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Entrepreneur Today
Weird About Beards
Beardboards are coming to a beard near you.
With 55% of the world's men sporting facial hair, American company Beardvertising has come up with an innovative way to use beards as mini billboards.
Men can get paid up to $5 a day to walk around with an advertisement clipped to their beards. The ad comes in the form of a clip-on mini billboard, much like a hair clip.
The website invites men who "wanna get paid for having an epic beard" to "join the world's first Beardvertising network."
Men who want to turn their beard into a business should visit http://beardvertising.com and register.
Entrepreneur Today
Inspiring A New Generation Of Learning – Education As A Basic Human Right
Access to education isn't a privilege, it's a basic human right – Mzwandile inspires a new generation of learners.
Raised by his aunt and uncle after his parents passed away at a young age, Mzwandile Harmans attended a poor school in Cala, the heart of the rural Eastern Cape. It was his matric year; but with limited resources at Masikhuthale Public Secondary school, the pass rate was low and the learning environment less than ideal for conscientious learners.
Then one day a teacher came round to talk about Engen's Maths and Science Schools (EMSS) programme, and everything changed for this talented young man who was determined to realise his full potential.
"We were given a chance to take a test to qualify for the EMSS Cala programme. The programme offered supplementary classes in maths, science and English, which ran every Saturday morning, but was 25 kilometres away," remembers Mzwandile. "Fortunately, I took it seriously and I got in."
Making the long round trip every weekend to attend the programme saw a steady improvement in Mzwandile's maths, chemistry, and physics marks, so much so that he was awarded a full Engen scholarship to study Chemical Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).
Mzwandile later impressed with his tertiary studies and after two-years was offered a one-year internship at the Engen Refinery in Durban, which he passed with distinction. On graduating from CPUT, he landed a two-year employment contract with Engen, as part of the company's graduate development programme.
Today, Mzwandile is permanently employed as an Environmental Technician at the Engen Refinery. "I am so grateful to Engen for all of this," says Mzwandile. "I never thought it could happen to me."
Engen's Head of Transformation and Stakeholder Engagement, Unathi Magida says access to education is a fundamental human right. "This resonates particularly with Engen as a company, as we believe in the value of education and know how important it is to ensure that young people have the opportunity to realise their full potential."
Chwayita Mareka, Engen's Head of Human Resources, says the company's investment in young talent has focused on the Maths and Science Saturday Schools because they understand the bigger country agenda.
"As Engen, we try and play our part in helping to develop South African's talent pool, as there is a scarcity of Science, Maths and Engineering skills. We offer bursaries for students to go to universities in these fields and we look after them, especially if they are from disadvantaged communities," says Mareka.
"Later, they come into Engen as graduate trainees as part of our graduate development programme wherein we assign them a mentor that exposes them to the real business," she adds.
Mzwandile's journey is just one of many inspirational Engen stories that will be shared as part of a new TV series that aims to create a positive narrative around South Africa's success stories. The SA INC. TV series which launches on 7 April is a partnership between Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), Brand South Africa and producers, Regency Global.
"At Engen, we strongly believe that a country which is educated is a country that will prosper. We are pleased to play a part in helping to develop South Africa talent, especially our young learners based in rural areas," says Magida
To watch Mzwandile's story please visit the website: https://regency.global/engen/ and the following hashtags: #JourneyWithEngen #BusinessBelieves #SAINC #humanrightsday #awesomesouthafrica #sustainability #livesouthafrica #weheartsa.
Entrepreneur Today
How SMEs Can Stand Out From The Crowd
A recently released SME Landscape Report: An Assessment of South Africa's SME Landscape: Challenges, Opportunities, Risks & Next Steps' 2018/2019, revealed that 40 percent of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) find that the industry that they operate in is extremely competitive. It also states that considering the low growth environment, this is likely to continue further into the future.
To assist struggling entrepreneurs, Byron Jeacocks, Regional General Manager at Business Partners Limited (BUSINESS/PARTNERS), says that it is imperative for SME owners who find themselves in this predicament to determine and implement tactics to remain competitive in saturated industries. "A good example of how to do this, is Business Partners Limited's client, Prashun Sharma, owner-manager of glass and aluminium company, Aluminium Doctor, who was faced with an overtraded industry teeming with informal operators when he started his business seven years ago."
"This was because the glass and aluminium industry suffered a contraction following the Soccer World Cup construction boom in 2010, and as a result, many tradespeople were retrenched and subsequently started up their own informal glass and aluminium installation operations to make ends meet," Jeacocks adds.
Explaining how he ensured a competitive edge in his business, Sharma, who was also retrenched from his senior management position at a large aluminium company, says that when he started his company he decided to make it formal, compliant and professional. "I wanted to incorporate my corporate and managerial experience to differentiate my business, and to elevate this, I enrolled in a business management degree."
"My degree covered everything from strategic management, supply management, first-line management to directorship and it touched on everything from listing on the stock exchange down to conflict management and change management. This really prepared me for business and I believe it was a key ingredient to my business's success," he points out.
However, Sharma says that when starting their businesses in a saturated industry, entrepreneurs should not feel despondent if the process is slow at the beginning. "At first in my journey, there seemed to be no difference between Aluminium Doctor and the rest of the informal businesses in the industry, but I continued to lay a formal foundation, whilst consulting with my lawyer and accountant to make sure these foundations were sound. I also started to develop professionally made marketing material, a website, formal email addresses and a fixed phone line."
Aluminium Doctor's breakthrough came a year and a half into the business, when it won a substantial contract with the building of the Durban ice rink, says Sharma. "This is when I knew that it was time to formalise my business premises and I found a 1000 square metre factory in Brairdene, Durban."
However, in order to purchase the building, I needed to obtain funding and I believed that it was clear from the financials that the company could afford to buy the building, but the banks were not sure whether our fast growth was sustainable. "I was then introduced to Business Partners Limited which considers finance applications based on the potential of the business, and also on the capabilities of the entrepreneur rather than just on the balance sheet and age of the business."
Commenting on this, Jeacocks says that Sharma's management style and his commitment to furthering himself as an entrepreneur by studying business management was also a contributing factor to the approval of his business's property finance loan," comments Jeacocks.
"Today, seven years since he started, Sharma's careful attention to his business's formal foundations is still paying off. Just in the last twelve months, in an extremely challenging economy, Aluminium Doctor grew by 35 percent, and the business now has a presence in KwaZulu Natal, the Eastern Cape and Gauteng where it will soon establish a permanent sales office in an expansion that is only possible for a formal, well run organisation," Jeacocks concludes.
Entrepreneur Today
Celebrating The Best Of The Best In Black Business
The 2019 Black Business Quarterly (BBQ) Awards, held at Emperor's Palace on Friday, 15 March 2019, celebrated the champions of transformation of the South African economy.
Established in 2002, the BBQ Awards 2019 honoured the best of the best in black business. South Africa's top black business owners and rising stars arrived to the red carpet for a night full of glitz and glamour. Celebrity TV presenter, socialite, radio personality and Idols SA judge Somizi Mhlongo led the festivities as the evening's programme director. He was joined on stage by A-list celebrities and prominent politicians.
Jeff Radebe, Minister of the Department of Energy, celebrated 25 years of South Africa's democracy in his opening keynote address and emphasised the importance of transformation.
"Transformation is well recognised as a change management strategy, which aligns people, which aligns processes and technology initiatives, irrespective of the industry you come from, in order to survive and evolve in this business environment. Changing the structure of the South African economy will result in it being more inclusive, more sustainable… with opportunities for all, integrated value chains, and less barriers to entry. In South Africa, the transformation agenda is very critical in all our endeavours and all our decisions."
Radebe congratulated the winners of the 15 transformation categories on this recognition of their inspiring dedication:
- Platinum Award: Dr Nobuhle Judy Dlamini, founding chairman of Mbekani Group, is an entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist. Her passion for creating and adding value to society and humanity provided her with the overall platinum award for the evening, as well as the Comair Outstanding Woman of the Year Award.
- Hennessy XO Businessman of the Year Award: Sthembiso Elton Nkomo, CEO of Abalandi Risk Management, was recognised as a professionally qualified, dedicated, and respected professional in the forensic investigation and security services environment.
- The Innovation Hub New and Innovative Business Award: AET Africa, a manufacturer and supplier of energy efficient and clean technology products, developed various products targeting the commercial and residential sectors.
- Emperors Palace Community Builder of the Year Award: Emmanel Bonoko, Founder of EBonoko Holdings and a social entrepreneur. He founded EBonoko at the age of 21 with the aim of serving others and fostering leadership, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship.
- Dormehl Phalane Property Group Transformation Champion of the Year Award: ICT-Works, an organisation that provides innovative technology solutions. At its core it also enhances the lives of millions of people.
- Best Employer of the Year Award: Maredi Technologies CC, an 100% black owned ICT infrastructure solutions provider for the private and public sector.
- Trade & Investment KZN Young Business Achiever Award: Pravashen Naidoo, Founder and CEO of e-Waste Africa, established Africa's first light bulb recycling business at the age of 30.
- Bentley South Africa Public Sector Visionary Award: Dr Ayanda Vilakazi, CEO of Lama Marketing and Advertising (Pty) Ltd. He published numerous articles on how to improve services and operations in South Africa. As a seasoned Executive he has expertise in corporate governance, financial management and budgeting, enterprise risk management and strategic development.
- BET New Entrepreneur Award: Ms Thobile Nyawo, Director of Nyawo Civil construction. The 19-year-old construction entrepreneur founded her company in 2015 with no start-up capital.
- CSI Ubuntu Award: Vukani-Ubuntu Community Development Projects, a non-profit organisation that is the largest mineral-beneficiation organisation in the jewellery sector in South Africa and a network off grassroots development projects across the country.
- NHBRC Iqhawe Mentorship Award: Musa Zulu, Creative Director of Valhalla Arts, as well as published author, international artist, celebrated motivational speaker, and prominent disability activist in South Africa.
- NYDA Outstanding Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Muhammad Simjee, Founder and CEO of A2D24 with a passion for building gadgets and writing software.
- Nedbank Group Individual Transformation in Leadership Award: Karen Rademeyer, Fundraiser and Communications Manager at Go for Gold, having worked in the non-profit sector for 17 years She is passionate about education: Go for Gold as a dynamic Education-to-Employment programme that recruits school students from some of South Africa's poorest communities and transforms them into technically qualified graduates.
- LTE Holdings Best Established Black Business Award: Thata uBeke Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd, which offers turnkey solutions by designing, developing, manufacturing and assembling electronic and electro mechanical components for a variety of applications including aerospace, telecommunications, mining, commercial, and military specifications.
The BBQ Awards continue to be South Africa's most prestigious transformation awards. For more information on the 2019 BBQ Awards, visit http://www.bbqawards.co.za/ or follow them on Facebook (@BBQAwards) and Twitter (@BBQ_Awards).
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A 42-year-old Glendale woman faces animal cruelty charges after she stabbed her Shiba Inu dog multiple times around its eyes while she was high on cough syrup, authorities said.
Merry Jane Clift pleaded not guilty Wednesday to one felony count of animal cruelty after the alleged attack on her dog, "Huckleberry," on Dec. 28, according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court criminal complaint.
The dog, which is in stable condition and "doing quite well," is under quarantine at the Pasadena Humane Society, where the eye wounds were treated, spokeswoman Ricky Whitman said.
"It's a very sad situation," she said, adding that the dog was in a safe area away from the public.
Animal control officials are looking for a behaviorist to work with the dog, which appears to be depressed and withdrawn due to the trauma, Whitman said. She added that animal control officials were working with the dog, which she described as "very nice," to make sure its stay at the shelter was as comfortable as possible.
"The dog will not be returned to this woman," she said.
Clift was arrested about 2:14 a.m. Dec. 28 after police arrived at a building in the 100 block of Carr Drive. A neighbor told police Clift was banging on her apartment door and begging residents to kill her, according to Glendale police.
When police walked into the apartment building, they noticed a trail of blood to Clift's apartment. Then the small brown dog stumbled up a set of stairs and stopped in front of the officers, who noticed several deep cuts on its face.
Clift, meanwhile, was sitting on the hallway floor of her apartment, police said.
There they allegedly found a bloodied kitchen knife with a 10-inch blade and blood throughout the apartment.
Clift allegedly told officers that she had slept only two hours that night when she woke up and began stabbing her dog in the face with the knife.
She claimed to be going through a difficult time due to child custody issues, but later recanted her story and claimed not to remember what happened due to a psychotic episode, police said.
Clift was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty and was taken to Glendale Adventist Medical Center, where hospital officials discovered a possible dog bite on her left arm, police said.
Whitman said an out-of-state family member of Clift's has shown interest in the dog, but animal control officials are working with police to authorize any moves.
Child abuse and endangerment charges were filed against Clift in January 2012 in a separate case, which is still pending, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records. She also faces public intoxication charges stemming from cases filed in December 2011 and January 2012, according to court records.
Clift, who listed her profession as a writer in police records, remained jailed Thursday afternoon in lieu of a $40,000 bond, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
She is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 10 to set a date for her preliminary hearing.
Follow Veronica Rocha on Google+ and on Twitter: @VeronicaRochaLA.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thomas Morledge, a Weatherhead Affiliate Instructor, is the medical director and founder of Revati Wellness, a private medical practice that focuses on the use of leading edge technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Morledge is also certified by the American Board of Holistic Medicine. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He received his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Morledge was on staff with the Cleveland Clinic for 16 years where he served as medical director for a suburban medical center and then as medical director of the Cleveland Clinic's Wellness Enterprise. While at the Wellness Enterprise, he developed on-line lifestyle programs in stress management, Mediterranean Diet- based nutrition, and exercise. He is currently a consultant to the Cleveland Clinic leading research studies to examine the clinical effectiveness of the delivery of these programs by different methodologies. He has lectured extensively on topics related to lifestyle and health.
His passion is related to the effect of lifestyle in the prevention of diabetes and heart disease. He measures the impact of lifestyle interventions on the autonomic (fight or flight) nervous system, and their impact on the genetic expression of molecules that promote inflammation. He brings his clinical skills and program interventions together to promote optimal health for individuals, both in their personal and professional life.


