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0 Members and 1 Lonely Barbarian are spying on this topic.
The game is, obviously, not very moral nor very child friendly.
What is worrying is that the more depraved BW gets, the more gleeful you become.
I have job hunting and interviews coming up, and will be traipsing over the country, so my posting may not be up to my usual standard. Feel free to take over Mason as needed AG.
CONGRATS!Are you at liberty to tell us what kind of job you got?


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Product Information
The new stunningly designed 11.6-inch Apple MacBook Air will speed through intensive applications and is 2.5 times faster than its predecessor, despite weighing little over 1kg. Featuring the latest Intel Core i5 processor and a whole host of great connectivity options, including a lighting fast thunderbolt port, the MacBook Air is your perfect partner for work, rest or play.
Key benefits:
Your new MacBook Air will arrive with OS X Lion - the worlds most advanced desktop operating system; which has been further improved. New features include multi-touch gestures from your trackpad, allowing you to zoom, scroll left, right, up and down, quick launches for applications, easy switching between screens, full-screen apps, a Mac App Store, a handy Launchpad feature for easy access to your apps, Auto Save and AirDrop - a non-internet way to share files with other devices within 10 feet.
The MacBook Air is incredibly thin and light thanks to its aluminium construction. Measuring just 1.7cm at its deepest point and weighing an astonishing 1.08kg, this laptop is perfect for taking on the road with you.
The latest dual-core Intel Core i5 processor will handle whatever you throw at it, allowing you to multi-task and work on intensive applications without experiencing any lag. Applications run faster and more efficiently than before. So everything you normally do on a computer you can do even quicker. Send email, write reports, create presentations, touch up photos, edit home movies and all the little (and big) tasks in between.
The 128GB all-flash storage will allow you store your photos, music and personal documents in the one place. Flash storage doesnt have any moving parts, which means its more reliable and quiet. Lightning fast, durable, silent qualities that make sense in a laptop tasked with keeping up with you.
Expect to be delighted by the MacBook Airs beautifully bright LED-backlit widescreen display. Its 1366 x 768 so youll notice the finest of details on web content, movies or when gaming. Experience an immersive entertainment experience thanks to powerful stereo speakers which will get the most from your films, videos and music.
MacBook Air also features Intels HD Graphics 3000 processor which includes an on-chip engine for video encoding and decoding. That means you experience video playback and FaceTime calls that are smoother, more responsive and truer to life.
A built-in FaceTime camera will allow you to experience video calling in HD to any other device with FaceTime. This could be another MacBook or to someones iPhone 4 when connected to a Wi-Fi signal.
Two USB 2.0 ports will allow you to connect peripheral items such as mice, printers or USB storage devices. The Thunderbolt port allows rapid transferring of files, so youll save time when trying to save large files in a hurry. With two 10-Gbps data channels, Thunderbolt lets you transfer data at rates up to 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0. Bluetooth 4.0 will allow you to connect to compatible devices within range, sharing libraries and playing media.
The battery life is impressive also, lasting up to 5 hours when connected wirelessly to the web - allowing you to stray from a plug socket to attend meetings or sit in a more comfortable environment.
Despite its size, the MacBook Air still packs a full-size keyboard that makes typing as natural as it is comfortable. And now the keyboard is backlit, so you can type with ease in even the dimmest light
With the Mac App Store, getting the apps you want on your Mac has never been easier. No more boxes, no more discs, no more time-consuming installation. Click once to download and install any app on your Mac. But if an app you need isnt available from the Mac App Store, you can use DVD or CD Sharing. This convenient feature of OS X lets you wirelessly borrow the optical drive of a nearby Mac or PC. So, youll still be able to install applications from a DVD or CD and have full access to an optical drive without having to carry one around.
As with all our laptops and computers, this MacBook Air comes with a 2-year guarantee for your peace of mind.Software Included:
OS X Lion
Includes Mail, Address Book, iCal, the Mac App Store, iTunes, Safari, Time Machine, FaceTime, Photo Booth, Mission Control, Launchpad, AirDrop, Resume, Auto Save, Versions, Quick Look, Spotlight, QuickTime and more.
Lion Recovery
OS X Lion includes a built-in set of tools for repairing your Mac in the Recovery HD, a new feature that lets you repair disks or reinstall OS X Lion without a physical disc.
Includes iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand
Key Features
Battery lifeHow long the battery lasts for (and if applicable) until it needs recharging Up to 5 hours
BluetoothWireless way of transferring data between electronic devices over short distances Yes - 4.0
Brand Apple
Built-in ethernet connectionAllows you to connect to a network Adaptor available seperately
CD/DVD Read & WriteCan play - and normally record to - CDs and DVDs Available seperately
Computer Software HelplineWe offer access to a 90 day helpline when you buy a new desktop or laptop computer from John Lewis. The service is available for a period of 90 days from the date you make your purchase. Free 90 day computer support
Dimensions H0.3/1.7 x W30 x D19.2cm
Function High Performance
Graphics cardGenerate the images you see on your computer screen Intel HD Graphics 3000
Graphics card - video RAMLarger amounts of video RAM are better at displaying fast moving and complex graphics 256MB
Guarantee 1 year guarantee
Hard driveBuilt-in memory used for storing your audio and video files, etc 128GB of flash storage
Manufacturer's Guarantee 1years
Memory card slotGreater amount of slots means more variety of card formats can be used No
Model name / number MC969B/A
Multi Touch Pad Yes
Operating systemPrograms that manage the hardware and software of a computer Mac OS X Lion
ProcessorBrain of a computer enabling a program to run Intel Core i5
Processor speedThe faster the processor the quicker your programs will run 1.5GHz
Processor Type Intel Core i5
Screen resolutionPicture quality defined by the number of individual dots (pixels) used to create an image. The higher the number of pixels, the higher the image quality 1366 x 768
Screen size 11.6"
Stereo speakers Built-in stereo speakers
Touch Screen No
USB portsUniversal Serial Bus- socket for transferring data between electronic devices 2x USB 2.0
Visible screen size (measured diagonally)Diagonal measurement across screen 29.5cm
Built-in Webcam Yes
Weight 1.08kg
Widescreen Yes
Wireless networking 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking, IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible, Bluetooth 4.0

subset: commoncrawl


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To Our Valued Customers:
For your consideration, below is a brief description of the Blue Sierra Inc. business family.
Sierra Woodworks, LLC and Creative Millwork, LLC are the premier Architectural Woodworking companies in the Southwest. Both companies are single member LLCs in the Blue Sierra Inc. family.
Our primary focus is Custom Commercial Cabinetry, Casework and Architectural Millwork.
In addition to our Custom Architectural Millwork, we offer a Comprehensive Cabinet Catalog, Custom Trim and Molding Catalog, Flat line Finishing Services for Doors, Cabinet Parts, Trim and Moldings.
Custom Panel Lay-up and parts processing are available.
Blue Sierra, Inc. operates two distinctly different manufacturing facilities in Southern Arizona:
Creative Millwork LLC operates from a 34,000 sq ft facility consisting of a complete Cabinet Production Line, Custom Wood Trim & Molding Department, Specialty items and Architectural Millwork in both Wood and Plastic Laminate products. Panel Lay-up for veneers and plastic laminates are available.
The Sierra Woodworks LLC 32,000 sq.ft. Shop is equipped with State of the Art production machinery, leading the Industry in Cabinet and Casework production through automation. This allows us to fabricate AWI Premium, Custom and Economy grade cabinets while maintaining the custom product you require. On time scheduling and cost consideration being paramount in our service. Both facilities are
AWI Quality Certified, a distinction we are proud to have earned.
Production capacity at this location can exceed 300 cabinets per day.


