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What's Empowerment?
Patients and families have rights, responsibilities, and many options as they face kidney cancer. Here are important empowering steps you should take following your diagnosis. One way you can increase your odds of survival after a diagnosis of kidney cancer is by becoming a strong self-advocate at all stages of your care. Remember that you and your family have options and rights – as well as responsibilities – at every step of the way as you deal with your cancer. By exercising your options, rights, and responsibilities, you will become empowered and be able to make sound decisions. And your peace of mind will increase. Following are the basic steps to empowerment and increasing your odds of surviving.
Self Advocacy
Don't Rush
Do not rush into surgery or treatment without getting some basic facts about your specific type of cancer. Your doctor and your emotions may be telling you to act quickly. But your tumor has been part of you for months, perhaps even years. Not all types of cancer are fast growing. Take your time to get a few basic facts so you can make informed decisions. First steps might impact your disease course or future treatment options. Time is important, but it is more important to get the right care than to save a few days or a week.
Get the Facts
It's important to become informed about your diagnosis and options as early as possible. A good first step is to go to libraries or search the Internet for disease information. Visit a hospital patient library or a medical school library. Read medical journals if you have a technical background. Or get your local public library to do a computerized literature search for information on your disease. Many libraries will search for you free of charge. You can get abstracts of articles. You can see which doctors are doing the most research, and you can consider getting a second opinion regarding treatment options. Consider buying a medical dictionary. Be sure to review the patient resources section included in this book.
Another good step is calling the Federal government's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER. You can call and get information on any type of cancer. There are more than 200 types of cancer. Each type of cancer is treated differently. Ask for the "state-of-the-art statement" for your type of cancer. There are two types of statements, one for patients and one for doctors. Ask for both. The doctor statement contains more details and technical information. The statements will be mailed to you. Ask the Cancer Information Service for phone numbers of cancer patient organizations for your type of cancer.
Contact Your Patient Organization
The Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) serves kidney cancer patients and offers information that can be helpful to you. In addition to this book, KCA distributes a free monthly email newsletter, Kidney Cancer News. A quarterly publication, Kidney Cancer Journal, is distributed to doctors' offices and it may be accessed at www.kidneycancerjournal.org.
You may also contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website (www.cdc.gov) publishes a list of cancer information links.
Finally, look for a local cancer patient support group or patient advocacy meeting in your community and attend. You can learn more about finding a kidney cancer support group or meetings by calling the Kidney Cancer Association at 1-800-850-9132.
Get a Second Opinion
Finding a doctor who specializes in your type of cancer is a good idea. Your doctor may be an excellent physician, but some types of cancer are very rare so your doctor may not see enough cases to be good at treating your disease. In medicine, practice makes perfect.
Start by asking your doctor for a referral for a second opinion. Don't hesitate to take this step – doctors aren't upset if you get a second opinion, and this is your right and responsibility.
If you do not know the name of a specialist, you may obtain names from the Kidney Cancer Association by calling 1-800-850-9132.
You can also find an expert doctor by asking the Cancer Information Service or the Kidney Cancer Association for the names and phone numbers of experts in your area. Call one or two expert doctors and make appointments to see them. Sometimes, these "super doctors" are very busy and you may need a referral from a cancer patient organization. Ask for this help.
Your Responsibilities
Keep Good Records
Get in the habit of collecting reports and records at the time of visits to doctors or other health professionals, and keep everything organized. You will want to keep pathology reports from all surgeries and/or biopsies, reports from scans and other tests, and records of any treatments given. A binder with separation tabs is an ideal way to organize your health information and medical or surgical reports.
Bring these records to any new appointment, especially on in which you are receiving a second opinion. Take films or a CD with your most recent scans to the visit (don't leave them there unless the doctor asks you to.) Keep an updated, legible list of all your medications, and provide the doctor with a copy.
You are entitled to copies of your medical, surgical, and pathology records. Do not be surprised if the doctor asks you to sign a receipt for your x-rays or charges you for copying documents. A receipt is simply a written record that you were given the materials you requested. Don't hesitate to ask for your records. If you have any trouble obtaining them, contact the hospital ombudsman.
Hire an Expert
Get the most qualified doctor to treat you. Do not confuse "bedside manner" with true expertise. You want to be given the most appropriate treatment, not be charmed.
You are more likely to find a doctor expert at a comprehensive cancer center associated with a university medical center, particularly for a rare type of cancer. However, there are many excellent doctors in community hospitals. Do not hesitate to be treated by them if they have experience with your type of disease. Simply ask your doctor how many patients with your type of cancer he or she has treated in the past 12 months. Then compare this number with the other doctors you are researching.
Some medical centers are famous. However, when it comes to rare cancers, a less well-known cancer center may offer more advanced care and have more doctors who are experts in your type of cancer. The Kidney Cancer Association can assist you in finding an oncologist that specializes in kidney cancer if you need help.
Be sure to ask for statistics measuring surgical success, morbidity, and rates of complications associated with treatments.
Communicate Professionally With Your Doctor
Establishing good communications with your doctor is essential to a good outcome. To start, fax all records you have prior to your visit, and take your records with you. You may also want to send a letter or fax telling your doctor about any changes in your medical condition since your last visit. Include new symptoms such as pains, bleeding, any new illnesses such as colds, and any crises in your life such as getting fired. Ask your doctor for a "point person" in the office for your questions, and determine the preferred method – e-mail, fax, phone, etc.
It's always a good idea to have questions written down before your visit. Be honest and clear with your questions, and be straightforward in all of your communications with your doctor. You have the right to expect honest, clear responses. If possible, take an advocate with you to help with note taking and for support.
By taking these steps, you will be better prepared to meet your doctor. Your doctor should be able to answer your questions and should be receptive to your active participation in the determination of the best treatment plan for you. This business-like approach will make your doctor respect you. It will also set the tone for your patient-doctor relationship. If your doctor will not answer your questions, find another doctor. You are entitled to clear communications.
Know All You Can About Your Tumor
Your tumor contains information about your disease. In some cases, this information can be used in further treatment.
Researchers are investigating, for example, whether tumors can be turned into a vaccine to treat a recurrence of cancer. You can ask your surgeon or oncologist if there are vaccine trials available that should be considered before scheduling your surgery so that preparations for processing the tumor specimen are in place, if necessary.
Remember, though, that it is not routine to save tumor specimens. Ask your surgeon if saving the tumor is appropriate in your case.
Be a Skeptic
Your surgeon will not be able to guarantee that "I got it all." If you are treated surgically, you should be skeptical of such a claim. What the surgeon really means is that he or she removed all of the tumors that could be seen. If your surgeon did not see it, it wasn't removed.
Some tumors have many blood vessels. Tiny bits of tumor or even a few cancer cells can drift off into the bloodstream and settle elsewhere in your body. Years after your primary tumor is removed, these cells can form new tumors and kill you. You will need regular check-ups such as CT scans, bone scans, and blood tests. If a new tumor starts up, you want to catch it early and treat it promptly. Never let your guard down. Make sure you get regular follow-up care.
Be Accountable for Your Follow-up
Don't assume that someone at your doctor's office is responsible for your follow-up. You should take responsibility for getting a follow-up scheduled and for keeping the appointment.
Get regular follow-up testing, which might include CT scans, bone scans, and blood tests. Get the results of these tests in writing, and ask for a referral or see an expert for abnormal findings. If you are uncomfortable with abnormal findings that your doctor is not treating, ask for a second opinion.
Appeal and Hang Tough
Today's health care insurance system can be complicated. Again, remember that you have rights and options, but also responsibilities. An important first step is finding a financial representative or billing counselor at the institution that will be submitting bills related to your care (hospital, medical group, etc.). Communicate clearly and professionally with this person, who could end up being your best ally. Work with all billing and reimbursement parties to set up ongoing payment plans that are reasonable and ensure your credit will be protected.
Appeal any insurance claim that is rejected. Your ability to get state-of-the-art care can be influenced by your insurance coverage. If a claim is rejected, resubmit it. Another claims reviewer at your insurance company may evaluate your claim differently and authorize payment. Be persistent.
Every insurance company has a claims appeal process. If a claim is rejected, appeal it. If it is still rejected, contact your state insurance commission and patient organization for assistance. Sometimes, a call to an insurance company medical director from a patient organization can help get your claim paid.
Be reasonable. Do not expect your insurance company to pay duplicate claims, fraudulent claims, claims which are not covered by your policy, or claims for unproven treatments. Since you are a policyholder, your insurance company pays claims with your money. You want your insurance company to have a fair review process but not an unreasonable one.
Don't Play Doctor
Don't take vitamins or other medications without talking to your doctor. Many patients want to help themselves. Vitamin supplements and good nutrition have a role to play in cancer care. However, large doses of some supplements may interfere with some drugs or radiation therapy. Do not medicate yourself, even if you are a doctor. Excellent nutrition information is available from the American Institute for Cancer Research.
Do not throw away money on treatments which have no medical justification. Some alternative therapies are based on sound theories. However, without scientific knowledge and investigating details, you will not be able to tell which ones have some validity and which are exploiting vulnerable patients.
If your cancer does not respond to the first treatments you try, move on to the next one. There are many valid therapies for every type of cancer. New ones are being developed constantly.
Join and Be Active
Join a cancer patient organization that specializes in your type of cancer. Many organizations provide emotional support for cancer patients. But don't settle for emotional support alone. You want to beat cancer, not just feel good emotionally. If you read popular books on cancer, such as Bernie Siegel's books, remember the real message about emotional support: "Good mental health is necessary for good physical health." But do not expect tumors to just disappear because you have engaged in "imaging" or some mind technique.
The best organizations have ongoing information programs for patients. For example, the Kidney Cancer Association publishes a quarterly newsletter and holds an annual convention for patients and doctors.
Science is making tremendous progress in many types of cancer. Stay informed. Get involved. Meet other informed patients. Meet the doctors and scientists who are true experts in your type of cancer. If you have a recurrence, you will know what your treatment options are and who can give you the best care. Be an activist; support the patient organization so it can support you. Act in your own self-interest.
Seek and Ask
Continually seek information. If a doctor tells you a tumor is inoperable, get a second opinion. Call the Cancer Information Service to get a list of clinical trials for your type of cancer. When you get the list, review it with your doctor. Ask why this proposed trial is best for you. Talk with other patients who have had any proposed therapy so you know what to expect. If there are side effects, remember not all patients get every side effect. Ask your doctor what he or she can do to control side effects.
Patient empowerment leads to a better understanding of your disease, a stronger sense of control over your cancer, and the best approach to treating your kidney cancer. There are many resources available to help you and your family adjust to the diagnosis. Don't be afraid to ask about them.


