text:
In Egypt, small farmers embrace the entrepreneurial spirit
When the Arab Spring blew over Egypt in early 2011, most investors predicted chaos and fled, pushing already massive unemployment even higher and plunging the economy into profound uncertainty. But Mohamed Embarak, a farmer in Upper Egypt, saw only opportunity.
With four others, Embarak invested his life savings and created "Goodies for Agricultural Investment", the first agri-business company in Upper Egypt owned and run by smallholder farmers.
"Many people think that Egypt's upheaval means instability. To me these are the best times to root in new practices, standards and working culture," says Embarak.
Advised by a team of agronomists and experts who are part of a UN programme funded by the MDG-Fund, "Goodies" will help other small farmers collectively grow quality horticultural products and connect them directly to markets.
Embarak and his partners are among hundreds of farmers benefiting from the joint UN programme, which aims to encourage an entrepreneurial spirit and improve livelihoods in Upper Egypt, a region that contains only a quarter of Egypt's population but two thirds of its extremely poor and 95 percent of its poorest villages.
- The SALASEL programme is helping hundreds of farmers become entrepreneurs to improve livelihoods in Upper Egypt.
- Farmers are offered strategic guidance to match their production plans with existing demand.
- Farmers trained by the programme started their own company, and signed a deal to supply a major food-processor for a gross profit of US $150,000.
The programme, "Pro-poor Horticulture Value Chains in Upper Egypt (SALASEL)" incorporates the Arabic word for "chains" – and is based on improving small farmers' position in the chain of value-adding activities that comprise food production. It helps farmers match their production to market demands, boost their productivity and profitability by reducing food loss after harvest, and improve their positions in export and domestic markets by developing direct links with large agri-businesses, food processing firms and wholesalers.
"To lift small-scale farmers out of poverty, we desperately need to break the long chain of middlemen trading that has for so long eaten up the small farmers' potential profits; we need to provide the farmers with direct access to the big markets," says Embarak.
The SALASEL Joint Programme is a collaboration between the Egyptian government and four UN agencies -- ILO, UNDP, UN Women and UNIDO.
The programme offers farmers strategic guidance to match their production plans with existing demand, a market-driven technique known as "contract farming". "Goodies" plans to provide supplies such as seeds, pesticides and fertilizers to ease the financial burden on farmers at the early stages of cultivation. Advisors will also help farmers market their produce to ensure that they get fair prices for their hard work.
"Relating marketing activities to technical training is a very effective policy. Farmers are hard workers, yet they are mostly used to traditional farming techniques. Contract farming means the prospect of securing a higher profit margin ahead of plantation -- this is a very strong incentive for them to adopt new, more advanced techniques and practices," said Hany Nashed, marketing officer of the SALASEL programme's Luxor office, which has six full-time agronomists.
In 2012, 67 small farmers from Awlad Yahia village joined hands and resources to establish their own shareholding agri-business company, with a total capital of US $165,000. The company, which they named "Salasel Co." after the UN joint programme, has an established strategy based on helping small farmers grow demand-driven crops.
Today, Salasel Co. farmers are involved not only in production but also with the business aspect, signing a deal to supply a major food processor with 1,000 tons of onions, with a gross profit of $150,000.
"When the idea was proposed back in 2011, we did not even consider it to be feasible, but look at us now," says Abu El Saoud, one of the founders of the new company.
The company is closely collaborating with the SALASEL Joint Programme to promote contract farming, emphasizing its contribution to economies of scale as well as increasing the farmers' bargaining power and improving their access to markets.


text:
Bitty Oval Succulent Garden Necklace - {Miss Mauve}
Bitty Oval Succulent Garden Necklace - {Miss Mauve}
from 35.00
Succulent Garden Necklace
Tiny succulents hand sculpted with polymer clay within a 24K plated pewter bezel.
-The listing is for one necklace.
-The bezel measures around 3/4".
-Comes on a beautiful 16" chain with a 2" extender. You may choose the material of the chain on the scroll window below.
-The succulents, although they might appear realistic, are not real plants, they are a hand sculpted version.
-The color of the necklace might be slightly different due to the lighting at the time of taking the picture
Chain Material:
Add To Cart

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Orange Leader and Weekly Tribune. (Orange, Tex.), Vol. 11, No. 31, Ed. 1 Friday, December 22, 1899
Description: Weekly newspaper from Orange, Texas that includes local, state and national news along with extensive advertising.
Date: December 22, 1899
Creator: Rein, Charles M.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Newspaper
Partner: Lamar State College – Orange


text:
The airplane information shown on FR24 is not transmitted by the airplane. The information comes from a giant database that has been built up manually during 5 years time. It's based on the unique Hex/ModeS code that is transmitted by the airplane.
Every day there are new deliveries and old aircraft getting new owners, so new information have to be added into database daily.
Help us updating the database by posting the Hex/ModeS code together with aircraft information in this thread. The format that will make it quick and easy for us to update the database is:
ModeS/Hex-code - always needed
ICAO Type code - sets the icon
Airline / Owner - no individuals, trustees or leasing companies
Paint code (ICAO) - should reflect the livery of the aircraft - ICAO code only, not IATA code or name
Operator code (ICAO) - ICAO code only, not IATA code or name
First flight date - not delivery date - format year-mm-dd (if mm or dd is unknown replace with 00, for example 2012-06-00)
Boeing 737-89L
Air China
Airbus A320-232
Wizz Air UK
Piper PA-28-181
Private owner
We can't just set or update an icon. Correct icon is set based on the ICAO Type code. When correct ICAO Type code has been provided, the icon will be correct.
For privacy reasons please don't report individuals, trustees or leasing companies as airline/owner. "Private owner" is preffered for non-airline aircraft.
Please don't report data where hex-code and registration is not matching (same country). This happens often when an aircraft is transfered to a new country and the new owner doesn't update the transponder data.
List is available on http://www.mantma.co.uk/icao_country_codes.html
This means that an aircraft with hex-code between A00000 and AFFFFF can only have an US N-registration and not Brazil PR-registration or German D-registration or Chinese B-registration.
This will hopefully make aircraft owners more aware of that they are using an incorrect hex-code and also decrease of numbers of errors when hex-code is re-used in country of orgin.
There are about 5-10 people with access to the database that can update the database from the data posted on this forum. Correct data and data provided in the format above makes it easier for the editors to add the data to database and reduces the processing time.
We are focusing on updating the database with aircraft that are equipped with an ADS-B transponder. Aircraft without ADS-B that are not visible on FR24, may be omitted. Normal processing time is from 5 minutes to 5 weeks.
For aircraft that are live there is a faster option to add missing aircraft data. Press the + button in the plane info window to submit the missing data. Normal processing time is 1-7 days.
No discussions in this thread. If you want to discuss any data feel free to use https://forum.flightradar24.com/thre...dar24-database


text:
Matt Tifft will be running the DOC 360 colors in the K&N East Series in 2013