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Introduction to Classical Music
Classical Music – Definition
Classical music refers to art music that has been produced since the late 10th century although it established itself in the form as we know it today between the mid-16th century and the end of the 19th century. This period, known as the common practice period saw creation of some of the greatest masterpieces of all times that were written by composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, George Frideric Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin, Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Wagner, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, to mention only a few.
Despite being composed over centuries ago, the works by the mentioned composers are still a common feature as a background music for various events, television programmes, films and advertisements as well as a standard repertoire of classical concerts worldwide.
Classical Music in the 20th and 21st Centuries
The common practice period was followed by modern and contemporary period that was marked by a major shift from the late 19th century classical music and introduction of a number of new forms of music. Examples include modernism, futurism, minimalism, electronic music, New Simplicity, New Complexity, Polystylism and spectral music. Some of the most prominent composers of the 20th and 21st century include Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofiev, Charles Ives, Pierre Boulez, John Cage, Michael Nyman, Edgar Varese, Bernd Alois Zimmermann and many others who are recognised worldwide.
Most of 20th and 21st century composers don't enjoy the fame of their counterparts from the common practice period. While just about everyone know who is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart or Ludwig van Beethoven, many of the most outstanding modern and contemporary composers are known only within the classical music scene and its followers.
Classical Music in the UK
Classical music in the UK was influenced greatly by the European musical developments but it managed to retain its distint character. In comparison to the rest of Europe, most notably Italy and Germany, Britain didn't produce as many internationally renowned composers but those it did can rival the greatest names of classical music. Some of the most famous and influential British composers include George Frideric Handel, Felix Mendelssohn, Edward Elgar, William Walton, Gustav Holst, Benjamin Britten, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Peter Maxwell Davies.
Opera and Ballet
Opera and ballet are an important part of Western classical music and its tradition as many opera and ballet works were written by classical music composers. Both developed in Italy from where they spread to the rest of Europe. Just like contemporary classical music, contemporary opera and ballet are very different from that of the golden age of classical music which are still widely performed and enjoyed.
Some of the most popular opera works are those from Mozart, Rossini, Bellini, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner and Strauss. The most widely performed ballets, on the other hand, include Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Prokofiev's Cinderella, to mention only a few.


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New 2019 HondaAccord LX Sedanfor Sale/Lease near San Francisco and Berkeley, CA
- Stock: 191139
- Fuel Economy
- 30.0/38.0 mpg City/Hwy
- Exterior Color
- Platinum
- Interior Color
- Ivory Fabric
- Body/Seating
- Sedan/5 seats
- Transmission
- continuously variable automatic
- Drivetrain
- front-wheel
- Engine
- 1.5L I-4 cyl
Highlighted Features
- Lane departure
- Speed limit sign recognition
- Distance pacing cruise control
- Automatic temperature control
- Wireless phone connectivity
- Exterior parking camera rear
- Front dual zone A/C
- Auto high-beam headlights
Detailed Specifications
- 1-touch down
- 1-touch up
- Air conditioning
- Automatic temperature control
- Distance pacing cruise control: Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
- Driver door bin
- Driver vanity mirror
- Front beverage holders
- Front dual zone A/C
- Illuminated entry
- Overhead console
- Passenger door bin
- Passenger vanity mirror
- Power windows
- Proximity keyless entry: push button start only
- Rear beverage holders
- Rear door bins
- Remote keyless entry
- Speed control
- Telescoping steering wheel
- Tilt steering wheel
- Alloy wheels
- Four wheel independent suspension
- Front anti-roll bar
- Power steering
- Rear anti-roll bar
- Speed-sensing steering
- 1st row LCD monitors: 1
- AM/FM radio
- Primary LCD size: 7.0"
- Radio data system
- Speakers: 4
- Steering wheel mounted audio controls
- Wireless phone connectivity: Bluetooth HandsFreeLink
- Basic warranty: 36 months/36,000miles
- Corrosion perforation warranty: 60 months/ unlimited distance
- Powertrain warranty: 60 months/60,000miles
- Roadside assistance coverage: 36 months/36,000miles
- Front center armrest
- Front seats: bucket
- Max seating capacity: 5
- Rear seat center armrest
- Rear seats: bench
- Rear seats Folding position: fold forward seatback
- Compressor: intercooled turbo
- Cylinder configuration: I-4
- Drive type: front-wheel
- Engine liters: 1.5
- Engine location: front
- Fuel economy city: 30mpg
- Fuel economy combined: 33mpg
- Fuel economy highway: 38mpg
- Fuel tank capacity: 14.8gal.
- Horsepower: 192hp @ 5,500RPM
- Number of valves: 16
- Recommended fuel: Regular Unleaded
- Torque: 192 lb.-ft. @ 1,600RPM
- Transmission: continuously variable automatic
- Variable valve control
- Bumpers: body-color
- Door mirrors: body-color
- Power door mirrors
- Rear cargo: trunk
- Compression ratio: 10.30 to 1
- Curb weight: 1,420kg (3,131lbs)
- Engine bore x stroke: 73.0mm x 89.5mm (2.87" x 3.52")
- Engine displacement: 1.5 L
- Engine horsepower: 192hp @ 5,500RPM
- Engine torque: 192 lb.-ft. @ 1,600RPM
- Exterior body width: 1,862mm (73.3")
- Exterior height: 1,450mm (57.1")
- Exterior length: 4,882mm (192.2")
- Front headroom: 1,003mm (39.5")
- Front hiproom: 1,405mm (55.3")
- Front legroom: 1,074mm (42.3")
- Front shoulder room: 1,481mm (58.3")
- Interior cargo volume: 473 L (17 cu.ft.)
- Interior maximum cargo volume: 473 L (17 cu.ft.)
- Passenger volume: 2,990L (105.6 cu.ft.)
- Rear headroom: 947mm (37.3")
- Rear hiproom: 1,397mm (55.0")
- Rear legroom: 1,026mm (40.4")
- Rear shoulder room: 1,435mm (56.5")
- Turning radius: 5.8m (19.0')
- Wheelbase: 2,830mm (111.4")
- Auto high-beam headlights
- Delay-off headlights
- Display: digital/analog
- Exterior parking camera rear
- Forward collision: Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) + FCW mitigation
- Front reading lights
- Fully automatic headlights
- Lane departure: Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) active
- Low tire pressure warning
- Outside temperature display
- Rear window defroster
- Speed limit sign recognition
- Speed sensitive wipers
- Tachometer
- Trip computer
- Variably intermittent wipers
- 4 wheel disc brakes
- ABS brakes
- Brake assist
- Dual front impact airbags
- Dual front side impact airbags
- Electronic stability
- Ignition disable
- Knee airbag
- Occupant sensing airbag
- Overhead airbag
- Panic alarm
- Security system
- Traction control
Dealer Notes
2019 Honda Accord LX 30/38 City/Highway MPG
KBB.com Consumer Reviews
- 5.0
Sublime Competence
By Mauricio on Thursday, March 29, 2018This Accord has made me happy. I had to purchase it quickly after my A5 was totaled and my insurance company gave me little time in a rental. With mostly around town driving I was able to see how having the torque down low was of great benefit. I traveled to Austin to COTA and while on the toll roads 85 - 90 was comfortable and quiet. I kept driving on that tank until Thursday and was happy to avg 33.8 MPG of mixed Hwy and City. I tend to have a lead foot and obtaining that surprised me. I have played with many of the electronic systems and love the integration of these systems. If you explore the car systems, you will find items that will make ownership more enjoyable. Smooth when you want it, capable when you need it. HUGE trunk and backseat doesnt hurt.
- 3.0
Questioning Honda's "Reliability"
By MinnesotaNice on Saturday, July 20, 2019After owning the 2018 Accord Sport 2.0, I'm not sure if I'll ever buy another Honda. First time I took it through a car wash, water leaked in through the sun roof. Took it to dealership, said there was nothing they could do. At around 3K miles, water began flowing into the backseat like a waterfall whenever it rained. Again, took it to dealership and this time they replaced all window seals. At about 8K miles, Honda sending system started glitching (would warm me to stop on a completely open highway). Cruise control also went out at the beginning of a long road trip. Pulled over, restarted my car like a busted internet router and it fixed the issue. At 16K miles front wheel bearings went out. Replaced under warranty. The moment my bumper-to-bumper warranty is up, I'm trading this lemon. Which is unfortunate because it really does look good and drives like a dream.
- 5.0
Toyota Camry Doesn't Come Close
By JTFORSAN on Wednesday, September 25, 2019We have owned Toyotas for years, and we actually own a 2006 Camry with approximately 285,000 miles on it. We were in the market for a new car about 4 months ago, so our first stop was at the Toyota dealership to test drive the Camry. We were shocked by it's uncomfortable seats, and the lack of power offered by it's engine. We decided to give the Accord a test drive and we were blown away! The car will flat out fly if you hit the gas too hard, and it's very comfortable overall. It'd be nice it the seats were just a little softer, if the suspension offered a little smoother ride, but those are just personal preferences. We are likely Honda owners for the foreseeable future unless Toyota starts putting a quality product back on the market.
Prices shown are manufacturer suggested retail prices only and do not include taxes, license, or doc fee. Manufacturer vehicle accessory costs, labor and installation vary. Please contact us with any questions.
**Based on 2014 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery-pack age/condition and other factors.
For 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid, 115 combined miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe) electric rating; 47 city/46 highway/46 combined MPG gasoline only rating. 13 mile maximum EV mode driving range rating. 570 mile combined gas-electric driving range rating. Based on 2014 EPA mileage and driving range ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your MPGe/MPG and driving range will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, lithium-ion battery age/condition, and other factors. For additional information about EPA ratings, visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/learn-more-PHEV-label.shtml.
New Arrivals
Estimated Monthly Payment will depend on vehicle
make and model and will be determined upon actual vehicle inspection. All
payments are estimates. Tax, title and any other government fees are extra.
Actual APR will be determined based on individuals credit history.
FIT EV Models [1] 132 city/105 highway/118 combined miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe) rating; 82 mile combined (city/highway) driving range rating (adjusted). Ratings determined by EPA. Use for comparison purposes only. Your MPGe and range will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, lithium-ion battery age/condition, and other factors. For additional information about EPA ratings, visit //www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/learn-more-electric-label.shtml.
[2] Subject to limited availability through October 2014 in designated market regions on approved credit through American Honda Finance Corp. Closed end lease for 2014 Honda Fit EV for well-qualified lessees meeting specific use and operation requirements. Not all applicants will qualify. No purchase option at lease end. MSRP $37,415 (includes destination). Excludes tax, title, license, fees, regis tration, options and insurance. Total monthly payments $9,324. Lessee responsible for non-routine maintenance, and excessive wear/tear. Lease includes
collision coverage, routine maintenance, roadside assistance and navigation system updates. Total due at lease signing $259 plus tax and title. Please see your authorized Fit EV dealer for complete details. For lessees who elect to install 240-volt charging equipment in their home, the charging equipment (hardware only) will be provided by Honda, the lessee remains responsible for installation and installation materials.
2] 115 combined miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe) electric rating; 47 city/46 highway/46 combined MPG gasoline only rating. 13 mile maximum EV mode driving range rating. 570 mile combined gas-electric driving range rating. Ratings determined by EPA. Use for comparison purposes only. Your MPGe/MPG and driving range will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, lithium-ion battery age/condition, and other factors. For additional information about EPA ratings, visit//www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/learn-more-PHEV-label.shtml.
[3] For more information, see GreenCarJournal.com.
[4] Check local or state laws


