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About Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police was formed in 1974, serving more than 2.5 million people and covering an area of 500 square miles. GMP is split into 11 divisions - Bolton, Bury, North Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, South Manchester, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. There is also a specialist division based at Manchester International Airport.
You can find out more about Greater Manchester Police through the options below.


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RyanSammy needed a new wordpress theme design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 6 designs submitted by 4 freelance designers.
Improvement Web
Our blog is dedicated to Home Improvement, we like innovative and modern designs. Our blog is about new home improvement concepts so we would like our blog to match that idea. We are into simple and modern design techniques that provided information easily to our users.
We have a 50/50 mix of men and woman between the ages of 18 - 50+ with a middle class income and a split between college and non college graduates.
The blog design needs to portray home improvement but at the same time be easily navigable and simple to read. We would like modern design techniques used.
The homepage of design should include a featured section for featured content, a section for a RSS feed icon, Facebook Fan page icon, and Twitter icon. Sections to display top content, links to archived pages, and recent comments.
Internal pages do not need to contain a featured section, but please include a related post section and the necessary columns for top posts, comments, etc.
The color scheme is up to the designer, but please no extreme colors. We want a site people will feel comfortable visiting over and over.
Please include a homepage and an internal page.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mutants from
Bart Hess, perhaps best known as the guy who did the slime art in Lady Gaga's videos, creates work that distorts the human body in delightful and troubling ways. Visually, it's astonishing. Hess intersects high fashion and fine art with an ease reserved for very few. His visually tactile aesthetic is informed by a marriage of hand-craftsmanship and digital retouching.
Hess's recent projects, entitled Heart to Mouth, MUTANTS, and Shaved, respectively, use futuristic materials and textures to blur the boundary between textile and skin. "My work involves a lot of handcraft and a lot of work behind the computer," Said Hess in a recent interview. "These two opposite work-methods inspire each-other. Personally I think that making for example an animations helps me to think differently about the movement of a textile."
Hess's mixture of craft and computer is marvelous to witness, because while he plays on tropes about the human body, he doesn't offer any suggestion as what to think about it. It's a purely visceral, colorful, and visually arresting experience. The rest is up to the viewer. (via gaite)


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The latest criticism of President Barack Obama's handling of the threat from the group Islamic State is coming from what ought to be friendly territory: a Democratic senator.
Minnesota's Al Franken, who's up for re-election this year, has sent a letter dated Sept. 2 to Attorney General Eric Holder, saying he's "troubled" by Obama's recent suggestion the administration doesn't have a strategy to confront the group's activities in Syria.
Franken's letter says he's particularly concerned about the threat posed by Americans, including those from his state, who have traveled to Syria to fight with the group, also known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Franken is comfortably ahead of his Republican opponent Mike McFadden in the latest RealClearPolitics poll average. But getting tough on ISIS certainly can't hurt the one-time "Saturday Night Live" comedian.
Obama on Wednesday made decidedly mixed statements about the group, first vowing to destroy it and soon after saying it should be made "manageable."
Here's Franken's letter, in which he urges the Justice Department to prevent Americans from taking up arms with the group.
— Robert Schroeder
More must-reads from MarketWatch:
Obama wants to make ISIS a 'manageable' problem
Obama seeks to do no harm to Democrats in midterm elections


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HIV Articles
Boehringer Ingelheim Submits New Drug Application to U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Tipranavir
Priority Review Requested for Investigational Anti-HIV Agent
RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for tipranavir. The Company is seeking accelerated approval of tipranavir and has requested a priority, six-month review of the NDA. Priority review designation is based upon whether a drug provides a significant improvement in the treatment of a serious or life-threatening disease. Tipranavir is a non-peptidic protease inhibitor under investigation for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in combination with other antiretroviral agents.
"Boehringer Ingelheim has worked diligently to develop tipranavir as quickly as possible in response to the urgent need for new therapies for treatment-experienced HIV-positive patients," said Paul Fonteyne, Executive Vice President and Head of Sales & Marketing at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Two large-scale Phase 3 clinical trials, RESIST-1 and RESIST-2,1 form the foundation of the NDA for tipranavir. These studies are randomized, controlled, open-label trials designed to examine the safety and efficacy of tipranavir, boosted with low-dose ritonavir (tipranavir/r), versus a low-dose ritonavir-boosted comparator protease inhibitor in treatment-experienced patients. Interim data from RESIST-1 will be presented at the 44th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in Washington, DC on October 31. (RESIST-2 data will be presented at European Conference in Glasgow in November).
"The number of treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients in the U.S. continues to grow," said Dr. Kathleen Squires, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and Medical Director at the Rand Schrader Clinic of the LAC + USC Medical Center. "Tipranavir may offer an important option for those who need new therapy to stay ahead of HIV drug resistance."
Tipranavir is a non-peptidic protease inhibitor currently in late Phase 3 clinical development -- the final stage of testing prior to the submission of data to the FDA for review for marketing approval. Tipranavir is also being evaluated for use in pediatric and treatment-naove patient populations in Phase 2 and 3 studies that are currently underway.
The investigational drug, tipranavir, does not cure HIV infection/AIDS or prevent transmission of HIV to others.
Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to the research and development of novel antiretroviral agents. VIRAMUNE (nevirapine), a product of original research done at Boehringer Ingelheim, was the first member of the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) class of anti-HIV drugs. Boehringer Ingelheim is involved in basic research and is committed to the development of tipranavir and improving HIV therapy by providing physicians and patients with innovative antiretrovirals.
For more information on Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., please visit http://us.boehringer-ingelheim.com .
1 The RESIST (Randomized Evaluation of Strategic Intervention in Multi- Drug ReSistant Patients with Tipranavir) clinical trial program is one of the largest study programs undertaken with an investigational antiretroviral agent in patients previously treated with multiple combinations of antiretroviral drug regimens.
SOURCE Boehringer Ingelheim
CO: Boehringer Ingelheim
ST: Connecticut
Web site: http://us.boehringer-ingelheim.com
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Las Vegas VIP Helicopter Tour
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Red Rock Canyon and the Strip in one VIP tour. We begin the fight from North Las Vegas and head west to the multi colored Calico basin.
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Our tour of the strip covers over 15 miles if Red Rock canyon and 25 miles of the Iconic Vegas Landscape.
Come and experience Vegas as a VIP.


