text:
Made in the USA
Though Susquehanna Glass does not use lead based or heavy metal materials or products in its decoration methods or in its processes, there are trace levels of lead and heavy metals in the environment. Due to the on going issues in California, we provide a warning to all of our customers in the state of CA. WARNING: This Product May Contain A chemical Known To the State Of California, Under Prop 65 And Other Laws, To Cause Cancer, Or Birth Defects Or Other Reproductive Harm.

subset: commoncrawl


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|2011-09-11, 11:38
|Link #1
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Trendy Backwater
Age: 32
Anime that need remakes/reboots or continuations
Because the original Anime didn't follow the manga faithfully, sometimes the studios wisely remake them and perfectly follow how the manga made the plot. The most recent examples are Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood and Hellsing Ultimate. I'm actually one of a few people who liked the original FMA, and especially Hellsing even though the majority criticises the latter for shoddy ending and the villain. For some reason I liked it more than the remade one and I thought there are quite a few of anime I want remade as well as the ones that are from Manga. At the time, it was made, maybe due to limited budget and resource, these anime suffered a number of problems like poor animation, poor ending and etc. If there are a few anime you want remade, what would they be?
First anime I want remade more than anything would be Gantz. It was a mind-boggling experience to have watched the anime because it was very poorly made compared to the manga. It cuts the story and takes some liberty of changing the characters around in the last few episodes. It misses the point of manga it was trying to portray. For a manga so epic, it's a shame the anime is so poorly executed.
Another anime I want remade would be REC considering how the OVA follows one quarter of manga and calls it end when the original source goes for much longer. This anime wasn't exactly bad but far from it. It was disappointing only because it was so short.
Probably I would probably want to see the Corpse Princess remade. There were so many potentials to be great but for some reason, there were something lacking in the series. I wanted to like it but found it rather forgettable unfortunately.
|2011-09-11, 11:45
|Link #2
Lets be reality
Join Date: May 2007
We should keep in mind that the manga series for both FMA and Hellsing* where still ongoing @ the time the 2nd adaptions were started.. the only reason they did this is so they could push the originial source again as well as make money off the new project.
That's why something like Gantz is a good pick.. though the live action project has made it more popular than ever so an anime remake is probably not needed...
* - I'm not too sure if Ultimate started before the Hellsing manga finished.... someone inform me.
|2011-09-11, 13:30
|Link #6
Prefectural Magical Girl
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Paris, France
I want that VN-to-anime titles like Meine Liebe, Koihime Musou and Milky Holmes will get remake because the protagonist of these respective games (Erika, Hongo and Opera) are not appeared in their anime adaptations, so they are replaced by Orpherus, Kan'u and Sherlock as new protagonists respectively. Also the story and content features follow in a different way than the game.
|2011-09-11, 13:40
|Link #7
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Trendy Backwater
Age: 32
And if I may ask, is live action project going to be series of movies or TV shows? Either way, I cannot imagine how they are going to translate all those scenes from Manga to live-action.
Another one I thought I would mention would be GTO. As awesome as most of the episodes are, the last few episodes were lackluster and too sudden.
|2011-09-11, 13:57
|Link #8
Black Steel Knight
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Indonesia
Shaman King definitely must be started over by following the manga plot and done with much much better animation. The original manga was a real page-turner just like Kami Nomi manga nowadays. Also, Break Blade should be remade too when the manga is completed in the future. Some important character development are non-existent in the OVAs. Not mentioning the abrupt end.
|2011-09-11, 16:08
|Link #13
The iDOL(ove Live!)M@STER
I'm going to second Rozen Maiden: Traumend, Fruits Basket and Tsukihime. And while we're at it, I'm going to throw in Ballad of a Shinigami and Umineko.
Edit: How could I forget Negima!? That could use a really proper, long-running broadcast. And OVAs don't really count.
Last edited by Akuma Kousaka; 2011-09-11 at 16:22.
|2011-09-11, 16:09
|Link #14
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Clinton, Maryland
Three words: Mahou Sensei Negima.
Face it, with Xebec not realizing that this a shounen show and SHAFT being more focused on projects involving Ume Aoki (not that it's a bad thing, since I do like Hidamari Sketch), Negima has failed to received the proper anime adaptation it deserves.
Of course, for this to work, the manga may need to be near its end.
|2011-09-11, 19:58
|Link #16
Big Bucks, No Whammies
Join Date: Aug 2011
|2011-09-11, 20:12
|Link #17
North American Haruhiist
Join Date: Oct 2010
Age: 38
|2011-09-11, 20:45
|Link #18
Some yuri anime needs it, not to be rude but please at least put some males in....
Most yuri anime's settings are controlled (" males doens't seem to exist") lacking some realistic themes and views.
I give credit on Simoun, Girl Meets Girl, and some more. Good animes.
|2011-09-11, 21:16
|Link #19
Japanese Culture Fan
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Planet Earth
Age: 27
|Thread Tools


