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Soupwords is one of Poptropica's multiplayer games. It's a fun and educational word game that is much like the game Boggle. This is what the "Soupwords" game card looks like:
Starting the Game
To start a game of Soupwords, first head over to the nearest multiplayer room. Click on the person you wish to battle. Choose the option "Battle", and a list of games will show up. Click on "Soupwords", which is the first game listed. The other player will be given the choices "Sure!" or "No, thank you!". If they choose "Sure!", the game will begin, but if they say "No, thank you!" or don't answer you, you'll need to find someone else to play with you.
How to Play
Spell words by connecting two or more letters. Find as many words as you can before the soup gets cold!
Video Guide
For more Poptropica videos, please check out our YouTube channel, Poptropica Help Videos (PHV).
A bowl of alphabet soup will be in the center and letters will be layed out 4 x 4 grid, which means there are 16 letters. Players must spell words with the soup by connecting 2 or more letters together. There is a time limit of about one minute. During the game, players must try to spell out as many words as they can – and the more letters, the more points!
Point System
Points are awarded at the end of the game, and you get points only for words that actually exist. In the example shown below, "LAE" is not a word, and does not get any points. In the same example, "LEG" is a word, and therefore receives 6 points because it has 3 letters.
As you can see, the amount of letters means double for the amount of points. Dizzy Panda's "WOOLIE" received 12 points because that word has 6 letters in it (6 x 2 = 12). Scary Tomato's "ALES" gets 8 points because that word has 4 letters (4 x 2 = 8).
Player Tips
- By Shaggy Tornado: Try to submit words you know exist, try to make them long, and hope you get lots of points.
- By Shiny Leaf: Sometimes, when you can't find any words, try to think of words that you think are words. For example, once I typed in quip, and I didn't know that it was a word, but it still counted it!
- By Neat Ring: Try and add an S to a word if you can. It gives you more points.
- By Isabella: Add an ending to each word, such as "ed" or any suffix.
- By Neat Whale: Think of words you know exist that are uncommon or long. The longer or weirder the word, the better!!
- By Penguin Girl: Try as many different ways to spell the word as possible. For example, "r a t s" could be "rat", "rats" , "star" "tar" or "at".
- By Calm Spinner: Don't ignore little words just because they are little. Try and find as many words as you can, but remember to take all of the words you see.
- By Smart Gamer: If you don't know or can't find long words, enter as many easy words you know.
- By Neat Whale: Sadly, most of the time, when I'm far in the lead (which I usually am!), people will just drop out. So make sure to wait for them to post just to be safe.
- By Sparkle Star/Green Seal: If you find common parts and endings of words such as -ide, look for a letter or two to finish the word. For example: you could make plenty of words if you found t, r, h, w, etc. connected to -ide.
- By Cuddly Scorpion: Practice this game by playing actual Boggle. The games are incredibly similar. Also, look through the Scrabble dictionary – there are tons of miniature words in it, that can potentially determine the course of a game (for instance, "aa", a type of lava).
- By Zany Dragon: Keep an eye out for any words, and I mean ANY words. You can add an s, a suffix, a prefix, etc. to a word to get more points. Make sure you keep an eye on your opponent's score, too. If it looks like they have a long word that you don't have, look for it!
- By Icy Lightning: Try switching your words around! Example: You see a word like pan and you switch it around and you get: nap! And that earns you about 12 points already!
- By Nice Bean: There's no limit on your words, so go all out. Go for anything you vaguely think is a word. I just wasted so much time trying to spell "heinie" that I lost those points.
If you have any questions, feedback, or comments to add, feel free to comment below. Any tips for the game of Soupwords would be greatly appreciated, too, and if we add your tip on this page, we will acknowledge you by name. Thanks! 😀


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If you would like to make your own Christmas cards, there are some ideas that you may want to try. First, you can buy them at the store. You can make a handmade one. You can print one out. Or you can sign the family Christmas picture. The pictures that they make look just like Christmas cards, only your picture is on it. There is a space left for you to write to and from. This is a great option if you would like to make the card personalized, but you dont have time for homemade cards. Just one picture and everyone will be happy that they received your card. Families like to see how each other changes through the years.
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On the 15th of November, 2005 in Washington DC, the Dalai Lama said:
"I believe the twenty-first century can become the most important century of human history. I think a new reality is emerging. Whether this view is realistic or not, there is no harm in making an effort."
Thanks to Kim Stanley Robinson for introducing me to those words in his book, Sixty Days and Counting.
As we move into the eighth year of the new century, that's what I'll be trying to do in my own way with some small projects that I'd like to think can contribute. They are not the paradigm shift the Dalai Lama refers to, but you're welcome to join me anyway.
Earlier today I took a break from the consumer carnage of the sales with Starbuck (unfortunately not the one from Battlestar Galatica). I sipped my chai tea latte, smoked a coconut ciggi and wondered what 2008 might bring. Eight is a lucky number for Chinese folks. When my father first heard I'd moved to house number 88, he told me to get a lottery ticket straight away. I didn't win but it was fun to engage with the superstition for a moment. Maybe 2008 will be a lucky year for humanity but my first thought wasn't that, it was wondering if it will be a good year, period.
I was hoping I might be able to do everything I want to in the coming months, and not kill the planet while I'm about it. A thought struck me though: The tension between "us" and "I" is always there; between what we'd like to do for each other and what we feel we have to do for ourselves and our loved ones. As the earth moves towards rapid climate change with 100 million new humans are added to the tribe every year and the whisper of science is still drowned by the cacophony of war the pressures of our own lives loom larger still. The need to buy the right home, to educate our children, to secure our personal futures all make us compete. Having said that, with a little perspective I try and hold on to the common, human aspirations we all share, whether they are realistic or not. After all, there's no harm making an effort, is there?
If I was an overly-cool, cynical man perhaps I'd sarcastically say "utopia for the win!" Perhaps that persona and the altruist that I'd like to think I'd be without the other pressures can compromise though. So, instead I'll just say: Thanks for taking the journey with me, and all the best to you and yours for 2008, no matter how or where your efforts lie!


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Tooling Update
Dayton Progress to Offshore Punch-Blank Production
To illustrate the synergy created from its acquisition earlier this year by Misumi Group of Japan, Dayton Progress, Dayton, OH, has announced plans to acquire punch blanks from the Misumi factory complex in Vietnam. The Misumi plant is in the process of expanding and adopting the Dayton Progress blank-making process, to help realize all of the benefits of economy of scale. Dayton Progress notes that there will be no impact to the 500-plus jobs at its Dayton location.Dayton Progress: 937/859-5111; www.daytonprogress.com
See also: DAYTON Lamina Corporation
Related Enterprise Zones: Tool & Die


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On Wednesday, people in many nations will mark International Workers' Day, May 1. Most will have a day off from work. In some countries, there might even be parades or other festivities. However, fewer people are aware of International Workers' Memorial Day, which falls on April 28, and is largely marked by trade unionists around the world. Given the disaster that struck Bangladeshi factory workers this week, it would be worth taking a minute tomorrow to think about what the day stands for.
International Workers' Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who died or have been injured or disabled at work and recognize efforts to make workplaces safer; it is the largest annual health and safety event in the world.
It was founded by the Canadian Union of Public Employees in 1984. Five years later, the US labor movement began observing the day, choosing April 28 because it was the date the US Occupational Health and Safety Act took effect in 1971 and because it was close to the anniversary of the L'Ambiance Plaza apartment project collapse that killed 28 construction workers in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on April 23, 1987. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the International Labour Organization (ILO) took up the day, making it an international one, and it is now observed in about 100 countries.
Unions and trade activists use the day to stress the preventable nature of most workplace accidents and sicknesses and to promote workplace safety improvements. According to the ILO, 321,000 people die annually from occupational accidents, 2.02 million die annually from work-related diseases, there are 160 million non-fatal work-related diseases each year and 317 million non-fatal occupational accidents per year. It breaks those figures down into two astounding statistics: a worker dies every 15 seconds from a work-related accident or disease, while every 15 seconds, 151 workers have work-related accidents.
On Wednesday morning, the eight-story Rana Plaza building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, collapsed, trapping thousands of workers. The death toll has now surpassed 300 and is likely to climb higher. Deep cracks were reportedly visible in the building's walls on Tuesday and industrial police ordered the building evacuated. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association also asked the factories to suspend work. While a bank in the building complied, the garment factories told their workers to return to their jobs or risk not being paid.
Wednesday's disaster came hard on the heels of a factory fire that killed 112 Bangladeshi garment workers in November last year, triggering promises by government officials, the garment industry and international purchasers to do more to prevent such tragedies. That the lessons have not been learned is an indictment both of the Bangladeshi government and international clothing brands and stores. Clothing companies and retailers rejected a union-sponsored proposal to improve garment industry safety.
Workplace safety is clearly an issue that the government needs to address, but international companies that use factories in Bangladesh could do their part by financing safety. However, consumers worldwide also share a role in such tragedies because the choices they make about the products they buy and the prices they pay are reflected in what companies are willing to pay for materials and finished products.


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As we get closer to opening each season, John keeps busy writing and producing our ad campaign.
For editing our "creative," he travels to Cincinnati. He was there a week or so ago and was delighted when, while at lunch, he looked out the window and saw this on the back of a Pepsi truck:
John approached the Pepsi truck drivers and asked, "Hey guys, can I talk to you for a minute?"
Priceless response: "Uh…what did we do?"
John happily emailed me the photo with the Pepsi guys, quipping: "Kings Island may have Diamondback, but we've got Truckback!"


