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TUESDAY, May 17, 2011 (HealthDay News) -- Both surgery and popular medications such as Nexium, Prevacid or Prilosec can successfully treat the discomfort of chronic reflux, according to new research.
Millions of Americans experience what's known formally as chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. The condition is caused by acidic stomach contents washing up into the esophagus. GERD can have a debilitating effect on sleep, work and general quality of life.
However, "we have made very dramatic improvement in our treatment of GERD, that's the good news," said lead researcher Dr. Jean-Paul Galmiche, a professor of gastroenterology in the College of Medicine at Nantes University in France. Treatments include laparoscopic surgical fixes and the use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs such as Nexium (esomeprazole), Prilosec (omeprazole) and Prevacid (lansoprazole).
The new study -- which was funded by Nexium's maker, AstraZeneca -- found "dramatic improvement in the results of surgery and excellent results also with medical therapy," he stated. There was no real difference between the medical and surgical approaches in terms of their overall ability to ease GERD, "which was not expected," Galmiche said.
Each treatment option did have its merits and demerits, however. For example, with surgery there is less regurgitation than with the medications, Galmiche said, but on the other hand, "you have more bloating and flatulence after surgery."
This means that the choice of one treatment over the other is really up to the patient, he said. If you don't want to take pills for the rest of your life you may opt for surgery, or if you fear surgical complications you can opt for PPIs. "You can choose your preferred treatment," Galmiche said.
The report was published in the May 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study included 554 people with GERD who had already responded well to Nexium in a three-month try-out period prior to their entry into the study. These participants were selected because, according to one outside expert, people with reflux who do not respond to a PPI probably have another condition other than GERD.
"Those are [also] the people who tend to not do as well on surgery, because a lot of them have non-acid reflux or another cause of their symptoms," explained Dr. Amar R. Deshpande, an assistant professor of gastroenterology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Of the 554 people selected into the trial, 372 completed five years of follow-up, including 192 randomly assigned to treatment with Nexium and 180 assigned to laparoscopic antireflux surgery.
Although the study used Nexium as its PPI, Galmiche pointed out that there is no reason why other drugs in this class wouldn't work as well.
People taking Nexium were allowed to increase their dose as needed, the investigators noted.
Five years after initiating treatment, the researchers found that GERD was in remission for 85 percent of the patients who had undergone surgery and 92 percent of the patients who were taking Nexium.
Those taking Nexium had similar levels of heartburn and acid regurgitation from the start to the end of the study. However, these symptoms lessened among those who had surgery, the researchers noted.
For example, at five years, 13 percent of those taking Nexium had acid regurgitation compared with 2 percent of those who underwent surgery. Yet there was no significant difference between the groups in the severity of heartburn, abdominal pain or diarrhea, the investigators found.
In terms of complications, 11 percent of the surgery patients had difficulty swallowing, compared with 5 percent of those taking Nexium. Among those having surgery, more suffered bloating than those taking Nexium (40 percent versus 28 percent) and the same held for rates of (excess) flatulence (57 percent versus 40 percent), the researchers found.
In addition, about 29 percent of those who had surgery and 24 percent of those on Nexium experienced some serious adverse event.
Overall, however, "this large, multicenter randomized trial demonstrated that with modern forms of antireflux therapy, either by drug-induced acid suppression or after laparoscopic antireflux surgery, most patients remain in remission for at least five years," the study authors concluded.
Commenting on the study, Deshpande said that "if you did well on Nexium and if you continued it or went to surgery, both afforded you a nine out of 10 chance of staying in symptom remission over the next five years."
As he sees it, GERD therapy typically becomes a personal choice. "If you are taking one pill once a day, most people tend to want to do that [rather] than undergo surgery," he said. However, it is those who do well on a PPI that typically also do well after surgery, he noted.
People who might opt for surgery are those who don't want to take pills or are afraid of the side effects of PPIs, Deshpande said.
More information
For more information on GERD, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.


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Privacy Policy
At BuyCorrosionX.com, we appreciate your business, and we know from experience the decision-making process involved in sharing personal and credit card information when purchasing products online. The purpose of our Privacy Policy is to outline for you what we do with your personal information and to give you some options regarding your personal records.
How We Use Your Information
Any personal information you share with us onlinewhich could include your full name, full address, email address, phone and fax numbers, and credit card numberis not sold or rented. Period. Any personal information given online for product purchases is supplied to the appropriate manufacturer in the form of a shipping order only to process that order. Our sites does not take nor store credit card information in order to meet the mandatory Payment Card Industry (PCI) Compliance.
When you enter our shopping cart, the personal information you provide is in an area that is not secure until you continue on to the Payment Information page. From this point until your transaction is complete, you will see a "Security Alert Box" advising you that you are in a secure area.
You may cancel your order at any time before submitting payment information by selecting Cancel from any previous page in the Checkout process or by closing your browser. Once you submit payment information on the order form, your order is recorded in our system.
The information we retrieve from the site is used only to process your order. When it comes into our site, it is saved to a secure location that is only accessible to BuyCorrosionX.com and you via user names and passwords. Credit Card information is not stored in our database; one print copy of your order is made when the order is first taken from the database. This copy is used to facilitate the issuance of credit, if necessary, and for tax purposes only.
ClickCartPro, the program that runs our shopping cart (under license from Kryptronic, Inc., will occasionally require repairs or updates to keep it running accurately and efficiently. At that time a temporary password is set so a programmer can access the program's administrative files.
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From time to time we email our customersusing only first names and email addressesinformation about "Special Deals" or "New Products" from our Shopping Mall that we believe may be of interest to you. You may update your email address in our Mailing list online.
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Previous revisions 05/20/08 and 11/14/10. This Privacy Policy notice takes effect as of 07/04/14.
The Software Developer's Privacy Statement
We have created this privacy statement in order to demonstrate our firm commitment to privacy. The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for this web site.
We use your IP address to help diagnose problems with our server, and to administer our Web site. Your IP address is used to help identify you and to gather broad demographic information.
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Our site's registration form requires users to give us contact information, like their name and email address, and unique identifiers. We use customer contact information from the registration form to send the user information about our company. The customer's contact information is also used to contact the visitor when necessary if they have subscribed to the mail list. Users may opt-out of receiving future mailings by choosing to un-subscribe. Unique identifiers are collected to verify the user's identity and for use in our record system.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Anyone who bought the $400 unlocked developer G1 is in for a nasty surprise: Google, citing piracy concerns, won't allow those handsets to access paid Marketplace apps.
The problem lies in the phone's full software permissions. Consumer Android phones download paid content to a private, hidden apps folder, inaccessible to the user. Thing is, as is stands, this normally inaccessible folder is accessible on the dev phones. Not only does this let people flat out copy and redistribute apps—it enables a sort of app laundering scam, in which someone buys an app, copies it to another location, and gets a refund for the app (as per the Marketplace's 24-hour return policy), only to reinstall the copied version later.
Right, so Google sort of screwed up on that one. But the consequences will be felt most by the poor saps with the Developer G1s, and even though many of them weren't ever intended to use a dev model, it's a shame. Think about it: the non-developers who paid $400 plus a $25 developer fee just to get their hands on an unlocked G1 are (or, really, were) probably the most loyal devotees that Android has—and now, if they want paid apps, they pretty much have to pirate them. [Macworld]


