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In a move that will likely bring a dramatic shift to the direction of peace talks in Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai has announced that he will stop talks with the Taliban and focus efforts on Pakistan.
The status of peace talks have been uncertain since a suicide bomber killed the head of Mr. Karzai's High Peace Council, former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, less than two weeks ago.
Though the Taliban have not claimed responsibility for the killing, the assassination raised questions about the insurgency's willingness to engage in peace talks.
Karzai's announcement that the Afghan government will now focus negotiation efforts on Pakistan comes as an acknowledgement that previous peace talks were not working. But many observers say that they worry the president's new push to involve Pakistan more may not achieve better results.
"For the last three years, the Afghan government made a lot of efforts to talk with the government opposition. The talks were not useless, but assassinations, suicide attacks, and violations by the opposition increased," wrote Siamak Herawi, deputy spokesman for Karzai, in an e-mail to the Monitor. "After many meetings with the country's elders, Soviet resistance leaders, and the religious scholars' council, the president wanted to change the procedure of negotiations."
Ineffective outreach
Last fall Karzai formed the High Peace Council to reach out to the Taliban and other insurgent groups. Led by Mr. Rabbani and many other key Taliban opposition figures, the group was criticized from the start as an ineffectual outreach group and did not produce any significant results over the last year.
Meanwhile, the Karzai government has been accused of undercutting other negotiation efforts by allegedly leaking information about Taliban interlocutor Tayeb Agha to the media, which caused talks to collapse between the US and the Islamist organization.
"The assassination of Rabbani caused the whole peace process to make a 180 degree turn," says Younas Fakor, an independent political analyst in Kabul. "I believe that Pakistan is the right group to speak with, but … the way that Karzai has raised this issue, I believe his plan will not work. Pakistan will never come forward and start negotiations the way Karzai chose."
Could allegations spoil talks with Pakistan?
Among most involved with the negotiations, there is a general consensus that they must include Pakistan.
Afghan insurgents have long used Pakistan as a safe haven and a growing number of high-level Afghan and Western officials have accused Pakistan of direct involvement in supporting the insurgency here. This has led to the general perception that you can't make peace with the Taliban without also negotiating with Pakistan.
However, many observers say while they agree with the sentiment of Karzai's latest announcement, they worry that he may have already damaged any hope of successful talks by coming forward without a clear plan and making allegations about Pakistani support of the insurgency.
"Afghans never advanced their concern properly. Making allegations is not a good way to improve relations with Pakistan," says Hamid Mir, a Pakistani journalist and independent analyst.
While Karzai has yet to announce a specific outline for his new negotiation plan, Mr. Herawi says the president will lay out his new strategy in a speech in the coming days.
Those who've already been involved in the peace process say they doubt the new plan will completely ignore talking to the Taliban.
"We've included Pakistan and we knew the importance of Pakistan's role in making peace with the Taliban," says Mawlawi Shahzada Shahid, a member of parliament from Kunar and a member of the High Peace Council. "But talks with the Taliban are still very important and needed."


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Mayor of Alaskan Town Is a Cat
But With His Honor Less Frisky, Residents Ponder Succession
TALKEETNA, Alaska—The mayor of this tiny village has been shot, fallen into a restaurant fryer, jumped off a moving truck and been mauled by a dog. Now the burning question around these parts is: Has Mayor Stubbs used up his nine lives?
Stubbs is a cat—but that didn't stop residents of this unincorporated burg of 876 from naming him their mayor 16 years ago. "It's an honorary position we gave him, and it just stuck," says Lauri Stec, general manager of Nagley's General Store, where Stubbs was adopted by the management...

subset: commoncrawl


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Clean drinking water should be safe, accessible and easy. Aquamira technology treats waterborne contaminates, while also improving the taste.


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Adopt a Grizzly Bear
During the past 150 years, grizzly bears in the lower 48 states were reduced to an estimated two percent of their former range because of over hunting and habitat loss. However, fate is turning around for the grizzly. Recently, the Yellowstone population of this awe-inspiring species was removed from the government's list of threatened and endangered species after years of dedicated efforts by National Wildlife Federation and others. Unfortunately, four other grizzly populations in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and the North Cascades in Washington remain listed as threatened. Also known as the brown bear, the grizzly generally is larger and heavier than the black bear. Its name comes from the silver or white tips on its back and shoulder fur. A grizzly bear may live up to 35 years in the wild and a male may weigh more than 1,000 pounds. Please help us protect grizzlies and other imperiled wildlife throughout America. Adopt a grizzly bear today!


