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The growing epidemic of HIV among Native Americans and Alaskan Natives (NA/AN) is reason for concern. Roughly 5.2 million people in the U.S. identified as NA/AN in the 2010 U.S. census. While the Native community in the U.S. accounts for less than 1% of reported HIV cases, they have the third highest rate of HIV infection, after African Americans and Latinos. They also have the shortest life expectancy after an AIDS diagnosis of any race or ethnicity.
As indigenous people, once we are gone, we are gone. Take for example the Onondaga Nation in upstate New York. There are only 2,000 Onondaga left in the world, with 700 living on their traditional land. In 2008, they had three new HIV cases. Some may say "That's only three people," but that is over nine times the rate of HIV infection in the overall U.S. population. When considered in the scale of the Native population, HIV is taking an enormous toll.
According to the CDC, men who have sex with men (MSM) and MSM/IDU (intravenous drug users) accounted for 62% of all new diagnoses of HIV among Native Americans. Though useful for tracking behaviors that lead to increased risk, these labels don't help us understand why people of different identities engage in risky behavior or tell us how to treat people with HIV in a culturally sensitive and supportive way.
Two-Spirit Identity
There were once about 400 distinct indigenous Nations in North America. Of that number, 170 have documented multiple-gender traditions. At the Third Annual International Gay and Lesbian Native Gathering in 1990, activists created the term "Two-Spirit" to encompass these multiple traditions. They wanted a term that "reflected the combination of masculinity and femininity which was attributed to males in a feminine role and females in a masculine role" in many indigenous cultures. Our male-embodied Two-Spirit people (what the CDC call MSM) bear the brunt of the HIV crisis.
The Two-Spirit tradition is primarily a matter of gender, not sexual orientation. Within traditional Native communities, women farmed, gathered food, and cooked, while men hunted. Although there was division of labor along gender lines, there was no hierarchy based on gender -- a community could not survive without both of the equal halves of a whole. The Native commitment to gender equality opened the door for multiple genders, without the idea that a man was taking on a lesser gender by placing himself in a women's role, or vice versa.
Traditional Roles of Two-Spirit People
The Native commitment to gender equality opened the door for multiple genders, without the idea that a man was taking on a lesser gender by placing himself in a women's role, or vice versa.
People of Two-Spirit gender functioned as craftspeople, shamans, medicine-givers, mediators, and social workers. In many Native communities, men's and women's styles of speech were distinct -- sometimes even different dialects were spoken. Two-Spirit people knew how to speak in both the men's and women's ways. Many nations had a division of labor, women gathered and men hunted. As a result, there were men's camps and women's camps. Women were not allowed in the men's camp and vice versa. Since it was believed that Two-Spirit people had both men's and women's spirits, they were the only ones allowed to go between the two camps. They brokered marriages, mediated divorces, settled arguments, and fostered open lines of communication between the sexes.
Two-Spirit people challenged the rigid views of colonizers and missionaries -- not just of a binary gender system, but their entire binary system of "this or that." The Two-Spirit's mere existence threatened the colonizers' core beliefs, and the backlash was violent. Captain Vasco Nunez de Balboa, a Spanish conquistador, unleashed violent dogs on the male-bodied Two-Spirit people from what is now Panama. Word of this brutal treatment spread quickly from Nation to Nation. Many Nations decided to take actions to protect their Two-Spirit people. Some Nations hid them by asking them to replace their dress, a mixture of men and women's clothing, with the attire of their biological sex. After years of colonization, some of those Nations converted to Western religions that did not accept their community structures and forgot, or even denied, ever having a tradition that celebrated Two-Spirit people.
Colonization and Challenges to HIV Prevention
HIV prevention among NA/AN is filled with challenges. The historical trauma suffered by Native peoples has led to increased rates of alcoholism and drug abuse, which contribute to partner violence and make HIV prevention difficult. The stigma now associated with sexuality and gender in Native communities, along with the close-knit nature of these communities, can make it difficult to confidentially discuss and confront HIV.
In 2011 the CDC released the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. One of the most staggering findings was that nearly half of the men who identified as Native reported rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner. HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are more likely to be transmitted during sexual violence because of physical trauma. Intimate partner violence also causes power inequality in relationships, making it difficult to negotiate condom use. This staggering amount of intimate partner violence is fueling the HIV epidemic among Native communities.
Alcoholism leads people to engage in risky sex and can lead to intravenous drug use. These are the most common HIV transmission modes among Native people, who have the highest rates of drug use among all racial groups. In 2011, intravenous drug use accounted for 37% of HIV transmissions among Native women and 11% among men. This is almost double that of other races. Another factor fueling the spread of HIV in Native communities is the high rates of STIs, since they increase the risk of HIV infection. Native people have the second highest rates of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis among all racial groups.
Homophobia can be especially harmful, since it discourages people from seeking services out of fear of being targeted. Urban Natives have access to more services and to the LGBT community, but those who live on reservations are isolated. Local tribal health care centers offer HIV testing, but some people refuse testing out of fear. As a result, they may unknowingly be infecting others. Other issues, such as language and culture, gender identity, and culturally based holistic treatment are also important to address when providing HIV care.
As a colonized population, Native peoples have a long history of mistrust of the government, medical institutions, and service organizations. They have endured significant traumas, such as removal from homelands, divided nations, loss of language and culture through forced enrollment of children in boarding schools, rape, disease, etc. This history continues to influence today's generation.
Recent Efforts to Combat HIV
The Indian Health Service, a federally-funded health program, recently created a website to inform people about HIV within Native communities. It includes educational information, the ability to search for local service providers, and statistics from a 2006 CDC report on HIV in Native peoples. While the site is a great resource, the out-of-date information highlights the shortcomings of dealing with the epidemic in this community.
Last March, the CDC published a comprehensive report titled HIV Among American Indians and Alaskan Natives. In 2007, National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day began an annual tradition of promoting HIV testing. The following year, The Indian Health Service began a nationwide campaign to promote routine testing of all Native populations. Slogans like "Native Tested Proud" and "Know Your Body, Know Your Status" encourage all Native people to get tested, regardless of gender identity or behavioral risk factors.
The U.S. Office of Minority Health, in partnership with the Indian Health Service released "The Circle of Life" curriculum for Native youth in December 2012. It emphasizes the importance of mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional wellness to prevent HIV infection.
Honoring Our Traditions
While many Native people have forgotten the "old" ways, there are groups of elders and activists who have quietly kept the Two-Spirit tradition alive. In some Nations, Two-Spirit people are again fulfilling some of their traditional roles and regaining the honor and respect of their communities.
Not long ago, the Two-Spirit identity was not embraced by either the LGBT community or the Native community. This meant that no data were collected on the Two-Spirit community. With no data, it was nearly impossible to obtain any funding because leaders could not document what they knew was going on in their community. Fortunately, there are now two sets of data on Two-Spirit health.
One of these is the New York State Department of Health's needs assessment, "Reclaiming Our Voices: Two Spirit Health & Human Service Needs in New York State." The other is Dr. Karina Walters' five-year, multi-site health survey of Two-Spirit Native Americans, "The Honor Project," funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. The Honor Project has found that about a third of transgender Two-Spirit people and MSM reported they were living with HIV. These rates of infection are similar to those in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as to those among U.S. African American MSM, a community with a verified AIDS crisis.
The National American Indian and Alaska Native Addiction Technology Transfer Center assisted with the dissemination of the training, "Two-Spirit Then and Now: Reclaiming Our Place of Honor." This training helps mental health, substance abuse, and HIV care providers work more effectively with Two-Spirit people. Both Native and non-Native participants are given an opportunity to discuss how historical trauma led to the displacement of Two-Spirit people from their communities, and its impact on their mental health, health disparities, and recovery support needs. For more information, email email@example.com.
Since September 2012, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Native American Center for Excellence has been hosting monthly Two-Spirit webinars. In "Depression and Suicide in The Two-Spirit Community," presenter Karina Walters acknowledged the difficulties that affect the mental health of Two-Spirit people and showed that strong family support networks are key to combating HIV in Native communities. For info on upcoming webinars, email firstname.lastname@example.com, and visit nace.samhsa.gov/TTA/TrainingDocs.aspx to view past webinars.
Two-Spirit Gatherings
There are now 16 Two-Spirit organizations in the U.S. They know that a holistic and culturally appropriate approach to wellness is paramount, including a person's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual self. Many of these Two-Spirit organizations hold regular gatherings, and the International Two-Spirit Gathering has been held yearly since 1990. Here people can explore, heal, experience, and share within a setting that is affirming of their Two-Spirit identity and traditions. The NorthEast Two-Spirit Society is hosting the 25th International Two-Spirit Gathering at Wading River, Long Island, from September 18 to 23, 2013. The theme for this year's Gathering is "Celebrating 25 Years of Resilience, Healing & Restoring Honor." For more information, email the planning committee at email@example.com.
Three decades after the AIDS epidemic began, Two-Spirit programs are providing culturally sensitive services with little to no funding and have set a high standard of service provision to an almost invisible population. These programs are necessary to begin our healing. The Two-Spirit tradition is a rich one that deserves closer examination. LGBT activists fighting for equality for all should remember that there was a time when people who engaged in same-sex relationships or who did not conform to binary gender systems were accepted and honored for their special qualities.
Two-Spirit people are a part of the fabric of this land, and we stand here today as a testament of our collective strength. By honoring the traditional place of Two-Spirit people in our communities, we have great potential for expanding HIV prevention and treatment.
Harlan Pruden is Director and Co-Founder of NorthEast Two-Spirit Society and is a member of the Goodfish Lake Band of the Saddle Lake Indian Reservation.
Tim Nuttle (Cherokee) is a volunteer and supporter of the NorthEast Two-Spirit Society.
Shannon Finucane is a Jeannette K. Watson Fellow and Public Policy Intern at GMHC.


