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Rios excited to go in full with Rangers
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Alex Rios has been around baseball for a long time -- 10 years in the Majors to be exact.
So when the 33-year-old right fielder was dealt to the Rangers last August, he knew exactly what to expect and didn't miss a beat.
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Alex Rios has been around baseball for a long time -- 10 years in the Majors to be exact.
So when the 33-year-old right fielder was dealt to the Rangers last August, he knew exactly what to expect and didn't miss a beat.
But even Rios, who posted slightly better numbers in Texas than he did with the White Sox in 2013, understands the value of a full season with the same club -- at least from the standpoint of his own psyche.
"It's a lot easier to start with a team from Spring Training," Rios said. "When you get traded, you feel like you have to contribute right away. It's not that you put pressure on yourself, but you know that they wanted you for a reason, and your expectations grow for yourself. Sometimes it can be a hazard."
Rios is already off to a hot start this spring. After going 1-for-2 with a walk on Tuesday against the Angels, he's hitting .400. He's also swiped two bases and has earned praise from manager Ron Washington for his shrewd baserunning.
Rios believes -- quite accurately -- that it's too early to have any clue what kind of offensive season he'll put up. But he feels healthy and at ease, which at this point is all a ballplayer can ask.
"It's going to be even better," Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre said of what he expects from Rios. "After a year passes, you get to know your teammates, and you've been around them more often. He's more comfortable. I think he can be more loose."
Beltre and Rios are two of the Rangers' elder statesmen. Their respect is mutual, and an experienced player like Beltre can appreciate what a peer like Rios brings to a lineup and a clubhouse.
"He's a veteran who knows what he needs to do to get ready every day," Beltre said. "He comes to play, and obviously his speed, power and knowledge on the field is what we need from our right fielder."
The Rangers have a team option of $13.5 million on Rios for the 2015 season, with a $1 million buyout. That buyout increased by $500,000 once he was traded.
With the two clubs combined last season, Rios batted .278 (also his career average) with 18 homers and a career-high 42 steals. He played 47 of his 156 games for Texas, where he hit .280.
Washington says there isn't much of a noticeable difference in the way Rios has carried himself this spring. But he's eager to see what Rios can achieve in his 11th big league season.
"He looks very relaxed, but he was relaxed and having fun when he joined us last year," Washington said. "He's in camp, and he looks like he belongs. I'm looking forward to watching him for a whole year, because the guy has a complete game. He can play defense, he can hit, he can run and he can run the bases."
Rios has switched teams midseason once before. In 2009, he went from the Blue Jays to the White Sox on a waiver claim in August.
The results were noticeably different that time around, as Rios hit a woeful .199 with only nine extra-base hits in 41 games.
"It does help to start with a team from the get-go," Rios said. "You've gotten to know everybody, and you've got a better feeling of how they do things."
So will his numbers get a boost this season, when he'll get the chance to spend a full year in Texas?
"I couldn't tell you, I've just taken [10] at-bats, so if I said so, I'd be lying," Rios said. "My physical feel -- I feel good, and that's the only thing I can ask for."
AJ Cassavell is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajcassavell.


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Homeland Security, Office of (State)
From ConsumerWiki
Revision as of 21:15, 11 March 2011 by Cicjscribner (Talk | contribs)
See: Emergency Management Agency (California)
On February 7, 2003, Governor Gray Davis issued Executive Order No. D-67-03 creating the State Office of Homeland Security.
In September 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation creating the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA), which strengthens the state's ability to respond to emergencies and natural disasters by merging the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and Office of Homeland Security into a single, streamlined cabinet-level agency.
For information about emergency preparedness:
Consumer Resource & Referral Guide
Directory of State Agencies
Directory of Federal Agencies
Return to DCA Home Page


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Every 92 seconds, someone is sexually assaulted in the United States. In the immediate aftermath of a sexual assault, a victim may choose—or may be asked—to undergo a forensic examination to collect any evidence left behind in the assault. A doctor or nurse will conduct the four- to six-hour examination, and will preserve this evidence in a sexual assault evidence collection kit, commonly referred to as a rape kit. If a survivor chooses to report the rape to the police, the evidence in the rape kit can be one a very powerful tool to bring a perpetrator to justice.
Content Awareness: The following section contains specific details of what occurs during the collection of a rape kit. Some individuals may find this detail helpful, while others may find this causes distressing thoughts or images to surface. Please take care of yourself and make the choice that is best for you.
First, the examiner obtains a thorough medical history from the victim. The victim stands on a large sheet of paper while undressing in order to catch any hair or fiber evidence that may fall from her or his body. The victim's clothing and the sheet are collected for testing of hair, fibers and any additional evidence. During the physical examination, any injuries from the attack are documented and treated, and evidence is collected. The examiner collects biological evidence, such as saliva, blood, semen, urine, skin cells and hair by taking swabs of the victim's skin, genitalia, anus and mouth, scraping under the victim's fingernails and combing through the victim's hair. The victim's body is photographed head to toe to preserve evidence of bruising and injuries. It is important to note that any or all parts of this examination can be declined at any point. When the rape kit exam is complete, the evidence collected is carefully packaged and labeled to prevent contamination.
The contents of the kit vary from state to state, but most kits include the following items:
- Detailed instructions for the examiner
- Forms for documenting the procedure and evidence gathered
- Tubes and containers for blood and urine samples
- Paper bags for collecting clothing and other physical evidence
- Swabs for biological evidence collection
- A large sheet of paper on which the victim undresses to collect hairs and fibers
- Dental floss and wooden sticks for fingernail scrapings
- Glass slides
- Sterile water and saline
- Envelopes, boxes and labels for each of the various stages of the exam
While any doctor or nurse can perform the examination by following the instructions provided in the kit, some hospitals have specially trained personnel on staff called Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFEs) or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) to perform the rape kit examination. Research shows that programs with trained examiners significantly increase evidence collection and investigation in sexual assault cases, which results in significantly higher prosecution rates. Further, SANEs and SAFEs are trained to conduct exams that are sensitive, dignified and reduce trauma.
For professional resources for SAFE/SANEs, click here.


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Latest News
Gracie Gold seeks a medal to match her name
Gracie Gold has juggled for Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show.'' Her growing fan base includes singer Taylor Swift. Although she has yet to win a major international competition, she graced (pun intended) the cover of Sports Illustrated, and appeared in commercials for VISA and United Airlines.
Her blonde hair, fair skin and perfect smile has drawn comparisons to Grace Kelly. And her name is a marketer's dream.
All the 18-year-old figure skater has to do now is win the Olympic medal to match her surname. That won't be easy. The women's short program is Wednesday night, and it is shaping up to be a dramatic competition that surely will get huge TV ratings back home and enrapture the Russian people.
Gold faces a formidable field led by 2010 gold medalist and two-time world champion Yuna Kim of South Korea, and Julia Lipnitskaya, the 15-year-old Russian who cast a spell on her country and this event with her breathtaking performances in the team competition last week. Other top medal contenders include Carolina Kosnter of Italy, Mao Asada and Akiko Suzuki of Japan, and with an outside chance is Ashley Wagner, an engaging two-time U.S. champion who is determined to prove she belongs here.
Asked how she feels about going up against Lipnitskaya, Gold said: "Yulia is a machine and an excellent skater. When it comes down to competition, it's not always about the best skater; it's about who skates the best in that competition. We're just going to try to beat her at her own game and on her own turf and at the end, leave everything out on the ice."
The U.S. women went home empty-handed from the Vancouver Games four years ago, the first time that had happened since 1964. Gold has the best chance of making sure that doesn't happen again.
She is a strong jumper, and has refined her style over the past six months under the tutelage of veteran coach Frank Carroll, whose long list of former students includes Linda Fratianne, Michelle Kwan, Evan Lysacek, Christopher Bowman and Nicole Bobek.
Gold, who grew up in Springfield, Ill., moved to Southern California last summer to train with Carroll.
"It's always great to have an experienced guide on this journey,'' he said. "He's been a rock these past couple of months. He's never thrown off or surprised about anything. He's so calm. He's been a great influence."
After Gold's impressive performance in the team event last week, former U.S. ice dancer Tanith Belbin Tweeted: "I want Frank Carroll to be my life coach, just hold my hands after breakfast and tell me why I can do this.''
The knock on Gold before this season is that her jumps, while strong, were too robotic, and that she needed to have more command of the ice. She showed last week that she has matured as a skater.
Gold was first drawn to the sport at a birthday party when she was in second grade. She and her twin sister, Carly, started taking lessons, and both excelled. Carly still competes at the national level. Gracie's career took off, and she placed sixth in the 2013 world championships
Winning the national title last month worked wonders for her confidence.
"Having a national title under my belt heading into my first Olympic Games is a huge confidence boost,'' Gold said. "I had two great skates in Boston (at the 2014 US Championships), and I hope I can do the same thing here. My mentality is completely different here than it was in Boston. There's nothing to qualify for here. It's about doing your best and enjoying the Olympic experience."
She has been trying to soak it all in.
"It was incredible to skate over the Olympic rings,'' she said. "I actually start my (free skating) program right in the center of the red ring. When I took my position (in the team competition), it felt amazing."
Among the more exciting perks of being America's new skating darling was finding out that her favorite singer, Swift, had Tweeted about her. The singer wrote: "Just googling when I can watch @GraceEGold skate in the Olympics next How adorable and lovely is she?!''
Adorable and lovely won't be enough at the Iceberg Skating Palace. It is likely going to take a spectacular, mistake-free performance to win the gold medal. Can Gold pull it off? Or will Princess Julia (pronounced Yulia here) become the first Russian woman ever to wear the Olympic crown? Or, will both teens falter, opening up the field to the more experienced skaters?
Whatever happens, drama is guaranteed.


