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Blanket with Footballs, Dog Blanket, Cat Bedding, Crate Liner, Size 39x29
Looking for the perfect gift for a little boy football birthday party or a sports themed baby blanket? If so, this lightweight flannel football blanket with a light baby blue thread is sure to win the heart of anyone who loves football. Blankets have so many uses, weather they for kids or pets, or for use in a stroller or a couch through. Also use in your dog's bed to keep him/her warm on a cool or cold night, their crate/kennel, car, couch or as a doggie bed.
Double Top-stitching in light Blue thread surrounds the the top and back of this blanket for added durability and gives it a wonderful decorative design.
Blanket size is 39" x 29".
TOP - Flannel
BOTTOM - Craft Sherpa, White
Machine washable. Wash on a cold or warm water setting on a delicate cycle. Tumble dry on low heat.
Shop All Blankets: http://etsy.me/2PAxWoT
Shop Christmas Blankets: http://etsy.me/2JD6OA9
Comfy Pet Pads Home - Click here: http://etsy.me/2RylumP
Double Top-stitching in light Blue thread surrounds the the top and back of this blanket for added durability and gives it a wonderful decorative design.
Blanket size is 39" x 29".
TOP - Flannel
BOTTOM - Craft Sherpa, White
Machine washable. Wash on a cold or warm water setting on a delicate cycle. Tumble dry on low heat.
Shop All Blankets: http://etsy.me/2PAxWoT
Shop Christmas Blankets: http://etsy.me/2JD6OA9
Comfy Pet Pads Home - Click here: http://etsy.me/2RylumP
Shipping Costs
|Ship To
|With another Item
|United States
|Policies Payment
Etsy keeps your payment information secure. Sellers don't receive your credit card information.
- Visa
- MasterCard
- American Express
- Discover
- PayPal
- Apple Pay
- SOFORT Bank Transfer
- iDEAL
- Etsy Gift Card
|Policies Shipping
The time I need to prepare an order for shipping varies. For details, see individual items.
North America: 1 - 3 business days
I'll do my best to meet these shipping estimates, but cannot guarantee them. Actual delivery time will depend on the shipping method you choose.
Buyers are responsible for any customs or duties fees that may apply. Sellers aren't responsible for delays due to customs
|Policies Refunds
Just contact me within: 3 days of delivery
Ship returns back to me within: 7 days of delivery
Request a cancellation within: 1 hour of purchase
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
- Custom or personalized orders
Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs.
If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.
Please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
|Additional Info
|- This Privacy Policy describes how and when I collect, use, and share information when you purchase an item from me, contact me, or otherwise use my services through Etsy.com or its related sites and services.
This Privacy Policy does not apply to the practices of third parties that I do not own or control, including Etsy or any third party services you access through Etsy. You can reference the Etsy Privacy Policy to learn more about its privacy practices.
Information I Collect:
To fulfil your order, you must provide me with certain information (which you authorised Etsy to provide to me),
such as your name, email address, postal address, payment information, and the details of the product that you're ordering. You may also choose to provide me with additional personal information (for a custom order of monogramming, for example), if you contact me directly.
Why I Need Your Information and How I Use It:
I rely on a number of legal bases to collect, use, and share your information, including:
-As needed to provide my services, such as when I use your information to fulfil your order, to settle disputes, or to
provide customer support;
- When you have provided your affirmative consent, which you may revoke at any time, such as by signing up for my mailing list;
- If necessary to comply with a legal obligation or court order or in connection with a legal claim, such as retaining information about your purchases if required by tax law; and
-As necessary for the purpose of my legitimate interests, if those legitimate interests are not overridden by your rights or interests, such as 1) providing and improving my services. I use your information to provide the services you requested and in my legitimate interest to improve my services; and 2) Compliance with the Etsy Seller Policy and Terms of Use. I use your information as necessary to comply with my obligations under the Etsy Seller Policy and Terms of Use.
Information Sharing and Disclosure:
Information about my customers is important to my business. I share your personal information for very limited reasons and in limited circumstances, as follows:
- Etsy: I share information with Etsy as necessary to provide you my services and comply with my obligations under both the Etsy Seller Policy and Etsy Terms of Use.
- Service providers: I engage certain trusted third parties to perform functions and provide services to my shop, such as delivery companies i.e. USPS. I will share your personal information with these third parties, but only to the extent necessary to perform these services i.e. your postal address.
- Business transfers: If I sell or merge my business, I may disclose your information as part of that transaction, only
to the extent permitted by law.
- Compliance with laws: I may collect, use, retain, and share your information if I have a good faith belief that it is
reasonably necessary to: (a) respond to legal process or to government requests; (b) enforce my agreements, terms
and policies; (c) prevent, investigate, and address fraud and other illegal activity, security, or technical issues; or
(d) protect the rights, property, and safety of my customers, or others.
Data Retention:
I retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to provide you with my services and as described in my Privacy Policy. However, I may also be required to retain this information to comply with my legal and regulatory obligations, to resolve disputes, and to enforce my agreements. I generally keep your data for the following time periods: 5 years.
Your Rights:
If you reside in certain territories, including the EU, you have a number of rights in relation to your personal information. While some of these rights apply generally, certain rights apply only in certain limited cases. I describe these rights below:
- Access: You may have the right to access and receive a copy of the personal information I hold about you by contacting me using the contact information below.
- Change, restrict, delete: You may also have rights to change, restrict my use of, or delete your personal information. Absent exceptional circumstances (like where I am required to store data for legal reasons) I will generally delete your personal information upon request.
- Object: You can object to (i) my processing of some of your information based on my legitimate interests and (ii)
receiving marketing messages from me after providing your express consent to receive them. In such cases, I will
delete your personal information unless I have compelling and legitimate grounds to continue using that information or if it is needed for legal reasons.
- Complain: If you reside in the EU and wish to raise a concern about my use of your information (and without prejudice to any other rights you may have), you have the right to do so with your local data protection authority.
How to Contact Me:
For purposes of EU data protection law, I, Jeannie Abbiati, am the data controller of your personal information. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact me at: comfypetpads [!at] icloud.com
Alternately, you may mail me at:
Jeannie Abbiati
P.O. Box 635
Conifer, CO 80433
Do you combine shipping? Yes. Even though all my items are set for Free Shipping (included), I will adjust your order after shipping for any overages.
PRIORITY shipping - Orders over 16 ounces will be shipped Priority USPS mail.
FIRST CLASS shipping - Orders under 16 ounces will be shipped First Class USPS mail.
RUSH shipping - A completely separate fee that only covers shipping, always must be paid by the customer.
INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: I do accept International orders. Please send me a message and I can set that up for you.
- REJECTED/RETURNED to sender parcels - If your items is rejected/returned without prior approval, the the shipping fee will not be refunded. Possibly charge a restocking fee of 25%.
If your order is a CUSTOM Order and/or Made-to-Order, changes in fleece pattern are not possible once production has begun. NOTE: I start production generally within 24-48 hours.
Custom Orders need to be paid in full prior work being started, no exceptions.
Custom orders are non-refundable as custom orders are made specifically to meet your and your pet's needs.
If you have any questions regarding a custom order, please do not hesitate to contact me.
All Pet Pads Pads and Blankets are machine washable and machine dry-able. Wash on cold/warm water and dry on low/medium heat only.
Snuggle Sacks - Wash on cold water and dry on delicate heat.
All Comfy Pet Pads are made using fleece (anti-pill fleece and/or blizzard fleece). All Pads are made with 100% thermal bonded rolled polyester batting. Small & Medium pads have a 20oz loft batting and Large/XL pads have a 30oz loft batting.
All Comfy Pet Pads™ are customized with an inside border using grosgrain ribbon which compliments the pattern. This not only gives the pad more durability, it creates a finished look.
Rush orders - Extra fee for fast processing, moving to the front of the que? It will be normal processing time, unless the upgrade for rush processing is paid.


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The Cloud is Underground (and at the Bottom of the Ocean)
Here's an important new book for anyone who surfs the Web: Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Internet (Harper Collins, 2012) by
geographer/journalist Andrew Blum. It's important because Andrew describes in fascinating detail the physical, earthbound structure of the Net, reminding us that though "the Cloud" may comprise the pulses of light produced by powerful lasers, the ganglion of fiber-optic cables carrying that light are crowded together in predominantly unmarked buildings, rooms, and vaults all around us, and in the ocean too. It is a "tangled web," to be sure, with elements of secrecy, but Andrew deftly unravels the key developments, from the first non-academic hub known as MAE-East (Metropolitan Area Exchange) in Tysons Corner, Virginia near Washington, D. C. to Facebook's huge new data center in Prineville, Oregon.
I had breakfast with Andrew recently and he told me that a high point of his journey was seeing the cables inside Fiber Vault 1 on the Equinix campus in Ashburn, Virginia. In the book he writes that this was among the biggest places "where Internet networks connect… the nexus of nexus. Hot and still. I could smell it: it smelled like dirt." But then he realized there were many such vaults — that the Internet was there and everywhere.
He toured the London Internet Exchange where a refrigerator-sized machine with blinking lights carried 300 gigabits of data per second (300 billion!); followed a fiber-optic cable-laying crew under the streets of Manhattan; and visited places where undersea fiber-optic cables come ashore, as at Porthcurno on England's Cornwall coast.
The book explains a complex world that is hidden in plain sight — a true parallel universe. Indeed, reading Andrew's book is like dipping into a somewhat more technical Harry Potter sequel where you find yourself on a real Diagon Alley face to face with a Fiber Mux Magnum Machine (it changes signals for a router). Pressing "Enter" will never be the same.
An article adapted from Andrew's book appears in Fortune, with the
addition of these fascinating maps charting the Internet highways across the globe. The one below shows average Internet speeds and an important hub like the exchange building at 60 Hudson Street in Manhattan (images by
Nicolas Rapp; Data Geotel Communications, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, courtesy Fortune magazine).
Francois Levy and BIM
Talk of data centers and server farms makes me think of architect Francois Levy's cool Barn Plan 450-2, which he describes as "an efficient modern
agrarian home." It's suitable for a vacation or weekend house, or as a secondary structure. Barn doors on two sides of the kitchen-living area make it possible to
turn this space into an outdoor room in good weather. There's a loft above the bedroom. The plan is part of the Signature Studio Collection. Francois Levy teaches at the University of Texas at Austin and his new book BIM in Small-Scale Sustainable Design (Wiley 2012) explains how to use digital models
for the design and documentation of houses and other buildings. BIM stands for building information modeling — with tools like ArchiCAD. Using case studies, he explains how these tools make it easier to produce sustainable architecture. These may be the machines that designed the vaults that hold the cables that hold the Internet — sounds like we're playing that memory game about packing grandmother's trunk.