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Upholstery Cleaning Hartwell
Squeaky Upholstery Clean Hartwell is a trusted name in providing professional upholstery cleaning solutions in Hartwell. We are a team of well-trained experts equipped with advance techniques and machinery to ensure that the upholstery items at homes, offices and commercial establishments are steam cleaned thoroughly by our professional qualified and trained Upholstery Hartwell based cleaner.
Our services are known for its timeliness, cost-effectiveness and quality. We provide our on-site upholstery cleaning Hartwell services round the clock in all the suburbs of Hartwell.
To know more about our services and get a free quote, just give us a call at our 24X7 phone number:
Why choose for professional Upholstery Cleaning Hartwell?
Upholstery items are often the home of dust mites, pathogens and bacterial / fungal matter which cause diseases. Conventional home cleaning techniques are unable to sanitize completely. Besides, they can also damage the expensive fabrics and material in upholstery.
Will your cleaning affect the fabric / material of my upholstery?
Our well-trained and experienced cleaners have the ability to clean and sanitize any kind of upholstery item irrespective of the fabric and material used in it, thus ensuring that you everything is clean and hygienic without any damage.
How much do you charge?
We provide customized quote to all our customers as per their specific needs and requirements. Just give us a call for a quote. But, we assure that our rates are most reasonable and competitive according to the services we prove.
Our Upholstery Cleaning Team
Squeaky Clean Upholstery team consists of only experts in upholstery cleaning. All our team members are certified and have years of experience to back their talent. Our company's main aim is to provide complete customer satisfaction to all our clients. All our cleaners are locals of Hartwell.
- Jake stays in the Northern suburbs and delivers upholstery cleaning jobs in the Northern suburbs.
- Daniel caters to the clients of the Eastern suburbs.
- Sam is dedicated to use his skills to serve the customers of the Western suburbs.
- Harry responds skillfully to all upholstery cleaning services in the Southern suburbs.
Your True Upholstery Cleaning Specialists
Squeaky Clean Couch Hartwell is a renowned cleaning service provider in Hartwell. We have been serving the Hartwell residents for more than twenty years. We are here to provide our clients with a high quality experience and guaranteed results for our upholstery cleaning services.
Our Modus Operandi for Upholstery Cleaning
At Squeaky Clean Upholstery, we are very particular about our way of cleaning the upholstery. We keep it simple yet highly effective with our proven and eco-friendly cleaning solutions. We first provide an initial inspection of the upholstery to figure out the kind of fabric it is made of and what extent of cleaning is required. We then decide the most suitable cleaning solution and cleaning strategy for your upholstery and then work upon it. Once the cleaning is done, we use special stain removal techniques to get rid of various stains and make your upholstery spotless. And after drying the upholstery, we finally sanitize the same for most effective consequences.
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Squeaky Clean Upholstery Hartwell offers a variety of advantages. When you decide to hire us as your upholstery experts, you will be benefitted from various benefits. We are highly professional, extremely friendly, profusely knowledgeable, fully insured, abundantly experienced, and very prompt. We give you same day and emergency upholstery cleaning services as well. You just have to give us a call and we arrange for everything else at our end. We send our expert upholstery cleaners to your doorstep to give you a flawless experience.
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Squeaky Clean Upholstery Hartwell has numerous upholstery cleaning services all across Hartwell. Our services include couch cleaning, upholstery cleaning, cleaning vomit from couch, cleaning urine from couch, sofa cleaning, microfiber upholstery cleaning, leather upholstery cleaning, upholstery stain removal, carpet cleaning, lounge cleaning, upholstery dry cleaning, upholstery steam cleaning, and so on. So whatever your requirement is, we have the perfect solution for you!
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[RICH_REVIEWS_SHOW num="all"]
Location: Hartwell, VIC, Australia

subset: commoncrawl


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PR activities
Our global Public Relations team is involved in many of the organization's activities. These include:
World Entrepreneur Of The Year
The World Entrepreneur Of The Year (WEOY) Award was created by EY to recognize the significant accomplishments of entrepreneurs around the world. The program builds on EY's more than 20 years of success in running Entrepreneur Of The Year™ (EOY) Award programs in many countries. Read more about the program.
World Economic Forum
We have been a strategic partner with the World Economic Forum (WEF) since 1999. Discover more about our involvement in the WEF Annual Meetings.


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NASA Creates World's First Global Forest Map Using Lasers
Scientists, using three NASA satellites, have created a first-of-its-kind map that details the height of the world's forests.
The data was collected from NASA's ICESat, Terra and Aqua satellites. The latter two satellites are responsible for most of NASA's Gulf spill imagery. The data collected will help scientists understand how the world's forests both store and process carbon. While there are many local and regional canopy maps, this is the very first global map using a uniform method for measure.
The laser technology called LIDAR was used to capture the data. It is capable of taking vertical slices of surface features. It measured the forest canopy by shooting a pulse of light at the surface and observed the time it took to return in comparison to the time recorded for the tree top.
"LIDAR is unparalleled for this type of measurement," said Michael Lefsky of the Colorado State University, responsible for capturing the data. He explains that it would have taken weeks to capture this data in the field where LIDAR can capture it in seconds.
The map is based on data from more than 250 million laser pulses collected over 7 years.
The new map confirms that the world's tallest forests are clustered in the Pacific Northwest of North America and some parts of Southeast Asia. Temperate conifer forests--which are moist and harbor species such as Douglas fir, western hemlock, redwoods, and sequoias--have the tallest canopies (over 131 feet high). Undisturbed tropical rain forests are about 82 feet high, around the same height as oak and birch trees.
"What we really want is a map of above-ground biomass, and the height map helps get us there," said Richard Houghton, an expert in terrestrial ecosystem science.
But what about the carbon? Humans release over 7 billion tons of carbon every year. The atmosphere gets most of it (3 billion tons) while the ocean gets around 2 billion itself. But scientists have long wondered where the remaining 2 billion tons of carbon goes. They suspect forests capture most of it through photosynthesis, with younger forests absorbing more than older ones.
Surely, we can speculate what this kind of map can tell us about climate change. But as Lefsky points out, "This is a really just a first draft."
Like this article? Follow me on Twitter or friend me on Facebook.
Source: NASA


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Carry the right breathalyser in France
The Institute of Advanced Motorists is warning that up to half of British motorists driving in France this summer are risking a fine because carrying an approved breathalyser is now mandatory.
The issue is the fact that the breathalyser needs to carry the the blue circular NF logo, the French equivalent of the BSI kite mark in the UK. Lots of people are selling breathalysers for use in France, but, without the right logo, they are of no value.
The IAM questioned 2,300 people about the issue. 82 per cent of people think that the new regulations will have no effect on reducing drink driving, as intended by the French authorities. Only 13 per cent said that the new regulations will reduce people driving over the limit, and 70 per cent said that drivers will only carry them to comply with the law, and will not change their behaviour.
Despite a general scepticism about the impact these new regulations will have, compliance is set to be high. Seventy-five per cent of respondents plan to take the breathalyser kit with them. Only seven per cent said they didn't plan to. Eighteen per cent didn't know or hadn't thought about it.
The legal limit in France is 50 mg per 100 ml of blood, compared to the UK limit of 80mg.
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: "Agree with the changes or not, from July 1st you will face a fine if you don't carry an NF approved breathalyser while travelling in France. While these are a good way of being sure you are safe to drive, if you're going to drink don't drive, and beware the morning after effect.


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White voters still matter
RENO, Nev. — If Mitt Romney wins the presidency, part of the lesson of 2012 will be that white voters still matter.
The polling couldn't be clearer or more polarizing: A POLITICO/George Washington University Battleground Tracking Poll has Romney ahead of President Barack Obama among white voters by 18 points, 57 percent to 39 percent. Gallup showed Romney ahead among whites by 20-plus points this month.
Story Continued Below
( Also on POLITICO: Obama tries to regain edge with women)
A Washington Post-ABC News Tracking poll released Thursday showed a similarly large spread between the GOP nominee and Obama at 21 percentage points.
It's the largest divide since George H.W. Bush carried white voters by 20 points over Michael Dukakis in 1988. Obama trailed John McCain among white voters by just 12 points.
"There's no doubt that running up the score with white voters is the only way Romney is going to win this thing," said Tom Jensen, the Democratic pollster who runs Public Policy Polling.
"His numbers with African-Americans and Hispanics have barely moved at all. But, with white voters, Romney went from being up 10, or 12, to 19, or 20. That 20-point threshold with white voters is probably the absolute bare minimum he needs to at least win the popular vote. He may need to win whites by 25 percent."
The nation's first African-American president is counting on an electorate at least as diverse as the 2008 coalition of voters that put him over the top — including record numbers of Hispanics and Latinos — in 2012. Minority voters formed a record 26 percent of the electorate four years ago, compared with 74 percent of white voters.
( Also on POLITICO: Latest polls from across U.S.)
But whether the demographic trend lines continue and the minority vote increases again in 2012 is hard to predict — though Obama campaign officials cite data showing 2012 would defy historical trends if they did not. The winner hangs in the balance.
"The notion that in 2012 the [demographic trend toward more diversity in the electorate] is going to change is patently absurd," said one senior Obama campaign official.
Most establishment Republicans privately acknowledge their alarm about the party's long-term demographic problem. In 1992, 87 percent of voters were white. In 2000, that figure was 81 percent. In 2008, partly propelled by the African-American desire to elect the first black president, the white share of the vote fell to 74 percent.
The POLITICO poll earlier this month showed Romney nabbing 36 percent among Latinos and 4 percent of African-Americans.
( Also on POLITICO: Final week of Romney ads still TBD)
If Republicans don't make inroads with Latinos, mega-states like Texas might eventually be in play and Florida's hue will become less purple and more blue.
But some public polls show a similar share of white voters likely to vote as four years ago, which poses a problem for Obama and favors Romney.