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Baptism and Presentation of Our Lord
Answered by Legionary of Christ Father
Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum
* * *
Follow-up: Baptism and Presentation of Our Lord [2-12-2008]
After our Jan. 29 column on the dates of celebration of the feasts of Christ's baptism and presentation, an attentive Illinois priest advised me regarding a small historical inaccuracy.
He writes: "It was actually in 1955 that the general decree 'Cum Nostra' of the Sacred Congregation of Rites suppressed all octaves except those of Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. As a result, Jan. 13, the former octave of the Epiphany, became the commemoration of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ, celebrated with the rank of a double major (according to the classification then in force). The texts of the Mass and office remained the same, though, until 1970 (SRC, 'Cum Nostra,' No. 16). Although the baptismal theme figures prominently in the Eastern liturgy of Epiphany and wasn't entirely absent from the Roman liturgy, there was no 'pre-existing memorial of Christ's baptism' as a distinct feast in the Roman rite before 1955. Pope John XXIII's motu proprio 'Rubricarum Instructum' in 1960 and the 1962 typical edition of the Roman Missal merely codified the changes that had been introduced earlier by Pope Pius XII."
The original question about the feasts also brought to mind another query from a Pennsylvania priest regarding this year's calendar.
The priest asked: "In 2008, All Saints' Day is a Saturday. In the United States, it is not a holy day of obligation that year. All Souls' is Sunday. The All Souls' commemoration replaces the regular Sunday Mass. What Mass is then celebrated on Saturday evening, November 1, 2008, the vigil Mass for Sunday? There is no vigil Mass for All Souls."
While All Saints' may not be a holy day of obligation, it is still a solemnity listed in the general calendar. It thus has precedence over the commemoration of the Faithful Departed, which is a celebration in a class of its own.
The Liturgy of the Hours is taken from All Saints', although where the custom exists of celebrating public vespers for the dead after the vespers of All Saints', this custom may be maintained. Likewise, when Nov. 2 falls on a Sunday, the Liturgy of the Hours is that of the current Sunday although it may be substituted by the office for the dead in public recitation.
If we may be guided by the indications offered in Rome's liturgical calendar, then all Masses offered on Nov. 1 would be those of All Saints'.
The usual indication of the Saturday evening Mass is missing, and the celebration of the commemoration of the Faithful Departed is celebrated only on Sunday, Nov. 2.
The calendar also suggests that even though this commemoration falls on a Sunday, in virtue of its unique character, the Glory and Creed are omitted.
Since All Saints' is not a day of obligation, and has all the
characteristics of a Sunday, I believe that a diocese could decide that
those who attend evening Mass on Saturday, Nov. 1, have fulfilled their
Sunday obligation even though the Mass formulas are those of All
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The Livable Communities Coalition
Working to improve Atlanta's quality of life through smart growth
Tag Archives: transit
New year begins amid uncertainty about region's future, transportation
Anti-transit myth #6: Rail transit only serves cities
Excerpted from Moving Minds: Conservatives and Public Transportation by Paul M. Weyrich and William S. Lind.
Myth 6: Rail transit can only serve city centers, but most new jobs are in the suburbs.
This anti-transit myth is a bit different from the others, because the problem itself is not a myth. The myth is that the problem has no solution.
Downtowns remain important centers of employment in most regions, and even Wendell Cox admits that transit serves downtowns well. But it is also true that much job growth is in the suburbs.
There are solutions, and rail transit has an important role to play in them.
One solution stems from the nature of much suburban job development. It is not always spread out evenly across the map. Rather, it often follows certain corridors – corridors that can be served effectively by rail.
Rail transit can do more than serve corridors where job growth is concentrated. It can also help create such corridors.
A major reason why rail transit has difficulty serving suburban growth in many American cities is that there just isn't enough of it. A single light rail line can only serve a limited area. But if a rail system is large enough, it serves much more than downtown. Washington's Metrorail is an example: This five-line, 103-mile system serves not only downtown Washington, D.C., but also such major employment centers as Crystal City; the Pentagon; Rosslyn, Virginia; and Bethesda and Silver Spring, Maryland.
Serving suburban job destinations requires not fewer rail lines, but more.
Roundtable completes its task; it's now up to voters
A message from Livable Communities Coalition executive director Ray Christman:
To Fair Share for Transit partners:
We're pleased to announce that our efforts to create more transit options in the Atlanta area have paid off.
As you all probably know, the Metro Atlanta Regional Transportation Roundtable last week approved a project list allocating 52.4 percent of the anticipated $6.14 billion revenue from a proposed 1-cent sales tax to transit projects.
Last week's vote was transformative and set a new direction for the region's transportation priorities. It signaled that the region's view of transportation has shifted from a focus on roads to a more balanced policy that includes transit as an equally important component.
What does this mean for the region?
It means that the region will see more than four out of every 10 dollars collected through the proposed tax being spent to develop new rail options in Cobb County, in the Clifton Corridor, and along the Beltline, which are expected to serve in aggregate nearly 65,000 riders a day. That number doesn't include the 500,000 riders now served by MARTA, which will receive an infusion of $600 million to maintain its lines and equipment.
It means that an estimated 41,300 commuters will find new or enhanced bus routes that will reduce their traveling time and make their rides more efficient.
It means that the region will see a decrease in road congestion as well as enhanced transportation options that will spur development.
But it also means much more beyond those numbers.
To begin, it means that many residents will no longer be stranded in their homes on weekends due to the absence of transit options. It means that it will be easier and quicker to get to work each day. It means that the disparity between the halves with a car and the have-nots without one will shrink.
At its final meeting, Roundtable members pointed to the spirit of regional cooperation that ultimately led to agreement on the final project list. Metro Atlanta residents can only hope this spirit will continue. It will take increased cooperation to ensure that the 10-county area continues to grow and provide a high quality-of-life. And, with the approval of this project list, elected officials around the region signaled they are prepared to do just that.
But first we need to pass the referendum, scheduled for July 29, 2012. While a recent AJC poll found that 51 percent of likely voters would pass the referendum if it were held today, that margin is very thin. The debate is really just beginning, and the issue will face intense scrutiny from voters.
A major campaign will soon be launched by private business leaders to educate voters about the importance of the referendum. This campaign will need to engage people from all segments of our community if it is to be successful, and the Livable Communities Coalition hopes – with your help – to play an important role in making this effort a success.
In the meantime, I think all transit advocates should feel gratified by the success of the Fair Share for Transit Initiative. It played a key role in making the case that a majority of citizens in the region want more transit and that investment in public transportation options will generate substantial economic and quality of life benefits.
We look forward to staying in touch.
Regionalism makes a comeback at Oct. 11 roundtable meeting
All 21 members of the RegionalTransportation Roundtable today completed their review of four contentious amendments to their project list, a prerequisite before the 10-county Atlanta region can vote next summer on a penny tax to finance a host of transit and transportation projects.
Today's meeting addressed last week's most contentious amendments. As roundtable chairman Bucky Johnson noted near the end of today's meeting, it is clear many of the roundtable members used the weekend to drive resolution on the amendments that threatened to weaken the final project list.
"I appreciate folks for working diligently since our last meeting to try to deal with this," Johnson said. "Let me thank you on behalf of all the citizens and all the roundtable for what you did to get us over this hump."
Key among the contested amendments was a proposal to siphon money from MARTA's funding to bankroll continuing service of several key GRTA Xpress bus routes. Today, the board approved its original 10-year $95 million allocation for GRTA, stipulating that the money be used primarily for operations, with some for capital spending. An accompanying resolution suggested that the state should provide capital funding to fill the equipment gap over the next decade.
An amendment to provide funding to study the potential of a commuter rail line in Rockland County was withdrawn, as was an amendment accompanying the request for greater GRTA financing. Another amendment — to fully fund a MARTA light rail line along I-20 — failed to get a second to bring the issue to a vote.
The issues, which seemed so contentious last week, were resolved in a series of meetings between Roundtable members determined to build a consensus around the project list. The list will go before the roundtable Thursday at 9 am at the Loudermilk Center in downtown Atlanta for a final vote before being delivered to the state by Oct. 15. The issue is scheduled to go before voters July 31.
"It shows what counties and cities sitting down together and working together, listening to each other," Douglas County Commission Chairman Tom Worthan added. "It shows what we can accomplish."
Fair Share for Transit releases white paper to address GRTA question
Opportunities for Funding GRTA: Some Options and Alternatives: A Paper prepared by the Fair Share for Transit Initiative
October 11, 2011
From the outset, the Livable Communities Coalition and the Fair Share for Transit Initiative have supported funding for GRTA Xpress bus service through the TIA as one element in a comprehensive strategy to expand the availability of transit in the region. We believe GRTA is a key part of the region's transit delivery system and should expand, not contract, in the future.
However, recent events serve to divide rather than unite transit advocates around the issue of how to best fund GRTA over the next ten years. TIA Amendments 9 and 10 propose to identify additional GRTA funding based on reductions to the proposed TIA funding amounts for MARTA (Amendment #9), Clifton Corridor, Beltline and/or Cobb County Transit line (Amendment #10). Given how thinly funded these proposed new systems or system enhancements already are, it is inevitable that transit supporters would not want to use these sources to meet all of GRTA's remaining needs.
Further, it is also important to consider the relative TIA funding levels in the context of the transit service provided. In 2009, MARTA averaged 504,420 weekday trips whereas GRTA had 7,337.[1] The current draft project list would allocate $600 million in funds to
MARTA and $95 million in funds to GRTA. In other words, MARTA provides 68 times the trips that GRTA currently does, but would receive through TIA only six times the amount of funding. Based on these metrics, GRTA is being very well funded through TIA relative to MARTA, although we would argue that both systems should be funded at higher levels.
In this context, this paper offers some practical suggestions for how to provide funding for GRTA without unnecessarily weakening other transit projects and providers.
How much funding does GRTA need?
As a threshold matter, we should have a clear understanding of what GRTA's funding needs are. In this regard, the targeted funding mount for GRTA has evolved throughout the TIA process. As the table below shows, both the staff funding recommendation and the current amendments would result in funds in excess of the amount initially requested.
of Initial Funding Request
|Initial Funding Request
Recommended In Staff July 7, 2011 List
in Draft List
in Amendment 9
in Amendment 10
Funding Amount Plus Amendments 9 and
Given that GRTA is already proposed to receive $95 million form the TIA, it appears to need somewhere between $85 million and $105 million in additional dollars to bring it to the funding level originally requested through TIA or later modified by staff.
Should (will) the state fund GRTA?
It has been asserted that TIA funding is necessary because the State is not expected to fund GRTA during the TIA period. However,
GRTA has historically received some level of state funding, as indicated in the chart below.
| Funding
(Capital + operations)
|Fare Revenue
|Local Funds
|State Funds
|Federal Funds
Between 2003 and 2009, GRTA received an average of $4.123 million in state funding per year. Extrapolated over 10 years, this same level of funding would yield $41.23 million in state support for the TIA period. This would represent somewhere between 39 and
48 percent of the gap funding GRTA is seeking.
Consistent with this historical data, the project description for TIA-AR-041 contemplates state funding for GRTA during the relevant years:
"The proposed level of funding ($95 million) will maintain current levels of service and the existing route structure for approximately five years, although it is anticipated that the state will also contribute funding to keep the system operational beyond
that timeframe."[2]
Moreover, Atlanta's regional transportation plan, Plan 2040, also contemplates State funding on an ongoing basis throughout the TIA period.
This plan was approved by the ARC board, comprised of the same elected officials now considering the TIA. This six year funding projection, if extrapolated over ten years, would entirely meet the funding GRTA is seeking.
Everyone is aware of the uncertainties associated with future state funding for GRTA. However, with the high probability of legislative consideration in 2012 of a larger role for GRTA in regional transportation governance and oversight, it is almost certain that funding issues will also be on the table for discussion.
What other sources of funding might be tapped for GRTA?
In addition to state funding, there are other ways GRTA could potentially raise additional revenues to meet its projected needs. These include:
- Fare increases. GRTA could raise fares as a means to raise additional revenues. Although fares were raised in 2010, that was the first fare change in seven years. It would be reasonable to consider raising fares again in the ten year TIA window. GRTA could also explore shifting from the zoned fare system currently in place to a true distance based fare system. The graph below is a simplistic illustration of the revenue that could potentially be raised.
Annual Unlinked Trips (2009)
|Fare Increase
|One Year revenue
|$0.9 million
|$1.8 million
|Ten Year Revenue
|$9 million
$18 million
- Local TIA set-aside. Fifteen percent of the TIA revenue would be distributed among the local jurisdictions for local projects. If counties allocated just 1% of these local funds to support GRTA, it would raise $10.8 million over the ten years.
- Flexible funding. GDOT or ARC could program Surface Transportation Funds to cover GRTA capital costs. STP funds allocated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act were used in this manner to offset MARTA expenses in 2008/2009 and this provides the template for how these funds can be "flexed" to cover the capital needs of transit providers. Other regions and states have been aggressive and creative in their ongoing use of "flexing" strategies to fund needed
transit in association with related road improvements.
- Elimination of duplicative services. Amendment #9 identifies examples where money might be saved by eliminating parallel or duplicate routes. The Roundtable should also consider where funding for other projects – such as the proposed I-20 highcapacity bus service – eliminates the need for GRTA Xpress service along certain routes, thereby reducing GRTA's overall funding need or allowing it to shift service to other underserved areas.
- Toll Revenue. Excess toll revenue from the I-85 HOT lane project has been dedicated to fund transit service in that corridor. Similar agreements could be arrange for toll revenue from other HOT lane projects or GA 400.
- Counties and CIDs. Counties outside the current MARTAservice area like Cobb and Gwinnett have been leaders in implementing their own bus services. All counties to be served by GRTA should be expected to contribute some local funds to ensure is maintained at, or even increased to, desired levels.
- Concessions and Advertising. GRTA can generate revenue by selling advertising space on the side of the buses and by entering concession agreements for the park and ride facilities.
Certain of these ideas may have more practical merit and implementation potential than others. The point, however, is taken together they can generate meaningful revenue for GRTA and help it meet its legitimate needs without weakening other complementary transit projects and providers.
Through the actions of the Regional Roundtable to date, the GRTA funding gap has been substantially closed, and GRTA should be able to operate at existing levels for five years or more at current proposed funding levels. At the same time, the successful pursuit of the funding alternatives described above could not only generate the additional revenues that GRTA is seeking through TIA, but raise millions of dollars beyond that to fund further expansions of the system.
It is clear that GRTA will be an important part of the Atlanta region's future transportation system. It is in the interests of all transit
advocates and supporters to help identify ways to fund GRTA in an fair, equitable, and adequate fashion, and to support public leaders who pursue such actions.
FTA National Transit Database Agency Profiles, 2009 data.
Fact Sheet for TIA-AR-041 http://www.atlantaregionalroundtable.com/documents/fact_sheets_on_list.pdf
Roundtable prepares for Oct. 11 meeting
The region's transportation future gained some clarity at Thursday's Atlanta Regional Transportation Roundtable.
For one, the full 21-member roundtable appears ready to hedge its bets on the transit vision outlined in the roundtable executive committee's draft project list, released Aug. 15.
The proposed Cumberland transit line serves as one example of the compromises the roundtable will seek in negotiating a final project list.
On the other hand, there are other issues outside the control of the roundtable that complicate the negotiations. Those issues became so pronounced that the roundtable voted Thursday to table discussion on the most problematic amendments. At stake is a transportation vision that could bring metro Atlanta into the 21st-century.
And at one point, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed felt compelled to question the direction of Thursday's proceedings when Douglas County Commissioner Tom Worthan expressed his belief more needed to be done to increase funding for GRTA Xpress buses at the expense of MARTA state of good repair.
Reed also warned that this process is the opportunity to get the right list that best serves cities and counties as the local economy recovers.
The recent transportation public meetings held in each of the ten counties proved critical in driving the amendment process, according to several roundtable members.
And while that public input seems to have delivered a message that a change in focus is desired, it may actually be the 11th hour politics driving the final negotiations as the roundtable works towards the Oct. 15 deadline.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the most recent poll shows a near consensus on metro Atlanta's transportation problem.
According to the poll, 91 percent indicate it is important for the region to address its transportation problem in order to relieve congestion and improve quality of life.
Furthemore, 82 percent of respondents believe it is important to do more to encourage everyone to commute to work by bus or train.
But only 51 percent say they are likely to vote in favor of the referendum today, perhaps indicating the politics of the final list will be a significant factor in helping next year's referendum pass.
The early talk about regionalism threatens to devolve into a scramble to help local voters determine "What's in it for me?" Tuesday's meeting may yet salvage a regional transportation vision for metro Atlanta that answers that question.
Christman delivers comments to roundtable
Raymond Christman – Comments to the Atlanta Regional Roundtable, Oct. 6, 2011
Good morning and thank you for this opportunity to make comments on behalf of the Fair Share for Transit Coalition.
As I stated at last week's meeting, we believe that the Roundtable has done a tremendous job in developing a strong, diverse and well-balance draft project list. Now we are in the final stages of considering amendments to that list and, understandably, emotions run high as the final opportunity comes about to secure funding for a particular project.
Given the introduction of some nine amendments, we believe, as I'm sure others do, that we have the responsibility to our supporters to make comments and provide input. Our specific comments are provided in the letter that I sent to you on Tuesday, a copy of which is being distributed today.
There is no need for me to reiterate any of this in my public comments today, but I would like to draw your attention to several core issues which we believe are important for you to consider as you act today:
- First, we believe that a number of these amendments, as written, serve to divide rather than unite all of us in support of better transportation for the region. Take Amendment 10, for example. Do we support more funding to expand GRTA Xpress bus service in the region? Of course. But do we support achieving that by reducing funding for the Atlanta Beltline, the Clifton Corridor, and the Northwest Corridor. No, we do not believe that is the way to accomplish that goal. The same comment could be made of many of the other amendments;
- Second, we urge you to keep in mind the total financial requirements — both operating and capital — for these large-scale transit projects. We urge you not to unduly shave dollars from these projects at the 11th hour to fund other needs, thereby weakening the region's ability to deliver these projects as proposed;
- And, third, please also continue to keep in mind that TIA represents just a portion – a significant portion, but still just a portion — of the total transportation spend for the region over the next ten years. As Jane Hayse reported to you last week, the region is projected to have $18 billion to spend on transportation over ten years, including the $6.14 the Roundtable is acting on today. In this context, if faced with a difficult choice between two worthy projects, we again urge you to particularly support the ones that can be funded no other way than through TIA, and allow other local, state, federal funding sources cover some or all of the costs of others.
Thank you for this opportunity to make these comments, and thank you again for your service to the region.
Fair Share for Transit responds to proposed amendments
A message from Livable Communities Coalition executive director Ray Christman:
October 4, 2011
To members of the Metro Atlanta Regional Transportation Roundtable:
The purpose of this letter is to share with you on behalf of the 86 member organizations of the Fair Share for Transit Initiative our comments on the amendments to the project list that were submitted to the Regional Roundtable. We appreciate the open and transparent process maintained by the Roundtable, and the opportunity to provide input.
Our comments are as follows:
- Amendments 03 – Parker Road and Northwest Transit — We oppose this proposed reallocation of $5 million in much needed funding for the Northwest Transit project to support a local road improvement in Rockdale County.
- Amendment 04 – Sigman Road and Northwest Corridor Transit — We oppose this proposed reallocation of $10 million of much needed funding for the Northwest Corridor transit project to support a local road project in Rockdale County.
- Amendment 05 – Northwest Corridor and Multiple Cobb Projects — We would strongly prefer to see the proposed funding for light rail development (Project No. TIA-CO-035) in Cobb County remain at its originally proposed level, but we also recognize the county's leadership is attempting to balance competing priorities. And we recognize that while the amendment will shift $271 million from the light rail project, it will also invest $110 million in providing additional much needed Cobb County Transit Xpress Bus Service in the underserved northwest portion of the county. Further, while we understand that there are good reasons to believe that this light rail project will successfully compete for future federal funding that will allow it to be built as planned, the absence of full local funding for this project creates uncertainties and risks.
- Amendment 06 – Commuter Rail and Multiple Clayton Projects — We support the proposal to direct $20 million of funding in Clayton County for planning and engineering work associated with the Griffin commuter rail line (Project No. TIA-CL-002). Clayton officials have consistently been focused on the need to develop the Griffin commuter line to facilitate easier access to its neighbors. Such connectivity is essential if the region is to prosper as a whole. While this funding is clearly inadequate to fully build out this project, it provides valuable seed capital that can help this project continue to move forward as it seeks other funding support.
- Amendment 07 – I-20 East Transit and SR 400 — We strongly support the proposal to shift funding from State Route 400 projects (TIA-AR-030 and TIA-FN-014)) to develop MARTA's rail service east along I-20 (TIA-M-023).The SR 400 projects, while very important, have access to other funding sources, unlike transit projects like I-20 East. Furthermore, the I-20 rail extension has been a top regional priority for years.
- Amendments 09 – Douglas, Xpress, and other Regional Projects– We are strongly opposed to this amendment, which is both confusing and counter-productive for good regional transportation policy. First, this amendment would reduce funding for much needed MARTA state-of-good-repair support by $34.5 million, and reallocate this funding to the existing GRTA Xpress bus system. Second, this proposal appears to attempt to shift (funding) responsibility for specific existing GRTA routes from GRTA to CCT, GCT, and MARTA.,
- Our opposition to these amendments are in no way related to lack of support for GRTA Xpress bus service. This service is essential for the region and needs to expand, not contract. But the region should not be weakening one set of transit projects or providers to help another. Further, GRTA, as a state-created agency, should be supported by state funding, not local taxes. The purpose of the TIA was not to help state government transfer its transportation funding responsibilities to local governments in the region. As a matter of good public policy, the state should meet its funding obligations to GRTA and allow scarce TIA funds to be used to support other worthy projects.
- Further, the shifting of funding responsibility for certain GRTA routes from GRTA to other transit providers seems to us to be the kind of governance and system integration issue that should not be decided through Regional Roundtable financial horse-trading, but in another forum where the best regional transit service delivery decisions can be made.
- Again, our motivation is in no way directed by opposition to GRTA Xpress bus service. But robbing one set of transit projects to support another transit service solves no larger regional problem nor ultimately expands regional transit service.
We have no comments with respect to Amendments 08 and 11.
We all share the belief that a robust transportation system is required if Atlanta wants to remain the economic capital of the Southeast, and we applaud the roundtable in recognizing the importance of significantly expanding public transit to enable the region to move toward a 21st century system.
Transit investment remains a crucial element in attracting and developing new business. For each dollar invested, transit projects return $8 in economic benefits.
In addition, expanding transit options provides much-needed congestion relief and better air quality, improving the lives of countless residents and assuring a seamless internal transportation system for commerce. Fifty-seven percent of respondents to a recent AJC poll said that the current proposed breakdown in the draft project list of 55 percent transit vs. 45 percent for roads was a good balance, and Fifty-one percent of metro voters would support the referendum, with its current project mix, if it were held today.
We are confident that the full Roundtable will approve a final project list that is strong, diverse, and well balanced. We appreciate the opportunity to provide these comments.
Raymond Christman
Executive Director
Livable Communities Coalition
Roundtable's road show stops in Henry County
MCDONOUGH – Unlike the town halls recently held in Cobb County by Cobb's conservative legislative delegation, Tuesday's official public meeting in Henry County was far less dramatic. Public comments indicated support for a good project list that leads to a positive vote in next year's referendum.
Henry County's Atlanta Regional Transportation Roundtable members, Locust Grove Mayor Lorene Lindsey and County Commission Chairwoman B.J. Mathis, welcomed Henry County residents and business owners to learn the details of the draft project list approved Aug. 15 by the roundtable's executive committee.
"The purpose of the meeting tonight is to answer your questions and to have input from you on your thoughts regarding the list," Henry County Commission Chairwoman B.J. Mathis said. "Tonight is just simply information that we need to receive back from you, and we're on a very short timetable."
The full 21-member roundtable must approve a final project list by Oct. 15.
Not much has changed for Henry County since the executive committee's vote. South metro business interests continue to push the roundtable to include the Griffin commuter rail line on the final list.
According to Henry County Chamber of Commerce president Kay Pippin, Georgia can no longer afford to perpetuate the existence of two Georgias, the Georgia that exists north of Interstate 20 and the Georgia that spills past Macon into south Georgia.
"Cities south of Atlanta are perishing," Pippin noted. "This is a chance to connect the two Georgias, to possibly connect Macon, McDonough, Hampton, Griffin – struggling places – and on to Savannah."
While north metro Atlanta quibbles over the best ways to relieve congestion, south metro Atlanta worries about the economic consequences of a divided region that could threaten passage of a 1-cent sales tax in next year's referendum. Transit –specifically commuter rail – seems key to Henry County's economic interests.
Georgians for Passenger Rail chief executive officer Gordon Kenna still hopes his organization can build a case for the project. Kenna reminded the roundtable that other regions in the state have committed to the commuter rail line, even though metro Atlanta has thus far failed to do so.
"My question is: Does it matter to Atlanta that an adjacent region has invested in this line but can't do so, if Atlanta does not pursue the developmental line?"
The roundtable has thus far collected input from more than 200,000 metro Atlanta residents over the course of the last 6 months in an unprecedented effort to get citizen input for a final project list that will shape the region's transportation future.
And, according to Norcross Mayor and roundtable chairman Bucky Johnson, the 12 public meetings present an opportunity for the roundtable "to hear from our neighbors one more time and make sure we're putting list on the ballot that voters can support."