 Officials from Win-Tron Racing announced today that DOC 360 will partner with NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) rookie Matt Tifft (@matt89tifft) for the entire 2013 season beginning with next Saturdayâs Bristol 125 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Last month, Win-Tron Racing and the 2012 ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year, Matt Tifft, officially announced that they would unite and run for the championship with their No. 89 Chevrolet Impala under the leadership of Shane Tesch. The addition of DOC 360 completes the puzzle and allows the team to centrally focus on winning races and ultimately the championship. \"DOC 360 is very excited to partner with Matt Tifft and Win-Tron Racing,â said Tim Preston, Director of Business Development for DOC 360. âMatt is a perfect fit for the DOC 360 brand as both are rising stars in their respective business. When you speak to individuals from the racing community, they all speak very highly of Matt as a young man and his future in racing. We feel he will connect well with our core demographics and be a great representative for the DOC 360 brand as we move toward national distribution. Most importantly, we feel the Win-Tron Racing and the DOC 360 partnership can help Matt reach his goal of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship someday.\" Tifft, the Hinckley, Ohio native shows equal enthusiasm about the partnership. âIâm very excited to be representing DOC 360 on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Tour this season,â he said. âItâs great to welcome a new sponsor into Motorsports and I feel the partnership will be very rewarding. We cannot wait to get the season started next weekend at Bristol.â Learn more about DOC 360, by visit: drinkdoc360.com or Facebook/drinkdoc360. For more on Matt Tifft, please visit MattTifftRacing.com or click on his Facebook page. Tifft tweets too, follow him @matt89tifft. *About DOC 360:* DOC 360 is owned and manufactured by Wis-Pak, Inc. Wis-Pak is a manufacturer and distributor of Pepsi-Cola and other leading soft drinks. The company's corporate office is located in Watertown, Wisconsin and production facilities are found throughout the Central and Southern United States. Wis-Pak is owned by 39 Shareholders, representing 63 independent Pepsi-Cola franchises. Wis-Pak is majority owner of WP Beverages, which is the seventh largest Pepsi-Cola franchisee in the United States with corporate headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin. *About Win-Tron Racing:* Located in Mooresville, North Carolina, Win-Tron Racing is the home of one the most potent ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards single-car operations. Owned by former racers Kevin Cywinski and Nate Thiesse, the team since has acquired the assets of County Joe Racing has become a favorable fixture on the circuit. Since Win-Tron Racingâs inception in 2007, the team has hosted a variety of drivers including leading drivers James Buescher, Blake Bjorklund, Justin Marks, Matt Merrell and Brandon McReynolds to their first career ARCA victories. In 2013, the team will begin its seventh year of competition with a presence in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series (East) and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.Read More »
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Announces Partnership with HAWK Performance for 2013
Officials of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series are excited to announce a new partnership with HAWK Performance as the title sponsor of a new category for 2013. The HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the race will award a driver a special product award for each LOLMDS event in 2013. The driver that records the fastest lap time during the feature event will be awarded the HAWK Performance fastest lap of the Race. \"Hawk Performance believes in the people behind Team Lucas and all of the teams involved, which is why we returned as a sponsor of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. With our contingency for the Hawk Performance Fastest Lap of the Night, our line of DTC rotors and pads will be a perfect match for LOLMDS drivers and teams. We can't wait to join the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at tracks across the country\" stated Cody Currie, Marketing Manager for HAWK Performance Products Group. With their corporate offices located in Chino, CA and their R&D Plant in Solon, OH, Hawk Performance has dominated the Motorsports market since 1990. HAWK Performance offers highly-engineered friction products for nearly every type of racing. HAWK performance continues to provide dirt late model racers the best components for their dirt late model race cars and many of the stars of the industry win with HAWK. \"We are very excited to add another new contingency program for the racers that compete at our events in 2013. HAWK Performance has been a great partner with the LOLMDS for several years now and this new category gives racers another opportunity to win additional awards at each event. We look forward to working with HAWK Performance as a partner with the series for a long time to come\", stated Ritchie Lewis, Director, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. About: HAWK PERFORMANCE: Hawk Performance is a leading supplier of severe duty and high-performance products manufactured in ISO-certified facilities for the motorsports and performance automotive aftermarket. Hawk Performance products are engineered to allow users to control command and conquer the terrain for which their vehicles are designed. Decades of experience in developing friction materials for aerospace, industrial, military, automotive and motorsports applications give Hawk an advantage over the competition. In the past decade, Hawk friction products have won more motorsports championships than any other friction manufacturer. Additional information on Hawk Performance can be found at,http://www.hawkperformance.com/or on Facebook,www.facebook.com/hawkperformance The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series takes a few weeks off before heading to Indiana for the \"16th Annual Indiana Icebreaker\". The event will take place Saturday March 23rd at the historic Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, IN. Don O'Neal is the defending race champion of the Indiana Icebreaker and will be looking to increase his lead in the national championship points standings. For more information about this years \"Indiana Icebreaker\" visit the track website at www.Brownstownspeedway.com. The Host Hotel for this event will be the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Seymour, IN located at 327 North Sandy Creek Drive. Contact the hotel office to make reservations at 812-524-3800 and ask for the special racer rate for that weekend. For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit the series' website at www.lucasdirt.com. Follow the series on the social media outlets at www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and www.twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.Read More »
Strong Field Expected For PASS South Opener at Dillon
Anticipation continues to build for what looks to be one of the most exciting and competitive seasons yet for the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model division and the new PASS Pro Late Model division. PASS South has proven to be the place where top short track drivers from around the country come to compete on the Southeastâs toughest track. The PASS Pro Late Models will race as a companion series to PASS South and is already proving to be one of the top divisions for young racers just starting out. The 16 race PASS South schedule kicks off this weekend at the demanding Dillon Motor Speedway with the 8th Annual South Carolina Clash and will be followed just a week later by the Bash At The Beach at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Both tracks have been very busy of late with teams preparing for these first two PASS South races on back-to-back weekends. Since 2011, Brad Keselowski Racing has built a top notch Super Late Model team led by veteran head wrench Gary Crooks. Last year, the BKR team took its first ever Super Late Model victory in a PASS South event at South Boston Speedway with Landon Cling piloting the #29 entry. Cling finished fifth in final PASS South points, just edging out Iowa rookie Nate Caruth who finished sixth in the #19 BKR machine. This year, Texas native Zak Hausler takes over the #19, while Maine racer Austin Theriault takes sole possession of the #29. Theriault has driven for BKR over the last few seasons, but will only be making his second ever PASS South start in this weekendâs South Carolina Clash. Theriault is not a stranger to PASS however. He won the PASS North season finale last year at Maineâs Oxford Plains Speedway. Theriault took full advantage of Dillon and Myrtle Beachâs close proximity and tested successfully at both speedways recently. âIâm confident that with our hard work during the offseason and using last yearâs success to build on our strong foundation, we can contend for wins wherever we go,â said Theriault. âIâm looking forward to Dillon and Myrtle Beach to get our year kicked off on the right foot. Both cars were great at the test.â Speaking of rookies, in 2012 Kyle Grissom did what few thought was possible by taking the PASS South title in his first season of ever driving Super Late Models. While most thought he could make the transition from the heavier Late Model Stock cars to the sleeker, more powerful PASS South Super Late Models, no one could have guessed how much success Grissom and the Greg Marlowe team would have. With just three starts under his belt, Grissom took his first career PASS South checkered flag at Hickory Motor Speedwayâs Easter Bunny 150. Then, he proceeded to make a little PASS South history. Grissom became the first driver to ever win three straight PASS South races and his five wins overall equaled Ben Roweâs single season wins record set back in 2009. Now, with a successful 2012 season behind them, Grissom and the Harrisonâs Workwear team come to Dillon anxious to defend their title as champions. âThere is always pressure showing up as the defending champion, but this is a new year and these PASS South drivers are always tough,â said Grissom. âIâm really excited to get back to Dillon after only racing there once last year. We are working on some different set ups, so Iâm excited to see what weâve got this year.â One of the biggest surprises to come out of the 2012 season was the performance of Brandon Ward and the New Day Motorsports team. Always competitive but seeming to come up just short, the New Day Motorsports #62 and owner Jeff Day have raced with PASS South since the series started in 2006. But, things began to turn around when Ward joined the team in 2010 and by last year all the pieces seemed to be in place to make a run at the title. Ward took the #62 to victory lane twice last year, first at Wake County Speedway and then in the Firecracker 150 at Anderson Motor Speedway. It all began, though, with a good run in the South Carolina Clash. Ward led the most laps of the race at Dillon before fading to eighth in the final rundown. Now with a new car and more confidence than ever, Ward thinks 2013 could be his year. âIâm really looking forward to the race at Dillon and getting the new season started,â said Ward. âIâm happy to be back with New Day Motorsports and having kpmoto.com, Kevin Powell Motorsports, and Foothill Ford back with us. Dillon is a fun racetrack and a great facility and it should be a great show for the fans.â The 8th Annual South Carolina Clash once again starts the Super Late Model season in the Southeast and the field will be stacked with plenty of contenders for the win. Defending PASS National Jay Fogleman will be back not only looking for a win, but to set a course for the 2013 PASS South title. Two-time PASS National Champion and former South Carolina Clash winner Ben Rowe makes the long trip down from Maine in the hopes of early season success. Former PASS South winner Clay Rogers returns behind the wheel of the Coulter Motorsports entry. After a strong second place run in the PASS National season opener at Auburndale Speedway, Floridaâs Joe Boyd heads to unfamiliar territory looking for similar results. Boyd will be joined by fellow Sunshine State driver Joseph Mursuli, who comes to PASS South from the Florida Truck ranks. The PASS South youth movement continues with the efforts of North Carolinaâs Bobby Gower, Indiana youngster Karl Weber and home state driver Gus Dean. Veteran John Batten returns along with Justin Allison, Jimmy Doyle, Bill Catania âKrazyâ Kevin Powell and a host of others hoping to start the season off at Dillon with a win. The PASS Pro Late Models have attracted attention from young drivers all over the country hoping to continue their climb up the racing ladder in bigger, faster cars. These drivers will get their first chance of the season at Dillon Saturday night with a 75 lap test around the 4/10 mile egg-shaped oval. Tate Fogleman comes into the season with high hopes and a new look. Fogleman will be sponsored by Speedco for the full PASS Pro Late Model season and will make the switch from #4 to #8. But, he will have a stout field of challengers led by Trevor Noles in the Coulter Motorsports machine. Noles got a late start last season, but adapted quickly scoring wins at Hickory and Concord. Perhaps the driver with the most experience in the PASS Pro Late Model field at Dillon will be Darlington, SCâs Hayes Goodson. Goodson is a third generation racer and will sport the familiar blue #16 made famous by his father, Hal. Hayes Goodson has a number of laps around Dillon Motor Speedway and has multiple wins in the Supertruck and Late Model divisions. Hopes will also be high for young Harrison Burton. Harrison, the son of Sprint Cup winner Jeff Burton, will make his debut with the PASS Pro Late Models at Dillon this weekend. Jeff Batten, Walker Yates, Tyler Audie, Austin Reed, Collin Vernal, Nick Robinson and more will present quite a challenge when the green flag drops over an impressive field of PASS Pro Late Models on Saturday night. South Carolina Clash action starts this weekend on Friday with rotating practice from 3-6:30 PM for the PASS South Super Late Models, PASS Pro Late Models, Allison Legacy, Legends, and Bandoleros. On Saturday, pit gates open at 9 AM, with rotating practice for all divisions from 11 AM to 2:40 PM, qualifying will be at 3:15 PM and main event racing will start at 5 PM. Following the South Carolina Clash at Dillon, the PASS South Super Late Models and PASS Pro Late Models move to Myrtle Beach Speedway on March 16 for the Inaugural Battle At The Beach. Dillon Motor Speedway owner Ron Barfield will be keeping his track open for a few days after the South Carolina Clash and will make his race shop available for any out-of-town teams planning to race at Myrtle Beach. Fans are encouraged to check out the Run To The Sun XXV car show held in Myrtle Beach on March 14-16 by the Pee Dee Street Rodders. Vendors and fans who attend the car show will have the opportunity to pick up discount coupons for the PASS race at Myrtle Beach Speedway that weekend. PASS will also have an awards presentation for our 2012 competitors during the âPit Partyâ prior to the Bash At The Beach green flag. PASS South Super Late Model entry forms for the Dillon, Myrtle Beach and Hickory events as well as the 2013 PASS license forms for all divisions can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.Read More »
NASCAR And Clements: When Nobody Is Right, Everyone Is Wronged
Every story has two sides. That's one of life's truths — along with the truth itself, generally lying somewhere between those two sides. Often, one side makes itself heard before the other, and opinions get formed without knowing the rebuttal. Or, speculation and empty rumors abound until both sides are heard, and then there's a judgment call about whom to side with on the issue. It's a little like a court of law: the prosecutor outlines the case and the defense gives their version of events before the jury gets to decide which one is more accurate, and to choose who's right and who's wrong.Read More »
CARS Adopts Charlotte Name for 2013 Show and Beyond
Officials from the Carolina Auto Racing Show (CARS) are excited to announce a new name will adorn the popular industry trade show commonly known as CARS. The show will now be known as Charlotte's Auto Racing Show (CARS), as they will be moving to the Charlotte Convention Center December 5-7, …Read More »
Keepin' it Short – Kicking off the K&N West Season The K&N drivers were the last feature during the Battle at the Beach at Daytona International Speedway last week. This coming Saturday will be the start of their points paying season. This will be the 60th season of the K&N …Read More »
The Critic's Annex 108- NextEra Energy Resources 250
Hello, race fans. Welcome back to the Critic's Annex, where we take an additional look at motorsports-related programming. The original grandmaster plan was to cover SPEED's Richard Petty special that premiered on February 18th. However, Saturday's savage crash at Daytona put the kibosh on that. Substantial emphasis had to be …Read More »
Beyond the Cockpit: Daytona 500 Finish Gives Yeley Great Hope For 2013
_J.J. Yeley has seen it all during his brief Sprint Cup career. In 2006, he was chosen by Joe Gibbs as the successor to the organization's famed No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet after the team had parted ways with 2000 champion Bobby Labonte. It seemed like Yeley had a bright career ahead of him, yet just three years later, the Arizona native was out of the sport altogether, sidelined with a neck injury suffered in a Sprint Bandits Series race at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas._ _The road back has been a long and winding one for the now 36-year-old, who bounced from one team to another trying to find the right fit. If the start of the 2013 season is any indication, though he may have found it with Tommy Baldwin Racing. Yeley's 10th-place finish in the Great American Race was his first top 10 since the 2008 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 in New Hampshire, a consistent run that reconfirmed their status as one of the sport's top "underdog" organizations. The performance has both driver and team brimming with confidence as they head into the desert this weekend._Read More »
NASCAR Fantasy Insider: Are You Ready For Real Racing To Begin?
Sure, Daytona is a great way to start the season and there always seems to be some kind of drama going on there. But do not fear, fantasy players who may have failed in week one. There are 35 other points races on the schedule and while winning at Daytona is obviously the best way to start a season, it's not necessarily an indicator of how a driver or team will do the rest of the way. Case in point: the last Daytona 500 winner to win the Sprint Cup title was Jimmie Johnson in 2006, looking to repeat the feat after winning this year. And while the mainstream media will likely tone down its NASCAR coverage after Daytona, we who follow the sport know that the other races can't be ignored, so it's off to Phoenix we go. There was actually snow in the Phoenix area last week, so be careful with those predictions, such as, "it will have to snow in Phoenix before (insert your least favorite driver's name) wins."Read More »
Frontstretch Fan Q&A: A Changing NASCAR World Of Lawsuits & Stereotypes
Whew… so, a lot has happened since the last time we talked. It seems like there are a million different storylines with a million different perspectives, and thanks to social media, we're all talking about them at the same time. Say the words, "Danica", "Catchfence," or "Gen-6" and you know exactly what I'm talking about. No doubt, you also have an opinion. While we can't possibly cover every single topic there is to tackle in this column, there was no doubt what was on everyone's minds when I looked at the questions that readers were sending in. So let's get started, with your running themes...Read More »