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I'll begin by saying I don't want any 9er homerism here.
I was wondering what folks think about the current 9er FO's ability in the draft. While Kaep and Lamichael James have been decent picks, I haven't delved into their drafts to really evaluate.
I hope they're not great so they'll crawl back into mediocrity after the 87 year old Davis and Gore retire.
whatcha think?


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Most disturbing of the many allegations in a lawsuit filed jointly last week by Arkansas and the federal government in the Mayflower pipeline rupture is that the oil companies responsible for the disaster continue to risk further property damage and public health in defiance of state officials.
The lawsuit was filed against ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. and Mobil Pipeline Co., alleging violations of state and federal pollution laws resulting from the March 29 rupture and oil spill at Mayflower.
The amount of Canadian tar sands oil spilled from the Pegasus Pipeline is disputed. One lawsuit alleges that it was more than 10,000 barrels (a barrel is 42 gallons), but Exxon says it was "only" 3,500 barrels — or some 147,000 gallons. Regardless of who's right, that's a lot of oil.
The rupture of the pipeline, buried two feet under ground, spewed thousands of gallons of the messy stuff all over streets and yards in Mayflower's Northwoods subdivision and nearby wetlands, as well as a cove of Lake Conway. Occupants of 22 houses were evacuated, and none have been able to return. Foul-smelling air still hangs over the entire subdivision of 63 houses.
Since March 29 ExxonMobil employees and contractors have been working diligently to clean up the mess, much easier said than done. Crude oil clings to whatever it touches; cleanup means removing both the oil and the dirt, water, vegetation, pavement, animals, birds, fish, insects or whatever else has been touched.
The question is what to do with the contaminated substances, and the sheer volume leaves no easy answers. (Wildlife officials have attempted, with limited success, to save the living creatures affected.)
The oil company's answer was to establish a site east of Conway — at 322 Arkansas Highway 36 to be specific. There, according to the U.S.-Arkansas lawsuit, the company has taken soils, oily debris, wood chips, mud, concrete and oil-water mixture wastes.
The lawsuit points out that Arkansas law prohibits the storing, collection, transporting, treating or disposing of any hazardous waste without a permit and alleges that no permit has been requested or issued.
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality notified the oil companies on May 1 to remove the hazardous materials from the Highway 36 site within seven days. Despite all the negative national attention ExxonMobile has received as a result of the Mayflower spill, the companies continue to flaunt state law.
"To store this material without following the law in advance and then not remove it upon being demanded to do so, we felt was particularly concerning," Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said in announcing the lawsuit.
ADEQ Director Teresa Marks noted that a natural disaster like a tornado could spread the contaminated materials.
The storage issue is one of six major allegations in the Arkansas-U.S. lawsuit, and the others directly address the primary damages to the Mayflower neighborhood where the pipeline ruptured. The state is seeking a declaratory judgment against the defendants for payment of removal costs and damages, plus various civil penalties.
U.S. Attorney Chris Thyer of Jonesboro said the federal government's interest is related to the Clean Water Act, which provides for a civil penalty of up to $1,100 per barrel of oil discharged, or up to $4,300 per barrel if gross negligence or willful misconduct was involved.
This lawsuit doesn't affect the cases filed by Mayflower residents, many of whom not only allege property losses but also health problems such as headaches and nausea in the aftermath.
For those of us who don't live in the affected Mayflower neighborhood, it's easy to tire of such a story three months later. After all, 22 homes is a small number, and we so want cheap gas and oil. Oil company executives consider such incidents to be a small cost of doing big business.
But we must insist that they do their jobs well and protect the public safety to the best of their ability. The evidence indicates that wasn't done here.
U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, announced in a news release Friday that ExxonMobil took four extra minutes to shut off the supply of crude oil after the rupture occurred. That's because, he said, the company was relying on an unapproved response plan instead of the 2009 plan still in effect.
That doesn't sound like much time, but it was enough to add thousands of gallons of oil to the problem. The new plan increases the expected response time.
This small community in Faulkner County happened to be the site of the rupture and oil spill, but it could have occurred in any of the 12 counties of Arkansas that the pipeline passes through. It enters the state in Randolph County, runs through Lawrence and Independence counties, on to more populous areas of Faulkner, Pulaski and Garland counties, then leaves Arkansas in Little River County.
Everyone else along the way should consider themselves lucky. Pegasus was built in the 1940s and expanded to 20 inches in 2009 to carry 90,000 barrels of oil a day. Yet it's small compared to the proposed Keystone XL project, which would be a 36-inch pipeline carrying up to 830,000 barrels.
Thankfully, that one won't run through Arkansas.
Roy Ockert is editor emeritus of The Jonesboro Sun. He may be reached by e-mail at email@example.com.