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Sometimes I will leave the tarp suspended in the snakeskins above the hammock and lay there to look at the moon& stars. But as soon as I feel sleepy (which isn't long) I deploy the tarp for all the reasons listed previously.
Sometimes I will leave the tarp suspended in the snakeskins above the hammock and lay there to look at the moon& stars. But as soon as I feel sleepy (which isn't long) I deploy the tarp for all the reasons listed previously.
"Life is a Project!"
I generally do porch mode on clear nights, but I've also pulled both sides of the tarp to one side and staked it out that way... Making kind of a 'wind ramp' just to keep the wind off my face. This worked well and if it had started raining it would have taken less than two minutes to get the tarp fully deployed.
'Enjoying the view' when in the hammock is a moot point for me, as others have said; I fall right asleep the minute I lay down. I do LOVE waking up to see the woods sleeping softly beside me in the middle of the night, which porch mode is great for. My last hang I had a couple moments of 'oh crap, I'm in the woods... Oh nevermind, back to sleep.' I kinda like that moment of panic when you wake up and remember that you're out in the wild.
"We're the Sultans of Swing."
I enjoy the differences in how I "feel" when I'm under a tarp and when I'm not. I've never had a problem with either choice (so far the weatherman has been correct).
However, another advantage to setting a tarp (in addition to all those mentioned above) is that it can create a microclimate underneath. What I mean is that in cool or cold temperatures, heat from the ground, the sun, or your body (including breathing) can be somewhat trapped under the tarp, making it a couple degrees warmer depending on how you have your tarp pitched. This can be nice when you're near the bottom of your insulation's ratings.
The main reason I like having my tarp up... so the morning sun doesn't wake me up too early.
But, a couple weekends ago, it was supposed to be no rain, highs in the mid 70's, lows in the upper 40's. I decided to go the first night without a tarp and woke up covered in dew.
Now I have the thought of nocturnal ABMs too.
I always tarp it at night. Nothin worse than having to get out in the rain and deploy the tarp. I'm asleep minutes after snuggling in for the night anyway, no stargazing from the hammock for me. I will do porch mode though, and fall asleep to the dying glow of the fire (where permitted of course)...Bush
Ditto on the porch mode.
3rd Annual Frosty Butt Hang Feb 2019 ............
I am 18 with 48 years of experience ! ................ Hike the Neusiok Trail & check out the NTforum !
I absolutely love going no tarp when its clear. I like looking for shooting stars, and the moon can sometimes be a good clock (location/season pending).
Getting lost is not a waste of time.
Thanks everybody! Cannibal, thanks for illustrating with your pic - you . I had to look up porch mode. Looks like something new I will have to learn. I will leave the tarp up till I am more comfortable with judging the conditions.
Shug, I guess I missed your comment in the video. By the way, I wish you had ratings enabled in more of your videos. They are really good.
I have to say I love how people chime in with all sorts of useful info. Google just became my second choice for finding good info.


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Successful dress rehearsal for SMOS validation
As ESA looks forward to the launch of its SMOS Earth Explorer next year, an extensive airborne campaign has just taken place over Germany, Spain and the Mediterranean Sea. The campaign rehearsed the complex procedures involved in validating the mission's data — data crucial for a better understanding of the Earth's water cycle.
The process of data validation for any Earth Observation mission is always an important component of the mission development, as it ensures that data received from the satellite is as accurate as possible. However, carrying out validation procedures in the field is often a complicated task involving many teams and instruments on the ground and in the air – a logistical challenge that needs a 'dry run' before the real validation procedure takes place after the satellite is launched.
To this end, a five-week validation rehearsal campaign for ESA's Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission has just been successfully carried out. In total, the rehearsal campaign involved more than 120 scientists and university students taking soil-moisture measurements out in the field, a core team of ten scientists and specialised instrumentation installed in a Skyvan aircraft, which was operated by Finland's University of Helsinki, as well as ocean buoys deployed from the an oil rig in the Mediterranean Sea to measure ocean salinity.
A demanding aspect of the rehearsal was that, in order to mimic the flight times of the SMOS satellite, all the validation measurements had to be taken before sunrise. This meant that the team members worked through the night, with a typical measuring period stating at 02:00 hrs and lasting until daybreak — a challenge not only for the body clock but also from a visibility standpoint, especially for the teams taking soil-moisture readings on the ground.
The first measurements of ocean salinity were acquired over the Baltic Sea by making use of the transit flight from Helsinki to the first main site near Oberpfaffenhofen in southern Germany. The transit flight also took advantage of flying over a test site in Germany operated by the Jülich Research Centre, where the first set of soil-moisture data was acquired.
The aircraft, which has been used in earlier SMOS campaign activities, was equipped with four main instruments: EMIRAD – an L-band radiometer designed and operated by the Technical University of Denmark; HUT-2D – a radiometer developed by the Helsinki University of Technology; an infrared radiometer also developed by the Helsinki University of Technology and a GPS instrument developed by Spain's Institute for Space Studies of Catalonia.
In southern Germany, scientists and students from the University of Munich took soil-moisture readings over a three-week period from sites along a 150 km transect while measurements were taken simultaneously from the aircraft overhead. The transect included a variety of vegetation types and the measurements were taken in during a range of different weather conditions. Although the main campaign activities were geared to rehearsing validation procedures for soil-moisture measurements, the flights between the two main test sites in Germany and Spain, over the Mediterranean Sea, were exploited to acquire measurements of ocean salinity. This entailed the cooperation of the Casablanca oil rig just off the coast from Barcelona, Spain and two ocean buoys equipped with specialised instrumentation.
Scientists and students from the University of Valencia, Spain took soil-moisture readings from a test site near Valencia, which covered an area of 100 m2 and also included many different types of vegetation. The measuring activities from the aircraft and on the ground were carried out following periods of rainfall so that the so-called 'drying period' could be represented in the data.
Patrick Wursteisen ESA's SMOS Campaign Coordinator commented, "Whilst we have gathered useful data for SMOS validation purposes, the rehearsal campaign has been essential for highlighting logistical issues associated with airspace, airport procedures, working through the night and so on. Now that we've had this rehearsal, we know that we can implement all the necessary procedures to ensure that the real validation exercises will run as smoothly as possible, and that the appropriate algorithms for data handling are in place to realise truly accurate data. The teams working in the field have done some excellent work — for which ESA is very grateful."


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Put Up an Identity Shield to Protect Your Social Security Number
One of the most important keys to your identity is your Social Security number (SSN). Guard it. Protect it. Keep it away from the fraudsters.
1. Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet. If that wallet is ever lost or stolen, that Social Security card is equivalent to a winning lottery ticket in the wrong hands of the wrong guy.
2. Avoid carrying cards with your SSN, particularly health insurance cards, unless you need them to receive care.
3. Keep it off other cards. Request that your driver's license number or any other identification number is not the same as your Social Security number.
4. Never give out your SSN, credit card number, or other personal information over the phone unless you have a trusted business relationship with the organization and initiated the call using a verified phone number.
5. Avoid including your SSN on medical history forms and job applications.
6. Provide your SSN only when absolutely necessary—for tax forms, employment, stock, property transactions, etc.
7. Keep it away from accounts. If your financial institution attempts to use your SSN as an account number, ask them to change it immediately.
8. If a government agency requests your SSN, look for a Privacy Act notice. This will state whether a SSN is required, how it will be used, how it is protected, and what happens if you don't provide it.
9. Check your Social Security Earnings Statement each year for signs of fraud. You should receive it yearly approximately three months before your birthday.
10. Don't use the last four numbers. Many businesses have started using the last four digits of your SSN for remote identification purposes for access to online banking and telephone banking via both Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and live telephone agent. It may be used in combination with other simple and widely available identifiers like a ZIP code. A number of institutions have used it as a default password when you reset your telephone, online or even ATM PIN. It is not a recommended practice.
Top 5 Worst Places to Use Your SSN
McAfee, the anti-virus company, recently made headlines when it released a study of the most dangerous places to use your Social Security number. The places were ranked based on the number of data breaches—where hackers break into computer systems and steal personal information—from January 2009 through October 2010. The results are disturbing:
1. Universities and colleges
2. Banking and financial institutions
3. Hospitals
4. State governments
5. Local governments
What is most maddening is that these are exactly the kinds of institutions where you have no alternative but to give up your Social Security number to gain services. So what do you do when, say, standing in line at university registration or on the phone with a financial institution and you're asked to cough it up?
1. Ask questions. First, ask if they really need your Social Security number. Are there other options? Name and address, or date of birth perhaps? Many types of businesses cannot, by law, require you to give up your SSN, so you might just have a call center employee seeking the shortest route to a finished call.
2. Never give your SSN or other information to anyone from anywhere who calls you. This could be a well-known scam where criminals pose as reputable institutions. If your bank does call you, ask them for a call-back number and verify that it's legit online.
3. Visit annualcreditreport.com to get a free copy of your credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, and make sure nothing is amiss. Then consider a fraud and credit monitoring service or a similar plan that will notify you of any unusual activity.


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10/1 Year ARM Jumbo Mortgage Rates 2019
Colin Robertson January 3, at 9: Find a real estate agent.
New York 5/1 Year ARM Jumbo Mortgage
There are simple directions that come with the product that you should follow to ensure maximum success. Some of these include taking the supplement in the same routine every day and eating less as your appetite becomes lessened. The specific amount of weight you will be able to shed depends on many different factors- but many people report improvements of over 9 kg in a matter of weeks. Of course, people that achieve such results are usually incorporating exercise and healthy eating habits into their routine, but we believe this supplement is a must-have for anyone who is serious about kicking their bodies into the next gear.
The best place to buy pure Garcinia Cambogia is at the link shown on the top of this page.