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During the week of Dec. 11, students who took the PSAT will receive an email through their LISD email account and may log in to their College Board account or create a free College Board account to view their PSAT Score Report, PSAT questions and Roadmap to Careers.
If a student does not see their scores when he or she logs in, an access code may be required, and it may be obtained through the campus PSAT coordinator. Additionally, hard copy PSAT Score Reports will be provided through most English and math classes throughout the month of January.
The most beneficial feedback a student will receive is by linking his or her College Board account with Khan Academy. Students should link their College Board account with Khan Academy to receive their personalized learning plan for skill building.
For High School Students:
After reviewing PSAT results, juniors should sign up for an SAT and/or an ACT in the spring. LISD is offering a School Day ACT on Feb. 27 and a School Day SAT on March 7, in addition to the Saturday offerings of the SAT and the ACT.
School Day SAT and ACT registration is located on high school campus homepages, and the deadline for registration closes Jan. 8, 2018.
Engage, inspire, achieve for lifelong success.


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Born Michael Jones in Brooklyn, NY, in 1959, Kashif was orphaned at an early age, growing up in eight foster homes. His first experience with synthesized instruments came during his years with B.T. Express ("Express," "Do It 'Til You're Satisfied"). He appears on the group's early-'80s sides for Columbia Records (check out "Ride on It " from 1978's Shout! LP, among others). Kashif began playing synthesizer bass using the miniMoog while on the road with the group.
After leaving the group, Kashif began making demos with the group Stepping Stone. The demos led to his recording contract with Arista Records in 1983. Because of his burgeoning mastery with synthesizers, Kashif was invited to tour with hitmaker Stephanie Mills at a time when contemporary R&B acts were just beginning to use electronic instruments for live work.
Inspired by Gamble & Huff and Thom Bell's Mighty Three Music, he formed Mighty M Productions with Paul Laurence and Morrie Brown, infusing early-'80s R&B with a fresh synth-based sound. One of their first projects was Evelyn Champagne King who had a 1979 gold single, "Shame." Prompting her to sing in her higher register than in her previous records, the Mighty M was were attempting to give the singer a more youthful sound. At the same time, RCA Records suggested that she same drop the "Champagne" from her name, thus becoming Evelyn King. The result of their collaboration was "I'm in Love," whose style and bass sound was different from anything being done at the time. It went to number one R&B in summer 1981. The I'm in Love album, which also included the hit "Don't Hide Our Love," peaked at number six R&B. RCA asked Kashif, Brown, and Laurence to produce her follow-up album. Influenced by songwriter/producer Leon F. Sylvers III, Kashif came up with the sprightly "Love Come Down" on which he played all of the instruments except guitar, which was played by Ira Siegel. The single went all the way to number one R&B and didn't come down for five weeks. It was included on her gold Get Loose LP, which parked at number one R&B for two weeks and yielded the number two R&B smash "Betcha She Don't Love You."
Around this time, Kashif had begun working with the New England Digital Synclavier. Kashif invented uses for sampling, for example, replacing drum sounds, lead and background vocal placements, and even dialog editing. Howard Johnson's "So Fine" was the first record on which he used the technique of "flying in" vocals — some vocal passages could be duplicated by the Synclavier. This created a whole new approach to production with vocalists that continues to be used extensively.
Signing with Arista Records in 1983, his self-tilted debut Kashif spawned the hits "I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On)," "Stone Love," "Help Yourself to My Love," and "Say Something Love." His other albums are Send Me Your Love, "Baby Don't Break Your Baby's Heart," "Are You the Woman," Condition of the Heart, Love Changes and 1989's Kashif, with the charming cover of the Four Tops hit "Aint No Woman Like the One I Got." Becoming an in-demand writer/producer, Kashif can be heard on releases by Kenny G ("Keeping Love New"), George Benson, Johnny Kemp, Dionne Warwick, Giorge Pettus, Stacy Lattisaw, Expose, the Wootens, Freda Payne, and others. His Grammy nominations are for the instrumentals "The Mood," "Call Me Tonight," "Edgartown Groove" featuring Al Jarreau, and "The Movie Song."
During 1994, Kashif received an invitation from the famed U.C.L.A. Extension program and created a course called Contemporary Record Production With Kashif. In August 1995, Kashif authored the music industry tome Everything You'd Better Know About the Record Industry as CEO of his Los Angeles-based Brooklyn Boy Books, Entertainment, and Information. In 1998, Kashif signed with U.K. label Expansion Records and his album Who Loves You was released that same year.
E-mail the SaveOurSoul crew
® SaveOurSoul is a registered trademark
Website by Defvibes.nl.


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WASHINGTON, June 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. unemployment rate crept up to 7.6 percent in May from 7.5 percent the previous month, the Department of Labor said Friday.
Total non-farm employment rose by 175,000 jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said, reporting that both the number of unemployed people, at 11.8 million, and the unemployment rate were essentially unchanged in May from April.
The jobs report "provides further confirmation that the U.S. economy is continuing to recover from the worst downturn since the Great Depression," Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Alan Krueger said
"It is critical that we remain focused on pursuing policies to speed job creation and expand the middle class as we continue to dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession that began in December 2007," Krueger said in a blog.
As the recovery gains traction, he said, "now is not the time for Washington to impose self-inflicted wounds on the economy."
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates showed little or no change for adult men, 7.2 percent; adult women, 6.5 percent; teens, 24.5 percent; whites, 6.7 percent; blacks, 13.5 percent; and Hispanics, 9.1 percent.
The BLS said the number of long-term unemployed -- those jobless for 27 weeks or more -- was unchanged at 4.4 million and accounted for 37.3 percent of the unemployed.
In May, the number of people employed part time for economic reasons was unchanged at 7.9 million, the Labor Department said.
About 2.2 million people were marginally attached to the labor force, down from 2.4 million a year earlier. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the four weeks before the survey, the BLS said.


