text: SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMISSION (As approved November 4, 2004) Minutes of the regular meeting of Thursday, September 16, 2004. The San Francisco Public Library Commission held a regular meeting on Thursday, September 16, 2004, in the Koret Auditorium, Main Library. The meeting was called to order by President Higueras at 4:02 pm. The following members were present: Bautista, Coulter, Higueras, and Strobin. Vice President Steiman was reported excused. Agenda Items: 1) Public Comment 2) Approval of August 19 Minutes 3) Western Addition Library Peer Review 4) Bond Program Manager's Report 5) City Librarian Search 6) Adjournment APPENDIX A -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGENDA ITEM #1 PUBLIC COMMENT Public comment on AGENDA ITEM #1 PUBLIC COMMENT An anonymous member of the public noted that the Commission had chosen to meet on Rosh Hashanah and continued his discussion concerning the impact of a lack of accountability and how a recent letter from President Higueras related to this subject. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGENDA ITEM #2 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 19, 2004 Public comment on AGENDA ITEM #2 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OFAUGUST 19, 2004 An anonymous member of the public commented that the Minutes did not report a brief recess taken, inaccurately cited an Library Journal article when American Libraries was mentioned, and inaccurately reported this person's comments. Commission discussion of AGENDA ITEM #2 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 19, 2004 MOTION: Commissioner Bautista, 2nd Commissioner Coulter for approval of the Minutes of the regular Commission meeting of August 19, 2004 as amended to include report of a brief recess and to verify an article citation. Adopted by the following vote: AYE 5-0 (Bautista, Chin, Coulter, Higueras, and Steiman) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGENDA ITEM #3 WESTERN ADDITION LIBRARY PEER REVIEW Branch Library Improvement Program Manager Marilyn Thompson introduced the architects' presentation, the Library's response, and the Peer Panel review presentation for the proposed renovation and slight expansion of the Western Addition Library. The first five part presentation was by Mr. Kent Ford, Bureau of Architecture, who presented his plan for an updated $2.4 renovation of the original Appleton design that addressed seismic safety, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) concerns, and provided for a modest expansion beyond the scope originally provided in Prop. A. (Branch Library Improvement Bond 2000). Acting City Librarian Paul Underwood followed-up with the Library's response lauding the architect's sensitivity to the original design of the existing 1965 building while providing 250 sq ft' of additional functional space, making an effective reorganization of existing space, and introducing the needed ADA upgrades. Next the Peer Panelists: Michael Tauber, RossDrulisCusenbery Architecture; Bryan Shiles, Gordon Chong & Partners; Marie Fisher, Marie Fisher Interior Design presented their comments (copy attached). Public Comment on AGENDA ITEM #3 WESTERN ADDITION LIBRARY PEER REVIEW An anonymous member of the public commented on the lack of explanatory documents available, found the slides presented insufficiently informative, noted that no information was available on the proposed reading garden. The person commented that the design could be powerful but that it was difficult to appreciate without the background materials being made available to consider. Commission discussion of AGENDA ITEM #3 WESTERN ADDITION LIBRARY PEER REVIEW Commissioner Coulter agreed with reviewers' comments about a need to carefully consider the proposed entry area design. In response to questions by Commissioner Bautista about the proposed interiors and the proposed use of "access" flooring were further explained. Commissioner Bautista found the proposed reading garden interesting, noting that other branches had accessible outside program areas that worked well. In response to questions by President Higueras the Acting City Librarian discussed the importance of keeping the strong connection between the Western Addition Branch Library and the adjoining Hamilton Playground. In response to Commissioner Bautista's suggestion that there be Japanese influence in the landscaping to reflect the branches' Japanese collection, the Acting City Librarian pointed to the need for pleasing but low maintenance landscaping. In response to a query by President Higueras, Mr. Underwood discussed the necessary trade-off between maintaining the existing collection size and addressing the increased services needs, accessibility requirements, and seismic safety improvements. The Acting City Librarian also echoed Commissioners' comments about the importance of having defined teen spaces. In answer to a question by President Higueras concerning the seismic structural bracing proposed the Architect Mr. Ford discussed options under consideration. He agreed with President Higueras that use of bulky steel bracing should be avoided. President Higueras offered the Peer Panelists the Library Commission's thanks for their assistance in helping to maintain high standards of design excellence in the Branch Library Improvement Program. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGENDA ITEM #4 BOND PROGRAM MANAGER'S REPORT (Presented by Branch Library Improvement Program Manager Marilyn Thompson -This is a discussion item to allow the Branch Library Bond Program Manager to report on recent bond program related activities and make announcements.) Ms. Thompson noted there would be no informational presentation at this meeting and then presented: the current budget, noting there were no changes reflected; the schedule of active projects; and a community outreach update report (copies attached). The BLIP Manager then presented a construction activities report. (copy attached). Ms. Thompson concluded her report with a presentation in response to the Peer Review Panel comments concerning the Marina Branch Library. Public comment on AGENDA ITEM #3 BOND PROGRAM MANAGER'S REPORT An anonymous member of the public found the color copies of the construction reports useful and questioned the rationale for dedicated teen use spaces in branch libraries with relatively few teenage users. Melissa Riley, Librarian's Guild, discussed concerns about dedicated teen use spaces suggesting that plans were not fully thought out and that such use had implications MS Riley proposed that accommodation might be possible in larger branches but not the smaller ones. Toni Bernardi, SFPL Chief of Children and Youth Services, strongly disagreed with the preceding comments on dedicated teen use spaces, noted the important of creating, providing, and maintaining distinct teen users spaces . The Library's Chief of Children and Youth Services noted that teen users were the Library's future and that it was critical that they be welcomed and not shut out. Commission discussion of AGENDA ITEM #4 BOND PROGRAM MANAGER'S REPORT Commissioners Bautista and Chin strongly seconded Ms. Bernardi's comments on the critical importance of creating and making available dedicated teen space and actively encouraging teen use of libraries. Commissioner Coulter noted that of the seismic bracing options he preferred Option A for less obtrusive supports. The Acting City Librarian left the meeting at 5:56pm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGENDA ITEM #5 CITY LIBRARIAN SEARCH Library Human Resources Director Donna Marion presented an update to the Commissioners on the ongoing City Librarian Search process. Ms. Marion discussed: the revised search timeline; how potential candidates were being identified; a draft job description; and where outreach was being made. The Director of Human Resources discussed the as yet unresolved salary issues and proposed to keep the Commissioners informed as developments evolved. Public comment on AGENDA ITEM #5 CITY LIBRARIAN SEARCH Ms. Cathy Bremer, Librarian's Guild, Local 790, question the lack of mention of a requirement for a Master of Library and Information Services (MLS) Degree as well as specific professional experience as a working librarian, noting that State law required that the "county librarian" have an MLS degree in order to be qualified to serve. Ms. Bremer suggested that the Library deserved a qualified and committed leader. An anonymous member of the public inquired how the draft job description corresponded with the survey responses for qualities and qualification wanted and called attention to existing Commission policy requiring both an MLS Degree and years of professional experience. This person also expressed concern with the use of terms such as visionary. Ms. Melissa Riley, West Portal Librarian/Librarian's Guild, expressed surprise at lack of mention of a MLS Degree, the absence discussion of the City Librarian's role regarding the library's collections, and noted candidates had to be super managers with clear professional credentials that would not make mistakes that a non-librarian might. Ms. Riley noted the person chosen must be both a good librarian and a good manager. Ms. Deborah Doyle, Friends of the Library, observed that given the visibility and important leadership role in the regional and national library world of our City Librarian that a MLS Degree was essential to having the professional creditability and personal knowledge and experience to lead the San Francisco Public Library. Commission discussion of AGENDA ITEM AGENDA ITEM #5 CITY LIBRARIAN SEARCH PROCESS President Higueras suggested addition of a requirement for a MLS Degree as well as years of 10 progressively challenging professional experience. President Higueras said above all candidates should be passionate about libraries and dedicated to providing leadership. Commissioner Chin suggested that the desirable skills be listed as bullet points. President Higueras noted that candidates must understand the critical importance of participating in an ongoing dialogue about how to better serve library users. In response to a question by Commissioner Coulter, Ms. Marion explained that the City required that a job description rather than just a job scope as was previously presented be published as part of the recruitment and hiring process. She read a proposed qualifications clause to be added the Job Description requiring candidates have a MLS Degree and 10 years of professional experience. MOTION: Commissioner Bautista, 2nd Commissioner Chin to approve the proposed job description for City Librarian with the addition of a qualifications statement requiring candidates have a Master of Library and Information Services (MLS) Degree from a ALA (American Library Association) recognized graduate school and 10 years of professional experience. Adopted by the following vote: AYE 4-0 (Bautista, Coulter, Higueras, and Strobin) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGENDA ITEM # 6 ADJOURNMENT MOTION: by Commissioner Bautista, 2nd Commissioner Coulter that the meeting be adjourned. There being no further business, the Commission meeting was adjourned at 6:27pm ACTION: AYE 4-0 (Bautista, Coulter, Higueras, and Strobin) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Housh, Commission Secretary 9/30/04 Please note: Copies of Commission Minutes and handouts are available in the Office of the Commission Secretary, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 ATTACHMENTS to the September 16, 2004 Minutes: Branch Library Improvement Program (BLIP) Manager's Report notes Branch Library Improvement Program Schedule 2/19/04 Branch Library Improvement Program Budget 6/17/04 Western Addition Peer Review notes (PDF 61K) City Librarian job description (PDF 79K) Appendix A The Public Comment Summary Statements included in these Minutes are authorized by San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.16. These summary statements are provided by the speaker. Their contents are neither generated by, nor subject to approval or verification of accuracy by, the San Francisco Public Library Commission. The number of members of the public who spoke anonymously at this meeting. 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Explanatory documents: Copies of listed explanatory documents are available as follows: (1) from the Commission Secretary/Custodian of Records, Main Library, 6th Floor, (2) in the rear of the Koret Auditorium immediately before and during the meeting, and (3)to the extent possible, on the Library's Web site. Additional materials not listed as explanatory documents, if any, that are distributed to the Library Commissioners prior to or during the meeting in connection with any agenda item will be available to the public for inspection and copying in accordance with Government Code Section 54954.1 and Sunshine Ordinance §§ 67.9, 67.28(b) & 67.28(d).