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Holiday greeting cards still outweigh e-cards in terms of sentiment and personal touch, recent surveys indicate. Even digital natives say a card in the mail evokes a stronger reaction than a text or email. Yet, each year, fewer and fewer people are sending holiday greeting cards through the mail.
In 2011, American households on average sent about 16 holiday greeting cards, according to the Postal Service's recently released 2012 Household Diary Study report. Twelve years earlier, 23 holiday cards were sent. Data from the Greeting Card Association also chart the downward trend: U.S. consumers bought 1.5 billion holiday cards in 2011, compared to 2.7 billion in 1995.
Still, mailed holiday greeting cards remain an important component of the Postal Service's revenues for the year, as single-piece First-Class letters are one of the Postal Service's most profitable products. While mail is not as seasonal as it used to be, a strong holiday season still sets the tone for the entire fiscal year.
It seems unlikely that this trend in holiday greeting cards can be easily reversed, given the overall decline in mail use and a growing comfort with digital communications. But, perhaps some small innovations might revive interest in sending holiday greeting cards. For example, Australia Post is pioneering the use of "video stamps" – a recorded 15-second video that the addressee can view using a smart phone app. While the post is allowing the stamps on parcels only at the moment, a similar type QR code might provide an interesting opportunity for greeting cards.
What other innovations or digital enhancements might work well on hard-copy greeting cards? Do you plan on sending greeting cards this year? Do you expect to send more or fewer cards than last year?


text: Voluptuous beauty Monique Moore can accomplish anything she puts her mind to, which is why we have no doubt she'll become the fashion mogul she aspires to be. In the mean time, Monique has been busy achieving another dream - appearing in Playboy! Head to the members area right now to see this up-and-coming starlet wearing nothing but a smile!


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L.A. Train Accident Death Toll Climbs
Mayor Villaraigosa said that the number of injured remains at 135, with 81 in hospitals.
Fire official Mario Rueda says the likelihood of anyone remaining alive in the wreckage is very remote.
Emergency crews continued delicately picking apart the mangled wreckage of a commuter train that collided head-on with a freight train on the same track in Los Angeles.
The impact rammed the Metrolink engine backward into a passenger car, which rested on its side with the engine still inside it early Saturday, and accordioned the freight train cars. Two other Metrolink cars remained upright. Crews had to put out a fire under part of the train.
It was the deadliest U.S. passenger train accident in 15 years,
During the night, the teams used hydraulic jacks to keep the passenger car from falling over and other specialized rescue equipment to gently tear apart the metal.
Fire Capt. Steve Ruda said the goal was to eliminate every piece of metal and gradually work down into the passenger spaces, but by midnight crews were just getting through the top deck of the double-decker train.
"There's human beings in there and it's going to be painstaking to get them out," Ruda said. "They'll have to surgically remove them."
His firefighters had never seen such carnage, he said. The crews would have to work carefully to document the incident for investigators and so relatives could identify bodies, Ruda said.
Officials say there were 222 people on the Metrolink train and four Union Pacific employees aboard the freight train when they collided Friday afternoon in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.
The cause of the collision had not been determined.
"This is the worst accident I've ever seen," Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. "Clearly the injuries are going to mount and so are the fatalities."
Asked how the two trains ended up on the same track, Steven Kulm, a spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration: "We are nowhere near having any information on that."
Kulm said the federal investigation will be headed by the National Transportation Safety Board, while his agency will conduct a review of whether any federal rail safety regulations were violated.
Union Pacific spokeswoman Zoe Richmond said it is common in California for freight and commuter trains to be on one track.
"You see it a lot in California where commuter trains share tracks with freight trains," Richmond said, adding she could not speculate about the cause of the crash.
Dr. Marc Eckstein, medical director for the city Fire Department, said 135 people were taken to hospitals - about 85 of them in serious or critical condition.
In the initial hours after the disaster, firefighters treated the injured at three triage areas near the wreck, and helicopters flew in and out of a nearby landing area on evacuation flights. Dazed and injured passengers sat on the ground and wandered about.
Leslie Burnstein saw the crash from her home and heard screams of agony as she ran through a haze of smoke toward the wreckage. She pulled victims out one by one.
"It was horrendous," said Burnstein, a psychologist. "Blood was everywhere. ... I heard people yelling, screaming in pain, begging for help."
Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell said the Metrolink train left Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and was headed northwest to Moorpark in Ventura County. The trains collided at about 4:30 p.m. in the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley, near a 500-foot(150-meter)-long tunnel underneath Stoney Point Park.
On the north side of the tunnel, there is a siding, a length of track where one train can wait for another to pass, Tyrrell said.
"I do not know what caused the wreck," said Tyrrell who broke down crying and was shaking. "Obviously two trains are not supposed to be on the same track at the same time."
Until Friday, the worst disaster in Metrolink's history occurred on Jan. 26, 2005, in suburban Glendale when a man parked a gasoline-soaked sport utility vehicle on railroad tracks. A Metrolink train struck the SUV and derailed, striking another Metrolink train traveling the other way, killing 11 people and injuring about 180 others. Juan Alvarez was convicted this year of murder for causing the crash.
That was the worst U.S. rail tragedy since March 15, 1999, when an Amtrak passenger train hit a truck and derailed near Bourbonnais, Illinois, killing 11 people and injuring more than 100.
The Sunset Limited was involved in the worst accident in Amtrak's 28-year history. On Sept. 22, 1993, 42 passengers and five crew members died when the train plunged off a trestle into a bayou near Mobile, Alabama. The trestle had been damaged minutes earlier by a towboat.


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Press Release
U.S. Organizations Speak Out on Women and HIV to Inform Health Policy and National AIDS Strategy
July 22, 2009
Washington, D.C. -- Fourteen U.S. organizations working on issues related to human rights, women, and HIV/AIDS submitted a series of policy recommendations to guide the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) and related agencies in their efforts to achieve better outcomes for women living with and affected by HIV. The report, entitled "Critical Issues for Women and HIV: Health Policy and the Development of a National AIDS Strategy" calls attention to the factors contributing to disproportionate rates of HIV among low-income women and women of color, as well as poor health outcomes for women living with HIV -- and proposes concrete solutions that integrate systems of prevention and delivery of care.
"The face of the HIV epidemic is increasingly that of a minority woman living in poverty," said Gina Brown, Medical Case Manager of the NO/AIDS Taskforce. "Health care systems have largely neglected the complex medical, economic, and social realities of HIV-positive women."
The working group identified six key areas of focus for better policy and practices: Meaningful involvement by HIV-positive women in development of policy and monitoring and evaluation of programs; greater consideration of HIV-positive people's civil and human rights; health disparities in the U.S. South and rural areas; health care access; integration of sexual and reproductive health services with HIV testing, prevention and care; and HIV prevention. The report articulates specific policy recommendations that seek to improve the outcomes of women living with or vulnerable to HIV.
"Involving the expertise of HIV-positive people and those working on the frontlines of service delivery is critical to improve prevention and care outcomes for communities impacted by HIV. We must use a human rights framework as we reform health policy and develop a National AIDS Strategy that will truly reduce HIV incidence and increase access to care for women," said Naina Khanna, Coordinator of the U.S. Positive Women's Network and Director of Policy and Community Organizing at WORLD.
Representatives from these organizations plan to meet with Jeff Crowley, Director of ONAP, and other key White House officials in the upcoming months to discuss their recommendations and the development of a National AIDS strategy.
The organizations that authored the report are African Services Committee; AIDS Alabama; Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina; Center for HIV Law & Policy; Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP); Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE); HIV Law Project; International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW); National AIDS Fund; National Women and AIDS Collective (NWAC); Sisterlove, Inc.; The U.S. Positive Women's Network (PWN); The Women's Collective; and Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Disease (WORLD).
To access the full text of the report, click here (PDF).
This article was provided by Center for Health and Gender Equity.
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Jerusalem 2050 is a uniquely visionary and problem-solving project, jointly sponsored by MIT's Department of Urban Studies & Planning and the Center for International Studieswith the participation of Palestinian and Israeli scholars, activists, business leaders, youth and others. It seeks to understand what it would take to make Jerusalem, a city also known as Al Quds, claimed by two nations and central to three religions, "merely" a city, a place of difference and diversity in which contending ideas and diverse citizenries can co-exist in benign, yet creative, ways.
|Jerusalem 2050 - MIT Building 9-637 - 77 Massachusetts Av. - Cambridge - MA 02139