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A Simple, Stylish, Smart Camera Debuts
Simple, smart and stylish S-series is developed for users who pick up their first digital cameras. Pursuing the ultimate ease of operation, only essential functions are equipped in the DMC-S1. In addition to its easy-to-press shutter button, the DMC-S1 has a round-form that fits comfortably in the palm of the hand, and a body that's designed for easy use. A special color-matched front lens ring also makes the DMC-S1 look like a digital accessory. It is a compact and lightweight "power stone" - you can just leave it to the camera to get beautiful photo, movies and fun for sure.
iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode
When you don't know which mode will give you the best shooting results, or when a sudden photo opportunity pops up and you don't have time to make any settings, simply choose the iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode and let the camera do it all for you. You just choose the iA Mode, aim at your subject, and shoot. 4 detection and correction functions are simultaneously activated to optimize the settings, so you get stunning photos every time.
MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) - Shake Detection
The MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) in the DMC-S1 compensates for the blurring caused by hand-shake. Apart from the digital image correction, the MEGA O.I.S. corrects a jolt of light axis by shifting the O.I.S. lens unit to offset it. Thus the image is not affected digitally nor deteriorated at all. You get clear, sharp images in exchange for nothing.The MEGA O.I.S. lets you shoot in dimly lit rooms or evening illumination to preserve the mood, and works for macro shots and zoom shots, which are especially susceptible to hand-shake. In short, it lets anybody take beautiful, blur-free shots with ease.
Intelligent Scene Selector - Scene Detection
When the camera's in iA Mode, the Intelligent Scene Selector automatically sets the Scene Mode to one of Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait, Night Scenery or Sunset. The camera judges it from the various detection results such as focusing and brightness level of the circumstance. You are free from annoying settings every time scene changes when taking images with these most frequently used Scene Modes to get beautiful results even before you know it.
Intelligent ISO Control - Motion Detection
The Intelligent ISO Control function in the DMC-S1 made possible by the Venus Engine VI detects subject movement and automatically adjusts the ISO setting and shutter speed to best suit the movement and light conditions. When it detects subject motion, it automatically raises the ISO setting and increases the shutter speed to prevent motion blur. On the other hand, when the subject is still and no movement is detected, it takes beautifully natural photos with a low ISO setting.The Intelligent ISO Control gives you stunning images with ease because there is no need for complicated settings.
Face Detection AF/AE
The Face Detection AF/AE function detects faces and automatically optimizes the focus and exposure settings. It prevents the blurry faces that happen when the camera focuses on something in front of or behind the subject, and keeps faces from appearing dark when shooting indoors or against the light source. It detects up to 15 faces at a time, making it extremely convenient for group photos. Once the camera detects a face, Face Tracking follows it even when the subject moves around. Plus, the system keeps on detection if a face turns sideways to the camera.
28mm Wide-angle 4x Optical Zoom Lens
The DMC-S1 features a newly developed 28mm wide-angle 4x optical zoom f/3.1-6.5 Lumix DC VARIO lens (35mm camera equivalent: 28-112mm) into a compact body. Comprising 6 elements in 5 groups, including 3 aspherical lenses with 6 aspherical surfaces, this advanced lens unit realizes the outstandingly slim and compact body yet achieving exceptional optical performance. The 28mm wide-angle lens lets you easily capture large groups of people indoors or expansive architectural structures and scenes with dynamic width and rich perspective, even from short distances. The DMC-S1 is equipped with a 4x optical zoom lens (35mm camera equivalent: 28-112mm). The Extra Optical Zoom function uses the center part of the CCD to extend this 4x zoom ratio to powerful 7.8x zoom (35mm camera equivalent: 218mm) at a resolution of 3-megapixel or less. Adding the Extra Optical Zoom to the 4x digital zoom extends the total zooming power to a maximum of 31.2x.
12.1-Megapixel High-resolution CCD
The DMC-S1 features a 1/2.33" CCD with effective 12.1-megapixel resolution.
Sonic Speed AF
The Sonic Speed AF system includes numerous re-engineering enhancements, including a higher-speed actuator, optimized algorithms and parallel software processing. The result is fast and accurate AF performance. In addition, the DMC-S1 features dramatically speedier focusing that is approx. 45% faster than our previous model. You can quickly focus on moving subjects, such as when you're shooting sports scenes. The parallel processing of software resulted in ultra high-speed start-up. The shutter release time lag is as short as approx. 0.008 second, making it easy to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities.
Venus Engine VI
The image-processing engine, Venus Engine VI, uses advanced signal processing to give you beautiful images even when the sensitivity is high. Multi-task signal processing is employed for all images to enable high-speed, high-performance shooting. Venus Engine VI also effectively raises the precision of various functions, such as MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) and Intelligent ISO Control. Along with its extremely high performance, Venus Engine VI reduces power consumption thanks to a number of energy efficiency improvements.
Extended Battery Life
The energy-saving Venus Engine VI image processing engine and the efficient lithium-ion battery, which stands up durably to repeated recharging, work together to extend the shooting time of the DMC-S1. This lets users take approximately 240 shots on a single battery charge.
HD Movie Recording
The DMC-S1 can record motion images in high-definition (1,280 x 720 pixels at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format). The pixel mixed readout method enables bright motion-image recording even in low-light settings. The DMC-S1 can also record standard motion images in VGA (640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps) and QVGA (320 x 240 pixels at 30 fps).
Lumix Image Uploader
The DMC-S1 gives you a new form of communication by letting you share your photos and movies. All you have to do is checkmark the photos and movies you want to share and connect the camera or SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card to a computer. Uploading automatically starts by simply following the guidance. Facebook can be used for photos and YouTube for movies. You can join these social networking services without having to install any special software. It's easy to share photos and movies on the spot, which means that your friends don't have to wait for you to come back home to see them.
Large, 2.7" 230,000-dot LCD
The DMC-S1's large 2.7" LCD features high 230,000-dot resolution LCD. The big screen reflects fine details, making it easy to check the focus before shooting. It also serves as a small photo and video viewer, allowing the user and friends to enjoy viewing the still and motion images together.
Scene Mode
The Scene Mode lets the camera make the optimal settings for you automatically, so anybody can take superb photos with ease. The versatile Scene Mode range, which handles just about any situation and subject type, is a major LUMIX feature. And to make it even simpler to use, the icons and display are designed for easy visibility.
Selectable Focus Icon
When using 11-area AF, the camera automatically determines the most appropriate AF area from the eleven points. This ensures accurate focusing even for difficult compositions. You can also select the AF setting from Face AF or 1-area AF. With the DMC-S1, you can select the icon from among 6 types that appears when the shutter button is pressed half-way.
Select from 3 Aspect Ratios
The aspect ratio for the DMC-S1 can be easily selected from 16:9 wide, 3:2 and conventional 4:3 to shoot in the framing aspect that best suits the photo's composition or purpose of use
Slideshow with Music
The DMC-S1 can play a slideshow with music. Choose from 4 types of music: Natural, Slow, Swing and Urban. Then, select the transition effect to match your music. For musical slideshows created with the included PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.0, you can choose your favorite iTunes music file as background music.
View Photos on a Large-screen HDTV
The DMC-S1 can take 16:9 HD (high-definition) quality photos that perfectly fit a wide-screen HDTV for full-screen viewing. You can enjoy slideshows of photos taken with the LUMIX in stunning HD quality by inserting an SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card in to the SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot with the VIERA HDTV (VIERA Image Viewer).
Date Stamp
You can also print the date on your photos. These dates, which can be helpful when making a photo album, can be stamped on photos whether you print them yourself at home or have a photo shop do them.
PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.0
The PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.0 makes it possible to sort and organize photos not only of those newly taken but also of those stored in your computer with quick start-up and fast read-in of images. The Face Recognition function that recognizes the faces in the picture automatically sorts the photos by the registered faces without picking out each photo one by one when you only want pictures of a specific person.A Panorama Stitch lets you make a panoramic composite in MOV file by synthesizing photos taken in Panorama Assist Mode of the camera. It is also possible to make a slideshow with the selected photos adding music file on.In addition to the LUMIX Image Uploader (a direct uploading function of the camera), you can upload photos to Facebook and movies to YouTube via this software, too.
Built-in Memory 20MB
The DMC-S1's built-in memory holds up to approx. 20MB of image data.
PictBridge Compatible-Direct Print Function
The PictBridge standard lets you print directly on a compatible digital printer. Print size, layout, date and other settings can be made with the camera. Of course, you can also make multiple prints of an image, or print only the ones that you have selected.
Dimensions: 3.89 x 2.31 x 0.82 inch


text:
Like Us on Facebook and you are automatically entered to win a free gourmet meal delivered to your home.
Gift Certificate Redemption Notice: IF YOU RECEIVED A HOLIDAY GIFT CERTIFICATE PLEASE EMAIL YOUR NAME, REDEMPTION CODE, AND CHOICE OF MENU TO firstname.lastname@example.com. WE WILL SHIP GIFT CERTIFICATE ORDERS EACH WEDNESDAY.
In 2000 GourmetStation began delivering 3 & 4 course dinner gifts nationally to busy consumers seeking a unique gourmet food gift for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. In January 2002 GourmetStation launched their business-to-business program providing upscale dinner gifts and gift certificates to corporations for client gifting, employee rewards, promotions & incentives. Beginning in 2005 the company expanded their menu to include gourmet soups, Certified Angus Steak dinners, dessert gifts and Sparkling Seafood dinners.
Whether you use our service as a food gift for others or an indulgence for yourself, you'll appreciate our attention to detail including gift packaging and menus inspired by authentic ethnic recipes. Many of our gourmet dinners even include European style coffee, after dinner candy, and a floating candle for the dinner table. Not only are these dinner gifts delicious, they are easy to prepare. They arrive in a beautiful sealed & secure cooler and it takes only thirty minutes to prepare a delicious multi course dinner. It's so easy to prepare a three course dinner or a four course dinner. Giving and receiving our gourmet dinners is as easy as 1..2..3. See for yourself. We look forward to being of service – Bon Appetit!
Contact Information:
Our company culture is built on a triple platform of integrity, high standards,
and relationships. Our success depends upon your satisfaction, and we look
forward to providing you with an excellent experience. You may
contact us using any of these convenient options:
Phone: (888) 944-9794 Monday through Thursday between the hours of 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM, and Saturday between the hours of 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
International customers call 678-519-0165


text:
Embedded Software
Budget £250-750 GBP
Code debugging required for IAR Embedded Workbench project designed for stm32f101 microcontroller controller
17 freelancers are bidding on average £464 for this job
Dear sir I have more than 9 years experience in electronic design, please check my profile, also please message me so that we can discuss
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I work with MCU from STM several years and have the expirience of developing of programms with using C and C++ language. I work with IDE Eclips and Keil uVision.


text:
Series Premieres Friday, January 4th at 9:00pm ET/6:00pm PT on Cooking Channel
NEW YORK - December 4, 2012 - Aarti Sequeira explores the most popular dishes from around the world as well as the history and cultural significance behind every bite in Cooking Channel's original series Taste in Translation, premiering Friday, January 4th at 9:00pm ET/6:00pm ET. Each country has its own unique and delicious way to celebrate a holiday, commemorate a special moment, or even satisfy a ravenous craving. From the number one comfort food in America to the most popular first date dinner in Thailand, Aarti not only tastes her way from dish to dish but also discovers how they became iconic from both local cooks and culinary experts.
"Taste in Translation distinguishes the culinary staples that play a role throughout our lives not only in America but across the globe," said Michael Smith, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Cooking Channel. "Aarti continues to captivate viewers with her enthusiasm and genuine interest in worldly cuisine."
Over the course of the series, Aarti uncovers the most popular, and sometimes, unlikely dishes that play a role in different cultures. In one episode Aarti dives into the number one global comfort foods starting with a unique, comforting Scandinavian family classic-hint: it's not meatballs! She then gets acquainted with a Senegalese chef cooking up a scrumptious, hot stew at Cazamance in Austin as well as a comforting breakfast dish from the popular restaurant Mission Chinese in New York City. On another journey, Aarti explores birthday traditions around the world. From a symbolic spicy soup in China, to a brightly colored, bite-size sweet in Brazil, each tradition is more unique than the next. Aarti tops off her list at Vanilla Bakeshop in Los Angeles where she reveals America's number one birthday dish.
In August 2010, Aarti Sequeira won season six of Food Network Star, landing the ultimate dream culinary job: her very own Food Network show, Aarti Party. She draws from her Indian heritage to put approachable and delicious twists on all-American classics. In January 2012, Aarti made her Cooking Channel debut as food correspondent on Drop 5 lbs with Good Housekeeping. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism with an adjunct major in International Relations then worked at CNN in both Chicago and New York. She married her college sweetheart in 2003, moved to Los Angeles, and produced 'Sand and Sorrow,' a documentary about the genocide in Darfur. She decided to explore her culinary calling by attending The New School of Cooking in California where she earned her professional cooking certificate. She then combined her educational and professional backgrounds in journalism with her passion for food into a successful blog and online cooking-variety show, "Aarti Paarti" (www.aartipaarti.com). She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Brendan.
Taste in Translation is produced by Leopard Films.
COOKING CHANNEL (www.cookingchanneltv.com) is an entertainment brand dedicated to today's passionate food lover. For food people, by food people, Cooking Channel is the answer to a growing hunger for more content devoted to food and cooking in every dimension from global cuisines to international travel, history and unconventional how-to's. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com, Food Network (www.foodnetwork.com), Great American Country (www.gactv.com), HGTV (www.hgtv.com) and Travel Channel (www.travelchannel.com), is the manager and general partner.