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Nantahala/Guided Raft 12:00pm
Trip Details12:00pm Trip
Difficulty: Class 2
Minimum Age: 7 yrs
- Make Reservation Now!
- View Available Dates!
The Nantahala River alternates between calm spells of sparkling flatwater to over 20 named rapids. This feisty river is a particular favorite of families with younger children. Our rafting trips run the full length of the river which will take you through eight miles of this area's most scenic terrain. You will meet an array of lively rapids such as Root Canal, the Isle of Dumping and Tumble Dry.
Almost anyone can participate in the fun of paddling and maneuvering their own raft down the Nantahala. Children are required to be at least 7 years of age or weigh at least 60 pounds in order to raft this river. The daring can also notch up the level of adventure by going down the river in a one or two person "funyak" instead of a large raft.
You can choose from several rafting options on this river:
Raft with Guide which guarantees a guide in your raft; allows you to relax and let a pro be in charge
Guide Assisted (or Follow A Guide) lets you captain your own raft but enjoy the extra confidence of having one of our guides nearby in case you encounter any kind of difficulty.
Non-guided Raft/Rental allows experienced rafters to handle their own rafts with no assistance from us.
The Nantahala River runs 7 days a week during the rafting season. Your trip will take about three and a half hours for the entire process with about 2 hours on the river.
At the rafting center
Rafters should check in at our rafting center 30 minutes prior to your reserved trip time. Remember, we are in the Eastern Time Zone. You should bring your reservation confirmation that you will receive by email with you to check-in along with your signed waiver of liability (form is on our website). If you are a group leader it is not necessary for all members of your group to come in for check-in.
You should lock all personal belongings (towels, dry clothes) up in your car and leave the keys in our office before time for your trip.
The U. S. Forest Service requires us to instruct you not to take anything on the river with you ,i.e. bottled drinks, snacks because they do not want it to end up in the rive which creates litter that they will have to clean up.
Safety orientation
At trip time, our trip leader will gather the entire rafting group together and each rafter will be fitted with the appropriate gear for the trip, i.e. personal flotation devices(called PFD's which you know as life jackets) and paddles. Once everyone has their equipment, the trip leader will give the group a pre-trip safety orientation which will involve tips on how to properly sit in the raft, how to hold your paddle and safety tips.
On the bus
When the safety orientation is finished, everyone will board the Thunder buses for a 20 minute ride to the river put-in where we launch the rafts. Bus ride times will vary depending upon traffic in the Gorge. You may take bottled drinks or snacks to consume on the bus ride. You may not be riding on the same bus back from the river that you went up in so don't plan on leaving any belongings on the bus.
On the river
At the put-in, rafts are unloaded and rafters can help carry their rafts down a short ramp to the river. Rafters who booked a non-guided tripwill be launched first and head down the river. If you have booked a guided trip, your guide will introduce him/herself and give you additional instructions on paddling, what kind of commands you will hear, etc. If you have booked a guide-assisted trip you will be guiding your own raft but will be following one of our guides who has been assigned to keep an eye on you and to assist you if you encounter any kind of difficulty.
Shortly after you get your raft in the river, you will run Patton's Run, a class II rapid, which will be the first splash of your 8 mile river trip. About 2 hours later you will be approaching Nantahala Falls, the only class III rapid on the river and the big splashy ending to your rafting trip. Our photographer will take your picture as you surge through Nantahala Falls.
You will come out of the river at the take-out and rafts are loaded back on the buses.
Back at the rafting center
You will have about a 5-10 minute ride back to the rafting center where your keys are waiting for you at the front desk. Enjoy a hot shower and change into your dry clothes. Cold bottled drinks and snacks are available at our center. Check out our colorful array of fun tee shirts and view your photos on a large flat screen television. There's usually a lot of laughter and general hilarity as photos are viewed. You can order a CD of your pictures and we will get it ready for you while you wait. If you don't wish to wait, identify your photos and pay for them and we will mail them to you the next business day. Our photos are not available online so be sure to look at them before
Note: During the summer months, Saturdays can be extremely busy and trips can take longer because the river is crowded.
Nantahala River Rafting Center Directions
NANTAHALA RAFTING CENTER10160 Highway 19 West
Bryson City, NC 28713
Many people have the idea that a rafting trip involves a long, tiring bus ride of several hours to a remote wilderness area. While this is often true for western river trips, it is not the case with our conveniently located rivers. We are located in easy to find, easy to get to locations with an abundance of nearby places to stay and eat while visiting us. Our location is convenient for day trips if you are looking for a quick way to rejuvenate your spirit. Our Nantahala rafting center is about 75 miles from Asheville, 150 miles from Atlanta and 125 miles from Chattanooga.
Rolling Thunder's Nantahala River rafting center is located about 15 minutes southwest of downtown Bryson City, North Carolina.
Caution: GPS devices are not always dependable once you get into the mountains. Cell phones are also undependable once you get into the mountains so don't wait until the last minute to call us for directions. You are more likely to enjoy a stress-free drive to our center and to arrive on time if you are clear about your driving directions before leaving home.
From Knoxville
(Approx. 2 1/2 - 3 Hrs.) Go East on I-40. Turn right onto highway 66 to Sevierville. Follow signs to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg. Continue on 441 South over the Great Smoky Mountains into Cherokee. In Cherokee, follow signs for 441 South. Eventually you will turn onto a 4 lane 441 S. Continue South on 441 and look for signs pointing to Bryson City. Exit onto the four lane 19S/74W. Go West 10 miles past Bryson City. You will see a sign entering into the Nantahala Gorge. Our Rafting Outpost will be on your right 1 1/2 miles into the Nantahala Gorge. Look for our Rolling Thunder River Company billboard.
From Asheville
(Approx. 1 1/2 Hrs.) Head West on I-40 & go to exit 27. You are now on highway 19/74 West, approximately 50 miles from outpost. Follow signs through Waynesville, Sylva, and Cherokee. Continue on 19/74. 10 miles past the last exit for Bryson City, the 4 lane highway turns into 2 lanes. Stay in the left lane. You will see a sign entering into the Nantahala Gorge. Our Rafting Outpost will be on your right 1 1/2 miles into the Nantahala Gorge. Look for our Rolling Thunder River Company billboard.
From Atlanta
(Approx. 2 1/2 Hrs.) Head North on I-575, go 75 miles to Blue Ridge, GA. Turn left on highway 60 [There will be a Country Cupboard Citgo station on your Left] Go 1 mile to Spur 60. Turn right onto Spur 60 at the church. Drive 13 miles until the road ends. Take a right on 64/74 and head East [This is a 4 lane]. You're approximately 45 miles from the outpost. You will pass through Murphy and Andrews. In Murphy, the 4 lane changes names from 64/74 to 19/74. After Andrews 4 lanes go to 2. You will enter the Nantahala Gorge. You will travel along the river until it is out of sight. Keep going; Rolling Thunder will be 2 miles farther on your left.
From Chattanooga
(Approx. 2 1/2 Hrs.) Go North on I-75 to exit 20 highway 74. Follow Ocoee River signs. Stay East on 64/74 to NC/TN line. Continue East through Murphy & Andrews. In Murphy the road will change names to 19/74. This will be approximately 40 miles from our outpost. You will pass through Murphy & Andrews. In Murphy, the 4 lane changes names from 64/74 E to 19/74 E . After Andrews 4 lanes go to 2. You will enter the Nantahala Gorge. You will travel along the river until it is out of sight. Keep going; Rolling Thunder will be 2 miles farther on your left
What happens if it rains?
We go rafting rain or shine. You are going to get wet anyway. We guarantee it. In the event of a storm, we will usually delay the trip until it passes. In the mountains, storms can spring up suddenly and be gone just as quickly.
How long is the rafting trip?
You will be with us about three and a half hours for the entire process which includes a pre-trip safety orientation. Your actual time on the river will be approximately two hours. We run the full eight miles of the river. If you see a company advertising a much cheaper rate it is probably because they are only running half the river – not the full trip.
Do you have to have enough people to fill up a raft?
No, we have different size rafts which can accommodate from one to 7 people (sometimes 8 if some of the people are small children).
How deep is the water?
It varies. The river is not like a swimming pool. It can vary quite a bit from place to place.
Should we tip our guide?
Rolling Thunder's exceptional level of service is not based on the expectation of a tip for guides. However, it has become a common practice to tip your guide. If you want to express your appreciation for their enthusiastic efforts it will be genuinely appreciated.
Can we take a cooler on the river?
Sorry but the only thing going on the raft is you. The U. S. Forest Service asks that we do not allow you to take even a bottle of water because they do not want the bottles to end up IN the river.
Will there be enough water in the river for rafting?
Since we run dam-controlled rivers only we are not dependent upon recent rainfall for rafting. This also gives us a consistent, predictable flow of water.
Protective Footwear
For your safety, all rafters must wear securely fitted shoes.
Tennis shoes, water shoes or sandals with heel straps are fine. Flip flops or bare feet are not acceptable. The Nantahala rafting center rents "neoprene" boots which help keep your feet warm.
In warmer weather wear quick drying shorts and a tee shirt. You don't want to wear heavy clothes such as sweat pants or blue jeans. Quick-drying materials such as nylon are a good choice.
If the weather is chilly, try to wear polypropylene or synthetic fleece fabrics. Cotton is not a good choice during cooler weather.
The Nantahala Rafting Center rents wetsuits and neoprene "booties" which are good for chilly weather trips or for small children who generally get colder than adults. We strongly recommend a wetsuit rental for people going in the "funyaks"(they will be sitting in water for the duration of the trip).
In the event of rain, we will provide rain jackets free of charge.
If you feel you must wear glasses of some kind, at least secure them with a string or head strap. We sell head straps at our rafting centers as well as inexpensive sunglasses.
What to bring
Bring a towel. You will get wet!
Dry clothes and shoes.
Plastic bag for your wet clothes.
What NOT To Bring On The River
Valuable jewelry
Cell phones, wallets or expensive cameras
Car keys (trust us one this one!)
We sell waterproof one-time use cameras at our center which is your safest option if you want a camera with you on the river.
Our Nantahala rafting center is located in Bryson City, an area of western North Carolina which offers all types of accommodations. You will find a wide array of cabins, motels, bed and breakfast inns and hotels near our center.
Our Nantahala rafting center has a campground for those who are looking for a great outdoor experience. Our campsites at the Nantahala have pea gravel tent sites, picnic tables and fire pits. They are conveniently located near the bathhouse which has hot showers. The camp sites are located around the perimeter of the campground so that your tent will remain shaded during the day. We are a family oriented facility so we do not allow alcoholic beverages in our campground.
Rolling Thunder also has a large bunkhouse for groups who want to extend their stay in the mountains overnight. The bunkhouses can sleep up to 72 people and has a full kitchen.
Those who want more traditional lodging can check out the following links to accommodations in the Nantahala area.