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- Description
This Single Sink Vanity features a unique diamond wood pattern on the front panels, crystal knobs to accentuate the luxury look and extra wide and deep drawers for storage. Semi-closing water proof wood finish protects the unit against bathroom humidity. The white ceramic sink provides excellent contrast to the black granite counter top.
- Wood cabinet, no MDF or Particle board.
- Full extension ball bearing glides.
- Genuine polished stone.
- Furniture grade semi-closing water proof wood finish protects against bathroom humidity.
- Faucet(s) not included.
- Backsplash not included.
- Sink Type : White Ceramic Sink.
- Crystal knobs and full extension ball bearing drawer glides.
- 8" Center Faucet hole pre-drilled.
- No Assembly Required.
- Warranty : 1 Year Manufacture Defects-Original Owner-Parts Only.
Solid wood construction and features unique diamond wood pattern on the front panels. Genuine crystal knobs accentuate the luxury look. Extra wide and deep drawers for storage. Vanity dimension: 35.4Wx22Dx36H * ** * Birch* Black* Black Granite* White Ceramic Sink* Crystal knobs and full extension ball bearing drawer glides.* Pre-drilled with 3 holes- 8 in. center faucet, faucet and mirror not included* No Assembly Required
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- About Bellaterra Home
About The Company
Bathrooms tend to transform into savory places after you install a beautiful vanity or a cabinet. Lending a fuss-free and a more organized look, these interior pieces are space-saving, and enhance functionality greatly. We at Blue Bath, realize your various needs to keep yourself and surrounding spaces sorted without compromising on the innovative craftsmanship, beauty and ambiance. One brand that perfectly provides the aforementioned promise is Bellaterra Home.
Bellaterra Home as a brand, has 15 years of importing experience, and employs the best techniques and superior quality materials to carve out products, solid both in character and style. Bath vanities, mirrors, cabinets, and kitchen and bathroom accessories in wood, marble, granite, stone, iron, metal, glass etc. make intense and lasting statements. Plan and remodel spaces with a stroke of difference this time!
Products offered at Blue Bath
Choose from an exclusive range of Bellaterra Home wooden bathroom vanities, side cabinets, mirrors and accessories at Blue Bath.
Bellaterra Home Warranty
The warranty on all Bellaterra Home bathroom vanities against manufacturer's defects is 1 year from the day of purchase and subject to the original owner. Damage caused during moving (tipping over) or during installation is not a defect or warranty issue and will not be considered as such. This warranty does not cover installation or any other labor charges associated with the repair, removal, re-installation or consequential damages. The warranty does not cover product failure caused by abusive treatment, surface scratches, misuse, neglect or damage due to handling or faulty installations. This warranty applies only to the original purchaser and to the original installation of the product. Defective products or parts will be replaced on a rush and availability basis. Bellaterra Home must be notified in writing upon discovery of any defect in the product, including a detailed description of the alleged defect. This warranty does not apply to local building code compliance. The buyer should check with the local related plumbing codes before installation. Blumâ hardwares are covered with lifetime warranty under the original owner of product.
Tempered Glass Characteristic
Due to the manufacturing process, glass will tend to have a greenish tint, this is a natural feature and is not considered a defect. As a result of the tempering process or otherwise, color variations in glass may occur in certain products.
Stone Characteristics
Color and pattern variations in stone are a natural occurrence. Natural occurring stone characteristics such as variations in grain, color, mineral streaks are not considered as defective products.
Finish and Wood Characteristics
All wood naturally ages, darkens, changes color and mellows over time primarily due to exposure to light. While this color change is imperceptible from day to day, it may be significant over a longer period of time, or due to amount of light the wood is exposed to. On warranty replacement of doors or drawers, the company will not guarantee an exact color match. Also, imperfections such as checks (small surface splits), pitch pockets (small dark holes) or darker mineral streaks are natural and are not considered defects.
|Item Weight
|Ship Weight
|Ship State
|Ship Zip
|35 3/8
|Installation Type
|Floor Mount
|Number of Basins
|Number of Shelves
|Number of Drawers
|Number of Doors
|Includes Sink?
|Includes Faucet?
|Includes Mirror?
|Black Granite
- Ships on a pallet via Freight LTL carrier


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The Cosmic Bloodstream - Part 5
|Continued from part 4
Spiritual Organisms
At the beginning of the twentieth century, mainstream science abandoned the concept of the ether as predicted by H.P. Blavatsky, who, in 1888, warned that scientists could not discard it 'without incurring the risk. . . of pulling down the pillars of the Temple of Science, and getting buried under its roof'.1
The reinstatement of the ether is highly necessary for theoretical physics to emerge from this condition, as its vision and understanding of the universe is obscured more than ever by abstract mathematical models rooted in general relativity and warped space-time. In contrast, the concept of the ether is a simplifying, synthesizing factor, which points towards a living universe whose electric forces circulate throughout the whole as a cosmic bloodstream. All that live and move and have their being within this stream – from Gods to atoms – are 'ideas in motion', organizing and building matter into temporary forms through which they can objectively express themselves.
As Above, So Below: From Macrocosm to microcosm, similarities abound. Left image: Wolf-Rayet star in Sagittarius. Centre image: Veil nebula. Right image: Darkfield, Phase Contrast and Brightfield Microscopy on samples of Live and Dry Blood Cells.
Organisms? Left image: supernovae SN 1987A. Right image: Electronic jellyfish (e-jelly) constructed of a ring of blue Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
The esotericist regards himself as a constructive cell in the divine circulatory flow. Through occult meditation and the creation of thought forms of light and love, his own physical blood is electrically energized within the greater Logoic bloodstream, and the process of redemption – individual and planetary – accelerated. This is all the more potent when a group of people comes together in meditation united by a shared vision. Ideas and qualities of a similar vibratory frequency precipitate from the group soul and literally circulate throughout the blood of each member. A process of group redemption thus occurs similar to that described in relation to the individual in Part 4.
Some of the atomic fire of physical plane matter – an aspect of the kundalini force – enters the bloodstream of the group through the breath of each member and mixes with the qualities and ideas that are impressed upon the blood from the inner planes. Some of the blood is thus transmuted and in its etherized state, rises towards the group soul infused with the fiery essence of redeemed atomic matter. The circulation of group energy proceeds and where the synthesizing power of vision is strong enough, the group persists as a permanent subjective entity. United by shared qualities, the group is synthesized into an organism, each member becoming a blood brother in the higher sense of the term.
This demonstrates the magical, life-giving properties that lie behind some seemingly innocuous mantrams. The following affirmation used dynamically at the time of the zodiacal festivals has the power to unite and transform a group of people into a working, redemptive organism within the cosmic bloodstream:
" I am one with my group brothers and all that I have is theirs.
May the love which is in my soul pour forth to them
May the strength which is in me lift and aid them
May the thoughts which my soul creates, reach and encourage them".
The electrical power of such a mantram literally courses through the arteries and veins of the group organism, mixing with the fire of oxygen/ether taken in from the surrounding air. The nuclei of some of the red corpuscles disintegrate and rise towards the group soul, preparing the group organism for the second stage of meditation – the projection of the antahkarana towards the Hierarchy and from there, on to the centre where the Will of God is known – Shamballa. An electric bridge is thus erected between heaven and earth. Spiritual information can now be transmitted and received through the planetary ethers. The role of an esoteric group is then to work with this spiritual information to release enriching potencies into the divine circulatory flow on the lowest levels of Logoic manifestation. This is esoteric science as practiced by the initiate – the application and transmission of the electric forces of the seven rays of life into the world.
As noted in Part 1 of the Cosmic Bloodstream: the electrical nature of the human being is being steadily uncovered by science – and the way in which the human being is electrically connected to his environment is on the verge of recognition. With each discovery of the amazing electrical constitution and interaction of all manifested life, what currently seems as magic, mystery and myth, will be included in the domain of orthodox science in the not-so-distant future. It is then but a logical step forward to consider how man can consciously participate in the redemption of matter through what he transmits into the circulatory system of the Logos.
Living cells? Left image: Galaxy cluster. Centre image: Jellyfish swarm. Right image: Blood cells.
1. The Secret Doctrine, 1:331, p. 587. H.P. Blavatsky


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Lunada Bay, a small town along the West coast of Palos Verdes Estates, sits on the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean and the north western edge of the peninsula. Boasting a fountain and quaint, charming commercial district, Lunada Bay gives residents a local market, service station, shops, and restaurants. A larger shopping plaza was originally planned for the area that included an incline railway down the bluffs with bath houses at the beach. When the Great Depression happened, plans fell through and commercial lots were turned into residential ones. Now, streets with "plaza" after their name indicate a connection to the commercial district from the original master plan. A favorite among families, Lunada Bay is within walking instance of all three local schools- Lunada Bay Elementary School, Palos Verdes Intermediate School, and Palos Verdes High School. The eastern section of Lunada Bay border Rancho Palos Verdes along Via Coronel and Via Castilla known as "University Subdivision.
Bluff Cove is a wide, sweeping bay surf spot in Palos Verdes. Located at Palos Verdes Drive West and Via Monte Mar, the Cove was popular with the redwood paddleboard crew of the 1930s. Also a marine preserve, it offers a rugged element unique to the L.A. surfing experience. Home to porpoises, seals, and sea otters the area generally keeps healthy kelp beds and wind chop to a minimum. The bulge of the Palos Verdes Peninsula blocks all but west and northwest swells creating usually small swells during this summer but several consistent winter breaks. The Cove has three main breaks- Little Reef (up to six feet on a medium to high tide), Middle's (the main break with up to 12 feet), and Boneyard's (scattered series of reeds at south end that break erratically, up to 15 feet).
Malaga Cove, located near the intersection of Palos Verdes Drive West and Palos Verdes Drive North, is a region along the north shoreline of Palos Verdes Estates home to a shopping plaza and library built with Spanish Renaissance architecture in mind. The plaza, library, and original homes were built starting in the late 1920s. The Malaga Cove Library can be found one block uphill behind the plaza's south side. The weekends bring a large flow of cyclists through Malaga Cove. One of Palos Verdes Estates' notable landmarks is Neptune Fountain, donated to the city by the Palos Verdes Project, in Malaga Cove Plaza. The elaborate two-thirds scale replica of a bronze statue and fountain erected in Bologna, Italy in 1563, was donated to Palos Verdes Estates in 1930 by the Palos Verdes Project. The statue is thought to have been over 100 years old before it was brought to the City and was obtained from a villa courtyard outside Venice. The Palos Verdes Police Department, County Fire Station, and government offices are all located in Malaga Cove. Located next to Rat Beach is the Palos Verdes Beach Club. Built in 1930, the Club was remolded into a Mediterranean-styled favorite for Palos Verdes families.
Valmonte is an area located at the northern end of Palos Verdes Estates known as "The Grove," for its dense eucalyptus tree growth. Situated between the border of the Palos Verdes Golf Course at the south and the Hollywood Riviera at the north, Valmonte presents prospective buyers with large and charming homes predominantly featuring Eastern traditional and Southern colonials styles. Prized for its convenient location, Valmonte offers easy access to the beaches, the Torrance financial and shoppings districts, and the 110 Freeway. The City of Palos Verdes Estates owns a horse stable located in Valmonte, operating under a concession agreement. Located at 4057 Via Opata, the stables offer riding lessons, trail rides, housekeeping for privately owned horses and a summer horse camp.
Montemalaga can be found above Lunada Bay and north of Rancho Palos Verdes near La Venta Inn. It has some of the largest homes on the Peninsula. Montemalaga homes are at the highest elevation in Palos Verdes Estate.