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FACETIME- Calhoun's coup: Local violinist shines at the Grammys
Local violinist Ann Marie Calhoun is two nights away from emerging from the pack of three finalists to win YouTube's "My Grammy Moment" vote to earn a featured slot performing with the Foo Fighters on their hit "The Pretender."
To hear Calhoun tell it from the backseat of a car headed to rehearsals at Los Angeles' Staples Center last Friday, before the big night it seemed she had already won.
"In a strange way, I'm jealous of myself, because it hasn't sunk in that I'm doing all these fabulous rock star things," she says. "I just left what they call a 'gifting lounge' where they let me pick out all these designer clothes to wear for the show right off the rack."
Fortunately for the 28-year-old classical phenom, she came ready with something to break the ice with former Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl. "We grew up in the same town in Burke, in Northern Virginia, and we even went to the same high school," she says. "He heard that and gave me a big hug."
Not only that, but Calhoun's been hanging out in the company of rock royalty of an older generation. She and the other 14 semi-finalists who made up the Foo Fighters' orchestra were under the direction of Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones.
"He's such a kind man," says Calhoun of the legendary conductor. "He hung out with us after rehearsals, complimenting us on our playing, taking pictures, talking to excited younger brothers on cell phones. He's instantly endearing."
Any chance Jones had her learn a few bars of "Kashmir" for a Led Zeppelin reunion? "I haven't asked him about it yet," says Calhoun. "If I win, maybe I'll quote it."
The Grammys came less than a month after the former Old School Freight Train fiddler and current Gordonsville resident finished a series of performances with another rock luminary. She backed Ringo Starr while he made TV appearances promoting his latest album, Liverpool 8.
"It came together very randomly," Calhoun explains. "Last month, I got a call from a friend I hadn't heard from in years saying, 'My friend is putting together Ringo's promotional band, and I told him you play violin and guitar. They need you in a week.'
"I only knew a few chords on the guitar," Calhoun explains, "so I dropped everything I was doing and spent the whole next week playing bar chords all day. I still have the callouses."
When it was finally showtime, Calhoun found the Beatle to be every bit the gentleman she'd hoped he'd be. "When I first met him, it was backstage at The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson eating dinner," she says. "I was instantly so humbled by how sweet he was. I asked him how he stayed in such good shape, and he gave all the credit to his personal trainer and his wife. He's generous like that."
So how does Calhoun feel now that, after one month, she's now one degree of separation from the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Nirvana?
"I feel like I'm one degree separated from myself," she says. "I don't know why I got this opportunity because there are so many great musicians out there. I'm just blessed, I guess."


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Professional Management Association
PMA welcomes all majors!
To prepare members for the realities and challenges of the corporate world and connect these individuals to opportunities which develop leadership and managerial skills through philanthropic organizational activities.
PMA is dedicated to developing necessary management, leadership and networking skills for its members. PMA provides member opportunities to make connections with successful Thomas University alumni, to take advantage of vital career building workshops, to get involved with the community and to meet new, enthusiastic, and exciting people adding value and impressive resume elements. All members are welcomes and encouraged to share new ideas and suggestions for the future.
Why PMA?
PMA Goals
For more information on PMA please contact:
Dr. Paul Wilkens - Advisor
Dr. Jenny Swearingen - Division Chair


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"I'm drawn to Raku because of the spontaneity and unpredictability the process affords. This allows for endless possibilities."
Patti Hartnagel is an Edmonton based clay artist who has worked exclusively in Raku for about 25 years. Raku firing is a centuries old technique perfected by the Japanese. Exciting, and sometimes unpredictable, surfaces filled with iridescent colours and/or crackled glazes are the result. Every piece is always unique. Patti's range of work includes both wheel thrown and hand built pieces—including: vases, planters, masks, free form platters, flared vessels, free standing decorative fish and CATS!


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How to Use
the Readings
Inquiry Question
Woodrow Wilson gave the following radio address from the library of his S Street home on the eve of Armistice Day, November 10, 1923. The speech appeared in the New York Times on November 11. Several other versions of the speech have been printed, but this is what Wilson actually said. It is also found in The Papers of Woodrow Wilson (Arthur S. Link, ed., vol. 68, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1993, pp. 466-67).
Questions for Reading 3
1. What is significant about the date on which this speech was given?
2. What was Wilson asking America to do?
3. Compare this speech of Wilson's to the one he gave in Colorado four years earlier. How has Wilson's argument changed? How has it stayed consistent?


text: The National Security Agency's headquarters in Fort Meade, Md. NSA/Reuters /Landov hide caption toggle caption NSA/Reuters /Landov The Two-Way Based On What We Know, Is The NSA Verizon Request Legal? June 15, 2013 A secret court has issued a secret opinion that says yes. We asked legal scholars to look at the law and explain whether they think the National Security Agency's data-collection program is supported by the statute.


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With the Overdrive Libby app for iOS or Android mobile devices (including the Kindle Fire) you can search the WRL ebook collection, download titles, and read them on your device. To use the app, you will need to set up an account with Adobe to authorize the app, you can do that when you download your first ebook. Click here for directions on how to download and set up the Overdrive app.
Have questions? Contact us here.


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Most of us will use email every day and this has led to a lapse in common sense and manners. Here are the top 5 faux pas when using email.
Hello! If you've never met the person you are emailing, starting the email with 'Hello, Jack' or 'Hi Jill!' is never acceptable and irritates more people than others may think
Spelling Emails are designed to be a quick way for us to communicate but that doesn't mean that we are given an excuse to look ill-educated by sloppy spelling, especially when emailing clients or people who are not our friends or family (but you should practise using good spelling on them, too!)
Name-check When we see an email such as 'alex.jones@…' most of us will probably assume that Alex is a man. An increasing number of people are getting gender-confused on email. Always best to double-check. Telephone the company and ask before sending the email, or ask your colleagues who may have dealt with he/she before. Never start an email (or letter) with 'Dear Jack Smith'. Find out the title in advance
Attachments 'Please find attached'. If you say something is attached, make sure it is! Double-check everything before hitting the send button.
Ignoring emails If you get an email from a legitimate person, it's common courtesy (although not common enough) to acknowledge it. Even if you're the busiest person in the world, send back a response reassuring the sender you've got the email but will deal with it at a later date. This will save them worrying that their email is broken
William Hanson
Tutor, The English Manner


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Local's Guide to Austin
Texas native and UT grad Jennifer McKenzie Frazier shares what makes the outdoorsy home to Whole Foods and Longhorn football the city with the most swagger in the South.
Fresh Seafood
When Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar first opened last spring, the South Congress 'hood wondered if an oyster place would make it in a Tex-Mex town. Make it? Perla's made the biggest food splash since the trailer tacos phenomenon. The freshest catch is flown in daily and served under giant oaks out front. perlasaustin.com
A store that sells only black items may sound depressing. Au contraire. Blackmail Boutique on South Congress is a perfect example of Austin style. From rock-and-roll T-shirts to vintage cowboy boots to, yes, the little black dress, this place shows off a stylish, monochromatic color palette. blackmailboutique.com
Local Drinks
Most people think of margaritas. I, however, lean toward the "Fire in the Hole" at Ranch 616. It's a freshly cored jalapeño filled with equal parts Tito's Handmade Vodka, Paula's Texas Orange Liqueur, and fresh lime juice. Chase it with a Lone Star beer. theranch616.com
"Fast Food"
Airstream cuisine. That's what we call fast food in Austin. Retrofitted Airstream trailers parked all over the city's south side sell everything from crepes and waffles to cheeseburgers and Korean bulgogi. The king and queen of this movable feast are Hey Cupcake! and Torchy's Tacos. heycupcake.com; torchystacos.com
Cool Neigborhoods
The enclave you might not know of is called Clarksville. It's within earshot of the Whole Foods Market company headquarters and Book People but enough streets away to feel tucked-in. Have a milk shake at Nau's Enfield Drug Store, a hand-tossed pizza at Cipollina, or a candle-lit dinner at Jeffrey's—all on West Lynn Avenue. Then hit the 4.6-mile Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail. historicclarksville.org
Local Music
Best Classic Venue: The Broken Spoke has been here forever. It's even listed in European travel guides. Catch live music, or take country and western dancing lessons. Owner James White is a local icon. brokenspokeaustintx.com
Best New Voice: The hoarse-voiced Ryan Bingham is a former rodeo bull-rider turned Oscar-winning songwriter (for the song "The Weary Kind" from the film Crazy Heart). And he's not even 30 years old. Download: "Country Roads"
Best Festival: Austin City Limits Music Festival. The lauded South by Southwest is overrun by industry insiders, so we say the diverse ACL fest is tops. The downtown festival is held in Zilker Park in October. aclfestival.com
Best Recording Shop: Waterloo Records and Video on North Lamar. These audiophiles know everything about Austin music. waterloorecords.com