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Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Posted in We RecommendTags: brew, distillery, dublin, jameson, Jameson distillery dublin, Old Jameson Distillery, whiskey
Triple Distilled, twice as smooth – Jameson Irish Whiskey The Old Jameson Distillery is one of the top attractions in Dublin, where the story of John Jameson & son is told in an exciting, engaging way that is guaranteed to enlighten any visitor. Located in the heart of Dublin and only a short hop (a…
Posted on Friday, April 4, 2014
Posted in Uncategorised, We RecommendTags: Cafes, dublin, guinness store house, Guinness Storehouse, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Kilmainham Gaol, Museums, National Museum of Ireland, Old Jameson Distillery, pubs, Rain, Tours, Viking Splash Tour
Dublin is no stranger to bad weather so (as a home-grown Dubliner) knowing the best places to avoid those pesky wet days is key to living in this city. I'll let you in on the best ones if you're nice.


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Want to Buy a Business? Pittsburgh
I am a business broker. I help my clients buy the perfect business for them, at the best price possible, and as quickly as possible.
During our one-on-one private meeting, I will give you clear and concise answers to common questions like: What are the benefits of buying an existing business? What does the seller want as part of a transaction? What is the business worth? How long will it take to buy a business? What can I do to establish myself as a serious buyer in the eyes of the business owner? What are the benefits of using a business broker? What are the main steps in the actual buy/sell process? If you want the answers to these and other questions, sign up for my video conference!
Business Broker's Biographical Profile -- Sal Acosta has over thirty years of business and financial experience, both as a small business entrepreneur and as a corporate executive for well-known global corporations. Sal knows first-hand the challenges of running a small enterprise because he has owned both an independent small business and a local service outlet for a national franchise. As an entrepreneur he has successfully started, bought, grown, and sold small businesses. As a corporate executive, he has been involved with multi-million-dollar sub-contracts, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Sal has an Electrical Engineering degree from MIT and an MBA from Tulane University. In addition, he has traveled extensively for both business and pleasure and is bilingual in English and Spanish.


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This hasbeen is so dumb
TMZ is reporting that Katie Holmes's former fiancé Chris Klein was busted this morning in LA for attempting murder with his car. He failed a field sobriety test after the cops spotted him flailing around on the freeway, over twice the legal limit, and was promptly arrested. And it's his second time. The first time was around when Robo dumped his ass for the GMD. Am attaching his last mugshot.
We were just in LA, Jacek and I, and he was debating whether or not to rent a car, thinking we could cab it everywhere. I told him we needed a car. Because no one cabs in LA. They just drink and drive. Yeah, it's a cliché. But these f-cking twats keep making it true.
This is disaster for Klein. Because he's now legally screwed in addition to professionally impotent. The career is in the sh-ts, and he could be facing jail time, and the whole world has now seen his pathetic Mamma Mia audition.
Four words: Dancing With The Stars
Photo from Wenn.com


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BABYZEN YOYO+ Car Seat Package 1 - White Chassis/Ginger
- Available to order
BABYZEN YOYO+ Car Seat Package 1 - White Chassis/Ginger Colour Pack
- White Chassis with seat base, Ginger YOYO+ 6+ colour pack, shopping basket and raincover (6+ raincover).
- Babyzen YOYO+ Car Seat Adapters
- Babyzen BeSafe iZi Go Modular Car Seat - Black
The multi award winning BABYZEN stroller is worldwide famous for its easy, instant one handed fold and unfold and compact overhead cabin luggage size, the BABYZEN YOYO+ can now be used with a car seat as well.
From 6+ months, the YOYO+ is front facing and can be used all the way to 18KGS.
BABYZEN YOYO+ Features:
- Small like no other when folded (52 x 44 x 18 cm). Fits in the smallest spaces and in the overhead compartment of an airplane*
- Can take a car seat: switch from the car to the YOYO+ with one click
- Now bigger shopping basket
- Improved 4 wheels suspension
- Exclusive «soft-drive» system: no need to lock the front swivel wheel, even on rough terrain
- Fabrics are machine washable
- Featherweight: 6.2 Kgs
- Reclinable
- UPF 50+ sun protection canopy
- 2 years manufacturers warranty
The YOYO+ is more than ever, the urban stroller for parents on the move.
Babyzen BeSafe iZi Go Modular Car Seat Features:
- Rearfacing
- Ergonomic design of the carrying handle
- Extra large integrated sun canopy with sunblocking and ventilation
- Magnets keep the internal harness out of the way
- 5-point safety harness
- Single fold-down leg support with audible alarm to indicate correct installation
- Side Impact Safety pads
Technical Specifcations:
Unfolded dimensions: H 106 cm x W 86 cm x D 44 cm
Folded dimensions: H52 x W44 x D18cm
Weight: 6.2 kgs
Babyzen BeSafe iZi Go Modular Car Seat:
- Stature height: 40 – 75 cm
- Approx age: 0 – 12 months
- Facing: Rearfacing Installation with iZi Modular i-Size ISOfix base or 3 point seat belt
- Approved: UN r 129 (i-Size)
- Seat cover is removable and washable – see washing label


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A launch pad for green and clean entrepreneurs
Two Steps Forward
A launch pad for green and clean entrepreneurs
Have an idea for a cleantech or green business? Carrie Norton would like to talk with you.
Over the past half decade or so, the number of aspiring entrepreneurs with some green or clean technology or idea seems to have skyrocketed. They come from everywhere: freshly minted MBAs, seasoned corporate refuges, do-it-yourselfers who have built a greener mousetrap, app makers, moonlighting engineers, freelancing designers, Mom-and-Pop outfits, and more. We receive their PR pitches regularly at GreenBiz; I hear about them from colleagues, friends, friends of friends, and veritable strangers who, by design or circumstance, find their way to my e-mail address.
The vast majority of these enterprises are destined to fail, not necessarily because their ideas aren't worthy, but because of flawed execution: insufficient market research, inadequate business skills, an overzealous business plan ("Every new mom will want one!"), no defensible intellectual property, a lack of strategic partners — and, of course, insufficient capital. Roughly speaking, the 80-20 rule applies: 80% of the ideas will never get off the ground; of the 20% that do, only 20% will achieve any level of success. Do the math and it works out to a 96% failure rate.
Norton aims to improve those odds.
Norton, a longtime friend, has harnessed her experience in start-ups and sustainability to launch Green Business Base Camp, a service aimed at giving aspiring entrepreneurs with green or cleantech ideas a crash course in the skills and insights needed to succeed. It starts with a four-day intensive in-person workshop, supplemented with online resources and continued mentoring. To do this, Norton has pulled together a network of successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, thought leaders, corporate executives, and various others who will serve as teachers, mentors, and, potentially, investors in start-ups. (Full disclosure: I am an unpaid advisor to GBBC.)
"I was inspired to start seriously moving on this when we hit the economic crisis," Norton told me last week. "Because, as Steve Case said at your recent VERGE conference, this is the country that was built on entrepreneurship. I believe that we can reinvent ourselves through entrepreneurship, but we need to do it in a sustainable way. So my goal is to help build entrepreneurs around the globe who are focusing on solving environmental and social problems through business." (You can read our full interview here.)
GBBC serves "a gaping hole" that Norton found in the marketplace for early-stage entrepreneurs. While there are a growing number of business accelerators run by cities, nonprofits, and others, few have focused on helping those interested in businesses addressing social and environmental enterprises. Norton — who honed her skills working for Garage Technology Ventures, the pathbreaking dot-com founded by Guy Kawasaki to help Internet entrepreneurs get off the ground, then worked at IdeaLab, an iconic incubator of more than 75 startups — believes that environmental and cleantech entrepreneurs need a service of their own.
"Navigating the clean and green space is more confusing and different than navigating traditional tech," Norton explained. "The policy environment is very different; there's a deeper connection between how policy affects these businesses than with traditional tech companies. And the basic concepts of sustainability -- what it even means -- is not being addressed by conventional incubators." Beyond that, she says, new business models, like those in the so-called "sharing economy," present new challenges to companies. "If you're creating the next Zipcar, how do you need to think differently about the life-cycles of products? How do you think about the end of a product's life at the same time you're building the company?"
Norton isn't the first to create services aimed at sustainability-minded startups. Business-plan competitions like the Clean Tech Open and incubators like San Francisco-based Greenstart are two examples of organizations on similar paths, though GBBC is different in at least three respects: it is broader than just cleantech, can serve a larger number of entrepreneurs at any one time, and is global in its ambitions. Moreover, GBBC aims to attract entrepreneurs at an earlier stage, including those that are still struggling to figure out a business plan. Norton described three types of entrepreneurs she hopes to attract: first-timers, serial entrepreneurs who lack cleantech and sustainability knowledge, and engineers or technologists with innovations but who lack business skills.
The four-day workshop Norton is planning—the first one begins May 31 in Los Angeles—will take a hand-picked mix of 100 such entrepreneurs through an intensive program, beginning with the basics of starting a business: validating the idea, doing market research, creating a business structure, securing intellectual property, and so on. Next come modules on marketing and branding, from naming to social media to PR skills. The "human talent factor" is the focus of a third module, about building and leading a team, selecting vendors and collaborators, recruiting co-founders, and "the entrepreneurial mindset." A fourth series looks at product design and development, supply chains, and "government as a vendor and partner."
In between these sessions, participants will work in small groups to hone pitches and develop slide decks, receive individual coaching on their pitch, ultimately making 15-minute pitches and taking questions from judges. As things wrap up, participants will hear from experts and successful entrepreneurs about "exit strategies," and how early-stage entrepreneurs should "begin with the end in mind."
This year, GBBC will hold three of these workshops—in Los Angeles, London and a third in Asia. Next year, Norton plans to launch an e-learning platform "aimed at serving up content that initially serves the needs of the early-stage entrepreneur but ultimately can serve a number of different audiences with an interest in entrepreneurship, innovation, green business, and cleantech."
I asked Norton about the role of big companies in her program. "We work with big companies in a number of ways," she responded. "They sponsor our workshops. They provide expertise to teach some of the modules that we're offering. But perhaps most importantly, we're trying to create what I call a virtuous loop of innovation. Big companies are looking for innovative ideas and many of them don't know how to innovate internally, so they're looking outside for what's next. We are working with a number of big companies that are interested in seeing what's next in green business and cleantech. They can provide partnership opportunities for our entrepreneurs to sell services and products, perhaps even acquire them. It's critical that we continue that loop of communication between what's happening inside the Fortune 500 and what's happening on the front lines of innovation in entrepreneurship."
Those big companies also serve as a cautionary tale, Norton says. "The original model was, how do we take the Fortune 500 and retrofit them through sustainability? That's been kludgy at best. We need to start thinking about sustainability from the ground up, helping entrepreneurs integrate it from the very beginning. We're building sustainability into the DNA of these companies."
Will it work? It's, well, early stage, so it's hard to know. But I'll give Norton high marks for her vision, and for the savvy she and her team bring to the party. Norton is one of the most determined, connected, and passionate individuals I know, strong qualities that will increase the odds that GBBC will end up in the rarified air of startups that succeed. And if it does, GBBC could play a pivotal role in fostering a new generation of entrepreneurs interested in tapping into the growing markets for green and cleantech products and services.
I asked Norton to envision what success might look like for GBBC. She responded, "We build a profitable company that serves up great content all over the world. Ultimately, we are so attractive as a business that we get acquired."
"So, in effect, you're modeling the curriculum in real time?" I asked.
She replied, "Yes, indeed."


