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Syria crisis: Minister says civil war has reached stalemate
Syria's deputy prime minister says the civil war has reached stalemate, with neither side strong enough to win.
Qadri Jamil told the UK's Guardian newspaper that at proposed peace talks in Geneva, Damascus would call for a ceasefire with the armed opposition.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says Mr Jamil seems to be reflecting a drive by Russia to prepare for peace talks.
Meanwhile, the US has called on the UN Security Council to act over Syria's chemical weapons.
Secretary of State John Kerry called on the council to pass a "binding resolution" when it meets next week.
'Neutral monitors'
Mr Jamil told the Guardian that the Syrian economy had suffered catastrophic losses in the civil war that began in early 2011.
More than 100,000 people have died in the conflict, according to the UN, and millions have fled the country or been made homeless.
"Neither the armed opposition nor the regime is capable of defeating the other side," he said.
"This zero balance of forces will not change for a while."
Mr Jamil insisted that he was speaking for the government.
He said that if the long-delayed Geneva peace talks were revived, the government would propose a ceasefire monitored by troops from neutral or friendly countries.
This, he said, would pave the way for a peaceful political process, free from outside interference.
Nobody should fear, he added, that the regime in its current form would continue.
The BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon says Mr Jamil's comments are bound to be dismissed by the Syrian opposition, which is deeply sceptical about talk of reform and democracy from government sources.
Mr Jamil is a former communist whose party took part in demonstrations against the government at the beginning of the uprising. He is not a hard-core Baath Party loyalist, our correspondent adds.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran was ready to help broker peace in Syria as part of what he called his country's "constructive engagement" policy with other nations.
In an article in the Washington Post newspaper, Mr Rouhani wrote: "We must join hands to constructively work toward national dialogue, whether in Syria or Bahrain. We must create an atmosphere where peoples of the region can decide their own fates.
"As part of this, I announce my government's readiness to help facilitate dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition."
Correspondents say the article is the latest signal that Mr Rouhani wants to improve Iran's relationship with the US and other countries that believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons.
Fighting continues
On the ground in Syria, a ceasefire has been agreed between two different rebel groups in the northern town of Azaz, the BBC's Paul Wood reports.
The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Isis), an al-Qaeda-linked rebel movement, seized the town on Wednesday from the larger and Western-backed Free Syrian Army.
Isis is reported to have made a number of arrests of activists, journalists and even Sharia court officials in the town.
The fighting between the two groups was the latest and most serious incident in what analysts say is becoming a war within a war.
Analysts say there is more chance that the US and other Western powers may arm the Free Syrian Army if it shows there is clear water between it and the Islamists.
Security Council call
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, is currently in Damascus where he has been meeting top officials and also leaders of the tolerated opposition.
Both Russia and the US say they want to build on their agreement concerning chemical weapons to revive the stalled peace process.
But there are still many disagreements too.
Mr Kerry said a "definitive" UN report had proved that the Syrian government was behind a deadly chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburbs of Ghouta on 21 August.
Damascus - backed by Moscow - insists that rebel forces carried out the attack.
The US threatened military strikes against Syria in response to the attack, but put them on hold after agreeing to a Russian plan to destroy Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles.
Syria has agreed to the disarmament plan unveiled by the US and Russia last weekend.
The West wants the deal enshrined in a UN resolution backed by the threat of military force, but Russia - Syria's ally - objects.
Mr Kerry said the UN Security Council must be willing to act when the UN General Assembly holds its annual meeting in New York next week.
"Now the test comes. The Security Council must be prepared to act next week," Mr Kerry said.
Correspondents say the disarmament plan faces its first big test on Saturday with the one-week deadline for Syria to provide a list of its chemical weapons facilities.
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, in an interview with Fox News, said it could take about a year to destroy Syria's chemical stockpiles and could cost about $1bn (£623m).
The United Nations says more than 100,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Assad began in March 2011.


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Building A Gas Tank For A Full-Fendered Model T Coupe
The project is a '27 Model T coupe, unchopped and full-fendered. It is currently a work in progress, but will be something genuinely unique by the time it is finished-definitely a hot rod, but probably with elements of elegance.
And as with any project car, the work being done is a continuing series of design decisions-the most recent being where to mount a gas tank that would be practical and complementary to the style of the car. A tank in the trunk would've been a simple solution, but would've limited the gas tank capacity and encroached on the available space in the already small trunk.
The car owner, Zulu, suggested the idea of mounting a custom-built fuel tank underneath the deck, Deuce style. Ryan Rivers, at Hollywood Hot Rods, where the Model T is being built, came up with a way to make the idea work.
Ryan started with cardboard cutouts of the parts he needed to build, which included the tank itself, a pair of sheetmetal end pieces resembling frame horn covers, and sheetmetal panels to blend the rear fenders to the tank assembly.
There was quite a bit of sheetmetal skill involved, not only in designing and fabricating the various pieces needed, but also in fitting each piece through a series of unrelated dimensions and curves.
The T coupe's flat top made it easy to work on this project; instead of putting the body on a lift, Ryan flipped it on its lid. Access to the underside of the deck was simple, but the installation was done upside down. Flip the magazine around if it makes some of the photos easier to understand, but remember to flip it again when you're done.
The end result blends together really well, looks like it belongs (even more so after it gets a little paint on it), and adds a distinct element to an already unusual hot rod.

subset: commoncrawl


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A 5 minute walk from York Station and near shopping districts, major tourist attractions, this hotel's prime York location http://www.parkinn.co.uk/hotel-york/location is ideal for business and leisure guests.
time to wander
power by Google
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Sabayon 4.1 Gnome Released
Sabayon 4.1
Sabayon Linux is a very full featured DVD sized distribution that is really catching on in the Linux community as of late. The most recent release, Sabayon 4.1 Gnome, includes some very impressive features, and applications. I installed Sabayon 4.1 Gnome this morning and found some great stuff, I really have nothing but good things to say about this up and coming Linux distro. You can buy Sabayon on DVD inside our shopping cart. A portion of each Sabayon DVD sale is donated to the Sabayon project.
First, a few things worth noting about the newest Sabayon release. This release is based on Sabayon Linux 4 LiteMCE, Linux Kernel 188.8.131.52, uses Ext4, X.org 7.4, runs Gnome 2.24 but offers 2.26 through the Entropy repository manager. Sabayon 4.1 Gnome also includes Compiz and Compiz Fusion 0.8.2, and a great selection of Multimedia applications.
This Sabayon release is suppose to include faster load time and boot speed, KDE and Gnome versions, fresh artwork, and many other positive changes since the last release of Sabayon.
I used Sabayon for about an hour after installation and discovered that it has the following assets. Sabayon features XMBC Media Center which is an award winning media center that seems to work well on the Linux platform. It is also available on MAC OS X, Windows, and the Xbox gaming console itself. XMBC allowed me to easily access all types of media from one center location or media hub. I like this setup a lot and have found it to be one of only a few home media solutions powered from a Linux desktop. If you are into home theater or looking to build a home theater setup with Linux, I suggest you watch the "Building The Ultimate Home Theater" video series from Jupiterbroadcasting.
Other applications included with Sabayon that are worth checking out include OpenOffice, GIMP, F-Spot, aMule, and Pidgin. I can see myself using multimedia applications like Xine, MPlayer and XMBC. These applications can all be added to another Linux disto but for me there's something about booting up the system and everything working right out-of-the-box. This makes me lean towards using a beefy distro like Sabayon that is focused in a direction that suites my needs, in my case multimedia.
Sabayon 4.1 Gnome also has some features that make it easy to customize preferences and create a desktop that just works for the user. In the main gnome menu under System — Preferences, you'll find you can change all types of things you won't find in other distros. I immediately found the notification system and other features very useful and easy to use and adjust.
Sabayon is the real deal. If you haven't, you should! Order Sabayon – Donate to Sabayon