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Jim Orford from Gambling Watch UK talks to George Galloway
George Galloway and his wife Gayatri wanted to know how gambling has been allowed to get so out of hand. In this interview Jim gives them an overview of how this has happened, how significant was the careless policy of the New Labour government, and how the gambling industry has been allowed to set the gambling policy agenda.
People in this conversation
Comments (1)
Thank you for this very useful interview with Professor Jim Orford. I work as a problem gambling counsellor with Gamcare and I feel the challenge of controlling or stopping gambling is made unnecessarily difficult because of the incessant advertising of gambling through TV, mobile and internet channels from which compulsive gamblers struggle to escape. I think Gambling Watch UK is an excellent initiative owing to independent status and I am willing to support the organisation where I am able.0 Like

subset: commoncrawl


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For years now, the clearing space has been shrinking in participants. Consolidation has been the theme. But on Monday, a new full-service clearing business for retail broker-dealers enters the arena.
The ambitious "next-generation" platform is from DST, a leading provider to the asset management, brokerage, retirement and health care markets. Heading the business is RBC's former director of correspondent and advisor services Craig Gordon, who departed the firm in January after running its clearing arm for nine years.
In an exclusive interview with ThinkAdvisor, Gordon, a 27-year veteran of the clearing space, discussed his new venture to be introduced this week at SIFMA's Operations Conference in Boca Raton, Florida.
Gordon has been with DST developing its brand-new clearing platform and hiring staff since January.
"Our goal is to be a top-tier clearing firm for retail financial institutions and financial advisors, to compete with the largest clearing firms in the business," says Gordon, citing Pershing and National Financial, Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.
DST is a large global public company with deep financial pockets and 12,000 employees. In entering the clearing fray, it is leveraging its core competency, technology processing, together with expertise in the traditional brokerage business.
The firm is the world's largest provider of third-party mutual fund recordkeeping services. Headquartered in Kanas City, Missouri, it has been in the financial services arena for more than 45 years.
DST's intention is to "transform the clearing business model," Gordon says. "We're going to build a clearing business that's focused on the way financial advisors need to work with their customers in the decades ahead. We're looking forward to providing what advisors want and need to be efficient, and to electronically minimize physical paper and multiple processes so that they're more productive and have better tools with which to grow their businesses."
The new platform will serve U.S. BDs only; and for now, DST is staying out of the institutional market. It will provide custody services for RIAs through its BD clients, though working direct with investment advisors is "certainly on our radar down the road," says Gordon, who, at RBC had responsibility for both BD clearing and RIA custody services.
DST is offering big value, says Gordon, based in Minneapolis, as before. "We think we will be able to deliver a tremendous amount of capabilities at a very reasonable cost and serve customers in a way other clearing firms have been unable to."
As for reaching out for clients, he has been talking with BDs who clear through others as well as self-clearers seeking clearing firms.
"So we're hoping to disrupt the marketplace a little," Gordon says. "I really see a growing demand by independent broker-dealers for more from their clearing firms – more integrated technology, more efficiency in processing – in other words, the next-generation clearing platform. Over the last few years, many clearing firms have become smaller and smaller because the core competencies of the large global banks [that own them] are not technology and processing efficiencies."
Gordon has already hired several folks with heavy clearing and brokerage background. Head of operations is Chuck Tennant, who ran clearing at Ameriprise and was C.O.O. at Envestnet Asset Management. Gordon reports to Stuart Bowers, president of DST Market Services, formerly head of operations at Legg Mason.
Over the years, DST has built expertise in the brokerage business by developing and acquiring a variety of companies specializing in, for example, compliance and training.
Why not enter the clearing space sooner?
"Now is the time that the organization recognizes that they have the expertise, the systems and the commitment to put it all together in an integrated platform and with a commitment to grow a significant platform," Gordon says.
He stresses what he sees as a critical need for a clearing platform that's ahead of the technology curve.
"A lot of broker-dealers feel that their clearing firms have not kept up with technology, in many cases because of old systems and decades-old legacy processing. For the last several years, I continuously heard independent broker-dealers tell me they want a clearing platform to handle not just stocks, bonds and mutual funds but alternative investments and private investments too."
DST's clearing effort began more than a year ago. Gordon, who was recruited, began discussions with the firm late last summer.
"RBC is a great organization, but the future clearing business is about technology and processing efficiencies," Gordon says. "I felt that the opportunity to build something with DST would result in a better offering for retail broker-dealers and a more fulfilling and rewarding career opportunity for me personally."
He started out in 1986 in California as an FA with an independent BD, then opened his own BD, Western Securities Clearing Corp., which also cleared for others. In 1998, he sold the business and from then till 2000, was with National Financial. He joined RBC Dain Rauscher in 2000 as senior vice president and national director of business development, based in Newport Beach, California. Five years later, he relocated to Minneapolis to run RBC's clearing business.
The well capitalized DST has for years been acquiring companies specifically serving the retail-focused BD. Now that DST is in the clearing business, might there be plans to also buy up other clearing firms?
Says Gordon: "We anticipate that there will be opportunities coming — and when they do, we'll be there. DST is very acquisitive."


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In exchange for your mortgage, you will pledge your home as security for repayment of your loan. The lender agrees to hold the title to your property until you have paid back your loan plus interest. A mortgage loan is composed of two major components: principal and interest.
Principal is the actual amount of money you borrow. If you borrow $150,000, your mortgage principal is $150,000.
Interest is what you pay for the use of the money you borrow. How much you pay depends on a number of factors, including the interest rate, the type of loan and other factors, which are outlined in this guide. Interest can be deducted from your taxes, making it one of the most attractive practical benefits of home ownership. Your tax advisor will be able to provide more details about the tax savings benefits.
Amortization refers to the way in which the balance of principal versus interest changes over time. During the first few years of your mortgage (typically for the first 2 to 3 years of a 30-year loan) most of your payments will be applied toward interest. During the final years of your loan, your payments will be applied almost exclusively to the remaining principal. This process is called amortization.
How should I choose a lender?Carefully! Look for financial stability and a reputation for customer satisfaction. Select a company that gives helpful advice and that makes you feel comfortable. It is best to select a lender that has the authority to approve and process your loan locally, so you can more easily monitor the status of your application and ask questions. Plus, it helps when the lender knows about local home values and conditions. Do research -- ask your agent, family and friends for recommendations.
What is the best way to compare loan terms between lenders?Speak with companies by phone, in person, or search the Internet. In addition to your research, I can provide a variety of proven lender and mortgage options. While competitive rates are important, remember that most lenders get their money from the same sources and therefore essentially have the same rates. As a result, the decision often comes down to other factors.
The Interest RateInterest Rates are most important when you lock a loan. What is important is that you have a loan program that fits your particular financial situation and needs at the time you purchase your home. Remember that each 1/4 point (0.25%) may not have as much impact as you think.