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The Talisman Lyrics
Reside in pentacle; invoke the djinni; be secret, stay safe, keep your name; keep your name! End spoken incantation; smoke appears within the summoning circle to which my voice begins to trail. "Only by my will an assignment is formed. Demon, you are mine!" "I am no conjuror of tricks. No childish necromancer without the intelligence to bind you. So carry out my demands, then at my call return to me. Clandestinely make your travels. Bring me the talisman! "Go hence, fetch me the talisman. I will call upon you at sunrise. Once this next day begins I will have a fortune more than fable."
(Solo: Vail)
I contort my energy to bring this bloody servant back to me. "Have you achieved my demanded thievery? Have you successfully attained that which I believe to be the only key in passing through Uraitahn unscathed?" "Oh yes my eternally loathed one, I have reached and have returned without personal detriment. Your will is great, your heart is strong, but in these actions you are but a breathing carrion."
"Beyond this summoning circle you are forbidden, except for by my will. "I have since irradiated. I feel I've assimilated every single necessity to carry out safe passage through the gate."


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Shore Reels
Browse our range of Shore Fishing Reels, both Fixed Spool and Multiplier.
Our selection of fixed spool reels for shore fishing, includes the Penn Battle II, Penn Spinfisher V Heavy Surf, Penn Affinity II 7000 and Shakespeare Agility Surf 70. Also reels from Yuki, Vega, Blackrock, Sonik and TFG.
Our selection of multiplier reels for shore fishing includes the Abu Ambassadeur range with the Abu Mag Elite High Speed, and also the Penn Mag3 range.
Our selection of Bass Fishing Reels includes spinning reels from Mitchell, Daiwa, Sonik and Abu Garcia.
Shore Fishing Tackle - Reels
We have lots more products in store than currently displayed here. If you can't see what you are looking for, please contact us for advice. We can also take your order over the phone (01323) 460911.


text: Products New products Bathroom faucets Premium Alpha Tube Beta Bold Quant Dau Spirit Nautilus Vent Salt Lile Sky Thermostatic mixers Arum Escade Olympic Sigma Quark Concealed sets 1 way 2 ways 3 ways Bath and shower systems Artic Luxor Berenice Caresse Pacific Plus Ocean Plus Wind Blu New Pacific New Ocean Shower columns Edna Onna Rio Shower programme Shower heads Shower arms Hand showers Jets Shower sliding bar sets Shower kits Shower sliding bars Wall brackets Water outlets Flexible hoses Kitchen faucets Kitchen faucets INOX (AISI 304) Kitchen faucets Kitchen faucets standard Classic kitchen faucets Special faucets Kits to replace the bidet Hygienic sets Hygiene shower set Water treatment and filtration Medical faucets Industrial kitchen faucets Pedal faucets Spouts Faucet accessories Waste traps Click waste valves Angle valves Aerators Accessories Shower baskets Grab bars and support bars Wall-mounted towel rack Furniture complements Fixing accessories Shower seats Bathroom faucets standard Amur Yangtse Volga Obi Aldan Zambeze Base Indo Point of sale Display for Hydro. and Acc. Display for faucets Angle valves Key Drop Scut Double angle valve


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It's not a huge update, but if you've been suffering from a problem where your manual exposure has shifted during a video shoot, you'll appreciate that Canon has addressed it with new 1.0.8 firmware. Don't you wish these updates were OTA? I'm sure a huge segment of the population never installs these updates—many of which can seriously improve the performance of the sensor/processing. [Canon via AkihabaraNews]
Canon Firmware 1.0.8 Update Fixes Video Glitch in T2i and 1D Mark IV


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Washington State has one of the most archaic tax systems in the country.
For being such a seemingly progressive state – having an elected gay mayor, a well received marriage-equality law, and legalized pot – we can't quite seem to figure out that our tax system, unlike our other chic merits, just doesn't match our cool Washington vibe.
That's because Washington has the most regressive tax system in the country.
The Ebbtide has won a General Excellence from the Pacific Northwest Association of Journalism Educators.
It took third place in the 2015 General Excellence category and third place in the Publication Sweeps category. Sweeps awards go to papers with the highest number of first-, second- and third-place award winners in individual categories, such as sports reporting and opinion writing.
Among the Ebbtide's individual winners: Aaron Berry and Stephanie Olsen (General News), Aaron Berry (Features), Ben Nason (Reviews), Tyson Baty (Reviews), Brian Quinn (Sports Photo), Randy Hatfield (Portrait Photo), Nicole Kline (Page Design) and the Ebbtide staff (Headlines). Kellen Lambert-Vail received an honorable mention in the Editorial Cartoons category.
This is the seventh time in nine years the Ebbtide has earned a General Excellence award in this contest. The contest was previously sponsored by Washington Community College Journalism Association.
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U.S.-China Relations: Ensuring Enduring Ties for the Future
By DipNote Bloggers on April 7, 2017
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson traveled to Mar-a-Lago in Florida to join President Donald J. Trump for meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 6-7. At the outset of the visit, Secretary Tillerson underscored the importance of the United States' relationship with China and our commitment ensuring the ties between our nations endure for the future.
Secretary Tillerson said, "In the past 40 years, the United States and China have developed deep ties, and this administration is committed to ensuring these ties endure for the next 40 years. We do desire to establish policies that maintain a constructive, cooperative, and results-oriented trajectory."
The Secretary underscored that the United States will pursue economic engagement with China that prioritizes the economic well-being of the American people noting, "The chief goal of our trade policies is the prosperity of the American worker. To that end, we will pursue economic engagement with China that prioritizes the economic well-being of the American people."
Secretary Tillerson also discussed foreign policy areas on which the United States is looking to make progress with China, that serve our interest as well as the region's. For example, on North Korea, the Secretary commented, "we're hopeful that China will find ways to exercise influence over North Korea's actions to dismantle their nuclear weapons and their missile technology programs. Whether it's using their authority on the UN Security Council or utilizing new levers of power, China can be part of a new strategy to end North Korea's reckless behavior and ensure security, stability, and economic prosperity in Northeast Asia."
The Secretary outlined areas for partnership in the region as well as challenges in the relationship between the United States and China. Secretary Tillerson said, "Yet even as we share a desire to work together, and the United States does recognize the challenges China can present to American interest, we renew our strong commitments to our allies in Asia and around the world who have been valuable partners in preserving shared values and security interest. Similarly, the United States will protect our citizens and our institutions against cyber attacks. On other areas of disagreement, such as human rights and religious freedom, the United States will be firm in representing our core democratic values and advocating for the right of all people to live in freedom."
As he concluded his statement, Secretary Tillerson reaffirmed the United States' commitment to working with China on our shared goals. He stated, "The Trump administration remains dedicated to working with China toward mutual goals of respect, security, and prosperity. As we do so, we will not shy away from frank discussions which are necessary to narrow our differences."
Editor's Note: This entry is also published on Medium.com/StateDept.
For more information:
Secretary Tillerson's remarks on the China Summit.


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RV Forum flags - click HERE
it was sitting I drove it yesterday and it ran fine fuse box under the glove box shorted never touched never modified
How were you able to determine that caused the fire? After looking at those pictures I don't think I could determine anything. What a mess!I sure hope your insurance company comes through for you. What insurance company do you have? Keep us posted on how they take care of you.
How soon did they get it out? I'm always afraid of the gas tank blowing up on vehicle fires.
Page created in 0.111 seconds with 23 queries.


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Category : Resume.
Topic : Example of resume for job application pdf. Author : Yardly Porter.
Posted : Fri, Nov 22nd 2019 09:07 AM.
Format : jpg/jpeg.
Find out about the employers: Do not let your resume or resume in disorder or write a resume or resume in a certain available form. Resume and resume are one way to show off your personality and make the best explanation to the employers question why they are impressed at you but not at other candidates.


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Inside Anthropology, there is a tradition of looking at theater. There is an interesting article that was just published in the latest issue of Cultural Anthropology that ties in directly to post-combat operations (sort of Phase IV+).
I'm going to have to go through this one carefully, but it may have some useful insights into how people re-construct memories into a religious format.DISPLACING VIOLENCE: Making Pentecostal Memory in Postwar Sierra Leone
Tufts University, Medford, MA
In this article, I seek to locate the anthropology of social recovery within the work of memory. Following a decade of violent armed conflict in Sierra Leone, displaced youth in a Pentecostal church write and perform plays that are silent on the subject of the war, but renarrate it in the idiom of spiritual warfare against a subterranean demonic realm known as the Underworld. Ideas of the Underworld are part of a local retooling of the Pentecostal deliverance ministry to address Sierra Leone's years of war. Through their struggle against the Underworld, these Pentecostal youth reimagine Sierra Leone's war, reshaping experiences of violence that have shaped them and thereby transforming demonic memory into Pentecostal memory. Just as their own physical displacement is not an entirely negative condition, their displacement of violent memory is enabling rather than repressive. By "forgetting" the war as a direct realist account and reworking it through the lens of the Underworld, they use war itself to re-member their lives. Although they do not lose their memories of terror and violence, they learn to transform these in ways that allow them to create a moral life course in which they are much more than weak dependents.


text: David Goldman of the AP caught this magical snapshot on Friday at the Jays-Braves game in Kissimmee. Mitch Davie is the Gators fan with the quick hands, protecting his seatmates and protecting his drink. Props to him for stepping up and preventing something like this, and props to the Braves for serving Red Stripe tall boys. [via Seattle Times]