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Why Learn About HIV and the Immune System?
Permitting us to survive and thrive in a sea of potentially infectious microbes, our immune systems are always at work. Laboring, for the most part, in relative silence and obscurity, these systems of defense may become compromised when Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) threatens key CD4+ (T-helper) lymphocytes, integral to proper immune function.
Learning a bit about HIV and its lifecycle within infected CD4+ cells can help us to understand how medications used to treat infection with this virus work, and how regular quantitative monitoring of the virus (i.e., viral load) and immune system (i.e., CD4+ lymphocyte count) contribute to successful therapy.
Understanding these facts may also help to explain why taking antiviral medications regularly as directed is so critical to controlling HIV infection and its damaging effects on immunity.
Retrovirology 101
Despite the many social, political, and economic dimensions that the pandemic of HIV infection may have assumed over the course of the past three decades, it is important to emphasize that HIV is after all, simply a virus. Viruses are relatively basic, sub-microscopic germs that are composed of genetic material bearing the code for their replication in the form of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA), along with a number of critical viral proteins, generally surrounded by a protective envelope. Because viruses do not have all of the necessary tools to manufacture their own essential proteins, they must infect and act as parasites on the cells of a more complex living organism in order to reproduce.
HIV is an RNA virus that specifically targets human cells bearing a molecule known as CD4+ on their surfaces. Unfortunately, this targeted molecule, CD4+, is found on cells such as T-helper lymphocytes that are critical in orchestrating harmonious immunologic function.
Because they must transcribe their genetic code composed of RNA back into DNA copies within infected cells in order to effectively parasitize the host cells' machinery for creating protein (synthesis), viruses such as HIV are known as retroviruses.
In order to fully appreciate the impact of HIV upon CD4+ lymphocytes and the means by which antiviral medicines can decrease the negative results of this process, it is important to understand precisely how the virus attacks and replicates within infected cells.
The HIV Lifecycle
HIV carries out its work of reproduction in a series of steps that, together, comprise the retroviral life cycle. These steps include: viral fusion with the cell membrane, reverse transcription, integration, transcription, translation, and viral assembly.
Each step offers opportunities for interruption of viral replication by means of molecules that specifically block the process at that particular stage. Medications used to treat HIV, known as antiretroviral therapy (ART), target specific stages in this lifecycle. When ART medications are used in combination, they are generally more effective at blocking the HIV lifecycle, sometimes at several distinct steps, while minimizing the risk of dose-related side effects of any one medicine used alone.
Antiviral medications target specific stages in the lifecycle.
HIV recognizes and binds to CD4+ surface receptors by means of a glycoprotein molecule on its own surface known as gp120. As HIV gp120 binds to CD4+, other proteins on the surface of the host cell known as CCR5 or CXCR4 may also become activated in completing viral fusion. ART medications that interfere with this stage in the HIV lifecycle are called fusion inhibitors. An example of one such medication is enfuvirtide.
Another ART drug, which antagonizes the binding of HIV with CCR5 molecules, is known as maraviroc. Since not all HIV viruses utilize CCR5 to the same degree in viral fusion, a special viral blood test called a tropism or Trofile assay is generally performed prior to therapy with a CCR5 receptor antagonist in order to assess the likelihood that treatment with such medication will be effective in a given patient.
Reverse Transcription
Upon viral fusion, HIV RNA and critical viral proteins, such as the enzyme reverse transcriptase, enter the host cell. Reverse transcriptase is responsible for catalyzing or facilitating the transcription of the viral RNA genetic code into DNA copies. This is critical for viral reproduction since the host cell's process for protein synthesis, which the virus must use for its own replication, begins with DNA (not RNA) in the cell nucleus.
Many ART medications work at blocking this step in the viral lifecycle. Among them are the nucleoside or nucleotide analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs or "nukes"), such as zidovudine, didanosine, lamivudine, stavudine, abacavir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir, which are structurally similar to nucleosides or nucleotides that would ordinarily be incorporated into DNA copies by viral reverse transcriptase. The presence of these NRTIs instead thwarts the process of reverse transcription that is so vital to HIV reproduction. Other medications that are structurally different from nucleosides or nucleotides but also work by blocking reverse transcription are called non-nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs or "non-nukes"). Examples of NNRTIs are efavirenz, nevirapine, and etravirine.
Since reverse transcription is such a retrovirus-specific and critical step in the HIV lifecycle, medications that target this stage are often the backbone of ART combination regimens. Some frequently utilized combinations of NRTIs and NNRTIs have been co-formulated into combination pills that may facilitate adherence to therapy by limiting the number of pills that an HIV-positive patient takes each day. Examples include co-formulations of zidovudine with lamivudine; abacavir with lamivudine; zidovudine, abacavir, and lamivudine; tenofovir with emtricitabine; and tenofovir, emtricitabine, and efavirenz.
Once a newly formed viral DNA transcript has been produced, it must be integrated into the DNA of the human host cell nucleus in order to utilize that cell's ordinary process for protein synthesis. This step is catalyzed by the viral enzyme known as integrase. ART medications such as raltegravir are integrase inhibitors, and thereby interrupt the HIV lifecycle at this stage.
Having successfully integrated its DNA transcript into the host nuclear DNA, HIV next has its genetic code (now called proviral DNA) transcribed along with that of the host cell. The product of this transcription event is a new strand of RNA, known as messenger RNA (mRNA) because it is responsible for carrying the genetically encoded message, a blueprint for the formation of proteins, out of the cell nucleus and into the cytoplasm (the substance between the cell membrane and its nucleus), where the remainder of the process of protein synthesis occurs.
Once out in the host cell cytoplasm, the newly formed mRNA transcripts meet up with cytoplasmic structures known as ribosomes. Also composed of RNA, these ribosomes serve as sites where the mRNA-coded message is translated, permitting the appropriate alignment of specific amino acids, which are the fundamental building blocks of new viral proteins.
Viral Assembly
The new chains of amino acids thus formed must finally be cut into appropriately sized and structured protein pieces. This tailoring step, critical for the production of all of the enzymes and other proteins needed for the structure and repeated replication of HIV, is facilitated by the viral enzyme called protease.
Many powerful ART meds contain a class of molecules that block this enzyme. These drugs are known as protease inhibitors (PIs) and include: atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir, and tipranavir.
Many times these medications are combined with another PI called ritonavir, which increases the bioavailability of the other co-administered PIs in the body by inhibiting a key enzyme system in the liver responsible for metabolizing or breaking down these PI molecules. Lopinavir is co-formulated with ritonavir in a single pill for this purpose.
The HIV Life Cycle
Terms Used in This Fact Sheet:
*CD4 receptor: A protein present on the outside of infection- fighting white blood cells. CD4 receptors allow HIV to bind to and enter cells.
**Co-receptor: In addition to binding a CD4 receptor, HIV must also bind either a CCR5 or CXCR4 co-receptor protein to get into a cell.
***T-lymphocyte: A type of white blood cell that detects and fights foreign invaders of the body.
For more information: Contact your doctor or an AIDSinfo Health Information Specialist at 1-800-448-0440 or http://aidsinfo.nih.gov.
If viral assembly is completed successfully, new HIV particles may then bud from the surface of the host cell, floating off into the bloodstream to infect other cells and continue this lifecycle. It is important to recognize that this process is repeated over ten billion times daily in the body of any HIV-positive person who is not receiving ART.
Significance of Viral Load
By means of a very sensitive test called a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), it is possible to measure how many copies of HIV RNA may be found in the blood of an infected individual. The result of such a test is often referred to as a viral load, and is most frequently expressed as the number of copies of HIV RNA detected in a milliliter (ml) of plasma (the liquid component of blood). Though a number of different tests are in use to measure viral load with different lower limits of viral detection, all are generally very reliable.
When the number of copies of HIV RNA is lower than the lower limit of detection of the assay being used, the viral load is said to be undetectable.
An important goal of treatment for most patients receiving ART is to attain and maintain an undetectable viral load. This does not mean that HIV is eradicated from the treated person, but rather that viral replication has been controlled to the extent that the amount of virus present in the blood is below the lower limit of detection of the viral load test.
Thus, it is important to perform viral load testing at baseline (i.e., prior to starting any new ART) and generally at 4- to 12-week intervals thereafter, depending upon response to treatment. For example, an HIV-positive individual who is feeling well, tolerating and adhering to medications well, and has had consistently undetectable viral loads and healthy CD4+ cell counts may only require such viral load testing every three to six months; whereas, someone who is symptomatic, having difficulty with tolerating or adhering to ART, or has had prior high or increasing viral loads or low CD4+ counts may require more frequent monitoring.
When possible, achieving an undetectable HIV viral load on ART may take weeks to months. Once attained, however, it requires (at least at this time), a lifetime of regular adherence to prescribed ART to maintain. Maintaining an undetectable viral load indicates that the HIV lifecycle is being suppressed to the extent possible within a given person. This minimizes the risk that the virus will develop mutations (i.e., mistakes in genetic coding) that are associated with resistance to ART.
Viral Resistance Testing
Replicating up to billions of times daily within an infected person, particularly in the absence of completely suppressive ART (such as when treatment adherence has been lax), mistakes or mutations in the HIV genetic code may occur frequently.
Such mutations, when conferring resistance to a particular ART drug or class of drugs, may provide the mutant virus with a selective survival advantage in the accelerated evolutionary scheme of the microbial environment within an infected individual. Mutant HIV may then become predominant, rendering treatment with that particular ART drug, or in some cases, class of ART drugs, ineffective for that person.
Thus, when viral loads are noted to be consistently elevated, it is appropriate to perform blood tests called HIV genotype or phenotype in order to determine whether resistance mutations have emerged, and to what extent existing mutations may create resistance to available ART agents.
Such testing may also help treating clinicians to determine whether a change in ART may be helpful in suppressing the HIV lifecycle, and to what extent it might be possible to expect favorable viral load suppression with each of the available ART medications and combinations. This may greatly facilitate selection of a new ART regimen if that is necessary in order to establish or reestablish viral load suppression and so reduce the risk of HIV-related injury to CD4+ cells, which are so pivotal to the proper functioning of the immune system.
CD4+ Lymphocyte Count as a Reflection of Immune Function
A target of HIV, the CD4+ lymphocyte plays a central role in the immune system, which has been likened to that of the conductor of an orchestra. Performing appropriately and in adequate numbers, the CD4+ cell directs the immune system's harmonious functioning, defending the body from harmful invading microbes or malignant neoplastic (abnormal or tumorous) cells without injury to healthy tissues. However, a decline in CD4+ number can permit a cacophony of serious opportunistic infections (OIs) such as Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP); cytomegalovirus (CMV); toxoplasmosis; malignancies (for example, lymphoma or Kaposi sarcoma); or autoimmune disorders, wherein the immune system injures normal cells, as in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).
Disturbingly, HIV may attach itself to CD4+ molecules, gaining entry to, parasitizing, and destroying these critical immune cells in large numbers for long periods of time while the infected individual may remain free of symptoms. This is because the body continues to produce large numbers of CD4+ cells in an effort to replace those lost.
Medical knowledge about HIV, ART, and the immune system continues to grow as do new treatment options.
Ultimately however, this effort proves inadequate, and the CD4+ cell number declines to the point (frequently below 200 cells per cubic millimeter, mm3, of blood) where immune deficiency allows the opportunistic processes to take over.
At this point, an HIV-positive individual may be described as having Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Therefore, an important goal of therapy for HIV infection is to attain and maintain healthy CD4+ lymphocyte (T-cell) numbers. These may be measured with a special blood test known as the CD4+ lymphocyte count, which is performed upon diagnosis of HIV infection to assess the potential benefit of immediate versus deferred ART and/or prophylactic medication to prevent certain OIs. This test will be repeated at intervals thereafter to reassess the need for beginning ART in untreated individuals, and to monitor treatment response in those receiving ART.
Currently, ART is generally recommended for people living with HIV when they have symptoms related to their infection, or if asymptomatic, when they have CD4+ counts at or below 350 cells/mm3. Medical knowledge about HIV, ART, and the immune system continues to grow as do new treatment options; and so, guidelines for precisely when to begin ART also continue to evolve.
Preventing OIs
Guidelines for the prevention of OIs in HIV-positive patients also provide specific recommendations for when to begin prophylactic, or preventative, medications. For those individuals who have not experienced symptoms of a particular OI, the threshold for beginning such prophylaxis is based upon CD4+ cell count (as when trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole [Bactrim] for PCP prevention is recommended at 200 cells/mm3).
Conversely, individuals treated with ART who experience a rise in CD4+ counts following control of HIV replication that is sustained over several months may receive a recommendation to discontinue certain prophylactic medications for OIs.
Therefore, CD4+ lymphocyte numbers may be measured every three to six months in asymptomatic HIV-infected persons with relatively high counts who are either not taking ART or are stable on ART, while these tests may be performed more frequently when deciding upon the need to initiate ART or OI prophylaxis, when symptoms develop, or when CD4+ decline accelerates.
HIV, Your Immune System, and You
Currently available ART regimens cannot eradicate HIV infection even when used as directed, since integrated provirus can remain for prolonged periods within human cells. Lapses in ART can result in continuation of the HIV lifecycle with renewed viral replication. This can lead to increases in measured viral load and subsequent reductions in CD4+ lymphocyte counts, with increased risk of disease progression to AIDS and of more serious opportunistic illnesses.
Health care providers and patients can form powerful therapeutic alliances, keeping HIV infection at bay.
Consequently, long-term, careful adherence to prescribed ART is critical for maintaining control of viral replication, and thus permitting the immune system to reconstitute and sustain CD4+ cell number and function to the extent possible for a given individual.
Learning about HIV and its lifecycle within host CD4+ cells provides us with an enhanced appreciation for the dynamics of ART treatment and for why adherence to such therapy can be so vital to the integrity of immune defenses. Sharing such an appreciation, health care providers and patients can form powerful therapeutic alliances, keeping HIV infection at bay.
It is important that infected individuals identify, and actively engage with, knowledgeable and interested caregivers who are open to questions and frank discussions about HIV and related issues, including experiences with side effects of medications. Although current ART cannot cure HIV infection, it can be an integral and empowering element of care aimed at enjoying a longer and healthier life.
Joseph S. Cervia, M.D., M.B.A., FACP, FAAP, FIDSA, AAHIVS is currently Clinical Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, Volunteer Attending Physician at the Center for AIDS Research and Treatment of the North Shore/Long Island Jewish Health Network, and Medical Director and Senior Vice President for Pall Corporation. A board-certified internist, pediatrician, adult and pediatric infectious diseases, and HIV medicine specialist, Dr. Cervia has dedicated much of his career to the care of individuals and families battling HIV and other infectious diseases, and to clinical research related to prevention, therapeutics, complicating illnesses, and quality of life issues. He has authored over 100 articles, chapters, and abstracts, lectured widely, and serves as a consultant to numerous local, national, and international organizations on HIV and infectious disease-related issues.
Got a comment on this article? Write to us at email@example.com.