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Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
- Kenny Gamble
- Leon Huff
Spreading love and soul music since the Sixties.
Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff are master songwriters and producers, amassing one hundred seventy-five gold and platinum records and recruiting disciples of Philadelphia soul over the course of their careers.
Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff were the architects of the Philly Soul sound.
Working jointly on songwriting and production, they made Philadelphia the capital of soul music in the Seventies. Gamble and Huff generated a profusion of soulful hits that had a colorblind appeal. They worked with the O'Jays, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, the Intruders, the Three Degrees, McFadden & Whitehead, Jerry Butler, Lou Rawls, Dee Dee Sharp, Phyllis Hyman and others. Their biggest hits, topping both the R&B and pop charts, were jazz singer Billy Paul's "Me and Mrs. Jones"; the O'Jays' "Love Train"; and the Soul Train theme, "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)," by MFSB Featuring the Three Degrees. All totaled, Gamble and Huff were behind fifteen gold singles and twenty-two gold albums (eight of which went platinum).
The duo launched Philadelphia International Records label in 1971, giving Motown a run for its money—in terms of sales and influence—in the Seventies. Gamble and Huff's sophisticated sound included glossy orchestrations; guitars that played glistening octaves or rhythmic chords; jazzy vibes and smooth, grooving saxes; and a memorable lead voice atop satiny group harmonies. Many of Gamble and Huff's best-known songs—such as the O'Jays' "I Love Music" and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' "The Love I Lost"—were driven by smooth, pulsing disco rhythms. Just as often, Gamble and Huff would write a slow jam topped by a beseeching vocal or rap (such as Teddy Pendergrass' wrenching lead vocal on the Blue Notes' "If You Don't Know Me By Now"). Social commentary and harmony-minded themes frequently found their way into Gamble and Huff's songwriting, particularly for the O'Jays (who scored with "Back Stabbers," "For the Love of Money" and "Love Train").
"We wanted to take social themes and translate them to commercial recordings," Kenny Gamble said in 1988. "Philadelphia International was about spreading love."
The roots of Gamble and Huff date back to Kenny Gamble and the Romeos, a late-Fifties group that included keyboardist Thom Bell, who would become an important arranger at Philadelphia International. Leon Huff, who also played keyboards, joined the Romeos later on. The group performed around Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, and they backed Chubby Checker and others on tour. Gamble also ran a record store, while Huff did session work for Phil Spector and the Ronettes, among others. Both men had a broad exposure to all aspects of the music business in their formative years.
Gamble and Huff's first self-penned and self-produced Top 10 hit was "Expressway to Your Heart," by the Soul Survivors, a blue-eyed soul band with ties to Philadelphia. The duo also worked with Wilson Pickett, Dusty Springfield, Archie Bell and the Drells and others. Another breakthrough was "Only the Strong Survive," which revived singer Jerry Butler's career.
Gamble and Huff founded the Gamble and Neptune labels, where they recorded Bunny Sigler ("Let the Good Times Roll"), the Three Degrees, jazz-soul singer Billy Paul and the Ohio-based O'Jays. In 1971 they struck a deal with Columbia Records' Clive Davis resulting in major-label distribution for their new label, Philadelphia International Records. It turned out to be a phenomenal launching pad for their artists, songs and productions. The label's first hit was the O'Jays' "Back Stabbers" (Number One R&B, Number Three pop). Close on its heels came Bill Paul's "Me and Mrs. Jones" (Number One pop, Number One R&B) and "If You Don't Know Me By Now," by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes (Number Three pop, Number One R&B).
Gamble and Huff synthesized elements from different eras of soul music—notably, the sweet harmonies of Fifties doo-wop and the gruff, gospel-inflected singing of Sixties soul men. Just as Motown had the Funk Brothers, Stax had Booker T. & the M.G.'s and Phil Spector had the Wrecking Crew, Gamble and Huff assembled an in-house band dubbed MFSB ("Mother, Father, Sister, Brother"). That name emphasized the family-oriented philosophy of Gamble and Huff. Other important members of Gamble and Huff's team were arranger/orchestrators Thom Bell and Bobby Martin; artists, producers and songwriters Gene McFadden and John Whitehead; guitarist Roland Chambers, a former member of the Romeos; and engineer Joe Tarsia, who manned the board at Sigma Sound, the studio where many of Gamble and Huff's greatest sessions occurred.
In 1989 Gamble and Huff won a Grammy for Best R&B song, "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (for the remake by Simply Red). The duo received the Grammy's prestigious Trustees Award in 1999. Their sons—Caliph "Poppa Chief" Gamble, Salahdeen Gamble and Leon A. "Pops" Huff II—entered the family business in the Nineties, working with contemporary R&B and hip-hop acts for a revived Philadelphia International Records.
Ultimately, what Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff were selling, using the medium of well-crafted, danceable and urbane soul music, was a message of "peace in the world, people getting together," Gamble told writer Chuck Miller in 1998. "That's what our whole thing was, [what] all our music was about: people uniting, living together in peace and harmony and having fun."
"Dignity and integrity and, finally, salvation are Gamble and Huff's great themes," wrote David Ritz in his liner notes for The Philly Sound box set. "Like Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, they move from the material to the metaphysical."
Inductees: Kenny Gamble (production, songwriting, vocals; born August 11, 1943), Leon Huff (production, songwriting, keyboards; born April 8, 1942)


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NEW YORK, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks confirmed Friday she will release her debut solo album, "Mother," on America's Columbia Records label May 7.
"I wanted this music to be very different from the Dixie Chicks," Maines said in a statement. "Lots of albums by lead singers might just as well have been made by the band, but I think this is very different from anything the Chicks could make. That separation and distinction was important."
The title track of "Mother" was initially released on "West of Memphis: Voices for Justice," the soundtrack for "West of Memphis," a documentary about three Arkansas men imprisoned as teens for 18 years after being wrongfully convicted of killing three 8-year-old Cub Scouts.
The men were released from prison in 2011 after an investigation concluded they didn't get fair trials.


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SALLT is about transforming lives through service and mission experiences.
The Service And Learning Leadership Team (SALLT) Project is about creating life transformation through service. Using a four-step process called service learning, service projects and mission trips can provide meaning and lasting impact on the lives of youth.
Explore this site to learn more about service learning and discover resources available to use in your local congregation.


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Product Details
- beautifully hand made product
- resin
- painted
- french
Product description
Eloise is a fabulous ornate mirror with a perfectly detailed ornate frame. She makes a dramatic statement wherever she is placed and looks fantastic in both traditional and contemporary surroundings. The frame is almost 100% solid wood with just the decorative cornices in resin. Eloise looks and feels top quality. Hung above a period fireplace or strategically placed in an entrance hall, this mirror will certainly create the wow factor. Comes complete with fittings and you can hang her in either a portrait or landscape orientation.
You may also like ...
Questions about the Ornate Mirror in Off-White - Large
Do you have a question about this product?
If your question isn't answered below, drop us an email using the form on the left. We'll respond to you personally by email and may also post the answer here to help others.


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Filtering by Tag: New England Nautical painting
Use the form on the right to contact us.
You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right.
3 Blood Street
Pepperell, MA 01463
United States
Megan Carty is a Boston area contemporary painter who makes uplifting abstract floral paintings for people who have a flair for bold boho statements and tailored style. Through her bubbly personality, her use of bright colors, and her positive healing message she's here to deliver joy for your well-dressed walls!
Filtering by Tag: New England Nautical painting


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iPhone XR Prying and Opening
Grab an iPhone XR Fix Kit and bring your phone back to life!
iFixit has you covered with parts, tools, and free repair guides. Repair with confidence! All of our replacement parts are tested to rigorous standards and backed by our industry-leading warranty.
Выбери свою модель iPhone XR:
Parts that work with iPhone XR:
Информация об устройстве
The iPhone XR (alongside the XS and XS Max) was formally announced by Apple on September 12, 2018. New features include a new 6.1-inch LCD display, an updated A12 Bionic SoC with industry-leading 7nm production process and a next-generation Neural Engine, an updated camera featuring Smart HDR, and improved Portrait Mode with advanced bokeh and depth control.
Most iPhone XR repairs are made to replace cracked screens and swap out dead batteries. iFixit has high quality parts for iPhone XR screen replacements and iPhone XR battery replacements.
The iPhone XR requires a Pentalobe P2 to open and a Y000 for most internal repairs.
Once you've bought your parts and tools, check out iFixit's iPhone XR repair guides for step-by-step instructions on how to make the fix.
The iPhone XR earned a 6 out of 10 in iFixit's repairability assessment. Watch the Teardown Review for more:


