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The increasing popularity of Halloween theme park events has spawned a new generation of exclusive reservation-only haunted mazes that promise a more intense and intimate experience for those willing to pay a premium.
Photos: 10 extreme haunted mazes and attractions
The new Trapped maze at Knott's Halloween Haunt is the latest entry in an emerging trend toward up-charge attractions that cater to individuals and small parties prepared to bleed green for exclusive VIP treatment.
For $60, the Trapped maze at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park takes up to six people through a labyrinth of locked rooms with increasingly dire situations. Without giving too much away, Trapped takes visitors from a rank-smelling bathroom to a confining cage filled with rats to a morgue where the dead come to life. Participants must solve puzzles or make unpalatable choices to escape each room and ultimately the maze itself.
The Knott's Scary Farm VIP maze proved popular on the opening weekend of Halloween Haunt, with reservations for Trapped selling out by 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Busch Gardens Tampa, Fla., introduced the "solitary scare experience" in 2010 at Howl-O-Scream with the $35 Alone maze. The premium price, which increased to $80 this season for up to four people, hasn't scared too many people away.
Thorpe Park in the United Kingdom also introduced a new maze called The Passing at this year's Fright Nights with a $5 up-charge fee for each person in the party. With a suffocating burlap sack over their head, each person is sentenced to death and must blindly make their way through the claustrophobic maze to their own burial.
The new up-charge mazes come in direct response to visitors' biggest complaint about Halloween theme park events: The omnipresent conga line of humanity snaking through every maze that ruins the atmosphere and limits the scares.
A niche industry of extreme standalone haunted attractions that limit the number of people in the maze at any one time have popped up across the United States in old mental institutions (Pennhurst Asylum in Pennsylvania), shuttered meatpacking plants (Cutting Edge in Texas) and former state penitentiaries (Terror Behind the Walls in Pennsylvania). The in-your-face attractions promise more intense scares in less-crowded environments.
Closer to home, a slew of extreme horror attractions in Southern California have forced Knott's and its theme park rivals to remain innovative or get buried by the competition.
The 18-and-over Blackout Haunted House in Los Angeles requires visitors to walk and crawl through the pitch-dark maze alone with a protective mask and a flashlight. Speaking is prohibited (although screaming is permitted).
Sinister Pointe in Brea bills itself as Southern California's only year-round haunted attraction, forcing visitors to complete "fear tests" to advance through a maze with multiple possible paths.
In San Diego, the McKamey Manor home haunt funnels those willing to sign a legal waiver through a gauntlet of monsters that touch, grab and shove their victims.
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood: Preview | Review | Walking Dead maze | Photos
Halloween Haunt at Knott's Berry Farm: Preview | Review | Photos
Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain: Preview | Photos
Dark Harbor at the Queen Mary: Preview | Photos
> Follow the Los Angeles Times Funland theme park blog on Twitter, Facebook and Google+


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WOLFEBORO — This Halloween marks the second anniversary of the murder of a longtime former Wolfeboro resident, a unsolved tragedy that continues to plague her family and loved ones.
Bobbie Miller's younger sister, Mickie Moore, of Manchester, said the family has upped its $50,000 reward to $53,000 this year, for any information relevant to the case. They plan to hike up Mount Major in Alton Saturday, Nov. 3, to raise awareness of their cause.
"My real feeling is there is a murderer out there and they need to be caught. They could take someone else's life and they have to be caught…," she said. "I wonder when it happens, I keep having hope that if we find out, am I going to feel better? The pain will never ever, I don't think, go away."
Miller, 54, at the time of her death, lived in Wolfeboro for 26 years before moving to Gilford. Two months later, she was found dead in her home, on Nov. 1, 2010, from multiple gunshot wounds. The family believes she was attacked in her home on Country Club Road on Halloween that year, though limited information is available on the case.
The Gilford Police Department deferred comment to the attorney general's office and Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati did not return a call for comment before press time. Gilford Police Detective Chris Jacques told Foster's he was working "closely" on the case, along with New Hampshire State Police.
"Basically, where we're at is we don't really know. (Police) don't tell us anything," Moore added. "All they keep telling us is it is not a cold case."
According to Carroll County Superior Court documents, shortly before she was killed, Miller had filed for divorce from her husband Gary Miller, and the two were due back in court the following week for a hearing on a financial issue. Documents indicate Gary, who previously owned Auto Village. Inc., in Wolfeboro and other automotive shops in the area, claimed his wife had not paid $74,094.50 owed toward a tax liability.
In another strange aspect of the case, three days before Bobbie Miller was found dead, Gary Miller's three-season cottage in Acton, Maine, caught fire under suspicious circumstances. Reports in 2010 said it took firefighters six hours to battle the blaze and the cottage was burned to the ground.
Looking for answers
Moore said she drove to Wolfeboro two weekends ago to walk through the neighborhood and ask residents for anything they could recall about the last few days Miller was in Wolfeboro. Moore posted flyers around town advertising the Mount Major event on Miller's favorite outdoor trail. This is also the second time the family has made the hike, where they serve participants Miller's favorite family dish, her mom's spinach soup. Moore said her now 83-year-old mother still makes the difficult climb for her beloved daughter.
"We want the public to be aware that this is still an open case because people go on with their lives, which is understandable … (but) people might not realize anything, even something minute regarding my sister or family members, anything they saw… that could help," Moore said.
On the family website dedicated to resolving the case, BobbiesSoup.com, relatives say Bobbie was one of 24 victims murdered in New Hampshire in 2010, and law enforcement officials don't have "enough manpower" to devote to Miller's investigation.
"It is unlikely her killer will be brought to justice without our help, and yours," the site reads.
Remembering Bobbie
Moore said the last time her mother spoke with her daughter over the phone, Bobbie said she was building flower boxes at her new home. Moore said her sister was always creative like that, devoting time to her favorite projects.
"What I remember about my sister the most is her laugh. She had this really hearty laugh, I'm looking at her picture right now…" Moore said, in a phone interview with Foster's. "She was an incredible mother, almost to a fault. I almost think she did too much for her children."
Miller was a mother to Jonathan and her now 27-year-old daughter, Jennifer.
Moore added when she walked around Wolfeboro, people remembered her sister, and shared stories with her. A local hairdresser said Bobbie lent her a car for a joyride after she complemented it, and an elderly woman said Bobbie used to drive her to church every Sunday, and shovel her driveway in the winter.
"She was just that kind of a person," Moore said, with emotion in her voice. "Hopefully, (this reward) is really going to help solve the case, but it also helps us all feel a little better that we're doing something, you know? We're not going to sit back. You've got to keep after people all the time."
The second annual hike up Mount Major in Alton Bay will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. Bobbie's favorite soup will be served, along with water. The event is free and dogs are welcome.
Two years since Wolfeboro murder, family awaits news of a suspect and an arrest
WOLFEBORO — This Halloween marks the second anniversary of the murder of a longtime former Wolfeboro resident, a unsolved tragedy that continues to plague her family and loved ones.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mancho necesitaba un nuevo diseño de impreso o envases y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 154 diseños de 55 diseñadores freelance.
North Texas Food Bank
The North Texas Food Bank was established in 1982 by Liz Minyard, Kathryn Hall, Jo Curtis and Lorraine Griffin Kircher. Their goal was to address the critical issue of hunger in North Texas by securing donations of surplus unmarketable, but wholesome, foods and grocery products for distribution through a network of charitable organizations dedicated to feeding the hungry in 13 North Texas counties: Dallas, Denton, Collin, Fannin, Rockwall, Hunt, Grayson, Kaufman, Ellis, Navarro, Lamar, Delta and Hopkins. In the first year of operation, the Food Bank distributed 400,000 pounds of food. Today, we distribute that amount of food DAILY.
You can find out more about our organization at our website, http://www.ntfb.org
The audience that is purchasing these cards is USA citizens primarily living in Texas. This is our existing client base in Dallas Texas and surrounding counties. We sell these holiday cards every year to raise money to feed hungry people in our service area.
The audience is of many religions, so these cards CANNOT be religious specific "Christian; An evergreen Tree or Santa" "Judaism; Menora", etc. These cards have to be acceptable by EVERY RELIGION. We cannot stress that enough, please be sensitive that the designs DO NOT have any religious affiliation.
The buyers are majority female, in their 40s, with family. They have social concerns of hunger in their community. However, the cards must not be geared to just women, they must have equal appeal. (As example, bright Pink is not a color we would use for these cards)
CONCEPT! CONCEPT! CONCEPT! We are want this to be a FUN idea and the concept must be a strong idea, not just pretty type.
The card will be a folding card, from the top. We are looking for a "Cover" design as well as a simple internal layout of text. Please put 99% of your creative efforts into designing the FRONT (cover) of the card.
We do not have a particular size restriction, but ideally the card should be no larger than 6" wide by 4" tall. Some variance is acceptable, but do not design a SQUARE card, it costs more to mail.
MOST IMPORTANT: We are looking for "CLEVER" and "CUTE" ideas that can be funny, enlightening and emotive... however, if you have a nice still life image, we will consider it. Try to have fun graphics... not serious / boring.
Here is a link to the cards of the past. DO NOT use the same idea, we're looking for something unique. Here is the 2007 card:
http://tinyurl.com/mbdppd (notice the empty plates and forks make a snowman)
And the 2008 card: http://tinyurl.com/n7o788
Here is the internal creative brief which is similar to the information here: http://tinyurl.com/ktbenc
We are not limiting the number of colors either... CMYK or 4 color spot. Please design what you think works, but more importantly, the "concept" must be great!
Happy Designing!


