedish fans is generally one of relief that the female fight was scrapped — and not just because of the risk it poses to the sport. Progressive as they are, it seems even the Swedish fans [aren't] particularly excited about female MMA either.
In general, Swedish support for the UFC has been fantastic so far — which makes this story even more disheartening. Keep in mind that Sweden is a country that invented a new pronoun to promote their oddball obsession with gender-neutrality. The most recent World Economic Forum report on global gender equality ranked Sweden #4 in the world out of 135 countries; the U.S. landed at a totally respectable #22. So to summarize, gender-differences don't exist in Sweden — except in the context of cage-fighting, in which women are delicate flowers that need to be protected by men who know better.
I'm actually skeptical about this whole story, to be honest. You can look at MMA message boards in any country and find pockets of fans who don't care for women's MMA, and there are newspaper editorial writers in every major city who would declare a bloody fight between two women to be the end of modern civilization.
When Garry Cook made the decision to move a female fight off of UFC on FUEL 9, he had these concerns in mind. (And hell, I'll just say it — maybe his own tastes were a factor as well.) But instead of presenting a great matchup to a crowd of enthusiastic UFC fans, he buckled under the pressure. Sure, some of those Swedish fans might have been disgusted or disinterested in Tate vs. Zingano. But maybe the fight could have helped change some perceptions.


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DriveReply 2.2 for Android allows the user to comfortably focus on operating their vehicle and know that any callers or text messages that are inbound, will not go unanswered. Instead, their inbound contact has been answered with a responsible message that the recipient is driving and will contact them in the near future.
DriveReply, by utilizing the phones onboard GPS systems, is able to identify if the phone is traveling. If the user is driving, a message is sent. If the user is not traveling, the message is not sent. If the mobile phone is in the possession of a passenger in another s vehicle or in public transportation, the passenger can disable the Auto Reply system.
Available for: Android, Windows Mobile 6.5, & Blackberry, iPhone(coming soon), Palm(coming soon)
Included are:
Watch our Car on Saturdays NASCAR Natiowide Series


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Rates subject to change.
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Cashing in on parents concerns, Nostrad, has used its experience in corporate IT asset management and security to create eBlaster, a software tool that allows secret remote PC monitoring.
The product, which can be installed on a PC without the user knowing anything about it, provides full email reporting — incoming and outgoing — with attachments if required, and can be used with web-based mail systems like Hotmail, Yahoo and AOL. It also tracks chatroom activity, and even provides full conversation logging, a keystroke logger, website visit information, including full web page details, and keyword alerts.
It can be set to monitor activity as frequently as every 30 minutes but, if a keyword alert goes off, usage will be reported immediately. Parents, or anyone else suspicious about how a PC is being used on the net, can monitor the target PC either from another computer in the room next door, or from one at a remote location hundreds of miles away.
Perfect for parents to track kids' use while they are a work, or for worried partners to check up on home when they are away on business.
Not only can eBlaster keep an eye on what's happening on the PC now and in the future, it even comes with the facility to carry out an audit so you can view past internet usage. The software will also check up on the specification of your PC to make sure the supplier sold you what you asked for.
EBlaster costs £59.99 and can be bought online.


text: Tesla Model S presentation | Lviv, Ukraine on Vimeo Some positive news from Ukraine for a change. This video popped up in my FB feed about the first presentation of the Model S in Ukraine. At first, I thought it's some kind of official event organized by Tesla Motors to promote the Model S, judging by the ambient, the signage, the promo-material etc, but apparently it was organized by the local Tesla Club there. And I am impressed to say the least! All that promo-material, booklets, hostesses, flags, pins and whatnot, it must cost a fortune to be organized by an enthusiast club. Or maybe it's a local dealer that is trying to make some business by selling Model S's in Ukraine (sort of like what Auto-Outlet has done in Finland). Nevertheless, I liked the video and if it really is an enthusiast move to spread the Tesla love in Ukraine, they deserve respect. But I think the driver should be a little bit more careful when making a U-turn in the middle of the street (at 3:19 you can clearly see that he's making an illegal U-turn on a crowded street, crossing double white-line divider) :scared: Edit: For some reason the vehicle has temporary Austrian license plates. I think that the driver just received his brand new Model S, and he had it picked up at Tesla's Vienna SC, then drove to Lviv (771km). Hence, temporary Austrian license plates :smile: hun, are you reading this?