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By Shannon Albritton
This is the second installment from our newest Vermont Woods Studios staff member, Shannon Albritton. She recently moved to Marlboro, Vermont from New Hope, PA and is sharing her adventures as she lives through the after-effects of Hurricane Irene.
On Thursday evening I attended my first Vermont town meeting. We arrived early and helped set up folding chairs in a semi-circle, "So we can all see each other", suggested a volunteer.
More than 200 Marlboro residents filled the school gymnasium. We looked tired but seemed in generally positive spirits. We greeted each other and exchanged our tales of woes and Vermont-made miracles. We listened intently to our town leaders and emergency management officials as they laid out the next steps and protocols for moving forward in our little town, where 80% of our roads had been destroyed. A local farm brought pizza for all to share. The rate at which we devoured every last piece of this delicious, hot, homemade treat told me I wasn't the only one who had forgotten to eat that day.
Following the meeting, I met Josh Stilts, reporter for the Brattleboro Reformer. He expressed his concern for the people still stranded down off Auger Hole Rd. I confirmed his concerns and told him my husband and I had hiked in earlier that day to check on friends. I offered to escort Josh down the mountain the next day via a logging road behind my home. Josh eagerly accepted my invitation and we parted ways.
Friday morning I waited on the grounds of Marlboro College to hear Governor Peter Shumlin speak about his plans to put us back together. As I walked into the auditorium I stopped, turned and there was the Governor right in front of me! We had just about run into each other. A bit star-struck and caught of guard I shook his hand and thanked him for doing a great job. "It's the people of Vermont who are doing a great job" he said, as he squeezed my hand and moved forward toward the stage.
His speech told of the heroic acts of Vermonters and our resilience and tenacity. He shared that a reporter, who had covered Katrina and Joplin Missouri, had commented that he was inspired but the general positive attitude and community of the people of Vermont in the wake of that wicked-woman Irene.
Following the speech, I met Josh outside and we headed to the logging trail. I filled my backpack with frozen water bottles, granola bars and my solar shower for my friends "in the hole" and we set off to down the mountain. I'm not sure the actual distance, it feels like a one-mile on the way down and six on the way back up.
At the bottom I introduced Josh and passed my tour guide torch off to my friend Kim who led us further down into the Auger Hole. Kim informed Josh on how they were surviving and getting supplies. One man, thought to be in cardiac distress, had been carried out by several others the previous night and rushed to the hospital. They were not sure if he had survived but I was able to inform her he was in fact, OK and just severely dehydrated. "We couldn't call for help so they carried him out", she said. "We feel deserted down here, you're the first people to come to check on us". We continued our hike down the road turned riverbed once known as Auger Hole Rd. The very same road I drove every day to work when I first moved to Vermont. What now lies in its place is indescribable and pictures can barely do it justice. Picture an empty riverbed approximately 25' deep and 30' wide as a long as the eye can see.
A local man had grown tired of waiting for township approval and brought his equipment into the hole to construct a temporary road to free those trapped on the other side. His equipment appears like a tinker toy at the bottom of the pit. Josh snapped photos and took video interviews. "It would be pretty awesome if it wasn't so tragic…" I said, as we stood staring awestruck down into the hole. We all nodded quietly and walked on.
Moments later Emergency Management arrived on the scene with cases of water and MREs (Meal, Ready to Eat). Will & Rory, stranded residents of the Auger Hole, loaded them on borrowed ATVs and stuffed them into backpacks. These guys were referred to, in Josh's article the following morning, as the dynamic-duo as they buzzed over the rocky terrain to deliver supplies to the stranded homes.
Feeling better knowing that the people of Auger Hole were stocked with food, clean water and on the road to safety, Josh and I packed up and headed back up the mountain towards home. It was a long climb back up that logging trail and we had plenty of time and content for good conversation. I asked him if he had enough content for his article and he replied, "plenty!" We then walked silently for a while, reflecting on they day and absorbing it into our minds and our hearts. I disrupted our silence, "So what's your angle going to be?" and he paused and then replied, "there are so many, but I think I will go with the survival angle, being isolated down there and how they've all been working together with the resources they have to help each other." I nodded in confirmation and flashed back to Governor Shumlin's opening comment during his speech earlier that morning, "First I just want to say, I've seen more acts of generosity, bravery and courage in the last four days than I've seen in my entire life". Yep, I'd have to agree.
I read a quote recently from a Vermonter whose barn and porch were swept away by mean ol' Irene, "That's Mother Nature" he said, "And this is Vermont. We just roll with it."
I may be a Flatlander, but if this is what Vermonters are made of, I am incredibly proud to be a Vermonter-in-Training
Josh Stilts's article "Down in an Auger Hole" can be read online at The Brattleboro Reformer.


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THAT FRESHMAN California congresswoman, Sherri Davis -- she does get around, doesn't she?
She's urged Rummy to stay on as Defense secretary because resigning "would be seen as a victory for the terrorists."
She's styled herself the "Ann Coulter of Anaheim," and she's standing firm against hiking the national minimum wage because "if it ain't broke, why raise it?"
Figured it out yet?
There is no Sherri Davis in Congress -- not from California or anywhere else. I did a double-take a couple of weeks ago when I saw a blog mention of "Sherri Davis, R-Ca." It had been a wild election; could some new member have sneaked under my political radar and into the vast ranks of the California delegation?
Naaah. No way was Sherri Davis the real thing. Loretta Sanchez is the congresswoman from Anaheim, and she's a Democrat. And she just steamrollered her GOP opponent, who wasn't Sherri Davis but a Vietnamese American man.
Check out the Sherri Davis legislative agenda, if you don't believe me. Just Google "Sherri Davis" and "Congress." Her Mandatory Portion Control Act, to curb the nation's obesity problem: Doesn't that sound like some nanny-state measure, not the robust legislation of a "let 'em eat cake and more cake" laissez-faire Republican? Her Yoga Mat Cleanliness Act: Doesn't yoga require a yogi? And don't those people wear turbans, just like ... terrorists?
Not many people actually bit on the Sherri Davis reports except some YouTube bloggers ("Is anyone else baffled as to how this ditz got elected?") and a couple of gay and lesbian websites that evidently got suckered in by a Davis press release revealing that, in the backstage loo at "The Colbert Report," Davis' microphone had broadcast her remarks about Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney being a "Peter Pan panderer." (For Christmas, I'll ask Santa to have Mitt Romney make a real press statement decrying something that a fake congresswoman never said backstage at a fake political show she never appeared on.)
So Sherri Davis isn't real, and she never taped a segment for "The Colbert Report." What is on "The Report" is a feature called "Better Know a District," in which members of the House -- randomly singled out from that great unknown mass of politicos -- trade national exposure for a fun moment with Stephen Colbert. There are 435 members of the House, and even they probably don't all recognize one another on sight -- and unless your cable is stuck on C-SPAN, neither would you. But you should know yours. Do you? Is your representative a Democrat or a Republican? A man or a woman?
Too hard? Tip O'Neill said all politics is local -- so let's go local (never mind who Tip O'Neill was). Who's your City Council member? Don't know that either?
That's my point. Lots of you call and e-mail me for help about potholes and DMV rules and the like. I appreciate your confidence, but when I ask whether you've already called your City Council member or state legislator, your usual answer is, "I don't know who that is."
You probably have your reasons. Perhaps politicians haven't inspired your confidence that they get anything done, from skid row to Baghdad, so why should you hit them up for help about a pothole or a driving test?
Los Angeles has a nifty "311" phone information service that can help you with city matters, even track down your council member. On the other hand, the website looks as messy as a frat-house kitchen. I couldn't even find my own house on the maps of my council district. The California state website lets you put in your address to find your Sacramento legislators, but it takes some maneuvering to get that far. An unofficial website, congress.org, is zippier than anything U.S. government websites have to offer.
As for Sherri Davis, California has room for a fake congresswoman, especially one who swears she once worked as a stewardess with Paris Hilton's mother and they fought over who got Rick Hilton. I want to believe that she's in the grand tradition of Emperor Norton, the genial wacko who strolled San Francisco more than 100 years ago, issuing imperial warrants, and Prince Michael Romanoff, who ran a smart Beverly Hills restaurant in spite of the fact that he was neither a prince nor a Romanoff. Congresswoman, don't drop the charade -- even though I read in "The Hill," the Capitol's weekly newspaper, that you were merely invented to promote a musical about high school prom politics, just as the famed "lonelygirl15" living her life on YouTube via web cam turned out to be an actress hired by savvy promoters (now represented, I believe, by CAA).
Sherri Davis has no more voting power than, oh, the congresswoman from the District of Columbia. All I'm asking is that when '08 rolls around, make sure she doesn't get your vote. Otherwise, she might make you clean up your yoga mat -- or ship you off to Gitmo.


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What Young Journalists Should KnowPosted in Uncategorized on June 25th, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment
Rob Curley runs the Pulitzer Prize winning Las Vegas Sun . I met Rob years ago when he worked at the Lawrence Journal World in Lawrence, Kansas. Then, I took a group of students to visit him at the Naples Daily News. I missed seeing him at the Washington Post Greenspun Interactive but caught up with him again in Vegas. Full disclosure: I count him as a friend and colleague.
Rob has always been a rebel with a cause. He is an entrepreneur, an innovator, an outlier and a journalist. Check out the mob history that his team created on the Vegas Sun website. If that isn't storytelling, then what is? And it happens to be interactive, engaging and entertaining, so what's so hard about that? Yes, he has a team of incredible programmers but guess what, there are college students who are dying for opportunities to show what they can do in order to market themselves to future employers. Heck, there are amateurs and high school students too. Shucks, there are probably some middle school students who could rev up news website.
Here's his advice to aspiring journalists:


