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Browse Items
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Among Members
To & From Admins
1:1 Lookup
Advanced Search. Narrow your criteria.
Browse. Browse items for sale or BrickLink stores.
Calendar. Browse items by date listed.
Catalog. Search or browse the Catalog.
Wanted List. Put it on your wanted list and get notified when it becomes available.
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Aside from making us all hungry, commenter FortWaba shares with us the supplies he needs to make it through a video game all-nighter. What food and drink fuels your power-gaming sessions? Bring enough to share in today;s Speak Up on Kotaku.
Some people use strategy guides, some use music, some go it alone...
I just need this to beat a game in one night. Deus Ex, I'm coming, honey.
About Speak Up on Kotaku: Our readers have a lot to say, and sometimes what they have to say has nothing to do with the stories we run. That's why we have a forum on Kotaku called Speak Up. That's the place to post anecdotes, photos, game tips and hints, and anything you want to share with Kotaku at large. Every weekday we'll pull one of the best Speak Up posts we can find and highlight it here.

subset: commoncrawl


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|October 18, 2013
|Dressing Up Your 4X4 Truck
|no comments
|October 18, 2013
|Halloween Night: Bring a Light
|no comments
|October 18, 2013
|Sports and Changes in Moab
|no comments
|October 18, 2013
|Smart IT Investment for Small Businesses
|no comments
|October 18, 2013
|Camping in the Desert
|no comments
|October 10, 2013
|Surgery Simulator to Improve Patient Care
|no comments
|October 10, 2013
|Beware of the Cold and Blackouts
|no comments
|October 08, 2013
|How Your Business can Avoid Check Fraud
|no comments
|October 04, 2013
|Education, Sports, and the Government Shutdown
|no comments
|October 04, 2013
|Closing of National Parks Hurts Businesses
|no comments
Once you have purchased the truck of your dreams, the time has come to add some off-road accessories. With so many to choose from, you will quickly find that you can have the ultimate vehicle in no time at all. There are accessories designed for the interior of your truck as well as the exterior. It's all a matter of what you want when it comes to personalization. When you are done, you will have a truck that you love and can't wait to show off to others.
Start with the exterior of your truck as this is what others will see. Keep in mind that accessories should be as well made as high-grade medical equipment like contour test strips. Something as simple as a new spare tire cover can make a huge difference. Why not have one that is custom designed or one that sports your college or favorite football team? Lighting 4x4 accessories are also popular. Fog and driving lights can dramatically change the way your ride looks at very little cost. Don't forget window tinting or fender flares. Many of the modifications can be done right at home. If you are going for something more dramatic, such as racing stripes, you may wish to hire a professional to do the work.
If you want to drastically change the appearance of your 4x4 truck, consider swapping the wheels and tires. When you go to a bigger size of tires, not only will your truck look better, you will also have more clearance. This allows you to go more places. Choose knobby tires for more grip on mud, sand and snow. Be aware that this will affect your gas mileage and increase road noise. Go with off-road tires and you will find that the channels are widely spaced as are the side lugs. This makes the tires easier to clean after an off-road adventure.
Don't neglect the interior of your truck either. Add some new seat covers or install a dash kit. To really personalize the interior of the car, add a new gear shift knob. Rock knobs are popular, but you can find one to fit any personality. A steering wheel cover would be nice with the other stuff you purchase too. Make your 4x4 truck one of a kind. When you add 4x4 accessories, this is easy to do.
It will be Halloween in a little over a week. Parents are rushing to buy pumpkins and costumes for their kids, decorations, and making last-minute party plans. Amidst all of this, it is easy to forget about safety on Halloween. So, here are some things to remember while out having fun:
Bring a light. Visibility is vital on Halloween night. Not only does one need to be able to properly see out of their costume, but one also needs to keep an eye out for cars and other people. Using a flashlight would greatly increase the ability to see and be seen during the busy and dark night. Some kind of tactical flashlight is especially recommended, as they are durable and have long battery life.
Dress warmly. It is going to get cold very quickly once the sun goes down, so it is important to dress accordingly. Use gloves, hats, extra socks, and long underwear in order to stay warm and keep one's costume visible. Furthermore, hand warmers are very useful, and are inexpensive, disposable, and easy to carry. Walking will help to keep the body warm, but these extra clothes will help even more.
Use the buddy system. Not only is it less fun to be out alone, but the buddy system is especially important for children out trick-or-treating. Staying together helps insure that none of them will get lost, helps prevent injury, and helps them be more visible to passing cars. Make sure to have children go out in groups if they are old enough to trick-or-treat without parents, and it will help them stay safe.
With these tips, staying safe on Halloween will be easy, and parents can rest assured that their children will not be in danger.
Many of the outdoors sports are going to be held off until winter, but there will still be many sports events in the meantime. Indoor soccer will start soon, as will basketball and wrestling, while roller derby is going strong within the community. Citizens of all ages enjoy watching these events, and all of them have a loyal following. When the spring hits again, the community can look forward to boy's soccer, track and field events, baseball and softball, tennis, and golf. For a small town, we have a large amount of sports events, and the audience for it is part of what helps to keep many of those sports afloat. Moab is changing, however. Construction on a college is expected to start as early as next year, and that venture is expected to grow the population. It is also possible that the new college will bring new sports teams with it.
The college will just be an extension of USU, but it is estimated to hold quite a number of students from both Moab and the surrounding areas. Students from Blanding, Green River, Monticello, and even Grand Junction are expected to attend, and the strong student attendance could increase a need for college sports. It is possible that soon the students around town will have a need to keep their old sports gear, or even buy new ones, such as lacrosse equipment. The increase in population could even bring new sports to the high school, and all of these changes would bring in more revenue for the town. Moab exists very much for the tourist season, and a larger population could help to keep the town going through the difficult winter months, and a larger population could even help drive down prices in housing.
Either way, it seems clear that the college is going to change things around here, and hopefully for the better.
The Government shutdown has adversely affected businesses and towns alike. Many people are wondering what they can do to protect their small business despite the shutdown, and one of the best options is to invest in IT. There are some small businesses that think IT is unimportant, but it is in fact the opposite.
All businesses rely on IT to store customer information, repairs, protect from viruses, and to run basic computer equipment. Therefore, it is better to think of IT as an investment, rather than a cost. Money spent on IT will help computers and business in the long run. Even running simple programs such as application whitelisting will help computers stay running longer. Spending money on IT now can help to prevent more crippling problems later on.
For some real world examples, take the fact that many hackers are targeting small businesses with lax security, resulting in stolen information and negative publicity and customer feedback. The IT service provider would then install a new firewall and new security that protects against viruses. In addition, they offer off-site monitoring that can catch potential threats before they appear.
Or, in another example, let's say that a storm passes trough, causing snow or rainwater to break through and destroy all of the computers. One then has to rely on IT to fix the them, a process simplified if the IT company has all the needed information about files and security.
Consider the alternative. If one is not willing to spend money on IT, then problems will be worsened and it is likely one will have to replace their computers more quickly.
Camping in the desert is not your normal camping experience. The deserts of North America offer some of the most varied climates and terrain in the world. These wonderful deserts are not always accessible by paved roads but don't let that discourage you. Bring your 4X4 or rent a fully equipped 4X4 with a tire carrier heavy duty tires, and a strong frame.
The big thing to always think about before you leave is food and water. You need to always be equipped with lots of water. The desert can dehydrate you quickly and if you end up stranded you will need fresh water. Not only should you bring extra water you need to be drinking extra water. You may not notice but you will be losing a lot more water than usual. Make sure you are not dehydrating yourself.
The great thing about a lot of desert locations is the isolation. Many sites require a 4X4 with a tire carrier and heavy-duty tires. Make sure your equipment is well-made, and bring special medical equipment like One Touch Ultra Test Strips , if anyone in your party requires it. You have a good chance of never running into anyone on your trip. It can be a very serene trip where you can just forget about the rest of the world and relax.
So where should you go? The Mojave Desert can be a great time but it is often too hot to even spend an hour in. Instead I suggest heading a bit north. The desert surrounding Great Basin National park is beautiful and isolated. There you can find the beautiful and majestic Bristlecone Pine. These trees are the oldest in the world and can live upwards of 2,000 years. The deserts surrounding Moab are also a great choice. Moab is often pretty busy so make sure you research what trails and areas are less tourist packed. The Needles District in Canyonlands National Park is a great choice because of how remote it is.
No matter where you choose to go you will likely find a peaceful and isolated camping experience. The landscapes of these sprawling deserts can be otherworldly and a great sight to behold. Just make sure you have plenty of food and water as well as a fully equipped 4X4 with a tire carrier, heavy frame, and strong tires.
A brand-new surgery technology only approved by the FDA this year is already making its way into top hospitals around the country. Brain surgeons at New York's Mt. Sinai hospital are among the first to use this technology through the company Surgical Theater. Surgical Theater is an Israeli-American establishment founded by Air Force veterans that has created a computerized surgery rehearsal system.
Right now, surgeons look at CT scans before an operation, and have to transform the flat, static, black-and-white image into a realistic copy in their head. It is time consuming and leaves room for error, no matter how experienced the surgeon. Thankfully, the Surgery Rehearsal Platform is helping to change things.
The technology is said to resemble a flight simulator, and allows surgeons to practice difficult procedures. It transforms MRIs and CT scans into immersive simulations, and the surgeons use scalpel-like controllers to prepare for brain surgery. It helps to reduce both the cost and time, which in turn helps to improve patient outcome. The product also employs telesurgery technology that allows surgeons to guide medical staff through surgeries from a distance.
This is a very important step in the medical community, and it helps to reassure patients. Brain surgery is a complex process, and it is seen as a comfort to many patients to know that their doctors will have had quite a bit of practice before they are put under the knife. The rehearsal technology will reduce risk and guarantee improved patient care, which neurosurgery chair Joshua B. Bederson says has been a long-time mission.
Though it is only used by a few hospitals right now, the Surgery Rehearsal Platform is catching on, and as it does it serves as an improvement to dangerous medical procedures, and the lives of patients.
The tourist season has ended, and winter is coming in place of it. Restaurants will close, snow will fall, and there's the possibility of multiple power outages as well. Citizens are encouraged to prepare their homes for winter and such possibilities.
Many will take opportunities now to stock up on non-perishables for days when snow or ice makes going shopping near impossible. In addition, getting non-perishable food right now can be a big help during November, December, and January, when many people are out of work and unable to afford more groceries. Hopefully the shutdown will end soon, and the employees that have been furloughed will be working (and getting paid) again.
While out buying perishables, it might also be a good idea to look into buying some flashlights and batteries. Blackouts during winter are fairly common, and flashlights are easier and safer than candles or matches. A tactical flashlight in particular (as sold at the local outdoor store, GearHeads) is helpful due to long lasting battery life and overall brightness.
Citizens will also be stocking up on blankets and warm clothes as much as possible. To save money, many households may not use heating systems (if they even have them) so warm clothes and blankets are invaluable right now. For those that are lucky enough to afford to keep the heat on or who have extra blankets or coats feel free to donate them to Wabi-Sabi or one of the other thrift stores. Buying for quality is all well and good, but there are plenty of people who cannot afford hundred-dollar winter coats.
In the meantime, citizens will stock up on food, firewood, and wait out the winter months until spring comes, and the town can breathe again.
There is no shortage of challenges for small businesses and unfortunately one of those challenges that can be very detrimental and frustrating is small business checks being used in check fraud. Large businesses and corporations have people to handle these situations and with deep pockets and a room full of attorneys, check fraud is a mere blip on their radar. However, for the small business owner, check fraud is just one more headache than most of them don't need. While there are processes that lending institutions have to deal with checks that have been mishandled, one way to eliminate this is through software to print checks on demand.
The best way to deal with check fraud is to avoid third party check processing entirely. By having software dedicated for printing checks, you are greatly reducing the likelihood that one of your businesses checks will be duplicated. This will prevent your checks from being used fraudulently, which unfortunately is a growing problem in America today.
The first thing to remember is that accounts payable automation through a software program typically offer digitally encrypted signatures as well as logos that can't be duplicated unless the person is printing the check from the actual software. This prevents anyone trying to reproduce a check from any place other than the software to have that check passed off as valid.
Fortunately, most check printing software applications have high levels of encryption and security as well as password protections that make it virtually impossible for someone to access your check writing software without your knowledge. This is perhaps one of the best ways a small business can avoid the financial entanglements of check fraud.
You may not think much of check fraud unless it happens to you. Unfortunately, with how rampant this problem is, there is a strong likelihood that your business could be subjected to this type of fraudulent activity. The best way to avoid it is to safeguard your check writing and the best way to do this is use dedicated software. It's convenient, it can save you money and most importantly it will keep your check safe and keep you free from any fraudulent activity from a check bearing your company's name.
Over a month into the school year, and many eyes have turned to the local sports teams. Football games bring full stadiums, the track team wins medals at meets, and the wrestling team has done well over the years. This is considered especially impressive due to the financial constraints that Grand County High has been facing. Budget cuts have done its damage to the sports department alongside the school curriculum. With the government shutdown, many can't help but wonder what effect this will have on everyday life, as well as the schools.
Some are less concerned. The slashing of activity budget, and possibly sports teams in the process, is thought to be necessary in order to focus on protecting classes. Over the years Grand County High has already lost some of its Honors programs and a good portion of its teachers, not to mention language and art programs. Though recent construction has given the district a new K-6 school, a new tech center at the high school, and plans for a university, those construction ventures have had little effect on the actual curriculum thus far. It is entirely possible that more classes will be lost due to lack of money.
Still, others are of the opinion that sports are important to the community and the school. Athletics have also been shown to help the development of children and teenagers by teaching teamwork, social skills, and honesty. Education has been benefited by sports as well, encouraging the students to have better grades and attendance. Before classes, sports teams are the most likely to be cut. As of right now the sports teams rely somewhat on donations and fundraisers to stay afloat. This is sad news to those that fill those football stadiums, or those who wish to start new teams at the school, such as lacrosse. Right now, the school could hardly afford a lacrosse helmet, let alone a whole team.
The preferable notion would be to not lose anything, but that seems increasingly less likely. A choice has to be made, and the citizens of Moab may lose either way.
Moab is on the tail end of tourist season, but it seems to have ended more early than expected. The government shutdown has forced the closure of National Parks, and it is making business all around the world, and in Moab, hurt badly. Many tourists who had made reservations with Moab lodging were forced to essentially turn around and go home. As there is no word yet on how long the shutdown will last, getting more revenue from tourists seems increasingly unlikely.
A vast majority of businesses rely on revenue from October to help get through the slow winter months, which will be more difficult this year without said revenue. It is possible that some restaurants will have to close earlier than normal, and many hotels may get no business at all until spring comes. Unfortunately, the shutdown also results in a loss of jobs with those working at local restaurants and hotels, and those with government jobs.
Many Moab condo rentals and hotels were asked to give refunds to frustrated tourists, and the locals share in their frustration. Not only are the National Parks blocked to visitors from Europe, but they also block people who have lived here their whole lives. Aside from a loss of money, many love to hike in Arches and other National Parks, and taking that away will make the winter harder to bear.
Thankfully, there are other things to do. Deadhorse point of course offers tourists a beautiful overlook, and the LaSal Mountains have camping and opportunities for scenic drives, even – or perhaps especially – in the winter. Still, there is no doubt that businesses all across the board will hurt from this shutdown, and the citizens can only hope that Congress reaches an agreement soon.