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Who's ready to go back to Stars Hollow?
A limited-series revival of "Gilmore Girls" is apparently in the works at Netflix, to be written by series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and executive producer Daniel Palladino.
Negotiations with the cast are just beginning, but it's expected that the big names--Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Kelly Bishop, and Scott Patterson--will return to their iconic roles. The revival will reportedly consist of four 90-minute episodes. Both Netflix and Warner Bros. declined to comment.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
TVLine.com first reported the news.
PHOTOS: The Gilmore Girls cast predicts what their characters are up to today
When E! News last caught up with Sherman-Palladino and the cast at the ATX TV Festival this summer, she denied that any follow-up to the series was in the works, but admitted "Nobody here hates each other. That's very important...if it ever happened, I promise you we'd do it correctly."
"It would have to be the right everything — the right format, the right timing, the right way," she added. "It would have to be honored in a certain way and I think that if you look around, we would all jump in and do it."
When asked if she could ever envision a reunion, Graham said, "I have no idea, that would be up to Amy and other people. I think because Amy didn't get to finish the show there is an unusual willingness to see what that would look like, so we'll see!"
It looks like, thanks to Netflix, we'll finally get to hear those final four words Sherman-Palladino had planned for the original series finale.

subset: commoncrawl


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It looks like Google and the city of San Francisco have struck a deal when it comes to the operation of the search giant's buses that help employees commute from the city to Google's offices in Mountain View, California.
Here's a tweet that came in from Sarah McBride, a journalist in San Francisco.
— Sarah G McBride (@mcbridesg) January 6, 2014
Last month, this issue made headlines when protestors of the Google busses took to the streets demanding that Google pay the city of San Francisco to operate the same way public transportation busses do.
Protestors complained that the influx of tech workers to these neighborhoods far from corporate campuses are driving up housing costs.
According to SFGate, the city's Mayor Ed Lee announced a pilot program today. The shuttle companies, such as Bauer's and Compass Transportation, will be subject to a fee based on the number of stops they make in Muni (San Francisco Public Transportation) bus zones.
That fee will presumably will be passed along to the contracting tech and other companies.
"Currently, private shuttle companies use approximately 200 Muni bus stops to load and unload their passengers, according to city estimates. About 4,500 daily round-trips serve approximately three dozen companies," SFGate reports.
Get the latest Google stock price here.


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Lookout Colorado to join Devil's Advocate to examine current status of public records access
Good government junkies unite!
This coming Friday night, Devil's Advocate host Jon Caldara will feature a half hour discussing the status of political investigative journalism and the perilous current state of the Colorado Open Records Act.
On the show will be yours truly and Complete Colorado sleuth Todd Shepherd, who's been breaking big scoop after big scoop of late.
Though many will tell you that I have a face made for newspapers, Caldara sometimes drags me onto his television program to hit me with broadside pretend questions meant to poke fun at The Denver Post, and he gets in some pretty good whacks, I have to admit.
More seriously, the show will feature some interesting ideas about strengthening CORA. So contact a lawmaker near you who believes in transparent government and make sure they watch.


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Canadian mining financier Frank Giustra and former US President Bill Clinton meet with Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev in Kazakhstan. Clinton publicly expresses support for Nazarbayev's bid to head the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, an international organization that monitors elections and supports democracy. This undercuts US foreign policy against that bid, due to Kazakhstan's poor human rights record and flawed elections.
Two days later, Giustra's company signs agreements giving it the right to buy shares of three uranium projects controlled by the Kazakh government. The New York Times will later report, "The monster deal stunned the mining industry, turning an unknown shell company into one of the world's largest uranium producers in a transaction ultimately worth tens of millions of dollars to Mr. Giustra, analysts said."
Several months later, the Clinton Foundation will get a $31 million donation from Giustra that will remain secret until it is discovered by reporters in 2008. Both Clinton and Giustra will later claim that this chain of events was merely coincidental. However, Moukhtar Dzhakishev, the head of the Kazakh government company, will later say that Giustra did discuss the deal with President Nazarbayev, and Giustra's friendship with Clinton "of course made an impression."
Giustra's company will be sold for $3.1 billion in February 2007, despite being worth only a small fraction of that prior to the Kazakhstan deal. Dzhakishev will meet in private with Clinton and Giustra in Clinton's New York house the same month Giustra's company is sold. Both Giustra and Clinton will deny that such a meeting ever took place. But after reporters point to other accounts of the meeting, both of them will say they remember it after all. (The New York Times, 1/30/2008)
Later in 2007, Giustra and Clinton will cofound a Canadian branch of the Clinton Foundation called the Clinton Giustra Enterprise Partnership (CGEP). In 2015, it will be alleged this in fact is a "slush fund" allowing foreigners to anonymously donate money to the Clinton Foundation in hopes of getting political influence with the Clintons. (Harper's Magazine, 11/17/2015)


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Support You Can Count On
Customized Solutions for IT Services, Web Design and Hosting.
Specializing in small to mid-size business solutions ranging from Fire and Emergency districts to Franchise Retail Automotive. Our clients chose Albany IT because we are nimble, efficient and speak your language rather than our own. You have a business to run and IT challenges shouldn't get in your way. You just want to know your infrastructure and support is something you can count on. You can count on Albany IT.
We provide IT Consulting Services throughout Upstate New York. Our services include IT maintenance and support and hardware and software sales.
We are Resellers For Dell and Lenovo Computers, Servers, and Accessories, Microsoft, Trend Micro and Carbonite Online Backup.
From hourly IT service desk and consulting support to monthly service packages for small or mid-sized business, Albany IT has a plan to fit your business's needs.
Our Design and Marketing Services are a step above the rest; we are able to create a strong, highly marketable look, designed to promote your business.
Interested? Ready to Learn More? Contact Us
Your expertise and professionalism are outstanding. We quickly learned that no problem was too small for your timely intervention and the big ones were dealt with, utilizing your expertise and experience. You immediately assumed complete responsibility for network administration as well as computer hardware, software installation and maintenance.
Working with you has given us the ability to focus on doing business, knowing that you will be available at any time to handle problems. In addition, you have helped us with website content and maintenance, offering suggestions to improve our on-line presence.
We appreciate your pro-active approach to internet security (a growing problem and concern for all that do business on the web), making changes as new applications become available.
It is wonderful to be able to put complete trust in someone; we know you as a person of integrity which is why we decided to give you a key to our showroom (one of only two given out!).
Sunday Verrillo President
Prestige Motor Car Co.
When we opened our second Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram location in Clifton Park we had a full-time in-house IT guy that we really didn't need full time – it became expensive and unsustainable. We met Albany IT through their web design services and the relationship grew from there. Today they handle all of our IT sales and support needs including all of our servers, computers and telephones. The car business has a rather demanding variety of needs and Albany IT always responds quickly and talks to us in a language we can easily understand. I'd recommend them to any small to mid-size business.
Peter Carusone
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Zappone Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
Albany IT is easy to work with and get results!
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This is one of the break-out companies in the Capital Region that will make it big. Their attention to detail and actually listening to what the client has to say is refreshing and a real confidence builder.
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We went to Andy at Albany IT to create a website for our furniture business. We wanted a website that would be professional & display our furniture like it deserves to be displayed. They did just that & more. It looks even better than expected! Andy worked one-on-one with us, unlike GoDaddy or any other lathe internet service where you wait on hold for 20-20 min before talking to someone. He made our experience great & is highly recommended.
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Andy has always been there for The Express Newspaper – all I need to do is pick up the phone and he responds to my questions or if I have problems, always within a timely manner. Would highy recommend Albany IT.
Cindy L Mahoney
Owner, The Express Newspaper
The service is the best I ever had and they are very dedicated and loyal.
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Schulyer Heights Fire District


