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Kings, Blues aim to keep pace in playoff raceby Brian Compton
BLUES (11-8-2) at KINGS (11-7-2)
Last 10: St. Louis 5-4-1; Los Angeles 8-2-0.
Season series: This is the second of three meetings. The Kings earned a 4-1 victory against the Blues on Feb. 11 at St. Louis.
Big story: Los Angeles pulled even with St. Louis in the extremely tight Western Conference standings with Monday night's 5-1 win against the Nashville Predators at Staples Center. The Kings and Blues are two of six teams in the West with 24 points.
Team scope:
Blues: St. Louis has experienced difficulty stringing wins together this season, as it has alternated wins and losses for the past four games. In fact, the Blues have only been able to win back-to-back games once this season, when they reeled off three straight wins from Feb. 13-17. They failed to make it two in a row with Sunday's 4-1 loss at Dallas in the first of a five-game road trip.
"We had too many average performances," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "What can you say? Too many average performances doesn't get it done on the road."
Kings: After seeing their five-game winning streak come to an end Saturday night at Vancouver, the Kings got right back on the horse Monday. After a slow start to the game – Los Angeles had just three shots on goal in the first period – Jeff Carter shifted into another gear later in the night and ended up tallying a natural hat trick, with his second and third goals coming just 19 seconds apart. Carter leads the Kings with 14 goals in 20 games.
"It's been good," Carter said. "I feel like everything's back to normal now. I was out here all lockout hanging out with, probably 10 guys. So it was nice to get out and get settled and relax a little bit. I'm comfortable here now. I feel like I'm in a good position and [on] a great team."
Who's hot: Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk has a goal and an assist over the past two games. … Carter has scored in six of the Kings' past seven contests. He has eight goals over that span.
Injury report: Alexander Steen (upper body) is on injured reserve, while Andy McDonald (knee) and Vladimir Tarasenko (concussion) are day-to-day. … Los Angeles defensemen Willie Mitchell (knee) and Matt Greene (back) are on injured reserve.


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We're looking for humble but ambitious, razor-sharp professionals who can teach us a thing or two. We promise to return the favour. These individuals will become part of entrepreneurial teams who prefer action (kicking ass) over process and bureaucracy (taking names). We embrace those who see things differently, who aren't afraid to experiment, and who have a healthy disregard for the rules. Applicants should first learn about Riot and play League of Legends because we're looking for people who, like us, take play seriously and for whom it's never "just a game." We play lots of games, especially our own, because hands-on gaming experience is our ultimate guiding compass.
A wide range of roles available

subset: commoncrawl


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Cottonwood Ridge Traverse Climber's Log
firstname.lastname@example.com - Oct 9, 2015 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 20153rd times the charm
Took me 3 tries to get this ridge. First attempt we ran into lightning about 1/2 way through and had to scale down the north cliffs, 2nd time we started at Sundial and finished at Superior and missed the middle. Third time got the whole thing! Love the knife edge ridges, and exposure:) Good challenge, and a long day! Hiked with Lisa Kolanko
edge - Sep 26, 2014 10:01 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2014Cottonwood Ridge
An awesome hike on the last day of good weather. Good people, good times.
AjaxHiker - Sep 8, 2014 12:13 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2014cobbled this together...
Maybe not the most noteworthy or elegant way of doing this, but I have finally been on all points of this route...
1) Summited Broads a couple of years before I knew about the ridge,
2) Solo effort from Broads:Sunrise saddle to peak 11,033 above Sundial, quit due to time, exhaustion, being nervous to do the crux alone & being low on water. I think this was in 2010?
3) Sept 2014 WMC trip from Sundial to Superior & back out via lake Blanche.
yadahzoemtn - Jul 17, 2014 9:51 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2007The "Fin" is Fun
Intensity describes this one.
scgrant - Aug 12, 2012 12:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2012Awesome Ridge
7/20/2014 With WMC.
8/11/2012 Climbed with WMC. We came up Broads Fork and summited East and West Twin before working our way to Superior. We completed the loop by descending to Lake Blanche and out Mill B.
byates - Dec 2, 2008 12:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 20125 traverses to date.
I first did it July of 95, Broads and Down Blanche, 96 did the same route. In 2005 I did a route I called Sunrise to Sunset. Up Broads, over Jepsens Folly to Sunrise, then ran the ridge to Sunset Peak. Did the regular traverse July 19 2008 with the WMC descended to Alta on that trip. Did my fifth yesterday 8/11/12, Seventeen years after my traverse, it hurts a bit more the day after at this age!
Matthew Van Horn - Jul 19, 2008 11:15 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2008rugged and tough
Started trail at 5:30 AM up Broad's fork, summited both Twins, and then descended to Alta after climbing Monte Cristo & Superior. Very hot day. Cottonwood Ridge is a real test of endurance. I ran out of water just before Blanche Peak. My companions rationed some of theirs, otherwise I would have been in serious trouble
Moogie737 - Sep 19, 2007 12:39 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2008West to East
On 9-18-07: Twelve hours and seven minutes of non-stop action and fun. With Matt, Dennis and Lana. Not a route for beginners or those afraid of heights. Cool conditions made for a very nice day, but the incessant south wind was at times aggravating. The Sunrise west buttress and the west face of Monte Cristo are stimulating little challenges. :) Second time, 7-19-08, on the hottest day of the year, and I recommend the cooler fall date. This time we hit both of the Twin Peaks and the total time was 12+40. If you do this in heat, take more water than you think you will need! With Brent, Matt, Lee, Brad and Rich. #3 on 7-3-10 Ideal day, both Twin Peaks, a ton of lingering snow from the cool May temps. WMC with Dave, Greg, Jake, Brent, Lubos, Julia and Tanner. Return via Lake Blanche drainage. 13+55 total. #4 8-11-12 WMC hike w/ Brad Y. and Sam G. Warm but not sweltering. Loop from Mill B South TH. Total time a little over 12+30. I now remember why it is has been two years since doing this. :)
Matthew Van Horn - Sep 19, 2007 11:38 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2007Cottonwood is King
Broads Fork to East Twin, Sunrise, Dromedary, then Blanche Peak, Monte Cristo, Superior, and Cardiff Pass. I was with Lana, Michael and Dennis. Great day, and with this route I finished all of my outdoor goals or 2007. Lots of exposure along the way, especially on the approach to Monte Cristo after Blanche Peak. Awesome ridge.
Steve Elmer - Sep 9, 2007 9:43 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2007Lisa Falls to Mt. Superior
Climbed up the Lisa Falls Direct route to Broad Fork West Twin. Good weather and temperatures but a little smoky/hazy out. Scrambling on the ridge was awesome. I descended down to Cardiaff pass and then to Alta. Did the whole trip in just under 9 hrs solo. The nice thing about starting at Lisa Falls (3 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon) was that when I finished in Alta I just coasted down on bike to where my car was parked. I guess that's what have to do when you hike by yourself with no shuttle...
Jeremy Franchow - Jul 7, 2007 9:11 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2007Ferguson Canyon to Mt. Superior
Hiked with Greg(gjagiels.) Lots of fun, interesting scrambling and found it more challenging than Wildcat Ridge or the Beatout. Despite being sprayed by a skunk and picking up a tick in Ferguson, had an absolute blast! Joseph Bullough's description was spot on for the scrambling as you approach Monte Cristo's west face.
mountaingazelle - May 4, 2006 1:04 amGreat ridge traverse
This is one of my favorite ridge traverses in the Wasatch along with the Alpine Ridge to the south. It's a long day of scambling on a narrow ridgeline and climbing over several peaks along the way. There are great views in every direction.


