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Saturday also marks the return of the Magna 5, the nationwide pick five wager on races at coast-to-coast tracks, beginning with the final race on the Laurel program. The other races are simulcast from Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields. The wager has a $1 minimum bet with no guaranteed pool, which was not the case in previous five years.
Fascinatin' Rhythm, the stronger half of the entry, will be ridden by Jozbin Santana. The daughter of More Than Ready earned her role as favorite with four wins in eight starts last year and second place finishes in both the Northern Dancer and Squan Song Stakes. She closed out 2008 with a 7-1/2 length romp against optional claiming company at Saturday's distance.
For Kisses, who will be handled by Mario Pino, is the only stakes winner in the field with scores in the 2008 Monmouth Beach Stakes and 2007 Squan Song Stakes and eight in the money finishes in 16 added money races. The daughter of Not For Love finished fifth after a troubled trip in last year's Nellie Morse but then rallied for third in the Grade II Barbara Fritchie Handicap. For Kisses has five wins in nine starts at the distance, including an upset of millionaire Silmaril 14 months ago.
"I like the chances of both of my fillies," said Small. "Both are doing well, both are training well."
The three closest rivals to the Small entry are all listed at 6-1, including two from the powerful Graham Motion barn: Sky Copper and Real Property. The two combined to win five of 18 races in 2008 but did not produce a stakes score.
Syd N Carly's Rose, also 6-1, was claimed for $20,000 by Tim Hooper in October. She has since finished third and first at Philadelphia Park. Jose Flores will ride the Ecton Park mare for owner Michael Gill.
Trainer Chris Grove won the Nellie Morse with Silmaril (2005) and Lexi Star (2007) and supplemented Irvs Pick (8-1) into this year's edition. The daughter of Slew O'Quoit has hit the board in eight consecutive starts and has won three of her last five starts, all at Charles Town.
"She keeps getting better and better," Grove said.
Rounding out the field will be On a High Cloud (8-1), All Smiles (10-1) and La Bomba (12-1).


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A comprehensive biochemical assessment of nutrition status
CDC's Second Nutrition Report [PDF – 10.98MB] is part of a series of publications that provide ongoing assessment of the U.S. population's nutrition status by measuring blood and urine concentrations of biochemical indicators (such as nutrients or a dietary indicator with potential health relevance).
Covering 58 biochemical indicators, CDC's Second Report is the most comprehensive biochemical assessment of the nutritional status of the U.S. population – it shows us what the levels of nutrition indicators are actually in people – general population and selected groups such as children, women of childbearing age, and minorities.
The CDC's Division of Laboratory Sciences in the National Center for Environmental Health conducted the laboratory analyses for the second report using data from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003 to 2006. The report does not include a state-by-state breakdown on nutritional status…Learn more
Related Links
Division of Laboratory Sciences
Using advanced laboratory science and innovative techniques, scientists at CDC have helped change environmental public health.
Global Micronutrient Lab
Established in 2000, the Global Micronutrient Lab collaborates with CDC colleagues to reduce the worldwide burden of micronutrient deficiencies.
Though the International Micronutrient malnutrition Prevention and Control Program (IMMPaCt), CDC contributes its skills and resources to the global effort to eliminate micronutrient malnutrition.
Vitamin A Laboratory External Quality Assurance (VITAL-EQA) is a standardization program that provides labs (that measure nutritional markers in serum) with an independent assessment of their analytical performance.
National Biomonitoring Program
CDC's Environmental Health Laboratory develops analytical methods to measure synthetic and naturally occurring environmental chemicals in people.
Folic Acid
CDC provides a broad range of information on folic acid for both the general public and health professionals.
CDC nutrition efforts cover a wide spectrum of related topics.
Ensuring the Quality of Iodine Procedures (EQUIP) is a standardization program that addresses laboratory quality-assurance issues related to testing for iodine deficiency.
- Page last reviewed: March 27, 2012
- Page last updated: March 27, 2012
- Content source:

subset: commoncrawl


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Is there a way in which ZFS can be prompted to redistribute a given filesystem over the all of the disks in its zpool?
I'm thinking of a scenario where I have a fixed size ZFS volume that's exported as a LUN over FC. The current zpool is small, just two 1TB mirrored disks, and the zvol is 750GB in total. If I were to suddenly expand the size of the zpool to, say, 12 1TB disks, I believe the zvol would still effectively be 'housed' on the first two spindles only.
Given that more spindles = more IOPS, what method could I use to 'redistribute' the zvol over all 12 spindles to take advantage of them?


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The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies hosted a special program presented by the USMC Returning Commander speaker series on Thursday, June 23. Col Mark Desens, commander of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Navy CAPT Pete Pagano, who led the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, spoke about their recent nine-month deployment across Southwest Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Marine pilots involved in the dramatic rescue of a US Air Force F-15 pilot in Libya also spoke, and described the rescue in detail. Opening remarks were made by LtGen Keith Stalder, USMC (Ret.), Institute Senior Fellow, and closing remarks were by Gen Al Gray, 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps and Chairman of the Institute's Board of Regents. Click below to watch video of the event.
Please note: The views of guest speakers are the speakers' alone and do not represent the views of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies or its staff. The Potomac Institute is a non-partisan, not-for-profit research organization dedicated to the free exchange of ideas for the purpose of informing public policy.


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Re-Reading Challenge: March 2009
(hosted by Nath – full details here)
Category: Romance – Historical (Middle Ages)
Series: No
She is the enemy of his clan, the friend of his foe, and the most beautiful prisoner he has ever seen. She is Judith Lindsay, the brazen young beauty who's bound by blood and honor to her beloved
Juliana Garnett was one of the first romance authors I read and I want to say upfront that her books are comfort reads for me. I try to be objective with this commentary, but if I sound a bit biased, well, at least you'll know why.
The time is 1327; the setting is
So Robert, nicknamed the Devil's Cub, bears the guilt and his father's ire of being the only son (and not one of his favourites) left alive. His sorrow, anger and animosity towards his father are well portrayed. He is a strong and honorable man and a laird in his own right. Despite his sorrow and anger over the senseless death of his brothers, he tries to make the hostages comfortable and shield them from his father's maddened grief. This is a man who wants to be a scholar instead of a warrior, but circumstances leave him with no choice but to fight.
Judith is a sensible and stoic woman. Widowed and childless at age twenty-six, this English gentlewoman is wanted by neither her late husband's clan nor her own father. She makes the best of things and doesn't hope for too much. When she is kidnapped with Mairi (the heiress) by those dastard
What makes this book so good for me are definitely Robert and Judith. Despite an early attraction, their love for each other grows through daily interaction, sharing of thoughts and kind gestures. They haven't known each other for very long before they fall in love – and this is what's so compelling for me – they are tentative with those new powerful feelings, yet they are willing to go ahead to trust and love, especially Judith. Her love for Robert is so complete and unwavering, and that's so beautiful to read.
Forming the backdrop to Robert and Judith's love story is an account of life of that time – clan wars, political alliances, allegiances. The author did a great job making this aspect interesting and didn't bog it down with too many details. I had enjoyed reading about the pillaging clans who would stand together against common enemies, but as soon as those enemies were vanquished, would immediately go back to the business of pillaging each other's livestock, etc.
All in all, this is a well-rounded, well-told highland tale.
4 out of 5. I like it. It's compelling, a page-turner. Sensuality: Subtle


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Beth Dalton,
Instructor of English
Beth and her students created an interactive Web site that made the resources of the David Owsley Museum of Art at Ball State University accessible to high school students.
The seminar tested the various features of its website—an online audio tour, an interactive art history timeline, and instructional material—with the art and humanities teachers and students at Monroe Central Junior-Senior High School. They also created an accompanying DVD for those high schools with limited internet access.
The seminar's partners included the Owsley Museum of Art, the Ball State University Media Services, and Monroe Central Junior-Senior High School.
CLASS MEMBERS: (L-R, Front Row) Amy Higgins, Katheryn Pourcho, Professor Beth Dalton, Laura Gilbert, Annalise Hartley, Madeline Witek; Second Row: Elizabeth Rasberry, Michelle Manzo, Sarah Burns; Third Row: David Hentz, George(Rick) Henry, Kelly Laffin, Christina Killingbeck, Loretta Smith