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This two-semester course acquaints students with the basic properties of living systems: metabolism, growth, responsiveness and reproduction at the cellular and organism levels as illustrated by assorted plants and animals. Two terms required. Corequisite for BIO 210 is ENG 101 Prerequisite for BIO 220 is BIO 210
Course Credit: 4
Lab Hours: 3HRS.
Sample Syllabus


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I am listening to the Stereophonics because I love it. Morita and I are on our way back to Hoboken after the Coldplay show in Camden. I am battling a headache and yawns, so we'll see how far I get before I pass out, and it's only 12:11 am. I love my laptop. I have no more money via paper cash or debit…I wonder how we are going to pay the toll. Oh…Morita is pulling into a Wawa. Brb – I cannot pass up a Wawa stop….ohhhhh mac and chizeese!
Ok, this is fucking like an orgasm in the mouth. I had Wawa mac and cheese for breakfast at noon this morning and more than likely this will be the last think I eat until tomorrow morning. Oh hell yeah.
We went to Newark this afternoon and I got to play in the record store. Chris A. is moving into my old purple apartment – and he is so keeping it purple. Rock! I wandered around the store for a while – nothing I wanted was used, so I settled on the new Decemberists CD. There really is a lack of anything amazing that's out. I almost got the Tristan CD, but figured I would wait, and we didn't have the new spoon. My mom met us in the store, as did Raf – oh fun. I miss that place more than anything, even more than my horses.
New CD in hand, we left for Chip's, then Capriotti's. Capriotti's, Wawa, and Coldplay in one day, could my life get any better!? On the way to Caps, we were listening to my new CD and track two says my name, so it's my jam, yo.
We are on mile 39 on the Turnpike and because the Stereophonics are done, the ipod is spinning. I didn't want to think of what to play, so I have my "hot day running" playlist on shuffle. Green Day's "American Idiot" is on.
Chip, Joe, Morita, and I tailgated the Coldplay show in true Delaware fashion – yuenglings and capriotti's subs. (Switchfoot's "Gone" is on). The parking lot was like American Eagle threw up – it was so weird, were we at a DMB show?! Crazy weird, this is when I realized why I don't usually go to shed shows, I have already seen that band headlining the shed at a smaller, more intimate crowd before the mainstream sodomized them. (Black Eyed Peas "Where is the Love" – shush, this gets me through my four mile runs)
We enjoyed some good conversation and laughs on our little area of the pavement. Oh!! So the douchebag award goes to the tool the car next to us. So this guy with a hat, khaki cargo pants, and a red shirt that said something about committing a sin tonight, was all jacked up and had complete attitude and thought he was hot shit. He was probably younger than me and looked like every other guy there. I go to the bathroom and when return he is so on our blanket in my spot strumming Chris's guitar. Ew. You know he thinks he is awesome. Every time he passed us he gave Morita the nod as if he was accepted into his little secret society. He was the epitome of CB's definition of a Haus Bro.
Yeah, Morita (Kate Voegele – "Only Fooling Myself") so picked up so many boys with his guitar. I also tried to play which attracted a crowd around me asking me to play, to which I obviously declined. A group of guys saw Joe's Delaware Swimming shirt and said his sister (OK Go – "Don't Ask Me") went to Delaware. Joe said he knew her, and the guys friend said, "yeah she's a slut" – to which, Joe replied, "yeah, then I DEFINITELY know her." So damn funny. Oh yeah, did you know that when you pee, you fill up two beer bottles…though it is impolite to miss and get the back seat damp…
Coldplay was nothing short of amazing. I was surprised on how many old songs they played. I reallllllllllly wanted to hear "See You Soon". Last time I saw them (TLA) they played it and I was stoked. That song seriously may be one of my all time favorite songs. I got it on the damn Blue Room EP imported in Boston years (Kings of Leons – Molly's Chambers) and then it was fucking released on the live Coldplay CDs. It's one of the few songs that makes me cry…the other one being Fix You. The first time I heard Fix You I cried. Just so you know, I am not a huge crier – I don't cry over people, just circumstances. The lyrics and mood just hit me. Coldplay always had (Rilo Kiley – It's a Hit) a special place in my heart. The song just pretty much sums up my 2005 and it's so damn amazing. Of course it's the second single. Boo AND hiss. And I absolutely freaking love the fact that every damn person I knew at the show, including the Omniposse, texted me right before or during the encore during Fix You to remind me that it was mine. Yes.