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UPDATE: Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, said she voted against the PIP legislation in error and later submitted paperwork to change her vote to a yes, meaning the measure passed unanimously. END UPDATE.
The Senate passed its version of PIP reform with a near unanimous vote and no debate, a big contrast to the contentious PIP discussions on Tuesday.
Now, the legislation goes back to the House, which has already approved a much different plan to alter the no-fault auto insurance system. Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, said House members will first focus on understanding exactly what senators approved before deciding what they do and don't support.
"I don't know exactly what's in their bill and I don't know that they all do because of all the back and forth," said Boyd, who is the House's point person on PIP. "But we need to evaluate what's in their bill, fully understand it, and then make our decisions about are there provisions we can live with, are their provisions that we can't."
The Senate inserted its own language into HB 119 before approving the measure 39-1. Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, was the only "no" vote, but we don't yet know why because there was no debate.
The two chambers are still far apart on how to reduce fraud and lower PIP costs.
For example, the House version caps attorney fees and prohibits judges from awarding fee multipliers in complex cases. The Senate's proposal does neither.
Under the House plan, people injured in a car accident must seek treatment within seven days; the Senate's version gives a two-week window.
The Senate allows chiropractors to perform initial evaluations and follow-up treatments under PIP. The House's proposal doesn't include chiropractors at all, but Boyd said the chamber is open to allowing patients to be referred to chiropractors for follow-up care.
Both chambers did agree to remove massage therapy and acupuncture from PIP.
Boyd said the House's focus is on driving down costs by ending over-utilization of services and reducing litigation. The Senate says it has the same goal in mind, but its main focus is reigning in medical clinics and reducing fraud.
Now that a version of PIP reform has been approved in both chambers, the two sides will negotiate back and forth with amendments in hopes of reaching an agreement by Friday when the regular session is scheduled to end.
"We've got a lot of work to do in a short period of time," Boyd said. "But I'm committed to doing that work because I'm committed to driving automobile insurance costs down for Floridians and I trust Sen. Negron is as well. He's been a good partner."
Reforming PIP is a top priority of Gov. Rick Scott, who has been meeting with legislators behind the scenes to push for action. He has favored the House's version, mainly because of the limits on attorney fees.
If the House and Senate can't reach an agreement, the governor could call legislators back for a special session on PIP. House Speaker Dean Cannon says he doesn't want that to happen, but Senate President Mike Haridopolos said he is open to the idea.


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Carissa of JL Designs sent me this stunningly modern and fabulous wedding from California! Minimal florals, excellent color palette, I couldn't ask for more in a wedding!
venue: shade hotel, manhattan beach, california
event design, florals and fabric draping: JL DESIGNS
photography: gabriel ryan photographers
napkins: wildflower linens
[images from Gabriel Ryan Photographers]


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Conn. launches online tax payment plan option
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Connecticut taxpayers will have the option of making electronic payments to settle their state tax bills.
The Department of Revenue Services has launched a new, free system that allows taxpayers to set up a payment plan online and determine when the money will be withdrawn from their bank account each month.
DRS Commissioner Kevin Sullivan said the agency recognizes it has been a difficult economy and some people have trouble paying off their tax obligations in a single payment. He said the new system will allow the taxpayers to manage how they repay their tax debt while eliminating the need for DRS to manually process checks.
The electronic payments are not available for taxpayers in a collection action with DRS or have debts exceeding $5,000.


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GXR FAQs - By Product
[Question] How do I view MP files on a computer? (Macintosh)The MP file viewer, VM-1, allows you to play back MP files and export still images on a Macintosh computer.
This section explains how to perform these operations, as well as how to install and operate VM-1. (The screen captures are examples with the Mac OS X 10.5.5)
VM-1 system requirement
|Operating Systems Supported
|Mac OS X 10.4-10.6
|Macintosh computer
|Macintosh computer from Apple Inc.
Mac OS X 10.4 256 MB or more
Mac OS X 10.5 512 MB or more
Mac OS X 10.6 1GB or more
|Hard Disk Space Required
|5 MB or more
|Supported languages
|Japanese, English, French, and Chinese (Simplified)
- * VM-1supports Japanese, English, French, and Chinese (Simplified).
Installing VM-1
1Start your Macintosh computer and insert the supplied CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive.
Double-click the [RICOH] icon.
- 2Double-click the [VM-1] folder.
- 3Double-click the [VM-1 Installer.pkg] icon.
- The [Install VM-1] screen appears.
4Click [Continue].
A screen allowing you to select the installation destination appears.
5Select the disk you want to install to, and click [Continue].
6Click [Install].
- •To change the installation destination, click [Change Install Location...].
- •To upgrade VM-1, click [Upgrade].
- •A screen asking for your name and password appears.
7Enter your name and password, and click [OK].
The installation completion message is displayed.
- 8Click [Close].
Playing back an MP file
This section explains how to use VM-1 to playback MP files that have already been downloaded to a Macintosh computer.
1Open the [Applications] folder.
- 2Double-click the [VM-1] icon.
The [VM-1] screen appears.
3Go to the menu bar, [File] - [Open] to choose the MP file you want to playback. Or you can open them by clicking [Select] in the [VM-1] window, and click [Open].
- •The frame in the selected MP file is played back.
•The MP file name and frame number are displayed in the [VM-1] screen. Frame numbers up to 999 are displayed.
- 4Select the frame you want to play back by entering its frame number or by clicking [<<] or [>>]. (See the screenshot below)
- •You can also start VM-1 automatically and playback an MP file by double-clicking it or by dragging and dropping it onto the [VM-1] icon.
- •You can also playback still images in the [VM-1] screen. [<<] or [>>] are not operable during playback of still images.
- •Movies cannot be played back.
Exporting still images from an MP file
This section describes how to use VM-1 to extract a specific frame from a downloaded MP file and save it as a separate still image.
You can either export all frames in an MP file at once, or export a single frame at a time.
1Open the [Applications] folder.
2Double-click the [VM-1] icon.
The [VM-1] screen appears.
3Select [Save Settings] from the [Tools] bar.
The [Save Settings] screen appears.
4Click [Select], select the location where you want to save the still image, and click [Open].
5Click [OK].
6Go to menu bar, [File] > [Open] to choose the MP file you want to export. Or you can do them by clicking [Select] in the [VM-1] window, and click [Open].
7When selecting [All Frames]
Select [Divide Multi-Picture File] from the [Tools] bar, and select [All Frames].
All the frames in the MP file are saved individually as still images.
When selecting [One Frame]
Select the frame you want to export by clicking [<<] or [>>]. Select [Divide Multi-Picture File] from the [Tools] bar, and select [One Frame].
The selected frame is saved as a still image.
|Answer ID:
|Date created:
|July 2, 2010
|Date modified:
|GXR (GR LENS A12 50mm F2.5 MACRO), GXR (RICOH LENS S10 24-72mm F2.5-4.4 VC), GXR (RICOH LENS P10 28-300mm F3.5-5.6 VC)
|Operating system:
|Mac OS X
|Software / OS compatibility
Useful LINKs:
Do you need other information? Please click any link you want from the following.
Related Links
Quick Links


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Channellock Pliers
Tongue & groove, long nose, linemen's, cutting, snap ring pliers and wiring tools.
Leatherman Multi-Tools
The best-selling Leatherman multi-purpose tools that include pliers along with assorted knives, drivers and other handy tools.
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The Extractor
Nail extracting pliers.
Vise-Grips® Locking Pliers
Curved jaw, straight jaw, long nose, large jaw pliers.