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Agentgina needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 17 designs submitted by 6 freelance designers.
The Deconstructed House
The Deconstructed House is a retail outlet of architectural salvage and home furnishings. Our sister company is an Atlanta based demolition and environmental remediation company. We are engaged in the deconstruction and recycling of single family homes and mid sized commercial buildings. We salvage beautiful wood planking, wood framing, wood flooring, architectural items such as unique shutters, trim pieces, windows, old crystal and brass doorknobs and hardware, vanities, furnishings, antique bricks, etc. Our culture emphasizes the value of old building products and appreciates the beauty of items otherwise headed to the landfill.
The market is for the do it yourself renovator, historical renovator, interior decorator, homemaker, homeowner, and those that appreciate antiques and furnishings from a bygone era. The Deconstructed House focuses on the era of 1900-1950's. Other time periods are represented, however, we focus on products that evoke the turn of the century time period.
The logo must reflect an old-timey time period. The owners appreciate the "Craftsman Style". The logo must be appropriate for website, business cards and outdoor signage. Light greens and dark browns are preferred colors. In the current logo, as it appears on the website, the words "Architectural Salvage" "Furniture" and "Vintage Bricks" are listed, so as to convey to the audience what The Deconstructed House is about. These words do not necessarily have to be incorporated into the logo, but a variety of options would be helpful. The website is http://www.thedeconstructedhouse.com
The company has an active blog: http://thedeconstructedhouse.blogspot.com/
and facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-D…7494689416.
I have attached an example of a small print ad in which the current 'logo' appears. The flower graphic is nice, and it would be great to incorporate into a new logo, but again, looking at a variety of options. Thanks!
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Ll'Emir Abdelkaderh
Ahmed Hebrih is an Algerian comic artist. He was founding editor of the comics magazine M'Kidèche (M'Quidech) between 1968 and 1974. He the author of several of the magazine's sections and comics. He created the series 'De nos montagnes' and the realistic comics 'Le Chemin de l'Espoir', 'Jugurta', 'Djurjura à l'Écoute'. His historical comic 'Saladin' was published in Fantasia in 1980. He is head of the communication agency Ambassade Com and the producer of several spots and films.