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Kingfisher: Still No Way Up
NEW DELHI--It's a tagline that has turned out to be true, though not quite in the way that Vijay Mallya, the flamboyant chairman of Kingfisher Airlines Ltd., would have liked.
Visitors to the website of the financially-beleaguered airlines are greeted with the message: "Welcome to a world without passengers". It goes on to explain that a traveler on the airline is "made to feel like a guest and not just a passenger."
Unfortunately, though, Kingfisher doesn't have any passengers, or even guests now.
The airline has been grounded since Oct. 1, first because of a strike by workers over unpaid salaries, and later due to the cancellation of its flying license on Dec. 31. The airline owes millions of dollars in salaries to its workers as well as to airports, tax authorities and leasing companies.
Kingfisher said recently that it is talks to sell a stake to Etihad Airways after the Indian government last September allowed foreign airlines to purchase up to 49% of local carriers.
Analysts say, however, that a deal between Kingfisher and Etihad is highly unlikely, given that the Abu Dhabi-based carrier is also separately in discussions with Jet Airways (India), one of India's biggest airlines with a fleet of 99 planes.
To get an investor, an airline must fulfil that most basic of functions: It must fly.
A senior official in India's civil aviation ministry said recently that Etihad will likely purchase a stake of about 24% in billionaire Naresh Goyal-controlled Jet Airways later this week for about 16 billion rupees ($297 million).
If the deal goes through, it will be a setback for Mr. Mallya--a liquor and beer mogul--who was vocal in his lobbying for the Indian government to permit stake purchases by foreign airlines in local carriers.
A Kingfisher Airlines spokesman declined to comment for this article.
Several investors were hoping that Mr. Mallya would use his own funds and also raise fresh cash to revive Kingfisher. As of now, this hasn't happened.
Kingfisher shares have lost more than 6% so far in January, adding to a 31% decline in 2012. In comparison, Jet shares gained nearly 8% this month, after climbing more than threefold in 2012.
Speaking to India Real Time, aviation analysts said Kingfisher needs a heavy infusion of cash before it can become a potential candidate for a stake purchase by any foreign airline.
They added, however, that Kingfisher's shares are unlikely to fall much further in the short-term.
"Some investors are holding onto the stock on the expectations of a stake sale to a foreign airline. There could be others who purchased at higher levels and don't want to exit with large losses now," said an analyst at a Mumbai-based brokerage, who didn't want to be named.
Another analyst said Kingfisher is trading at a price much lower than other airline stocks, "which gives little room for further correction."
Kingfisher shares were recently trading down 0.7% at 12.78 rupees and Jet Airways up 1.02% at 596.60 rupees in a Bombay Stock Exchange market 0.05% higher.
"Kingfisher's net worth is zero. Any movement in the stock is more because of technical issues than the company's fundamentals," the analyst said.
Analysts said also that Kingfisher needs to restructure its liabilities--debt and overdue bills, after which fresh equity can be infused along with bringing in a fresh investor.
The Indian government's much-awaited reform move in September to permit stake purchases by foreign airlines in local carriers had raised hopes of a frenzy of deals, but that hasn't happened.
That's because most airlines are saddled with large losses, while jet fuel costs and infrastructure charges, especially airport charges, remain high.
But several foreign airlines have expressed interest in the Indian aviation sector, highlighting that the country has a large middle-class population, and a big number of expatriate Indians work overseas, meaning steady travel to the Middle East and to the West.
Budget carrier SpiceJet has said that it is talks with foreign airlines to sell a stake. Budget carrier IndiGo is also in discussions with U.K. carrier British Airways to explore an alliance, three people familiar with the discussions said last week.
Follow India Real Time on Twitter @indiarealtime.


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Pope Francis makes surprise call to fellow Argentines
- His remarks drew a huge wave of applause
- Remarks came two hours before his inaugural Mass
- %22I know that you are saying prayers%2C I need them very much%2C%22 he said
BUENOS AIRES -- Thousands of people who spent the night in the main square of Plaza de Mayo to watch the Mass inaugurating Argentina's archbishop as the new pope of the Catholic church got a bit of a surprise Tuesday.
At about 3:30 a.m., archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio spoke to the crowd directly from Rome as Pope Francis over speakers set up in the square here outside the Catholic cathedral.
His remarks, greeted by a huge wave of applause, came in a phone call about two hours before the Mass that marked his official transition to leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, according to the Vatican press office.
"Dear sons and daughters, I know you have gathered in the square. I know that you are saying prayers, I need them very much," he said. "It is beautiful to pray because we look to heaven and know that we have a good father who is God."
Pope Francis called the cellphone of one of his aides, Father Alejandro Russo, rector of the cathedral, according to the Argentine newspaper Clarin.
"I want to ask a favor of you," he said. "I want to ask for us to walk together, to care for one another, for you to care for each other. Do not cause harm. Protect life. Protect the family; protect nature; protect the young; protect the elderly. Let there not be hatred or fighting. Put aside envy."
In a saying well-known in Buenos Aires, he added: "No le saquen el cuero a nadie," which means literally, "don't flay or skin anyone alive." Figuratively it means, "don't gossip, don't criticize one another."
Watching on four huge screens set up outside the plaza's Metropolitan Cathedral, many spent the entire night holding vigil before the Vatican Mass began. Other churches around the country also stayed open all night and set up television screens in plazas.
In Plaza de Mayo, people were seen wrapped in the blue and white Argentine flag and drinking a native tea called yerba as they waited for the Mass to begin.
"We're so proud to have an Argentine pope, and I think this will help renovate the church, something that it needs so much," Mariana Di Prospero said. Her son, Juan Martin Cazzos, 16, carried a sign saying "The youth with you returns to the church with strength and faith."
Francis ended by urging Argentines to talk with one another, "so that this desire to protect each other might grow in your hearts," Francis said. "And draw near to God. God is good. He always forgives and understands."
Francis then gave the crowd a papal blessing to all present before closing the connection.


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The JRC is not responsible for any damage or loss resulting from the use of the information presented on this website.


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I have been contemplating Islam since I was 11. I am now 14 and I am certain that is what I want in life. I have learnt all the words of Salat and Al-Fatihah and try to practise them but I get confused with the prayer positions.I have also chosen an Islamic name for myself. I have told my Mother about my beliefs but she is catholic so is against me becoming Muslim. I have no Muslim friends so there is no one to advise me. Mum says I have to wait until I am 16 and in the meantime go to church etc. I know I am ready to embrace Islam but everytime I mention it, my Granny who I also live with says I am cause trouble and that they don't belong in England. This upsets meand I do not want to shout at her because I know being disrespectful is very un-Islamic. I want to admit my beliefs openly to my friends but Gran says people will treat me different and make me an outcast. I thought about becoming Muslim in secret but I can't get to a mosque alone and would not be allowed to wear Hijab or Pray 5 times a day because of my school. I do not know what to do. Please help!!!
Praise be to Allaah.
Your question this morning brought us good news and made us very happy. Praise be to Allaah for what we have read in your question. We understand the difficulties that you are facing and how you feel. We will try to offer you some solutions to the problems you are facing. We are impressed by your learning all the words of the prayer and of al-Faatihah even though your language is English, and by your knowing Allaah since the age of eleven and your becoming more convinced and certain of Islam after three years, now that you are fourteen. We tell you the following, and Allaah is the Source of strength: When a person believes in something, he will be prepared to make sacrifices for its sake, so how about if this thing is Tawheed or belief in Allaah Alone, worshipping Him alone, following His Messenger and obeying His commands? Undoubtedly in this case the sacrifices will be even greater. The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us that Paradise is surrounded with obstacles, and what that means is that there is no way for us to reach Paradise except by overcoming obstacles and putting up with difficulties. For the reward of Allaah is precious and its blessings are immense and never-ending, and life there is eternal and its joys and pleasures will never cease. So the true Muslim will be prepared to sacrifice many things in this transient, passing world for the sake of that blessing; he will be prepared to put up with the insults and slander of people, with their criticism and mockery, for the sake of attaining that blessing. There is something else good about this matter, which is that the more a person is harassed and bears it with patience, the more his reward will increase and the higher he will rise in status before the Lord of the Worlds; indeed, his faith may increase and grow stronger, so that he will enjoy bearing this bitterness with patience for the sake of earning Allaah's pleasure. The sweetness of striving to please the Lord cancels out the bitterness of people's anger, insults and criticism. If the harm he faces is just some words of mockery or criticism that he heard, what is wrong with his putting up with that in order to earn the pleasure of the Lord and His reward? In all of that he believes in the promise of Allaah, as He said in his holy Book (interpretation of the meaning): "So be patient. Surely, the (good) end is for the Muttaqoon (the pious)"[Hood 11:49] He knows that patience can only be achieved by the help of Allaah, so he asks Him to help him and make him steadfast. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "And endure you patiently (O Muhammad), your patience is not but from Allaah"[al-Nahl 16:127] He is prepared to announce the truth before people, regardless of who approves and who rejects that. If they reject it, he turns away from them and ignores them, as Allaah said to His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) (interpretation of the meanings): "Therefore proclaim openly (Allaah's Message Islamic Monotheism) that which you are commanded, and turn away from Al‑Mushrikoon (polytheists, idolaters, and disbelievers)"[al-Hijr 15:94] "and turn away from the foolish"[al-A'raaf 7:199] Hurtful words from relatives are difficult to bear, worse than a blow from a weapon, but that will become insignificant for one who bears in mind the greatness of Allaah and His reward, and he will continue on his path without turning away or hesitating. Having explained this, we will now answer your question with the following points: 1 – You have done well by not raising your voice to your grandmother, because respecting parents and grandparents is part of Islam. 2 – Try to resist going to the church as much as you can, because it is a place where the signs of Allaah are rejected and shirk (association of others with Allaah) is proclaimed and a false religion is practiced openly. Since you are female, you are not obliged to go to the mosque as men are, so you will not be falling short if you do not go to the mosque, because the best place for a woman to pray is in her own house. 3 – Try as much as you can to wear hijaab, and put up with insults for the sake of Allaah. Be patient in praying the five daily prayers on time, knowing that they do not all coincide with the time you must be in school. If you pray Fajr after dawn comes, then you go to school, you will be able to pray Zuhr at school before the time for 'Asr comes. You could find the time for that in a break between classes or at lunchtime, or after coming home. It is important to pray Zuhr after the sun has passed its zenith and before the time for 'Asr comes. 4 – If you treat people kindly, you will win them over in the end and you will not be rejected, in sha Allaah. 5 – Do not delay entering Islam, do not wait a moment longer. For you do not know when death will come. So utter the words of the Shahaadatayn (the twin declaration of faith) and start praying. You will get used to the number of rak'ahs and the times of prayer, the words to say and how to do it as time goes by, and this will dispel the confusion that you mention in your question. So long as you are prepared to enter Islam, you do not – praise be to Allaah – need the approval of your mother or grandmother, or anyone else, because Allaah has commanded you to follow His religion: "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers"[Aal 'Imraan 3:85] 6 – Look for Muslim sisters with whom you can make friends and be in touch, so that they can help you to learn the religion and remain steadfast in following it. There follows the telephone number of al-Muntada al-Islami in London, so you can call them and ask about the times of women's classes; this may be a starting point for you, since you live in the U.K. [44-207-7369060] Finally, we want to say again how happy we were to read your question, and we give you the glad tidings of a happy life and good future in the shade of the pure monotheistic religion of Islam. We are prepared to help you as much as we can. May Allaah help us and you to do that which He loves and which pleases Him. And Allaah is the Guide to the Straight Path.
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid