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Police Blotter
November 13, 2012
On Sunday, Nov. 11, at 7:58 p.m., a moose was spotted at or close to the intersection of S.R. 224 and Meadows Drive.
The police were called to the vicinity of the 1000 block of Stonebridge Circle, where a water line might have broke at 12:47 p.m. The police said it was not immediately clear whether the break was on Stonebridge Circle or nearby Deer Valley Drive.
An open manhole was seen on the 700 block of Main Street at 9:31 a.m. The police said the opening was a traffic hazard.
A car was seen parked on the grass in a front yard along Ina Avenue at 7:31 a.m.
On Saturday, Nov. 10 at 3:49 p.m., a man was seen asleep in a sport utility vehicle on Bonanza Court.
The police were called to a location along Double Jack Court at 1:34 p.m., when someone reported a person in a vehicle was seen taking pictures of a house in the overnight hours. The person was in a station wagon and a younger woman was driving, the police were told. The vehicle was seen at 3:30 a.m.
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The Police Department and the Park City Fire District were alerted at 1:23 p.m. after carbon monoxide detectors sounded in a residence on the 2100 block of Lucky John Drive.
Two juveniles were reportedly caught stealing at 11:40 a.m. on the 1700 block of Park Avenue.
The Police Department received two reports of boulders in roads in Park City within a few hours of each other in different parts of the city. At 12:29 p.m., a boulder was in the road in the Old Town roundabout. The Streets Department was notified. At 8:34 a.m., meanwhile, a boulder was seen in the road along the 2800 block of Holiday Ranch Loop Road. The Public Works Department was told of the boulder.
On Friday, Nov. 9 at 11:36 a.m., a manhole cover was reported missing from the vicinity of the intersection of Kearns Boulevard and Park Avenue. The police said the situation created a traffic hazard.
On Thursday, Nov. 8 at 11:10 p.m., a person was seen sleeping in a vehicle in a parking lot on the 1800 block of Park Avenue. The person told the police they were too tired to driver home, according to police logs.
A suspected drunken driving case was reported at 10:03 p.m. on the 1700 block of Kearns Boulevard.
At 4:37 p.m., someone reported more than $1,000 was spent on a check card after it was lost. The report was logged on the 1600 block of Snow Creek Drive. The money was spent the previous weekend. The police classified the case as fraud.
A suspected drunken driving case was reported at 1:20 a.m. on Woodside Avenue.
On Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 7:57 p.m., a suspected drunken driving case was reported on Deer Valley Drive. The police were told the person was "driving like a lunatic."
A moose was seen at the entrance to City Park at 7:53 p.m. Another person who contacted the police said the animal was becoming aggressive. At 3:20 p.m., meanwhile, a moose was seen crossing the road on Comstock Drive.
At 3:10 p.m., two juveniles were suspected of retail theft and detained on the 1700 block of Park Avenue. They took an energy drink, candy and deodorant, the police were told.
A carbon monoxide detector was triggered at 1:51 p.m. on the 1600 block of Deer Valley Drive. The police were told a carpet cleaner caused the alarm to sound. The place was ventilated.
The police received a report of a student skipping classes at 9:29 a.m. Public police logs did not list which school the student attends.
On Tuesday, Nov. 6, a suspected drunken driving case was reported at 10:10 p.m. at the intersection of Iron Horse Drive and Bonanza Drive.
On Monday, Nov. 5 at 5:09 p.m., bicyclists were reported in the skate park at City Park. A father at the skate park was being "confrontational" and telling others it was OK for the bicyclists to be there, the police were told. Bicyclists are prohibited from using the skate park.
A truancy was reported at a Park City school at 7:44 a.m. Public police logs did not provide details about the school involved.


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Do you get tired of me giving recipes for bread machines? Because I don't get tired of using them. Just remember that if you don't have a machine you can make up the dough in traditional methods very satisfactorily, it just takes a LONG TIME. A looooong time. But still the kneading by hand process can be satisfying. Rumor has it . . . wouldn't know about that myself.
Anyway, this is probably the favorite bread recipe in the house--a homemade bagel is a joy to all.
1 ½ cup water
4 ½ cups flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons yeast
12 ounces cheddar cheese, cubed into 12 pieces
Combine all the ingredients except the cheese in your bread machine in the order they're listed. Set the machine to the "dough" cycle then let it go.
After the dough is ready divide it into 1 dozen equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and poke your finger through the middle, stretching it out to make a circle such as you'd expect from a bagel. Let the dough rise on a floured surface. After rising 30 minutes, add each bagel to boiling water mixed with 1 tablespoon sugar and boil for 2 minutes--one minute on each side--then remove with a slotted spoon and drain thoroughly before placing it on a greased baking sheet with a cub of cheese on top of the bagel.
Bake at 420 15-20 minutes or until the bagels are golden brown.
I noticed Bleeding Espresso had her bagel fix going as well this week so you can pop over to her site and see how she does hers.
Sponsored by: Wedding Paper Divas--For fine wedding invitations for the perfect wedding.
Technorati tags: food, recipes, breads, bagels


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In "Are we on the verge of a conservative crackup?" Paul Mirengoff articulates the concerns I have had roiling in the back of my mind about the divisions within the dissident movement against unlimited government. Paul itemizes the big issues fomenting the crackup as immigration, foreign policy and national security. I'm with him down the line on the points in issue. I only want to add a personal footnote.
In a recent column on Eric Holder a couple of weeks ago, Nick Gillespie referred in passing to "George W. Bush's troika of torture apologists: John Ashcroft, Alberto Gonzales, and Michael Mukasey." For a brief discussion of the issues that Gillespie evokes here, see John Yoo's "Behind the 'torture memos.'"
Ashcroft and Gonzales both served honorably as Attorneys General in the Bush administration under difficult circumstances. Mukasey may be in a class by himself. He is a man of sterling character and unimpeachable integrity whose tenure as Attorney General added luster to an already distinguished career.
Gillespie is of course a libertarian with a libertarian's point of view on foreign policy and national security issues. Even in this context, Gillespie's assault on these men seemed to me almost unbelievably crude. I find it frankly disgusting. It reminded me that, however valuable the contribution of libertarians in resisting the advent of the the universal homogeneous state (as Leo Strauss called it), this is where I get off.


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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Diana Nyad, the first person to successfully swim from Cuba to Florida without a cage, completed her latest endurance swim on Thursday without having to worry about sharks, jellyfish or the current.
Her 48-hour continuous charity swim in New York City raised more than $100,000 for Hurricane Sandy recovery, and came little more a month after the 64-year-old made her historic swim across the Straits of Florida. At 96 miles, her pool swim was shorter than her 110-mile (177-km) swim in the sea.
The fundraising total, still growing from online donations, was destined for AmeriCares, a humanitarian relief organization, which said it will use the funds to address the health needs of Hurricane Sandy survivors.
With more than 25,000 people still displaced from the storm, many survivors need help for basic healthcare access. Others face anxiety, depression and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), said Lindsay O'Brien, who manages the organization's Hurricane Sandy Relief program.
"That is exactly where this money will go," O'Brien said.
AmeriCares has used a grant of $110,000 to bring mobile mental health clinics to children and families in the Gerritsen Beach section of Brooklyn.
Nyad's two-day swim brought out celebrities including actor Joe Manganiello and Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte, who swam alongside her, as did Sandy victims and first responders from the U.S. Coast Guard and the New York police and fire departments.
Even though she did not have to contend with the ocean, "it was by a thin line that I made it to the end," Nyad told ABC television's "Good Morning America" after leaving the pool. "This one was a bear."
Reporting by Luke Swiderski; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Andrew Hay


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Due to my computer being fried by lightning it may be a while before I can post any more entries. Please don't fret, as soon as I can replace my computer I will be back up and posting. I'm just bummed about the whole thing. Worst time ever for this to happen.
So my art project at the moment is the sign I'm making "will work for new computer". Lol
Take care and I hope to be back up and running soon.


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(CNN) -- During election season, phones across the country ring with more unsolicited, automated calls than usual. So it's especially timely that on Thursday the U.S. Federal Trade Commission held a Robocall Summit to "explore innovations designed to trace robocalls, prevent wrongdoers from faking caller ID data, and stop unwanted calls."
A "robocall" is an automated phone call that plays a prerecorded message. If you hear a live person and it's a telemarketing, advocacy, or survey call, it could still be illegal if it's unsolicited, but it's not a robocall. Robocalls from political campaigns or get-out-the-vote efforts are allowed (and legal) under the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule, as well as under most state robocall laws (except when made to cell phone numbers and a few other exceptions).
Unsolicited commercial telemarketing calls are illegal, and rampant, in the U.S. According to new FTC statistics, this problem is getting worse, fast. In the last year, the number of consumer complaints about unwanted telemarketing calls soared 70 percent to an all-time record of 3,840,572 during fiscal year 2012.
Fed up with the phone spam, over 217 million Americans have already added themselves to the National Do-Not-Call Registry. But this only solves part of the problem.
Much phone spam comes from companies, groups and scammers that choose to ignore the law. Also, a large proportion of consumer phone spam complaints cannot be investigated because of evasion measures such as "spoofing" -- or hiding -- the originating phone number or caller ID information.
To address the robocall problem, the FTC announced a contest at the Summit to find technological ways to curb illegal robocalls. The FTC Robocall Challenge challenges the public to suggest plans to block illegal robocalls on landlines and mobile phones. Ideas must include a technical proposal -- so options to, say, prevent caller ID spoofing would qualify, but nontechnical suggestions such as "give phone spammers the death penalty" are not eligible.
The winning solution will receive a $50,000 cash prize, as well as opportunities for promotion, exposure, and recognition by the FTC. Entrants retain ownership of their proposed solutions.
If you're interested in entering, the deadline for entries is January 17, 2013. The winner will be announced April 1, 2013. (Hopefully people won't think it's an April Fool's Day joke.)
For now, here's what to do if you get an unsolicited commercial phone call -- whether a robocall or from a live person:
1. Hang Up. Do not press 1 or any other numbers to get off the list.
2. Consider blocking the number.
3. File a complaint with DoNotCall.gov. It helps, but isn't necessary, to have the number from which the call was initiated.
Remember that political and get-out-the-vote robocalls are legal, so there's no point in filing complaints about these with DoNotCall.gov. However if these calls really annoy you, then you might consider complaining about them to your government representatives.
The opinions expressed in this post are solely those of Amy Gahran.
™ & © 2012 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.