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Particulate matter, or PM, refers to fine particles in the air that are detrimental to your health. The Air District bans wood burning during Winter Spare the Air Alerts when PM pollution is expected to be unhealthy in the Bay Area.
Particulate Matter, also known as soot or PM, consists of microscopically small solid particles or liquid droplets that can either be emitted directly into the air, or formed from secondary reactions involving gaseous pollutants that combine in the atmosphere.
On cold, stagnant winter evenings, surface-based radiation inversions form quickly in the Bay Area and PM levels rise rapidly.
When PM concentrations are forecast to be unhealthy, the Air District issues a Winter Spare the Air Alert. When a Winter Spare the Air Alert is in effect, it is illegal for Bay Area residents to burn wood, pellets, or other solid fuels in woodstoves, fireplaces, or other wood-burning devices.
In the wintertime, wood smoke from the 1.4 million woodstoves and fireplaces in the Bay Area contributes about one-third of the overall PM pollution. Cars and other motor vehicles also contribute significant amounts.
PM is usually measured in two size ranges: PM10 and PM2.5.
PM10 refers to particles with diameters that are less than or equal to 10 microns in size (a micron, or micrometer, is one-millionth of a meter), or about 1/7 the diameter of a human hair.
PM2.5, also called "fine particulates," consists of particles with diameters that are less than or equal to 2.5 microns in size. PM2.5 is a more serious health concern than PM10, since smaller particles can travel more deeply into our lungs and cause more harmful effects.
Diesel particulate matter is listed as a toxic air contaminant by the state of California.
Diesel PM is released to the environment in exhaust from diesel engines, such as trucks, trains, buses, boats, generators, agricultural pumps, and other sources.
The Air District is concerned about the impacts of diesel exhaust in local Bay Area communities, and has implemented a number of programs to address this problem, including the Community Air Risk Evaluation (CARE) program.
During northern California's wildfire season, the Air District monitors general air quality in the Bay Area and will issue a health advisory if wildfire smoke appears to be causing elevated levels of particulate pollution in the region.
Residents should take precautions if they are experiencing localized effects of wildfire smoke. For information, see our wildfire safety tips and CDC's wildfire resources page.
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Hassan Sheikh Mohamud: Somalia's new president profiled
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's dogged determination not to give up on Somalia despite years of conflict, warlordism, piracy and Islamist insurgency has finally paid off.
The peace activist and educational campaigner remained in Somalia throughout the 21-year civil war unlike many other Somali intellectuals.
He defeated former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in a run-off with a convincing majority of Somali MPs.
Both men hail from the Hawiye clan - one of the country's main groups based in the capital, Mogadishu. But, unlike his predecessor, clan - which influences all walks of life in Somalia - was not the driving force behind Mr Mohamud's victory.
Analysts say it is the fact that the academic had not dirtied himself with politics or clan conflicts that set him out from the rest.
Instead, he has won respect for his work in civil society and education, being one of the founders of Mogadishu's Simad university, where he was a lecturer and served as its first dean for 10 years until he resigned to enter politics.
One of his former students who graduated in 2004 told the BBC he was an easy-going tutor, not quick to anger and an impressive orator.
"He could entertain us for two hours during lectures on management, making jokes and people laugh," he told the BBC Somali service.
Born in central Hiran province in 1955, he grew up in a middle-class neighbourhood of Mogadishu and graduated from the Somali National University with a technical engineering degree in 1981.
His contemporaries say he was quiet and unassuming and went on to become a teacher before doing a post-graduate degree in Bhopal University, India.
On his return, he joined the Ministry of Education to oversee a teach-training scheme funded by Unesco.
Clan disputes
When the central government collapsed in 1991, he joined Unicef as an education officer, travelling around south and central Somalia, which he said enabled him to see "the magnitude of the collapse in education sector".
Three years later, he established one of the first primary schools in Mogadishu since the war broke out.
He also has links with al-Islah, the Somali branch of the Muslim brotherhood which was vital in rebuilding the education system in the wake of the clan conflicts.
It set up many schools with Muslim curriculums similar to those in Sudan and Egypt but is strongly opposed to al-Shabab.
Described as a moderate Islamist, Mr Mohamud is also said to have been close to the Union of Islamist Courts (UIC).
His followers say he simply supported any activity aiming to restore peace and stability.
The UIC was a grouping of local Islamic courts, initially set up by businessmen to establish some form of order in the lawless state, which brought relative peace to the country in 2006, before Ethiopia invaded and overthrew them - frightened by the al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab militia that was gaining power in the courts.
During the 1990s, Mr Mohamud became very involved in civil society groups and people close to him say he is known for resolving clan disputes.
His first real success on this score was his participation in negotiations in 1997 that oversaw the removal of the infamous "Green Line" which divided Mogadishu into two sections controlled by rival clan warlords.
Described by some in the early 1990s as the "cancer of Mogadishu", the division made life difficult for city residents and politicians alike.
In 2001, he joined the Centre for Research and Dialogue as a researcher in post-conflict reconstruction - a body sometimes criticised as being too closely affiliated to the West - and has worked as a consultant to various UN bodies and the transitional government.
As a regular participant on the influential weekly BBC Somali service debating programme, he underlined the importance of including civil society groups in the "roadmap to peace" which eventually led to his election.
Married to two wives and with several children, some of whom live in Somalia and others abroad, his motivation seems to come from wanting to build a future for the younger generation.
Last year, he set up the Peace and Development Party (PDP), which he made clear was above clan politics.
The BBC's Daud Aweis in Mogadishu says Mr Mohamud is a man who likes to consult others.
"In the various Somali conferences I met him, he showed the attitude of being able and willing to talk to everyone," he said.


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Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert insists in-form striker Christian Benteke is part of his long-term plans and not for sale.
The Belgium international is proving a bargain buy at £8 million with his performances since his summer move from Genk.
Villa have offloaded key players such as Gareth Barry, James Milner, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing in recent seasons.
There has been speculation that Benteke could become a target for one of the leading Barclays Premier League clubs during the January transfer window.
But Lambert said: "There's no point in us even being here if it's a case of bringing people in and then letting them go.
"What's the point in that? We're trying to build something here which can take a few years and you need good players with you to achieve that.
"There's no point in them coming for half a season or a year and then we let them go. That's not the right way."
Lambert will look to strengthen his squad next month.
When asked if he will look to sign a couple of players in January, Lambert said: "That's the plan, to look at that. I will talk and see what we have.
"I don't think you stand still. I think you've got to look to improve."