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February 12, 2013
Girlified Converse Shoe Makeover
14 comments:
So easy and cute!!! I love the idea of taking what you already have and making them girly! :)ReplyDelete
I love the idea of simply switching out the laces for ribbon. Adorable!ReplyDelete
That's why I love red baby/kid items - it works for boys or girls. I try to get red on the more expensive things like snow shoes, coats... so they can get passed down. I like how you girlified the hi tops - super cute.ReplyDelete
btw, Cheri, out of curiosity, how long did it take for your Zulily orders to arrive? I order something about a month ago and wasn't sure what the usual wait time was. Thanks! :)ReplyDeleteReplies
Zulily can take longer to get the product to you because they have each sale open for a few days, then when it closes the manufacturer sends the orders in a group to Zulily, who then have to sort them and then ship them to the customer. Check your account on Zulily and it should show you where it is in the process.Delete
I waited about 2 weeks for one order, but 3 for another. Elizabeth's comment above is great info. Thanks Elizabeth!Delete
Thanks to you both! I checked my account and found out that there was a misunderstanding with my shipping address so the package was returned to the sender! Thankfully, Zulily has AMAZING customer service and customer service rep that I emailed with was really prompt and helpful!Delete
That is awesome!ReplyDelete
If you are just looking to clean up un-glittered Converse, my daughter tidies hers with one of those magic erasers. Mind you, she is a little.... um.... fussy about her Converse shoes and doesn't let them get very dirty, but they clean up REALLY well with one of those.
I'm going to show her this post for when her shoes are getting really worn. She loves glitter. Oh, did I mention that she is 19?
Super cute idea!!! I used to add rhinestones to the toes of Kam's converse as well with Tulle laces! So fun to have girls!!ReplyDelete
I would double over the ribbon, sew the edges then then the pattern will be on both sides of the "laces"ReplyDelete
- Anonymous13.2.13
For some reason I look at these shoes and think of ladybugs and I love ladybugs. Great 'upcycle'!ReplyDelete
Other sneaker types include a High top sneaker which covers the ankle, Low tops which do not cover the ankle, and Mid Cut sneakers which are in between the High and Low Top sneakers. golden goose Women SneakerReplyDelete
Thank you so much for leaving a comment! If you are asking a question and you do NOT have your profile linked to your email address, I will respond in the comment section, so just come back to check it later. Thanks!


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Peace & Love Hostel
Guests between the ages of 18 and 35 years only!!
All our rooms, private and dorms are en-suite; there is a pub on the premises which stays open till 2.00am and specializes in cheap beer .
There is shower in all the rooms. Sheets, covers and pillows are provided. Most of the rooms also have toilets. There are double rooms, triple rooms, and rooms for 4 or 5 people or dorm rooms available with bunk-beds inside.
There is a safety box which you can use free of charge at the reception.
The hostel has no curfew, no lock-out, and its open 24 hours.
*Important notice: Please note that we will hold your reservation for 3 hours following the arrival time you submitted on your booking when you processed it online. If you do not arrive after 3 hours we will have to cancel your booking. If you are delayed for some reasons, please contact us to let us know.
Guests between the ages of 18 and 35 years only!!
Availability & RatesTo view availability and prices please select dates and click 'Update Dates'
Hostel Facilities & Policies
- 24 Hour Reception
- 24 Hour Security
- Adaptors
- Age Restriction
- Bar
- Board Games
- Breakfast Not Included
- Cable TV
- Café
- Common Room
- Credit Cards Not Accepted
- Express check-in / out
- Telephone/Fax Facilities
- Free City Maps
- Free Internet Access
- Free WiFi
- Games Room
- Hair Dryers
- Hot Showers
- House Keeping
- Internet Access
- Key Card Access
- Self-Catering Facilities
- Linen Included
- Security Lockers
- Luggage Storage
- No Curfew
- Non Smoking
- Outdoor Terrace
- Parking
- Safe Deposit Box
- Taxes not included
- Tea & Coffee Making Facilities
- Tours/Travel Desk
- Towels For Hire
- Towels Included
- Utensils
- Wi-Fi
Cancellation PolicyThis property has a 1 day cancellation policy. Failure to cancel within this time will result in a cancellation charge equal to the first night of your stay.
Must-Read Hostel InfoThis property has specific Terms & Conditions.
Important notice: Please note that we will hold your reservation for three hours after your scheduled arrival time. This is the time you submitted on your booking when you processed it online. If you do not arrive after three hours we will have to cancel your entire booking. If you are delayed for some reason, please contact us to let us know.
Guests aged 18-35 only
We require a pre-payment of 25% for group of 20 people or more.
Key deposit - 3€
Taxes not included - occupancy tax 0.88 EUR per person per night
DirectionsShow MapHide Map
The hostel is only 15 minutes walking distance from Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est train stations.
The hostel is also easily accesible with metro lines 2, 5 ( station called Jaures just accross the street ) and 7 ( station called Louis Blanc down the road next crossroad ) .
Located Near
Peace and Love is in a great location on the north east side of Paris. We are direct metro ride or walk away from Sacre Coeur, Pere Lachaise cemetery where Jim Morrison and Chopin and Oscar Wilde are buried, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont and Parc de la Villette.
Direct metro to Arc de Triomphe, Bastille, Opera, Louvre and so much more...


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Subscribe To For Your Consideration: Why The Academy Needs To Behave Badly And Recognize Wolf Of Wall Street Updates
I've already subscribed
For years, the Oscars have been trying some right. Maybe it's time to try some wrong.
In the contemporary film era, the Oscars have historically rewarded something safe enough to watch with your grandmother. Even if it was explicit like Braveheart, or gritty like Unforgiven, ultimately there was still a clear-headed view of who wore the white hats and the black hats. You can't win with an edge in today's Oscar race, which is why you'll never again see honors bestowed upon something like 1969's prizewinner Midnight Cowboy, an x-rated film about a male prostitute and his pimp.
A tremendous brouhaha (as well as a boondoggle and donnybrook) has surrounded Martin Scorsese's The Wolf Of Wall Street for depicting a famous, sexy movie star as a real-life crook who swindled hundreds of foolhardy investors. Some believe that the film is immoral, and that it lionizes Jordan Belfort and his criminal exploits. Some think that the film does nothing of the sort, and instead uses satire to create, and destroy, a real-life demon who made a fool out of others and ultimately paid for his crimes. And I think both of these are true, and that we shouldn't shy away from them... and neither should the Academy.
If you could be any protagonist from a film nominated for Best Picture, who would you want to be? The folks in American Hustle are attempting a high wire act, trying to subsist on their own crimes to feed their insecure, needy egos. Captain Phillips isn't about a hero, it's about the struggles Phillips underwent to be one. Matthew McConaughey's Ron Woodroof has AIDS, Sandra Bullock's Ryan Stone is trapped in space. There is no character to aspire to in this category, only victims.
Which movie, however, had a lead character getting so fabulously wealthy that he could seduce Margot Robbie in front of her boyfriend while his best friend masturbated? What movie had a lead character so villainous he throws seafood at FBI agents and punches his wife in the gut? What movie had enough coke to fuel the economy of a third world country? And which movie did you have the most FUN seeing amongst the Best Picture frontrunners? If this wasn't it, it's only because the confident three hour runtime was a further mark of the tacky excesses and extravagance of this period.
What's more, Wolf Of Wall Street ends on the sourest of notes. The other films in the Best Picture race find hopefulness and triumph at the end of the rainbow. But [SPOILER ALERT] the close of Scorsese's bacchanalia finds the Wall Street Wolfman hosting a seminar, face-to-face with a sea of slack-jawed dimbulbs not unlike the majority of members in any large audience that saw the film. They are us, and they are absolutely gobsmacked at how Belfort dominated his trade. They know Belfort's a criminal at this point (not to the extent we do, admittedly), but their knowledge of his wrongdoings is dwarfed by their complete desire to be him. Belfort, and the film, hold us in contempt.
Ultimately, there's something very American, nakedly so, about The Wolf Of Wall Street, which will keep allowing the film to be debated years from now. If it's out there, you can take it, even if others suffer. The Academy isn't a goodwill organization. They have no need to be polite, or to reflect the ideal status of the world. This is Best Picture, not Nicest Picture. By the way, 42 years ago, another film with a central criminal figure won the Best Picture award, even though it committed the sin of depicting terrible, selfish, bloodthirsty acts on film, almost as a tacit endorsement of them.
That movie was The Godfather.


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Site Map |Links
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Copyright 2010, Lon Sharp Outdoor Images, The images on this website are copyrighted material. Feel free to enjoy them! They are available here for your free personal viewing, but please observe copyright law. Any use or reproduction of any images or text without written permission from Lon Sharp Outdoor Images is strictly forbidden. Prints are available for licensed purchase. See the Print heading or Contact for more details or options.