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Last updated: March 16, 2012
Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources
Archived PageThis page has been archived and is provided for historical reference purposes only. The content and links are no longer maintained and may now be outdated.
Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources
Advances in Genetics Research and Technologies: Challenges for Public Policy
Statement of Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Center for Human Genome Research
July 25, 1996
Madam Chairwoman and members of the Subcommittee, I am pleased to appear before you today to discuss advances in genetic analysis technology, the biomedical opportunities it presents, and the public policy challenges it poses. Genetic analysis is important to biomedical research because nearly every disease has a genetic component, and understanding disease at the genetic level in many instances gives us the best hope for preventing, treating or curing it.
Technology development in genetic analysis has received a tremendous boost from the Human Genome Project (HGP), the international research program launched six years ago to develop technologies that make finding genes easier, faster, and cheaper. The National Center for Human Genome Research (NCHGR), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) carry out the HGP in the United States. One of the goals of the HGP is to produce new technologies for the characterization of large amounts of DNA, specifically, all 23 pairs of human chromosomes and the 3 billion nucleotide bases that make up the human genome. Analysis of the genomes of several important model organisms are also included in the project's goals.
Briefly, the products of the HGP include genetic maps with closely spaced molecular markers throughout the human genome, physical maps consisting of sets of contiguous, cloned DNA spanning the entirety of each human chromosome, computer methods for easy data storage, retrieval, and manipulation, and ultimately, the complete nucleotide sequence of the human genome. The project thus far has been successful in meeting or exceeding the goals outlined in its original plan.
The HGP has been successful so far for several reasons. It was thoughtfully planned, focused on the development and application of new technology to significantly reduce the costs and vastly increase productivity, and recognized the need for a new kind of laboratory organization.
Last October, the HGP completed its fifth year with a record of excellent progress toward its goals. Its first goal, creating a detailed genetic map for the human genome, has been accomplished. Recently, a team of U. S. investigators published a physical map of the human genome composed of over 15,000 well-ordered markers; this represents a major milestone on the way to the next goal -- a comprehensive physical map of the human genome. Though original projections were that this map would not be finished until the end of 1998, completion is now expected in 1997. Already, over 95 percent of the human genome is represented in ordered sets of cloned DNA fragments.
These accomplishments have set the stage for the project's ultimate goal, sequencing all the DNA in the human genome by 2005. To accomplish this goal, the NCHGR has increased its investment in the development of new technology for DNA sequencing, concentrating on miniaturization and automation of current techniques. This approach has focused on improving speed and lowering cost. Progress in these projects has been remarkable as several laboratories have obtained at least 1 million base pairs of DNA sequence at a cost of about 50 cents per base pair. This represents a dramatic reduction in the cost of DNA sequencing from $5 to $10 per base pair when the Human Genome Project began.
This year, the NCHGR expanded its investment in DNA sequencing research. Pilot projects were initiated to address and resolve issues that will be confronted in large-scale sequencing of human DNA. These pilot projects are expected to generate between 50 and 100 million base pairs of human DNA sequence by 1998 and, in doing so, will develop and test the methods that will be used in the determination of the complete human DNA sequence.
With the prospect of completing the human DNA sequence early in the next century, we are eager to begin the translation and interpretation of this information. The HGP is producing detailed information about the chemical structure and organization of human DNA -- the order (sequence) of its three billion bases and the location of the approximately 100,000 genes it contains. However, the structural information that will result from the Project is only the beginning of biological interpretation. We will still face the challenge of understanding what the "instructions" encoded in human DNA mean; in other words, how the genes actually function. As Science magazine noted "To transform a single fertilized egg cell into an adult human body and then keeping that body alive and healthy ... requires some 100,000 genes, each adjusting its activity to precise degrees and at precise times and locations. Thanks in part to the Human Genome Project ... [scientists have assembled] ... vast amounts of raw material [emphasis added] about that intricate genetic machinery" [vol. 270, p. 368, 1995]. In less scientific terms, having a complete dictionary of the English language at hand is necessary, but not sufficient, for understanding Shakespeare's plays.
In biology, structure determines function. In general, the chemical structure and molecular shape of the DNA, RNA, proteins and other molecules that comprise our cells determines how these complex molecules work. For the most part, however, we have only superficial knowledge of how most of the molecules work together to form the complex, organized systems called cells, tissues and organs. If we understood how our genes and their biological products functioned normally, we would gain great insight into what happens when such normal function is disrupted or goes awry, which is what we call disease. We would then be able to take a truly knowledge-based approach to developing therapies and preventative strategies to reduce the disease burden on the American population.
As examples of how progress in genome technology is transforming our understanding of biology and medicine, let us consider three recent advances. One of these is "spectral karyotyping," a powerful new way to visualize the full set of human chromosomes, or karyotype, in a rainbow of colors. NCHGR scientist Thomas Ried and his coworkers applied spectral imaging, a technology used in remote sensing devices, to chromosomes isolated from cells. This exciting new technique translates computer-gathered light waves into a full-color palette and assigns each chromosome its own distinct hue. With all 23 pairs of human chromosomes identified by a different color, scientists can more easily examine the entire group of chromosomes for changes that could lead to disease, such as missing or extra pieces, or parts from different chromosomes that have swapped places. Dr. Ried and his coworkers have identified structural abnormalities in chromosomes from several different samples obtained from diagnostic laboratories, and demonstrated the value of the technique in identifying a breast cancer cell with a large number of broken and rearranged chromosomes and extra genetic material.
The power of the current whole-chromosome diagnostic techniques is limited because the methods rely on chemical stains that reveal only shades of gray. Pieces exchanged from one chromosome to another -- a process called "translocation" that is often associated with disease -- cannot easily be detected. And in diseased cells containing several badly distorted chromosomes, tracking the multiplication or exchange of genetic material is often impossible with conventional black-and-white banding.
In addition to its role in identifying chromosome changes related to the progression of disease, spectral karyotyping may be valuable in comparing genomes from different species to determine how genetic composition evolved over hundreds of thousands of years.
Another very exciting new technology is the DNA "chip," which takes a lead from semi-conductor science. A number of investigators in both the academic setting and in the biotechnology industry have been working to develop miniature devices that will allow hundreds, thousands, or millions of DNA assays to be carried out on a device smaller than a credit card.
One approach uses robots to produce arrays of hundreds or thousands of microscopic spots of DNA that represent genes on a "DNA array chip." All cells of an organism contain the same genes, but the pattern of genes being turned on or off is critical to the health of that tissue. Using this technology, one research team led by Pat Brown of Stanford, spotted samples representing 45 different genes from a small flowering plant (Arabidopsis thaliana) onto a microscope slide measuring just 1.5 inches by 2.5 inches. They then used this array to compare the activity of those genes in leaf and root tissue of the plant, finding that the activity of 27 of the 45 genes differed between those two tissues. This experiment shows that this technique has the potential to be a very sensitive and accurate way to identify specific genes that are turned on in any particular tissue, either healthy or diseased, or in any particular developmental stage.
Looking into the future, we can imagine the wealth of knowledge that can be gained from a gene expression chip consisting of 100,000 spots representing every human gene. Researchers are already laying the groundwork for using such technology to characterize the differential expression of genes in different tumor types, which would allow us to develop much more precise diagnostic criteria for different cancers and more individualized and effective treatments.
This chip sequencing technology will also have applications in human genetic testing. As the DNA sequence of more and more human genes becomes known, the chip will be used to scan for mutations in many genes at one time. This technology will also simplify testing in cases where many different mutations in a single gene can cause disease, such as breast cancer susceptibility genes like BRCA1 or the cystic fibrosis gene.
Virtually all of us are predisposed by our inheritance to at least one illness -- cancer, heart disease, diabetes to list a few. We are striving to learn more about the complex gene interactions that confer disposition to these common diseases. To accomplish this goal, the Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR) is now being established through an inter-institute agreement among eight NIH Institutes or Centers (IC) with the NCHGR serving as the lead. CIDR's main objective is the establishment of a facility dedicated to providing the research community with the physical and informatics infrastructure to successfully map the genes responsible for complex diseases. This marks a transition from "one gene-one disease" research into the study of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. CIDR will use genetic and statistical tools to analyze large numbers of samples and locate genes that contribute to the inheritance of complex traits in humans. CIDR will accept proposals for access to its resources from all researchers including NIH intramural scientists, NIH grantees, and researchers with non-NIH support. Grantees of the NIH Institutes participating in CIDR will receive a substantial discount in costs. We anticipate that CIDR will be operational in the Spring of 1997, and will rapidly expand the development of complex disease diagnostic technologies and the discovery of genes for common illnesses.
Already as a result of the Human Genome Project, new disease genes are discovered almost weekly. Once a disease gene is identified it is often only a matter of months before a diagnostic test can be made available. In some instances the development of accurate diagnostic technologies can be potentially life-saving.
An exciting example is the potential development of a genetic test for hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). It is a common recessive disease where 1 in 10 Northern Europeans are carriers of the trait, and 1 in 400 have the disease. It is caused by a defect in iron metabolism that results in the accumulation of iron in various organs in the body. The symptoms reflect the system affected; the most common symptoms are abnormalities in liver function, diabetes and arthritis. Therapy is simple and highly effective: periodic bloodletting to reduce the level of iron in the body. Early treatment can prevent the clinical manifestations of the disease. Currently, however, HH can masquerade as other diseases and is frequently misdiagnosed, preventing prompt treatment and leading to needless deaths.
Now that the gene has been identified, it is likely a genetic test could be available soon. The availability of such a test could significantly reduce the health impact of HH. This example illustrates the far-reaching beneficial effects of genetic research on public health.
This year also marks the potential commercial availability of tests for identifying mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that predispose individuals to breast cancer, the HNPCC genes that predispose individuals to colon cancer, and the apolipoprotein E gene that plays a role in the inherited form of Alzheimer's disease. However, unlike HH no simple effective treatments are now available for these genetic disorders. Predictive genetic testing of healthy individuals in the face of poor or uncertain preventative or therapeutic interventions, raises many questions about benefits and risks. The individual undergoing genetic testing, as well as their health care provider, needs to understand the relationship between genetic mutations and the development of disease, and the evaluation of prevention or treatment options to determine effectiveness. Additionally, the safety and efficacy of these new predictive tests must be addressed to ensure a level of quality and reliability. Until the scientific knowledge is sufficient to ensure that the benefits exceed the risks, many observers feel the clinical use of mutation testing is premature outside of a research setting.
But as our technology grows in genetic testing, more information will be made available to concerned individuals about their potential for developing certain conditions. While potentially providing enormous benefit by allowing individualized programs of preventive medicine, the availability of this genetic information raises questions about the potential for discrimination and stigmatization based on the information contained in our genes. Of particular concern is the fear of losing jobs or health insurance because of a genetic predisposition to a particular disease. For example, a woman with a positive family history who tests positive for BRCA1 has an estimated 85 percent likelihood of developing breast cancer, and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer. Fighting those risks with intensive surveillance or surgery, without health insurance, would for many individuals result in economic ruin and probable tragedy.
As an integral part of the Human Genome Project, the NCHGR and the DOE have each set aside a portion of their funding to anticipate, analyze and address the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of the Project's new advances in human genetics. The current goals of the ELSI program are to improve the understanding of these issues through research and education, to stimulate informed public discussion, and to develop policy options intended to ensure that genetic information is used for the benefit of individuals and society. The ELSI program is focusing on several high-priority areas raised by the most immediate potential applications of new genetic technologies: privacy and fair use of genetic information; responsible clinical integration of new genetic technologies; ethical issues surrounding the conduct of genetics research; and, professional and public education about these issues.
Two key initiatives are underway to address crucial questions surrounding genetic testing, especially for cancer susceptibility. NCHGR and several other NIH Institutes are co-sponsoring a Cancer Genetics Studies Consortium, focusing on the psychological and social impact of cancer testing on individuals and their family members. Recommendations for approaches to genetic testing and counseling for cancer risk are being developed. The studies are well underway, and the investigators have developed draft recommendations for the optimal medical management of patients and families who carry mutations in the major genes for heritable breast cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2 and the HNPCC colon cancer genes.
A second NCHGR initiative on testing, the Task Force on Genetic Testing (TFGT), was established by the ELSI Working Group to examine the development and delivery of safe and effective genetic tests and the quality of the laboratories providing the tests. The Task Force includes representatives from the biotechnology industry, professional medical and genetics societies, the insurance industry, consumers and federal agencies. In light of the rapid pace of disease-gene discovery and genetic test development, the findings of the TFGT will be crucial to the development of sound policies and practices for the introduction of new genetic tests. The group has now issued draft principles and expects to complete its work in early 1997.
Genetics research may result in the discovery of information that is powerful and potentially predictive. In addition, such information may have familial implications. While in many cases such information will be beneficial to patients and their families, there is also potential for misinterpretation or misuse. In order to assure that the Nation benefits from the fruits of genetic research, safeguards must be in place to protect individual privacy and prevent insurance and employment discrimination. In addition, the scientific validity and efficacy of the genetic tests need to be addressed. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Congress to develop sound policies to ensure that the Human Genome Project and new genetic testing information is used to benefit, not harm, the American people.
This concludes my remarks. I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have.


