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Politics & Government
The battle for independents
Having nailed down the essentials in St. Paul and Denver, John McCain and Barack Obama now have their sights set on an essential group of voters who weren't at either convention: independents.
McCain made strides in securing the conservative base of the Republican Party with his choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate. By most accounts, he pulled together a star-crossed GOP convention at the end by offering himself as a battle-tested warrior prepared to shake up Washington.
Likewise, Obama used the Democratic Convention to bring his party together after a bruising primary fight and to tell voters what he means when he talks about the central refrain of his campaign: change.
What lies in front of the candidates now is a small fraction of the electorate – 12 percent to 15 percent in polls last week – that remains persuadable in two months' time.
Pollster Ed Reilly described the current state of this contest as extraordinary considering that voter sentiment typically firms up much later in the election.
"There's not a lot out there that's movable and they are mostly independents," said Reilly, who conducted a National Journal poll last week reflecting the hardened attitude of voters.
Echoed Rep. Tom Davis, a retiring congressman from Virginia who often is a critic of his Republican Party, "This race is all about independents."
In that effort, Davis added, the GOP has "a generic deficiency": voters' strong preference for Democratic candidates this year, which recent polls measure as a double-digit advantage.
The same polls show that McCain has largely evened the odds with Obama thanks in part to his reputation as a rebellious senator unafraid to challenge the orthodoxy of his party, a theme he hammered in his acceptance speech Thursday.
But Republican strategists acknowledge that McCain has little room for error.
"With the structural problem the Republicans have, they can't leave any votes on the table," said Terry Nelson, field director for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign in 2004.
Republicans are hoping to close the so-called "enthusiasm gap" with Obama, who has had stronger support from his voters. Palin appears to be generating the kind of excitement that can draw Republicans to the polls and satisfy social conservatives and evangelicals with whom McCain has had little rapport over the years.
Can Palin help snare independent voters?
National polls last week reflecting Palin's selection showed independents breaking roughly even between McCain and Obama or Obama slightly ahead.
Few if any vice presidential candidates have had a significant effect on elections beyond a 2- to 3-percentage- point improvement in their home states. Republicans hope this year is different.
"We may have found our next Reagan, and she wears a skirt," the Virginia-based Americans for Limited Government, a conservative advocacy group, proclaimed in an e-mail to members Friday.
Palin's choice has generated unusual focus on running mates.
News organizations are making a furious effort to supply information about a little-known politician who could be the nation's second-in-command behind a 72-year-old man who has fought off skin cancer and other physical problems.
And the Oct. 2 debate between Palin and Sen. Joe Biden in St. Louis has become one of the most anticipated political events of the fall.
Democrats insist that the hoopla surrounding Palin diverts from the central question of this campaign: which presidential candidate will succeed in convincing people that he can bring relief from cascading economic troubles and change from failing government policies?
Do independents differ much from Republicans and Democrats in their concerns? Like everybody, they're worried about the economy. But independents tend to be far more opposed to the Iraq war than Republicans and much less concerned about the threat of terrorism – both good for Obama.
The campaign has shaped up thus far as one of themes: Obama's mantra of change versus more of the same up against McCain's emphasis on character and experience.
But McCain also speaks of change underscoring the real possibility that the nation is experiencing one of those realigning elections that don't often come around. Some predict that as many as 25 million more voters than in 2004 could show up at the polls.
In St. Paul last week, some Republicans worried that November could be shaping up like 1980, when Republicans took control after what was considered a failed presidency – only in reverse.
"This year, it's a very similar situation," remarked David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union.
Keene spelled out what may determine the choice of the minority of persuadable voters that remain: "The public would like to get rid of Republicans, but they don't know if Barack Obama is somebody they can trust."


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Tribes Summer 2018
Tribes is a group competition event that happens each summer. Each student will be put into a tribe for the entire summer and compete for the Tribes championship. Tribal challenges involve more than just athletic ability so everyone can contribute. This is a great place to invite friends. Sign-up below today to be a part of Tribes 2018!
Tribes Dates (Sundays from 5:30-7:30pm):
- June 10
- June 17 (@ Beach Camp <-more info here)
- June 24
- July 15
- July 22
- July 29

subset: commoncrawl


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Ani Shirinian
Ani Shirinian was exposed to the legal profession from a very young age. Being raised by a lawyer mother, Ani learned the importance of hard work, dedication and professionalism. While attending Southwestern University, School of Law in Los Angeles, Ani served as a judicial clerk to a family law judge in Superior Court, which provided her with a background, understanding and research experience in family law.
After law school she volunteered at the YWCA where she assisted individuals and families who were victims of domestic violence by providing counseling and guidance in divorce and immigration proceedings. These experiences solidified her desire to assist and provide a service to those individuals who have had an adverse domestic experience and are in need of legal guidance.
She joined the Law Offices of Rosaline Zukerman as an associate attorney where her dedication to assist families through her work continues at the firm by providing clients with guidance and services.
Ani understands the emotional and legal needs faced by individuals with family law issues and is dedicated to providing excellent service to meet those needs. When she is not working, Ani is planning the start of a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting families of domestic violence.


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Tuesday, 23 March 2010 02:28 PM
Greece said Tuesday that the option of seeking help from the International Monetary Fund had been "put to one side" in the hope that fellow European countries will this week overcome a political stalemate and agree on support measures.
Greece has in recent weeks warned it may ask the IMF for financial aid, which would be an embarassing setback for European political union, if it does not get any concrete support from EU leaders at a summit Thursday. IMF involvement has become a divisive issue, supported by a German government adamantly against giving money to Greece and opposed by EU officials who would like an internal solution.
But on Tuesday, a Greek official played down the threat.
"The IMF is one of many options which we have put to one side. We are in Europe, we want to stay there, and we will stay there," government spokesman George Petalotis said.
In Berlin, a German government official said several EU countries — supporting a tough line by Germany — now appeared to be unopposed to IMF involvement in providing financial support. The official asked not to be identified, citing no direct involvement in the issue.
Greece has around 20 billion euros ($27.1 billion) of debt maturing over the next couple of months and has repeatedly said it wants to avoid paying sky-high premiums to raise money from international bond markets. It has announced a harsh 4.8 billion euro austerity plan designed to bring down its massive deficit and persuade financial markets it can deal with its debt crisis.
But markets have so far been unconvinced and European Union leaders appear split on the issue of Greek support ahead of Thursday's summit, leaving Greece to face borrowing costs that are double those of Germany's.
Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou insisted Athens does not want a cash bailout, but said Athens hopes a commitment of support from the EU will help lower borrowing costs.
"I want to make something very clear: Greece has not asked funding from anyone. We know very well that the problems of Greece are our own problems," he said during a financial conference in Athens, adding that "the way to borrow at good rates is for us to faithfully follow our (austerity) program."
The government has said that unless it can borrow at more reasonable rates, it might have to turn to the International Monetary Fund for help. It has said that the outcome of the EU summit in Brussels will be crucial.
Athens is seeking details of a plan for help should it become necessary, in order to convince markets that it will not be allowed to default. Such a blueprint could boost market confidence and therefore reduce Greece's borrowing costs.
Papaconstantinou also said he looked forward to "positive outcome" in Brussels, but added: "Regardless of this outcome, Greece will be totally able to continue borrowing without difficulty ... Greece is not coming to this debate as a beggar, under any circumstances."
German reluctance to assist Greece has raised the chances that Athens could seek alternatives. French and Luxembourg politicians said Monday that EU nations are now discussing a combination of bilateral loans from individual eurozone countries who want to contribute — together with IMF aid for Greece if required.
Greece has ordered major spending cuts and an overhaul of the tax system, promising to slash its budget deficit from an estimated 12.7 percent of economic output in 2009 to 8.7 percent in 2010.
Unions strongly oppose the austerity measures which have cut civil servants' pay and hiked taxes.
Protesting firefighters marched though central Athens, while civil servants also staged a downtown rally later Tuesday. Lawyers also walked off the job for the rest of the week, objecting to their being included in professions obliged to pay Value Added Tax.
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Driving to the last session of our Eden Associate training this morning, I heard this poignant piece about the plight of older people in India, which struggles to meet the needs of its aging population.
There is no Social Security and most Indians have no pension. The infrastucture is woefully inadequate for support outside of multigenerational family dwellings. The younger generations' emigrations abroad have also added to the strain.
By the same token, reporter Sandip Roy profiles an older Indian woman living in California, who looked at aging options for her in the U.S., and decided she would be better off moving back to India. It seems the "land of opportunity" has few acceptable answers for the aged as well.
Is there a country for old people?