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Born: 1921, Lodz, Poland
Describes arrival at Auschwitz, selection, and separation from his family [Interview: 1990]
The Germans invaded Poland in September 1939. Leo and his family were confined to a ghetto in Lodz. Leo was forced to work as a tailor in a uniform factory. The Lodz ghetto was liquidated in 1944, and Leo was deported to Auschwitz. He was then sent to the Gross-Rosen camp system for forced labor. As the Soviet army advanced, the prisoners were transferred to the Ebensee camp in Austria. The Ebensee camp was liberated in 1945.
Copyright © United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, DC


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Isaias Afewerki's Democracy Allergy
Just for the record, there is no such thing as "universal democracy� or "one democracy fits all.� This would defy the cultural and ethnic diversity of the planet we inhabit. Therefore, democracy is defined by the National Constitution of any given political entity, society, or country.
Africa News Update
The ruler of Eritrea, President Isaias Afewerki, delivered his widely publicized and anxiously awaited interview on US-Eritrea relations as promised and on time this weekend, 19 August; it was widely broadcast via state-owned EriTV that was then relayed to regime-friendly websites via the internet.
Afewerki, in the two-hour interview, addressed the issue of the depressingly constant domestic calls for constitutional governance, i.e., in Eritrea. In order to make his case and in yet another futile attempt to counter such just domestic calls, the president ventured into making a parody of democracy, as practiced in India that he labels the world's largest democracy and the USA.
Mr. President, you are entitled to say all you want in eternity about democracy as practiced all over the world, but with all due respect, no one in Eritrea is calling for a carbon copy of democracy ala India, America, or any other country; what about the democracy as dictated by our national constitution that was drafted under your personal auspices and active participation and then ratified with your unequivocal consent—remember?
Unless you are having second thoughts about it and are considering declaring our National Constitution a recipe for the fragmentation of the Eritrean society along our vertical diversity, which the people of Eritrea would never buy.
Your persistent reference to "societies being split in an ethnic, religious, regional and sectarian manner" as in the Iraqi case you cited, between Sunnis and Shiites, Kurds, etc., every time you are confronted with the issue of democratic governance in Eritrea, is utterly baseless and tantamount to fear mongering.
Like every initial national constitution, the Eritrean National constitution is not perfect but it is good. Perfection cannot be the enemy of the good or negate the good. Just for the record, there is no such thing as "universal democracy" or "one democracy fits all." This would defy the cultural and ethnic diversity of the planet we inhabit. Therefore, democracy is defined by the National Constitution of any given political entity, society, or country.
No two nations are the same; hence there is no one democracy template that would meet the needs, wills, wishes, and interests of two different societies. Democracy in Eritrea is fashioned and customized solely from Eritrean perspectives as stipulated and dictated by our national constitution not a copy of this or that country. Constitutional governance and democracy is a just form of governance, solemnly entrusted to those charged with governing for strict implementation.
Democratic governance cannot and does not rule out economic imbalance in the absolute nor does it promise or lead to equal wealth to all but certainly grants all equitable access to wealth.
One cannot fault constitutional governance and democracy for gross economic imbalance to the extent that exists in India; you cited an example of 77% of the population living under poverty. This would be like blaming democracy for systemic governmental corruption.
Let me say for the purpose of clarity that the national constitution is not a piece of paper but a message and solemn covenant between the governed and the governors. President Afewerki is certainly entitled to his "no comment" response to the US plan to put his governmental authority on the list of "terrorism sponsors." Yet silence in the face of such damning accusations and looming concrete punitive measures is tantamount to consent. Finally, as far as the closure of the Eritrean consulate in Oakland is concerned, the president urged Eritreans in America to utilize their right to freedom of speech to protest the consular closure by contacting their congressional representatives.
Well said, Mr. President; how about congratulating American democracy at least for granting its citizens freedom of speech that you can now call upon to make your case, but which freedom is a rare commodity in Eritrea?
This author can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com
To comment or to subscribe to or advertise in New York's leading Pan African weekly investigative newspaper, or to send us a news tip, please call (212) 481-7745 or send a note to firstname.lastname@example.com
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Latest comments
- Ann GarrisonFebruary 22,2018 @ 08:03 PM
I think you have "Filtered HTML" turned on here. If you switch to "Full HTML," it will probably...
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South Africa reviews security amid "White Widow" reports
JOHANNESBURGSouth African security measures are coming under scrutiny in the wake of the Westgate mall attack in Kenya and reports that Briton Samantha Lewthwaite, wanted by Interpol in connection with a 2011 plot to bomb holiday resorts in Kenya, fraudulently obtained a South African passport.
South Africa's ruling party said it instructed security agencies to analyze the attack in Nairobi, which was carried out by Islamic extremist gunmen who stormed the mall and targeted civilians, and improve on South African security in consultation with local and international institutions.
At least 67 people died in the Sept. 21 attack in Kenya. Al-Shabab, a Somalia-based militant group, claimed responsibility, saying the assault was retribution for Kenya's troop contribution to an African peacekeeping force in Somalia that dealt heavy blows to the extremists.
"This attack has highlighted the need for tighter immigration laws and processes, strengthening of the security features of the South African identity documents and the monitoring of the movement of people in general and suspicious movements in particular," Gwede Mantashe, secretary general of the ruling African National Congress, said in a statement on Sunday.
There have long been concerns that authorities are not doing enough to scrutinize the activities of militant suspects who could be networking, recruiting or raising money in South Africa, which is culturally diverse and has the biggest economy on the continent. On a visit to South Africa in 2009, then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned that al-Shabab was recruiting young Somalis from South Africa, Australia and the United States to become suicide bombers in its effort to turn Somalia into a "safe haven for terrorism."
Last week, Interpol, acting at Kenya's request, issued an arrest notice for Samantha Lewthwaite, who was married to one of the suicide bombers in the 2005 attack on London's transit system. Intelligence agencies believe Lewthwaite used another person's identity to obtain a South African passport, whose last recorded use was in 2011.
On Monday, a manager at a real estate company in northern Johannesburg said Lewthwaite had rented a home there between 2009 and 2010.
A South African opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has urged security ministers to brief a parliamentary intelligence committee on the matter.
"We cannot sit back and allow South Africa to become a 'destination of choice' for terrorists," the party said in a statement.
Brian Dube, spokesman for South Africa's State Security Agency, declined to comment on any investigation into Lewthwaite.
"You run the risk of putting into the public domain information which should not be there, and then it becomes self-defeating," he said.
"It's important that we continue to be vigilant and on guard and share critical information with our partners in the security environment, both in South Africa and across the world," Dube said. "In the wake of the attack in Nairobi, these matters continue to be a cause for concern."
The U.S. State Department, however, said U.S. officers working on anti-terror issues were largely prevented from communicating with South African counterparts in 2012, noting the State Security Agency was aggressively enforcing a rule that its foreign branch first screen such matters.
In a global report on terrorism, the State Department also said South Africa had introduced a new, more secure passport "aimed at eliminating forgery of passports by organized criminal networks," and had also taken steps to upgrade border security.
The report said most big South African cities have hawalas, informal money transfer systems based on Islamic principles that are often poorly regulated. It cited analysts as saying these systems are likely being used to transfer funds to extremists in East Africa, noting that South Africa has a significant Somali community and a presence of al-Shabab sympathizers.