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May/June Fashion Scoop: Our Roundup Of The Buzziest News From The South Asian Scene And Beyond
Channel Your Inner Princess Jasmine With Disney Aladdin Collection From M.A.C
Chalo! What You Need To Make Your Road Trip Simply Rad
Our List Of Cool May 2019 Tech Gadgets That You Didn't Know You Needed
Give Your Haveli A Boost Of Colour With This Year's Hottest Hues For The Home
Lifting Each Other Up: "The All About Women Show" Emphasizes The Importance Of Women Empowering Women
The IN5 Experium: Stunning Exhibit Showcases The Golden Temple And The Tenets Of Sikhism
Robin Sharma Tells Us Why You'll Feel Victorious After Reading His Latest Book "The 5AM Club"
3 Trusted Tweaks To Keep Your Locks Luscious This Spring
Show Your Mom Your True Love With These Beauty Gifts For Mother's Day
Makeup Bag Must-Have: Brown Skin-Friendly Lip Shades That Look Good On Everyone
Seal That Deal: Key Beauty Looks For Your First Job Interview
Pile It On: Channel Your Vintage Auntie With The Mega-Bun
Keeping It Real: It's Time To Mindfully Embrace The Not So Perfect Pregnancy
Write On! How To Achieve Peaceful Meditation Through Your Mindful Writing
Chak De Chakras! What Are Your Chakras And Why You Should Care
It Is All About You: Give Yourself Some Meaningful Self-Love The Mindful Way
You're Meditating Wrong: Our Mindful Tips For Masterful Meditation
Sweat The Small Stuff: When Working Out We've Got To Work On Our Smaller Muscles Too
We Did Camp Right! The South Asian Stars Who Stole The Show At The Met Gala 2019
Mother's Day Gift Guide 2019: Take Her Style To The Next Level With These Fashionable Finds
April/May Fashion Scoop: Our Roundup Of The Buzziest News From The South Asian Fashion Scene And Beyond!
Giving Back With Style: When Fashion And Philanthropy Join Forces For Good
Calling All Brides! Get Your Style Inspo From Pakistan's PFDC L'Oréal Paris Bridal Couture Week Right Here
Here's Why You Need To Check Out The Upcoming Dallas-Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival (DFWSAFF)
A Roundup Of Our Top TIFF 2017 Highlights
Three Reasons 'The Breadwinner' Could Be An Oscar Winner
DFW South Asian Film Festival (SAFF) Celebrates Four-Year Milestone With Four Days of Programming
Hotstar Presents The ANOKHI Awards 2017: Red Carpet Buzz Part II
Hotstar Presents The ANOKHI Awards 2017: Red Carpet Buzz Part I
TIFF 2017 Film Premieres: Borg VS McEnroe | Gaga: Five Foot Two | The Upside
Indie Cinema Shines at DFW South Asian Film Festival
ANOKHI Pulse TV at Dallas/Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival
Musical Performances at Hotstar Presents The ANOKHI Awards 2017
Global South Asians Honoured at Hotstar Presents The ANOKHI Awards 2017
OCTV: Celebrity Chef Vikram Vij's Unique Journey Through Food - ANOKHI Awards Interview
OCTV: Hollywood Fashion Designer To The Stars, Bibhu Mohapatra Unplugged - ANOKHI Awards Interview
OCTV: Bollywood Actress Aditi Rao Hydari Talks About Her Craft - Anokhi Awards Interview
OCTV: T.A.P.E. #ThisIsMyBeauty Fireside Chat With Melinda Shankar Pt. 2
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Mar 06, 2019
Jun 24, 2016
Sep 30, 2013


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It Pays to Be Happy
Earning more money tends to make people happier, at least up to a point. But new research suggests the reverse may also be true: happier people actually make more money.
In a study of more than 10,000 Americans, those who experienced more positive daily emotions and felt more satisfied with their lives while growing up earned more income by age 29, according to research from University College London and London School of Economics professor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve and University of Warwick economics professor Andrew Oswald. The paper, published last month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, will be presented Friday at the American Economics Association's annual meeting.
The researchers drew on data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health between 1994 and 2008 that asked students whether statements like "You enjoyed life" had been true during the last week. Later, when students were older, they also answered the question "How satisfied are you with your life as a whole?"
Students who described themselves as happier at age 16 and 18 and felt more satisfied with their lives at age 22 earned more income at age 29. On a scale of one to five, a one-point increase in life satisfaction at age 22 translated into around $2,000 more in later earnings. The mean income was around $35,000. Among siblings, a one-point increase in life satisfaction at age 22, compared to the mean of the family, translated into a nearly $4,000 difference in earnings at age 29, compared to the family mean.
The analysis suggests happiness isn't just linked to higher income -- it's helping generate it. That could be because happier young adults are more likely to earn a college degree, get hired and promoted, be more optimistic and less neurotic, the researchers posit. In their analysis they controlled for other factors, such as education and self-esteem.
Being really happy helps some: those reporting a "very happy" adolescence earned an income about 10% above the average. But being unhappy hurts far more -- those who experienced a "profoundly unhappy" adolescence made about 30% less than the average income, the paper found.
Still, a connection between personal happiness and greater income could be good news for countries struggling to boost economic growth, the authors suggest.
"For policymakers, the existence of these mechanisms raises the possibility that a happier society may be one that intrinsically generates higher incomes for its citizens," the paper notes.


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I just reported this bug on Connect :
.NET 4.0 supports covariance and contravariance in delegates and interfaces. Unfortunately, C++/CLI does not support this as of VC++ 2010 RTM. Considering that the most popular use for C++/CLI today is as an interop language, the compiler not supporting a feature that's going to be heavily used in the BCL and in new C# libraries is a very serious problem. It will impose limits on how effective C++/CLI will be as an interop-language.
If you think this is a serious enough problem, please vote the bug up so it gets more attention. Thank you.


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A Smoke-Free Environment
We're Smoke-Free Because We Care
As a health care organization, Meridian Health is committed to the health and safety of our patients, guests, and team members. One of the most significant contributors to serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, and cancer is smoking, and second-hand smoke has been shown to contribute to the health problems of those around us. That's why Meridian partnered with the American Cancer Society and other hospitals and health care systems throughout the state to become a totally smoke-free environment as of November 20, 2008.
With a mission to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve, we believe that we have a responsibility to take a leadership role on this major health issue, and allowing people to use tobacco products defeats this purpose. Therefore, we prohibit the use of tobacco products on hospital grounds and all off-site properties owned or leased by Meridian Health. This includes sidewalks, walkways, driveways, and parking areas/parking garages. Our decision to be smoke-free is not an attempt to force anyone to quit using tobacco products; however, help is available for those who wish to quit.
- American Cancer Society: cancer.org or 800-ACS-2345
- American Lung Association, Freedom from Smoking®: ffsonline.org or 800-548-8252
- New Jersey QuitNet: njquitnet.com
- New Jersey Quitline: 866-NJ-STOPS
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is Meridian Health banning tobacco use from our campuses?
A: Meridian Health is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve. By becoming completely smoke-free, we are furthering our mission and in doing so, we are setting the example of wellness and prevention that is important to our patients, team members and community. Implementation of smoke-free campuses sends a clear message of Meridian's commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, many hospitals and health systems both locally and nationally have either gone smoke-free or have announced plans to do so soon.
Q: What does smoke-free campus mean?
A: As of November 20, 2008, smoking and the use of tobacco products (includes but is not limited to cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff and pipe smoking) are not permitted by anyone on any property owned, rented, or leased by Meridian Health, or in hospital owned/leased vehicles.
Q: To whom does the policy apply?
A: All persons, including team members, volunteers, students, patients, visitors, vendors, contractors and others who work in or visit hospital buildings, parking lots and grounds.
Q: Where on the campuses does the smoke-free policy apply? Is smoking allowed inside cars?
A: Tobacco use is prohibited on all areas of the campus, inside and outside, including inside cars that are parked on hospital property.
Q: Do employees, patients and visitors have to quit using tobacco?
A: No. Hospitals are not forcing anyone to quit. This policy means individuals can't use tobacco products on hospital property.
Q: What about individual rights?
A: Hospitals want to maintain a healthy environment for patients and visitors, as well as for team members. For this reason, we ask that individuals refrain from using tobacco products on our campuses.
Q: Why don't you have smoking huts that are designated outdoor locations?
A: Smoking and secondhand smoke are known health hazards. As a health care institution, we are committed to not just healing illness, but also to promoting wellness. Allowing smoking on our campus, even in designated areas, is not consistent with this commitment. We do not want our patients, visitors and team members to be exposed to secondhand smoke while on our campuses and grounds.
Q: What kind of support is being offered to visitors while on the hospital campus?
A: Visitors who wish to use tobacco must leave the hospital grounds in order to do so. The hospital can also provide you with a "Quit Kit" to make your visit more comfortable.