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Agility@Scale: Strategies for Scaling Agile Software Development
Large-Scale Agile Transformation and Adoption: Lessons Learned
ScottAmbler 120000HESD Tags:  scale adoption agile 10,325 Views
At Agile 2009 in August Sue McKinney, VP of Development Transformation with IBM Software Group, was interviewed by DZone's Nitin Bharti about IBM's experiences adopting agile techniques. There are over 25,000 developers within IBM Software Group alone. Follow the link to the interview to view it online (there is also a text transcript posted there. There's some great insights into the realities of scaling agile in large teams, in distributed agile development, and in particular how to transform a large organization's development staff.
The Danger of Detailed Speculations
ScottAmbler 120000HESD Tags:  specifications scale tdd agile agile-modeling 20,544 Views
When I talk to people about scaling agile techniques, or about agile software development in general, I often put describe strategies in terms of various risks. I find that this is an effective way for people to understand the trade-offs that they're making when they choose one strategy over another. The challenge with this approach is that you need to understand these risks that you're taking on, and the risks that you're mitigating, with the techniques that you adopt. Therein lies the rub, because the purveyors of the various process religions ( oops I mean methodologies) rarely seem to coherently the discuss the risks which people take on (and there's always risk) when following their dogma (oops, I mean sage advice).
My final advice is to take a look at the Disciplined Agile Delivery (DAD) framework as it provides a robust strategy for addressing the realities of agile software development in enterprise settings.
Our integrity debt continues to grow
ScottAmbler 120000HESD Tags:  agile scrum certification integrity-debt 4 Comments 20,202 Views
Recently I spent some time in the UK with Julian Holmes of Unified Process Mentors. In one of our conversations we deplored what we were seeing in the agile community around certification, in particular what the Scrum community was doing, and he coined the term "integrity debt" to describe the impact it was having on us as IT professionals. Integrity debt is similar to technical debt which refers to the concept that poor quality (either in your code, your user interface, or your data) is a debt that must eventually be paid off through rework. Integrity debt refers to the concept that questionable or unprofessional behavior builds up a debt which must eventually be paid off through the rebuilding of trust with the people that we interact with.
The agile community has been actively increasing their integrity debt through the continuing popularity of Scrum Certification, in particular the program around becoming a Certified Scrum Master (CSM). To become a CSM you currently need to attend, and hopefully pay attention during, a two-day Scrum Master Certification workshop taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). That's it. Granted, some CSTs will hold one or more quizzes which you need to pass, an optional practice which isn't done consistently, to ensure that you pay attention in the workshop.
Scrum Masters, as you know, take the leadership position on a Scrum team. The idea that someone can master team leadership skills after two entire days of training is absurd. Don't get me wrong, I'm a firm supporter of people increasing their skillset and have no doubt that many of the CSTs deliver really valuable training. However, there is no possible way that you can master a topic, unless it is truly trivial, in only two days of training. From what I can tell the only thing that is being certified here is that your check didn't bounce.
The CSM scheme increases the integrity debt of the IT industry by undermining the value of certification. When someone claims that they're certified there's an assumption that they had to do something meaningful to earn that certification. Attending a two-day course, and perhaps taking a few quizzes where you parrot back what you've heard, clearly isn't very meaningful. The problem with the term Certified Scrum Master is two-fold: not only does the term Certified imply that the holder of the certification did something to earn it, the term Master implies that they have significant knowledge and expertise gained over years of work. It is very clear that people are falling for the Scrum certification scheme.
A quick search of the web will find job ads requiring that candidates be CSMs, undoubtedly because they don't realize that there's no substance behind the certification. Whenever I run into an organization that requires people to be CSMs I walk them through the onerous process of earning the designation and suggest that they investigate the situation themselves. Invariably, once they recognize the level of deception, the customer drops the requirement that people be CSMs.
Another quick search of the web will find people bragging about being a CSM, presumably being motivated by the employment opportunities within the organizations gullible enough to accept Scrum certification at face value. My experience is that the people claiming to be CSMs are for the most part decent, intelligent people who 99.99% of the time have far more impressive credentials to brag about than taking a two-day course. Yet, for some reason they choose to park their integrity at the door when it comes to Scrum certification. I suspect that this happens in part because they see so many other people doing it, in part because they're a bit desperate to obtain or retain employment in these tough economic times, and in part because the IT industry doesn't have a widely accepted code of ethical conduct. These people not only embarrass themselves when they indicate on their business cards or in their email signatures that they're Certified Scrum Masters they also increase the integrity debt of the agile community as a whole.
Yet another search of the web will find people bragging about being Certified Scrum Trainers (CSTs), the people whom have been blessed by the Scrum Alliance to deliver Scrum master certification courses. Once again, my experience is that these are intelligent, skilled people, albeit ones who have also parked their integrity at the door in the pursuit of a quick buck. Surely these people could make a decent living via more ethical means? I know that many of them have done so in the past, so I would presume that they could do so in the future. The actions of the CSTs increase our integrity debt even further.
The group of people who have most embarrassed themselves, in my opinion, are those whom we consider thought leaders within the agile community. Leaving aside the handful who are directly involved with the Scrum certification industry, the real problem lies with those who have turned a blind eye to all of this. The Scrum certification scheme was allowed to fester within our community because few of our thought leaders had the courage to stand up and publicly state what they were talking about in private. This of course is all the more galling when you consider how much rhetoric there is around the importance of courage on software development projects. As Edmund Burke once observed, all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
There are several things that we can do today to start paying off some of our integrity debt:
Suggested Reading


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UPDATE: Walker Preserve work party CANCELLED for this Saturday
UPDATE: "This Saturday's ivy pull is cancelled due to stormy weather," said Elissa Ostergaard. "We had 5 people sign up – please help spread the word for next month's volunteer event at Walker Preserve:
Saturday, February 8, 9am-noon"
PREVIOUSLY:Volunteers are needed to help restore Walker Preserve this Saturday, Jan. 11, from 9 a.m. – Noon.
"Please sign up – this event will be cancelled if fewer than 8 people sign up by Thursday, January 9," said Elissa Ostergaard, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward.
Volunteers are needed to remove invasive plants and restore the forest near Walker Creek.
Walker Preserve is located near SW 168th and 2nd Ave SW in Normandy Park.
Elissa adds:
No experience is required!
We will remove invasive plants to restore the forest near Walker Creek.
There is only a 75% chance of rain showers on Saturday! Perfect ivy pulling weather.
WHEN: Saturday, January 11, 2013, 9:00 a.m. – Noon
WHERE: Walker Preserve park, SW. 168th St. and 2nd Ave. SW. in Normandy Park, up the road from Normandy Park City Hall. If driving, your parking options include:
- Three spaces in the small park at SW 171st St. and Second Ave. S.W.
- On the street along 2nd Ave SW
From the black metal gate behind the Walker Preserve sign, walk down the trail towards the creek.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please plan ahead – this park does not have a restroom.
This event will be cancelled unless at least 8 people sign up by Thursday, 1/9. Check the Miller-Walker Volunteer Calendar for updates on Friday, 1/10: http://www.kingcounty.gov/
environment/watersheds/ central-puget-sound/miller- walker-creeks/volunteer.aspx
- Remove English ivy from trees and pull roots out of the ground. Find Himalayan blackberry plants, cut them back, and then dig out the roots.
What to bring:
- Clothing that will protect you from the rain, cold, and thorny plants (rain gear, rubber boots or other sturdy shoes, layers that keep you warm when wet like wool, polypro, and fleece)
- Filled water bottle, gloves and a shovel if you have them
We provide:
- HOT STARBUCKS COFFEE & snacks
- Work gloves
- Tools
- Training about how to remove invasive plants and compost them on site
Sign up and questions: Call or email Elissa Ostergaard, [email protected]
gov, (206) 477-4792 (Saturday only: (206) 707-6549.
This volunteer event is an opportunity to visit a pleasant park in the City of Normandy Park, along Walker Creek. The City of Normandy Park and volunteers rebuilt the footbridge over the creek last year, and neighbors and other volunteers have made a lot of progress restoring the native plant community in this park. This work will help native plants thrive, and provide shade and food for the salmon that live in the creek. Please sign up if you can, or decide to show up at the last minute!
This stewardship project is a joint effort of the City of Normandy Park, and the Miller and Walker Creeks Stewardship program.
Check here for other volunteer opportunities and the Miller-Walker Volunteer Calendar: http://www.kingcounty.gov/
environment/watersheds/ central-puget-sound/miller- walker-creeks/volunteer.aspx


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PENRITH, Australia – Former Yale heavyweight crew captain Tom Dethlefs '12 has two medals to show for his first major international regatta with the U.S. Senior National Team. Dethlefs rowed in six-seat of the U.S. eight that won a silver medal at the 2013 Samsung World Rowing Cup on Sunday. Prior to that race, the U.S. eight broke down into fours to race in the Sydney International Rowing Regatta, where Dethlefs' boat won bronze. Both regattas were part of the "Festival of Rowing" that ran from Mar. 18-24 at the Sydney International Regatta Center in Penrith, the site of the rowing events for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
In the eight, the lineup of coxswain Stephen Young (Tampa, Fla.), Michael Gennaro (Havertown, Pa.), Tom Peszek (Farmington Hills, Mich.), Dethlefs (Lawrenceville, N.J.), Stephen Kasprzyk (Cinnaminson, N.J.), Brandon Shald (Sausalito, Calif.), Nareg Guregian (North Hills, Calif.), David Banks (Potomac, Md.) and Grant James (DeKalb, Ill.) finished in second place with a time of 5:31.73. Great Britain won with a time of 5:29.90, while one of Australia's two eights finished third in 5:35.05.
The U.S. had to contend with an early charge from the New Zealand crew, an Under-23 eight, and came through the 500-meter mark in third place. At the 1000 the U.S. was in second but GB had a lead of 2.69 seconds. The U.S. put on a surge in the final moments of the race and closed the gap to 1.83 seconds behind Great Britain.
PHOTO: U.S. Men's Eight on the Medal Dock
Earlier in the week Dethlefs raced in an open men's coxless four. Dethlefs rowed in two-seat of the four that also included James in bow, Peszek in three and Genarro at stroke. The final took place on Friday, Mar. 22, where Dethlefs' boat had a photo-finish for third place with a time of 5:57.71. At the line just 0.69 seconds separated Dethlefs' crew in third from the first- and second-place crews, both of which were Australian.
The Sydney International Regatta Center is the first stop on the three-stage circuit of the 2013 Samsung World Rowing Cup. The second stage will be held on the Olympic course in Eton, Great Britain, from June 21-23, and the final stage will take place in Lucerne, Switzerland, from July 12-14.
Report filed by Yale Sports Publicity