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Welcome to the
Academic Advising Center!
The mission of the Academic Advising Center at Ithaca College is to empower students to engage in thoughtful educational planning and to teach and assist students in making informed decisions regarding their academic and life goals through collaborative and supportive partnerships with students, faculty, staff and alumni.
The Academic Advising Center (AAC) is part of the Center for Academic Advancement. The AAC is comprised of professional academic advisors who partner with faculty and staff across campus to help students engage in thoughtful educational planning and goal setting. Advisors empower Ithaca College students to take responsibility for achieving academic goals.
A professional academic advisor is available to:
- Talk with you about your educational and career goals
- Review general degree requirements
- Provide tips for making a good transition to college level classes
- Discuss adding or changing majors or minors
- Help you learn how to manage your time and prepare for exams
- Listen to your needs and get you to the best person or resource to help you
The FAQs provide more information about our services and how professional academic advisors and faculty advisors each play an important role in your success at Ithaca College. The Advising Expectations section also provides information on the role of an advisor and an advisee.
The Advising Center also works closely with the other units of the Center for Academic Advancement: Student Accessibility Services (SAS) and Tutoring Services and can make referrals to those offices and others on campus in order to best serve student needs.
Contact the Academic Advising Center whenever you are not sure where to find the answers! You can make an appointment or use our drop-in hours.
- We are located at 130A Rothschild Place (next to the Park
School of Communications).
The main phone number is 607-274-1001.
- Our regular office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30-5:00.
- Drop-in hours (no appointment needed) are Monday-Friday
Summer drop-in hours are Monday-Thursday 9-4 and Friday 9-3.
Stop by to see us soon! We are here for you!
The Academic Advising Center is one of three academic support offices within the Center for Academic Advancement that reports to the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Programs at Ithaca College. The other offices are Student Accessibility Services and Tutoring Services.


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Today, Nvidia launches two new graphics cards – the GTX 660 and GTX 650. This completes the Geforce lineup which now top to bottom consists of:
Geforce GTX 690 (GK104)
Geforce GTX 680 (GK104)
Geforce GTX 670 (GK104)
Geforce GTX 660 Ti (GK104)
Geforce GTX 660 (GK106)
Geforce GTX 650 (GK107)
Geforce GT 640 (GK107)
Geforce GT 630 (re-branded Geforce GT 440)
Geforce GT 620
Geforce GT 610
Geforce 210
EVGA kindly provided us with its GTX 660 Superclocked 2GB whose GPU is overclocked from reference 980MHz to 1046MHz. The memory was left at reference 1502MHz (effectively 6000MHz GDDR5).
All the cards we've seen have custom cooling solution and although EVGA's cooler looks a lot like the reference one, it actually received a performance boost, but we'll talk more about that later.
GK106 is a new GPU based on Kepler architecture and specs suggest it may do well. It packs five SMX units with 960 CUDA cores, 24 ROPs and 80 texture units. The card has 2GB of GDDR5 memory and a 192-bit interface (three 64-bit memory controllers), sporting a bandwidth 144.2GB/s.
The Geforce GTX 660's memory controller supports mixed density memory module operation. This feature allows to outfit the board with 2GB of memory (instead of 1.5GB) while utilazing a 192-bit memory interface.
The memory controller logic divides the GTX 660's eight memory modules as follows:
Memory Controller 1: 4 pcs: 128M x 16 GDDR5 (1GB, 16-bit mode)
Memory Controller 2: 2 pcs: 64M x 32 GDDR5 (512MB, 32-bit mode)
Memory Controller 3: 2 pcs: 64M x 32 GDDR5 (512MB, 32-bit mode)
Unlike the GTX 650, GTX 660 has GPU Boost. The card's reference Base clock is 980MHz, but the GPU overclocks to 1GHz+ when there's thermal and power headroom. Boost clock is 1033MHz, but higher clocks are not uncommon. The GTX 660 has a 140W TDP so one 6-pin power connector did the trick. Under load GTX 660 typically draws 115W of power in most non-TDP apps.
EVGA GTX 660 Superclocked (SC) uses dual slot cooling that looks much like the GTX 660 Ti's cooler, well the GTX 670's to be exact. You won't see any difference between the coolers until you take the cooler apart. It's a blower style cooler that is two slots wide.
One glance at the power and SLI connectors will in fact confirm that we're looking at two different cards. The GTX 660 comes with one of each while the GTX 660 Ti has two of each.
The fan was is limited to 74% RPM in order to keep noise down. No need to invent hot water - the cooler handled the card quite well. The Base clock on the Superclocked card is higher than reference, i.e. up from 980MHz to 1046MHz, but this didn't prove too troublesome for the cooler and it ran quiet even under load.
The PCB is 17.3cm long while the card is 24.3cm, which is clear once you look at the card from the back.
Power circuitry on GTX 660 Superclocked cards is towards the end of the PCB, exactly the opposite of how it was implemented on GTX 670 and GTX 660 Ti cards. This change required a redesign of the cooler as well.
The card has a metal heatsink that cools low profile components and holds the fan as well. GTX 670/660Ti cards have a plastic extension on the card, as you can see from the picture below. The new design improved stability.
The cooler uses a single heatpipe.
EVGA GTX 660Ti Superclocked
Almost all the cards we've tested so far used Hynix memory, but this time around it's Samsung. The memory is model number K4G20325FD-FC03, meaning it's GDDR5 specified to run at 1500MHz (6000MHz GDDR5 effectively). EVGA's GTX 660 Superclocked packs a total of 2GB of GDDR5, in eight memory modules. Four of the modules are placed on the back.
The GTX 660 has a single SLI connector, which is usual for this price segment. So, it's possible to boost performance and use two cards in SLI mode, but not more than that.
Video outs include two dual-link DVIs (only one is VGA capable) and standard HDMI and DisplayPort connectors. Note that all four outs can be used simultaneously.
Motherboard: EVGA X79 FTW
CPU: Sandy Bridge-E Core i7 3820 (3.6GHz)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright HR-02 (Thermalright-Europa Distri www.PC-Cooling.de).
Memory: 8GB ADATA DDR3 1600 XPG Gaming series
Harddisk: OCZ Vertex 2 100 GB
Power Supply: CoolerMaster Silent Pro 1000W
Case: CoolerMaster Cosmos II Ultra Tower
Operating System: Win7 64-bit
Nvidia 306.02-desktop-win7-winvista-64bit-english-beta
AMD 12-8_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc.exe
(AMD HD 7970 : 12-6_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc.exe)
(EVGA GTX 690 4GB & Gainward GTX 670 Phantom SLI : 301.34-desktop-win7-winvista-64bit-english-whql)
3DMark 11
Crysis 2
Metro 2033
Aliens vs Predator
Unigine Heaven
We increased our Thermal Target to 110%, which is the maximum PrecisionX allows. We managed to increase GPU clock offset by additional 65MHz. Seeing as how the GPU is already factory overclocked to 1046MHz, this is quite nice. EVGA GTX 660 SC ran at maximum 1189MHz.
Note that the fan was in Auto mode throughout the test. We did speed up the fan to its maximum but that did not help gain any higher on long term stable GPU clock. We overclocked the memory by another 175MHz (700MHz effectively).
The GTX 660 Superclocked's cooler was made using the GTX 670's cooler as basis. EVGA improved the design by throwing in a heatpipe and cooling low profile components with a heatsink. The heatsink stretches across the entire card, which toughened the card up and provided a fan bracket at the same time.
We couldn't hear the fan not even under heavy load. In idle it is almost inaudible.
Intensive gaming sessions saw the card go up to 81°C. We're glad EVGA kept noise levels down by letting temperatures go slightly higher. The GPU is designed to operate safely up to 98 Celsius degrees, which coupled with GPU Boost mean there's no danger of overheating.
If you want a cooler card you'll have to speed the fan up manually, since it won't go over 2100RPM in AUTO mode. The fan is limited to 74%RPM, most likely to keep the noise down. Anything beyond 74%RPM, which you'll most certainly hear, would've been pointless. As you can see, increasing the fan RPM may knock the temperature to about 70°C.
EVGA GTX 660 Superclocked is, as the name suggests, a factory overclocked card, which gives it a slight advantage over the reference GTX 660 right out of the box. For a card priced at about €220, it spews out quite nice performance at 1920x1080, in most games and with detail settings maxed out. AMD's competitor, the HD 7870, turned out a bit faster, but it may depend on the games of choice. The GTX 660 Superclocked fared particularly well with antialiasing on and almost caught up with the GTX 660 Ti. Compared to the last generation, this is a significant performance increase.
EVGA uses dual slot cooling that looks like the reference solution but is actually tuned a bit to provide quiet operation. Although the thermals are slightly higher than we'd have liked, they're still far from the red zone, so a worthy compromise. Our additional overclocking for the GPU and memory also went well.
EVGA GTX 660 Superclocked is a card is a great bang for buck and is sure to strike a chord with many gamers. It's the cheapest Kepler based card that will cause serious damage and although arguably a tad overpriced, most won't care - and rightfully so. If you're looking for a new card to spend long winter nights with, then EVGA GTX 660 should definitely make your list.