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(a) Whoever sells, gives away, disposes of, exchanges, or barters any malt, spirituous, or vinous liquor, including beer, ale, and wine, or any ardent or other intoxicating liquor of any kind whatsoever, except for scientific, sacramental, medicinal or mechanical purposes, or any essence, extract, bitters, preparation, compound, composition, or any article whatsoever, under any name, label, or brand, which produces intoxication, to any Indian to whom an allotment of land has been made while the title to the same shall be held in trust by the Government, or to any Indian who is a ward of the Government under charge of any Indian superintendent, or to any Indian, including mixed bloods, over whom the Government, through its departments, exercises guardianship, and whoever introduces or attempts to introduce any malt, spirituous, or vinous liquor, including beer, ale, and wine, or any ardent or intoxicating liquor of any kind whatsoever into the Indian country, shall, for the first offense, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and, for each subsequent offense, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(b) It shall be a sufficient defense to any charge of introducing or attempting to introduce ardent spirits, ale, beer, wine, or intoxicating liquors into the Indian country that the acts charged were done under authority, in writing, from the Department of the Army or any officer duly authorized thereunto by the Department of the Army, but this subsection shall not bar the prosecution of any officer, soldier, sutler or storekeeper, attaché, or employee of the Army of the United States who barters, donates, or furnishes in any manner whatsoever liquors, beer, or any intoxicating beverage whatsoever to any Indian.
(c) The term "Indian country" as used in this section does not include fee-patented lands in non-Indian communities or rights-of-way through Indian reservations, and this section does not apply to such lands or rights-of-way in the absence of a treaty or statute extending the Indian liquor laws thereto.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 758; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, §27, 63 Stat. 94; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(G), (I), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Based on sections 241, 242, 244a, 249, 254 of title 25, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Indians (R.S. §2139; Feb. 27, 1877, ch. 69, §1, 19 Stat. 244; July 4, 1884, ch. 180, §1, 23 Stat. 94; July 23, 1892, ch. 234, 27 Stat. 260; Mar. 2, 1917, ch. 146, §17, 39 Stat. 983; June 13, 1932, ch. 245, 47 Stat. 302; Mar. 5, 1934, ch. 43, 48 Stat. 396; June 27, 1934, ch. 846, 48 Stat. 1245; June 15, 1938, ch. 435, §1, 52 Stat. 696).
Section consolidates sections 241, 242, 244a, and 249 of title 25, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Indians. The portion of section 241 of said title which defined the substantive offense became subsection (a); the portion relating to the scope of the term "Indian country" was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of "Indian country" in section 1151 of this title; the portion of section 241 of said title excepting liquors introduced by the War Department became subsection (c), as limited by section 249 of said title; the portion respecting making complaint in county of offense, and with reference to arraignment, was omitted as covered by rule 5 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; and the remainder of section 241 of said title was incorporated in section 1156 of this title.
Section 254 of title 25, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Indians, was omitted as covered by this section and section 1156 of this title. That section was enacted in 1934 and excluded from the Indian liquor laws lands outside reservations where the land was no longer held by Indians under a trust patent or a deed or patent containing restrictions against alienation. Such enactment was prior to the June 15, 1938, amendment of section 241 of title 25, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Indians, in which the term "Indian country" was defined as including allotments where the title was held in trust by the Government or where it was inalienable without the consent of the United States. This provision, by implication, excluded cases where there was no trust or restriction on alienation and thereby achieved the same result as section 254 of title 25, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Indians. That amendment also repealed the act of Jan. 30, 1897, referred to in section 254 of title 25, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Indians. Insofar as the reference in section 254 of said title to "special Indian liquor laws" included section 244 of title 25, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Indians, the definition of Indian country in section 1151 of this title covers section 254 of title 25, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Indians.
Words "or agent" were deleted as there have been no Indian agents since 1908. See section 64 of title 25, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Indians, and note thereunder.
Mandatory punishment provisions were rephrased in the alternative and provision for commitment for nonpayment of fine was deleted. This change was also recommended by United States District Judge T. Blake Kennedy on the ground that, otherwise, section would be practically meaningless since, in most cases, offenders cannot pay a fine.
The exception of intoxicating liquor for scientific, sacramental, medicinal or mechanical purposes was inserted for the same reason that makes this exception appropriate to section 1262 of this title.
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Subsection (a) of this section [section 27(a)] substitutes "Department of the Army" for "War Department", in subsection (b) of section 1154 of title 18, U.S.C., to conform to such redesignation by act July 26, 1947 (ch. 343, title 11, §205(a), 61 Stat. 501 (5 U.S.C., 1946 ed., §181–1)). Subsection (b) of this section [section 27(b)] adds subsection (c) to such section 1154 in order to conform it and section 1156 more closely to the laws relating to intoxicating liquor in the Indian country as they have heretofore been construed.
1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $500" after "first offense, be" and for "fined not more than $2,000" after "subsequent offense, be".
1949—Subsec. (b). Act May 24, 1949, §27(a), substituted "Department of the Army" for "War Department".
Subsec. (c). Act May 24, 1949, §27(b), added subsec. (c).
Functions of all other officers of Department of the Interior and functions of all agencies and employees of such Department, with two exceptions, transferred to Secretary of the Interior, with power vested in him to authorize their performance or performance of any of his functions by any of such officers, agencies, and employees, by Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.


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Innovation for Enthusiast Consumers
CollectorDASH is a software company whose platform enables communities of collectors. Through integration of social, mobile and ecommerce technologies, DASH engages its collector users through its innovative user experience. Working with seller and manufacturer partners, CollectorDASH generates additional revenue streams and more loyal customer relationships by delivering an engaged, invigorated community.
Driven by passion and interest, collectors assemble into communities, sharing their knowledge, enthusiasm and collections. The members of these communities today are fragmented and poorly served by today's technology. The DASH platform serves to disrupt this market through an innovative, engaging community experience for collectors.
About Us
We got started after a conversation between two college buddies - one was a software entrepreneur and the other was a Coke bottle collector. One thing led to another, and inspired by the fragmented, frustrating, expensive, and haphazard online experience that collectors face, CollectorDASH was founded in 2009. We built our team to fulfill our vision of a much better online experience for collectors. Along the way, we've discovered that our vision and platform is revolutionary for a multitude of collecting communities, representing a $4+ billion market, and we've come to appreciate that our common passion is to serve our customers' passion. We have our first two communities online: Collector-ActionFigures.com and Collector-ModelTrains.com with paying customers via a recurring subscription revenue model and sales transactions.
Problems Solved
For the Collector: While there are many places to buy and sell collectibles, books to value collectibles, and software to manage inventory or showcase one's collection, there is no dedicated community delivering all of the collectors' requirements. CollectorDASH is the only platform that meets all the needs of the Collector small or large: To Buy, Sell, Trade, Value, Manage, and Share their collection in a dedicated, integrated community setting.
For the Seller/Manufacturer/Licensor/Publisher: These companies strive to extract maximum revenue from their customers (the collectors), as well as establish deeper, loyal relationships. DASH delivers this.
About the DASH Platform
DASH is a scalable and secure platform which enables collectors to manage and share their collections, discover what other collectors are doing, value their collections, and buy, sell, and trade. With both web-based and mobile engagement, collections are available anytime from anywhere for the first time ever. DASH is a cloud-based software platform, enabling a low cost of operation and flexible approach to system scalability. It features a modern architecture, with built-in redundancy and failover. It has native iPhone and Android mobile applications. CollectorDASH has even invented its own high-speed, high-quality 3600 proprietary photography system and viewer.


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Three Morenci Area High School students recently participated in skill competitions through LISD Tech Center classes.
David Stutzman and fellow LISD Tech Center Agri-Science students earned first place in Ag Issues at the FFA Regional Contest Feb. 18 at Jackson Community College. Daniel Stutzman, along with other Tech Center Natural Sciences students, placed second in Greenhand Conduct of Meetings.
Both teams qualified to compete at the FFA State Finals scheduled March 11 to 13 at Michigan State University.
Nate Schaffner placed third with 906 points in the Skills USA Collision Repair and Refinish Regional Competition Feb. 19 at the LISD Tech Center. Schaffner qualified to compete in the SkillsUSA State Competition April 24 to 26 in Lansing.


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Disney Infinity Off To Strong Start With 294,000 Units Sold In First Two Weeks
Disney Infinity has been out for approximately one month now, and officials at the company are pleased with the game's performance. The title charted at number two in August NPD's report in a month that showed an uptick in sales for the first time since November 2011.
Speaking with GamesIndustry International, a Disney representative reported that 294,000 starter packs were sold in the United States in the first two weeks. This does not include additional figures, playsets, and power discs.
Disney Infinity will be supported in the coming months with new figures, Disney-created free toy box downloads, and user-generated content contests. For more on Disney Infinity, read our review.
[Source: GamesIndustry International]
Our Take
This is a strong start for Disney Infinity, and it bodes well for the interactive division as a whole. Early performance, while important, won't matter unless the game and its accessories do well throughout the holiday season.
While Disney Infinity and Skylanders are two very different properties, less informed parents might not see beyond the physical-meets-digital commonalities. Whether Infinity can stand up against the third Skylanders title, Swap Force, remains to be seen.