But what a beautiful concert.
And now here we are on mile 70. Oh yeah, so walking out of the show I got a Mint Tingle Trojan condom sample.


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Held In Stars
Dramatis personæ
Dramatis personæ
The makers of fate held in stars.
Player Characters (PCs)
Player Characters listed in alphabetical order by family name.
Gideon Clark ( Mining Magnate)
James Nightengale(Captain of the Jolly Roger)
Conor Titus Prefect of The Gate
Non-player Characters (NPCs)
The Titus family
Zayden Titus (Margrave of Sturja)
Lexa Titus (Marchoiness of Sturja)
Stanton Titus (Count of Cyris Hope)
Izek Titus (Viscount of the Commonwealth)
Alec Titus (Prefect of the Gate 273)
Annelle Titus (Prefect of the Gate 2696)
Peton Titus (Prefect of the Gate 587)
Klara Black
Other Nobles
Rise Flezal (Prefect of Gate 2251)
Rone Poward (Prefect of Gate 2435)
Dorian Weyer (Bishop of Sturja)
Lucius Severt (Protos of the Illumination)
Resa Parkson (Chair of the Board of Mundoon Mining Company)
Members of Court
Marshal Dever (Marshal of Sturja)


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Troops returning from war face social and financial challenges while trying to adjust to college, despite GI benefits
Vets in school
New GI Bill
The original GI Bill, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944, provided tuition, books and cost-of-living stipends for veterans returning from World War II. Today's benefits provide up to $39,600 for college tuition and fees only, about two-thirds of the average tuition and fees at a four-year public college or university. Books and room and board are not covered.
Under the expanded GI Bill, veterans who have served at least three months of active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, would receive the following:
In addition, veterans would no longer have to make a nonrefundable $1,200 contribution to their education.
Tim Mauricio wanted to get a college education after enlisting in the Marine Corps right out of high school and then serving in Iraq.
So he signed up for his GI benefits and quickly realized it wasn't going to be enough to cover his tuition and living costs.
That's why Mauricio, like many veterans, is working full time while also going to school full time.
"The GI Bill helped pay for school, but it didn't pay for everything," said Mauricio, who is married and lives in Camarillo. "I have to work just to survive."
In the next few weeks, Congress is expected to vote on expanding the current GI Bill to give veterans additional money for college, including tuition and books as well as stipends for living costs.
In the meantime, Mauricio has been averaging about five hours of sleep a day during the week. He works as a security guard from midnight to 8:30 a.m. Before Wednesday's graduation, he also was heading off to classes at Ventura College, where he earned an associate degree in criminal justice.
It's a grueling schedule but not unusual for veterans making the transition to college after they've served in Iraq or Afghanistan, said Jim Selbe, director of program evaluations for the American Council on Education.
Benefits often are delayed
Then, once they start classes, they may find it hard to fit in, because they're older than traditional students, they often have families of their own, and they tend to be more conservative than their classmates, Selbe said.
"They're feeling isolated because they're very different from the 18- or 19-year-olds who come directly from high school," Selbe said. "They feel there's a certain bias toward veterans in the classroom. At the same time, we're finding that veterans can enrich campuses by their experience and maturity."
Terry Niebuhr, who started at CSU Channel Islands in Camarillo this semester, understands that sense of isolation and bias.
Niebuhr, 30, enlisted in the Navy right out of high school, served in the Persian Gulf, then decided to go to college.
He enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, where he found no services available for veterans. Eventually, he dropped out, got a divorce, moved to California and tried again at Moorpark College, where he felt different from his younger classmates.
"There was this anti-war sentiment in a few classes," Niebuhr said. "I didn't want to say I was a service member. It seems like we've had more experience than kids fresh out of high school. It's harder to relate to other people."
Now that he's at CSUCI, Niebuhr is more comfortable, primarily because the college has more services for veterans, an effort he believes more colleges should make.
President Bush and the Pentagon, however, have opposed the GI Bill legislation, saying it would be too expensive. It would cost an estimated $51.8 billion over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
The current GI Bill, designed for peace-time service, provides a maximum of $39,600 for college tuition and fees, about two-thirds of the average tuition and fees over four years at a public university and far less than the average cost of attending a private school. There is no stipend for living costs or books.