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Survey: iPhone More Reliable But Accident-Prone
Page 1 of 1
Apple's iPhone is proving more reliable than the BlackBerry or Palm Treo -- though it is the most prone to accidents, according to a new study that examined accident rates and dependability among the three smartphones.
iPhone users reported a malfunction rate of just 5.6 percent during their first year of ownership, compared to 16.2 percent of Palm (NASDAQ: PALM) Treo owners and 11.9 percent of BlackBerry users, according to the study from SquareTrade (available here in PDF format).
While the survey found their devices may be more reliable, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone users experienced a higher-than-average level of accidentally damaging their devices. Incidents like floor drops or water dunkings were 33 percent higher among iPhone users, with about 12 percent of the device's users reporting having accidentally damaged their devices. Combined, BlackBerry and Treo users reported similar mishaps only 9 percent of the time.
"The iPhone is more fragile, though its internal mechanisms are solid. It's just a slippery smartphone to hold on to," Vince Tseng, vice president of market at SquareTrade, told InternetNews.com.
The findings come at a time when consumers continue to lay out big bucks for Web-friendly and application-heavy devices that provide much of the functionality found in laptops. Handset makers are pushing out new software and functions on every new device to lure users and gain market traction, while carriers are wagering that having the latest and greatest smartphones will attract new subscribers.
The smartphone survey analyzed data on 15,000 new smartphones, including 6,678 BlackBerries, 5,651 Treos and 4,902 original iPhones (not the current 3G version). SquareTrade, an electronic device warranty provider, annually collects data on problems and the survey is the first time it's gone public with some results.
"We felt consumers can use this knowledge today as smartphones are getting more sophisticated and more popular," Tseng said.
Likelihood for problems
Despite their profile, even the popular devices suffer from a number of glitches. The SquareTrade survey found that users reported problems ranging from software hiccups to camera snafus, voice calling issues, touchpad and keypad foul-ups as well as power and battery failure.
"Today's handsets are so complex, there is just plenty of opportunity for something to go wrong," Tseng said.
The top glitch with the iPhone is tied to its touchscreen -- widely credited with sparking a surge of popularity in the feature among device manufacturers. The survey attributed nearly a third of the smartphone's 5.6 percent malfunction rate to its touchscreen.
While Apple is often chided in public for the fact that its battery isn't removable or replaceable by users, battery problems were reported by less than 0.2 percent of the survey's respondents. About 1 percent of both BlackBerry and Treo users reported battery problems.
The top issue dogging Treo devices are touchpad and keypad glitches, with more than 3 percent of users reporting a pad problem in the first year of use. Next came software problems, with 3 percent, and poor call quality, cited by 2.8 percent of users. The Treo also ranked highest in power issues -- problems like unexpected shutdowns -- with about 2.2 percent of users reporting such problems.
While the survey found that Research in Motion's (NASDAQ: RIMM) BlackBerry experienced few Bluetooth and device accessory problems -- representing less than 0.5 percent of complaints about the device -- about 2.5 percent reported touchscreen and keypad problems, while 2 percent reported call quality issues.
While it didn't rank as highly as Treo in power issues, about 1.6 percent of BlackBerry users reported similar problems. An additional 1.7 percent reported problems with software and other phone features.