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You are here
The Skill-Building Supervisor #1: The Four Functions of Supervision: Planning, Communicating, Delegating, and Monitoring
An Infopeople Webinar
Presenter: Dr. Steven Albrecht
This webcast will help you to understand the transition from employee to supervisor, from worker to manager, and from group member to team leader. The higher you go in management, the less "technical" work you do and the more time you'll need to spend on planning, communicating, delegating, and monitoring.
We'll discuss how your own supervisory style (hands on, hands off, or interactive) makes a difference in these four functions.
Webinars are free of charge and registration is only done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No passwords are required.


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Every marketing manager and his dog has dreamt up a little royal wedding cash-cow in time for the nuptials tomorrow. But which gift should you buy—either to send to the newlyweds, or to sheath in plastic wrap and bury under your bed for the grandchildren, who'll only wrinkle their noses and toss it in the bin 60 years down the track?
None of these, that much is for sure. Click through the gallery for the full eyesore treatment.
I'd say there's more chance of Kate Middleton doing a runner on the big day, than using Lovehoney's "something blue" vibrator ring. It may cost only £7 ($11) but I'm willing to guess she's more of a solid gold-type bride. [Lovehoney]
Microsoft's so thrilled with the impending nuptials, that they're flogging posters comprised of dozens of little mini Kate 'n Wills paparazzi shots. You can zoom in on the site, or pay £10.99 ($18) for your own toilet wall-hanging. [MSN royal mosaic]
No, one can't buy these royal Pez dispensers—not that one would've liked to, when one already owns a perfectly fine corgi dispenser. They sold for £8,200 ($13,645) at auction on eBay, which is about £8,198 more than I paid for my perfectly-good Mario dispenser. Itsa Pez time! [eBay via E Online]
Protect your crown jewels so you can give your Kate a royal wave without the possibility of being usurped by your offspring. Just £8 ($13) for a pack of three, or £20 ($33) for nine. [Crown Jewels condoms]
No, this isn't Photoshopped. At least, we didn't Photoshop it. I doubt I could ever possibly dream of something more horrific than a GE fridge plastered in the royal mugs. [GE]
"This delightful bone china mug depicts the happy couple in a cute cartoonish way." Try garish and ghoulish. £11 $18) to ye of no eyes. [Maiden]
You've probably seen this Kate Middleton lookalike before. Heck, you may've even tried bidding for it on eBay. But can you name which flavor it is? I think I can smell the whiff of desperation from here. [The Telegraph]
If we all wish upon the first star we see tonight, do you think we could make Kate wear these New Balance sneakers under her dress tomorrow? If anything, they'll get her down that aisle faster, which means everyone can start drinking earlier. Everyone's a winner! [New Balance]
This is more like it! Royal wedding sick bags—for the royal throne up if you get well and truly sick on their big day. Just £3 ($5). [Lydia Leith]