subset: commoncrawl


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Pearl Therapeutics Successfully Completes Phase 2 Program; Identifies Optimal Dose of PT003 and its Components for Phase 3
- Extends Prior Dose-Ranging Evidence to Very Low Doses of PT003; Prepares for Phase 3 -
By Pearl Therapeutics Inc.
Published: Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012 - 4:10 am
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 24, 2012 -- -- Pearl Therapeutics Inc. today announced the completion of the Company's randomized, double-blind, dose-ranging Phase 2b trial of PT003, Pearl's lead investigational inhaled combination bronchodilator product for the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. This study assessed five BID doses of PT003, in which formoterol fumarate (FF) was co-formulated with five descending doses of glycopyrrolate (GP) and administered via metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Multiple doses of PT003 were shown to provide superior bronchodilation compared to open-label tiotropium and monotherapy components, GP MDI (PT001) and FF MDI (PT005). Based on these dose-ranging results and the previously identified minimally effective doses of GP MDI and FF MDI, Pearl has selected an optimal dose of PT003 for testing in Phase 3. Importantly, this study also demonstrated the benefit of combining GP and FF in the fixed-dose combination, PT003, providing supportive evidence for the U.S. regulatory requirement known as the "combination rule."
"The Phase 2 program we concluded with this study is quite comprehensive, testing PT003 and its monotherapy components in over 1,000 patients," commented Colin Reisner, chief medical officer and executive vice president of clinical development for Pearl Therapeutics. "In this study we evaluated a range of GP doses 60-fold lower than those previously tested in combination with FF. With the exception of the lowest dose of PT003, all doses of the combination provided study participants with superior bronchodilation compared to the current standard treatment. With the completion of this tenth study in an ambitious five-year program, we believe our Phase 2 evidence is more extensive than that provided by others in this space, and prepares us well for the rigor of testing a combination product in Phase 3."
"Our careful characterization of GP and FF dose-response curves, both in combination and as individual agents, combined with our identification of appropriate dosing regimens and the unprecedented assessment of GP at nanogram dose levels, gives us great confidence in our PT003 plans. We are moving forward with preparations for our end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA later this year and initiation of Phase 3 in 2013," added Chuck Bramlage, chief executive officer for Pearl Therapeutics. "Further, from a corporate strategy point of view, I believe the exacting precision and speed with which our product development team approached the Phase 2 program bodes well for our success as a company, as Pearl evolves to become a biopharmaceutical company preparing for pivotal trials and ultimate commercialization of its first product."
Detailed results from this clinical study (NCT01587079) and Pearl's previously reported dose-ranging study of GP MDI will be presented at appropriate medical meetings in 2013.
About COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable lung disease that is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Each year 12 million Americans are diagnosed with COPD and an additional 12 million Americans may have COPD but remain undiagnosed. Research shows that many do not get optimal treatment.
Bronchodilator medications are central to symptom management and are prescribed on an as-needed or regular basis to prevent or reduce symptoms. Long-acting inhaled bronchodilators have been shown to be most effective and convenient. Combining bronchodilators of different pharmacological classes, as recommended by The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Diseases (GOLD), has been shown to improve efficacy and may decrease the risk of side effects compared to increasing the dose of a single bronchodilator. As the course of COPD progresses, regular treatment with inhaled glucocorticosteroids may be added to bronchodilator treatment.
About Pearl Therapeutics Pearl Therapeutics is a privately held company developing combination therapies for the treatment of highly prevalent respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Pearl is rapidly advancing a pipeline of products including PT003, an inhaled, fixed-dose combination bronchodilator product comprised of a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and a long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA) delivered via a metered dose inhaler (HFA MDI); and PT010, a triple-combination product that combines the LAMA and LABA components of PT003 with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) for twice-daily administration from an HFA MDI for the treatment of severe COPD. Both PT003 and PT010 are developed with Pearl's proprietary porous particle co‑suspension technology, which allows the formulation of multiple products in the MDI format, with highly stable, robust and aerodynamically efficient drug delivery. Founded in 2006, Pearl Therapeutics is privately held and backed by 5AM Ventures, Clarus Ventures, New Leaf Ventures and Vatera Healthcare. For more information, please visit www.pearltherapeutics.com.
SOURCE Pearl Therapeutics Inc.


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Tweetchat at the International association of Facilitators North America Conference (IAFNAConf2012). Use hashtag #facilichat.
Friday, May 11, 2012 from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM Eastern Time (9:00 AM to 10:30 Atlantic Time)
Led by: Dorothy Firsching and Becky Roberts
The in-person session will be live tweeted and will introduce Twitter, tweetchats/tweetjams and tools, and will evolve to a Tweet Chat / Tweetjam that will discuss facilitation of Tweet Chats / Tweetjams.
The main questions will include:
- What types of tweetjams / tweetchats have you participated in or facilitated?
- When is a Tweetjam or Tweetchat a great technique in your facilitation practice?
- What tools and techniques work well for tweetjam facilitation?
- What works well to record and present tweetjam results?
The results of the tweetjam will be posted and made available to participants.
All are welcome to participate via Twitter in addition to those participating at the conference. For more information, follow @dbfirsching and @beckylroberts!
Virtual attendance at the IAFNA 2012 conference is also available via Adobe Connect, for a fee.


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The Home Selling Process
Your Reinhart Realtor will guide you through every step of the selling process, helping you determine your goals and timing. Your Reinhart Realtor will also help prepare a full market analysis and make recommendations to prepare for the sale of your home.
> Download the home selling process
Market Strategy
Our unique marketing strategy that keeps us ahead of the competition.
Competitive Pricing
We provide our clients with the best competitive pricing on the market.


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HCD8G, equIP Series, Network TDN Ultra 4K HD Box Camera, 1/1.7" CMOS, 12 MP, PoE, H.265
Honeywell Security and Fire is a leading global supplier of electronic security products and solutions helping to keep people, possessions, assets and intellectual property safe and secure.
We focus on delivering innovative security products and value added solutions to suit customer needs, now and into the future.
Our innovative product range covers intrusion detection, video surveillance, access control, electronic visitor management and integrated security solutions.
• Access Control
• Video Surveillance
• Intruder Detection
• Integration with Business Systems
Honeywell Specifier programme
We value our specifiers and want to provide you with the highest level of support possible, using our strengths as a recognised leader in integrated security solutions.
We can help you to deliver the most cost-effective, value-added solutions to your customers on time, every time.
Visit www.honeywellspecifier.com/uk today


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If you find product products sale, Shopping Deals.If at the time will discount more Savings So you already decide you want have for your, but you don't know where to get the best price for this. We already done the research and spend a lot of time for you. to find out where to get the best deal on .
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Yes, you should check prices before you buy it.,mesothelioma,wine


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For many educators, the resolutions that really matter are the ones they make in August in anticipation of the new school year. Maybe you've resolved to integrate more technology resources into your instruction. Maybe you're determined to tackle some classroom management issues. For the sake of this post, let's say that you've decided to make your lessons more student-centered.
So, how does the sage exit the stage? Create conditions in which students build skill and knowledge while you assess progress and maintain an organized and productive classroom. Take a look at "Groups, Projects ,and Presentations," a component of Social Studies in Action: A Teaching Practice Library, K-12. Although the series centers on teaching Social Studies, the practices illustrated and explained in the "Groups, Projects, and Presentations" video are relevant to all academic subjects and grade levels.
In the K-12 classrooms presented in the video, the spotlight is on the students as they work collaboratively toward common goals that require problem solving and decision making. Their teachers encourage students' active involvement in their own learning in ways that reinforce and personalize knowledge.
The video points out key factors in planning and implementing students' collaborative creation of projects and presentations:
Creating Group Structure: What teacher hasn't planned a terrific group project to see it go horribly awry (one student shoulders all the work or nothing gets done at all) because the group dynamic wasn't right? 5th grade teacher Kathleen Waffle (5:06) starts her planning by assessing which of her students are natural leaders and makes sure one of those students is in each small group. Her groups are heterogeneous, not only because students who have learning challenges benefit from group support, but also because all students benefit from learning to value the different skills group members can contribute to the project as personal strengths emerge. She remixes groups every four to six weeks so that students learn to work with different personalities, just as they would in the real world.
Setting a Purpose: Setting clear, purposeful goals that keep the students focused is a key factor in the success of groups projects. Teacher Rob Cuddi (12:45) creates a set of essential questions. These anchor students' research and discussion as they work in small groups. Cuddi also uses the questions and student responses as an assessment tool. The students respond to the questions in their journals at the beginning of the project and again at the end.
Rubrics, often student-created, also help provide purpose.
Determining Team and Individual Roles: When students work in collaborative groups, they all share responsibility for a successful outcome. It's also important that students take individual responsibility for their learning. High school teacher Tim Rocky (19:04) gives individual team members specific roles: reader, recorder, facilitator or process keeper. Most importantly, he doesn't assume that students know how to work effectively in small groups. He asks a "fish bowl" group to model the process while he provides feedback and guidance.
Creating Assessments: Assessments (21:19) like scoring guides or rubrics not only provide purpose and focus; they also make assessment or grading less arbitrary. They give teachers concrete evidence of student progress or point to areas in need of improvement. You can also assess by listening to group discussion. You might hear something that signals a group's need for your input on its process or for additional resources. Students may use rubrics to evaluate each other and to understand how their own work will be evaluated.
When you invite students to take a collaborative approach to group projects and presentations, you are giving them a stage on which they actively seek knowledge and own and share their learning. One of Osvaldo Rubio's fourth graders (16:22) says it best of working with his peers: "They tell me what they know, I tell them what I know, and we put that all together and it makes a lot of difference…"
These teachers provide lots of practice for the kinds of collaborative interactions the students will encounter throughout their lives.
What kinds of collaborative experiences will you offer your students in the coming school year? We would love to hear your ideas for projects.