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5 Things You Need to Know About the New iPad
This morning Apple unveiled its widely anticipated new iPad at an event in San Francisco. At a glance, it may not look like much has changed, but indeed the "new iPad" appears identical to the iPad 2—it is a few millimeters thick and just a smidge heavier, but I held it in my hand and couldn't tell the difference.
But they ARE differences. In a 90-minute presentation, executives reeled of a host of new features and enhancements. Here are some of the most important ones in what I consider to be order of importance.
1. Retina Display
As expected, Apple quadrupled the resolution of the iPad. It now has a 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi) for a total of 3.1 million pixels, more than full 1080p HD. This will make a big difference for everything from photos to the readability of text. And because the bump is a simple 4X, app developers won't have to scale their apps in order to make them look good on the new iPad.
2. LTE Wireless
The new iPad will come with a built-in LTE modem with versions available for Verizon and AT&T. Internationally, the iPad will roam on 3G. LTE can reach download speeds up to 73 Mbps, making for a truly awesome broadband experience. This is notable because at this point, LTE isn't available on any of Apple's iPhones. There was no word on data plan pricing; this will no doubt be left to the individual carriers. Apple also said that a personal hotspot feature will be enabled in all new iPads, although carriers will probably charge extra for this feature as well.
3. New A5X Processor
To drive that big display, Apple upgraded its proprietary processor. Dubbed the A5X, the new dual-core chip boasts a quad-core GPU. The iPad was already a very respectable gaming platform, but with the A5X, it has the room to grow even stronger.
4. Voice Dictation
A lot of people thought Siri would make its debut on the iPad, but Siri will have to wait. Apple did release voice dictation, which should save you the trouble of tapping away on the iPad's virtual keyboard. Dictate and email and the iPad will automatically fill in the text. I didn't get to test it much, but it seems like it has Siri-like accuracy—for better and worse.
5. iSight Camera
I have long been dismissive of the iPad's camera; I just don't see many people using it. That said, the new iSight camera is now 5 megapixels and comes with advanced features like Autofocus, tap to focus, and face detection. The iPad even has built-in video stabilization. All good things, but probably not worth the upgrade by themselves.
Those are the changes, but just as important is what hasn't changed. Obviously, the form factor is nearly identical. This means all of the old cases will still work.
And the price for the new iPad still starts at $499. Apple says it will keep the 16GB iPad 2 on the market for $399, but I suspect that is while supplies last. Perhaps most significantly, the iPad's battery life will be the same: 10 hours on Wi-Fi, 9 hours on 3G/4G. Given how many new features Apple packaged in, that is quite an accomplishment.
Oh, and one last thing, about the name. As far as I can tell it is called: "iPad." So Apple launched the iPad two years ago. Last year, they launched the iPad 2. And now they are going back to the plain old iPad. Confusing, I know.
Just make sure you buy the one you are looking for.


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Alabaman Becomes Ray of Hope to Desperate Family in India
Chip Moore's $1,000 Gift Drew Him Into a Family's Fight Against Poverty
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Real-estate developer Chip Moore left his four-bedroom home here one morning in his GMC Yukon SUV, drove through his community's gate, past the golf course to a Publix supermarket.
There, he wired $1,000 to Rahima Sheikh, a gravely ill woman in a 240-square-foot home in India. He considered it a one-time thing.
"I thought...


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WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University men's basketball team closed out the home portion of its schedule today with a 76-60 loss at the hands of 17th-ranked Washington University in a University Athletic Association contest on Senior Day. The Judges fall to 17-7 overall, 8-5 in the UAA, while Washington University improves to 19-5, 9-4 UAA, salvaging a split in the season series.
After both teams were cold to start the contest, the key run in the game came late in the first half. After Brandeis junior Youri Dascy (Fall River, Mass./St. Andrews, R.I., School) hit one-of-two from the line at the 6:13 mark, the Judges were within one at 14-13. For the rest of the half, however, the Bears doubled Brandeis's output, 20-10, to take a 34-23 lead at the intermission. Brandeis hit just 4-of-11 down the stretch and 27.6% for the half (8-29), while WashU closed on an 8-for-10 streak to finish at 41.2% (14-34). Bear senior guard Ben Hoener (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway South) had 12 points in the first half, 10 of which came in that final stretch of six-plus minutes. WashU also owned a 29-15 rebounding edge.
Brandeis opened the second half by scoring eight of the first 12 points, climbing within seven points at 38-31 on Jay Freeman's (Dorchester, Mass./St. Mark's School) jumper at the 15:24 mark. The visitors scored the next two baskets to extend the lead back to double figures, but a Freeman trifecta sparked another run. His lay-up cut the deficit to 44-38 with 12:47 left, but that was as close as the Judges would get.
WashU rattled off the next nine points of the contest, with junior Alan Aboona's (Wheeling, Ill/St. Viator) 3-pointer with just under eight minutes left pushing the lead to 15 points. The Bears would lead by as many as 19 points before the 16-point final margin of victory.
For the game, Brandeis put three players in double figures. Dascy led the Judges with 17 points, hitting 6-11 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line. He also topped the Judges with eight rebounds. Freeman finished with 12 points, but needed 5-of-16 shots to get there, including 2-of-8 from deep. He also had a game-high three steals. Junior guard Gabriel Moton (St. Petersburg, Fla./St. Petersburg) added 11 points thanks to 6-of-7 from the line, helping overcome 2-of-10 shooting. He also had a game-high six assists. Brandeis shot just 34.4% for the game (21-61).
WashU was led by Hoener's career-high 25 points. He hit 8-of-12 overall, 2-of-3 from deep and all seven of his free throws. Junior forward Chris Klimek (Inverness, Ill./William Friend) added 14 points, seven in each half, and had three blocked shots and three assists. Aboona finished with 10 points on 4-of-9, 2-of-6 from downtown. The Bears, Division III's top rebounding team finished with a 49-30 advantage on the glass. Sophomore Matt Palucki (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South) had 12 to lead all players, while Klimek had nine and Robert Burnett (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) had eight. The Bears shot 43.5% from the field (27-62).
Before the game, Brandeis honored its three seniors: Freeman, Wouter van der Eng (Alphen aun der Rijn, Netherlands/Kimball Union, Vt., Acad.) and Anthony Trapasso (Sterling, Mass./St. Johns Prep.) who were playing in their final home games.
The Judges wrap up the regular season next Saturday at New York University at 3 p.m.