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OK, here we go! I've chosen the name The Creative Revolutionaries. Here is the Flickr group: up and ready for your input! So let's get this thing rolling! {excitement}
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Creative Revolution has begun
6 comments:
- Xylia said...
I'm going to join right now! How exciting!I'm Bad Bad Magpie on Flickr.
- September 20, 2010 at 10:54 AM
- Susan said...
just joined and plan to post the first layer of a journal page. I've been recovering from surgery, and it's going to be about all the books I've been reading.
- September 20, 2010 at 11:00 AM
- Teddi said...
O diana! didn't that just sound like anne of green gables?
- September 20, 2010 at 11:55 AM
- iHanna said...
I sign up to be a creative revolutionary. What is my mission? I'm already planning to cover a journal page with fabric and I've signed up at flickr for the group! Yay, you rock!
- September 20, 2010 at 1:32 PM
- Megan Greenholt said...
I'm all about process!!!!!
- September 20, 2010 at 3:14 PM
- ~Barb~ said...
What an awesome idea! I am so in!
Peace & Love,
- September 27, 2010 at 11:06 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Exceptional properties require exceptional marketing and exposure. Sellers of exceptional properties trust Coldwell Banker Previews more than any other name.
This Previews network of international connections is unparalleled, largely due to our one-of-kind client, one-of-a-kind home philosophy. Our repeat referrals and reputation for excellence has built our finely tuned network of international contacts that connect with the small, discriminating circle of potential buyers qualified to purchase your exceptional property. Through our global network, Coldwell Banker Previews Property Specialists can collaborate with high-end brokers at thousands of real estate offices around the world.
We ensure that all Previews clients receive the full personal services of a discerning Previews Property Specialist. This level of expertise also gives you assurance in another critical area: pricing credibility. Because a property like yours is beyond compare, only an organization with extensive experience in distinctive real estate is equipped to help you determine its marketing value accurately. In this area, Previews is unequaled. Your Previews Property Specialist will integrate sophisticated marketing tools in a customized plan designed to most effectively showcase your property.
Properties of distinction command outstanding service. Coldwell Banker has spent nearly a century delivering it. A hallmark of the Coldwell Banker Previews International program is the meticulous and thorough attention we give to the marketing details. Taking account of each facet of a property, we create a marketing campaign that dignifies every unique aspect. Like the homes we represent, we are without equal


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This course traces the resurgence and subsequent retrenchment of UN peacekeeping and peace enforcement during the years following the Cold War, discussing both the successes and the failures. It covers the operations in the Persian Gulf, Yugoslavia, Somalia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Angola, Cambodia, and Central America. Eleven lessons.
COURSE AUTHOR: Professor Sunil Ram, Canadian Forces Ret; based in part on the original course by the late Mr. F.T. Liu, former UN Assistant-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs.
Number of pages: 325 [English]
Publisher: Peace Operations Training Institute [06-25-09]


text:
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Bicycle Film Fest Art Show
After some Chinese food a grip of us rolled over to the Bicycle Film Fest art show in mid-city. There were lots of people there and I was surprised at how interesting and diverse the art was. Not enough LA bike riding artists for a such-themed show, but entertaining nonetheless. Two pretty amazing things happened. One is that somebody put a sticker up all graffiti style on an advertisement for that Obey clothing company. Pretty funny.
The other, more amazing thing, was the huge stencil print Alec made of LA bike riding legend Tomatoes. We got it up in the front and no one seemed to of noticed. It was a huge stencil of a picture that was taken of him awhile ago. Great job Alec. It's unknown whatever happened to the print or if Tomatoes ever saw it. Does anyone have a picture?


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Most Kickstarter Projects Fail to Deliver on Time
If you contribute to a Kickstarter project, don't expect to see the finished product in a timely manner.
Of the top 50 most-funded Kickstarter projects, a whopping 84 percent missed their target delivery dates, according to an analysis conducted by CNNMoney.
When CNN contacted the creators of the 50 highest-funded campaigns, all of which boasted estimated deliver dates of Nov. 2012 or earlier, the site found that only eight of them hit their deadline. Sixteen hadn't even shipped yet, while the remaining 26 projects left the warehouse months late.
The most delayed project, according to CNNMoney's data set, was ZPM Espresso's home espresso machine, which is nine months overdue, and now has an expected ship date of mid-2013.
Though Kickstarter proudly focuses on artistic clients, most of the site's top-funded projects fall into the tech, design, and video game categories often the most time-consuming ventures. CNNMoney noted, however, that many of these projects did not expect to earn as much money as they did, ultimately requiring them to produce more products and push back ship dates.
"In the first 24 hours, everyone is happy and slapping your hand," Brendan Iribe, CEO of virtual reality headset design company Oculus Rift, told CNNMoney. "And 48 hours later, the reality sets in. There's a bit of fear: We're going to have to make all of these."
Originally intending to launch its product last month, Oculus Rift is now aiming for a March 2013 shipping date.
Still, some tech projects made it out on time, including MaKey MaKey, a circuit keyboard that turns any electrically conductive object, including a banana, into a link to a PC. Having raised more than $568,100, MaKey MaKey met its August estimated delivery time.
Additionally, CloudFTP, a plug-in adapter that connects to any USB storage device and wirelessly transmits content to other mobile devices, shipped on time in February, raising more than $262,350. The last of the tech-related projects that made its Oct. 2012 shipment deadline was CineSkates, a $486,518 project that built portable tripods with wheels.
Most of the worst offenders, as calculated by CNNMoney, are video games, software, or mobile accessories that range in estimated delivery dates of March to Nov. 2012. Check out the full chart online.
Kickstarter made headlines earlier this year when it said that it leaves money issues to the backers and the project creators, even if the project fails. The controversy, however, prompted Kickstarter to tighten its rules and ban product renderings or simulations. Kickstarter projects can now only show images of how the product looks right now, not how it might appear once funding has been secured.
One big Kickstarter project getting ready to ship is the Android-based Ouya console. The company said that a dev version of the console will start shipping on Dec. 28, and it recently started allowing users to sign up for their official Ouya usernames. For more, see PCMag's interview with Ouya founder Julie Uhrman.
Also check out PCMag's Q&A with Kickstarter co-founder Yancey Strickler. Also, check out the slideshow above of Cool Kickstarter Projects.
For more from Stephanie, follow her on Twitter @smlotPCMag.


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On Middlebury Quidditch, Harry Potter, and a new movie
When I woke up on Wednesday morning to a text message from my little brother reading simply, "Harry Potter is pretty legit," I knew it wouldn't be long before I caved and saw the latest installment in the movie series. My brother, Will, and I grew up fighting over each newest release in the "Harry Potter" series. Frugal to a fault, we'd purchase just one of the brick-like copies of each new book on the day of its release, only then to squabble incessantly about who had the honor of reading the book first. Inevitably that fell to me — being the speedier reader and more selfish sibling of the two — and then I was left to anxiously check in on Will's progress. "Where are you? Have you read about _____ yet?" When author J.K. Rowling finally wrapped up her seven-book triumph, I was more than a little sad. I'd been reading "Harry Potter" since I was 12, when I discovered the series shortly before the U.S. release of the third book in the series. My brother was much smaller then, just 7, and he cried when my mom read him the first book in the series out loud. "Why do the Dursleys have to be so mean to Harry?" Will whimpered, after my mother read the opening scenes of the novel, in which the evil Dursleys lock their poor nephew into a "bedroom" beneath the stairs. Like most other teenagers in our generation, Will and I never outgrew "Harry Potter." In fact, for Will, the release of the books typically coincided with his own march through adolescence. By the summer of 2007, when we read the last installment in the series, Harry Potter was 18 — and Will was on the cusp of his 17th birthday. As for me, I was eyeing my college graduation in a year's time. Just as Harry and Hermione and Ron and my much-loved Neville were saying goodbye to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I too was getting ready to leave school once and for all.Being devoted Harry Potter fans, Will and I have dutifully marched out to the theaters to screen each film. After the hiccups of the first two films, I've been pleasantly surprised by the movies. Don't get me wrong; they don't hold a candle to being 14 and curling up under my covers with a flashlight and the latest book in the series. But they're entertaining.The twist in all of this is that I attended Middlebury College, where, arguably, the only larger Harry Potter fans in my generation also went to school. As a sophomore, I heard rumors of the "Quidditch kids," freshmen from my old dorm who took to the muddy fields in the fall to run around on brooms. They were dead set on recreating the famous Harry Potter game of broomsticks and flying Snitches and "bludgers" — albeit with brooms snitched from the janitors' closets, and kick balls, and cloaks fashioned from bedsheets.It wasn't my scene.But the Quidditch kids stuck around, and by the end of my senior year, they'd amassed an army of followers. They started a "Quidditch World Cup," and Quidditch teams from other colleges descended on our campus for the other event. The "Quidditch commissioner" took his demonstration team on a tour of New England to drum up support for the Intercollegiate Quidditch League. And now, the latest surprise: our Middlebury College Quidditch team has made a guest appearance on an MTV promotion for the film. Check out the video:Movie Trailers - Movies BlogNow, I for one was never in on the run-around-with-a-broom-between-my-legs fun; then again, I wasn't much of a college athlete of any sort, Muggle or magic. But between this, and that midnight-screening-text from my little brother, and a rave review from one of the Addison Independent interns, I can't help myself: I'll be seeing the movie this weekend, if I can.