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The nation has experienced some crazy fashion trends in the last few decades, from shaved eyebrows to popper pants, but which one do they regret the most?
New research from personalised clothing retailer, Banana Moon Clothing, has revealed the one fashion trend the nation has sworn to never do again - having a thong visible above your trousers!
Almost all UK adults (99%) have stated that they will never again follow this once popular fashion trend. Other fashion fails Brits have decided to leave in the past, are:
Bowl haircuts (98% wouldn't do again)
Popper pants (97%)
Wearing overalls over one shoulder (97%)
A tribal tattoo on your upper arm (96%)
Very bright eyeshadow (96%)
For some, these fashion regrets happened a long time ago, and for others, it seemed like only yesterday. Over a quarter (28%) of Brits experienced their biggest fashion regret in their late teens, and 24% were in their 20's. Not everyone grows wiser as they grow older though, with 11% of the nation having a fashion regret over the age of 40 – women (12%) more so than men (10%).
The top questionable fashion trends Brits admitted to doing in the past are:
Tying a jumper around their waist (36%)
Double denim (23%)
Hair scrunchies (20%)
Oversized jeans (19%)
Two bits of hair hanging either side of your face, with the rest of your hair tied up (18%)
Very bright eye-shadow (18%)
Short sleeves over long sleeves (17%)
Velour tracksuit (16%)
Shaved/ over tweezed eyebrows (15%)
Low rise trousers (15%)
Despite these questionable fashion trends once being popular, over a third of respondents thought they looked great at the time, with nearly one in five following a trend because it was popular with their friends (19%). However, for some the embarrassment of their past choices is all too real – 19% cringe when they think of how they used to dress and 17% wouldn't want anyone to see photos of themselves in their past outfits.
In light of these findings, Banana Moon Clothing is calling on people to showcase their biggest fashion regret through the years, by submitting a photo revealing their horrific fashion choice. The winning entry will receive £200 worth of Amazon vouchers, which can be used to upgrade their wardrobe.
Alex Grace, Managing Director at Banana Moon Clothing, said: "The fashion world is constantly evolving and things we thought looked great in the past seem to be a disaster when we look back on the photos!
"We've launched this competition to discover the UK's biggest fashion regrets, and to uncover the fashion choices we would never do again. We're looking forward to selecting a winner and seeing pictures of people's biggest fashion regrets of years gone by."
For more information or to submit your fashion regret photo into the competition please visit: https://www.banana-moon-clothing.co.uk/blog/biggest-wardrobe-regrets


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Osborne Road, Leicester, LE5 - £800 pcm Tenancy Info
BM Estates are pleased to offer to let this traditional mid terraced three-bedroom house which has been beautifully maintained throughout. The accommodation offers ground floor comprising of two reception rooms, fitted kitchen and a family bathroom. On the first floor there is a landing with three generous size bedrooms with loft access. The property offers a large rear low maintenance garden which is fully paved and much larger than usual terraced property gardens. Situated on Osbourne Road, the property is positioned close to a vast range of amenities including places of worship, local schools, bus routes to Leicester city center which is under 2 miles away and local shops and convenience stores offered on nearby Humberstone Road, Uppingham Road and Green Lane Road.
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Descriptions of the property are subjective and are used in good faith as an opinion and NOT as a statement of fact. Please make further specific enquires to ensure that our descriptions are likely to match any expectations you may have of the property. We have not tested any services, systems or appliances at this property. We strongly recommend that all the information we provide be verified by you on inspection, and by your Surveyor and Conveyancer.
Please note the charges listed below are the maximum fees that will be applied unless stated otherwise.
Fees/Charges in England from 1st June 2019
Permitted Charges in accordance with the Tenant Fee Act 2019 for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy.
Holding Deposit max one week's rent. First months rent in advance.
Tenancy Deposit 5 or 6 weeks depending upon the rental amount.
Early termination(when requested by the tenant) a charge not exceeding the financial loss experienced by the landlord.
Late Rent interest charged at 3% above the Bank of England base rate when rent is more than 14 days late.
Lost key equivalent to the cost incurred (or security device).
Changing tenancy documents(after the commencement of tenancy) £50 inc VAT
Non-Housing Act tenancy fees not affected by the Tenant Fee Act 2019:
Tenancy Agreement £300 inc VAT. Extension Agreement £125 inc VAT
Company Reference £175 inc VAT. Administration £50 inc VAT
Damage Fee £90 inc VAT. Guarantor Reference per guarantor £100 inc VAT
Deed of Guarantee £75 inc VAT. Check-In (minimum fee) £72 inc VAT
Arrears Fee £30 inc VAT. Overpaid Rent Return £25 inc VAT. Pet Licence £75 inc VAT
BM Estates is a member of and covered by the Money Shield Client Money Protection Scheme. BM Estates is also a member of a redress scheme provided by The Property Ombudsman.


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Lemon drizzle cakes
Nutrition and extra info
- Freeze cakes only
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal378
- fat19g
- saturates11g
- carbs51g
- sugars36g
- fibre1g
- protein4g
- salt0.5g
- 250g pack of butter, softenend
Butter is made when lactic-acid producing bacteria are added to cream and churned to make an…
- 400g caster sugar
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
The ultimate convenience food, eggs are powerhouses of nutrition, packed with protein and a…
- 250g self-raising flour
- zest and juice 3 lemons
Oval in shape, with a pronouced bulge on one end, lemons are one of the most versatile fruits…
Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Line a muffin tin with 12 muffin cases. With an electric whisk, whisk the butter, 250g of the sugar, eggs, flour, zest of 2 lemons and juice from 1 lemon until just combined – don't over-whisk. Fill the cases two thirds full, then bake on a middle shelf for 30 mins, until a skewer poked in comes out clean.
Cool for 10 mins, then transfer cakes to a cooling rack on a tray and poke each a few times with a skewer. Pour remaining lemon juice over remaining 150g sugar and zest 1 lemon, and immediately spoon over the cakes. Leave to cool.