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I enter quite a few logo contest as and like to present my logo's with a packaging design. This concept also works well for my portfolio displays. I have gathered some useful vector packaging designs for this purpose. I hope you find them just as useful as I do.1. Design Freebies is offers up an exceptional download of over 35 product templates for presentations. They are offering a coffee mug, beverage can, some corporate staioneries, t-shirt, pen, wallet, paper bags, and many more. Two file formats are included in the package, EPS (Illustrator 10 up) and Illustrator (.ai) formats.
2.This new Vector Freebie Pack is created by Ian Yates and is available exclusively from Vectortuts+.
3. Food Packaging Design by Rongen Robles.
4.A total of 13 stationary accessories in various colorful and sizes, includes pencils, brushes, highlighters, pens, erasers and more stuffs that you can find on anyone desk. Created by Pink Moustach.
5. Kraftmedia offers some nice clothing templates for download.
6. Wine Bottle vector from Vecteezy.com
7. Dvd Presentation done by manicho.deviantart.com
8. Glass DVD case presentation by manicho.deviantart.com


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Let us help you plan your next event at the Complex with our exceptional staff.
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the Complex.
We look forward to creating a memorable visit for you.
Tom Wolf, GovernorRussell C. Redding, Secretary
Quick Links
Upcoming Events
Visitor Information
Event Planning
Contact Us
Commonwealth Privacy Security Policy Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture


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East Grand School District board supports seeking technology mill levy
GRANBY — The East Grand School District Board of Education is on track to pose a mill-levy ballot question in the November election.
The mill levy would support technology maintenance and upgrades for the schools in the district.
With recent pledged support of the board, the next step is to visit individual schools to solidify needs and budgets to develop what amount the mill levy would be, according to East Grand School Board member Chip Besse, who is heading up a committee charged with studying the issue.
"We are going to spend the next month working with the administration and teachers and make sure our estimates are accurate and then come back to the board with the numbers," Besse said.
The district has already been working meticulously on the school-by-school budget and has completed the hearing for the budget's second draft.
The mill levy, if approved by voters, would most-likely be used to fix technology the district already has, with the remainder of the tech budget for updates, according to Besse. Specific updates are still undetermined as is the amount of the mill levy.
One option the district could pursue is the implementation of tablets in the schools. The district has been following the use of tablets in other school districts in the state and has seen success in their use.
Currently, the district has about one computer to every two children in the district. Purchasing tablets would allow the district to increase that ratio to one computer for every child in a more cost effective manner than purchasing desktop or laptop computers.
"Technology is changing the classroom ultimately, and we can choose to embrace that or not, and as a board I think we have chosen to embrace that notion," Besse said.
"We want to make this a place where people come here because of the education and are proud of the education we provide," Besse said. "We want to be on the front of new things, not trailing behind."
Reid Tulley can be reached at 970-887-3334
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


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What better advocates for education than young people?
Around the world, young men and women are standing up for the right of all children to have access to a good quality education. In their communities and countries, young people are demanding better education services, more training for teachers, and more accountability from elected leaders through targeted advocacy.
Youth advocates are organized locally, nationally and globally. They include advisors to education ministries, regional councils and global advocacy networks to name a few. Through these coalitions, young people are making their voices heard and playing a key role in shaping and influencing education policies.
Youth advocates are working to ensure that all children and youth have access to a quality education that prepares them to lead healthy and productive lives and contribute to their communities and countries.


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With the conclusion of Sunday night's ceremony, Linda Holmes and I have now live-blogged fully one-eleventh of the Grammy Awards' 55 annual incarnations. Below is our original post and an archived live blog of the telecast:
For the fifth straight year, whether we're marveling at Taylor Swift's capacity for surprise or trying to figure out what to type during the combined 37 minutes of Bruno Mars performances, we're here to serve your reading-along needs. So for those who keep one eye on a TV, one eye on your Twitter feed and one eye on our live blog, you won't miss a thing.
Linda and I appeared with Scott Simon on Weekend Edition Saturday, where we answer some of Scott's burning Grammy questions — about the ever-vexing difference between Song of the Year and Record of the Year, about fearless predictions, about how the Grammys can possibly give out so few statues over the course of a four-hour telecast, and more. And, because Scott loves Katy Perry the way I love warm spring days, he inquires about her chances this year.
It's the Grammy Awards tomorrow night.
CARLY RAE JEPSEN: (Singing) Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy...
KELLY CLARKSON: (Singing) What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stand a little taller...
TAYLOR SWIFT: (Singing) We are never, ever, ever, ever getting back together.
SIMON: Just a few of the artists who may win an award this weekend: Maroon 5, Carly Rae Jepsen, Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift. So, what's in store for us at this year's Grammy Award ceremony? Who knows? Who cares? Well, millions of people. Stephen Thompson from NPR Music - one of millions...
STEPHEN THOMPSON, BYLINE: I care.
SIMON: ...yes - and NPR's culture critic, Linda Holmes, join us. Thanks very much for being with us.
LINDA HOLMES, BYLINE: Thank you.
SIMON: Stephen, let's begin with you.
THOMPSON: All right.
SIMON: Remind us what these awards mean in the industry.
THOMPSON: One way of looking at the Grammys is that it is essentially a gigantic infomercial for the music industry, that this is sort of what the music industry wants to present us as sort of its best foot forward, and not only in terms of artistic quality but in terms of commercial power. This is a somewhat struggling industry and this is sort of a way for the industry to kind of lock tens of millions of eyes on how it wants to represent itself, which is one reason that a lot of people who win Grammys tend to serve as sort of almost ambassadors for their genre.
SIMON: And, Linda, when it comes to award ceremonies, where do the Grammy stack up, as opposed to the Oscars, or for that matter, the Emmys, the Tonys?
HOLMES: The biggest difference that you'll see as an award show is how few awards they give out. The Grammys run for three and a half hours and they give out nine of their 81 awards during that telecast. The Oscars and the Golden Globes, for example, are each three hours long and they give out more like 25, 26 awards. So, the Grammys you get, as Stephen was saying, a performance showcase that is draped around a very small number of awards. So, most of what you're getting is other content and then every now and then someone wanders up and gives someone an award.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: And the Grammy goes to - no surprise, "Rolling in the Deep," Adele.
HOLMES: In terms of their prominence, they are kind of the classic music award, as opposed to something like the Video Music Awards on MTV, which tend to be a little nuttier and tend to be where the scandals happen. The Grammys are sort of the more staid award show for music.
SIMON: Stephen, there's a category for Record of the Year and then there's one for Best Song of the Year.
THOMPSON: You'd like to know what the difference is.
SIMON: Well, I was too embarrassed to ask you in public, but since you phrased the question yourself.
THOMPSON: You've got Record of the Year and Song of the Year. And both categories are giving an award to a song. Record basically is for achievement in the entire package. So, it's production, it's lyrics, it's the whole enchilada. Song of the Year is supposed to be a sort of more of a songwriting award. Interestingly, in recent years, more and more they seem to be giving them out backwards. For example, Carly Rae Jepsen, whose song we heard at the top of the segment, "Call Me Maybe" - is that a towering achievement in songwriting or is it a towering achievement in the whole enchilada, those little tin, tin, ta - all these beautiful things that make that song impossible to avoid are all largely feats of song assembly. That should be a Record of the Year but it's nominated as Song of the Year as if we're hanging on her every word.
JEPSEN: (Singing) Your stare was holding, ripped jeans, skin was showing, hot night, wind was blowing, where you think you're going, baby?
SIMON: We can't talk to you about an award ceremony without asking for predictions. So, Stephen - put you on the spot a bit - who do you like for best record?
THOMPSON: Record of the Year, I think, is actually the trickiest one to predict. I've been on record for weeks and weeks now saying I think this is going to be a very Frank Ocean-intensive ceremony. But I am going to go out on a limb and I'm going to say that while I think Frank Ocean wins a ton of awards, I think Record of the Year is going to go to "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" by Taylor Swift.
SWIFT: (Singing) You're so soft and your friends talked and my friend talked with me. But we are never, ever, ever, ever getting back together. Like ever.
SIMON: What do you look for, Linda?
HOLMES: One of my favorite albums of last year is the Avett Brothers' "The Carpenter," which is up for Americana album, which seems just right to me.
THE AVETT BROTHERS: (Singing) Once I was a carpenter and, man, my hands were calloused. I could swing a metal mallet sure and straight...
SIMON: Stephen Thompson from NPR Music. NPR's culture critic Linda Holmes. They will be live-blogging about the Grammys on our website tomorrow night. Get to work. Thanks very much.
HOLMES: Thank you.
THOMPSON: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Zaleski placed in the top-ten at the NEISA Singlehanded Championship behind only one other freshman (Justine Agaloos).
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard coed sailing team secured sixth-place at the Hood Trophy at Tufts, and freshman Marek Zaleski finished tenth at the NEISA Singlehanded Championship hosted by Boston College. The Crimson coed squad also placed 15th at the St. Mary's Fall Interconference regatta to round out a busy weekend slate.
Sophomore Gram Slattery and junior Alice Kenney sailed to a fourth-place finish as skipper and crew, respectively, in the A division to pace Harvard at the Hood Trophy. The duo placed in the single digits in seven of ten races and totaled 65 total points to edge the U.S. Naval Academy, who finished fifth. Slattery and Kenney won the sixth race of the regatta, while placing second twice and third once.
Just three points separated the Crimson's B division boat, skippered by senior Jason Michas with junior Alma Lafler serving as crew, from eighth-place Roger Williams. Harvard tallied 105 points and finished 11th. Michas and Lafler notched five single-digit finishes and secured a spot in the top-five three times. Yale led overall by 12 points, but the host-school, Tufts, rallied to win the regatta with 82 points after the Bulldogs placed 10th in the final race of the regatta. Harvard finished with 170 points.
In only the third regatta of his collegiate career, Zaleski placed in the single digits in ten of 18 races en route to posting 161 points and finishing 10th in the NEISA Men's Singlehanded Championship. Only one freshman placed ahead of him, James Barry of Brown, who sailed to a seventh-place finish and tallied only four points fewer Zaleski. The Crimson newcomer finished second to the eventual champion, Yale senior Cam Cullman, in the 12th race of the regatta. Zaleski placed in the top-five in two of the last three races to secure a spot in the top-ten.
"Marek made a few freshman mistakes, but it was a very solid learning experience for him," assistant sailing coach Bern Noack said. "He sailed well in a good fleet featuring the top singlehanded collegiate sailors in New England."
Junior Luke O'Connor also competed in the regatta, finishing 19th.
The Crimson battled cold temperatures and a variety of shifts in wind at the St. Mary's Fall Interconference regatta. Harvard posted 428 points, 21 ahead of New York Maritime, who finished 16th. Sophomore Michael Drumm skippered the B division boat, with junior co-captains Benjamin Lamont and Isabel Ruane sailing as crew. The boat notched single-digit finishes on seven occasions, including placing fourth three times.
Sophomore Brian Drumm and freshman Jacob Bradt served as skipper and crew, respectively, on the A division boat that placed 16th. The duo finished strong, placing in the top-ten in five of their last seven races. Roger Williams won the regatta with 213 points.
Harvard next competes in the NEISA Women's Singlehanded Championship at Connecticut College and the Danmark Trophy, a coed regatta, Sept. 29-30.