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Afghanistan: Connections to Islamic Movements In Central and South Asia and Southern Russia
Description: After several years of relative peace in Central Asia and southern Russia, Islamic extremist movements have become more active in Russia and in Central and South Asia, threatening stability in the region. Although numerous factors might account for the upsurge in activity, several of these movements appear to have connections to the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban regime in Afghanistan. These linkages raise questions about whether the United States, as part of a broader effort to promote peace and stability in the region, should continue to engage the Taliban regime, or strongly confront it. This report will be updated as events warrant.
Date: December 7, 1999
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department


text:
Home April 17th 1860 )
My dear Sister )
It becomes my painful duty to
inform you of Pa's death. He died of spasm-
was taken Saturday 14th l0oclk & died at 12oclk Sunday 15th
night and being able to speak after his attack
He rode to the Gin just after dinner & from there
to the spring where Hannah was washing. He re-
marked to her that he thought he heard some
one up the fence, & asked her if she knew who
it was. She said there was no one & was
surprised at the unusual tone of his voice."
She said he would ride up and see, & so
did. Hannah of reflection thought best
to go and hunt for him (Pa)" after some
ten minutes had passed, & he did not return."
His strange manner of speech caused her
to do this. She went a piece from the spring
& called him, he did not answer, so she
went in persuit of him, & to her astonish
ment, he had hitched his mare, & was
lying with his head on his elbow by a
little tree & vomiting. She asked him what


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Mplus Home
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Predicting Future Observations
Mplus Discussion
Growth Modeling of Longitudinal Data
Mark Sweatman
posted on Wednesday, April 03, 2013 - 9:50 am
It's my understanding that you can utilize growth curve modeling to predict future observations. I would like to do that for a clinical trial that I am working on. I would like to predict what our 12 month follow-up should be based on five previous time points of data collection. However, I'm at a loss of how I should write the syntax in order to accomplish this. Here is my syntax thus far (which works fine for predicting the intercept, slope, and significance levels for the two groups I'm looking at – walkers vs. non-walkers):
Title: 10M Walk Group Linear Growth Curve Analysis
Data: File is C:\IGC 10M Analysis.csv;
Variable: Names are StudyID Group Name LEMS Walk Pre Twelve Eighteen Post SixMonth;
Usevariables are Walk Pre Twelve Eighteen Post SixMonth;
Grouping is Walk (0=Non-Walkers 1=Walkers);
Missing is all (999);
Model: i s |
Plot: Type is Plot3;
Series = Pre Twelve Eighteen Post SixMonth (*);
What is the syntax I should plug in so I can predict a 12Month follow up at time point 5?
Thanks so much for your help with this!
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Wednesday, April 03, 2013 - 5:04 pm
You can use MODEL CONSTRAINT to do this. Use the formulas for y shown on Slide 45 of the Topic 3 course handout on the website using the time score for the 12 month follow up. I think you time scores are incorrect in the statements above. The Topic 3 course handout also shows how the determine time scores. If twelve and eighteen represent weeks, the time scores should be 0 1 1.5 not 0 1 2.
Mark Sweatman
posted on Thursday, April 04, 2013 - 10:57 am
Thank you! I now understand the concept behind calculating a new time point variable better, but I'm a little stumped on how to translate that into syntax. My updated syntax is:
Data: File is H:\IGC 10M Analysis.csv;
Variable: Names are StudyID Group Name LEMS Walk Pre Twelve Eighteen Post SixMonth;
Usevariables are Walk Pre Twelve Eighteen Post SixMonth;
Grouping is Walk (0=Non-Walkers 1=Walkers);
Missing is all (999);
Model: i s |
Model Constraint: new (twelvemo);
twelvemo = img + smg*8;
Plot: Type is Plot3;
Series = Pre Twelve Eighteen Post SixMonth (*);
Under Model Constraint, I was trying to specify IMG as the intercept growth factor, SMG as the slope growth factor, and 8 as the time score for the observation I want to predict at point 8 in the time series. I fixed the time scores on your advice, and corrected them to be 0 1 1.5 2 4 & 8. Can you please advise me to the correct syntax to get a predicted value for twelve month follow up?
Thank you so much for your assistance!
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Friday, April 05, 2013 - 9:30 am
Model: i s |
[i] (p1);
[s] (p2);
Model Constraint: new (twelvemo);
twelvemo = p1 + p2*8;
To be sure the formulas are correct, run it also for time score 4 and check the RESIDUAL output to be sure you get the same number.
Mark Sweatman
posted on Tuesday, April 09, 2013 - 6:14 am
Thank you so much Dr. Muthen. I really appreciate it. I will run this and then double check it with time score 4. :-)
Mark Sweatman
posted on Tuesday, April 09, 2013 - 1:26 pm
Dr. Muthen,
Thank you for helping me out with my growth curve model and for correcting my syntax. I ran the model and everything seemed to converge just fine; although, now I need a little help in interrupting the results. My model is grouped by two populations – walkers and non-walkers. But when I look at the results for my new calculated variable, I only see values (i.e. estimate, p-value, etc.) for one calculation of my new time series variable towards the bottom of the output under "New/Additional Parameters." I don't see separate calculations for the walkers group the non-walkers group. Additionally, I don't really understand the estimate that is produced. That's not supposed to be the mean for the new time series that was calculated, is it? Also, can a new time series be graphed?
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Tuesday, April 09, 2013 - 1:52 pm
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HP 125A, (CB540A) Black Original LaserJet Toner CartridgeItem#:� YYI2-99986G �|�Model#:�CB540A
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HP CB540A, CB541A, CB542A, CB543A, CE259 Product Details
SpecificationsTONER,F/HP CLJCP1215,BK
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Satulah Mountain
Level of difficulty: Moderate (700-foot elevation gain)
Driving distance/direction from downtown Highlands, NC: None
Parking: None
Hiking distance: About 3.5 miles
Description: As there is no dedicated, public parking on the mountain, walk from downtown. Follow Satulah Road to the cul-de-sac at the top of the road. Several nice views from granite outcrops and remnant of old cabin. On return, loop back to top of Worley Road for return trip to Highlands.
Footnote: About half of this hike is on paved road, skirting multiple private properties, but public hiking access to the top is guaranteed under covenants with the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust.
Hike descriptions adapted from the Highland Hiker's Guide to Day Hikes.