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German engineering giant Siemens unveiled a long-awaited restructuring on Wednesday in a drive to catch up with more profitable competitors and said it would not be forced into a bidding war with GE (NYSE:GE) for the energy assets of French rival Alstom.
Continue Reading Below
The Munich-based firm's Chief Executive Joe Kaeser has been working on the new strategy since taking power last summer following a boardroom coup that pushed out his predecessor Peter Loescher after a series of profit warnings.
Ahead of Kaeser's presentation at the firm's historic "Siemensstadt" site in Berlin, the company posted weaker-than-expected earnings for its fiscal second quarter, hit by charges in its energy business, and announced a series of smaller deals.
Siemens said it was buying energy assets from Rolls-Royce <RR.L> for 950 million euros ($1.32 billion) and transferring a majority stake in its Austrian metals business to Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries <7011.T> for undisclosed terms.
As part of the overhaul, dubbed "Vision 2020" the company is taking out a layer of management by cutting back to nine core divisions, publicly listing its hearing aids business and separating out management of its healthcare business, a move several analysts said could be a first step towards a spin-off.
Asked about the future of healthcare, Kaeser made clear a spin-off was not on the near-term agenda, but suggested capital markets could be tapped in the future if big acquisitions were required.
The steps are aimed at strengthening Siemens' focus on electrification, automation and digitalisation -- processes to help industrial companies produce more efficiently. Taken together, they are expected to deliver productivity gains of 1 billion euros per year from the end of fiscal 2016.
Siemens shares, which pushed to a six-year high above 100 euros earlier this year, rose 2.2 percent to 94.9 euros by mid-afternoon, slightly outperforming the European industrials index <.SXNP> and German benchmark DAX <.GDAXI>.
According to Reuters data, the company still trades at a 7.3 percent discount to its major European peers on a 12-month forward EV/EBITDA basis.
The revamp comes as Siemens mulls a formal offer for the energy business of French rival Alstom <ALSO.PA>, which is already the target of a bid from U.S. giant General Electric <GE.N>.
The French government views the GE bid with scepticism and has encouraged Siemens to enter the race despite lingering resentments between the European rivals over the German firm's attempt to snap up Alstom assets a decade ago when the French group was forced to accept a state bailout.
Kaeser said he had discussed a possible combination with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose government has sent positive signals about it, and would not be considering an offer for the Alstom business unless he was serious.
But he made clear that a decision to bid would "not be forced on us" and said Siemens, which has been given four weeks to study Alstom's finances before committing, would insist on full control of any assets it purchased -- perhaps a reference to France's desire for job guarantees.
Kaeser also expressed regret for referring to the crisis in Ukraine as "short-term turbulences" when he paid a controversial visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin in late March.
"The situation has escalated and I am very concerned about developments," he said. Siemens has a partnership with the Russian railway monopoly, suppyling high-speed trains.
Under former CEO Loescher, Siemens went on an aggressive drive for growth, leaving it lumbered with a complex portfolio of businesses.
Kaeser, 56, a 34-year veteran of Siemens who previously served as its finance chief, is boosting employee share ownership and trying to restore pride at a company that has lagged its biggest competitors in terms of innovation and profitability.
Siemens posted an EBITDA margin of 10.5 percent last year, falling short of Swiss engineer ABB's <ABBN.VX> 14.8 percent and
GE's 18.9 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data.
The presentation at the vast "Siemensstadt" industrial complex -- built in the early decades of the 20th century and site of Siemens headquarters between the two world wars -- is a sign of Kaeser's determination to take the company back to its proud roots. Siemens was founded in 1847 in Berlin as an electrical telegraph company.
For the fiscal second quarter ended March 31, total sector profit, or operating profit, came in at 1.57 billion euros on revenues of 17.45 billion, missing consensus.
According to a Reuters poll, analysts had expected profit of 1.7 billion euros on revenues of 18.1 billion.
Profit in the energy sector tumbled 54 percent to 255 million euros, largely due to 310 million euros in project charges related to two high-voltage direct current transmission (HVDC) projects in Canada.
Chief Financial Officer Ralf Thomas said he could not rule out further charges on the project over the course of the year.
"The scale of these ongoing losses is surprising - it remains the key weakness in the group, and despite management changes (removal of two divisional CEOs) the problems persist," said Morgan Stanley analyst Ben Uglow.
Kaeser acknowledged that the second quarter showed Siemens still had a lot to do to improve its operating performance.
Siemens confirmed a goal to increase earnings per share by at least 15 percent in the current fiscal year, but said it was no longer providing an operating profit target for the entire group, and instead offering margin target ranges for its individual divisions.