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Original Trinity Hymnal, #708
Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;
Living with Jesus, a new life divine;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am thine.
Moment by moment, I'm kept in his love;
Moment by moment, I've life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am thine.
Never a trial that he is not there,
Never a burden that he doth not bear,
Never a sorrow that he doth not share,
Moment by moment, I'm under his care.
Never a weakness that he doth not feel,
Never a sickness that he cannot heal;
Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,
Jesus my Saviour, abides with me still.
Page number: Blue 708, Right-Click Here to Download MIDI File
|© 2019 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Chaplains and Military Personnel


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How to Plan Your QuickBooks 2013 System
If you understand a couple of big-picture items — what accounting does and what accounting systems do — from the very start, you'll find that the QuickBooks 2013 Setup process makes a whole lot more sense.
What accounting does
Think about what accounting does. People may argue about the little details, but most would agree that accounting does the following four important things:
Measures profits and losses
Reports on the financial condition of a firm (its assets, liabilities, and net worth)
Provides detailed records of the assets, liabilities, and owner's equity accounts
Supplies financial information to stakeholders, especially to management
What accounting systems do
Now take a brief look at what accounting systems, or at least at what small-business accounting systems — typically do:
Produce financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and other accounting reports.
Generate business forms, including checks, paychecks, invoices, customer statements, and so forth.
Keep detailed records of key accounts, including cash, accounts receivable (amounts that customers owe a firm), accounts payable (amounts that a firm owes its vendors), inventory items, fixed assets, and so on.
Perform specialized information management functions. For example, in the publishing industry, book publishers often pay authors royalties. So royalty accounting is a task that book publishers' accounting systems must typically do.
What QuickBooks 2013 does
Okay, after you understand what accounting does and what accounting systems typically do, you can see with some perspective what QuickBooks does:
Produces financial statements
Generates many common business forms, including checks, paychecks, customer invoices, customer statements, credit memos, and purchase orders
Keeps detailed records of a handful of key accounts: cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and inventory in simple settings
QuickBooks does three of the four things that you would expect an accounting system to do. QuickBooks doesn't supply the specialized accounting stuff. For example, QuickBooks doesn't do royalty accounting.
What QuickBooks 2013 doesn't do
So QuickBooks does three of the four things that accounting systems do, but it doesn't do everything. QuickBooks is often an incomplete accounting solution. Be careful, therefore, about setting your expectations. Typically, you also need to figure out workarounds for some of your special accounting requirements.
QuickBooks gives users and businesses a lot of flexibility. So, returning to the previous example, a book publisher can do much of what it needs to do for royalty accounting in QuickBooks. This royalty accounting work simply requires a certain amount of fiddling during QuickBooks setup.
However, QuickBooks (or at least the most popular versions of QuickBooks) does suffer from a couple of significant weaknesses:
QuickBooks Pro doesn't supply a good way to handle the manufacture of inventory. However, QuickBooks Premier and QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions do support simple manufacturing accounting. And QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions provides some additional inventory management capability (multiple inventory sites, lot and serial number tracking, and FIFO costing) as part of its Advance Inventory feature.
(These versions of QuickBooks help you account for the process of turning raw materials into finished goods and also deal with some real-life inventory complexities.)
Only QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions handles the situation of storing inventory in multiple locations. In other words, QuickBooks Pro and QuickBooks Premier simply show, for example, that you have 3,000 widgets. It doesn't let you keep track of the fact that you have 1,000 widgets at the warehouse, 500 widgets at store A, and 1,500 widgets at store B.
In spite of the fact that QuickBooks may be an incomplete solution and may not handle inventory the way you want or need, QuickBooks is still a very good solution. What QuickBooks does, it does very well. Consider the fact that QuickBooks will be around for a long, long time.
It's far more likely that an accounting software product with 600 users, for example, will be discontinued rather than a product like QuickBooks, which has 4,000,000 customers.


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It's Africa's Turn
In Washington last Friday, I boarded a flight to Addis Ababa at 11:00 am. By the time I arrived in Johannesburg, Egypt's president of 30 plus years was no longer in power. The pace of change in the Middle East and North Africa is mind boggling. Anyone doing business in the region is trying to grasp the implications, and the risk profile of doing business in some of the countries has suddenly changed.
In the meantime, sub-Saharan Africa is looking more and more attractive to investors. At least that was the consensus at today's MIGA-sponsored seminar on managing political risk for cross-border investment. For too long, Western media has portrayed the region as a place of war and famine.
No doubt Africa has had its fair share of both. But the average person from "the West" wouldn't be able to tell you about Mozambique's journey from war-ravaged economy to a country that has posted average growth rates of seven to eight percent since the end of conflict.
Luisa Diogo, Mozambique's former prime minister, was the seminar's keynote speaker and shared some secrets of her country's success in moving from a planned to market economy. In addition to strong leadership and hard-working people, international partners played an important role. She said the government identified key areas for investment and then sought the support of the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA to make it all happen. One area of focus was the sugar industry, which went from employing 3,000 workers to over 40,000.
So what about risks? Panelists agreed that certain risks remain in sub-Saharan Africa, but they are largely manageable. Certainly, smart investors know that the region is extraordinarily diverse in terms of political risk. But this is the region of cobalt and copper, where the business needs to be done—and these investors will find a way to manage those risks.
So how can businesses thrive here? Our panelists shared some common-sense experience. First , a social license to operate is very important. The chances of populist upheaval are greatly reduced if the local community welcomes your presence. So, while investors may be daunted by the performance standards of the likes of IFC and MIGA, these are important risk-mitigation tools. And, a little plug here, MIGA can offer free support to investors in this regard.
In addition to the people, governments also need to feel they've gotten a good deal. Investors looking at sub-Saharan Africa are keen to build new infrastructure, tap into the growing consumer markets, and extract the resources needed to run today's economy. Governments suddenly aware of their country's offerings may rush into deals only to realize they probably could have done better if they had negotiated harder. Fair, transparent, and competitive concessions are key to their long-term success. When new governments come to power they may try to extract additional revenues from licenses granted by a previous government; this is more likely if there is a perceived injustice.
All of this advice underscores the findings of MIGA's World Investment and Political Risk report: more than overt political violence, investors are concerned about adverse government intervention.


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Talk:Neo 1973 GTA01 Power Management
From Openmoko
m (5V power supply question)
m (Talk:Neo1973 GTA01 Power Management moved to Talk:Neo 1973 GTA01 Power Management: See Openmoko Wiki Editing Guidelines)
|(One intermediate revision by one user not shown)
Latest revision as of 10:31, 13 July 2008
The SPI connected LCM asic (JBT6K74-AS(PI)) doesn't do any kind of drawing. It mainly controls the power states and the format in which data is shifted out to the LCD (timing), but also includes gamma correction and there are two unexplained parts called "built-in oscillator" and "booster".
Built in oscillator and booster probably together provide the required voltages to supply the LCD, which will typically require at least one supply other than 3.3V. --Speedevil 01:27, 26 July 2007 (CEST)
[edit] 5V supply
I need a 5V supply for this and this - total power draw should be 730 mW (max).
Some advice (best practice) would be appreciated on where to do this and how?
Johan 19:24, 25 July 2007 (CEST)
You've misread the maxim parts datasheet.
Maximum power is an absolute maximum rating, it's not a normal operating condition.
You have to really abuse it to get it to dissipate that much power - for example supplying lots of current into the input pins trying to take them beyond the supply rails. The actual power draw is low single digit milliamps at 5V, maybe 25mW or so when active.
I would suggest that rather than the complex sensor conditioner, you simply use a 3.3V ADC.
OK - thats good news. We still need 5V for the transducer though don't we?