Now, only about two-thirds of returning veterans use at least some of their education benefits, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Nearly a third don't use them at all.
"It's a cruel awakening when they look at the cost of education and compare it to the benefits they're entitled to," said Patrick Campbell, legislative director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and a Camarillo High School graduate. "A lot of service members just can't make it."
Meanwhile, colleges nationwide are starting to develop services specifically for returning veterans.
'In the beginning stage'
"We need to bring these obstacles to their attention," he said. "College administrators often are unaware of what needs to be done to serve veterans."
Locally, most colleges have someone in their admissions or registrar's offices who knows how to deal with veterans' paperwork. Some have counselors trained specifically in working with veterans, but mostly they're using existing services and personnel and hoping eventually to offer more.
"We're in the beginning stage," said Janet Rizzoli, an articulation counselor who works with transfer students at CSUCI. "We're realizing they're coming, and we need to be ready for them. We have some services, and we're working on more."
Statewide, most public universities, including CSUCI, are working with the Troops to College program, aimed at encouraging more returning veterans to enroll at a California State University, University of California or community college campus.
Troops to College is creating support teams of administrators in counseling, admissions, financial aid and student services.
The teams are starting to receive training in working with veterans, said Chairman Bucky Peterson.
The program also is working to create student veterans organizations and to help veterans get credit for the schooling or experience they received in the service.
"We hope people see the value in these great kids," said Peterson, a retired Marine and former interim vice president at Sonoma State University. "They need for us to jump in and mentor them in the direction they want to go."
Minnesota is a leader in easing veterans' transition into college, Selbe said. Its university and college system, with 53 campuses, participates in the state's Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program, which helps veterans ease back into civilian life.
'They have different needs'
In offering those services, college officials are careful to separate veterans' issues from political issues, said Steve Frantz, system director of student affairs.
"People join (the military) for all kinds of reasons," Frantz said. "Ours is not to judge their reason. They're coming back, and they're our citizens, but they have different needs."
And what about Mauricio, the former Marine whose cell phone plays Jimi Hendrix's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" while callers wait for him to pick up?
He's hoping to get a job as a prison guard and continue studying criminal justice at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.
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The Disney Land Hotel
Every time I think I'm going to wake up back in the park, where the sick heart of target marketing to children lurks. But I'm still only in the hotel. I'm here all morning now, waiting for my team of grizzled misfits and a fresh-face kid to set themselves for our mission. Every minute we wait means longer lines. The human congestion will reduce our speed but give me a way to hide my team from the full onslaught of Walter E. Disney and his brain-washed acolytes.
I get weaker. The hotel walls move closer every idle second; only my motion can keep them at bay. Wearing just white underwear, and with the slather of absinthe seeping freely from my pores, I stagger through a weeping judo session. The mirror exchanges blows with my right hand, leaving both shattered. My body slumps to the ground, reduced to a pool of regret and personal fluids.
It never occurred to me to ponder "victory" on this trip. The girl, Miss Lou, 3 years and one month of precocity, isn't ready. She can't possibly be ready at this age, not with the blood running through her veins. Lou is a born consumer; a feral strain of brand loyalty flows through her unchecked. If we can steward her to the other side of this trip without sending her straight into the bin of tantrum-throwing greed-heads for the next 10 years, the mission will be complete. There is no victory, there is only the hope that we can emerge with an acceptable approximation of the child we ushered into this jungle.
A week ago, when asked what she wanted for Christmas, Lou requested "A little tree to decorate" for her room. "Please," she added without a hint of whining, "I've been very nice."
And she had. But that was then, before a single afternoon in the Park of Darkness, "the Happiest Place on Earth" for those who sell $25 tee shirts to 3 year olds. One morning later that once fresh faced kid is standing over me, pitiless, seemingly unaware of the dangers surrounding us all. She ceaselessly runs an "itsy bitsy spider" up my neck; asking daddy to take her out to meet Cinderella in the park.
She's never seen the Cinderella movie but I know not to be surprised by Lou's request. The child spotted a Mickey Mouse statue from 100 yards when we pulled into the hotel and instantly, gleefully, shouted her regards to the famed rodent. Young ones can *feel* the dark allure of branding with a sensitivity adults no longer possess. To the kids, the feeling is Magic. But I know better.