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The Gut
In 2014 my gut was a mess yet I had no idea. When I finally decided to get tested for everything related to chronic fatigue, I started to learn more about what ailed me. After getting my package of test results back I was overwhelmed to find a whole slew of issues including two potentially pathogenic bacteria, low bacterial diversity, low beneficial bacteria, very low glutathione (which meant that I could not detox), numerous vitamin deficiencies, as well as food sensitivities to 28 different foods. My son tested sensitivity to 23 different foods.
In retrospect, I was grateful and relieved to know that my health problems could be addressed one by one and that I was not dealing with a life threatening illness. The process of healing took time but within three months I started to feel better.
Although some medical advice I received included a significant amount of supplements, I did not want to be dependent on them. For me, the answer was food. I wholeheartedly believe that I have been able to heal my gut and my son's through whole food, nutrient packed, balanced meals.
Foods That Support The Gut
When we start to think of food as medicine and use it wisely and properly, we will start to feel a positive difference and the body will begin to heal itself. I cut out all of the packaged junk and started eating home cooked meals made with organic and fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats. I also chose fresh wild caught seafood. The main foods that I initially eliminated were gluten, dairy, refined sugar, and eggs. In my case, these foods may have been causing inflammation and havoc in my gut.
Everyone is different and so it's important to listen to your body's needs. I chose to avoid certain foods to give my body rest and help in the digestive process.
Gut health is essential to staying healthy because most disease starts in the gut. This is why it's important to incorporate foods that support the gut. Traditional foods like bone stocks, soups, and miso are really the best choices to heal the digestive system. They are fantastic because they coat and soothe the gut. Also, probiotic rich foods like sauerkraut and kimchi are top picks to consider when restoring gut health.
Happy Guts
Earlier I mentioned that I had 28 food sensitivities. I'm ecstatic to say that I can eat all of those foods now that used to be on my avoid list of foods. My son who had 23 food sensitivities is also able to eat the foods that he could not before. This includes gluten, dairy, eggs, and from time to time a little refined sugar. It's not a problem because we don't crave refined sugar but we don't have to avoid it like the plague any longer!
For anyone who is struggling with gut and digestive issues, my son and I are proof that the gut can be healed with the right foods. For more information on how you can have a happy gut, I may be reached at email@example.com or here. My 6 month program is available to those who are interested in supporting gut health and other health concerns as well as samples of my tea from my Health For The Holidays Tea Collection.
This is the last segment of my Health For The Holidays series. I hope that you found it beneficial and that you got some good nuggets to incorporate into your lifestyle. To your health and happiness!


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Tesla, Inc. Faces Racial Discrimination Suit Plus Retaliation Allegations/
A 44-year old African American man out of Oakland, California, DeWitt Lambert, claims he experienced harassment and discrimination while he was employed as an assembly line worker in a Tesla factory in Fremont, California. The original suit was based on racial discrimination as well as a long list of claims of California state labor law violations, but more recently, the plaintiff added an additional charge to the allegations: retaliation.
Lambert claims that management at Tesla ignored his complaints while allowing co-workers to taunt him at work with the "N-word" as well as other obvious racial slurs. Lambert also alleges that Tesla put him on administrative leave in March of 2017. This occurred right after the media published news that he filed a lawsuit.
In addition to the original problem, Lambert's attorney has noted that Tesla is not providing him with sufficient payment for en employee placed on administrative leave. This after they announced publicly that they were placing on such. Lambert's attorney noted that he is actually only receiving approximately ¼ of the amount he was receiving prior to filing the California lawsuit and being placed on administrative leave by the company. Typically, an employee on administrative leave receives the same pay that they received while on the job. This drastic "pay cut" led to the additional charge of retaliation.
An electrician by trade, Lambert moved to California in 2012 from his previous home in Alabama. When he landed the job at Tesla's Fremont, California plant in April 2016, it was his dream job. He worked on the Tesla S model. According to court documents, harassing behavior became routine almost immediately. The harassment came from four male colleagues, all in their 20s. The harassing behavior included: filling Lambert's pockets with nuts and screws, repeatedly using the "N-word," inappropriate comments about Lambert's penis, repeated theft of his phone with video messages left behind upon return, threats to his family, and even a physical assault during which one of the men placed a drill gun in Lambert's buttocks while the other men watched.
A transcript of a recording made in October 2015 of the harassing behavior was included in the state of claim. The recording was made on Lambert's iPhone and the following was pulled from the recording, "Nigger, we take your ass home, nigger. Shred you up in pieces, nigger. Cut you up, nigger. Send your ass so everyone in your family so everybody can have a piece of you, nigger. Straight up, nigger. We get down like that, nigger."
Lambert went on record in a press release published in March of 2017 saying that when he started work at Tesla he was the "happiest" he had ever been. This feeling was followed by experiencing discrimination worse than any he had been exposed to while growing up in Alabama. He stated that the behavior he experienced on the job left him scared for his safety when it was time to leave the plant and head home. He requested help from management at the Tesla plant, but none was offered.
If you fear workplace retaliation or if you are experiencing a negative workplace environment, harassment or discrimination in the workplace, please get in touch with an experienced California employment law attorney at Blumenthal, Nordrehaug & Bhowmik.


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Dogs Hate Hugs? Where's the Science?/
What does a veterinarian do when faced with pet-themed entertainment masquerading as science? In my case, I write about it. Consider the recent to-do over the unwelcome advances of humans towards their dogs. Hugs in particular, it was widely reported, are disfavored by a majority of our canine companions.
How can that be? Our dogs love their hugs!
After reading a blurb about the "study," I learned that it was based on a random sampling of Internet-sourced photos depicting dogs mid-hug. No control group, no rigorous scientific methodoIogy, therefore no serious findings. This was a simple opinion piece in a pop-psychology magazine, not science. I read no further.
Yet the "no-hug" issue lingered. In fact, just this week I received several emails on the subject, including this one from my friends over at PetMD who were hoping to receive some veterinary clarification on the issue:
PetMD: "What's your stance on hugs? It's been in the news recently that this isn't always the best way to show your dog affection... any thoughts?
Me: #1 This is one issue that's been bugging me lately so thanks for the chance to let me expound and hopefully clarify. For starters, what's being reported as "science" on what dogs enjoy or don't … isn't.
Turns out that what's being touted by a wide variety of news outlets as a "scientific study" on the subject of dogs disliking hugs is actually one single opinion piece written by a PhD psychologist who's built a reputation for himself with popular books like Understanding Your Dog for Dummies.
Moreover, this op-ed piece appeared not in a peer-reviewed journal where legitimate research is discussed among scientists, but in a for-the-lay public magazine you can find in any airport concession (Psychology Today). This is an important distinction.
This is not what we in medicine (or any other scientific discipline) consider science. Dr. Stanley Coren, the op-ed's author, made an informal argument using a small amount of data with the goal of impressing his readers with an opinion he holds dear: that dogs do not like being restrained in human hug-like fashion.
Here are some problems with this informal evaluation:
- One researcher's limited data set does not a study make. Studies need to be reviewed by peers in order to be considered a valid research effort.
- Photographic evidence sourced from a supposedly random sampling on the Internet was used to make his case. I would question the randomness of this sampling. Often, the most popular pics are those in which dogs are making "funny" faces, thereby skewing the sample towards oddball canine expressions.
- The assessment of a dog's displeasure was based on these pictures, with the opinion of just one assessor (albeit an expert) as foundation for the methodology.
- This observation included no control group of pictured dogs who were not being hugged to assess their degree of discomfiture and compare their expressions to those of dogs being hugged. This is a critical element in any scientific study.
- The author has a vested interest in the outcome. He already believes that dogs don't like to be held a certain way and he translate that restraint as 'hugs," a subtle distinction from cuddling, one other observers might not agree with.
To be fair, Dr. Coren probably never intended this to be portrayed as science. After all, if I can poke a zillion holes in this "study design," so can its author. It was likely only intended to provoke interest in the issue, and possibly a little thoughtfulness among those who would put their dogs in a WWW-style choke hold.
Yes, the media sometimes grabs a salacious headline and runs with it –– in this case, much to the dismay of dog cuddlers everywhere. Because, as most of us know from personal experience, most well-socialized dogs love a good cuddle.
My two cents: If a gentle embrace and a sweet snuggle is your idea of a hug, you're on the right track, no matter what the media says "science" has unequivocally proved.