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SELF magazine is getting a new editor-in-chief, Condé Nast has announced, just one week after a huge public backlash over the magazine bashing a cancer survivor's tutu.
In a news release Thursday, Condé Nast announced that Joyce Chang will take over as editor-in-chief of SELF on May 1. Chang, who was previously executive editor at Cosmopolitan, will replace Lucy Danziger.
The company did not give a reason for the change.
Danziger led the magazine's public apology to San Diego runner and cancer survivor Monika Allen.
In the April issue of SELF, a picture of Allen running a marathon in a tutu appeared on the magazine's "BS Meter." Allen gave SELF permission to use the photo, which also pictures friend Tara Baize, not knowing the magazine would use it to poke fun.
What the magazine did not mention is that Allen makes the tutus and sells them to benefit the Girls on the Run charity in San Diego. Further, Allen has brain cancer and ran that L.A. marathon, dressed up as Wonder Woman, while going through chemotherapy treatments.
After what Twitter dubbed as #tutugate, Danziger issued several apologies promising change. She said SELF would be getting rid of the "BS Meter" after the May issue.
The public outrage started after NBC 7 San Diego first reported Allen's story on March 26. Angry readers took to Twitter and inundated SELF magazine's Facebook page.
Allen's tutu company Glam Runner went from a little more than 1,000 Facebook likes before the story broke to now nearly 37,000. The publicity also led to $5,000 in donations for Girls on the Run, Allen said in a phone interview with NBC 7 on Thursday.
"I had no intention for anyone to lose their job. I just wanted an apology, which I received," Allen said in response to Danziger's departure, which Condé Nast has not linked to the tutu backlash.
Allen also said she's happy to see the magazine do away with the "BS Meter" feature.
"It's just not good for a self-empowerment publication," she said.
Vice president and publisher Laura McEwen will also be leaving SELF magazine, according to the news release.


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Did anybody else start singing "Kill the Masters, Kill the Masters" to the tune of "Kill the Wabbit, Kill the Wabbit" by Elmer Fudd while watching the start of this episode? Was that just me? 'Cause the philosophy of Grey Worm has turned into an Ear Worm and I can't ... stop ... singing ... it.
"Kill the masters, kill the masters" … I'm going to unnerve my boss soon. He's already freaked out by the Tyrion and Daenerys pop vinyl dolls on my desk, the sigil badges pinned to my cubicle wall and the amputated hand I keep in my desk drawer. At this rate, I'm going to get a reputation for being slightly too obsessed with Game of Thrones.
Regardless, "Kill the Masters" was a running theme throughout episode four.
Reminder: spoilers will be included below, so only read on if you've seen the episode. We're discovering the storyline through the TV series (reading the books after each has finished), so no dropping important future plot points in the comments, or we'll turn your babies into Ol' Blue Eyes. As a special treat this week, if anybody leaves a comment saying "Just read the books, idiots", showing that they obviously don't read this disclaimer, feel free to leave a reply saying you love them. It'll confuse them, because they won't have read this disclaimer.
Props to my friend Cam who coined that title after seeing Daenerys Targaryen's revenge on the masters of Meereen, which features a crucifixion scene far more gruesome than the Passion of the Christ.
The day that ended with revolt in Meereen began with Grey Worm being schooled in proper use of the common tongue by Missandei, which was touching, but not nearly as sexy as it sounds. The pair shared stories of their origins, which in both cases involved being taken from their homes and sold off to be someone else's chattel.
Grey Worm's steely resolve to never be a slave again, summed up by the mantra "Kill the Masters" was terrifyingly beautiful to behold. This is a man reborn, a man who wants all others to experience the blessing of freedom, a William Wallace with much better hair (gee, where did this Mel Gibson bugbear come from?).
Grey Worm and a crack squad of undercover Unsullied sneaked into the slaves' camp to convince them to rise up and rebel. "Bollocks," cried the unbelievers, scarred by previous failed attempts. Then the Unsullied threw down a small mountain of weaponry, and all of a sudden, it was on.
I think the producers might have been scrimping for special effects money this episode, as the whole revolt in Meereen boiled down to one dude getting Julius Caesared in a convenient alleyway, and a dodgy CGI Targaryen banner draped over the city's patron statue in victory. The giant snake in Anaconda was more convincing than that flag.
Daenerys, though, got a parade worthy of a Will-and-Kate Royal Visit. Happy fans lining the city walls, smiling children, gifts of broken shackles, chanting. I kept waiting for a 24-hour TV news crew to wander into shot and deliver inane commentary on the Breaker of Chains' outfit.
"Well Cheryl, she did wear this Diane Von Furstenberg blue silk tunic dress over grey LK Bennett trousers with those Stuart Weitzman knee-high boots yesterday, and the day before that, and basically every day for months, so in terms of cost-to-wear ratio, she's an example to us all."
Daenerys wants no part of Ser Barristan's suggestion of showing mercy to Meereen's top brass, having 163 of them nailed as payback for all the children they crucified and displayed as markers along the road to warn Daenerys off.
Meanwhile our own Kate Middleton, aka Margaery Tyrell, discovered just how freaking cool her grandmother is, as Olenna confessed to having Joffrey bumped off.
The Queen of Thorns wasn't going to let her beloved granddaughter marry "that beast", citing her own experience of escaping a dodgy Targaryen marriage by giving Luther Tyrell a right seeing to the night before he was suppose to propose to her sister.
Now I have a similar attachment to my own grandmother, who coincidentally we call "Queen Pat" due to her relentless Britishness. But although she was in the WRNS during WW2, smoked hash in Beirut, climbed the Hindu Kush, gave birth in Iraq, and just recently ordered porn in our New York hotel room, she has never killed a man.
To my knowledge.
Sadly, Olenna seems determined to leave King's Landing, to which I say, "NOOOOOOO don't leave - somebody please chain Diana Rigg to the set so we don't lose this wonderful character."
Margaery, now set to marry new king Tommen, embraced her Gran's challenge to start moulding him into a good husband and a good ally, undermining the likely scenario that Cersei will try to poison her second son against her. She wants to get on top of the situation from the beginning.
That's a rather unfortunate phrase, actually, as Margaery proceeded to bust into Tommen's bedroom late at night, and we were a bit worried it was going to get all Mary-Kay LeTourneau, but then PHEW Margaery just wanted the pair to get to know each other and tell secrets and play with the cat and so forth. Mind you, the look on Tommen's face, am I right? Now there was a lad who was going to have some rather interesting dreams that evening.
Up at The Wall, Jon Snow was chewed out by Acting Commander Ser Alliser Thorne for training his brothers on how to fight Wildlings. It's a chance to introduce Locke, who has gone undercover on Roose Bolton's orders to find the Winterfell heirs Bran and Rickon.
Locke is so obviously villainous that I just wanted to scream "He's behind you! He's behind you!" like a pantomime audience. But I suppose it's harder to tell when you're in the Night's Watch, given how many rapists and murderers they seem to recruit. By comparison Locke probably just looks pretty handy with a sword (ohhhhh that's a long-game pun right there).
Ser Alliser Thorne and Ser Janos Slynt are the new Basil and Sybil of the Crows command team; Thorne all bluster and self-importance, and Slynt all "Here's why you suck". Slynt points out that it's possible Jon Snow could get picked as the permanent new commander of the Night's Watch, even though he's still young and broodingly handsome and needs more life experience such as a steamy fling with a devoted Game of Thrones recappespondent.
So Thorne agreed to let J-Sno go on his mission to kill the horrible mutinous Crows at Craster's Keep, in the hope that he will get slaughtered. Charming.
Jon had to use his considerable oral skills to convince a group of his brothers to accompany him, but eventually they stood, "I'm Spartacus!"-style, and volunteered their services. Locke, having overheard Jon and Sam Tarly talking about Bran going beyond The Wall, pledged to make his vows so he could become a full Brother and go along. Ughh, that's not going to end well.
Speaking of which, life at Craster's Keep is about as miserable as you can get. The dead wildling's daughter-wives are no more than objects for the horrible mutinous Crows, who live their days befuddled by boredom and drink, broken only by brutal acts of rape and the odd pig's trotter. Here are men who did kill their masters, but what has it really gotten them?
Karl Tanner, their leader, used Commander Mormont's skull as a cup and railed about his supposed legendary status as a fighter, but all his profane self-promotion can't hide his epic cowardice, for when a woman comes in with a baby boy - Craster's last child - Karl hands it off to his deputy Rast to deliver to the White Walkers.
The other women eerily chant "Gift for the gods, gift for the gods", which reminded reminded me of the line "Dead by dawn, dead by dawn!" from Evil Dead II. If only Bruce Campbell and his chainsaw hand could have appeared to slice up all the horrible mutinous Crows, it could have prevented the next disaster.
For out in the woods, Bran Stark and his Scooby gang (Jojen, Meera and Hodor) hear the cries of the abandoned baby from their campsite. Bran wargs into Summer, but just as he comes across his brother direwolf Ghost, he is caught in a trap. The Scooby gang go in pursuit, but Bran's hope in finding friends is dashed when they're all captured, too.
Bran is forced into revealing his identity when Karl threatens Meera's life and Jojen falls into an epileptic fit. Meanwhile out on the ice, the mounted White Walker takes the baby boy to a sacrificial altar, where he is zombified by some sort of White Walker chieftain. This raises a number of questions about whether the baby will stay a baby, or somehow grow-up as a blue-eyed zombie, but I just can't go into them right now because we haven't yet got to the most important stuff in this episode.
We need to talk about Jaime Lannister.
Last week, the Kingslayer was an undisputed villain. I still think his rape of Cersei was despicable, but this week he did a 180, jumping right back into his redemptive narrative.
He finally goes to see Tyrion, and jokes with him about how much better conditions his younger brother has while in custody. He acknowledges Tyrion's jibe about Joffrey being his son, but implores him with a simple "Don't" to not press the issue (I still find it remarkable Jaime is the complete opposite of Cersei when it comes to parental affection). Most importantly, he accepts Tyrion's pleas of innocence in Joffrey's murder.
Summoned by Cersei - "You sent for me, Your Grace?" - he declares his faith in Tyrion, and stands by his oath to Catelyn Stark to return her daughters, two things that really make his sister see red.
And then, after declaring there was still space in his Who's Who of the Kingsguard biography, he gives Brienne his new Valyrian steel sword, a super schmick suit of armour, and a mission to go and find Sansa and keep her safe.
Brienne agreed, citing her loyalty to Catelyn - and to Jaime. It was hands down one of the loveliest interactions in the show so far. The look on Brienne's face as she left King's Landing damn near broke my heart, and the whole thing left me feeling conflicted.
Brienne doesn't know about Cersei, and her lack of any positive relationships with men due to her superior fighting skill and general awesomeness have left her somewhat naive on the romance front. Jaime isn't interested in Brienne romantically, and I'd hate for him to reject her.
But something about their bond is solid and sweet and even though he's done terrible things, Jaime seems dedicated to putting some things right, and I just can't hate him any more.
It's still too early to tell for sure, but it will be interesting to follow Jaime's development to see if the decision to change a consensual sex scene in the books to a rape scene in the TV show was a wise one.
Yay! Best Moments
Jaime presenting Podrick to Brienne as her squire was just The Best. Go back and look at the goofy smile on Pod's face. It was just gorgeous.
Zing! Best Lines
In the same scene, Bronn presented Pod with Tyrion's axe from the Battle of Blackwater. Stunned, Pod was speechless, prompting Bronn to exclaim
"What are you waiting for, a kiss?"
Also points to Tyrion and Jaime for the following exchange:
Tyrion: As for Cersei, she's probably working on a way to avoid a trial altogether by having me killed.
Jaime: Well now that you mention it, she did ask ...
Ewww, gross
Once again, it's Littlefinger all the way. Forget seasickness, his creepy arrogance was enough to make anyone nauseous. After admitting to Sansa that he had abandoned his old masters, the Lannisters, for new friends (a reference to "growing strong" confirming it as the Tyrells just before Olenna showed up onscreen), she asked him what he wanted. His eyes committed a gross violation of Sansa's privacy and I'm honestly surprised his hand didn't leave a trail of greasy slime over her dress when he touched her.
I really, really, really, really, really hated seeing Hodor abused by the horrible mutinous Crows. I wanted to tear their hands off then poke out their eyes with their own grubby fingers.