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SAN DIEGO, July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex: ANX) today announced that the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Brian M. Culley, will present at the OneMedForum New York 2012 Emerging Company Finance Conference on Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 9:45 a.m. Eastern time, at the Metropolitan Club in New York City.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120612/LA22456LOGO-a)
Interested parties can access a live audio webcast and slide presentation on the ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals web site at www.adventrx.com. An archived presentation will be available on the web site for 30 days.
About ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals
ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing proprietary product candidates. The Company's lead product candidate is ANX-188, a rheologic, antithrombotic and cytoprotective agent that improves microvascular blood flow and has potential application in treating a wide range of diseases and conditions, such as complications arising from sickle cell disease. More information can be found on the Company's web site at www.adventrx.com.
|SOURCE ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals
Copyright©2012 PR Newswire.
All rights reserved


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|System: X360,PS3, PC, PSP, Wii, PS2
|Review Rating Legend
|Dev: Visual Concepts
|1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
|4.0 - 4.4 = Great
|Pub: 2K Games
|2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
|4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
|Release: Mar. 3, 2009
|2.5 - 2.9 = Average
|5.0 = The Best
|Players: 1-2 (1-2 online)
|3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
|ESRB Rating: Everyone
|3.5 - 3.9 = Good
The list of grievances is long, but there are a few bright spots. The presentation is stellar as I mentioned earlier. Animations for pitches, batting stances, and even some pretty solid pro moves are cool (when they work). It looks awesome. Watching Jermaine Dye snag a pop fly with a diving catch or seeing an outfielder run off a wall to gun a runner out at third is an enjoyable sight compared to the rest of the game.
After a game, players are treated to a number of cool features including Top 3 Plays, Great Grabs, and the Pepsi Clutch Performer of the game. It definitely gives off that elusive major league vibe, and its really cool to see your best plays in automatic replay. This will definitely give gamers something to compete for.
Commentary is really solid and the sounds are also pretty great. All things considered, MLB 2K9 looks and sounds like the old ball game. The soundtrack is a veritable whos who of artists that make you say Who is that? With the more recognizable artists being Cheap Trick, Lit, and Ted Nugent, you may be wondering if Blink 182 was busy or something. Graphically, character models are okay and crowds and stadiums are well done. Up close, however, things get a bit less attractive. Shadows have PS2-like pixelation, hair looks like a single, painted blob with no texture, and most players look like nameless create-a-sluggers. You might not notice it at first but the repeated slow motion close-up replays will start to wear thin with these subpar graphics. In HD (I played in720p) this is unacceptable and probably couldve been fixed with a few more months of spit shine.
Aside from a few other features that are mostly standards in modern games (dynamic roster updates, custom tracks for stadiums or players, online two-player versus mode, etc.), theres not much more than multiplayer here. Theres a homerun derby, but between the hitting and pitching, it seems a little redundant. All in all, this one just cant measure up to the heavy hitters.
Leon Hendrix III
CCC Freelance Writer
Game Features:


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What's your passion?
Cooking amazing food? Playing fabulous football or creating art?
Make a difference whatever you do!
Coming from all walks of life, these impressive and talented individuals who had the courage to follow their passion are telling the story of success and how they see the world we live in. They are the
Watch Edin Džeko, Miloš Karadaglić, Hristina Popović, Krenare Rugova, Altin Prenga and Milcho Manchevski tell their personal stories of how they got where they are now, what drives them and how their experiences shaped their view of the Western Balkans they come from and of the European Union.
Meet them in the heart of Europe, in the inspiring region with tremendous potential and cultural richness where they shared their history and values, and talked about challenges and opportunities for Europe and its citizens.
Fully grounded in their tradition, doing what they love and believe in, they are making a difference every day, living the European values and inspiring new generations of Europeans to work for a stronger, more united and tolerant Europe.


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Gov. Malloy Praises Pratt & Whitney for Transforming the Jet Engine Marketplace
Nearly 90 aerospace suppliers from across Connecticut, the United States and international locations listened attentively as Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy spoke on Oct. 3 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Malloy's remarks kicked off a two-day Pratt & Whitney partner and supplier forum where he welcomed attendees and recognized Pratt & Whitney for its investments in Connecticut and for its work to ramp up production on its military and commercial engine lines.
The governor wanted suppliers to understand Connecticut is committed to business and innovation and he invited those in attendance to take a look at the work the state has done to transform itself to be more business friendly. Malloy told the group Pratt & Whitney is building for the future and that Connecticut is also preparing for future work requirements by investing in schools, small businesses and universities.
"Pratt & Whitney has transformed the jet engine marketplace and is leading the industry with its Geared Turbofan product line and position on the F-35 program," Malloy said. "We have a thriving marketplace for aerospace suppliers with a deep talent pool and leading educational institutions here in our state to support this ramp up. We've invested billions of dollars in our community colleges and the University of Connecticut to enhance science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. These factors contribute to a critical mass that drives efficiency, innovation and investment."
Malloy thanked existing Connecticut suppliers at the conference for betting on the state and asked them to continue developing manufacturing technologies here. "I strongly believe that Connecticut is the ideal location for your company to grow and your work with Pratt & Whitney will position your business for success today and for decades to come," he said.
"You are investing alongside Pratt & Whitney to maintain a global competitive advantage," he added. "For those suppliers not currently with a location here in Connecticut, I ask you to take a look at our investments and what Pratt & Whitney is doing. I'm sure you'll be pleased to see the steps we are taking to be competitive in the global marketplace for talent and technology. Investing here to capitalize on Pratt & Whitney's success is investing in your future."
The Pratt & Whitney partner and supplier forum runs Oct. 3-4 at the Convention Center. During the session, the company shares the latest updates on our military and commercial programs and has dialog regarding the methods, tools, and technology that are required to rise above our future challenges.
Other keynote speakers at the event include Erik Buschmann, senior vice president, Propulsion Systems Procurement, Airbus, and Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan, program executive officer, F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office. Additional stories will be published about these remarks soon.


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The industry is interested in establishing a biorefinery sector in Denmark that can replace oil-based products with biofriendly materials, chemicals, energy and fuel. But this requires a larger biomass production than we are currently achieving. Scientists from University of Copenhagen and Aarhus University have published an extensive report that shows how we can increase the production of biomass by more than 200% in an environmentally friendly way.
The report called "The ten-million-tonne plan" shows how we can increase the Danish production of biomass from agriculture and forestry by 10 million tonnes per year without affecting the current production of feed and food.
The plan also shows how we can substantially reduce the environmental impact compared with current levels.
"It sounds too good to be true, but it is quite realistic. By concentrating on a number of areas we can in practice double plant production and improve the utilisation of existing resources so there is enough both for food and feed production and for an additional 10 million tonnes of biomass in 2020," says Morten Gylling, senior advisor at the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen.
The report contains a number of specific subelements that combined provide a solution for how we can use sustainable biology and technology to get an additional 10 million tonnes of biomass a year by 2020 without incorporating more agricultural land.
"One of the options is to double crop yield per hectare in selected areas. This can be done by converting to cropping systems with improved perennial crops and break crops to extend the growing season and thus more fully exploit the solar radiation. This will be sufficient to meet the requirements for both feed and food production and for the biomass production for a number of biofriendly products," explains Uffe Jrgensen, senior scientist at Aarhus University.
The increased production of biomass means that it would be possible to establish a biorefinery sector in Denmark a sector that is crucial for the establishment of a green growth economy in Denmark.
"A future Danish biorefinery sector would create around new 20,000 jobs in production and industry, primarily in the provinces," says professor Claus Felby from University of Copenhagen and continues:
"10 million tonnes of biomass actually corresponds to 20 percent of our current consumption of natural gas and to 30-50 percent of our consumption of petroleum and diesel. To this should be added a significantly higher feed production that to a large extent will be able to replace what we currently import from countries such as South America," says Claus Felby.
The results of the report also show that the aquatic environment will improve with a focus on biomass: The loss of nitrogen from farmland can be reduced by more than 20,000 tones:
"A focus on biomass production alone will help meet our obligations in the EU Water Framework Directive, which is one of the most important tasks of Natur og Landbrugskommissionen (Agriculture and Nature Council) at the moment. It is particularly a better utilisation of animal manure that will help us to significantly reduce nitrate leaching," emphasizes Morten Gylling.
Biodiversity in Denmark will also be enhanced:
"We can increase biodiversity by harvesting the grass from approx. 70,000 ha of lowland meadows so they do not become smothered in nettles and willow as a result of nutrient overloads. Another option is to increase the area with natural woodland by 47,000 ha, and it is also possible to cut and remove the biomass and nutrients from approx. 7,000 ha of road verges to increase floral diversity," adds Uffe Jrgensen.
In order to realise the biomass potential, a massive investment in research and development will be needed in future years, particularly within agriculture and forestry, but also within the biological and chemical conversion of biomass.
The project is part of the collaboration between University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University and DONG set up in December 2011 to help launch special initiatives within research and education in green energy.
|Contact: Morten Gylling
(45) 27-24-34-84
University of Copenhagen


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Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals (2009) provides guidelines for those involved in the care and use of animals in the research environment. It aims to increase awareness of the sources and recognition of pain in laboratory animals and to increase ethical sensitivity in those who use and care for them.
Minimizing and alleviating pain in laboratory animals without compromising the methodological integrity of a research project is important both ethically and legally. Fortunately, recent scientific progress has expanded the understanding of pain and increased the ability to prevent and alleviate it in laboratory animals.