text: These official Apple playing cards are currently being sold on eBay for almost $500. They're based off OS 7 (they use the icons and such) and are extremely rare but, for the love of god people, they're a freaking deck of cards! And they're not even pretty to look at. [eBay via The Next Web]


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How Carnosine Protects Against Age-Related DiseaseJanuary 2006
By Edward R. Rosick, DO, MPH, MS
Proteins are the building blocks of life. Comprising amino acid chains, proteins serve both structural and functional roles within the human body. Structural proteins such as collagen give support to bones, tendons, and skin, while functional proteins known as enzymes catalyze life-sustaining biochemical reactions throughout the body.
As we age, however, these critical proteins are endangered by the damaging process known as glycation. Defined as a non-enzymatic reaction between proteins and sugars, glycation irreversibly alters the configuration of proteins. These altered proteins, known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs), can no longer effectively fulfill their critical roles throughout the body. AGEs have been implicated in many of the diseases associated with aging, including Alzheimer's, cancer, and heart disease.
Fortunately, a powerful nutrient called carnosine helps defend the body's proteins against the crippling effects of glycation. By preventing the formation of dangerous AGEs, carnosine may help the body's proteins retain their youthful vigor and function. Moreover, studies demonstrate that carnosine is also a powerful antioxidant. Carnosine's age-defying effects make this critical nutrient an essential cornerstone of every anti-aging program.
AGEs, Aging, and Free Radicals
Many people, especially those well versed in anti-aging medicine, are knowledgeable about free radicals. Far fewer are familiar with advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, molecules that may be just as important as free radicals in initiating the pathological processes associated with aging. AGEs are substances formed in the human body by the biochemical interaction between carbohydrates and proteins in a process known as the Maillard reaction.
Interestingly enough, the Maillard reaction was first noted during the heating of foods in the presence of sugars; it is what gives cooked foods their unique texture, taste, and smell. One author of a study of AGEs made the following analogy: "the human body might be viewed as an extraordinary complex mixture of chemicals reacting in a low temperature (37° C) oven with a 76-year cooking cycle. Under these conditions, non-enzymatic reactions between carbohydrates and proteins, known collectively as Maillard or browning reactions, produce a wide range of age-related chemical modifications and cross-links in tissue proteins."1 This cross-linking of proteins with carbohydrates can have wide-reaching effects, as AGEs are known to have deleterious effects on the structural and functional properties of proteins and the tissues in which these proteins reside. When you consider that proteins are present everywhere in the human body, the destructive capability of AGEs becomes quite clear.
While AGEs are destructive in their own right, their interplay with free radicals causes even more havoc in the aging human body. Researchers now postulate that oxidative stress may be involved in AGE formation and that, in a vicious cycle, AGEs may induce even more oxidative stress. In fact, most AGEs that accumulate in proteins are produced under oxidative conditions. As these AGEs and free radicals accumulate in cells and tissues, molecular damage and degradation down to the level of DNA increases, leading to many of the conditions associated with growing old. A growing body of sound scientific evidence theorizes that AGEs and similar molecules such as advanced lipoxidation end products, or ALEs (the products of lipids cross-linking with sugars), are significant contributors to many common pathological processes leading to conditions such as Alzheimer's, cancer, and heart disease.2-7
Implicated in Alzheimer's
If you ask aging adults which disease they fear most, Alzheimer's disease is likely to be at the top of the list, and for good reason: this devastating neurological condition slowly but inexorably destroys people's ability to think while robbing them of their memory. Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia in those aged 65 or older, and current statistics indicate that this debilitating condition affects more than 15 million people worldwide. With America's rapidly aging population—an estimated 30% of the US population will be 65 or older by the year 2050—it is projected that 14 million people in the US alone will be affected by Alzheimer's disease in the next few decades.
While researchers have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease, it has been proposed that AGEs and oxidative damage participate in its genesis.8-11 Some early research showed that two brain tissue hallmarks of Alzheimer's—beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles—both contain significant amounts of AGEs.8 Beta-amyloid plaques are especially insidious in that they not only cause direct destruction of brain neurons, but also increase oxidative stress, which itself can cause neuronal death.
In a recent review article that examined the role of AGEs and oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease, the authors showed that AGEs are present in higher amounts in the biopsied brains of patients who died from Alzheimer's than in the brains of unaffected individuals.11 They also presented experimental evidence that AGE formation in the brains of Alzheimer's patients occurs early in the disease process. The authors concluded, "our findings emphasize the importance of glycoxidation, AGE distribution, and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of AD [Alzheimer's dementia] and further indicate that AGE formation represents an early event in disease development."
AGES and Arterial Plaque
Once the heart starts beating at approximately 16 weeks of age (as a fetus), it continues to beat every second of every day for the rest of a person's life. For someone who lives to be 80, that comes out to be roughly 2.5 billion beats. Unfortunately, conditions that adversely affect this remarkable organ cause more death than any other type of disease. According to the latest figures, more than 60 million Americans suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease, such as coronary artery disease, and 7 million people will suffer a heart attack this year. More than 600,000 Americans will die this year from complications of coronary artery disease, with women accounting for 49% of those deaths.
Many factors contribute to coronary artery disease, including endothelial dysfunction, abnormal lipid profiles, and hypertension. (See also "Why Our Arteries Become Clogged as We Age," Life Extension, October 2005.) Emerging evidence suggests that AGEs are important components in the formation of potentially lethal atherosclerotic plaque, a sticky, hard substance that can significantly impede arterial blood flow.12-15
In a recent report, researchers critically examined the role of oxidation and AGEs in the development of atherosclerosis in both in-vitro (in the laboratory) and in-situ (in its original place) experiments.13 One of the crucial first steps in the development of coronary artery disease is an inflammatory response in the heart vessel walls. The researchers found that "CML [carboxymethyllysine, a type of AGE] is formed concomitantly with oxidative stress . . . and can be regarded as a biomarker for a low-grade inflammatory tissue reaction in the atherosclerotic plaque. Its formation via lipid oxidation may be involved in the development of atherosclerosis."
Possible Role in Cancer
In the last 35 years, the US government has spent almost $50 billion fighting the so-called "war on cancer." Its efforts, however, have failed to defeat this modern-day scourge. Approximately 1.3 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and nearly 600,000 will die of various forms of the disease. One in every two American men and one in three women will eventually develop cancer. Despite billions of dollars spent on research and new cancer-fighting drugs that can cost patients thousands of dollars per week, the epidemic of cancer continues unabated.
Many wonder why the government, with its almost unlimited resources, has been unable to find a cure. One answer is that cancer, much like Alzheimer's disease, is a multifactorial illness. Unlike an infectious disease such as polio or smallpox, cancer is thought to be caused by various biochemical aberrations. Growing evidence suggests that damage caused by both free radicals and AGEs is part of the biochemical milieu that contributes to cancer.16-20
In the late 1990s, scientists used human pancreatic cells in culture to examine the role of AGEs in the initiation and development of pancreatic cancer.19 Their findings suggest that AGEs may "play an active part in the progression of pancreatic cancer." A more recent article in 2004 looked at the possible involvement of AGEs in the development and progression of melanoma.18 The incidence of this deadly disease, the most highly invasive and metastatic of all skin cancers, is rapidly growing. Using human cells, researchers found evidence that AGEs might be involved not only in the growth of melanoma, but also in its spread to other locations, or metastasis.18
Carnosine's Protective Effects
Inhibiting the formation of AGEs and associated molecules is thus an essential part of any anti-aging protocol. According to a paper on how AGEs affect aging, "Inhibition of AGE/ALE formation is a reasonable target for life-span extension for several reasons. First, if damage to protein reflects damage to DNA, then inhibition of AGE/ALE formation . . . should limit damage and mutation in DNA, leading to an increase in maximum life span. Second, accumulation of AGE/ALEs in proteins is associated with a number of age-related, chronic diseases . . . inhibition of AGE/ALE formation might delay the progression pathology in these diseases, thereby improving the quality of life in old age . . . A third consideration is that inhibition of AGE/ALE formation might also limit secondary oxidative damage to biomolecules."1
While several promising experimental drugs are being used to combat AGEs, none of these is available to the general public. Fortunately, aging adults have ready access to a unique nutrient—carnosine—that protects against the ravages of oxidative damage while inhibiting the formation of AGEs.
Carnosine is a safe, well-tolerated compound comprising the amino acids beta-alanine and L-histidine. Naturally present in high concentrations in human brain and skeletal muscle tissue, carnosine has been shown in multiple studies to inhibit lipid peroxidation and free radical-induced cellular damage. Additional evidence suggests that carnosine may help protect the brain against oxygen deprivation,21 delay the impairment of eyesight with aging,22 and extend the life span of mammals.23 In addition, scientists have now shown that carnosine can effectively inhibit AGE formation and protein cross-linking.10, 24-27 Because it is able to both stop the oxidative damage of free radicals and inhibit AGE formation, scientists have postulated that carnosine may have applications in the management of numerous conditions, including arthritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers, high blood pressure, adrenal cortical dysfunction, sleep apnea, chronic inflammation, cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease.