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Discipline Dangers
When it comes to discipline in the classroom, where should the line be drawn? Dr. Phil continues his discussion about the use of restraints in school, and he talks to parents who say their son came home with bruises. Joining him is Areva Martin, civil and family attorney and author of The Everyday Advocate.
Are physical restraint techniques needed in the classroom, or are there alternative methods to handle unruly children? Dr. Phil and his guests debate the issue. Plus, meet a woman who says she was concerned when her autistic son came home from school with bruises.
Jessica says she'll do anything to find the best school for her 4-year-old autistic son, Aiden, even if it means moving to another town. Her husband, Kevin, thinks she's obsessed with her mission and says he refuses to move.
Can Jessica get the best treatment for Aiden and also keep her marriage intact?
See an update with this family!


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Picture: Roger Ebert 36th Annual Toronto International Film Festival - Celebrities out and about Toronto, Canada - 09.09.11
Beloved U.S. film critic Roger Ebert was set to start hospice care on the day he lost his fight with cancer, according to his wife.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning movie expert revealed he was facing a new battle with the disease on his official blog on Tuesday night (02Apr13), and he passed away on Thursday (04Apr13).
His widow Chaz has opened up about Ebert's final days, confessing he was "getting tired" of his cancer battle and was surrounded by his loved ones as he died.
She also revealed her late husband was preparing to start hospice care on the day he died, and has thanked fans for their outpouring of well wishes following her partner's death.
In a statement, she writes, "I am devastated by the loss of my love, Roger - my husband, my friend, my confidante and oh-so-brilliant partner of over 20 years. He fought a courageous fight. I've lost the love of my life and the world has lost a visionary and a creative and generous spirit who touched so many people all over the world.
"We had a lovely, lovely life together, more beautiful and epic than a movie. It had its highs and the lows, but was always experienced with good humor, grace and a deep abiding love for each other.
"Roger was a beloved husband, stepfather to Sonia and Jay, and grandfather to Raven, Emil, Mark and Joseph. Just yesterday he was saying how his grandchildren were 'the best things in my life'. He was happy and radiating satisfaction over the outpouring of responses to his blog about his 46th year as a film critic. But he was also getting tired of his fight with cancer, and said if this takes him, he has lived a great and full life.
"We were getting ready to go home today for hospice care, when he looked at us, smiled, and passed away. No struggle, no pain, just a quiet, dignified transition. We are touched by all the kindness and the outpouring of love we've received. And I want to echo what Roger said in his last blog, thank you for going on this journey with us."
Ebert was first diagnosed with the disease in his thyroid gland in 2002, and doctors discovered the return of cancerous cells in his body late last year (12) when he was hospitalised for a fractured hip.
Fans of film journalism will love this documentary about the noted Chicago critic Roger Ebert,...
My friends and I get together once a year to watch cheesy movies and eat...


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For every vote, Kashi donated $1 to Cooking Matters Colorado (up to $35,000). The goal was met on March 6, 2013.
No child should grow up hungry in America, but 1 in 5 children struggles with hunger. Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign is ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need, every day.
The No Kid Hungry campaign connects kids in need to effe...
This poll closed almost 6 years ago
While most of us know the importance of eating healthfully, less than half of low-income American families actually prepare nutritious meals most days of the week.* We can point to plenty of reasons why eating healthy is a challenge: fresh fruits and vegetables can be more expensive, healthy foods are often harder to find than less healthy alternatives, and busy schedules make it difficult to actually prepare a meal from scratch. These barriers are creating a gap between our vision of healthy communities and our reality – they're creating a Real Food Deficit.
The Kashi REAL Project™ is committed to helping solve the Real Food Deficit, and as a part of their ongoing efforts, have partnered with the non-profit Share Our Strength's Cooking Matters® Colorado. Cooking Matters Colorado is tackling the Real Food Deficit by equipping families with the tools to make healthy meals at home, practice responsible food shopping, shift budgeting behaviors, and teaching children and families healthy eating habits that last a lifetime. For every poll answer, $1 is donated to help Cooking Matters Colorado** expand their cooking skills courses to more families and help build stronger, healthier communities.
Want to help Cooking Matters Colorado earn their $35,000 goal? Make sure to share the poll with others in your community. It's a simple action you can do to help reduce the Real Food Deficit.
You can also learn more about Kashi's work with Cooking Matters Colorado and other non-profit partners to help tackle the Real Food Deficit and make real food a reality.


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English Teacher
Hi Everyone,
I'm in need of some ideas. I have some students that I tutor privately, one of them being a woman from China who is at the upper intermediate/advanced level. She expressed an interest in our doing some lessons based on family-oriented American films, as she's interested in learning about family life and culture in America through film.
I'm not a huge family film fan (I'm a classic film freak myself :D) so I'm not sure what I could use for her level and that might interest her. She's a professional businesswoman, so I don't want anything too silly or annoying.
If anyone has any ideas, I would greatly appreciate it!
Being a non-native teacher, I'm so thrilled being in such a superb forum.
Remember - if you don't use correct capitalisation, punctuation and spacing, anything you write will be incorrect.
Thank you for the suggestions. I was thinking of "It's a Wonderful Life" (probably because of the holiday season). I actually adore classic films, so I might just check this one out. Another film I've been thinking about (though it's not exactly a family film) is "You've Got Mail". I know it's romantic comedy, but it's light and funny and does involve American culture.
I liked You've Got Mail as well, but it's not a family film, as you say.
moon - I hate to tell you, the life of the women on Deperate Housewives is NOTHING like everyday life. It's like saying that Harry Potter gives you everyday conversations about what life is like at an English boarding school.
Free Willy made me think of Winter, a Dolphin's Tail (I think it's Tail instead of Tale, because the dolphin lost her tail). The new-classic A Christmas Story is really funny too. The remake of Miracle on 34th Street is a modern version of the classic, and also sweet.
Fly Away Home was also nice.
I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.
But to give it its due, it's got nice words and expressions. Some common words that are really useful. However, I think the classic ones don't contain these nice words. Words like: freak out, screw up, hang out, etc. some words that the students need in their conversations to sound more informal.
How about "Mrs. Doubtfire", "Terminal", "Forestgump", "the dead poet society", "What a girl really wants", "Hachiko", "The princess' diaries", "I am Sam"? I liked them all.
Being a non-native teacher, I'm so thrilled being in such a superb forum.


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Life of a comet
This animation shows how most comets originate in an area beyond the orbits of Neptune and Pluto, filled with millions of tiny comet nuclei. Occasionally a comet has a gravitational encounter with a planet and is dragged into orbit around the Sun.
Last update: 9 November 2007


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Getty Images
Maybe it's an omen.
The Panthers won their first coin toss of the year, and thus inspired, drove down the field for an early lead on the Falcons.
The Panthers were 0-13 on coin tosses this year (including an overtime), which can perhaps only be explained by their black cat mascot.
Cam Newton then directed an impressive 11-play, 77-yard drive, hitting Greg Olsen for a 25-yard touchdown. Newton was 5-of-5 passing on the opening drive, continuing a run of solid play.