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Here's a list of all the nominees in all the categories. We've included a handy guide to all the awards that have been handed out already in the top categories, as well as Oscar odds (courtesy of online casino www.intertops.com) and our patented Alibi picks.
a =Alibi pick
a LOTR: The Return of the King (BAFTA, BFCA, CFCA, DFWFCA, EA, FFCC, GG, GSA, KCFCC, LVFCS, NYFCS, OFCS, SEFCA) Odds: 1/10
Lost in Translation (GG, SFFCC, TFCA) Odds: 5/2
Master and Commander (LCCFA) Odds: 15/1
Mystic River (BSFC, NBR) Odds: 6/1
Seabiscuit Odds: 8/1
Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation (BSFC, DGA, FFCC, NYFCC, SFCA) Odds: 7/2
Clint Eastwood, Mystic River (LCCFA, NSFC) Odds: 6/1
a Peter Jackson, LOTR: The Return of the King (BFCA, CFCA, DFWFCA, DGA, FFCC, GG, KCFCC, LVFCS, LAFCA, OFCS, SFFCC, SEFCA, TFCA) Odds: 3/20
Fernando Meirelles, City of God Odds: 15/1
Peter Weir, Master and Commander (BAFTA) Odds: 4/1
The Barbarian Invasions (César, TFCA)
Dirty Pretty Things (BIFA, LCCFA)
Finding Nemo
In America (BFCA, NBR)
a Lost in Translation (CFCA, GG, OFCS, SFCA, SEFCA, TFCA)
Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean (EA, SAG) Odds: 4/1
Ben Kingsley, House of Sand & Fog Odds: 10/1
Jude Law, Cold Mountain 12/1
a Bill Murray, Lost in Translation (BAFTA, BSFC, CFCA, GG, LAFCA, NSFC, NYFCC, OFCS, SFFCC, SFCA, SEFCA, TFCA) Odds: 23/20
Sean Penn, Mystic River (BFCA, DFWFCA, FFCC, GG, KCFCC, LVFCS, LCCFA, NBR) Odds: 1/2
Keisha Castle-Hughes, Whale Rider (NZFTVA) Odds: 3/1
Diane Keaton, Something's Gotta Give (GG, NBR) Odds: 9/2
Samantha Morton, In America (BIFA) Odds: 15/1
a Charlize Theron, Monster (BFCA, CFCA, DFWFCA, GG, LVFCS, NSFC, SAG, SFFCC) Odds: 3/20
Naomi Watts, 21 Grams (FFCC, LAFCA, OFCS, SDFCS, SEFCA) Odds: 6/1
a American Splendor (BSFC, LAFCA, NSFC, SDFCS, SFCA)
City of God
LOTR: The Return of the King (BAFTA, OFCS)
Mystic River (SEFCA)
Alec Baldwin, The Cooler (DFWFCA, NBR) Odds: 5/2
Benicio Del Toro, 21 Grams Odds: 4/1
Djimon Hounsou, In America (SDFCS) Odds: 15/1
a Tim Robbins, Mystic River (BFCA, CFCA, FFCC, GG, SAG, SEFCA) Odds: 3/20
Ken Watanabe, The Last Samurai Odds: 8/1
Shohreh Aghdashloo, House of Sand & Fog (LAFCA, NYFCC, OFCS) Odds: 3/1
Patricia Clarkson, Pieces of April (BSFC, CFCA, FFCC, NBR, NSFC, SFFCC) Odds: 5/1
Marcia Gay Harden, Mystic River (SFCA) Odds: 6/1
Holly Hunter, Thirteen (LVFCS) 8/1
a Renée Zellweger, Cold Mountain (BAFTA, BFCA, DFWFCA, GG, SAG, SDFCS, SEFCA) Odds: 1/5
The Barbarian Invasions
The Twilight Samurai
Twin Sisters
City of God
Cold Mountain
Girl with a Pearl Earring
Master and Commander
City of God
Cold Mountain
LOTR: The Return of the King
Master and Commander
Brother Bear
Finding Nemo
The Triplets of Belleville
The Last Samurai
LOTR: The Return of the King
Master and Commander
Pirates of the Caribbean
Finding Nemo
Master and Commander
Pirates of the Caribbean
Capturing the Friedmans
The Fog of War
My Architect
The Weather Underground
Big Fish, Danny Elfman
Cold Mountain, Gabriel Yared
Finding Nemo, Thomas Newman
House of Sand & Fog, James Horner
LOTR: The Return of the King, Howard Shore
"Into the West" from LOTR: The Return of the King
"A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" from A Mighty Wind
"The Scarlet Tide" from Cold Mountain
"Belleville Rendezvous" from The Triplets of Belleville
"You Will Be My Ain True Love" from Cold Mountain
"Chernobyl Heart"
"Ferry Tales"
Girl with a Pearl Earring
The Last Samurai
LOTR: The Return of the King
Master and Commander
Girl with a Pearl Earring
The Last Samurai
LOTR: The Return of the King
Master and Commander
"Gone Nutty"
"Harvie Krumpet"
LOTR: The Return of the King
Master and Commander
Pirates of the Caribbean
LOTR: The Return of the King
Master and Commander
Pirates of the Caribbean
"Die Rote Jacke"
"(A) Torzija"
"Two Soldiers"
(BAFTA=British Academy of Film and Television, BFCA=Broadcast Film Critics Association, BIFA=British Independent Film Awards, BSFC=Boston Society of Film Critics, César=César Awards, France, CFCA=Chicago Film Critics Association, DFWFCA=Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association, DGA=Director's Guild of America, EA=Empire Award, UK, FFCC=Florida Film Critics Circle, GG=Golden Globes, GSA=Golden Satellite Awards, KCFCC=Kansas City Film Critics Circle, LCCFA=London Critics Circle Film Award, LVFCS=Las Vegas Film Critics Society, LAFCA=Las Angeles Film Critics Association, NBR=National Board of Review, NSFC=National Society of Film Critics, NYFCC=New York Film Critics Circle, NZFTVA=New Zealand Film and Television Awards, OFCS=Online Film Critics Society, SAG=Screen Actors Guild, SDFCS=San Diego Film Critics Society, SFCA=Seattle Film Critics Association, SFFCC=San Francisco Film Critics Circle, SEFCA=Southeastern Film Critics Association, TFCA=Toronto Film Critics Association)