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Williams Sonoma Reserve Pinot Noir Wine Glasses
- Only at Williams Sonoma
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Earn 5% Back in rewards4 plus free standard shipping3every day when you shop with your Williams Sonoma credit card at Williams Sonoma.Apply Now Learn More
- Summary
Since 1956, innovation, quality and craftsmanship have been part of the Williams Sonoma legacy. We're proud to bring you these elegant Pinot Noir glasses from our signature stemware collection, designed in-house in collaboration with expert sommeliers, winemakers and chefs. Each piece is masterfully mouth-blown of clear, lead-free glass with a unique bowl shape designed specifically to capture the complex characteristics of Pinot Noir, red Burgundy and other light- to medium-bodied red wines.
- Designed by William-Sonoma and handcrafted exclusively for us by master glass blowers.
- Best for Pinot Noir, Barbera, Gamay and Dolcetto.
- Bowl's slightly taped shape directs the flow of wine to the front of the palate, so you can fully savor a wine's balance of fruit and acidity.
- Long, slender stems are comfortable to hold.
- Perfect for formal entertaining and durable enough for everyday use.
- Dishwasher safe.
- Set of two.
- Dimensions & More Info
- 23-oz. cap., 9 1/2" high.
- Made in Turkey.
- Shipping
Shipping Information
This item is shipped from our warehouse by UPS to arrive within 3-5 business days of our receiving your order.
Shipping Rates
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Next Day Delivery
For an additional charge of $26 per address, we can expedite delivery to most destinations. This service is not available for some oversize items, items shipped directly from the supplier (including perishable and custom-manufactured items), out-of-stock items and items to be shipped outside the contiguous 48 states.
Orders received by 9:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Thursday will arrive the next business day; orders placed Friday through Sunday will arrive on the following Tuesday.
Return Policy
At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
For all cutlery returns (knife sets, single knives, cutting boards, knife sharpeners, and knife storage) please contact us at 888.922.4108 to initiate the return.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, custom upholstery, food, items shipped direct from the vendor, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. Final sale items ending in .97 or .99 cannot be returned.
For returns of items purchased from your Williams Sonoma Gift Registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later. View Full Returns Policy.
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Rated 5 out of 5 by Kate5555 from Favorite glass wine Perfect looking glass. Seem strong enough but still fragile. But not too much.Date published: 2017-01-15Rated 5 out of 5 by ewb1219 from Absolute Perfection I can't ever imagine going back to any other red wine glass after using these. The stem is skinny and tall, and the goblet is so thin, but still such fantastic quality. The PERFECT wine glass! (Be very careful cleaning them!)Date published: 2015-03-04Rated 5 out of 5 by JoyD from Well shaped, well balanced This is a capacious wine glass for swirling those robust reds, yet it is graceful and comfortable to hold. They are comparable to my Tiffany wineglasses, which cost a bit more. Two reviewers were just bewildered that a fine wine glass would BREAK if you HIT IT on the steel sink just a LITTLE. ..have to smile at that.Date published: 2014-10-17Rated 1 out of 5 by Khaleesi from Too fragile My husband and I really enjoyed our wine the first time we tried the glasses. However, that was the first and last time. As I was hand-washing one of the glasses, it broke! I was very careful given how fragile it felt but that didn't help. After some discussion with the salesperson, I was able to return it for store credit. She said she will do the return only once and I told her not to worry, I will not buy these glasses again. Very disappointed with the quality of these glasses.Date published: 2014-07-11Rated 5 out of 5 by Misc from Great little wine glass Yes these are fragile but then aren't most good wine glasses . These are great looking on the table - they really dress up the look and I love they way they feel in your hand. I have had no problems washing them - just be carefulDate published: 2014-06-05Rated 1 out of 5 by Heidelbergers from Very Disappointing I purchased a set of 2 for my husband for Christmas. He at least got to drink one glass of wine out of one before both glasses were shattered. I broke one while rinsing before the first use with the slightest of taps against our stainless steel sink. The second cracked in exactly the same way after using it only one time. I have washed many nice wine glasses in my life, and this only happens on rare occasions. The glass is way too fragile and will not last even if you are especially careful.Date published: 2014-01-26


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As you might have noticed, I was pretty happy to see this get announced. Even if it was kind of accidental on Reggie's part. Guess I better get that purple 3DS.
i may still play but the art style is just uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuggggglllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quote from: Alisha on August 07, 2012, 06:47:57 PMi may still play but the art style is just uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuggggglllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!Besides there'll be a beach side and hot springs DLC map. It'll (probably) include a new Swimsuit class.
I really am super excited for this. I've played A LOT of Fire Emblems. And even though they are usually VERY similar, they constantly entertaining. :)
Fire Emblem: Awakening DLC sales releasedSmash Bros. and Pokémon to make a ton of money with DLC confirmed.
found a list of dlc characters. http://serenesforest.net/fe13/recruit_spotpass.htmlim speechless...not just the sheer amount of characters but look at the last character in each category in case some dbag would consider that a spoiler.


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We can't really blame individuals for trying to cash in on the death of Carroll Shelby. Hell, we wouldn't be surprised if Ol' Shel was working out a way to do just that from beyond the grave.
But if you're going to use Shelby's image to hawk "limited edition" lithographs, at least make sure it actually looks like the man in question. The signature black hat is there. Beyond that, it's not the most convincing likeness.
Autoweek reader D. Kunz suggests that the portrait on these signed prints looks more like Roger Penske than Shelby. We think it bears a striking resemblance to commentator and car guy Adam Carolla.


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Iraqi youth dreams wrecked by decade of violence
Yasmine wants a future free of violence and fear, but like many young Iraqis, 10 years of bloodshed have made her doubt she can find such a future in her home country and she now wants to leave.
The 25-year-old is one of a generation of Iraqis who grew up during the battles and brutal sectarian killings that followed the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
In her central Baghdad home, Yasmine recounts the "fear and terror" she lived through when the capital was bombed in the invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.
"I was with my father, mother and sisters. We sat in one room, praying and reading the Koran. We felt very afraid -- those were hard days, with non-stop bombing, and a day felt like a year," Yasmine says.
"I felt like my life could end at any moment. I still remember the sound of the bombs, those terrifying sounds."
Yasmine, a civil servant with the youth and sports ministry, says the hardest time for the young was just after Saddam's fall, when "there was no law, no nothing, just occupation. Safety disappeared, and life was almost nonexistent."
"Before the invasion, my ambition was to stay in my country and build something good for my future, and at the same time to take part in developing Iraq," Yasmine says.
"But right now, my ambition is to leave, so I can feel safety and stability, and build a good future for myself away from this miserable situation."
After the invasion, American and coalition forces battled insurgents who carried out increasingly frequent attacks. Then in 2006, Sunni militants bombed a Shiite shrine in Samarra, setting off a wave of sectarian bloodshed.
The violence has decreased significantly, but attacks still remain common. And there are other problems for young Iraqis to deal with.
Despite Iraq's vast oil wealth, unemployment is officially listed at 10 percent, though other estimates put the number as high as 35 percent -- pushing many young people to seek work abroad.
The Babil Centre for Human Rights and Civil Development in 2011 published a study of Iraqi men under 30 that indicated 89 percent of respondents preferred to leave the country.
And although 10 years have passed since the invasion, basic services such as water and electricity are still lacking for many Iraqis, and corruption in the country is high. 'Here I am today'
Wissam Jamal Jabbar, 23, spends his days managing his small cafe in central Baghdad, leaving behind dreams of being a doctor or engineer that were wrecked by the years of violence after the invasion.
"I was a good student, but after the occupation, I felt that something was broken inside of me," he says as customers chain-smoke nearby and balls clack on his shop's billiards tables.
"I used to always dream of becoming a doctor or an architect, but conditions prevented me from continuing (studies), and here I am today... supporting my family and my parents," says Jabbar, now married with a young child.
At a youth club on Palestine Street in east Baghdad, 29-year-old Adel practices dance moves with five other members of his band, to go along with the rap songs he writes.
The six men, aged between 19 and 32, warm up by running in a circle in the room, then jumping in the air or doing brief one-handed handstands.
"We lost friends, we lost our school, so we headed toward sports, and little by little, we gathered ourselves up again. Life must continue," Adel says, smiling.
"I dream of going on stage and presenting my art, but society's views do not help and no one is supporting us," he says, as the stereo plays a song called "Bagpipes from Baghdad" by Eminem, Adel's favourite rapper.
Adel says he wants to leave Iraq but would like to eventually return.
"My ambition is to practice abroad, and then come back to benefit my country -- I want to leave Iraq, but not for good," he says.


text: If there's one thing you can't overstate, it's how much the Chinese people loooooved the Olympics. So it was kind of expected that Chinese fireworks makers would capitalise on the magic of the Opening Ceremonies by selling similar DIY pyrotechnics. This Chinese New Year, watch for the Bird's Nest series of fireworks going off all over the country, including smiley faces and footprints, blossoming peony flowers and "silver and red waterfalls." Gizmodo-readers in Beijing can grab their share of explodey things at over 200 locations across the city come Nov. 15th. [The Beijinger]


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Cave, famous for its maniac shooting games, is releasing an Xbox 360 box set for its shoot'em up fans.
Called "Cave Shooting Collection", the box set comes with ten classy Cave titles: Espgaluda 2: Black Label, DeathSmiles, DeathSmiles II X, Do-Don-Pachi Dai-Fukkatsu, Do-Don-Pachi Dai-Fukkatsu: Black Label, Muchi Muchi Pork & Pink Sweets, Akai Katana Shin, Mushihime-sama, Mushihime-sama Futari, and Guwange.
If you count the revamped Black Label version of Do-Don-Pachi Dai-Fukkatsu as its own game, this box set technically contains eleven games. The reason is that while Muchi Muchi Pork and Pink Sweets were released on the same disc for the Xbox 360, they are actually separate games and were originally released as such in arcades.
According to Famitsu, pricing and the release date are still TBA. No word on a release outside of Japan.
Xbox 360で『CAVEシューティングコレクション』発売決定 [Famitsu]