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Please join McKinneyFoodie.com as we warmly welcome Guest Blogger, Lorie Fangio. Lorie's passion for bringing families back to the dinner table, coupled with her yummy recipes make her a favorite feature on DFW morning television shows.
By Lorie Fangio, Guest Blogger
The 4th of July promises to deliver a long weekend of fun in the sun. Whether you are planning a huge patriotic party or a picnic in the bed of a truck, spending some time together is the name of the game. When I think about the 4th one word comes to mind: food! Food seems to be the barometer for all holidays for me and when it is hot outside we need something cold and crisp on our pallet to dissipate the heat. My sweet Watermelon and Feta Salad is simple to make and is the perfect complement to whatever you are serving this weekend from burgers to beluga. Share some food with family and friends and enjoy our nation's independence!
Watermelon and Feta Salad
Juice and zest form one orange
Juice and zest form 1 lemon
1 shallot minced
¼ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon honey
Salt and pepper to taste
5 cups seedless watermelon cut into 1 inch chunks
½ red onion sliced thinly
½ cup mint leaves
½ cup feta cheese cubes or crumbles
To prepare the salad dressing, mix all ingredients in a jar and shake well. Place salad ingredients in a bowl and toss well with dressing.
Recipe compliments of Lorie Fangio and www.loriefangio.com
Lorie Fangio is a Culinary Professional with a passion for bringing families back around the dinner table. She can be seen regularly sharing her expertise on local morning TV shows. Lorie's latest endeavor, taking small groups to France for culinary excursions, has proven to be a huge success. She enjoys teaching students of all ages in her McKinney, TX cooking school, A Slice of Heaven. Lorie created a blog called Around the Table, which offers original recipes and advice for busy families. She enjoys working in the corporate world as well and serves as a spokesperson for national brands such as Oil and Vinegar, Walgreens, Ziploc Brand and Zoës Kitchen. Lorie enjoys developing unique recipes, guest blogging, creating customized video series, and making personal appearances. She worked with a successful production company to produce a television show pilot focused on food and families. Lorie is an e How Food Expert and has over 100 food videos on the web. She works as a private chef for corporate events, parties and enjoys public appearances at local wine events, festivals and speaking engagements.


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When Your Kidney Is In Danger You'll Receive These 8 Warning Signs From Your Body
These vitals are located under the rib cage. These organs are responsible for detox and cleansing – they filter 10-150 quarts of blood every day. This is very important for all body functions and for maintaining healthy blood as well.
They take care for the excessive waste or fluids material from the body. Kidneys regulate the electrolytes levels and maintain our bones strong and healthy, provide more red blood cells and they also stabilize the blood pressure.
If they do not function properly your health can be at risk. You should read this article carefully and recognize and prevent some of the problems that are connected to kidney failure or damage:
1. Swellings
When they do not do their job as they should be, kidneys cannot eliminate excess fluids. This can cause swollen or bloated face, limbs or joints.
2. Urination changes
These are the most early and obvious signs:
• Pressure during urination.
• Difficulties when urinating.
• Less frequent urinating, dark urine.
• Frequent urination in large amount with pale color.
• Urge to urinate in the middle of the night.
3. Skin Rash
The waste that is acuminated in the body can be associated to kidney failure – your skin can get itchy with many rashes. The waste is piled up in the blood and the skin looks dry, unhealthy and irritated. Creams and lotions can help with the problem, but they cannot solve the problem completely – if the problems come from within the body of course.
4. Fatigue
Healthy kidneys produce EPO (erythropoietin). It is a hormone which produces more red blood cells that bring oxygen everywhere. If the number of the red blood cells is reduced, you will feel fatigue and this will have an impact on the muscles and brain as well. In some cases this condition means anemia.
5. Shortness of breath
Even though it is a common issue, it can be connected to kidney damage. If the your body lacks oxygen, the reason is the low number of red blood cells which deliver oxygen. The number of the blood cells is related to the dangerous piled up toxins in the lungs.
6. Taste of metal in the mouth
The accumulated waste in the blood is going to change the taste to foods. In some cases it will cause bad breath. Poor appetite or serious change in some foods is another sign of kidney damage.
7. Pain
Pain in the upper back is also a symptom of kidney damage. It is the same place where the kidneys are located. Pain can be increased by kidney stones or infections.
8. Dizziness and Bad concentration
When the brain doesn't have enough oxygen it causes serious anemia and it can also mean kidney failure as well. It is going to harm the concentration and focus, you will feel dizzy and light headed. In some cases can cause memory problems.
You should eat healthier foods and eat food that contains a lot of antioxidants. You can use supplements as well.


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Convenient and very interesting application for listening to music from the popular social network VKontakte, which is exactly like its users, details on;)
An application whose sole purpose is to provide a fairly short video, which in general is an analogue or competitor of the famous Vine, try out?
This application is primarily aimed at music fans who not only love to listen to music, but also to understand what it is in one way or another song that is not always available.
In every way convenient online cinema for your android, which enables you to watch movies online or download them to the memory of your device and watch offline without internet.
Quite a long time we did not have applications, games and all games, but today came across a very interesting that music fans will enjoy listening to music on your phone or tablet;)
This application will allow you to plunge into the world of extreme sports and amazing stories sponsored by the famous company Red Bull, so if you want a bit of adrenaline - that's it!
To some it may seem that the edit videos on your phone ... this strange, but people do it, so that there are applications that allow you to consider one of these, by the way from top of Google;)
Application and known to many not new, but on our site it was not, so here - swing on health, and if someone does not know what Shazam, then read on, I will tell;)
Free application for android that will allow you to create funny videos effortlessly, all that is required - music, photos, and a good idea!
App for android which fell into the unknown ratings for their populyanost that on Google Play is not yet visible, but quite possibly somewhere yet surfaced, let's see what we offer!
This app for Android is perfect for people who love to make music, not necessarily professionally, because it is quite simple and understandable for everyone.
If the camera on your Android-something you do not like, then I recommend to pay attention to this program, which offers an alternative to the standard camera, and suddenly help?


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Troy Masters | vy Bottini was born on Aug. 15, 1926, and at a very early age it was clear she was going places.
She has spent a lifetime captivated by imagery — Charles Lindberg's flight was an an absolute obsession for her. "I was transported by the idea of movement and meaning; what does it mean to have a destination, a purpose. We have to fight for that," she told me on her 90th birthday in 2016.