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HI Chicago, The J.Ira & Nicki Harris Family Hostel
Experience the excitement of Chicago at this beautiful historic hostel, offering comfortable and contemporary accommodations in the heart of downtown's thriving university district. A place where you can learn and play, meeting other travelers from all over the world while breaking down the walls of international communication while playing the universal equalizer: ping pong. When you\'re done you can share your experience with your friends and family back home on Skype with our free Wi-Fi. Share a meal, share a day, share an adventure, share a smile at the greatest Chicago hostel!
Hostelling International (HI) Chicago is America's 2nd largest hostel with over 500 beds, offering safe, clean, quality accommodations. Spacious gender-separated dorm rooms have either 8 or 10 beds, many with bathroom ensuite. Travelers also have access to our newly rehabbed shared hall bathrooms. Private rooms have a full-size bed with a single size bunk above, which opens to a shared living area and restroom with shower. All dormitory rooms have individual lockers for personal belongings and free luggage storage is available near the front desk.
What you can expect at HI-Chicago:
-FREE Daily continental breakfast, typical breakfast buffet includes: cereal, toast, waffles, cheese, fruit, orange juice, milk, coffee and tea
-FREE WiFi throughout the building
-FREE bed linens, towels and pillows
-FREE guided tours of the city
-FREE maps of Chicago as well as discounts to museums and attractions
-FREE daily activities to explore the city with fellow travelers including pub crawls, walking tours, outings to blues and jazz clubs, festivals, and much more!
-FREE weekly welcome receptions with ice cream or cookies
-FREE body wash and shampoo in the showers
-Large, fully-equipped self-service kitchen
-Self-service laundry
-24-hour access, 365 days a year, NO CURFEW
-24-hour luggage storage and 24 hour front desk and security
-Great knowledgeable staff and volunteers to answer all your questions and give you local insiders tips
-International standards for comfort, cleanliness and security
-Computers with internet access in the lobby for a nominal cost
-Fully wheelchair accessible
-NO age restriction - all ages welcome; under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
-Groups welcome
-TV room with FREE movies
HI-Chicago is committed to being as environmentally-friendly as possible. Our goals to conserve energy and protect the environment include:
-Using a linen re-use program to conserve water (during a hosteller stay, linens are washed only by request)
-Using paper that is from at least 30% recycled materials
-Recycling aluminum, glass, paper, plastic and cardboard
-Using compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) throughout the hostel
-Having re-usable products in the kitchen and for breakfast
-Using environmentally-friendly cleaning products
Hostelling International is a non-profit membership based organization whose mission is "to help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling". We have been promoting peace through hostelling since 1909. Non-members will be asked to pay a $3 daily membership fee per night upon check-in. You can visit the official website of Hostelling International USA for more information at www.hiusa.org. City and state taxes of 17.4% are not included in the rates.
Our hostel has a no smoking & no alcohol policy.
Open 24 hours, 365 days a year, NO CURFEW.
NO age restrictions, all ages welcome, under 18 must be accompanied by adult.
Free continental breakfast.
No charge for lockers and linen provided.
Non-members will be asked to pay a $3 daily membership fee per night upon check-in. You can visit the official website of Hostelling International USA for more information at www.hiusa.org. City and state taxes of 17.4% are not included in the rates.
Availability & RatesTo view availability and prices please select dates and click 'Update Dates'
Hostel Facilities & Policies
- 24 Hour Reception
- 24 Hour Security
- Air Conditioning
- Bicycle parking
- Board Games
- Book Exchange
- Free Breakfast
- Cable TV
- Café
- Common Room
- Cooker
- Dishwasher
- Dryer
- DVDs
- Elevator
- Telephone/Fax Facilities
- Free City Maps
- Free City Tour
- Free Internet Access
- Free WiFi
- Fridge/Freezer
- Games Room
- Hair Dryers
- Hot Showers
- House Keeping
- Internet Access
- Iron / Ironing Board
- Key Card Access
- Self-Catering Facilities
- Laundry Facilities
- Linen Included
- Security Lockers
- Luggage Storage
- Meeting Rooms
- Microwave
- Pool Table
- Reading Light
- Restaurant
- Tea & Coffee Making Facilities
- Tours/Travel Desk
- Towels Included
- Utensils
- Vending Machines
- Washing Machine
- Wheelchair Friendly
- Wi-Fi
Cancellation PolicyThis property has a 2 day cancellation policy. Failure to cancel within this time will result in a cancellation charge equal to the first night of your stay.
Must-Read Hostel InfoThis property has specific Terms & Conditions.
City and state taxes of 17.4% are not included in the rates. Non-members of Hostelling International will be asked to pay a $4 daily membership fee per night upon check-in.
This property may pre-authorise your card before arrival.
DirectionsShow MapHide Map
From O\'Hare Airport: Blue line CTA train to LaSalle. Walk 3 blocks east to hostel.
From Midway Airport: Orange line CTA train to Library. Walk 1 block east and 1 block south to hostel.
From Greyhound: Blue line CTA train to LaSalle.
From Amtrak: Bus #126 to Michigan and Congress.
By car: downtown on northwest corner of Congress Parkway and Wabash.
Located Near
Within walking distance of the Willis (Sears) Tower, Michigan Avenue/Magnificent Mile shopping, Lake Michigan, Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain, Art Institute, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. All other attractions are just a short bus or train ride away. HI-Chicago is within 2 blocks of all the major train and bus lines to help get you anywhere easily within the city and to/from the airports.