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Harvard scored early and often on Saturday against Columbia (Photo courtesy: Justine Agaloos).
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – It was a record-setting afternoon at Harvard Stadium Saturday.
Senior quarterback Colton Chapple set the school record for single-season touchdown passes with his 19th, 20th and 21st of the year, the Crimson scored a modern-day program record for points in a quarter with 35 in the second quarter, David Mothander established a new mark for most career kicking points by a kicker in his career and the No. 21/- Crimson (7-1, 5-1) scored its most points since 1946 in a 69-0 win over Columbia.
It was the most lopsided win since the formation of the Ivy League in 1956 and was Harvard's biggest against an Ivy League rival since beating Cornell 77-0 in 1890.
Chapple finished the afternoon 14-of-19 for 204 yards and three passing touchdowns, and he also added a rushing score in just two quarters of action to break Neil Rose's record of 18 touchdown passes in a single season and guide the Crimson to its largest margin of victory since a 69-0 win over Coast Guard Oct. 19, 1946.
On offense, Damani Wilson carried the ball eight times for 121 yards and two scores, all in the second half, to lead the team in rushing, while Ricky Zorn had four catches for 63 yards and a touchdown.
On the defensive side, the unit recorded its first shutout since Nov. 22, 2008 when the Crimson blanked Yale, 10-0. The squad also recorded eight sacks, nine tackles for loss, limited the Lions to eight first downs and -19 yards rushing and forced five turnovers, which turned into 28 points for the Crimson. Individually, Chris Splinter had two interceptions, while Nnamdi Obukwelu had two sacks. Connor Loftus also intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown.
After punting on its first possession, Harvard's offense started rolling and didn't stop until the final whistle. Chapple connected with a wide open Zorn in the back left corner of the end zone to get Harvard on the scoreboard and break the school record.
Chapple added to his record-setting total on the very next drive. He again methodically drove the Crimson down the field, connecting with three different receivers on the drive, including a perfectly placed ball in the back corner of the zone to Berg from 20 yards out for the Crimson's second score.
On the ensuing Columbia possession, a botched hand off was recovered by Jaron Wilson to leave Harvard 27 yards away from the end zone. The Crimson used Treavor Scales to bulldoze its way down to the eight before Chapple fooled everybody rolling out to his right before throwing to a wide open Kyle Juszczyk on the left side for his third score of the afternoon.
The defense continued to pressure the Columbia offense, forcing a turnover on the next possession as Chris Splinter intercepted a pass and returned it to the Columbia one. Scales hit pay dirt on the next play to make it 28-0.
On the very next Columbia offensive play, Loftus picked off the Lions' pass and didn't give the offense an opportunity to touch the field as he returned it 15-yards to the end zone to make it 35-0.
Harvard's scored on its fifth consecutive possession when Chapple orchestrated a five-play, 60-yard drive that ended when he scrambled in from 11 yards out to end his afternoon.
Harvard's only tense moment came in the closing seconds of the first half as a fumbled punt gave Columbia the ball at Harvard's three yard line with six seconds. The Crimson responded by pressuring the Lions on two consecutive plays, forcing incomplete passes to preserve the shutout.
In the second half, Harvard continued to fire on all cylinders offensively despite removing Chapple from the game. Hempel came in and orchestrated an 11-play, 69-yard drive that culminated with Paul Stanton Jr.'s one-yard touchdown plunge to make it 48-0.
Another Columbia fumble turned into a quick seven points for Harvard as Rich Zajeski plunged in from five yards out, and Mothander converted the extra point with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Wilson took over for the Crimson. Following Splinter's second interception of the afternoon, Wilson sprinted 45 yards to pay dirt to put Harvard over the 60-point plateau for the first time since 1999. He followed up with a 43-yard jaunt three series later for his second score of the game to cap the Harvard scoring at 69 with 5:19 left in the game.
Harvard travels to Penn Saturday, Nov. 10, for a first-place showdown with the Quakers.
Game Notes
- Chapple now has 36 career touchdown passes, which is the fourth most all-time behind Neil Rose '03 (41), Ryan Fitzpatrick '05 (39) and Chris Pizzotti '08-09 (37).
- Tim Murphy moved into a fourth-place tie with former Dartmouth coach Bob Blackman for most career Ivy League wins (127). He sits 52 behind Yale's Carm Cozza for the all-time mark.
- The five turnovers forced by Harvard (three interceptions, two fumbles) is a season high.
- Kicker David Mothander broke Matt Schindel's '08 record for most career-points kicking with his 184th kicking point. He also is third-place all-time with 190 career points.
- The 69 points scored by Harvard is also a season-high, topping the 52 scored against Holy Cross. It is also the most points scored under Thomas Stephenson Family Head Coach for Harvard Football Tim Murphy, surpassing the 63 points scored against Dartmouth Oct. 30, 1999.
- Nine different players scored a touchdown for Harvard.
- Columbia is the second team to be held under 250 yards of total offense this season (Holy Cross).
First Quarter Notes
- Harvard won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. The Crimson has only received the ball to begin the game once in eight games this season.
- The Crimson's defense recorded three sacks in the first quarter.
Second Quarter Notes
- Harvard scored 21 points in the second quarter, which marked the seventh time in 2012-13 that the Crimson had scored at least that many points in a quarter. Harvard did it against San Diego, Brown, Holy Cross (twice), Cornell, Bucknell
- Loftus' interception returned for a touchdown was Harvard's first since last year's game against Yale when Alex Gedeon returned a pass 32 yards for a score.
- Harvard forced turnovers on three consecutive possessions, one fumble recovery and two interceptions.
- With his rushing score, it marked the fifth time this season that Chapple has accounted for at least four touchdowns.
- The 35 points in the second quarter established a new modern record for points in a quarter. The old mark was also set against in Columbia in 1973 as Harvard scored 29 points in a 57-0 win.
- Harvard scored on six consecutive possessions for the second time this season. Harvard scored on eight straight against Holy Cross, spanning the first possession of the game to the second possession of the third quarter.
- The 42 points in the first half is the second-most in the modern era behind the 49 scored against Holy Cross earlier this season.
- Columbia finished with -6 rushing yards in the first half.
Third Quarter Notes
- Colton Chapple was lifted from the game prior to the third quarter. It marked the second time this season he did not play after the intermission.
Fourth Quarter Notes
- Chris Splinter intercepted his second pass of the afternoon and fourth of the season.
- Damani Wilson went over 100 yards for the first time in his career.
- Wilson was also the only Harvard player to score multiple touchdowns in Saturday's game.


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Jan 8, 2014
An Important Victory – A step to providing service members the unbiased justice system they deserve.
A petition from the campaign to
Demand President Obama, Sec Hagel remove 2 Air Force pilots following Aviano sexual assault scandal
6,480 people have helped this campaign
more needed
Sign the Petition to
President Barack Obama, Commander-In-Chief of the United States Armed Forces & Chuck Hagel, United States Secretary of Defense
Earlier this year, with a flick of his pen, Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin set justice aside and overruled a jury's verdict convicting Lt. Col. James Wilkerson of aggravated sexual assault of a civilian contractor at Aviano Air Base. As his punishment, Wilkerson was dismissed from the Air Force and sentenced to one year in jail. Franklin's reversal freed his fellow fighter pilot and reinstated him back into the Air Force, in part because he was described by friends and family as a "doting father and husband."
To General Franklin, it didn't matter that Wilkerson had failed a lie-detector test or that his own legal counsel recommended against overruling the verdict. Instead, Franklin claimed that Wilkerson's conviction and punishment should be overturned because he was a "doting father and husband."Franklin failed to mention that Wilkerson had a
long history of misconduct
. He had already been caught peeking over a bathroom stall while a subordinate's wife urinated. Wilkerson egregiously violated safety standards, pulled rank to fend off law enforcement officials, was abusive to fellow military officials -- and that's just what we know so far.
Despite strong corroborating testimony from independent witnesses and clear supporting facts on the record, Franklin, who did not attend the trial, decided that he did not believe the victim. Heard that before?Unless Franklin is dismissed from the service for his biased and unfounded reversal of Wilkerson's conviction, Franklin's actions will have a chilling effect on victims who might otherwise report being sexually assaulted. It sends exactly the wrong message to bystanders, investigators, prosecutors, judges, and juries who otherwise might try to do the right thing. It confirms to sexual predators that they face little risk of being punished.
The attack at Aviano is just one of almost twenty thousand similar incidents occurring every year throughout the military. Eighty-five percent of victims do not report the crime, mainly out of fear of retaliation, and not being believed. Most disturbing of all, out of the 3,200 cases reported in 2010, less than 190 reports of sexual assault in the military actually ended in a conviction. Wilkerson's conviction was one of those rare instances where justice was served -- or so it seemed.
President Obama and Secretary Hagel, you must remove Lt. Gen. Franklin and Lt. Col. Wilkerson for failing our country, and for failing our young service members and civilians who work on our bases around the world. You cannot allow this subversion of justice to stand.
Protect Our Defenders
This petition closed about 6 years ago
How this will help
Please join us: Tell President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to protect our service members from rape and sexual assault! Remove Lt. Gen. Franklin and Lt. Col. Wilkerson from...
Please join us: Tell President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to protect our service members from rape and sexual assault! Remove Lt. Gen. Franklin and Lt. Col. Wilkerson from the United States Air Force. The only way to end the epidemic of sexual assault in the military is to hold leaders, like Franklin, who cover up and condone these crimes and those who commit the crimes, like Wilkerson, accountable. Our service members deserve better. Our country deserves better.
The crisis of rape and sexual abuse in the military threatens good order and discipline within the ranks of the armed services. It threatens the safety and livelihood of our men and women in uniform, and their families. And it threatens the national security of the United States.
Franklin's subsequent explanation showed no valid basis to overturn the conviction, decided by a jury comprised of senior military officers, that he selected. What mattered to Franklin was that Wilkerson like himself was a senior officer and fighter pilot. They served together in Iraq and had many mutual friends. What mattered was the "good ol' boys" network.
Leaders who fail to prosecute and punish the sexual predators in our military services must face consequences, or the culture that fosters this epidemic will never end. Survivors of military sexual assault are calling on President Obama and Defense Sec. Hagel to discharge Lt. Gen. Franklin and Lt. Col. Wilkerson. Please help Protect Our Defenders and sign their petition!
Members of Congress, from both parties, have condemned Franklin's egregious action. "Franklin clearly substituted his own independent judgment for that of the convened fact-finding panel," said Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
"This [Franklin's explanation] letter, is filled with selective reasoning and assumptions from someone with no legal training, and it's appalling that the reasoning spelled out in the letter served as the basis to overturn a jury verdict in this case," said Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) – Wall Street Journal. The Senator went on to say, according to the Washington Post, parts of Franklin's letter explaining his actions, "just set my teeth on edge."
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Allyson Felix's chance at the Olympic double is over. She was beaten out for third place by .01 seconds by a diving Jenna Prandini in the 200-meter final at U.S. Track and Field Trials on Sunday.
Felix was shooting for the 200-400 double, made possible when Olympic organizers changed the schedule after a request that originated in the United States.
She made the 400-meter final, but in her signature event — the one where she was hoping to defend her Olympic title — she could not make it through.
U.S. & World
Prandini will be joined by Tori Bowie and Deajah Stevens, who finished 1-2.
It wouldn't have mattered if Molly Huddle celebrated this one early.
Huddle finished well ahead of the pack to win the 5,000 meters at the U.S. Track and Field Trials on Sunday at Hayward Field.
The American record-holder in the event finished in 15 minutes, 5.01 seconds. Huddle also won the 10,000 meters at the Trials last weekend to earn a spot on the U.S. team for the Rio Games next month.
Last year at the world championships in Beijing, Huddle celebrated too early in the 10,000-meter race, costing her the bronze medal.
This will be Huddle's second Olympic appearance — she finished 11th in the 5,000 at the London Games.
She said this week she'll likely focus on the 5,000 alone in Brazil.
Meanwhile, New Jersey prep star Sydney McLaughlin became the first 16-year-old in 40 years to make the U.S. Olympic track team with a third-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles on Sunday at the U.S. Track and Field Trials.
McLaughlin joins winner Dalilah Muhammad and runner-up Ashley Spencer on the team headed to Rio. Muhammad, the silver medalist at the 2013 world championships in Moscow, finished in 52.88 seconds.
McLaughlin's time of 54.14 was a junior world record. She will be a senior at Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, next fall.
The last 16-year-old to make the team was 100-meter hurdler Rhonda Brady in 1976.