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Thursday, February 23, 2012
Betrayal by Michele Kallio
I thoroughly enjoyed reading every bit of Michele Kallio's Betrayal. Kallio did a terrific job in creating not one, but two different worlds. Lydia's life in modern day New Brunswick is very realistic. Kallio painted her setting in a way that made it very easy to imagine. I could visualize the restaurants, buildings, and scenery described. Reading about Lydia's adventures in Bar Harbor made me want to research the town. (It is real and looks just as beautiful as Kallio described!) It was the infusion of little details (like those mentioned above) that made Betrayal feel complete. I was especially fond of the historical aspects of the novel. Kallio's knowledge of sixteenth century England was definitely noticed and appreciated. Everything was well researched, from the various Sixteenth Century social stations and popular style, to religion and politics.
Betrayal opened my eyes to a whole new world of dreams and the meanings behind them. In the book, Lydia first starts seeing a Psychologist specializing in dreams. After hearing her speak on a tape recorder about her dreams, the Dr. feels that they are more than typical nightmares. Fearing that they are occurring because of a repressed memory, the Psychologist requests to hypnotize Lydia. Lydia must decide if she really wants to know more about her past and if she is ready to deal with the consequences of what remains hidden.
Betrayal easily switches between the lives of Lydia and Elisabeth. I was surprised at how flawlessly each new chapter changed gears. While reading about Elisabeth I found myself speculating on what would happen next with Lydia. Furthermore, while reading about what Lydia was going through made me think about Elisabeth and her world. As the book progressed, the story of the two women seemed to converge. I feel that Kallio did a terrific job in meshing her two story lines together.
Michele Kallio has a gem in her novel, Betrayal. Embedded in it you will find a great deal of history, romance, mystery, and suspense. I recommend Betrayal to anyone looking for a great read! Good luck putting it down!
iUniverse and BookPleasures.com has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, Betrayal, for the purpose of review.
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Poolside Perfection
The temperature is rising & the sun is shining! Summer is almost here and we're going to help you get poolside ready. ❤
With these INCREDIBLE bikinis, in every print & every colour, from only R35 – you'll be smiling, and so will your purse!
And no it's not from R35 for the top & from R35 for the bottom – it's from R35 for BOTH!
Pinch yourself 'cause you're not dreaming – and hurry on over to your nearest store to grab your top poolside pick NOW!


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Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
Are you ready...for more Taylor Swift concert dates?
The 28-year-old singer has added dates to her Reputation tour lineup, due to "overwhelming demand." Santa Clara, Calif., Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, East Rutherford, N.J., Foxborough, Mass., Minneapolis and Dallas are among the tour dates added to Swift's 2018 shows.
Tickets for the added concert dates will go on sale to the general public on Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. Swifties can also purchase tickets ahead of the general public via the Taylor Swift pre-sale, powered by Ticketmaster Verified Fan. Registration opens on Jan. 5. at 10 a.m. and will continue until Jan. 18 at 10 a.m.
Swift's tour is set to kick off in Glendale, Ariz. on May 8 and continue until November.


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Cat. class code
Generator, 88-99 kW
United Rentals offers a complete line of sound attenuated generators for remote site power or emergency back-up. Features include a microprocessor based controller with automatic safety shutdown, emergency stop switch, lug box protection, voltage selector switch, multiple outlets, and automatic remote start for standby applications. Control panel has lockable door with viewing window. Large fuel tanks are built into the skid allowing long operation on or off highway legal trailer. External fuel fill has lockable cap. Generators are equipped with a single point lifting eye. Voltage regulator controls the voltage to within 1%.
- 25 to 125 kVA
- Quiet Operation


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I have to hand it to whoever is programming the exhibitions at the Science Museum's new Media Space, it's quickly establishing itself as one of the best photography galleries in the capital.
It opened with a joint exhibition 'Only in England' featuring the work Tony Ray Jones and Martin Parr. The work of both Tony Ray Jones and the early work of Martin Parr really shone as great examples of British documentary photography. I found Martin Parr's series The Non-Conformists shot in Hebden Bridge, in the early 70s, particularly moving. Martin Parr's book of The Non-Conformists is at the top of my Christmas list.
I unfortunately missed the recent Open for Business, where nine Magnum photographers documented contemporary British Manufacturing. It was a good fit with the Science Museum's core message and received good reviews.
The latest exhibition, which runs to 18 January 2015, is Make Life Worth Living: Nick Hedges' Photographs for Shelter 1968-72. I've yet to see this one but the few images on the web site show it's likely to be powerful and heartbreaking at the same time. if you've not yet visited this new photography space I'd highly recommend it.
By-the-way, as an extra incentive this latest exhibition is free!


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Kole, Ben, Dennis, and David talk about Dust 514, wrap up Silent Hill: Downpour, and play a game about game taglines.
What Have You Been Playing?
- Dennis: Dust 514. Ratchet and Clank: Full Frontal Assault. Soundshapes.
- David: Kingdom of Loathing. Guild Wars 2.
- Kole: Rock Band Blitz. McPixel. Silent Hill Downpour.
- Ben: Civilization: Revolution. Gravity Bone.
I Want to Play a Game
- Taglines.


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We're excited to announce the acquisition of the CrunchBot AI-powered bot along with Crunch Data Inc.'s experienced team of AI and solution development professionals, enhancing Qlik's conversational analytics capabilities.
CrunchBot offers a conversational, natural language analytics interface that can be accessed from within Qlik Sense as well as through popular messaging and collaboration tools such as Slack, Skype, Salesforce Chat, and Microsoft Teams. Built on top of Qlik's open API framework and associative engine, it works uniquely with Qlik - enabling users to gain insights conversationally and then transition to visual exploration for deeper understanding and discovery.
Crunch Data's team of AI and solution development professionals will help drive analytics adoption and customer successes, integrating immediately into Qlik's existing customer success organization to expand Qlik's ability to deliver value-added and managed services.
CrunchBot is available immediately from Qlik.


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Managing Sites
View Site Analysis area
Adding a Site to Track
Managing Tracked Sites
Site Analysis provides users with useful information regarding keywords, SEO scores, and page views.
To view the Site Analysis area -
1. Select Analyze
2. Select Sites
3. You should now see a summary callout of all your Pages, Page Views, Average Number of Page Views, and Average Number of Keywords. Additionally, there are two tables Sites, which contains all of the Sites analyzed, and Pages, which contains all of the pages associated with the Sites.
The Sites table view displays -
1. The Name
2. The URL of the tracked site
3. The Pages. Note: the page count will be limited based on your account.
4. The Average Page SEO Score
The Pages table view displays -
1. The Title
2. The Page Views. Note: the page views will remain empty unless the tracking code has been implemented on each tracked page. The default value is 0.
3. The number of Keywords on each individual page
3. The SEO Score for each individual page
To add (or create) a Site to track -
- Select Create Site from the top right
- Enter the Name
- Enter the URL of the Site to track. Note: tracking a Site will only crawl pages on that domain, separate Sites have to be created for each subdomain. Additionally, there is an account limitation on the amount of pages that are tracked.
Managing (or editing) a Site -
- Select the Site from the table by Name
- Each Site includes tables of information:
- Site Information
- Site Stats - total number of Page Views and the Average SEO Score for each page
- Pages - the Title, Page Views, SEO Score, and associated Keywords for each page crawled
- Links - a filtered table; displays the URL, Load Time, Result, Originating Page, and Size for all filter options (Problem Links, Broken Links, Working Links, Warning Links, and Ignored Links)
- Load Times - a filtered chart histogram chart displaying the rendering times for each page divided into three filter options (All Links, Internal Links, and External Links)
- Keywords - all keywords associated with the pages and the assigned keyword Priority, the overall Search Volume, the Cost-Per-Click (CPC), the overall Ranking Difficulty, and how the specific page Ranked for the keyword
- Check History - a history table of all the times Spectate checked and updated the Site analysis; this is typically set to update once a week
- SEO History - a history table of all Google Indexed Pages, Google Inbound Links, Google PageRank, and the Alexa Ranking of a page; this is typically set to update once a week
Each Site includes the following options:
- To edit, select Edit site from the top left. Alternatively, users can select Edit from the row of the table containing the site.
- Follow Steps #2-3 in the Create a site section
- Select History from the top left
- The recently modified Activity will display within the table.
Check Now or Updating the Site -
- The Site Analysis updates on a regular interval. Alternatively, users have the option of updating the Site whenever they want. Select Check Now from the top left to update the analysis.
- To delete, select Delete from the top left.
- A prompt box will appear asking if the user is sure to Delete the Site. Select Ok to proceed or Cancel to cancel the request.
Getting Started VIDEOS and PDFs
Frequently Asked Questions
The Dashboard
Manage - Campaigns
Manage - Forms
Manage - Leads and Visitors
Administration - Connectors


text: Portland's Gulf of Maine Research Institute has designed a trawl net that aims to target species that can still be profitable while avoiding cod. Courtesy of Gulf of Maine Research Institute hide caption toggle caption Courtesy of Gulf of Maine Research Institute The Salt Fishermen Team Up With Scientists To Make A More Selective Net Maine Public December 13, 2016 A trawling experiment in the Gulf of Maine aims to scoop up abundant and profitable flatfish, while bypassing the once plentiful but now depleted cod population. So far, the results are promising.