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DB2 Data Sharing and XCF Job Name - Revisited
MartinPacker 11000094DH Comments (3) Visits (15185)
It's been almost four years since I wrote DB2 Data Sharing and XCF Job Name . It mostly stands the test of time but there are a couple of things I want to bring up. I was in the DB2 Development lab a couple of days ago, talking with a couple of developer friends about DB2 Data Sharing and XCF. They know DB2 Data Sharing and IRLM much better than I do but XCF not so much. (It's probable that XCF... [More]
He Picks On CICS
MartinPacker 11000094DH Comment (1) Visits (14883)
If you think this title is obscure bear in mind the original working title was "Send In The Hobgoblins". 1 When I started to write - actually before the "mind mapping" stage - it was going to be all about inconsistency in the way bits of systems are named. You'll see some of that reflected in the finished article (pun intended) but the post has mostly gone in a different... [More]
Drawing The Line
MartinPacker 11000094DH Visits (14202)
You'd think it would be pretty simple to draw a line. Right? This post discusses an enhancement I'd like to make to my current reporting - and I'm pretty sure that technically I can do it. The question is whether I should . Consider my current "Memory by address space within Service Class" graph. Here's a sample: And here's what I think I might like it to look like: Obviously the line's... [More]
CICS VSAM Buffering
MartinPacker 11000094DH Comments (5) Visits (21535)
Four score and seven years ago (or so it seems) the Washington Systems Center published a set of mainframe Data-In-Memory studies. These were conducted by performance teams in various IBM labs and were quite instructive and inspiring. I wish I could find the form number (and a fortiori a PDF version) for this book. Anyone? Even hardcopy would be really nice. The reason I mention this is because... [More]
Batch Capacity Planning, Part 1 - CPU
MartinPacker 11000094DH Visits (11722)
It's been a week since the following was posted in IBM-MAIN: Batch Capacity Planning - BWATOOL? So far there's been no reply. Though a little disappointed, I'm not surprised. "Disappointed" as I was looking for a good debate (even though it wasn't me who asked the question). "Not surprised" as I think the subject of Batch Capacity Planning is a tough one. The original post... [More]
Recent Experiences With Hardware Data Compression
MartinPacker 11000094DH Comments (2) Visits (17535)
As you probably know Hardware Data Compression has been supported by MVS and IBM mainframes for around 20 years. In several recent batch studies I've conducted it's been evident in a widespread way. (In this post I'm not talking about DB2 compression of either flavour or VSAM compression - though some of the information here applies to these functions as well.) It's not as simple... [More]
It Depends: SMF 30 Job Timings And CPU Time
MartinPacker 11000094DH Comments (4) Visits (22001)
This may be stating the obvious - but I wonder to whom it actually is obvious... I've been doing quite a lot of work with batch job timings and CPU recently. (Everything I'm about to say is equally true of steps.) It's interesting to think about the effects of faster engines versus more engines (a question I haven't been asked recently) and whether a customer needs more capacity or just faster... [More]
Capacity, Performance and Systems Investigation
MartinPacker 11000094DH Visits (10811)
At one level Performance and Capacity Management and Systems Investigation are clearly linked: They share the same data. Or much of it at least. But I think they're linked in another way, too. Over the past few years I've gradually shifted emphasis towards Systems Investigation. But this has only been a slight shift, a "non modo sed etiam" and still only really mainframe. So I'm... [More]
My Slides Are Ready For Vienna
MartinPacker 11000094DH Visits (11647)
I wouldn't want you to decide not to come to Vienna , just because I've made my slides available on Slideshare: I'd hope you'd come to Vienna anyway. It's a great place and it's going to be a great conference. Lots of people can't make Vienna and I don't suppose having the slides to hand is going to tilt the playing field significantly away from coming if you weren't going to anyway. I don't... [More]
IBM System z Technical University - Vienna, May 2-6
MartinPacker 11000094DH Visits (12215)
I'm working on my presentations for System z Technical University - Vienna, May 2-6 and I'm reviewing the agenda. As well as my four presentations there are lots of other goodies. These range from the Management level down to the purely technical. (I guess mine are towards the latter end of the scale - but I'd say there's lots of pressure on us all to work on cost so detailed information on e.g.... [More]
zAAP CPU Time Bug in Type 72 Record - OA29974 Is The Cure
MartinPacker 11000094DH Comment (1) Visits (12027)
If you use RMF Postprocessor you won't see this one. If you use Service Units rather than CPU seconds fields in the SMF 72-3 record you also won't see it. It's only if (like me) you use the CPU time for zAAPs in your CPU Utilisation calculation that you'll run into this problem. If you examine fields R723IFAT (zAAP CPU Time) and R723IFCT (zAAP on GCP CPU Time) you might find them zero when you... [More]
System z Expo, Las Vegas, 13-17 October
MartinPacker 11000094DH Comments (3) Visits (14897)
With a couple of working days to go before the deadline I've completed my two presentations for Expo. As usual I've added some new stuff, based on new technologies and some situations I've encountered. And rather than throwing older stuff out I've moved most of it to backup foils. While I'm prepared to present the backup material I don't expect to have time to in the sessions. But at least you'll... [More]
System z10 CPU Instrumentation
MartinPacker 11000094DH Comments (2) Visits (9923)
Since I got back off vacation in L'Hérault in late August I've been working on adding z10 support to our CPU analysis code. It's quite a substantial set of changes - and I don't think I'm finished yet . But I'd like to share with you what I've learned so far. But first let's briefly review what's changed with z10. (This is a very brief review and not a tutorial on the subjects mentioned.)... [More]
Coupling Facility Structure CPU - An Interesting Test
MartinPacker 11000094DH Comments (2) Visits (9490)
I'm not sure if anyone's done this before. Certainly I've not seen any results... We're beginning to write up some tests the "A Team" (Alain and Pierre) ran before their return to France. Which provides me with some test data. Fortunately I had a stab at mapping the new fields this data contains. One in particular is Stucture CPU (R744SETM)... So, I got to plotting CPU per request against request... [More]


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Latest Articles in Close-Ups
March 15, 2008
September 1, 2007With new product line incorporating a unique manufacturing technique, Insula-Dome looks to expand nationallyInsula-Dome Skylights sees an opening for another big name brand in its product arena. Setting its sights on becoming that name, the 35-year-old regional manufacturer is launching a new product line incorporating a unique approach to vinyl welding. Based in Yaphank, N.Y., Insula-Dome was founded by Harry Jensen in 1973, originally manufacturing Plexiglas domes for vans. With its thermoforming... more »
August 1, 2007Company opened to serve victims while putting its own pieces back togetherAmazing Windows & Doors isn't just helping victims of Hurricane Katrina—it is itself a victim of the storm and its devastating aftermath. The roof of the Metairie, La., building flew off during the storm, leaving the company's entire inventory exposed to pounding winds and rainwater. Standing water rose above filing cabinets and computers, wiping out years of records and a... more »
August 1, 2007Post-Katrina, window dealership takes on doctor's office feel to serve those in needWalking into Interstate Windows & Doors is a lot like walking into the waiting room at a doctor's office. A vanilla reception area has one window, behind which an obviously organized receptionist is stationed, a play table for children is tucked into one corner and a couple of chairs book-end a small table. Rather than health and parenting magazines, the table displays a few window... more »
August 1, 2007
April 1, 2007With new manufacturing plant in Tennessee, 140-year-old door maker continues family tradition of continued, steady growthThe landscape of the interior door business has changed dramatically over the last 20 years or so. With its 140-year history, Steves & Sons has clearly learned to adapt and thrive with change. Dating back to the pioneer days of Texas, the San Antonio-based company has evolved from a frontier lumberyard to one of the largest interior door manufacturers in the United States. And while... more »
February 15, 2007Manufacturer takes dealer-centric approach to ease ordering of an increasingly complex product lineWindow and door manufacturers are facing some growing pains. The list of products and options offered by most companies is expanding, and customers are becoming more demanding. One manufacturer facing these challenges is Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., now nearing the end of a multi-year rollout of a new ordering and quoting software package. The 60-year-old company's made-to-order... more »
February 15, 2007Focusing on new construction products, Tennessee manufacturer sees itself as small fish in a big pond with plenty of opportunities as a resultMGM Industries does its own thing—in more ways than one. It's most obvious "thing" is its product line. Unlike most vinyl window manufacturers, the company makes a mechanically assembled window to better mimic the look of wood windows. A tour through the company's plant in Hendersonville, TN, reveals many other differences too. Unlike most manufacturers its size, it... more »
January 1, 2007Seven siblings team up to grow Brothers Home ImprovementThe replacement window business is a family affair for the Cavannas. They're a big family and, together, they have built a big business. Brothers Home Improvement had a wobbly start in 1995 when second-eldest of nine siblings Gene Cavanna teamed up with the baby of the family, Ralph Cavanna, to start a northern California window installation business. The two, with 11 years separating their... more »
November 1, 2006Targeting the replacement market, California company has developed unique processes and strategyPlenty of companies specialize in replacement windows. Few, however, specialize in replacing interior doors—a fact that suggested a big opportunity to the founders of Interior Door Replacement Co. "Homeowners have had to hire general contractors or a large home improvement store, which generally make a mess of a home, are in the customer's home for days, sometimes weeks, and... more »


