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The one who had a right to evoke Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law was Trayvon Martin, not George Zimmerman. Despite the fact that Zimmerman was ordered by police not to proceed, he stalked an unarmed black teenager with his car and then on foot. But the difference was that Zimmerman had a gun.
According to Jelani Cobb, director of the Institute of African-American Studies at the University of Connecticut, who had been covering the trial for TheNewYorker.com (PBS News Hour July 15), Zimmerman had called the police on 46 others in the past six years during his so-called Neighborhood Watch patrols. Each person cited was also black. Zimmerman's concern for blacks walking in his neighborhood persisted despite the fact that 20 percent of residents in that gated community were black, so the sight of a black person in the neighborhood should not have been a cause for concern.
As Zimmerman stalked Trayvon that night, the teen was justified in feeling his life was threatened. It was Trayvon who had a right to defend himself, and he did so � man to man. It was George Zimmerman who created the confrontation with the confidence that he could shoot to kill, if need be. Zimmerman was not the poor victim defending himself, but the perpetrator.


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*1/2 (out of four)
Perhaps the sight of Bella—er, Kristen Stewart—in the buff will attract people to "On the Road." Or they'll flock to it merely because they're curious to see how Jack Kerouac's self-indulgent 1957 novel translates to the screen.
Answer: It can't, and it doesn't. Sure, the "Motorcycle Diaries" pair of director Walter Salles and writer Jose Rivera gets the story going faster than Kerouac. Then they take it nowhere. Sal (Sam Riley) immediately admires Dean (Garrett Hedlund) and supposedly they become great friends, but never does this seem like a two-way relationship. What does Dean get out of it? The two share more tight embraces than actual experiences to strengthen the bond, and Dean barely even registers Sal's presence as the lone person who doesn't blink while Dean reveals his womanizing, irresponsible ways with both his first wife (Stewart) and second (Kirsten Dunst). In fact, in an unnecessary voiceover at the film's beginning, Sal notes that he knows Dean's conning him, and Dean knows he knows, but the agenda of the con is anyone's guess.
Merely incorporating jazz music isn't enough to capture the spirit of the beat generation or the journey. Sal's a cold fish, and "On the Road" is a square, man, never alive with desire or creativity or the impulsiveness of youth. Sure, there's freewheeling sex and sexuality, and everyone gets some, but each relationship stalls. Characters talk about drug-induced, open communication but we see neither that transparency nor the reason for numerous suicide attempts. The adventure on the road even pales in comparison to "The Guilt Trip."
Perhaps if I were able to get through more than 20 pages of Kerouac's book I'd find a moving story of young men searching for purpose and their fathers, or at least someone to take their paternal place. Incorporating several familiar faces (including Amy Adams, Viggo Mortensen, Steve Buscemi, Terrence Howard, Alice Braga and Elizabeth Moss) in thankless roles, the inattentive "On the Road" comes off as the early days of douchebaggery in the aimless tale of a guy in love with the sound of his own voice.
Watch Matt on "You & Me This Morning," Friday at 6:55 a.m. on WCIU, the U
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subset: commoncrawl


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Science Operations Statistics: RA distributions
You are here
The figures on this page summarize the RA distributions for planned and executed queue programs during semesters 2006B-2008B at Gemini North and South. Only science observations are included in the distributions of planned and executed observations. The distributions show the number of hours worth of observations at each RA. Programs that were withdrawn have been excluded from the distributions. Template observations for ToO (Target of Opportunity) programs are not included as these in general contain no RA information.
On each figure the approximate available time (number of hours) is shown. This is the absolute maximum number of hours that can be executed, without any loss to weather or technical problems, and no time for calibrations or engineering on the sky. The sum of the average weather loss, technical loss and engineering time accounts for around 40% of the total time - see figure 1 on the main statistics page for details. While the science observations typically can be executed within an hour angle of +- 3hours, it is quite clear that in some cases the planned observations cannot realistically be executed within the available time. This is particularly the case for GN2006B-2008B at RA=12-14h. This RA range includes both the North Galactic Pole and the HDF-N.
PIs with programs in band 3 and with flexibility in target selection are encouraged to use the information in these figures for selection of alternative targets at RAs in less demand from band 1 and 2. As for all target change requests, these need to be submitted for approval to the local Head of Science Operations, see the change request page for details.
Available figures:
- Figure 1: GN2006B-2008B planned and executed science observations
- Figure 2: GS2006B-2008B planned and executed science observations
Figure 1: RA distributions of planned and executed science observations for GN2006B-2008B. Note the concentration around RA=12-14h, corresponding to the North Galactic Pole.
Figure 2: RA distributions of planned and executed science observations for GS2006B-2008B.
Last update: March 22, 2012 by Michael Hoenig


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Oil, Culture, and What Small Places Have to Teach Us
Oil production in North Dakota's Bakken shale formation and Alberta's tar sands is helping to reshape oil markets, creating a worldwide glut and sending prices plunging. Opposition to developing these resources has focused mainly on their contribution to global climate change and on the Keystone XL pipeline, designed to carry crude to refineries. NASA scientist James Hanson famously declared that if the tar sands are developed, "it will be game over for the climate."
Less attention has focused on the social and cultural effects of frenzied, reckless oil exploitation. While most small towns in the Great Plains wrestle with depopulation, western North Dakota is presumably enjoying the pleasures of growth. The boom has indeed brought an influx of newcomers, new businesses, and tax revenues, yet in some ways its effects are as devastating as population decline.


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Thousands of Brits bombarded in caller spoofing riddle
Small biz blamed for silent calls at 2am
Thousands of Brits were tormented by nuisance calls after West Midlands businesses were caught up in a caller ID spoofing blitz.
Firms including We Solve IT and solicitors Bridgehouse Partners appeared to bombard residents at all hours of the day and night thanks to a foreign outfit that used the companies' numbers to mask the real source of the calls.
"Apparently our phone number has been hacked or spoofed, and our number is calling people at a rate of 1000 per hour," We Solve IT managing director Steve Davies said in a statement on his firm's website. "It is not coming from us or our phone system, but likely coming from a number abroad."
We Solve IT said that, at first, its telephone system provider Telappliant had "drawn a blank" on how to trace the calls, and appealed to people receiving the calls to report the nuisance to their own telecoms provider.
The IT company also got in touch with Ofcom to try to resolve the issue, as did Bridgehouse Partners.
"We have now been in contact with Ofcom and the Information Commissioners Office. We urge you to do the same, please," Bridgehouse said on its website.
"We have also filed a report with the Action Fraud Team, a branch of the police. Please do not think we are being complacent in asking you to contact your service providers to report the problem; the reason we ask you to do this is because none of these calls are going through our system at any point and therefore it is very difficult for us to trace them," the statement explained.
"However they are coming through to you via either BT, Virgin etc. If enough people get onto these big providers they will be able to trace the calls and hopefully put a stop to it."
Finding the antisocial source
A spokesperson for Ofcom told The Register that it had worked with telecom providers to fix the issue and said it was now resolved.
"It all happened quite quickly, but we worked with the phone providers in working out what had happened and putting an end to it," they said.
According to both Bridgehouse and We Solve IT, BT and Ofcom were able to track the source of the nuisance calls, which now appear to have stopped.
A BT spokesperson told The Register that its customers had called into its Nuisance Call Bureau to report the issue.
"Following reports from customers of silent calls from several 0121 and 0203 numbers, BT contacted the service provider of the lines involved and confirmed that there were no faults on the lines and that the calls had not come from them," they said.
"We identified the calls were from an international source with an incorrect calling line identification and were being carried over various networks. Working with other network providers we have now stopped these calls affecting ours and other providers' customers."
We Solve IT's Davies told the Wolverhampton Express and Star paper that the nuisance calls, often received late at night, had resulted in him getting threatening and insulting messages from the enraged victims.
"If victims manage to answer the phone, it seems it either goes dead or there is a voice telling them 'that extension is no longer available' before cutting off," he said.
"Whoever is doing it is a horrible person as I've spoken to people who have been deeply upset by the phone calls. Lots of people said they thought it was a call to tell them their elderly mother or father was dead, others were just upset that it had woken the whole household."
On WhoCallsMe.com, a reverse phone number lookup community that supplies numbers of companies and telemarketers known for unwanted calls, complaints about We Solve IT's number were racking up.
"Got a silent call this am at 0220hours, got the fright of my life, have young children who were woken and hubby had to get up for work 3 hours later so not good, really peeved," said one complaint.
"Please get it sorted for the sake of our sanity and to prevent a heart attack."
Changing the number that pops up on the caller ID of a phone can be done for valid reasons. For example, a company that has hundreds of different extensions might prefer to report the main switchboard number.
But there has been a rise in caller ID spoofing for malicious purposes.
It's unclear how calling hundreds or thousands of homes and then immediately hanging up, such as in this case, could be profitable for perpetrators, but one possibility could be "pinging" - where numbers are checked to see if they are in use so that marketers can then use them.
In other cases, malicious caller ID spoofing can be used for some sort of financial scam, such as pretending to be a utility company to trick victims into handing over credit card details for urgent bills or even masquerading as a credit card company or the victim's bank. ®
Updated to Add
Since publication of this story, Telappliant representatives have been in touch to forward a statement on the matter to us, which we reproduce here in part:
At Telappliant we take security breaches very seriously and an initial investigation has confirmed that the spoof calls were not made over our network. It appears that a third party has 'spoofed' the customer number – and this can happen irrespective of the network that number is on. However, we are looking into this matter in more detail ...
Putting this specific incident aside – unfortunately the spoofing of telephone numbers does happen from time to time, and it is outside the control of the company providing the number.
Sponsored: Quit your addiction to storage


text:
Custom built curved stair lifts. High quality, form, and function. Slim and sleek designs, ergonomic seating, premium upholstery, comfortable and safe. And of course whisper quiet.
If the thought of getting up and down a staircase becomes more challenging, a stair lift or chair lift isn't just a convenient addition to your home, it's a necessity. Enjoy your home!
Don't let a staircase stand between you and your outdoor activities. View selections here.
DiscountMobilityUSA.com offers a wide array of mobility & accessibility solutions.
Zinger Chair