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Right rallies for 'Empty Chair Day'
The right rallied on Labor Day to celebrate "National Empty Chair Day," a show of solidarity with Clint Eastwood after his rambling address to an invisible President Barack Obama at the Republican National Convention last week.
The action picked up steam on Twitter, where the hashtag #emptychairday began trending on Monday morning as users tweeted pictures of empty chairs in various poses.
Story Continued Below
( PHOTOS: Clint Eastwood gets political)
Notable conservatives like Michelle Malkin and writers at Breitbart.com, as well blogger Prof. Glenn Reynolds, kicked off the trend, according to the conservative blog Legal Insurrection.
The blog, which had asked readers to send in photos of empty chairs, updated its post midday to say that the response had been so overwhelming — and the backlog of photos so great — that they were forced to close submissions.
"It's fun. It's funny," Malkin explained to POLITICO. "Clint Eastwood resonated with voters outside the snotty, derisive NY-DC-Hollywood axis. He braved derision and ridicule for standing on the convention stage. Activists on the right wanted to demonstrate … their appreciation. As always, humor is the best medicine."
( PHOTOS: 5 'empty chair' incidents)
As conservatives have pointed out on Twitter, AMC is capitalizing on this national conversation with a Monday marathon of Eastwood's films.
(Scroll down for POLITICO's top #EmptyChairDay tweets.)
Meanwhile, #Eastwooding — which was trending on Twitter last week after the Hollywood icon's speech, and refers to an address to an empty chair — has arrived at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.
( Also on POLITICO: Full 2012 convention coverage)
AFSCME President Lee Saunders, capping off a fiery speech to the Wisconsin delegation Monday morning, held a conversation with an invisible Eastwood.
An empty chair had been brought on stage before Saunders started speaking, but he ignored it for most of his speech.
"I don't know if you noticed, but you see this chair? I don't know if you noticed that he actually walked in with me. He's invisible, he's sitting right here. He's been listening to everything I had to say," Saunders said. "So I want you to welcome Clint Eastwood."
"I've got a couple of questions. I've got a couple of questions I want to ask Clint Eastwood," Saunders continued as dozens of attendees cracked up. "But first, buddy, what do you have to say for yourself? I didn't hear you."
"Clint's been sitting here for the past hour. He doesn't have anything to say for himself. Mitt Romney has nothing to say for himself. Paul Ryan has nothing to say for himself," he said. "We've got to make our voices heard. We've got to speak loud and clear. If we do that, we will win in November."
"Dirty Harry, Dirty Harry, make my day," Saunders yelled, knocking the empty chair off of the stage.
As the applause died down, Mike Tate, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair, took the stage. Pausing for a moment as he took the podium, he grinned and said, "And it's just Monday, we'll be here all week."


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After being a stay-at-home mum for six years, Jacquie McLean decided to make one of her business dreams a reality, creating the Project Ten beach bag range.
Like many would-be entrepreneurs, mother-of-two Jacquie McLean, from Geelong, was always too busy to pursue any of her enthusiastic ideas.
But the 36-year-old finally took the plunge with her 10th idea (giant beach bags that are low-cost, yet stylish) and created the aptly-named Project Ten. She's since sold 1500 of the basic, lightweight totes – not bad for a business that launched late last year!
What led you to believe that there was a market for your bags?
I started working on the idea in January 2012, when I was struggling to carry all the stuff a family needs for a day at the beach. I wanted a giant bag that could hold everything, but not weigh much itself (and be stylish at the same time).
What was the first thing you did to kick-start your business?
The first action I took was to ask a friend (who could sew) to help me make a sample. Then I set about researching the designs I thought would appeal to a broad range of people. I found the supplier (in China) online, through a contact. I didn't really test it; I did a small production run and went about telling everyone I knew. I also launched just before Christmas, which was good timing.
What has been your best marketing tool?
My best marketing tool has been word-of-mouth, closely followed by Facebook. I live in Geelong, which is a small town - that has its advantages when you want to spread the word!
How important has your online presence been in growing your business?
An online presence is paramount in this digital age. I always intended for my business to be online so it allowed me the flexibility to work from home around my family commitments. It also allows me to reach a far wider audience. I have had orders from Singapore and the USA, just through the power of social media.
What's been the hardest part of starting and running a business?
I think the hardest part is keeping the momentum going with the business when your life gets very busy. Previously I've let life stop me from getting very far with my ideas, because I think 'it's not the right time' – but I don't think it's ever the right time. You just have to jump in and give it a go!
What's your best time-management strategy?
It's tempting to process orders as soon as they come in, but some days, it might mean you're working 10 minutes in every hour, rather than concentrating that time into one hour after my kids are in bed (which is a lot more time efficient and less stressful).
What were you doing prior to Project Ten?
I was a stay-at-home mum for six years. Prior to that, I worked as an account manager for a Melbourne advertising agency. I have a Bachelor of Business and I'
ve done a book-keeping course at TAFE.
What are your plans for the future?
I only have four products in my current range. I wanted to gain my confidence first before launching a large range. I've had a lot of feedback from people wanting a smaller version of my bags, so that's what I'm working on at the moment.
Meet other mums in business in the Essential Baby forum.


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It's refreshing that New York City Opera has been leading arts coverage recently. I only wish it were for different reasons. At a press conference on July 12, NYCO's artistic and general director George Steel said, in response to a question from The New York Times's Daniel Wakin, that the company had no plans to dispense with the services of music director George Manahan. Members of the press corps who are inclined toward skepticism may have noted that Steel seemed peculiarly vague about how many months Manahan had to run on his contract.
Only three weeks later, the company announced that the position of music director was being eliminated. I have commented in other sections of OPERA NEWS on Steel's lack of candor in certain areas, and I'd prefer not to return to the subject here. What troubles me is this: what kind of future does NYCO have without a music director in place? One very important thing that music directors do is to block ham-handed artistic decisions from being put into play. If music directors are any good, they examine the artistic health and future of the opera company as a whole entity. (Obviously, guest conductors don't necessarily bring this concern to the table; often, they are focused on maximizing their isolated appearances at the opera houses, their eye very much on their own future.) An opera-house orchestra usually absorbs — for better or worse — the artistic personality of its music director. Without a single person at the helm, an orchestra runs the risk of sounding like a pack of musicians on a freelance gig. If all this isn't a compelling argument for the existence of a music director, what about this one (since money seems to dominate conversation in the opera world these days)? Music directors come armed with their own network of major donors. I know that New York City Opera is dealing with punishing financial realities, and I feel for the company. But for Steel and the board to treat this central position as if it were a mere vestige seems more than foolhardy. It seems maddeningly self-defeating.


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MargaretMarasco on Family Tree Circles
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If Sarah was born to parents James Davis jr and his wife Elizabeth Daughdrill, then we have pieced together an entire generation of family. My husband and his sister want to join two organizations which require proof of ancestor bloodline. He could join Sons of the Revolution and she could join Daughters of the American Revolution. Right now the only generation we have left to proof is that James Davis and his wife Elizabeth Daughdrill Davis who were married in Bertie Co, NC in 1801, had a daughter whom they named Sarah. She is reported to have been born in Dec of 1803 in SC. We also have to show that this Sarah is the same Sarah who married John Anderson and lived in Perry County MS where they raised a family. John died in Perry Co. Sarah died in Marion Co MS. James Davis died during a colera epidemic in Alabama abt 1829. His widow, Elizabeth applied for a pension naming James her spouse. Is my Sarah who married John Anderson the daughter of James and Elizabeth Davis? I think so, but I need documented proof.
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I found some lovely things (on sale, no less) to wear for my ordination, under the alb, of course.
A black and white silk skirt with flashes of lime green.A great lime green jacket that will work when I don't have the alb on.
I got a little white top to wear underneath it for other times, but the black clerical shirt will actually work well with this.
So am I brave enough to wear this on ordination day with these shoes? I'm afraid not, as adorable as they are. I guess my madness is under control.