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The quest for native plants and more natural landscapes is leading many gardeners to rediscover an often-overlooked jewel -- moss. In favorable conditions, moss forms velvety emerald cushions and richly textured carpets and tapestries that grow happily in containers as well as on posts, rocks, trees, and ground. Homeowners increasingly cede the turf battle to mosses, too. Carpet mosses create a no-mow ground cover that often thrives in shady, acidic soil, and other places that grass abhors.
Now that moss in the garden is being seen more as an asset than a pest, specialty nurseries are growing and selling trays of common and exotic kinds for instant gardens or as plugs for starting naturally spreading colonies. If you plant clumps, give them the same soil, light, and moisture conditions they enjoy in the forest. Keep them moist for the first year until they become established and begin to spread. If skunks or raccoons frequent your yard, cover newly planted patches with a net to prevent the animals from digging in search of insects.
Christine Cook -- a landscape designer and owner of Mossaics, a design firm specializing in mosses in Easton, Connecticut -- suggests that, instead of digging up and moving patches of wild mosses or buying moss plugs, gardeners should encourage species that are native to where they live. Look for mossy patches, then carefully pull the grass and weeds out of the moss colony, and pick up fallen leaves and other debris that can smother it. That's often enough to invigorate the native mosses.
Most mosses prefer moist, acidic soil, and many will readily colonize disturbed or bare earth. To encourage new spores to grow, spray a mixture of 1 quart buttermilk and 2 gallons water over the soil in mid-spring. Water as needed in summer to keep moss green and lush.
Photo by Suzanne DeJohn/National Gardening Association


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S/O to Brown Skin Girls.
Social is the primary social media platform for the forth coming fourth version of Play Vicious, a new initiative built to bring attention to the plethora of creative acts that don't get the shine they deserve.
For more details about the project and how to support, go here.


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Camera phones and POV cameras don't cut it when you want great photos. I always carry a "real" camera when I'm on my bike because I want more control and better quality. For this guide I've chosen ten easy-to-carry cameras that will help you make cycling photos that are worthy of printing and framing. With real optical zoom lenses, large sensors for great image quality, and better controls, you'll be able to craft better photos than you would with your phone. Most of these cameras will fit in a pants pocket and they'll all easily fit in a jersey pocket or hydration pack. Every camera here has full HD video, too. Even if you already have a POV camera, a compact camera with a real zoom lens will allow you to shoot a second angle that you'd never be able to get with the super-wide lens on your helmet-cam. Plus, most of the cameras in this guide have built-in Wi-Fi so you can wirelessly transfer photos and videos to your phone and share immediately with all your Facebook and Instagram followers.
If you're interested in a DSLR or you just want more camera options, check out the other Holiday Camera Guides on PhotographyREVIEW.com:
Holiday Point-and-Shoot Guide »
Holiday Mirrorless Camera Guide »
Holiday DSLR Guide »
And if it's a POV camera you're looking for, check out Brian's POV Camera and Electronics Guide.
Sony Cybershot RX100 II
Looking for a no-compromises camera you can carry in a jersey pocket? Look no further – the Sony Cybershot RX100 II is the reigning king of point-and-shoot cameras. Although the RX100 II is small enough to fit in a pants pocket, the 20-megapixel 1-inch CMOS sensor is way better than you'll find in any other point-and-shoot camera so you'll get great image quality regardless of conditions. The RX100 II has full manual controls and a 3.6x 28-100mm (equivalent) f/1.8-4.9 Carl Zeiss optical zoom lens so you can take arty espresso photos at the coffee shop and freeze the action on the road or trail. Of course it has video, too – 1920×1080 full HD at 60 FPS. You can even add an external stereo mic, flash or electronic viewfinder with Sony's Multi Interface Shoe. Last but not least – the Sony RX100 II has built-in Wi-Fi so you can wirelessly transfer photos to your Smart Phone and upload your lunch ride photos from the road.
Price: $749
Intro article: Sony Cybershot RX100 II – World's Best Pocket Camera Gets Better
More P&S Camera Ideas: Holiday Point-and-Shoot Guide
More Info: www.sony.com
Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS
The Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS is one of the best point-and-shoot camera deals around right now. It's very small, easy-to-use and has a great 10x 24-240mm (equivalent) optical zoom lens and built-in Wi-Fi. The 330 HS has a proven 12-megapixel CMOS sensor and Canon's HS system for great image quality, full HD video, and still photo bursts up to 6.2 FPS. The 10x optical zoom means you can get creative with composition and make photos of distant subjects that you'd never be able to make with a camera phone or POV camera. And the built-in Wi-Fi means you can share photos and videos from the road or trail. Just use the Wi-Fi to transfer photos or videos to your phone and then upload right to Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.
Price: $150
Review: Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS Review
More P&S Camera Ideas: Holiday Point-and-Shoot Guide
More Info: www.canon.com
Olympus Stylus TG-2 iHS
For cyclists who spend a lot of time outdoors in nasty weather – especially mountain bikers and others who are hard on cameras, the Olympus Stylus TG-2 iHS is the best point-and-shoot camera available. Waterproof to 50 feet and able to withstand drops of nearly 7 feet, the Olympus TG-2 is designed to be abused. It's small enough to carry in the pocket of your baggies, a jersey pocket, or in a small pouch on the shoulder strap of your hydration pack – that's how I do it. It's not just another rugged waterproof point-and-shoot, either. The Olympus TG-2 has the best image quality of all the rugged point-and-shoots I've had the pleasure of using. One of the main things that set it apart is the 4x 25-100mm f/2.0-4.9 (equivalent) optical zoom lens. The large f/2.0 aperture makes a real difference in low light and allows faster shutter speeds for freezing action. The Olympus TG-2 has aperture priority manual shooting so you can take full advantage of the large f/2.0 aperture. It also has full HD video, built-in GPS and it can shoot full resolution still photos at 5 FPS. The TG-2 is my first choice for a truly compact outdoor camera when I'm out in the elements. The only thing it's missing is built-in Wi-Fi.
Price: $399
Intro Article: New Olympus Stylus Tough TG-2 iHS Adds Aperture Priority Control
More P&S Camera Ideas: Holiday Point-and-Shoot Guide
More Info: www.olympusamerica.com
Nikon Coolpix AW110
If you like the idea of a rugged waterproof pocket camera but you also want the convenience and Instagramification of built-in Wi-Fi, then might I recommend the Nikon Coolpix AW110? The 16-megapixel AW110 is waterproof to nearly 60 feet, can handle drops of almost 7 feet, and it's freezeproof, as well. It has a 5x 28-140mm (equivalent) optical zoom lens, full HD video and can shoot high-speed bursts at up to 8 FPS – plenty fast to capture any kind of cycling action. Install Nikon's free mobile app on your phone or tablet and you can use the AW110's built-in Wi-Fi to transfer photos to your phone so you can post to Facebook from the road or trail; or use your phone as a wireless remote control, complete with live view display.
Price: $249
Intro Article: The Nikon Coolpix AW110 Goes Deeper & Adds Wi-Fi
More P&S Camera Ideas: Holiday Point-and-Shoot Guide
More Info: www.nikon.com
Sony Cybershot QX100
Sony is making some of the most interesting and creative cameras right now. The QX100 "lens-style" camera is one of their most interesting, yet. With built-in Wi-Fi, a mobile app and an adjustable bracket to mount it to your phone, it essentially turns your iPhone or Android Smart Phone into a real camera. Housed in the QX100 body is an excellent f/2.0 Carl Zeiss optical zoom lens, a large 1-inch sensor, a Micro SD memory card slot, a shutter release button and a customizable control ring. The QX100 is actually pretty much the same as Sony's excellent RX100 premium pocket camera (the predecessor to the RX100 II listed at the beginning of this guide). So drop your phone in one pocket and the QX100 in another and you've got the best of both worlds – a real camera with a great sensor and lens; and a Smart Phone with kick-ass camera features.
Price: $500
Intro Article: Sony Announces QX10 & QX100 "Lens-Style" Cameras For Smart Phones
More P&S Camera Ideas: Holiday Point-and-Shoot Guide
More Info: www.sony.com
Nikon 1 AW1
The Nikon 1 AW1 is one of the coolest and most significant cameras of 2013. It's the world's first rugged, waterproof interchangeable lens digital camera. If you want the rugged durability of a waterproof, shockproof point-and-shoot, but you want better image quality, performance and controls, then the AW1 was made for you. It has a large 1-inch sensor, PASM manual shooting modes and you can even shoot RAW. The AW1 also has some of the best performance specs you can get in any camera. It can shoot full resolution still photos as fast as 60 frames per second, it has world-class continuous auto focus, and it has full HD video – of course. The continuous auto focus will even keep up with cyclists when you're recording video – something most DSLRs aren't even capable of. With the AW1 you basically get DSLR performance in a camera just a bit larger than a point-and-shoot. Plus, when you're done with your ride, you can spill beer on it and take it in the hot tub! The AW1 is bigger than most point-and-shoots and you won't be able to carry it in the pocket of your baggy shorts. But it does fit in a jersey pocket and since it's waterproof you don't have to worry about getting it all sweaty.
Price: $799
Hands-On Preview: Just In: Nikon 1 AW1 Waterproof Mirrorless Camera
More Mirrorless Camera Ideas: Holiday Mirrorless Camera Guide
More Info: www.nikon.com
Panasonic Lumix LF1
The Panasonic Lumix LF1 is a high-end pocket camera with a 7.1x 28-200mm f/2.0-5.9 Leica optical zoom lens, a great 12-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor, and a real viewfinder. That's right; the LF1 is the only pocket-sized camera with an eye-level viewfinder – an electronic viewfinder (EVF) to be exact. The viewfinder can be used for recording video and it's also great for panning action photos. The LF1's fast-aperture long zoom, large sensor, and eye-level viewfinder really sets it apart from other pocket cameras. With 10 FPS high-speed burst and 1920 x 1080 60i video, it's an action shooters dream. It can even shoot RAW. The LF1 also has built-in Wi-Fi so you don't have to wait until you're home to share your photos and videos. If you want a pocket camera that can really do it all, the Panasonic Lumix LF1 is one of the very best.
Price: $349
Intro Article: Panasonic Lumix LF1 – Pocket Camera With Viewfinder, f/2.0 Lens & Wi-Fi
More P&S Camera Ideas: Holiday Point-and-Shoot Guide
More Info: www.panasonic.com
Sony Cybershot HX50V
I actually own this camera. Pocket superzooms are my favorite compact cameras and the Sony Cybershot HX50V has the most zoom available – a ridonculous 30x 24-720mm (equivalent) optical zoom lens that lets me shoot distant mountain peaks as well as standard trail action photos and tourist snapshots. It's a ridiculous amount of zoom for a camera that easily fits in jersey pocket. It's not just about the zoom, either. The HX50V has PASM manual shooting modes and a dedicated exposure compensation dial on the top right of the camera so it's easy to take full control if you want. Shooting action is no problem, either, with 10 FPS high-speed burst and full HD 60p video. For straight-up point-and-shoot photographers it has a full range of scene modes as well as Intelligent Auto. And of course, the HX50V has built-in Wi-Fi so I can share my photos while I'm out ruling the trails or cruising on the bike path. With Sony's Multi Interface Shoe I can even add a hot shoe flash, electronic viewfinder (EVF) or external stereo mic.
Price: $450
Intro Article: Sony Cybershot HX50V With 30x Zoom – Longest Pocket Superzoom Camera Yet
More P&S Camera Ideas: Holiday Point-and-Shoot Guide
More Info: www.sony.com
Panasonic Lumix GM1
Even though it fits in a pocket, the Panasonic Lumix GM1 is no point-and-shoot camera. The GM1 is an interchangeable lens mirrorless camera with a large sensor for much better image quality than any point-and-shoot. To get the absolute maximum from the 16-megapixel Four Thirds sensor, the GM1 has PASM manual shooting modes and you can shoot RAW, as well. If you don't care about manual controls, just put it in Panasonic's excellent Intelligent Auto mode and let the camera make all the decisions for you. The GM1 has a Micro Four Thirds lens mount so you can use any of the many Micro Four Thirds format lenses from Panasonic, Olympus and Sigma. But for cycling you're going to want the Panasonic 12-32mm (24-64mm equivalent) f/3.5-5.6 kit lens because it's very small and keeps the camera pocketable. For action photos at the bike park or the velodrome the GM1 can shoot at 5 FPS; and it also records full HD video at 60 FPS. And because no one wants to wait to share their sweet ride photos, you can use the built-in Wi-Fi to transfer photos to your Smart Phone and share them from the road or trail.
Price: $749 with Lumix G Vario 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens
Intro Article: Panasonic Lumix GM1 Puts Interchangeable Lens Control & Wi-Fi In Your Pocket
More Mirrorless Camera Ideas: Holiday Mirrorless Camera Guide
More Info: www.panasonic.com
Fujifilm X100S
Here's a camera for photography purists. The Fujifilm X100S rangefinder-style camera doesn't have any magic auto modes, it doesn't have a zoom lens, there's no built-in Wi-Fi and it doesn't have any kitschy built-in filters. What it does have is a no-compromise Fujinon 23mm f/2.0 prime lens (equivalent to 35mm focal length) and one of the best sensors available – Fujifilm's own proprietary 16-megapixel APS-C X-Trans II CMOS sensor. For the camera nerds, the sensor has no anti-aliasing filter and is useable right up to ISO 6400. The X100S has traditional manual controls, including an old-school aperture ring on the lens – anyone remember those? The hybrid viewfinder allows you to toggle between optical and electronic (EVF) modes. When you use the EVF you can see exposure adjustments in the viewfinder, playback photos and videos, and even record full HD video. The X100S is the largest camera in this guide but it's not too big to put in a jersey pocket or wear under a wind vest on the neck strap. And the quality you'll get from the excellent sensor and prime lens are unbeatable.
Price: $1299.95
Pro Review: Fujifilm X100S Review
More Mirrorless Camera Ideas: Holiday Mirrorless Camera Guide
More Info: www.fujifilmusa.com
2013 RoadBikeReview Holiday Gift Guides:
Cold Weather Warrior »
Cyclocross Fanatic »
Digital Cameras For Cyclists »
For The Cyclist Who Has (Almost) Everything »
Gear For The Endurance Junkie »
Gear For the Gravel Grinder »
Great Gear For Under $50 »
Presents for the Urban Jungle »
Repurposed Gifts for the Green Cyclist »
The Newbie Road Rider »
Type A Crit Racer »
When Money Is No Object »
2013 Mtbr Holiday Gift Guides:
For The Beginner Mountain Biker »
For The Tech Geek Rider »
Gifts for that Special Angry Singlespeeder in Your Life »
Mtbr's All-Mountain Brown Friday »
POV Video Cameras and Electronics »
Stocking Stuffers for Mountain »