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Interest in RVs among consumers remains high, RVIA maintains, with more than 44,000 people attending the Florida RV Super Show, 35,000 showing up for the Utah RV Show and 30,000 crowding the Maryland RV Show. The large crowds at these shows and others have pleasantly surprised organizers and dealers, says RVIA, adding that people are not just looking at RVs, but buying them, too.
"Our sales were up 20% over last year's (Maryland RV) show," says Charlie Wolf, sales manager for Beckley's Camping Center. "People are still buying RVs. They still want to go camping, get away and have fun."
And while RV manufacturers have requested about 35% less space for the upcoming National RV Trade Show, slated for Dec. 1-3 at the Kentucky Exposition Center, some in the industry feel that the show still promises to fulfill its designated role in a big way this year in terms of business relationships as well as outright wholesale trade.
"The National RV Trade Show remains one of the most important and valuable events on the RV industry's calendar," says RVIA's Mary "Mike" Hutya, vice president of meetings and shows. "In addition to providing the opportunity to launch new products, the show is invaluable for helping companies gauge trends and generally stay competitive."
There are those who contend that trade shows, especially important during a down economy, are a highly cost-effective means of reaching potential customers. An Exhibit Surveys Inc. study indicates that the average trade show enables exhibitors to reach more prospects in three days than they could with their sales force in three months, RVIA reports, adding that the average cost of reaching a trade show visitor is $177 compared to the average $295 cost of a field sales call.
Trade shows also require less closing effort – 0.8 calls to close a qualified lead compared to 3.7 calls to close a typical business sale, according to the study. And, on average, 54% of all orders placed as a result of a trade show lead require no personal follow-up visits, according to a separate McGraw-Hill Research Foundation study.
One of the biggest benefits of trade shows is the opportunity they provide for face to-face meetings with prospects, typically the fastest way to build relationships.
"In any industry, these shows provide a huge amount of networking," says Peter MacGillivray, vice president of communication and events for the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA), Diamond Bar, Calif. "In this day and age, you've got websites that offer virtual networking on line. But nothing can replace face-to-face meetings. When you see how much networking takes place at a show, you realize what a bang for the buck they provide."
"Whether they're trade or consumer, these shows provide the most economical use of people's time and money, enabling them to 'do it all' in one place," maintains Ben Wold, executive vice president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) in Chicago. "We live in a three-dimensional environment, and the Internet only gets you so far. The ability to meet, talk face to face, see products is vitally important for staying on top of what's happening in the industry and also for staying one step ahead of the competition. And that's true in good times or bad."
Jayco Inc., Middlebury, Ind., still hosts its own dealer meetings/shows. Even so, says Jim Jacobs, vice president of sales and marketing, no individual manufacturer's show can provide the cost efficiency of a national show like Louisville in terms of reaching dealer customers and prospects. "We feel it's extremely cost effective for showcasing products, getting with current dealers and signing up new ones," Jacobs says, adding that the company tends to drive its new products around its June/July dealer meeting and follow that with the Louisville Show.
Dropping out of the show altogether, RVIA maintains, can pose risks to a company's image and reputation. SEMA's MacGillivray agrees, adding that exhibit size isn't as important as just showing up. "You don't have to spend a lot of money (on a trade show)," he said, "but it's important to be part of the mix, part of the industry. If you're not at the show, you're really doing your business a disservice. If you miss out and rely on hearsay, you're giving up a competitive edge. Once consumers get back to spending money, you won't have your pulse on the latest products and technology, if you skip such a major event."
Skipping a show can also send a strong negative message about a company's commitment to its market and dealers and its financial conditions, which competitors can exploit. As Jayco's Jacobs points out, "A lot of dealers will question your staying power."
RVIA is currently offering exhibit space for the 2009 National RV Trade Show and the deadline for securing exhibit space is July 7. To reserve space, contact RVIA at (703) 620-6003 ext. 305.


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High-Purity Unit Dose Packaging for Respiratory Medications
DuPont is a stable, dependable source of supply for several major pharmaceutical companies that produce convenient, reliable unit dose packaging of medications for people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Used in unit dose vials, DuPont™ 20 Series LDPE resins provide tested and proven purity and consistency in blow-fill-seal medical packaging applications.
The Challenge
Unit dose vials are often used to hold medications that used with nebulizers and other devices to treat respiratory disease symptoms, and may be used several times a day. This means they must be supplied to pharmaceutical manufacturers in large quantities, yet each individual vial must meet exacting quality and safety standards.
Supply must be reliable to keep delivery of essential medication to patients running smoothly. At the same time, rigorous analytical and technical support is required to document both FDA and industry compliance. It's a complex task, combining precision manufacturing with a high degree of regulation.
The Solution
DuPont has been supporting major pharmaceutical companies since the early 1970's by providing consistent and reliable materials that are turned into unit dose packaging for asthma and COPD medication.
According to Diane Hahm, DuPont technical consultant, "DuPont understands the importance of safety and reliability in these very sensitive applications.Enabling a safe, consistent supply of life-saving medication supports our commitment to the global challenge of protecting what matters most
Today, several pharmaceutical companies are using DuPont™ 20 Series Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) for packaging their brands of unit dose inhalation drugs. DuPont™ 20 Series LDPE has high purity with extremely low volatiles and extractables – key properties for this application.
DuPont draws on 40 years of experience, applying material science and application expertise to pharmaceutical packaging to ensure a reliable supply. In addition, DuPont™ 20 Series polyethylene resins are listed in FDA Drug Master Files and compliant with industry standards as well as global regulations.
"The pharmaceutical industry is very resistant to change due to regulations, " Hahm goes on to say. "One of the best things about the DuPont™ 20 Series LDPE resin is that it is the same as it was when it was initially used back in 1973. It was the first resin used in the B-F-S process and continues to be the premier choice today for quality and reliability of supply."
Key Advantages
Advantages provided by DuPont™ 20 Series LDPE resins for unit dose packaging include:
- Purity: Extremely low volatiles and extractables
- Durability: Superior resistance to environmental-stress cracking
- Consistency: Excellent analytical and technical support
- Reliability: Proven DuPont history of delivering medical packaging solutions
- Listed in FDA Drug Master Files
- Compliant with industry standards and global regulations
By supplying pharmaceutical companies, DuPont is helping to create safe, reliable drug administration methods. Together, we are making life simpler and less stressful for people with a range of respiratory diseases.


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text:
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I'm in Israel, about to graduate from high school and thinking about the future. I'd really like to make videogames for a living. I have been playing with some tools (about to finally start a real Unity project now) and have some good programming experience.
The career risks worry me: Just to get started, I'll probably have to emigrate. There are few game dev companies here and most just make cash cows for dumbphones and interactive TVs. (I'm thinking of going to England.)
THE dream is to work in a medium sized company for a couple of years, return to Israel with some experience, then try to go indie.
Will I survive? Many say videogame jobs barely make money. Is it a field worth pursuing, considering the risks? Are indie games profitable? What about big companies?


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We are pleased to announce the addition of another fine writer to the HomeGain Real Estate Blog, Eric Bramlett. Eric comes to us from Austin Texas where he is the broker of record and co-owner of One Source Realty.
Eric brings a special brand of commitment to his customers. From his website : "I will offer you the latest in Real Estate marketing, and I am available to my clients 24/7. I believe in the Austin Texas Real Estate Market and I am personally invested."
Eric also writes on the Bloodhound Blog and maintains his own Austin centric blog.
We look forward to Eric's first post!