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Hi JayThe ashtray in your 4th picture is definitely not Poli and these were mass produced in huge quantities and turn up at most boot fairs at about £5 each.The two blue pieces in your last picture look more Scandinavian than Murano and they are also certainly not Poli.You will find that Poli actually produced very little glass since his primary role was as chief designer so his creations were largely produced by other workers, though these include some very notable names of Murano glass blowing such as Archimede Seguso during his work for Seguso Vetri d'Arte, not to be confused with his work at his own studios.Hope this helps a litte, Actually, it really does I've never really being sure of how it all worked, like did he design and make the pieces or did others make them, etc. All I know is the scant info accompanying the pictures in the books I have that has his work in them. I was surprised as to how little info I could google up on him, so it's good to find out whatever I can.the situation should be clarified greatly when the long awaited book on Seguso Vetri d'Arte is finally published, but I know they have run into a few problems and it is now not likely to hit the streets until next year, but having seen an early proof it will be worth the long wait.Paul
Hi JayThe ashtray in your 4th picture is definitely not Poli and these were mass produced in huge quantities and turn up at most boot fairs at about £5 each.
Hi Jay yes the ashtray is Murano. The sommerso designs of Poli has been used as the basis for vast amounts of replicated pieces over the years and these days I think that probably 80% of this type of item that comes up on e-bay is wrongly attributed either in deliberate attempts to cash in on the name or due to the lack of knowledge of the vendors. A veritable minefield for the buyers.Most important of all with regard to your items is the pleasure you gain from them and after all that is the most important thing in any of this.Paul
Funny thing - i came across this thread when researching a piece i found - very similar to the bowtie 3464 - only it's purple - aplogies for the picture quality!The lable reads "genuine venetian glass made in murano italy", no knowledge of age etc but the label has a lot of wear & tear.I found one on ebay too - hereThe ebay listing has it as designed for Seguso Vetri D'arte. None of these vases match your piece tho in terms of beauty.Hi Alexander.I think all three of these vases, yours, mine and the eBay one, are cool. I'd happily own any of 'em!! As for the age of your vase. Before I found this GMB I would've unhesitatingly said sometime late 50's. Granted, that answer would've come from the heart, rather than from any fact based knowledge. But now, I'd hesitatingly date it...sometime late 50's :?: If I were you, I'd wait until somebody who knows what they're on about answers that for you. :wink: JayYou should bear in mind that that heart and fact based knowledge thing still applies :wink:
Quote from: "chuggy"Hi JayThe ashtray in your 4th picture is definitely not Poli and these were mass produced in huge quantities and turn up at most boot fairs at about £5 each.I have seen one with a Romanian sticker.The 'bow-tie' vase:http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3464... could be Mandruzatto - others may be as well. Some nice pieces you have there!
If you want to see the Chinese sommersos, seach ebay for seller thewesternart.
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101: Getting Started with Moodle
|Section 1:
Getting Started Guide: Moodle
In this article we will introduce you to Moodle, a course management system or a virtual learning environment.
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Installing and Logging in
This section will explain how to install and log in to Moodle 2.3.
|Section 2:
Installing Moodle with Softaculous
Moodle 2.3 can be installed through Softaculous with little effort. This article will explain how to install Moodle through the cPanel Softaculous application.
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|Section 3:
How to log into the Moodle Administrator Dashboard
This tutorial explains the steps for logging into the Moodle Dashboard.
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Resetting your Moodle Password
If you've forgotten your Moodle password, the following articles will help based upon your current scenario.
|Section 4:
I forgot / How to reset Moodle 2.3 username or password
This tutorial will explain the process for recovering or resetting the username and password for Moodle 2..2
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|Section 5:
How to change the Username and Password in Moodle
To change the username and/or password for your Moodle Login, you can log in the Moodle Dashboard and change it in the Admin Profile.
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|Section 6:
Changing the Moodle admin password through PhpMyAdmin
Forgot your Moodle username or password and the forgot password link is not sending the email for the login credentials. This will show how to change the password in PhpMyAdmin.
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Front Page Settings
This section will discuss updating, editing and changing the home page in Moodle 2.3.
|Section 7:
How to edit the Front page settings in Moodle
This tutorial will focus on editing the Moodle 2.3 Front page settings.
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|Section 8:
Editing the summary on the Moodle Frontpage
By default, Moodle has no text on the frontpage summary. This tutorial will explain how to add content to the Moodle 2.3 Frontpage.
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|Section 9:
Inserting an iframe in the Moodle Frontpage
Moodle 2.3 has the capability of not only editing the Frontpage with a WYSIWYG editor, but adding code to the page itself. This tutorial will explain how to add an iframe to the Moodle Frontpage.
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|Section 10:
Managing the Moodle question bank
This tutorial will briefly explain the Moodle 2.3 Question Bank and what it is used for.
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Backup & Restore
|Section 11:
Creating a Backup of Moodle
Moodle has its own back up feature where the site can be backed up through the Moodle dashboard. The following article will outline the process of backing up Moodle through the Moodle Dashboard.
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|Section 12:
Restoring Moodle from a backup
Once the backup is created through the Moodle Dashboard, like what was outlined in the Creating a backup of Moodle tutorial, the backup can be restored through the Moodle Dashboard. This article will demonstrate how to import or restore the backup created by the Moodle dashboard.
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My Profile Settings
The My Profile Settings are available in Moodle 2.3 for editing and adding information to the users profile. The following tutorials will focus on the "My Profile settings" in the Moodle Settings section.
|Section 13:
Editing the User profile in the My Profile Settings of Moodle
Users can edit their profiles within the My profile settings of the Settings section in Moodle 2.3. This tutorial will briefly explain the User profile settings.
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|Section 14:
Configuring notification methods for incoming messages in Moodle
Moodle 2.3 has the capability to message users when certain actions occur on the site. This article will discuss how to configure the incoming message notification methods.
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Configuring Languages
Moodle 2.3 has the ability to incorporate multiple Languages. This section will explain how to change the Language settings in Moodle.
|Section 15:
Installing a Language pack in Moodle
Moodle includes a vast array of Language packs that can be installed or removed, allowing the site to be viewed in multiple languages. This article will focus on installing a language pack for Spanish in Moodle 2.3.
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The Perfect EV for Your RV — ZAPPY3 Folding Electric Scooter
Dear ZAP:
I just wanted to Thank you and to let you know how much I like the Zappy3 and the amount of attention and inquires I have received from people as we tour San Diego. My wife and I are full time RVer's and are traveling the United States. We are now in San Diego and the last 4 days we have given the Zappy3 a very hard work out. We rode the city trolley on all 3 lines off and on, riding the trolley to stop and see the US Midway museum and taking Old Town trolley around the city. We went to the San Diego Zoo and spent the day and put it to the real test of seeing the whole zoo and doing most of the steep hills without a problem. At the zoo I had 3 or four people take a picture of the Zappy3 and ask for details. And it seemed like dozens of people stopping me and asking about the Zappy3 and where I got it. It allows me to go places and do things I couldn't do because of my feet issues.
— Ken K., Sioux Falls, Idaho


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Outcomes & Plans
From ALAL2
- It made me catch up on the articles I planned on reading but never did. It started some good discussions at work. The title Library 2.0 is something people laugh at. Not the ideas themselves (they are for many of the technologies) but the title - they don't like it.
- I will be using collaborative software in place of older methods.
- I hope to implement some of these concepts in [my division].
- Actually, very little affected my work. More impact is on my personal use of the Web and technology. This may bleed over into work eventually as I internalize things.
- While I definitely will continue to work out my team's project on the AOC, I can see a lot of this knowledge and experience guiding my duties as a facilitator for my divisions' online CE efforts and digital publications. (In a week or so, Michael is going to meet with me and ALA Production Services for planning [a second iteration of an online publication].
- I have been using Web 2.0 technologies and approach to assisting users, but I have a better understanding of the 'why' and 'how'.
- I've become more aware of the value of Web 2.0 tools and want to implement some of them at work.
- It has given me ideas about how to communicate with our constituencies.
- ALA Library 2.0 gave me greater insight into how a group of people could work together in a workshop / classroom type of environment. This is good experience if I decide to participate in or organize online training. On a related note, I have proposed teaching a workshop on Library 2.0 to for my local library school. It is under review, and can be in action by the Spring semester.
- I am upgrading the CMS I use for my web site, but I'm closely evaluating it for the ability to incorporate 2.0 technologies. The community builder component is clunky and not user friendly and the newsletter is just a pain. I'll look at the upgrade with a much sharper and more critical eye now that I've had this experience. Unlike the first time around, I know what I'm looking for in a CMS and what I expect it to do for me. I also know about more tools 'out there' that I can bundle to accomplish many of the same things with greater ease.
- I just learned how to edit in Garage Band and add picture, markers, etc. so I will be producing some snazzy podcasts including interviews (using the fancy new snowball microphone I just purchased) from a conference I'm attending the last week of June.
- I'm experimenting with blogs - trying to decide whether to use the blog I uploaded to my site (a bit more difficult requiring a bit of uploading of plug-ins for customization) or the general freebie site. I'll be recruiting guest bloggers at the conference next week. I've accepted an invitation to be a co-author for a blog.
- I'm developing an 'overview' to library 2.0 tools that I can present to my colleagues and friends so that we can get flickr'd and be del.icio.us.
- I've uploaded about half of my library in LibraryThing.com and am giving birthday gift certificate to two colleagues donating my time to upload their library, too.
- I'm going to experiment with a statewide discussion guide (forthhcoming) on a wiki with links for the stats so that local communities can see the source of the stats and include or adapt for a more localized edition. (May do this on a national guide!)
- I'm still thinking about how a blog for each discussion guide could be used similar to the library's use of blogs for their catalog. Not sure the mechanics of how that would work, but it makes lots of sense to me.
- I'm also forming a technology task force for [state wide organization]. I'm fortunate to have several innovative, creative, technogeeky colleagues interested in social networking, technology and politics. (hey, I'm in [city], what do you expect?) Much going on. It's dizzying. What did you start!?