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Twitter is a funny thing.
I have a lot of people I consider my friends online. I don't really know them, but I get a peek into their loves and personalities through our online interactions. When I first started tweeting, THE WIFE warned me to be careful what I shared with people because she was concerned I could wind up giving away information to someone who would abuse it.
As time passed I trusted a circle of friends more deeply. I heeded her advice and I was cautious who I let into the circle. To this day my circle of "Friends" is pretty small, but I have what I feel is a sincere connection to them.
Last week I tweeted a request for prayers because my family was under spiritual attack. We do our best to live the way we should, but the enemy loves to derail us from our goals and ruin the glory we mean for God. I got some responses back and I sincerely appreciated the prayers. We got through this round and will live to fight again. I wanted to take a few moments to thank everyone who did, and does pray for us.
Some folks suffer from anxiety or other ailments that keep them from being around people all the time. Maybe they're shut in, maybe they are lonely, maybe they work an oddball shift and need to "Talk" to someone for their sanity. This is my chance to say, there are good people in the world (and online) and there is hope.
There is ALWAYS hope.
To all the people who are my friends, I just wanted to let you know how you have sincerely impacted (in the best way) the lives of a family you have never met. Thank you.


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Okay, I'll start the ball rolling.
I wish I had the ability of Deflurevertodomuportation. It is defined as the "ability to teleport casually discarded rubbish into the homes or cars of those people who threw it. It is closely related to Deflurevertogastroportation, the ability to teleport faeces back into the intestines which originated it".


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I did not get to meet these two lovely people before the wedding day which always makes me a little nervous. I have questions like, what's their love language, how do they connect, what's my roll beyond photographer here? I always try to connect before the wedding but that isn't always an option.
But no worries people. It all went splendidly. On meeting Mae she gave a hug and greeted me like a friend. Ryan I found clowning around nervously with his buddies. These two are a beautiful dream together. We took pictures all around the amazing property of Oakside Farms, we lit sparklers, we ate cake and danced FOREVER! Ryan had goo goo eyes THE WHOLE DAY! Totally my kind of people. Below you will find the review they left for me via The Knot. Be still my heart! Seriously!
First things first: I hired Mindy for our wedding ceremony in September because I fell in love with her photos after viewing her portfolio (if you haven't taken a look yet, I highly urge you do so). Mindy's photos look so natural and gorgeous, and when you look at her photographs of couples you can tell that they feel comfortable and with her, there's no awkwardness.
I am so glad we went with Mindy, and I really don't think I can adequately describe how pivotal her presence was for our wedding and how much we enjoyed having her as our photographer. The day of the wedding, Mindy went above and beyond her call of duty. I had a rustic barn wedding, and I didn't have a wedding planner or day of coordinator. Mindy was able to keep us on track the entire day and made sure that we got the shots that we wanted. Although we were running behind in the morning, Mindy was able to get a first look photo shoot for us, something I am forever grateful for especially after getting the photos back, squeezed in our sunset photos, and she also somehow managed to wrangle our large, rowdy wedding party together for group photos while still being professional. At the end of the night, she even helped us clean up (Which just goes to show what a wonderful person she is)! I highly recommend booking Mindy if you want a stress free wedding, someone to anchor you during the chaos of the day, and if you need some backup to keep things going; you won't regret it!
Addendum: After receiving the photos, I've got to say that they're just gorgeous; the coloring, the moments that she captured, and the way she captured them are just beautiful. ~ Mae and Ryan


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As you know, everything started with daily severe migraine-type headaches last August and continued through several doctors and tests and medicines...stretching over months, until I finally found an incredible neurologist at The University of Md Hospital. She got me on the right meds and stopped the severe burning headaches and ordered MRIs of my neck. There they discovered something that was very disturbing, so she referred me to a neurosurgeon there at The Hospital (he's the head of neurosurgery). He examined me and the MRI of my neck and ordered a CatScan of my neck and X-Rays from different perspectives.
So, I went back to the neurosurgeon on St Patty's day and he had discovered that my first vertebrae is fused to the base of my skull...then there is a space...then my next two vertebrae are fused together. This causes lots of strain on me and lots of problems, but that's not the major problem. inside the two fused vertebrae I have bone spurs growing in towards my spinal cord leaving very little clearance. In June, I am to go for another series of MRIs, CatScans and XRays to see how much the spurs have grown. If the spurs grow into my cord, I'm told I will stroke or become paralyzed. My neurologist, whom I saw a few weeks later, says that my neurosurgeon is one of the best and that he will have to operate in the near future. Tha..tha...thaaaaaa...that's all folks! :)


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Realistic Food Essentials, LLC Policies
Realistic FoodEs promotes a Real Food lifestyle. I am passionate about Real Food because this journey has been a life changing event for my family. Realistic FoodEs is a wholistic approach to understanding and connecting with food. And one that I hope empowers you to find your BEST self through Real Food!
The Articles posted on this website are opinions based on my experience and are provided for informational purposes only. These Articles offer Tips, Strategies, Techniques, Research, etc. that can be useful tools for your Real Food Toolbox.
But I would be remiss if I didn't offer these commonsense Disclaimers:
- Realistic FoodEs makes no representation as to the accuracy of information on this site or found by following links to other sites.
- Realistic FoodEs is not a diet plan or weight loss program, and makes no claims in this regard.
- Realistic FoodEs makes no specific health claims and is in no way intended to substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other health care professional. The information on this Blog is not intended to be and does not constitute health care or medical advice.
- Realistic FoodEs encourages readers to seek the advice of a physician or other health care professional before relying solely on the information in this Blog to achieve any personal health goals. And encourages Readers who are under the care of a health care professional to continue working with this person to achieve any personal health goals.


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ReHome NEW YORK PROGRAM
ReHome New York is financing you can count on!
Make home energy upgrades with low, fixed-rate financing and no money down.
ReHome New York home energy loans are offered through a public/private partnership with the state of New York to help homeowners take advantage of thousands of moneysaving efficiency upgrades. Financing is easy and approvals are fast.
Thousands of projects are eligible: Replace an outdated furnace or boiler,install ductless mini-split systems, even upgrade to energy efficient appliances. Plus, up to 25% of the loan amount can be used for other home improvements.
Many financing programs offer promotional or "teaser" interest rates that skyrocket if the loan balance is not paid off within the promotional period. ReHome New York loans are fixed-rate loans that will never surprise you with rate hikes. The interest rate will never change, and ReHome New York offers longer terms than typical bank financing. Plus, with no penalty for prepayment, you can pay it off or make additional principal payments at any time.
Contact us to learn more about financing options and rebates that are available to you!
Sampson Plumbing & Heating provides a 1 year warranty on parts for heating equipment and accessories installed.