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I always thought a "diva" was a survivor with a colorful string of lovers and struggles. And some of the VH1 Divas at the Brooklyn Academy of Music - Liza, Jennifer, Toni - definitely qualify. Miley Cyrus? Not so much.
Jennifer Hudson, for instance: an actual survivor. Which, I guess, entitles her to a futuristic suit of armor, if that's what she wants.
Or, obviously, Liza! Sequins, wigs, and single-name-recognition are true diva hallmarks.
Toni Braxton appreciates the drama of the occasion, even if this does swing a little David's Bridal.
And Kathy and Hoda, obviously, needed to be here. Their getups are deliciously frumpy. And I'm kind of feeling all the virginal white - both seasonally and occasionally inappropriate.
Kathy Griffin is a virtual virgin goddess! No, seriously, I really like this gown.
Paula is, of course, the grand mistress of this whole thing. Her rather elegantly subdued dress is saved from too much quiet good taste by ruby slippers and - are those stockings?
Speaking of quiet good taste - and wigs - Kim Zolciak is actually going much looser than usual in azalea-tinted meringue.
Kelly Clarkson, diva-in-training, looks about as youthful as an operatic diva with a long history of Wagner performances behind her.
Jordyn Sparks also skews a little frumpy. Which, given the event, I'm kind of feeling.
India.Arie sort of looks like she has gold spilling from her breasts. Nice skill to have!
The horizontal wrap on Sheryl Crow's gauzy number isn't terribly flattering - but might have been better with a shoe other than these high-cut booties.
If you're dressing around a generous bust, like Sheri Shepherd, tight and one-shouldered isn't really the most flattering option, as it results in the dreaded sling effect.
Adele, embryo diva, continues her run as one of the best-dressed women on the proverbial red carpet of life.
You know who don't qualify as divas? Whitney Port and Lauren Conrad. That said, I'm glad they made a sequin effort.
Also: Miley Cyrus. And her dress is terrible. The end.
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Sneak peek: AAA's Five Diamond hotels for 2013
For the 77th year, AAA today unveils its top honors with its Five Diamond Awards for 2013.
This year, AAA inspectors awarded the coveted title to 125 hotels and 53 restaurants in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Nine hotels were added , the same as last year. Ten hotels, meanwhile, were removed.
ALSO ONLINE:AAA names new Five Diamond restaurants for 2013
TWITTER:Join USA TODAY's Barb DeLollis on Twitter
In an age where most travelers refer to online consumer reviews before booking, Five Diamond status is still important to high-end travelers, says luxury travel agent Laura Allen of Atlanta-based Century Travel.
"Sometimes, we (travel agents) need ways to describe a property and by saying, 'It's Five Diamond,'" she says. "It helps us make a sale. It validates a property in the mind of a client. It's instant affirmation and clout that the place is going to be good."
The Five Diamond awards come as luxury hotels continue to rebound from the recession.
So far this year, the average daily rate among luxury hotels as defined by industry tracker Smith Travel Research has increased over 2012 by about 5% ($275).
Luxury hotels this year have filled an average of 73% of their rooms, or about 3% more than a year ago, STR figures show.
The number of Five Diamond hotels has grown to 125 this year, up 25% since 2008, says AAA spokeswoman Heather Hunter. By 2009, the recession hit, delaying or derailing many high-end hotel projects slated for the next four years.
AAA saw the biggest net increase in Five Diamond hotels between 2010 and 2011 when the number of Five Diamond hotels rose from 113 to 124. The jump came as luxury hotels spent millions on renovating their hotels and services following cutbacks during the recession, Hunter says.
MORE TRAVEL:TripAdvisor reveals its 'best of the best' for 2013
MORE TRAVEL:Libraries make a comeback - in hotels
The newest Five Diamond hotels
Travelers can expect these hotels to offer world-class service, top-notch design, a beautiful spa and luxurious guest amenities that aren't necessarily available at other hotels. This year's new Five Diamond hotels:
- Montage Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach, Calif.
- St. Regis Bal Harbour, Bal Harbour, Fla.
- Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Fla.
- Ritz-Carlton Montréal
- Trump SoHo New York
- Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver, Canada
- Four Seasons Resort Nevis, West Indies, Charlestown, Nevis
- St. Regis Bahia Beach Puerto Rico
- Capella Pedregal, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
The majority of the newly named Five Diamond properties, such as the Capella Pedregal in Mexico, are in beach destinations.
The Capella Pedregal, located on the tip of the Baja Peninsula, entices guests even before they arrive.
Construction of the 3-year-old hotel involved blasting through a mountain and building a tunnel to access the oceanfront site, so guests enter through a tunnel, says general manager John Volponi.
"The whole time, you're looking at the ocean and lobby in front of you. It's probably one of the most dramatic arrivals that you can have at a hotel," Volponi says.
The Capella brand, by the way, is getting ready to open a new, 49-room boutique hotel in Washington D.C.'s tony Georgetown neighborhood.
The glitzy St. Regis Bal Harbour is about a 30-minute drive away from South Beach on a palm-tree lined slice of Atlantic shoreline.
It's near the luxury mall, the Bal Harbour Shops, and guests have complimentary access to the hotel's Bentley house car. The hotel has an exclusive salon located next to its full-service spa, and covered beach cabanas come with equipped with furniture, plush robes and waiter service.
Given that the hotel opened only in January 2012, the Five Diamond honor came as a pleasant surprise to hotel officials.
"We got it in record time: Four months after we opened," Marco Selva, the hotel's general manager told USA TODAY's Hotel Check-In recently. "We're now the only Five Diamond hotel in Miami Beach. It's something we were focused on in the beginning. We frankly didn't think it was going to happen so soon."
MORE TRAVEL:Hotels give guests chicken soup, TLC during flu season
Cities claim a third of 2013's new Five Diamond hotels
Only three of the new Five Diamond properties are in cities: the Ritz-Carlton Montréal, the Trump SoHo New York and the Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver.
It's worth noting that the Shangri-La brand last year opened another luxury hotel in Canada inside a 66-story tower in Toronto.
Other highlights from AAA's Five Diamond list:
California has the most Five Diamond hotels, with 20. Florida follows with 13. Nevada and New York tie for third place with eight apiece. California also comes in at No. 1 when restaurants are included, with 27 Five Diamond establishments.
Las Vegas is now tied with New York as the city with the most Five Diamond hotels, with eight each. They're followed by Atlanta with five, and three cities — Beverly Hills, Chicago and Scottsdale, Ariz. — with four apiece.
Florida gained two hotels and one restaurant: the St. Regis Bal Harbour and the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island in Fernandina Beach. The Ritz-Carlton's restaurant, Salt, was one of just four restaurants that were promoted to Five Diamond status this year.
New York this year gained three Five Diamonds: The Trump SoHo New York earned top status, as did two restaurants, Eleven Madison Park and Le Bernardin.
New York and Florida are the only states that picked up three Five Diamond titles this year.
Puerto Rico and Nevis earned their only Five Diamond establishments with the addition of the St. Regis Bahia Beach in Puerto Rico and the Four Seasons on Nevis.
The Ritz-Carlton Montreal's new status gives that city its first Five Diamond hotel.
Diamonds are not forever
But not every hotel can be a winner.
Ten hotels lost their fifth diamond this year, including two of the three longest-running Five Diamond properties — the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va.
That makes Colorado's Broadmoor in Colorado Springs the only hotel in the USA that has maintained the Five Diamond Rating for 37 consecutive years, since 1976 when AAA first began its diamond ratings.
Both the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback and the Greenbrier seek to earn back their best-in-class title.
For the Camelback, the biggest issue with obtaining AAA's top honors was guestroom bathrooms, says Marriott International spokeswoman Laurie Goldstein. The hotel will soon fix them in hopes that AAA will rethink its status for 2014, she says.
"They're going to be renovating their bathrooms beginning in April," she says. "They should be finished by mid-fall."
Greenbrier President Jeff Kmiec says the Five-Diamond title loss is bittersweet since the hotel did well over the past year — both financially and in the eyes of guests — following an extensive update and addition of a casino.
Still, the resort plans to work with AAA this year to get the Five Diamond title back. AAA, he said, took issue with the small size of rooms and bathrooms in about 10% of the 235-year-old property's guest rooms.
"It's like someone saying you need to change the face of Mt. Rushmore to meet a new standard," Kmiec says.
While luxury travel fans watch the Five Diamond awards closely each year, Five Diamond establishments represent just 0.3% of the current 59,000 establishments that AAA inspects. The awards are given to hotels and restaurants after inspectors visit and tour hotels unannounced.