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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Looking back on the horror of that Saturday in January, this seems miraculous today: that Mark Kelly would indeed command the next-to-last space shuttle flight and that his wounded wife, Gabrielle Giffords, would be here in Florida watching.
Yet that is what is expected to happen Friday.
Space news from NBCNews.com
Teen's space mission fueled by social media
Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: "Astronaut Abby" is at the controls of a social-media machine that is launching the 15-year-old from Minnesota to Kazakhstan this month for the liftoff of the International Space Station's next crew.
- Buzz Aldrin's vision for journey to Mars
- Giant black hole may be cooking up meals
- Watch a 'ring of fire' solar eclipse online
- Teen's space mission fueled by social media
The Kelly-Giffords ordeal has been a national drama since Jan. 8, when the congresswoman was shot in the head at a meet-and-greet in her hometown of Tucson, Ariz.
The couple's love story — her struggle to survive a serious brain injury and her remarkable progress, and his devotion to both his wife and NASA — has overshadowed Endeavour's final voyage and the looming end of the shuttle program.
It's all about Mark and Gabby.
"They're America's sweethearts," said Susan Still Kilrain, a former space shuttle pilot.
A day for love stories
On a day fit for princes and princesses — Britain's Prince William will wed Kate Middleton that morning — Endeavour's scheduled 3:47 p.m. ET blastoff is the big draw for tourists and residents on Florida's Space Coast.
The Obama family will be here, as will a congressional contingent and an estimated 40,000 other NASA guests. Plus, hundreds of thousands are expected to jam surrounding beaches and roadways, all eager to catch one of the last two space shuttle launches.
No one, it seems, can resist the real-life drama surrounding the 47-year-old astronaut and the 40-year-old congresswoman, married just three years when a bullet changed everything. The shooting rampage outside a supermarket left six dead and 13 injured, including Giffords.
Kelly rushed by private jet from Houston to Tucson with his two teenage daughters and his mother, as soon as he learned of the assassination attempt.
His shuttle co-pilot, Gregory Johnson, was also moving at rocket speed. He opened his Houston home to the rest of the shuttle crew and their families that bleak Saturday night, as he struggled to come up with a game plan amid the shock waves.
"We wanted to deal with the emotions of all the kids. My daughter was completely beside herself," recalled Johnson.
Endeavour's six astronauts, all men, have 15 children among them, from 3 to 17 years old.
Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori's plane had just landed in Houston when he got the urgent one-word message. "Call." Just the day before, Italy's president had given him a flag to fly into space.
The news hit Vittori hard, just as it did everyone else on the crew and at NASA.
"Crews get close after 18 months," Johnson explained in an interview with The Associated Press, "and all my kids had met Gabby on numerous occasions and we had socialized together as a crew. So just getting past that emotional trauma was important. And then we were faced with OK, what do we do next? How are we going to move on?"
'I'm pretty sure I'm done'
Kelly figured he'd be at his wife's ICU bedside for "maybe two, four, six months." That's what her trauma surgeon and neurosurgeon warned him, in the hours after the shooting.
"I'm pretty sure I'm done," he told his boss, chief astronaut Peggy Whitson.
For several weeks, Johnson and his crewmates didn't know whether Kelly would fly the April mission or whether the flight might be delayed. A backup commander stepped in to keep up the training momentum.
But as the days went by, Giffords made steady progress. Her previous good health, great care "and maybe a little bit of luck" contributed to her swift improvement, Kelly said. "Or maybe people really thinking about her and praying for her." The astronaut's aunt is a Catholic nun. As it turns out, Pope Benedict XVI will make the first papal call to space during Endeavour's mission.
After a monthlong leave, Kelly returned to work in February at Johnson Space Center, bringing his wife with him to Houston for rehab. It's what she would have wanted, he assured journalists.
Key facts about shuttle Endeavour
- Youngest of the three surviving space shuttles
- Replaced Challenger, destroyed during liftoff in 1986
- Named for ship commanded by British explorer James Cook
- First launch on May 7, 1992, for satellite capture and repair mission
- External fuel tank repaired from Hurricane Katrina damage
- Next home: California Science Center in Los Angeles
Key facts about Endeavour's last mission:
- Commanded by Mark Kelly, husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
- 25th and final flight; second to last of 30-year shuttle program
- Six-man crew, all veteran spacefliers. Five Americans, one Italian
- 14-day mission; NASA expects to add two extra days
- Four spacewalks, the last by any shuttle crew member
- Carrying spare parts for International Space Station
- Delivering $2 billion particle physics experiment to space station
As he resumed training, his wife's full days of rehab were paying off. She began walking and talking more, completing short sentences. She also began to take stock of what had happened to her; Kelly told her she'd been shot.
Kelly settled into a routine: early mornings with Giffords, taking her a newspaper and a cup of her favorite nonfat latte with cinnamon on top, then straight to Johnson for a long day of training, then back to the rehab center to say goodnight to his wife.
Before the tragedy, the two split their time among Texas, Arizona and Washington, hooking up on as many weekends as possible. The shooting brought them together practically every day, until Friday. As is the custom one week before liftoff, Kelly and his crew went into quarantine.
In an excerpt from a CBS interview released Sunday, Kelly reported that Giffords' doctors have given her the go-ahead to attend the launch. Almost certainly, she will be kept out of public sight in Florida, as she has been ever since the shooting occurred. Her husband, meanwhile, will face the cameras when he arrives Tuesday with his crew at Kennedy Space Center, and again on launch day.
Setbacks spark public interest
Dr. Anna Fisher, a NASA manager for future spacecraft, said it's natural the world is focused more on the Kelly-Giffords saga than Endeavour's grand finale, though she thinks all the previous 133 shuttle flights should have gotten more attention.
"Whenever everything goes well, nobody pays attention," she added. "It's only when you have your Challengers, your Columbias or, like now, Mark's wife Gabby being shot," said Fisher, one of NASA's first female astronauts.
Indeed, journalists have descended in droves on NASA news conferences — those with or about Kelly — in a way not seen since shuttle flight resumed in 2005 following the Columbia disaster.
It will be the 25th and final flight of Endeavour, NASA's youngest shuttle that was built to replace the Challenger and first soared in 1992, six years after the launch accident.
And it will be the second-to-last shuttle mission, as NASA winds down the 30-year shuttle program with one last fling by Atlantis in early summer.
Even the Nobel laureate whose $2 billion science experiment will be delivered to the International Space Station by the Endeavour crew doesn't seem to mind that his project is being overlooked.
"I have great admiration for Commander Kelly," said physicist Samuel Ting. "It takes great courage for him to do this. Really, it takes total dedication to do this."
Tough for astronaut twins
Perhaps the only two people on the planet who bristle at all the attention are Kelly and his identical twin Scott, also an astronaut and a Navy captain. They repeatedly have tried — but failed — to steer attention back to their space missions.
Scott abruptly walked away from a series of interviews after he returned from the space station in mid-March; he kept being asked about his brother and sister-in-law. Two days later, Mark canceled all private interviews that already had been set up with reporters at Johnson. He took part in the traditional crew news conference and talked about his wife, but kept it short.
Most popular
Seldom does a single individual take over an entire space mission like this.
John Glenn was the exception when he returned to orbit in 1998 aboard Discovery at age 77. It's still called the John Glenn flight, even by NASA. Never mind there were six others on board and science experiments galore.
That's the only time a sitting president has ever attended a space shuttle launch — at least until Friday. President Bill Clinton was on hand to see the original Mercury astronaut, the retiring senator, soar. (Richard Nixon was the only other sitting president to witness a launch in person, when Apollo 12 lifted off in 1969.)
Now it's Kelly's turn. The Mark Kelly flight.
The five men who will ride into space with Kelly have circled around him, like a band of brothers.
"We also went through it," said astronaut Gregory Chamitoff. "We know Gabby and Mark really well. It's hard for us to see them go through this."
More about Giffords' condition and Endeavour's flight:
- Giffords cleared to attend shuttle launch, Kelly says
- Congresswoman can stand and is trying to improve gait
- First Family to attend last launch of Endeavour
- Giffords on Obama attending launch: 'Awesome'
- All systems go for Endeavour's final mission
NASA has set up a special Web page for sending messages to Giffords' NASA family, including Mark and Scott Kelly: http://tinyurl.com/NASAmessages.
© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Malta History and Culture
Evidence of Malta's earliest inhabitants dates back 8,000 years. The extraordinary Neolithic temples that can be viewed on the island are believed to be older than the ancient pyramids of Egypt and are widely thought to be the oldest free-standing monuments in the world.
The islands were conquered by the Phoenicians around 2,000 BC, followed by the Carthaginians, Romans and Arabs respectively. The Order of Knights of St John ruled the islands from 1530 until 1798, building hospitals, palaces and churches, erecting extensive fortifications and generally boosting trade. A spate of attacks from the Ottomans culminated in a prolonged battle later known as The Great Siege of 1565.
In 1798, Napoleon's army conquered the islands, establishing a civil code and educational system, as well as abolishing slavery, but the British – who ruled for the next 160 years - took over soon after. In the course of WW2, the indomitable spirit shown by the Maltese led King George VI to award Malta the ultimate accolade of the George Cross, which is proudly displayed on the national flag to this day. The country became independent in 1964 and joined the European Union in 2004.
Signs of Malta's strong national identity, enriched by millennia of foreign cultural influences, are most marked at the National Museum of Fine Arts, where the exhibits cover all key periods from the early Renaissance onwards.
The 16th century Manoel Theatre, Mediterranean Conference Centre and St James Cavalier are the key venues for theatre (often in English), dance and music, and like the opera season, feature international as well as home-grown talent. The Malta international Jazz Festival is a highlight of the summer and there is also a month-long arts festival, as well as various beer and wine events. Every village attempts to outdo its neighbours with firework displays during the so-called Parish Feast and both the traditional Good Friday and Easter celebrations are truly memorable.
read our malta guides
Discovering the Legacy of the Knights of St John
Soak up Malta's turbulent medieval history.


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Usually at the Meadowlands, everybody's really friendly. That was not the case yesterday when a blown transformer caused a power outage in the new stadium. The fans reacted by very calmly, very assuredly, beating the crap out of each other.
I haven't seen that much blood on a Lawrence Taylor jersey since all those times Lawrence Taylor got massive amounts of blood on his jersey. So, like, five months.


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- 1 medium red bell pepper (2–3 inches in diameter)
- 1 medium green bell pepper (2–3 inches in diameter)
- 1 medium onion (2–3 inches in diameter)
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 pound cooked, peeled shrimp (50 count/pound)
- ¼ cup prepared salsa (mild or hot)
- Juice of 1 lime
- 4 cups sliced iceberg lettuce
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 16 baked bite-size tortilla chips
- 1 tablespoon hot salsa (optional)
Remove stems, seeds, and cores of the red and green peppers. Cut each into long thin strips. Peel onion, remove ends, and cut in half. Quarter onion and slice into thin pieces, separating them. Spray a large skillet with a thick layer of nonstick cooking spray, and heat over medium-high heat. Add canola oil and garlic. Sauté quickly, then add peppers and onions, stirring frequently. Once the peppers are beginning to soften, add shrimp, salsa, and lime juice. Stir rapidly to heat ingredients evenly, about a minute. Remove mixture from heat. Spread 1 cup sliced lettuce on each of four shallow salad bowls or plates. Place ¼ of the shrimp mixture on each of the lettuce beds. Distribute cilantro equally on tops of each salad. Crush the tortilla chips in a small plastic bag with your hands to make irregularly sized crumbs. Sprinkle chip crumbs on top of each salad. Garnish each serving with a dab of hot salsa, if desired, and serve.
Yield: 4 servings.
Serving size: 1 cup lettuce, 1 cup shrimp mixture.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
Calories: 183 calories, Carbohydrates: 14 g, Protein: 25 g, Fat: 3 g, Saturated Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 173 mg, Sodium: 282 mg, Fiber: 3 g
Exchanges per serving: 1 starch, 3 lean meat. Carbohydrate choices: 1.
Kathleen Stanley is a Diabetes Educator at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. She is coauthor of Quick & Easy Diabetic Recipes for One, published by the American Diabetes Association in 2007.