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Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
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I would those that do not have the football delay to go ahead and start at 8:00pm ET please
The previews make me want to side with Canaan
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Physical Sciences
Research Highlights
May 2009
A Jolt of Energy Use
Making progress in energy storage applications for batteries
Advanced battery constructions have appeared since the 1980s, and are making great strides in research today according to Dr. Anil Virkar, an internationally recognized researcher in the field of solid oxide fuel cell technology and ceramic materials at the University of Utah. Dr. Virkar presented "The Sodium-Sulfur Storage Battery: History, Current Status, Challenges, and Opportunities for R&D and Commercialization," at the Frontiers in Materials Sciences Seminar Series held April 10, 2009, at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The series features innovative and strategic speakers from industry, government, and academia to discuss novel ideas and advancements in the material sciences.
The sodium sulfur battery is one of the most promising candidates for energy storage applications developed since the 1980s, explained Virkar. It works based on the electrochemical reaction between sodium and sulfur and the formation of sodium polysulfide. This type of battery exhibits high power and energy density, and temperature stability. Moreover the low-cost of raw materials and suitability for high volume mass production makes this a potentially low cost investment.
History of the sodium sulfur battery: Great advances have been made during the last two decades, especially under the collaboration between Tokyo Electric Power Company and NGK Insulator, Ltd. The batteries have been applied in various ways such as emergency and uninterruptible power supplies. The markets covered include industrial, commercial owners and wind power generating systems. At this moment, the main obstacles for the large-scale applications of sodium sulfur battery are its high production cost which depends greatly on the scale of the battery production.
Virkar described the cell of the battery, which is usually made in a tall cylindrical configuration. The entire cell is enclosed by a steel or aluminum casing that is protected, usually by chromium and molybdenum, from corrosion on the inside. This outside container serves as the positive electrode, while the liquid sodium serves as the negative electrode. The container is sealed at the top with an airtight lid
An essential part of the cell is the presence of a beta-alumina solid electrolyte (BASE), membrane, which selectively conducts sodium ions or Na+. The cell becomes more economical with increasing size. In commercial applications, the cells are arranged in blocks for better conservation of heat and are encased in a vacuum-insulated box.
The sodium sulfur battery is environmentally benign, because the battery is completely sealed and allows no emissions during operation. Also, 99% of the battery materials can be recycled and only sodium must be handled as a hazardous material.
The ZEBRA battery: Over the years, another battery system using BASE and sodium anode but with a metal chloride cathode has evolved, the ZEBRA battery. A small amount of NaAlCl4 (sodium chloroaluminate) is added to the cathode. This battery was invented in 1985 by the Zeolite Battery Research Africa Project, or ZEBRA, Group led by Dr. Johan Coetzer at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa, hence the name ZEBRA battery. In 2009, the battery had been under development for more than 20 years.
The ZEBRA battery has an attractive specific energy and power: 90 Wh/kg and 150 W/kg. The ZEBRA's liquid electrolyte freezes at 157 °C, and the normal operating temperature range is 270-350 °C. The β-alumina solid electrolyte that has been developed for this system is very stable, both to sodium metal and the sodium chloroaluminate. The primary elements used in the manufacture of ZEBRA batteries, have much higher worldwide reserves and annual production than lithium batteries.
New discoveries: The heart of both of battery systems is the solid electrolyte, sodium beta alumina electrolyte (BASE). The state-of-the-art NaS battery uses one endclosed BASE tubes made by isostatic pressing followed by transient liquid phase sintering. The composition and microstructure of BASE made by the conventional process must be carefully controlled to obtain high conductivity, high strength and low sensitivity to attack by moisture. In fact, despite various treatments, the BASE made by conventional process degrades in humid air.
Virkar and his colleagues developed a vapor phase process for the fabrication of high conductivity, high strength, water-resistant BASE containing ceramics. The vapor phase processed BASE is highly resistant to moisture attack. So resistant is this BASE to water attack that it can actually be used in some aqueous applications. The origin of the resistance to moisture attack of the vapor phase processed BASE lies in the fundamental thermodynamics and phase diagrams. BASE discs made by the vapor phase process are used in preliminary studies on flat plate batteries.
Dr. Virkar is a prolific researcher with more than 200 publications, 35 patents, and 200+ invited presentations. He is internationally recognized in the field of solid oxide fuel cell technology and ceramic materials.