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Perfect In Case of Slips or Falls
Get Security and Protection for Yourself or Your Loved ones with our Medical Alert Systems.
Stay Safe in Your Own Home.
Don't Delay – Call Today for More Info!
Call hours – Open 24/7
You've probably seen the ads on TV and in magazines: How do you get help in a medical emergency when you're alone at home? The makers of medical alert systems promise that their products will come to the rescue, whether you've fallen and you can't get up or you're experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, stroke, or seizure. The ads are reaching a receptive audience: Sales of med-alert services are growing as the baby boom generation ages.Medical alert systems were introduced in the 1970s as simple push-button devices worn around the neck. They summoned help by signaling a base station connected to a home phone line that would alert a call-center operator. Today's systems are still wearable, but you can also mount help buttons throughout the home that allow for two-way voice communication with call centers. Some offer motion-sensitive pendants that can detect a fall and place a call for help.
Who needs one? Most buyers purchase a system for an aging parent who lives alone so that they can get help quickly if needed. That person might be at a heightened risk for falls because of poor eyesight or memory changes, says Barbara Resnick, Ph.D., professor of nursing at the University of Maryland and past president of the American Geriatrics Society. The systems can also be useful in nonemergency situations where the user doesn't need an ambulance but does need someone to come to their aid. The call center will alert a preselected relative or friend who can come over and assist.
Benefits of Medical Alert System in Accokeek Maryland
These types of emergency systems have many benefits associated with them. One of the main benefits is that they provide help to individuals when they cannot get to a telephone to call emergency medical services. Since the medical alert devices are worn on their wrists or around their necks, all they have to do is to reach up and hit the designated button and they will be contacted with the medical alert company right away. This convenience is one benefit of the medical system.
Another benefit to the medical system is that it provides independence to individuals who may not have been able to live alone without such a device. By having this type of system in place, if the individual is a senior citizen they will feel confident in living alone as will their family members who know that a medical alert system is right by their side.
Medical alert devices are also quite reasonable in cost. Depending on the type of system one orders, they may have to pay for the devices in addition to a monthly monitoring fee. The prices will vary from company to company in Guam but overall the price is reasonable and is usually around $30 per month. When viewing everything that one gets for this price it can easily be justified and seen as a great deal.
Accokeek Medical Alert System
Accokeek Medical Alert System
10 out of
10 with
21 reviews
Questions about the Personal Emergency Response System
Does the medical alert system come with other services? Some medical alert systems come with additional services such as medication reminders, glucose monitoring reminders, and the like. It's good to know what other services can be included with the purchase of your services, so make sure you ask what's included.
7. What happens if something goes wrong with my equipment? Most of us hate reading the fine print. I challenge anyone out there to read the "terms and conditions" of the 5 or 6 medical alert devices you want to evaluate (gives me a headache even thinking about doing that again). So that in mind, I would encourage anyone making a decision on a particular device to ask; What happens if your system goes down? Does someone come out to fix it? Will they send you another one asap? Do you need to send the dysfunctional system back? etc. Also, one other point… when you have narrowed down your choice, read the fine print by looking up the terms-and-conditions of the particular provider on their websites.
8. Does the medical alert system include "automatic fall detection"? Medical alert systems have come a long way in the last 5 years. Today's advanced systems can detect when a user has fallen automatically. It's all in the advanced algorithms developed by brilliant engineers and embedded into small devices which are saving lives everyday. These smart-systems can distinguish (in most cases) between when someone has actually fallen, and when someone has decided to sit down abruptly. "The big three" that (currently) offer automatic fall detection are Halo Monitoring Systems, Wellcore Personal Emergency Response, and Philips Lifeline with auto alert.
9. Am I purchasing these devices, or leasing them, or neither? Goes back to my prior suggestion about reading the fine print… Find out (ahead of time) whether the equipment is yours or not. What happens if you no longer require the equipment? What happens if you damage the equipment?
10. What is my total yearly cost? This gets down to "brass tax"… How much does this cost me each year (total cash outflow). Enough said.
Nearest Medical System to You In Prince Georges County 20607
How to pick the right one in MD
Medical alarm systems for seniors can mean the difference between life and death. Each year, more than one-third of senior citizens living alone experience a fall. This is a terrifying event if the person has to spend hours or days on the floor with no help. This or any other type of emergency requires immediate medical attention. Receiving immediate care decreases the level of sustained injuries and increases the chances of survival.
Literally having a medical alarm system at your fingertips ensures prompt medical care in an emergency. Many seniors fear falling when no one is around. This causes many to limit their daily activities. A reduction in physical fitness and mobility can increase the risk of falling. Further, inactivity reduces the quality of life for many seniors.
The security of a medical alert system removes the daily risks for many seniors. A medical alert system from companies such as Monitor Me helps thousands of seniors regain their independence, sense of security and quality of life.
In the age of the cell phone, many seniors might think a medical alert system is redundant. Unlike a cell phone that is subject to dropped calls, a medical alert system is designed to be reliable and simple to use. Even during a stressful situation, all a senior citizen has to do is press a button. He or she is immediately connected to a certified EMT who assesses the situation and provides paramedics with pertinent information.
Everyone does not carry a cell phone constantly. However, the pendant that comes with the alert system can be worn as a necklace or bracelet. Further, not many cell phones continue to work after being submerged in water. The pendant is waterproof and can be worn in slippery places where an accident might happen.
Compared to a cell phone that requires charging, medical alert systems come with a battery backup. Even when the power goes out, the system will continue to operate. A prompt connection occurs each time the button is pushed.
How a Medical Alert System helps you?
If you are looking for a medical alert system to protect an elderly loved one, be sure to do your homework. There are a lot of companies out there that offer personal emergency response systems with a number of features and benefits that are very useful and others with serious limitations. For example medical alert phones may be a practical solution for your elderly loved one if they are comfortable with the technology and you believe that they are not in a great risk of falling in becoming incapacitated. A medical alert phone is more or less a wireless phone that you can program with an auto dial feature. It allows the user to carry the telephone around and be able to present auto dial button and be connected with friends, relatives or emergency response professionals but it does require them to be able to access the telephone, operate the telephone and communicate with the person that they're calling.
The trouble with these medical alert phones is that in the event of a sudden illness, fainting or slip and fall the elderly user may not be able to find, use or even remember that they have the phone. On the plus side, these systems are cheaper than medical monitoring systems as there is no monthly monitoring service to pay for. By getting your senior citizen a reliable mobile phone and preprogramming personal contact numbers into autodial you pretty much accomplish the same effect. We're not knocking these phones we just want to point out that while they give the user access to a telephone service remotely the system is only as strong as its weakest link.
When an elderly person falls chances are they are going to be disoriented. If they are too confused to find and operate a remote medical alert phones they will not be able to use this system to summon help.
A more practical solution is a medical alert system that can be activated using a pushbutton that is worn around the neck as a pendant or on the wrist like a watch. These medical alarm systems will allow your parent to maintain an independent lifestyle because you'll have the peace of mind of knowing that they can get help simply by pushing a button.


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kents necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 121 diseños de 36 diseñadores freelance.
Performance Wall Systems LLC
The goal is to achive three things:
Sell wall systems that are the very best.
Be the very best at servicing client needs.
Have a lot of fun.
I have been selling Insulated Concrete Forms for thirteen years.
In 2009 I started Performance Wall Systems LLC. With the previous stated three goals in mind.
We are the leader in selling Insulated Concrete Form Systems in Northern California.
With hundreds of projects built and contacts in every phase needed from design to construction of projects we are the best resource for successful high performance building projects in our market.
We sell several Insulated Concrete Form Systems and a line of green epoxy. I am looking to round out my product offerings with other high performance products.
I have been involved in the building community for over thirty years and bring a very high level of experience and professionalism to each project I am involved in.
I still get really jazzed at being a part of a construction team on real cool projects. We have been involved in some of the first LEED projects in Northern CA and have also built some real high end residential projects.
My clients are forward thinking people that have a high understanding of building science.
I need to engage everyone from architects, builders , building owners and concrete contractors.
A lot of my projects this last year have been real high end residential projects in the 16,000 to 20,000 square feet mansion type of homes. But this said commercial projects are a target.
Some of my suppliers web sites are:
Just looking for a great logo.
It will be the beginning of building the Brand. I need to be able to use it for my web site and for literature.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Scottish singer Gerry Rafferty, who battled alcoholism long after hits "Baker Street" and "Stuck in the Middle With You" made him a star, has died at 63.
Rafferty's agent said only that his client had passed away following a long illness, but did not say how or where.
Rafferty's classic "Baker Street," with its haunting saxophone solo, reached No. 2 on U.S. charts in 1978, and still receives generous airplay. His other hit, "Stuck in the Middle With You," was recorded six years earlier when Rafferty was one of a folk duo called Stealers Wheel. That song was featured in a hilariously macabre scene in the Quentin Tarantino movie "Reservoir Dogs."
"Baker Street's" signature sax solo was played by session man Raphael Ravenscroft, who was paid $50 by a check that bounced.
Rafferty struggled in recent years with alcoholism and had also undergone treatment for liver failure. In 2009, he released the album "Life Goes On."
His older brother Jim carried on a long feud with Rafferty, in which he blasted his famous sibling online in a blog called "effing peasants."
Selected Reading: The Asssociated Press, Telegraph.


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Advanced passenger vehicles.
Designed for a global market.
Lightweight Engineering
Our unique integral chassis designs are amongst the lightest in their class.
Premium Service
You're never on your own. Our after sales care is important to us because it's important to you.
Low Running Costs
Our lightweight design increases fuel efficiency and reduces costs.


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Certified Pre-Owned 2018 KiaOptima LX Sedan
- Stock: JG249319
- Odometer
- 15,330 miles
- Fuel Economy
- 25.0/36.0 mpg City/Hwy
- Exterior Color
- Ebony Black
- Interior Color
- Black
- Body/Seating
- Sedan/5 seats
- Transmission
- 6 speed automatic
- Drivetrain
- front-wheel
- Engine
- 2.4L I-4 cyl
Kia Optima
Highlighted Features
- Blind spot sensor
- Emergency communication system
- Wireless phone connectivity
- Parking sensors
- Exterior parking camera rear
- Split folding rear seat
- Perimeter/approach lights
- Remote keyless entry
Detailed Specifications
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Certified. Kia Optima LX Black Clean CARFAX. Odometer is 15583 miles below market average! 25/36 City/Highway MPG
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- 5.0
Great Vehicle and Value
By Magna42 on Monday, December 04, 2017I own a 2017 and prior to this vehicle I owned a 2012. I would still have the 2012 if it waasnt totaled. As pleasant as the 2012 was the 2017 is much better. More equipment, but a few strange ommissions/changes (relatively minor). The 2017 is head and shoulder quieter than the previous mode. The steering though is little vague, though I understand that theres a firmware fix for that. All in all I am pleased with the Optima and would buy another if the need arose.
- 5.0
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By Larry on Saturday, October 21, 2017With the SXL trim, its the Audi A6 for smart people. All the features I wanted. European ride - check, ample power-check, high tech goodies-check, reliable brand - check, dealers willing to deal - check, good on gas - check, regular unleaded- check, looks great - check, 10 year power train, FIVE YEAR BUMPER TO BUMPER!! (who does that?) Kia just tries harder, copying the best of every other brand. I shop from brands that try harder. Why be a sucker?
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By Lil Jon on Wednesday, July 31, 2019I've previously owned a Camry SE V6 (new - 4yrs), Honda Civic EX (new - 5 yrs), Hyundai Elantra Limted (new - 3 yrs), and now 2019 Optima EX 1.6T Premium Package. This 1.6T has plenty of power, awesome gas mpg, and the premium package is the perfect option for the money. No issues with vehicle after owning for 1 year @ 25,500 miles. I love this vehicle!