text:
NEW YORK (AP) - Ringo Starr is turning an old Beatles favorite into a children's book.
NEW YORK (AP) � Ringo Starr is turning an old Beatles favorite into a children's book.
The drummer has a deal with Simon & Schuster's Children Books for "Octopus' Garden," based on one of the few songs the drummer wrote and sang while with the Beatles. The publisher announced Tuesday that the book will come out in Britain this fall and in the U.S. in early 2014. The book will be illustrated by Ben Cort, whose credits include "Aliens Love Underpants."
Starr, who turns 73 next month, first wrote the song while on Peter Sellers' yacht in 1968. Starr and Sellers co-starred in the film "The Magic Christian."
"Octopus' Garden" first appeared on the Beatles' "Abbey Road" album, released in 1969.


text:
Photoshop product t-shirt photos
Budget $30-250 USD
I need someone to place designs on hooded tops the hood is in the way and the string on the front, the person will need to be able to place the design behind these. There is multiple photos and designs. 7 photos and 7 designs. The hoodys need front and back editing and the shirts just the front. Needs to be done within 3 hours. We need things like this all the time so would be good to develop a longer business relationship. They all need to look realistic in the editing not just place on top.
We can do this ourselves we're just up against a deadline and don't have the time to do this type of editing anymore.
48 freelancers are bidding on average $78 for this job
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text:
There it is …
Brand new very positive track, however little bit slower in tempo – 100bpm. You wouldn't guess where I found inspiration but I can tell you that this sounds really smooth and soft.
Anyway … in this one I've used some retro drum machines sounds with little compression on them. Nice acoustic bass with some guitars and my lovely mixture of pads from Korg synthesizer.
First motive is obviously nice acoustic piano with delay and reverb and after breakdown in the middle some synthetic arpeggios.
Where could it be used ? Mhm … I think I leave it for your imagination. Maybe some advertisement ?
If you decide not to buy make sure you'll check my other music:
Nice and "soft" house style loop:
...and some drum and bass stuff:
media loop 3


text:
Looking for some fun with M/F couples or single F
Did you find what you was after? LOL
Hi there any luck?
Hi me an my partner are looking for a female to join us for some fun.. we are regular at abfab we will be there on the 25th march as its his birthday. We are looking for a female or 2.


text:
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text:
Surprise Election Blow for Germany's Merkel
Germany's opposition beat Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition in regional elections at the weekend. WSJ's William Boston assesses the result and what it means for Ms. Merkel ahead of federal elections in September.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... the the ... only solution lost one of the East Regional elections ... before Germany holds the national vote in September ... what is this the beginning of the end of the costs of the new rule on William Alston is joining us from but it ... wasn't a surprise when locals because of all the luck to levels of in very high lately ... that is true ... that the federal level with ... state level ... Barrichello is of him ... or her identity is more affected by this trend parties and in this day we were actually expecting me in the center last victory ... of ... a much larger to a few weeks ago when the ... PD that the main opposition party are less ... began to weaken ... um ... and so ... it ended up being a much closer race than anyone had expected ... and actually was a was decided by about three hundred votes in one small town ... in in the state which ... has a husband of ... of his income in the federal election and it shows is that so that the ... last night ... it isn't ever ... going to the wire does is it did in lower Saxony ... lenses into a dozen points out that the fact is that on the regional elections are somewhat different from those on the national scale ... but they also show is a cute red one of the zoo we see here ... is that it is our are no longer flocking to protest party is like a pirate or in in West Germany ... voting for the former East German ... Communist Party of Thursday into the into four main parties ... and resume and ... our coalition to block the center right coalition Merkel's Christian Democrats and the pro business free Democrats ... and a center left coalition ... of the social Democrats and the environment was pretty hard ... and ... I think that ... this election when it was decided by one seat ... in in the state legislature is okay so in the euro the focus is shifting in the euro zone debt crisis the listed all my soul aam what that does seem to hold Sydney as they say that it's over but things seems to subside a bit ... it is the case said that households in on domestic policies as ... the Gemini colony says Tom ... yes I mean the economy he and other inhabitants and security that voters feel about their own future is going ... to roll ... in ... here is you mention and concerned about the euro crisis ... is ... by far the champion of the enterprises in the eyes of German voters and there's very little that the NPT has to gain from attacking her records of this battle is really going to be fought ... in the living rooms ... of of working ... families across the country there are the main parties are going to be ... trying to convince working families that up ... to two but that in order to prevent yuan defend their interests a shame that not between now and that that the actual poll in September ... I suppose that tell us ... that if anything unemployment in Germany is likely to rise I assume that's not to be good from a ... I'm going to rise slightly on the economy is ... is is of what I did in the fourth quarter ... of ... last year ends in eighteen ... on the economy into recession in the first quarter this year but the economy is expected to pick up a bit ... and aam unemployment is not expected to fall sharply this year by the end of the year ... but it ... is expected be about the same ... as it was at the end of two thousand twelve ... to eighteen stone ... or whether or not concerned about about jobs is going to play a major role ... in the campaign at this point it's not really looking to be the main thing ... so funny how when it said many switch on said that the school committee now ... without them I can save the day the CDU come September ... well she retirees and twenty points ahead of the upgrade and PDT at this point that's an awful lot of ground cover even within eight months ... it is possible of course ... but it is going to be a very high praise ... and the difference between Lower Saxony and the federal government is also ... used ... for his party in the National Parliament which will also get a former Communist Party of Germany ... Brett Arends Devo ... last ... and make it harder for either there ... or to challenge the CDU ... I'm the and the need to form a coalition which could drive in tomorrow's parties ... into a tyrannical which went like that let's just examine policies ...


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Sept. 12, 2005
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - The MIT men's cross country team opened the 2005 season in style Saturday afternoon at the Smith College Invitational. The Engineers finished first of seven teams and had five runners finish in the top ten. MIT junior Kevin Brulois led the way for the Engineers, finishing first with a time of 27:08, thirteen seconds faster than the second place time.
The Engineers had little trouble conquering the very hilly, eight mile race. Behind MIT's Brulois finished senior Eric Khatchadourian (2), freshman Trevor Rundell (3), junior Kevin DiGenova (7) and freshman Yermie Cohen (9). MIT won with a score of 22, 18 points ahead of second place RPI.
The race, which annually has been called the Engineer's Cup and featured MIT, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, this year was dubbed the Smith College Invitational and featured seven teams including RPI, WPI, Springfield, Clark, Babson and Lasell. For MIT, the victory marked the ninth straight time that the Engineers have been victorious in the Engineer's Cup. Former MIT All-America honoree Ben Schmeckpeper most recently dominated the Engineer's Cup, winning the race in 2003 and 2004.
MIT travels to North Dartmouth, Massachusetts for the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational next weekend.


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Here are the top 10 military traditions that need a lot of explaining to your civilian family members.
Head-Up, Head-Down Flight Helmet
12 Jan 2011 | By Military.com
In this Defense Tech Original Video we take a look at the next-generation helmet-mounted cueing system from Gentex.
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Retired Marine Staff Sgt. R. Lee Ermey was laid to rest with military honors at Arlington Cemetery on January.
Retired Marine Staff Sgt. R. Lee Ermey was laid to rest with military honors at Arlington Cemetery on January.
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Air drop that ends with a bang!
It doesn't exist officially. It uses highly pressured mercury accelerated by nuclear energy to produce a plasma that creates.
A combination of 45 combat videos from Iraq, most gun camera footage from Apache helicopters killing insurgents with 30mm.