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I have, on occasion in the past, produced a miscellanies of assorted nonsense here in honour of the festive season. I do like to keep a tradition going, so here we are. This time around, just a randomish concoction of audio-visual amusements.
Audio first.
In the science category, the Astronomy Cast is a relatively new discovery for me, and I commend to you a recent special edition they did concentrating on Strange Stuff in Spaaaaace. Lots of their episodes are fun and informative too, so give them a browse.
In the fiction category, not one but two Christmas stories (this year and last) from Tim Pratt (one of my favourite short fiction writers) and Heather Shaw, courtesy of Podcastle: the 2011 one is The Ghost of Christmas Possible, that from a year ago (probably my favourite) is a bonkers romp entitled The Christmas Mummy.
And in the 'Writers Talking' category, here's a properly substantial interview with Steven Erikson, creator of the properly enormous Malazan series that began with Gardens of the Moon. I found it extremely interesting, for all sorts of reasons which can perhaps best be summed up under the single heading of: 'here's a writer of epic fantasy who has thought deeply and seriously about what he's doing'. It's an education in how much can be going on in an author's head, and why their books turn out the way they do. Also, it sounds like I've been mentally mispronouncing 'Malazan' all this time. Who knew?
Books. Kind of.
The book trailer is finally starting to come of age, I think. Good ones are still extremely rare, but in recent weeks I've noticed a few pretty enticing ones showing up here and there. I've absolutely no idea whether these things actually make a difference to sales, mind you; someone must think they might, though, or they wouldn't exist.
Both of at those achieved at least this much: I'm curious about the books. (Although I have to admit, I was already curious about the second one).
Clips, clips, clips
The last issue of SciFiNow I read had a loooong list of funny/interesting geeky clips that have appeared on the internet over the years. I shamelessly (and lazily) harvested their suggestions to bring to you the following, which I offer without further comment. (And apologies for any irritating ads that may precede the start of the stuff that's potentially funny or interesting).
Okay, suspending the no further comment thing for a moment, this next one's an amazing thing to find buried in a list of geeky clips: the legendary Fritz Lang, creator of Metropolis, talks about his encounter with the Nazi propaganda machine. Did I say this is amazing?
And that's it for now. See you in 2012.
Tags: A Monster Calls, Adventures in Sci Fi Publishing, Alastair Reynolds, Astronomy Cast, Blue Remembered Earth, Podcastle, SciFi Now, Steven Erikson, Tim Pratt


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You can set your DVR to record any movie or show in the Guide, as long as the channel it's on is included in your programming package. Just click any title, then click "Record." There's no charge for recording. Learn how to record On Demand movies and shows
To set your DVR remotely, you need a computer with an Internet connection, a directv.com account, and a DVR or an HD DVR (Model R15 or later; Model HR20 or later; or a TiVo Series 2 receiver with 6.4a software). To check what receiver you have, sign in to your DIRECTV account and select My Equipment from the My Account dropdown menu. Follow these steps to set a DIRECTV DVR from a computer remotely:


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To the Onion A.V. Club: You're welcome
The Onion A.V. Club recently began airing a series of short films titled Pop Pilgrims. Their intro sums up the purpose of Pop Pilgrims better than I could:
"When the A.V. Club travels, we always make time to visit pop culture landmarks. If something memorable happened in the world of film, TV, books, or music, we want to go there. We're not just tourists, we're pop pilgrims."
The series is a lot of fun, and very informative. Yet up to now, I hadn't really given much thought to how they were getting their information.
Most of the shorts include interviews with local "experts," people with firsthand (or at least close secondhand) knowledge of the sites: a pastor from the church in the final scene of The Graduate, say, or the former special counsel who helped to bring Animal House to the University of Oregon campus. That's a great way to add to the pop lore, especially when the interviewees let us in on some lesser-known facts about the site. The short about Friday Night Lights was particularly illustrative on the ingenious use of a single physical location as many different on-screen places.
In their latest installment, the first of three in Chicago, they take on The Blues Brothers. And beyond the location interview at the Music Court bridge in Jackson Park—site of the Nazi rally in the movie—it would appear that a major portion of the three-minute short was put together by someone sitting down with some editing software, a DVD of The Blues Brothers, and a web browser displaying my site: Chicago Filming Locations of The Blues Brothers.
I say this because of the similarities in the captions that accompany several of the locations—not merely addresses, but phrasings that are somewhat distinctive due to my choice of words and their order. A standout example is their "Jackson Park between East Lagoon and 59 Street Harbor, Chicago, IL," a near-verbatim copy of my notation, plus a typo and minus "South of Museum of Science and Industry." (For whatever reason, both in their location shots and the caption, the A.V. Club has obfuscated the proximity of the bridge to MSI—just as the movie did.)
I'll even go so far as to suspect that all of the on-screen captions, even the addresses, were cribbed from my site. Of course it's impossible to say that for certain, unless the folks at the A.V. Club fess up—which is why, despite my desire for 100% perfect accuracy, I realize now in hindsight that I should have included a few "ringers."
In the excellent book by Jeopardy über-champ Ken Jennings, Brainiac, he describes how trivia writers will often add ringers: little bits of unique, often incorrect data, used as markers to let the writers know when their work has been borrowed by others. The classic example Jennings cites is that of "Columbo's first name: Philip," a falsity inserted by Ken Worth into his Trivia Encyclopedia in the early 1970s—and which subsequently appeared in the first edition of the Trivial Pursuit game.
Worth's subsequent lawsuit, and its dismissal in court, made clear that factual data, raw information, is not copyrightable. I'm not complaining about infringement or anything like that; that would be silly. I didn't create the data—I merely compiled it from numerous sources (which I credited) and built on it with quite a bit of legwork (i.e., on-site location scouting).
An offhanded credit by the A.V. Club, for saving them from that same legwork—even just in the accompanying text, not on-screen—would have been the forthright, ingenuous thing to do. No matter, though; I remain their avid reader and fan, and I get pleasure out of knowing their little secret: that they visited my site and found it useful, regardless of how they used it.
You're welcome, A.V. Club. Sincerely.
[Follow-up: Less than three hours after I posted this, I wound up in a friendly email exchange with A.V. Club general manager Josh Modell, who admitted that he "most definitely" used my site as a resource and offered to add a note and link to the bottom of their piece (now already in place). If you'll pardon a cliché, I must say this: The Onion A.V. Club—too cool for school.]