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Ka Gold Jewelry makes jewelry with deep meaning from different religions and concepts.
Affiliates earn 10% commission on sales.


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Remains Found in Scurry County Confirmed as Hailey Dunn
UPDATE: Authorities confirmed at a press conference this afternoon that the remains found in Scurry County are those of Hailey Dunn.
Newswest 9 learned of the discovery about the remains from Hailey's mother Billie Dunn's attorney, John Young.
The remains were tested at the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification for DNA analysis and they notified authorities today.
Billie Dunn is said to be traveling to Scurry County to plan Hailey's funeral.
The exact of cause of death is still under investigation.
Our media partner, Newswest 9, is going to have a crew at the press conference and we will relay any developments, but there are media reports that the remains have been identified as those of missing Colorado City teenager Hailey Dunn.
Stay tuned for any developments as they become available.


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Story highlights
- A Michigan school district lays off most of its staff this week
- It's unclear whether there will be money to complete the school year
- The closing of a treatment center is part of the funding problem
A Michigan school district decided to lay off most of its staff, including teachers, and cut benefits this week due to budget woes.
The Buena Vista School District in Saginaw will retain only the superintendent, an executive assistant and accounts payable. Classes were canceled Tuesday, and staff members may volunteer to work for free until Friday, according to a statement on the school district's website. Beyond that, it is unclear whether there will be money to complete the academic year, scheduled to end June 13, the website said.
Superintendent Dr. Deborah Harvill could not comment on what will happen to the students.
"I am committed to helping to try and eradicate issues we've had as a district," Harvill told CNN. "We're working on a plan to educate our children for the remaining weeks of school and make sure students graduate."
It is also unclear whether the district will operate next school year.
"It is impossible for us to predict whether the district will be in a position to enroll students next year. During this period of time, all of our efforts are being directed toward an attempt to secure as smooth a completion of the current year as possible, given the circumstances," the website statement said.
The money problems are tied in part to the Wolverine Secure Treatment Center, a treatment program for juvenile delinquent males ages 12 to 21. The school district used to operate the program and received state funds to do so, said Jan Ellis, spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Education. The district stopped operating the center earlier this academic year but continued to receive state money, she said.
Once the Education Department learned that the district was no longer running the center, the state stopped sending the funds, Ellis said. The district must return the funds for the center it has already received, the school district's website said.
In addition, the district's deficit ballooned from $50,000 to more than $1 million, and enrollment declined from 960 students to 435, Ellis said.
"Recent reductions in state school aid, combined with a severe drop in enrollment, have created a situation where the district has not been able to get small enough fast enough," the district's statement said.
Despite the setbacks, Harvill is not giving up.
"I'm not going to get off the ship until I do something to save my kids!" she said.


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Charting Progress 2 is a comprehensive report on the state of the UK seas. It has been published by the UK Marine Monitoring and Assessment community which has over 40 member organisations. The report is based on a robust, peer-reviewed evidence base and describes progress made since the publication of Charting Progress in 2005. It provides key findings from UK marine research and monitoring for use by policy makers and others, as we move towards the UK vision of clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.
On these pages you can find the Charting Progress 2 chapters and summary maps and tables. You can follow links for easy navigation between the chapters of the report and the detailed evidence in the four Feeder reports on which Charting Progress 2 is based.
A short Overview document gives a snapshot of the report findings including summary maps.
The UK Government and Devolved Administrations have published a Government Commentary on Charting Progress 2 in which they highlight the important messages coming from the report and outline their approach to them.


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EmailBuddy can be integrated with iThemes Exchange.
When a customer makes a purchase on your ecommerce site, you can include a checkbox for them to sign up for your emails.
Integrating Exchange with EmailBuddy is very simple. If you haven't done so already, you'll want to go into EmailBuddy > Groups and create a group.
Once you have a group, you'll go into EmailBuddy Settings and find the iThemes Exchange Settings section (at the bottom of the settings area, just before the EmailBuddy Style Manager).
Check the box to the right of the Enable Exchange Subscription To Lists option.
This enables EmailBuddy to collect email addresses when users register on your site and gives you some options. The first option is whether or not the checkbox for the customer to sign up for your email is checked by default or not. Next, you can select which list (or group) the customer will be added to. Lastly, you can determine what the label for your checkbox will read.


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On this day of remembrance I felt it was only appropriate to write a few words about my hero ancestors. My family is not unique. Like everyone who delves into their ancestry I have found many family members who went off to fight for their country, to 'do their bit'. Some made the ultimate sacrifice and were laid to rest where they died; some don't have a final resting place; all live on through stone memorials. Others were fortunate enough to make it through their war and return to homes and families. They may not have returned unscathed, either mentally or physically, but return they did. They aren't marked on a memorial but, like their fallen brethren, they are remembered. To me, they are all heroes.
Charles Stracey 1894-1917
My great uncle Charles was 22 years old when he died in France on 17th February 1917. A private in the 6th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales (Royal Berkshire) Regiment, it's probable that he died during the action taken at Miraumont to capture several German trenches. During the early hours of the 17th February, as the troops assembled in preparation to go over the top, the Germans heavily barraged the assembly areas. Most of the day's casualties happened as a result of this barrage and I believe, as Charles' body was never recovered, that it was at this point that he died. His name is recorded on the great Thiepval Memorial to the missing in northern France.
|Samuel Ezekiel Hardwick
Sam Hardwick, my great grand uncle, died of wounds on 7th April 1917. He was a private in the 8th Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. I've been unable to work out where or when he was injured but I find it quite distressing to think that he may have suffered dreadfully in a casualty clearing station before finally succumbing to his wounds. He is buried in Calais Southern Cemetery (which I'm glad to have visited in 2010 to lay some flowers on his grave) and left behind a wife and seven year old daughter.
James Ivanhoe Cullip 1894-1918
James is an ancestor that I've written about before. One of my great uncles, he served as a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery, one of the men employed to pound the German lines with their big guns. He survived the war but tragically died two weeks before the armistice, and just one week after getting married, as a result of the Spanish Flu pandemic.
Thomas William Cullip 1899-1964
Great Uncle Thomas had been 18 years old for just two weeks when he enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1917. After training on HMS Pembroke he became a member of the crew of HMS Juno in March. He served on Juno until he was demobbed in April 1919.
My first cousin twice removed, Albert Cannon, enlisted aged 19 in the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1915. Luckily for me, his is one of the few surviving service records which gives a wealth of information about his time in service. He survived the war and even volunteered for the Army of Occupation in 1919. After demobilisation in 1920 he sailed to Canada where he married and created a new life away from a war weary Europe.
Albert Stracey 1883-1945
My great uncle Albert also survived the war but suffered for the rest of his life from the effects of shell shock. He enlisted into the Royal Berkshires in 1915 at the age of 32. However, just 18 months later he was discharged from service under Paragraph 392 of King's Regulations 1912. He was deemed no longer physically fit for war service and issued with the Silver War Badge. My father remembers how Albert would sit in his chair and physically shake, an affliction he suffered with for the rest of his life.
|Nathaniel Joe Stracey
My grandfather is another person I've written about previously. He served in the 5th Battalion, East Kent Regiment, the 'Buffs', in Mesopotamia and India. He survived the war unscathed.
John Stracey 1885-1949
I believe my great uncle John may have been one of the Old Contemptibles. Before the war he was a soldier in the regular army, serving as a private in the 1st Bedfordshire Regiment and his medal record shows that he qualified for medals from the 16th August 1914 - he was in it from the start! He may have fought at such major battles as Mons, Ypres and the Somme. Incredibly, he survived the whole four years of war.
|Joseph Roy Stracey
I've written quite a lot about my uncle Roy so please see my previous post for an account of his brief life and death. Roy was a royal marine serving on HMS Hermes when it was attacked and sunk by Japanese fighter planes on 22nd April 1942. He was only 19 when he died and his name is recorded on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.