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Sweet green tomato pies with almond paste and lemonTuesday, August 5th, 2008
We had a minor storm last night and when I woke up this morning some of the branches on the tomato plants were broken. I went out on the terrace in the pouring rain to raise the fallen plants, thinking about all those green tomatos on the broken branches and what to do with them. I first thought of making a green tomato jam, but after looking in one of the cookbooks I saw a green tomato pie recipe. Aha, perfect! I didn't follow the recipe at all (except for the fact that I used green unripe tomatos) and decided that the tomatos would go well with almond paste and lemon. So I collected all my unripe tomatos, put on my kitchen music (the best of Dean Martin) and just after hearing the first tones F shouted from the ground flour asking what I was baking. For a second I didn't know what I should say. Should I tell him about my crazy plan, with the risk of having to eat everything by myself as he sometimes is a bit fuzzy with vegetables and vegetable cakes? But I was honest and he answered that it sounded "interesting" wondering how on earth such a thing could be edible…
I used a Donna Hay recipe for the pastry and the filling was just a gamble that turned out excellent! Next time I'll try with cinnamon instead of lemon or maybe something else. And there will be a next time because we both really liked these mini pies and I'm sure that by the end of summer I'll end up with more unripe green tomatoes. If you're tired of making green tomato jam or fried green tomatoes every time the summer ends to quickly or a storm splits your plants resulting in a lot of unripe tomatoes, bake these sweet and delicious pies. As soon as you taste them you'll forget all about bad weather and the end of the summer.
Unripe tomatoes of different kinds: yellow pear shaped, black cherry and bloody butcher.
Mini green tomato pies with almond paste and lemon
(makes 5 pies, using 12 cm * 2 cm metal pie tins)
basic vanilla pastry (adapted from Donna Hay):
250 gram flour
1 tbsp icing sugar
180 gram unsalted butter, cold and chopped
80 ml ice water
1 vanilla pod, the interior
180 gram unripe tomatoes, mixed sorts (mostly cherry tomatoes)
200 gram almond paste
50 gram unsalted butter, softened
zest from one lemon
1 tbsp Grand Marnier
0.5 tbsp flour
milk for brushing
caster sugar to sprinkle on top of pies
Combine flour, sugar, vanilla and butter in a food processor. Process until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs. While still running the food processor, add water little by little until a smooth dough is created. Wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 minutes before using.
Grate almond paste and combine with softened butter. Chop the tomatoes coursly. Add tomatoes, lemon zest, Grand Marnier and flour to the butter/almond paste mixture. Combine.
Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C (convection oven). Lightly grease the metal tins with butter.
Take 2/3 of the pastry and roll out to 3-4 mm thick. Cut out 5 rounds, around 2 cm wider than the tins. Line the pie tins with the pastry and trim the edges.
Divide the tomato filling between the pies. Roll out the remaining pastry and cut in strips. Arrange the strips on the pies to a lattice pattern. Press and trim the edges. Brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 30 minutes, until the pies are golden.


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Antarctica Portfolio
This product is currently sold out.
These portfolios are our newest endeavor, combining integrated curriculum, Systems Thinking, and a place for a child to create and keep their continent work. Take a journey through a continent exploring each new biome with a local guide. Stay with local hosts and learn about customs and culture. Explore the landscape, flora, and fauna of each biome.
The exercises in this book include: reading comprehension, math applications, art skills, food chains, map navigations and more. The exercises are designed as a new way for the children to work with your geography lessons and the Waseca materials you already have! The activities and research projects prompt the child to use the Waseca Biome and Waseca Animal cards for reference, and the stories tie back into and expand upon the information introduced in our cards. They feature plant and animal research pages and there is even a spot to include a child drawn biome map made with help from our wooden puzzles or stencils.
Note: The continent portfolios are intended to be used by an individual child while studying a continent. We created this book with the intention that every child in a classroom can have a portfolio of their own in which to collect their research, make maps, write journal entries, and create art projects while working on a study of a continent.
Parents of students can also be encouraged to buy the portfolio for their child (without the costs of shipping) here on our site or they can head to Amazon. Please allow 10 days for delivery.
Europe coming soon!!
Item: 77ANP


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Aug 17, 2012
PIANY protests Cuomo's veto of state agency mailing bill
After being barraged repeatedly with advertisements for direct writers in official Department of Motor Vehicle vehicles registration renewal notices, professional insurance agents took action through PIANY to stop the inappropriate practice and convinced the Legislature to pass a bill prohibiting the practice. The proposal successfully passed both houses of the state Legislature in two consecutive sessions, but today Gov. Cuomo, for the second time, vetoed the bill.
The governor pointed out technical flaws with the first iteration of the bill, rejecting it because it may have restricted the ability of state agencies to advertise their own programs. However, this year the proposal was redrafted and reintroduced specifically to allow state agencies to make contracts for including third-party advertisements in their mailings to the public, but those contracts would not be allowed to include advertisements relating to the agencys authority, mission or subject matter unless the ads are designed to promote the agencys programs, facilities or operations. The message sent by Cuomos veto is loud and clear: New Yorks official endorsement is for sale to the highest bidder, regardless of the appearance of impropriety.
This bill (S.6285-A/A.9034-B) is designed to prohibit state agencies from disseminating ads to the public for products or services that relate to the subject matter of the state agency (such as GEICO advertisements alongside vehicle registration renewals). Weve all seen them, and for small businesses in New York trying to compete with these large national direct writers the practice is infuriating.
This is one instance in which selling advertising to bring cash into state coffers clearly has gone too far. Through this practice, the DMV is tacitly endorsing that people buy compulsory automobile insurance from a particular source, and by refusing to prohibit it, Gov. Cuomo sends the message that this is a perfectly acceptable practice.
Regardless, the law needs to be changed to demonstrate the states commitment to eliminating the appearance of inappropriate endorsements. The Legislature, by passing this bill in two consecutive sessions, has twice sent a clear message that these types of practices are improper and should be illegal. The fact of the matter is that New York enjoys a healthy automobile insurance market and consumers have numerous companies from which to choose. That choice, however, should be free from the inappropriate influence of any state agency.
PIANY is a trade association representing professional, independent insurance agencies, brokerages and their employees throughout the state.


text: Category Events - United States, Manhattan (KS) Join Straight Upp Creative Studio for an entertaining night of painting and wine. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, invite your friends, and enjoy step-by-step instruction with our experienced and enthusiastic artist. You'll leave with a one-of-a-kind creation and a new found talent you'll want to explore. Online registration and payment is required. Registration is non-refundable. Guests can transfer registration to a friend but dates cannot be switched. Straight Upp Creative Studio does not provide wine openers or cups, so please bring your own or purchase one of our adorable Straight Upp wine glasses for $7.00. DISCLAIMER: Straight Upp reserves the right to cancel the event if an adequate amount of tickets are not purchased. In such case, tickets will be refunded.


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This terrific learning tool is Hot Cross-Stitch guide for children, and is complete with 2 starter kits in counted cross stitch. On a CD, Baabara, the friendly sheep, is the guide as the children learn to Cross-Stitch and design their own pictures.
Hot Cross-Stitch is full of lively animation, sounds and video clips that make learning really fun! Each chapter is packed with information and even a fantastic hidden game to keep children entertained for hours.
Each starter kit contains fabrics, a selection of stranded cotton and wool threads, two needles and two fun cards.
An incredible CD is included and contains over 1,000 original concepts which can be used in a child's own designs.


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MILFORD - A Franklin woman was sentenced in Milford District Court Thursday to five years probation for her role in a fatal crash in Mendon in 2013.
Sarah Chandler, 19, admitted to sufficient facts for a guilty finding on a charge of operating a motor vehicle negligently. A motor vehicle homicide charge was dismissed as a result of the plea.
Judge Robert Calagione continued the case without a finding for five years, during which Chandler would serve her probation sentence. Calagione also ordered that Chandler obtain a bachelor's degree in that time and complete two traffic-safety programs.
Chandler was charged due to a June 2013 crash along Rte. 16 in Mendon that killed Danvirgil Zamfir, 56, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
According to police, Zamfir had pulled his pickup truck over to the side of the road before he was struck by a car driven by Chandler.
Chandler reportedly told police she was unfamiliar with the area and had been checking her global positioning system device at the time of the accident.
Although a Lifeflight helicopter was called, Zamfir was taken by ambulance to Milford Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
At Thursday's hearing, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Karlin said Zamfir's widow would not be speaking to the court about the incident.
"She does not want to ruin another person's life," Karlin said of the widow's wishes in regard to the case.
Chandler's attorney, Timothy Burke, called the incident a tragedy during the hearing.
Daily News reporter Matt Tota contributed to this article.
Mike Gleason can be reached at 508-634-7546 or firstname.lastname@example.com. For news throughout the day, follow him on Twitter @MGleason_MDN.