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Incorporated February 17, 1899, Seaside has historically been one of the Oregon Coast most visited and popular oceanfront resorts located only 80 miles from Portland. Seaside is a beautiful coastal community with a population of 6,445 and has numerous visitor related activities to choose from.
We are very proud of our City and hope this website conveys a sense of what Seaside is like while helping you find the information you need.
If you are interested in employment opportunities with the City of Seaside, visit Seaside Employment Opportunities, or to sign up for job alerts with the City of Seaside, please visit our online application page.
The City of Seaside Newsletter can be located by visiting the City Meeting Calendar.
The City of Seaside has a Facebook and Twitter account which can be accessed by visiting the following pages: City of Seaside Facebook and City of Seaside Twitter.
The City of Seaside recently completed a 13-month Vision project, titled "Seaside 2034: Building a Bridge to our Future." To learn more about the project, please visit this page. To see a recap of the City Council work session where the vision statement was crafted, please click here. If you would like to view the final presentation, given by the 2034 project team, please go here.
The Seaside Police Department displays Daily Logs which documents the police activity. The daily police activities can be located by visiting Daily Logs.
Check in on the local wildlife with our Osprey Nest camera.


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HHS to push Jan. 1 deadline
The Obama administration is pushing the application deadline for people who want insurance coverage Jan. 1 under Obamacare, giving them eight more days to enroll because of the website problems that have blocked many from signing up.
CMS spokeswoman Julie Bataille said today that consumers who complete applications by Dec. 23 will be covered at the outset of 2014. The enrollment deadline had been Dec. 15 so insurers would have time to process applications.
Story Continued Below
Although continued improvements to HealthCare.gov are increasing the number of visitors able to use the site — with the government's tech chief projecting the portal will be able to handle 800,000 people a day by the end of November — Bataille said the administration wanted to offer consumers extra time to shop and apply for coverage.
( PHOTOS: 10 Sebelius quotes about Obamacare website)
"We want to give people time to make their decisions," she said on a conference call with reporters. Consumers will still need to pay a first month's premium before coverage will be in force.
The deadline change only applies to coverage that starts on the first day of 2014. The enrollment deadline for coverage in 2014 remains March 31.
Bataille did not answer a question about whether the move was optional for insurers — as is the president's proposed fix for a wave of cancelled policies — or whether the government was guaranteeing that insurers would honor the extended deadline.
She did say that the administration had discussed the move with the industry. "We've been in ongoing conversations with issuers, and they are aware of this date change, and this was done in consultation with them," she said.
( Understanding Obamacare: POLITICO's guide to the ACA)
AHIP spokesman Robert Zirkelbach responded in an email that pushing the deadline by more than a week "makes it more challenging to process enrollments in time for coverage to begin on Jan. 1. Ultimately it will depend on how many people enroll in those last few days."
Problems with the enrollment portal, combined with many health plan cancellations, have raised concerns about people not getting covered by Jan. 1. In addition to people losing traditional policies in the individual market due to Obamacare requirements, tens of thousands of people with coverage in state pre-existing pools need insurance by the first of the year to avoid coverage gaps since many states' pools are slated to close.
Jeff Zients, who is heading the federal "tech surge" to repair HealthCare.gov, said today that the government's team is planning to double its capacity by Nov. 30 — from the site being able to comfortably handle 25,000 visitors at any one time now to 50,000, the traffic volume it was intended to accommodate.
"Yes, we think this gives us the capacity to reach everyone we need to reach across this period of time," he said.
Nonetheless, Zients said surges in traffic are expected to continue to overwhelm the site, so technicians are installing "a consumer-friendly queuing" system that will send emails to people when the site is ready to handle more users.


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coffee tables storage
storage coffee tables - Arе Ñоu lооking for a wÐ°Ñ tо аdd bоth ÑrаÑtiÑаlitÑ Ð°nd bеаutÑ tо Ñоur living room, but аrеnât Ôuitе Ñurе hоw tо do it? An еаÑÑ wÐ°Ñ to do just that iÑ with Ñtоrаgе Ñоffее tables. Onе would rеаllÑ bе a grеаt addition tо Ñоur living room. There аrе widе varieties оf diffеrеnt tÑÑÐµÑ of Ñоffее tаblе furniturе available. This mеаnÑ thаt it Ñhоuldnât bе a Ñrоblеm tо find Ñоmеthing thаt will Ñuit your needs and Ñоur dеÑоr. Hоwеvеr, there are a lot оf аdvаntаgÐµÑ tо ÑhооÑing Ñtоrаgе Ñоffее tables оvеr thоÑе that do not hаvе any Ñtоrаgе.


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If you're in the market for lingerie, you're in good company.
The intimate apparel industry as a whole is on the rise, according to Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at the NPD Group.
"Sales in the women's market started off slow in 2012 but started to gain momentum. All of a sudden, intimate apparel has become a very passionate category," Cohen says. "Women have gone so long without purchasing ... that it's time to update their wardrobes."
But selecting the right underpinnings can be a delicate matter. Let's face it, some of the more elaborate examples of intimate apparel — I'm talking to you, Kiki de Montparnasse Enchante Garter Belt with Chantilly lace and ribbon garter clasps — require a level of dexterity and enthusiasm that I suspect exists mostly in counterintelligence interrogation circles.
And, indeed, unless you look like Dita Von Teese, who recently launched her Von Follies pinup-inspired lingerie collection, the very idea of presenting oneself in a balconette bra, tap pants or thong delivers its own form of torture.
I recently did an informal poll of a couple of dozen Los Angeles women in their 20s to 40s, and all but two of the women I asked buy their own lingerie. "The last lingerie set my husband bought me was from Paris," confided one friend. "The tap pants were too small and cut off circulation in my thighs. I vaguely remember crying as I tried to squeeze into them."
So what's the best way to approach the purchase of lingerie?
Looking good starts with comfort, and a well-made bra will deliver that.
"I tell my students that whether it's a sexy panty or a bra — it needs to be comfortable whether you're wearing it for 10 minutes or all day long," says Mary Jo Bruno, a Redondo Beach-based lingerie designer who mentors fashion students at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. Bruno's designs sell at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. "Lingerie needs to make you feel good and look good."
And sometimes the key to sexiness is simplicity.
"The word 'lingerie' often conjures something worn decoratively for a special occasion, confined to the bedroom, but I think lingerie is just what we wear under our clothes as the first layer of dressing," says Jen Abercrombie, owner of Panty Raid on Hillhurst Avenue in Los Feliz. "Even basic pieces can be special, enhance a woman's form and become a personal expression of fashion and style."
Thinking of intimates as basics rather than indulgences is a mind-set that fashion stylist Anna Roth Milner encourages.
"The right undergarments are necessities," Milner says. "A good bra costs more than we think it should, but it does wonders for how we look and feel."
So what does a good bra cost? Black is classic and versatile, and one of the most popular examples at Panty Raid is the Fortnight Demi Bra ($145), a flattering and beautifully constructed garment from Toronto.
Trends such as neons, prints and the requisite red remain strong, and few do it as seductively — or expensively — as Agent Provocateur of London, whose Melrose boutique features bras and briefs in sherbet-orange sheers (Brittne bra, $130), as well as the Ariel lace set in sugar pink and neon yellow that manages to be both shocking and demure (Ariel Bra, $250).
Or, as Agent Provocateur's creative director Sarah Shotton puts it, "to be provocative yet always leave something to the imagination."
The Victoria's Secret "Very Sexy" Collection is decidedly less coy, offering push-up bras in bright red and ultra pink that start at $55.
But even though color holds strong, the freshest trend for spring is the feminine muted hues in pale pinks, nudes and neutrals, like Stella McCartney's blush balconette bra with recycled hardware and satin trim ($65).
"To me, the best lingerie is sexy but you can wear it on a date, not just duck into the bathroom to put it on like a costume at the end of the evening," says Abercrombie. "It's a surprise to be unwrapped."