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Every product in the Burt's Bees beauty range is natural, utilising nature's finest ingredients to develop safe and beneficial products, both for the environment and for your skin. The products are carefully crafted from time-tested, proven recipes using the best ingredients that nature has to offer: beeswax, botanical and essential oils, herbs, flowers and minerals. These safe, effective ingredients have withstood the test of time, and have created beautiful products that are ethically sound, and sensitive to skin.
We stock one of the most comprehensive ranges of Burt's Bees available online, and are proud to offer a full selection of body and beauty products and gift sets, alongside the ever popular Mama Bee and Baby Bee range.
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This very special range of natural hair colourants is a natural alternative to conventional hair dye and the special formulation leaves the hair conditioned wonderfully. Both the cream and powder hair dyes are semi-permanent hair colouring, which means that they wash out after a certain number of shampoos. In the formulas the highest quality henna and other Indian and Brazilian herbs and fruits are used, which condition and treat the hair unlike any other hair colouring products on the market.
These plants support hair growth and hair health. The Surya products are unique because it is actually recommended to use the cream and powder dye before or after any chemical process due to their conditioning properties.
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We recommend doing a patch test on your hair if you are new to the dyeing products before using it all over your hair - the same applies if trying an alternative colour for the first time.
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Pcs: Two
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Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Dawn of the Distillery: Reports of Zombies in Louisville
This week, reports began surfacing of life at the site of the old Stitzel-Weller distillery in Louisville, Kentucky.
"It's un-nach-ral what's goin' on there," said one local, "once something's dead, it ought stay dead."
The Stitzel-Weller distillery died in 1992 of bad marketing and corporate downsizing, but recently, there have been strange goings on at the distillery site.
Rumors of life at the distillery started last weekend when several prominent whiskey bloggers, broke the news. The Whisky Aficionado Spectator Blog reported that the reanimation had been accomplished through "some combination of radioactive spiders, frog dna, gamma rays and lightening." Several hours after a freak lightening storm, locals told of a bearded man with a cigar seen ambling around the distillery grounds shouting "Brains, brains! But always fine brains!"
This would not be the first report of a zombie distillery. In Scotland, there are many popular folk tales about distilleries with names like Ardbeg and Bruichladdich that came back from the dead, but most consider those mere legends, similar to that of the Loch Ness Monster.
Shortly after the reports broke in Louisville, concerned townsfolk gathered at the KFC Yum! Center to make plans. Several had ordered pitchforks from Amazon and were intent on surrounding the Distillery. Many were also arming themselves. Popular lore is that the only thing that can stop a zombie bourbon distillery is a bulleit made in Indiana.
8 comments:
- Josh Feldman said...
Praised be the mighty market forces! Here are my predictions:
1) Diageo puts together a good team and makes an attempt to execute the old S-W recipes. However they industrialize the process and cut a few minor corners. The resulting bourbon is fine - just fine. In fact, objectively speaking its just as good as the vast majority of the old Sitzel-Weller juice. But early releases are roundly criticized and the accepted wisdom is that they have messed up the old magic.
2) Concurrently, while the juice ages, Diageo packages and sells the old mature juice hanging around the rick houses. They issue them as fancy packaged single cask offerings at astronomical pricing. Some of the bottlings become legendary but some are disappointing and the whisky world shakes their head and complains about the "evil empire" gouging them.
3) Down the road, the better bottlings of the new Sitzel-Weller juice turn out to be excellent - but it won't be cool to say so.
Remember old Cabin Still! Remember old Weller Special Reserve 90! Not all that Sitzel-Weller juice was the mature awesome Pappy 15 and 23 that has become our mental image.
I'm saving some dusties of this lower end SW stuff (it's all I can afford). I'm going to put it head to head with the new stuff when it comes out years from now. I'll try to judge apples to apples.
- January 16, 2013 at 9:45 AM
The good news is, S-W is distilling again. The bad news is, they're just making bulleit.
- January 16, 2013 at 7:12 PM
Holy cow Sku! Is ANYTHING off limits for you???
Just kidding. Don't ever change. This kind of approach to this story is exactly the counterpoint we need to help remind us that until something actually "happens" at the old distillery this isn't real news yet. Diageo is nothing if not masters of marketing and this, as of yet, is nothing more.
Call me skeptical.
- January 17, 2013 at 6:19 AM
- sku said...
Josh, I tend to agree with Lazer. This is just going to be a place to make Bulleit. I'd be surprised if they do anything like the old Stitzel-Weller. You're right on in your number 2 though about how they will package their old SW stocks (just like Diageo's Port Ellen and Brora releases).
- January 17, 2013 at 9:01 AM
- Josh Feldman said...
Shoot.... DISAPPOINTED! I want RESURRECTION!
- January 17, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Interesting news. I would really like to know more about Diageo's bourbon contract with Four Roses before I predicted that Diageo is just going to distill Bulleit at SW. If Diageo was smart they would start distilling stuff at SW similar to the stuff for which that distillery is famous--wheated bourbons. I agree with Josh, that Diageo will probably start a Buffalo Trace-esque parade of limited edition releases with SW old stock.
- January 17, 2013 at 8:12 PM
- Tim Davis said...
I'm disappointed with your pitchfork selection. Everybody knows this one:
Is superior - and looks far hipper when chasing whisk/e/y zombies.
I suggest you revise your article.
- January 23, 2013 at 9:21 AM
- sku said...
Sorry Tim, real mobs don't use ergonomic pitchforks.
- January 23, 2013 at 9:27 AM


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A DAD has been fined in court after shouting abuse at Vision Express staff in a row over contact lenses.
Barry Dilworth, of Brambling Way, Lowton, screamed at an optometrist at the store in Golden Square as he was unhappy at the service.
The 52-year-old then burst into a consultation room to confront the optometrist, who had gone to see another customer, and demanded an apology.
Two female employees were reduced to tears by the rant, which happened at 2.40pm on April 6, this year.
Cheshire Police were called and Dilworth was visited at home by PC Graham Davies, of Warrington Town Centre NPU.
He was summoned to Halton Magistrates Court last month, when he pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour.
The defendant was told to pay £565 in fines, costs and compensation.


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Academics . Printmaking . Courses
Material Color
Course No. FND 103M Credits: 1.5
Faculty Anthony Ingrisano | Douglas Sanderson | Jessica Pinsky | Maggie Denk-Leigh | Terry Clark
This one-half semester course introduces color in subtractive synthesis (pigment). This course explores color theory, perception, and application, through a series of three fundamental color investigations offering opportunities for multiple compositional solutions and the development of material skills. In tandem with its companion course, Digital Color, students pursue a personal color sensibility, in preparation for any art or design field. Course structure consists of introductory concept lectures, technical instruction, studio time with guidance, and group critique of finished assignments. Offered fall.
Aimee Lee
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Aimee Lee is an artist, papermaker, writer, and the leading hanji researcher and practitioner in North America...more
While at CIA, you'll learn from the masters through our rigorous, world-class curriculum and connect with working professionals to begin your career.


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18 April 2014 at 6.58pm | 4 Comments
At the Royal Opera House, we're big fans of Instagram and have been enjoying the thousands of photos you've taken of the building. We've also been posting our own pictures @RoyalOperaHouse, including a selection of behind the scenes images.
In celebration of your great photos, we've selected a few of our favourites. If you're an Instagram user, why not share your own using the location tag function or by using the #royaloperahouse hashtag?