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Located between the lively metropolitan areas of Mayfair and St. James, Servcorp at One Mayfair Place provides the ultimate location for companies looking for affordable luxury offices. The area brims with luxury boutiques, art galleries, iconic attractions and the picturesque Green Park.
This elegant landmark, also known as Devonshire House, boasts a charming treetop view of one of London's most beautiful parks. It is surrounded by the West End's most prestigious streets, including Piccadilly, Stratton Street and Berkeley Street.
Inside the beautifully restored building, Servcorp provides its clients a first-class, exclusive atmosphere coupled with state of the art facilities. As you step out the elevator, the large granite reception area, fully trained corporate reception team, original commissioned artwork and non-branded space create an unforgettable experience.
This is your chance to be part of London's most exclusive address!
40-45 minutes by Taxi to Heathrow Airport.
Located directly above Green Park tube station with its direct access to the Piccadilly, Victoria and Jubilee Lines. It is also a short walk from Piccadilly Circus and Bond Street stations on the Bakerloo and Central Lines.
Numerous bus services available on Piccadilly.
Taxis are available outside the building and on Piccadilly.
Ask if they have unique-password, rocket-fast WiFi – For your security.
Ask to be connected to the internet – How long does it take?
Ask if the provider is Tier-1.
Ask to be allowed to check download speeds.
Ask to speak to IT support: Are they in-house or a third party? Are they even in the country?
Ask to be given a phone number so you can try the service before you buy.
Ask for a phone rate card.
Ask to meet your dedicated receptionist. The receptionist is the front line of your business.
Ask about disaster transfer.
Ask if your phone extension can roam at no cost to other locations.
Ask if the wireless internet is secure.
Ask what kind of firewall can be set up for your network.
Ask to see the transparency code of the provider.
Ask if incoming callers can dial '1' for voicemail to mobile.
Ask if you can get free calls equal to your connection amount.
Ask if your phone bill is 20% lower than telco rate.


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B&B Kava is set in a residential neighbourhood, 1 km away from the Antwerp Expo. It offers uniquely themed rooms with free WiFi, luxury box-spring bedding and retro design furnishings.
The large rooms have colourful decorations, each room in the style of a specific architect. Facilities include flat-screen TV, a large seating corner and a tea/coffee maker.
An extensive breakfast is served in the breakfast room or on the rooftop terrace if possible. A variety of restaurants is available within 1 km of the B&B Kava.
Downtown Antwerp is within 6 km of the hotel. The Middelheim Museum is 2 km by car.
Hereby conditions and cancellation policy.The applied amounts en percentages are to be paid by the guest.
Special conditions are prior to the main cancellation conditions when applied.
Main conditions and policy (Individual booking)
Special conditions (groups*)
(*) groups = Every booking of 3 or more rooms


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- WiFi
- Car park
- Spa
- Pets admitted
- Golf
- Airport Shuttle
- Sports
- Gym
- Eco-friendly
- Business
- Romantic
Choose your room
Property Location With a stay at Wellings Parkhotel in Kamp Lintfort, you'll be on a lake and minutes from Panoramabad Pappelsee Waterpark, and close to Pappelsee Park. This 4-star hotel is within close proximity of Kamp Monastery and Kloster Kamp Golf Club.Rooms Stay in one of 65 guestrooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available to keep you connected. Private bathrooms with bathtubs or showers feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as desks and complimentary bottled water.Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities Enjoy recreation amenities such as a health club or take in the view from a terrace. Additional amenities include complimentary wireless Internet access, wedding services, and tour/ticket assistance.Dining Enjoy a satisfying meal at a restaurant serving guests of Wellings Parkhotel. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge.Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include a business center, a computer station, and multilingual staff. Planning an event in Kamp Lintfort? This hotel has facilities measuring 3766 square feet (350 square meters), including conference space. Limited parking is available onsite.


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A Great Time For A Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour Out Of Las Vegas Or Arizona is Christmas
Christmas is really a busy season for tour operators in the Grand Gorge. So, bear in mind, if you are planning for a trip then which includes a helicopter flight, you ought to get your tour booked ahead of time. It does not matter should you leave Vegas or even the South Rim, the tours are likely to fill fast, so it's wise to obtain your tour booked over the following two days approximately.
You are able to book your tour for just about any day's the vacation aside from Xmas Day. Flights from Vegas could be air-only or landing tours, while flights in the South Rim in Arizona are air-only tours.
Tours Departing From Vegas
The tours that leave Vegas are typically the most popular because there's a large choice in tours and possibilities. All of the air tours provide spectacular scenic views including an incredible aerial look at the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead in order to the Gorge. Should you book an aura-only tour, you'll fly within the rim and go back to Vegas, however if you simply purchase a landing tour, you'll visit the Gorge and explore it on the floor too.
If you wish to have a landing tour, you need to consider booking one which arrives at the Gorge floor. For example, one fun bottom landing tour has a champagne picnic along with a scenic boat ride around the Colorado River.
There are more landing tours that get you to the top rim where one can view scenic vistas from lookout points, and go out around the Skywalk viewing platform. The Skywalk is a big platform that hangs within the side from the rim so that you can go out 70 ft beyond the edge. Whenever you get up on the woking platform, you can examine the transparent floor to the foot of the Gorge 4000 ft below you.
Booking A Fundamental Or Luxurious Vegas Tour
When you begin searching at tours, you will find they are offered as luxurious or fundamental versions. The fundamental tours lift removed from Boulder City, that is just outdoors of Vegas, and also the luxurious tours remove in the Strip, but next, both of them stick to the same flight path around the tours. The luxurious tours even include complimentary transportation back and forth from the helipad inside a limousine. EcoStar 130 choppers can be used for the luxurious tours, that are bigger helicopters than individuals utilized on fundamental tours. The EcoStar offers superior sightseeing because of the huge wraparound car windows and also the seating arrangement that enables every seat to possess a great view. The luxurious tour does are more expensive, but you will be treated towards the best experience possible in your flight, therefore the charges are worthwhile.
Arizona Tours Towards The South Rim
You will not have the ability to have a landing tour in the South Rim, however these tours compensate for that since they're so scenic because this area of the Gorge is mainly remote backwoods. These tours leave the South Rim and fly towards the isolated North Rim before heading back, however, should you book a 50-minute tour, your helicopter flies to the eastern border from the park too. Fundamental and luxurious tours take presctiption offer in the South Rim, even though these tours come from Arizona, if you are in Vegas you can include an plane ride for your package that can take you against Vegas to Arizona in which you start your helicopter flight.
A South Rim tour is a superb choice if you're a nature lover and wish to see beautiful vistas. Whenever you take this longer tour, you'll fly over 75 % from the park, actually, you will see scenery that lots of people to the Gorge not have the opportunity to see, so touring the South Rim is worthwhile.
Dress For That Weather
It is best to dress yourself in layers whenever you go to the Gorge over Christmas because it may be chilly throughout the winter several weeks. There's heating and cooling within the helicopters, however, you still may want to put on a sweater to remain nice comfortable on your flight. Wearing layers is better whenever you have a landing tour because it may be chilly, or it may be suddenly warm at the time of the tour.
Get Looking For Unique Christmas Recollections
The Gorge is amazing any season of the season, however the Christmas holiday is particularly magical. Be sure to purchase your tour early, and get it done online for the greatest deal. Buying online together with your charge card locks inside your tour so that your seats is going to be on tour day. Whatever tour you choose to take, you will have the opportunity to see certainly one of America's most breathtaking natural landmarks on the thrilling air tour, and there's no better method to celebrate the Christmas holiday if you wish to make special recollections for the family.
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Learners will make a "star finder" toy and play a game to find a constellation in the night sky.
In this activity, a three-part questionnaire launches students into discussions about where objects in space are located, and when they formed - an introduction to the concepts of structure and evolution of the universe.
This science-based storybook provides an introduction to soil description and sampling. Simon, Anita and Dennis follow their dog, Scoop, and find themselves in the middle of an adventure in soil.
In these activities, students continue to explore the idea of interaction among Earth components as they identify processes in the Earth system and indicate how they illustrate an interaction between two of the Earth system components.
This is a lesson about spacecraft design. Learners will hear the NASA solutions to the problems they wrote about in an earlier lesson. They will then write a nonfiction piece comparing their spacecraft to Cassini, and share their writing with the class.
This is a unit in 7-8 sessions about objects outside of our solar system, including galaxies and the universe. Learners will investigate the contents of the universe, why light years are used to measure distances in space, the lifespan of a star, and detecting extrasolar planets.
Students will create a three-dimensional model from a two-dimensional topographic map.
In this inquiry investigation, students conclude that the motion of the Earth is linked to the changes we observe such as the length of the day. Students learn about the reason behind the Earth's time zones. An optional water clock and sand clock making activity supports this investigation.
This is a reading associated with activities during Solar Week, a twice-yearly event in March and October during which classrooms are able to interact with scientists studying the Sun. Outside of Solar Week, information, activities, and resources are archived and available online at any time.
This is a lesson about detecting ice on the permanently shadowed craters of Mercury and the Moon. Learners will consider what might be in that ice and will examine why the polar regions of Earth, Mercury and the Moon are colder than elsewhere on the planets.