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Milled with the utmost care, Fragonard professional oils specifically utilize mono-pigments, a single pigment per color, wherever possible. This allows the artist the widest range of color mixing potential, retaining hue purity and intensity.
Color Swatches created using heavy application/medium application/50% tint and were applied on acrylic primed canvas (7 oz) material.
This Hansa Yellow ranges from reddish yellow to greenish yellow with temperature shifts from cool to warm hues. It has good tinting strength and average to slow drying time.
This Hansa Yellow has excellent lightfastness, particularly in the darker shades.
Hansa Yellow has no significant acute hazards, though its chronic hazards have not been well studied.
Hansa Yellows were first made in Germany just before WW1 from a series of synthetic dyestuffs called Pigment Yellow. They were intended to be a synthetic replacement for Cadmium Yellow.
Arylide, Arylide Yellow, Azo, Brilliant Yellow, Monoazo, Monolite Yellow, Permanent Yellow.
titanium dioxide
Titanium White is the most brilliant of the white pigments. It is considered an all purpose oil color useful in all techniques and the best all around white. Its masstone is neither warm nor cool, placing it somewhere between Lead White and Zinc White. It is less prone to cracking and yellowing than Lead White, but it still yellows easily. Titanium White dries slowly in oil form, more slowly than Lead White but more quickly than Zinc White. It is opaque in oil and acrylic forms and semi-opaque in watercolor form. This pigment has good chemical stability, and its tinting strength is superior to both Lead White and Zinc White.
Titanium White has excellent permanence and lightfastness.
Titanium dioxide is highly stable and is regarded as completely non-toxic. Animal studies give no indiciation that it is absorbed biologically, even after long periods of exposure. The primary safety concern is with inhalation of fine pigment dust particles. Titanium White, if inhaled in large amounts over the course of several years, may cause a benign pneumoconiosis that is visible on x-rays. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) considers fine titanium dioxide particles, if inhaled, to be a human carcinogen. The primary concern for artists is to avoid exposure to fine particulate dust from raw pigments.
Titanium is the ninth most abundant element in the Earth's crust, however mineral deposits that are economical to mine are less common. Titanium dioxide was first discovered in 1821, although it could not be mass produced until 1919. Widespread use of the pigment began in the 1940s. Since that time, it has become the most commonly used white pigment. The name comes from the Latin word Titan, the name for the elder brother of Kronos and ancestor of the Titans, and from the Greek word tito, meaning day or sun.
cadmium sulfide and cadmium selenide
CdS × CdSe
Cadmium Orange was the first true orange and was made by mixing Cadmium Yellow with Cadmium Red. It is a pure hue with excellent opacity and low toxicity compared with its predecessors. It also has very high hiding power. The greatest tinting strengths are possessed by the deeper shades. Only the highest grades contain pure Cadmium Orange without barium mixed in it. Cadmium pigments have been partially replaced by azo pigments, which are similar in lightfasness to the cadmium colors, cheaper, and non-toxic.
Cadmium Orange has excellent permanence, but like many cadmium pigments, it will fade in fresco or mural painting. The deeper varieties of this pigment are the most permanent. The paler varieties have been known to fade when exposed to sunlight.
Cadmium Orange is a known human carcinogen. It is extremely toxic if inhaled and slightly toxic if ingested.
Cadmiums get their names from the Latin word cadmia, meaning zinc ore calamine, and the Greek word kadmeia, meaning Cadmean earth, first found near Thebes, the city founded by the Phoenician prince Cadmus. Metallic cadmium was discovered in 1817 by Friedrich Strohmeyer. It was used sparingly after its discovery due to the scarcity of cadmium metal.
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The product range of IKARUS Security Software reaches from easy to handle but efficient security solutions for home users to comprehensive security packages for businesses. Besides, we offer our IKARUS scan.engine as well as our whole product range as OEM-solutions.
IKARUS Security Software protects effective and efficient from viruses, trojans, spyware, SPAM and all kinds of malware that threaten your security and your data. Professional advice and free support included.


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Whether paying for college, financing a car or buying a house, accumulating debt seems like an unavoidable means to an end for most of us in order to get the things we want. But how much do attitudes about finances differ by age? To find out, we asked Generation Z, Millennial, Generation X, Baby Boomer and Silent Generation respondents around the world about their saving strategies and debt decisions. It turns out that no matter the age, most of us need sound financial advice.
In this fifth of a five-part series about the differences between how generations live, eat, play and work, we focus on how consumers save and pay.
One-third of Generation Z (32%) and Millennial (34%) respondents are wise beyond their years when it comes to saving for their financial futures, but about half need some help figuring out what to do with their money, as they're not confident in their savings strategies.
Older consumers could use some help, too. Half of Generation X respondents, and about four-in-10 Baby Boomers (41%) and Silent Generation (38%) respondents are saving some money, but they're not confident in their financial futures.
And just over one-third of Baby Boomers and Silent Generation respondents don't save at all for their futures.
More than half of Generation X (58%) and Baby Boomer (55%) respondents, as well as four-in-10 Millennials and Silent Generation respondents (44%) say they're currently in debt – and many are worried about how they'll pay back the money they owe.
While spending strategies for those with debt varies, nearly half of all respondents across the four generations say debt motivates them to be careful about spending. As we get older, and presumably closer to retirement, we get more serious about eliminating debt. Baby Boomers are the most likely to be careful about spending and take a shorter-term spending strategy, foregoing the things they want and need to keep debt down.
Conversely, Millennial respondents, those with the most time left to navigate financial matters, are more likely to take a longer-term view of their debt situation. They're the most likely generation to say they're willing to refinance to lessen debt, and are also among the most likely to feel like they must incur debt to buy the things they want and need.
Other findings from the Global Generational Lifestyle Report include:
The Nielsen Global Generational Lifestyles Survey polled 30,000 online respondents in 60 countries to better understand how global consumer sentiment differs across life stage. For the purposes of this study, respondents are segmented into five life-stage classifications: Generation Z (age 15-20), Millennials (21-34), Generation X (35-49), Baby Boomers (50-64) and Silent Generation (65 and older).
For more detail and insight, download Nielsen's Generational Lifestyles Report.
The Nielsen Global Survey of Generational Attitudes was conducted Feb. 23-March 13, 2015, and polled more than 30,000 online consumers in 60 countries throughout Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East/Africa and North America. The sample includes Internet users who agreed to participate in this survey and has quotas based on age and sex for each country. It is weighted to be representative of Internet consumers by country. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. However, a probability sample of equivalent size would have a margin of error of ±0.6% at the global level. This Nielsen survey is based only on the behavior of respondents with online access. Internet penetration rates vary by country. Nielsen uses a minimum reporting standard of 60% Internet penetration or an online population of 10 million for survey inclusion.


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Consilience: the unity of knowledge
Knopf, 1998 - History - 332 pages
An enormous intellectual adventure. In this groundbreaking new book, the American biologist Edward O. Wilson, considered to be one of the world's greatest living scientists, argues for the fundamental unity of all knowledge and the need to search for consilience--the proof that everything in our world is organized in terms of a small number of fundamental natural laws that comprise the principles underlying every branch of learning. Professor Wilson, the pioneer of sociobiology and biodiversity, now once again breaks out of the conventions of current thinking. He shows how and why our explosive rise in intellectual mastery of the truths of our universe has its roots in the ancient Greek concept of an intrinsic orderliness that governs our cosmos and the human species--a vision that found its apogee in the Age of Enlightenment, then gradually was lost in the increasing fragmentation and specialization of knowledge in the last two centuries. Drawing on the physical sciences and biology, anthropology, psychology, religion, philosophy, and the arts, Professor Wilson shows why the goals of the original Enlightenment are surging back to life, why they are reappearing on the very frontiers of science and humanistic scholarship, and how they are beginning to sketch themselves as the blueprint of our world as it most profoundly, elegantly, and excitingly is.
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LibraryThing ReviewUser Review - Cheryl_in_CC_NV - LibraryThing
Oops. Started reading, found I was nodding my head... yup, not only do I already agree with the theme of the book, but I've heard enough of the argument before, and besides the book was written going on two decades ago. Oh well. There are other fish in the pond... Read full review
LibraryThing ReviewUser Review - brleach - LibraryThing
A few promising moments, but most of the time it is either trite or based on a fundamentally misguided understanding of the topics he's addressing. Read full review
The Ionian Enchantment
The Great Branches of Learning
The Enlightenment
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