Magic is a matter of pure will for Disney. It is created and enforced with a cruel efficiency which has been honed in this place for half a century. To be a member of Disney is to understand that there is no room for weakness, no quarter is offered or asked for by the workers.
There is a legend here; the kind of myth so useful in controlling the denizens of this unholy place that Walt would have made it up had it not been true. According to the story, during the very first summer of park operations here in 1955, a kid who was playing Goofy got sick in the head of his costume then feinted to the ground. Seeing this, his friend Pluto ripped off his own head, and that of the ailing Goofy, to successfully administer CPR while horrified park-goers gazed on.
When the news reached Walter he asked one question for both Goofy and Pluto: "Did you break character on park grounds, in front of guests?" They had.
That night the lights of the electric light parade were strung up using the entrails of the men who had brought Pluto and Goofy to life that day. Nobody breaks character anymore. Not ever.
Creating an environment of Consumerism Magic is a matter of will here; a dark art. You give me one division of men and women with the pure will to get sick in a 20-lb felt headpiece without the kid sitting on his lap having any idea what had happened and, my friends, I will create a consumer experience for you in less than 6 months.
I don't have that division. I just have me, my wife and my mother, all charged with protecting a sliver of Sweetness in Princess Lou. We are hideously outnumbered; strangers in a strange land with a mission totally foreign to the pilgrims who surround us.
We are in the Heart of Retail Darkness less than 3 weeks before the holiest day of the retail calendar. The dispatches for the balance of this week will explore the insidious attempts to further corrupt my once-perfect daughter. I will detail the wicked plots of the retailers who gather here to feast on that which Walt lures here to kill.
I've got 4 more days and a wallet already showing signs of distress. Pray that we can find the mercy lurking in the souls of my team... Walt himself will have none.
- 1
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A Fil-Am actor's life: Joel de la Fuente
Sixth of a series
LOS ANGELES—Joel de la Fuente has been racking up noteworthy credits as an actor over the years. But it only took one turn as president of the Philippines to make many people Google him.
The controversy that erupted over his role as a lascivious Pinoy head of state in scenes opposite Tea Leoni's titular character in "Madam Secretary" threw a spotlight on the New York-based actor.
Joel is in not one but two Emmy-winning original series—as chief inspector Takeshi Kido in Amazon Studios' "The Man in the High Castle" and as Dr. Johann Pryce in Netflix's "Hemlock Grove."
Joel's other TV credits include 10 seasons as Taru technician Ruben Morales in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Space: Above & Beyond" (Lt. Paul Wang), and recurring roles in various series, from Sidney Lumet's "100 Centre Street," "ER" to Steven Spielberg's "High Incident."
But it was Joel's part as a Filipino leader, which some thought was a veiled hit at President Duterte, that drew tons of media exposure. Read Joel's take on the controversy in his answers below.
In film, Joel will be seen in Jennifer Lawrence's much-awaited "Red Sparrow," directed by Francis Lawrence.
His other screen roles include "Brief Reunion," "Personal Velocity" (Sundance Grand Jury winner), "The Adjustment Bureau," "The Happening" and "Return to Paradise."
The Brown University and New York University (graduate acting program) alumnus has been charting an impressive career in theater.
Among Joel's stage performances are "Hold These Truths" (Drama Desk nomination: best solo performance), the title role in "Ivanov," Claudio in "Beatrice and Benedict" with the New York Philharmonic (conducted by Sir Colin Davis), Valentine in "The Two Gentlemen of Verona," and Iago in "Othello."
Joel cowrote "Life Document 2: Identity" (with Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar), which won the Columbia Students award for best film in 2002.
Excerpts from our chat:
How would you describe your journey as an actor so far? I got my SAG (Screen Actors Guild) card in 1990. It's been a long journey with many ups and downs. I feel grateful every day that I get to pursue this as my life's work.
How do you prepare for an audition? Any good luck rituals? Everything I do is an attempt to relax and put myself in a position to listen and react with confidence and openness.
So, I try to be as prepared as possible, as on time (or early) as possible, as uncluttered as I can manage.
What is the most frustrating part of trying to land roles in Hollywood? I would always like more opportunity. The more opportunities there are, the less frustrating things feel.