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My Favorite Flirts is a feature that lets you reach your favorite Flirts easily from My Account or on 1-800-TO-FLIRT.Manage My Favorites
(2 Reviews)
Oh don't try to change my mind. You'll only reinforce what we both know is true: men are only good as sperm donors and doormats; footrests and boot blacks; fodder for a bored woman's domination fantasies. Just shut your mouth and spare me your tired whining or your argumentative tone. Your opinion is as uninteresting as the jelly-dick in your pants.
Just for fun, I might stretch your manhole out with my fingers. See what it is that makes disgusting men like you tick. Please try not to soil my Egyptian cotton sheets with your vile man-spew. I hate the smell of semen even more than I detest the scent of sweat. When I am done with you, I'll discard you with no more ceremony than I would have for a used tampon. I might retain the money in your wallet though.


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The Hubble Space Telescope is very big about the size
of a large school bus or tanker truck. The tubular part of
Hubble's body is 14 feet across, and the telescope stands
43 feet tall about as high as a five-story building.
On the ground, it would weigh over 25,000 pounds, but in space
it weighs nothing. When the space shuttle Discovery carried
Hubble into orbit, the telescope completely filled Discovery's
cargo bay. Hubble is pictured in Discovery's cargo bay during
the December 1999 servicing mission.


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Story highlights
- "Nudging" is a way of influencing behavior without using force or incentives
- Idea is being tested as method to encourage better consideration of environment
- Techniques include subliminal visual cues and exploiting herd mentality
- Some argue "nudging" is infringement on freedom, others say it does not go far enough
What's the best way of encouraging men to pee more accurately in public urinals? Answer: Give them a target.
That's what a maintenance man working at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport suggested: Etch an image of a house fly on the urinals to give men something to aim at. Overnight, the quantity of misdirected urine fell by about 80%, according to the airport.
The painted fly is an example of a "nudge" -- a subtle way of influencing behavior without offering material incentives or imposing punishments.
"Normally, if a government, employer or even parent wants to promote a certain type of conduct, they introduce rules, offer a financial reward or both," says economist Richard Thaler who, alongside fellow academic Cass Sunstein, popularized the concept of "nudging."
Subliminal sway
Whether we're conscious of them or not, nudges -- of a sort -- are all around us. From the rumble strip along motorways -- gently encouraging motorists to remain in the correct lane -- to rows of brightly colored candy wrappers, less subtly inviting us to pick them up and place them in our shopping cart.
Such subliminal influences are nothing new. But Thaler and Sunstein argue that they have the potential to be harnessed on a much grander scale -- and for the collective good.
"Just imagine if your surroundings were arranged to help you make better decisions to achieve your goals," says Thaler.
The question is, could we be "nudged" into better, more sustainable practices that help the environment?
How bad habits start
Much of our behavior is habitual, says Pelle Hansen, behavioral philosopher at the University of Southern Denmark and chairman of the Danish Nudging Network. "We have long showers, leave appliances turned on and throw away rubbish as part of daily routines that involve little thought."
Some of this automatic behavior is not even in our own long-term interests, let alone the planet's. Hansen points out that dropping litter, for instance, obviously degrades the quality of the shared environment while leaving lights on costs us money.
So why do we do it? The problem is that once a pattern of behavior has formed, it's difficult to break, especially if the negative repercussions are not experienced immediately, says Professor Robert Cialdini, psychologist and author of "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion."
"Our brains are designed to go into autopilot once we've established a routine that works for us. This is useful because it frees us up to think about things other than day-to-day tasks. But it's also unhelpful if the behavior has negative, albeit not immediately felt, consequences," he adds.
This is where "nudging" could help.
Visual cues
In a study conducted by Hansen's nudging network in Copenhagen, 1,000 caramel sweets were handed out to passing pedestrians. All the nearby streets, including garbage cans, ashtrays, bicycle baskets and so on, were then examined for the distinctive empty wrappers, and duly counted.
The process was repeated, but on this occasion a prominent trail of green footsteps leading up to the nearby bins was stenciled on the ground. This led to a 46% decrease in the total quantity of littered caramel papers (just under 70% of the original total were unaccounted for in both settings), according to the study.
"The green footsteps certainly caught people's attention," says Hansen. "I think they create an atmosphere where the public feel more conscious about litter ... and perhaps there is also a subconscious inclination to follow the feet."
Hansen's remarks echo findings from a recent trial at an office block in Amsterdam which was designed to encourage visitors to take the stairs rather than the power-hungry elevators.
Beginning at the lobby entrance, members of Dutch environmental NGO Hivos lay a series of bright red strips along the floor leading up the stairs. The frequency of people entering the building who opted to take the stairs leapt by 70% during the 24-hour sample period that followed.
"There are a number of forces at play," says Thaler. "Curiosity, novelty and the snowball effect when you see loads of other people suddenly using the staircase."
Policy nudge?
In the UK, nudge theory has been embraced by senior members of the coalition government, who set up the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) -- popularly known as the "Nudge Unit" -- to research how it could be implemented shortly after coming into office in 2010.
"Nudges appeal to policy makers because they generally don't require huge investments and yet have the potential to make a big impact," says David Halpern, director of BIT.
In its first annual report, released towards the end of last year, the team suggested a range of nudges that could be implemented in the UK. These include the removal of alcohol from conspicuous displays in supermarkets (to discourage excessive drinking) and making residents more aware of how much energy others are consuming.
Knowing how other people behave is often a potent determinant of our own actions. Energy bills that inform users of how they compare with those on the same street or neighborhood are currently being trialled in parts of the UK, says Halpern.
"When you get a bill with a long list of numbers, it's unlikely to mean very much to you. But if you see you're using much more than your next door neighbor, let's say, it suddenly becomes personal."
According to Cialdini, we humans are hardwired to fall in line with the behavior and attitudes of our immediate peers, and so nudges that exploit this trait are likely to succeed.
"MSRI scans in the lab have revealed that when people are led to believe that their opinions differ from the majority of their contemporaries, it activates the pain center of the brain ... so we have a very real incentive to keep in sync with those around us."
But, for some, nudges alone will never be enough. Hannah Kyrke-Smith is a policy adviser for the UK's Green Alliance. She says the problem is less the idea itself and more the policy implications.
"The (UK) government has made quite some noise about the potential of green nudging, but by itself it will never be enough. You can't nudge people towards fully sustainable living, you can't replace regulation ... it needs to form part of a mix of policy tools," she says.