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Earn 45 School Uniform Shop Loyalty Programme points with this purchase
Blue Max Penthouse Polo Shirt in Yellow.
Unbeatable consistency and durability makes this Blue Maxs top seller. Easy care 65/35% poly/cotton with Maxtech Wicking. Exclusive 200-210 gsm super-tight knit fabric. Robustly anti-pill. Ribbed cuffs, taped neck band, sharp plackets.
Product code: 3PP-YW
Total 9 customer reviews
Average Rating (5 out of 5)
Five most recent customer reviews
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This Blue Max Penthouse polo shirt is a top seller with its unbeatable consistency and durability. It is regarded as the benchmark for which all quality School Uniform polo shirts are measured and is perfect for embroidery and printing. As a School Uniform essential item, this Penthouse polo shirt is very easy to care for simply wash it in the machine!


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Late last week, Samsung released a video showing its Premium Suite software upgrades headed to the Galaxy S3 smartphone, as part of its Android 4.1.2 update. Today it provided more information on the new features and, although we knew there was more to come because the earlier video was labeled Part One, we didn't expect Part Two to appear so soon.
This time, the video discusses new features related to multimedia – primarily the camera – and improved accessibility. Starting with the camera upgrades, Samsung has added what it calls Best Face, which is a variation on burst mode, but instead of solely choosing the best of a series of pictures, it lets you swap faces from each snap. This works well in group photos, where blinks or silly expressions – unless that was what you wanted – can be eliminated. It looks great in the video.
Next is a new low-light mode, which can take bright, clear images even without a flash. Again, it looks very impressive in the demo video, but this is one feature that will need some real world testing to measure its true effectiveness. Finally, there's Paper Artist, another port over from the Galaxy Note 2. This gives your photos a pencil art look, which can be enhanced by scrubbing over sections to reveal the picture underneath. On the Note 2, this is most effective using the S-Pen stylus, so it'll be interesting to see how it works with a finger instead.
Moving on to the improved accessibility, new smartphone owners will get to use Easy Mode, where five frequently used apps and widgets appear on simplified home pages, minimizing the need for newcomers to dig around in Android's menus to find an app. During setup, the accessibility menu has been added to the procedure, making it easier for those with disabilities to switch on the S3's features straight away. Finally, the camera will now tell users how many faces it detects in its frame.
As before, Samsung hasn't given a release date for the Premium Suite, but it does hint that it's already on its way, so if you own an unlocked Galaxy S3 it'll be worth checking Software Update periodically from now on to see if it has arrived.


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Found a contest online or off? Want to share? Post links or information here!
Tamron Nature Photo Contest
Hurry, the entry deadline is coming soon! Enter the Tamron Nature photo contest for your chance to win the new Tamron 18-270mm VC PZD 15X all-in-one lens!
Deadline: July 31, 2011
See contest details & rules
Audubon Magazine Photography...
National Geographic Magazines annual photo contest is going on, contest ends Oct.31, 2009. The 3 catagories are People, Places, and Nature. For more details go to
found this while wandering the net... it ends the end of this month, but if it is legit, looks very cool.
anyone know anything more?
Hi All,
I was off to Kentucky for a week with my daughter. We traveled with her 4-H leader. While in KY at the National Rabbit convention I had the opportunity to "Judge" the National Rabbit and Cavy Photography entries. We had 3 Catagories: Collection of Photos, Color and Black and White.
A few weeks ago, there was a request for images using Sigma cameras to be displayed in the Sigma booth at the Photokina show in Germany.
I submitted ten shots and had one of mine selected for display along with 80 shots from other photographers.
These shots are printed at A0 size all around the...
I recently entered a contest with www.picture.com . Just a warning out there. If you enter your info... the only thing that will happen is your inbox will be overflowing with spam like you've never seen before. This site is so shady, they tell you that you are an "accomplished" photographer, and...
ok, so, I got a pic on a Jones soda bottle awhile ago. http://northeastfoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5256&highlight=jones+soda
and yesterday, my sister in law finally found a bottle and got it for me,
(she actually found two...
Canon Photography in the Parks Photo Contest
click here for details
It's just a little monthly thing on DPReview but it still feels great to get acknowledged. There were some fantastic submissions. I'm surprised I got it.
I found a website that does photography contest. It's actually picture contests of all sorts. There's one running right now and I have an entry in it. Check out the site and please vote for me as well.
I'm tied for first with 2 other people. I...
I entered the pet contest for bissell, if you like my photo would you mind giving me a vote, thanks guys! :D
Please post back if you enter &/or win!
Please post back if you enter &/or win!
Please post back if you enter &/or win!
Please post back if you enter &/or win!
Please post back if you enter &/or win!
Please post back if you enter &/or win!
If you enter &/or win, don't forget to post back & let us know!
If you enter &/or win, don't forget to post back & let us know!
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by Neal Bryant .
Google Play - Android Developments
SHOWstudio Tech Update
Android is now the best selling operating system for mobile phones and there have been some interesting developments with android applications this week. Google have released Google Play which is a new digital content platform where users can download apps, songs, books and films. In many ways it delivers a similar service to the iTunes store, which caters for iOS users. The new release from Google also includes a cloud service, which similarly to Apple's iCloud allows users to store data remotely and access it on any of their devices. Google play is an online service so users won't need to download software to enjoy the benefits as well as avoiding wires and syncing. It will be interesting to see how popular Google Play becomes considering the size of the android market and the easy to use interface.
It is due to the popularity and huge sales of Android devices that iOS developers often produce two versions of the same application for both platforms. Fortunately a SHOWstudio favourite is also soon to become available. Instagram have announced that the app will soon be available on Android, which means the 27millions users will soon be joined by many more. Remember you can follow Nick with the user name @showstudio_nick_knight.


text: The #93 Amoco-Siemens racing team, High Point, N.C., replaced its hood and rear deck logos with symbols of the American Red Cross and the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) for the Sept. 16 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Dover Downs International Speedway. The American Red Cross logo replaced Amoco Ultimate branding on the hood, accompanied by contact information. In addition, the official shield of the FDNY replaced Siemens' deck-lid signage on the Dave Blaney-driven Dodge. Blaney and team owner Bill Davis raised relief funds in a lap-to-lap program. Amoco, Siemens, Davis, and Blaney contributed $10 per lap for every lap Blaney ran during the 400-lap race, and the group will donate the total to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.


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Roofing Ingenuity needed a new banner ad design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 51 designs submitted by 5 freelance designers.
We will provide an ftp link to: a copy of our logo, and a few other logos for use for this project later on today or tonight for use on the sign for use on our jobsites.
Washington Lifetime Roofing
A white 24"x32" yard sign with our logo, url (http://www.WashingtonLifetimeRoofing.com), phone # 1-8770ROOF622 with the numbers in parentheses below it (766-3662). We would like there to be 3 gold trophy cups (similar to one attached) with something like a Grecian olive wreath around or above them, the Master Elite Logo and the BBB torch logo on the sign as well. Our license # WASHISR924BH must be on the sign in small print somewhere unobtrusive.
- Item 1...The color of the logo must stay, but could be gradient.
- We want it to be clean, strong and classy
- High Resolution files for the sign proofs (inculding the 3 cups) and separate files of the 3 cups with wreath by themselves. These will be used on our lawn signs and our vehicles.
- Item 1...not busy or cluttered.


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The classic polo style continues to be a favorite. The silky feel of the Port Authority Silk Touch Polo gives it comfort as well as wrinkle and shrink resistance. With a variety of colors and sizes this is a go to shirt for any group or team!
Thanks for asking your question! Once approved by our staff it will be posted here for others to answer. If you'd like to receive answers to your question via email enter your email address below.
Due to the time it takes to produce the Port Authority Womens Silk Touch Polo Shirt Teal Green ball it will ship in 1-2 weeks. We cannot ship this ball outside the United States.