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Two girls enjoying the sunshine on South Beach
Family crabbing,Abersoch. Visit Wales
Family ice creams. Barry Island. Visit Wales
Honesty Bookshop,Hay on Wye. Visit Wales
Family beach portraits, Abersoch.Visit Wales
Coastal tranquilit,Pembrokshire.Visit Wales
Equal access path,Elan Valley.Visit Wales
Coed y Brenin. Visit Wales
Southern Down Beach. Visit Wales
Glyndwrs Way,Visit Wales
Narrowboating on Llangollen Canal,Wales View. Visit Wales


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Alex Karras, who died Wednesday in Los Angeles at age 77, is most identified as a National Football League great and an actor. But he was a pro wrestler first, and it was a role he returned to again and again throughout his life, including a major angle with Dick the Bruiser which made national headlines in 1963.
Coming out of the University of Iowa, Karras, a 6-foot-2, 233-pound tackle, had a choice -- and he picked pro wrestling
It was December 1957, and Des Moines, Iowa, promoter Pinky George announced to the press that he had signed Karras to a deal whereby the gridiron star would get $25,000 to wrestle professionally for six months of the year. The idea was that wrestling would not interfere with Karras' pro football career, which was about to get underway.
Karras never wrestled amateur at Iowa. "He could have been a varsity wrestler," boasted George, "but he had to keep up his class work and couldn't spare the time."
He would wrestle right up until he headed to training camp for the National Football League's Detroit Lions, though for the next couple of off-seasons, he wrestled sporadically.
Karras was born July 15, 1935 in Gary, Indiana, was was good at basketball and baseball as well as football. At Gary Emerson High School, Karras was selected All-State four times, and played guard, offensive end and fullback. The athletic genes ran in the family -- his older brothers were big jocks too: Louis went to Purdue and played for the Redskins; Teddy went to Indiana and played for the Chicago Bears. Their father, Dr. George Karras, died from cancer at the age of 48 when they were teenagers, and Karras learned the value of work, toiling in the a steel mill every summer as a cinder snapper.
At Iowa, Karras was an All-American, but had a rocky relationship with his coach Forest Evashevski -- he was kicked off the team seven times -- and authority in general. He would play in the Rose Bowl in 1956 and 1957. He was named as the Outland Trophy winner in 1957, his senior year, as the best lineman in America, and came second in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
In the 1958 draft, the Lions took Karras 10th overall, and he played 12 seasons for the team, 1958 to 1970, with a year off in 1963 when he was suspended for gambling activities. Bulking up to 255 pounds, it was once said of Karras, "Other tackles can beat you, but only Karras can make you look like a fool."
Karras was a first-team all-pro three times (1960, 1961 and 1965) and made the Pro Bowl squad four times.
It was also in 1963 that he returned to pro wrestling with the stunt with Dick the Bruiser.
Karras was suspended for his ties to gambling and organized crime, through his ownership in Detroit's Lindell AC Bar. He would later admit to placing bets on NFL games.
The press ate it up, though Afflis denied that the incident was designed to increase interest in the upcoming wrestling match.
"Let anyone who says this is a publicity stunt get all beat up like this and be taken by the police to the hospital," Afflis said, who required stitches. "Then let's see them call it a publicity stunt." Bruiser was arrested for assault and battery, later getting off with a donation to the Detroit police pension fund; two cops were injured, and filed damage suits in federal court, which garnished his wages in Detroit.
In the match itself, on April 27, Bruiser won in 11 minutes and 21 seconds. "In the early going the Bruiser was bruised, his face bloodied," reported Ring Wrestling magazine. "The fans were surprised by the remarkable showing that Alex was making. He showed good technique, agility and a toughness that had made him one of pro football's top lineman."
It was in Detroit that he met author George Plimpton, who would go the participatory journalism route as a quarterback for the Lions in 1963, and write the famed 1966 book, Paper Lion: Confessions of a Second-string Quarterback. When Plimpton's book was made into a movie in 1968, Karras got to try his acting chops, foreshadowing a successful Thespian career.
Though the newspapers reported that was his only stint in wrestling during his suspension, and that he gave it up to appease commissioner Pete Rozelle, the fact is that Karras worked more than that one match that spring.
Plimpton went back to football with the 1973 book, Mad Ducks and Bears: Football Revisited, and Karras -- "The Mad Duck" -- talked about his idol growing up, Bronko Nagurski, who he met on the wrestling circuit:
"Well, years later, the season I was suspended and went into professional wrestling, this one time I went up to Minneapolis for a match. I was late, and I came running into the place and the promoter said, 'You're on the tag team tonight.' 'Wonderful,' I said. He didn't mention my partner on the tag team. So I went down to the locker room. Locker rooms that wrestlers use are different from any other--dingy and small and dirty, and always with this very distinctive smell, a body smell that�s worse than anything you find in places where football and baseball players have been. I don't know why. Maybe it's because a lot of wrestlers are big, haystack guys that sweat a lot and maybe take a bath once a month. The smell of wrestlers lies in these little rooms in layers.
"Well, I went down there to change my clothes, and in the shadows I saw this older man practicing with a pair of dumbbells, pumping his arms. I kept looking at him. A much older man. Suddenly it came to me that it was Bronko Nagurski, my childhood idol, standing over in the shadows and pumping these barbells towards the ceiling. I could hardly believe it. I went over and introduced myself; sure enough, it was Nagurski. He was my tag-team partner. I stared at him, bug-eye. Hell, I knew more about him than he did."
"Well, I went down there to change my clothes, and in the shadows I saw this older man practicing with a pair of dumbbells, pumping his arms. I kept looking at him. A much older man. Suddenly it came to me that it was Bronko Nagurski, my childhood idol, standing over in the shadows and pumping these barbells towards the ceiling. I could hardly believe it. I went over and introduced myself; sure enough, it was Nagurski. He was my tag-team partner. I stared at him, bug-eye. Hell, I knew more about him than he did."
Other notable roles included the sheriff in Porky's, the gay bodyguard in Blake Edwards' comedy Victor Victoria, and Mongo in Mel Brooks' classic Blazing Saddles, where he memorably punched a horse. He also was an analyst alongside Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford on Monday Night Football.
But to most, Karras is best known for playing George Papadapolis, the father in the TV hit Webster, which ran from 1983-1989 and starred Emmanuel Lewis as the diminutive Webster Long, and, surprise, Clark as his wife.
"We try to be story-tellers every show. We've coped with death, the problems of black and white, stealing and kids being jealous of sib-lings - things that really happen in life," he said. "What gives us satisfaction is knowing that a lot of schools are telling kids to watch our show and report on it. And, we're in control of our own destiny."
In the same article, Karras reflected on many of his acting choices: "I like trying the offbeat roles."
Away from the stage, Karras and Clark owned property in Ontario's Georgian Bay area, a 17-acre cattle ranch. "It's our escape hatch," Karras said in 1984.
He faced health issues in recent years, and when approached through his production company, interview requests were turned down, citing his unreported battles with dementia.
Earlier this year, the family went public with his battles and Karras took the role of lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the National Football League, filed in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, alleging that the NFL didn't do enough to protect players from head injuries. The case has not been settled.
"All through the time that I've been with him, he has suffered headaches and dizziness and high blood pressure and all kinds of things that are ... usually the result of multiple concussions," Clark said in April 2012. "This physical beating that he took as a football player has impacted his life, and therefore it has impacted his family life."
Then news surfaced on October 8th that Karras had suffered kidney failure and was only expected to live a couple more days. He was released from Saint John�s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., to return to his California home on hospice care.
Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand released a statement Monday night regarding Karras.
"The entire Detroit Lions family is deeply saddened to learn of the news regarding the condition of one of our all-time greats, Alex Karras," Lewand said in the statement. "Perhaps no player in Lions history attained as much success and notoriety for what he did after his playing days as did Alex.
"We know Alex first and foremost as one of the cornerstones to our Fearsome Foursome defensive line of the 1960s and also as one of the greatest defensive linemen to ever play in the NFL. Many others across the country came to know Alex as an accomplished actor and as an announcer during the early years of Monday Night Football."
"After a heroic fight with kidney disease, heart disease, dementia and for the last two years, stomach cancer," he died Wednesday, October 10, 2012, surrounded by family, said a spokesman for the family.
Alexander George Karras is survived by his wife, Susan Clark, sons George, Alex Jr., and Peter, and daughter, Katie, as well as numerous grandchildren.
-- with files from Canoe wire services
Greg Oliver has been writing about pro wrestling since 1985, and is the author of six books: The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heroes & Icons (with Steven Johnson and Mike Mooneyham); SLAM! Wrestling: Shocking Stories from the Squared Circle; Benoit: Wrestling with the Horror That Destroyed a Family and Crippled a Sport (with Steven Johnson, Heath McCoy and Irv Muchnick); The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels (with Steven Johnson); The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams (also with Johnson) and The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Canadians. Order them all from the SLAM! Wrestling Store. He can be emailed at email@example.com.


text:
Inside the numbers: Week 11
The Philadelphia Eagles managed the near-impossible Sunday: They out-dumbed America's Dumbest Team, the Dallas Cowboys.
In the immortal words of former NFC East rival quarterback Joe Theismann, "Nobody in the game of football should be called a genius. A genius is somebody like Norman Einstein."
Or to paraphrase fictional former Alabama football star Forrest Gump, "Stupid is as Philadelphia does."
If Eagles fans are looking for a statistical reason to fire embattled coach Andy Reid, beyond the 3-6 record and declining relevance, look no further than the efficiency indicators we use at Cold, Hard Football Facts.
• Bendability measures defensive efficiency, or how hard teams make opponents work to score points. The Eagles are No. 25 in Bendability.
• Scoreability measures offensive efficiency, or how effectively teams turn yards into points. The Eagles are No. 31 in Scoreability.
These indicators, in short, tell us how well teams play in situational football. Think of Scoreabilty and Bendability as the Wonderlic tests for coaching staffs.
Smart, well-coached teams rank high in both indicators. Dumb, poorly coached teams low in both indicators.
The Eagle rank low in both indicators.
In fact, as measured by these indicators, Philadelphia is now the dumbest team in football.
The Kansas City Chiefs are actually worse in the two combined indicators, dead last in each. But at least the Chiefs lose largely because they have so little talent.
The Eagles, by all accounts, are perfectly talented. It's execution where they fail so miserably.
Poor red zone offense and defense, bad penalties, turnovers and under-achieving special teams all conspire to hijack a team's efficiency -- and even its season.
Philadelphia is now the 2012 poster child for inefficiency: a lot of empty wasted yards on offense that don't translate into points paired with a lot of cheap scores surrendered on defense.
Here's the best way to see the efficiency issue. Philadelphia is:
• No. 12 in total defense but No. 22 in scoring defense
• No. 8 in total offense but No. 29 in scoring offense
The inefficiency problem is especially acute on offense: The Eagles need 21.54 yards of offense just to score a single point, according to the Scoreability Index.
Put in football terms: The Eagles must march 150.8 yards to score the equivalent of a touchdown and extra point -- one and a half times up and down the field. That's a lot of wasted effort.
Opponents have no so much problem scoring against the Eagles defense. Opponents need just 13.76 yards of offense to score the equivalent of a single point, or just 96.32 yards to score a touchdown and extra point.
The problems in Philadelphia are also apparent if we compare them to one of the league's most efficient clubs, the Baltimore Ravens.
• Andy Reid's inefficient, poorly coached Eagles have ripped off 3,360 yards of offense this year but have turned all that production into just 154 points.
• John Harbaugh's efficient, well-coached Ravens have scored 100 more points (254) with 173 fewer yards of offense (3,187).
It all comes down to the situational football that separates smart teams like the Ravens from dumb teams like the Eagles.
The statistical evidence of inefficiency existed even early in the season, even when Philadelphia raced out to a 3-1 record. The Eagles badly outgained the Browns, Ravens and Giants in the first four weeks of the season, but beat those teams but a total of four points. They even outgained the Cardinals in Week 3, but lost 27-6.
The inefficiency finally bubbled over in gruesome defeat the last two weeks. The Eagles outgained both the Saints and Cowboys by a combined total of 816 yards to 665 yards. But on the scoreboard, where it really matters, the Eagles were beaten badly, 66-36.
It's been the ugliest, most inefficient football any team has played this year.
The Eagles had a prime opportunity to get things back on track this past Sunday, against America's Dumbest Team.
The Cowboys earned that moniker because they were the most inefficient team in football entering Week 10, the talented team that consistently failed to turn yards into points. Dallas was No. 25 in Bendability and No. 30 in Scoreability entering the game.
But the Dallas Cowboys are no longer America's Dumbest Team. That dishonor now belongs to the Eagles.
Philadelphia outgained Dallas 369-294 on Sunday, but lost 38-23 because they managed to do all the little things wrong.
The Eagles lost the turnover battle, 2-0, both of which resulted in defensive scores for Dallas; they were useless on third down (1 for 10); and they were torched on special teams, surrendering a 78-yard punt return touchdown by Dwayne Harris.
That kind of poor situational football is a losing formula for any NFL team and reason enough to dismiss Andy Reid at the end of the season, if not sooner.
Just ask a genius like Norman Einstein.