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Parents Who Hogtied Instagram Predator May Face Charges
"We f***ing tackled him and zip strapped him and called the police."
A couple in Canada may face charges after they took the law into their own hands and hogtied an alleged sexual predator. Police say the couple lured the 28-year-old to their home after they found explicit messages he sent to their 13-year-old daughter on Instagram.
When he showed up, the couple was waiting and "tackled him and zap strapped him and called the police." They broadcast the encounter of Facebook LIVE.
"He wanted to be her first," says the person videotaping the incident, which was broadcast on Facebook Live. "We f***ing tackled him and zap strapped him and called the police."
When the police arrived, the woman announced to the camera that she was being taken into custody.
"I'm arrested because we caught a predator the police refused to catch."
The woman told CTV that they had told police about the man over a month ago but they did nothing.
"They wouldn't even look at my phone. They just said to block him and forget it," she claimed. "I've been waiting for six weeks for the police to give me a name behind the Instagram account."
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police disputed her claims. They said they had an active investigation into the individual and had specifically told the woman not to intervene.
"The police had directed her not to take matters into her own hands, that we were investigating it," an RCMP spokesman told CTV. "She was directed not to make the meet happen."
The family is now facing potential charges of assault and unlawful restraint.
The father told the San Francisco Chronicle that the charges are "ridiculous.


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- Home >
- Tempo Traveller >
- Chennai >
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text: Hodder & Stoughton: "I want to teach you how to cook good food at home. By stripping away all the hard graft and complexity, anyone can produce mouth-watering recipes. Put simply, I'm going to show you how to cook yourself into a better cook."GORDON RAMSAYGordon Ramsay's Ultimate Cookery Course is about giving home cooks the desire, confidence and inspiration to hit the stoves and get cooking, with over 120 modern, simple and accessible recipes. The ultimate reference bible, it's a lifetime's worth of expertise from one of the world's finest chefs distilled into a beautiful book. About the Author Gordon set up his first restaurant in 1998 which quickly received the most prestigious accolade in the culinary world - three Michelin stars. One of only four chefs in the UK to maintain three stars, Gordon was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to the industry. Gordon lives with his wife and four children in South London.


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Spinal Stimulation Helps Paralyzed Man Regain MovementIf replicated, the procedure may eventually help others with spine injuries.
THURSDAY, May 19 (HealthDay News) — A patient completely paralyzed below the chest after an road accident has been able to stand up by himself, move his legs and feet and take some assisted steps on a treadmill, thanks to electrical stimulation of his lower spinal cord.
The technique — called epidural spinal cord stimulation — mimics signals the brain normally sends to start movement. In addition to returning voluntary movement to his hips, knees, ankles and toes, the treatment also was able to give the patient back some sexual and bladder function.
"This does not represent a cure for spinal cord injury, but it represents some very new ideas — something to build on," lead researcher Reggie Edgerton, from the Department of Integrative Biology and Comparative Physiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, said during a press conference Thursday.
Edgerton said that the research demonstrated that patients could regain voluntary control over their movements, although so far only with the aid of stimulation.
"We have no idea what the mechanisms are," Edgerton said. "But it is pretty certain that the stimulation and the training have resulted in changes in the brain and changes in the spinal cord. We are really anxious to find out what the mechanism is — we need to know how this occurred."
"This is a first-generation approach, but there will be many generations to come, which will improve on what has been done," he added.
While experts expressed excitement about the findings, they stressed that no one yet knows whether this procedure will work for patients with the most serious spinal injuries and that the results need to be replicated in other studies.
For the patient, Rob Summers, however, this is already a major breakthrough. "This procedure has completely changed my life," he said in a statement to the press.
"For someone who for four years was unable to even move a toe, to have the freedom and ability to stand on my own is the most amazing feeling. To be able to pick up my foot and step down again was unbelievable, but beyond all of that my sense of well-being has changed. My physique and muscle tone has improved greatly, so much that most people don't even believe I am paralyzed," he said.
In Summers' case, the researchers explained that when his spinal cord was stimulated in this way, nerves in the cord — plus feeling in the legs — directed the muscle and joint movement that is needed to allow him to stand and walk on a treadmill.
This was done with assistance, the researchers added. In addition, Summers has been able to stand and take steps, also with help.
In addition to epidural spinal cord stimulation to help retrain nerves there to send signals to produce certain movements, Summers underwent repeated motion training to retrain his muscles, the researchers said.
It took more than two years to complete the retraining project. After that, the device that causes electrostimulation was implanted in Summers' back. Before that, Summers had no voluntary control over his movement, the investigators said.
The report was published in the May 20 online edition of The Lancet.
Whether epidural spinal cord stimulation will work with most spine injured patients is unknown. Summers was classified "B" on the American Spinal Injury Association system, meaning he had some sensation below the point of the injury.
However, if epidural spinal cord stimulation will have any benefit to patients classified as "A" — where there is no sensation below the injury — is unclear, the researchers said.
Other concerns focus on whether it will be possible to develop better hardware — currently, the researchers are using a stimulation device originally designed to relieve pain. In addition, experiments in animals have shown that some drugs might improve the response, but right now they are not approved for human use, the researchers noted.
Gregoire Courtine, from the Experimental Neurorehabilitation Laboratory in the Department of Neurology at the University of Zurich in Switzerland and co-author of an accompanying journal editorial, said that "this is good evidence that the human spinal cord responds to stimulation, [a technique that] was observed in rats."
Courtine thinks it's too early to know what this bodes for the treatment of spinal cord injury. "This is only one patient," he said. "But this is the first time someone with a chronic complete paralysis has shown recovery of some movement."
Whether it will work with patients with the most serious injuries is uncertain, Courtine said. "But there are patients with less serious injury in whom you may expect even better recovery," he said.
"We are entering a new era, but it's only the beginning," Courtine said. While this is not a cure, it could lead the way to help patients regain movement, he said, adding that improved technology and clinical trials will be needed.
Another expert, Dr. Steven Vanni, an assistant professor of clinical neurosurgery, Spine Service, at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, said that "if they can replicate this, [it] would be something we could offer our patients currently, with patients with these type of spinal cord injuries."
As for Summers, he is optimistic that the procedure will transform his life still further. "I believe that epidural stimulation will get me out of this chair," he said.