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Jeff Francis spells success for Rockies; Chris Nelson cleared to work out
PHOENIX — There was a nostalgic feel to the Rockies' clubhouse. Music played loudly, Flo Rida's "Whistle" leaving a few players smiling. Vinny Castilla made the trip. And he's straight old school. Over near the corner was Jeff Francis, the ace of the 2007 World Series team.
He's pitching as well now as he did that season. His terrific six-inning performance, amplified by the restraints of the four-man rotation, shoved the Rockies to a 4-2 victory over the Diamondbacks.
Since Francis rejoined the team on June 9, the Rockies are 8-2 in his games and 5-25 when anyone else starts.
"It's very gratifying. Regardless of whether I get a win, the fact that we are winning some of the games. It's good that I can help give us a boost," Francis said. "Hopefully it turns out well in the long run."
Francis would like to return to the Rockies as a free agent, but knows he has to continue to perform over the next two months. He represents a veteran, stabilizing force. Frankly, he's the pitcher that Jeremy Guthrie was supposed to be. Francis signed for a pro-rated $750,000. Guthrie was making $8.2 million, $1.1 million of which Rockies saved by shipping him to the the Royals.
In six weeks, Francis has established himself as the staff ace.
"It was a pitching exhibition," manager Jim Tracy said. "We pitched, played good defense and had some good situational at-bats. I hope the other (starters) are paying attention to what Francis is doing."
Tracy also praised Wilin Rosario for his game-calling and overall defense, calling him into his office afterward to tell him it was his best game. Despite a tight left ankle, Rosario blocked several pitches and remained in sync with his staff all night.
"He said he was proud of me. It makes me feel good that my hard work is paying off," said Rosario, who has been putting in extra time with catching instructor Jerry Weinstein in an effort to improve.
Chris Nelson, who was hospitalized before the road trip with an irregular heartbeat, was cleared by a cardiologist to begin activity. He will do light work for five days before beginning baseball activity. … The plan remains to activate first baseman Todd Helton (right hip) Friday for the opening of the Cardinals series. … The Rockies snapped a four-game losing streak against the Diamondbacks. … Francis is the second Rockies' starter to work into the seventh inning since June 4, a streak spanning 43 games.


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Air India, which is in the process of selling five Boeing 777 aircraft to Etihad and carrying out sale-leaseback of its Dreamliners, would use the proceeds to pay off aircraft loans and meet working capital needs.
The sale of five Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is estimated to fetch USD 336.5 million for the ailing national carrier. The title of these planes would be transferred to Etihad by April, official sources said today.
The decision to sell these planes was taken after exploring other options like leasing, re-configuring them or deploying them on short-haul routes. However, all these options were found economically unviable, they said.
The airline also projected that it could raise about USD 840 million by way of sale of its seven Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner planes and lease them back. It intends to pay off the bridge loans taken against these aircraft by using the funds, the sources said.
For the first seven of the Dreamliners it received, Air India has mandated the leaseback arrangement with Investec Bank for four of them and Deutsche Bank for three. This year, the airline, which has 11 Boeing 787s, would get six more.
Sale-leaseback or leaseback is an arrangement in which an owner sells an asset to a leasing firm and, at the same time, leases it back. Therefore, one continues to be able to use the asset on a long-term basis but no longer owns it.
All proceeds thus received would be adequate to repay the aircraft loans, while the the surplus generated could be used to clear debts meet the airline's working capital needs, the sources said. Air India's huge debt and liabilities are estimated at over Rs 20,000 crore.
These measures were being taken in line with the turnaround and financial restructuring plans, they said.
The sale of the Boeing 777 aircraft to Etihad was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in November last year, soon after the Gulf carrier received regulatory approvals to pick up 24 per cent stake in Jet Airways.
Etihad plans to use these five aircraft to launch non-stop flights between Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles from June.
Air India, which had acquired the Boeing 777 aircraft as part of the 68 aircraft it bought from the US manufacturer in 2006 in a deal totalling Rs 35,000 crore planned to sell these planes on grounds of being fuel-guzzlers and replace the long haul sectors operated by them with the fuel-efficient Dreamliners.
The airline had placed orders for 68 aircraft with Boeing in January, 2006, including for 27 Dreamliners, 41 B-777s and B-737-800s.
Apart from this, the national carrier had also booked 43 planes from Airbus which have already been inducted into its fleet.


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From established Capitol Hill haunts such as Charlie Palmer Steak, Johnny's Half Shell and Bistro Bis to newer locales including Chinatown's Hill Country Barbecue and Cava Mezze at Barracks Row, House Members are injecting hefty sums into Washington, D.C.'s restaurant industry as they wine and dine donors.
A Roll Call review of campaign disbursements filed with the Federal Election Commission shows that Johnny's Half Shell is lawmakers' venue of choice, pocketing $323,811 in Member campaign funds since the beginning of last year. Charlie Palmer's is a distant second, raking in $296,912, and Bobby Van's comes in third with $258,766.
Feeding donors in low-lit, wood-paneled settings is nothing new for Washington's power set. It's a necessary evil in an era in which a steady flow of campaign cash is essential to defend a seat against potential primary challenges and opponents from the other party.
It's also perfectly legal to use campaign cash to court donors over an upscale lunch, or to treat campaign staff to a nice meal to discuss strategy, said Clyde Wilcox, a professor of government at Georgetown University.
Ethically, however, Wilcox said the devil is in the details.
"Is this a dinner with key constituents from your district ... or is this you're hanging out with some lobbyists and talking over campaign strategy over a really expensive meal?" Wilcox said. "The ethics of it is about morality."
That tension has become intense in a climate in which it has become fashionable for even incumbents to rail against the Washington establishment and career politicians. The FEC filings show that some Members appear to have embraced some of the trappings they derided on the stump.
Freshman Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.), who earned his seat by declaring he was "fed up" with Washington and its career politicos, spent more than $6,500 on a handful of fundraisers at venues such as Charlie Palmer Steak and Hill Country Barbecue.
Fellow freshman Republican Rep. Dan Benishek (Mich.) - who said he was tired of the wasteful spending of Washington and went as far as hanging a banner over his Capitol Hill office's door reading, "If you are here to ask for more money, you're in the wrong office!" - has spent $7,943 at BLT Steak and Charlie Palmer Steak for campaign events during the current cycle.
Raffi Williams, communications director for Benishek's campaign, said he couldn't speak to the details of the events but said Benishek is a fiscal hawk who doesn't spend taxpayers' money lightly.
"He is not one to waste money," Williams said. "He treasures every penny, and proper spending for him is a key concern on his campaign."
Long's office did not return request for comment.
Members have to spend money to bring in donations, especially when tasked with raising cash for individual campaigns and party committees.
Big fundraisers are the norm for party leaders such as House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.). Cantor's disclosures include more than $117,000 at Bobby Van's steakhouse, $96,000 at BLT Steak and $9,000 at Hill Country Barbecue.
Congressional veterans in safe seats, such as California Democratic Reps. Henry Waxman and Linda Sánchez, are also tasked with raising funds to help members of their caucuses.
Financial disclosures show Waxman, the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has spent $14,353 of his campaign funds at Charlie Palmer Steak for campaign events. Sánchez, ranking member of the House Ethics Committee, spent $13,281 at Cava Mezze.


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If you grew up anywhere other than the arctic, you have a favorite Super Soaker. You just do. It's the best Super Soaker, and anyone who thinks otherwise is obviously wrong. So let's get this water gun fight started. What's the best hydrocannon out there?
Drop your candidate for the best Super Soaker in the discussion below, and make your claim for why it is obviously and indisputably the best.
For easy readability please follow this format for entries:
[Picture of the Super Soaker]
[Super Soaker's proper name]
[Explanation of why it's the freaking best]


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Indie developer Phil Fish, maker of Fez, opined today that after spending a lot of time with Hollywood types (no doubt in promotion of the critically lauded Indie Game: The Movie, in which he and his game play a central role), he's realised how cool the game scene is by comparison.
Considering that the film is being turned into an HBO series, Fish might have to get used to kicking it Entourage-style.
Well... that or consult some on the show and go back to making really cool games.


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67km of rural roads being reconstructed
67km of rural roads being reconstructed
KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) on Tuesday said 67 kilometers of roads would be asphalted and graveled at a cost of 522 million afghanis in nine provinces of the country.
Twelve road construction contracts were signed between Rural Rehabilitation and Development Minister Nasir Ahmad Durrani and representatives of construction companies.
The completion of the project would help connect more than 200 villages and benefit about half a million residents in rural areas.
At the contracts-signing ceremony, Durrani said asphalting 37 kilometers and graveling and repairing more than 30 kilometers of roads as well as building 167 meters bridges were part of the project.
The total cost of the project was 522 million afghanis paid by the World Bank (WB) and the MRRD, he said.
Durrani said work on the project would begin in next few days in Kabul, Parwan, Kapisa, Samangan, Faryab, Nangarhar, Ghor, Kandahar and Jawzjan provinces and its implementation would take six months to one year.
"Besides creating job opportunities for 265,000 people, the project would improve economy of people and connect 221 villages," he said.
He asked the contractors to observe all standards and time frame in implementation of the project.
Related Article
Download "Pajhwok" mobile App, on your smartphone to read and access latest news, features, interviews, videos and photos about Afghanistan.


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Sep 24, 2010
BRISTOL, Tenn. - The King College golf program is hosting the first annual Men's & Women's Golf Fundraiser on Oct. 1 at the Bristol Country Club.
The four-man scramble event will have a shot gun start at 1 p.m. and the fee is $75 for an individual or $300 per four-man team.
For more information or to register contact head coach Brian Kamm at 423-652-4713 or email email@example.com.