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August 5, 2009
The U. S. government has paid pharmaceutical companies $7.9 billion* since 2004 to develop the capacity to mass vaccine the entire U.S. population by 2011. Under the perceived threat of H1N1, these plans have been accelerated to include the use of a non FDA approved chemical adjuvant suspected of causing Gulf War Syndrome, circumventing the FDA approval process for this potentially life threatening chemical.
In 2005, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a plan with two specific goals that relate to vaccines. The first goal was to have in place by 2011 domestic production capacity sufficient to supply vaccine to the entire U.S. population within six months of the onset of a pandemic. The second goal was to stockpile enough doses of vaccine to inoculate 20 million people as soon as possible after the onset of a pandemic.
As of September 15, 2008, HHS had yet to determine how best to build and develop the capacity to create the hundreds of millions of doses necessary for such an ambitious undertaking. Three options were identified which could possibly achieve the stated goal by 2011:
Continue to fund and expand funding for the egg-based vaccine antigen production currently utilized in the production of seasonal flu vaccine (viruses are grown in hens' eggs). Toward this end, HHS has budgeted $600 million to offer capital subsidies to manufacturers to build egg-based production facilities in addition to $176 million already awarded.
Continue to fund and expand funding for cell-based vaccine antigen production (for example, viruses grown in the kidneys of dogs) widely used to manufacture vaccine against polio, chicken pox, measles, mumps, and rubella. To date, HHS has obligated $1.3 billion to promote the development of new cell-based influenza vaccines.
Fund next generation vaccine manufacturing, based on the use of recombinant-DNA technology. Recombinant vaccines are made by splicing antigen producing genes into the DNA of another organism (pigs, monkeys, birds, insects, etc.) The modified organisms then reproduce to provide bulk quantities of antigen. Recombinant techniques are already in use to make vaccines against hepatitis B and human papillomavirus.
All three scenarios had major drawbacks.
Using egg-based vaccine antigen to provide the quantities necessary to vaccinate all 300 million Americans with 2 doses each would require massive infrastructure build up. Despite the $176 million already awarded to manufactures, additional funds would be needed and FDA approvals (not expected until 2011) are necessary in order to even begin to approach the desired number of vaccine doses. It is estimated that the two companies awarded egg-based funding combined could produce only 125 million doses, even after the infrastructure upgrades, and not until 2011.
Using cell-based antigen to provide the quantities necessary to vaccinate all 300 million Americans with 2 doses each would also require massive infrastructure build up. A plant could produce 25 million pandemic-influenza doses at 90 micrograms per dose. It would take about nineteen plants with that capacity to produce 475 million doses. If the cost of construction, bringing the plant online, and obtaining the FDA's approval averaged $400 million per plant, the total cost of the expanded capacity would be $7.6 billion. If each plant cost $600 million, the total would be $11.4 billion. This capacity would not be available until 2011-2012.
Next generation or recombinant-DNA is not an attractive option, as most recombinant influenza vaccines have not yet advanced past early-stage clinical trials. These vaccines could be 10 years or more away from the market. HHS has yet to fund their development for use against influenza, in part because it has chosen to build on the decades of experience in using cell culture to produce other vaccines. However, HHS plans to award contracts worth $155 million for the development of next-generation vaccines in the near future.
So where does the capacity to mass vaccinate the entire population stand after our $7.9 billion investment?
We currently have a stockpile of 22.5 million doses of the H5N1 antigen for the feared Avian flu pandemic that never materialized. The cost to maintain this stockpile for just two circulating strains of H5N1 is about $2.2 billion annually. Influenza vaccine typically expires after two years; 15 million doses have expired or will expire soon.
In addition, we have stockpiled 268 million doses of what appears to be the wildcard in the whole equation. This is what is known as an adjuvant. An adjuvant is a chemical that can be added to vaccines to reduce the amount of active ingredient (antigen) needed per dose of vaccine by "turbo-charging" the immune system response in the recipient. This could potentially stretch the supply, providing six times as many doses from the same quantity of antigen.
This would solve many, if not all of the issues regarding capacity to mass vaccinate the entire population. Instead of investing in building additional plants and hiring workers to produce antigen, the funds could be used to purchase proprietary, patented chemical adjuvants.
The only problem is: these chemicals are not FDA approved. They have not been FDA safety tested. We have no idea if they are safe and in fact have every reason to suspect that they are not.
Despite this fact, the U.S. has already purchased at least 312 million doses of two proprietary, patented adjuvants: MF59 from Novartis and ASO3 from GSK. These purchases took place despite the fact that neither chemical has been FDA approved for use in a vaccine. The manufacturers have not yet even obtained FDA approval for Phase I clinical trials in the U.S., the first step toward approval of any new drug, vaccine or adjuvant.
On average, it takes a little over a decade for a drug to move from preclinical development to the marketplace. Before a vaccine enters human testing, the developer conducts laboratory (in vitro) and laboratory animal (in vivo) testing to determine whether the product will be safe enough for researchers to proceed to clinical trials.
The developer must obtain the FDA's approval to begin clinical trials through the submission of an investigational new drug, or IND, application. Clinical trials typically have three phases. Phase I focuses on the vaccine's safety and generally involves fewer than 100 human subjects. The purpose of Phase II, which typically involves several hundred subjects, is to expand Phase I safety data and identify whether and at what dose the vaccine elicits a protective immune response. Phase III typically involves thousands of people and is used to document effectiveness and develop additional safety data (notably concerning the incidence and severity of side effects) required for licensing. Clinical trials generally last five to seven years. If all three phases of the clinical development are successful, the developer may submit a biologics license application, or BLA, to the FDA for review. If the FDA approves the application, the developer launches the new vaccine, a process that includes training its sales force and increasing production capabilities to meet the anticipated demand.
It appears that the U.S. is prepared to skip all of the normally required safety and efficacy procedures and allow for the massive testing of this novel adjuvant on at least 25% of the 12,000 Americans serving as paid clinical trial participants in tests of the new H1N1 vaccine, despite documented U.S. government warnings that adjuvanted vaccines can induce more pronounced side effects than ordinary vaccines, a definite downside because vaccines, unlike most other pharmaceuticals, are given to healthy people.
To date, the Food and Drug Administration has never approved an adjuvanted vaccine for influenza. Other adjuvanted vaccines currently licensed for use in the United States—against diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B—are made with aluminum. But aluminum adjuvants do not reduce the amount of antigen needed by enough to substantially increase the amount of vaccine that would be available during a pandemic.
The FDA has not approved a human vaccine containing a new type of adjuvant in many years, as all other types of adjuvants have thus far produced too many side effects to meet the FDA's standards.
The reason introducing this chemical without the required safety and efficacy testing is so objectionable is that both of these proprietary adjuvants contain squalene.
Oil-based vaccination adjuvants like squalene have been proved to generate concentrated, unremitting immune responses over long periods of time according to a 2000 article in The American Journal of Pathology.
A 2000 study published in the American Journal of Pathology demonstrated a single injection of the adjuvant squalene into rats triggered "chronic, immune-mediated joint-specific inflammation," also known as rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers concluded the study raised questions about the role of adjuvants in chronic inflammatory diseases.
What happens when Squalene is injected into humans?
Your immune system recognizes squalene as an oil molecule native to your body. It is found throughout your nervous system and brain. In fact, you can consume squalene in olive oil and not only will your immune system recognize it, you will also reap the benefits of its antioxidant properties.
The difference between "good" and "bad" squalene is the route by which it enters your body. Injection is an abnormal route of entry which incites your immune system to attack all the squalene in your body, not just the vaccine adjuvant.
[efoods]Your immune system will attempt to destroy the molecule wherever it finds it, including in places where it occurs naturally, and where it is vital to the health of your nervous system, according to award-winning investigative journalist Gary Matsumoto, who explains there is a "close match between the squalene-induced diseases in animals and those observed in humans injected with this oil: rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus."
"There are now data in more than two dozen peer-reviewed scientific papers, from ten different laboratories in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia, documenting that squalene-based adjuvants can induce autoimmune diseases in animals…observed in mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits. Sweden's Karolinska Institute has demonstrated that squalene alone can induce the animal version of rheumatoid arthritis. The Polish Academy of Sciences has shown that in animals, squalene alone can produce catastrophic injury to the nervous system and the brain. The University of Florida Medical School has shown that in animals, squalene alone can induce production of antibodies specifically associated with systemic lupus erythematosus," writes Matsumoto.
We got our first hint at the dangers of these proprietary adjuvants when they were secretly tested on soldiers during the Gulf War.
Gulf War veterans with Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) received anthrax vaccines which contained squalene. MF59 (the Novartis squalene adjuvant) was an unapproved ingredient in experimental anthrax vaccines and has since been linked to the devastating autoimmune diseases suffered by countless Gulf War vets according to data published in the February 2000 and August 2002 issues of Experimental and Molecular Pathology.
The Department of Defense made every attempt to deny that squalene was indeed an added contaminant in the anthrax vaccine administered to Persian Gulf war military personnel – deployed and non-deployed – as well as participants in the more recent Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP).
However, the FDA discovered the presence of squalene in certain lots of AVIP product. A test was developed to detect anti-squalene antibodies in GWS patients, and a clear link was established between the contaminated product and all the GWS sufferers who had been injected with the vaccine containing squalene.
The Pentagon never told Congress about the more than 20,000 hospitalizations involving troops who took the anthrax vaccine from 1998 through 2000, despite repeated promises that such cases would be publicly disclosed. Instead, generals and Defense Department officials claimed that fewer than 100 people were hospitalized or became seriously ill after receiving the shot, according to an investigation by the Daily Press of Newport News.
A study conducted at Tulane Medical School and published in the February 2000 issue of Experimental Molecular Pathology included these stunning statistics:
" … the substantial majority (95%) of overtly ill deployed GWS patients had antibodies to squalene. All (100%) GWS patients immunized for service in Desert Shield/Desert Storm who did not deploy, but had the same signs and symptoms as those who did deploy, had antibodies to squalene.
In contrast, none (0%) of the deployed Persian Gulf veterans not showing signs and symptoms of GWS have antibodies to squalene. Neither patients with idiopathic autoimmune disease nor healthy controls had detectable serum antibodies to squalene. The majority of symptomatic GWS patients had serum antibodies to squalene."
According to Dr. Viera Scheibner, Ph.D., a former principle research scientist for the government of Australia:
"… this adjuvant [squalene] contributed to the cascade of reactions called "Gulf War Syndrome," documented in the soldiers involved in the Gulf War.
The symptoms they developed included arthritis, fibromyalgia, lymphadenopathy, rashes, photosensitive rashes, malar rashes, chronic fatigue, chronic headaches, abnormal body hair loss, non-healing skin lesions, aphthous ulcers, dizziness, weakness, memory loss, seizures, mood changes, neuropsychiatric problems, anti-thyroid effects, anaemia, elevated ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), Raynaud's phenomenon, Sjorgren's syndrome, chronic diarrhoea, night sweats and low-grade fevers."
Clearly bypassing the FDA requirements for safety testing of these new adjuvants and the vaccines which contain them puts the entire population at risk for serious, possibly life threatening side effects, particularly any of the 12,000 trial paid trial participants (6,000 children) who are unfortunate enough to be randomized into the adjuvant containing groups.
Still, on July 23, 2009, the FDA announced, "Currently, no U.S. licensed vaccine contains the adjuvants MF-59 or ASO3. It is expected that a novel influenza A (H1N1) vaccine manufactured using the same process as U.S. licensed seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine but administered with MF-59 or ASO3 will be authorized for emergency use only."
And that, "Two of the manufacturers (Novartis and GSK) have proprietary oil-in-water adjuvants (MF-59 and ASO3, respectively) which have been evaluated in a number of clinical studies including studies with influenza vaccines. These manufacturers will include an evaluation of the utility of the adjuvant for dose sparing and enhanced immunogenicity in their clinical studies. While there may be exceptions, in general, studies which include an adjuvanted arm(s) to evaluate dose sparing and enhanced immunogenicity may be conducted concurrently in the adult and pediatric age groups in order to have timely immunogenicity results to guide pediatric dose recommendations."
The same document indicates that vaccines containing the un-approved adjuvants will be given to 100 children 6 months to 3 years old, 100 children 3 years old to 8 years, 100 individuals 18 to 64 years old and 100 individuals 65 and older in each of the multiple clinical trials. In addition, 700 individuals in each trial will be given non-adjuvanted vaccine.
Since the government has recruited 12,000 paid "volunteers" for the trials, it would be possible that as many as 10 trials could be conducted simultaneously.
Oddly, 60% of the world's confirmed cases have occurred in people age 18 or younger, yet this age group (between 8 and 18) have been excluded from the clinical trials, with the results for this age group to be extrapolated from the other study data.
Given the fact the U.S. currently owns 268 million doses of the non-approved, non FDA tested adjuvant, the vaccines that contain this novel chemical will likely be found to be completely safe in these industry run trials. Unfortunately, the effects on the soldiers that experienced injury sometimes appeared long after the planned duration of the current trials.
*$5.6 billion in funding occurred in 2006 alone. The $5.6 billion spent for vaccine development in 2006 is 100 times the $515 million the FDA spent in 2006 for all FDA activity related to drug safety and efficacy for the entire drug industry including: pre and post approval testing, approval and regulation of over-the-counter and prescription drugs, biological therapeutics and generic drugs and personal care products such as fluoride toothpaste, antiperspirants, dandruff shampoos and sunscreens, monitor the more than 10,000 drugs on the market to be sure they continue to meet the highest standards, monitor TV, radio, and print drug ads to ensure they are truthful and balanced and provide health professionals and consumers information to use drugs appropriately and safely.