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The Bosnian Muslim population has for a long time been one of the most secularised in the Balkans – this, despite the fact that under communism the later Bosnian president Alija Izetbegovic was tried (in 1983) for being a "pan-Islamist" and sentenced to 13 years in prison for "attacks against socialism, and [plans] to build an Islamic State in Bosnia".
In 1990, Izetbegovic became one of the main founders of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA). In 1991 he became the President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and signed the Dayton Agreement in 1995. Throughout the war, he stuck to his vision of creating a multinational and undivided Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nevertheless, he has been accused of having personally invited foreign Muslim fighters – mujahideen – to come to Bosnia during the war. It is not clear how many such soldiers were actually present: estimates range from a few hundred to a few thousand. Stephen Schwarz, Director of the Center for Islamic Pluralism, has written:
"Saudi-backed Wahhabism first made itself visible in Bosnia during the 1992-95 war, when up to 6,000 "Arab Afghan" volunteers arrived in the country and enlisted in combat. While bin Ladenite propagandists, as well as Western journalists, have expended a vast quantity of ink on the topic of the Bosnian "mujahideen," in reality they played almost no perceptible role in the war. The Army of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, which undertook the defense of Bosnian independence against the Serbs and, secondarily, the Croats, was a regular army of hundreds of thousands organized in the multicultural image of the Tito Partisans. Although Muslim Brigades and mujahid units existed, the latter did not determine the course of any major battles."
More recently the Wahhabi phenomenon has caused concern among Bosniaks, who relate it to the presence of well-funded donor organisations from Saudi Arabia who reward pious behaviour and adherence to strict Islamic dress codes. Wahhabism is in competition with the Islamic Community of Bosnia. The Imam in Travnik recalls a case in Gornji Vakuf, Central Bosnia, where two Imams embraced Wahhabism:
"The main Mufti went there and asked all Imams to sign a document stating that they are practicing Islam in accordance with the rules of the Islamic Community of BiH. All signed, except these two, who subsequently resigned from their positions."
However, Islamists have not managed to establish a significant hold over the Muslim population in Bosnia. An All Muslim Congress in 1994 decided to rename the population's national identity – from "Muslim" to "Bosniak". The majority of Bosnian Muslims have embraced this national term and abandoned the old. Stephen Schwarz wrote:
"The Bosnian ulema, or Muslim scholars, are led by the pro-American reis-ul-ulema or chief scholar, Mustafa Ceric, formerly the imam of the Bosnian Muslims in Chicago, Ill., and a graduate of the University of Chicago. Ceric has repeatedly affirmed that Bosnian Islam is profoundly oriented toward Western civilization and grateful to the United States for rescuing the country."
Chief Scholar, (reis-ul-ulema) Mustafa Ceric
In fact, the vast majority of Bosnian Muslims are suspicious of the promotion of orthodox Islamic practice by Saudi Arabian donors.
An imam – goes a common joke – enters a mosque to lead a prayer. He addresses the gathering with the following words:
"To those in the third row and further away I say 'Salaam brothers!´; to those in the second row I say 'Good morning!´; and to those in the first row, I say 'Hello comrades!'"
Imam in Sevarlije
June 2008


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THE TWO STOREY CAVE ON AGHIOS GEORGIOS HILL. It was discovered accidentally by a lumberjack. It extends over 1.000 sq. m and has an impressive decoration with stalagmites and stalactites.
Visitgreece.gr is the official tourism web site for Greece, run by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, where you'll find information on the main tourist destinations, such as cities, beaches, as well as activities, events and much more!
All content included on this site consists intellectual property of GNTO and you are not allowed to reproduce the whole or part of this work in any way.
For information please contact: firstname.lastname@example.com. All Rights Reserved. GNTO © 2020.


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We believe the environmental crisis has reached a critical tipping point. Without commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, defend clean water and air, and divest from dirty technologies, humankind as a whole will destroy our planet's ability to repair itself. At Patagonia, the protection and preservation of the environment isn't what we do after hours. It's the reason we're in business and every day's work.
The Activist Company
Sustainability Mission/Vision
Learn more about our reason for being, the struggle to become a responsible company and how our business affects global environmental issues like global warming.
Environmental Grants and Support
We give 1% of our sales to support environmental organizations around the world, funding at the grassroots level in countries and communities where we have people on the ground.
Corporate Partnership
Patagonia relies on the brains and resources of several key partners who work to improve the way we build our products and conduct our business.
Employee Activism
We give employees throughout our worldwide operations a number of interesting opportunities to support environmental work. Learn about some of them here.
Environmental Campaigns
Patagonia is committed to bringing our resources and connections to bear on threats to wildness, far and wide. We all have a chance to make a difference. Let's take a stand.


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The March For Life; President Donald Trump's Cabinet
Special | 25m 44s
March For Life: Pro-Life activist advocate for the overturning of Roe V. Wade and President Donald Trump reinstates the "global gag rule". President Donald Trump's Cabinet: If confirmed women and nonwhites would make up 5 out of 22 of his cabinet. How will that impact policy making? Panel: Anushay Hossain, Ann Stone, Debra Carnahan, Jennifer Higgins
Aired: 01/27/17Video has closed captioning.
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Funding for TO THE CONTRARY is provided by Sam's Club and the Life Technologies Foundation. Additional funding provided by the Colcom Foundation, the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation, and the Sanofi-Aventis Foundation.


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The oboe and its larger relative, the cor anglais both produce a beautiful, sweet, haunting sound. When used as solo instruments the sound is sometimes described as a 'pastoral' sound. This is because they are descended from the type of reed instruments that have been used in folk music and by shepherds the world over for thousands of years. Modern oboes blend superbly with all instruments of the orchestra and can also be surprisingly agile.
The Oboe and the Cor Anglais (or English Horn) are wooden conical bore, double reed instruments. Other types of oboe include the Oboe d'Amore and the Hecklephone. Oboes have been used in orchestras for about 400 years and are among the most established instruments of the orchestra.
The oboe is slightly lower in pitch than the flute and so occupies the alto register in the woodwind section. The cor anglais is a larger relative of the oboe, lower in pitch and is often featured for its more resonant, melancholy tone.