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How to Use
the Readings
Inquiry Question
Reading 3: Personal Account of the
About half past seven, while the action was at its height, our gun had just been revolved for a shot at Fort Morgan, a momentary view was had of the Tecumseh, and in that instant occurred the catastrophe whereby a good ship filled with men, with a brave captain, in the twinkling of an eye vanished from the field of battle.
A tiny white comber [a long curling wave] of froth curled around her bow, a tremendous shock ran through our ship as though we had struck a rock, and as rapidly as these words flow from my pen the Tecumseh reeled a little to starboard, her bows settled beneath the surface, and while we looked her stern lifted high in the air with the propeller still revolving, and the ship pitched out of sight like an arrow twanged from the bow. We were steaming slowly ahead when this tragedy occurred and, being close aboard of the ill-fated craft, we were in imminent danger of running foul of her as she sank. "Back hard" was the order shouted below to the engine room, and, as the Manhattan felt the effects of the reversed propeller, the bubbling water round our bows, and the huge swirls on either hand, told us that we were passing directly over the struggling wretches fighting with death in the Tecumseh.
The effect on our men was in some cases terrible. One of the firemen was crazed by the incident. But the battle was not yet over. After coming to a standstill for a few minutes, during which the commotion of the water set up by the foundered ship passed away, the Manhattan steamed ahead into line and took the duty by now being performed by her lost consort. As the Tecumseh sank to the bottom, the crew of the Hartford sprang to her starboard rail and gave three ringing cheers in defiance of the enemy and in honor of the dying.
Perhaps some drowning wretch on the Tecumseh took that cheer in his ears as he sank to a hero's grave, and we may imagine the sound as it pierced the roar of battle, giving courage to some fainting heart as his face turned for the last time to the light of that sun whose rising and setting was at an end for him.
But Mobile Bay was yet before us. Immediately following the events just related, my tour of duty in the turret ended for the time being, and I once more returned to the engine room. The first effect of going from the cool air of the turret to the terrible heat of the engine room was that of a curious chilliness. This, in a minute or two, was succeeded by a most copious perspiration, so violent that one's clothing became soaking wet, and the perspiration coursing down the scantily clothed body and limbs, filled the shoes so that they "chuckled" as one walked.
At 150 F. the glass in a lantern will crackle and break, the lamps burn dimly, and it is impossible to handle any metal with the bare hands. Pieces of canvas, like flat-iron holders [flat irons were heated on a hot stove and then used to press or iron clothing; holders were similar to hot pads] alone enable one to grasp a hand-rail or valve handle. Of course frequent bulletins of the fight were brought to the poor devils sweating their lives out in the engine room, and we got some idea of what was going on through the signal which at frequent intervals came from the pilot house.... The sounds produced by a shot striking our turret were far different from what I had anticipated. The scream of the shot would arrive at about the same time with the projectile, with far from a severe thud, and then the air would be filled with that peculiar shrill singing sound of violently broken glass, or perhaps more like the noise made by flinging a nail violently through the air. The shock of discharge of our own guns was especially hard on the ears of those in the turret, and it seemed at times as though the tympanums must give way.... At about eight o'clock the fire on our port hand began to slacken, and the word was passed below that the wooden fleet had entered the bay and that the fight was over.
Questions for Reading 3
1. Is it clear from Webster's account why the USS Tecumseh sank? Why would a torpedo make the ships sudden sinking seem so mysterious? Would a torpedo, or cannon fire, from Fort Morgan cause more immediate and lethal damage? Why?
2. How did Webster and his mates respond to the sinking? Why do you think the crew of the Hartford gave three cheers for the fallen mates aboard the USS Tecumseh? How does Webster's account reveal the camaraderie that develops among a ships' crew in time of war?
3. Beginning with the sentence, "But Mobile Bay was yet before us," underline passages that give clues to the hardships of serving on board a monitor. How did the new technology of the monitors create additional hardships? What was Webster's impression of the battle from below board? How might that differ from the impression of the battle by a defender at Fort Morgan?
4. Explain how first-hand accounts help people appreciate the hardships battles place on individuals.
Reading 3 was excerpted from Harrie Webster, "An August Morning with Farragut at Mobile Bay," in Civil War Naval Chronology: 1861-1865 (Compiled by Naval History Division, Navy Department, Washington: 1971), VI-94-95.


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WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 - At a time when energy prices and industry profits are soaring, the federal government collected little more money last year than it did five years ago from the companies that extracted more than $60 billion in oil and gas from publicly owned lands and coastal waters.
If royalty payments in fiscal 2005 for natural gas had risen in step with market prices, the government would have received about $700 million more than it actually did, a three-month investigation by The New York Times has found.
But an often byzantine set of federal regulations, largely shaped and fiercely defended by the energy industry itself, allowed companies producing natural gas to provide the Interior Department with much lower sale prices - the crucial determinant for calculating government royalties - than they reported to their shareholders.
As a result, the nation's taxpayers, collectively, the biggest owner of American oil and gas reserves, have missed much of the recent energy bonanza.
The disparities in gas prices parallel those uncovered just five years ago in a wave of scandals involving royalty payments for oil. From 1998 to 2001, a dozen major companies, while admitting no wrongdoing, paid a total of $438 million to settle charges that they had fraudulently understated their sale prices for oil.Continue reading the main story
Since then, the government has tightened its rules for oil payments. But with natural gas, the Bush administration recently loosened the rules and eased its audits intended to uncover cheating.
Industry executives deny any wrongdoing, arguing that the disparities stem primarily from different rules for calculating the sale prices for paying royalties and the sale prices for informing shareholders.
"The price of gas downstream is always going to be higher because you have costs that have to be recouped for getting it to the customer," said Robert H. Davis, a spokesman for Exxon Mobil. "You have to process the gas. You have to transport it, and you have to sell it. There will always be a discrepancy there."
Companies that pump oil and gas on federal property are required to pay the government royalties, usually 12 percent to 16 percent of the value of what they sell.
Royalties for natural gas have climbed sharply in the last three years. But while prices nearly doubled from 2001 to 2005, the $5.15 billion in gas royalties for 2005 was less than the $5.35 billion in 2001. When oil and gas are combined, royalties were about $8 billion in 2005, almost the same as in 2001.
Because much of the information about specific transactions is kept secret, it remains unclear to what extent, if at all, the weakness in royalty payments stems from deliberate cheating or from issues with the rules themselves.
But one major producer, Burlington Resources, admitted to shareholders last year that it might have underpaid about $76 million in gas royalties in the 1990's. And in Alabama, a jury ruled in 2003 that Exxon had cheated on $63.6 million worth of royalties from gas wells in state-owned waters. The jury awarded $11.9 billion in punitive damages, which a judge later reduced to $3.5 billion. Exxon disputes the charges and is appealing the verdict.
The possible losses to taxpayers in gas could be even higher than the losses tied to the scandals over oil royalties. For one thing, natural gas production on federal land is worth twice as much as oil.
Moreover, the Interior Department has scaled back on full audits, pushed out a couple of its more aggressive auditors and been criticized by its own inspector general for the audits that it did pursue.
"We are talking about the same issues and in many cases the same players as before," said Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, a nonprofit watchdog group that exposed many of the oil royalty scandals.
"These companies had knowingly been cheating on oil for years, if not decades," Ms. Brian continued. "To ignore the likelihood that the same thing is happening on the gas side is absurd."
Johnnie M. Burton, director of the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service, said the disparities were mostly the result of deductions that the regulations let companies take, reducing the sale prices they report to the government.
But Ms. Burton said she had not known and could not explain why companies were reporting higher sale prices to their shareholders and to the Securities and Exchange Commission than to her office.
"I can't answer because I don't know," she said in an interview. "We don't look at S.E.C. filings. We don't have enough staff to do all of that. If we were to do that, then we would have to have more staff and more budget. You know, there is such a thing as budget constraint, and it's been real tough, let me tell you." The contrasts between what companies are telling the government and what they are telling shareholders is stark.
The Interior Department, using the numbers given by companies paying royalties, said the average sale price of natural gas on federal leases was $5.62 per thousand cubic feet in fiscal 2005, which ended Sept. 30.
By contrast, Exxon told shareholders that it received about $6.88 per thousand cubic feet in the nine months that ended Sept. 30. Chevron said its average price in that period was $6.49. Kerr-McGee, which suffered huge losses from hedging against a drop in prices, nonetheless said it still received an average price of $6.59.
"There's no reason why what the companies report to their shareholders should be higher than what they report" to the Minerals Management Service, said Lee Helfrich, a lawyer who has represented California in many battles with the industry over royalties. "The ultimate goals or mission of the S.E.C. and the M.M.S. are different, but the information reported to each should be the same."
In the scandals over oil royalties in the 1990's, government investigators, aided by industry whistle-blowers and investigation by the Project on Government Oversight, found that companies were using a host of tricks to understate their sale prices.
These included buy-sell agreements in which producers swapped oil with each other at artificially low prices and then resold it at higher prices. Companies also sold oil at below-market prices to their own affiliates, classified high-priced "sweet" oil as much cheaper "sour" oil and padded their deductions for transportation costs.
In the wake of the scandals, the outgoing Clinton administration pushed through tough new rules for valuing crude oil, which relied on comparing company reports with an index of spot market prices.
A Pro-Industry Approach
But the Bush administration did not close any loopholes for valuing natural gas. Indeed, in March 2005 it expanded the list of deductions and decided against valuing sales at spot-market prices when companies were selling to their own affiliates.
The industry-friendly stance was intentional. Mr. Bush and top White House officials also placed a top priority on promoting domestic energy production. Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force called for giving lucrative new incentives to companies that drill in the Gulf of Mexico and other high-risk areas.
The Bush administration also took a much more relaxed approach to auditing and fraud prevention. In 2003, the Interior Department's inspector general declared that the auditing process was "ineffective" and "lacked accountability" and that many of the auditors were unqualified.
In one instance, inspectors discovered that auditors had lost the working papers for an important audit and tried to cover up their blunder by creating and back-dating false documents. Rather than punish anybody, the inspector general recounted, the minerals service gave the employee who produced the new documents a financial bonus for "creativity."
Administration officials said last week that they had addressed most of the criticisms and that the inspector general had since said its corrective actions were "sufficient."
The Interior Department also fired two of its most aggressive and successful auditors. One of them was Bobby L. Maxwell, a veteran auditor who had recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in underpayments over a 22-year career and received an award for meritorious service in 2003 from Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton.
Mr. Maxwell was fired in early 2005 after clashing with superiors over his belief that Kerr-McGee had shortchanged the government $12 million. Mr. Maxwell charged that he had been wrongfully fired, and the government paid him an undisclosed amount of money to settle out of court.
Mr. Maxwell is now pursuing Kerr-McGee, which has denied any guilt, with his own lawsuit under the False Claims Act, which allows private citizens who prove fraud to collect some of the money they help recover.
Patrick Etchart, a spokesman for the Minerals Management Service in Denver, said that Mr. Maxwell lost his job because of a reorganization and that he had declined an offer to move to a different city.
But lawmakers who wrestled with the government over previous royalty scandals are dubious.
"It's all gotten worse, not better," said Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, Democrat of New York, who led Congressional investigations into cheating on oil royalties in the 1990's. "They make the process so complicated that no one can really follow the money."
Ending Detailed Inspections
Perhaps the most striking example of sluggish auditing is the government's effort to collect back royalties from companies that blatantly ignored one of the government's basic rules.
Under current rules aimed at promoting energy production in deep waters, companies can produce large volumes of oil and gas without paying royalties at all. But the rules also require companies to start paying royalties if market prices climb above certain "threshold" levels.
As it happens, market prices have been above those levels since the 2003 fiscal year. But even though dozens of companies never bothered to start paying, Ms. Burton said earlier this month that the government had yet to demand repayment three months into the 2006 fiscal year.
"It's more complicated than you might think," said Lucy Querques Dennett , associate director of the Minerals Management Service in charge of the issue.
But enforcing the rules about price thresholds is easy compared with verifying the actual sale value of natural gas.
Over the last four years, the Bush administration has ordered its auditors to move away from detailed inspections in favor of a more cursory approach of looking for anomalies in company reports. If a company in Louisiana, say, reported prices that differed from those of other companies in the same region, it would attract closer scrutiny.
Mr. Etchart, the agency's spokesman, said that the number of full-scale audits had declined slightly over the past few years and that the budget for compliance had fallen.
But he said the government still took a "close look" at 71 percent of oil and gas production. "Our strategy would obviously be to focus on anomalies," he said, "but it is also to focus on large producing areas."
The agency's strategy has drawn protests, however, from many states, which are entitled to a share of federal royalties, and from some of the Interior Department's most aggressive auditors.
One of those auditors was Kevin Gambrell, director of the Federal Indian Minerals Office in Farmington, N.M. Mr. Gambrell fought with his superiors over many issues, one of which was their demand that he do fewer audits and simply monitor posted prices of companies in the same area.
"Where the M.M.S. approach falls short is that there are so many different types of deductions you can take in getting gas and oil to the market, and there are so many premiums and bonuses in the contracts," Mr. Gambrell said in a recent interview. "You have to take a detailed look at the contracts to know what's going on."
The Interior Department forced Mr. Gambrell out in 2003, charging that he had improperly destroyed office documents. Mr. Gambrell sued for wrongful termination, arguing that he had discarded only copies of documents. He also presented evidence that his office had recovered eight times as much money as offices that used the administration's preferred approach.
The government settled his case in 2004 by clearing him of any wrongdoing and paying him an undisclosed amount of money.
For practical purposes, the biggest cost to taxpayers may have less to do with cheating and fraud than with the government's inscrutable rules.
Consider the case of Burlington Resources, a Houston-based producer that ConocoPhillips acquired in December for $35.6 billion. Burlington paid $8.5 million in 2001 to settle charges of cheating related to its oil royalties. Last March, Burlington disclosed that it might also have underpaid gas royalties by about $76 million during the 1990's. It set aside $81 million to cover possible litigation costs.
Unlike others, Burlington executives provided information to The Times on the royalties it paid for natural gas and on the sale prices that it has reported to the Interior Department since 2002.
During those four years, Burlington said it paid $627 million in gas royalties and that its annual payment shot up from $89 million in 2002 to $233 million in 2005.
That surge in royalties does track closely with the rise in market prices. But Burlington's numbers also highlight the essential issue raised by many critics: the rules let companies understate the value of their gas sales by taking scores of deductions.
Those deductions include the cost of transportation, processing, brokerage fees, pipeline reservation fees and even certain "theoretical losses" for companies that own their own pipelines.
In 2001, Burlington reported an average price of $1.98 per thousand cubic feet to the government but an average sale price of $3.20 to its shareholders. In 2005, the company reported an average sale price of $5.75 to the government and $6.46 to shareholders.
Keeping Royalties Secret
James Bartlett, a spokesman for Burlington, said part of the discrepancy resulted from the fact that much of Burlington's production is in the Rocky Mountains, where natural gas fetches lower prices.
The federal government does not require companies to divulge the amount of royalties they pay or what they tell the government about sale prices. And unlike Burlington Resources, Exxon and most other major oil companies refused to disclose the information when asked.
"It's not required information," said Mr. Davis of Exxon, echoing responses from Chevron, Royal Dutch/Shell and other big producers. "We're not going to publish it."Continue reading the main story