text: Allergic Rhinitis: Hay Fever FAQ Make an Appointment Refer a Patient Ask a Question Reviewed by Ann Hefel, RN (February 01, 2016) While most people gratefully welcome the longer days and warmer weather of spring, people with hay fever often dread the itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing that comes with the season's pollens and mold spores. Learn answers to frequently asked questions about this common allergic condition known as hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis). FAQ Topics What causes hay fever? How is hay fever diagnosed? How is hay fever treated? What are the complications with other respiratory conditions? Question: What causes my allergies to flare up in the spring? Answer: Pollen is the most likely cause. Your immune system has mistakenly learned to remember the pollen released by various plants as potentially harmful, and responds with the familiar allergic symptoms. Each species of plant releases pollen at about the same time every year. Trees are usually the first plants to release pollen, usually in the early spring. Grasses come next in the spring and early summer. Weeds generally release their pollen in late summer and fall. The specific types of pollen and the time of their release depend upon the local climate and vary around the country. People with seasonal rhinitis are often allergic to more than one type of pollen. Question: What can influence the severity of the allergy season? Answer: Weather can influence the timing and severity of the allergy season. A mild winter often leads to a more severe pollen season. The grass season varies the most. If the spring is warmer and wetter than usual, then more grass grows, which leads to a more severe season during the late spring and summer. However, rain can have benefits, as well. For instance, rain can wash pollen that has already been released out of the air. Question: My husband suffers from asthma and allergies but hasn't had trouble with either since we moved to Colorado. However, we want to go to a place to dance, and we have been warned that it will be smoky. Will he probably need an inhaler for this? What do you suggest? Answer: Irritants such as cigarette smoke can trigger asthma and nasal symptoms. Therefore, if you are going to be exposed to irritants like smoke, dust or other air pollution, it is wise to take along your rescue inhaler and take it at the first symptoms. Question: I have always had normal nasal (rhinitis) symptoms, but this year, I have also developed asthma and food allergies. Is this a typical allergic response? Answer: Some people with a history of pollen allergy develop a condition called oral allergy syndrome. This occurs when cross-reactions between allergy pollen and fresh fruit cause itchiness and swelling in the mouth and throat after eating the food allergen. Although this is usually mild, you should be evaluated by your allergist because sometimes the reaction can be severe. People with a history of nasal allergy are more likely to have asthma than individuals without allergy. How is hay fever diagnosed? Question: How can I tell whether I have allergies or just a cold? Answer: Generally, allergies last longer than a cold, often for a few weeks. If you notice a pattern in which you suffer the same symptoms at the same time year after year, you are likely suffering from allergies. Frequent sneezing and itchy, watery eyes are more often associated with an allergy rather than a cold. Also, a clear nasal discharge suggests that you are suffering from allergies. When you have a cold, the mucus is usually greenish or yellowish. A low-grade fever may also indicate a cold. Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between seasonal allergies, a cold or another condition. That's when skin tests and an evaluation by an allergist may be necessary. Question: I am 68 and seem to be developing allergies to flowers, tree pollen, etc. How do I find out what I'm allergic to, and do I need to start year-round treatment? Answer: The best way to diagnose allergy is skin testing and evaluation and interpretation of your history and skin test results. It would be unusual for someone age 68 to develop new allergies, but it is not unheard of. I would recommend an evaluation with skin testing by an allergist. Question: How can you tell the difference between an allergy and exposure to mold? Answer: To differentiate mold allergies from other types of allergies, an evaluation by an allergist — including skin testing — would be required. The exact role of all molds in causing sinus and lung disease is very complicated and the focus of a lot of research. Question: What is the difference between RAST testing and skin testing? Is one more beneficial than the other? Answer: RAST testing is a term that is often used to describe blood test for allergy (although most currently used blood tests for allergy are no longer truly a RAST test), while skin testing involves plastic needles that are used to prick the skin of the patient. Skin testing is cheaper and more accurate than RAST testing, but occasionally, as in the case of a complicating skin disease or the lack of patient access to an allergist, RAST testing is sometimes a reasonable alternative. RAST stands for 'radioallergosorbent test' and measures the amount of IgE antibody in the blood — the antibody involved in allergies. Due to improved laboratory techniques, the radioallergosorbent test is no longer performed. The newer laboratory techniques more accurately measure allergy antibody levels than the old RAST testing. However, skin testing is still significantly cheaper and somewhat more accurate. Question: What is a skin test? How does it work? Answer: A skin test detects the presence of antibodies to a particular allergen, a substance that causes an allergic reaction. A positive test suggests that you may have an allergy to the particular substance. However, your doctor will review your skin test results and your medical history and conduct a physical exam to confirm which allergens are causing your symptoms. A skin test is performed by first placing a drop of allergen extract on the skin, then the skin is pricked with a needle. If you have a positive reaction to the extract, a red welt will appear on your skin in about 15 minutes. The size of the welt may indicate the strength of the reaction. If you do not react to the extract, you are most likely not allergic to the substance. How is hay fever treated? Question: How do I treat seasonal allergies? Answer: There are three main strategies: avoidance; medication; and allergy shots (immunotherapy). Avoidance Although it can be difficult to avoid pollen, there are several steps you can take to reduce your exposure. First of all, keep your windows closed and use air conditioning — even on days that are not extremely warm. Next, avoid outdoor activities during peak pollen times of the day. Grass pollens are most prevalent during afternoon and early evening, while ragweed pollens are most prevalent during early midday. Pollen counts are commonly high during dry, windy afternoons. Finally, it can be helpful to take a shower and change your clothes after spending time outside. A shower washes off the pollen that sticks to your skin or hair. Keep your outside clothes in the laundry room and away from your bedroom. Medication Antihistamines can reduce runny nose, sneezing and itchy, watery eyes. First generation antihistamines, such as Benadryl, are available over the counter but can cause drowsiness. There are now non-sedating (loratadine) and low-sedating (cetirizine) antihistamines that are available over the counter. Other non-sedating antihistamines are available by prescription from your doctor. Itchy eyes can be helped by antihistamine eye drops, also available by prescription. Another type of medicine that can be used for nasal allergy symptoms blocks a molecule called leukotriene. This medication is called montelukast and may be beneficial in some people. In many cases of hay fever, prescription nasal steroid sprays are often used to decrease nasal allergy symptoms. These are often more effective than antihistamine or antileukotriene pills. You should talk to your doctor to decide what medications are best for you. Allergy Shots (Immunotherapy) If avoidance and medications fail to control your symptoms, immunotherapy can usually help. Also known as allergy shots, immunotherapy consists of a series of injections containing the allergen that triggers your symptoms. Over time, the shots reduce your sensitivity to the allergens. Immunotherapy usually begins with injections of a very weak solution of the allergen given once or twice a week. The strength of the solution is gradually increased. Once the strongest dose is reached, shots continue about once a month until the allergy symptoms are controlled, often for three to five years. There are now newer approaches that allow the dose of allergy shots to be built up much more quickly; however, the total course of therapy is still usually three to five years. Question: Does allergy shots (immunotherapy) cure my seasonal allergies? Answer: No. Right now, there is no cure for allergies. Allergy shots can, however, have a protective effect for several years. Allergy shots can decrease symptoms, decrease need for other allergy medications and improve quality of life in many individuals. Question: I have hay fever really bad in the spring and the fall; how soon before my bad season starts should I take my allergy meds? Answer: Most medications are effective within a matter of days. Cromolyn takes a full month to be completely effective, although this is not commonly used anymore. Allergy shots may take much longer to start working. Talk to your allergist about a plan to help keep you from having bad allergy symptoms before they start. Question: I am allergic to oak trees, and, of course, I live in the woods with only oak trees around. What is the best thing to take besides moving away? Answer: Outdoor pollens can get indoors, so keeping the doors and windows shut is important. When conditions are dry and windy, the pollen counts are usually highest in the afternoon so working in the yard may be better in the morning and evening. There is no way to completely avoid the pollen, because even if you moved away, the pollens may be blown for many miles. Question: What is the cause and how do I get relief for watery eyes? I am a 70-year-old male with asthma. My eyes water constantly, so much so that tears run down my face. This occurs when I go outside (e.g., grocery shopping, walking, etc.). Answer: Watery, itchy eyes are usually related to allergic conjunctivitis, although other eye conditions can cause these same symptoms. Prescription allergy eye drops can relieve the symptoms of itchy, watery eyes. Usually if allergy is the cause, there will be eye itching as well as the watering you describe. Check with your doctor about your symptoms and to discuss evaluation and treatment options. What are the complications with other respiratory conditions? Question: I have COPD and problems with my sinuses. I currently use Claritin-D®. Is there another medicine that will work better to clear up the drainage? I am also on Serevent®, Atrovent®, Proventil® and Uniphyl®. I rarely take Proventil. Answer: Medications like Claritin-D can help sinus drainage for people with allergy and sinus drainage problems. Other antihistamines and decongestants can work as well. When there are chronic sinus problems, especially with a history of allergy, nasal steroid sprays are often very helpful. Nasal saltwater rinses can also be very beneficial. You will need to talk to your doctor about these options, but most people's symptoms can be well controlled. Also be sure to talk about your other medications. Question: I have emphysema and struggle with shortness of breath this time of the year due to allergies. What treatments and medications are recommended for those with COPD and heart problems (I had open heart surgery nine years ago)? Answer: Standard treatment for allergies should help when they complicate COPD. The standard treatment for nasal allergies includes nasal steroid sprays, nasal saline (saltwater) washes, and antihistamines. Question: I have a mother-in-law who lives in Napa, California. She has bad asthma and wants to move out of California. Is there a list that shows the "best places to live for asthma sufferers"? If so, can you direct me to it? Answer: There is no list of good or bad places to live with asthma, since asthma can be triggered by a variety of things such as allergies, air pollution and climate. There may be variations in these factors that can influence asthma control. For allergies caused by pollens there may be a short honeymoon from allergies when someone moves to a new place. However, within a few years people often become sensitized to new allergens. Question: I recently moved to Denver from the West Coast, and my asthma is much better here. I travel a lot for business, usually to the West Coast, and my asthma is worse again. What is the difference? Answer: Because of its dry air and high altitude, Denver has lower levels of the house dust mite. The house dust mite is a major allergen causing asthma flare-ups on the West Coast and in other humid areas of the country. This might explain why you do well in Denver and suffer relapses of asthma when you travel. Evaluation by your allergist will likely be helpful. Question: Why is it that some children only get sick with asthma in the wintertime? Should I always start my child on inhaled steroids in August? And leave him on them until March? Answer: The most likely explanation is that your child's asthma flare-ups are caused by viral infections. These tend to be most common in the wintertime. A less likely explanation is that your child is allergic to indoor allergens such as molds, animal dander and house dust mites. Because people often spend more time indoors during the winter, this may increase exposure to indoor allergens. It is very reasonable for your doctor to put your child on preventive therapy such as inhaled corticosteroids in the winter if you know from past experience that he is likely to have increased symptoms at that time. Question: Can people with COPD take Allegra®? I know Sudafed and others are not recommended for COPD patients. Answer: People who have allergies as well as COPD can take antihistamines, such as Allergra, for their allergies. Allergic Rhinitis: Diagnosis Allergic Rhinitis: Hay Fever Treatment Clinical Trials For more than 100 years, National Jewish Health has been committed to finding new treatments and cures for diseases. Search our clinical trials.