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Officers with the Roanoke Police Department arrested Jacob Barber late Tuesday night. The 21-year-old is wanted in connection with the death of his father, Glenn Barber.
Oklahoma Man Accused Of Stabbing Father To Death Arrested In North Texas
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Program: CBS 11 News MorningCategories: News, Crime, General, Local News, KTVTTV, Top Story
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Jeff Ray's Weather UpdateWe'll have rain today but dry weather sets in starting Monday.
Erin Moran's Weekend Weather ForecastNorth Texas could see some light showers Sunday evening.
'Taskforce Comanche' Troops Received Warm, Unique Welcome HomeTroopers with "Taskforce Comanche" received a warm and unique welcome home Saturday from Comanche Nation.
Presidential Candidate Mike Bloomberg To Return To North Texas Ahead Of Super TuesdayDemocratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg announced Saturday that he will return to Tarrant County this week to campaign ahead of Super Tuesday.
North Texans Gather To Say Final Goodbyes To The Leaning Tower Of DallasNorth Texans are taking this weekend to say their final goodbyes to the Leaning Tower of Dallas which gets entirely demolished Monday.
CBS 11 News Now: Saturday EveningCBS 11 News Now: Saturday Evening
Erin Moran's Weather ForecastLight showers can be expected throughout North Texas Sunday evening.
UT Dallas Holds Event Focused On Building Political Ambition In Female StudentsHundreds of young women attended the event Saturday to learn about their impact on politics.
3 Curl Duck HuntThis weekend, we revisit a late season waterfowl hunt we took with our good friends from Three Curl Outfitters. We stayed at their lodge in the Waxahachie area, we toured the property and we got up early for a fun morning hunt. The guys from 3Curl are skilled at getting their hunters on the birds, and they are a lot of fun to be around too. They shared some of their duck hunting tips and we tackle the challenges of squeezing three hunters, a wet dog, a camera guy and three cameras into a duck blind. This was a fun hunt, with a lot of duck hunting "secrets" revealed for the benefit of our DFW Outdoorsman viewers! So, after your early morning duck hunt this weekend, tune in to DFW Outdoorsman for some more fun on our duck hunt with 3Curl Outfitters!
Scott Padgett's Weather ForecastAnother beautiful weekend is in store for North Texas!
10-Year-Old Richardson Girl Wakes Up With Raccoon In Her BedA 10-year-old girl from Richardson woke up with a raccoon in her bed.
Atmos Requests Higher Rates To Help Pay For Improvements Nearly 2 Years After Explosion Killed ChildAtmos Energy is requesting higher rates to help pay for improvements nearly two years after a gas explosion killed a young girl in northwest Dallas.
Interview: Texas Republican Candidate For 32nd Congressional District Jeff TokarJeff Tokar is running in the Republican primary with the goal of ultimately unseating incumbent Democratic Congressman Colin Allred in Texas' 32nd Congressional District.
Friday Evening News BriefHere's what made news Friday, February 21.
Say Your Final Goodbyes To 'Leaning Tower Of Dallas'The remainder of an office building dubbed the "Leaning Tower of Dallas" is set to be removed between 9:00 a.m. and noon on Monday, February 24.
'I Just Hope It's Not True': North Texan With Dwarfism Reacts To Theory That 9-Year-Old Boy Faked Being BulliedThe story of a 9-year-old Australian boy with dwarfism seen sobbing on social media because of alleged bullying is now getting criticized and called into question.
Self Defense Instructor Shares Tips In Wake Of 2 Women Joggers Attacked In Collin CountySelf defense experts say when adrenaline is pumping, things like pepper spray or a gun can be knocked out of your hands and you need to know what to do next.
Iconic Vince Lombardi Trophy Set To Come To North Texas This MonthThe iconic Vince Lombardi trophy is set to come to North Texas February.
Victim's Stepson 'Broken-Hearted' Following Deadly Hit-And-Run In Plano"The man would literally give you the shirt off his back if he thought he could help somebody," said Michael Adams.
Dallas ISD's State Of The District Event Highlights Student Talent, SuccessDallas ISD's State of The District showcase highlighted student talent, success and tenacity.
1 Dead, Another In Serious Condition Following Auto-Pedestrian Crash In Fort WorthOne person is dead and another is in serious condition following an auto-pedestrian crash in Fort Worth.
Man Visiting Apartment Unit In Allen Shot; 3 Suspects In Custody, 1 At LargeA 39-year-old man who was visiting another resident was shot inside an apartment unit, but there is no word yet on his condition.
Keller High School Basketball Coach Randall Durant Resigns After Bullying ComplaintsThe boys varsity basketball coach at Keller High School resigned from his coaching position Friday morning.
'I Just Hope It's Not True': North Texan With Dwarfism Reacts To Theory That 9-Year-Old Boy Faked Being BulliedThe story of a 9-year-old Australian boy with dwarfism seen sobbing on social media because of alleged bullying is now getting criticized and called into question.


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North Korea warns U.S. forces of "destruction" ahead of war drills
Sat Feb 23, 2013
North Korea on Sunday warned the top U.S. military commander stationed in South Korea that his forces would "meet a miserable destruction" if they go ahead with scheduled military drills with South Korean troops, North Korean state media said.
Pak Rim-su, chief delegate of the North Korean military mission to the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom, gave the message by phone to Gen. James Thurman, the commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, KCNA news agency said.
It came amid escalating tension on the divided Korean peninsula after the North's third nuclear test earlier this month, in defiance of U.N. resolutions, drew harsh international condemnation.
A direct message from the North's Panmunjom mission to the U.S. commander is rare.
The Rest…HERE


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Baltimore Ravens Cue Stick
Product Description
The officially licensed fiberglass Baltimore Ravens Cue Stick from Imperial is the ultimate way to shoot a great game of pool and support your favorite team.
The Baltimore Ravens Cue Stick is fiberglass wrapped over maple, bonded to fiberglass to create the most warp resistant, sealed, durable, straightest cue in the world.
The team graphics are applied then sealed under a protective layer which not only insures your team's logo will not scratch or fade, but also give you a smooth and even stroke on every shot.
Fiberglass wrapped over maple Northern Michigan hard rock maple, hand cut and selected from true-built USA
Nylon/fibre threaded ferrules with Le Professional tips from Tweeten USA
Irish linen from Blue Mountain
USA Maple is core bonded to fiberglass
Product Reviews
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Shipping Details
Shipping Information for Baltimore Ravens Cue Stick
The Baltimore Ravens Cue Stick ships via UPS. Please allow 7-10 business days for delivery.
Warranty Details
Warranty Information for Baltimore Ravens Cue Stick
The Baltimore Ravens Cue Stick carries a 90 day manufacturer's warranty against defects.


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Rose Quartz Ring, Rose Gold Wire Wrapped Rose Quartz Ring, Rose Quartz Wire Wrapped Ring, Gemstone Ring, Rose Gold Ring, Pink Stone Ring
$11.90 $14.00
Rose Quartz Gemstone Ring, Wire wrapped ring, Rose quartz ring, Crystal ring, Pink stone ring, Quartz wire ring, Gemstone ring, Pink ring
This beautiful rose quartz ring is made from your choice of wire and 6mm rose quartz crystal beads.
▲Stone: 6mm
▲Wire: choose from plated, sterling silver, 14k gold filled, rose gold filled
▲Made to order in your size
▲If you need a larger size or a quarter size please leave a note at checkout.
Jewelry is made from plated brass. Plated jewelry does tarnish but will last longer if you avoid showering or swimming while wearing it. Avoid using jewelry cleaner. Wipe clean with a soft cloth.
▲All items in my shop are handmade. Please allow a few days for production. I offer shipping upgrades at checkout if you would like faster shipping.
▲ International Shipping can take between 1-3 weeks and times will vary depending on your countries customs.
▲I want you to be 100% happy with your shopping experience. If you have a problem with your item, please contact me via etsy messenger immediately and we will work to find a solution.
▲Lost packages are out of my control. Please contact me if you face such an issue. If your package is lost I can ship an identical order but lost packages will not be refunded. If you would like to purchase insurance for your package please let me know before placing your order. Always be sure to check with your local post office in the event of a lost package.
▲I accept returns, if only the item is shipped back with tracking number within 7 days from receiving the item. Shipping charges, there and back, will be paid by the customer. You will be refunded as much as the item costs.
Rose Quartz Gemstone Ring, Wire wrapped ring, Rose quartz ring, Crystal ring, Pink stone ring, Quartz wire ring, Gemstone ring, Pink ring
Payment is due at time of order. Cancellations are accepted.
Shipping from United States
Most items are usually shipped within 6-8 business days. Refer to specific item listings for processing time. All items are shipped via usps, shipped directly from the etsy website, and will include a tracking number. International shipping times and tracking availability may vary according to destination country customs.
Returns & Exchanges
I gladly accept returns, exchanges, and cancellations
Just contact me within: 14 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 30 days of delivery
Request a cancellation within: 7 days of purchase
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Questions about your order?
Please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Returns and exchange details
Each product is unique and handmade from natural stones. Slight imperfections of size and color are a part of the design. Expect some variations. With that in mind if you have a problem please feel free to contact me. Returns are accepted within 30 days. Lost packages are the fault of the postal service and will not be refunded but will be replaced.
Wholesale and bulk pricing is available upon request. Send me a message if you would like to discuss wholesale pricing.


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A fantastic selection of quality Fine Leather Holdalls by Queens award winner Rowallan of Scotland Leather. From Cabin/Flight bags to the larger sized weekenders, our leather holdall range come in all shapes, sizes and varying grades of Leather. We have something for the occasional traveller to the intrepid globetrotter!
Some Fine Leather Facts :
The true value of Fine Leather goods are that no two items of leather are the same, and any marks, scars or shading in the grain is perfectly normal and gives you verification of its unique character - your guarantee you have purchased a genuine leather product. The appearance of Fine leather improves with age.
Please note: Due to the porous nature of good leather, hand crafted items sometimes have a slight variance of shade in the pieces - this is especially true with larger pieces used for Holdalls for example.
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Washington is a town full of suspicious packages. This might even be on its official tourism brochures. This morning there was one not too far from where I live and I stopped to find out how many streets were blocked (many) and how many emergency personnel had responded (many) and just gawked for a little while because hey, why not. I didn't see the suspicious package, but I can only assume it was bright green and covered in question marks. I guess you can never be too careful.
It was one of those mornings where people driving cars were mostly fine but people on foot were sort of terrible. Pedestrians seemed antsy. Any gap between cars and someone would try to get across the street. Given the way that pedestrians are normally bullied into submission, I can't really blame them, but it can make for a trickier bike commute and more than once I stopped short to avoid someone who had left the sidewalk regardless of my approach. Oh well. There are lots of things that you can get upset about during a commute and I rank jaywalkers rather low on that list. Above them, I rank reckless taxi drivers, lack of bike-thru churro stands, and birds who hold eye contact just a little bit too long. I keep this list on a big vellum scroll.
I don't know why I ever bothered biking in winter without Ibex wool tights. I endorse them. I want merino wool everything. I might even replace Ellie the Poodle with a merino sheep. I will name her Ellie the Merino Sheep (EtMS) for continuity purposes. If I do this, I'll include EtP in the same eBay auction with my Yoda street loot. That's a great deal.
There are some intersections where it's red lights in all directions at the same time for a few seconds and cyclists approaching from every direction manage to run their own red lights and it's like shooting the moon in Hearts and everyone involved should consider that a victory. 11th and R is like that.
You ever see how closely you can pass a car that's parked blocking the bike lane? I call it Reverse Pamplona-ing. It's totally going to become a thing, like swagger-jacking and noveau Columbusing. You're welcome, DC lexicon.
Noticed this at the top of Massachusetts.
|Ruh roh.


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April 25, 2013
A massive law enforcement sweep was underway in Oakland Wednesday, with nine people having reportedly been detained an hour after it was first reported.
FBI agents, local police SWAT and the California Highway Patrol were targeting multiple locations.
Several streets were closed down in West Oakland during the sweeps. Portions of Seventh and Eighth streets were shut down in the area for at least 90 minutes and while helicopters circled overhead.
[…] Oakland Police and other agencies involved told KTVU that the participating departments were not at liberty to discuss what the action concerned.
Be sure to give your body the powerful multivitamin formula it needs with Vitamin Mineral Fusion now at 40% off!