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Internet marketing can be a daunting prospect for any small business looking to promote their businesses online for the first time.
- How do you know which Internet Marketing Strategies are right for you?
- How do you know where to start?
- How do you know what you can do yourself and what you should outsource?
This site aims to help small business new to the web find the most appropriate Internet Marketing solutions; by applying the right strategies to grow their businesses online. Learn why you should do something and then on how you do it; as cost effectively as possible for your small business. You will find the Internet Marketing Solutions which are right for your business in our blog. .
Internet Marketing Strategies: What are they?
Internet Marketing – at its most basic – can be defined as the art of selling more of your offering online. The Internet Marketing Strategies we focus on in our blog will give you a range of internet marketing solutions for your business; solutions which will present themselves to you once you begin to apply and test out the of strategies discussed on our blog. For small businesses new to Internet Marketing, two essentials to 'nail' are; firstly, your focus is going to be largely on direct marketing – specifically what is known as 'permission based' marketing; secondly, the marketing of your product on the internet is , much more important than getting your website to look right. What is key is to set up a robust internet marketing campaign that will give you the right internet marketing solutions for your business and to keep it working over time.
Most big name brands have a marketing approach that is based on supporting their brand and encouraging/incentivising people to buy from retailers. With internet marketing, the focus is more on interacting with your customers who become more like your 'partners' than your 'customers'. This is great news for small businesses planning to adopt internet marketing strategies as it presents a level playing field from a resourcing point of view.
Internet Marketing Solutions
Your internet marketing solutions come from applying and testing the following four Internet Marketing Strategies in varying ways:
Internet Marketing Strategies #1
Attracting traffic to your site
Traffic means potential customers coming to your site; however it also means repeat visits by those who are already customers. This is good news for small businesses beginning Internet Marketing as it shouldn't cost any money… However it is important to get the right 'qualified' traffic coming to your site. This is largely achieved through 'Social Media Marketing'- interacting with your customers and potential customers through Twitter, Face book, LinkedIn, etc; finding out what their needs and wants are their challenges and frustrations. This is significantly more than simple 'networking'! Various tactics and strategies for your small business Social Media Marketing are and will continue to be discussed in our Internet Marketing Strategies blog.
Once you have your traffic, convert as many of them as possible into buyers. This usually involves your visitor giving your their email address and permission for you to contact them in exchange for something you agree to give them for free.
Internet Marketing Strategies #2
The search results that appear in the main listing area of Google are lifted from a database created as Google scans websites and categorises them according to their content. If you rank highly in the listings you will get free traffic from those who have searched for your business by typing in relevant 'keywords'. Keyword research is an important Internet Marketing Strategy which you can learn more about in our blog.
Unfortunately there is no way of guaranteeing the top spot for any high traffic keywords whether you are a small internet based business or a large one. To appear on the first page requires hard work through the Internet Marketing Strategy known as Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). There are two parts to this: On Page SEO and Off Page SEO, which you will read more about in our Internet Marketing Strategies blog. These are the Internet Marketing Solutions to increase your online visibility and drive more traffic to your site. It takes time so you will need patience. The good news for small businesses new to Internet Marketing however is that Google rewards sites that have been around a bit in two ways: first it will rank an older site higher than an equivalent brand new one. Secondly, you earn brownie points for the number of links coming into your site from relevant, higher –ranking sites
Internet Marketing Strategies # 3
The most common form of Internet Marketing advertising is Google Ad Words (PayPerClick). The advantage of this to small businesses new to Internet Marketing is that it can drive qualified, relevant traffic to your site at a price that you decided. You pay only when a potential visitor clicks the ad and visits your site. More on this will be discussed in our blog. PPC also allows you to track the effectiveness of your ad by measuring its 'click-through' rate; the percentage of those who click on your ad. You can also track sales themselves so you can determine which of your ads was the 'most profitable'.
Internet Marketing Strategies # 4:
Permission based Internet Marketing
Nurturing your 'tribe' or 'tribes' is something you will come across a lot during your Internet Marketing adventure; particularly on Social Media. Once a visitor arrives at your site, it is key to start a long –term relationship with theme- they have invested in your business and will be looking for treatment in kind. If they are happy to give you their contact details- just a name and email address are usually all that are required; then the law of reciprocity kicks in with you giving them something of real value to them.
With permission based Internet Marketing; once the customer hands over their details, they then receive specially written emails which have two goals in mind: firstly to encourage them to read more of your emails and ultimately to be able to sell more to them in time. A common mistake is to make every email seem like a sales letter. This leads to the downhill spiral where your customer starts disengaging with you and sooner rather than later, unsubscribes. The priority is to earn the trust of your customers and give them real value through your emails. In a sense you want them to be 'pre-conditioned' to expect nothing but high value from you.
The series of of emails you send is called an 'auto responder' and there are many email providers that enable you to do this, such as icontact.com which is free at the basic level; perfect for small businesses new to Internet Marketing. A good autoresonder sequence will enable you to build trust over a much shorter period than a sales page and is a truly powerful tool to have in your small business Internet Marketing arsenal.