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Photo Courtesy: Duke Photography
Parker, a first team All-ACC selection, is averaging 19.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game for the 24-7 Duke Blue Devils. The Chicago native is on pace to set a Duke freshman scoring mark as well as become the sixth freshman in ACC history to eclipse the 600-point mark in a single season. Parker's 16 20-point games are tied for second-most in league history and three shy of Kenny Anderson's (Georgia Tech) ACC freshman record. He enters the ACC Tournament with the fourth-best freshman scoring average and tied for the ninth-best rebounding mark in conference history.
Parker has recorded six straight double-doubles, including a dominant 30-point, 11-rebound effort in a 93-81 win over No. 14 North Carolina Saturday. His string of six consecutive double-doubles is tied for the fifth longest stretch in Duke history.
Hood garnered all-district honors after averaging 16.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists during the regular season. He has scored in double figures 27 times with 10 games of 20 or more points scored. The Meridian, Miss., native is one of 15 players in the NCAA rankings in the top 10 in their respective conference in scoring, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, three-point percentage and three-point field goals.
Duke has now had five USBWA District III Players of the Year in the 11 years of the award with Parker joining previous Duke winners Chris Duhon (2004), J.J. Redick (2006), Nolan Smith (2011) and Mason Plumlee (2013). Parker and Hood are the 23rd and 24th USBWA All-District III Team honorees in Duke history.
A complete list of USBWA All-District Teams is available at http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/awards/index.html.
USBWA All-District Teams - DISTRICT III (VA, NC, SC, MD)
Player of the Year:
Jabari Parker, Duke
Coach of the Year:
Tony Bennett, Virginia
All-District Team:
Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia
Traveon Graham, VCU
Joe Harris, Virginia
Rodney Hood, Duke
KJ McDaniels, Clemson
James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina
Marcus Paige, North Carolina
Jabari Parker, Duke
T.J. Warren, N.C. State
Dez Wells, Maryland


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WEDNESDAY, Aug. 17 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday gave its approval to Zelboraf (vemurafenib), a first-of-its-kind drug for the treatment of an often lethal form of melanoma.
The drug targets a gene mutation that's present in about half of melanomas, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
"Zelboraf is a huge step forward in the fight against metastatic melanoma and the advancement of treatment for the deadliest form of skin cancer," Dr. Anna Pavlick, director of the NYU Melanoma Program at the NYU Cancer Institute, New York City, said in a university statement. She took part in phase II and III trials of the drug and is an advisor to Zelboraf's maker, Genentech.
"The approval of Zelboraf will make a significant impact on the survival and outcomes of advanced melanoma patients," Pavlick added. "Patients taking the drug Zelboraf were 63 percent less likely to die from advanced melanoma than patients given standard chemotherapy alone," she noted.
Another expert agreed that Zelboraf may be a potent weapon against melanoma for some patients.
The drug's approval "represents a breakthrough accomplishment in targeting a therapy to a specific group of patients who can benefit," Wendy K.D. Selig, president and chief executive officer of the Washington, D.C.-based Melanoma Research Alliance, said in a statement.
The FDA approval is specifically for patients with melanoma tumors that express a gene mutation called BRAF V600E.
BRAF typically helps regulate cell growth, but the variant of BRAF targeted by Zelboraf "is the abnormal gene mutation that allows melanoma cancer cells to spread," Pavlick explained. "Since almost 50 percent of all melanoma tumors have the BRAF genetic mutation, this targeted drug therapy can be of great benefit to many patients."
Along with the drug, the FDA also approved a companion test (made by Roche Molecular Systems) that will help determine if a patient's melanoma cells have the BRAF V600E mutation. The first-of-a-kind test is called the cobas 4800 BRAF V600 Mutation Test.
"We now have the capability to analyze a patient's melanoma tumor for the genetic mutation BRAF and use the targeted treatment Zelboraf to attack the tumor, shrink it and stop the progression of this deadly disease," Pavlick said. "The drug comes in a simple pill form, taken twice a day."
According to the FDA, Zelboraf's approval came as part of an accelerated review program, and was based on a single international trial of 675 patients with late-stage melanoma with the BRAF V600E mutation who did not receive prior treatment. In the trial, patients received either Zelboraf or another cancer drug called dacarbazine. The median survival time after treatment was 8 months (64 percent still living) for patients in the dacarbazine group but has not been reached for patients in the Zelboraf group (77 percent still living), the agency said.
Still, not every person with melanoma will benefit from Zelboraf, and much more research is needed, the MRA's Selig said.
"While the entire melanoma community applauds the breakthrough exemplified by vemurafenib [Zelboraf], the data demonstrate that tumors have the ability to develop resistance to the drug, causing patients to relapse," she noted. "Additionally, because some patients with BRAF mutation do not respond to the drug and about half of patients do not have the mutation, finding additional new targets remains an ongoing urgent need."
The most common side effects among patients taking Zelboraf were joint pain, rash, hair loss, fatigue, nausea and sun-related skin sensitivity. About 26 percent of the patients taking Zelboraf developed cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of nonmelanoma skin cancer. It was managed with surgery.
Patients who take Zelboraf should avoid sun exposure, the FDA said.
According to the American Cancer Society, over 70,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanoma each year, and nearly 9,000 will die from the disease annually.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about melanoma.


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The 2013 Tennessee Titans finished with a 7-9 record and missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.
Build your own mock draft:
Make your best guesses here for all 32 picks of the first round of the NFL Draft and you could win a trip to attend the 2014 NFL Kickoff game. Play now ...
Safety Bernard Pollard had another way of summarizing the team's season.
"We have been a team where we have sucked butt," he said, per TitanInsider. "And I'm just being perfectly honest with you. We have sucked butt, and it's time for us to turn that corner. Like I said last year and this year, we're gonna knock the piss out of you.
"It's gonna be fair. It's gonna be within the lines -- I may get one outside the lines or whatever -- but that's just who I am and that's just who we are. It's going to be a lot of fun doing it."
Pollard will get no argument from the peanut gallery.
The main reason the Titans have "sucked" in recent seasons is their instability at quarterback.
With Jake Locker playing just 18 games combined the past two years due to injury, the Titans have been stuck in neutral.
The No. 8 overall draft pick in 2011, as expected, was limited Tuesday during the Titans' voluntary minicamp.
"Those are things that we're working into and we're going to get more comfortable with, hopefully in the next week or two," Locker said, per ESPN.com. "I'm probably erring on the side of more being cautious at this point. I think if you asked me to go do it right now, I could."
If Locker can't stay health for 16 games, or Tennessee doesn't find another solution under center, Pollard might be giving the same quote 12 months from now.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" breaks out the crystal ball and predicts the potential surprises that could shake up the NFL Draft.


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There will be setbacks.
There will be critics.
There will be raised hopes that are crushed, and expectations that are never fulfilled.
There will be difficult stretches.
There will be high hurdles.
There will be a lot of waiting. A whole lot.
There will be blows to your pride.
There will be attacks on your person.
There will be rejections, and more rejections, and even more rejections.
There will be people who don't think you can do it.
There will be people who don't think you should be doing it.
There will be hundreds of things that will make you consider quitting.
Don't get bitter.
Get better.
Write more. Improve your craft. Learn the business.
Make success your only option.
Take joy in the good things that happen, and grow stronger from the bad things.
No one likes a whiner.
Everyone loves a winner.
Be a winner.
Get better.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
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The Journal of Illustration Studies is a newly founded peer-reviewed journal devoted to the systematic study of literary illustration as a discipline in its own right, having its own subject-matter and its own critical and scholarly methods.
Follow the link below to go directly to the current issue:
> Current issue (Mar 2020)
You can also browse the entire Journal by Issue, by Section, by Article, or by Author. Otherwise, you can search the content of the articles.
If you are interested in contributing to the JoIS, please see the Notes for Contributors.


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Search our database of handpicked sites
Looking for a great physics site? We've tracked down the very best and checked them for accuracy. Just fill out the fields below and we'll do the rest.
You searched for "Big Bang"
We found 14 results on physics.org and 27 results in our database of sites
(of which 25 are Websites, 2 are Videos, and 0 are Experiments)
Search results on physics.org
What is cosmic inflation?
6 Things you may not know about the afterglow of the big bang
Recreating the Big Bang
Why is Pluto no longer considered a planet?
What is string theory?
Weird rainbows
Could we ever go back in time?
The physics.org web awards
Are we really all made of stardust?
Nobel-prize winning accidents
Why is there more matter than antimatter?
Top 4 Bonkers things about the universe
Is Time Travel Possible?
All about... the International Space Station
The Big Bang
Discusses Big Bang theory and life cycle of stars.
Supernovas & Other Big Bangs: Where Your Body Comes From
Part of the Facts So Romantic series, this time the fact that we are made from the remains of stars.
The Beginning of Everything -- The Big Bang
A great animation looking at the first instances after the big bang until the first stars formed.
The Big Bang
NASA page detailing the evidence for the big bang obtained from the study of cosmic background radiation (the CMB).
How do we know the Big Bang actually happened?
A great interactive guide looking at where did we come from? how can see the universe expanding? why galaxies look redder than they should? what caused the Big Bang? and more
BOOMERanG and the Sound of the Big Bang
Hear the sound of the Big Bang as recreated by John Cramer (link to the audio file at the bottom of the page)
Cosmology and the Big Bang
A page explaining cosmology and one of its most important theories: the Big Bang. Also has a list of Q&As on various related topics.
The Big Bang theory
BBC page with information and video clips on the big bang. Video content only available to UK users.
Hear the sound of the big bang
An article from the Independent newspaper about a physicist who has recreated the sound of the big bang.
Brilliant Blunders: How the Big Bang Beat Out the Steady State Universe
A great article on how the big bang theory won over the steady state theory.