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Sign of the Times--Automation Strategies Change with the Economy
For the past several years, many contract stampers keenly focused on protecting all possible flexibility in their pressroom-automation purchasing patterns. For example, a typical press and transfer RFQ would entail a 1500- to 3000-ton press, left-to-right bed size in the 240 to 288-in. range, dual rolling bolsters, and a fully programmable press-mounted transfer system prepped with quick-die-change (QDC) automation, and tooling provisions to optimize flexibility.
As often as not, this same RFQ also would include a blank destacker configured to be continuous-run and to handle an array of blank sizes and shapes, different blank-material compositions, and perhaps even packaging within the same footprint as the coil-feed equipment.
Considering the logistics, commissioning, press-pit work and other incidental costs, this once-typical project can become a mammoth undertaking requiring a sizeable budget. Given the current financial issues among U.S. automakers and their tier suppliers, and the overall global economy, it's no surprise that business expansions, new facilities and large capital initiatives have all but dried up for the time being.
The good news? We still see RFQ activity at the two extreme ends of the press-automation spectrum. Unique "one-off" nontraditional applications still are out there, as are basic full-mechanical in-die transfer jobs.
Nontraditional Applications
The automation projects we see in the one-off realm involve hydroforming, hot stamping and general press-tending applications. These projects often feature specialized parts and tooling requirements, and the use of 3D design tools typically prove critical to their success, as this allows for a complete understanding and concurrent design by the entire team tasked with completing the project, including designers, controls and development engineers, software experts, and marketing and sales personnel. Design iterations can be pushed out to a secure website for collective review by the press-automation OEM, tooling providers, press manufacturers and end users. This collaboration occurs real time, and often in several geographic locations. Design reviews can be conducted more often, promoting better communication due to the elimination of travel time and expense. In recent years, this process has eliminated many surprises during equipment installations.
Advanced process simulations also allow the team to breathe life intodesigns and quickly achieve complete clarity with all stakeholders. How do you introduce a part? What about the sequence for die changes? Guarding and press-attachment surfaces? Does the customer understand exactly how this solution works? If a picture is worth a thousand words, then an animation can save a full day of talking.
These nontraditional applications still are viable because they make unique parts, not commodity stampings. They still warrant investment in new technology and equipment in spite of the dried up capital-spending market. Projects in this arena often require heavy payloads and long—to 20-ft.—centerline-to-centerline reaches, with demanding accelerations. Specialty tooling tasks can demand repeatability of less than 0.010 in., with payloads exceeding 350 lb. Compound motions often are used to attain these travels with adequate structural support. Accelerations to satisfy cycle times can exceed 1.5 G. The solid design environment allows for complete finite-element analysis and motion kinematics to be performed inhouse and several times throughout the design cycle, as needed to verify group decisions and ensure that the application stays on the correct path.
Application Specifics
Here is where collaboration between customer and supplier becomes critical. The customer knows the fine details of his challenges with part and process; the automation OEM understands very well what is required to create a machine that will cycle millions of times to handle a given task. But several critical questions might arise whose answers might not be immediately known, such as:
How does repeatability impact an automated hydroforming application?
How do you clear a press and tooling with automation to allow for QDC?
What precautions work well to protect cabling, sensors and lube lines in a high-heat application?
How do you position, reference and introduce a 1700 F part into dies accurately, and what end-of-arm tooling is needed to remove that part after its been struck?"
These comprise just the beginning of an entire series of meetings required to bridge the knowledge gap and successfully create a one-off machine that works properly—from the first cycle. HMS Products Co., Troy, MI, is seeing an uptick in plate-mounted all-mechanical equipment orders. At first this came as a bit of a surprise, but after taking a step back, the explanation makes perfect sense. There still are new parts that will require transfer because of material savings or process requirements—complex tooling or part rotation to do more work parallel to the bolster. The market seeks a low-cost and simple automation solution.
The Business Case
The business case for investing in a transfer-press line is difficult to make in this economic environment. There also is a disadvantage to running smaller parts in a larger-frame transfer press with high-end automation; thus the need for a plate-mounted in-die transfer or a press-mounted system on a smaller press. These fully mechanical solutions are simple and present lower risk than does moving to a low-cost country for production. Mechanical automation can accommodate the needs of a process for about 30 percent of the cost of a fully programmable electronic transfer system. A die-contained transfer may be quickly and inexpensively moved from press to press and plant to plant.
Typically, during conversations with customers relative to all-mechanical automation, the conventional thinking is that this solution can prove very restrictive. While such a setup may not offer the same level of flexibility as a fully programmable servo transfer system, some extra up-front consideration can allow processing of a nice array of parts in one mechanical-transfer stamping cell.
For Example: Oakland Tool and Manufacturing
Oakland Tool and Manufacturing (OTM), Fraser, MI, part of an umbrella group that also includes Madison Die and Engineering—a prototype and die-build company—and medium-volume stamper Gaylord Precision Tool, sits in the shadows of several now-closed automotive tier stampers. OTM remains viable because of several strategies, including paying attention to employing best practices in running production parts.
OTM supports the Tier One and Tier Two markets with medium- to high-volume stampings, including stamping of one key structural component for the Ford F-250 and F-550 trucks. OTM also performed prototyping and development work for the program.
Once prototyping activities were completed, OTM's customer was to market-test the part for production. In order to be competitive and secure the business, OTM evaluated material savings from nesting the blanks in an offline operation, hand loading the blanks into a blank feeder, and running the process with a mechanical transfer system. It already had a 300-ton mechanical press with an 84 by 48-in. bed and a 16-in. stroke. It sought an inexpensive method to apply transfer automation to the press and to present blanks to the automation. Working with HMS Products Co., OTM purchased a hand-loaded blank feeder and a Series 500 full-mechanical transfer system, with part-specific engineered finger tooling integrated into the die design.
Because of the limited press size, HMS faced a number of challenges in fitting the automation, dies and transfer finger tooling through the press uprights. Arial cam elements in the dies needed to be watched closely to avoid timing-curve interference in the 16 in. of press stroke.
Design collaborations between OTM and HMS overcame these challenges and resulted in a line that operates at 15 strokes/min., and which has produced 375,000 stampings/yr. for several years now.
Says Jim Tomlin, OTM engineering and tooling manager: "The transfer and loader unit have exceeded our expectations. Aside from lubrication and the most basic preventive maintenance, this system just runs. Other benefits include built-in error proofing of the finished parts, and less downtime than many of our progressive applications." MF
See also: HMS Products Co.
Related Enterprise Zones: Automation
Reader Comments
There are no comments posted at this time.