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Roominate: Make It Yours!
The toy that makes every young girl an artist, an engineer, an architect, and a visionary!
We know that girls are great at solving, deducing, and experimenting.
- Only 15% of female first-year college students intend to major in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
- Less than 11% of engineers are women
- Toys for young girls are predominantly dolls and princesses
We think there is a connection.
We believe that early exposure to STEM through toys will inspire change.
Roominate is a different kind of toy. It is our first step in inspiring the next generation of female technology innovators.
Roominate is a stackable, attachable & customizable miniature room with working circuits that you build yourself.
Our Idea
We are three women who majored in engineering, math, and science. Throughout our education and at work, we were all far outnumbered by men. We realized that our own experiences in childhood were integral in attracting us to math and science as adults.
- Alice grew up playing in a robotics lab and her father gave her a saw when she asked for a Barbie.
- Bettina built hundreds of Lego creations with her older brother and hence gave no thought to any gender differences in toys growing up.
- Jennifer loved solving math riddles with her dad, and one of her earliest childhood memories is of her grandfather teaching her how to do long division in her head.
Based on the belief that childhood exposure can facilitate excitement, familiarity, and confidence between young girls and STEM, we came together to design Roominate.
Roominate is a kit of wooden building pieces and circuit components with which a child can use her creativity to design, build, wire, and decorate her own unique interactive room.
AND, the rooms are attachable and stackable, enabling girls to build and design expandable structures. The pieces are made to be simple and intuitive so as to allow a girl to explore and discover on her own.
Developing Roominate
Over the past few months, we've worked with over 200 girls in our target age range to reach our final prototype for Roominate. Young girls have experimented with our toys at local events and at the Children's Creativity Museum in San Francisco. They have tested our toys individually, in small groups and in large groups, both with and without adult guidance.
We've learned a lot about the way that girls play and have been performing rapid product iteration based on feedback and observation. We have seen that designing a compelling experience is important for getting them to try new things - like circuits! That experience includes both the physical pieces and the imagination girls use when deciding what to build and create.
Using only rudimentary prototypes, we have seen Roominate's pieces spark remarkable creativity and excitement in young girls.
- Provide a girl with a buzzer and a motor, and she's decided her room is a restaurant, with the motor serving as a fan to cool patrons and the buzzer being used by the chef when an order is ready.
- Provide a girl with a set of animal stickers, and her room becomes a pet shop, complete with dog beds and animal food bowls.
Constructing, creating, connecting, and designing integrate together to make Roominate a blast!
- Constructing the rooms and furniture gives girls control over the customization of their creation while exposing them to hands-on building and spatial skills.
- Connecting the circuits brings the rooms to life; a fan or a light can instantly make a room interactive. Most young girls have never made a circuit, but they love the intuitive experience our color-coded circuits provide.
- Designing the room ties the experience back to common play patterns that we know girls love!
Young girls have loved the product and are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to own their own kits.
Roominate Reel
We're more than just a toy company. We want to inspire your daughters to be the great artists, engineers, architects, and visionaries of their generation. We intend to give them every tool to reach that potential.
We have discovered that storytelling increases engagement. With Roominate Reel, a series of mini-movies, we will set the scene for Roominate.
- We will tell the story of Roominate -- to get girls excited about the world they are about to jump into.
- We will engage girls with lessons applicable to Roominate -- to enhance the educational value of the toy.
- We will provide prompts and challenges -- to keep girls coming back to Roominate. Our prompts will stimulate girls' problem solving and creativity skills, while also ensuring that Roominate stays compelling, entertaining, and illuminating.
Roominate Reel will help girls experience the joy of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math!
Join Us!
We want to introduce Roominate to the rest of the world, but producing the kits by hand is unsustainable.
That's where you come in!
We need your support to help us scale up our production through large quantity orders on wood, electronics, and assembly costs. Also, since Roominate is designed to be played with by children under the age of 14, Kickstarter will enable us to fulfill the tests needed to certify compliance to toy safety standards.
What do the Rewards Include?
We are continuing to perfect Roominate. Thus, the Roominate you receive is going to be even more refined than the one seen in the pictures and video.
- One Roominate Kit includes: 2 wooden walls, 1 wooden floor, interchangeable wooden building pieces to construct at least 3 pieces of furniture, 1 complete circuit, and assorted decorations to get you started.
- A Deluxe Decoration Pack includes: tons of additional decorations so that you can adorn your creation over and over again!
Bringing Roominate To You
Here are the details of our plan to bring Roominate to you:
- Upon successful completion of our Kickstarter, we will be able to refine our prototype, test its safety and usability, and begin production within a few weeks.
- We will continue to do all of the designing, prototyping, and usability testing ourselves.
- Upon refinement of our prototype, our wood will be laser cut through contract shops in the Midwestern United States or in the Bay Area. The final contractor will be selected based on our ultimate production quantities. Shipping, treating, and cutting the wood will take approximately ten weeks (treating the wood ensures that it passes toy safety standards).
- Our electronic components are all off-the-shelf. All of the parts we will be using are UL certified, and we will also be conforming to additional toy safety standards. Our assembly specifications with contract manufacturers include in-house reliability and safety testing. The assembly will be done locally. Lead time, set-up, product testing, and assembly will take approximately eight weeks.
- Before we start producing, we will ensure that our scaled-up version of Roominate is as safe, engaging, and exciting as our prototype.
- Packing and shipping will be contracted locally. This process will take two weeks.
- The price includes the cost of our final prototyping, manufacturing, testing, assembly, packaging, and shipping (in the United States).
Join us in creating a brighter future for girls!
Funding period
- (30 days)


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In 'The Beekeeper', flowers and leaves entwine to reveal miniature bees nestled within.
The global bee population is shrinking and becoming ever more precious. In reflection these little gold bees are the smallest and most intricate that Alex has ever made. A wearable reminder that for these creatures to prosper, they must be cherished in the here and now.
An itsy bitsy daisy in situ has been carefully handcrafted out of solid yellow gold. A perfect style for mix-matching with our other single studs from the Beekeeper collection.
This is sold as a single stud earring.
The stud measures approximately 5.5 mm across and has been handcrafted in 18ct yellow gold.
All Alex Monroe jewellery is handmade in England.


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Debating climate change deniers is generally about as useful as debating young-Earth creationists. They have no evidence on their side, but that doesn't seem to worry them in the slightest. Given that these people managed to go through school without picking up even a modicum of scientific theory, it seems pointless trying to lecture them.
So instead, this is an invitation to climate change deniers to make their case right here. Here are 10 questions for deniers to answer in the comments section of this blog. Feel free to answer any or all of the questions below. The best answers (assuming there are any) will be published in a follow-up post, fully credited and fairly presented.
Please note that comments should not be added in crayon.
- Picture question: Look at the picture of Lord Monckton above. Would you buy a used car from this man?
- If there is a "scientific debate" why do only 24 out of 13,950 peer-reviewed papers (that's 0.17%) dispute man-made climate change?
- If there is "science on both sides", why do billionaires secretly have to throw hundreds of millions of dollars into denialist propaganda?
- Why are there no climate scientists as spokesmen for the denial side? (Name one to prove this assertion wrong).
- Why does leading "denialist" spokesman Lord Monckton have to tell lies if the facts are on his side?
- Why do you not believe climate scientists about present warming, but believe them when they say the climate changed in the past?
- Who knows most about the climate? a) Climate scientists, b) Economists, c) Oil companies, d) Michele Bachmann?
- The greenhouse effect, caused by carbon dioxide, is explained by basic Physics and can be easily demonstrated in the lab. Do you still deny this even after watching the short, simple video? a) No, I admit defeat b) What's a lab?
- Carbon dioxide has increased by 40% since the start of the Industrial Revolution. Is this a) A lot, b) Not a lot?
- Look at yourself in a mirror. Does that look like a person who can grasp scientific concepts? a) Yes, b) No, c) I can't read – I've no idea how I got this far through the post.


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2014 Jan Highlights
Once a month, we highlight departments, programs, and committees from
across the college that have great things happening motivated by a
desire to improve student learning.
January 2014
"The common rubric was an overall success and will be applied to other institutional level assessments in the future." Andrea Niosi, SLO Committee member & Librarian
Impact of GEO C Assessment
The assessment of General Education (GE) Area C outcomes was the first institutional-level assessment to take place since the College made a commitment to the outcomes and assessment model for course and program evaluation and improvement. The implications of the findings go beyond the GE Area C Natural Sciences courses.
The assessment process followed by the GE Area C workgroup served as a model for future institutional GEO and ILO assessments. The process involved developing a common rubric that the many disciplines involved in the institutional-level assessment could adapt to the course level. The rubric has three levels of achievement: proficiency; developing; and no evidence. Each participating instructor developed criteria for how students meet each level of achievement for their course assessment(s). Instructors at the course level conducted SLO assessments then converted their findings to the common rubric. The common rubric was an overall success and will be applied to other institutional level assessments in the future. The GE outcome assessment of Area C resulted in the following overall results: 64.6% proficiency, 25.6% developing and 10.8% showing no evidence. Assessment results, analysis and dialogue led to outcome revision.
Additionally, the workgroup reviewed the pass and withdrawal rates for GE Area C classes. The overall pass rate for GE Area C students is 60.8% and the overall withdrawal percentage is 17.4. Not surprisingly, the assessment data and the pass/withdraw rates were similar and provided validity to the assessment practices being employed at CCSF.
The workgroup decided to investigate why the proficiency and pass rates were low. They reviewed Math and English placement tests and correlated them with the pass rate for GE Area C. The number of students passing a class (a grade of C or higher) correlated with higher level Math and English levels. For example, "students enrolled or placed into lower level math (which correlates to pre-algebra and earlier) had only a 24.8% pass rate, compared to a 48% pass rate for upper level (algebra 1 or 2 or geometry), and a 68.7% pass rate for collegiate level (beyond algebra 2). Lower math placement also shows a strong correlation with higher withdrawals. The workgroup findings suggested that English and Math placement tests are an important indicator of student success and more emphasis and dialogue between teachers, counselors and students needs to take place so that students have the right prerequisites to achieve at proficiency levels.
At the end of the report the committee provided additional recommendations for the College community, natural science departments, and course instructors with the ultimate goal of increasing student proficiency levels.
Next steps
At the Jan 9th FLEX day program entitled College-Wide Dialogue Continued, faculty, department chairs, and counselors discussed how to move these recommendations forward. The workgroup and SLO coordinators are asking more members of the college community to read the full report, identify decision makers that may implement the recommendations, and talk with decision makers and colleagues about the path forward.
Please direct any feedback to the report to SLO Coordinator and SLO Committee Chair Kristina Whalen (email@example.com).