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A push of a button folds the sights securely out of the way until you need them again.
Technical Specifications
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Each click adjusts .50 MOA.
Regular Price: $84.95
Special Price $79.95


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Q. What are the disconnecting requirements for a transformer?
A. A disconnect is required to disconnect all transformer ungrounded primary conductors. The disconnect must be located within sight of the transformer, unless the location of the disconnect is field-marked on the transformer and the disconnect is lockable [450.14], as shown in the Figure. This new Code requirement applies to transformers of any voltage, except Class 2 or Class 3 transformers.
Note: Within sight means that it's visible and not more than 50 ft from one to the other [Art. 100].
Hide comments


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Elastic, Headband - Handmade Korean Style Imported Japanese Kimono Flower Brown Zan Wind Crepe Fabric Hair bow Elastic Headband
All orders will be by Normal mail. Not responsible for lost mail and damage during SingPost transit. Singpost does not do collection from postboxes on Sat, Sun or PH. Therefore, if order is placed towards the end of the week, do expect longer delivery time. If you place your order on Friday, I will only mail out on Monday, as Singpost will only collect the parcel on the next working day, which is a Monday after 5 pm. Ordinary Mail (Non Standard) ≤2kg Letterbox 3 - 5 working days ( according to Singpost Website Notice) Please avoid peak season like New Year Day, Chinese New Year, Christmas, etc,. As SINGPOST will give early notice that delivery generally takes longer days. Thanks for your kind understanding.


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Red Velvet Cheesecake
What's black and white and red all over? Why, red velvet cheesecake from Say It With Cake, of course. Nestled in a crunchy cookie crust and topped with clouds of whipped cream, that familiar ruby shade belies rich dark chocolate flavor.
Reprinted with permission by Edd Kimber. Copyright © 2013. Published by Kyle Books. Available wherever books are sold. All rights reserved.
Read more: Bake the Book: Red Velvet Cheesecake
- Yield:serves 8
- Active time: 40 minutes
- Total time:2 hours 40 minutes
- Cookie Crust
- 7 ounces Oreo cookies with the filling scraped off (about 2 packages)
- About 5 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- Pinch of sea salt
- Chocolate cheesecake
- 3 1/2 ounces dark chocolate (about 70% cocoa solids), finely chopped
- 1 cup full-fat cream cheese
- 5 tbsp superfine sugar
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 1–2 tsp red gel food coloring
- Topping
- 1 cup heavy cream
Put the cookies in a medium bowl and, using the end of a rolling pin, crush them until fine. Add the butter and sea salt and mix well. Squeeze some of the mixture in your hand; it should stick together. If not, add a little extra butter. Pour the mixture into a 9in pie dish and press firmly over the bottom and sides. Put the pie dish in the fridge until needed.
To make the cheesecake, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Remove from the heat and let cool.
Beat the cream cheese and sugar together in a medium bowl until smooth and creamy. In a medium bowl whisk together the cream and food coloring until the cream holds soft peaks. Pour in the melted chocolate and gently mix together. Add the cream mixture to the cream cheese mixture and fold together until evenly combined. Pour the mixture onto the prepared cookie crust and smooth out.
Chill for 2 hours or until set. Before serving, pour the heavy cream for the topping in a medium bowl and whisk until it holds soft peaks. Spread the cream over the top of the cheesecake.
This Recipe Appears InBake the Book: Red Velvet Cheesecake
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Phillies Invite More Players to Clearwater
The Phillies have invited five additional players to major league spring training as non-roster invitees, the club announced today.
· Jesse Biddle, LHP – In 27 starts with double-A Reading last season, Biddle went 5-14 with a 3.64 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 138.1 innings. Despite battling whooping cough for the majority of the 2013 season, the Philadelphia native finished tied for first in the Eastern League in starts (27), tied for second in complete games (2), third in strikeouts and ninth in ERA. He was also selected as an Eastern League midseason All-Star and earned the win for the U.S. Team in the MLB Futures Game at Citi Field in July. On April 22 at Harrisburg, the 22-year-old took a perfect game into the 7th inning and struck out a career-high 16 batters. After the season, he was named the second-best prospect in the Phillies minor league system by Baseball America. Biddle was originally selected by the Phillies in the first round (27th overall) of the June 2010 draft from Germantown Friends School (Pa.).
· Maikel Franco, 3B – The 2013 Paul Owens Award winner as the best player in the Phillies minor league system, Franco batted a combined .320 with 31 home runs and 103 RBI in 134 games between single-A Clearwater and double-A Reading last season. He led all of Minor League Baseball with 308 total bases last year while finishing tied for second in extra-base hits (70), fourth in hits (173), tied for seventh in home runs and tied for eighth in RBI. In 2013, the 21-year-old infielder was selected to the World roster for the MLB Futures Game, as well as the Florida State League midseason All-Star team, and was named Phillies Minor League Player of the Month for June and Player of the Week twice. Following the season, he was named the top prospect in the Phillies minor league system by Baseball America. In 388 career minor league games, Franco has batted .281 with 98 doubles, 50 home runs and 260 RBI. He was originally signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent out of Azua, Dominican Republic, in January of 2010.
· Ken Giles, RHP – Limited to just 24 games due to injury last season, Giles, 23, went 2-2 with six saves and a 6.31 ERA with single-A Clearwater. The Albuquerque, N.M., native also pitched for Peoria in the Arizona Fall League, where he was selected as an AFL All-Star after holding opponents scoreless in nine of his 10 relief appearances and striking out 16 in 10.1 innings. Armed with a fastball which touches 100 mph, Giles has compiled 152 strikeouts in 112.1 career innings (12.18 SO/9.0 IP) over three minor league seasons between the Gulf Coast League Phillies, Lakewood BlueClaws and Clearwater. Giles was originally selected by the Phillies in the seventh round of the June 2011 draft out of Yavapai College in Arizona.
· Mario Hollands, LHP – In 2013, Hollands went 7-3 with a 2.86 ERA in 27 games (20 starts) between single-A Clearwater and double-A Reading. He struck out 114 batters while walking just 32 in 132.0 innings. The 25-year-old was named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month in June after going 2-1 with a 1.00 ERA in four starts. In four minor league seasons with the Phillies organization, Hollands has compiled a 24-22 record and 3.93 ERA in 96 games (67 starts). The Oakland, Calif., native was originally selected by the Phillies in the 10th round of the June 2010 draft out of UC Santa Barbara.
· Sebastian Valle, C – Valle began 2013 playing for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic before spending the regular season with double-A Reading, where he hit .203 with 15 doubles, 12 home runs and 41 RBI in 98 games. Following the season, he also appeared in 46 games with Caneros de los Mochis in the Mexican Winter League where he batted .304 with 11 extra-base hits and 15 RBI. In parts of seven seasons in the Phillies minor league system, the 23-year-old has a .258 career average with 132 doubles, 61 home runs and 311 RBI in 608 games. He was originally signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent in October of 2006.
To date, the Phillies have invited a total of 16 players to major league spring training in 2014 as non-roster invitees:
Pitchers (7): Jesse Biddle, Shawn Camp, Ken Giles, Mario Hollands, Cesar Jimenez, Jeff Manship, Sean O'Sullivan
· Catchers (2): Lou Marson, Sebastian Valle
· Infielders (3): Andres Blanco, Reid Brignac, Maikel Franco
· Outfielders (4): Leandro Castro, Tony Gwynn Jr., Dave Sappelt, Clete Thomas


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Yeah that is certainly a factor but then again, I saw Akira, Ninja scroll and Ghost in the shell several times before I started appreciating the original Japanese dub.
When you think about it, it makes since. A guy in his 20's wouldn't be singing on outtakes. Unless he is queer.
Casca's voice does look a bit weird, but i'd do her anyway to be honest.
if you dont think hes attractive,do you think he should not have done griffiths voice? ???i just posted his pic to share ,guess that taught me a lesson - c
Have you no shame? Could you have not said anything at all?!