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The Unit is a hub of many networks and we also have a number of honorary researchers who contribute and advise on our activities. Many pursue their own research, and some have their own websites.
Our honorary staff are not based at the Unit, but can be contacted via the Office Manager.
|Sir David Beamish
|Long career in the House of Lords 1974-2017, culminating with six years as Clerk of the Parliaments
|Alan Cogbill
|Retired senior civil servant with experience in the Home Office, Lord Chancellor's Department and Department for Constitutional Affairs. Former head of the Wales Office, and former Chief Executive of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
|Paul Evans
|Clerk of the Committees House of Commons
|Oonagh Gay
|Former House of Commons Library, expert in parliament and constitutional watchdogs.
|Hilary Jackson
|Former senior civil servant with 30 years' experience of several government departments. Formerly Head of the Northern Ireland Office.
|David Laughrin
|Former senior civil servant with varied experience across a range of government departments in the UK, Australia and New Zealand
|Dr Andrew McDonald
|Founding CEO of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (2009-14). Constitution Director at the Department for Constitutional Affairs from 2003-05.
|Lucinda Maer
|Head of the Parliament and Constitution Centre, House of Commons Library
|Dr James Melton
|Former Senior Lecturer at the Constitution Unit and School of Public Policy
|Dr Robert Morris
|Formerly Home Office Under Secretary responsible for Constitutional Affairs. Leader of the Unit's work on Church and State.
|Dr Patrick O'Brien
|LSE Fellow & former Research Associate with the Unit, working on Judicial Independence
|Akash Paun
|Fellow at the Institute for Government and former researcher at the Unit.
|Mark Sandford
|Senior researcher in the House of Commons Library, specialising in local and regional government
|Brian Walker
|Formerly of the BBC.
|Peter Waller
|Former senior civil servant largely in DTI and its derivatives, specialist on policy making processes.
|Alan Whysall
|Former senior British civil servant in the Northern Ireland Office
|Dr Benjamin Yong
|Lecturer in Law at Hull University and former Research Associate with the Unit.


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ARLINGTON, Va. — New crash test results reflect the improvements manufacturers continue to make in protecting people in front and side crashes, but protection in rear crashes lags. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently evaluated four cars and two small SUVs, updating results for vehicle groups the Institute tested earlier.
The vehicles tested include the 2007 Dodge Caliber (small car); 2006 Kia Optima and 2007 Toyota Camry (midsize moderately priced cars); 2006 Lincoln Zephyr (midsize luxury car); and 2006 Hyundai Tucson and 2006 Toyota RAV4 (small SUVs). Front, side, and rear evaluations were conducted for all except the Optima, which was not tested for protection in side impacts. Kia is changing this car to improve its side performance, and the Institute will test it later this year.
"Results show that automakers are moving quickly to improve side impact protection," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "They're responding to our crash test by making side airbags with head protection standard in more models."
All six vehicles that were tested this time around except the RAV4 have standard side airbags with head protection. (The RAV4's good rating for protection in side crashes applies only to the 2006 model with optional side airbags.) Toyota will make side airbags standard in the 2007 RAV4.
None of the six vehicles earned the Institute's Top Safety Pick award. The two vehicles that earned top ratings in front and side tests were rated too low (marginal) for protection in rear impacts.
"Now it's the norm for vehicles to earn good ratings in the frontal test, and performance in the side test is rapidly improving," Lund says. "But protection against neck injury in rear-end crashes still needs a lot of work. Front and side crashes usually are more serious, but rear impacts are more common and the neck injuries that result can be debilitating. This is the most common injury reported in motor vehicle crashes."
The redesigned Camry is one of only six car models the Institute has tested to earn a perfect score in the side test. The Institute rates the risk of injury separately for the head, neck, torso, pelvis, and legs. Vehicle side structure also is rated. The Camry is good in all of these categories. For the 2007 model year, this car has standard curtain-style side airbags designed to protect people's heads plus separate side airbags to protect the torsos of front-seat occupants.
The Caliber replaces the Dodge Neon, one of the worst performing small cars in the Institute's front and side tests. The new model is a much better performer. The Caliber is rated good overall for frontal crash protection, while the Neon was marginal. The Caliber also is improved in the side test. It's rated marginal overall, compared with a poor rating for the old Neon. Head protection made the biggest difference.
"In the side test of the Neon, the barrier hit the heads of both the driver and rear passenger dummies," Lund points out. "Massive head injuries would have been likely for a driver and possible for a passenger in a similar real-world crash. In contrast, the heads of both dummies in the Caliber were cushioned by the side curtain airbags, which are standard. Side crashes often are serious, but head protection afforded by side airbags can mean a much better chance of surviving."
Side airbags to protect the torsos of front-seat occupants will be added as optional equipment in the Caliber later in the 2007 model year, and Lund says he expects these airbags to improve this car's performance.
Another vehicle to improve is the Hyundai Tucson, which also is sold as the Kia Sportage. The previous generation of this vehicle, sold only as the Sportage through the 2002 model year, was rated marginal in the frontal test. The new model is rated acceptable. High forces recorded on the dummy's left leg and right leg and foot kept it from earning a good rating. This vehicle with standard side airbags also is acceptable in the side test.
This is the only luxury model tested this time around. It's the only midsize luxury car rated acceptable for frontal crash protection.
"This is not a bad rating," Lund says, "but all of the other midsize luxury cars we've tested get good ratings for frontal crash protection, so the Zephyr isn't competitive in its class for safety. Plus several less expensive midsize cars earn better overall ratings than the Zephyr. This shows you don't have to buy a luxury car to get good crash protection, and spending more money doesn't necessarily mean you'll get more safety."
Ford says changes are under way to improve the frontal crash performance of the Zephyr and its less expensive sibling, the Ford Fusion. The automaker has requested testing again later this year.
The Institute's frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Each vehicle's overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test.
Each vehicle's overall side evaluation is based on performance in a crash test in which the side of the vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on two instrumented SID-IIs dummies, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the impact. Injury measures obtained from the two dummies, one in the driver seat and the other in the back seat behind the driver, are used to determine the likelihood that a driver and/or passenger in a real-world crash would have sustained serious injury to various parts of the body. The movements and contacts of the dummies' heads during the crash also are evaluated. Structural performance is based on measurements indicating the amount of B-pillar intrusion into the occupant compartment.
Rear crash protection is rated according to a two-step procedure. Starting points for the ratings are measurements of head restraint geometry — the height of a restraint and its horizontal distance behind the back of the head of an average-size man. Seats with good or acceptable restraint geometry are tested dynamically using a dummy that measures forces on the neck. This test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 mph. Seats without good or acceptable geometry are rated poor overall because they cannot be positioned to protect many people.
©1996-2018, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute | www.iihs.org
IIHS-HLDI in the Classroom
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SAMJ: South African Medical Journal
versión On-line ISSN 2078-5135
versión impresa ISSN 0256-9574
SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. vol.99 no.7 Cape Town jul. 2009
HPCSA: a mess in the Health Department's pocket
Boyce Mkhize
Registrar and CEO, Health Professions Council of South Africa, Pretoria, firstname.lastname@example.com
To the Editor: Normally I would have spared myself the effort and energy to react to the logically unsound, factually incorrect and bizarre editorial comment or article by J P de V van Niekerk,1 Managing Editor of the South African Medical Journal, lest the true saying that arguing with unsound propositions might drag one to the pitiful valley of unsoundness and make people not to notice the difference, ring true in this context. I am however compelled both by my official position as Registrar of the so-called 'mess in the Health Department's Pocket (HPCSA)' and in personal capacity to set the record straight for the sake of truth loving South Africans and members of the health professions.
Dr Van Niekerk starts off well by articulating the history of regulation in South Africa and concludes that it was an honour to serve in the then South African Medical and Dental Council (SAMDC). However, Dr Van Niekerk is ironically very quick to outline the ills perpetrated by the then SAMDC such as its lack of sensitivity towards transformation evidenced by its grossly skewed demographic composition and its unquestionable political bias in (mis)handling the Steve Biko affair. One wonders therefore what was considered honourable in serving a body with such a poor track record!
Dr Van Niekerk submits that the latest version of the HPCSA is much more politicized than it ever was in the past. He further makes very wild, libelous and unsubstantiated allegations suggesting that the 'process of obtaining complete control by the Department of Health (DoH) was driven by the ideology of the government .' This bizarre conclusion is not borne out by fact nor supported by any evidence of politicization that Dr Van Niekerk alleges. Firstly, I am not aware that government has an ideology of taking complete control of institutions such as the HPCSA and perhaps, Dr Van Niekerk could help us by referring us to such a government policy.
Secondly, the concept of complete control of the HPCSA by DoH is, at best, the uninformed imagination of Dr Van Niekerk and at worst a complete lack of understanding of legislative and transformative processes as they play out between government and statutory structures such as the HPCSA.
It is important to note that any legislative amendment including development of Regulations is largely autochthonous to the HPCSA and to a large degree informs the final policy proposition by the DoH. Typically therefore, a structure such as the HPCSA would either make its original submissions on the policy propositions which would inform the DoH's position on the matter or consider policy propositions emanating from the DoH and make its decision thereon before same is adopted as legislation or Regulations. In this instance, the HPCSA was informed by the conclusions reached by a joint Task Team consisting of representatives from the major Statutory Health Professions Councils appointed by the then Minister of Health. The HPCSA was satisfied with the recommendations that emanated from this Task Team, which recommendations became the bedrock upon which the legislative amendments that Dr Van Niekerk is complaining about were based. The DoH can therefore not be accused of wanting to take political control of the HPCSA as the examples used as 'evidence' for the mooted 'political control' do not lend themselves to any political control, a point I will address later.
Although the Medical and Dental Professions Board protested against some of the amendments in the legislation, the HPCSA of which the Medical and Dental Professions Board is part, carefully considered their protestations and ruled them to be without any basis. The HPCSA does not consist of the Medical and Dental Professions Board only but consists of many other health professions who are as significant in maintaining our health system in this country as are the medical doctors and dentists.
The overwhelming majority of the HPCSA members including certain members of the Medical and Dental Professions, supported the mooted legislative changes. These changes were not imposed on the HPCSA by the DoH.
Dr Van Niekerk alludes to the concerns of the 'vast majority of the medical practitioners in South Africa' [my emphasis]. There is however no indication as to how these views were obtained and how Dr Van Niekerk concludes that it is indeed the majority of medical practitioners. In the absence of such empirical data, this allegation will therefore remain an undue exaggeration of Dr Van Niekerk's own imaginations.
Dr Van Niekerk suggests that the values of democracy will be eroded as there will not be a single member directly elected by the practitioners themselves. Whilst it is true that the new system will not allow for a direct election, it is nevertheless not accurate to conclude that democracy will be eroded thereby. Practitioners will continue to play an active role in the process by nominating persons they believe should serve in the HPCSA and the Minister of Health, is by law, confined to exercise her discretion of appointing suitable individuals from within the pool of those nominated by practitioners themselves. This can certainly not be dictatorship but a form of democracy that perhaps Dr Van Niekerk does not like but the fact that he does not like it does not make it something else other than democracy. Election is only one form of democracy and there are many other forms. Although Dr Van Niekerk concedes that this process will undoubtedly bring about excellent candidates, he nevertheless expresses concern that the appointment process might be an application of the ruling party's favoured policy of deployment of its ideological look-alikes so that it can control the HPCSA. Whilst I cannot speak for the ruling party, nevertheless I am a South African who knows at least that there are many examples where even the so-called deployees have made their decisions without fear, favour or prejudice because of the nature of the office they occupy.
A classical example is that of Judges, Public Protector, Human Rights Commission etc who have in many instances issued rulings against the very ruling party that might have had a major influence in putting those individuals into those positions. This is because this country believes in the Rule of Law and adheres to the Constitutional canons of independence of the different levels of governance. This principle is even more pronounced in the context of the HPCSA mandate in that no government, no individual can seek or in fact impose a determination that the HPCSA ought to make as to whether an act or omission falls to be categorized as unethical or unprofessional. The determinations of what constitutes ethical and professional standards remains a sole prerogative of the HPCSA informed by the best practices in the industry as well as international benchmarks, norms and standards. The HPCSA is now a member of the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA) as well as a few other regional and international organizations which adhere to certain standards in determining appropriate ethical standards. It therefore cannot act against itself by compromising its independence and thus its integrity in the international world in which it has become a significant player.
More importantly, Dr Van Niekerk omits to advise the readership that the process of appointments by government is not something unique to the developing countries such as South Africa or something of the so-called 'dark-continent' but a practice not only in force in many developed countries and so-called civilized democracies of the world but also something that is being actively pursued in some of the world's established democracies. The General Medical Council of which Dr Van Niekerk speaks in tracing the roots of our own regulatory system is moving into a system of appointments not because of any form of control that governments want to introduce but because of the very fact that they want to ensure the independence of these structures not only from government but also from themselves.
A number of States in America and Commonwealth countries with established democracies use this model of appointments. I suppose lack of reference to these international models is an act of convenience on the part of Dr Van Niekerk.
The less said about the accusation that this process of legislative amendments was aided and abetted by Dr Nicky Padayachee (President) and Adv Boyce Mkhize (Registrar), the better! Dr Van Niekerk knows fully well that Dr Padayachee and myself cannot represent ourselves in Parliament but the HPCSA. There is no way that the President and Registrar could have gone to Parliament to represent anything other than the conclusions reached by the HPCSA and Dr Van Niekerk should know better than trying to personalize his attack by singling out certain players in this process who simply performed their duties.
Dr Van Niekerk also suggests that the institution of a system where lay chairpersons will chair conduct inquiries might cause difficulties in that the said members without medical knowledge will lack the ability to assess whether adverse outcomes in patients are due to doctors seriously erring or the result of a variation of the disease. Dr Van Niekerk omits to mention that these inquiries are not run on the basis of a determination by the Chairperson. The Chairperson only pronounces the verdict which is collectively arrived at by the Committee. The Committee has people with medical expertise to advise on technical medical matters while the chairperson ensures that a fair and proper procedure is being followed.
Dr Van Niekerk further suggests that the combination of health professions under the HPCSA has proved detrimental to the medical and dental professions and he cites the examples of the impaired practitioner program and CPD which were 'compromised or severely delayed by trying to shoe-horn them into other ill-fitting professions'.
This comment is not only a denigration of the equally important health professions within the HPCSA by calling them 'ill-fitting' but also factually inaccurate in that the impaired practitioner program and CPD programs were neither compromised nor delayed as alleged. The HPCSA does not operate on a federal system where there is balkanization of structures into semi-independent entities but rather operates on a unitary model with some stratified autonomy within the confines of the greater good of its constituent parts. This model calls for a system where practices and procedures aimed at dealing with health professionals in general are applied generically across the professions whilst allowing for some profession specific variations. The Medical and Dental Professions Board has at no stage had the program of dealing with impaired practitioners compromised in any way or delayed. This program has continued uninterrupted with the same results that obtained before this was applied as a generic model across all the professions. Similarly, the CPD model was neither compromised nor delayed for the Medical and Dental Professions Board but has always been implemented even during the time of further adjustments and development of the program.
Dr Van Niekerk proceeds to make another wild allegation suggesting that practitioners of all the Boards have increasingly experienced a Council with symptoms of management failure as evidenced by decreased capacity to deliver, demotivated staff and dissipation of financial assets that were accrued over many years.
This wild allegation is not backed up by facts in that there is an attempt to make a comparison between that which is now and that which was before in terms of capacity to deliver. There is no indication as to what constitutes the quantification of a decrease of capacity to deliver in terms of what it was before and what it is now. There is also no reflection of the evidence to support the allegation of a demotivated staff. There is also no indication which financial assets were accrued before which have since dissipated and in what context and in what quantum.
These statements seem to be a foul cry lamenting what Dr Van Niekerk may have perceived or experienced as a glorious past in which he played an active part and the new order in which he has no active part to play and hence his conclusion that the HPCSA has become or is becoming a sorry mess. Dr Van Niekerk does not take the readership of his magazine into confidence by providing supporting evidence to his allegations and particularly how these allegations make the HPCSA susceptible to a 'take-over' by the Department of Health and consequently a 'sorry mess'.
I suppose that having read the factual story in this reply which addresses all of the unfounded allegations and misapprehension by Dr Van Niekerk, one sorry mess remains, and that is his uninformed allegations.
1. Van Niekerk JP. HPCSA: A mess in the Health Department's pocket. S Afr Med J 2009; 99: 203. [ Links ]