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- As smartphones, tablets and mobile applications (apps) continue to become more widespread, there is a rising concern among parents who have experienced unreliable content maturity ratings for mobile apps that result in their children's exposure to inappropriate content.
Researchers at Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) and College of Engineering have developed mechanisms to verify the maturity ratings of mobile apps and investigate possible reasons behind the incorrect ratings, which could have implications for platform providers (e.g. Google or Apple) as well as for regulatory bodies and application developers.
"Is This App Safe for Children? A Comparison Study of Maturity Ratings on Android and IOS Applications," was accepted to WWW2013—the 22nd International World Wide Web Conference—which will be held May 13 to 17 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The paper was written by Ying Chen, a doctoral student in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) in the College of Engineering, Heng Xu, an associate professor at the College of IST, Sencun Zhu, an associate professor of both IST and CSE, and Yilu Zhou, an assistant professor in the Department of Information Systems and Technology Management at George Washington University.
"This article can be a starting point in developing standardization of mobile app maturity ratings," said Xu, whose research projects deal with the impact of novel technologies on individuals' privacy concerns, strategic management of firms' information privacy practices, and design and empirical evaluations of privacy-enhancing technologies.
Among smartphone and tablet operating systems, the researchers reported, Android and Apple's iOS dominate the U.S. smartphone market by 52.5 percent and 34.3 percent, respectively. In order to help parents determine age-appropriate mobile apps for their children, both Android and iOS apps come with maturity ratings, which "examine the existence and intensity of mature themes such as mature content, violence, offensive language, sexual content and drug usage within each app."
However, they added, while the movie and video game industries have official rating organizations such as the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), mobile apps do not. Instead of having standard rating rules across platforms, each platform establishes its own rating policy and strategy. Android's maturity rating policy contains four maturity-rating levels: "Everyone," "Low Maturity," "Medium Maturity," and "High Maturity," while iOS's policy provides four maturity-rating levels based on the suitable age of the audience: "4+," "9+," "12+" and "17+." The classification rules for both rating systems for each level are similar except for some minor differences.
In terms of implementing maturity rating policy, the researchers said, the main difference between iOS and Android platforms is who determines the actual ratings. iOS rates each app submitted according to its own policies. Apple first requires developers to select from a list of objectionable content and indicate the intensity of the content to generate the maturity rating. According to Apple's "App Store Review Guidelines," Apple examines the content of apps and adjusts any inappropriate ratings during a review process before the app becomes available to users.
In contrast, Chen said, the maturity ratings for Android's apps are generated solely by the developers, with no centralized maturity rating system in place. In addition, Google does not verify each app's maturity rating unless there a number of user complaints. The laxity of Android's maturity rating policy has been examined in the media, and there has also been a "rising concern among parents who have experienced that the maturity ratings of the apps are unreliable."
"Our paper tries to highlight that the platform of Android is problematic," Xu said.
To analyze the problems with Android's maturity rating policy and its implementation, the researchers developed a text mining algorithm to automatically predict apps' actual maturity ratings from app descriptions and user reviews. Since the iOS apps are subject to a review process, Chen said, the researchers operated under the assumption that they are more accurate than the Android app ratings. Using iOS ratings as a baseline, Chen said, the researchers designed a method to automatically detect discrepancies between ratings of Android and iOS apps and examine the types of apps which tend to be misclassified. They propose a text-mining based Automatic Label of Maturity Ratings (ALM) algorithm, a learning algorithm that processes apps' descriptions and user reviews to determine maturity ratings.
"From our algorithm, parents can know (detailed information) more about the app, rather than just the rating," Chen said.
Through the use of ALM, the researchers discovered that over 30 percent of Android apps have unreliable maturity ratings, among which 20 percent of the apps are overrated (i.e. their maturity ratings on Android were higher than on iOS) and 10 percent of the apps are underrated (i.e. their ratings were lower than on iOS.)
Many Android apps are overrated, they said, because "developers are under the illusion that the maturity rating is also the criterion to judge users' capabilities or intelligence levels." For example, a chess game is rated as "Medium Maturity" but not "Everyone," because the developer may think that children younger than 12 are not equipped to play chess. In addition, the researchers said, Android's maturity policy has vague guidelines regarding the meanings of "simulated gambling," "violence" and "mature and suggestive themes."
While overrated apps can be misleading, the researchers said, "the underrated apps may directly harm children's mental health, because those apps conceal their actual maturity levels to parents and minors." Zhu said, developers of popular free apps are more likely to underrate their products to reach a broader audience. In addition, the researchers found that developers with lower levels of privacy awareness are more likely to underrate the cross-platform apps, for the purpose of reaching a wider user population and harvesting users' personal information.
The results of their study, Chen, Xu and Zhu said, have the potential to impact the mobile app industry. By adopting a stricter mobile app rating policy, Google would be playing a more important role than simply responding to consumer demand. While many parents are concerned about their children being exposed to inappropriate content via mobile apps, a sizable portion of parents may be unfamiliar with the technology required to properly monitor their children's activities. A more centralized review system, the researchers said, would provide parents with the tools to address those concerns.
"Google should probably take the initiative to re-examine its maturity rating policy for mobile apps," Xu said.


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Liberty News
Nursing adds new certificate program this fall
Liberty University's new Maternal-Child Critical Care Certificate Program through the Department of Nursing gives students with a passion for critical care of mothers and babies increased knowledge that will strengthen their skillset as they enter the field.
The department ran a pilot course in the Spring 2012 semester with eight students. Three of those students were offered jobs from their clinical work at the University of Virginia Health System. The program officially opens this fall and expects six students. The spring 2013 class already is filled to its 12-student capacity and has a waiting list.
|Liberty University Department of Nursing's Critical Care Certificate Program serves as a model for the new Maternal-Child Critical Care Certificate Program launching this fall.
Mary Highton, assistant professor of nursing and the maternal-child coordinator, said the course should give students hoping to work in critical care an advantage because they will already have certificates in certain programs they will eventually need when they become nurses.
"It kind of puts them ahead of the game," she said. "Most of these students are very assertive, they are critical-thinking nurses. (The course) just meets their appetite for more education and information."
The course features many speakers who work or have worked in the field and certifies the students in Pediatric Advanced Life Support with the option for additional certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Neonatal Resuscitation Program.
Though the academic rigor of Liberty's nursing department alone is challenging enough, students of the new certificate program log an extra 144 clinical hours on top of their required clinicals.
For Highton, leading this class is more than just a teaching opportunity; it is a chance for her to train students who share her interests.
"Critical care is my passion, my love. … They have that same passion, too, so it is nice to be able share, and teach and watch them grow in that critical care area," she said.
The program is modeled after the university's Critical Care Certificate Program that started about five years ago to accommodate students interested in any form of critical or emergency care. The program was initially offered to 12 students and now welcomes up to 18 each semester, and is usually filled to capacity.
Both certificate programs are unique in that few, if any, of this kind exist at other institutions, according to the Critical Care Certificate Program Manager Shanna Akers, assistant professor of nursing and director of the RN-BSN online program.
In addition to the increased clinical hours, students wishing to take either certificate program must undergo an application and interview process to be accepted, as well as maintain a B average and take the prerequisite critical care class (NURS 460).
- The Liberty University Department of Nursing, which offers bachelor's and master's-level nursing degrees, recently ranked among the top 25 online nursing programs in the nation by SuperScholar, an online education database. The programs were selected and ranked according to their market reputation, recognition and awards, selectivity, accreditation, and cost.