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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Author: Betty Smith
Classics Challenge Sub-topic: Coming of Age
Book Description:
The story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with family connectedness — in a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of universal experience.
I probably never would have put this book on my challenge to read list if it hadn't shown up as a group read in one of my various goodreads groups. But now that I have read it, I can't believe that I hadn't before. And come to think of it, I don't recall even really hearing about it – although apparently it is still used on school reading lists. (My library has all the reading list books separated from the standard YA, so they are easy to find).
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is such a simple tale – the story of Francie growing up in Williamsburg, a part of New York (although every time I see that town name, I think of Williamsburg, VA). She goes through the same trials that most kids do – going to school, dealing with boys, first love, but on top of all that, an alcoholic father and being exceptionally poor. I loved seeing her mother (who some reviews describe as being cruel, although I don't agree) teaching Francie and her brother about the value of money and saving towards a goal (with the tin cup that they nailed in the cupboard at each house they moved to). Or the love of learning that she inspired in them, through Shakespeare and the bible.
Even now, over 60 years since it was originally written, I can see how kids can relate to the going-ons. Not necessarily the time period specific, but the general themes of growing up and finding your place in the world. Being the sucker that I am for happy endings, I wonder what would happen if a sequel was ever written – What did Francie end up doing with her life – Did she finish going to college? Did she get over her first love and subsequent first heartbreak? But at the same time, I don't want to know because I can imagine various different endings all I want and a sequel would change that.
This is a book that I would recommend to pretty much anyone, but I do think that teenage girls would enjoy it the most because of the themes and the characters.


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Arts & Culture
Cleveland Museum of Art
The arts scene in Ohio is absolutely exploding these days! More and more often, Ohio art organizations are landing major shows and exhibitions whose only Midwestern showing takes place in the state. And it's no wonder. Major industrialists created and supported magnificent museums that have been collecting and exposing Ohioans and visitors alike to magnificent art forms for more than 100 years. Collections in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati trace art to its very beginnings, and then add major museums for modern arts, symphonies, ballet and Broadway Shows at a fraction of the Broadway prices.
And that's only the beginning because next tier cities including Toledo, Dayton, Akron/Canton and Youngstown all serve up amazing opportunities as well from a renowned Glass Pavilion to a museum created just for American Art. Even better is the fact that thanks to arts patrons, many of these great facilities exist for the love of art and the impact it can have on us when we slow down and really take in all those extraordinary brush strokes, concertos, movements, song and stories. They will open your mind to possibilities and feed your soul with joyful creativity!


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The weekend fare aims to get viewers talking. The highlights:
1. "True Blood," 9 p.m. Sunday, HBO
The end has come for Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) in an episode called "Thank You." She contemplates life without Bill (Stephen Moyer). Viewers also learn what happens to Eric (Alexander Skarsgård, who emerged as a star), Pam (the wonderfully sarcastic Kristin Bauer van Straten) and Sam (Sam Trammell). Here's hoping the finale is not too gloomy and that the extremely dim Jason Stackhouse (Ryan Kwanten) meets an appropriate fate.
2. MTV Video Music Awards, 9 p.m. MTV
Miley Cyrus, who twerked her way to...


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NYT Former Exec Editor Misrepresents Bradley Manning
from the wow deptA few days ago, the former executive editor of the NY Times, Bill Keller wrote about the Bradley Manning situation, in which he discusses Manning's revelation that he originally tried to go directly to the NY Times and the Washington Post, but was ignored, leading to the decision to approach Wikileaks. Keller's piece is basically an attempt by the NY Times to rewrite history to make Keller and the NY Times feel better. I wouldn't say that Keller lies necessarily, because he might just be very, very ignorant, but there is no doubt that he blatantly misrepresents what Manning said and did.
Specifically, Keller argues first, that Manning was trying to dump all of the information he had, indiscriminately, and the wise reporters at the NY Times would have figured out what was really important: "If Manning had connected with The Times, we would have found ourselves in a relationship with a nervous, troubled, angry young Army private who was offering not so much documentation of a particular government outrage as a chance to fish in a sea of secrets." Furthermore, he argues that Manning's motivations in making his speech to the court last week somehow contradict the only other clear statement into Manning's motivations: his 2010 chat logs with Adrian Lamo that Lamo turned over to the government, leading to Manning's arrest. Those chat logs were leaked to the press, and Keller argues that Manning's reasoning for leaking the material is not clear, summarizing it as:
His political views come across as inchoate. When asked, he has trouble recalling any specific outrages that needed exposing. His cause was "open diplomacy" or — perhaps in jest — "worldwide anarchy."Furthermore, Keller insults the many people who have supported Manning by suggesting that Manning has created his current views based on what his supporters have told him.
However, as multiple people shot back, this is simply untrue. Author Greg Mitchell points out that Keller is flat out "wrong" and that if he actually read the chat logs, Manning lays out his reasoning, which is entirely consistent with his statement in court. He points out that contrary to Manning "having trouble recalling any specific outrages," Manning has no problem doing so, pointing to examples of corruption in favor of Iraqi prime minister Maliki (rounding up dissidents who were just exercising basic free speech rights), along with the now famous Collateral Murder video. Mitchell points out that for Keller to claim that Manning had not mentioned anything specific, is simply wrong:
More from the Lamo chat log: It virtually opens with Manning saying he had seen evidence of "awful things" such as at Gitmo and Bagram. Then he mentions "criminal political dealings" and cites the "buildup to the Iraq war." He details what he saw on the "Collateral Murder" video and why he wanted it released ("I want people to see the truth"). He wants to get this and much else out (he IDs more) because it might "actually change something." As for the State Dept. cables, he hopes they will spark "worldwide discussion, debates and reforms." Yet Keller claims this was all "vague."When Nathan Fuller, a supporter of Manning, emailed Keller about all of this, Keller doubled down and stood by his original assessment, saying nothing more than that he believed his characterization is "fair." When pressed, Keller reveals his general attitude towards Manning's supporters, claiming that they have "assembled a coherent political motivation by fishing here and there in the Lamo file." As opposed to Keller who quoted five whole words from the transcripts and took even those out of context?
Meanwhile, Daniel Ellsberg, who probably identifies with Manning more than anyone else in the world, having famously given the Pentagon Papers to the NY Times decades ago, has responded angrily to Keller (video) stating that: "It shows him as an arrogant, ignorant, condescending person. A very smart person who manages to be stupid in certain ways.... What we've heard are people like the NY Times who have consistently slandered [Bradly Manning]."
He, personally, had access to material higher than top secret, higher than Bill Keller has ever seen.... He chose not to put out the top secret communications intelligence, to which he clearly had access. He put out only material that he felt would be embarrassing [rather than harmful], and which, three years later we can say, only was embarrassing.
Filed Under: bill keller, bradley manning, motivations, reporting, wikileaks
Companies: ny times, wikileaks


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General Description
The meaning of the Temperance card is easier to understand if we call it "Moderation." It personifies the healthy opposite of the next card in the Tarot game - the Devil (XV), which stands for immoderation. Harmony, balance, composure, and peace of mind are the elements that characterize Temperance. This card, then, portrays the joyous experience of being healthy and inwardly balanced, liking and treating ourselves well. This results in our coming into harmony with our surroundings. Connected with the corresponding questions, this card stands for healing and recovery.