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Colbert not joking about IRS rules
Stephen Colbert wants to talk to the IRS.
The comedian and host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" sent a letter to the agency on Friday, saying he wanted to discuss proposed changes regarding tax-exempt organizations by giving testimony at a public hearing.
Story Continued Below
The Obama administration proposed new rules last year that would limit the political activities of tax-exempt organizations. Friday was the deadline to submit comments on the rules change.
The comedian, who gained headlines for creating his own super PAC ahead of the 2012 elections to satirically highlight campaign finance laws, said the proposed rule changes "raise serious constitutional and legal issues" for his own organization "and other entities like it, which seek to make America a better place."
"I request the opportunity to discuss these issues in detail through oral testimony at a public hearing related to the [p]roposed [r]egulations," Colbert wrote.


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|Authored By: Polly Pitchford, Full Spectrum Health
|A great sandwich stuffing or salad topper.
|Diet Types: Macrobiotic, Vegetarian, Vegan
|Serves: 2
|Cooking Time: Under 15 minutes
|Cut Tempeh into small diced pieces. Steam for 5 minutes and let cool in a bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix until well combined. Chill until ready to serve.
|Printable Version
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Actor Liam Neeson says he's upset at Mayor de Blasio for wanting to shut down the city's horse-drawn carriage industry.
Neeson complained during an appearance on "The Daily Show" this week that critics have put out false information about how the horses are treated. He says drivers treat the horses like their own children.
De Blasio has declared his intention to shut down the industry, saying it's inhumane to keep horses in modern-day Manhattan. The mayor says he wants to replace them with electric cars.
Neeson says most New Yorkers want to keep the horses and de Blasio "is supposed to be representing the New York people."
Carriage drivers say shutting the stables would eliminate a rare outlet for surplus horses, meaning they'll be sent to the slaughterhouse faster.


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The Wilson American Legion Post 13 baseball team just needed for things to go its way.
WILSON � The Wilson American Legion Post 13 baseball team just needed for things to go its way.
In the third inning of Wednesday night�s Area I East Division matchup with first-place Kinston Post 43 it happened. Wilson turned in a rare triple play and then scored the first three of six unearned runs on the night en route to a 7-1 victory inside Fleming Stadium.
In the top of the inning, Kinston�s Will Deters singled and Wes Melvin walked against Wilson starting pitcher Cole Dudley.
Kinston coach Ronnie Battle called for the hit-and-run and Grant Tyndall lined the first pitch he saw directly at Post 13 first baseman Robbie Stokely. The 6-foot-9 Wilson Greenfield graduate snagged the hot shot, touched first base and then threw over to shortstop Zac Layne to complete the triple play.
�That�s the first one I remember us getting in my time here,� veteran Wilson coach Rusty Dail said. �It came at a perfect time.�
Stokely looked a bit stunned seconds after the play.
�First one I�ve ever been involved with,� he said. �He just hit a line drive straight to me. Any other time, I never would have made that play, but they had the hit and run on. For a second though, I thought I was going to throw it away.�
Post 13 was a loser of five of its last six games coming in, including three in a row, and improved to 4-10 overall and 3-7 in Division play. Kinston, which swept Wayne County Tuesday night, had its four-game winning streak snapped and dropped to 8-4 overall and 5-2 in the East.
Rocky Mount Post 58 (3-5, 3-1), which was idle on Wednesday, now sits alone in first.
After leaving two runners on base in each of the first two innings, Post 13 benefited from the first two of five Post 43 errors.
With one out, Layne singled to right. Designated Tony Alaffita tapped back to pitcher Ben Brann, but the Barton College signee�s throw was wild allowing Layne to score and Alaffita to make it to second.
Stokely popped out for out No. 2, but Casey Flora singled to left and stole second, bringing up center fielder Cameron Mitchell.
Mitchell hit a grounder to third, but the ball went between Dylan Puchalski�s legs to score two runs for a 3-0 Wilson advantage.
�If we make a play there, we�re not in a hole,� Battle said. �Instead, they get three unearned runs and we�re having to attempt to battle out of one.�
Dudley and Brann settled in for the next few innings. Neither pitcher was dominant, with Dudley eventually throwing 99 pitches in 5 1/3 innings and Brann tossing 102 in 5 2/3, but each was just crafty enough.
In the top of the sixth, Dudley walked Sammy West to lead off. After an out, Puchalski singled to left and Garrett Holland walked to load the bases.
Beddingfield's Casey Flora moved from left field to the mound to try and stop the Kinston rally.
On Flora�s second pitch, Kinston designated hitter Matt Hinson singled to center to score West and make it 3-1.
Flora settled down, getting the final two outs on a fly out and fielder�s choice.
Post 43 never seriously threatened again.
Dudley (1-2) got the win, giving up just the one run on four hits. He walked five and struck out two. Flora earned the save, going 3 2/3 innings. He allowed three hits and struck out four.
�My pitch count was up there,� Dudley said. �But I had my curveball working. I just tried to throw it as much as I could.
�When I came out, I knew Casey Flora would get the job done. He came in and got out of the jam and then finished it. Beddingfield teamwork right there.�
Wilson answered in the bottom of the frame. After reliever Wyatt Janning got the first two batters out, third baseman Tyler Poythress reached on a walk, stole second, went to third on a passed ball and then scored on a wild pitch.
�We wanted to be aggressive, really put the pressure on them,� Dail said. �We were hitting the ball well, not striking out a lot. Just getting it in play and trying to make things happen.�
Right fielder William Cunningham walked and went to second on Puchalski�s second error on a grounder by Layne as the inning was extended.
Catcher Nick Cole singled to left to score Cunningham. Stokely then hit a lazy fly ball to deep center field that was dropped, bringing home Layne to make it 6-1. On the play, Cole was thrown out at the plate, ending the inning.
Post 13�s final run came in the seventh. Flora singled to center. Marshall bunted for a single, putting runners on the corners. Left fielder Braxton Lamm then sacrificed, but no one covered first, loading up the bases.
Second baseman Marques Taylor�s sacrifice fly plated Flora to end the scoring.
Post 13 will take on Ahoskie twice this weekend, hosting Post 102 on Saturday at 7 p.m. and traveling to Hertford County High on Sunday at 6.
Kinston will travel to Windsor Post 37 tonight.
Post 43 000 001 000�1 7 5
Post 13 003 003 10x�7 9 2
Brann, Janning (6) and Hamilton; Dudley, Flora (6) and Cole. W�Dudley. L�Brann. Sv�Flora.