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All This For A $1: Crazy Azz Fool Jumps In The Pool In The Freezing Cold & Forcd To Do A Snow Angel In Texas!
In Dallas Texas. Submitted by Kev
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Becoming Fashionable
Photographs by The Paupered Chef
The cocktail party is an estimable but endangered social institution. Its demise may be blamed on factors as various as the waning popularity of hard liquor, the regrettable decline of the sibling arts of conversation and flirtation, and the growing acceptance in this country of the European idea that dinner by itself is sufficient diversion for an evening. (The cocktail party, remember, is an American invention.) We steadfastly defend the cocktail party, however, both as an abstract notion and as an uncomplicated and extremely pleasant means of entertaining. The Joy of Cooking
Grandiloquent language and patriotic zeal: The normally tame and civil Joy of Cooking took us by surprise on the subject of cocktails. What is this strange "institution" they so valiantly defend, taking a break from casserole instruction and mayonnaise ratios to behave like literary theorists ("abstract notion"?)? Something distinctly American? Is the art of the cocktail a reason to feel patriotic?
Of course, the cookbook's authors are quite right: There aren't many people who really have cocktail parties anymore, especially those under 30. Do you know many people with a stocked liquor cabinet? Anyone with a short wooden trolley that they roll around the corner from which they offer libations to visiting acquaintances? We're no longer living in the world of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf; these days, you text your friend to pick up a bottle of wine on the way. Who wants to invest hundreds of dollars on liquors and syrups, and buy limes and lemons at the grocery store every week? It's not practical. The decline probably has less to with the "waning of the sibling arts" (whatever that means) and more to do with cold hard cash.
But the estimable subject of the cocktail, with all its mystery and refinement, is quite accessible, even without a stocked liquor cabinet and a copy of Bartending for Dummies.
The Old Fashioned. It has the ring of cool vintage, a controversial history for those interested, and a simple, refined, remarkable taste. It's the drink to impress your friends, tossed together in a matter of seconds, and we think it has the potential to revive the skinny-tied, deviled-eggs-accompanied verve of the '60s cocktail hour. Manhattans are great, but everybody's had them; Martinis are slick and sexy but overdone. When's the last time you were offered an Old Fashioned? Not in this century, most likely.
The Old Fashioned is such an old drink that in its first documented appearance it's actually called "the old fashioned." It's also rumored to be the first cocktail, and even if it's not, it acts as one. Modern American Drinks (1895) by George J. Kappeler gives us the first recipe for the "Old Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail," said to have been invented at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky: a simple combination of sugar, two dashes bitters, ice, and a lemon peel.
The clean appeal of this drink also happens to make it economical. A decent bottle of rye whiskey can run you anywhere from $15 to $30, but you can land a bottle of Rittenhouse (which we definitely recommend) for $15 if you're resourceful. Most whiskey bottles are 750 ml, enough to pour 12.68 Old Fashioned cocktails. Add the cost of bitters, usually around $5 a bottle, and an evening of meticulously poured Old Fashioneds will cost about $20. The rest of the ingredients are kitchen standards you probably have on hand alreadysugar (and some water) and a couple of oranges. Buy a bottle of vermouth and you can give people the option of a Manhattan.
If you happen to be of the "let's get hammered" persuasion, consider that one Old Fashioned has almost twice as much alcohol as a Bud Light, meaning one bottle of whiskey at less than $20 has the same effect as a similarly priced case of beer. And everyone should be feeling more sophisticated and better about themselves because they weren't forced to drink piss beer. That's a plus.
In fact, what you prefer depends more on what your tolerance is for the taste of the hard stuff. Either way, the base for the Old Fashioned is sturdy and unwavering:
The Old Fashioned
Ingredients 1 teaspoon sugar 2 dashes bitters A little water, just enough to dissolve the sugar 2 or 3 ice cubes 2 ounces whiskey
Procedure Combine the sugar and bitters in a glass (an Old Fashioned glass, if you're that hip; a thick-bottomed tumbler will also do) with just enough water to wet the sugar. Muddle until combined. Add the ice, and the pour the whiskey over it. Stir. Done.
The first question is whether to use rye whiskey or Bourbon (please keep it American). The latter is made mostly from corn and will have a sweeter taste than the sharp kick of rye. Either one works, but we like to sip Bourbon and mix rye. Next comes the question of accessories.
Most recipes go for the straight, unadorned, no-citrus base, but almost half of those we surveyed had orange and lemon slices. Some even called for the orange to be muddled in with the sugar. Instead of engaging in meaningless wars about what a "true" Old Fashioned is, we bought some oranges, lemons, and a whole bottle of rye whiskey and decided to sort things out. Brave souls we are.
Our first experiment was with muddled orange and was essentially a disaster. We took a thin slice of the fruit and muddled it with the sugar and bitters. The sweet orange juice overwhelmed the drink, leaving it heavy and syrupy tasting. Over crushed ice, the drink might make for a refreshing summertime lounger or might please those who don't really like the taste of whiskey.
Next, we slid a slice of orange and lemon into the drink after we had poured the whiskey. That gave it a nice hint of fruit without feeling cloying or obnoxious. In fact, it made the drink a little more refreshing, enhancing rather than hiding the whiskey. What you choose will ultimately depend on how you like your drinks. The fruit adds a touch more sweetness and rounds out some of the edge of the liquor. We stumbled on our favorite version using orange bitters and no other fruit. The unadorned drink is sharper, quicker, and neater. And for the record, we'll always take the latter.
But that's enough talk. These are matters of personal taste. And if you'll please excuse us, we have more pressing concernsdo you take yours with an orange or not?
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This 8" Dura Mag flanged mag meter is equipped with DC Power (10-32v) / 4-20mA Output and includes a backup field-replaceable battery with a 5 year battery life and an internal data logger to track water usage more accurately. It comes with 6ft. of cable (open Leads - hardwired only). The meter arrives pre-calibrated with the internal data logger set to track water usage every 12 hours in Kilogallons (KGL) total units of measurement, with a rate unit of Gallons per Minute (GPM) and includes two stainless steel grounding rings and grounding wire assembly. Installations where grounding rings are recommended typically require two grounding rings per meter..
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AUBURN, Ala. – One day after teammate Sophia Yamauchi made her NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships debut, Andrea Ward tackled her first event. Ward competed in the 100 butterfly, while Yamauchi swam in the 100 breaststroke during Friday's preliminaries.
Ward finished 29th in the 100 fly with a time of 53.41 seconds. The mark was .43 seconds off of her school-record in the event and she finished just one place lower than her original seed into the event.
In the 100 breast, Yamauchi touched 35th overall with a time of 1:01.77, which was .68 seconds off of her career-best. She finished one spot higher than her seed into the event.
Both swimmers will wrap up their first NCAA Championship appearances on Saturday as Ward competes in the 200 fly and Yamauchi races in the 200 breast.