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By James Lindsay, CFR
Editor's note: James Lindsay is senior vice president and director of studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. This entry of Water's Edge was first published here. The views expressed are his own.
The new college rankings are out. No, not the rankings for football prowess (though they are out too). The Times Higher Education World University Rankings. They debuted last week, and American higher education has reason to chant, "We're Number One!" The question, though, is for how long?
Now university rankings should always be taken with a grain of salt for anything other than establishing broad trends. For example, I don't know any University of Virginia graduate who thinks that UVA (#118) ranks behind the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (#42), let alone nearly every school in the Big Ten (which oddly enough has a dozen members). The reality is that universities have different strengths and weaknesses, and there's no sure way to measure either. Even if there were, it's not obvious whether great strength in, say, engineering should count more, the same, or less than great strength in the physical or social sciences. Throw in the differences across borders in terms of teaching formats and approaches, and global college rankings are a dicey enterprise.
U.S. universities take seven of the top ten spots, 11 of the top 15, 15 of the top20, and 20 of top 26 spots. (Georgia Tech and The University of Texas at Austin – UT asks that you capitalize "The" – are tied for 25th.) Overall, the United States accounts for 76 of the top two hundred universities in the rankings.
Much of the coverage of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings has trumpeted how universities in the West have lost ground to their counterparts in Asia. The British universities in the top two hundred slipped an average of 6.7 places compared to their ranking last year. Meanwhile, 51 of the top 76 American universities lost ground in the ratings.
The improved ratings for Asian universities, and especially Chinese and Indian universities, are to be expected. The rise of China and India as economic powerhouses makes it almost inevitable that their institutions of higher learning will become powerhouses as well. Indeed, Beijing is actively seeking to create the Chinese version of the U.S. Ivies, the so-called C9 League. These nine super-institutions recently received $270 million each from the Chinese government. That kind of money can buy a lot of bricks and books.
But Chinese and Indian universities still have a long way to go before they can match the best in the West. The highest rated Chinese university is Peking University, which clocks in at #46. Next is Tsinghua University at #52. (The University of Hong Kong stands at #35, but its history is quite different from mainland Chinese universities.) No other Chinese or Indian university is in the top two hundred. Elite status requires not just money, but time and a lot of effort.
More from CFR: Huawei, Cybersecurity, and U.S. Foreign Policy
The real threat to Western, and specifically U.S., universities comes not from Asian universities flush with cash but from eroding support at home for investing in top-flight universities. California's budget woes have rocked the world's greatest single higher education system; five University of California campuses rank in the Times Higher Education's top fifty but their budgets are being slashed. The flagship universities in Georgia, Illinois, Texas, and Virginia (among others) face tough choices about how to maintain academic excellence as state support shrinks in relative (and sometimes absolute terms) and the pressure to hold down tuition increases. Whether states choose to continue investing in their colleges and universities, and whether students can find ways to finance their college educations, will go a long way to determining how competitive the United States remains in a global economy.
One final point. The focus on how many universities each country has in the top fifty or hundred misses what may be the most profound trend in U.S. higher education, namely, that U.S. universities are becoming far less "American" and far more global in their makeup. The "multinationalization" of the faculties of American universities has long been evident to students taking math and science courses. But increasingly it describes the student themselves. Nearly one-in-four Columbia University and Stanford University students are international students, as is one-in-five Northwestern students and one-in-seven UC-Berkeley and University of Michigan students. So the simple fact that a student goes to class in Palo Alto, Evanston, or Ann Arbor says increasingly less about which national economy will capture the benefits of his or her higher educational attainments.
The top 10:
1) California Institute of Technology
2) Stanford University
2) University of Oxford
4) Harvard University
5) Massachusetts Institute of Technology
6) Princeton University
7) University of Cambridge
8) Imperial College London
9) University California, Berkeley
10) University of Chicago
Hmmm... So three of the world's top ten universities (as ranked by the English) are English. What a surprise that ICL beats Berkeley and Chicago? How long did the authors have to search to find a ranking algorithm that put a UK university on top of Harvard and MIT. I confess the US rankings are no better, but can't we all try to just hide the bias in our research just a little deeper.
Why forget the obvious one: University of Hardknocks. Most people don't graduate unscathed unless you wear ruby slippers and can sing. But even Judy ended up a drunk.
In the US, the problem with math is not the kids, but how math is taught by the teachers. When you have poor teachers and a poor curricculum you achieve a poor outcome.
Where the heck in the world did this author see the name of India in this list before #226? Be clear of what you want to present and take out that jealous factor while presenting the facts.
The only reason that we are ahead is because we are like the RICHEST country in the world!
I bet if countries like INDIA and CHINA had as much money as us they would catch up
An impressive share! I've just forwarded this onto a friend who had been conducting a little research on this. And he actually ordered me lunch due to the fact that I stumbled upon it for him... lol. So allow me to reword this.... Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending some time to talk about this topic here on your blog.
good article
How are u sure dat d best school is califonia.
Nice Sharing , These top universities of the world enlight the career of the students who take admission in these universities.
Right here is the right website for anybody who would like to understand this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really would want to…HaHa). You certainly put a brand new spin on a topic that has been discussed for many years. Wonderful stuff, just great!
An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a friend who was doing a little research on this. And he in fact ordered me breakfast due to the fact that I discovered it for him... lol. So allow me to reword this.... Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending time to discuss this issue here on your website.
Nice post !! The reality is that universities have different strengths and weaknesses, and there's no sure way to measure either. Thank you.


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Canadian Politician Removed From Provincial Assembly For Threats She Didn't Make On Facebook Group She Didn't Join
from the wut? dept
We've heard stories in the past about people being blamed for the comments of others on Facebook groups, such as an attempt to hold parents responsible for the groups their children join. While my position is that such blaming is reactionary and silly, there is at least a modicum of a tangential relationship between the parties. So what should the response be if such a relationship doesn't exist? What if someone is added to a group without their knowledge and members of that group advocate violence? What should be done then?
Well, if you're a member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly in Canada, apparently you are removed from the house of assembly proceedings entirely. Such was the case with Gerry Rogers.
Earlier Tuesday, Justice Minister Darin King said Rogers was a member of the Facebook group Kathy Dunderdale must GO!!! in which users had posted comments containing death threats against the premier.
"What kind of message is that sending to the people of the province, to our children in the province, when we talk about bullying and harassment and intimidation?" said King.Bullying? Well, the definition of the verb is "to treat abusively; to affect by means of force or coercion." Call me crazy, but it seems to me that forcing someone out of the duties of their elected office as a means for coercing them to apologize for something she had absolutely nothing to do with sort of meets the criteria, doesn't it? That's exactly what happened here, as Rogers aptly contends.
"I did not join this Facebook group," Rogers told reporters during the recess. Rogers said that she thinks that the government does not understand how Facebook groups work. "I was added to this group without my knowledge, without permission, and by somebody that I do not know," said Rogers.Premier Kathy Dunderdale, against whom the threats were made, responded specifically to that point, insisting that the government did indeed understand how Facebook groups operate, but it's up to each member of government to monitor all the comments on all the groups they belong to, whether they had chosen to belong to them or not. She also said:
"I'm not going to be bullied or intimidated into doing something that I don't think is in the best interests of the people in this province," said Dunderdale.No, Madame Premier, that privilege appears to be reserved for Gerry Rogers, and the people she represents, I might add, unless your government wants to rethink its concepts over whether to blame people for the actions of others.
Filed Under: canada, democracy
Companies: facebook groups


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Etched 26oz glass stein - Plant
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Each glass is hand etched using an acid etching paste, meaning this design will not wash off. These measure approx 3.75″ wide by 7″ tall.
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Older women spend about two-thirds of their time sitting, a new study suggests.
Sedentary behavior has been linked to disease and disability. That's in part because people who spend lots of time sitting also tend to not meet physical activity guidelines – but it's not the whole story.
"Even people who go to the gym every day and run 6 miles on a treadmill can be at risk for bad outcomes from being sedentary if they spend 8-10 hours seated at a desk and then watch TV with their spouse after dinner," said Dr. Catherine A. Sarkisian in an email.
Sarkisian is the director of the Los Angeles Community Academic Partnership for Research in Aging Center and a geriatrician at UCLA. She was not involved in the new report.
Researchers led by Eric J. Shiroma from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston gave about 7,200 women devices to measure how much they moved around during the day. The women, in their early 70s, on average, wore the so-called accelerometers for a week.
Participants spent about two-thirds of their waking time – or just under 10 hours each day – being sedentary. That most likely meant they were sitting but could reflect time spent standing still as well, Shiroma and his colleagues wrote Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The researchers found older and heavier women were more likely to spend large portions of their day being sedentary.
Most "bouts" of sedentary behavior were short, and women tended to get up and start moving regularly throughout the day. About one-third of their sedentary time was spent being totally inactive for at least a half hour.
Shiroma said he was surprised participants were generally sedentary for only short periods at a time.
"Most of us had thought that people were sitting a lot longer, and maybe people who are sitting a lot longer are at greater risk, but we're going to have to wait and see," he said.
"We don't necessarily know where the threshold is for, how long is sitting too long?"
It's also not clear whether what really matters is how much total time people spend being sedentary throughout the day or how many breaks they take to walk around and how often, Shiroma added.
"I think this is an interesting finding and I like that it challenges the old stereotype of the senior citizen just hanging out in her rocking chair doing nothing meaningful," Sarkisian said of the short sedentary bouts.
Many older people participate in a wide range of activities in their communities, she said. Walking is an especially accessible way to get exercise in old age.
"Being sedentary should not be accepted as a normal part of aging," Sarkisian said.
Most women in the study were white and relatively well-off, the researchers noted. So it's not clear if sedentary behavior would be the same among women of other races or poorer women.
Shiroma said they plan to continue following the participants to see whether sedentary time ends up being linked to women's risk of heart disease, diabetes and other conditions.