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Saltimbocca is a classic Roman dish normally consisting of thinly sliced veal rolled with prosciutto and a sage leaf. Saltimbocca translates to "jumps in the mouth" which shows how good it is! This version is made with the lesser expensive chicken and a variation of fresh lemon juice. The prosciutto is wrapped around the chicken and sage, then pan fried. This dish is also enjoyed throughout Italy, southern Switzerland, Spain and Greece.
Lemony Chicken Saltimbocca
Serves 4
- 1 pound boneless chicken breasts (4 pieces)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 12 fresh sage leaves
- 2 ounces prosciutto, very thinly sliced and cut into 8 thin strips
- 4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1/3 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 4 lemon wedges
Cut the chicken into 4 pieces and pound each to an even thickness. Season each with salt and place a fresh sage leaf on each cutlet. Wrap 2 pieces of the prosciutto around each cutlet being sure to secure the sage leaf in place.
Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook through, about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a platter and keep warm.
In a small bowl, combine chicken broth, lemon juice, and cornstarch stirring with a whisk until smooth. Add the remaining oil to the pan and whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Continue whisking until the mixture thickens, about 1 minute.
Serve the sauce over the chicken.Serves 4


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The Book
The Deluxe Collection Part 2 will be a 600 page softcover book measuring 8.5" by 8.5". The artwork will be divided into chapters themed around character design, pose and gesture sheets, monsters, robots, concept vehicles, environment design, world building and unpublished comics. I've been working on this book for the past four years, and I'm very excited to finally be able to offer it you! To see more of my work, head over to my blog, or DeviantArt gallery.
Shipping costs for customers outside the UK
For UK customers postage is FREE, but if you live outside the UK you'll need to add a shipping cost when you pledge, as detailed in the boxes on the right. I'm sorry it's expensive, but these books are VERY heavy.
The Rewards
Right! Below are the reward tiers. I've kept it pretty simple, as this campaign is all about the book. That's what you're kickstarting after all! In the higher tiers you can get the original Deluxe Collection Part 1 and the NEW Deluxe Collection Part 2 together as a set. I'm also offering 40 of my favourite, fully inked illustrations from my personal sketchbooks in two of the tiers. This is the only time I've ever offered original artwork from my sketchbooks.
A huge thank you for taking the time to watch the video and check out the campaign! Cheers!
Risks and challenges
I have a great deal of experience with both publishers and printers from working on the many books I've illustrated. I've designed and produced books for large publishing houses such as Random House, and I've also successfully self published several ambitious projects, including my original 600 page sketchbook.
I've been laying up the interior pages of the Deluxe Collection Part 2 gradually over the past 4 years, and by the end of the campaign I will have the entire book edited and print ready. It will then be a case of sending for a proof, re-editing and tweaking artwork and then sending to print, so that I can have the books back, sketched/signed and packaged up in good time ready to ship to you in February.Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
Funding period
- (30 days)


text: I've been finding mixing pattern has become quite a popular like amongst many of my brides. Its a great way to keep things classy and yet not so common. Depending on the style and design you fancy you can take a few patterns and mix them up. Whether its more conservative or more whimsical its important to achieve the perfect mix. This clever mix may also expend your colour palette in more ways then one! Check out part of Heather and Mac's wedding stationery.... their big day was today!


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Our Parts Department is always ready to assist you with your equipment needs. You can depend on All Seasons Farm Equipment to keep you running by providing technical assistance, emergency orders, and weekly stock orders with a good selection of parts IN STOCK!
If you need a specific part for your equipment, you can use the part catalog links below, contact us, or come by and visit. Our parts staff are always ready to serve you. Please contact our parts department and we will be glad to help with any of your parts questions.
Select the parts catalog by clicking one the links below


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'Survivor' notches two more cycles
EmptyThe torch of CBS' "Survivor" will continue to burn for another year.
The network has ordered two more installments of Mark Burnett's hit reality series to run next season. The deal will bring the editions of the Jeff Probst-hosted show to 16.
Despite its long run and increased competition, "Survivor" continues to be a formidable anchor for CBS' Thursday lineup in the 8 p.m. slot.
The most recent 13th installment of the franchise, "Survivor: Cook Islands," averaged 15.8 million viewers and a 5.5 rating/15 share in adults 18-49. The 14th edition, "Survivor: Fiji," will premiere Feb. 8.
Burnett executive produces "Survivor" with Tom Shelly.


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Are your airwaves secure? Prove it with these tools.
Once you implement your "secure" wireless network, the true test is to see how your airwaves and devices look from a hacker's eye view. There are several must-have tools that can help you along with this. Keep in mind there's a bit of knowledge required to operate these tools and interpret their findings but it's not rocket science. With a little bit of reading and some hands-on practice you can use these tools to find out where your wireless network is (still) vulnerable.
In addition to a laptop computer with a mainstream network card, consider adding the following tools to your wireless network security testing toolbox.
- NetStumbler (www.netstumbler.com/downloads) to find out what wireless devices respond to a "hey, anybody there?" request.
- Kismet (www.kismetwireless.net) to find wireless devices that may not respond to NetStumbler requests, capture packets, and much more.
- BackTrack (www.backtrack-linux.org) to be able to run Kismet and a ton of other wireless network tools directly from a bootable CD without having to fuss and cuss getting Linux to work with wireless drivers.
- OmniPeek Network Analyzer (www.wildpackets.com/products/network_analysis_and_monitoring/omnipeek_network_analyzer) to capture packets, look for top talkers, analyze protocols, and practically anything else wireless-related, all in a very easy-to-use graphical interface.
- AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer (www.airmagnet.com/products/wifi_analyzer/) for a really nice graphical representation of anything imaginable involving the 802.11 protocol.
- CommView for WiFi (www.tamos.com/products/commwifi) for a great lower-cost wireless network analyzer alternative to capture packets, monitor the airwaves, capture packets, generate packets (great for wireless packet injection), bandwidth monitoring, and more. To me, the best thing about CommView for WiFi is its top notch WEP and WPA cracking capabilities.
- Aircrack-ng (www.aircrack-ng.org/) for a low-cost (free) way of cracking WEP and WPA-PSKs.
- GFI LANguard (www.gfi.com/lannetscan) and QualysGuard (www.qualys.com) for in-depth vulnerability testing of the hosts on your wireless network including workstations, servers, access points, and more.
- Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner (www.acunetix.com) and N-Stalker (www.nstalker.com) for vulnerability testing of the Web interfaces on your access points and related Web hosts.
As you go along with your wireless security testing endeavors, keep in mind the following two things about security testing tools: 1) You'll likely need multiple tools to ensure you've looked at everything, and 2) With a few exceptions, you get what you pay for.
Kevin Beaver is an independent information security consultant, expert witness, author, and professional speaker with Atlanta-based Principle Logic, LLC and a contributor to the IT Watch Blog. He can be reached through his website at www.principlelogic.com.


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Dream True Media was founded specifically to help bring dreams to life on the web.
The web is a powerful tool for the entrepreneur, small business or nonprofit. We firmly believe that if you have the time and the patience to engage your audience online, there aren't any limits to what you can do. We are proud of our portfolio – each website was built with the client and their audience in mind. We hope you like it too.


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I don't usually use this blog to make a plug, but two days ago I was asked to review EasyBib. Their representative signed me up for a Pro account, so I gave it a look. I did not have to look beyond the free features to be very interested. As one who has spent dozens of hours on bibliographies as an English major and then hundreds more teaching research to high school students, I was astonished to come across a tool that would provide enormous time savings.
The free version has an easy-to-use research guide, which is nice. But the eye-popper is Autocite. Paste the ISBN # of a book or url of a web site and the user immediately accesses and can customize the bibliography information. There are fifty different options for Autocite sources. The free version will then arrange all of your input into an MLA formatted bibliography and export it to a Word doc. Yesterday I showed the following video demonstration to my professional development group and it was quite a hit.
The Pro version also will cite in APA and Chicago style. It includes note taking features among other extras. I can say this: The English teachers I have shown this to so far, really like it.
Featuring commentary on educational technology from down in the trenches.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Research Tool for English Teachers
Posted by Detroit Sports Dork at 5:54 AM
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Blog Archive
- ► 2015 (82)
- ► 2014 (102)
- ► 2013 (104)
- ► 2012 (106)
- Take-out from the Drive-thru
- Old School
- Vlogging about Blogs
- Blurring Curricular and Extra-Curricular
- M-Hub Update
- Framing and Learning
- My New CBL Web Site
- CBL End Game
- Getting Active with Mediactive
- Research Tool for English Teachers
- Another Look at Shakespeare
- Making a Commitment to Fitness
- Wheezing Old Trolls at the Gate
- "Teaching" Time Management
- ▼ March (14)
- ► 2010 (145)
- ► 2009 (128)


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Options traders have been bracing themselves for bad news from some of Wall Street's most reliable companies, said Rebecca Darst of Interactive Brokers.
Specifically, Darst noted heavy activity in puts on General Electric and Caterpillar , Dow components that also are part of the SPDR Industrial exchange-traded fund. Puts indicate trader expectations that share prices will fall.
Even though options volume this week has been significantly lower than last week, Darst said, the trading has been significant in that it has indicated "traders possibly positioning defensively for some disappointing earnings, or for a slowdown in demand. I think people are coming on board with this economic slowdown story."
Darst said traders were buying GE puts in the October contract at strikes of $28 and $30.
GE is the parent of CNBC and CNBC.com.