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AC360 Kids On Race: Why Telling Our Kids Racism is Bad Isn't Enough
Treat everyone the way you want to be treated.
I've never specifically talked to my kids about race but my kids know that everyone should be treated equally.
Unfortunately, these are the most common statements parents say about talking to their children about race.
I'm fully aware that people may read what I just wrote and think I'm out of my mind. In fact, I'd totally understand if you thought, "Why unfortunate? That's exactly what parents should be saying to their kids."
But the reality is that for most parents, that's all we say. We keep it general because we often don't understand or admit to ourselves our own feelings about race. So we believe we are imparting our values and that our children will turn around and value people equally regardless of race.
Well, the reality is a lot more complicated and uncomfortable, and if you watch Anderson Cooper's special Kids on Race you'll see what I mean. What the AC360 team did was empathetically but directly challenge all of us to confront the truth about what kids think about race. As the researchers they worked with showed, while we have made great improvements in reducing explicit racism, we have much farther to go to stop implicit racism: the biases we all have about people of different races.
AC360 asked Dr. Melanie Killen, a revered child psychologist and University of Maryland professor, to design and implement the study, help highlight and explain key findings and offer advice and explanations to parents who allowed their children to participate.
Specifically, the show investigates a concept known as "subconscious racial bias." This is described as "a bias that kids pick up on from messages they hear at school, at home, the characters in the TV shows they watch, what they see online." As Killen points, these are not overt feelings of racism, but rather "the things that we're not aware of, the things that we do when we don't realize it."
And acknowledging and understanding how those biases work is essential if we are truly committed to making our culture less racist.
No doubt this a very uncomfortable thing to do. Think about how awkward people get about even talking about race difference. Like when a young child describes an African American person as a black person and the parent shushes the child. Or when we are describing a person of color to someone else and we'll describe everything about them except one of their primary physical traits--the color of the skin. It's laughable except for the fact that those shushed children learn that there's something inherently so shameful about these people with darker skin that a physical characteristic can't even be named and dancing around a subject never gets us to authentic dialogue.
As I watched the show, I caught myself wondering how my sons would answer the questions the researchers asked the kids in the show. But what I am certain about it that even though I've talked to them a lot about race, I wouldn't be shocked if they answered like all the other kids and showed race bias against African Americans.
So tomorrow night my children will be very happy when I tell them they get to watch TV after they do their homework--and then we'll watch the show and discuss it over dessert. I don't want my children living in a race-blind society. I do want them living in a racism-aware society. Kids on Race is a great way to do help me do that.
How have you spoken to your kids about race? Share in the comments below.


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Product Details
- beautifully hand made product
- Fine porcelain
- natural porcelain feel
- contemporary
- Country of Origin: Italy
Product description
Hot drinks definitely taste better in porcelain mugs but so often the designs are old hat. Ifoca combines a white classical cup with a vibrantly coloured handle and sits on an elongated saucer, just right for accommodating an ever welcome biscuit. There are five colours to choose from and a spoon completes the ensemble.
Questions about the China Coffee Cup Green Handle
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.
We're here to help! Fire away.


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Ibm IBM eServer BladeCenter HS20 8843 Blade 2-way 1 x Xeon 3.8 GHz RAM 1 GB HD 0GB Gigabit EN, Ibm 8843-5RU-01.
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How to Use the Images Photos 1 & 2
Photos 1 & 2
Photo 8: WAVES displaying objects associated with their jobs, NAS New York, 1945.
Questions for Photo 8
1. How many different types of uniforms are the WAVES wearing? What might account for the number of different uniforms?
2. A number of the WAVES are holding objects associated with their work including: record book, radio headset, machine gun ammunition belt, gun camera, electrical tape, navigational meter. What kind of job does each of these objects probably represent?
3. How many of these jobs do you think were traditionally women's jobs prior to World War II? How many do you think were traditionally men's jobs prior to World War II?
* The photo on this screen has a resolution of 72 dots per inch (dpi), and therefore will print poorly. You can obtain a larger version of Photo 8, but be aware that the file will take as much as 30 seconds to load with a 28.8K modem.


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Medal Related Links
Contact Info / Websites
Dan32488's Medals
Total Medals Earned: 2 (From
1 different games.)
Total Medal Score: 10 Points
Goin Up
First kill Unlocked 6/19/11
5 Points first Kill
5 Points first Kill
Jump on 10 enemies Unlocked 6/19/11
5 Points Jump on 10 enemies
5 Points Jump on 10 enemies
I can double jump 10 Points I can double jump
I like my wall 10 Points jump on a wall 20 times
I love dem clouds 10 Points touch the sky
Jump on 50 enemies 10 Points Jump on 50 enemies
Collect 1000 skulls 25 Points Collect 1000 skulls
Combo Breaker 25 Points Fiery Combo of 10
Jump on 100 enemies 25 Points Jump on 100 enemies
Kill 20 Spikes in one game 25 Points Kill 20 Spikes in one game
Collect 5000 skulls 50 Points Collect 5000 skulls
Evolve to final level 50 Points Evolve to final level
I can stop at any time 50 Points play for an hour
Kill 200 Goo-..Flying things.. 50 Points Kill 200 Goo-..Flying things..
Kill every big enemy 50 Points Kill every big enemy
Kill every small enemy 50 Points Kill every small enemy
The final Frontier 50 Points reach space
I can't stop at any time 100 Points play for 3 hours
Kill every enemy 100 Points Kill every enemy
Lol Wut? 100 Points Secret Medal: Unlock this medal to view its details!
Medals Earned: 2/21 (10/825 points)


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Manatees are an iconic part of our shallow-water habitats in Southwest Florida, yet they are highly misunderstood. We hope to get a glimpse of these endangered mammals, learn about their unique biology and migration habits, explore why they are so vulnerable to boat injuries, and ponder how something so hulking can be so graceful.
For kids ages 6-13.


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Best-Dressed Celebrities and Models | Jan. 4, 2013
This Week's Best Dressed
This Week's Best Dressed
After the burst of evening dressing around the holidays, it was refreshing to see a focus on daywear this week. Miranda Kerr, for example, was spotted at a Whole Foods in Los Angeles wearing Stella McCartney, while Chloë Sevigny did a little shopping in New York in a statement-making olive-green overcoat.
Still, it's nice to see that people haven't tired of dressing up entirely. Kerry Washington wore a dress from Peter Pilotto's Spring 2013 collection to the premiere of Django Unchained, and sisters Theodora and Alexandra Richards gussied up for the Black and White Masquerade Ball in New York.
Photo courtesy of BFA.


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Laboratories that analyze water samples from North Dakota public water systems to
determine compliance with requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act must be
certified by the North Dakota Department of Health. Laboratories that provide certain
other environmental data for use by the Department must have valid certification. Please
contact the department's water quality and
waste management divisions to determine if
certification is required.
The first step in the certification process is making a formal, written request for
certification. A formal request is required for
The request should
be made by the owner of the laboratory or by a responsible executive officer of at
least the level of laboratory director. A laboratory in a branch office or a
substation of the company must apply for its own certification which shall be
independent of that of the parent company. The formal written request must be
sent to:
Laboratory Certification Officer
ND Department of Health
Chemistry Division
P.O. Box 5520
Bismarck, ND 58506
The request should include the following information:
Name and mailing address of the laboratory.
Physical location of the laboratory if different from the mailing
Contact person at the laboratory who is responsible for managing
certification issues and this individual's telephone number.
A list of the program(s) (i.e., drinking water, wastewater, solid and
hazardous waste), parameters, and associated EPA approved
methods for which certification is being sought.
A list of laboratory instrumentation, including manufacturer and
model numbers.
A copy of the laboratory's quality assurance plan.
Copies of the laboratory's written methods for the analysis of the
parameters for which it is seeking certification if these are not
included in the quality assurance plan.
A list of personnel including qualifications and experience.
A general description of the facility.
Laboratories seeking certification will also need to report acceptable results for
each certified parameter on appropriate proficiency test studies from a
TNI accredited provider (http://www.nelac-institute.org/ptproviders.php) and will need to pass an
onsite evaluation before any certification can be granted. Fees are assessed for the
onsite evaluations.
Laboratories having questions or needing additional information about the
certification program can call the laboratory certification officer at 701-328-6172.
The North Dakota Department of Health
does not directly certify out-of-state laboratories. The Department will
consider recognition of out-of-state laboratories certifications or
accreditations by EPA regional offices or other state certification programs on
a case-by-case basis. Out of state laboratories desiring recognition of
their certifications or accreditations from other programs need to contact the
certification officer (see below) to request an application form, a contract for
payment of the fee and the fee schedule. In
addition to submitting a completed application, contract and the fee, made
payable to the North Dakota Department of Health, out-of-state laboratories must
submit, at a minimum, the following information:
1. A copy of the report(s) of the most-recent audit of the laboratory by the
certification program(s) whose certification(s) the laboratory wishes recognized
by the North Dakota Environmental Laboratory Certification Program. The
laboratory must have an onsite audit by the certification program(s) at least
once every three years.
2. A copy of the laboratorys response(s) to the audit report(s).
3. A copy of the certification(s) issued by the certification program(s) whose
certification(s) the laboratory wishes recognized by the North Dakota
Environmental Laboratory Certification Program. This (these) certification(s)
must include dates of issue and expiration and a list of the parameters and
methods for which the laboratory is certified in each program area.
4. A copy of the reports of the laboratorys participation in the two
most-recent proficiency test studies for each program for which recognition of
certification is desired, unless these have been sent previously.
5. A list, prepared by the laboratory, including the parameters, method(s) and
the method source for each program for which recognition of certification is
desired. The laboratory must have certification for these parameters and methods
from the appropriate certification authority or authorities as listed on the
application. For the SDWA program, certification will be recognized for only
those parameters requiring certification by the USEPA and certified by the
current EPA approved methods and any additional parameters for which the North
Dakota Safe Drinking Water Program requires certification, which must also be
certified by the current EPA approved methods. For the CWA program,
certification will be recognized for only those parameters listed in the method
tables in 40 CFR Part 136 that are certified by the current EPA approved methods
listed in the tables or that are certified by methods for which EPA Region 8 has
issued Alternate Test Procedure Approval. For the RCRA program, certification
will be recognized for only those parameters listed in and certified by the
current promulgated SW846 methods.
If the parent certifying authoritys certification program has not been reviewed
by the North Dakota laboratory certification officer, the laboratory will be
requested to send a copy of the parent certifying authoritys rules and
regulations. If the parent certifying authoritys certification program has been
deemed to be substantially equivalent to the North Dakota certification program,
and if the laboratory submits the required information and fee payment, the
laboratorys certification may be recognized by the North Dakota Environmental
Laboratory Certification Program.
To initiate the certification process and obtain an application and a contract
for payment of the fee, please contact the laboratory certification officer at
701-328-6172 or at the following address:
Laboratory Certification Officer
ND Department of Health
Chemistry Division
P.O. Box 5520
Bismarck, ND 58506
Copyright © 2019