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For those who are just starting out, this will explain how to use MinGW to compile an executable, from C or C++ source, in a command prompt environment.
First you must make sure you have installed MinGW and set the PATH environment variable include the location of MinGW;
this is explained Here [2].
Now, assuming your directory for MinGW is the default "C:\MinGW", and your PATH environment variable is set to include "C:\MinGW\bin", it is easy to start compiling an executable:
Open a command prompt window, and set the current directory to wherever your *.c or *.cpp file is.
For the file helloworld.cpp in the folder C:\sources\hello enter the commands
cd c:\sources\hello
Now type the compile command
g++ helloworld.cpp -o helloworld.exe
The -o switch specifies the name of the output file, without it the output file would be given a default name of "a.exe".
If there are any errors in the source file the command line will notify you and direct you to the line where the error is
Say you had forgotten to add an extra line at the end of your source file (an easy mistake when moving from an environment such as Microsoft Visual C++) and you missed the ; at the end of the last statement. You will get a message similar to this:
helloworld.cpp: In function 'int main()': helloworld.cpp:4: error: expected ';' before '}' token helloworld.cpp:5:2: warning: no new line at end of file
Which describes both the positions of errors/warnings and the problem. I.e, for the missing ";" the error is on line 4, so check your source file at line 4 for the error.
When compiling more than one cpp file, list the names of files after the g++ command and before the -o switch.
g++ helloworld.cpp foo.cpp -o helloworld.exe
Note: if your source is in C, rather than C++, your source files will be "helloworld.c", "foo.c", etc., and you would use the "gcc" command, rather than the "g++" command; otherwise the procedure is similar to the above.
Whilst still in the command prompt (and dircectory is still at the .exe's location) you can run your program by typing the name of the executable file:
This will run your executable in the command prompt window.
For complete instructions on how to use the MinGW compiler, refer to the GCC manual [3].
This contains the commands/switches and their usage which will allow much more control over MinGW. This is a great, albeit long, resource for anyone starting off.


text: Available exclusively at Nordstrom, Make + Model creates easy mix-and-match loungewear and sleepwear for women who love to kick back and be themselves. The styles are flirty, sexy and on-trend, featuring fresh design details and playful prints. Make + Model is a confident brand that doesn't take itself too seriously—just like the women who wear it.


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Availability: in stock in our web store
See our distributors page for places to ask to stock WireM.
WireM is a connector kit for the BlinkM family of Smart LED products that makes creating multi-BlinkM installations fast and easy. It contains all parts needed to make BlinkM strands controlled by LinkM or Arduino with up to 10 BlinkM devices.
WireM works with any combination of BlinkMs, MaxMs, MinMs, FreeMs and CtrlMs, making prototyping fast and easy. No soldering is required. Put connectors wherever you want on the ribbon cable, plug into your BlinkMs, plug in a controller–or just a 5v power supply if you want an easy way to make a power bus–and go! Buy multiple kits if you want more than 10 BlinkMs on a single bus.
WireM includes:
- 10 feet of ribbon cable
- 10 2×4 pin connectors to connect BlinkMs
- A 4-pin header to connect to LinkM or a breadboard for Arduino
What you can use WireM for:
- Create an extension cable for your BlinkM casemod
- Easily wire up a multi-BlinkM string of festive lights
- Create a BlinkM Cylon
- Experiment with multiple I2C devices with Arduino
Note: When using with Arduino you will need to add two 2.2k "pull-up" resistors between +5V and the "d" & "c" pins at the Arduino side. LinkM includes these resistors.


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WOODBRIDGE, VA. - A group of children from St. Paul United Methodist Church in Woodbridge, Va. wanted to do something to help their friends at a local elementary school.
"If you know someone's in need, and you can help, you should definitely help them. It's like a blessing," Hannah Simensen, a student volunteer said.
One by one, the children of St. Paul United Methodist Church filled bags, and a desperate need in their own backyard. Without their efforts, children at nearby Belmont Elementary school might not have enough food over Christmas break.
"They might go through the entire day without eating. And the entire winter break. And that's not healthy at all," Katie Rowe, a student volunteer said.
The idea came from Nick Meres, a third grader at Belmont Elementary, where hundreds of students receive free or reduced cost breakfasts and lunches.
"He was coming home at night and asking if he could bring extra snacks to school for some of his friends to bring home to their siblings," Amanda Meres, of St. Paul's Church said.
Katie added, "It wouldn't be right if they do go through the day without a meal. We want them to eat."
Members of the youth ministry raised money for Project Winter Relief by selling painted pumpkins and even, hosting a pumpkin smash and other fundraisers.
"Even the little things can help. Like painting pumpkins for an auction. All the money adds up," said Hannah.
This is an opportunity for our kids to learn about what the spirit of Christmas is about, what the spirit of giving is about," Amy Phillips, of St. Paul's Church said.
Remarkably, the children filled 470 bags with food, one for every child in need.
If you'd like to donate, you can do so by dropping off donations at St. Paul located at 1400 G Street in Woodbridge, Va. or call them at 703-494-2445. They would gratefully accept your donations through Wednesday.
Source Wusa9


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DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co's C-Max and Fusion hybrids fell about 20 percent short of its fuel economy claims, Consumer Reports magazine said after running tests on both models.
The influential magazine said the Fusion hybrid delivered 39 miles per gallon both on the highway and in city driving, while the C-Max hit a combined 37 miles per gallon. Both models were expected to achieve about 47 miles per gallon, according to estimates from Ford and the Environmental Protection Agency.
"These two vehicles have the largest discrepancy between our overall-mpg results and the estimates published by the EPA that we've seen among any current models," Consumer Reports said in a blog post on its website.
Improving the fuel efficiency of its lineup has been a pillar of Ford's strategy for the past six years. The No. 2 U.S. automaker expects to wind up with 11 percent of the U.S. market for electrified vehicles this year.
Ford must also meet the U.S. government's target for corporate average fuel economy of 54.5 mpg by 2025, which translates to 36 mpg or higher in real world driving.
Driving aggressively and other factors can undercut the fuel economy estimated by the EPA. In a statement, Ford said C-Max and Fusion hybrid drivers reported a range of fuel economy figures, including some that surpassed 47 miles per gallon.
"This reinforces the fact that driving styles, driving conditions and other factors can cause mileage to vary," Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood said.
Consumer Reports said among current models, more than 80 percent of the vehicles it tested were within two miles per gallon of the estimates. The Fusion hybrid fell short by 8 miles per gallon, while the C-Max was off by 10 miles per gallon.
The Fusion hybrid still has the best fuel economy of any family sedan tested by Consumer Reports. The C-Max hybrid is second behind Toyota Motor Corp's <7203.T> Prius V.
"Make no mistake; both the Fusion Hybrid and C-Max Hybrid still deliver excellent fuel economy," Consumer Reports said. "But our tests show that buyers shouldn't expect the stellar 47 mpg that Ford is promoting."
The review comes a little more than a month after an EPA investigation showed that Hyundai Motor Co <005380.KS> and its affiliate, Kia Motors Corp <000270.KS>, had overstated their fuel economy by at least a mile per gallon.
Last week, the Fusion won the coveted Green Car of the Year award at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The Fusion, which competes in the bread-and-butter midsize sedan segment of the market, is a particularly important model for Ford. Earlier this year, Ford passed out T-shirts imprinted with the Fusion hybrid's fuel economy figures at an event in New York with Chief Executive Alan Mulally to promote the Fusion.
Also on Thursday, the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy released their 2013 fuel economy guide, which includes sections on alternate-energy vehicles. The guide includes sections on electric vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
The Fusion and C-Max hybrids are listed as getting 47 miles per gallon in the report. The models are the second-best in their class after the 2013 Toyota Prius and Prius c.
There are more than 40 hybrid cars, trucks and SUVs in the 2013 guide, which includes 14 electric vehicles, such as top-rated Toyota's 2013 Scion iQ EV, from 10 manufacturers. The Scion iQ EV gets the equivalent of 121 miles per gallon.
Three plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are rated. Ford's C-Max Energi tops the list with an EPA rating of 100 MPGe.
(Reporting By Deepa Seetharaman and Paul Lienert; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick, Sofina Mirza-Reid and Dan Grebler)