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Abenomics Wins Over A Bank of Japan Skeptic
Peterson Institute's Adam Posen turns bullish on Japanese monetary policy.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... is the economic summarizing gain in Japan or is this yet another false dawn on Jake Schlesinger to give your teeth for The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires ... time in our bureau with an imposing currently head of the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington ... a former policy makers with the Bank of England ... a longtime skeptic of economic policy making in Japan ... and how things look now compared to Western you're in ... from skeptic to believers ... I really am very excited about the economics ... I think monetary fiscal ... everything but treated really is a new dawn in Japan and I'm very hopeful for good results tell us why ... well ... I think part of it is simply there is a mainstream macro view both in Japan and outside among economists that the more aggressive Bank of Japan action ... and a measured way of getting to fiscal consolidation ... would work ... Collingwood were consented and BP fleecing painted him back to grow ... and ... to whatever combination of reasons the of the government is explicitly affirms Composite thanks ... what exactly you expect the Bank of Japan is going to do or should do in order to get it I think the Bank of Japan is going to do several things out starting with the April meeting because you love the new governor to to to to the chapters ... one and first and foremost most importantly ... there Mr. buying longer term Japanese cars that are ... up for all to talk about quantitative easing in Japan ... the BOJ has consistently bought ... far less than three years ... duration and that means their central bank action ... in everything we know but economics in practice in central banking ... Toshiba and if you buy cash and carry a little bit of the economy ... vice versa if you ... buy things they are less like our longer term bonds will be bigger ... so enough with the Federal Reserve the Bank of England ... to a lesser degree the CPU can do it ... so to start off by buying a lot of government bonds or longer to reach ... of course what really matters in terms of ... implementing change the Bank of Japan is getting the right people from your standpoint Inaer ... what you think of the list a candidate to be the next BOJ governor and an ocean of plotting Aston's three candidates to revise really talking about I've not been the main topic all three of them ... would constitute a positive move ... all three of them have ... direct experience of some basic no more than basic economics ... and I think the important thing is ... that I'm a nation of having ... we'll win some about that led to defeat it ... in one monetary policy to you ... and being somewhat pragmatic in the sense that ... they're not coming in with some abstract principles and unwilling to respond to it ... you put all that together cream while play with any of the three is going to be both more activist and more dovish an actor ... than ... previous Bank of Japan Cup just a bit gritty people watch mistake I will name three people consider to be on the shortlist not attribute it to you but to ... former DOJ deputy governors said We Doherty what the ... and the current head of the Asian developing get Mr. crooner ... do I get the right thing is done by the right person how quickly can Japan and its long bout with deflation well as a former central banker and a strong effort on TV using I think you can get up to two percent inflation target within two years ... I mean ... if the Bank of Japan pushes the right domestic monetary policies ... the yen should stay roughly where it is read weaken a little without any intervention ... and that alone should import I think four percent of inflation ... and then the active buying of longer term government bonds and can easily get to another person ... so I think the only thing that kept him from getting back to inflation ... leaving aside the deeper recession most recently ... was in activism defeatist by the Bank of Japan ... here is is you say you're a Bush very optimistic there is no such thing as a free lunch of the lunches needed deflation had gotten cheaper to hear ... what the risks ... I don't think there's any real risk on monetary policy potentially sometimes it's a free lunch ... on fiscal policy there are risks in the eye and I can associate the idea that stimulus is the fact of the night push for very heart of Japan's fiscal stimulus in the nineties ... I still think that he can be useful to offset some of things can happen with reeling comes from the inflation ... and from the Apple Cup in consumption tax rise ... but I admit ... aam in contrast some other people that I think there is a limit how far you can push fiscal stimulus ... so there is a risk to Japan both that ... the ... navigating between having too soon into sharp of consumption tax rise ... offsetting some of the good things ... or ... going too far ... with fiscal policy ... were using the therefore the interest rates have to be paid down debt ... and crowding out on Tuesday ... great thank you very much time to ... fix the standard that to give your chief the Washington with Dow Jones


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Offering BBQ facilities and views of open grass plains, Karoo Inn is situated in Hopetown. Every room at this guest house is air conditioned and comes with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. You will find a kettle, mini fridge and microwave in the room. There is a gift shop at the property. Karoo Inn features views of the open grass plains, common in this region, locally known as 'veld'. Views of the mountain can be seen in the distance. You can engage in various activities, such as fishi...ng and hiking.Read more
|4 Waterkant Street
South Africa


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PORTSMOUTH — Nothing like a championship to make a pair of broken players whole again.
Quarterback Donovan Phanor and tight end Colin MacDonald capped a season riddled with injuries by combining for 358 yards total offense and two touchdowns in the Portsmouth High School football team's 54-27 drubbing of Goffstown on Saturday in the Division III championship game.
"I told him 'I will break my body for you,'" Phanor said he said to MacDonald earlier in the week. "All those throws that were a little bit underthrown, he just went up there and he got them.
Phanor overcame an interception on the second play of the game — one that led directly to a Goffstown touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead for the visitors — and showed remarkable poise throughout the afternoon, throwing 9 for 16 for 180 yards and deftly scrambling out of a number of jams. He also rushed for 178 yards.
"It didn't even faze me at that point," Phanor said. "It was just on to the next one. My team is very supportive of me and they're the reason we got this far."
Clippers coach Bill Murphy wasn't surprised that Phanor picked himself up so quickly following the early INT.
"If you're going to be a quarterback, you have to do that," Murphy said. "He's a very poised young man and he has been (all) along. We're fortunate to have him. (He) did an exceptional job. When he's healthy, he can run the ball."
His favorite target all afternoon was MacDonald, who used his considerable height to burn defenders. He caught six passes for 158 yards. On one play, he faked out his defender and found himself wide open in the back corner of the end zone, hauling in Phanor's second-down pass for a 35-yard touchdown that gave Portsmouth its first lead of the day.
It was the second big game for MacDonald against Goffstown this season, as he caught three touchdown passes for 75 yards in a 56-22 regular-season win over the Grizzlies on Dept. 29.
"They couldn't handle me the last time, and they couldn't handle me again," said MacDonald. "I'm not trying to sound cocky, but they couldn't handle our passing game."
It was sweet redemption for Phanor, a junior, who missed the final two games of the regular season with a knee injury. He returned in time for No. 3 Portsmouth's 7-0 semifinal victory at Milford last Saturday.
"I've never been injured so many times in my life," Phanor said. "That's just the style of play that I have. I run the ball and I can't help it. To come back here and to be able to win this with my team after all these injuries, it's incredible."
MacDonald suffered his fair share of injuries as well, missing three games with a completely torn MCL. If he was feeling any ill-effects of the injury on Saturday, it didn't show.
"This was the most up-and-down season I've ever had in any sport," MacDonald said. "We had suspensions, we had injuries, we had our best receiver go down, and I went down. We had no passing game."
The pair hooked up for another touchdown with 18 seconds to go in the third quarter, when Phanor hit MacDonald for a 27-yard score that gave the Clippers a 41-14 lead.
Phanor threw two big passes to MacDonald on the previous drive, one for 28 yards which MacDonald caught on a roll and one for 24 that required him to outreach his nearest defender. That gave the Clippers first-and-goal from the 6, and Phanor ran it in two plays later for one of his two rushing touchdowns.
"They're both good athletes," Murphy said of Phanor and MacDonald. "We've always had that capability, except at one time or another, one was injured and the other one wasn't. Today, it worked out. They gave us some opportunities to get Colin free and Donovan was able to get the ball to him."
After Goffstown scored early in the fourth quarter to cut Portsmouth's lead to 41-20, Phanor squashed any hopes the visitors had of a miracle comeback when he ran 54 yards on the third play of the Clippers' next drive. That put the ball at the 1, where Dillon Crosby took it in on the next play to give Portsmouth a 48-20 lead and put the game on ice.
"Today, our offense just exploded like a volcano, man," MacDonald said. "There are no other words to describe it. We exploded."
Clipper combo was tough to stop
PORTSMOUTH — Nothing like a championship to make a pair of broken players whole again.


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Nicole Kidman: Say No To Violence Against Women!
UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman announces that more than five million people have signed a internet-based petition for the "Say No to Violence against Women" campaign on Tuesday at United Nations headquarters in New York.
"We thought that the more names we collected, the stronger our case to make ending violence against women a top priority for governments everywhere," the 41-year-old Aussie actress said. "Well, the results are in. We've tallied the numbers from Bangkok and Tanzania, from Ecuador to Fiji, from Jordan to India. I am so delighted to announce that they have far, far, surpassed our goal."
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) is the women's fund at the United Nations, promoting women's human rights and gender equality in over 100 countries.
15+ pictures inside of Nicole Kidman saying no to violence against women…