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Strong holiday season for Summit County businesses
summit daily news
The wait was worth it. Despite a slow start to the season, snow came to Summit County and with it skiing, holidays and a bumper crop of business.
The holiday season has been strong for local businesses, even for those that just got started during the slow shoulder season.
"I'm new in town, (but) more people are coming in," said Chad Schultz, who opened his winter apparel store Moosely Hats in October on Main Street Frisco.
The colder temperatures have also helped Schultz, not only in selling out of scarves and beanie hats, but in bringing more traffic to his door.
"(The snow) has been helping a lot," he said. "There are more people visiting the area, skiers and snowboarders. I get a lot of them in."
Holly Stein of Flourish in Breckenridge has also seen an increase in business.
"As we have more snow and more people are in town, these are certainly better days," she said. "The weather has the greatest swing on it. It's staring to snow and the holiday is here."
Flourish sells jewelry and artistic items made mostly by Colorado artists. Though these items aren't seasonal, they are selling well.
"The products are changing all the time," said Stein. "There are a variety of things that we've had to reorder because we sold out. … We're adding new work all the time in all different kinds of media. We're trying to keep the store fresh on a regular basis."
As the streets of Breckenridge fill with snow enthusiasts and sightseers, local businesses prosper.
"It was definitely a slow start and I think that we all felt it," said Jennifer Hopkins, owner of the Worldly Traveller in Breckenridge. "My number of transactions per day has doubled in the past few days and I think a lot of that is the run-up to Christmas shopping."
Breck is certainly busier than it was a month or even a few weeks ago.
"The welcome center is pretty busy," said Eitan Chinitz, an information specialist at the Breckenridge Welcome Center. "We're doing a significant amount of booking for people for activities (like) sleigh rides, snowmobiling, zip lines and tours."
Tourists aren't the only ones shopping in Summit County, however.
"A lot of locals have mentioned that they want to do their shopping at their local businesses and I appreciate that," said Hopkins.
Holidays always draw a crowd and the important question for local businesses is whether or not their profits will continue. Though there's no way to be sure, the general feeling is one of optimism.
"It looks good. Every day it's steady traffic," said Schultz. "There are slow periods but then I get busy again. It's a successful season and it will be better next season."
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


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African wildlife news 2August 20th, 2009 | by Nick |
African Penguins under threat. Photo: Salimfadhley (Wikimedia commons)
- The recent catastrophic decline in numbers of African penguins in the wild has raised alarm among conservationists. The bird are declining at all of their breeding sites. The penguins on Robben Island, South Africa, declined by 62 per cent between 2007 and 2008, leaving a mere 2,200 breeding pairs on the island, down from around 8,000 pairs in 2004
- African village dogs are not a mixture of modern breeds but directly descended from an ancestral pool of indigenous dogs, according to a new genetic study of hundreds of semi-feral dogs. This means that village dogs from most African regions are genetically distinct from non-native breeds and mixed-breed dogs.
- Pictures released by Conservation International depict a troubling development in Madagascar: the emergence of a commercial bushmeat market for lemurs
- Six Botswana bushmen found guilty of hunting without a permit on their ancestral land have been set free with a caution, a lobby group says. Survival International said the "attempt by the Botswana government to punish Bushmen for hunting to feed their families has backfired". BBC
- 18 new invertebrate species have been described in South Africa, including spiders, snails, millipedes, earthworms and centipedes.
- Lions face extinction in Kenya within the next 20 years unless urgent action is taken to save them. Every year the country is losing an average of 100 of its 2,000 lions due to growing human settlements, increasing farming, climate change and disease, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service.
- Eco-Tourism activities have been suspended in Loango National Park, Gabon In 2002, late President Omar Bongo Ondimba put Gabon firmly on the map as an important future eco-tourism destination by nominating more than 11% of the nation's territory as National Park to protect its vital rainforest and wildlife like the gorilla, chimpanzee and forest elephant. Seven years later, following the death of the President, a disagreement between the current interim government of Gabon and Société de Conservation et Développement (SCD SA) now prevents the country's main eco-tourism partner Africa's Eden from continuing its conservation-enabling activities in Loango National Park.


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Want to get Women Ski apparel and equipment items ? Welcome to the official site for online sales of ski, Freeride and snowboard gear by Eider, a specialist maker of technical apparel for the most demanding athletes and lovers of the mountains and outdoors. Tested by professional mountain sportspeople, Eider Women Ski apparel and equipment items are technical products engineered to withstand extreme weather conditions and the most intense sporting activities.
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text: retitle 608246 RFP: zakat-calc -- Zakat Calculator for Muslim Users noowner 608246 tag 608246 - pending thanks Hi, This is an automatic email to change the status of zakat-calc back from ITP (Intent to Package) to RFP (Request for Package), because this bug hasn't seen any activity during the last 12 months. If you are still interested in adopting zakat-calc, please send a mail to <control at bugs.debian.org> with: retitle 608246 ITP: zakat-calc -- Zakat Calculator for Muslim Users owner 608246 ! thanks However, it is not recommended to keep ITP for a long time without acting on the package, as it might cause other prospective maintainers to refrain from packaging that software. It is also a good idea to document your progress on this ITP from time to time, by mailing <608246 at bugs.debian.org>. Thank you for your interest in Debian, -- Lucas, for the QA team <debian-qa at lists.debian.org>