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Como Shambhala Estate in Bali | Pure Relaxation
You won't find a more relaxing spa center/hotel then the Como Shambhala Estate in Bali, Thailand. It is a wellness concept featuring products, spa services, Yoga centres and active adventures. Even if its surrounded by forests it doesn't lack the most luxurious details so it will please even the most sophisticated tastes.
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text:
Fourteen bipartisan members of the House of Representatives urged lawmakers Wednesday to block Chinese poultry from school lunches and other national nutrition programs because of the country's poor food safety record.
In a letter, the 12 Democratic representatives and two Republicans called for language in the 2014 agriculture appropriations bill to ensure chicken processed in China is not included in the national school lunch program, the school breakfast program, the child and adult care food program and the summer food service program.
"Children are our most vulnerable population with respect to foodborne illnesses and sensitivity to potentially dangerous chemicals," the letter said. "Given China's demonstrably poor food safety record, we believe it is unacceptable to take unnecessary risks with the health of American school children."
The Department of Agriculture approved the import of Chinese-processed poultry earlier this year on the condition the poultry was not hatched and raised in China.
That could soon change, with Chinese producers now working toward garnering approval to export Chinese poultry to the U.S.
On Monday, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the USDA had told Congress it was taking steps to allow poultry raised and slaughtered in China to be sold in the U.S.
An eventual deal is being viewed as a quid pro quo to open the massive Chinese market for U.S. beef, which has been banned since 2003 over fears of mad cow disease.
China has been marred by numerous food scandals in recent times as the world's second-largest economy has struggled to rein in corrupt business practices and ineffectual government enforcement.
On the subject, the letter Wednesday said:
"Consider the impact of China's weak enforcement of food safety laws and regulations; more than 300,000 Chinese children fell seriously ill, with some dying, from melamine-tainted milk powder; dangerously high levels of mercury found in Chinese baby formula; the sale of more than $1 million worth of rat and other small mammal meat passed off to consumers as lamb; and more than 16,000 diseased pig carcasses dumped in a river to rot.
Last year China Central Television revealed that a Chinese poultry supplier provided Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants with chicken fattened by large quantities of illegal drugs. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced that, since 2007, pet treats imported from China containing contaminated chicken have killed 600 dogs and cats in the United States, and sickened 3,600 more. According to the World Health organization, so far 45 of the 136 people who contracted the H7N9 bird flu in China this year have died."
Signing the letter were Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach), Tony Cardenas (D-Los Angeles), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-Conn.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Louise M. Slaughter (D-N.Y.), Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla.), Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.).
Stocks edge higher as Wall Street awaits Fed decision
The Federal Reserve meeting: Five things to watch for
Housing starts surge in November -- sign of housing pickup?
Follow David Pierson on Twitter


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Explore Our Hotel
Boston Logan Airport Hotel - 11 miles
You're invited to our newly renovated accommodations in Saugus, just 11 miles north of Boston and Logan International Airport. Our hotel's free 24-hour shuttle to Logan Airport and the airport train station makes us the perfect pick for travelers, and our convenient location allows patrons easy access to all that Saugus has to offer. Our hotel's location allows guests to head south to nearby Boston to see the Red Sox at Fenway Park as well as the local attractions of Salem's Witch City. Corporate travelers find convenience and comfort in Saugus, MA since our hotel is just an 11 mile drive from Boston and the Hynes Convention Centers and Peabody office parks.
Complimentary Shuttle Info: Guests arriving in Boston via Logan Airport can use our hotel's complimentary 24-hour shuttle service by calling our front desk to be picked up or dropped off at Logan Airport or the Airport Train Station, half hour departures from 3:30am-7am on the hour after that. Reservations are required.
Whether business or pleasure brings you to Saugus, our hotel's amenities can satisfy your needs. Free internet access keeps you connected, and our Express Start breakfast, complete with signature cinnamon rolls, makes a great start to the day. Guests can enjoy our outdoor pool, or work up a sweat in our fitness center, as well. Free parking available (during your stay). Look to us for genuine value!
- Black-out Shades
- Rollaway Bed/Cot Available
- Crib Available
- Iron/Ironing Board
- In-Room Heating and A/C Controls
Bathroom/Personal Care
- Private Bathroom
- Bathroom Amenities Available
- Hair Dryer
- Bathtub
- Separate/Walk-in Shower
- Separate Vanity Area
In-Room Features
- Mini Refrigerator
- Coffee Maker
- Tea Maker
- Flat-screen TV
- Work Desk with Lamp
- Desk-level Electrical Outlet
- Free Local Calls
- Cable/Satellite
- Premium Channels
- Direct-dial Phone
- Phone with Voicemail
Added Value
- Connecting Rooms Available
- Complimentary Coffee/Tea Supplies
- Full Breakfast Included
- Breakfast Buffet Included
- Continental Breakfast Included
- Complimentary Coffee in Lobby
- Kids Eat Free
- Off-site Restaurant Delivery Available
Business Services
- 1 Meeting Room(s) Available
- On-Site Business Center
- Printer
- Copier
- Office supplies available
Internet Access
- Free High-Speed Internet in all Rooms
- Wireless Internet service is free for all IHG® Rewards Club members
Entertainment & Recreation
- Outdoor Pool
- Outdoor Pool Hours of Operation: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Health & Fitness
Complimentary Fitness Center
Relieve stress in our well equipped Fitness Center with 2 treadmills, 1 stationary bicycle, free weights, benchpress and 1 elliptical machine. Enjoy your favorite TV programs while you work out with 2 new Flat panel TV's.
Hours of Operation: 12:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Fitness Center Type: LIMITED
Fitness Center Equipment:
- Elliptical Machines
- Treadmill
- Free Weights
- Stationary Bicycle
Last Renovation of Fitness Center Equipment: 2016
Housekeeping & Laundry
- Daily Housekeeping
- On-site Guest Self-Laundry Facilities
Added Value
- Wake Up Calls
- ATM/Cash Machine
- Ice Machine
Hotel Details
999 Broadway
Saugus, Massachusetts 01906
United States
Check In: 3:00 PM
Check Out: 11:00 AM
Check-in Age: 21
Parking + -
- Daily Parking: 12 USD
Shuttle + -
- Complimentary Airport Shuttle Service Available For :Boston Logan International Airport
Accessibility + -
- Public Entrance
- Guest Rooms
- Elevators
- Public Restrooms
- Registration Desk
- Exercise Facility
- Business Center
- Pool
- Number of Accessible Meeting Rooms: 1
Accessible Hotel Areas
- Registration Area
- Accessible Guest Rooms
- Business Center
- Meeting Room
- Exercise Facility
- Pool
Hotel Areas with Accessible Routes from Accessible Public Entrance
- Accessible Self Parking
- Van Accessible Self Parking
- Ramp Access
- Portable Bathtub Seats
- Closed Caption TVs
- Telephone with TDD
- Visual Alarm/Alert in Guest Rooms
- Visual Alarm/Alert in Public Spaces
- Communication Kits with Visual Alarms
Provided by Hotel
Pet Policy + -
- Service Animals Allowed
- Only Service animals allowed.
Facility + -
- Smoke-Free Facility
- Number of Floors: 4
- Total Number of Rooms: 145
- Number of Suites: 13
- Number of Non-Smoking Rooms: 145
- Number of Accessible Rooms: 8
- Connecting Rooms Available
- Public Spaces Renovated in: 2019
- Guest Rooms Renovated in: 2019
Languages + -
Languages Spoken by Staff
- English
- Hindi
- Spanish
Credit Cards + -
- American Express
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Diners Club
- Carte Blanche
- Discover


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Food Runner or Busser
- $12.00 Hourly
- Part Time
- Meal Plan / Free Food
- Employer Very Likely to Respond
Shakey's is hiring Front-of-House (FOH) Team Members.
FOH stations include: Cashier, Food Runner, Busser, and Game Room Attendant. Additional FOH-related tasks, such as beer and wine service, may be assigned from time to time. Restroom and parking lot details are tasks shared among FOH and back-of-house team members.
As a team member you will support restaurant operations through various roles at the point-of-sale counter and in the dining, bar and game areas. The FOH team member will initially learn and perform in one FOH station, but is required to train and progress through all FOH responsibilities over time.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Perform opening and closing procedures for the assigned FOH station.
- Take customer food orders, enter information into the point-of-sale terminal and accurately process payments following Shakey's cash handling policies and procedures.
- Provide outstanding hospitality and service to guests to deliver the Shakey's Experience.
- Maintain solid product knowledge to answer questions and make order suggestions.
- Monitor all FOH areas, game room, restrooms and parking lot, for spills, dirt and/or trash and provide prompt maintenance, as required.
- Adhere to Shakey's alcoholic beverage service policy while providing beer and wine service.
- Comply with Food Handler certification practices regarding personal hygiene, cleanliness and food handling.
- Answer guest questions regarding games, resolve game malfunctions and assist customers with ticket redemption.
- Other duties as assigned
Job Requirements:
- Food Handler's card
- Ability to perform above job duties as stated or with reasonable accommodation.
- Maintain a strong knowledge of all skill, requirements, and duties related to the job.
- Excellent communication, customer service, and people skills.
- Dependable Team Player
- Speak, read, and write in English
- Basic math skills
Perk and Compensation:
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An American icon since 1954, Shakey's has been the go-to social gathering place for family and friends to enjoy great food and great times. For over six decades, Shakey's has been serving its original thin crust pizza, crispy fried chicken and craveable Mojo® potatoes along with its signature frosty pints in a fun, relaxed atmosphere that attracts customers for a variety of occasions. Shakey's is gearing up with exciting changes ahead, with newly remodeled restaurants, improved and expanded menus, state of the art game rooms and expansion plans to grow the Shakey's brand.


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Arcade Fire has, as expected, landed atop this week's Billboard album charts. The group's Reflektor sold about 140,000 copies, becoming the group's second No. 1 record in a row. The other, 2010's The Suburbs, sold 156,000 its first week out. And whereas The Suburbs' initial sales were heavy on digital downloads, with about two-thirds of its copies being sold via iTunes, Amazon, or some other online retailer, digital sales represent only about 50 percent of Reflektor's numbers. Interestingly, the album sold about 15,000 vinyl LPs—the most anti-digital format—in its debut week.
Coming in second was last week's No. 1, Katy Perry's Prism, which sold 92,000 copies. Kelly Clarkson's Christmas album, Wrapped In Red, came in third to edge out Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas, a holiday record by the (surely very musical) cast of Duck Dynasty. The holiday novelty album sold 69,000 copies, the vast majority of which will be found in dollar bins eventually.