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The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for our undergraduate private education line of credit is variable1 and is based on the 1-month LIBOR index2 Index plus a margin.
The current offered rate3 will be between 6.00% and 6.00% APR.
Your Interest Rate4 is calculated by adding the Index plus a Margin5, subject to a minimum APR (Floor). The Floor rate is in effect any time the Interest Rate is below your assigned Floor rate.
All loans subject to approval and restrictions may apply. We reserve the right to change rates for new applications at any time and without notice.
Credit union membership and a minimum share deposit is required. Contact us for membership details.
The Annual Percentage Rate is subject to increase after consummation. Your interest rate is variable and may be adjusted quarterly on each January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 (Adjustment Date) based on the 1-month LIBOR index as published in the Wall Street Journal on the first business day of the month immediately prior to the Adjustment Date (e.g., December, March, June and September). Any increase in the index may increase the APR and the amount of your monthly payment.
The "Index" for the quarter beginning January 1st, 2020, is 1.69%, which was the 1-month LIBOR index published in the Wall Street Journal on the first business day of December 2019.
Current offered rate(s) are calculated by using the Index, Margin and Floor value(s) in effect. Your specific Interest Rate, Margin, Floor, and/or credit approval depends upon the credit qualifications of the student borrower and co-borrower (if applicable). Student borrowers may apply with a creditworthy co-borrower which may result in a better chance of approval and/or lower interest rate.
The APR will not exceed 15.00%, or fall below the Floor rate regardless of the Index. Any increase in the Index may increase the APR and the amount of your monthly payment.
Margin will be disclosed at account opening.
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Asked by Sean V., Rochester, New York
I'm a 21-year-old male college student, and a year ago, I had multiple fainting episodes within a few months. I was eventually diagnosed with a right bundle branch block (of no physiological relevance) and low blood pressure. I was prescribed 2,000 mg of salt each day to combat the low blood pressure. After my yearly checkup, my cardiologist said that I no longer had the RBBB. How does this disappear? While I admit the salt helps, I'm concerned it could have a long-term impact on my kidneys.
Conditions Expert
Dr. Otis Brawley
Chief Medical Officer,
American Cancer Society
Dear Sean: As is frequently the case, you need to have a good frank conversation with your doctor. Right bundle branch block (RBBB) is a condition in which electricity does not flow normally down the bundle of tissue that acts as a wire on the right side of the heart. This impairment of electrical conduction can slow or otherwise affect contraction of the right side of the heart. It can be a condition that can only be diagnosed with an electrocardiogram.
It occurs in otherwise healthy individuals, and when it does it usually causes no problems. It simply should be watched. In a study of men drafted into the military, one in 500 or 0.2 percent had RBBB and they can stay in the service and do very well with several decades of follow-up. On the other hand, RBBB caused by prolonged hypertension or other cardiac disease is more serious. This may require medical therapy or a pacemaker.
RBBB can be chronic and lifelong; it can also be intermittent. In some people it is related to heart rate. It is possible to have a low blood pressure caused by dehydration. This can lead to a fast heart beat and RBBB. A low blood pressure also means decreased blood flow to your brain and can cause loss of consciousness. When you are hydrated and your blood pressure is in the normal range, the RBBB goes away. You could have dehydration because of a number of reasons, most commonly heat exhaustion and too much exercise.
The added salt in your diet or, if necessary, salt supplements, can allow your blood stream to keep more water on board. This keeps your blood pressure higher. I would not worry about the added salt as long as your blood pressure is monitored occasionally and stays in the normal range. Ongoing problems with low blood pressure are rare. With age it may be less an issue for you, and working with your doctor, you may be able to stop the salt.
While added salt is a good thing for you, most adults would be best served if they avoided salt. I encourage patients to throw the salt shaker away. Many people are sodium sensitive and very prone to high blood pressure with added salt in their diet. High blood pressure over a period of years can cause heart and kidney damage and increase risk of stroke. A few experts worry that a high salt diet over a long time can play a role in the development of hypertension in people who are obese or have pre-diabetes (also known as the metabolic syndrome).
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GENERATION KILL: DEVIL DOGS, ICEMAN, CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE NEW FACE OF AMERICAN WAR. This is a review by Michael Lorenzen of the book by Evan Wright. The author of the review has given me permission to reproduce it here. Thanks!
My favorite war book of all time is Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose. It is not a surprise then for me to discover that I really liked Generation Kill by Evan Wright. Both books tell the story of a military unit engaged in a large scale offensive. Ambrose wrote his book after interviewing members of Easy Company. However, Wright tells his story from a first-person perspective as he was an embedded reporter with the Marines of the First Recon unit.
The book begins before the start of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It then covers the progress of the war for the first month from the perspective of the First Recon Unit which led the vanguard of allied forces in Iraq. Its mission was to drive into small towns and draw fire to reveal enemy positions. As such, the small group (reporter included) repeatedly and deliberately drove into ambushes. The unit was successful and took surprisingly light causalities. It was one of the first units to enter Baghdad.
In the progress of the war, we learn a lot about the men. This includes information on their past lives, their annoying personal habits, and how they each deal with killing people including in many cases innocent civilians who are in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is powerful writing and it is easy to envision being amongst this group of hungry, foul-mouthed young men who are suffering from a lack of sleep, battle fatigue, and a lack of cleanliness.
The title of this book reflects the author's belief that this generation of American soldiers is perhaps more predisposed to combat due to the violent popular culture they grew up in with violent video games, movies, television programs, and music. Further, Wright also thinks that the large number of single parent homes and neglectful adults has also made this group more homicidal. Fortunately, he does not push this idea much other than to justify the title. I think this would be hard to argue. For example, how can we say the current generation of soldiers is more violence prone than American soldiers in the early nineteenth century who grew up in a country were dueling was legal and common, slaves were kept in brutal conditions, and warfare with the indigenous population was a way of life?
Wright also does not seem to like officers very much. Of the officers he writes about, he only gives Lt. Fick good coverage. The higher ranking officers he does not even refer to by name but instead creates pseudonyms such as Captain America and Encino Man. The writing makes it appear as though the officers are out-of-touch with battle conditions, are using the men to promote their own careers, and give orders that make no sense. Although I am sure the officers were not perfect, I have trouble believing they are as bad as they are portrayed. The First Recon in little more than a month was spectacularly successful in invading Iraq and it took very few casualties. It is doubtful this would have been possible with incompetent officers in place.
The book has an excellent collection of photographs included. The pictures show the men in a variety of conditions as they slugged through Iraq. In particular, I enjoyed the picture of First Recon in front of a statue of Saddam Hussein after the fall of Baghdad. The men are numbered allowing the reader to match up faces with the people written about in the book.
This is a good book and I don't doubt that it will be considered a classic. HBO is currently working on a miniseries based on this book which will certainly bring more attention to this work. There is no index which makes finding particular passages hard but the book is worth reading despite this. This is a solid piece of historical writing which will become part of the cannon of the literature on the Iraq War.
Blog of Dr. Miland Brown that features different aspects of world history. Not everything can be covered but sites dealing with any historical issue or topic are possible future posts. Also includes sites which discuss teaching history. Dr. Brown is an academic in North America.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Posted by M at 12:38 PM
Labels: Book Reviews, Iraq
2 comments:
- CoInSide said...
Good points in your blog are supported here: Gen Kill Rebutted.
- CoInSide said...
The first link expired; here's another Gen Kill Rebuttal
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|A electronic scrapbook page Nancy created and linked to me. This is her as a little girl.
It's been a year since something horrible happened. I previously wrote about how my cousin, Nancy O'Donoghue nee Brown, still didn't have a tombstone at her grave. Well, today marks the anniversary of her death. I'll never forget how I found out about it either.
My Uncle Ed reads the hometown news online even though he now lives on Oahu. He saw an obituary for Nancy and emailed my mother asking if this was one of the cousins I'd found doing my genealogy research. My mom forwarded the link to me telling me how sorry she was. I had just talked to Nancy by email less than a month earlier and seeing a news article about her murder was surreal. I starred at the page on my computer and although I read it, I didn't really take it in. It wasn't her. Why were they sending this to me? Then it finally sank in. It was her. My sweet, sweet cousin was gone. Murdered by her husband. That's not a shock you get over and I cried sporadically for several days whenever I thought about it.
I'm not saying that I was close with my cousin. I'd met her once and communicated with her sporadically. We both enjoyed genealogy research and we'd found each other researching the same line through an Ancestry.com message board. Then Nancy suggested that we meet up the next time I came back to Pennsylvania. I took her up on it. We met at the Knotty Pines restaurant (a local, Hazleton, PA landmark that is now a parking lot). My mom came with me, as did my husband and oldest son. We talked about our families, genealogy, and exchanged information. She even went with us to Saint Gabriel's cemetery to visit family plots. Sounds boring to non-genealogists, but it was a special memory for me. And Nancy was one of the sweetest, kindest people I had ever met. I felt like I had known her for years! If it hadn't been for Nancy, I would still have a fairly large chunk of my Brown family missing from my tree.
I had felt like I had finally contributed something significant to our tree when I located the grave of our common Brown ancestor. The grave of Neil and Nancy Brown (nee McCoy) was something we had both been looking for. I excitedly took pictures and sent an email to her complete with directions on how she could find it. She was excited and said that she looked forward to being able to visit it the next time she got up to Hazleton from Newark, DE.
She also talked about how she was hurting and had stopped going up and down stairs as much as possible. I asked how bad she was feeling (my memory is always horrible and I couldn't remember what it was that caused her pain). Nancy brushed off the question cheerfully. She was just fine. She changed the subject to digital scrapbooking and her grandkids. It was the last I communicated with her.
I don't know why her husband did what he did. She never, ever spoke ill of her husband. She always spoke fondly of him, her children and grandchildren. It was clear that he was the love of her life, so hearing the news of her murder was particularly shocking. I immediately began rationalizing what had happened.
"Hazleton native accuse of killing sleeping wife
Lucille Sukel of Hazleton couldn't understand why her high school classmates weren't returning her e-mails, as they talked every day.
She hadn't heard from Hazleton natives Michael J O'Donoghue and his wife, the former Nancy Brown, in three days, she said. On Tuesday morning, Sukel found out why.
O'Donoghue called police early Monday morning - two days after shooting his wife in the back of the head as she was lying in bed, Delaware Online reported.
Police found Nancy O'Donoghue in a second-floor bedroom with bullet wounds and severe blunt force trauma to her head.
Michael O'Donoghue told police that he shot his sleeping wife twice with a small-caliber handgun from his night stand, court papers said. He also took a hatchet from the garage into the bedroom, in case the gun did not kill his wife, court papers said.
O'Donoghue told police he may have struck his wife in the head with the hatchet after he shot her, investigators said. He then got into bed and held her, court papers said. Police recovered a gun and a hatchet in the home.
He is also charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony.
|Nancy (center) at the Knotty Pines
"I have been on the phone with classmates all morning," she said. "They loved each other very much. This is the most unexpected thing. We're in shock."
Sukel remained very close to the couple, despite the miles between them, she said.
"If she was going out shopping, I knew it," Sukel said.
She became concerned when neither answered the e-mails - the last sent Monday night. Then, Tuesday morning, another classmate learned about the murder and word reached Sukel.
"We're all just astounded," she said. "None of us could make any sense out of [sic]
Sukel worked with the couple to plan their 50th high school reunion, which was held in June. The O'Donoghues were on the reunion committee, and Nancy had received a special award for all her hard work on the event, Sukel said.
Michael, who was known to friends as "Jay," had worked as an accountant, and Nancy as a nurse, she said.
|Another of Nancy's scrapbook pages (her father)
She wishes she could drive to Delaware to ask her friend what happened and why, questions to which she may never know the answers.
Delaware Online, an online edition of The News Journal of Wilmington, contributed to this story.
firstname.lastname@example.com, 570-455-3636"
Published in the Citizens Voice on October 6, 2010
That was the news article. Her obituary reads much better:
"Nancy O'Donoghue, 67, of Newark, Del., passed away Saturday at her residence.
Born in Hazleton, she was the daughter of the late James and Martha Brown.
Nancy was a graduate of St. Gabriel's High School in 1960 and worked as a registered nurse prior to her retirement.
|Another of Nancy's scrapbook pages (her parent's wedding)
Surviving are her husband, Michael J.; sons, Dr. Michael and his wife Merih, Maryland; and James and his wife, Catie, Delaware; brothers, William and his wife, Barbara, North Carolina; and James, Arizona; and eight grandchildren. Several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Holy Annunciation Parish at St. Gabriel's Church, Hazleton.
Interment will follow at the parish cemetery.
Friends may call at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
Fierro Funeral Services Inc. is in charge of the arrangements."
Published in the Hazleton Standard-Speaker, October 7, 2010
Today marks the 1st anniversary of Nancy's loss. It is still unbelievable. Unreal. I don't personally know her children or her husband. I can only imagine what they've been going through and what they are about to go through. Her husband's trial is set for the first week of November. I know that it means more news will be out there. Maybe something to help piece together as to how and why this could have happened, but my thoughts turn to her children and what they are going through. To have lost their mother, and to see their father on trial for killing her. It's got to be tearing them up inside.
I don't hold any animosity toward her husband "Jay" either. I don't know why he killed her, but to have done it in the manner he did and then hold her for so long before calling the police? My mind wanders to her telling me that she was hurting. Was it bad enough that he thought he was helping her? I can't believe that either. They were both Catholic. To take a life or to ask that your life be taken is damnable and they would know that. Would believe that. I cannot conceive of Nancy asking her husband to do something that would damn him, or her. So even when I try to make sense of it all, it makes less sense.
I hope that her family is granted the strength they need to make it through all this and to make sure that fond memories are preserved like the beautiful pages in Nancy's scrapbooks. A beautiful woman. Never to be forgotten.
[Photos and scrapbook pages used in this blog were either taken by me or shared with me by Nancy. Most pictures have been cropped to focus solely on Nancy.]
Is it odd to update a post before it's published? I had this post written and scheduled to go out and something unbelievable happened. Nancy's husband just died. Just a few days before the anniversary of her death. I don't know why I'm angry. As I stated before, I'm not angry at him necessarily. I'm angry at what he did...it was so senseless. Maybe I'm angry because now we'll never know why. The trial would have been in a month and I wanted to know why. Ah well. Here's his obituary:
"Michael "Jay" O'Donoghue of Newark, Del., and formerly of Hazleton, passes away on Wednesday at Heartland House Hospice, Wilmington, Del.
Forn in Hazleton, he was the son of the late Michael E. and Lucille (Sargent) O'Donoghue.
Jay was a graduate of St. Gabriel's High School.
Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, were his wife, the former Nancy Brown, and their son, Patrick.
Surviving are his sons, Michael and wife, Merih, Maryland; and James and wife, Catie, Delaware. Eight grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive.
Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Holy Annunciation Parish at St. Gabriel's Church, Hazleton. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery. The family will receive guests in the church from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass.
Fierro Funeral Service Inc., Hazleton, is handling the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Heartland House Hospice in Wilmington, Del."
Published in the Hazleton Standard Speaker 30SEP2011