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For a big lad, he's good with his feet
EA Sports' ascent from stylish-but-shallow commercial success story to the best football game on the planet arguably peaked last year with the immense FIFA 13, where a huge range of brilliant game modes coalesced with accessible but deep gameplay to deliver the full package that the studio had been threatening for several years. FIFA 14 isn't that much of a change, but what it does do better is much appreciated.
On the pitch, there is a lot of trademarked talk of Precision Movement, Protect the Ball and Teammate Intelligence, all of which are certainly interesting. The movement sees players shifting weight and angling their bodies realistically, influencing how you move them and the ball, while the ability to shield the ball with the left trigger is useful in various situations and smarter players buzzing around you creates new possibilities as well.
However, the general balance of play feels roughly similar to last year once you get used to these changes. Strength is a more influential characteristic of players across the field, but pace is still a hot ticket, especially on the wings where the ability to change direction more aggressively while sprinting arguably makes it easier to skin full backs. Then when you cross the ball, headed goals flow more easily thanks to the increased strength.
Straight Shooting
More successful is the range of new shooting options, which allow you to unleash dipping volleys, scooped shots dug out of feet and all sorts of other variations. This is more of a cosmetic change than one that affects your tactics or requires new skills from players, but it's very welcome. Cosmetics is an area where FIFA is very comfortable, clearly.
It's also very good at game modes nowadays. Ultimate Team is the one everyone talks about and the changes here are solid - the removal of fiddly formation cards making space for the more interesting Chemistry Styles, which allow you to boost performance of players in key stats, while the option to search for players by name and compare prices quickly is useful.
Career mode has also been updated with a global scouting network, while Seasons mode can now be played co-operatively and Skill Games have been refreshed. I've played that shooting mini-game more than I've played some things I've spent £40 on this year and it really helps with your finishing. Other disciplines benefit, too, like goalkeeping.
Extra Time
Online play remains extremely solid, whatever mode you undertake, and local games are feverish, like the last five minutes of a tight FA Cup game where nobody wants a replay. FIFA has always has a bit of this harem scarem feel to it, but now that there are also fairly deep and expressive systems at work - like the trick system - it doesn't feel like a diss to say it. It's more of a stylistic choice on the part of the developers and it obviously works for millions of players worldwide who play it day in day out all year round.
This is a game they will continue to enjoy. It's not the most daring sequel in the series' incredibly long history - that honour goes either to FIFA 07, which began the reinvention, or FIFA 11, which introduced the Impact Engine - but it's a decent refinement that keeps things working smoothly. Simulation fans may want to give PES 2014 a look, but if you love FIFA then you won't find anything here to change your mind.
GAME's Verdict: 9/10
The Good
- Chemistry Styles are a nice addition to Ultimate Team.
- New shot types add more variety to goal-scoring.
- Animations are more interesting and contextual.
The Bad
- Extremely similar balance of gameplay after a few hours.
- Most changes are quite conservative.
- Feels like it's waiting for the next generation to hit before going big again.
Published: 26/09/2013


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TCD Team
Tom Carey
Program Lead
Dr. Tom Carey is Visiting Senior
Scholar in the Chancellor's Office of the California State University and a Professor of Management Sciences in the Faculty of
Engineering at the University of Waterloo in Canada. Tom's current projects
center on mobilizing knowledge for exemplary teaching in higher
education. In addition to the CSU Transforming Course Design program, he is also Lead Catalyst for the following initiatives:
National (U.S.) - MERLOT ELIXR project
Ontario (Canada) - Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario research study for a KNowledge Exchange Network for Exemplary Teaching.
in development - Innovation Across the Curriculum; Faculty Communities for Course Transformation Support (FACCTS)
Profile: Suzanne Aurilio
I'm your community steward, host and help in this exciting new adventure.
You may be familiar with Etienne Wenger's Communities of Practice, well...that's the adventure, creating our communities of practice through our projects and this space.
I direct a faculty development program at SDSU called pICT-People, Information and Communication Technologies. I've got an MA in Educational Technology from SDSU and am working on a doctorate in education in the Claremont Graduate University/SDSU joint program.
My favorite foods are carrots and sushi. I lived abroad for most of the 90s. I'm not a technology geek, but I do have a Second Life.


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Thanks for giving me the opportunity to introduce myself. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, certified EMDR clinician, and certified relationship therapist working with college students and adults in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC.
A supportive counseling relationship can be the difference between suffering alone and finding your own unique path back to wholeness. I have helped many individual clients and couples find the way back to that place of insight. Together, we work to recognize how the past impacts the present, and how thoughts influence actions. For more than 12 years, I have worked with couples on a path toward safe, connected communication employing a mix of Imago Relationship therapy, Stan Tatkin's PACT approach, and Sue Johnson's Emotionally-Focused Couples therapy (EFT). My aim is to teach couples the skills to address any relationship challenge, giving them the tools to maintain their connection outside the counseling room. I also have studied the Imago Parenting approach and am certified to teach the program as a workshop or in individual therapy sessions. I also am certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy and am pleased to offer this effective, time-limited treatment approach to clients with trauma histories or disruptive memories of all kinds.
In addition to marriage counseling and relationship therapy work, I am experienced in helping clients facing many challenges, including divorce support, anxiety, depression, trauma, GLBT-related concerns, grief, infidelity, parenting and spiritual/religious issues. I served as a rape crisis counselor for several years and helped faciliate an HIV/AIDS support group. I have an interest in the Adlerian theory of individual psychology, and have studied the cognitive-behavioral practice of Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Recently, I have been privileged to offer ideas about post-pregnancy Valentine's Days, raising children while maintaining a marriage, battling holiday angst, and finding 30 seconds to save your marriage, at WashingtonPost.com.
I take a person-centered approach to the counseling process. Each client's concerns and goals are unique, and rarely conform to a standard treatment plan. Together, we will create a holistic strategy that meets your needs. Following your lead, we can attend to the integration of body, mind and spirit in your healing process so that you will see quick improvement in both how you feel and how you function in all your relationships.
I often tell my clients that finding the right therapist is sort of like dating - there needs to be chemistry to ensure the best match. While nothing can truly replace the experience of meeting in-person, I've long believed that a person's writing can reveal much about her approach to the world. I invite you to take a look at the articles I have written for Counseling Today magazine and the Soul Matters newsletter. I wrote a relationship advice column for the Georgetowner newspaper for seven years and I also maintain a blog section on this site. All feedback is always appreciated! So please drop me a note if you have any thoughts, comments, or suggestions.


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Celebrity Gossip
We all are different, I will learn where I can – John Blaq
By Stuart G-Khast
Hot cake singer John Kasada popularly known as John Blaq has hit as critics after months of bad mouthing him and his still short career.
John Blaq who has been on fire since last year has on several panels been criticised for his style and many say he will not last.
The singer through a clip he shared on his Instagram stings critics in Radio's recorded clip where the singer says we are all special and different. This was a message the Bubadi singer was sending or sonwe assume.
Celebrity Gossip
Jose Chameleone cleans up Twitter, follows only two Ugandan artistes, your guess is as good as ours.
By Reporter
After being unfollowed by the President or rather his administrator, Jose Chameleone has not taken Twitter lightly. The singer has done some cleaning up and has been left with only 108 accounts to follow and only two of those are Ugandan artistes.
It is not rocket science that Chameleone only decides to follow his two brothers Pallaso and Radio&Weasel, had it been any others maybe we would be wondering the criteria he used.
Chameleone is one of the most followed Ugandan artistes on Twitter and not following you may not go so well with you as an artiste.
Celebrity Gossip
Rwandans ask Salvado To Apologize for Genocide Joke
By Staff Writer
Over the week, a video of Salvado's standup performance went viral. It was one of his most creative jokes to-date about different airlines and their themes.
On one of the jokes about Rwanda Air, genocide was mentioned as one of the topics air hostesses can't miss.
Now Rwandans have picked that up and taken offence. They have given Salvado an ultimatum to apologize. But he is not about to allow.
On his Twitter profile, he says those offended are missing the humour. The Rwandans insist the 1994 Genocide against the tutsi is not something to joke about.
Celebrity Gossip
We intend to have the biggest event of the year in ASFA 2019 – Talent Africa boss Ali Alibhai
By Reporter
The Abryanz style and Fashion awards are back for the 7th time and for the first time they have partnered with Talent Africa group.
Talent Africa group under it's events and promotion wing will come active and handy in the ASFA 2019. We were keen on the partnership and quizzed Talent Africa boss Ali Alibhai on why he chose to partner with Abryanz this year."We are a 360 entertainment company and have over years mastered the art of events marketing and this is another event we look forward to evelevating further. Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards have a very good reputation and we are sure our contribution will be felt" he said.
Talent Africa Group has in the past yet somilarly big events like Nyege Nyege and hosted many foreign artistes and have at all instances sold out. With such momentum we can be sure ASFA 2019 will be another event to look upto, probably the best ever edition so far.
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