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Office market fails to benefit from recovery
Across the region: Vacancy rates still top 20 percent in most areas
Office rentals in southwestern Connecticut continue to plod along, despite efforts by brokers and the state to attract businesses to complexes where the vacancy rate can be above 30 percent.
Third-quarter office market reports released by area commercial real estate brokerage firms all show that vacancy levels in major business centers like Greenwich and Stamford continue to dog the region.
Data supplied by Jones Lang LaSalle, RHYS Commercial, CBRE and Cushman & Wakefield varied slightly, but all showed a malaise across Fairfield County, and there are no signs of a dramatic turn-around as companies continue to keep a lid on hiring and reconfigure offices.
The overall availability rate for office space finished the quarter at 22.58 percent, marking the 10th straight quarter of plateauing in the 22nd percentile, RHYS reported.
Stamford and Greenwich, which account for just under half of rentable space in the county, saw available space increase by 6.3 percent since last year, RHYS said.
Despite the increase, Cory Gubner, RHYS president and CEO, said he is upbeat about the long-term prospects for the region, believing that the state's efforts to revitalize the economy is bearing fruit.
Through Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's First Five, Second Five and Next Five programs, the county has attracted or retained businesses that include NBC Sports, Deloitte, Charter Communications, Navigators and Bridgewater Associates.
"The state is doing a lot," Gubner said. "I like the incentives for companies. We're coming out of some tough times. The space will get absorbed as the economy gets better. I think the pace will pick up into the first and second quarter of next year. You'll see a lot of positive absorption. The third quarter reports (next year) will be different than this year's."
Transportation hubs benefit
Office buildings near Stamford's transportation center continued to benefit from leasing volume, fueled by interest in transit-hub markets, said Robert Ageloff, international director and head of Jones Lang LaSalle's Stamford/Westchester office.
Stamford's overall availability rate stood at 25.7 percent in the third quarter, unchanged from the same period last year.
Cenveo's sublease of 30,500 square feet at 200 First Stamford Place, which took Citibank's former space off the market, helped push down Class A vacancy rates in Stamford's central business and railroad district to 26.2 percent from 26.4 percent in the third quarter of 2012.
Fairfield County's overall Class A vacancy rate remained stagnant at 22.4 percent this quarter, according to Jones Lang LaSalle.
In the Greenwich CBD/Railroad submarket, that rate grew to 24.6 percent in this year's third quarter from 18.6 percent in 2012, the firm reported.
The northern part of the county, which includes Danbury, saw the availability rate for top space inch down to 23.7 percent from 25 percent in the third quarter of 2012.
Bruce Tuomala, Danbury's economic development director, said vacancy levels at the sprawling Matrix office center contribute to the overall figure, commenting that the 1.3-million-square-foot complex is slowly filling up. It's about 75 percent occupied.
"It's always bringing in tenants, but it skews things," Tuomala said, adding that office space in Danbury typically rent in the high-teens to the mid-$20 range.
Bridgeport, Norwalk
Eastern Fairfield County, which includes Bridgeport, saw its Class A office vacancy rate fall to 14.1 percent in the most recent quarter from 16.8 percent in same period of 2012, according to Jones Lang LaSalle. In the central part of the county, which includes Norwalk, top office space availability rose to 22.4 percent from 21.4 percent.
Those cities and towns in the northern and eastern parts of Fairfield County are less dependent on the financial services industry, homes to office buildings with lower rents, and they are still "close enough" to New York City, said Alissa DeJonge, vice president of research at the Connecticut Economic Resource Center.
Business diversity is important as regions rebound from the recession, according to Ageloff.
"The region is slowly expanding, but certainly trailing New York and the more industry-diverse suburban markets around the country," Ageloff said. "The good news is that we are seeing a boost in investor confidence, with Fairfield County benefitting from several corporate-owned building sales and distressed debt acquisitions. In addition to adding construction jobs, the ownership changes mean these properties will be repositioned through renovations and more-competitive pricing."
But companies are re-evaluating workplace strategy to use space more efficiently, and it is holding back local office market activity, he said.
"We're going to continue to see this pressure on the Fairfield County office market even as the local business climate improves," Ageloff said, adding that rents increased throughout Fairfield County in the third quarter, reflecting higher-quality, higher-priced space coming online.
Rents increase
Overall rents increased 4.7 percent from the $32.57 per square foot being charged in the third quarter of 2012. Rates for the county's Class A properties rose to $38.70 in the third quarter from $36.41 a year ago.
In the Greenwich CBD/Railroad submarket, the average asking rental rates for all building classes were $85.96, up slightly from the same period a year ago. Rates for the submarket's Class A product remained relatively stable at $89.24.
Overall average asking rents in the Stamford CBD/Railroad submarket rose to $48.17 per square foot in the third quarter from $45.51. Rates for the submarket's Class A product climbed to $48.75 in the third quarter -- a steady increase from $45.91 per square foot in the third quarter of 2012.
The increase in rental rates perplexed Laure Aubuchon, Stamford's director of economic development, who closely tracks the office climate.
"Rental rates have gone up. That's what I don't get," she said, adding that Stamford remains a low-cost option to New York City in terms of office space.
Comparing the office vacancy rates in Stamford to other communities in the county can be misleading, Aubuchon said, because of the disparate size of the inventory.
Citing Cushman & Wakefield statistics, she said Stamford has 15.6 million square feet of space in 136 buildings. Bridgeport, a bigger city, has 1.6 million square feet in 20 buildings.
`No one is happy'
"Statistics don't tell the whole picture, but no one is happy with it," Aubuchon said, adding that the state is doing its best to lure business to the region.
Gubner said he is not surprised by the climbing rental rates.
"You're seeing an increase in rental rates because there's a flight to quality," Gubner said, but he warned that landlords who have not upgraded their older office buildings will find it increasingly harder to rent them out.
They will have to consider finding other uses for them, he said.
"I think you'll see more of that," Gubner said. "The alternative is that they just sit there."
Jim Fagan, senior managing director of Cushman & Wakefield's Stamford office, remains optimistic.
"I made the mistake in 1990 of saying that Stamford would be vacant until 2030. I think the market is going to fill up again," Fagan said, but he conceded that it will be some time before large blocks of space at 695 E. Main St., 3001-3003 Summer St., Shippan Landing on Harbor Drive and 260 and 292 Long Ridge Road will be filled.
`Could be worse'
"It could be a lot worse. The governor is trying to do everything he can to attract companies to the state," Fagan said, but he said the state must make itself more business friendly. "Trying to help business shouldn't be a dirty word."
He applauded the state's plans to grow the University of Connecticut's Stamford branch with dormitories and an expanded curriculum, but said it should go further.
"Fairfield County needs a major university in Stamford," Fagan said. "You'd see the whole economy take off."
But as companies pull back on hiring and institute flex-time work policies, they need less space, making it more difficult for some landlords to fill their vacancies, DeJong said, suggesting that some Stamford office building owners should consider re-purposing their property.
"Stamford has a lot going for it. It's easy to walk around and get from place to place," she said. "How could we reuse this office space for other commercial purposes, retail or residential? It's something municipalities will have to look at in coming years. I don't see a turn-around coming in the next few years. It's going to be real slow going."


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Let me guess, you have been playing LA Times crossword and got stuck on the clue Balance sheet item. Well, you have come to the right place to find the answer to this clue.
While some crosswords are much simpler than others, most require that players have a vast knowledge of the language and possibly even various topics. So while crossword puzzles are seen as a more intelligent game, they can be very frustrating for players to complete and even experienced crossword players need some help occasionally.
When finding the answers to the clues becomes too difficult, there's no shame in looking for them online.
Now you have the answer to your clue. Its time to move on to the next clue. You can browse through the list with all the answers to the LA Times crossword of June 17th, 2018. Or you can use the search form below to find the answer (no matter if its LA Times Crossword or any other crossword).
|LA Times crossword of June 17th, 2018 other clues
|Little rows
|Farm units
|Result of too much speed, perhaps
|Queen of France
|Fix, as laces
|Dig it
|One of Chekhov's "Three Sisters"
|Blind parts
|Like items in potpourri: Abbr.
|Retired slugger, familiarly
|Sore throat sign
|"Goldberg Variations" composer
|In some pain
|Little cut
|Capital near the Great Divide
|The Zugspitze, e.g.
|Fruit cocktail fruit
|Requirement for many returns
|Storybook bear
|Start of a sad tale
|Span before a spin
|Mine car
|Support for a proposal
|Court event
|Matisse at an easel
|Ordinal suffix
|Ale vessel
|Musical based on "Madama Butterfly"
|"__ the loneliest number"
|Pads in trees
|Gooey stuff
|Breakfast in a box
|African threat
|Point of view
|For example
|Reason for an R rating
|Simple semiconductor
|Legendary island
|"Bus Stop" playwright
|Tot's transport
|See 83-Across
|Geology, for one
|"Let's get crackin'!"
|Feeling that may remind you of food
|Seldom seen
|First name in cosmetics
|Actor in "Going in Style" (2017)
|Have an objection
|Will beneficiaries
|"Born Free" lioness
|Come to the surface
|Plops down
|__ fly: RBI producer
|Antique tool hung on some pub walls
|Literary captain
|Leaky tire sound
|Watch cover
|Blue Grotto isle
|1986 Starship chart-topper
|Criticize harshly
|"Quo __": 1951 film
|Entertainment icons
|Dome opening?
|High school outbreak
|With 40-Across, boxer with a 24-0 lifetime record
|2017 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Rebecca __
|Kate's TV mate
|Memoir featuring Ike
|'60s Van Dyke co-star
|Sharpening tool
|Potter's supply
|Therapeutic specialty
|"The Ghost of Frankenstein" role
|Ageless pitcher Satchel
|Argued, as a case
|Keyed up
|Cadillac SUV
|O'er and o'er
|Pulled without warning
|High hair style
|Energy restoration source
|Letters before F?
|Moon goddess
|Signs a new lease for
|Spares for Venus
|Rain and snow
|Balcony barrier
|Hamilton's prov.
|Wye follower, in Wye
|Clark of DC Comics
|Pep squad syllables
|__ golf
|Button alternative
|Med. school class
|Refrain syllable
|Doo-wop syllable
|Generic Guy in "Dilbert"
|"Baseball Tonight" network
|Abandon, as a plan
|On __: hot
|Women's magazine since 1939
|Spring bloomers
|Investor's concern
|Factory platform
|Charles of R&B
|Overhead expense?
|Landscaper's supply
|Home in the woods
|Golf club spec
|Theater and dance
|Italian ball game
|Update equipment, in a way
|Deep space
|Santa __ Valley: California wine region
|Things to worry about
|Asian peninsula
|Scacchi of cinema
|Swindle, in slang
|Full moon and terrible twos
|Daily bigwig
|Stand out in a field
|Central courtyards
|Reznor of Nine Inch Nails
|H.S. exams
|__ Sketch
|Indoor design
|Ticks off
|Corn Belt sight
|Nike competitor
|Hang loosely
|Slanted columns
|MLB's Angels, in sportscasts
|Lily's "Grace and Frankie" co-star
|Name synonymous with synonyms
We offer support and help with a wide range of crosswords and are guaranteed to make sure you complete everything; the site is also updated regularly to make sure that all of our answers are correct and to add more crosswords to the ever growing list.__IMAGE__
If there is any problem with the answer, please contact us! We will fix the problem.