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Become a crime scene investigator! Learners model Dawn Mission scientists, engineers, and technologists and how they use instrumentation to detect distant worlds. After a briefing to build context, students explore interactions between different... (View More) frequencies/wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum and matter as they investigate the different ways scientists gather and understand remote sensing data, using Dawn instruments as examples. This module is organized around a learning cycle, engaging students through several experiences to activate students' prior knowledge and assess conceptual understanding, informing next steps. (View Less)
Materials Cost: 1 cent - $1 per group of students
This is an activity about Earth's magnetic field. Learners will construct a soda bottle magnetometer, collect data, and analyze the results to detect magnetic storm events. Ideally, learners should collect data for at least a month. If several... (View More) months are available for data collection, this is ideal. This is the first activity as part of the iMAGiNETICspace: Where Imagination, Magnetism, and Space Collide educator's guide. Instructions for downloading the iBook educator's guide and the associated Transmedia book student guide are available at the resource link. (View Less)
This is an activity about magnetic fields. Learners will use various magnets, magnetic film, and a compass to see and illustrate what magnetic fields look like. This is the fourth activity as part of the iMAGiNETICspace: Where Imagination,... (View More) Magnetism, and Space Collide educator's guide. Instructions for downloading the iBook educator's guide and the associated Transmedia book student guide are available at the resource link. (View Less)
This is a lesson about the solar wind, Earth's magnetosphere, and the Moon. Participants will work in groups of two or three to build a model of the Sun-Earth-Moon system. They will use the model to demonstrate that the Earth is protected from... (View More) particles streaming out of the Sun, called the solar wind, by a magnetic shield called the magnetosphere, and that the Moon is periodically protected from these particles as it moves in its orbit around the Earth. Participants will also learn that the NASA ARTEMIS mission is a pair of satellites orbiting the Moon that measure the intensity of solar particles streaming from the Sun. (View Less)
This is an activity about using models to solve a problem. Learners will use a previously constructed model of the MMS satellite to determine if the centrifugal force of the rotating MMS model is sufficient to push the satellite's antennae outward,... (View More) simulating the deployment of the satellites after launch. Then, learners will determine the minimum rotational speed needed for the satellite to successfully deploy the antennae. This is the seventh activity as part of the iMAGiNETICspace: Where Imagination, Magnetism, and Space Collide educator's guide. Instructions for downloading the iBook educator's guide and the associated Transmedia book student guide are available at the resource link. (View Less)
Leaners will grow a sugar crystal and learn how this relates to growing protein crystals in space. The lack of gravity allows scientists on the space station to grow big, almost perfect crystals, which are used to help design new medicines. This is... (View More) science activity 2 of 2 found in the ISS L.A.B.S. Educator Resource Guide. (View Less)
After creating a model of multiple volcanic lava flows, students analyze the layers, sequence the flows, and interpret the stratigraphy. Students use that same volcanic layering model to investigate relative dating and geologic mapping principles-... (View More) which they will then apply to satellite imagery. The lesson is part of the Mars Education Program series; it models scientific inquiry using the 5E instructional model and includes teacher notes and vocabulary. Next Generation Science Standards are listed. (View Less)
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This is an activity about the Signal-to-Noise Ratio. Learners will engage with a hands-on activity and an online interactive to understand the terms signal and noise as they relate to spacecraft communication; quantify noise using a given dataset;... (View More) and calculate the signal-to-noise ratio. The activity also includes a pencil-and-paper component that addresses relevant topics, such as proportions and ratios. Includes teacher background information, student data sheets, answer guide, extensions and adaptions. (View Less)
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This lesson provides a way for students to determine the relationship between the distance from a light source and its brightness. Once students discover the relationship, they can begin to understand how astronomers use this knowledge to determine... (View More) the distances to stars and far away galaxies. (View Less)
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In this activity about spectroscopy, learners build a spectroscope, learn about graphing spectra, and then identify elements in gas tubes using their spectra. The activity concludes as learners graph the spectra of different materials. Essential... (View More) materials required for this activity include spectrum light tubes, the power source for spectrum light tubes, and diffraction grating material. (View Less)


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Art Theft: One Of The Most Intriguing and Famous Cases in History
Art theft is an ancient and complex criminal offense. When you take a look at the some of the most popular cases of art thefts in history, you see thoroughly planned operations that involve art dealers, art fakers, mobsters, ransoms, and countless dollars. Here you can check out some of the most well-known cases of art theft in the history.
The First Theft:
The very first recorded case of art theft was in 1473, when two panels of altarpiece of the Last Judgment by the Dutch painter Hans Memling were stolen. While the triptych was being carried by ship from the Netherlands to Florence, the ship was assaulted by pirates who took it to the Gdansk cathedral in Poland. Nowadays, the piece is revealed at the National Museum in Gdansk where it was recently moved from the Basilica of the Assumption.
The A Lot Of Famous Theft:
The most popular story of art theft includes among the most famous paintings on the planet and among the most popular artists in history as a suspect. In the night of August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was taken from the Louver. Not long after, Pablo Picasso was apprehended and questioned by the authorities, but was released quickly.
It took about two years until the mystery was solved by the Parisian police. It ended up that the 30 × 21 inch painting was taken by among the museum staff members by the name of Vincenzo Peruggia, who merely brought it concealed under his coat. However, Peruggia did not work alone. The criminal activity was thoroughly performed by a infamous bilker, Eduardo de Valfierno, who was sent out by an art faker who planned to make copies and offer them as if they were the original painting.
While Yves Chaudron, the art faker, was hectic developing copies for the well-known masterpiece, Mona Lisa was still hidden at Peruggias home. After 2 years in which Peruggia did not hear from Chaudron, he attempted to make the very best out of his taken great. Eventually, Peruggia was captured by the authorities while attempting to sell the painting to an art dealer from Florence, Italy. The Mona Lisa was gone back to the Louver in 1913.
The Most significant Theft in the USA:
The greatest art theft in United States happened at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. On the night of March 18, 1990, a group of burglars wearing cops uniforms broke into the museum and took thirteen paintings whose collective worth was estimated at around 300 million dollars. The burglars took two paintings and one print by Rembrandt, and works of Vermeer, Manet, Degas, Govaert Flinck, in addition to a French and a Chinese artifact.
Since yet, none of the paintings have been discovered and the case is still unsolved. According to current rumors, the FBI are investigating the possibility that the Boston Mob in addition to French art dealers are linked to the crime.
The Scream:
The painting by Edvard Munchs, The Scream, is probably the most looked for after painting by art burglars in history. It has been stolen two times and was only recently recovered. In 1994, throughout the https://medium.com/@kurtcriter Winter Season Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, The Scream was stolen from an Oslo gallery by two thieves who broke through an open window, triggered the alarm and left a note stating: thanks for the poor security.
Three months later, the holders of the painting approached the Norwegian Federal government with an offer: 1 million dollars ransom for Edvard Munchs The Scream. The Government refused the deal, but the Norwegian authorities teamed up with the British Cops and the Getty Museum to organize a sting operation that brought back the painting to where it belongs.
While Museum officials waiting for the burglars to demand ransom loan, reports declared that both paintings were burned to conceal evidence. Eventually, the Norwegian police discovered the 2 paintings on August 31, 2006 however the truths on how they were recovered are not known.
When you look at the some of the most popular cases of art thefts in history, you see completely prepared operations that involve art dealers, art fakers, mobsters, ransoms, and millions of dollars. The most famous story of art theft includes one of the most popular paintings in the world and one of the most well-known artists in history as a suspect. The crime was thoroughly performed by a well-known con man, Eduardo de Valfierno, who was sent by an https://foursquare.com/v/kurt-criter/59ae10555161136b77113e4f art faker who planned to make copies and offer them as if they were the original painting.
Eventually, Peruggia was captured by the cops while trying to sell the painting to an art dealership from Florence, Italy. The painting by Edvard Munchs, The Scream, is probably the most looked for after painting by art thieves in history.


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Ahrens Fox, Diamond T & Volkswagen: Saturday's Barrett-Jackson Top Sellers
A fire truck, a pickup, a microbus, and some military and racing history
Saturday at Barrett-Jackson is commonly known as "Shatterday" as it's typified by record-breaking sales. On our radar for today was the Snake and Mongoose pair of yellow and red 1967 Dodge D-700 ramp trucks and the two Plymouth drag cars that they carried. This friendly funny car rivalry heightened as Mattel Hot Wheels sponsored the pair in the early 70s, becoming one of the first non-automotive corporate sponsors of the NHRA. Little Hot Wheels toys brought the legendary cars to life for many young fans. Driver Don "The Snake" Prudhomme found his original yellow Dodge D-700 transporter truck a few years ago and restored it to go along with his restored original Barracuda Snake funny car from that time, the only surviving car. Luckily it was still locally owned by the same guy he sold it to in 1973. The reaction the restored duo received was so overwhelming that Prudhomme sought to find the matching red hauler of Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen. A long hunt brought him back to a relatively local field, where it was just wasting away in the weeds. The Mongoose truck was restored and now houses a display Duster Mongoose funny car that at least looks like the one from the 70s. The restored transporters were both fittingly used in the recent Snake & Mongoo$e movie, which debuted in October 2013. Anyway, the Hot Wheels package set, consisting of the two haulers and the funny cars, sold to NASCAR Sprint Cup team owner (Hendrick Motorsports) Rick Hendrick. Hendrick and Prodhomme negotiated a private sale after an initial no-sale on the block, as the $1 million bid apparently did not meet the reserve. Pretty cool piece of racing history!
A piece of military history – a 1959 Cessna L-19E airplane and 1958 Dodge M37 military truck - was sold for charity benefitting the Armed Forces Foundation. They sold for a decent amount, with the truck alone going for 350K.
Actually topping the Saturday charts were three unsuspecting vehicles, two of which you've probably never heard. A 1936 Ahrens Fox BT fire engine truck sold for 196K, followed by a 1948 Diamond T 201 pickup for 165K, then a 1961 Volkswagen Deluxe Microbus 23 Window for 148K. Wow! Ahrens Fox is kind of like the Rolls-Royce of fire engines, and this BT was one of six existing today. The Diamond T's Barrett-Jackson description says that it is "probably one of the rarest collector trucks there is." It has 18,502 original miles. In addition to bigger trucks, there were two models of Diamond T pickups – Model 80 and Model 201 (1938-1949). White Motor Corporation bought Diamond T in 1958. If you're looking for a way to stand out, build yourself a Diamond T. Plus, Diamond T was known as "The Cadillac of Trucks." As for the VW microbus, it has some rare factory options and has only 53 miles since its pristine restoration.
We could go on and on about each and every one of these vehicles, as each one tells its own story and holds its own place in history. Enjoy today's collection!