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submission form ...
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Advice volunteer adverts on rightsnet are FREE of charge. Submit your vacancy here.


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Armada Night in Tel Aviv
After the grand success of the three Russian Armada Nights, we now travel to a whole different part of the globe. Israel is the country, Tel Aviv the city and Hoaman 17 the club you want to be at on Thursday April 8th. The Armada sound will cause a blistering heat in the world-famous club, where some of the biggest DJ's have played. This Armada Night, for all Israeli fans and globetrotters, serves you two names that will surely make an impression.
First off, we got Armada Night resident ElSandro. Still recovering from his 3 night tour in cold Russia, the DJ that's been warming up the Armada crowd for years already, is now ready for peak time madness. Not only is he the A&R manager of Armada, he's also making name as a producer with his latest track 'Style Fusion'. ElSandro's melodic blend of progressive house and trance is guaranteed to rock the Tel Aviv floors.
Another big name in the Armada Music family, is Dash Berlin. The Dutch DJ/producer and Aropa Records owner arouses crowds all across the globe and has gigs in Miami, Mexico, Indonesia, Canada lined-up for the next couple of weeks. His first compilation, 'United Destination 2010' is set for release on March 22nd, while his 'The New Daylight artist album still makes the repeat button the dance scene's best friend. During Armada Night in Hoaman 17, expect a wild ride into the Dash Berlin sound as you'll be taken on a trip of big room progressive, scintillating trance and sturdy house stabs.
If you want to be part of this special Armada Night, then be sure to order your tickets on their website as soon as possible. On April 8th, you'll find yourself experiencing a night to never forget.
Checkout some photos from previous Armada Nights.
[album id=1 template=compact]


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Three years ago, I remember getting very annoyed with Football Outsiders mastermind Aaron Schatz because he expressed dismay that the Arizona Cardinals -- a team that had lost four of six going in to the playoffs (and two of its final three by 20+ points), with a net point differential of just +1 -- had managed to make a Super Bowl run. As Schatz saw it, the fact that a team like the Cards could find its way in the championship game denigrated the importance of the regular season.
Now, this annoyed me because I found the Cardinals run to be extremely entertaining, and because we shouldn't pooh-pooh what I considered to be an anomaly: a 9-7 team making the Super Bowl.
But Schatz was concerned that this wasn't an anomaly, and lo and behold, here we have a 9-7 New York Giants team that is now stunningly well-positioned to win it all.
Since the Super Bowl era began in 1967, no team has won a Super Bowl with such a lousy regular-season record, 9-7.
U.S. & World
A Giants' Super Bowl win would be coming on the heels of Green Bay winning the title as a #6 seed last season. Three of the past six Super Bowl champions have been Wild Card entrants (including the Giants back in 2007). Four of the past six Super Bowl champions were teams that had to play a game on Wild Card weekend.
So does that mean, should the Giants win it all, that the NFL regular season is a joke, the way that the NBA and NHL regular seasons are a joke?
I'd still argue no. What the NFL has right now is a good balance between surprise teams and dominant teams vying for the title. You need that in pro sports. You can't have it where the Super Bowl title is always won by one of the top two seeds in either conference. When that happens, the postseason gets denigrated, with Wild Card slots being little more than a moral victory.
Trust me: It's better to have a meaningful postseason than a meaningful regular season. Ask college football, which has somehow turned its postseason into a meaningless exhibition parade.
It's a fallacy to say that "the better team lost" in the case of a team like Green Bay or New Orleans going down last weekend. There's no such thing as a definitive best team. There's only the impression you get as to which team is the best, an impression taken mainly from regular season play. But the regular season doesn't tell us EVERYTHING we need to know about certain teams. The Giants didn't beat Green Bay out of sheer luck. They just matched up brilliantly with a team that happened to have more weaknesses than were exposed early on.
So don't fret if the Giants end up winning it all. The NFL regular season still means something. And thankfully, its postseason means even more.


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tareksss needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 17 designs submitted by 11 freelance designers.
We are a construction company that builds residential homes. Our specialty is building Green, Clean, Eco, Energy efficient homes. So, that needs to be reflected in the logo.
Our name is: CedarLand Homes LLC
Accepted File Formats:
The full text of the logo should read:
CedarLand Homes LLC
I would like the logo to look clean and professional with green in the image, maybe a tree(s) or a leaf. Really I am not the creative designer which is why I came to SitePoint. I have seen many great designs from people here.
Here is what I am needing:
- multilayer PSD file
- at least a 300 resolution file if not more
- The actual size needs to be large enough to be put on a large poster without jagies.
- I will need a copy of any fonts used in the logo
- The main thing is HOMES and GREEN.
The winner will be given $150 for their work.
I will announce the winner once I found the one I like.
Also, I will post feedback on the one's I like with any changes to be made.
thanks, T
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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1. Meet your floormates as soon as possible
2. Pick your schedule carefully
3. Picking professors proficiently
4. Study groups are your friend
5. Keep your friends close, and your TAs closer
6. Meal swipes are your friend
7. The Freshman 15 is real
8. Clubs all day, everyday
10. Buy used textbooks or rent textbooks
11. Have enough sleep
12. Make use of Office Hours or Tutorials
13. Don't' stress too much
14. Avoid signing up for classes that start before 9:00 am
15. Call your parents
16. Try walking everywhere as much as possible.
17. Learn how not to procrastinate.
18. Keep up with regular exercise and a healthy diet.
19. Take advantage of your campus resources.
20. Get out of your comfort zone.
21. Manage your time
22. Save your money
23. Don't sweat the small stuff
24. Keep your room clean.
25. Open up to other majors
26. Keep an eye on your stuff
27. Do not wear a lanyard with your keys on it.
28. Know your limits
29. Make sure you set a timer when you're doing laundry.
30. Enjoy yourself!


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Someone robbed the Keystone Federal Credit Union in Downingtown, Penn., this morning. He's described as 5'5", with a mustache, driving a tan sedan, and is 100 percent convinced that Nick Foles is the next Aaron Rodgers.
He is a slightly less conspicuous suspect than the dude with a Yankees tattoo on his forehead.
[ABC 6, via Busted Coverage]


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How to get to Seville
More information
Seville has excellent road and rail communications for quick and convenient access to the city by whichever means of transport you choose.
By car
A good way to get to Seville is by road – there is a good road network with several motorways (toll and free). The most important are the A-4, which connects Andalusia and Madrid, and the A-66 which goes to Mérida and connects with the A-5, which also goes on to Madrid. Granada and the Costa del Sol are linked with Seville by the A-92 motorway. Travel to Portugal is on the A-49 motorway. Finally, Seville and Cadiz are linked by both the A-4 and the E-5 roads. All access to motorways and main roads is from the SE-30 ring road around Seville, with numerous points of access into the city centre.
Points of interest
By air
The airport is ten kilometres north of the city, close to the A-4 motorway. Its facilities were designed by the prestigious Spanish architect Rafael Moneo. Almost five million passengers currently use this airport each year, mainly arriving from other Spanish cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia, but there are also numerous flights to European cities such as London, Paris, Rome, Milan and so on. When going from the airport to the city centre, visitors can opt for a taxi or take a special bus service, connecting the Plaza de Armas in the centre of the city with the airport, stopping off at places such as the Santa Justa train and AVE station. The journey takes approximately 35 minutes. A one-way ticket costs €4 and a return ticket €6. More information: Public transport company TUSSAM +34 955010010.
Points of interest
By bus
There are two bus and coach stations in the city. The main one is on Plaza de Armas, with numerous daily national and international services. The Prado de San Sebastián bus station operates scheduled regional services.
Points of interest
By train
Seville has been served by the high-speed train (AVE) since 1992. These trains offer some twenty daily services (in each direction) between Seville and Madrid, with a maximum journey time of around two and a half hours. The AVE also connects with Barcelona, by way of Zaragoza, in around five and a half hours, and with Valencia in a little less than four hours. Santa Justa Station is located on Avenida de Kansas City, just a few minutes' walk from the historic city centre. Seville is also served by other long-distance railway lines. There are also regional services connecting Seville with the other provincial capitals in Andalusia, and with numerous towns and villages. Renfe Spain Pass This pass allows non-residents to travel around Spain by train. This system is very practical, as it can be used on all AVE long-distance and mid-distance high-speed trains. The Renfe Spain Pass is valid for one month from the first trip and comes in two formats (Business/Club and Tourist). It can be purchased up to six months in advance, and is available for 4, 6, 8 or 10 journeys. More information: Renfe Spain Pass