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Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.)talks a lot about scaling back the reach of the federal government, but back in 2001, he voted in favor of No Child Left Behind, the signature education program of the George W. Bush administration that gave unprecedented power to the U.S. Education Department to tell states and districts what they had to do to get federal funds.
Ryan, as chairman of the House Budget Committee, has authored a budget proposal that calls for deep cuts in federal spending, including in public education.
The Wisconsin representative has also cast votes during his seven terms in the House that show, among other things, support for school vouchers and for-profit colleges, positions that his critics say are part of an overall campaign to privatize public education. Romney has called for a more expansive policy of school vouchers, which give public money to families to attend private and religious schools.
This is one major area where Romney and President Obama disagree on education policy: Obama opposes vouchers, although he does support charter schools, and his education secretary, Arne Duncan, has pushed policies that have broadened the importance of high-stakes standardized tests.
Here are some of Ryan's education votes and views:
* Voted in 2012 for a measure that sought to stop the Education Department from implementing regulations intended to stop deceptive marketing by for-profit colleges, the focus of a 2010 Government Accountability Office investigation.
* Voted repeatedly against increasing Pell Grants, which provide need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post-baccalaureate students to promote access to post-secondary education.
* Voted in 2011 to extend federal funding for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, a voucher system that gives low-income students federal money to attend private schools.
Critics say that vouchers are essentially part of a campaign to privatize public education. Here's what Robert J. Samuelson wrote about vouchers, in a different context, in a Post column in March:
One long-standing proposal to overhaul Medicare would transform it into a voucher program. Eligible seniors would receive a fixed amount of money (the voucher) that could be used to buy insurance coverage; they could choose among many different insurance plans. The theory is that competition among plans would lower costs and raise quality because Medicare beneficiaries would select plans that offered the best value for money. Vouchers are popular among Republicans, though some Democratic politicians and economists also support them. For example, a voucher proposal is a centerpiece of the budget plans offered by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., chairman of the House Budget Committee.... Vouchers wouldn't "privatize Medicare." The reason is simple: Medicare has always been "privatized." [I put the last sentence in bold.]
* Voted against the conference report of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which included billions of dollars to help prevent widespread teacher layoffs and included $1 billion to support the early childhood program Head Start.
Not surprisingly, National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel, whose union endorsed Obama for reelection last year, said in a statement: "By selecting Ryan, Romney has doubled down on his view that opportunity is only for those who can afford it or are willing to game the system. He's shown yet again that he is more willing to help the rich get richer than ensuring middle class families get ahead.
Follow The Answer Sheet every day by bookmarking www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet .


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App Review: iSpider by Replay Games
by Dorothy on
August 12, 2009
Filed under Daily App Reviews, Entertainment, Games, Kids
iSpider by Replay Games is a quick and challenging game that will have your fingers twisted up in knots. You get to live the life of a spider. A very hungry spider! At the top of your screen is the hunger meter. It starts full, but very quickly falls. You must catch and wrap up enough bugs in your web to keep you from starving. If your hunger meter gets empty, you die.
Bugs get caught in your web randomly. To catch them before they fly away, you must tap on the bug and hold your finger there while the bug is wrapped up in spider silk. As you are wrapping up your victim, the orange circles around the bug will spin. When, the orange circles disappear, that victim is done and you are awarded points and your hunger meter is filled a little. As the game progresses, bugs appear in your web faster and faster. Getting a finger on each and every one is a daunting task. I found that in trying to capture all the bugs, I often let go of others that I did have before they were completely wrapped up. It is hard to keep track of what each finger is doing. Keep in mind that larger bugs take longer to capture than smaller bugs, but the reward for getting them is greater too.
iSpider is a fun game of Twister for the fingers. It is great for killing a few minutes here or there.
Developer's Website: http://www.replaygames.com.br/


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IBM wins benchmark crown with SSD power
Another tick in STEC's box
IBM has blasted the SPC-1 benchmark into the stratosphere with a flash-equipped POWER6 server.
The Power 595 server, using 48 cores and 84 STEC flash drives, achieved 300,993.85 SPC-1 IOPS (pdf). The total system cost was $3.2m with the per-SPC-1 IOPS being $10.77.
IBM held a previous record with its SAN Volume Controller (SVC), fitted with 1,534 hard disk drives (HDDs), achieving 274,997.55 SPC-1 IOPS.
The SVC uses System X servers for its processing hardware.
The Storage Performance Council's SPC-1 benchmark is a single application with mainly random I/O queries and writes applied to a storage subsystem. It aims to indicate the performance you could expect from that subsystem used for OLTP, database, and mail server-type applications.
Typical high-end array benchmarks have been at the 200,000-220,000 SPC-1 IOPS Level. IBM's SVC benchmark raised that to the 275K IOPS Level and now its Power 595 server, using only 84 ZeusIOPS STEC Solid state drives (SSDs) has pushed it past the 300,000 mark.
This is higher than the 291,208.58 SPC-1 IOPS recorded by Texas Memory Systems' RamSan-400, a DRAM-based solid state drive. The per-SPC-1 IOPS cost for that result was a piffling $0.67 which compares with the much more expensive Power 595 IOPS cost of $10.77.
The SSD portion of the Power 595 system cost was an estimated $722,000, $12,448 per drive, though actual customers would typically get a discount on this of maybe 30 to 40 per cent. It's still not cheap, and there are enough dollars in there to give STEC a satisfying price per drive.
The STEC drives had a raw capacity of 128GB. IBM configured them as 69GB with the remainder presumably used for wear-levelling. They were SAS-connected with six per enclosure and a RAID adapter per enclosure with a PCI-X to SAS bridge involved. Total usable SSD capacity was 5.8TB across 14 enclosures.
The Power 595 server had 64 cores on 32 chips but 16 cores were left unused by the PowerVM and AIX software.
Where does this leave us? The Power 595 server equipped in this fashion is an expensive box but it blows away the hard drive competition. In effect, the era of short-stroking disk drives, as with the SVC's use of 1,534 drives in the benchmark above, is over. EMC put the first nail in that coffin with its use of STEC drives in Symmetrix and this latest IBM SPC-1 result hammers another great nail in the short-stroking coffin lid. As SSD prices come down and energy-related cost issues rise up, using the SSD route to break out of a storage IOPS bottleneck will become commonplace.
Another impressive SVC IOPS feat was the QuickSilver project with one million IOPS achieved by using 40 Fusion-io ioDrive SSDs. Why hasn't IBM used such a configuration in the SPC-1 benchmark? QuickSilver was a demonstration and didn't use a sellable product. We're expecting SVC announcements soon though.
This STEC Power 595 benchmark is also a reminder to us that STEC is not just about SSDs replacing hard disk drives. Fusion-io may have grabbed a lot of media airtime with its QuickSilver demo, the similar HP one, and the recruiting of Steve Wozniak, but SSDs are about flash drives. Fusion-io has the media flash, but does it have the drive? ®
Sponsored: What next after Netezza?


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How can I change the quota of an user ? I used Admin web console to change this, but it cannot be saved, then I used zmprov to change zimbraMailQuota from 0 to 100, then restart mailbox, but when I logged in Admin console and edited this user, the quota's still unlimited.
I tried create new user with new quota, edited COS, create new COS, but still no luck.
The log generated when I try to save COS or Account (modified Quota):
[http-7071-Processor48] [] ZimbraContext - requested session no longer exists: 4
Pls advise.


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February 15, 2006
Julieanne Kost's Window Seat
Adobe's own Julieanne Kost, globetrotting evangelist for Photoshop and Illustrator, has released her new book, Window Seat: The Art of Digital Photography and Creative Thinking. PhotoshopNews features a nice overview; the O'Reilly site shows some before and after images; and in this sample chapter you can get a taste of how Julieanne uses her work to illustrate both the process of deciding what to do & the techniques for getting it done. Congrats, Julieanne!
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