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In many sports -- or at least those featuring a ball -- there's a gap between the initiation of action and the result. The ball leaves the attacker's foot, and it takes a second for the ball to reach the goal. The quarterback heaves the ball to the wide receiver streaking down the sideline, and 4 or 5 seconds later, we find out if it's caught, dropped, or intercepted. Or think of basketballs in their arc-ed path to the basketball. The crowd may be cheering wildly, but there is usually a bit of a pause, a collective intake of breath, as they wait for the result.
I'm thinking of this today as I continue to process the meaning of The Okee Dokee Brothers' win in the Best Children's Music Album category at the 2013 (55th) GRAMMY Awards Sunday. It was for their album Can You Canoe?, an album that inspired, and was inspired by, a trip the duo made by canoe halfway down the Mississippi River.
There's the announcement of the nominees, and then the pause while the presenter takes a moment to open the envelope. Unlike many of those sporting gaps, the result is set -- there's nothing that could have happened between the announcement of names and the uttering of "The Okee Dokee Brothers" that could have changed the fact that Joe and Justin would be walking onstage -- but there's the same intake of breath for a certain percentage of the audience.
At this point, dear reader, I'm sure you're wondering exactly what the Okee Dokee Brothers have to do with sports? Is their next album going to be sports-themed? (Answer: unless their trek along the Appalachian Trail is part of some timed event, then, no.)
The answer lies within the result.
In 2001, I had the good fortune to be an Arizona Diamondbacks fan. And I had the great fortune to be at the ballpark for Game Seven of the World Series against the New York Yankees. I know what the gap is.
I have a friend's home video from that game -- and that clip doesn't do the gap justice, nor does it fully capture the bedlam after the bloop just outside the infield and over the heads of the Yankees' drawn-in infield. But you get the idea -- a huge celebration. Didn't matter where you were -- I was sitting about as far from home plate as you can get in that park -- there was a full-throated roar and wailing. The walk back to the car in the parking garage was as good-natured a crowd as I have ever been in -- random high-fives with strangers, "Woo hoos!" everywhere, and slight disbelief that this 4-year-old team had somehow managed to beat baseball's most historically accomplished team, the New York Yankees. Not only had they beat the Yankees, they beat them in playoffs coming less than a couple months after the September 11th attacks made most of the rest of the country Yankees fans for a time.
Of course, it was a fairly even matchup, and with two of baseball's best pitchers at the time, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, pitching for the Diamondbacks, Arizona's eventual victory wasn't considered an upset. There was no reason to think that the Diamondbacks wouldn't be competing for the World Series trophy in 2002 as well.
A little more than a year ago, I wrote a post expressing some disbelief at the entire slate of the 54th Grammy Award nominees for Best Children's Album. When this year's slate of nominees was announced in December 2012, I outlined why I thought it was a better slate, completely setting aside whether I liked the slate as a whole better than last year's. But I also made the erroneous assumption that the nomination process was unchanged from the year before, when participation in Grammy365, the Recording Academy's social networking site for members, appeared from the outside to be a major determinant of who was nominated.
I heard shortly after that piece that no, in fact, the nominating process for kids' music had changed for the 55th Grammys. Nobody seemed to want to discuss it very much, and I can't say that I blame them -- a select group of Academy members going through the first round of voting and selecting nominees from among them? That would raise questions in the minds of a lot of folks (including me) -- who were on the nominating committee? What albums did they choose from?
I chose not to write about the process at the time because I didn't think I'd be able to get much information. But NPR last weekend aired a story on an issue I'd heard about before -- how an dance music artist with little popular notoriety snagged a Grammy nod amidst some much larger names. And in that piece, a Grammy official noted that other genres -- including kids music -- used an intermediator, the nominating committee.
When I wrote my piece on the nominations 14 months ago, there was dissatisfaction on my part, but undergirding my words were the feelings of lots of other members who felt that something was amiss with the process. And clearly those feelings translated into a changed nomination process -- if everyone had been totally satisfied, then nothing would have changed. And the result? The Okee Dokee Brothers won -- for an album that also happened to win the 2012 Fids and Kamily Awards. And a couple other albums in the top 15 for F&K, The Pop Ups' Radio Jungle and Elizabeth Mitchell's Little Seed, appeared on the nomination list as well. Previous Grammy winner and longtime kids musician and storyteller Bill Harley joined the group. And while none of those artists approach Taylor Swift-ian sales level, they are, within the genre, popular artists. Can You Canoe? sold about 10,000 albums, and Elizabeth Mitchell consistently ranks amongst the KidzBop-ers and Spongebobs on kids music album charts -- she is a superstar of kindie.
What followed for the Diamondbacks? A decade-plus of middling success. Sure they got back to the playoffs, but they've never made it back to the World Series and have had some poor seasons as well. In part, they've been a victim of their own success, with a not -insubstatial portion of their payroll going to pay deferred salaries from that 2001 squad. Would I trade that 2001 season for more consistent success subsequently? Nah. But it did prove to me that success in these sorts of fields are, if not totally random, at least fleeting.
The question for this site is what follows for kids music. This year's slate of nominees was picked -- in part -- by a small group of people in a secret process. I understand why it's secret, but I am sure some musicians don't like the change. In the end, the final answer will be provided by the Academy members themselves. If a sizable number feel bamboozled by the change, then they will pressure their representatives, and the process could go back to the old way. (This would not be the first time we've switched between methodologies -- the nominating committee was used for awhile in the '90s, too.) If, however, the majority likes this year's results, then the new process will stay. It may mean that bigger stars like Elizabeth Mitchell (for Blue Clouds) and Justin Roberts (for Lullaby and possibly Recess) show up on next year's nominated albums list, and more consistently on future nominee slates. Kids musicians who are members of the Academy will be the final arbiter of whether that's a good thing, not me.


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SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Naomi Miller exploded for career highs of four goals and one assist to lift the Mount Holyoke College women's lacrosse team to a 15-12 triumph over MIT this afternoon at the Mount Holyoke Turf Field. With their first NEWMAC win of the year, the Lyons halted a three game slide and improved to 4-5 on the year. It was their first victory over MIT since the 2003 season. The Engineers had come out on top in each of the previous eight meetings between the programs.
Seven players recorded goals for Mount Holyoke, which finished with a 16-13 advantage in draw controls. Vika Planson and Liz Randolph both tallied three goals, while Lindsey Kanno found the back of the net twice. It was Planson's first career hat trick and Randolph's fourth of the year. Mount Holyoke's remaining strikes came from Brianne Phelan, Georgia Markell and Alex Crean. Markell came up with five draw controls, while Hilary Bombard added four draw controls and four ground balls.
MIT was paced by Kaitlyn Nealon, who notched a hat trick. Erica Little amassed two goals and two assists, while Katie Kauffman, Kelly Duncan and Stephanie Leger chipped in with two tallies apiece. Nealon and Duncan both added three groundballs as Lauren Rodda totaled three groundballs, three caused turnovers, and two draw controls. Leger added three draw controls while Molly McCartin totaled two groundballs, two draw controls, and two caused turnovers.
The Engineers jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but Mount Holyoke erupted for five straight goals over a span 6:50 to grab its first advantage of the game. Five different Lyons found the net during the spurt, which was capped off by Crean at the 11:02 mark. The teams entered the intermission knotted up at 6-6. Miller scored two of her four goals before the break while Duncan also netted a pair for the Engineers.
Back-to-back strikes by Nealon and Leger put MIT back in front 8-6 four minutes into the second stanza. The guests enjoyed a 10-8 cushion after Kauffman's second tally at the 21:34 mark.
From there, it was all Mount Holyoke. The Lyons racked up five straight goals to gain control of the contest. Miller got the rally started with a pair of goals in an 11 second span, and Randolph followed with two of her own. Planson then provided the exclamation point with 11:49 remaining in regulation, when she scored off a nifty feed from Miller to put the hosts ahead, 13-10.
Mount Holyoke led by as many as four goals down the stretch.
The Lyons received an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Jamie Theophilos, who piled up a career best 13 saves en route to her fourth win of the year. At the other end, Sarah Ritter made five stops for MIT, which finished with a 33-24 edge in the shot column. The Engineers entered the day riding a three game winning streak.
Mount Holyoke (4-5, 1-1 NEWMAC) will put the finishing touches on a three game homestand next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. against Wheaton College. Meanwhile, MIT (5-3, 1-1 NEWMAC) is slated to visit Framingham State University for a non-conference tilt on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Courtesy of Mount Holyoke College Sports Information


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Image by Defence Images via Flickr
Dennys Global Politics: Peoples Revolution Recaptures Port Cities: Libya Political Cartoons: "Since the U.S. and the minority coalition established the No-Fly Zone over Libya last week, the rebels have fared better. To gain control over the skies, it was necessary to destroy Gadafi compounds, tanks, anti-aircraft batteries, weapons dumps and whole regiments of troops on the move. In short, America, the British and the French decimated most of the Gadafi regime.
At present, the rebels have marched along the coastal cities, taking back ownership after Gadafi drove them out with aerial bombings and tank bombardments. Turn about was fair play and Gadafi's troops got a taste of the horror they inflicted upon others, now visited upon themselves."