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I'll bet I am the only partner in Haskins & Sells who accepted an offer to work at H&S while I was being interviewed by the managing partner of a Peat, Marwick, Mitchell office."—That isn't the only thing that is unusual about Bud Sullivan, partner in charge of our Indianapolis Office, but it will do for openers. This extraordinary circumstance occurred in Omaha eleven years ago when Bud was twenty-three years old and just one year out of Creighton University. He had passed the CPA examination, worked for more than a year with a local firm, and needed just eight more months of work experience in his home state of Nebraska to satisfy the requirements for certification there. Bud wanted to join H&S. The trouble was that his father, Joseph T. Sullivan, was a partner in the Omaha Office of H&S, having come to the Firm a few years earlier through the Irwin-Imig Co. merger. There was the Firm rule barring a father-son combination in the same practice office. Bud's dilemma: sign on with another firm in order to get in those required eight months? Or move to another state? At the final moment, Mr. Imig telephoned Bud at the Peat, Marwick, Mitchell office to say that the H&S Executive Office had given permission for him to work as a staff accountant in Omaha for the few months needed for his CPA certificate. Then he was to transfer elsewhere. The following summer, in 1961, Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Sullivan and their three small children drove into Indianapolis to start a new life. Now, ten short years later, Bud and Judy Sullivan have five boys and one girl, ranging from thirteen down to five years of age, and Bud, at thirty-four, is well into his second year as partner in charge of the Indianapolis Office. The intensity with which he throws himself into the task of learning all about his adopted city, its personalities, its business life and its social life seems to come from a fund of energy that is popularly ascribed to youth, even though some men retain it into late middle age. On the other hand, the partner in charge of our Indianapolis Office has a grasp of his area of operations, a confidence, that is more frequently associated with middle age. So he appears to have it both ways. PEOPLE IN H&S Bud Sullivan Bud's father gave him his nickname at birth, in memory of a deceased uncle. Everyone calls him "Bud." You don't hear "Mr. Sullivan" or "Edward" around the office or around town. Bud learned fast from his predecessor, Bill Quinlan, who was partner in charge of the Indianapolis Office until 1970, when he transferred to the Executive Office to work closely with other EO partners on technical matters and policies. In fact, Bud cannot say too much in praise of his former mentor and chief, whom he credits more than any other man in his professional growth. But there is obviously something in his body chemistry, an inner spark, that keeps Bud Sullivan constantly on the go now, and probably did from his first days in the profession. He started out in college with the idea of taking a law degree, then switched to an accounting major after his first courses in accounting aroused his enthusiasm. Looking back now on his boyhood, he thinks that being the son of a CPA did not play a major role, at least consciously, in his decision to enter the profession. As Bud remembers that period: "My father didn't discourage me, but he didn't exactly over-encourage me toward accounting either. We certainly didn't talk accounting around the dinner table. Still, you often wonder whether or not your choice of a career was completely objective." o ne look at a partial list of Bud Sullivan's activities proves his statement that he is, by temperament, "an outside man—I don't like to be deskbound too much." He does stay "inside" to direct his office, with three principals, twenty staff accountants, a couple of student interns, two secretaries and a receptionist. But he is a great believer in getting out of the office in order to serve his community, enjoy recreation with friends and build the practice. He is involved heavily in the work of the Urban League and serves on the board of the Mayor's Committee on Community Involvement, whose function it is to advise minority businessmen on getting started on a sound basis. " Bud is also on the board of the Indianapolis Business Development Foundation, which channels seed money to minority entrepreneurs. "Sullivan Was Here" might well be found scratched on the walls of numerous clubs and organizations around town, because Bud belongs to a good many. Among them are Kiwanis, the Indianapolis Press Club, the Indianapolis Athletic Club, the Antelope Club (which holds an annual wild game dinner), the Meridian Hills Country Club (an H&S client) and the Crooked Stick Country Club. Bud doesn't just join. He makes the scene regularly—playing squash, tennis and golf, or joining in a luncheon program. He speaks in public easily and well. Occasionally he takes up a light plane, having been bitten by the flying bug and accepting piloting as a challenge to his nerve and skill. But Mr. Outside in Indianapolis pays close attention to the inside of his own organization. He believes in teamwork, and says that the goals of the office can best be reached if everyone is taken into his confidence and knows where they are heading as a group. "Every assistant on the staff should know our goals," Bud says, "and in this office they do." He is aiming to build the office practice to one requiring 50 or even 75 people within the decade, he says. The morale of his crew is excellent, Bud believes. At least, the spirits were really high at the last Christmas party, where the office engaged a rock 'n' roll combo called "The Peppermint Apple Bush"—pretty far out music for our Firm, Bud thinks. Does he relax at home? Not much. Pop, Mom and the six Sullivan kids have just voted 7-1 to build a swimming pool, and that will mean a lot of work for Bud, doubling as swim instructor, lifeguard and pool attendant. As if it weren't enough to keep up with Marti, Mike, Joe, Dan, Pat and Matt on dry land—"a basketball team and one cheerleader," says Bud, not without paternal pride. • 16
Object Description
People in H&S
Bud Sullivan
Stevens, Roy
|Personal Name
Sullivan, Edward M.
Sullivan, Joseph T.
Quinlan, William K.
Sullivan, Edward M.
Haskins & Sells. Indianapolis Office
Haskins & Sells. Omaha Office
H&S Reports, Vol. 08, (1971 summer), p. 16-17
|Originally published by: Haskins & Sells
|Copyright and permission to republish held by: Deloitte; Photograph by Roy Stevens
|PDF page image with corrected OCR scanned at 400 dpi
|Deloitte Digital Collection
|Digital Publisher
|University of Mississippi Library. Accounting Collection
|Date-Digitally Created


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Archive - 2013
Oklahoma State forward Michael Cobbins out for season after tearing Achilles
On Tue, 12/31/2013 - 4:13pm.
CNNSI/Chris Johnson
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Illini beat Hoosiers 83-80 in overtime
On Tue, 12/31/2013 - 4:11pm.
Chicago Tribune/Shannon Ryan
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Andrew Wiggins poised to go pro
On Tue, 12/31/2013 - 4:07pm.
Macleans/Michael Friscolanti
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American Conference Midseason Report
By Jacob_Stallard on Tue, 12/31/2013 - 11:57am.
Player of the Year (through non-conference play):
Shabazz Napier, UConn
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December 30th
Duke Commit Grayson Allen Dunks Over 4 People
On Tue, 12/31/2013 - 6:56am.
Zags Blog/Adam Zagoria
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Rainier Beach of Seattle routs Bishop Gorman 95-67 to win Les Schwab Invitational championship
On Tue, 12/31/2013 - 6:37am.
The Oregonian/Nick Daschel
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Payton Pritchard's magical bounce gives West Linn an upset over Jahlil Okafor-led Whitney Young (Les Schwab Invitational game recap)
On Tue, 12/31/2013 - 6:35am.
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Oregon recruit Chase Jeter of Bishop Gorman discusses Les Schwab Invitational, Ducks basketball
On Tue, 12/31/2013 - 6:33am.
The Oregonian/Erik C. Anderson
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Les Schwab Invitational: Payton Pritchard's last-second jumper gives West Linn a 68-67 win over Whitney Young
On Tue, 12/31/2013 - 6:29am.
The Oregonian/Tyson Alger
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Whitney Young forward Paul White named first team all-tournament at Les Schwab Invitational
On Tue, 12/31/2013 - 6:27am.
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Get up-to-date info on TN resident, Joseph Petway, by subscribing to USA-People-Search.com. Not only can you access billions of public records data here with us, but you can also find trustworthy and reliable data. Our search results include info such as age, recent addresses, names of family members, and phone numbers.
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Delta accused of forcing paralyzed man to crawl off of plane
A former college professor who cannot walk has sued Delta Airlines in federal court, claiming that crew members on two flights told him the only way he could get off the plane was to crawl down the aisle, down the steps and across the tarmac.
D. Baraka Kanaan, who lives in Hawaii, filed the suit July 23 in U.S. District Court in Honolulu, against the airlines and 20 unnamed individuals.
Kanaan, who suffers from partial paralysis of his legs stemming from a car accident, said the airline's "outrageous conduct" occurred on two flights he took a year ago.
Delta had not filed a response to the lawsuit as of July 31, according to online court records, but a corporate spokesman provided this statement by email:
"Caring for and accommodating the needs of customers with disabilities to ensure accessibility is a top priority for Delta. Our agents and attendants are always available to help our customers before boarding, in the air and at the destination airport," the statement said.
"It is Delta's policy to fully comply with all applicable rules and regulations governing accessibility for customers with disabilities. This includes providing assistance during the boarding and deplaning process, such as providing timely wheelchair assistance, mechanized lifts, and ramps when needed."
Although the airline takes Kanaan's allegations "very seriously," Delta can't comment on the facts of his case while the matter is in litigation, the statement said.
According to court records, Kanaan, who is now head of the Lovevolution Foundation, was scheduled to take a series of Delta flights on July 26, 2012, from Maui to Nantucket, Mass., for a conference.
Several weeks before the flight, Kanaan spoke to a Delta customer service representative about needing a lift to get on the plane and an aisle chair to get to his seat, the suit states. The representative assured him that he would be accommodated, according to the complaint.
After his scheduled flight was canceled because of weather, he was booked on another flight the next day. When he arrived in Nantucket, a flight attendent told him the airline did not have an aisle chair or a lift to get him off the plane to retrieve his wheelchair.
According to the complaint, the Airline Carrier Access Act and other federal regulations require airlines to have such equipment for disabled passengers.
When Kanaan asked about his options, the flight attendant said, "I don't know, but we can't get you off the plane," the suit states.
Although a lift was visible at an adjacent gate, Kanaan was forced to crawl out of the plane and across the tarmac without any assistance from the crew and with many people watching, according to the lawsuit.
Kanaan called the airlines to complain and to report that he would need the same equipment for his return trip.
Despite assurances it would be there, the complaint states that when boarding began the needed aisle chair and lift were unavailable but a flight attendant told him they could put down a piece of cardboard so his clothes wouldn't get dirty.
Upon his return home, a Delta representative offered him 25,000 "sky miles" as compensation, which he refused, the suit states.
Kanaan is seeking compensatory and punitive damages to be determined at trial, according to the complaint.