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César J. Baldelomar a graduate student at Harvard Divinity School, where he focuses on liberation theologies and ethics from the margins. You can visit César at his website www.cesarb.com
Posts By This Author
Xenophobic Border Watch Groups are Domestic Terrorists
On May 30, 2009, a terrorist attack in Arizona ended the lives of two U.S. citizens -- a Latino man and his 9-year-old daughter.
Why We Must Challenge Society's Notions of Beauty
Tupac Shakur: Liberation Theologian for Our Times
Obama Sends 1,200 Troops to the Border to Guard Against Republican Criticism
Pedagogy of the Oppressor: Arizona's Ethnic Studies Ban
Glimmers of Hope in a National Nightmare
The Catholic Clergy Sex Abuse Scandal and the Paradoxical Legacy of Pope John Paul II
The Catholic church is reeling from the several sexual abuse allegations that have come to light over the past three months. Downplaying the severity of this scandal will only further damage the already beleaguered church's image and credibility. Many in the media blame Pope Benedict XVI for the mismanagement of the sexual abuse crisis.
Jesus and the Klan
I recently viewed an episode of Gangland on The History Channel. This particular show, which documents the rise of the younger members of the Imperial Klan of America (or KKK), really roused my anger. I thought, "How could people be so ignorant and foolish?" Can't they just accept that the United States has always been an ethnically, religiously, and ideologically diverse country?
Vatican II 101: Social Justice is Part of Catholic Identity
Sadness and Hope in the Aftermath of Immigration Enforcement
- 1 of 4
- ››


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Electronic Documents of Illinois
Document IdentificationUsers should pay particular attention to version identification or dates of publication of documents retrieved. Earlier, possibly superseded, versions of documents are also stored here. Title
Property Tax Appeal Board Decision 2005-24718-C-1 Chow
- Property Tax Appeal Board Decision 2005-24718-C-1, Chow, Appellant, Cook County, Proviso Township,
Originally Deposited as: 100000012793
Published By:
Phone Number: Language(s): EN-English Volume or Year:
Number or Issue: Date Created: 2009
Date Last Modified: 2009 Librarian Remarks:
Access This Publication1. Property Tax Appeal Board Decision 2005-24718-C-1 Chow (20110519143323_2005-24718.pdf).
Document Size:41114 Software: Acrobat Distiller Version: 8.1.0 This is part of a series. It is part of Property Tax Appeal Board Decisions: 31229


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Editing video in the cloud with the YouTube Video Editor
Did you hear the news? We just launched a basic online YouTube Video Editor. Read all about it in our main blog and check out this tutorial from the team that built it:
There's also a great step-by-step guide in this SF Gate article.
Show us what you create with it by leaving your video's URL below.


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... if proof were needed, that Dwight Garner "a book critic" (his employer's nomenclature) for the New York Times, leads a charmed life.
I suspect that for readers of this blog, the connections between walking, writing and reading don't need much explication, and here is Dwight, earlier this year, writing in the Times, and making a persuasive case for audio books.
He writes, "Keep an audio book or two on your iPhone. Periodically I take the largest of my family's dogs on long walks, and I stick my iPhone in my shirt pocket, its tiny speaker facing up. I've listened to Saul Bellow's "Herzog" this way. The shirt pocket method is better than using ear buds, which block out the natural world. My wife tucks her phone into her bra, on long walks, and listens to Dickens novels. I find this unbearably sexy."
Above is a picture of the wife in question, Cree LeFavour. No sign of audiobook, nor bra for that matter.


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Story highlights
- Leon Panetta: There is no doubt the operation to get Osama bin Laden made the U.S. safer
- Panetta was the CIA director during the May 2, 2011, raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan
- He recalled moments during the raid that were "nerve-wracking"
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta says there is no question that the United States is safer with Osama bin Laden, the architect of al Qaeda, dead, but contends there is no "silver bullet" to destroy the terror network.
Panetta's assessment came just days before the one-year anniversary of the U.S. commando raid on bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, that ended a manhunt for the al Qaeda founder that began following the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.
"Having been involved in operations even before bin Laden, it was clear that there is no kind of silver bullet here to suddenly be able to destroy al Qaeda and that includes going after bin Laden," Panetta told reporters Friday after a meeting with defense counterparts in South America.
"The way this works is that the more successful we are in taking down those that represent their spiritual and ideological leadership, the greater our ability to weaken their threat to this country."
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security last week warned of the possibility of terrorist attacks leading up to and after the anniversary of the May 2, 2011, killing of bin Laden. There is no specific, credible terror threat, the agencies said.
The warning, released by the FBI and DHS, says individuals have posted messages on "violent extremist Web forums" vowing attacks on the United States around the anniversary, but adds that "such threats are almost certainly aspirational."
"I don't think there's any question that America is safer as a result of the bin Laden operation," Panetta said."... It doesn't mean that they don't remain a threat. It doesn't mean that we somehow don't have the responsibility to keep going after them wherever they are."
He described the raid that he oversaw as the then-CIA director as "tense," with several "nerve-wracking moments."
Panetta recalled the moment during the raid when one of two helicopters used by Navy SEALs crashed at bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
"Just the fact that having those helicopters going 150 miles into Pakistan and the concern about whether or not they would be detected. And then actually going in to the compound when one of the helicopters went down because of the heat coming off the ground. It was just hotter than anybody had anticipated. And obviously that was pretty nerve-wracking," he said.
"... Fortunately, we had a back-up helicopter that came in and was able to pick up the people that were there."
The biggest question during the operation, Panetta said, was "whether or not bin Laden was really there."
"We had no specific information that he was actually located there. All we had was, you know, just a lot of circumstantial intelligence and information. But all of us were, were kind of holding our breath to find out whether or not he was actually there."
The answer came about 20 minutes after the SEALs entered the bin Laden compound, with the utterance of the code word "Geronimo."
"There was a huge sigh of relief by everybody involved in that," he said.
While many details of the raid are known, questions remain about how bin Laden could have been in living for years in a compound that was only a mile from the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad, a largely military community outside the capital, Islamabad.
The U.S. raid, which was conducted without the knowledge of Pakistan, enraged the Pakistani public and deploy embarrassed its military.
Panetta has said he remains convinced that someone with authority in Pakistan knew bin Laden was hiding at the compound. That claim has been denied by Pakistani officials.
U.S.-Pakistani relations remain tense, in part because of U.S. drone strikes inside the country. Pakistan has in essence halted much of its cooperation with the United States while its parliament reassess future terms of engagement with Washington following a U.S. airstrike in November that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers along the border with Afghanistan.


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CFP: Debating the Difference: Gender & Word and Image (UK) (6/22/07; 9/5/07-9/6/07)
Debating the Difference: Gender, Representation and Self-Representation
Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th September 2007, University of Dundee, Scotland
An interdisciplinary event hosted by the Scottish Word and Image Group (SWIG) and the Women, Culture and Society Programme (WCS)
The overall aim of this conference will be to generate a nuanced and critical dialogue for assessing constructions of gender in text and image via a multi-disciplinary approach relating literary and visual media, as well as theory and practice. In addition, an exhibition will accompany the conference. It is our intention that selected papers will be published in a themed collection.
Proposals should be c.300 words for papers lasting 20 minutes and should directly address issues of gender, representation and self-representation in word and/or image. The deadline for proposals is 22nd June 2007. Possible topics for consideration include the following:
â— Inscribing the body: male and female bodies in literary and visual culture
â— As others see us: representations of men by women / women by men
â— Women and self-representation in literature and/or the visual arts
â— Objectification, commodification, circulation: images and the gendering of cultural production
â— Illustrating gender: visual depictions of gender
â— Performing gender
â— Reinforcing the norm? the social and political power of gendered images
â— From text to screen: translations of gender from literature to film
â— Gender in animation, computer games and popular culture
â— Between text and image: relating visual and linguistic representations of gender
â—Gender and ekphrasis
For further information visit the SWIG website: www.dundee.ac.uk/english/swig/
or the Women, Culture and Society website: www.dundee.ac.uk/wcs/
or http://www.dundee.ac.uk/english/news.htm
Please send proposals by e-mail to:
Dr Christopher Murray,
School of Humanities (English)
162 Nethergate, University of Dundee
Dundee, DD1 4HN
e-mail: c.murray_at_dundee.ac.uk
Dr Rachel Jones
School of Humanities (Philosophy)
Tower Building Extension, University of Dundee
Dundee, DD1 4HN
e-mail: r.e.jones_at_dundee.ac.uk
From the Literary Calls for Papers Mailing List
Full Information at
or write Jennifer Higginbotham: higginbj_at_english.upenn.edu
Received on Thu May 17 2007 - 17:01:02 EDT


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Note: Each week, the TTU Sports
Information Staff will dig into the school's rich Photo Archives
and publish a photo from the past. Some of the photos will include
identification, but sometimes Tech will ask for viewers' help in
identifying the people shown in the photo. To submit missing
identification or comments about the photos in this series, send an
email to: firstname.lastname@example.com.
Featured this week: Jim Ragland (wearing cap) served 10 seasons as head coach of the Golden Eagle football team from 1986 to 1995, directing a program that he once led as its quarterback. Now a member of the TTU Sports Hall of Fame, Ragland worked with a staff that included Mike Smith (wearing headset) as an assistant coach. With Smith and defensive coordinator Mike Hennigan guiding the defense, Tech ranked as one of the top defensive teams in the nation. Mike Smith left Tech to take an assistant coaching position in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, and today is the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Ragland took over a program that was hard-pressed for victories, and he made a bold move in 1989 by redshirting seven of his top seniors. It paid off the following year as the Golden Eagles went from a 1-10 mark to a 5-5 record to be ranked as one of the most improved I-AA teams in the nation. Three years later, Tech was 7-4 and ranked in the Top 25 at the close of the season. The following year, Ragland's squad got off to a strong start with a 5-2 record and was listed as high as eighth in the polls before finishing with an 8-3 record. Ragland's Golden Eagle teams posted a 36-36 overall record during his final seven seasons at the helm.