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Hi, happy Monday! Did you all have a nice weekend?
This morning we're doing the last of our Gift Guides – for the kiddies! I had a bit of a tricky time putting this one together if I'm honest… I don't have any kids, and *obviously* kids range so much in age, so it was hard to narrow down my selections! There's just so much gorgeous stuff out there for kids! I've tried to choose gifts for a range of ages, so hopefully there'll be something here for everyone :)
1. Piccoli 'Little Bean' Bean Bag (Olliella) 2. Submarine Money Bank (Amazon) 3. Little Aeroplane (Incy Interiors) 4. Cubebot Micro Blue (Lilly Lolly or Amazon) 5. Hang in the Balance Board (The Land of Nod) 6. Black & White Stripe Tent (The Teepee Guy) 7. Let's Go Camping Wall Decals (Love Mae) 8. Bats Single Quilt & Pillow Case (Kip & Co.)
9. 'The Ice Package' Hair Ties (Mane Message) 10. Porcelain Bunny Lamp (Lark) 11. Floral Bomb Wonder Tent (Such Great Heights) 12. MoTex Embossing Label Maker (My Messy Room) 13. Housse de Couette Bigotte (AM.PM.) 14. Pony String Lights (Urban Outfitters) 15. Awesome Canvas Purse (Lark) 16. Pixie Mint Wooden Toy Camera (Twig)


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BBC News
- General election 2019: Tories promise tax-cutting Budget if elected
- General election 2019: Labour pledges to cap class sizes at 30 pupils
- Mentally ill 'spend months on hidden waiting list'
- Seizures of illegal diazepam tablets double in a year
- Andrew Dymock charged with 12 terror offences
- Staff testimony given to Labour anti-Semitism probe
- Mars rover hopes to grab a piece of history
- New GCSEs 'widen gap between rich and poor'
- Matt Baker to stand down as One Show presenter
- Women in Scotland 'appalled' by violence during sex on dates
- Adam Hurst: Father-to-be died in hospital 'screaming in pain'
- HSBC to bring in single overdraft rate of 40%
- General election 2019: Croydon in focus
- Election 2019: How significant is migration to the UK?
- General election 2019: Has this been a Brexit campaign?
- General election 2019: Jo Swinson interview fact-checked
- General election: Labour's £6,000 bill claim fact-checked
- General election 2019: Plymouth divided by life expectancy
- General election 2019: SNP pledges 'could mean more austerity' - IFS
- General election 2019: Parties warned over 'newspaper' election leaflets
- General election 2019: When wanting to vote could put you at risk
- What is the point of a clock tower?
- Christmas advert made for £100 stars two-year-old Arthur
- How Falkirk's metal workers became cowboy film stars
- Rocketman star Taron Egerton credits Wales with love of singing
- Turner Prize 2019: Are award winners and losers going out of fashion?
- General election 2019: What happened on Wednesday
- General election 2019: How do Grimsby's food-bank users want to vote?
- London Bridge: Why was Usman Khan released from prison?
- General election 2019: 'We don't see people like us in leadership'
- Lorraine Kelly: 'I'm saying things out loud that used to be in my head'
- Turner Prize: The moment all four nominees win prestigious award
- The Papers: Tory tax cut promise and Trump 'gets the hump'
- Telford sex abuse trial: Teachers 'took no action over sex abuse rumours'
- Election 2019: SNP victory means 'fresh' indyref2 threat' - Swinson
- Health strike: NI Secretary Julian Smith says health service crisis is unacceptable
- Welsh-speaking dementia patient faces move to England
Our traditional ANY-Village websites can still be found at their original location:
Below we are listing some of the most popular UK property websites advertising homes for sale in the NACKINGTON area:
Nestoria (NACKINGTON Map Search)
Vebra.com (NACKINGTON Map Search)
Rightmove (NACKINGTON Map Search)
Zoopla (NACKINGTON Map Search)
Homes for SALE / Flats for SALE in NACKINGTON
Homes for RENT / Flats for RENT in NACKINGTON


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The Prince George's Muslim Association now offers complete Janazah funeral services, ghusl, and burial preparation at it's modern, licensed funeral facility,
Hussain's Islamic Funeral Services
Located at PGMA 9150 Lanham Severn Road, Lanham, MD, 20706.
301-459-4942 ext 1 Mon-Fri, 8am to 3:30pm
After hours, and on weekends or holidays, please call 240-206-0639, leave a message, and your call will be forwarded to PGMA Janazah Committee Members who will return your call shortly thereafter.
Resources to help you to arrange for the washing, Janazah prayer, and burial.