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A tropical paradise overrun with zombies gave us one of the most memorable trailers in gaming history. Does the full title measure up to it's undead greatness, or is it just a shriveled bog man.
Dead Island is one of the prettiest games on the Xbox today. The title has a beautiful range of color and the island itself is very easy on the eyes. In fact, that's one of the most unsettling things about the game in general, since this Eden is contrasted sharply by the undead that call it home.
The outbreak of a zombie plague has seen the pale, rotting, partially eviscerated, corpses of the unlucky infected rise up from their temporary resting places to stalk the still living as 'walkers'. The amount of detail work that went into the zombies is something to see. Torn open mid-sections and gaping wounds abound. And even when the skins repeat (and boy do they) it always feels like there's something a little different about them.
I personally didn't care for the look that the zombies had in the Left 4 Dead games. I thought they were too washed out and, other than the special variants, not nearly interesting enough to want to spend any large amount of time battling. Dead Island is another story, at least in terms of visuals- but the way they act is quite familiar. These guys and gals pursue you with a singular mindset and either do the zombie two-step shuffle or quickly charge at you (and by the way, lopping the head off of a charging deadite is very satisfying) There are also special infected a la L4D. It's modern zombie stuff, plain and simple, but it still works.
As you make your way across the island you'll come upon some scripted segments, survivors, scenes of zombie feasts and some genuinely cool (and creepy) settings. For the most part, DI really does a solid job in the looks department. But it's not completely without it's problems- In particular, I found the texture pop when loading up saved games really quite noticeable. There should never be a time where you can effectively complete a (albeit minor) task while the game loads in texture, and there was. It doesn't break the experience, but it's there.
And speaking of 'but it's there'- as control goes, the layout comes in two flavors. There's a standard 'trigger' scheme that works pretty much how you'd expect it to for a first person action title, and then there's an analog system that gives you much more control over the weaponry you're swinging around. It's nothing groundbreaking, and I personally had no problem with using the triggers (I found the idea of analog irritating), but I've heard from others that using the sticks to fight is the bees knees once you get used to it- so the choice is yours.
Since we're on the subject of weaponry- it's almost a character unto itself. The tools of dismemberment that you wield are as varied as what you'd find in real life- if real life had zombies and lots of hammers. Oars, knives… hammers… and more are extremely common and must be consistently maintained if you want to get any kind of lengthy use out of them. Fortunately, there are a number of workbenches around the island where you can not only repair, but also improve and even customize your instruments of re-death. If you've played either of the Dead Rising titles, you already know how combining weapons with random items works and how much fun it can be- back in Willamette, I was always partial to the spiked bat.
There are firearms on the island too, but they're few and far between and not all that great to be honest. I suppose that actually makes some kind of sense since half the playable characters aren't really familiar with pulling triggers.
Which brings me to the one thing that I didn't care for in Dead Island- the characters. There's a washed up sports star, a washed up rapper, a washed up cop, and an undercover agent of the Chinese government who feels disrespected by her superiors. See what I mean? Adding to the generic feel of the base character types that you get to pick from, the writing is often not the best and the deliveries are of a hit and miss affair.
Each survivor (all four are immune to zombification by the way) has a unique skill set like edged weapon mastery or pipoint throwing ability, but it's not enough at the outset to make a noticeable difference during play. Since this is (at least partially) a role playing game, there is a fair bit of leveling up that you can do with the quartet's abilities, which is cool. And it's here that you truly start to see some of the differences between them. But what I would have liked to have seen was some more blatant advantages/disadvantages. Something even as extreme as not having the ability to wield a gun at all, or to not know how to improve bladed weapons at the workbench would have made the game play out very differently depending on who your avatar is.
Once you get into the game though (really get into it, because the first act is kind of 'meh') you'll forget all about the cookie-cutter characters and iffy dialog and everything else. And that's because throughout the entirety of the game, it's the action and exploration that takes center stage.
I've already gone through the smashy-smashy part so I'll just mention that there are a lot of side-quests on this big, bad, island. I skipped a good chunk of them during my playthrough (something I'm correcting at the moment) but they do offer quite a bit of extra challenge and extend the life of an already lengthy experience even further.
Final Thoughts
There's a lot to like about Dead Island. The graphics and overall sound design (the zombies are especially well voiced/moaned) are great and the control certainly ain't broke either. With a few tweaks here and there and maybe a tad more prep time, Dead Island could have been something truly special. As it is, it just has to settle for being a fun, scarey, action packed, and at times flawed, zombie romp.
So kick back, raise a drink, and aim for the head- because I have a feeling we'll be seeing more post-life vacationing in the future.


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Automated User Provisioning
The Access Manager makes user account provisioning fast and simple. SCC takes a unique approach to its Identity Management (IDM) suite, giving you the power, speed, and flexibility to ensure success.
Traditional IDM tools require months of professional services and developer programming or scripting skills to deploy. Moreover, roughly half of all identity deployments end in failure to connect to more than a simple Windows network.
Access Manager brings Identity Management to companies who value their time and resources while solving a critical pain point. You can be up and running in a matter of weeks for a fraction of the cost of other provisioning tools.
Features and Benefits
- Create, disable, and change any user access using manual or automated rules
- Monitor and detect changes in user profiles
- Prevent audit findings related to terminated user accounts
- Succeed in weeks with our fast and easy solution
- When the helpdesk receives a termination ticket for a user, the login to Access Manager and disable access with the push of a button
- If a user is no longer in the HR system, automatically disable their access to all systems
- One page to create and provision a new user and multiple applications
- If a user is disabled in Active Directory, automatically disable their access to all other systems
- Automatically provision user when added to HR system


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Christopher St. John
Poem in Volume 1
"The Valley Winds" — Page 110
Poet's Note in Volume 1
Christopher St. John lives in Reading, Pennsylvania. He says, "Assimilation is our evolution; and so movement causes personal flux. It did with me." He has had poems published in Curbside Review and Poetry Motel.
Acknowledgments, Permission and Copyright in Volume 1
Christopher St. John: "The Valley Winds" by Christopher St. John is printed herein by permission of Christopher St. John. Copyright © by Christopher St. John.


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There has been a strong shift over the past five years in the design and layout of council websites to a more user-centric model. Many councils are taking note of a variety of factors that influence how residents use their websites. Accessibility for visually disabled people, mobile access and other considerations are important factors for councils who want to follow the 'digital by default' mandate and serve their website customers well.
We've been watching this trend with interest, and have compiled a few examples of great council websites.
Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council recently launched a fantastic new website, which targets the needs of residents first. Based on research carried out by the council, the new site replaces a four-year-old version that users considered outdated and difficult to navigate, especially on mobile devices.
The council's research found that 80% of users used the site primarily to complete simple tasks, such as to request a new wheelie bin or pay a bill. Taking this on board, the new site was designed around resident services, not around the council's structure, making it easy for people to do their business fast.
The new council homepage features nine large and clear 'app' like icons that link to the top services residents use, including taxes, bins, roads, education benefits and planning. A 'can't find it' link under the icons reveals another fifteen services without taking residents away from the homepage.
A bonus of this resident-centric design is that the large icons, contrasting colours and large font make the website highly accessible, meeting government standards and, more importantly, resident needs.
Rochdale Council
Rochdale has taken a similar, if slightly less high-tech approach, by also incorporating the use of icons to help users navigate around their website:
The use of clear, simple visual cues helps the council's site reach far more citizens, and is useful to visitors for whom English is not their first language.
Medway City Council
Medway relaunched their website in 2010, and in March of this year was awarded four out of four stars for usability and accessibility, among other things, by Socitm. The site's clear layout and the council's strong, consistent use of social media also went some way towards their site being billed one of the best in the UK.
While it seems logical that council websites should exist first to serve their communities, many organisations still struggle to get past the 'ego' factor, designing sites around their organisational structure instead of their service provision.
Socitm, the association of public sector IT managers, carry out a great deal of research around council websites, and produce the annual Better Connected benchmarking report, which is a survey of over 400 UK councils. The purpose of the report is to identify best practice in digital service delivery by councils. Socitm's research found that councils are losing up to £11m a month due to poor website design. This cost is incurred because people are forced to communicate with these councils by phone or in person, which is far more expensive than having services automated by a well-designed website.
Another aspect covered by Socitm's research is mobile accessibility. More and more websites are taking this into account when redesigning their site. For example, the Manchester City Council website has been designed to overcome mobile issues, understanding that many residents use mobile devices to access the internet. Using responsive technology, the website recognises the type of device customers are using and reformats the layout and content accordingly.
We look forward to seeing more clean and modern site design over the coming years, as it links with our passion for empowering citizens to work better with their local councils. The easier it is for a person to engage with their local authority, the more likely it is for that person to take part in a consultation or other engagement activity.