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CIO Decisions
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Virtualization without virtualization management cancels out benefits
Retaining the benefits gained through virtualization comes down to virtualization management policies and the tools of the trade.
- Christina Torode, Editorial Director
The benefits gained through virtualization can be lost without an effective virtualization management strategy.
More about virtualization management
Beyond consolidation: Next steps in a server virtualization strategy
Top 10 server virtualization news stories of 2010
The onus is on IT to decipher virtualization licensing models
Enterprises gain agility, lean operations, disaster recovery and business continuity, as well as a virtualization management quagmire of policies, best practices documentation and tool sets that are a cycle behind the speed at which virtual environments are created.
At last count, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. had 210 VMware Inc. ESX sockets in place, with 110 hosts across three data center sites -- actually, make that 224 sockets. As we spoke, Chris Pray, senior engineer of Vertex's global information systems group, received an order from the business for another 16 hosts. That's just virtual machine hosts, never mind the VMs needed to keep up with the hundreds of terabytes of scientific information being moved from site to site. "It's always a catch-up game as far as policies and procedures [for managing a virtual environment]," he said. "With virtualization, policies and procedures grow organically as you grow, and that's true here and at other companies I've worked at."
Independent Bank Corp. in Ionia, Mich., has a mix of about 500 virtual and physical servers, and expects to be 80% virtualized (both servers and desktops) by the end of 2011; but "what we really want is 90% virtualization," CIO Pete Graves said, adding that his team is approaching "that line of what's reasonable and not."
"You have to manage the speed by which this can grow, and draw the line for what can and what should be virtualized" Graves said. As a result, his virtualization management strategy is in a constant state of flux. "You never really get there; you're always improving on it and then having to shift gears and go in a different direction," he said.
Speed of deployment is one virtualization management aspect to tackle, but equally tricky is visibility. How do you manage VMs and resources you cannot see?
Tools and tricks of the virtualization management trade
Vertex's data center group has outgrown the virtualization management tools developed by the major hypervisor vendors, turning instead to best-of-breed virtualization and data center management tools.
One such management tool is Akorri Inc.'s BalancePoint for resource capacity monitoring of both physical and virtual machines; another is GroundWork Open Source Inc.'s network monitoring software, or what Pray calls "the monitor of all monitors." The open source tool centralizes the information gathered in other monitoring systems -- for example, SolarWinds Inc.'s Orion product for networks, VMware's vSphere and Red Hat Inc.'s Satellite Server -- onto a single pane of glass for Vertex's application developers and members of the data center team.
The company's most recent purchase was VKernel Corp.'s capacity management suite, which answers the questions "What can we put next on a given VM?" and "What is it going to do to my resources?" It allows Pray's team to rightsize the virtual environment, which is a task often overlooked and one that will cost a company in terms of over-allocation. The VKernel tool adjusts VM resources -- CPU, memory, disk and network -- as needed. "You need a tool that rightsizes existing VMs that are overprovisioned so you can avoid resource overkill," Pray said. "The job of the tool is to make [the environment] lean, to do the job with just the resources required. That's really the whole objective of virtualization."
Enterprises don't have to go the best-of-breed route for virtualization management. Systems management vendors IBM, Hewlett-Packard Co., CA Inc. and BMC Software Inc. have support for multiple hypervisors, and integration with back-end systems down, said Chris Wolf, an analyst at Gartner Inc. Both are important factors for future-proofing your virtualization environment for private and public cloud service automation.
"Provisioning a VM is the easy part," Wolf said. "The secret sauce is the back-end integration and workflows with accounting systems, compute systems if something goes wrong, approval workflows for provisioning requests. You may have to re-architect [the management applications] a bit, but [the systems management] vendors will be around a long time to support you."
For Independent Bank, which operates in multiple virtualization environments and virtualizes its desktops with Citrix Systems Inc. and VMware hypervisors and Citrix technology, it's time to invest in an overarching management tool. Ben Kohn, senior systems architect for the bank, is testing Microsoft's System Center Virtual Machine Manager (VMM), the next major release of which promises support for Citrix XenServer, and which supports VMware ESX already.
"If [VMM supports XenServer] it will be a pretty big help in terms of flattening management, so our staff can manage the environment independent of the underlying hypervisors," Kohn said.
Virtualization management policies to ponder
Know your requirements up front so that the multiple vendors you'll end up working with understand the tasks they need to perform, and how they will work with other vendors. A new virtualization environment entails managing your own IT department's culture and that of the multiple vendors you'll use, from the testing and deployment project phases to ongoing support, Graves said. Independent Bank worked with several vendors to engineer VMware vCenter Site Recovery Manager and its Citrix desktop virtualization environment.
"Have a really good statement of work, because if you don't, you end up with a lot of scope creep and questions about who was responsible for what," Graves said. "When you're dealing with multiple vendors, there's just a lot of room for things to go wrong."
And educate business units that there is a cost tied to deploying VMs. Units may not be aware that every new virtual machine introduced has a license, a fractional hardware cost and a lifecycle management cost tied to it, Graves said. "Most people forget about all of those traditional costs when a new VM is being added to existing hardware, and they don't know about other hidden costs."
You have to manage the speed by which this can grow, and draw the line for what can and what should be virtualized.
Pete Graves, CIO, Independent Bank Corp.
Naming conventions might seem small in the scheme of virtualization management, but they were the first order of business for Vertex's Pray. The company has three types of storage arrays that were referred to differently by team members and named differently in such monitoring tools as the VMware vSphere console. "You need one naming convention for data storage or you can't answer [questions about] where is the storage, what storage array is it on, what type of disks are on that storage array, and are they Fibre Channel or SATA [Serial Advanced Technology Attachment], to figure out what kind of protocol is being used to present the storage to the ESX host."
This leads to another management problem: skill sets -- or a lack of them -- in terms of understanding how all the pieces of a virtualization environment work together. Pray has been trying to staff up his virtualization team for a year now, but has found that candidates might understand VMware but not how that technology ties into networking, storage, backups and operating systems.
Mark Bowker, an analyst with The Enterprise Strategy Group Inc. in Milford, Mass., recommends tackling the skill sets of your staff by flattening the team that will work on virtualization projects and establishing the different groups that need to be involved: security, server, storage and networking. "Once you've done an organizational alignment, you can start modernizing skill sets and make management strategy decisions more confidently," he said.
Gartner's Wolf has a long checklist of the management policies needed to ensure that the benefits gained from virtualization are not wiped out by bad management:
- Capacity management to understand how data will be collected.
- Lifecycle management so that VMs are not just provisioned and kept online forever.
- Application diagnostics and troubleshooting before a VM is rolled into production.
But equally important is the need to budget for management tools up front.
"If you go to the CFO six months after requesting capital for a multimillion virtualization project and say, 'I don't know what capacity I have, we're running out of space on clusters and I don't know how to handle it. I need more capital to purchase these tools,' that puts you in a precarious position," Wolf said.
And remember that virtualized environments are not static. VMs move around and they may move to a third-party environment. So, a tool set should track not only where VMs are in your own environment, but also their whereabouts, the data on them, and the resources or other systems tied to them, should you choose to move them to the cloud.
Let us know what you think about the story; email Christina Torode, News Director.
Dig Deeper on Enterprise systems management
Kubernetes multicloud orchestration pushes Docker portability forward
Data warehousing architect helps Pfizer make better business decisions
Installing SSD: Companies find pros and cons of doing it themselves
Awash in tools, CIOs strive to fit storage strategy to business need


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Opinion: Fisher's Forerunner
XIV Foundation CEO Jennifer Gratz on her Supreme Court victory in 2003 against race-based admissions and the Fisher decision. Photo: Associated Press
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... I'm Mary Kissel with The Wall Street Journal Editorial board ... joining me today is Jennifer Pratt's founder and CEO of the XIDE Foundation ... named after the fourteenth Amendment Center for sex so much for being with us ... on you were eyeing slates if and when most important Supreme Court cases of the last couple of decades when comes to race based admissions we had a decision earlier this week the Supreme Court ... Fisher v the University of Texas ... what's your take on that ruling ... I thought that the ruling was the center and then the court didn't overturn greater which is of course what we ... all hope for one day a gregarious for the I don't own a grander Anzac Barbara greater sued the University of Michigan's law school and ... and and in that case race preferences wrap held for about another twenty five years ... not sure how our Constitution changes and twenty five years ... the men were not ten years and ... that that that kid that is what we're hoping to share with event or another case eventually overturned ... but the fact is this ... Fischer's attorneys didn't ask the court overturned greater ... and I don't think that we can expect ... the Supreme Court to make bold decisions when willing to ask and to make all decisions ... as though I knew ... I am okay with that with what the court didn't think it reaffirmed the fact that greater was not ... an open ticket for universities to use race preference is ... that there were new and says there are nuances ... add to that decision ... I think that it's slack dialing the numbers to taxes at all universities on hand and said Wheeler serious only sad ... that there weren't too worried these new ounces and and the DPP is not an open ticket to use race preference ... you've been through this process before you wonder case the Supreme Court back in two thousand and three ... on the weekly so was ... having a Fisher When through and see if she she has to go back to court now he doesn't see that her case hasn't been hasn't put aside now and I am relate to her I think in in many ways I haven't spoken to her ... at that ... as many people forget that I won my case because of her last her case and ... I was a personal victory a victory for me not at not a principled one ... and so ... I can I think accurately tabby ... I'm and that ... she likely had people calling her yesterday congratulating her family and friends ... at the same time ... there were attorneys debating who won this I'm this case and ... I'm in and so she's standing at claiming victory ... and so is the University of Texas and that can be emotional ... on a can be draining ... I and so I I really my first bought yesterday when the decision came out and when that when it was ... an ... eight at Newlands and very narrow decision ... I thought about her and her as a person so often we think about ... these cases as policies on paper ... can we forget that ... they're real people behind them who have ... had their dreams dashed because of discrimination in ... your case really seemed to change the course of your life ... I'm not system was through the legal process but you also did start this Exide the foundation ... on which hasn't been worth it ... on this issue didn't change the role of race yet standard drop rate line ... in admissions policies on and do you think that ... given the conversations he had to the foundation the country is ready for change I think that the country is definitely ready for it and I think we upgrade evidence of that in the ballot initiative that have passed ... I'm just after my case and other critters cases decided against University of Michigan ... I started about initiative in Michigan ... the people of Michigan voted by sixteen point margin and race preference is in the state of Michigan ... on and that's what you are the people scan and since then a handful of other states have also passed out in the stands ... once I do think it's worth it ... as ... something that I would do all over again ... I will see that it is ... I'm leading up to my ... mom addicted to that decision in my case ... I Liz and ... very anxious to move on ... we'll be talking about something other than race ... I and and so it was a and ... B after the decision ... that was another emotional part of it was that was making the decision ... to continue to fight ... Amen Abigail Fisher has to make that decision as well because the principal ... and I and realize that ... that this is a marathon that is not a spread and the courts are going to do it for us ... the politicians are going to do it for us we have to change hearts and minds of people ... can make people believe that equality is the right thing to quality is the right season for crafts thank so much for being on the show thinking