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Earlier this week, I reviewed the Hyper Beam Eyeliner by Cosmagic, a tiny range by Kose. I have also purchased the Lock On Eyebrow Pencil from the range to review!
I don't have THAT many brow products. I have a range from Anastasia, I have a Shu Uemura Hard Pencil, I have a brow pencil from MAC and various brow powders. My brows are quite dark so its not an everyday product for me.
This product tells you to CHECK!
Before I carry on, I need to know that I found a video of this product in use. Watch it….if you like:
I'm mildly peed off, because only when watching these videos (second one at the end of this post) did I realise that this product comes with an eyebrow stencil.
I had no idea! Its transparent and must have been hidden in the packaging (which is now at the bottom of some massive rubbish tip, I'm sure.) Please people, make and attachments and extras clearer!
Anyway, annoyance aside here is the pencil:
This pretty much looks like the other pencil items from Cosmagic.
They Say:
1. Square Cut Pencil – Different sides of square cut pencil surface for drawing different parts of eyebrow.
2. Long Keep Make-up – Long lasting make-up ingredients for long keep make-up.
3. Bimayu Master-Plate – Comes with the eyebrow drawing template (transparent) attached with the packaging.
4. Skin Nourishment – Organic plant ingredients, comes with collagen for skin nourishment.
This brow pencil comes at an angle so you can do soft strokes but also use the pointed end for precision. There are a few pencils like this (Boots No. 7's brow pencil is similar).
A guide:
Anyway I tried the product out. Because I have so mach brow naturally, I am always trimming and playing with the shape.
One day I will mess with them and they won't grow back! (as my mother would say).
I like it! I think its quite natural and buildable in terms of pigment and coverage.
Also, as its quite waxy, it leaves colour on your hairs rather than the skin. I like it, I think the shape makes it easy to use and my brows look dark but not too painted in.
Yes I like it would recommend it.
I got this in shade BR-2 (Light Brown).
P.S. This is the second video with the Bimayu template which I accidentally THREW AWAY. Annoying:
Its $13.95 from here.


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Butterfly Misses
[singing] "There's two things I know for sure:
First, every Wreckerator knows you have to make butterflies out of cupcakes. Otherwise, you run the risk of them looking like...well, butterflies.
Charlotte F., Raven, Rachael, Rebecca R., Jessica A., & Bijan P., stop looking at me like that; I was merely referring to his smiley face. Really.
- Related Wreckage: It's a Wreck Off!


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Wednesday, August 3, 2011
6 comments:
- Mad Conservative said...
#417 - Brandon Aarons.
Have to let you know...Brandon's career as a wrestler is on hold and possibly over due to a neck injury and spinal problems that caught up with him over time in late April to where he's in constant pain in his limbs. Sad to see that happen as there wasn't anyone around the STL region that has a bad word to say about him and would had made the national promotions without this injury occurring.
- August 3, 2011 at 10:44 PM
No Barry wolf this?!?
- August 4, 2011 at 9:57 AM
No Justin Mane, Gentleman John Campbell or Gideon Malice? Do you guys even pay attention to Michigan indies?
- August 6, 2011 at 10:01 PM
I run show in Michigan, and have never heard of any of them.
- August 8, 2011 at 11:09 AM
What show would that be? Because those guys are all over. Gideon is the JCW champion, Gentleman John holds belts all over the place and Justin Mane is a star in the making.
- August 9, 2011 at 12:36 AM
- Anon said...
Seriously? You list people like Diego Corleone and Steve Boz and you can't even list people that ACTUALLY wrestle well?
What about Da Soul Touchaz? Acid Jaz? Marshe Rockett? Willie "Da Bomb" Richardson?
Or Austin Roberts? Bryce Benjamin? Joey Marx?
Look at the real talent out there!
- August 10, 2011 at 3:31 PM


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During a break-in, the safety of you and your loved ones should be your primary concern, not the protection of your property. No possession is worth risking a human life.
If someone is breaking into your home, you and those in the house should leave immediately. Choose an exit, a window or door, that is safely away from the intruder. Go to a neighbor's home and dial 9-1-1.
If you cannot escape, quickly move everyone into one room that has a phone and lock and barricade the door. Immediately call 9-1-1 and be prepared to give the operator your address and other details including the color of your house, location of any fencing, status of outdoor lights and other information that may be required. The operator will remain on the phone with you as police respond and will continue to ask questions and provide information.
The use of weapons to protect yourself is a dangerous option. In a face-to-face confrontation, your weapon may be taken from you and used against you. Weapons have also been used against law enforcement officers or family members that were mistaken for intruders. The use of any weapon or deadly force is a last resort, even for highly trained police officers.


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Serena Williams Has Offered Advice To Record-Breaking Aussie
Of the back of ending Aussie Daria Gavrilova's Games dreams, US tennis megastar Serena Williams has offered advice to Australian swimming sisters Bronte and Cate Campbell, saying ''put family first.''
Serena has gone head-to-head on the tennis tour circuit with her sister for more than a decade, including eight grand slam triumphs at her sibling's misfortune and says she has learnt how to deal with the issue of ruining a family members aspirations.
The Campbell sisters will have to endure the same when they square off in the 50m and 100m freestyle finals, barring a disaster, in Rio this week.
Williams was open to saying that she had no idea who the Campbell sisters were or what sport they were involved in but has gained interest in them after learning of what is ahead of them in the pool.
"Are they competing against each other? What sport?," Williams asked after her 6-4, 6-2 opening round victory against Gavrilova on centre court.
"Oh, that's cool. Well, I hope they can get gold and silver - I always root for sisters. As long as there are no Americans in there. They've just got to leave it all out in the pool and once they get out of the pool, family first."
Australia currently lead the medal table, ahead of the USA and China.


text: Share Download Print Jeep J8 Production Begins at Arab American Vehicles Company Jeep J8 multipurpose vehicle developed for military and civilian government applications Available in four-door and extended-bed two-door vehicles in both left- and right-hand drive Jeep J8 an exceptional value, priced below other vehicles designed for humanitarian and military duty November 13, 2008 , Cairo, Egypt - Chrysler LLC and the Arab American Vehicles Company (AAV) today officially announced the manufacturing launch of the Jeep J8 multipurpose vehicle at AAV's Cairo assembly plant. "We're pleased to recognize this important milestone and the role of both Chrysler and the Arab Organization for Industrialization," said Hussein Mustafa Mohamed, Chairman, Arab American Vehicles Co. "The launch of the incredibly versatile Jeep J8 and the anticipated demand for its export is an economically significant event for Egypt." The Jeep J8 marks the Jeep brand's return to commercial and military vehicle production with a thoroughly modern vehicle designed to meet the needs of both non-government organizations and government agencies. Originally unveiled at the 2007 Defence Systems & Equipment International military trade show in London, the Jeep J8 is available as a two-door with an extended pickup bed for personnel or equipment transport, or a four-door multipurpose vehicle. It will be produced with numerous vehicle-body and seating configurations in either right- or left-hand drive. The two-door version, for example, can be configured as a personnel carrier with seating for up to eight. "The Jeep J8 combines legendary capabilities and dependability that makes the Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited famous, with unmatched cargo capacity and an exceptional towing rating," said Thomas Hausch, Chrysler LLC Vice President - Europe, Middle East and Africa. "The Jeep J8 is also an exceptional value, priced below other vehicles designed for humanitarian and military work. "Jeep vehicles debuted in 1941 as the workhorse of the military," added Hausch. "The Jeep J8 brings us back full circle. With a 67-year reputation for off-road capability and utility in both civilian and military applications, Jeep is the benchmark." With the 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited as a starting point, Jeep engineers increased the vehicle's capability and versatility. The frame of the Wrangler Unlimited is reinforced for increased ruggedness and to allow payloads up to a maximum of 1,339 kg (2,952 lbs.). Axles, brakes and suspension components are engineered specifically for more demanding military and civilian government use, including utilizing a leaf spring suspension in the rear. The J8's Command-Trac four-wheel-drive system allows maximum versatility and performance in both on-and off-road conditions. The Jeep J8 is powered by a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 118 kW (158 hp) and 400 N•m (295 lb.-ft.) of torque, providing towing capability of up to 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs.). The engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The J8 also features a unique air-intake system with special filtration and a hood-mounted snorkel that enables the J8 to ford water up to 762 mm (30 in.) deep and operate in sandstorm conditions for up to five hours. While not designed for front-line combat operations, the Jeep J8 is fully armor capable and excels in a variety of duties ranging from command vehicle to troop/cargo carrier, ambulance, communications vehicle and other duties – also making it suitable for civilian government applications. Tow eyes and heavy-duty bumpers allow the Jeep J8 to be easily transported by airplane or helicopter. Non-Military Applications Humanitarian organizations Aid programs Relief efforts Public safety agencies Geologic exploration companies Survey teams Ranching duties Forestry work Oil industry support Fisheries Miscellaneous commercial applications General utility and other applications requiring versatility Arab American Vehicles Company Arab American Vehicles Company is a manufacturing joint venture between the Arab Organization for Industrialization (51 percent ownership) and Chrysler LLC (49 percent ownership). The plant, a 1.29 million square foot (120,000 square meter) facility located on the outskirts of Cairo was established in 1977 and produced its first vehicle in 1978 (Jeep CJ-6). A workforce of 680 builds 17,600 vehicles annually. Initially AAV was established to serve the Egyptian and Arab military forces by providing them with the American CJ-series Jeep vehicles, the descendants of the world's first four-wheel drive military vehicle, the Willys. After meticulous testing, the armed forces of several Arab countries chose the CJ over other vehicles. AAV also builds Jeep Cherokee (Liberty in the U.S.) for retail sale in the region. AAV-manufactured vehicles are comprised of 45 to 47 percent local content. Jeep in the Military In June 1941, the U.S. Army received its first shipments of the Willys MA, the rugged 4x4 vehicle that came to be called the Jeep. This predecessor to today's Jeep Wrangler would prove so vital to the Allies' World War II effort that Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower declared that the war could not have been won without the Jeep vehicle. Willys went on to produce the CJ-2A, a civilian version of the military vehicle, to deliver the capable and dependable service that the military had come to know. Today's Jeep J8 continues in the tradition of both of these early 4x4s. Jeep vehicles have been produced for various militaries around the world. The Jeep J8 marks the start of Jeep's renewed commitment to supply the defense community with the highest-quality 4x4 vehicles available anywhere in the world. Jeep Brand The Jeep brand led Chrysler LLC sales outside North America in 2007, accounting for 41 percent of total sales. Jeep sales grew 13 percent for the year, fuelled by strong demand for new models such as the extremely capable Jeep Wrangler and fuel-efficient Compass. The Jeep Grand Cherokee was the sales leader for the brand, and it is the second-highest volume vehicle outside North America for Chrysler LLC. The Jeep portfolio includes seven vehicles outside North America, all of which are available in right-hand-drive and with petrol and diesel powertrain options. Jeep vehicles available include: the new Cherokee, Commander, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Patriot, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited.