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From version 2.0 of OpenOffice.org, Sun
will also release a Dutch version of Star Office. This will be Star
Office 8. This means that Sun will hire a translation company to
localize the GUI and the online help. In order to utilize the
capacities of the Dutch OpenOffice.org community, the agreement is made
that we will help with the localization. Since a lot of translation
work has already been done for OpenOffice.org 1.x.x we will try to use
that existing translation as much as possible.
In order to organize things well there have to be
some agreements on how we will work. At this moment there are several
discussions about this on the localization mailinglist.
This page will be a summary of what is discussed and decided. This page
will also be used to monitor the progress of the project.
The following agreements have been made between
Sun and the nl.openoffice.org community.
The following tables give an overview of the tasks
that have to be (or have been) carried out for this project. A more
detailed overview of the progress of the translation and reviewing
tasks can be found on the coordination
There has been agreed upon to use the open source
version of the Sun Translation Editor for translating. This can be
downloaded by using the following links: Windows
The glossary can be used as tool for translation.
The glossary can be downloaded here.
The style guide will be available there also soon.
Translation goes as follows:
The translation of the GUI and help is already finished.
There's still a lot of reviewing work to be done. More information on
that can be found at the bottom of this page.
Before the Dutch version of OpenOffice.org can be
released, a number of reviews have to be done. These are:
The following section is a guideline on how to
The purpose of this review is to correct errors in
translation of the GUI. All translation errors found in the GUI have to
be registered in IssueZilla by creating issues. Please keep in mind the
following when submitting these issues:
Have a look on the coordination
page to see who's doing what and to see what the progress is.
The key-id build needed for this can be downloade here.
The accelerator keys are shortcut keys that can be
to start functions or open menus, e.g. Alt+B for File menu and
Ctrl+s voor "Save".
Until now, this hasn't been a hot item, so it needs some work. For this
review there have to be created some issues in IssueZilla. Please keep
the following in mind when submitting these issues:
Have a look on the coordination
page to see who's doing what and to see what the progress is.
The key-id build neede for this can be downloade here.
A large part of the help files is translated by
CRC. The other part is translated by the community. A review of the
complete set of help files still has to be done. To review the help,
the contents page can be used. By browsing to the contents from top to
bottom each page can be reviewed. How the review should be performed
and what's needed for it can be read in this document (Dutch only, sorry). The progress can be monitored on the coordination
The coordination
page will hold a list of issues (as Calc spreadsheet), along
with they're status.
This table gives an overview of who will be
participating in the project. The table only lists the persons who
agreed on having their names here. So it's possible there are more, but
I haven't received their approval yet.
All help with this project is welcome. You can
sign up on the localization mailinglist
Last updated on: December 19, 2005
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Example optional quest key wordsIceFlowerHound of the SwampSo what can we make with these words?A Lifeform? Perhaps a demonic dog which dwells in the swamp whose bite freezes it's victims. Only the sap of a certain flower is said to ward against it.An Item? A rose made of never melting ice which is said to grow in the swamp. It's guarded by a pack of trained dogs. It's said that the rose is a key to summoning the fabled Rime-Demon.A Society? The order of the wilted blightbloom flower is a cult which dwells deep within the Frigid, ice-covered northlands. They hope to one day summon a horrific demon; the Swamphound.
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Romney's toughest debate
Mitt Romney has a clear-eyed and self-aware view of his chances in the final debate Monday, according to top advisers: It will be almost impossible to win, since the debate is focused exclusively on foreign policy, a strength for President Barack Obama.
This view isn't merely about expectations-setting. Romney's top advisers authentically worry that the swing voters they need to woo care little about foreign affairs right now. And, even if they did, the differences between the two men on many of the highest-profile issues — ending the Afghan war and the bloodshed in Syria — are too slight to draw sharp distinctions.
Story Continued Below
( Also on POLITICO: Obama vs. Romney: How they plan to win)
Even if Romney does bring his A game, Obama joked last week about his debate strategy for winning the showdown in Florida: "Spoiler alert: We got bin Laden." It's not a joke that he said it, or that he uses that conquest to maximum political advantage in debates and speeches to show strength and achievement.
The Romney campaign sees this debate – to be moderated by Bob Schieffer on Monday night in Boca Raton, Fla. — as the last chance to move the needle in any significant way in the swing states that will decide the election. Aides head into it more confident about winning the race than they did before the first presidential debate, but believing Obama is slightly better positioned in the states that will dictate the outcome. The hope inside the campaign is that Romney will emerge in no worse position, advisers said.
"The debates have not so much fundamentally changed the race as they have returned it to where it was before the Democratic convention," said Vin Weber, the Romney campaign's special adviser on policy. "The candidates are close, and the economy is the Number One issue. Foreign policy is really important, but it is not driving this election."
( Also on POLITICO: The latest presidential polls)
A top Republican official put it more bluntly: "I don't think there are a lot of soft voters who are waiting to hear a position on the Eurozone."
This could be a problem for Romney because another strong debate performance could be the difference-maker for him. Interestingly, in private conversations, the two campaigns agree on the state of the race as of this weekend: Obama has the edge right now because it appears he's up, albeit narrowly, throughout the Midwest: Iowa, Wisconsin and, most importantly, Ohio. A Midwest swing-state sweep makes it almost impossible to chart a Romney win.
At the same time, Romney is doing better than ever in Florida, is a slight favorite in Colorado and is back to near-even in Virginia, giving substantially more hope than on the eve of the first debate, which he won decisively.
( Also on POLITICO: 5 things to watch in Monday's debate)
Romney knows foreign policy is not his strength, aides said. Throughout the race — starting with his proclamation that Russia is the biggest strategic threat to the U.S., through his bumpy Europe trip, and ending with his politicized statement moments after the Libya killings and clumsy exchange about that terrorist attack in the last debate — Romney has not been at his best when trying to add a global dimension to his campaign.
"So far, Romney is batting zero when it comes to landing a punch on foreign policy or national security," said Matt Bennett, co-founder of Third Way, a Democratic-leaning think tank that advocates "a tough and centrist security strategy."
( See also: POLITICO's swing-state map)
"He has whiffed in every single at-bat, and there's no evidence he can do any better when he's doing it for 90 minutes," Bennett added. "It's just more opportunity for him to get boxed in like he did in the second debate, or sound out of touch like he did in the post-Libya press conference, or make a gaffe like he did on his foreign trip."