But, the truth is, there are only so many roles out there, and there are oh so many actors. Frustration is a constant companion. Might as well make friends with it.
How do you handle rejection? It varies. Sometimes, poorly. It always hurts. But, there's so much more to life than getting a role or not. It's up to me to maintain perspective and find as many things as I can to lead a fulfilling life. But it's a challenge, for sure.
Have there been times when you almost gave up? What motivated you to keep trying? If one is honest with oneself, questioning this lifestyle should come up fairly regularly. It can be a very difficult way to make a living, despite the rewards.
Checking in to see if this is something I wish to keep doing is healthy, because it reminds me that, like most things in life, it's a choice. I choose to pursue this lifestyle. Knowing that is quite empowering.
It's hard to articulate what has kept me going during the hard times. One of the biggest things: I've been so lucky to be surrounded by beautiful, loving family and friends. I have drawn much strength and resilience from their generosity and care.
As an actor of color, do you feel that opportunities for minorities are improving or getting worse? They are improving, especially in television. The days of three (or four) networks choosing most of the content we see are over.
There are more than 400 scripted shows today on almost every conceivable platform.
There is a diversity of voice that is unprecedented, and a growing appetite to see the world reflected in many different ways.
On top of that, there is a stronger, more unified communicative group of people who are less tolerant of poor, or unfair, representation in Hollywood. People are speaking up—and speaking up with their dollars.
What's your stand on whitewashing—or the casting practice in which white actors are cast in nonwhite character roles—in Hollywood? In the end, it's not about white people playing nonwhite roles. It's about opportunity.
Historically, white men get to play all the parts. They get to control the narrative to all the stories. Is this fair or appropriate? For me, I just find it less and less interesting.
I love seeing all kinds of people tell all kinds of stories. I am a better person and artist because of it.
In the end, as a character actor, I would love to play all kinds of roles outside myself—outside my race, ethnicity and life experience. That's part of what acting is.
But, we are in a time in our society where we must balance that, knowing that we come from a history of exclusion and nondiversity. I'm all for white men and white men narratives—but as one part of a varied palette.
When you were filming that "Madam Secretary" episode where you played Datu Andrada, did you think at all that the episode might generate controversy? Of course.
And when the controversy erupted—with the issue landing even on Time magazine and other top media outlets—were you surprised? Nothing really surprised me about it. The show provoked a lot of dialogue and discussion. If they were so inclined, it made people think, myself included.
At the end of the day, it was a fictional story about fictional people. These people had similarities to real-life figures, to be sure, but Andrada had more parallels with other world figures than any Filipino president.
What kind of feedback did you get personally? It ran the gamut. People were moved strongly in all directions.
You are in "Red Sparrow." Francis Lawrence showed us extended footage last May. What was your experience like filming that movie? I play a senator who may be a pawn in a much bigger game. I had a brief, but very positive, experience on the film. And my stuff was shot in Budapest, which is a really beautiful part of the world.
To people who are planning to pursue acting, what should they prepare for? Prepare your material, but be open for the unexpected. Have respect for the craft and for those you work with.
Take good and generous care of yourself. You are running a marathon, not a sprint—make choices accordingly.
(To be continued on Thursday)
E-mail firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him at http://twitter.com/nepalesruben.
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text:
Used Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art for Canon/AF
- Aperture Range: f/1.8-16
- Fast Constant Maximum Aperture
- Designed for APS-C-Sized Sensors
- 35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 28.8-56mm
- Hyper Sonic AF Motor
- Internal Focusing and Zoom Design
- Four Aspherical & 5 SLD Glass Elements
- Super Multi-Layer Coating
- Canon EF Lens Mount
Out of stock
Product Description
The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens for Canon is a wide-angle to normal-length zoom lens that features a fast, bright constant f/1.8 maximum aperture. It is specifically designed for use with APS-C-sized sensors and provides a 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 28.8-56mm.
The lens integrates four aspherical elements into its construction as well as five Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements to help minimize various aberrations and distortions throughout the zoom range as well as provide greater image sharpness and clarity. A Super Multi-Layer Coating has also been applied to lens elements to reduce surface reflections, lens flare, and ghosting to produce images with higher contrast and color fidelity. The lens barrel design is constructed from a Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) material that is akin to metal in texture and resistance to temperature and environmental changes while also remaining lightweight and compact. An internal focusing and zooming mechanism also helps to maintain a compact and consistent overall length and non-rotating front ring also better enables the use of circular polarizing filters. For control of focus, a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) is used to ensure fast, precise, and quiet focusing capabilities that are well suited to continuous shooting and movie recording.