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When is a scandal not a scandal? Here's a good rule: Whenever Fox News and Rep. Darrell Issa say it IS a scandal, you can be pretty sure it's NOT one. Take the so-called IRS scandal.
For weeks, starting in May, Fox fanned the flames. Based on what we now know to be a flawed audit by Inspector General J. Russell George, Fox reported that the IRS had deliberately targeted right-wing groups seeking tax-exempt status. According to breathless Fox News anchors, the IRS first singled out conservative organizations by drawing up a "Be on the Lookout," or BOLO, list using keywords like "patriot" and "Tea Party." Then they picked on those same organizations by asking them for tons of irrelevant information and dragging their applications out for months. And, if you can believe Fox News, all of this was carried out by the IRS on direct orders from the Obama White House.
Meanwhile, Issa, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, has held four congressional hearings so far, accusing the IRS of conducting a Tea Party witch hunt. In typical Issa fashion, he ratcheted the rhetoric up even higher, tying the IRS to the White House and comparing President Obama to Richard Nixon. Issa said on "CBS This Morning": "This was targeting of the president's political enemies, effectively, and lies about it during the election year so that it wasn't discovered until afterwards. … This process was deliberate, and it was repeated."
Shamefully, most of the mainstream media merely echoed charges made by Fox and Issa, leaving the American people with the impression of a giant Washington scandal where Democrats were using government bureaucrats to crucify Republicans. But now the truth comes out: It was all one big fat lie.
Independent investigations by both Yahoo News and Politico reveal that the IRS, in fact, investigated both conservative and liberal groups applying for tax-exempt status. And, indeed, it's important that the IRS do so. The law clearly states that only organizations devoted to "social welfare" can receive a coveted tax exemption because we taxpayers should not be subsidizing any purely political groups on the right or left. IRS officials were merely trying to enforce the law, perhaps clumsily, when faced with a flood of new political organizations filing for tax-exempt status after the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision in January 2010.
By far, most of the applicants were conservative groups. But Yahoo and Politico discovered that the IRS applied the same rules to both right-wing and left-wing applicants. Inspector General George was wrong. They didn't just draw up a BOLO list with keywords like "patriot" for conservatives. They drew up a BOLO list for liberals with key words like "progressive," "occupy," medical marijuana," and "Israel." They looked at organizations on both the left and right. They asked both sides for extensive documentation to demonstrate they were, indeed, social welfare organizations. And, in the end, there was only one group actually denied tax-exempt status because it was set up "primarily for the benefit of a political party." That was not a Tea Party group. It was the unabashedly liberal group Emerge America.
As for Issa's claim that IRS staffers were politically motivated and merely following orders from the White House, there is zero evidence to support it. At one hearing, Issa repeatedly pressed IRS veterans Elizabeth Hofacre and Carter Hull on whether they knew of any political motivation by people inside the IRS or any influence from outside the IRS to target conservative organizations. They said "no." In its lead editorial on July 18, USA Today questioned why Issa persisted with his investigation: "No political operatives from the Obama campaign or the White House have been linked to any of the IRS' activities."
So why was there such a fuss over IRS scrutiny of conservative groups? Two reasons. First, as noted, because Inspector General George's initial report itself was, at best, one-sided. Second, because liberal groups didn't complain as loudly, or, in most cases, didn't complain at all. They understood that getting tax-exempt status should not be automatic. "If you're going to ask for exceptional treatment, you should expect to go through exceptional screening," Ed Espinoza, executive director of the liberal organization Progress Texas, told Politico. But conservatives whined louder and got all the attention.
Conservative witch hunt? In the end, it boils down to this: The IRS was only doing its job. There was no scandal.


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Fritz (Friedrich) Seitz
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Fritz Seitz short biography
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With first-timer Jimmy Kimmel hosting and recent political programming causing upsets all around, Sunday's Primetime Emmy Awards reeled in nearly 1 million more viewers than last year.
The Emmycast attracted 13.2 million viewers, which is a bigger draw than three of the trophy show's past five broadcasts.
That said, Sunday's trophy show was in no sense the kind of viewers magnet of, say, the recent political conventions. The final nights of the Republican and Democratic national conventions, which weeks earlier clocked 30 million and 36 million viewers, respectively.
Don't expect your garden-variety too-hip-for-the-small-screen intellectual to comprehend how dramatic this year's Primetime Emmy Awards were. That's like asking the Orkin man to appreciate an entomologists' conference.
But the Emmycast was loaded with surprises, starting with Kimmel's opening moments, in which he asked the Hollywood glitterati how many of them were going to vote for Mitt Romney, and a sizable number of them replied in the affirmative, quashing in an instant that planned gag we'll never hear.
Sure, the show began to drag, when "Modern Family" stars Eric Stonestreet and Julie Bowen and "Louie" creator/star Louis C.K. were all handed the exact same comedy trophies they'd received in the past.
But if you're too busy fuming over the snubbing of Hollywood "It" girl Lena Dunham — who helped open the show as best she knew how: naked, on a toilet, eating cake — you're not going to appreciate the importance of "Two and a Half Men's" Jon Cryer being named best actor in a comedy series.
Showtime's political thriller "Homeland," meanwhile, deposed a couple of drama series despots. Star Damian Lewis snatched the best-actor Emmy away from Bryan Cranston of AMC's "Breaking Bad"; he'd won every year in which he was eligible.
And "Homeland" wrested the best-drama Emmy from the four-year stranglehold of AMC's "Mad Men," which set an Emmy record for most losses in a single year (17).
"Homeland's" other star, Claire Danes, won the Emmy for best drama actress.
Like a long dormant volcano, "Game Change" — the HBO's project about Sarah Palin's selection as John McCain's running mate in '08 that premiered way back in March — suddenly erupted, causing "American Horror Story" to flee. "Game Change" swallowed up the Emmy wins for best movie/miniseries, best long-form writing and best long-form directing. "Game Change" star Julianne Moore was named best long-form actress.
They'll be talking for days about whether Kimmel's sly Twitter stunt during the ceremony helped goose the ratings. Right around the time interest in the annual trophy show typically starts to sag, Kimmel suddenly told viewers that he wanted them to punk non-watchers by tweeting: "OMG! Tracy Morgan just passed out on stage! Turn on ABC now!"
Thank goodness that the fearless journalists at TV Guide and other media outlets began to tweet that it was a Kimmel ratings grab, or who knows what good it would have done the trophy-show franchise, at the expense of Twitter's unimpeachable credibility.
You know what else was surprising about the Emmycast? In the show's 64th year, someone finally figured out how to make the obligatory stage walk of the Ernst & Young vote counters into something that does not cause you to look around for something sharp to poke into your eyes.
And all it took was a silly little bit of business involving the cast of "Big Bang Theory."


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Taking Whey or Soy Supplements After Starting HIV Treatment May Improve Weight and Lean Body Mass
Taking whey- or soy-based nutritional supplements during the first three to six months of starting treatment may improve weight, lean body mass and grip strength, according to results from a study conducted in three HIV clinics in Ethiopia. Additionally, taking whey-based supplements may improve CD8 and CD4 cell gains, while taking soy-based supplements does not appear to affect CD8 and CD4 counts.
The study followed 318 people starting antiretroviral therapy (ART). Participants were randomized to receive 200 g of whey- or soy-based supplements daily for three months, either immediately upon ART initiation or three months after starting HIV therapy, or a placebo.
At the start of the trial, study participants had a body mass index (BMI) of at least 16 kg/m2 (moderate thinness, according to the World Health Organization [WHO]), with a mean BMI of 19.5 kg/m2 (within normal range per WHO). Two thirds of those studied were women, and the average age of the entire cohort was 33. All participants received nutritional counseling per Ethiopia's national guidelines.
According to the researchers, prior studies have shown that a low BMI at the start of ART is associated with a higher risk of mortality, with some indication that people responded better to supplementation after their initial inflammation had been controlled. Additionally, whey is known to increase plasma glutathione, an antioxidant that is often deficient in those infected with HIV.
Adherence to supplementation was higher among those for whom supplements were delayed for three months compared to the groups that received supplements immediately.
The researchers found that those who took nutritional supplements gained more than three times as much weight as those without supplements, in addition to substantially increasing their lean body mass (LBM). At three months, study participants in the whey supplement group had gained 0.85 kg more in LBM than those in the control group, while participants in the soy supplement group had gained 0.93 kg more.
Weight gain was greater in the delayed supplementation groups (1.20 kg higher total body weight within six months compared to the early supplementation groups), which is only partly explained by better adherence in those groups (estimated weight gain, adjusted for adherence: 0.99 kg).
However, functional outcome, as determined by grip strength, was poorer in the delayed supplementation groups (-0.84 kg compared to 0.68 kg and 0.97 kg in the whey- and soy-based early supplementation groups, respectively).
Patients with an undetectable viral load after three months also gained more LBM than those who did not respond as well to ART. In addition, those in the whey supplement group gained on average 25 CD4 cells/µL and 112 CD8 cells/µL more than the control group.
After the trial ended, Ethiopia changed its national guidelines to recommend up to six months of nutritional supplements for all HIV-positive individuals with a BMI below 18.5 kg/m2. Those recommendations have, however, proven difficult to implement, with more than 70% of those eligible stopping supplementation early.
"It is now important to investigate how barriers to large scale supplementation can be overcome to achieve effectiveness of nutritional supplementation for patients with HIV," the researchers concluded.