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My Wii Fit Plus
Whether you are trying to work a certain part of your body or just looking to tone your overall physique, there is a specific regimen of activities just for you. Everyone has different fitness needs, and with My Wii Fit Plus, every experience with Wii Fit Plus can be unique too!
Wii Fit Plus Routines
These routines are designed to help you improve in specific areas, by combining activities within Wii Fit Plus centered around a certain fitness need. Divided up into four categories—Lifestyle, Health, Youth, and Form—you'll find tailored routines for everything from warming up to working your legs and hips. You can even combine multiple focus areas for an extended workout created by you! Return to Top
My Routine
Looking for a serious, no-frills routine? My Routine lets you choose from each individual Yoga and Strength Training activity to compile an intensive and seamless workout. Select as many activities as you like and repeat them in any order that you desire—but don't push yourself too hard! Return to Top
In this section, you can select from a list of 10 activities you choose most often in the FREQUENTLY menu. Select the RECENT menu for your 10 most recently played activities, or the RARELY menu for the 10 activities you have played least often. Return to Top
Calorie Check / What Are METs?
You can set goals for calories burned in this handy section, where your daily goals are represented by equivalent foods. Want to work off some of that fried chicken from last night? See what it will take here. You can also track the estimated number of calories burned today in your total Wii Fit Plus activity. That calorie number will also be represented by an equivalent food.
As you continue to train, an explanation of METs and calorie expenditure will appear. METs represent the intensity of an activity. Each activity in Wii Fit Plus can be represented by a number of METs, and the estimated number of calories burned while you play Wii Fit Plus is based on this number. Learn about METs Return to Top
* The foods used as examples in the calorie check were selected from the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ (accessed May 20, 2009)
Fit Credits
Here you can view a detailed graph of the Fit Credits that you have earned each day in Wii Fit Plus. Fit Credits correspond to the time spent doing activities in Wii Fit Plus, and are colored to match each type of activity. You can also view the calories burned each day for a well-rounded picture of the results from your daily routine. Return to Top
Change Trainer
Want to change up the trainer that talks you through your routine? You can choose a man or woman, and go back to switch at any time here. Return to Top