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Online & Hybrid Academic Programs
UW System eCampus
The University of Wisconsin System eCampus is your gateway to information about online degree programs and non-degree certificate programs offered across the 26 campuses of the UW System. It is a comprehensive portal, enabling you to search for programs, learn about those programs and easily locate advisors, an application, or registration information. Academic programs listed on this site are offered through one or more of the campuses with the University of Wisconsin System.
UW Oshkosh Online Programs
UW Oshkosh Online and Hybrid Course Guidelines PDF
Program Integrity Regulations: State Authorizations
The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh offers a number of fully online distance delivery courses and degree programs. Our online and distance delivery offerings are reviewed and approved by the UW System, faculty governance at UW-Oshkosh, and as part of the Higher Learning Commission's accreditation requirements.
As part of the U.S. Department of Education's Program Integrity Regulations, UW-Oshkosh is committed to complying with the quality standards established for online and distance education established by other state agencies.
Known as "State Authorizations," these quality standards and the corresponding licensure process requires each college or university to seek authorization (or exemption) from states in which residents are enrolled in online degree programs.
Map of SARA States
List of SARA States
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Alert 2008-5
Subject: Fraudulent Regulatory Agency Issuances
Date: January 28, 2008
Description: Fraudulent Correspondence Purportedly from the Florida Office of Financial Regulation
Fraudulent letters claiming to be from the Florida Office of Financial Regulation
To: Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsel; and All Examining Personnel
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has been informed by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation that fraudulent letters appearing to be sent from that office to financial institutions are currently in circulation.
The fraudulent letter claims to provide authorization by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation for a financial transaction to take place at a particular institution. This correspondence bears a crude copy of a banner obtained from the Florida Office of Financial Regulation's Internet Web page and also includes the names of three prominent regulatory agencies in a blatant attempt to imply legitimacy. The fraudulent letter contains the forged signatures of the Commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation and the Director of the Division of Financial Institutions. Recipients of the letter are instructed to deposit an "instrument" into a specific account and to notify the beneficiary account holder that payment has been made.
Neither the Florida Office of Financial Regulation nor the OCC sends out instructions or authorizations to any financial institution to conduct specific transactions, including the transferring of funds.
Any information that you may have concerning this particular scam should be brought to the attention of the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, [firstname.lastname@example.com] or via telephone at (850) 410-9800.
Additional information concerning this matter that you believe should be brought to the attention of the OCC may be forwarded to:
For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC's anti-fraud resource at: https://www.occ.gov/topics/consumer-protection/fraud-resources/index-fraud-resources.html.
Richard C. Stearns


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February 7, 2012
On Sunday morning Emie went missing after she finished working at Godfather's bar around 2:30 a.m. The Marianas Variety reports:
Natalie Ocon, Godfather's cook, was first to be dropped off and Romero second, who lived nearby on Chichirica Ave.I assume that the FBI has questioned the "Bangladeshi neighbor" who must have been one of the last persons Emie was seen alive with on Sunday morning.
Ocon later phoned Romero to ask if they could meet and exchange bags they had mixed up in the taxi.
As Romero strode toward Ocon's home she reportedly shouted "wait, wait" to the driver of a blue gray sedan parked on the grass close to St. Michael's Emergency Medical Services at the corner of Chichirica Ave. and Kadena Di Amor St.
When Ocon asked Romero who was waiting for her in the car, she replied, "My Bangladeshi neighbor."
After exchanging the plastic bags, Romero walked toward the parked car that was facing south.
"What's that?" Ocon quoted the driver as saying to Romero as she sat down in the front passenger seat.
The car turned around and proceeded east by Garapan Market according to Ocon's statement.
It was reported that after 3:00 a.m. Emie made a call to 911. Her only words were "Marianas Resort" and then the call went dead. I assume the DPS immediately went to check out this area?
Maybe the monster that did this to Emie was not a repeat offender, but Saipan has become more and more unsafe because most criminals are not severely punished in the CNMI unless they are tried in federal court. They receive sentences tantamount to a slap on the hand, write an "I'm sorry" letter to their victims and are back on the street in a short period of time (or they serve no jail time at all). How many dangerous convicts are running free on Saipan because they were given ridiculously lenient prison sentences or pardoned with the blessings of relatives or political allies in high positions?
Isn't it time that the people of the CNMI organize to protest the lack of enforcement of laws, failure to investigate cases, failure to prosecute offenders, unresolved cases, lenient sentences, and early parole or pardons for dangerous criminals? When will people protest convicted felons working in high positions in government offices or oppose monuments that honor felon officials, among others?
A cop brutally beats an innocent foreign worker and the CNMI Attorney General declares that it is "within the scope of his duties"; rapes go uninvestigated and unresolved; assaults and other crimes are ignored (especially if the victims are foreigners). Do people only care when it happens to them or to their families or friends? Where is the outrage? Saipan is not a safe or a peaceful place, despite what residents claim. The community should unite now to demand change in the name of Emie, the missing Luhk girls and the other hundreds of victims of unresolved and senseless crimes committed in the CNMI.