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LONDON (AP) -- Bestselling Irish author Maeve Binchy, one of Ireland's most popular writers who sold more than 40 million books worldwide, died in Dublin after a brief illness, Irish media and national leaders said. She was 72 years old.
She was best known for her depictions of human relationships and their crises in such books as "Circle of Friends" and "Tara Road," based mainly in the small towns of Ireland but also in London.
"We have lost a national treasure," said Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.
The Irish Times, her former employer, told The Associated Press it had spoken to Binchy's family and said the acclaimed author had died in a Dublin hospital on Monday with her husband, Gordon Snell, by her side.
"She was an outstanding novelist, short story writer and columnist, who engaged millions of people all around the world with her fluent and accessible style," said Ireland's president, Michael D. Higgins.
"In recent years she showed great courage and thankfully never lost her self-deprecating humor, honesty and remarkable integrity as an artist and human being," Higgins said.
Binchy wrote 16 novels, four collections of short stories, a play and a novella. Her work landed her on The New York Times' bestseller list and in Oprah's Book Club.
In recent years she continued to write despite being slowed down by arthritis and a heart ailment.
"I do realize that I am a popular writer who people buy to take on vacation. I'm an escapist kind of writer," Binchy said in an interview with the BookReporter website.
"I was just lucky I lived in this time of mass-market paperbacks," she added.
Describing her childhood in Dalkey in County Dublin, Binchy wrote on her official website that she was "full of enthusiasms, mad fantasies, desperate urges to be famous and anxious to be a saint. "
After graduating from University College Dublin, Binchy worked as a teacher before becoming a journalist, columnist and editor at the Irish Times, one of the country's leading newspapers.
She later moved to England, where she became the newspaper's London editor in the early 1970s.
Her first novel, "Light a Penny Candle," was published in 1982 -- after being rejected by five publishers -- and became a bestseller.
That book led to an invitation to appear on a French TV program, "a terrifying serious program about books," she recalled two years ago in an interview with Donald O'Donoghue of broadcaster RTE.
"Suddenly they asked me, as only the French would, 'Madame, what is your philosophy of life?' What a cosmic question, but I had to answer, and answer quickly, because it was live.
"So I said, in French, 'I think that you've got to play the hand that you're dealt and stop wishing for another hand."'
"Circle of Friends" and "Tara Road," and her short story "How About You" were turned into films. Two other novels, "Echoes" and "The Lilac Bus," were filmed for television.
"Tara Road," about Irish and American women who switch homes without having met, was chosen by U.S. TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey for her popular book club, bringing her many new readers.
She had announced in her column in 2000 that "Scarlet Feather" would be her last novel, prompting more than 800 people to write in protest to The Irish Times.
A new novel, "Quentins," appeared in 2002.
In the same year, she suffered a health crisis related to a heart condition, and doctors warned that it would restrict her activity. Her time in hospital waiting rooms, absorbing the conversations of patients, inspired another novel, "Heart and Soul," in 2009.
Binchy's novel "Minding Frankie" was published in 2010, the same year she received a lifetime achievement honor from the Irish Book Awards. Her latest novel, "A Week in Winter," is to be published later this year.
In an interview two years ago, Binchy said she preferred to deal with issues which could be argued from either side.
"I often wonder that if I had met Hitler, I reckon I might have found some streak of decency in him," she told O'Donoghue.
"I once tried to write a novel about revenge. It's the only book I didn't finish. I couldn't get into the mind of the person who was plotting vengeance," she said.
The best advice, she added, comes from the "Coronation Street," a British soap opera: "Oh, get over yourself."
Binchy is survived by her husband, her brother, William, and her sister, Joan.
She is to be cremated Friday at a private service following a funeral Mass at the Catholic Church of the Assumption in her native Dublin district of Dalkey.


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Tagged: searon four
Arrested Development season 4 review: meh
The new season of Arrested Development is a dud. Much like a former lover who saunters back into your life after an extended absence…something's just not quite right.
Sure, there are flashes of the chemistry that initially drew you to each other. But in the end you're left with a hollow feeling and knowing that some things are best fondly remembered rather than trying to rekindle them.
Continue reading


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FLOORDEPOT2U is an online flooring store solely operated by FLOOR DEPOT Group of Companies. FLOODEPOT2U is the 1st ONLINE flooring platform providing online consumers the simplicity of owned a flooring with few easy steps, Search. Select. Shop experience. The online store opens up the possibilities to get a new flooring from home & allow user connect to a new experience when purchase online with wide selection flooring available for searches. The platform is integrated with engaging product visuals and information you may find adequate to purchase safely online.
Being part of the main industry players, FLOORDEPOT2U ensure products offers to the market are at premium quality. We supply laminate flooring with assurance toward strong brand promise of high quality with unique properties, suitable for residential and commercial areas. The New Generation Laminate Flooring has always been the flagship of modern laminate technology. Focus entirely of flooring, each flooring generation made to serve its individual purpose and improvement of past technology.
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FLOOR DEPOT is built with strong retail background, FLOORDEPOT 2U understand the value of time to online consumers as well, and made operations hours beyond usual and made flooring purchase accessible to the market especially this online store operates 24 hours / 7 days, allow online consumers purchase the right flooring at their most convenient hour, both daytime and night.
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Aside supply material, FLOORDEPOT2U extends the services by providing installation service at reasonable price and made this a one-stop solution to all online consumers. The online store assured data protection & all sensitive information stored without disclosure to any of third party usage purposes. FLOORDEPOT2U believe the safety and security practice are equally important to make online consumers feel a level reliability while using the services offer online. In addition, each payment transaction via online are processed online by local banking companies and assured payment are well transit to merchant.


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Thanks I'm looking to replace my tires when I have the 6000 mile service done next week and I've been trying to decide on the Z8's or P3's.
I'm really not concerned about mileage reports as I seem to get about 6000 miles out of my tires no matter what I've run, so I get to change them every spring regardless.
My brain is telling me P3's but for some reason I'm leaning towards the Z8's. maybe it's the 880's I had on one of my cruisers many years ago, they really did transform the handling and ride. Doesn't sound like either tire would be a bad choice really.


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Posts Tagged 'eating'
Foods that Help Kids Sleep!
One of the more overlooked parts of sleep is often what our kids are eating. When sleep training our kids and when putting together a personalized plan one of the aspects that we look at is diet and how that diet could be affecting your little one's sleep. We need to ensure that our child's…Read More


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Pork Lobby Sends Cease & Desist Over Unicorn Meat
The National Pork Board sent a cease & desist order today, claiming infringement on the phrase "the other white meat," by nerd store ThinkGeek, which uses the trademarked tagline to describe sparkle-spam gag gift "Unicorn Meat."
Unicorn meat isn't white so much as rainbow-swirl sparkle-poo hued, anyway. Via ThinkGeek's blog, here's the pork lobby's letter:
ThinkGeek offered a humble apology—and a sale price on Unicorn Meat and other goods if you use the coupon code PORKBOARD. Well played, geeks. [ThinkGeek]


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Optimus Prime faces off against a whole army of stone Unicron figures, without any Autobot backup, in this exclusive clip from Saturday's new episode of Transformers Prime. If you thought Optimus was outnumbered in that forest fight scene in Transformers 2, this is a whole nother level.
I like a lot of the "camera" angles in this CG-animated clip, including the aerial shot of Optimus dealing destruction to Unicrons coming out of the sky. And then Optimus getting tossed towards the camera, landing in a crouch.
Here's the official synopsis for "One Shall Rise, Part 2":
Facing the greatest threat to Earth to date, the Autobots team with an unexpected ally.
The episode airs Saturday at 8:30 PM on The Hub.


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Crystal of Insanity
Sulik'shor - Crystal of Insanity [edit]
Error retrieving item info
10% chance to drop from Sulik'shor.
- Other drops include: ilvl 410, rare quality gloves. Nine in all, one for each type of spec.
- Has a chance to also drop Small Bag of Goods
- 1,536,189
What is this Sorcery?!?[edit]All Mogu Sorcerers use the same set of mechanics.
Dark Bolt is a simple ranged wand attack. Damage is small and inevitable.
Shadow Bolt is just like the Warlock spell. It can be interrupted, and though it's not a very strong spell, there's nothing else to be interrupted anyway.
Voidcloud creates a persistent purple AoE zone centered on a players location when the spell finishes. This zone hits for heavy damage if players spend too much time in it, so it's best to be moving already when the cast is ending, and it should be placed it in an area that is easy to avoid for the remainder of the fight. Voidclouds last long enough that there may be 2 or 3 up at the same time. The spell can be delayed by stunning the Mogu, but he will resume casting it once the stun wears off.
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