Accessories Included:
- Lens Caps
- Lens Hood
Additional Information
|Product Condition
"Like New Minus" – the rating of the equipment is at 97 to 99 percent of original condition. Only the closest inspections will reveal slight wear. Perfect glass, but the box and accessories are usually not included.
There are no reviews yet.


text:
Release Date: 2005 |
Album Rating: 3.0This is for you Jake! Haha!
I actually wrote this a few weeks back & thought I gave it a 3.5.
Album Rating: 4.0I rediscovered this record last week. Much love.
Album Rating: 3.0Oooh, a 4. I knew you liked them DavID, but I didn't think it was that much. The 1st half of this album just drags too much for my liking.
Album Rating: 4.0This Bed and Hearing Voices Tonight are the best tracks on here?
Album Rating: 3.0Why have you put a question mark at the end of what appears to be a statement?
So that & thing is really annoying Davey, almost as annoying as pop-punk mwuahahahah!
btw any suggestions on that ost review would be helpful I was struggling on what else to discuss since it was quite consistent in atmosphere.This Message Edited On 04.17.09
Album Rating: 3.0I have fallen victim to the (un)mighty '&' symbol many a time.
Leave pop-punk alone Marko. It's for people who like to have a bit of fun every now & then. I think I'll call you STOICavic from now on! ;-)
Album Rating: 4.0Because I can't see how the first half drags at all, that's why.
Stojakovic owns at 3-pters I take that as a compliment! Even if he is Serbian lol, no hate over here for us American Croats.
Album Rating: 3.0Stop "seeing" & start "listening" DavID. Where's Jake when I need him. Then again, he's just going to say the whole thing drags. BTW, I thought 'Black Dress' would be right up your alley!
You are in my bad books now Marko. Firstly, you do not acknowledge my clever play on words! Secondly, you don't go absolutely berzerk when the said comment calls a Croat a Serb! You're supposed to hunt me down or something! ;-)
haha maybe if i was born in Zagreb, Sisak, or Dubrovnik...any Croatian city I would feel that way. I'm American so I don't have any hatred towards them, my best "mate" (haha) is a Serb. And your "clever play on words" is a massive fail in my humble opinion.
Album Rating: 2.0Bleh
Album Rating: 3.0It's only a massive fail Marko, because you are such a stoic figure. I have a cure for that; Some pop-punk!
Oh come on Jake, let it out mate. Go on a tirade. Don't be scared of DavID shooting your arguments down.
Album Rating: 2.0I'm raising this, only because I initially gave these guys a hard time, but seriously. I can barely handle more than two songs. 'DavID' doesn't concern me either...
Album Rating: 3.0Nah, DavID doesn't concern anyone. Haha.
Well, at least you raised the rating to a more fair one. I presume it's mainly the (arguably whiny) vocals & unremarkable music that get to you? TBH, I almost had the feeling during an earlier comment of yours (in some other review) that you had something personal against them.
Album Rating: 2.0Yeah, that pretty much describes my distaste for them. It's mainly the unremarkable music.
Album Rating: 3.0To a significant extent, I guess that is a trait of pop-punk in general.
Album Rating: 3.0Pretty cool album methinks. The Shake, This Bed and Do Do's and Whoa-oh's are the faves.
Album Rating: 3.0From memory, they were the 3 singles Billy. How boring. What about a bit of digging up dead people?
Hey, didn't you have this rated a 3.5? Are you just off-setting Jake's 0.5 increase?
Album Rating: 3.0From memory for me too, i havn't listened to Kisschasy in months, so the faves may have changed if i listen to them again. I like Hyms.... better than this though. Oh and i like Black Dress too
Yes i did, but no, it was more your review convincing me there was too much filler for it to be a 3.5.
Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


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Ubisoft have dropped a new trailer for their four-way, twin-stick, bullet-ridden Expendables 2 tie-in. It's hilariously/awfully (delete as appropriate) frat-tastic and about as meat-headed as a pack of ham.
It also looks decidedly better than that grubby leaked footage that emerged a couple of weeks back.
Game's out this summer for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.