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In the inaugural season at BBVA Compass Stadium, not a lot has gone wrong for the Houston Dynamo. The club completed the fourth unbeaten home schedule in Major League Soccer history and is in the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons. Now, the Dynamo get to add on to the historic season with a playoff game in their new downtown home.
"Everything that is coming this weekend is what we have been playing for," said goalkeeper Tally Hall. "There is something special about playing regular season games in a brand new stadium in its inaugural season. Now, we are playing a playoff game in our new home that has been very good to us."
Sending their fans home happy is nothing new for the Dynamo. The team is currently unbeaten in its last 28 home matches in all competitions dating back to June 2011. When it comes to the playoffs, the team has maintained its strong form at home with a 6-1 record all-time and a +8 goal differential. Dynamo players and coaches appreciate the support the fans have shown this season, and look forward to another full house on Sunday.
"We have had great crowds this year," head coach Dominic Kinnear said. "We have also had a great playoff history. Both the fans and us wanted this home playoff game and we want to see 90 minutes of intense love for the home team and to put [Kansas City] under a little intimidation.
"The catch phrase 'Dream, Scream, Believe' that our front office has brought up is wonderful," Kinnear added. "You dream about winning MLS Cup, you have to believe it and then when you get to the stadium you start screaming."
Before the Dynamo continue on their trek toward MLS Cup, they will have to get through a Sporting Kansas City side that is looking for payback after last year's Eastern Conference championship. Sunday's meeting will be seventh competitive meeting between the two clubs in the past two years.
"What [Sporting KC head coach] Peter Vermes has done with the team is very impressive," Kinnear said. "We have had tough games and there is not a lot between the two teams. Both teams are full of proud professional soccer players."
Although the visitors enter this weekend's match-up the favorite to win the series, the Dynamo have full confidence in their team and the fans that they can pull out the result needed.
"The playoffs are all about what you can do as a group together," midfielder Brad Davis said. "It takes every single person to give everything and believe in what you are doing and the guys really believe in that.
"The fans talk a lot about how they want us to deliver, but we need them to deliver and come on Sunday and put their butts in the seats. We want 22,000 screaming, loud fans in the stadium. If you have your tickets come because we need all the support we can get."


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Talent Specialist in Atlanta
Office Location: Atlanta
Position: Talent Specialist
Nine9 is a leading entertainment industry company who works with aspiring and experienced models and actors. We are currently considering candidates for a key position in our Atlanta location.
This position offers an extremely strong compensation plan including:
Base pay with bonuses
Health, Dental and Life benefits
Opportunity for advancement
The primary responsibilities of this position are to review and interview aspiring talent, assist with creating their comp cards, scheduling photo shoots and instructing talent during Casting Calls. The position requires customer care skills as well as administrative and business development.
Other Duties:
Assisting with regularly held Open Calls
Working with casting directors and producers during in-office Castings
Client follow-up with industry professionals
Basic clerical duties
The ideal candidate for this position would work well both independently and in a fast-paced team environment. A somewhat flexible schedule is helpful as our hours can lead into the evenings and weekends. Being detail oriented is a must!
Other requirements for the position include:
Able to multi-task
Has a desire to learn and improve
Great written and verbal communication skills
Strong follow-thru
Above average computer knowledge
A background in the entertainment industry or marketing, sales, PR, fashion, retail is a plus BUT not required.
Applicants should be available to start immediately if offered the position.
Candidate MUST want to grow with our company; we have a strong promote from within mentality!


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TMZ.com passed this along.
Hulk Hogan To Sue Best Friend Bubba the Love Sponge Over Sex Tape
Hulk Hogan will sue his best friend, Bubba the Love Sponge, for allegedly betraying him by secretly taping Hulk's sexual escapade with Bubba's wife Heather … TMZ has learned.
We're told … the lawsuit will be filed in Florida and Hulk will allege invasion of privacy, on grounds Bubba and Heather (also a defendant) conspired to roll tape during her encounter with Hulk.
We broke the story … in the tape, right after Hulk bangs Heather and leaves the room, Bubba enters and says to Heather, "If we ever did want to retire, all we'd have to do is use this footage."
Hulk said on TMZ Live he was sick to his stomach over the revelation.
Hulk is also filing a federal lawsuit against the website that posted the tape.


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A controlling husband who knifed his jazz singer wife in the heart after learning of her affair with a saxophonist has been jailed for life by a UK court today.
Mark Arthur, 50, was handed the life sentence after a jury convicted him of the murder of his wife Heather, who he had been with for 30 years.
As a row between the two escalated following her admission she wanted to leave him, still wearing his dressing gown, he stabbed her in the study of their home.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that she had realised their relationship had come to an end by the time she fell for musician Paul Gowland, and she was in the throes of leaving him when Arthur stabbed her.
Mr Gowland, who played in a number of jazz bands, had met Mrs Arthur only the previous month after she saw his group Strictly Smokin' playing in a local pub.
He told the court they were initially friends, before they fell in love and decided to spend the rest of their lives together.
Arthur had denied murder but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of loss of control.
Sentencing Arthur to a minimum term of 18 years, Judge Paul Sloan QC, said: "I'm in no doubt that your intention was to kill. The knife was sharp and you plunged it straight into her heart."
He said the suffering Arthur had caused was incalculable and no sentence he could pass would "extinguish the pain felt by her family and friends".
"Having watched you through the trial you have not shown any genuine remorse for your treatment of Heather nor for causing her death," he said.
"You will always be haunted by the suffering you have caused your children."
Giving his victim impact statement in person, Heather's father Alan Naylor said she was "a beautiful girl with a caring nature".
"Heather's death came as a shock and a great blow to me, her mother Marguerite, my wife Jean and our son Guy," he said.
"The full implications are yet to be felt by the children who are the major losers as a result of this tragic situation.
"She was a victim in this marriage and she was not given the care and consideration a wife would expect from a husband.
"She was a beautiful girl with a caring and considerate nature, the best daughter one could wish for. She was a proud and loving mother of her children who have now lost both a mother and a father.
"Their whole world has been turned completely upside down and we worry for their future.
"Her death has completely altered our lives and we can no longer share the joys she experienced with the children. We will remember all the happy memories of her childhood, her student days and the love of her children.
"She was and still is to us a good girl in every sense of the word."
Joanna Greenberg QC, for the defence, told the court there was substantial mitigating evidence and that Arthur was not a bad man and the stabbing in April last year was a moment of madness.
"This was a 30-year relationship, something must have occurred that caused a man who was otherwise non violent to act in that way," she said.
"He is not a bad man, he may not have been a good husband but he's paid a heavy price. He will come out of prison a pensioner and with nothing, nor a relationship with his children.
"He has lost absolutely everything from what we submit was a moment of madness."


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If you are looking online for bargain Toronto to Happy Valley - Goose Bay flights, Orbitz is your ideal destination. We understand that vacations can be expensive and offer guaranteed low prices on our domestic and international tickets.
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Frequent flyer miles and points are great—and even better when you earn them on cheap flights from Toronto to Happy Valley - Goose Bay. With Orbitz, you can earn miles for your frequent flyer program on qualified flights. Enter your frequent flyer number when you book with us to get rewarded for your flight.
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Orbitz understands that you don't necessarily want to fly at 5:00 a.m—and that sometimes you do. This is why we allow you to find the best Toronto to Happy Valley - Goose Bay flights at the times you want with ease.
Grab the opportunity to relax on your trip from Toronto to Happy Valley - Goose Bay. The fastest flight time from Toronto, ON Airport (YYZ-Pearson Intl.) to Goose Bay, NL Airport (YYR) is 3 hours and 53 minutes, which gives you more than enough time to enjoy a red wine or get absorbed in a good movie.
Typically, it takes 4 hours and 26 minutes to fly from YYZ to YYR. Breeze through the journey by watching TV shows and browsing a magazine or two. Alternatively, catch up on some Zs.
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Rector - Father Eugene Wozniak
e-mail : firstname.lastname@example.com
cell # : 910-467-7467
Rector - Father Eugene Wozniak
e-mail : firstname.lastname@example.com
cell # : 910-467-7467
St. Matthew Orthodox Church - Green Bay
607 Ravenswood Dr.
Green Bay, WI 54302
Great Vespers:
Saturdays at 5:30PM
3rd & 6th at 9:10AM
Divine Liturgy at 9:30AM
(Please check the Parish Calendar for other service times)
Private Confession available after Great Vespers on Saturday evenings or by appointment.
The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to "Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…"
Saint Matthew Orthodox Church is part of the Diocese of the Midwest, which is presided over by The Right Reverend Paul (Gassios), Bishop of Chicago. Our mission is bringing the joy of Christ's resurrection to those who have never heard the Good News, and to strengthen and encourage the faithful who reside within the Green Bay vicinity.
The Holy Scripture is a collection of books written over multiple centuries by those inspired by God to do so. It is the primary witness to the Orthodox Christian faith, within Holy Tradition and often described as its highest point. It was written by the prophets and apostles in human language, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and collected, edited, and canonized by the Church.
Holiness or sainthood is a gift (charisma) given by God to man, through the Holy Spirit. Man's effort to become a participant in the life of divine holiness is indispensable, but sanctification itself is the work of the Holy Trinity, especially through the sanctifying power of Jesus Christ, who was incarnate, suffered crucifixion, and rose from the dead, in order to lead us to the life of holiness, through the communion with the Holy Spirit.