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Material appearing in the "Industry Releases" section are selected from a variety of news sources around the world and have not been edited by BODY Magazine.
(SOURCE:Limited Brands, 08-13-2013 http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=94854&p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=1846037)
Limited Brands > RSS Content
|Limited Brands Reports July 2013 Sales And Raises Second Quarter Earnings Guidance To $0.60 Per Share
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Limited Brands, Inc. (now known as L Brands, Inc.) (NYSE: LTD) reported net sales of $678.4 million for the four weeks ended Aug. 3, 2013, compared to net sales of $649.8 million for the four weeks ended July 28, 2012. The company reported a comparable store sales increase of 3 percent for the four weeks ended Aug. 3, 2013, compared to the four weeks ended Aug. 4, 2012.
( http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20020520/CLM001LOGO)
The company reported net sales of $2.516 billion for the 13 weeks ended Aug. 3, 2013, an increase of 5 percent compared to sales of $2.399 billion for the 13 weeks ended July 28, 2012. The company reported a comparable store sales increase of 2 percent for the 13 weeks ended Aug. 3, 2013, compared to the 13 weeks ended Aug. 4, 2012.
The company reported net sales of $4.784 billion for the 26 weeks ended Aug. 3, 2013, an increase of 5 percent compared to sales of $4.553 billion for the 26 weeks ended July 28, 2012. The company reported a comparable store sales increase of 2 percent for the 26 weeks ended Aug. 3, 2013, compared to the 26 weeks ended Aug. 4, 2012.
The company expects to report second quarter earnings per share of approximately $0.60 cents versus its previous guidance of $0.50 to $0.55 cents and last year's adjusted result of $0.50.
Declaration of Regular Quarterly Dividend The Board of Directors has declared its regular quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share, payable Sept. 6, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Aug. 23, 2013. This is the company's 155th consecutive quarterly dividend.
To hear further commentary provided on Limited Brands' prerecorded July sales message, call 1-866-639-7583 (1-866-NEWS-LTD), or log onto www.Limitedbrands.com for an audio replay. The company will report its second quarter earnings results after the close of the market on Aug. 21 and will conduct its second quarter earnings call at 9 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 22.
ABOUT LIMITED BRANDS:Limited Brands, through Victoria's Secret, Pink, Bath & Body Works, La Senza and Henri Bendel, is an international company. The company operates 2,629 specialty stores in the United States and its brands are sold in more than 700 company-operated and franchised additional locations world-wide. The company's products are also available online at www.VictoriasSecret.com, www.BathandBodyWorks.com, www.HenriBendel.com and www.LaSenza.com.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 L Brands, Inc. cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this press release or the July sales call involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, our future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. Words such as "estimate," "project," "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "planned," "potential" and any similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Risks associated with the following factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect our financial performance and actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements included in this press release or the July sales call:
general economic conditions, consumer confidence, consumer spending patterns and market disruptions including severe weather conditions, natural disasters, health hazards, terrorist activities, financial crises, political crises or other major events, or the prospect of these events;
the seasonality of our business;
the dependence on a high volume of mall traffic and the possible lack of availability of suitable store locations on appropriate terms;
our ability to grow through new store openings and existing store remodels and expansions;
our ability to successfully expand into global markets and related risks;
our relationships with independent licensees and franchisees;
our direct channel businesses;
our failure to protect our reputation and our brand images;
our failure to protect our trade names, trademarks and patents;
the highly competitive nature of the retail industry generally and the segments in which we operate particularly;
consumer acceptance of our products and our ability to keep up with fashion trends, develop new merchandise and launch new product lines successfully;
our ability to source, distribute and sell goods and materials on a global basis, including risks related to:
political instability;
duties, taxes and other charges;
legal and regulatory matters;
volatility in currency exchange rates;
local business practices and political issues;
potential delays or disruptions in shipping and transportation and related pricing impacts;
the disruption of production or distribution by labor disputes; and
changing expectations regarding product safety due to new legislation;
stock price volatility;
our failure to maintain our credit rating;
our ability to service or refinance our debt;
our ability to retain key personnel;
our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified employees and manage labor costs;
the inability of our manufacturers to deliver products in a timely manner and meet quality standards;
fluctuations in product input costs;
fluctuations in energy costs;
increases in the costs of mailing, paper and printing;
claims arising from our self-insurance;
our ability to implement and maintain information technology systems and to protect associated data;
our failure to comply with regulatory requirements;
tax matters; and
legal and compliance matters.
We are not under any obligation and do not intend to make publicly available any update or other revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the July sales call to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of future events even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized. Additional information regarding these and other factors can be found in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
SOURCE Limited Brands, Inc.
Investor Relations, Amie Preston, firstname.lastname@example.com, (614) 415-6704, or Media Relations, Tammy Roberts Myers, (614) 415-7072, email@example.com
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Chair Rad Lovett, Lanny Russell, Hugh Greene, Joan Newton
Chair Lovett called the meeting to order at 1:12 PM.
Chair Lovett addressed the committee and asked for a MOTION to approve minutes from the January 17 meeting. Trustee Russell made a MOTION to approve the January 17 minutes. The MOTION was seconded by Trustee Newton and approved unanimously.
Chair Lovett addressed those in attendance and offered the opportunity for open comments on the items on this agenda. There were no open comments.
Chair Lovett informed the Finance & Audit Committee that this item will be fully discussed and voted on during the plenary session. Vice President Shuman answered questions from the committee and noted that the vote will not affect tuition pre-paid contracts that were locked in before July 1, 2007.
Vice President Shuman presented the review of the findings and recommendations from the State of Florida's Auditor General for the UNF financial audit for the fiscal year which ended June 30, 2011. The report incorporates all of the DSOs and the university. She explained the audit was clean except for the finding by the auditor that the University should not have granted a loan to MOCA and should seek to collect the outstanding amount owed by MOCA. The University's response disagreed with the finding and is in the report.
Chair Lovett invited Robert Berry to present the quarterly report for the Office of Internal Auditing. Mr. Berry reported that the department has hired an internal auditor. The decision to hire a third auditor is currently on hold, pending budget decisions. The Campus Security and the Osprey 1Card Audits are completed. The Grade Integrity, Server Security and Fuel Usage Audits are currently on hold. A purchasing card process/investigation is currently in progress. Mr. Berry noted that 85% of all audit items have been closed or resolved as of March 9, 2012. He also stated that 1-3 allegations have been received through the Whistleblower Hotline since a communication was sent to the campus on March 19.
No additional action was required on this agenda item.
Chair Lovett invited Vice President Shuman to present a report on the whistleblower hotline. She explained several measures the University is taking to communicate the importance of the hotline. A compliance officer has been hired to help ensure compliance requirements are being performed. A dedicated telephone number was created. Information regarding the hotline can now be found in various places on the UNF website. A quarterly e-mail communication will go out to the University community. Campus Security Authority are various individuals on campus who have been trained in the Clery Act which requires any information that may be of concern be immediately reported to the police. The Save Our Students (S.O.S.) group consisting of representatives from the Counseling Center, UPD, Housing and Student Affairs, have been formed to provide a proactive approach with students before an issue arises. Additionally, all faculty and staff are required to attend active shooter training and learn about S.O.S. and the Clery Act.
Chair Lovett invited Vice President Shuman to present the review of the quarterly budget report.
Vice President Shuman reported that the Divisions have expended approximately 66% of their funds as of February 29, 2012 and the University should be well within budget limits at the end of the year. To date there have been no budget reductions or call backs from the state. Looking forward, the University will be re-allocating salary savings to summer school. Some positions have been held.
Chair Lovett asked Vice President Shuman to present an overview of the annual treasurer's report for last year ending September 30, 2011. Vice President Shuman noted that the portfolio is doing well. The University continues to outperform the state funds and utilizes external managers for investments.
Chair Lovett adjourned the meeting at 2:05 AM.


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The deserts of the Middle East seem to be fertile ground for American water-use technologies, say members of a World Trade Center San Diego mission that spent last week in Saudi Arabia, Doha and Qatar.
With growing populations and dwindling water supplies, nations around the Persian Gulf are seeking new technologies for conserving water supplies, recycling gray water, desalinizing sea water and treating and reusing wastewater.
And because desalinization consumes so much power, they are looking for new energy technologies to run the plants, including wind and solar.
The Arabian thirst is creating more opportunities for the 200 or so companies in the San Diego County area that specialize in water use, said Hugh Constant, the WTC San Diego's executive vice president who led the 10-member mission.
"There's amazing demand for potable water [in the Gulf region]," said Constant, who lived in Saudi Arabia for half a dozen years before moving to Southern California in 1982. "They have a real concern about having secure supplies of food and water."
The Gulf -- one of the driest regions on Earth -- is currently suffering severe water shortages. In the Saudi capital Riyadh, for instance, households could get tap water only one day out of every 2.5 days in 2011. In Jeddah, the average was one out of nine days.
Desperate to build better supplies, the Saudis plan to spend $53 billion on water projects over the next 10 years, with multibillion dollar investments also expected in Abu Dhabi and Qatar. Hoping to tap into that demand, 10 executives from U.S. water and energy technology companies joined the WTC San Diego trade mission, which lined up meetings with government officials and corporate executives throughout the region.
Robert Caslava, a cofounder and lead biologist of Leap Frog Industries in San Marcos, said he got a very good reception for his company's products, including solar-powered desalination systems, containerized desalination plants and enzyme-based methods for cleaning wastewater and increasing product yields in salty soil.
At an International Water Summit in Abu Dhabi, Caslava showed his wares to the head of Abu Dhabi's Water and Electrical Authority as well as potential customers from as far away as India, Pakistan, Angola, Nigeria and England.
"There seemed to be a great demand for U.S. products versus products from Europe or China," Caslava said. "They recognized that there were differences in quality between the U.S. and China. And a lot of European products don't have the same kind of standardized parts as U.S. products."
On the other hand, Caslava said he was embarrassed to find the trade mission members -- who served as the official U.S. delegation -- were so heavily outnumbered and outspent by government-backed delegations from other nations, such as China, South Korea, Japan, India, Germany and France.
"Most foreign countries pay for companies to go to trade fairs like that -- paying for huge booths with gigantic displays -- but we paid for that ourselves," he said. "It's embarrassing to find that somebody from a place like Slovakia gets paid to go out to represent their country while the richest country on Earth can't do that."
Small businesses do qualify for a $2,000 reimbursement from the Commerce Department when they travel to trade fairs, but that doesn't cover their expenses. And the WTC San Diego paid the department far more than that for its matchmaking services -- setting up meetings between the mission's participants and potential customers or partners.
"It's a lot of money, but it's worthwhile," Constant said.
Mission participant Ryan Godfrey, director of strategic-planning and business development at Minnesota's Tonka Equipment Co., warned that the Gulf's water sector is "immature and currently in a transitory state," which means companies have to be prepared to shift with the market.
But participant Victor Boksha of Silicon Valley's Smart Grid Intelligent Management, said he found the Gulf's business culture to be "very open to import of energy technologies and ready to be involved in international partnerships."
The WTC San Diego is planning another water-related trade mission to Algeria and Morocco in March.
"Algeria too has a big budget for water technology," Constant said. "They export a lot of food to Europe, which means they have to meet European Union standards for properly treating, monitoring, testing water for produce. The market there has been great and the Algerians say how much they are looking forward to doing business with Americans, since they've been dominated by the Europeans for so long, especially the French."
But it is having a harder time attracting members because of concerns about an insurgent campaign in the southern part of the country, far from Algiers or Oran -- the cities targeted by the trade mission.
"It's an uphill battle convincing businesses to go," Constant said.
2980 Pacific Hwy.
San Diego, CA 92101
Feb. 2, 2012 -- George Chamberlin speaks with James Zimmerman, a partner at law firm Sheppard Mullin, during the eighth annual China Business Outlook Conference, hosted by World Trade Center San Diego. Zimmerman touched on doing business in China and inflation.
Aug. 31, 2011 -- Executive Editor George Chamberlin speaks with Bella Huele, president and CEO of World Trade Center San Diego, about the work the WTC performs and plans for the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
All contents herein copyright San Diego Source ® 1994-2019


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STS-103 Mission Specialist Jean-Francois Clervoy (seated), representing the European Space Agency, controls the shuttle's robotic arm during a simulation using virtual reality type hardware at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Looking on is Mission Specialist John M. Grunsfeld. Both astronauts were assigned to separate duties supporting STS-103, NASA's third Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission.
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