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Elegant enamel metalwork featuring a butterfly and peony. All pierced earrings come with new backs.
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All vintage and retro jewels are pre-loved with their own one-of-a-kind histories. New Mermaid collects unique gems in excellent condition, but small signs of past-ownership may be present. These little elements are what make vintage jewelry so delightful, exclusive, and worth collecting. All jewelry is professionally cleaned, and any restorations or repairs will be specially noted.
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text: MVIMG_20190625_180718 Twyla Campbell June 25, 2019 Leave a comment Author: Twyla CampbellWorld-wide wanderer, CBC Edmonton AM Restaurant Reviewer, Member of Edmonton's Slow Food convivium, oenophile, epicurean explorer and a freelance writer whose works have appeared in several magazines and newspapers including More, Above & Beyond, Avenue (Edmonton), Up Here, Northern Flyer, Opulence, City Palate, the Edible Prairie Journal, The Edmonton Journal, Slow Food Canada, Lifestyle Alberta, and on Slow Food Edmonton's website. Grant MacEwan University (Professional Writing Program) Bachelor of Applied Communications Degree (in progress). I'm a Tweeter @wanderwoman10


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The Parkside Inn at Incline is a cozy 38-room mountain lodge located on the beautiful north shore of Lake Tahoe. Nestled in the forest, the hotel is a perfect retreat to visit during all four seasons, with ski vacation packages offered in the winter and private lake beach access in the summer (access fee required for beach).
Whether you're looking for a family vacation, a quiet mountain & lake retreat, ski vacation, honeymoon or pure rest & relaxation at our hotel; we are always "inn" season. Come and visit the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe and also enjoy our indoor pool and sauna. Read more


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Before suffering forearm strain, newcomer had gone through spring without issue
On the mound and off, Josh Johnson poses a striking presence. At 6-feet-7, he stands taller than anyone in the Padres' camp. By virtue of his talent and two All-Star berths, his profile, too, is high. And yet ...
"He's very low-key, almost like you wouldn't know he's there," said fellow Las Vegas-area resident Donn Roach. "I think that speaks a lot to his character."
Less than 24 hours after the Padres announced he would miss at least a month with a forearm strain, Johnson stood in front of his locker Sunday morning. His spirit was high, all things considered.
The body, once again, has proven vulnerable.
"It was crazy. I don't know how to explain it," Johnson said, referring to the injury manifested after his last start, on Tuesday. Following an MRI, he has been diagnosed with soreness in the flexor pronator muscles of his right forearm. He will not throw for 10 to 14 days, after which he will be re-evaluated.
"I didn't feel anything on the inside (of my elbow) during the start," Johnson said. "I wake up the next day and it's a little sore, but the swelling is the thing that really jumped out at me. ... I don't know if it was just the volume (of throwing), don't know what it was, but it was definitely a surprise."
Johnson, who underwent surgery Oct. 1 to remove bone spurs from his elbow, had gone through this spring without issue. He had spoken of putting his 2013 season in Toronto - plagued, first, by triceps inflammation and, later, by a forearm strain - behind him. He had regained full extension in his throwing motion and command of his fastball.
A dreaded feeling has interrupted his progress.
"You expect to have some soreness here and there, but I wasn't even having soreness at all," Johnson said. "Then, all of a sudden, it pops up like that."
"It's kind of a huge setback. Everything was moving on the right path."
On the DL: 2013
Josh Johnson had a career-worst season last year in Toronto. Two stints on the disabled list highlighted his troubles:
Right triceps inflammation | April 29 - June 3
Right forearm strain | August 13 - end of season
He expressed hope that he may not remain untracked for long. The soreness has arisen in the same area as in 2013, that injury prematurely ending his season in August, but Johnson said the swelling had subsided, and that he had already sensed slight improvement.
"It feels sort of similar but not as bad," he said. "Last year, it felt like I was extremely sore everywhere.
"I'm feeling better each day. That's the No. 1 key, to get back as soon as possible, make sure it's 100 percent."
In Johnson's stead, Eric Stults will likely move to No. 4 in the rotation. The Padres, manager Bud Black indicated Sunday, will eventually settle on either left-hander Robbie Erlin or top prospect Matt Wisler as a fifth starter, which they won't need until April 8.
There are no imminent plans to go outside of the organization for help. Since the beginning of the year, the Padres have lost three arms that were projected to contribute, at one point or another during the major league season: Cory Luebke, Joe Wieland and, now, Johnson.
Beyond Erlin and Wisler, San Diego's remaining young depth is led by Donn Roach, Jesse Hahn and Burch Smith. Former top prospect Casey Kelly is nearing his return from Tommy John surgery.
"I think we'll probably spend a little more time with our scouts, checking around," said Padres General Manager Josh Byrnes, "but our first instinct is to stay internal."
Byrnes acknowledged that Johnson's one-year contract was structured, in part, to guard against injury risk. Johnson will earn $8 million this season. Should he make fewer than seven starts, the deal will include a team option for $4 million.
"It's still a pretty extreme scenario that he would miss that many starts," Byrnes said.


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I've posted this on another part of this forum as well but more people are viewing in here.
I know most about them but the one thing I can't work out is, how do you put one Arrays values into another?
Something about nested for loops? Not sure how to do them though...?
I basically need to do this:
Write a public instance method called writeLetter() which takes a single argument
of type char called aCharacter and returns no result. The method should first invoke
the getLetter() method on the LEDFont class with aCharacter as its argument. As
stated earlier, getLetter() returns a two-dimensional array of type boolean which
has has CONSTANT_ONE rows and CONSTANT_TWO columns,
representing the LED settings for aCharacter. The array should be assigned to an
appropriately declared local variable called letter. The method should then copy the
boolean values from letter into matrix starting at the first row and column,
overwriting existing values.
>>>Little back ground about this,
LEDFont is purely just used for its "getLetter" method, so I need to invoke that method and it will then return a two dimensional boolean Array.
matrix is a 2D boolean Array which outputs a display, its values make up 5 rows and 60 columns so at this stage them elements are false and are represented by a '.' but if any elements are true then that true element will be represented by a 'O' .
So basically the 2D boolean Array that is returned (letter), its values and elements need to go into 'matrix' so that it can output what ever the user entered for aCharacter.
I hope all this makes sense!


text: DarianBlood 0 Posted October 5, 2011 Seriously, 5km is a long way to travel, in an emergency people are going to need to get around fast so how do they do it? In my Campaign i am thinking of saying Imperial Ships have a Gondola track (something like aboard the Ishimura in Dead Space) as well as lifts between levels. One of my players is a bit doubful of this, saying that Imperial technology is just too clunky for something like that. My counter argument is clunky or not, a ship that size needs a transit system to be viable. Additionally my group's ship has a Tenebro maze so i'll probably add enormous bulkhead doors that close around the track in the event of lockdown (but can be bypassed by the captain if needs be). This sound good? any comments or suggestions? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Cut It Up has a new challenge starting today!!!
Please click on the link to join in the fun, I can't wait to see what you create!!!
The theme for the new challenge is
Here is my card, I hope you like it!!!
Our sponsor for the new challenge is Newton's Nook Designs, click on the link to check out all the fun crafty items!!!


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An NHANES II dataset for analysis will typically include data from at least two data files. You will need to keep and merge data to include variables from different data files.
Task 1: Keep NHANES II Data
NHANES II data files were released by their collection method or component. Many of these are very large data files with many variables. Most analysts will only need a few selected variables. You will likely wish to keep only those variables when you create your analytic dataset. This process uses a SAS option statement called keep.
- Key Concepts about Keeping Data in NHANES II
- How to Keep Data in NHANES II
- Download Sample Code and Dataset
Task 2: Merge NHANES II Data
The NHANES II data files are organized by collection method or component, such as Physician's Examination or Hematology and Biochemistry. Joining the components of the data files uses a SAS statement called merge.
Contact Us:
- National Center for Health Statistics
3311 Toledo Rd
Hyattsville, MD 20782
- 1 (800) 232-4636
- email@example.com


text:
Bee-Friendly Plants
Bees win the gold medal when it comes to pollinating plants and flowers. They are the most efficient pollinators we know and love, and we need to do our part to create a supportive environment for them. Shop our extensive collection of bee-friendly plants to keep these important pollinators happy in your garden all season long.
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SPILLED WINE® WeigelaSummer Color, Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds, Loves the Sun


text:
A videogame that truly takes the p*ss
Is that really what they meant by Wii?
Combine videogames, beer and a urinal, and what do you get? Well, aside from a vile smell, you get Place to Pee – an interactive gaming unit 'operated' by the flow of a certain warm, yellow liquid.
Can't see the video? Download Flash Player from Adobe.com
No we're not taking the p*ss, Place to Pee has been developed by Werner Dupont, a software developer, and Bart Geraets, an electrical engineer, both from Belgium, and is reportedly taking the country by storm.
Bursting gamers step into the booths, which have small screens positioned in front of each gamer. Each… ahem… 'player' then lets rip and tries to aim squarely onto pressure-sensitive pads, Reuters reports.
Place to Pee: micturate to recreate
Several games are available, including Pee to Ski and Space Invaders. Gamers simply point the flow at either the left or right-hand pad to control the on-screen action. Politically minded mictirationalists can even vote between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton by passing water on the appropriate pad.
The Belgians previously installed a Place to Pee unit at GamePower Expo in Belgium last year, but p*ssed-off Belgian police banned it on the grounds of indecency.
That won't be enough to stop the pair's gaming unit from flowing elsewhere though, because Place to Pee now has an official website and can be rented out too.
Sponsored: How to Process, Wrangle, Analyze and Visualize your Data with Three Complementary Tools


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It has come to my attention that a number of members of our forum are lowering their standards to an unacceptable level.
It is NOT OK to indulge in name calling, personal attacks (even by innuendo) or other childish, puerile behavior on our forum. I am tired of our moderators having to constantly delete posts and interrupt threads to curb bad behavior on the forums. We are volunteers. We HOPE that users on this forum can conduct themselves in a friendly, professional (when required) manner.
NO warnings will be given to members before banning. If you can't grow up and post responsibly, I suggest you leave before you get shown the door .
Dave Smith.
Forum Administrator.