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Lila B. Terrarium sited on the home page of the Instagram App download page! Check out Instagram's app download page and there it is…our sweet terrarium built for Banana Republic's Union Square Flagship location.
Instagram chose a photo from Banana Republic to use on their home-download page and what'd'ya know? It is a Lila B. terrarium. A classic VW, a beautiful tall building, and a Lila B diorama. What FAB company we are in…Oh and yes how we love Instagram.
{Insert little dance here}
Thank you Banana Republic. Thank you Instagram.
And BTW: our goods are still avail in San Francisco's flagship store…for a limited time…catch while you can…


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ipozin needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
2 winners were selected from 51 designs submitted by 28 freelance designers.
Metal Trend - http://www.metaltrend.com - needs a new design for their home page along with a new logo. We are going for a clean, modern, and professional look that would fit the elegance of this beautiful jewelry.
Metal Trend
Desired Color Scheme:
see description
Desired Style:
see description - modern, elegant, classy
Accepted File Formats:
The current website can be found at http://www.metaltrend.com
Design should be for 1024x768 resolution, so 980px wide.
We like the look of http://www.maxaria.com/rings_CA1.html for example, or even the famous - http://www.tiffany.com/shopping/cat…1&isMenu=1
This site also has a nice clean look - http://www.luxurien.com/
This site will not use flash, so keep that in mind for the design. The website is obviously ecommerce, and we want the home page to feature pieces from each category.
The categories and navigation can be found on the current site, and do not change. Some items such as Policies dont have to be in the main nav, and can be in the footer.
Colors: Jewelry sites seem to have a great look on a black background, however, we're open to your creative ideas in this project. Could use blues, grays, etc, just nothing too colorful / fruity. Colors have to show elegance.
Logo: We are open here, no specific direction. The name is Metal Trend. You can use any photos on the website, or stock photography. No slogan.
Special boxes: We do want some kind of promo box, where we can put either a message about the company, or feature a sale item. It does not have to be as big and primary as the box on the current site.
That's about it, just look at the current site for content etc.
This contest was originally listed in multiple categories:
- Logo Design
- Web Page Design
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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For my first tutorial, I'll be teaching you how to draw an cute anime fairy at 3/4 view. After reading this tutorial, users will be able to better understand placing facial features and wings at an angle.
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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Ian Campbell has waited more than three decades to stage "Murder in the Cathedral," which will be the centerpiece of the San Diego Opera's 2013 season.
He had wanted to do it in the late'70s while director of The State Opera of South Australia in Adelaide, but his board nixed the idea of presenting a modern opera.
"So now I'm finally getting around to it," said Campbell, who will direct the U.S. premiere at the Civic Theatre of Ildebrando Pizzetti's 1958 work about the murder of Thomas Becket.
The 2013 season, which the company will officially announce next week, also includes Verdi's "Aida," Donizetti's "Daughter of the Regiment" and Saint-Saëns' "Samson and Delilah."
"With those four operas, I think it's going to be a balanced season," said Campbell, who has been general director of the San Diego Opera since 1983. "But clearly there's an attempt to be reasonably popular and still introduce something new."
As it did in 2012, the company is programming a "special event" to supplement the four operas: an appearance by the famed Mariachi de Vargas de Tecalitlán in what may be the world's first mariachi opera, "Cruzar la Cara de la Luna" ("To Cross the Face of the Moon").
In an effort to "take the edge off the cost of opera tickets," the company is dropping subscription ticket prices on roughly half of its seats and holding prices steady on the rest.
"The whole idea is to try to keep people in those seats," Campbell said. "(We want) the people who are feeling the economic pinch to say, 'Well, it will cost me a little less, so in spite of the economy, I'll come.' And we hope to attract others."
San Diego Opera's 2013 "International Season"
"The Daughter of the Regiment" by Gaetano Donizetti Jan. 26, 29, Feb. 1, 3
Previous San Diego Opera stagings: 1973, 1990
Production: Julio Galán's sets from the Teatro Comunale in Bologna; Director Emilio Sagi, who conceived the production, and conductor Yves Abel, make their company debuts.
What to watch: Tonio is the role that made Pavarotti famous (and Tonio gets the girl, who in Pavarotti's case was Joan Sutherland). Tenor Stephen Costello will return to survey the part for the first time. Its most famous aria — "Ah! mes amis, quel jour de fête!" — has nine high Cs, which makes it a tenor's dream or nightmare. Donato DiStefano as Sergeant Sulpice will be making his company debut.
Returning favorites: Slovakian soprano L'úbica Vargicová sang Gilda in "Rigoletto" in 2009 and will sing Marie. Ewa Podles, who sings the Marquise de Birkenfeld, returns for the first time since 2006. Veteran soprano Carol Vaness is the Duchess of Krakenthorp and renews a relationship to the company dating back to 1987.
"Samson and Delilah" by Camille Saint-Saëns Feb. 16, 19, 22, 24
Previous company stagings: 2007
Production: Created by director John Copley, set designer Douglas Schmidt and costume designer Carrie Robbins for the San Francisco Opera and introduced here in 2007. Lesley Koenig will direct. Karen Keltner, who was absent from the 2012 season after dropping out of "
What to watch: Bulgarian mezzo-soprano Nadia Krasteva, known for her close association with the Vienna State Opera, will make her San Diego Opera debut as Delilah, a role she also will be singing for the first time. Icelandic baritone Tómas Tómasson makes his San Diego debut as the High Priest of Dagon.
Returning favorites: Clifton Forbis made his San Diego Opera debut as Samson in "Samson and Delilah" in 2007 and he'll return to sing it again in 2013.
"Murder in the Cathedral" by Ildebrando Pizzetti March 30, April 2, 5, 7
Previous company stagings: None (U.S. Premiere)
Production: New production conceived by Director Ian Campbell and set designer Ralph Funicello. Italian conductor Donato Renzetti will make his company debut.
What to watch: This is a production Campbell is taking personally, and he's surrounded himself with a first-rate cast and conductor. The 1958 work based on T.S. Eliot's verse play about the assassination of Thomas Becket is enjoying a revival of sorts with recent productions in Frankfurt and Milan. Campbell is hopeful his production may spark interest in the U.S. as well, as other companies could rent the set the San Diego Opera is building for the production.
Returning favorites: The esteemed bass Ferruccio Furlanetto has frequently sung with the company, most recently the title roles of "Boris Godunov" in 2007 and "Don Quixote" in 2009. He withdrew from 2011's highly touted "Der Rosenkavalier," but Campbell is certain he'll be back to sing Becket, which he recently sung in Milan at La Scala with great success. Susan Neves makes her company debut as the First Chorister.
"Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi April 20, 23, 26, 28
Previous company stagings: 1966, 1972, 1978, 1983, 1996, 2001, 2008
Production: Sets and costumes designed by Zandra Rhodes for the Houston Grand Opera. Conductor Daniele Callegari makes his company debut and Director Andrew Sinclair is back after directing "The Pearl Fishers" in 2004 and 2008, "Mary, Queen of Scots" in 2008, "Tosca" in 2009 and "La Traviata" in 2010, among others.
What to watch: The San Diego-based Rhodes needs no introduction to local audiences, as the company has presented her conceptions of "The Pearl Fishers" and "The Magic Flute." But this distinctive production has never been offered on Rhodes' home stage. The three primary roles are all company debuts: Latonia Moore sings the title role, a role she's also sung at the Metropolitan Opera and Covent Garden. Her rival is the highly touted Jill Grove as Amneris. They fight over Walter Fraccaro singing Radames, one of his signature roles.
Returning favorites: Priti Gandhi will sing the Priestess.
"Cruzar la Cara de la Luna" ("To Cross the Face of the Moon") by José "Pepe" Martínez (composer) and Leonard Foglia (librettist) March 16 (performances at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
Previous company stagings: None (West Coast premiere)
Production: The work is semi-staged with sets, costumes and concept created for the Houston Grand Opera by Leonard Foglia, who will direct the San Diego performances
What to watch: Mariachi de Vargas de Tecalitlán, one of world's most respect Mariachi ensembles, will be on stage with virtually the same cast that created the Houston production, all making their San Diego Opera debuts.
Returning favorites: Foglia was dramaturge and director for the world premiere coproduction of "Moby-Dick," which the San Diego Opera presented in 2012
For opera subscription information, call (619) 533-7000 or visit


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Register for 2013 Little League
It's not too late to register for the upcoming Little League season.
Register for the 2013 season online at tahoelittleleague.com.
Little League offers five divisions of baseball for girls and boys,
ages 4 (as of April 30) to 12. Players must not be the age of 13 before May
1. All players, including returning players, must have a certified birth certificate to register for the league. No copies are allowed, original only.
The sign up fee is $85 for players ages 4 (as of April 30) through 8, and $95 for players ages 9 though 12. There are family discounts for multiple players.
The season begins in May. Children ages 9-12 who wish to participate must attend a tryout. Tryouts will be held in the South Tahoe High School gym on Friday, March 15 at 6 p.m., and on March 16 at either 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Children must pick one to attend with a glove and tennis shoes.