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Socket Fiber Optic Continues to Progress in Callaway County
CALLAWAY COUNTY - Construction is running right on track for the Socket fiber optic project in Callaway County. Pre-orders for customers south of Millersburg will begin to be accepted on Friday February 15. This area will become live on April 15.
In 2011, Socket of Columbia was awarded with a loan and grant combination of $23.7 million for a fiber optic cable project in Callaway County. With the award came the creation of local jobs and Socket has continued to employ local employees since the project started. The money comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
With a year and a half since the project has been underway Socket is in the process of taking pre-orders for service in some areas and even some areas are already live and running on fiber optic.
Project manager Nick Pena spoke about the progress of the project "Our initial service areas close to Millersburg have already been opened up and we have for example the Millersburg Fire Protection District turned up, Hutt products, which is a business, as well as a number of subscribers that fall within that footprint."
Socket continues to work on burying the fiber wiring every day that the weather allows. The total process from burial to in homes and businesses is at least six to eight months.
For more information on the progress, check out Socket's Fiber Information at http://www.socket.net/fiber


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As vice president of marketing, John Pasquarette leads the marketing operations, infrastructure, and campaign engagement teams responsible for creating a positive customer experience while managing organizational agility to support the marketing business functions. Pasquarette and his teams focus on empowering customers to learn about NI's vision and direction online and discover, select, and purchase NI products with confidence. They also support campaign objectives to ensure strategic positioning and reach key target audiences.
Additionally, his organization maximizes business impact by optimizing customer insights and analytics for a more data-driven approach. His organization ensures efficiency of global marketing operations and progressive customer engagement.
Since joining NI in 1990, Pasquarette has held leadership positions across NI including roles focused on software product marketing, LabVIEW R&D, and eBusiness. He holds eight technology patents.
An avid Aggie, Pasquarette has led Texas A&M recruiting and outreach programs and created the National Instruments Endowed Scholarship, an NI employee-funded scholarship donation, at the Dwight Look College of Engineering.
Pasquarette holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University.


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Designers from around the world are submitting creative designs for Davidmd1975 in web page design - custom.
We recently had a contest which TIML won, but he has gone MIA! We have upped the contest winnings to $500.
We really like: http://www.dipsetmixtapes.com/main.html This is our favorite site--it has the color combination and CRISP content displays we are shooting for!
Make a STREET VERSION of this site! Obviously don't directly copy it.
Desired Color Scheme:
Anything you want
Desired Style:
Please see the following document for design details:
Accepted File Formats:
PSD & jpeg
Please see the following document for design details:


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MKing wrote:Is there any way to place a floor plan in place of the map. I am trying to show hot spots within an architectural survey showing all panoramic, movie and photo locations. Some of our projects have multiple levels and over 2000 panoramic, movie and photos.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests


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- WiFi
- Car park
- Air conditioning
- Pets admitted
- Golf
- Accessible
- Business
Choose your room
Located in Upper Marlboro, Executive Inn And Suites is minutes from Lake Presidential Golf Club and close to Show Place Arena. This motel is within the vicinity of Old Maryland Farm and Six Flags America. Enjoy the recreation opportunities such as a spa tub or make use of other amenities including complimentary wireless Internet access. Featured amenities include complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access, a business center, and a 24-hour front desk. Event facilities at this motel consist of conference space and a meeting room. Make yourself at home in one of the 55 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access is available. Private bathrooms with bathtubs or showers feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers.


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From mod-related fashion and style to the pick of the blogs, check out our selection of recommended links.View Links
Can't find what you are looking for? Browse the full site archive.View Archive
Modculture is owned and run by David Walker.
If you want to contribute to the site in any way or want to suggest something we should feature, please get in touch.
Copyright © 2020 Modculture


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From the table below one could see that the average duration of bear markets has been about 18 months since the great depression. Since 1956 however the average duration of bear markets has been about fourteen months. The average decline since 1929 has been 38.2% versus 31.8% since 1956.
It has taken S&P 500 about 5.2 years on average to recover from to above its bear market highs since 1929. If we check the same parameter starting in 1956 the average recovery time from a bear market comes out to 2.8 years on average.
If history could be of any guidance, S&P 500 could continues falling for five to nine more months by fourteen to twenty-two percent from current levels. This means that S&P 500 could fall to as low as 967 to 1068 until the end of 2008. Past performance seldom guarantees future results however. One thing will stay true though – investors who are greedy when others are fearful will reap huge benefits over the next few years as they scoop up good quality dividend companies at bargain prices. If you don't agree with me, please check out Buffet's recent involvement in WWY and ROH acquisitions.
Relevant Articles:
- Warren Buffet - The richest investor in the World
- Dow Chemical (DOW) To Acquire Rohm and Haas (ROH) for $78/share


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I figured a post about a great source for caffeinated beverages would be quite fitting for this morning after the long weekend, don't you agree? The source – Baked & Wired in Georgetown, which is definitely my favorite quirky coffee shop in the DC area. Their coffee and espresso are a mix of Stumptown Coffee Roasters and Intelligentsia Coffee (2 great, high-quality brands) and they use only organic milk (from Trickling Springs Creamery in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania). All of their baked goods (minus the bagels) are homemade too! They're becoming quite acclaimed for their cupcakes, which come in so many fun flavors like Smurfette (= fresh blueberries baked into vanilla cake, topped with lemon buttercream).
My regular beverage favs include their oolong tea and soy lattes. Has anyone else been? If so, what are your favorite picks?


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Elizabeth Taylor Laid to Rest in Private Funeral Service
Elizabeth Taylor buried at same cemetery as Michael Jackson.
March 24, 2011 -- Elizabeth Taylor was laid to rest in a small funeral ceremony today at The Great Mausoleum in Glendale, Calif.'s Forest Lawn Cemetery, the same cemetery where her close friend Michael Jackson is entombed.
The service was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. PT but began late because Taylor left instructions that it was to begin at least 15 minutes later than publicly scheduled.
"She even wanted to be late for her own funeral," read a statement from Taylor's publicist, Sally Morrison.
The multi-denominational service lasted approximately one hour, with actor Colin Farrell, a friend of Taylor's, reading Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem "The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo," and Taylor's grandson Rhys Tivey performing a trumpet solo of "Amazing Grace."
Taylor died Wednesday at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Hospital, where she had been receiving treatment for congestive heart failure. She was 79.
Taylor's death certificate, which was obtained by TMZ.com, listed her cause of death as cardiopulmonary arrest caused by congestive heart failure.
Being buried within 24 to 48 hours of death is a tenet of Judaism. Taylor converted to Judaism for her marriages to Mike Todd and Eddie Fisher.
In a statement released Wednesday, Taylor's publicist said that prior to her death, the Oscar-winning actress was surrounded by her children, Michael Howard Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton.
In the same statement, Michael Howard Wilding, 58, memorialized his mother:
"My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love," he said. "Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world. Her remarkable body of work in film, her ongoing success as a businesswoman, and her brave and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS, all make us all incredibly proud of what she accomplished. We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts."
In addition to her children, Taylor is survived by 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. People magazine reported that all Taylor's grandchildren were expected to be at her funeral.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked that contributions be made to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and said that those wanting to send personal messages could log on to Taylor's official Facebook page.
ABC News Radio's Jason Nathanson contributed to this report.


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Explore the world as a traveller, not a tourist, on a trip packed with inclusions. VIP experiences and first-class, insider encounters.
Cosmos is for those that adore the explore without breaking the bank. Hassle-free and flexible, you dream it and we create it.
You're a lone ranger but don't want to be completely alone. We'll help plan your itinerary and set you up with our friends. Less hassles, more amazing, that's Monograms.
Get personal. This is experiential river cruising, your way. From Europe to the Galapagos and Asia, Avalon is relaxed luxury with choices as many, and individual as you.
Mind the gap! We love an icon, and we love to explore. Britain and Ireland are a gold mine of "pinch me" moments. From visiting Buckingham Palace in London to kissing the Blarney stone, Cosmos Britain and Ireland Tours offer many experiences that are sure to surprise and delight. Take a break in Adare, known for remarkable thatched cottages, and wander the medieval market towns and cities of York and Stratford-upon-Avon. With so much to see and do, take advantage of your freedom and our flexibility. Our Great Britain Tours conquer the must-see's, with a generous serving of new discoveries for good measure.
At Cosmos, we're experts in 'thrillology' - the art of bringing you an experience, time and time again. With over 50 years of 'wow' under our belts and no sign of slowing down. We know how to make tours that you'll never forget; creating the experience you've always dreamed of, and showing you the ones you never even thought of. Our job is to take the planning and logistics off your hands, so you can live your dreams.