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People We Love :: Myriam Merlet
"While I was abroad I felt the need to find out who I was and where my soul was. I chose to be a Haitian woman," wrote author-activist Myriam Merlet in a 2001 essay.
One of the few women ever to lead a Haitian government office, Merlet, 53, died in the January 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince.
Born in Haiti, Merlet in the 1980s began fighting violence against women and in 1994 helped to establish a government agency: the Ministry of Women's Affairs and Women's Rights.
"There's enormous violence and oppression but there's also feisty women activists and leadership," says Merlet's close friend, American feminist and playwright Eve Ensler.
In 2001, Merlet partnered with Ensler and V-Day to bring to Haiti Ensler's play The Vagina Monologues. A few years later, the two helped establish a safe house in Port-au-Prince for homeless and abused women. The safe house survived the quake.
- : After 30 years working for democracy, women's rights, and economic justice in Haiti, Beverly Bell is documenting the impact of the earthquake on Haiti's grassroots movements.


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- The National Trails
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- North Downs Way
- Offa's Dyke Path
- Peddars Way / Norfolk Coast Path
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The Ridgeway - a Trail for all seasons10th February 2014
It is always good to receive feedback from Trail users; positive comments are especially appreciated by the Trails Team but negative comments are also useful and can hopefully help us to improve the Trail for users in the future. The main seasons for such comments are during the summer months but they can appear all the year round.
We've just received one such comment from Johan, a walker from Belgium, who has written "We've hiked the western part of the Trail (from Overton Hill to Streatley) last week. The trail was in rather good condition, especially when you consider the harsh weather of the last days. Congrats for the maintenance of the trail to all volunteers."
As the Thames Path disappears under water again, a few sentences from a satisfied customer really helps to lift dampened spirits.


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Mark Hughes has distanced himself from the Blackburn Rovers job, leaving the former Aston Villa coach Kevin MacDonald as favourite to head up a new managerial set-up at the club following the departure of Henning Berg from Ewood Park.
Berg and his managerial team were sacked by Venky's, Blackburn's Indian owners, after 57 days in charge at Ewood Park. The Norwegian presided over a single win in 10 matches which have left Rovers 17th in the Championship. Berg's last match in charge was the 1-0 defeat by Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.
The early indications are that Venky's now want to bring in MacDonald as head coach. The Scot left Villa Park in the summer and is still understood to be on the payroll at the Midlands club where he also served as a caretaker manager. MacDonald has been credited with a key role in the production of a series of promising young players at Villa but has always retained aspirations of being a manager in his own right.
Hughes, who has had spells playing for and managing Blackburn, has been linked with succeeding Berg. However, it is understood the post is not attractive to the 49-year-old at this time. Blackburn have also courted another of their ex-players, Tim Sherwood, in the past without success.
Berg is thought to have clashed with the Blackburn hierarchy in recent weeks. Before his appointment, he had controversially claimed: "To work as a manager for a club you need the right owners and to take over as a manager in a club with owners like that is madness."
Reflecting on his departure, Berg said: "It goes without saying that I am bitterly disappointed to have been relieved of my managerial duties at Ewood Park after just 57 days since my appointment.
"It was an honour for me to manage a club that is so close to my heart and I now wish all of them every success for the rest of the season and beyond.
"I would also like to thank the players and staff for their support and commitment in this short period. They have all done their best and unfortunately the results in these 10 games have not reflected their performances.
"I wish the club all the best in the future and am sure that with a few additions in the January transfer window they will have a good chance of getting a playoff place."
Balaji Rao, a director of Venky's, was quoted in the Indian media as saying: "We have not been doing well and dropping points and losing matches quite often. I want to go up."
Rovers, in their own brief statement, said: "Blackburn Rovers FC has announced the departure of manager Henning Berg, assistant manager Eric Black, first team coach Iain Brunskill and goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms with immediate effect.
"This decision has been taken following a very disappointing sequence of results. The club thanks the four men for their efforts and wishes them every success for the future."
This article was written by Ewan Murray, for The Guardian on Thursday 27th December 2012 22.01 Europe/London
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2010
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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Voicesource Prepaid/Virtual card rates
These prepaid rates are for the Prepaid Virtual calling cards and a ADSL internet connection is not required to make cheaper International calls.You may dial from a landline,celluar phone or from a public pay phone to a local number supplied by Voicesource.Once the local number has been dialled,you will be prompted to enter you pin code. You can now dial your International number. View prepaid/virtual card rates here.
Prepaid Virtual card numbers----- Cape Town - 0214640127
Gauteng- 0113697846