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A Family In Motion | Moving To Thailand | Granny's Visit
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A blog about moving our family to Thailand. We will share tips and advice on moving to Thailand with your kids and starting a business in Thailand as an American.
An adventure seeker who constantly thinks the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
©2020 A Family In Motion - Web Design by Jason Bobich.


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Do you think you are paying too much money at tax time, and not receiving the full refund that you think you should? Are you sure you received all the possible credits and deductions allowed to you? Richard Ziegler, the President of 1040Man, and his other qualified accountants can help answer these questions and more. The reply may just put more money into your pocket, which is extremely important in these times of need. All the preparers on his staff are either CPA.s or have passed the Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTPT) test and have taken their required annual IRS approved Continuing Education (CE) classes. Has your current preparer taken them? Does the preparer work under someone else.s credentials and not their own?
Richard Ziegler is a former IRS Tax Examiner, "as a former Tax Examiner I saw a lot of Tax Returns, and Amended Tax Returns, in doing so I was able to see what the wealthy did to reduce their taxes. So I decided, I wanted to take this knowledge and help individuals, and small businesses do the same." He also stated, "I felt the little guy was not getting their fair share and I wanted to lend them a hand. Taxes are complicated whether it be Personal or Corporate Taxes; I wanted to be the one to take the burden off of their shoulders, and knowing the background that I have, I knew it was possible."
When Richard left the IRS in 2003, he opened his office so his clients could sit down in a private office, not a cubicle where everyone can hear their personal business, and have their taxes prepared confidentially. "I feel it eases a clients mind to be able to sit down and speak privately with me while I do their taxes.. My job is to make your taxes worry free and to help you benefit from the deductions allowed to you, that you may not even know existed."
Have you ever received a notice from the State or the IRS? Did you go to where you had your taxes prepared so they could explain what the notice meant, only to find that they were closed because it was after April 15th? 1040Man is open all year round to help you with any and all of your tax questions or concerns. "One year I remember a woman came into my office with a letter from the IRS saying she owed $27,000.00 Needless to say she was very upset at this" said Mr. Ziegler. "I sat with her, we went over her books, receipts, income, and expenses, and figured out that not only was she not liable to pay this amount, that included a hefty fine, and interest, but she was actually due a refund of $3,200." "Getting a letter from the State or the IRS can be alarming to say the least. If one of my clients receives one of these letters, I ask them to fax, or mail it to me, or to just come into the office with the notice so we can sit down and figure out exactly what the notice is asking for. Once we figure out what is being questioned we can then figure out a solution to fix it."
Besides Personal return preparation 1040Man also offers Incorporations, as well as the preparation of: Corporate, Payroll, Sales Tax, Bookkeeping, bank statement reconciliation, and monthly or quarterly write ups. If you are closing a business 1040Man can also help you to file a final return and dissolve your Corporation. So from start to finish 1040Man is there for you and all your Corporate needs.
In addition to preparing your individual tax return for the current year, the office of 1040Man can look back at the past 3 years of your returns, and see if there were any credits or deductions that were allowable to you that were missed. "I reviewed amended returns for years when I was at the IRS. Now, you can benefit from my knowledge and experience. You or the person who prepared your taxes may have missed something, it happens all the time. On average, most people get at least $1,000 back per year. This service is a specialty of ours."
Mr. Ziegler and his staff have over 40 years of accounting experience. "I will only put you in the hands of a trained individual, and even though that person is well qualified, I still personally review every return before it is filed. With affordable pricing and my IRS experience I believe we.re the best at what we do. We are a little company with big ideas." Furthermore, some people do not have the money to pay up front to get their taxes prepared; so 1040Man can offer you the ability to have your preparation fees taken right out your refund! This way you get your refund as soon as possible without first having to pay for the preparation fees out of your pocket.
1040Man is located in the heart of Mastic-Shirley at 944 Montauk Highway Ste A, Shirley, NY 11967 right next to Friendly's. Do not confuse us with the national chain tax that's 2 blocks from us with the person waving in a Statue of Liberty costume. A seasonal employee working for a tax chain only sees you once a year, cannot service your needs as well as we can since my staff, or I, are here every working day, every year. Mr. Ziegler says, "I have lived in the area since 1987 which helps me to be close to my office and to most of my clientele." "On the rare occasion my office is closed for the day, I make sure that my cell number is posted on the window and on the door, so my clients know I am always just a phone call away, and because I live close by, I can be at the office to help them in just a short time."
So gather all your information that is needed and call to make your appointment today (631) 293-1040
|Toll Free:
|944 Montauk Hwy Suite A Shirley NY, 11967


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Saturday, March 28, 2009
My Ultimate Comfort Food
I have gotten a lot of requests over the past several weeks for a rockin' recipe for macaroni and cheese. In face, some of you who know me in *real life* have expressed your shock and concern over the lack of a mac 'n' cheese recipe here on VV. This reaction is understandable, considering that the truth is . . . . macaroni and cheese is my #1 favorite food of all time!
Mac 'n' cheese is the food of my dreams, the food of my childhood, the food of my adulthood. I don't think I ever met a bowl of mac I didn't like. I'm going to come out and admit, flat out, that I am not too proud to make the occasional Kraft Mac 'n' Cheese - heck I practically grew up on the Blue Box. And I have been known to eat Velveeta Shells and Cheese right out of the pot, while sitting on the couch indulging in a sappy chick flick.
I like mine with broccoli, I like it with bacon, I like it baked, I like it from the stove-top. I
Your comments and requests, dear readers, do not fall on deaf ears. Added bonus? No slaving over a hot stove - this recipe is extra easy, with no beschemel sauce to cook.
With that, I am proud to unveil, my S'Mac 'n' Cheese! This is an incredibly flavorful dish, highlighting the sharp cheddar flavor while bringing a subtle heat and a soft onion flavor to the foreground.
S'Mac 'n' Cheese
You will be smackin' your lips . . .
1 1/4 cups elbow noodles
2.5 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
A pinch or two fresh ground pepper
A pinch cayenne pepper or red pepper flake
A pinch of ground nutmeg
1/3 cup sour cream
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons yellow onion, finely chopped or grated
3/4 cup half-n-half
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 shakes Worchestershire sauce
1 dash hot sauce (tobasco)
3/4 cup (about 5 ounces) extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Sprinkle in som salt. Add the noodles and cook until al dente, according to the box instructions.
Meanwhile, grease an 8x8-inch baking dish. Drain the noodles well and pour them evenly into the prepared dish. Sprinkle in the cubed cheddar cheese, and mix gently until evenly distributed. Set the dish aside.
Measure the flour, the salt, the dry mustard, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg into a large mixing bowl, stirring the ingredients together. Add the sour cream and eggs, whisking until blended. Next, whisk in the onion, half-and-half, heavy cream, Worcestershire, and tobasco until the mixture forms a custard-like sauce. Pour this mixture over the macaroni in the baking dish. Finally, sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the top.
Bake until the custard sauce sets around the edges but is still a bit saucy in the middle, about 30 minutes. After baking, allow the dish to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Ellie at 5:54 PM
Labels: Cheese, Dinners, Make-Ahead, Non-Veggie Sides, Pasta, Vegetarian
7 comments:
- Kerstin said...
This looks AMAZING! I love mac&cheese too.
- March 29, 2009 at 1:27 PM
- Ashley Pepitone said...
Thank you!!!!!
I made my own up as I went along the other night, can't wait to try this one!
- March 29, 2009 at 2:38 PM
- Anonymous said...
This looks like a great recipe.
- March 29, 2009 at 4:10 PM
- Deals, Steals and Heels said...
OH. MY. GOSH. i have to make this soon, it looks amazzzzzziiiinnnggg!!!!
- March 29, 2009 at 6:32 PM
- Anonymous said...
I love mac and cheese! This looks like a really good recipe!
- March 29, 2009 at 8:35 PM
- Elizabeth said...
Baked Mac n' Cheese - my favorite, and yours looks amazing!
- March 29, 2009 at 10:18 PM
- Unknown said...
Mac&Cheese is by far my favorite food. Well one of them. This looks delicious - I cant wait to try it!
- March 30, 2009 at 5:43 PM
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text:
PSG College of Technology
BE in BiotechnologyFull Time Course
This course can be opted by students who took science subjects like physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics in their 10+2. The duration of this bachelor's degree course is four years. The subjects studied in this course are microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics and engineering.
Course Information
A pass in 12th (Academic)/Plus Two level / equivalent with minimum eligibility marks in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
Selection based on:TNPCEE
Admission Process
Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examination (TNPCEE) is conducted in April by Anna University, Chennai for admission to professional courses in Tamil Nadu. These courses are offered by Government, Government Aided and Private Professional Colleges.
The Application Form and the Information booklet can be obtained in person from:
- Designated Canara Bank branches in Tamil Nadu,
- State Bank of India, Anna University branch, Chennai - 600025
- Designated coordinating centres throughout Tamil Nadu
They can be obtained by post from the Secretary, Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examination Centre, Anna University, Chennai - 600025 by mailing a requisition letter with a self-addressed slip and a Deman Draft drawn in favour of the Director, Entrance Examinations, Anna University, Chennai payable at Service Branch, Chennai, obtained from any Nationalised Bank or Cooperative Bank before the last date. The candidate's name should be written at the back of the Demand Draft.
Issue of Application from: April
Last Date for Issue and Receipt of Application forms:June


text: Among the most successful photographers of the 20th century, Erwin Blumenfeld brought a radical, avant-garde vision to his work in portraiture, nudes, fashion, and advertising, effectively re-defining the potential of his medium. Though he took his first photographs in 1907, it was not until 1941, after arriving in New York to escape Nazi persecution, that his career took off. Working for the Condé Nast family of publications, most notably Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, he shot fashion spreads and hundreds of covers, which effectively shaped the look of 1940s and '50s America. Strands of German Expressionism, Dadaism, and Surrealism, movements with which he experimented while in Europe, run throughout Blumenfeld's work, apparent, for example, in the most famous cover he shot for Vogue, featuring the face of a model pared down to her lips, eye, and a single beauty mark.