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English Teacher
Custom Essay Sites
We're currently being bombarded with blog comment spam from people trying to promote cheat sites. Sites offering custom essays as "examples" have been around and have significantly undermined the credibility of many educational courses for years, but the current spam is a cause for hope because it is so illiterate that the barrel is surely being scraped.
Click here to read the full article


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- Vegetable cooking spray
- 1 package (16 ounces) frozen Italian-mix vegetables
- 1 large green pepper, cut into strips
- 1 pound baby carrots, halved
- 1 medium zucchini, unpeeled, cut into 1/2-inch slices
- 4 medium tomatoes, quartered
- 1 cup celery, sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons instant reduced-sodium chicken broth granules
- 2 tablespoons cooking wine
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a 3-quart casserole or Dutch oven with cooking spray. Spread frozen vegetables in an even layer in the casserole. Follow with layers of green pepper strips, baby carrots, zucchini slices, tomato pieces, and celery. Melt margarine in skillet. Add onion and garlic, sautéing until tender. Stir in broth granules, wine, salt, and pepper. Pour skillet mixture over vegetables. Cover casserole and bake for approximately 1 hour until vegetables are crisp-tender.
Yield: 10–12 servings.
Serving size: 1 cup.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
Calories: 88 calories, Carbohydrates: 15 g, Protein: 3 g, Fat: 3 g, Saturated Fat: <1 g, Sodium: 227 mg, Fiber: 4 g
Exchanges per serving: 2 vegetable, 1/2 fat. Carbohydrate choices: 1.
This recipe was developed by Angie Sharp, a Diabetes Nutrition Specialist at the International Diabetes Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.


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Why the 'fiscal cliff' should really be called the 'fiscal slope'
WASHINGTON - While Congress views the convergence of more than $600 billion in tax increases and spending cuts set for Jan. 1 as a "fiscal cliff," the metaphor misses the economic reality of what could follow.
The image popularized by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke could give way to a series of compounding events if congressional leaders and the president fail to compromise.
"Cliff conjures up Wile E. Coyote, and January comes, and all of a sudden you plunge into a deep recession inevitably and it all happens fast," said Chad Stone, chief economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington. "That's not the way things would unfurl." He said he prefers the term "fiscal slope" to describe how the effects would accumulate gradually during 2013.
Congress created the conjoined deadlines on tax and spending policy as a way to prod itself to resolve long-running disputes on fiscal issues. The cliff metaphor has reinforced the need for action, shaping the debate for more than nine months and increasing pressure for Congress to avert at least some of the tax-and-spending changes.
While negotiations have stalled over President Obama's demand for higher tax rates for top earners and congressional Republicans' insistence on structural changes to entitlement spending, a Republican aide says those talks will narrow to conversations between Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. Failure to reach an agreement by year's end could mean, in keeping with the metaphor, going over the cliff.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the U.S. would probably enter a recession in the first half of 2013 if Congress doesn't act to avoid the tax increases and spending cuts. The unemployment rate would climb to 9.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013 from 7.9 percent in October 2012, CBO projects.
Neil Dutta, head of U.S. economics at Renaissance Macro Research, said critics of the cliff image understate the potential for business investment to decline and for financial markets to react negatively to legislative gridlock.
"The folks who argue that it's a fiscal slope are really ignoring the psychological impact that it would have on the business community," Dutta said. "We face a cliff in the sense that this would be a notorious political failure if Congress failed to avert a recession, because that's effectively what the government is threatening right now."
Financial markets are operating under the assumption that Congress will reach a deal by the end of the year or early January, said Alec Phillips, a political analyst and economist for Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in Washington. There is "not a lot of indication right now that the market is expecting an adverse outcome," he said.
"People who describe it as a slope have a point, which is that the world doesn't necessarily end on Jan. 1, if people assume the issue will be fixed very soon," Phillips said. "At the same time, it seems pretty clear that if they don't address the fiscal restraint that's built into current law within a reasonable period of time, a cliff and a slope are essentially the same thing. The only difference is just the angle."
When lawmakers have expressed optimism about a deal, stocks have risen. Prices have dropped when they say negotiations are stalled, giving hints at the potential for market declines if talks fail.
The Standard & Poor's 500 Index declined 0.5 percent in three minutes on Nov. 29, erasing an earlier rally, after Boehner said "no substantive progress" had been made toward a deal. Bond markets have gained on pessimistic news. The benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield fell for the fifth of six weeks ending Nov. 30 as Obama warned that day of "prolonged negotiations" ahead on deficit reduction.
To bolster his point that the cliff is more of a slope, Stone points to the components of the scheduled fiscal contraction and how they take effect over time. Those effects can be reversed if a deal is reached early in 2013, he said. There are several other fiscal deadlines in 2013 that could push Congress to act, including the need to raise the $16.4 trillion debt limit.
If Congress doesn't act, the policy changes include higher income tax rates at all income levels, the end of a 2 percentage point cut in the payroll tax, higher tax rates on capital gains, estates and dividends, and automatic spending cuts, about half in defense programs.
Most of the effects would occur over the course of the year. Because most taxes are collected through paycheck withholding, only a fraction of the effect occurs each week or month.
The spending cuts operate in a similar way because agencies spend money over time, not in lump sums at the beginning of the year.
The Economic Policy Institute, a Washington group that favors policies that benefit workers, prefers the term "fiscal obstacle course" to convey the staggered effects.
Consumers so far are unperturbed by the possibility of tax increases and loss of benefits. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index last week held near a seven-month high. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan index of sentiment climbed to a five-year high in November, and the Conference Board's sentiment index last month reached the highest level since February 2008.
The three measures slumped last year when lawmakers debated whether to raise the nation's debt ceiling.
A better housing market is feeding into their optimism by boosting household wealth and may make up for some growth lost to fiscal uncertainty next year. Residential investment could contribute as much as 0.6 percentage point to gross domestic product in 2013, according to Joe LaVorgna, chief U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank in New York. Homebuilding probably added 0.3 point to the expansion this year, the first contribution since 2005.
Businesses in the U.S. have begun to reduce investment in anticipation of fiscal restraint. Spending on equipment and software has slowed for three straight quarters. It dropped 2.7 percent from July through September, the first decline since 2009, when the economy was exiting the recession.
A more recent pickup in demand may mean business investment will rebound next year if lawmakers reach a budget deal. Orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, considered a proxy for future business spending, rose 2.9 percent in October, the most in eight months and following a 0.5 percent decline in September, according to Commerce Department data.
Bernanke was the first prominent official to describe the policy changes scheduled for 2013 as a "fiscal cliff." He used the phrase on Feb. 29, during a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee, and it became a staple of the lexicon of lawmakers and political commentators.
Bernanke declined to comment on the appropriateness of the terminology. He used the term "fiscal cliff" in his most recent public remarks on Nov. 20.
Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, described the fiscal cliff as "probably the most-known phrase in politics now."
Cliff imagery has been a part of U.S. policy discourse for more than 100 years, Stephen Carter wrote in a Bloomberg View column Nov. 29.
"In short, we can safely say that the image of finances hanging at the edge of a cliff or precipice or escarpment goes back a long way," wrote Carter, a professor at Yale Law School.
The cliff metaphor has created pressure to reach a deal when many of the economic and market effects of inaction would be reversed if Congress reaches an agreement in early 2013, said Stone, whose group advocates policies that benefit low-income households.
"It's very effective if you in fact can convince people that going past it would be catastrophic," said Martin Medhurst, a professor of political science at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, who studies political communication. "If it gets to the point where it does go past the deadline, then you could always recalibrate and adopt a different metaphor."


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Growing up, my dad would often say that things were "not bad" when most others would have said they were "good" or even "great". My mom would spend all afternoon putting together an enormously delicious Shepherds Pie and my dad would render his post-meal verdict: "that was…not bad". If my mom had particularly outdone herself she might hear: "I will say this, that was really not bad". When my high school soccer team won the state championship, I believe we received a collective: "that was really, really, not bad". It wasn't a mean habit of his at all – we all knew that anything "not bad" was actually something to be proud of. Well, using my father's lingo, I'm comfortable saying already that Aaron Rodgers is really, really not bad.
As a preface to what I'm about to write, I want to establish the following: 1) I understand that statistics don't always tell the whole story; 2) I realize that career passer rating isn't the only way to measure a QB's effectiveness and 3) I understand that Aaron Rodgers needs more games under his belt to more accurately compare him to some of the people I'm about to compare him to. With that out of the way, Aaron Rodgers has a career passer rating of 96.3. (This includes his first 3 years when he was a back-up and played in garbage time that didn't matter – and stats from those years bring down his overall rating. If we counted only the years he's been a starter, his rating would be 98.4. He's #2 overall this year at 110.8.) Again, while I know Rodgers needs to play more games for this to be fair, at this moment, his 96.3 career passer rating would put Rodgers behind only Steve Young (96.8) in NFL history. Steve Young has been on top of this category for years now. The next two are Peyton Manning (95.4) and, you may be surprised by this, Tony Romo at 94.7. That's some good company.
While I recognize that it will be difficult for Rodgers to maintain this high level of proficiency, I wouldn't be totally surprised if he ends up doing it mostly because he is a very smart quarterback. Rodgers takes the plays that are there but at the same time, he's been showing more this year that he can also improvise intelligently. As he continues to develop this critical balance between being smart with the ball and taking intelligent chances, my guess is that Rodgers could arrive at a Peyton Manning-like level of sensible QB decision-making. Consider the Havner TD yesterday, the long 3rd down conversion to Donald Lee yesterday, the Finley TD against the Vikes, etc. The guy has a great feel for the flow of the game, throws a beautiful ball and outside of some pocket awareness issues, has a very well-rounded game for a 2nd year starter. (And, a solid case could be made that he's done all of this with a mediocre-at-best offensive line in front of him.) Even this early in his career, it's already evident that Rodgers just plain gets it. In fact, I will say this: I'm growing more and more confident that some day Aaron Rodgers will end up being better than "really, really not bad" – perhaps he'll reach "tremendously not bad" status.