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This blog is all about my life, my kids, and my journey through Motherhood. Meia, Max and Melia, the Greatest Gift God has Bestow upon me. They are my everything and nothing's more rewarding then watching them grow n blossom.
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Due to the Federal Privacy act, we must have your diploma request in writing. We must have your handwritten signature on the request. Download the diploma request form here:
Diploma Request Form
You must have the latest version of the free Adobe Acrobat reader (version 5) to read this form.
Please fax or mail the request to:
Oklahoma Christian University
Attn: Karen Driskill
P.O. Box 11000
Oklahoma City, OK 73136-1100
fax (405) 425-5208


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Administration again urges contractors not to warn of layoffs, despite defense cuts
The Obama administration has doubled down on its plea to defense contractors not to warn employees about possible layoffs due to looming budget cuts -- going so far as to offer to cover legal fees in compensation challenges.
The move drew a stern rebuke Friday from South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune, since federal law requires employers to give notice if mass layoffs are likely.
"For the second time, the Obama administration has now encouraged government contractors to ignore the WARN Act and hold off on warning employees about possible layoffs due to the looming sequestration cuts," Thune, lead author of the Sequestration Transparency Act, said Friday.
The offer to pay the legal fees was included in a memorandum issued by the administration Friday that also restated the Labor Department's position from July that contractors should not issue written notices to employees because of the "uncertainty" over the across-the-board cuts to the defense budget and other federal spending that will occur Jan. 2 unless Congress reaches a new deal.
The notices are required under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act and generally require employers with more than 100 employees to provide 60-day notices of "mass layoffs if they are reasonably foreseeable."
The projected $500 billion in Pentagon cuts under the so-called sequestration will occur because Congress failed to agree on a deficit-reduction plan this summer.
The guidance issued by the Labor Department this summer stated "it is neither necessary nor appropriate" for federal contractors to issue the warnings.
The memorandum states the federal government would cover employee compensation under the WARN Act – "irrespective of the outcome" as long as the contractor follows the Labor Department guidelines.
Still, defense contractor Lockheed Martin -- which might have to lay off employees should the cuts kick in -- is still considering whether to send out the notices, according to The Hill newspaper.
Rep. John Kline, chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, suggested last week that the Labor Department is trying to conceal the full impact of the cuts.
"The Labor Department is trying to hide the consequences of sequestration from workers," Kline, R-Minn., said in a letter to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.
The letter was the second in two months by Republican committee leaders in which they asked for an update and more detailed information about the obligations federal contractors have in giving the advanced notice.
On Friday, Republican Sens. John McCain, Ariz.; Lindsey Graham, S.C.; and Kelly Ayotte, N.H., issued a similar statement, saying in part, "The president should insist that companies act in accordance with the clearly stated law and move forward with the layoff notices."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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When you become a member you join a growing network of people dedicated to celebrating and preserving the amazing bounty of local, seasonal and delicious foods and food traditions around the country.
Join or Renew Online
Sign up though Slow Food USA's site. Select our chapter: Wisconsin Southeast. Join Online »
Benefits of Membership
Members are the heart of the Slow Food Movement. By becoming a member you help us move towards a more delicious and sustainable future as you support and further the growth of local, national and international programs.
When you become a member, your voice will be added to those of more than 18,000 individuals in the USA, and 80,000 worldwide, who are committed to changing the food system for the better. Slow Food is the only organization that celebrates the delicious tastes of our nation, honors the unsung heroes of our tables, and brings together those committed to making a difference in our food system.
Click here to learn more about the levels of membership.
Where Do My Membership Dollars Go?
When you join Slow Food USA, make sure to select Slow Food WiSE as your local chapter. 1/3 of your fees then support the local Slow Food WiSE initiatives. Yes, we are a 100% volunteer organization, but we do provide funding to local food related initiatives and have some very small expenses to cover.
Slow Food International uses their percentage to help open new Slow Food offices around the world. There are currently over 800 chapters in 50 countries with seven national offices. With your support, Slow Food continues to establish new offices and chapters, increasing our body of members and strengthening our international community.
Your dues also support development of the movement here in the US. Slow Food USA provides support to existing chapters and networks and all 300+ leaders to share their wealth of knowledge and experience enabling chapters to become even stronger and reach farther into their communities.
Your annual membership is important to keeping Slow Food alive. We thank you for your continued support, contribution, and communal enthusiasm.
Learn More
You can learn more about what it means to be a Slow Food member on SlowFood USA's site.


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These Halloween Mixed Foamies Stickers come 4 ounces of Foamies Stickers to a package. Stickers are 3D-design and all that is required is peel and stick. Shapes included in this package are cats, witch hats, spiders, haunted houses, and more. Halloween Mixed Foamies Stickers are great for fun group activites such as Halloween parties or classroom events.
We also carry a complete line of Beads, Birdhouse Kits, Christmas Crafts, Craft Supplies, Kids Crafts, Misc Crafts, Wood Craft Kits, and much more.


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The Department of Defense suspended all intercollegiate athletics contests at Air Force, Army and Navy because of the federal government shutdown, putting academy officials in a holding pattern ahead of Saturday's big game. VPC
The Department of Defense suspended all intercollegiate athletics contests at Air Force, Army and Navy on Tuesday because of the federal government shutdown, putting academy officials in a holding pattern with regard to football games scheduled for Saturday.
While some events in other sports were already canceled, Navy officials said a decision would be made by noon ET Thursday whether Saturday's sold-out football game against Air Force in Annapolis, Md., could be played.
If the Congressional budget impasse is going to extend through the weekend, the game would likely be postponed, a person with knowledge of the decision process told USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because they were not cleared to speak publicly.
Army's scheduled game at Boston College is also in doubt. Boston College athletics director Brad Bates said in a statement the school was in communication with Army officials and would "exhaust all possibilities to play the game."
FOOTBALL FOUR: Rating and debating college football
Though Air Force and Navy proceeded with practice Tuesday as if the game were going to be played, nearly all civilian academy employees at Air Force — including the sports information department and much of the athletics administration — were sent home. As a result, Air Force coach Troy Calhoun's weekly news conference was cancelled, even though coaches were exempt from the furloughs.
One possibility being explored, according to the person who spoke to USA TODAY Sports, is whether Air Force could use private funds — perhaps through the Mountain West Conference office — to make the trip and keep the game on schedule.
HEISMAN RANKINGS: This week's top 10
In an e-mail Tuesday afternoon, Air Force associate athletics director Troy Garnhart said the academy would attempt to play home contests in all sports, but that those could be canceled as well. Garnhart said the school would work with the conference office, opponents and the Department of the Air Force to make up as many lost games as possible. Navy canceled Tuesday's soccer game against Howard, and Army canceled its women's soccer game Wednesday against Colgate.
If the football games are postponed, Air Force and Navy would both have an opening on Dec. 7 to possibly reschedule. Navy is off from Nov. 22 until Dec. 14 when it plays Army, and Air Force's season will conclude Nov. 30 barring an appearance in the Mountain West championship game. Given the Falcons' 0-4 league record, they are almost certain not to qualify.
CBS, which is supposed to broadcast the Air Force-Navy game nationally on its over-the-air network (kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET), was "working on alternate programming in the event the game is not played," spokeswoman Jen Sabatelle said in an email.
Dan Wolken, a national college football reporter for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @DanWolken.