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|System: PS3, Xbox 360
|Dev: Vicious Cycle
|Pub: D3 Publisher
|Release: July 5, 2011
|Players: 1
|Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p
|Animated Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
by Angelo M. D'Argenio
You know, sometimes you don't want an FPS filled with deep strategy. Sometimes you don't want to take your time camping strategic points while ducking under cover. Sometimes, all you really want is a game where you can blow up everything around you. That's exactly what Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon is. A guilty pleasure game straight down to its $40 price tag, Earth Defense Force is about shooting the ever loving crap out of giant insects and not much else. Like Rambo in a space marine costume, it's up to you and the sheer force of your manly bullets to save the world from an alien invasion.
Let's start with the story. Hah! Sorry. I couldn't type the word "story" in relation to this game with a straight face. You are a member of Strike Force Lightning, a futuristic platoon that is apparently made up of eighties action movie stereotypes. An alien race that happens to look exactly like giant insects and moves around using ant-hills—yet somehow still manages to be totally unrelated to the insects of earth—has started invading the planet in the only logical place, Detroit. Kill them! Kill them all! Don't stop killing them until your thumbs are ready to fall off. That's literally the extent of the story.
The dialogue is so bad it feels like you're watching a B movie. You will constantly get updates from HQ over your com, but the person doing the voice work of your dispatcher sounds completely awkward. Her lines are just so dumb it's strange to think that anyone put these down to paper at some point. "We call those large aliens that look like genetically mutated Earth insects 'ravagers,' because they are ravaging Detroit." No really, is that why?
The rest of the dialogue isn't much better. Your squadmates shout random quips like "E-D-F!" and "Man, I love being a part of Lighting," and "Anyone notice these bugs smell bad?" It's like someone tried to write the worst dialogue imaginable so that it comes full circle and become absolutely hilarious.
Once you realize you are better off just ignoring the story, you begin to see that there is actually some depth to the gameplay system here. Before you go off on your bug-killing rampage, you have to choose between one of four armor classes. Each armor class has its own spread of five or six different weapons to choose from, and it can equip two of them at a time. Each weapon category also has tiers of weapons that unlock as you level up by killing bugs and completing missions, and each weapon tier has multiple weapons in it that can be purchased from credits you acquire in the same way. All in all, there are about 300 weapons to unlock and customize your armors with. And there's variety, too. There are homing rockets for people with bad aim, explosive shotguns for people who like close range combat, assault rifles with clips longer than my small intestine, and sniper rifles for people who honestly don't get the concept of "blow up everything around you."
That doesn't even begin to take into account the special abilities of each armor class. You basically have an MP bar that constantly regenerates, which you spend on nifty abilities that might as well be magic. Defensive armor classes can cause huge shockwaves that destroy everything around them, while offensive classes increase their damage. Also—and this is very important—there is a jet pack class that basically gives you full aerial mobility to rain death upon your insect enemies from above. Maybe you didn't hear me: This game has jet packs! What more do you want?
When the game starts, you'll notice a few things right off the bat. First of all, you have infinite ammo. The only thing preventing you from laying volley after volley of bullets into your enemies is each gun's reload time. Second, each gun has an active reload function that you can activate with decent timing, pretty much making reload time a non-issue. Third, you have a lot of health, even if you play a weaker class, and health packs drop plentifully, even on the hard difficulties. It's nearly impossible to die in this game, and that feels great.
So you drop into the bug swarm and are immediately told to go toward the waypoint marked on your map. When you get there, you are told to kill some bugs. Then you are told to go to another waypoint to blow up an ant-hill. Then you are told to go to another waypoint and blow up some more bugs, then another ant-hill, then another waypoint. This is basically all the game has to throw at you. Sometimes you'll be asked to kill bugs from the cockpit of a plane, sometimes you'll be asked to kill bugs using a mounted turret, sometimes you'll be asked to kill giant robot bugs, and sometimes you'll be asked to kill lots of bugs while you wait out a timer. In the end, it's just "go here; kill bugs," and that's about it. But the missions are short, and at the end of each one you'll be seeing that experience bar go up and those weapons unlock. It's really hard to stop playing.


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PARIS (Reuters) - With Pope Benedict's stunning announcement that he will resign later this month, the time may be coming for the Roman Catholic Church to elect its first non-European leader and it could be a Latin American.
The region already represents 42 percent of the world's 1.2 billion-strong Catholic population, the largest single block in the Church, compared to 25 percent in its European heartland.
After the Pole John Paul and German-born Benedict, the post once reserved for Italians is now open to all. The new pope will be the man that the cardinals who elect him at the next conclave think will guide the Church best.
Two senior Vatican officials recently dropped surprisingly clear hints about possible successors. The upshot of their remarks is that the next pope could well be from Latin America.
"I know a lot of bishops and cardinals from Latin America who could take responsibility for the universal Church," said Archbishop Gerhard Mueller, who now holds the pope's old post as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
"The universal Church teaches that Christianity isn't centered on Europe," the German-born archbishop told Duesseldorf's Rheinische Post newspaper just before Christmas.
Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch, head of the Vatican department for Christian unity, told the Tagesanzeiger daily in Zurich at the same time that the Church's future was not in Europe.
"It would be good if there were candidates from Africa or South America at the next conclave," he said, referring to the closed-door election in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.
Asked if he would vote for a non-European over a European candidate if they were equally qualified, he responded: "Yes."
Those two interviews took place at a time when there was no speculation about Benedict leaving and Church leaders may be less frank now that a conclave is looming.
The fact that Benedict cited health reasons for resigning could favor younger candidates, no matter where they are from.
The attraction of a non-European candidate would be in the change of style he could provide and the focus he could direct on issues closer to Catholics in developing countries.
Since all cardinals who will vote in the conclave were named by the conservative John Paul or Benedict, few would be expected to make major changes on issues such as artificial birth control, homosexuality or a wider role for women in the Church.
If it now really is Latin America's turn, the leading candidates there seem to be Odilo Scherer, archbishop of the huge diocese of Sao Paulo, or the Italian-Argentine Leonardo Sandri, now heading the Vatican department for Eastern Churches.
Scherer, a Brazilian of German origin, ranks as a moderate because he both denounced the political activism of Latin America's "liberation theology" but retained its broader social concern about poverty and injustice.
A moral conservative, he has campaigned against abortion even in cases of rape or when the woman's life is at risk. He has also blamed the government's safe-sex condom distribution program for sexual promiscuity and unwanted pregnancies.
He is just as firm against homosexuality. "Sexuality is not an 'option' but a fact of nature and a gift of God," he wrote in 2011. "The increasing ambiguity and confusion in relation to sexual identity, which is taking over our culture, is a cause for concern."
Sandri, a career diplomat, doesn't have a long paper trail on hot button issues that were not part of his brief, but he could hardly have reached such a senior position at the Vatican without being in line with Church orthodoxy.
Perhaps his best known public statement was the announcement of Pope John Paul's death in 2005 when he held the Vatican's third highest post as chief of staff in the Secretariat of State.
Peter Turkson from Ghana, now head of the Vatican's justice and peace department, is often tipped as Africa's frontrunner.
On use of condoms, a key issue there because of the AIDS epidemic, he has hinted at some leeway without openly opposing the Church's basic opposition to them.
He has said fidelity and abstinence are safer options than condoms and money spent on providing condoms would be better used to supply retro-viral drugs to those already infected.
In 2011, Turkson issued a paper condemning what he called the "idolatry of the market" and called for a global central bank to keep developed countries from exploiting poorer ones.
"The people on Wall Street need to sit down and go through a process of discernment and see whether their role managing the finances of the world is actually serving the interests of humanity and the common good," he told journalists.
While he supports the all-male clergy, Turkson was the first Vatican official to appoint a lay woman to a senior position. Italian Flaminia Giovanelli is undersecretary, the number three position, in his department.
Europe, which has half the cardinals in the conclave even though only a quarter of the world's Catholics live there, still has strong candidates if the voting tilts to the Old Continent.
Its leading candidate is Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan, a traditional springboard to the papacy. Vatican watchers saw Benedict's decision to transfer him there from Venice in 2011 as a tip he might be the pontiff's preferred successor.
Scola has been an outspoken opponent of civil unions in Italy. His 2003 book The Nuptial Mystery gave a long theological argument favoring traditional marriage and denouncing abortion, artificial birth control, feminism and homosexuality.
As head of the Oasis Foundation promoting exchanges between Christians and Muslims in the Middle East, he is one of the few candidates with frequent contacts with Islam, the second largest faith in the world after Christianity.
The man who might provide the most change could be Vienna Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, a former student and ally of Benedict whose doctrinal orthodoxy is not in question but who has shown unusual flexibility dealing with pastoral challenges.
He opposed a "call to disobedience" by reformist priests but chose to dialogue with them rather than simply discipline them.
When conservatives urged him to unseat an openly gay man elected to a parish council, he invited him to lunch and afterward said he was a sincere man who should keep the post.
This more nuanced approach could appeal to cardinals who don't want another isolated pope but cost him votes among the most conservative cardinals.
While there are no official candidates, here are the "papabili" (potential popes) most frequently mentioned recently. The list is alphabetical, not in order of their chances, and will probably change between now and when the conclave is held, most likely in March.
- Joao Braz de Aviz (Brazil, 65) brought fresh air to the Vatican department for religious congregations when he took over in 2011. He supports the preference for the poor in Latin America's liberation theology, but not the excesses of its advocates. Possible drawbacks include his low profile.
- Timothy Dolan, (USA, 62) became the voice of U.S. Catholicism after being named archbishop of New York in 2009. His humor and dynamism have impressed the Vatican, where both are often missing. But cardinals are wary of a "superpower pope" and his back-slapping style may be too American for some.
- Marc Ouellet (Canada, 68) is effectively the Vatican's top staff director as head of the Congregation for Bishops. He once said becoming pope "would be a nightmare." Though well connected within the Curia, the widespread secularism of his native Quebec could work against him.
- Gianfranco Ravasi (Italy, 70) has been Vatican culture minister since 2007 and represents the Church to the worlds of art, science, culture and even to atheists. This profile could hurt him if cardinals decide they need an experienced pastor rather than another professor as pope.
- Leonardo Sandri (Argentina, 69) is a "transatlantic" figure born in Buenos Aires to Italian parents. He held the third-highest Vatican post as its chief of staff in 2000-2007. But he has no pastoral experience and his job overseeing eastern churches is not a power position in Rome.
- Odilo Pedro Scherer (Brazil, 63) ranks as Latin America's strongest candidate. Archbishop of Sao Paulo, largest diocese in the largest Catholic country, he is conservative in his country but would rank as a moderate elsewhere. The rapid growth of Protestant churches in Brazil could count against him.
- Christoph Schoenborn (Austria, 67) is a former student of Pope Benedict with a pastoral touch the pontiff lacks. The Vienna archbishop has ranked as papal material since editing the Church catechism in the 1990s. But some cautious reform stands and strong dissent by some Austrian priests could hurt him.
- Angelo Scola (Italy, 71) is archbishop of Milan, a springboard to the papacy, and is many Italians' bet to win. An expert on bioethics, he also knows Islam as head of a foundation to promote Muslim-Christian understanding. His dense oratory could put off cardinals seeking a charismatic communicator.
- Luis Tagle (Philippines, 55) has a charisma often compared to that of the late Pope John Paul. He is also close to Pope Benedict after working with him at the International Theological Commission. While he has many fans, he only became a cardinal in 2012 and conclaves are wary of young candidates.
- Peter Turkson (Ghana, 64) is the top African candidate. Head of the Vatican justice and peace bureau, he is spokesman for the Church's social conscience and backs world financial reform. He showed a video criticizing Muslims at a recent Vatican synod, raising doubts about how he sees Islam.
Additional reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Giles Elgood