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As Ducati makes final preparations for World Ducati Week 2012, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer has revealed the companies that will partner at the Misano Adriatico circuit on June 21-24.
The Main Partners will be Effenbert beer, Pirelli and Tudor Timing.
Effenbert is a key player in the World Superbike Championship as title sponsor of Team Effenbert Liberty Racing. The race team will attend the event with riders Jakub Smrz, Sylvain Guintoli, Maxime Berger and Brett McCormick.
Effenbert will also present the "Galaxy of Adrenalin" – one of the WDW2012 themed areas with freestyle performances by the "Team DaBoot". The rest of the paddock will be cooled with alcohol-free Effenbert beer.
Ducati's official Timing Partner, Tudor will sponsor a number of activities in the "Heritage Galaxy" area, including the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Paul Smart's historic win in the 1972 Imola 200, the Ducati Vintage contest and an Elegance contest for vintage motorcycles.
As advance ticket sales suggest record attendance, WDW2012 is ramping-up for four days of motorcycle fun and entertainment on "The Planet of the Champions", an event also made possible by WDW2012's Official Partners.
The event will include the following vendors: Arai, the quality helmet manufacturer with countless graphic designs inspired by Ducati's models, will attend WDW2012 with a special helmet service and plenty of useful tips on maintenance.
Arrex Curva Rossa will display the new design kitchen by Arrex and Ducati. Inspired by the streamline profile of Ducati motorcycles, the innovative Ducati-style kitchen was presented for the first time at the international furniture show Salone del Mobile 2012.
Bellenda, the famous Spumante wine, will also be at WDW2012 and, thanks to its partnership with Ducati, will take this opportunity to present its latest wine branded Ducati Caffe' by Bellenda.
Cartorama, the leading Italian manufacturer of educational stationery products will proudly display a selection of Ducati-branded items, which may also be purchased at WDW2012.
Cantine Cecihas been associated with Ducati for a number of years, producing wine varieties inspired by the Bologna-made motorcycles. "Otello per Ducati Caffé", a Ducati Caffe' special version of the very popular Otello Nero di Lambrusco, and "Piega", the new Ducati Caffe' branded Decanta 68.2 will also be available at WDW2012, associated together with Ducati in the name of Italian excellence.
Dainese, the leading motorcycle riding gear manufacturer, is one of the most prestigious names to have traditionally supported and protected Ducati and its passionate riders. Dainese will be in attendance to offer advice and to facilitate the purchase of made-to-measure technical apparel.
Ducati Caffè, the coolest lounge bar at WDW2012, will provide a stylish break between fun activities, reproducing the decor of one of the exclusive and world-famous Ducati bars.
"Fight for me Ducati", the exclusive Ducati perfume, will provide a special test and sale area in the Misano circuit paddock.
Niloxsports and entertainment technology will present its brand-new Ducati Action Camera at WDW2012, a Ducati-customised helmet camera designed for all those who wish to capture the most exciting riding moments of their bike journey or track days or, indeed, WDW2012 at Misano. Ten helmets equipped with Ducati Action Cameras will be made available to all riders who sign-up for a track test ride on the Ducati's brand-new 1199 Panigale, capturing their own unique experience forever.
Shell Advance will gift all WDW2012 visitors two Euros of V-Power fuel coupons with each ticket to be used at fuel pumps near the Misano circuit.
Superfluo, a new partnership with Ducati, has produced "Aradio", an FM radio manufactured in Italy and previewed at WDW2012.
TIM, since 2004 the prestigious partner of Ducati in the MotoGP World Championship and as of this year also with Team Althea Racing in the World Superbike series, will attend WDW2012 with special initiatives and social network activities.
Wurth, the world-leader of fasteners, mounting products and system distribution with a range of over 100,000 items, will also make its expertise available at WDW2012 with a helmet cleaning service.
All WDW2012 info available at www.ducati.com


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Struggling to find something good to watch live on television?
You're not alone and there are companies out there trying to do something about it.
The popularity of services such as Netflix, On Demand and DVRs has proven that television viewers have grown tired of not having more control over what they watch in real time.
The changing viewing habits has seen the rise of the likes of Apple and Google reportedly trying to change the way television programming is distributed.
It has also given way to the growing phenomenon of live-tweeting and live-facebooking television events.
That's where products such as BlinQ by RyzMedia comes in.
The 2-year-old company is trying to pick up on the socialization of television and make your viewing experience more enjoyable and they are sharing their ideas at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show.
A free iPhone app -- an Android app will be out shortly -- and a small plastic "Q" plugged into your phone's audio input not only turns your smartphone into a universal remote, it also connects you with what your friends are watching.
The service allows users to share what they are watching on the mobile app, which then takes it users data and displays what shows are trending.
Users can even check out what their Facebook friends are watching and switch over to the same show if they are so inclined.
Future versions of the app will give users the power to gift pay per view movies or events to their friends all through the mobile app and across cable providers.
For now, BlinQ is looking to keep things simple and social.
Making TV Social Could Change Your Viewing Habits
Struggling to find something good to watch live on television?


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Go ahead and eat that extra slice of bread at dinner—it might actually help you stay thin, according to a new study released by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Professor Zecharia Madar had some of his 78 study participants eat most of their carbs at dinner over a six-month period, while the remaining ate their carbs throughout the day. His team then measured the diet's effect on three different hormones: Leptin, the hormone that helps us feel full; ghrelin, the hunger hormone; and adiponectin, a key player in glucose regulation.
The result? The carbs-at-dinner group reported feeling less hungry and had less body fat at the end than the control group. More importantly, the study shows that a big bowl of pasta at night won't necessarily expand your waistline. Niiice.
So, say goodbye to the conventional wisdom of "no eating carbs after 7pm" and chow down on a bagel as you catch up on Girls. You might even find that you weigh less in the morning!


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When the Sony DSLR-A900 was introduced in September 2008 it looked like an incredibly good deal: a full-frame DSLR with a weather-sealed pro body and a whopping 24.6 million pixels resolution for $3000. This was price-wise in a similar ballpark to what were at the time its closest competitors, the Canon EOS 5D and Nikon D700. However, the only camera that (at 21.1 million pixels) came close in terms of resolution, the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III, was significantly more expensive ($8000 at launch). The Sony A900 seemed like the obvious choice for resolution-hungry photographers on a smaller budget.
The digital camera market moves fast though, and within weeks of its launch the Sony's price advantage had vanished with Canon's announcement of the EOS 5D Mark II ($2,699 at launch). Canon's new 'compact' full-frame not only had a 20+ MP resolution but also came with a maximum ISO of 25,600, live view and a 1080p HD movie-mode, making the Sony look a little weak in the features department.
Sony's answer came, with a slight delay, in August 2009 in the shape of the DSLR-A850. Rather than upping the new model's feature set Sony decided to leave the A850 (compared to the A900) almost unchanged and compete exclusively on price. The new model is available at a RRP of $2000, making it the cheapest full-frame DSLR currently on the market. Obviously something had to be done to justify the price difference to the flagship A900 (and not completely annoy existing A900 owners), so Sony decided to differentiate the A850 from its bigger brother by slightly reducing the viewfinder coverage and the buffer size (the latter resulting in a 3.0 fps vs 5.0 fps continuous shooting rate). All other key features remain unchanged and are listed below.
Key features
•24.6 MP 35mm format full-frame CMOS sensor (still the highest res in class)
•SteadyShot INSIDE full frame image sensor shift stabilization (world first)
•Dual Bionz processors
•Eye-level glass Penta-prism OVF, 98% coverage, 0.74x magnification
•9 point AF with 10 assist points, center dual-cross AF w/2.8 sensor
•3 frames per second burst
•Intelligent Preview Function
•3 User programmable custom memory modes on mode dial
•Advanced Dynamic Range Optimizer (5 step selectable)
•40 segment honeycomb metering
•3.0″ 921K pixel Photo Quality (270 dpi) LCD display, 100% coverage
•Direct HDMI output
•ISO 200-3200 (ISO 100-6400 expanded range)
•User interchangeable focusing screens (3 options)
•CF Type I/II and MS slots, LI-ION battery, STAMINA 880 shots
•Weight 850g (without battery, card, accs)
•New Image Data Converter SR software (includes vignetting control)
•Optional vertical Grip
•Magnesium Alloy body and rubber seals for dust and moisture resistance
•AF micro adjustment


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Fog on the Barrow-downs
Fog on the Barrow-downs is the eighth chapter of the first book in The Fellowship of the Ring.
The next morning the Hobbits set out and arrive at the edge of the downs by evening. They get lost and are captured by the Barrow-wights. Frodo calls for Tom, who rescues them. Tom sings them to consciousness and brings back their ponies, which had strayed. He gives them each a sword from the Barrow-wights stolen treasure. The swords had been forged by the Men of Westernesse, foes of the Dark Lord. Tom sees the Hobbits off and they set out towards Bree. Frodo reminds the others that he is now traveling under the name of Underhill, not Baggins.