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CIA Director David Petraeus resigned over an extramarital affair, according to a letter he sent to CIA staff. The news was confirmed by Press Secretary Jay Carney in a briefing this afternoon.
Slate's Fred Kaplan quickly reported that the affair was with Paula Broadwell — Gen. Petraeus' biographer who was embedded with him in Afghanistan.
Now, NBC is reporting that the FBI has been investigating Broadwell, fearing that she had access to some confidential information.
From NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel on MSNBC:
Also we have learned from law enforcement sources — law enforcement officials — that the FBI is now investigating, and this is an ongoing investigation, into Paula Broadwell.
... The FBI investigation is seeing whether she had improper access to General Petraeus' emails and may have had access to his ... may have accidentally or deliberately had access to classified information. And so we know this investigation is taking place, and that it has identified Paula Broadwell.
The investigation began last spring, reports Ronald Kessler at conservative magazine Newsmax.
Kessler's report claims that the FBI intercepted Petraeus' emails with Broadwell, and they had included sexually explicit references, like "sex under a desk." The pair reportedly broke up some point after Petraeus become CIA Director, but he continued sending thousands of emails to her over the past few months.
Fox News also has some information about the investigation. It's reporting that the FBI was originally investigating an unrelated case and happened to stumble upon Petraeus' affair:
The FBI had been investigating an unrelated and much broader case before stumbling on the affair. Fox News has learned that during the course of this investigation, the name of journalist and Petraeus biographer Paula Broadwell came up. The FBI followed that lead and in doing so, uncovered his affair with her. The FBI for some time was concerned that perhaps Petraeus was some sort of victim, but there has been no evidence discovered to back up such concerns.
NOW SEE: The Daily Show Interview With David Petraeus' Biographer Is Extremely Awkward In Hindsight >


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Two soap stars earned top honors in the celebirty division Sunday of the Nautica Malibu Triathlon.
"All My Children" star Alec Musser claimed the male celebrity title. Heather Tom of "The Bold and the Beautiful" won the female celebrity division.
Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Lopez were among the other celebrity competitors in Sunday's Classic Distance triathlon. Felecity Huffman and husband William H. Macy, and Mario Lopez and Teri Hatcher also participated.
Sunday's Classic competition featured a half-mile ocean swim, an 18-mile "out-and-back" bike course and a 4-mile "out-and-back" run, Keane said. The race was scheduled to begin at 7:15 a.m.
Local news from across Southern California
"Each year the Nautica Malibu Triathlon raises the bar a little bit higher," said Karen Murray, president of Nautica, in a statement. "We're thrilled to congratulate the winners but much more than that, we're truly excited and grateful for the opportunity to help the patients, families and researchers at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles who inspire us to swim, bike and run our hearts out every year."
Last year, the event raised more than $950,000 for the hospital's Pediatric Cancer Research Program.
A husband-and-wife duo won the overall competitions Sunday. Greg Bennet led the men with a time of 1:11:29.4. Wife Laura won the women's division with a time of 1:24:49.1.
Laura Bennett also won Saturday's Olympic Distance Nautica Malibu Triathlon.
Stuart Hayes, 30, of the United Kingdom, won the men's division Saturday.
Saturday's Olympic competition featured a 1.5-kilometer swim in the Pacific Ocean, a 40-kilometer bike course along the Pacific Coast Highway and a 10-kilometer run on pavement and blacktop along the sands of Zuma and Trancas beaches, said event spokesperson Liz Keane.
Athletes competed for cash prizes totaling $20,000, with the first place winner receiving $5,000; $2,500 for second place, $1,250 for third place, $750 for fourth place and $500 for fifth place.
"Those of us responsible for the Pediatric Cancer Research Program are very, very grateful for the generosity of all involved with the Nautica Malibu Triathlon and, together, we look toward a time in the future when research will conquer this horrific disease," said Dr. Stuart E. Siegel, director of the Childrens Center For Cancer and Blood Diseases at the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
http://www.athleteslounge.com/results.php?eventid=2626Event results will be available at www.nauticamalibutri.com.


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Tips for Baby Photos You'll Love to Scrapbook
As a scrapbooker, you rely on photos to step in where words fail to convey your emotions about your baby—your photos are the heart of the layouts you make about him or her. But you don't need to know all the technical ins and outs of your camera in order to take the shots that will bring your love for your baby to life on your scrapbook pages.
Document Trust and Love Using Simple Photos
Mr. Serious by Susan Weinroth, as seen in the February 2011 issues of Creating Keepsakes.
A simple shot can become something extraordinary when the people you love are in the frame. Take, for instance, Susan Weinroth's photo. Even if your baby is "Mr. Serious," have his father hold him and capture the trust and the bond between the two of them. No matter your baby's expression, you'll have a priceless photo to scrapbook an everyday moment in his life.
Capture His Smiling Face with a Photo Shoot
Set up a homegrown studio comprised of a beanbag draped with a soft blanket in order to get just the right angle to photograph your baby. Because you won't have to hold him, you can devote your efforts to getting your baby to display his sunny personality for your layout.
Compare and Contrast Using Camera Settings
Create an artistic photo to depict exactly how tiny your baby is and to show what he can be when he grows up: draw attention to the difference in size between him and a family member using a low aperture to blur out everything but the feature you're comparing.
Susan's Camera Settings
* Camera: Canon EOS 40D
* Shutter Speed: 1/800 sec
* Aperture Value: f/1.8
* Focal Length: 28 mm
This Little Pause by Deena Wuest as seen in the March/April 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes.
Use Natural Light for Perfectly Lit Photos
You don't need to be a professional photographer to capture beautifully lit photos of your baby or toddler. Take the photos yourself by using the natural light in your home and placing your subject next to a window in indirect light. If you find that the light is too bright, schedule your shoot for a different time during the day. Susan also used this principle when she set up her home studio!
Flowers for Emily by Maggie Holmes as seen in the February 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes.
Capture Sweet Sibling Moments Using Soft Filters
Emphasize the tenderness between siblings by softening the bright colors in your photos using photo filters. Traditionally, photo filters were made to sit over the lens of a camera. Today, you can acheive the same effect after you take your photos by using Adobe Photoshop Elements. It's easy!
1. Create a New Adjustment Layer and adjust your Brightness and Contrast using the sliders (Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Brightness/Contrast>. Hint: Be generous as you adjust the brightness for this effect; you want your photo to appear bright because step 2 will darken your photo a bit.
2. Create a new Layer. Then, in the Layers Palette, click on the Blending Mode drop down arrow and select Multiply.
3. In the Toolbar, click on the front Set Foreground Color swatch and select a light-yellow color. Click on the Paint Bucket tool, and then click on the photo.
4. In the Layers Palette, click on the arrow in the Opacity bar and slide the drop-down slider to the left as needed to decrease the yellow color until you acheive your desired effect.
Want to learn more? Check out our tips for taking pet photos that you'll love to scrapbook. And for more ways to take scrapbookable photos, check out the February 2011 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.
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text:
Antipsychotic: (n) a type of drug used to treat psychotic disorders.
I believe the old saying is that "fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
I don't know if that means that fools are careless, or angels are chicken shit.
But I do know that ever once in a while, it's important to risk appearing foolish in an attempt to focus on something that's important.
So playing the part of the fool, let me state bluntly that America is nuts.
I know that's not a clinical word normally used by psychiatrists, but it does describe the mishap of activity that is being presently performed under adult supervision.
Religion, politics, entertainment and corporations have lost all sense of morality and even any compass for productivity, chasing down either imaginary dragons or unicorns in the enchanted forest.
There seems to be a national sense of neurotic.
Now, what is the difference between being neurotic and psychotic?
- Neurotic is when you're afraid that you're going to go out on the street and get robbed, so you end up staying at home.
- Psychotic is when you stay at home and have a visceral experience of being robbed by imaginary thieves named Imogene and Darnell.
Here's my concern: neurotic people can become psychotic if their neurosis is not talked out.
I believe we're already on the verge of finding imaginary enemies that are chasing us down instead of having the good cheer and wisdom to tackle simple problems in our everyday lives. So more than ever, people are being prescribed medication for conditions that should be handled among our peers with comedy and conversation.
Yes, if we stop talking to each other, only texting and posting on Facebook, the little demons will start crawling out of the closet and begin to gnaw on our ankles.
So let me be foolhardy and tell you that social networking, the Internet and cynicism are tempting us as a nation to leap from neurotic to psychotic. Then we scratch our heads and wonder why somebody would ever go into a school and shoot a couple dozen little kids.
I know we're concerned about tragedies like this, but I'm much more worried about the loss of humanity, the missing link in our species that creates brotherhood instead of culture wars, and the rejection of a gregarious nature, forcing us back into our caves, where we scrawl on the walls, admiring only our own artwork.
We will become psychotic, and then will probably become so alarmed that we'll prescribe a national antipsychotic for the water system if we don't learn to deal with the neurotic notions that make us feel superior to each other and afraid to merely use our abilities the best we can.
Thank you for enjoying Words from Dic(tionary) — J.R. Practix