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Sign up for the A Year of Slow Cooking newsletter and get the Top Ten Reader Favorite Recipes sent directly to your inbox!
24 comments:
Can never have too many chicken recipes! I am always looking for a new way to prepare it.
This sounds yummilicious...can't wait to try it. Maybe my not-so-fond-of-chicken-hubby will like it!
I am always looking for a good recipe! Now that it has decided to finally cool off a smig I am all about using the crockpot for yummy comfort food. It saves me a lot of time too.
I bought two whole chickens today to use in my newly purchased crockpot and this recipe sounds incredibly delicious. (plus I have all the ingredients in my house already!)
I love chicken and I love my crockpot - thanks for a great recipe for the next time I want chicken for dinner.
This looks wonderful and I bet the leftovers would make a nice change-of-pace chicken salad.
Sounds wonderful!
Can't wait to try this. We tried the apricot teriyake pork chops a few weeks ago and it was a big hit. Love your blog and recipes.
I only have a 3 quart pot.
Would using chicken parts equaling 2 - 2.5 pounds work, do you think?
I would love to win! looking forward to crocktober. Now if the weather would just coorperate!
Looking forward to Crocktober! Thanks for the opportunity to win your recipes.
Crocktober --- already?! I wonder if Hallmark makes a card for that (oh, they should!)? I yelled out with glee the coming of Crocktober!
You should have seen the looks the family gave me. Oh well. Happy wife, happy life. And that goes for the Mommie, too.
YUMMMMMMMMY!!!!Thanks so much! Our family loves your recipes...
Made this last night and it was TERRIFIC...nothing better than sweet 'n hot with a dash of lime.
The only "issue" I have about cooking chicken w/skin on is the incredible amount of fat that lurks underneath it and ends up inches deep in the bottom of the Crockpot. After many feeble attempts to skin 'em easily, I finally found a great video on YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/6bog4fr
Because of the chef's accent, I almost passed it by thinking it was a joke, but it really works! The only change I'd make is to put the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet to catch all the juices and stuff so they don't end up on your cutting board or counter.
Made this today using drumsticks instead of a whole chicken. It was amazing!!
Sounds yummy, I am off to see if there is a substitution for all spice! I just don't have any no other reason.
Made this last night and oh my, it was delicious!! Can't wait to have the leftovers for lunch today! Love your site!!
Oh this sounds good! I will try this next time for a change from my usual crockpot chicken. Thanks!
My only regret is that I didn't see this sooner so I could enter this contest & win your books. My birthday was this last weekend & it would have been great to win your books. :)
Whenever people ask for the recipe you know it's good! I love when people ask for my recipes, thats how I know to add them my recipe book for future seccess.
Made this last night and Hubs LOVED it!!! He asked if there would be leftovers for his lunch today!!
So my question is do you post suggestions to your main dish? Like what would you suggest as a side for this dish? Thanks much!!
I am going to try this tomorrow, so the the bird is cooked breast side down in the crockpot?
YUMMY! Loved this!
Could you do this with boneless skinless chicken breasts? Is there enough liquid to cook it? I have had a couple of major flops with crockpot cooking where I did not have enough liquid cooking with the meat and it was a dry mess cooked to the bottom of the pot.
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comment! I will try my hardest to answer questions as they come up, but if your question gets buried, you may try me on twitter or facebook.
Happy Slow Cooking!


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SmartGamesLive.com released RoadBlock, its second mobile app. Smart Games Live is the digital arm of SmartGames, producer of single-player logic games, and features many online versions of Smart's physical games.
Based on one of Smart's best-selling games, the RoadBlock app challenges players to strategically position police cars in order to block a stolen red car and prevent a thief from escaping. This brain-teasing game offers 130 separate challenges at the following levels: Starter, Junior, Expert, and Master.
Game players can download the app to their mobile device and play eight challenges at various levels. The additional challenges can be unlocked at iTunes and at Google play.


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There's a first for everything. Until checking out Pyongyang Racer, I'd never played a North Korean developed game. It's not as bad as I thought it would be. It's also not very good.
To be fair, it is a browser game developed for a British owned travel agency that takes tourists to North Korea. The game was developed in North Korea by a developer named Nosotek. I've never heard of Nosotek. You probably haven't, either. It's the first Western IT venture company in North Korea, so there you go.
Pyongyang Racer looks like a Sega Saturn game, if that Sega Saturn game was set in an idealised North Korea, devoid of people and filled with cars that are in the street, but do not move.
It took me about 12 minutes to finish my race. Try your hand at beating that, comrade.
Pyongyang Racer [Koryogroup via Beijing Cream]


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Transmitters & Accessories
The Polar Transmitter is the most advanced unit on the market today. The transmitter is truly the heart of the heart rate monitor.The Polar Transmitter utilizes a one-piece design that encases all of the electrical components inside the unit.
At the heart of your training is the coded T31. Its purpose is simple: to transmit your heart rate to your wrist unit. Slim and light, the ECG (electrocardiogram) accurate transmitter is fully water resistant and designed for all weather conditions
If you need a new elastic strap for your Polar wireless transmitter, ours are available in various sizes, are easy to put together, and are comfortable to wear.
The Polar WearLink+ transmitter with Bluetooth wireless technology picks up your heart?s signals and transfers that data into a compatible mobile training application. The soft fabric chest strap seamlessly adapts to your body shape, bringing full freedom of movement to your training. With its hook mechanism, the transmitter is just as quick to put on as it is to take off.
The Polar G1 sensor determines your location by measuring continuously the distance between itself and at least four satellites. The sensor uses wireless transmission technology to transmit speed and distance data to a compatible Polar product which records and displays the data
Polar S1 Foot Pod for S625x or RS200/SD heart rate monitors. The Polar S1 foot pod running speed sensor provides very accurate speed and distance readings even without calibration. Accurate in all weather conditions. Water resistant up to 2 meters. Easy one button activation. Stable and comfortable to wear.
Data Transfer
Once you?ve completed your training, you?re ready to view the results using the Polar ProTrainer 5 software. The IrDA USB Adapter provides that link by enabling a two-way infrared data communication between your Polar product and PC.
Miscellaneous Accessories
Your Polar wrist unit is so versatile that you can either wear it on your wrist, or using the Universal Bike Mount, attach it to your bike?s handlebar to easily view your training data whilst riding.
It couldnt be easier to change the battery in your Polar product. This set includes a CR2354 battery and sealing ring for easy and quick replacement.
The extremely small and light clip for your Polar G5 GPS sensor is effortless to attach and easy to wear. The sensor snaps into clip, and keeps up with your training in any outdoor sport. Its convenient clip attachment allows you to start training in an instant.
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I've always known that Roosevelt gave away the store to Stalin at Yalta, and have suspected him of being a Communist sympathizer (as his wife certainly was, to the point that the Soviets discussed approaching her to spy for them). But this Study In Intelligence by the CIA, which describes how Roosevelt allowed himself to be spied upon by Stalin both at Teheran in 1943 and Yalta in 1945, makes Roosevelt appear to be even a worse chump than I thought. This sample Roosevelt quote, addressed to the U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, who tried to warn Roosevelt against Stalin, is priceless:
"Bill, I don't dispute your facts; they are accurate. I don't dispute the logic of your reasoning. I just have a hunch that Stalin is not that kind of man. Harry [Hopkins] says he's not and that he doesn't want anything but security for his country, and I think if I give him everything I possibly can and ask for nothing in return, noblesse oblige, he won't try to annex anything and will work with me for a world of democracy and peace."
It would be hard to imagine a more stunning combination of arrogance and ignorance. Franklin Roosevelt's reputation has declined in recent years, but it hasn't declined anywhere near enough.
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"Arise and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time." Winston Churchill
"Proclaim Liberty throughout All the land unto All the Inhabitants Thereof." Inscription on the Liberty Bell