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GeorgeB. needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 42 designs submitted by 13 freelance designers.
I am looking for more than a logo. I am looking for a brand.
The site is http://www.pocketsynch.com
Looking for a web 2.0 style logo to match my web 2.0 site. It needs to integrate seamlessly!! I WILL NOT change the design to match your logo. ----PLEASE test your design integrated into my site design BEFORE you submit. If it looks out of place it is not likely I will accept it.
Portable Media Articles & Reviews
Desired Color Scheme:
Must match the color and theme of the site.
Desired Style:
I could go on and on about how the logo needs to be web 2.0 style and techie looking. Etc. Etc. But really all a designer has to do is go to the site http://www.pocketsynch.com and develop a new brand that matches the current site's theme.
Accepted File Formats:
Logo.gif with fully layered PSD and fonts
I like the look of the logo on TheTechZone.com. Brandable, smooth with no stock photo crap.
Again, the site is http://www.pocketsynch.com
I need something professional that I can use to really brand the site. I am mainly looking for something I can place on banners and even use to brand a booth at CES, 3GSM, and other tech conferences.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Safety Update
Welding Helmet a 2013 Invention Award Winner
The Windmaker welding helmet, developed by metalworker Michael Buckman and recognized as a 2013 Invention Award winner by Popular Science magazine, draws in air through the back and pushes it through a HEPA-rated filter for the wearer to breathe. Because the air is being circulated into the mask by a fan, the helmet's design cools the skin and prevents the faceplate from fogging. The Windmaker also expels air, pushing fumes a, and has LED lights along its faceplate that illuminate the work area.The helmet, which has yet to be tested by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, is designed to create a filtered clean-air space inside, while keeping the user's view illuminated and clear of obstruction. Photovoltaic cells recharge the helmet's batteries from the light emitted by welding flash, to increase battery life.
Product-development firm Salient Technologies, Inc. (STI), Bozeman, MT, developed a proof-of-concept prototype—fully functional and including an auto-dimming screen, LED illumination, filtered air intakes and exhaust system. Using rapid prototyping and RTV molding processes, STI combined off-the-shelf components and rapid-molded proprietary components into a functional and aesthetic prototype.Learn more and view a demonstration video at www.salient-tech.com/helmet.
See also: Salient Technologies, Inc.
Related Enterprise Zones: Safety, Welding
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gear(redirected from moving up a gear)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus.
gear,toothed wheel, cylinder, or cone that transmits motion from one part of a machine to another; it is one of the oldest means of transmitting motion. When the teeth of two gears are meshed, turning one gear will cause the other to rotate. In most cases both gears are mounted on shafts so that when one shaft turns, the other also rotates. By meshing two gears of different diameters, a variation in both speed and torque between the two shafts is obtained; the smaller gear in this case is called the pinion. A spur gear consists of a wheel with straight teeth mounted radially either on the inner circumference (internal spur gear) or outer circumference (external spur gear) of the wheel. Two meshed spur gears are used to transmit motion between parallel shafts. A rack and pinion consists of a pinion engaging and transferring motion to or from a special kind of spur gear, called a rack, consisting of a series of teeth in a straight line on a flat surface. The rack and pinion changes linear motion into rotary motion, or vice versa. A helical gear is similar to a spur gear, but its teeth are twisted instead of straight. Helical gears can be used to transmit motion between shafts that do not intersect and are at any angle with respect to each other. A bevel gear has straight or curved teeth on a conical surface near its rim. Bevel gears are used to transmit rotary motion between shafts that are not parallel and that would intersect at an angle if extended. Hypoid gears are special bevel gears used in the differentialdifferential,
in the automobile, a set of gears used on the driving (usually rear) axle. The two wheels on the driving axle must be interconnected in order to receive their energy from the same source, the driving shaft; at the same time they must be free to revolve at different
..... Click the link for more information. of an automobile to connect the drive shaft to the rear axle. A worm gear, meshed with a threaded cylinder, or worm, that resembles a screw, is used to transmit motion between perpendicular, nonintersecting shafts. See transmissiontransmission,
in automobiles, system of parts connecting the engine to the wheels. Suitable torque, or turning force, is generated by the engine only within a narrow range of engine speeds, i.e., rates at which the crankshaft is turning.
..... Click the link for more information. .
See D. W. Dudley, ed., Gear Handbook (1962); H. J. Watson, Modern Gear Production (1970); R. J. Drago, Fundamentals of Gear Design (1988).
the main part of a gear drive, in the form of a disk with teeth on a cylindrical or conical surface engaging the teeth of another gear. Spur gears can have external or internal teeth. The teeth can be spur, helical, double helical (angular), or curvilinear. The most common tooth shape is invo-lute; less often it is cycloid or some other form. Gears are also called pinions. In reduction gears, for example, the small driving wheel is customarily called a pinion regardless of the number of teeth, and the large driven wheel is called a gear. Often all gears are called pinions. The design of a gear de-pends on its purpose, size, and means of manufacture.
A machine element used to transmit motion between rotating shafts when the center distance of the shafts is not too large. Toothed gears provide a positive drive, maintaining exact velocity ratios between driving and driven shafts, a factor that may be lacking in the case of friction gearing which is subject to slippage.
The application of gears for power transmission between shafts falls into three general categories: those with parallel shafts, those for shafts with intersecting axes, and those whose shafts are neither parallel nor intersecting but skew.


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Reporter fights to shield sources in Colo shooting
DENVER – A Fox News Channel reporter will fight any attempt to force her to reveal her sources for a story about Colorado theater shooting suspect James Holmes, the reporter's lawyer said in a letter made public Thursday.
Holmes' attorneys are trying to force reporter Jana Winter to disclose her sources for the story, which described the contents of notebook that Holmes sent to a psychiatrist. Winter's story cited unidentified law-enforcement officials.
Also Thursday, Holmes' lawyers disputed a claim by Winter's attorney that they had made no attempt to contact Fox. Holmes' lawyers said they made numerous attempts.
Holmes' lawyers say whoever told Winter about the notebook violated a gag order imposed by Judge William Sylvester, and they want Sylvester to punish the person responsible.
Holmes is charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder in the July 20 shootings, which left 12 dead and 70 injured.
After numerous investigators testified under oath that they did not speak to Winter, Holmes' lawyers said they wanted to subpoena Winter to force her to identify her sources.
Winter's lawyer, Dori Ann Hanswirth, said in a Jan. 29 letter to Holmes' attorneys that shield laws in New York and Colorado protect Winter from demands to reveal her sources.
"We urge the defense to abandon its pursuit of testimony from Ms. Winter," the letter said.
Hanswirth sent a copy of the letter to prosecutors, who submitted it to the judge in a motion.
Predicting the outcome of attempts to learn the identity of unnamed sources is difficult because the facts vary from case to case, said Gregg Leslie, legal defense director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
"This case has been particularly troublesome because there has been a reflexive move to seal everything," Leslie said. "You often see your biggest leaks when there's too much of an attempt to clamp down on things."
Hanswirth's letter accused Holmes' lawyers of misleading the judge when they said in a court document they had tried to contact Fox News.
Hanswirth's wrote that there had been no such attempt. She called the assertion a "misrepresentation" and "highly inappropriate" and demanded an explanation.
Holmes' lawyers filed a motion Thursday insisting they had made about 24 attempts to reach Winter, Fox or the network's legal department.
Neither Hanswirth nor Fox responded immediately to requests for comment.
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Denver's Rachele Trainor on "The Job"
Rachele Trainor, 26, followed her boyfriend to Denver five years ago. She ended up graduating from the Art Institute of Colorado in three years with honors and a BA in fashion retail management. She had a senior year internship in New York, at Marie Claire, and knew she wanted a career in fashion magazines.
That's when her mother sent her an ad for an editorial assistant at a major fashion/lifestyle magazine, with the provision that it might turn into TV show. "I heard back within 20 minutes. It turned out to be Cosmo." And CBS' "The Job."
You'll see Trainor in a trailer running during the Super Bowl, along with the four other contenders (in the photo above, next to host Lisa Ling) in the Feb. 15 episode of "The Job." Cosmo Editor-in-Chief Joanna Coles, Executive Editor Joyce Chang and Senior Editor Jessica Knoll also appear. While Trainor can't say whether or not she landed the gig, only a fool would bet against her.
"I would love to be an editor one day, working with stylists on a shoot," she said. She's a print gal: "there's nothing like holding a magazine on a rainy day or on the train. Not on your iPad. They say (print) is dying but then, when they talk about Cosmo, there's 18 million people reading it every month." She's also a proponent of New York's Garment District, eager to bring the fashion business back from overseas.
Maybe she'll tackle that job next.