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01 F150 Fuse Box Diagram Wiring Harness Car Stereo within 1999 Ford ... 01 F150 Fuse Box Diagram Wiring Harness Car Stereo within 1999 Ford F150 Fuse Box Diagram01 Ford F 150 Fuse Box Diagram - Jan 15, 2018 · 1997 - 2003 F150 - 2001 F150 Fuse Box Diagram - I just bought an 01 F150 and previous owner didn't have the manual. Does anyone have a copy of the fuse box diagram for this truck? If so, could you post here or email to me @ [email protected]? I've been surfing the net, and can't find what looks like the right one.. May 25, 2017 · 1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel - Fuse panel diagram - I can't find my owner's manual and blew a fuse the other week. I'd also like to have a copy as a reference, so I'm wondering: Does anyone have a diagram of the fuse panel(s) for a 1999 7.3? Ideally it would have a breakdown of what each location is for and. Mercury Cougar 8th Generation (1999 - 2002) - fuse box diagram.
Users: Fuse: Ampere rating [A] Free: 01 — Power + battery instrument panel, EOBD diagnostic socket: 02: 10: Power + battery sound system, control unit for hands free kit with voice recognition and Bluetooth® technology, control unit for Hi-Fi audio system. Jan 21, 2015 · Here is the diagram but if you dont have the factory sony amp the remote turn on wire is not there I looked and looked couldnt find anything that would turn the amp on when the stereo turns on so I just use a switched source from the fusebox.. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products..
Whether your an expert Ford mobile electronics installer, Ford fanatic, or a novice Ford enthusiast with an Ford, a Ford car stereo wiring diagram can save yourself a lot of time.. Feb 26, 2009 · I`ll take you up on that, I just bought a 2005 F-150 Lariat extended Cab pickup with the 5.4 engine. It appears to have a tow package, as in it has a. Jan 02, 2017 · Note the diagram for blower motor. Note the fuses, not only check the fuses, check the fuse circuit for voltage, use a test lite. Some of those fuses get ignition feed, they go hot with the key on..
GM Specific Models. 2002 Cadillac STS I looked under the hood and popped the cover off the fuse box. Under the lid is a diagram of the fuses with labels. One of them (#24 on my model car) said "DRL" on it. I pulled that fuse and voila!. Click any column header to sort table by that column. OR Enter a word to search for, or leave blank to show all parts (this could be a very long list). View and Download Ford Super Duty owner's manual online. 2013. Super Duty Automobile pdf manual download..
El Club de Diagramas es donde los técnicos intercambian y comparten Diagramas, Manuales de Servicio y todo archivo de información técnica útil para las reparaciones electrónicas.. Started January 1, 2017. The link to the previous forum is Forum 2016 MTFCA Home Classifieds Forum 2018 Posts should be related to the Model T. Post for the.
2002 Expedition Fuse Box Location - Opinions About Wiring Diagram • 2002 f150 fuse box detailed schematics diagram rh lelandlutheran com 2000 Expedition Fuse Box Diagram 2003 Ford Expedition Fuse Box Diagram
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2001 Ford F150 Fuse Box Diagram | Wiring Diagram And Fuse Box Diagram ... Fuse Box Locations On A 1997 - 2003 Ford F150 - Youtube with 2001 Ford F150


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When life is fair, I will collect gobs of money by placing large bets in some unsuspecting casino in Las Vegas on two sure-fire things not to happen after the coming elections.
The first can't lose bet will be that regardless of how many Democrats and Republicans are elected to the United States Congress and who the next president is, nothing substantial will be done by this group to reduce the almost incalculable nation debt. It is just not in the interests of the SuperPACs controlling these people.
Certainly, some kick the can down the road deal will be made to avoid the stain on their record of being part of the Beaufort County crippling cost cutting to become mandatory if sequestration becomes reality, although Congress never seems to be concerned with reality, which is an issue for common folks. Sequestration will automatically cause possibly $100 billion a year across the board budget cuts. No well-run company ever institutes across the board cuts, but selects targeted areas to reduce expenses, although no one should ever use the words well run around the United States Congress.
However, real progress toward a sane fiscal policy seems to be a concept beyond Congress's comprehension. A side bet could be that they will actually allow an increase in the national debt thus allowing the country to venture closer to some form of national bankruptcy.
My second closer to home moneymaking bet will be the new South Carolina Legislature will do nothing to improve the imbalance between primary and secondary homeowner's property tax burdens.
After foolishly passing Act 388 years ago, which replaced a stable form of revenue and is fraught with the dreaded result of "unintended consequences," allowing primary homeowners to no longer pay a share of school operating taxes, and replacing it with the wildly fluctuating one percent sales tax, they have effectively eliminated South Carolina as a place for investors to buy second homes. Putting aside the idea of fiscal stability with the thought that second homeowners are not normally potential voters. Second homeowners rushed to their local tax offices to change their status to primary thus reducing even more, the revenue collected by each school district.
It is time to take our own Sen. Tom Davis's suggestion to sunset all sales tax exemptions, and review each one to see if it actually makes sense to renew it. We currently exempt more potential tax revenue than we collect, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. The new money collected could then go towards some form of tax reduction to the second homeowners thus hopefully reviving that particular market and surprise, surprise, increasing revenues to the struggling local school districts.
Common sense, maybe, but want to bet common sense loses out to political fat cats. I do.
In the meantime, you can contact Joe Croley at email@example.com.


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Welcome to a different way to make insurance buying decisions.
Hulse/QM® works strategically in a few niche markets and our commercial insurance professionals understand the specific challenges faced by your organization. Select your type of organization to learn about our unique approach to insurance.
Ensuring your success is the primary philosophy of Hulse/QM®. Your organization has a mission and a purpose. Hulse/QM® provides insurance solutions that support your mission, ensuring that your clients receive the best you have to offer.


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News Archives
- © 2007-2015 WHITFIELD School
- 175 South Mason Road
- St. Louis, MO 63141
About Us
Whitfield School is an independent, coeducational college preparatory day school for grades 6–12.
Whitfield's demanding academic program coupled with the support of a dedicated, world class faculty prepares graduates for both the college experience and life beyond.
Students who choose to engage in the arts at Whitfield, whether performing or visual, discover the nearly limitless possibilities for self-expression.
The Warriors have claimed 33 state championships, earning multiple coach and player of the year awards, and sending numerous alumni to play at the collegiate level.
Student Life
Whitfield students are happy, healthy and engaged in their community. Working diligently both in and out of the classroom, they learn both the academic and the interpersonal skills that lead them to success in college and beyond.
The culture of philanthropy has always been an essential part of the Whitfield experience. Whitfield is fortunate to have parents, alumni, alumni parents, faculty and staff, trustees, grandparents and special friends who consistently support our school.


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Brian Burt
Brian Burt
A King, A President, An Artist
Oil on Sanded Panel
12 x 6 inches
Signed Lower Center
Artist Statement
It's always been difficult for me to answer the question "what type of painting do you do?" I was trained in college to be an illustrator. Then I served a three year apprenticeship based in classical realism. After that for six years I worked solely in the pastel medium and considered myself, a pastelist. My influences range from the French Academic master, Jean-Leon Gerome to the illustrator, Drew Struzan, and then back around to photorealistic grid paintings of Chuck Close. There are so many historical threads that make up the technique(s) that I use to complete my works that saying "I'm a classical realist" or "a trained illustrator" would simply not be accurate. If I was blunt, when asked, I would say "I try to paint briefly convincing lies." A playing card, by itself, is simply not that interesting. Put that same card in the hands of someone with training and skill, the card can flip, dance back and forth, and even disappear. Through the use of a learned skill something ordinary has been made into something extraordinary, something magical. My work is akin to what a magician does with a playing card. I take benign forgettable objects and through skill, I attempt to make you see that object in a new way. A way that is memorable, and if I've done it well enough, magical.
"Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others." -Jonathan Swift


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Robb Young necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 82 diseños de 28 diseñadores freelance.
Website for JDA's newest apartment complex The Lexington, in Hoboken NJ.
##Contest Update. #57 and #60 are so far the clients favorites. With only 1 day left it wouldn't hurt to use those as an influence.##
We'd also like the winning designer to help us develop 1 sub page if possible.
The Lexington in Hoboken NJ, just outside of New York City, is a luxury apartment building, deserving of a website to do it justice. The current website http://www.thelexingtonhoboken.com is outdated and the image of the site does not fit with the image and quality of the apartments.
We are looking for a new design that can not only be used for this building, but a theme that can then be carried across to other buildings in the JDA group (www.hobokenoffice.com for example).
The new homepage design needs to include the following:
- The Lexington Logo (which can be found here http://www.xperiencedays.com/prodim…Lexgif.gif ) Feel free to refresh the logo or add shadowing, accents etc.
- Main Image (probably revolving) should dominate.
- Some text somewhere.
- Prominent Phone Number and Email us optionThe Following Navbar Tabs
- Available Units
- Location Information
- Amenities (or Living at the Lexington)
- Images
- Contact Us
- Tennant LoginOther links (probably footer)
- About Us (or about JDA)
- Repeat the main nav tabs as footer links as well please.- Add the JDA logo to the bottom as well. File to be provided shortly as we're just about to pick a winner!
- Clean 2.0 Design
- Modern Luxury Feel
- Images - preferably one large one, not really more than 2.
- We prefer darker backgrounds but are open to suggestion Some of the sites we like:
- Anything like what we have!
- Too much information
- Small images