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Happy Reading!!!
Ok, so to begin, I am not a big fan of TV or pop culture in general, and while I think everything has its place in the world, I wasn't overly interested in Lady Gaga a week ago. I certainly knew who she was and of course lots of her songs are catchy – but a "meat suit" – really??? It just didn't seem worth following.
Then came my mom's 70th birthday and my wife and I wanted to do something fun, memorable and uniquely honoring my mother's eternal youth, love of rock and pop culture and wildly open mindedness… so what else could we do? We took her to the hippest biggest tour of the season: LADY GAGA MONSTER'S BALL.
My mom and wife LOVED every minute of the journey – from the moment they started to plan their "outfits" to the dinner before (at a restaurant full of insanely dressed Gaga fans) and of course the "Broadway, meets Madonna, meets LSD, meets a massive LGBT pride parade, future disco rave" show itself…
Me, well….
If you don't know me, I have a PhD in Comparative Religion, I am an ordained interfaith minister, trained as a chaplain, and business consultant and author of a few books including "Return to the Sacred" and "Inspiration Deficit Disorder," both with Hay House books. I have been a director at Canyon Ranch Health resorts, an executive director at a major Canadian healthcare management company, and have been featured as an expert in books, films, radio, TV – the likes of Larry King Live, Yoga Journal, In Session TV, CNN, etc. etc. etc.
Why do I say all this? To blow my own horn? To promote myself? No. I say these things to make my comments very clear.
As of March 26, 2011, the night of the Monster's Ball, The Gaga is my Guru!!!
No, really! I loved this show and the woman herself! It was fantastic . My taste in clothing (or lack of it) and music is not always the same as hers, but she embodies something extraordinary and I have to honor it and follow it. Who knows if she was always like this, or not, or why she started on this road or not… Gossip is gossip and you can judge the past all you like. But in this moment she has been transformed into more than an icon and she is using her status to raise huge amounts of money for charity, huge amounts of awareness for disenfranchised groups and maintains a bizarre kind of artistic integrity that shows that you can be in the world and not of it at the same time.
That's why I am going to dedicate a mini-blog series to the Wisdom of Lady Gaga (as I see it). If you love her it Gossip is gossip and you can judge the past all you like.he same time.she is using her status to raise huge amounts of money fois worth reading, but if you don't get her yet, it makes it more worth reading…!
So, before concluding Gaga for my Guru vol. 1, I want to highlight the three core messages she repeated again and again in her show.
1. Charity: Vote with your money, support charities, get involved, get educated and align yourself with brands that support your beliefs. Don't be an ignorant contributor to what you don't agree with.
2. Love Yourself: Its basic, but a universal spiritual and psychologically healing message. This isn't about narcissism. This is about believing in your innate goodness no matter how high, low, on or off you make think you are. At least know that you are lovable, right now without exception.
3. Don't Let Others Tell You Who To Be: Whether it is about how to be a good mother, a powerful man, your sexuality, ideas success, appearance, you name it – define yourself from within. Trust your intuition, your calling, your passions and sense of purpose and true nature. My book Inspiration Deficit Disorder says this a thousand different ways and gives you the tools to make it happen – but Gaga can do it in about 4 minutes with a song, an outrageous outfit and imagery that simply blows away all stereotypes, sense of judgment and control. It about PERMISSION and FREEDOM to choose.
We were on the road to
Malinalco, Mexico, when we came upon clusters of people of all ages walking
along the highway. It was surprising and mysterious to me. As we passed
families, groups, and individuals, I felt as if I were looking through the car
window into a world I couldn't begin to comprehend.
Some of the people
carried crosses, some carried flowers, and others carried bags of food and
water. The people seemed intent, and the mood appeared committed but also
content. Their dark faces were made more beautiful in contrast to the freshly
laundered clothing they were wearing, as if dressed for a special occasion.
"Where are they
going?" I asked. It had been miles since the last town, and it was a very small
one. "Where have they all come from? Why?"
"Have you not seen
people making a pilgrimage before?" my guide Raphael asked me.
"They are on the road
to Chalma, a sacred place where there's a cave with a very special altar. It's
the second most popular site for pilgrimages in Mexico. Hundreds of years ago,
Native people would go there to honor and request help from Ozteotl." Ozteotl
was said to have great healing ability and people visited the cave in order to
connect with his power to help and heal them. Since the time of the Spanish,
the cave has been dedicated to St. Michael and is now known as a place where
people travel to be in the presence of God through miracles and experiences of
the Divine. Pilgrims come as an act of devotion, and they make the journey on
foot to show their deep love and commitment to God.
At the time, I didn't
understand the devotional path, and it made me uncomfortable.
"Do you mean it's
similar to individuals who are in love saying to their beloved, 'I'd walk a
hundred miles on broken glass if only you'd be mine?'" I asked Raphael. "Or the
way people will stand in line for three days to buy concert tickets to see
their favorite rock group?"
"Well, in some ways,
yes–it is like that," Raphael replied. "I think those people say and do those
things because they've found a connection to a force that helps them feel loved
and understood. I've been to rock concerts like that! Everyone sings along as
if the songs were about their own lives. They like to be understood and heard,
experiencing a state of devotion. I think that the devotion itself feels good for
"The experience is
similar for these pilgrims. Unlike adoring a rock star, the force that they're
in love with has the power to work miracles in their lives. Their beloved
offers grace and peace. I've traveled with pilgrims in the past. Thousands make
the journey every year. Their worship is from the heart, and they want to show
it. They want to feel it. For you and me, we feel God in nature. We're
comfortable with a faceless God who is expressed in the physical world as a
force beyond ideas and words."
I agreed and listened
"For these people, God
has a face, and a name. Even the saints have personalities, form, and
preferences. These people feel and need a personal relationship to God. They
call upon Jesus by name. They honor Mother Mary by name, and they pray to the
saints for help by name. Love of God is their path. They're not unsophisticated
or foolish. I know great professors, scientists, lawyers, doctors, and other
highly educated people who worship in this way. They connect to the Sacred
through love. It's no better or worse than what we are attracted to on
mountaintops and in the call of the eagle."
As my practice and
experience have evolved in my life since that day, I've developed a very
different relationship to the path of devotion. As my experience of the Sacred
has deepened, I've felt compelled to relate to God–The Supreme Force and Divine
Mystery–also as a friend and beloved. It somehow feels incomplete to restrict
my connection to The Sacred to only my mind or body. It's difficult to focus
the feeling of love for something if it has no personal dimension. To
think of God as Pure Consciousness may be accurate, but it's awkward. The great
Sufi spiritual teacher Hazrat Inayat Khan once said, "Mysticism without
devotion is like uncooked food; it can never be assimilated."
Excerpted from Return
to The Sacred
Approach the world of spiritual practice These concerns are not A healthy spiritual Much of what scares Joseph Campbell, the It is this dimension A healthy spiritual practice will cause you to Excerpt from Return to the Sacred
with trust and an open heart. Don't be afraid of spiritual experiences. Strange
sensations of energy, a feeling of deep love, vulnerability, connectedness, and
a loss of ego and control are all aspects of spiritual experience that test and
try people's limits. Such profound and healing encounters can trigger fear and
resistance. People doubt what they don't know, resist what they don't
understand, and cling to what's familiar. It's a longing for safety that
sacrifices freedom and growth. Some even fear for their mental and physical
health when they begin to have pronounced spiritual experiences.
hollow. We've all seen examples of people who seem very committed to a religion
or spiritual practice; and the outcome is only distraction, a new source of
control, or worse, a rational for the judgment of others. These, however, are
not examples of effective applications of spiritual practices nor are they
accurate expressions of what spiritual experience teaches.
practice is both the mechanics and a certain mind-set about the practice. These
elements–combined with guidance, grace, and dedication–are necessary to
liberate the human spirit. Without an open mind and heart, without a sincere
desire to learn, grow, and discover, any spiritual practice can become a barrier
to growth.
people about spirituality is its demand to move beyond absolute trust in
science and the five ordinary senses. The Spiritual World largely remains
beyond the scope of material science, but that isn't a "problem"–it is simply
its nature. In his magnificent book The Little
Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote: "It is only with the
heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
great historian of mythology and religion, affirmed this by pointing out that
nearly every culture in the world holds foundational stories of sacred heroes
whose only salvation comes from facing their deepest fears and risking the life
that is familiar in favor of a willingness to explore the unknown. Often, we
must sever the ties to what we know and believe in order to be reborn and
of the spiritual journey that remains the greatest barrier: fear. Anywhere that
fear lives, the Spirit withdraws–including in groups, in families, or in
ourselves. Where fear grows, love is diminished and the qualities of The Sacred
are forgotten. People become paralyzed by the fear of the unknown, of being
rejected, of not being in control, and of the discomfort they might face as
they surrender who they've come to believe they are.
become aware of your limits and your opportunities to heal and grow.
This ensures that it won't always be easy, but it will always be worthwhile. My
own journey has also come with many difficult crossroads, including loneliness,
surprises, the recognition of old wounds, hard choices, and the need to make
many sacrifices. But it has also blessed me with the most rewarding gifts and
an abundant sense of personal power, happiness, and freedom.
Approach the world of spiritual practice
These concerns are not
A healthy spiritual
Much of what scares
Joseph Campbell, the
It is this dimension
A healthy spiritual practice will cause you to
Excerpt from Return to the Sacred


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by Mike Todd
"Can't you just wait two days?" the pharmacist asked.
"So my baby should go off his medicine for two days because our insurance won't cover us until Saturday?" I asked, feeling myself turning into Mr. Angry Customer Man.
He paused for a moment to consider an answer. To help him arrive at the right one, I tried to flex hard enough to shred my pants and shirt into tatters, but my face just turned red instead of Incredible-Hulk green.
"Hmmm, yeah, that doesn't sound right," he replied. "Let me call your insurance company."
I took a deep breath, thanked him and stepped away from the counter, wondering how my wife Kara was faring out in the car with our two sons, who were surely threatening mutiny by now. If they ever figure out how to unbuckle their car seat harnesses, our reign as the bosses will be over.
"This'll just take a sec," I'd said when I hopped out of the car, thinking that I was just picking up a prescription, not arm-wrestling the medical-industrial complex.
Leaving the pharmacy without the medicine was not an option. Kara and I are very close to celebrating our 365th consecutive terrible night's sleep, an anniversary that is easy to remember because, through no small coincidence, it falls on our son Zack's first birthday.
On the recommendation of his specialist, we'd recently doubled Zack's dosage in hopes of finally taming the reflux that has caused more lost sleep than all of the world's car alarms and protective German Shepherds combined.
Living with Zack is like living with a werewolf, and every night's a full moon. In the morning, he is all smiles and coos, a sweet child with a wonderful temperament. He has no recollection of the wailing beast he'd become during the night.
"Not again," we'll say when the howling begins.
The next day, he'll crawl up to you, eyes twinkling, looking up as if to say, "Good morning! Hey, what's with the bags under your eyes, and the claw marks across your face?"
After resigning ourselves to never sleeping again, Zack's specialist had given us hope that doubling the dosage could do the trick. Zack needed more of his medicine, not less, and we'd given him the last dose at our house that morning.
"Yes, but they had to double the dose. That's why they ran out a few days early," the pharmacist said over the phone, and I appreciated his arguing on our behalf.
Usually, Kara dukes it out with the insurance company, which can be a full-time job. We chose her insurance plan, and covered our kids with it, because, while being ridiculously expensive, it was one of the few plans that promised to reimburse the cost of Zack's wickedly overpriced reflux formula.
"There's been a mistake," the cashier will say after ringing up his formula.
"No, I'm afraid that's right," I'll say. It is the Dom Perignon of formulas. Once Zack's off it, we'll have to feed him pureed lobster tails and filet mignon just to keep up the standard of living he's grown accustomed to.
I'll save the receipt and give it to Kara, who will submit it to the insurance company to be rejected. Kara will call and complain, they'll approve it and promise never to reject it again. And they won't — until next time, that is.
The first time might have been a mistake. The second time, an oversight. By the sixth time, it sure seems like a policy.
"OK, they won't cover you until Saturday, but you can pay a full month's market price now and submit the receipt to be reimbursed," the pharmacist said, while shaking his head as if to say, "Don't do it. You won't get the reimbursement from the insurance company until your kids have graduated from college."
"Don't do it," he then said out loud, in case I'd missed his drift. So I bought just two pills at market price to get us to Saturday, at which time I'd come back to bargain again.
When dealing with medical insurance, it helps if you have good drugs.