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Airmen deploy in support of New Dawn
By Staff Sgt. Armando Vasquez, 108th Wing Public Affairs
More than 25 Airmen from the 108th Wing's Security Force Squadron deployed July 12, for a six-month tour in Southwest Asia in support of Operation New Dawn.
Amid family members and senior leadership from the 108th Wing and New Jersey Air National Guard, the 108th Airmen said goodbye to their loved ones during a farewell ceremony held at the Wing's conference room here.
Senior Airman Omar J. Navarro, a Newark resident and recent college graduate, said he was a little nervous about the deployment, but he was also excited at the opportunity.
"They are American heroes," said Falca-Dodson. "Less than one percent of the population in the United States serves in the military and these are some of them."
During their deployment, the Airmen will conduct air base ground defense missions, which may include perimeter patrols, flight line security, vehicle searches, and processing personnel at base entry points.
|(c) 2011 NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs


text: Hi Have upgradet to 188.8.131.52 and now my users have trouble login into domain.tld/stats have tried resetting admin pass for stats no luck also no ssh access for sites is not working, access to root is fine, but I am unable to login, using any site ssh accounts. Any suggestions ? TIA Frederik


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The Young Arkansas Artists (YAA) on Tour is organized by the Arkansas Arts Center with the cooperation of the Arkansas Department of Education. Selected works from the 56th annual exhibition at the Arkansas Arts Center will tour the state in 2017–2018. Creations by the state's young artists demonstrate a great range, from the outpouring of youthful expression to more sophisticated artwork from higher grade levels. YAA on Tour showcases the talent of Arkansas' youth and inspires young artists to achieve - and perhaps exceed - the talent of their peers in the pursuit of a lifelong relationship with the arts.
*Underwriting for this programming as well as fee support from the Arkansas Arts Council results in minimal cost. Please call for details.
Hours: Tues - Sat 10 AM - 5 PM | Sun 11 AM - 5 PM Address: 9th & Commerce / MacArthur Park, P.O. Box 2137, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-2137 Phone: 501.372.4000
© Copyright 2019 Arkansas Arts Center. All rights reserved. All text and images are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without written permission from their respective owners.


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(c) 2013, Bloomberg News.
(c) 2013, Bloomberg News.
NEW YORK � Verizon Communications's plan to buy out its wireless partner for $130 billion is a bet that the U.S. mobile-phone market still has room for expansion even as competition intensifies and smartphone demand slows.
While owning all of Verizon Wireless � the 14-year-old venture with Vodafone Group Plc � would give Verizon a full share of earnings, the acquisition won't result in reduced costs or bring new products or services. That means Chief Executive Officer Lowell McAdam will have to persuade investors and bondholders that the profit growth he's getting will more than justify the heavy price tag.
Verizon's gamble contrasts with AT&T Inc., which is hunting overseas for acquisitions that would offer better returns than the U.S. McAdam has used $5 billion in deals over his two-year tenure as CEO to invest in the American wireless business just as the industry's revenue growth stalls. The Vodafone deal would lay the groundwork for what McAdam is betting will be a demand boom for a broad range of telecommunications services.
"McAdam's strategy is to move away from being a traditional phone company," said Sam Greenholtz, a former Verizon manager now with SGTelecom Consultants in Westminster, Maryland. "He wants to make Verizon a mobile and fiber company, to provide the means of delivery for cloud services and broadcasts."
Verizon has reached an agreement to acquire Vodafone's 45 percent stake in their U.S. wireless venture for about $130 billion, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions. A deal could be announced as soon as today, people familiar with the matter have said. Vodafone, having seen how slowing growth and stiffer competition can squeeze profit margins in its European markets, is poised to take Verizon's money and get out of the U.S.
Vodafone, based in Newbury, England, confirmed in a statement yesterday that it's in advanced talks to sell the stake to New York-based Verizon for $130 billion, with no certainty an agreement will be reached. Bob Varettoni, a Verizon spokesman, declined to comment on the deal with Vodafone.
Shares of Vodafone rose 3.7 percent to 213.80 pence at 10:26 a.m. in London. Verizon fell 0.9 percent to $47.38 in New York on Aug. 30, and AT&T advanced 0.5 percent to $33.83.
A look at Verizon's two biggest transactions under McAdam, 59, shows what his company is up to. A year ago, the carrier completed a $3.6 billion deal to acquire wireless airwaves from Comcast Corp., Time Warner Cable Inc. and Bright House Networks, its nemeses in the competition for landline Internet users. The companies also pledged to work together on services for consumers.
Just a month earlier, Verizon acquired Hughes Telematics Inc. for $612 million, gaining technology that wirelessly links machines such as cars and medical devices to the Internet for monitoring and services.
McAdam connected the dots on the two transactions for investors in December at a UBS AG conference. Each device that accesses the Internet wirelessly � a tablet computer, a TV, a car, an insulin monitor, a thermostat � presents another opportunity to wring sales from Verizon's network.
"If we can bring some video applications and some intelligent home and some health-care applications, the revenue per account we see trending upwards," he said. "Somebody might pay 25 cents or 50 cents a month for a thermostat."
While wireless growth has slowed in the U.S. because most people already have a phone and a data plan, McAdam said the industry is on the cusp of a new surge in demand because everyone will want their other products to work on the network.
"It's just funny that we still talk about 90 percent, 95 percent, 100 percent penetration as a ceiling," he said on a conference call with investors last year. "You start adding in all your appliances and your cars and your home and your security system and all that stuff, and I think we can keep growing. That's part of our job."
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson has expressed a similar vision, and pursued his own $39 billion deal to acquire Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile USA in 2011, eventually getting blocked by regulators seeking to preserve competition.
While he has continued to snap up smaller wireless companies and airwave licenses, Stephenson's attention has turned to Europe. He has said he sees a "fascinating" opportunity to invest in wireless Internet on the continent, which has been leapfrogged by the U.S. in mobile technology.
"AT&T has been looking elsewhere in the world to acquire assets, and Europe looks like the most attractive to them," Craig Moffett, an analyst at Moffett Research LLC, said in an interview last week on Bloomberg Television. "Their strategy, instead of trying to double down in the U.S., is to look elsewhere."
AT&T may consider bidding for Vodafone's remaining assets, people familiar with the matter said last week.
Unlike Europe, where wireless revenue slumped 4.3 percent last year, North America is still growing and has even accelerated the past two years as the economy recovered, climbing 8.7 percent. Still, it's been lower than the double- digit annual rate the industry enjoyed before the recession. Voice revenue has declined for four years, with data sales growth leveling off at 24 percent to 25 percent since 2010.
Slowing U.S. growth isn't the only reason to be skeptical of McAdam's strategy. He's facing new competitive threats as smaller carriers embark on revamped strategies. Sprint Corp. is ratcheting up investment on its network after a $21.6 billion takeover by Japan's SoftBank Corp. this year. T-Mobile US Inc., the product of a merger between Deutsche Telekom's U.S. unit and MetroPCS Communications Inc., is offering European-style plans that separate phone costs from service contracts.
"Vodafone's management may be looking at the U.S. and saying to itself, 'We've seen this movie before,'" Moffett wrote last week in a research note. "There is little prospect for things getting materially better" for Verizon Wireless, and "a meaningful chance that things get worse."
Debt investors have balked at the potential deal, pushing up yields on Verizon bonds in an indication of the transaction's risk. Verizon may have to take on $60 billion in new debt to fund the acquisition, Barclays Plc said. Yields on Verizon's $1.75 billion of 2.45 percent notes due November 2022 rose to 4.13 percent last week, from 3.91 percent before Vodafone said it was in talks with Verizon about the stake sale.
The more optimistic argument is that Americans continue to want to be less and less tethered, even as they demand more and more digital services and video. That's what Verizon is counting on.
"The world is going increasingly wireless," said Howard Ward, chief investment officer at Gamco Asset Management Inc., in an interview on Bloomberg TV's "Surveillance" last week. "This is going to be a very good business for a very long period."


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Neolithic Period, also called New Stone Age, final stage of cultural evolution or technological
development among prehistoric humans. It was characterized by stone tools shaped by polishing or
grinding, dependence on domesticated plants or animals, settlement in permanent villages, and the
appearance of such crafts as pottery and weaving. The Neolithic followed the Paleolithic Period,
or age of chipped-stone tools, and preceded the Bronze Age, or early period of metal tools.
A brief treatment of the Neolithic Period follows. For full treatment, see Stone Age: Neolithic
and technology: The Neolithic Revolution.
The Neolithic stage of development was attained during the Holocene Epoch (the last 11,700 years
of Earth history). During this time, humans learned to raise crops and keep domestic livestock, and
were thus no longer dependent on hunting, fishing, and gathering wild plants. Neolithic cultures
made more useful stone tools by grinding and polishing relatively hard rocks, rather than merely
chipping softer ones down to the desired shape. The cultivation of cereal grains enabled Neolithic
peoples to build permanent dwellings and congregate in villages, and the release from nomadism
and a hunting-gathering economy gave them the time to pursue specialized crafts.
Archaeological evidence indicates that the transition from food-collecting cultures to food-producing
ones gradually occurred across Asia and Europe from a starting point in the Fertile Crescent.
Cultivation and animal domestication first appeared in southwestern Asia by about 9000 BC, and a
way of life based on farming and settled villages had been firmly achieved by 7000 BC in the Tigris
and Euphrates river valleys (now in Iraq and Iran) and in what are now Syria, Israel, Lebanon, and
Jordan. These earliest farmers raised barley and wheat and kept sheep and goats, later
supplemented by cattle and pigs. Their innovations spread from the Middle East northward into
Europe by two routes: across Turkey and Greece into central Europe, and across Egypt and North
Africa and thence to Spain. Farming communities appeared in Greece as early as 7000 BC, and
farming spread northward throughout the continent over the next four millennia. This long and
gradual transition was not completed in Britain and Scandinavia until after 3000 BC and is known as
the Mesolithic Period.
Neolithic technologies also spread eastward to the Indus River valley of India by 5000 BC. Farming
communities based on millet and rice appeared in the Huang Ho (Yellow River) valley of China and
in Southeast Asia by about 3500 BC. Neolithic modes of life were achieved independently in the New
World. Corn (maize), beans, and squash were gradually domesticated in Mexico and Central
America from 6500 BC on, though sedentary village life did not commence there until much later, at
about 2000 BC.
In the Old World the Neolithic Period was succeeded by the Bronze Age when human societies
learned to combine copper and tin to make bronze, which replaced stone for use as tools and