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Foland Wickens Eisfelder Roper Law Offices
Kansas City, MO
Original SFS design adapted to meet needs of new owner, preserving award-winning elements
Design a modern, inviting environment for a law firm's downtown Kansas City offices.
SFS designers met with each partner individually to define and outline image, finishes and furnishings to personalize each of their offices and gather feedback on the design for the general office areas.
The resulting 19,000 SF space provides a fresh, modern aesthetic that is welcoming to clients. SFS provided complete architectural and interior design services.


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Hello Loppon,
My partner's stepfather has been suffering from this condition for some years. Does TM have anything to say about its cause, etc, and what (if any) treatment is recommended?
restless legs syndrome
A forum for all questions about Tibetan Medicine. No more posting in this forum until further notice.
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Re: restless legs syndrome
http://dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=96&t=3839" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;Will members of Dharma Wheel please note the Tibetan Medicine Forum is not a general discussion forum.
It was created so members could ask questions of and receive answers from qualified Tibetan Medicine practitioners. The only person currently recognised by Dharma Wheel as being qualified in the field of Tibetan Medicine is Malcolm.
Members wishing to discuss medical practices or receive general answers and suggestions are free to post in other forums, for example Lounge, Help Required, Personal Experience and Engaged Buddhism, but please keep the Tibetan Medicine forum free of all general discussion, posts of this nature will be removed without further notice.
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Company : Eberbach Corp
UMDC Code : 103268
Eberbachs 4000 Series Petrographic Microscope Slide Cabinets provide safe, short-term and long-term, storage of prepared slides which can easily be indexed for retrieval. Sturdy aluminum micro slide trays, numbered in sets of 25, are removable and interchangeable between cabinet systems. Individual compartments for laying slides flat, maintain cover glasses in place, preserving your work year round. Nominal capacity can be doubled, as two micro slides can be stacked in each compartment. Unnumbered, replacement slide trays are sold separately (Order No. E4140).
Product URL : http://www.eberbachlabtools.com/Microscope-Slide-Storage/E4120-Petrographic-Microscope-Slide-Cabinet.html
Last Updated : 03/16/2013
Categories : "Cabinets, Filing, Slide", "Cabinets"
Please provide the following information and a representative of Eberbach Corp will contact you to assist with any questions you might have.
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Copyright 2019 Medical Product Guide. All Rights Reserved
ECRI Institute Universal Medical Device Nomenclature System (UMDNS™) Proprietary Statement
Ensure that document matches include...
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There are 2 types of basic queries: Terms and Phrases.
A Term is a single word search.
A Phrase would wrap a string of words in quotes and find matches on the extact string.
Boolean Operators
You can combine basic queries with Boolean operators to form a more complex query. Boolean operators define the relationships between Terms or Phrases. Our search supports the following Boolean operators: AND, "+", OR, NOT and "-". Please note that Boolean operators must be all uppercase.
example search: default AND document
This is the default operator. It will be used if there is no Boolean operator between two terms. For example:
default document is the same as default AND document. In this case both terms need to exist within a listing to find a match on that listing.The + character is synonymous with using AND.
example search: default OR document
In this case just one of the terms needs to exist within a listing to find a match on that listing.
example search: default NOT "document type"
The NOT operator excludes documents that contain the term (or phrase) after NOT. So a listing match would have to include the word default but not the phrase "document type". The - character is synonymous with using NOT.
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Purchase and Delivery: This jersey is part of a custom made-to-order service. These custom jerseys are shipped separately, as soon as they are complete, and the shipping method you select will only apply AFTER the customization period. However, you will be charged at the time of purchase. Delivery dates are approximate and are not guaranteed.
Please Note: There are no cancellations, returns or exchanges on custom made jerseys.
To ensure the life of your Warriors Swingman jersey, we strongly recommend to hand wash with delicate soap and line dry to maintain the quality of your jersey. Instructions on the inside tag of the jersey are for the garment PRIOR to the numbers being applied. We can not accept any returns or exchanges for apparent incorrect washing of these garments.
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"I WAS raped every day for a year but I am no longer a victim, I am a survivor."
During an exclusive interview, one brave mum-of-two, from Essex, has spoken about her horrific experience in an attempt to save others.
Hers is an inspiring story of turning despair into hope and a dark past into a bright future. Her name has been changed and her address kept secret to protect her and her children.
"Jenny" speaks here about how there is help and hope for victims of domestic abuse in Essex and how she supports the countywide Standing Together campaign...
"I HAD known him for 28 years. We grew up together.
"After years apart we met up again. I can't remember how, but it was amazing.
"We had so much to catch up on and I had found my lifelong friend.
"We moved in together three months later and it was picture perfect."
That was about three years ago. Then the warning signs started to appear.
Jenny's partner, and soon to be husband, began checking her phone.
She said: "It started with little things. He was checking the phone and being overprotective, but I thought it was sweet – he was making sure I was OK."
Things started to get worse but Jenny decided, with a bit of help and counselling, they could solve any issues and they got married.
Three days later, she was raped for the first time.
Recalling the horrific event, she said: "The kids were at school. He came in and raped me in the bathroom and the shower.
"I was so scared. I felt naive, I felt guilty and he thought it was my duty as his wife. He raped me every day.
"At first, there were mixed emotions.
"He was my best friend. I felt guilty for letting him do it to me.
"But I didn't have the courage to get help, although I knew there was some out there.
"For 14 months it happened daily, but I had to protect my children, and I thought if anyone knew social services would take them away from me.
"Also, I loved him and I was so vulnerable and so low."
By now, Jenny had distanced herself from her friends, quit her job and had no life, other than protecting her children and trying to cope with the daily torment.
She said: "People will ask, why did I not just hit him in the face with a frying pan? And today I would, but by then you have been emotionally broken down."
However, one day he began shouting, screaming and then threatening her daughters.
Jenny said: "I woke up one morning and looked at him and mouthed, 'I hate you'.
"Just by saying that, it helped."
Jenny began secretly researching what to do to get out. She became better at lying and would delete her internet history.
Then one day, more than a year ago now, she made a phone call. She said: "By now he had taken me off Facebook. I had no job or friends. He had made sure he was all that was in my life.
"But we went for a walk and, although he was watching, I called social services.
"It was one simple five minute call, but it was not simple to make.
"I felt so good after calling.
The next day someone came out to see me. He did not know anything.
The relief was amazing."
Excuses were made for the visit and Jenny continued to be in regular and secret contact with social services staff.
Jenny said: "The social worker told me she would not leave me, she would not abandon me, but it was still my choice what I did.
"I looked into her eyes the first time we met and she just knew.
"She was amazing."
Twoweeks later, Jenny left her husband.
Everything was carefully planned. While he was asleep in bed she packed what she could and jumped into their car with her children. They drove to the end of the road and then switched to a taxi before being taken to a refuge.
She said: "In those two weeks I felt rejuvenated.
"Everyone had been so helpful.
Nobody pressured me and I was more scared than ever when I left that he would find me.
Three days before I left, I had a place in a refuge and they have been fantastic.
"I felt bewildered and guilty for leaving him, but when I arrived someone gave me a hug and I broke down."
In the coming days she had 720 missed calls from her ex, but she did not reply.
And little by little, the refuge helped her.
Jenny said: "I was not by myself, but I was scared all the time at first."
Jenny has been in the refuge for a year and is now getting ready to move on.
She said: "They made me feel comfortable. Nothing was ever too much – there was never a stupid question."
They supported her with things like banking and benefits help, and Jenny finally had control of her life again.
She said: "Refuge staff were encouraging, they were reassuring.
Within a few days, he had made more than 1,000 calls and messages, but I can look back now and see I have come so far."
There are, on average, 80 calls to police about domestic abuse in Essex every day.
Jenny hopes her story can give strength to women, and men, who are coping with abuse.
When she returned to her house, under a police escort, to collect her belongings everything had been destroyed.
There was blood and empty bottles everywhere. But she was safe and her children were safe.
Jenny said: "Now I am not a victim, I am a survivor.
"I am looking forward to the future and I want to help others do the same."
During her time at the refuge, she has gained qualifications and now hopes to find work.
She said: "It was so hard to make that first phone call, but such a simple thing changed everything.
"It makes me proud to think what I have achieved."
Today there is even more support than ever for victims of abuse.
The advent of Claire's Law and Sarah's Law now allows people to ask about the history of potential future partners.
Councils across Essex have also joined forces with the police to launch Standing Together.
It encourages victims to lead the campaign to raise awareness.
To find out more, visit essex.police.uk/standingtogether