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Story highlights
- The USS Guardian ran aground on a reef off the Philippines on January 17
- The U.S. Navy plans to cut the ship into pieces, then haul them away
- The Navy is awaiting the arrival of a crane ship
- The U.S. has assured the Philippines of "appropriate compensation" for reef damage
Removing a stranded U.S. minesweeper from an environmentally delicate reef off the Philippines may take until April, the state-run Philippines News Agency reported Wednesday, citing the Philippines Coast Guard.
The U.S. Navy is preparing to extract the USS Guardian from the Tubbataha Reef, a Philippine national park and UNESCO World Heritage site where the 224-foot-long ship ran aground on January 17.
The Navy plans to cut the 1,312-ton minesweeper into pieces and then, with the help of two contracted crane ships, lift the pieces and carry them away.
Philippines Coast Guard Rear Adm. Rodolfo Isorena said Wednesday that he hopes the salvaging will begin soon so that further damage to the reef will be limited, the Philippines News Agency said.
One of the crane ships has arrived in the area, about 80 miles east-southeast of Palawan Island in the Sulu Sea, and the other is on its way, the news agency reported.
The ship is estimated to have damaged about 4,000 square meters (about 43,000 square feet) of the reef, the news agency said. Various U.S. officials, including Navy Vice Adm. Scott Swift last month, have apologized to the Philippines for the incident, which the U.S. Navy and the Philippines Coast Guard are investigating.
Philippine officials said last month that the country would seek compensation for reef damage. The U.S. ambassador to the Philippines, Harry Thomas Jr., assured the Philippines on Monday that the United States "will provide appropriate compensation for damage to the reef caused by the ship."
The reef is home to a vast array of sea, air and land creatures, as well as sizable lagoons and two coral islands. About 500 species of fish and 350 species of coral can be found there, as can whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and breeding seabirds, according to UNESCO.
Originally, only the ship's bow was on the reef, but waves pushed the entire ship onto it. The ship's wood-and-fiberglass hull was penetrated, allowing a significant amount of water into the ship, the Navy said.
Crews have been working to remove hazardous materials from the vessel and anything that could still be useful to the Navy. The Navy has reported no oil slicks; the ship's 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel have been removed.
One of the environmental concerns is that algae will grow on dead or scarred corals, park Superintendent Angelique Songco said.
"Their presence makes it hard for other corals to regenerate as they cover the substrate," Songco wrote in an e-mail to CNN on Wednesday. "We expect an increase in the incidence of grazer fish species in the area that feed on the algae. Hopefully they are hungry enough to control algae populations to enable hard corals (to) take root in the substrate.
"So you see, the balance we have been trying to maintain has been upset. For that particular area at least, coral evolution starts all over again -- but not until salvage operations are over."
The salvage operation also may hurt tourism, because it will happen at the start of the park's main tourism window of March to early June, Songco said.
Songco said she hasn't heard of any pre-booked tourists canceling. But the park, which is celebrating its 25th year, will have to close two of its 15 major diving sites during the operation, she said.
"We will not (be) able to offer divers the full measure of the Tubbataha experience," she said.


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iso_8859-16 − ISO 8859-16 character set encoded in octal, decimal, and hexadecimal
The ISO 8859 standard includes several 8-bit extensions to the ASCII character set (also known as ISO 646-IRV). ISO 8859-16 encodes the Latin characters used in Southeast European languages.
ISO 8859 alphabets
The full set of ISO 8859 alphabets includes:
ISO 8859-16 characters
The following table displays the characters in ISO 8859-16, which are printable and unlisted in the ascii(7) manual page.
ISO 8859-16 is also known as Latin-10.
ascii(7), charsets(7), iso_8859-3(7), utf-8(7)
This page is part of release 3.74 of the Linux man-pages project. A description of the project, information about reporting bugs, and the latest version of this page, can be found at http://www.kernel.org/doc/man−pages/.


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Superstorm Sandy Aid
Sandy relief package swells aid for past disasters
WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservatives and watchdog groups are mounting a "not-so-fast" campaign against a $50.7 billion Superstorm Sandy aid package that Northeastern governors and lawmakers hope to push through the House this coming week.
Their complaint is that lots of the money will go toward recovery efforts for past disasters and other projects unrelated to the late-October storm.
The aid package includes $150 million for what the Commerce Department described as fisheries disasters in Alaska, Mississippi and the Northeast, and $50 million in subsidies for replanting trees on private land damaged by wildfires.
The objections have prompted senior House Republicans to assemble a $17 billion package that, together with already approved money for flood insurance claims, is well less than half what President Barack Obama sought and the Senate passed in December.


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Breast Cancer Awareness Month
We need to support those battling breast cancer in any way that we can: through prayer, words of encouragement, and even simple visual cues- like wearing pink to show that we support them in their fight. Galatians 6:2 tells us "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." As believers, we can pray for a cure, pray for comfort, and pray for strength for those in the battle.
Kerusso is making it easy to show your support and give to the cure, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pick out your favorite Breast Cancer Gift and a portion of the proceeds raised from the sale of these products will be donated to Hope Cancer Resources. To learn more about Hope Cancer Resources, please visit http://www.hopecancerresources.org/.


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Hairston, Rice shine in losing semifinal efforts at NBA Las Vegas Summer League
The Charlotte Hornets' run through the NBA's Las Vegas Summer League knockout round finally came to an end Sunday, but it wasn't for a lack of trying by P.J. Hairston. The former North Carolina star, who was banished to the D-League by his off-the-court behavior last season, showed why the Hornets think so highly of him by exploding for 27 points in an 83-79 loss to the Houston Rockets. Hairston also had seven rebounds and three steals for a Charlotte… Read More »


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Stop by Once Upon a Child for brand name kids' clothing, shoes and so much more
for up to 70% less than retail prices!
And don't forget to sell us your gently loved items such as baby gear,
baby clothes, and those outfits your kids have outgrown!
Forget consignment…we pay cash on the spot for all items accepted!


text: One can argue that a client can login to the webmail to see how much of his quota is in use, but besides some users even know their is a webmail, how one can learn how much of the overall client quota is in use? Would be great to have this info on ISPConfig Account Limis Overview panel! Vote for it!


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Click on this link to sign up for services or click on "Contact Us" to complete the on-line form.
Also, don't forget to sign-up for our Enchanted Mountains BizBuzz Newsletter!
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When planning an app development roadmap, it's unfortunately all too common for teams to create a checklist that focuses on hiring the right programmers and hammering out a plan for rapid user acquisition and monetization. Of course, these are extremely important objectives – for example, a sound monetization strategy is the bread and butter of any successful product. However, attending to these items exclusively is a hasty and ill-advised strategy. All app development teams should ensure their checklists include a number of other points as well.
In this slideshow, the Baidu Mobile development team from Chinese search giant Baidu offers insights into five factors that might be afterthoughts for some development teams, but should be elevated to core components of the planning process.
Failure to invest in these key items upfront could result in a substantial amount of lost time and money down the road. The good news? If you integrate these things into your app development plan from the get-go, you'll be able to reduce marketing and user acquisition costs significantly.
Related Topics : Vulnerabilities and Patches, Resellers, Broadcom, Broadband Services, Supercomputing
Here are 10 ways that college professors are taking advantage of the technology students currently use and adding new technologies to enhance the teaching and learning experiences. ... More >>
Watson continuously learns from previous interactions, gaining in value and knowledge over time. Learn how companies are harnessing that AI power to create and improve products and services. ... More >>
Here are the top 10 strategic technology trends that will impact most organizations in 2017. Strategic technology trends are defined as those with substantial disruptive potential or those reaching the tipping point over the next five years. ... More >>


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Paris is the most enchanting, fabulous, romantic and aesthetically beautiful city in the world. There aren't enough adjectives in the dictionary to describe my love affair with this city! It truly has it all - gorgeous art & architecture, amazing food, fantastic shopping, and an incredible amount of attitude 🙂
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Our Mission: Helping the World Invest — Better
The Motley Fool is dedicated to helping the world invest — better. Founded in 1993 by brothers Tom and David Gardner, The Motley Fool helps millions of people attain financial freedom through our website, podcasts, books, newspaper column, radio show, mutual funds, and premium investing services.
In all we do, we take a different approach.
We believe – and have proven over decades – that the individual investor can beat the market.
We believe that anyone can do it, even if they don't have a lot of time or money to devote to investing.
We believe in a long-term outlook, helping people build wealth over time.
We believe that the person best positioned to take care of your financial future is you.
And we work tirelessly on behalf of our hundreds of thousands of members who are enjoying the opportunities that come with having enough money to do the things that matter to them.
While we are headquartered in Alexandria, Va., The Motley Fool advocates for the individual investor around the globe with offices in the UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, and Germany.
Our Culture: Helping the World Work – Better
At the Fool, we believe people should have the freedom to follow their passion every day in roles they love. We work hard to understand the needs of our employees and deliver for them. We are confident that this, in turn, makes a great business. Take care of your employees and they will take care of your customers, who in turn take care of shareholders.
We think every company should do the same. Yup, we are just that ambitious. Learn more about our award-winning culture and see our job listings at culture.fool.com.