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Board of Education
The board endeavors, through the dedication of the school district resources, to encourage students, who come to the school district from a variety of backgrounds, to look forward to the time when they will have jobs, homes, families, places in the school district community, and attain recognition as individuals. (Board Policy Code No. 101)
Jan Westrum is a retired teacher who taught for 28 years at Lowell, Franklin, and Bryant schools in Boone. She is currently a consultant for the Iowa Science Literacy Project and encourages science teachers in central Iowa to use an argument based/inquiry with writing based science approach for students in grades 3 – 6. Jan is also the Middle School PTO Treasurer and enjoys volunteering at the Middle School for Club Days. Her husband, Bob, is an insurance agent and a Master Electrician. They enjoy following the activities of their 2 children in BHS and BMS. In her spare time, Jan enjoys meeting her friends for coffee, reading, quilting, scrapbooking, and helping at church.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
A native of Dysart, Iowa, Dr. Mehlhaus attended Luther College and the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1988. After completing a family practice residency in South Bend, IN, he returned to Iowa, practicing in Fairfield for three years before moving to DesMoines. After getting married in 1997, he moved to Boone to return to rural family medicine Iowa Health System which is now UnityPoint Clinics. His wife Laura works part-time at DMACC. They have two daughters, Erica (class of 2017), and Katelyn (class of 2018). Dr. Mehlhaus is on active staff at Boone County Hospital where he serves on several committees. He is also a member of Boone Rotary and his family are members of Boone First United Methodist Church.
Scott Degeneffe was born and raised in Boone along with his wife Melissa. Shortly after school he moved away for career opportunities to Denver and Kansas City. Their goal was to position themselves where they could return to Boone and raise their family. In 2005 they made that move and started their family. Scott and Melissa have two wonderful boys Austin (7) and Porter (4). He has been in business management for seventeen years and is currently holding the position of Sr. Market Manager for Best Buy where he is responsible for 45 locations across seven states. In his free time he enjoys all kinds of outdoor activities i.e. camping, hiking, biking and spending time with family and friends. Scott also enjoys coaching his boys in baseball, soccer, and football. His most recent hobby includes adventure runs and triathlons.
Email: email@example.com
Jean Sorsen is a retired teacher associate who worked at Lincoln, United (6th grade), and Boone Middle School for 28 years. She is currently a member of the Boone School Improvement Committee. She also represented Boone schools support staff as their union president for 17 years in addition to coaching softball for 8 years. She is a member of the Iowa Retired School Personnel Association and enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family. Her husband, Richard, recently retired after 39 years as a sheet metal foreman. She has 5 children, 18 grandchildren (several who attend Boone schools) and 6 great-grandchildren whose activities keep her very busy.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Jeremy Pritchard was born and raised in Boone and graduated from BHS in 2005. After graduating, he moved on to the University of Northern Iowa where he graduated with a degree in Microbiology and a minor in Chemistry. Shortly after, Jeremy and Amy – also raised in Boone – were married and moved to the Iowa City area where Amy taught high school Spanish and Jeremy worked in Biotechnology. The birth of their son Ethan brought them back to Boone where Jeremy works at his family's mechanical contracting business and Amy teaches at BHS. Ethan is now 4 and their youngest son Nolan is 1. In their spare time Jeremy, Amy, and the boys like to spend time together, travel, read books, and tinker with things in the shop.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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MEDINA, Ohio, March 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
RPM, Inc. (NYSE: RPM) today announced that it has priced a public offering of
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the underwriters an option to purchase an additional 1.5 million shares of
common stock to cover over-allotments, if any.
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc. are acting as joint
bookrunners of the offering. Merrill Lynch & Co., Robert W. Baird & Co. and
McDonald Investments Inc. are acting as co-managers. The offering is expected
to close on April 2, 2002. Information about this offering is available in
the prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with
and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press
release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer
to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which
such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or
qualification under the securities laws of any such state.
RPM, Inc. is a world leader in specialty coatings serving both industrial
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/Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010126/RPMLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
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Some good reports of mangrove jacks in plague proportions in the Hinchinbrook at the moment, with the smaller creeks really firing on both hard bodies and soft plastics. While the rest of the channel has been fairly quiet its good to see there's still some entertainment available if you put the time in. The sand bars towards the jetty have been producing some really good grunter of late and we should hear of some more fish caught around the smaller jetty in the coming weeks. Cattle creek has been infested with jacks as well with schools of up to 20 jacks holding in snags up the smaller creeks. While the smaller fish hold closer to the surface in full view, down below the big ones wait and will be the first to belt any artificial in its path. I've heard of some good barra caught on lures in the Burdekin River recently and while the grunter reports haven't been flash the flathead fishing has been sensational. Deep gutters off sand bars has seen good numbers of flathead school up and can easily be fooled with small hard bodies, soft plastics and baits. Remember to use good leader like Instinct at least 40lb in strength as flathead wear through leader very quickly.
Not a lot to report from the reefs and shoals of late as the winds have been fresh to frightening. I'd imagine any good weather from now on won't be wasted and fingermark will be high priority with the reef closures coming up. Even though the warmer water is back in the bay don't rule out mackerel fishing as all over, these guys should still be easily caught up til the end of November. With the winds have been inhibiting many from getting out wide, the enthusiastic ones have been utilising this time to visit the Palm Island group for a spot of spear fishing. There's plenty on offer there and these guys had a ball with a mixed bag mangrove jacks up to 65cm, large mouth nannygai, coral trout and the much sought after painted crayfish taken all from reasonably shallow water. If you're interested in spearing the Palms take note that there are lots of areas that are zoned so be aware.
Small run in the tides over the weekend would make the smaller creeks much better to fish. Look at small creeks like those in the Burdekin such as Philips, Hell Hole and Wallaces. While the flathead are on the chew, this would be my target species. Use fresh flesh baits or good local prawns. Otherwise shallow hard bodied lures and soft plastics will work well on deep drop offs. Tide Times New Moon: 8th October 10
Weekly Report 29 Oct 10
Danny & Rosalie Brooks
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Ph. 07 4725 1266
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Edit Feb 2014: I've finally finished the blanket! You can get all the details here.
I've been working on my Summertime Patchwork Quilt Blanket. It still works up as fast as ever, but it seems that the bigger it gets the slower it grows! It's somewhere between a third and a half of what I want the finished size to be, and as I continue to sew the little hexies on it seems that it will never get there.
I've nearly run out of the ginger coloured yarn, and since it was stash yarn I've been unable to find any more the same. So I'll try blending a couple of strands of thin cotton, it won't be the same but hopefully won't look too out of place.
Here it is so far, about a third or so done. I'm thinking a thin white border to finish, possibly with picots on the pointed corners. And maybe some half round hexies to fill in the obvious gaps down the side? We'll see.


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