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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Sophomore Kelsey Gray notched a
double-double the hard way Friday night, combining 11 kills with 10
blocks to help lift Tennessee Tech to a 3-1 Ohio Valley Conference
volleyball victory over Jacksonville State in front of an
exhuberant and delighted crowd in Eblen Center.
"The team played amazing in the first two sets," Gray said. "I was really proud of the way the team played in the fourth set after we had lost the third set. The crowd really helped us back into it in the fourth set."
Tech has now won four of its last six matches to improved to 4-5 in OVC play and 6-14 overall. Jacksonville State, which came into the match tied for second place in the OVC, slipped to 6-3 within the league and 11-9 overall.
Gray, a 6-2 middle blocker from Newark, Ohio, was one of three Golden Eagles to reach double figures in kills. All-OVC senior Leah Meffert led all players with 17 kills while hitting .364, and senior Marie Peddicord added 10 kills and four total blocks. Freshman libero Allison May had 25 of Tech's 54 digs, while Melanie Culp dished up 42 assists.
Caitlin Vorbeck finished with 15 kills and nine digs for the
Gamecocks while Alyx Schulte added 12 kills. Lauren Harkins paced
the JSU defense with 20 digs while setter Brooke Schumacher had 35
"Every win is big, no matter who you're facing," said TTU head coach John Blair. "To have a win like this against a quality opponent says a lot about our team's character.
"Kelsey (pictured at left) revealed the true Kelsey Gray tonight," Blair added. "She did something that she's always been capable of and it was nice to see it tonight. Leah scored so many points tonight. We talked about staying aggressive before the match and she did just that, and she got the big plays when we needed them."
The Golden Eagles led most of the first set, jumping out to a
quick 5-0 lead and maintaining an edge before the Gamecocks ralied
late to tie the score at 18-18. The visitors tied the contest at
19, 20, 23 and 24 before the Golden Eagles clinched the point with
a kill by Gray and a JSU attack error for the 26-24 victory. Tech
hit .286 in the opening round as Gray and Meffert led the way. Gray
had six kills and a .454 hitting mark while Meffert hit .625 and
added five kills. Schulte and Vorbeck had six kills apiece in the
first set.
It was at the net that the Golden Eagles dominated in the second set, taking a 25-11 decision for a 2-0 lead in the match. Gray had eight total blocks in the set and Penrod added four as defense was the difference. Tech managed just three kills but took advantage with the blocking game. JSU had six kills but 17 errors in hitting a minus .306 for the set.
"I was pretty excited at the end of the second set," Gray said. "I got two blocks in a row late in the set and the adrenaline really started pumping."
Jacksonville returned from the break to snare the third set, 25-16, breaking away late in the set. Kara Slater, Vorbeck and Schumacher each had kills in the late run and the Golden Eagles aided the visitors with several errors. Harkins also drilled a pair of service aces for the Gamecocks.
Tech bounced back to capture the fourth set, 25-18, to clinch the victory. The Golden Eagles took advantage of some timely hitting and a handful of Gamecock miscues for the winner. Jacksonville State actually took control early, building a 10-4 lead as the Golden Eagle had trouble keeping the ball in play. JSU was still on top by five points, 15-10, before Meffert (pictured at left), Peddicord and freshman Natalie Penrod each slammed home kills to ignite Tech's comeback. Three consecutive attack errors by JSU pushed Tech to a 19-17 lead, and the Golden Eagles grabbed control. Penrod and Gray had kills, Laura Pierce served an ace, and Tech finished it off with two kills by Meffert and one from Gray.
Meffert was nearly flawless in the fourth set with seven kills in nine swings without an error for a .778 hitting mark.


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Front-end Modules profit center
As the only company worldwide to specialize in the design, development, assembly, and logistics of complex front end modules, HBPO GmbH continues setting new industry standards with technically sophisticated as well as economically attractive solutions. HBPO, which emerged from Behr-Hella Fahrzeugsysteme GmbH founded in 1999, was established at the beginning of 2004 as a joint venture (in equal parts) between the three automotive suppliers Hella, Behr, and Plastic Omnium.
More at www.hbpogroup.com
The products
- The front end module is a complex assembly unit with very high demands on functionality, technology, and fitting accuracy. The visible parts are—depending on the model—the headlights, the front grill, and the bumpers. Located behind these parts are the front end carrier, the vehicle air conditioning components, as well as the engine cooling and crash management system.


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The University of Southern Maine Arboretum is located in Gorham, Maine, just a short trip inland from Portland. It encompasses USM's historic Gorham Campus and currently includes more than 110 trees with new species being planted, catalogued and added all the time. The diversity of living specimens represented in the arboretum is crucial to the longevity of the local tree population and creates a rich environment for humans and many other creatures.
Shade or Street Trees: Trees that have qualities that enhance urban areas by utilizing their growth habits, durability and hardiness.
Ornamental: Smaller trees or large shrubs usually less than 30' tall or wide that have qualities that can be used to enhance property.


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Story highlights
- Paula Abdul is getting back into judging
- She will guest judge on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars"
- She's been off the scene since leaving "The X Factor"
Paula Abdul is returning to the judges' panel — but not on a singing show. The former judge of American Idol will sit alongside Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba on "Dancing with the Stars" Oct. 15.
"Dance has always been my first love and Dancing with the Stars epitomizes what dance can do to the human spirit," Abdul said in a pretaped package that aired during Monday's show. I've been sneaking into the show for years, and now I get to be a guest judge. It's a marriage made in dancing heaven."
Abdul's been out of work since bugging out of "The X Factor."


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Kingaroy Observatory is a public stargazing attraction, located at the town's airport just a short drive from the town's Central Business District. Large, roadside tourist signs point the way.
They have three, Meade 14 inch telescopes to show you the Moon, Stars and Planets up close!
The observatory works on two observing parameters: Stars and Planets nights which allows you to view the Milky Way, Star clusters, Nebula and Galaxies. Moon and Planet nights are best for adults and school children who want view the Moon up close in the telescopes.
During your night visit, the astronomer points out various constellations and stars using a registered Green Laser pointer, and gives an ongoing commentary of what you are about to see in the telescopes.
During the day, you can sit in comfort in their 70 seat air-conditioned Star Theatre and see the sun projected onto a big screen. This is where you see the real surface of the Sun. It's absolutely awesome!
The observatory has no steps. Telescopes are accessible to wheelchairs.
Plenty of parking along Geoff Raph Drive.
The observatory is owned and operated by professional astronomer and photographer, James Barclay with over 60 years experience.
|Cost AUD
|Valid From
|$15.00 - $15.00
|All prices are listed on their website. They also have discount rates for groups over 30 to 45 persons.
|Indicative Prices
|$25.00 - $35.00
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


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SYDNEY - Rising Australian star Bernard Tomic clinched his first ATP Tour title with a fighting win over South African Kevin Anderson in the final of the Sydney International on Saturday.
Tomic claimed his eighth straight win of the year in downing the 36th-ranked Anderson 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3 in one hour and 55 minutes, setting himself up for the Australian Open, which begins Monday, and saying he felt "unstoppable". Tomic is the first Australian winner of the Sydney tournament since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005 and the first 20-year-old event winner since Roger Federer in 2002. "I couldn't ask for anything more. It's an amazing feeling," Tomic said. "Now that I know what it feels like to win a tournament, and it's the best feeling in the world. "I'm so happy I won. I can't stop here now. Now I've got to look to the next tournament and keep playing the tennis I've been playing."
He will head the Australian Open in Melbourne with his ranking down to 43 and with a chance of facing the 17-time Grand Slam champion and second seed Federer in the third round.
Tomic begins with a match against Argentina's Leonardo Mayer on Tuesday. "I've got a good opponent in the first round and I'm playing great tennis. I feel unstoppable. I feel like I'm playing great tennis," he said. "When you know that no one can beat you, not even the No.1, you've got a good feeling.
"It's amazing stepping on court. You're so confident. That's going to be taken down to Melbourne and I'm going to use that for every match I play there." Tomic began confidently, breaking Anderson's opening service game and holding a break point in the sixth game before wrapping up the set in 28 minutes.
But he encountered stiffer opposition from Anderson in the second set, fighting off a break point on serve in the eighth game before taking it to a tiebreaker, which the South African dominated to make it one set all.
Tomic had the Anderson serve under pressure in the third set, breaking in the eighth game on his fourth break point when Anderson double-faulted.
Tomic confidently served out for the match for his first career senior title. It was his second victory over Anderson.
The confident youngster has begun 2013 in blazing style starting with three wins in the mixed teams Hopman Cup, including a triumph in Perth over world number one Novak Djokovic.
"I'm really fit and that's why I feel fine," Tomic said.
"It's just amazing what I've done the last few months and got my body to where it is and my tennis is improving each day.
"To get all these matches under my belt is a big confidence and this is what you need in this sport."
Anderson, 26, was the first South African to reach the final of the Sydney International.