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United Airlines arriving from Houston, USA
On time
Flight information
Flight number
This flight is also known as:
Air New Zealand
Baggage carousel
Estimated arrival
Oct 20, 22:13
Estimated arrival at Terminal 1 is 22:13
Clear customs
The Canada Border Services Agency officers verify documents and review any goods brought into Canada. Self-service kiosks can be used in most cases to streamline the process.
Collect bags
The airline is responsible for delivering checked bags to the carousel.
A porter can carry up to 3 bags for $10/bag, and $2 for each additional item.
Enter Level 1 International Arrivals area
Meeting someone at the airport?
- Parking
- Cell phone waiting lot (up to 45 minutes)
- Map of meeting location
Booster Juice
The Booster Juice menu offers delicious, convenient and healthy alternatives to fast food.
International Currency Exchange (ICE)
Exchange your funds for Canadian dollars, or get the foreign currency needed for your next trip.
Appletree Medical Centre
See a doctor in the clinic three days a week. Or videoconference one at other times using Appletree's Telemedicine service.
Secure Wrap
Securely wrap and protect your luggage in less than 30 seconds at this airport baggage-wrapping station near Aisles 7 and 9.
Excess Baggage
Safely store your bags or coat for a few hours or weeks. Offering parcel delivery and baggage transfers to a hotel.
International Currency Exchange (ICE)
This ICE booth and ATM buys over 100 international currencies and sells several foreign currencies.
International Currency Exchange (ICE)
This ICE booth and ATM buys over 100 international currencies and sells several foreign currencies.
International Currency Exchange (ICE)
This ICE booth and ATM buys over 100 international currencies and sells several foreign currencies.
Plaza Premium meet and greet services
This service provides personal assistance to and from the gate for a seamless airport experience.
Baggage carts
Baggage carts are free to use at Pearson. You'll find them at many locations throughout Terminal 1.
DrugSmart Pharmacy
Full-service pharmacy where you can pick up travel essentials, including prescription or over-the-counter medication, nutritional supplements, beauty products or snacks and drinks.
Lost and found office
Visit our office in Terminal 1 or submit a report online if you have lost something in the terminals or parking garages at Pearson Airport.
Pearson Goodlife Fitness
Work out while you travel and reach your individual health and fitness goals.
Aviation Interfaith Ministry
The interfaith centre in Terminal 1 provides a place for reflection, prayer or some quiet time.
Pet relief area
Travelling with a pet? Take your dog to this pet relief area in Terminal 1 on the Departures Level before going through security.
Pet relief area
Dogs can wander and relieve themselves in this spacious pet relief area located in Terminal 1, Ground Level.
Flight Song
Flight Song by Robert Charles Coyle, 2001–2003
Shot blasted lexan sheet, lexan rod, stainless steel cable 19 figures, each 1.5 metres long Fabricated by La Paloma, Sun Valley, California
Susan Schelle and Mark Gomes, 2003
Aluminum, granite, bronze
Six floor inlays: each 3 metres diameter
Suspended configurations: 66 x 13 metres


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Virolet #29, 22-7-1922
Gaietà Cornet i Palau is a Catalan artist and caricaturist, active in the first part of the 20th century. He was educated in industrial engineering at the Borrell Academy and began his career working in his father's company, La Maquinista Terrestre y Marítima. He started out as a painter, being part of the group El Rovell de l'Ou. By 1898 he began publishing in satirical magazines like l'Esquella de la Torratxa, La Campana de Gràcia and La Veu de Catalunya. He was co-founder of the satirical magazine ¡Cu-Cut! (1902-1912) and formed the magazine's editorial team with Feliu Elias-Apa, Junceda, Joan Llaverias and Opisso.
In 1904 he also began working for En Patufet. After the cancellation of ¡Cu-Cut!, Cornet cooperated with El Correo Catalàn as artistic director, as well as with humorous publications like L'Estevet, El Senyor Canons, El Lliri blanc, D.I.C., El Senyor Daixonses and El Considerat, and children's publications like Chiquitín, ¡JaJa!, Kikiriki, Pelele and Niños.


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Wired world is increasingly vulnerable to coronal ejections from the Sun
Powerful solar storms are an imperfectly understood threat to the world's power grids, but one with the potential for economic damage so catastrophic that the estimated $100-200 million it would cost annually to deploy an operational space-weather warning system could be trivial by comparison.
In a "perfect storm" scenario, when a high-power coronal mass ejection (CME) of charged particles slams into Earth at a time when the delicate balance operators try to maintain in electric power grids is precarious, the resulting damage could take a decade to repair at a cost very roughly estimated by the National Academies of Science as high as $1 trillion.
In recent congressional testimony and a public forum in Washington, space-weather experts caution that the 1859 solar storm observed by British astronomer Richard Carrington is only the most powerful one detected so far. That storm took down parts of the growing U.S. telegraph network, starting fires in the process and subjecting some telegraph operators to electric shock.
Recent calculations suggest there is a 6-12% chance of another storm at that level in any given year. But since there were no networks of long electric wires crisscrossing the planet before the 19th century, there is really no way to know precisely how bad "the Carrington event" really was, according to Tom Mahony, senior advanced systems manager at Ball Aerospace.
"We've only had 150 years to observe these events," he says. "We're projecting this as a 100-year event when we've only observed it for 150 years. We have geological records that go back millennia."
Solar storms, and particularly CMEs, can pose a health threat to astronauts in space and passengers on airliners passing over the poles, where protection from Earth's magnetic field is weakest. They also can damage spacecraft electronics, and increase drag on satellites so they consume more fuel to maintain their proper orbits. But the most serious potential for damage rests with the transformers that maintain the proper voltage for efficient transmission of electricity through the grid.
On Dec. 4, Mahony told a panel sponsored by the Space Enterprise Council and the George C. Marshall Institute that by National Academies' calculations, there are 2,000 ground transformers and 140 million more mounted on power poles that are vulnerable to CMEs. Under the right conditions, it is at least possible that a major CME could cause so much damage that power would be off or compromised indefinitely. Listing the resulting impacts on food and water distribution, health care and the economy, Mahony warned the results could be dire.
"We are so dependent on electronic transactions for everything—buying groceries, buying gas—that you can easily see how this could decay into serious civil discord," he says. "We can't really avoid the event. We can mitigate the impacts, and that means we need to know what's coming."
With warning, says Catholic University of America economist Kevin Forbes, power-grid operators can take precautions to protect their systems, including making sure they have enough "reactive power" available to expend on keeping the networks balanced during a storm, and perhaps "ease up on their transmissions so as to produce closer to home so they're not vulnerable to those fluctuations in the electricity flows."
Forbes has calculated the outage costs that electric utilities pass along to their customer base at $5,000-10,000 per megawatt hour. At that rate, paying for an operational warning system is cost effective.
"Would it make economic sense," he says. "The answer is probably 'yes,' because the economic cost of a blackout—even if the transformers are not permanently damaged—is huge, given that $5,000-10,000 figure that I put forward."
In a House Science Committee hearing on the same subject, witnesses agreed with the thrust of the latest National Research Council decadal survey on space weather, which was released in August. At the top of the priority list, which was based on a survey of researchers in solar and space physics, was a call to complete the present program of spacecraft designed to expand knowledge of how the Sun's violent nature impacts the space around it.
Collectively the 18 solar-observation spacecraft NASA is flying, and the network of ground facilities run by the National Science Foundation (NSF) comprise a virtual "Heliophysics Systems Observatory" that collects information on the solar flares and CMEs, as well as how the solar wind spreads through the solar system and interacts with Earth's magnetic field.
But the scientific satellites in the virtual observatory have limited lifetimes that will begin to expire by late in the current decade, and so far there is no plan or money to use the knowledge they collect to establish an operational system.
"We have to have complete observations of the Sun, the interplanetary medium, the effects at Earth," says Daniel N. Baker of the University of Colorado, who chaired the NRC's decadal survey committee. "We have to have the models, the tools that are necessary to tie all this together."
Just doing that "requires an investment of more resources than are presently available in the budgets of any of the agencies," Baker testified. "And so the vision we laid out was one which would require another $100-200 million per year over this next decade, without doing damage to the basic science or the ongoing activities of [the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] or NSF or any of the other agencies."
Baker's panel called for a follow-on study to address the issue of funding and division of labor between NOAA and NASA. Near-term, he says, NASA could take on more of the operational role carried by NOAA's National Weather Service if funds for a dedicated operational system are not forthcoming.
That is likely, committee members warned, given the current budget crunch across the U.S. government. The decadal survey report included "decision rules" for policymakers to follow as they try to wedge the appetite for expensive space and ground hardware into the dwindling budgets for the relevant agencies. While NOAA and NASA take the lion's share of responsibility for solar-weather science and forecasting, a senior Democrat on the Republican-led panel suggested the Pentagon could play—and fund—a bigger role.
"One thing that we didn't have a chance to get on the record was not just the impact to us as civilians, and the impact in this environment, but what the impacts are on our critical infrastructure that is related to national security," says Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.).
Given the predictions of what could happen to civil society if the grid goes down, and the high cost of repairing it if it does, a military contribution to fielding a constellation of satellites able to monitor the Sun—and issue warnings as soon as possible based on models derived from the ongoing scientific research funded by NASA and the NSF—would neither be unreasonable nor particularly burdensome.
"At $5,000 to $10,000 of damage for every megawatt hour that doesn't get delivered, you don't have to prevent that many blackouts to recoup that $100 million," says Forbes.


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TV veteran Cilla Black has blamed Liverpool's Cavern Club for damaging her hearing.
The entertainer worked at the music venue as a coat check girl in the 1960s so she could see bands such as The Beatles.
But Black, 71, has been forced to have a hearing aid surgically implanted because of the damage to her ears.
She told The Mail on Sunday: "I blame the Cavern. All those years in a place with no proper acoustics, I think it may have done some damage.
"It's no fun getting older. I might be wearing beautiful diamond earrings but they can't take away the pain of losing my hearing.
"I think it's been a gradual thing... I didn't actually realise how bad it had got until I was with a friend in Barbados and I said to her, "Why are you whispering?" She said to me, "Cilla I am not whispering, it is you who has a hearing problem."
"It's rock'n'roll that has done my hearing in. I went to the Cool Britannia party at 10 Downing Street and a well-known rocker came up to me and said something and I said, "I can't hear you." He replied, "I can't hear either." He pointed out his hearing aid and told me to get one."
The former singer revealed she finds it difficult to look back on her life and has been unable to bring herself to watch an ITV drama series which explores her rise to fame in the 1960s. The three-part series Cilla stars Sheridan Smith and is co-produced by Black's son, Robert.
"I've had the films for three weeks now but I haven't been able to watch it even though my son is the co-producer," she said.
"It's hard to watch your life unfold, and sad. Life changes. I haven't been in touch with Ringo (Starr) and he turned 74 the other day, or Paul (McCartney).
"I wanted to see a new screening of the old Beatles film Hard Day's Night, and I wanted to go with Patti Boyd, but she was in New York and I didn't want to go on my own."
Black was an associate of The Beatles and their manager Brian Epstein in the early 1960s and scored two number ones in 1964 - Anyone Who Had A Heart and You're My World - as well as enjoying many other hits, before going on to concentrate on TV.
She has hosted more than 500 editions of her programmes and was the first woman to have her own prime-time chat show on BBC1.
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