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Another DPack 220.127.116.11 beta refresh has been released today. Here's what's changed in this release:
- Fixed a bug with Bookmarks and Code Navigation add-ins failing on automatic keyboard shortcut assignment due to a localization issue. Every international version of VS.NET was effected by this problem.
- Fixed Bookmarks add-in dependency on both C# and VB.NET languages being installed.
Improved Bookmarks add-in logging.
- Fixed a bug in Code Browser add-in not being able to handle project subfolders correctly.
- Improved VB.NET and C++ Code Browser add-in compatibility.
- Miscellaneous Code Browser add-in improvements.
- Modified install to add a 'Change' button to the Add/Remove Programs dialog. Using Change button individual add-ins can be uninstalled after they have been previously installed.
The new version is available at www.usysware.com/dpack/.
Sergey @ USysWare


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The Men's Golf Team recently returned from their annual spring trip to Myrtle Beach, SC. The Rams played four rounds of golf and also got a chance to practice every day in 65 degree weather. For the second consecutive year the team played one of their rounds at St. James Plantation, located in Southport, NC. At St. James, the team were guests of former Athletic Director and Golf Coach Bruce Robbins, who retired in North Carolina in 2000. After the round, Bruce and his wife Sally treated the team, as well as former Head Soccer Coach Bo Wernersbach, to a barbecue at their house, located in the golf community.
Pictured in the Robbins's home are: bottom row (l to r) - golf team members John Meyer, Jesse White, Charlie Spahr, Joe Regan, Rich Martin and Pat Santiago; top row (l to r) -Bo Wernersbach, Sally Robbins, Bruce Robbins, Coach Tom Azzara and Ass't Coach Mike Montagnino.


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uniden digital scanner, $400.00 , listed for a friend on this facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/248557371997048/?ref=bookmarks
Hi . . .
Is this scanner still available? If so, can you tell me a little more about it (i.e. condition, when it was purchased, what comes with it, etc. etc.) Photos showing condition would be helpful as well.
Is this this still available?


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This section is provided for the lists of format changes that accompany each update to the MARC 21 Format for Authority Data. It can also be found in Appendix F of the MARC 21 Format for Authority Data.
This page documents the changes contained in the second update to the 1999 edition of the MARC 21 Format for Authority Data. Update No. 2 (October 2001) includes changes resulting from proposals which were considered by the ALA ALCTS/LITA/RUSA Machine-Readable Bibliographic Information Committee (MARBI) at its meetings in 2001 and by the Canadian Committee on MARC (CCM) at its meetings in 2001.
LC Implementation Plans
Subscribers can anticipate receiving MARC records reflecting these changes in all distribution services no earlier than April 25, 2002.


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When the lure of baby-oiled torsos and borderline Shakespearian tragedies first gripped me in the late 90s, we didn't really know much about the private lives or genuine character traits of the men and women on Monday Night RAW. The internet was in its infancy and tales of real-life relationships, family mishaps or what went on behind a performer's ring name took some time to surface; particularly in the UK, where gossip and out-of-ring news seemed to arrive via a combination of Transatlantic whispers and carrier pigeon.
The rise of celebrity culture, WWE's albeit tardy discovery of the internet as a useful marketing tool, and the immense growth and insatiable nature of social media has meant that the people behind our favourite well-known wrestlers have become highly accessible. It's now not enough for the engagement to end when the credits roll. We need to know who they are when they pull their coat on and drive home at the end of the night, almost as much as we need to love or hate them in the ring. Those we identify with when they're in their real lives have a direct impact on how we feel about what or who they portray on stepping out from behind the curtain. And that's pretty new.
Nobody has been more intriguing in the gradual WWE merging of real-life and character than Daniel Bryan. And the most interesting thing about it is how little there now seems to be between the man and the character, and what that means in relation to how much we both adore him and feel comfortable with how deserving he is of his current extraordinary success.
Bryan Danielson was one of the first picks when WWE started shifting recruitment attention from second and third generation kids to skimming off the cream of the American indie crop. His earned reputation as one of the best wrestlers in the world, an exemplary work ethic and known salt-of-the earth personality carried with him a loyal and passionate fan base.
That army of followers was outraged that the big machine had dared to change his name to the simpler and more marketable Daniel Bryan. When Bryan was forced to spend several weeks taking part in silly parlour games in the jolly but rigged gameshow that was the first incarnation of NXT, the cries from those who had long charted his independent career were of exasperation and embarrassment on his behalf. Even the implication that he was a rookie grated.
Bryan, however, took the entire assimilation period in his stride and with his now trademark good grace. Even those in WWE who wrote him off as an internet darling who didn't fit the Connecticut mould didn't seem to dull the smile. He never once looked like a guy who didn't love getting up for work every morning. Unusually, even when he slipped into the mid-card after the excitement of the NXT invasion died down, Bryan never really fell out of favour. Regardless of what his character was doing, those who knew what he was capable of stuck with him.
The long and pleasingly written Yes Movement storyline, which had Bryan spend months playing underdog and oppressed worker to the modernised McMahon-Helmsleys and that culminated at Wrestlemania XXX a few weeks ago, sealed the deal. The support for Bryan throughout the Yes Movement was unprecedented. There cannot be anyone who didn't muse over whether there had ever been a single roster member quite so over with such a wide cross-section of fans. Maybe it was the 3:55am time check, but as Bryan lifted the title belts and got showered with ticker tape, I shed a few proper tears for his achievement.
The joy was twofold. We celebrated the fact that, against the odds, Daniel Bryan had beaten his horrible bosses and had the world's eyes on him during the most coveted few moments in any given wrestling year. But we also felt that our old friend Bryan Danielson had won, too. There is great power and satisfaction in watching someone you've seen toil their entire career make it to the highest point possible, without ever complaining or making demands that plaudits are automatically owed to them. We were as much in raptures for the man as we were the character. He was a double hero.
The almost universal support for Bryan Danielson transferred to Daniel Bryan. And to spread the Bryan love to mainstream media, his real-life relationship with Brie Bella has featured regularly in the Total Divas reality series; always showing him to be the grounded, dependable, nature-loving, good guy we strongly expect he might be when the cameras aren't pointing at him.
Total Divas is, of course, largely manufactured. Any representations of real people away from their characters are still carefully created in the company's eye. But there was genuine affection when the week after Wrestlemania Bryan and Brie got married. The photos released by WWE will no doubt be the wedding ceremony shown as part of Total Divas. But just as we expressed our happiness that both Daniel Bryan and Bryan Danielson won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania, there was also affection for the very sincere union of Bryan Danielson and Brianna Garcia-Colace. The nice guy won again. Twice.
Life can be almost unbearably cruel at times, and following two of the happiest moments of Bryan's life, we heard this week that his father had suddenly passed away. He could easily have disappeared from screen for a few weeks without any repercussions or complaint from fans. Instead, he and Brie went to work to make the transition of their time off-screen a little easier on the writers. It was an admirable yet unsurprising move given what we know of Bryan's dedication to his work. But the tears he failed to choke back as he joined his new wife in the ring at the opening of this week's RAW were very real. Brie too struggled to keep her composure when faced with her tearful husband. It was hard to watch.
This was not like watching a character in pain. It wasn't even like watching someone we vaguely know grieving. People pass away every day and even when it's an acquaintance's grief we tilt our heads, offer our condolences and move on with our day. We have so much affection for Bryan Danielson and we know so much about his true character that it was genuinely heartbreaking to see him hurting so badly. Bizarrely, it was like watching a good friend in the worst pain of his life. And the thing about friendship is that while you celebrate your successes together, you also share each other's hurt.
Social media and living your life in public are not without their pitfalls; not just for celebrities and not only in the wrestling game but for pretty much anyone with a job, or friends, or access to a keyboard. Grave errors of judgement and oversharing are made on Twitter and Facebook every day, sometimes with significant consequences. Accessibility and being generous on your way up, however, often reaps rewards.
Our experience of Daniel Bryan has been significantly improved upon because of Bryan Danielson's character, dedication and generosity with his time. Just as we felt he deserved to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship because we knew the personal journey that had led him there, our familiarity with him will be rewarded with all the time and space he needs during the saddest of times. Back in January I said, "…those deserving always get rewarded in the end. Daniel Bryan is proof positive that the nice guy doesn't always finish first, but he definitely finishes best." With that now fulfilled, Bryan is also the perfect example of why modern wrestling's shift toward breaking kayfabe may kill some of the mystery, but what it gives us instead is a different and arguably more human experience.
I wish Bryan and his family the absolute best during their very sad time.