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The British National Team cannot find insurance for Luol Deng. Luol just inked a six-year deal with the Chicago Bulls that could pay him up to $80 million.
The issue is that playing in Great Britain's qualifying games for the 2009 European Championship creates a conflict of interest.
The Bulls have paid him said amount of money, what if the man gets hurt? Bulls officials are still weary of injury off the somewhat-recent Jay Williams situation. It would behoove them to proceed with caution. Understandably, they have included this clause in their contract.
There is a school of thought that denigrates Luol. He didn't make playing for Britain a priority. What gives?
Keep in mind that he's of Sudanese decent and currently lives in the States. The British team was ecstatic when he volunteered to play and maybe shouldn't except a rabid nationalism from him.
I don't think anyone would accuse this man of being overly selfish. He's worked hard to get to this point so why not get paid?
Is it simply a matter of nationalism versus income?
Photo credit: Slam Dunk Central


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Northeast Regional Education Cooperative (NEREC)
Character Education Initiative
Contact Information:
Gloria Ortega-Romero, Project Director
Northeast Regional Education Cooperative # 4
P.O. Box 927
Las Vegas, NM 87701
Web site: http://www.rec4.com/ACHIEVE.htm
Grant Period: 2006-2010
Amount Requested: $1,998,864 for a four-year project
Program Description
The goal of Project ACHIEVE is to build capacity to implement and sustain evidence-based models for character education in order to improve behavioral and academic outcomes for students. The Northeast Regional Education Cooperative Character Education Initiative will include school improvement approaches, a Positive Behavior Self-Management System (PBSS) component and the social learning Stop and Think Social Skills Program. This social learning curriculum involves five components: teaching, modeling, role-playing, student performance feedback and applying the skill. The project will use a three-tiered model for academic and counseling support systems that includes universal, selective and indicated prevention; counseling; and universal and targeted interventions. Project staff will provide parent-effectiveness and family-strengthening services. NEREC's initiative will serve approximately 2,500 predominately Hispanic K-5 elementary school students and 200 teachers from 18 elementary schools in six districts in rural New Mexico.
Goals and Objectives
- To promote parent engagement
- To increase academic achievement
- To reduce disciplinary infractions
- To increase protective factors and reduce risk factors
Evaluation Design
This project will conduct a single study, pre-post design. NEREC's evaluation methods will employ objective measures that will yield qualitative and quantitative data to be used formatively to drive continuous improvement and for summative purposes to determine overall effectiveness. The School Wide Information System (SWIS) will provide detailed information on discipline referrals. The Individual Protective Factor Index (IPFI) will be used to measure risk and resiliency factors among students across multiple domains. The University of Oregon's School Safety Survey will measure risk and protective factors in the school environment.


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Just seven days left till Christmas and I can't wait! I'm actually not excited for the presents this year, I'm more looking forward to the actual day. Up where I live there is already a lot of snow on the ground and it's -4 degrees. The pine trees smell incredible, and Jack Frost is nipping at my nose. You can also smell the scent of hardwood burning in the wood stoves off in the distance. All of these things makes the feeling of Christmas feel more present and real. I want to wake up and have a cup of hot coco as I snuggle up on the couch to watch my family open presents. It may sound like a perfect setting, but the reality is; that is NOT what I'm going to do on Christmas morning. Instead I'm gonna wake up because someone wakes me up, not because I'm ready to get up. I will then be pushed into the parlor or living room and sit on the floor as I wait for someone to pass out the presents. It will probably be my fourteen year old brother since that is how it's always done. Then I will sit there and watch my ten year old sister get thirty gifts while my name only gets called three, maybe four times. Once I faintly smile and say Merry Christmas to all, I will go lay back down and watch something on T.V as I wait for Christmas dinner to be made. Now that you know how I will most likely spend my Christmas day, don't you just miss being ten? Anyways, here is "how to draw a Christmas heart", I figured it's better to love on this, and everyday, then to wallow within your own self with hostility and anguish. Have a happy holiday all, and be sure to remember that Christmas isn't about getting, its about giving and being with those you love.
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


text:
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Emergency window replacements don't have to be stressful or expensive. Glass Doctor® professionals are certified to replace and install any type of glass—even custom work—day or night. If you have a broken window, call our 24-hour mobile repair unit for an emergency window replacement today.
Same-Day Window Service, 24/7
Emergencies often happen at the most inconvenient times. That's why our mobile repair unit provides emergency window replacement services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even on weekends and holidays.
Mobile Repair Unit for Your Residence
If your home's windows need after-hour replacement services, call our mobile repair unit at 855-603-1919 to reach our 24-hour glass professionals.
- Our team will come to your home and inspect the damage to your window.
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While Glass Doctor prides itself on offering a fast and thorough response for your emergency window replacement, we also offer a suite of customized solutions to ensure that your windows will be exceptional for years to come.
Glass Doctor offers high quality materials and a team of experts to ensure your new windows are the right fit, both for short-term fixes and long-term investment.
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FBI: https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/propert...
Scientific American: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/why-do-trees-topple-in-a...


text: Legend Since T shirts Home / Birthday T-Shirts / Legend Since T shirts / 70th Birthday T-shirt Legend Since 1949 Top Shoebob 70th Birthday T-shirt Legend Since 1949 Top Shoebob 70th Birthday T-shirt Legend Since 1949 Top Shoebob £12.95 Stock Status: In Stock Colour: Black Blue Red Size: Large Medium Small XLarge XXLarge Add to your Wish List Information Specifications Reviews LEGEND SINCE 1949 t shirt Premium Heavy Cotton All sizes: S M L XL XXL - See size guide below Brand New, Superb Quality and Long Lasting. Your t shirt will be Quality Heavy Cotton T-Shirt 185/195 gsm Colours 175/185 gsm White Grey, 97% cotton, 3% polyester Printed using Premium Professional Vinyl and Superb Premium long lasting We are a UK Business and your t shirt will be printed in the UK by a Non-sweatshop company, that's us Shoebob. Item is 100% unofficial and not affiliated with any company,brand,person or film The Artwork is made using our own unique artwork. Wording and names are for descriptive purpose only. MPN: ShoebobLS17769 Brand: Shoebob Condition: New Weight: 0.25kg Not yet reviewed Write an online review and share your thoughts with other shoppers! Be the first to review this product


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SARATOGA SPRINGS - If your comedy of choice is silly, then you will enjoy "The 39 Steps" playing weekends at Home Made Theater in Saratoga Springs. It is difficult to think a theater production sillier than this one. Indeed, the work seems to be two-hour extended version of the television show Saturday Night Live. Though the humor is often forced, the staging is clever and the physical comedy is impressive. The performances are always energetic. For sure, even the most cerebrally inclined will find something in the production to laugh about. The performances are antic, the comedy is broad and the performers exhaust themselves in the spirit of slapstick comedy. You have to look for it but it even includes some sly humor. However, the problem with a show that relies exclusively on silly is unless you are constantly brilliant and inventive the comedy can eventually wear thin. At Home Made, thin happens quickly rather than eventually. The plot of "The 39 Steps" is remarkably true to the Alfred Hitchcock film in which loner Richard Hannay is thrust into a German espionage plot in pre-World War II Britain. Accused of a murder he didn't commit, he is dogged by both the police and the members of the spy ring. Hannay is in constant danger as he tries to avoid arrest while preventing war secrets from leaving the country. Director Dianne O'Neill Fuller makes the decision to almost disregard the tensions of the plot and play it all as a spoof. This means the audience becomes less involved with the situation and totally dependent on the antics of the performers for fun. It's a burden, as the comedy becomes forced and repetitious. The conceit of the script is that except for Hannay all the characters in the film are played by three people. The bulk of them are portrayed by Adam Edstrom and Ben Katagiri who often steal the show with their broad physical comedy and quick changes. But, because there is no value placed on plot or character they create buffoons who all seem the same. Edstrom and Katagiri are a brilliant vaudeville team but eventually their frenzied performances become wearing. Hurt most by lack of plot is Conrad Browne Lorcher who plays Hannay. For a spoof to be effective it needs at least one character who is playing the situation for real. That should be Hannay. Because Lorcher doesn't find the desperation in the situation, it lowers the stakes and distances the audience from his plight. Playing three women who assist Hannay is Molly McGrath, who also takes a broad path to laughs as she relies on caricature to create types. Her exaggerated accents designed for comic effect are at times difficult to understand hurting the humor in some of her more droll comments. Thanks to matronly costumes and horrid wigs any sexual tension between her and Hannay is as unbelievable. "The 39 Steps" is one-note comedy, but if you like that note you will have a good time at this Home Made Theater production that runs through Feb. 24. "The 39 Steps" at Home Made Theatre, Spa Little Theater in Saratoga State Park. Though Feb. 24. Performances 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. 587-4427,www.homemadetheater.org
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I'm going to be away cycling in France for 3 weeks, until 30th June. If anything goes wrong with the forum while I'm away, please contact Zee.
Play nice!
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What else? Since joining (30/01/06) this has been the most civilised internet forum it's been my pleasure to be part of....Rob Hall wrote:Play nice!
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