text:
The Redbox may soon switch to Blockbuster's frenemy list if the latest trend in movies catches on.
Mobile Movies, a service offered by the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company, allows you to watch your favorite 80s cult classic to the latest Hollywood hit on your favorite smartphone. Movie rentals cost only $4.99 to rent or if you join the mobile Movie Club, you can stream up to four movies at the same time for $9.99.
Redbox has partnered with Disney, Universal and Paramount Pictures to bring their movies to 30 different smartphones.
The service has some drawbacks. Rented movies cannot be downloaded to the phone and users must be connected to their wireless service provider the entire time they are streaming -- so no watching movies on an airplane. Only iPhone users are able to watch movies via Wi-Fi.
Mobile Movies Make Life Harder for Blockbuster
Palo Alto company offers movie-rental service for smartphone users
The Redbox may soon switch to Blockbuster's frenemy list if the latest trend in movies catches on.


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Energy management at Rockwell Automation fair
At this year's annual Rockwell Automation Fair, held in Chicago, the company made several announcements related to industrial energy management, including release of an online energy savings calculator that's available for free download. The event was also the occasion for a number of announcements related to ODVA, of which Rockwell is a premier member.
The new tool allows comparison of conventional methods for pump and fan control using valves or dampers, with use of variable frequency drives (VFD), to see the estimated cost savings. The tool offers two ways to calculate energy consumption. The first uses minimum pump or flow percentages, annual operating hours, cost per kilowatt, and other information about a particular plant. The other incorporates sample data provided by Rockwell Automation.
The tool is part of the Rockwell Automation Intelligent Motor Control portfolio, which includes VFDs, intelligent software, and condition-monitoring devices.
Perhaps more significantly, Rockwell Automation also announced that it is extending the reach of its PlantPAx process automation system to integrate critical rotating assets, such as compressors, pumps, turbines, and fans. Users now can tie intelligent motor devices into this unified-control architecture, which should lead to noticeable improvements in asset availability, operational efficiency, and energy management. Engineers can monitor process conditions such as electric motor current, vibration signatures of rotating assets, and VFD torque signatures. Tight integration between process automation and motor control is especially beneficial, the company says, in heavy industrial applications in the metals, mining, cement, power, oil and gas, wastewater, and pulp and paper industries.
Unlike other distributed control systems that require users to manually map data from motor control devices to the control system, PlantPax mirrors the device memory, making data automatically available with the control system, Rockwell said. One of the key benefits of having motor control devices in PlantPax is its use in managing energy-intensive assets.
Finally, also at Automation Fair, ODVA announced a new edition of its specifications. These include a defined energy object that helps manufacturers aggregate and view energy usage at various levels of the enterprise.
The updated specifications feature work competed by ODVA's Energy Applications Special Interest Group in defining an object that will be used to report energy for all energy and resource types. This methodology is harmonized with energy reporting standards defined by the Global Reporting Initiative, whose mission is to create conditions for transparent and reliable exchange of sustainability information. ODVA's energy object aligns with the Environmental Indicator Protocol EN3 of the G3 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, which is the foundation of the GRI reporting framework.
Also see other recent Rockwell Automation developments
This is part of the Control Engineering December 2011 Industrial Energy Management supplement.


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Fidel Castro's son challenges Olympic Committee for the return of baseball-softball
BUENOS AIRES — It's among the few things that many Cubans and Americans can agree on: Baseball should return to the Olympics.
Antonio Castro, son of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, is in Argentina to argue before the International Olympic Committee that baseball — now in partnership with softball — should be returned to the Olympic games in 2020.
Castro, whose father stepped aside as Cuba's leader when he fell ill in 2006, is representing the World Baseball Softball Confederation, which was formed earlier this year after the IOC said the two had to merge as one Olympic sport to be considered for a return to the Summer Games after being removed in 2008.
IOC members meeting in Buenos Aires are to decide Sunday if baseball-softball will be included in the Olympic program in 2020. Squash and wrestling are also being considered, but only one will get through.
TWO-TIME OLYMPIC SOFTBALL MEDALIST:Makes case for Olympic softball.
"The task is to converse and try to convince the IOC members," Castro said during a break in confederation meetings being held before the IOC gathering. "The message to the whole world is that our sport forms part of the Olympic program."
"A sport like ours, which is practiced by more than 65 million people in the world, more than 4 million children, with more than 140 federations, more than 140 countries transmitting it on television, can add much value to the Olympic program," Castro said, a baseball mitt on his hand.
He declined to talk about his country's politics. But he smiled when asked about the former longtime leader of the Caribbean country. "My father is very well," the younger Castro said.


text:
Please donate a dollar a day at http://justadollarplease.org.
Copy and paste this message to the bottom of your signature.
Some people are reluctant to click on unknown URLs, but the link about is legitimate and goes the the Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Foundation.
The Christopoher & Dana Reeve Foundataion New Injury Information site has been updated. Please use the URL below for it now:
Acute SCI On-Line Resource Center at the Reeve Foundation


text: For three weeks now, Russia has been pointing fingers at the U.S., insinuating that Washington emboldened Georgia to start the conflict there. Now the finger pointing has become more direct, and Putin said he suspects the U.S. got involved for domestic political reasons. Putin said U.S. citizens had been in Georgia during the fighting and were trying to aggravate the fighting to help one of the presidential candidates. A White House spokesperson called Putin's claim irrational and this analyst says he was astounded by Putin's words. But was Putin's statement surprising? This analyst doesn't think so, and he says it's not unexpected that Putin would throw more logs on the fire. He says Clinton and the first Bush administrations went to pain not to rub Russia the wrong way, but this Bush administration has been different and for many reasons it has raised Russia's ire, which means Russians have concluded that they had no influence over the West and felt they had been slapped. Now Russia has won this issue in Georgia, but the question is will Russia try and win another? This analyst fears exactly that. The biggest prize for Russia would be recovering the Black Sea port in Ukraine, an area which is ethnically Russian, and Russia and Putin know the West is running out of cards. The West has threatened to kick Russia out of organizations like the G8, but Putin says he doesn't care, and the U.S. needs Russian cooperation on a number of issues. All this leaves Moscow feeling pretty emboldened.


text:
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Care Instructions:
· Machine wash cold with like colors
· Gentle cycle
· Only non-chlorine bleach when needed
· Cool iron if needed


text:
Meriter lays off 50 employees
Hospital says cuts are result of drop in Medicare reimbursements
MADISON, Wis. — Meriter Hospital said it's laying off about 50 employees.
In a statement Tuesday, Meriter Health Systems said it will see a significant drop in Medicare reimbursements beginning in January and the layoffs are a result of a plan that realigns positions in preparation for the cuts in Medicare reimbursement.
Meriter confirmed that 140 positions are being eliminated, but through attrition and reassignments, it only expects approximately 50 employees to lose their jobs.
Of Meriter's 3,500 employees, fewer than 4 percent were directly affected, according to the statement. Meriter said this change impacted all levels in the organization.
Meriter said it's doing all it can to help affected employees by matching employees from eliminated positions with open positions. For those who can't find a position in the new structure, Meriter said it's providing career assistance and continuing their pay and benefits through the remainder of the year.
Meriter employees were informed of the cuts earlier Tuesday.
Meriter Health Systems laid off 58 employees two years ago, also blaming a drop in federal reimbursements at that time.


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Sweet New Year Cocktail Recipe
In the Jewish faith, Rosh Hashanah marks the new year, and is often celebrated with apples and honey to symbolize the sweet year that is to come. In this cocktail, applejack stands up well against the sweetness of honey liqueur, though you can adjust to your personal taste.
Note: If you prefer your drinks less sweet, start with 1/4 ounce honey liqueur and add more, a barspoon at a time, to taste.
- Yield:makes 1 cocktail
- Active time: 10 minutes
- Total time:10 minutes
- Handful of mint plus more to garnish
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 1 1/2 ounces Laird's Applejack (80 proof)
- 1/2 ounce honey liqueur such as Barenjager (see notes)
In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint and sugar lightly.
Add applejack and honey liqueur, fill with ice. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass, garnish with mint, and serve.